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cgmcintosh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
Well, this was a letdown. But I guess I can only blame my expectations. I was led to believe that this trilogy was a dark series of psychological suspense. Indeed, the stage is set for one of the
darkest times of human history, Berlin, during the rise of the Third Reich.
These novels of Kerr's are homages to Chandler's noir novels. Our hero is a detective and the prose is rife with witty and elaborate analogies, which got old really fast for me. This gave the story too much of a lighthearted feel. If I'm reading about people facing rising fascism and what obviously was to follow, witty analogies takes away from the atmosphere.
If you're into this, I can't not recommend it. Take a look here for example: most people loved this series.
darkest times of human history, Berlin, during the rise of the Third Reich.
These novels of Kerr's are homages to Chandler's noir novels. Our hero is a detective and the prose is rife with witty and elaborate analogies, which got old really fast for me. This gave the story too much of a lighthearted feel. If I'm reading about people facing rising fascism and what obviously was to follow, witty analogies takes away from the atmosphere.
If you're into this, I can't not recommend it. Take a look here for example: most people loved this series.
hydrogeneh2's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jsokohl's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you like hard-boiled detective fiction, you'll love this series of three books. And if you're interested in the Weimar Republic, this book showcases traditional noir fiction against that backdrop.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of three books written by Philip Kerr between 1989-1991. They are crime/detective novels set in pre and post WW2 Berlin. The hero is a sardonic and resourceful policeman turned private investigator by the name of Bernie Gunther. After writing these three books, Philip Kerr took a long break from the character and wrote a number of other books, before returning to Gunther in 2006 with The One from the Other. There are now seven (about to be eight) books in the series altogether and whilst they are not written in sequence (some take place before the war and other well after it), the three that are presented here give a very good introduction to the character.
Bernie Gunther makes a wonderful, jaded character who despises the Nazi party but is sensible enough to (usually) know when he should keep his mouth shut. The stories are all very pleasing, Chandler-esque mysteries with a very strong since of place and terrific, fully realised characters. Real life individuals like Himmler and Goering have walk on parts that gives it a sense of realism and as Kerr explains in the postscripts, he has integrated actual events and people.
The first book in the trilogy, March Violets, is set in 1936 against the background of the Berlin Olympics and a sanitised Berlin putting on its best face for the world. The second book is set in the grimmer world that is Berlin in 1938, whilst the third takes place in a vastly transformed 1946 Berlin and Vienna and integrates the turf wars between the US and Russian occupiers.
If you haven't yet discovered Philip Kerr, you are in for a treat.
Bernie Gunther makes a wonderful, jaded character who despises the Nazi party but is sensible enough to (usually) know when he should keep his mouth shut. The stories are all very pleasing, Chandler-esque mysteries with a very strong since of place and terrific, fully realised characters. Real life individuals like Himmler and Goering have walk on parts that gives it a sense of realism and as Kerr explains in the postscripts, he has integrated actual events and people.
The first book in the trilogy, March Violets, is set in 1936 against the background of the Berlin Olympics and a sanitised Berlin putting on its best face for the world. The second book is set in the grimmer world that is Berlin in 1938, whilst the third takes place in a vastly transformed 1946 Berlin and Vienna and integrates the turf wars between the US and Russian occupiers.
If you haven't yet discovered Philip Kerr, you are in for a treat.
dr_oligo's review against another edition
4.0
Very pleasantly surprised. I picked this up in a coffee shop with no expectations and loved it. Kerr covered some fascinating topics linked to life in Nazi Germany while telling some gripping detective stories. I thought the novelty was going to be a bit forced but I ended up buying in entirely. He certainly references the style of the American authors but adds his own quirks of language.
twincam59's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tomfairfax's review against another edition
4.0
Meticulously researched, the books centre around the difficulties facing a morally honest detective in Nazi Germany. How do you live with yourself when your client is Heydrich? Intricate plots, period detail and character sketches of real life figures are sadly punctuated and let down by some of the least erotic sex scenes I've ever read and occasionally forced use of slang. It is genre fiction but in a fascinating mileu. Page turning and re-readable.
michael_k's review against another edition
Πολύ καλό! Περισσότερα στο επόμενο Ex Libris.
danchrist's review against another edition
2.0
The writing is okay, and the descriptions are solid, but this is more hard boiled noir than could hold my attention right now. I found myself reading two or three pages a night before I fell asleep; always a bad sign for me. I need a read that will hold my attention, and this definitely didn't clear that hurdle.
The descriptions of pre-WWII Germany were fascinating, up to a point. Drowning a reader in a detailed street-by-street description of a chase scene with minute details likely gleaned from poring over vintage photographs and maps dazzled the first time, but quickly lost luster as the tale unwound.
If you love period noir, you'll like this. For me, this didn't pass my eyelid test, so it goes back to the library from whence it came.
The descriptions of pre-WWII Germany were fascinating, up to a point. Drowning a reader in a detailed street-by-street description of a chase scene with minute details likely gleaned from poring over vintage photographs and maps dazzled the first time, but quickly lost luster as the tale unwound.
If you love period noir, you'll like this. For me, this didn't pass my eyelid test, so it goes back to the library from whence it came.