Scan barcode
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's not where the books in this series start, but where they end that dictate the sequence. This book ended in Havana, Cuba in 1954, but it started in 1934 Berlin.
This book is in two parts, with part one set in 1934 where Bernie was working as the hotel detective at the Adlon Hotel. He encounters two guests, one Noreen Charalambides, whom he falls in love with and the other, Max Reles, who he would gladly kill. Max is an American gangster using the upcoming 1936 Olympics to make money and nothing will stand in his way. He and Bernie don't hit it off from the beginning. Noreen is an American journalist who is doing research for a story that she hopes will convince the USA to boycott the Olympics. Their worlds and motives clash, all the time Bernie is just trying to live life as best he can staying ahead of the changing laws in Germany under the new Nazi government. When they go their separate ways there is still a lot of unfinished business.
Part two of the book is set in Havana, Cuba, 1954 where Bernie is hoping to live a very quiet life below the radar and doesn't want to draw attention to himself as he is still masquerading as an Argentinian. He has a chance encounter with Noreen, now a successful writer and this changes his future. He also runs into Max who is still a gangster, not that he would ever admit that, running a hotel and casino in Havana. When Max is killed, his associates ask Bernie to find out who killed him. You don't say no to these people.
A lot of this book is a social commentary about life in Germany under the Nazis and equally about life in Cuba before the revolution. It's interesting but it's strange how one person can be associated with so many people in history, especially one trying to keep a low profile, and still be alive.
This book is in two parts, with part one set in 1934 where Bernie was working as the hotel detective at the Adlon Hotel. He encounters two guests, one Noreen Charalambides, whom he falls in love with and the other, Max Reles, who he would gladly kill. Max is an American gangster using the upcoming 1936 Olympics to make money and nothing will stand in his way. He and Bernie don't hit it off from the beginning. Noreen is an American journalist who is doing research for a story that she hopes will convince the USA to boycott the Olympics. Their worlds and motives clash, all the time Bernie is just trying to live life as best he can staying ahead of the changing laws in Germany under the new Nazi government. When they go their separate ways there is still a lot of unfinished business.
Part two of the book is set in Havana, Cuba, 1954 where Bernie is hoping to live a very quiet life below the radar and doesn't want to draw attention to himself as he is still masquerading as an Argentinian. He has a chance encounter with Noreen, now a successful writer and this changes his future. He also runs into Max who is still a gangster, not that he would ever admit that, running a hotel and casino in Havana. When Max is killed, his associates ask Bernie to find out who killed him. You don't say no to these people.
A lot of this book is a social commentary about life in Germany under the Nazis and equally about life in Cuba before the revolution. It's interesting but it's strange how one person can be associated with so many people in history, especially one trying to keep a low profile, and still be alive.
jrmarr's review against another edition
3.0
This is a mixed bag for me. I so enjoyed the first half, like old times with Bernie Gunther. A fascinating trip through pre-war Berlin as he tries to negotiate the insidious world of the nazi regime. But the second half in Cuba just was not as good, and felt like it could use some serious editing, I realise that Bernie's story has taken him away from Europe almost by necessity, but I so enjoy the German stories more than South American ones! I'll probably keep reading them in the hope that they are as intriguing as the first half of this one was.
07jburto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cgmcintosh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
marysec's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 étoiles
Ce roman se divise en 2 parties.
Dans la première partie, l’histoire se déroule à Berlin en 1934, un an après l’instauration du régime nazi. Berlin se prépare pour les Jeux olympiques de 1936 tandis que la persécution du peuple juif est amorcée. Comme le quatrième de couverture l’indique, le monde est aveugle à part quelques exceptions. Bernie Gunther, responsable de la sécurité à l’hôtel Adlon, est engagé par une journaliste américaine juive qui souhaite écrire un article qui incitera les États-Unis à boycotter les Jeux olympiques.
Cette partie représente environ les six dixièmes du roman : à mon avis, elle est beaucoup trop longue. J’ai souvent perdu le fil de l'histoire.
Dans la deuxième partie, on retrouve Bernie à La Havane, en 1954, la ville où il s’est réfugié après sa fuite de l’Argentine. Dans la capitale cubaine, il fait la rencontre de gangsters et retrouve la journaliste rencontrée à Berlin en 1934. Mère d’une jeune fille de 20 ans, elle demande l’aide de Bernie afin qu’il éloigne sa fille de ses mauvaises fréquentations, dont un homme au passé violent, que tous les deux ont connu en 1934.
Bien que l’écriture de Philip Kerr soit impeccable, que les réparties de Bernie se veulent humoristiques, je n’ai pas apprécié ma lecture. Je ne crois pas que je lirai d’autres tomes de la série : le cynisme et les propos sexistes du héros sont venus à bout de mon intérêt envers ses aventures.
Ce roman se divise en 2 parties.
Dans la première partie, l’histoire se déroule à Berlin en 1934, un an après l’instauration du régime nazi. Berlin se prépare pour les Jeux olympiques de 1936 tandis que la persécution du peuple juif est amorcée. Comme le quatrième de couverture l’indique, le monde est aveugle à part quelques exceptions. Bernie Gunther, responsable de la sécurité à l’hôtel Adlon, est engagé par une journaliste américaine juive qui souhaite écrire un article qui incitera les États-Unis à boycotter les Jeux olympiques.
Cette partie représente environ les six dixièmes du roman : à mon avis, elle est beaucoup trop longue. J’ai souvent perdu le fil de l'histoire.
Dans la deuxième partie, on retrouve Bernie à La Havane, en 1954, la ville où il s’est réfugié après sa fuite de l’Argentine. Dans la capitale cubaine, il fait la rencontre de gangsters et retrouve la journaliste rencontrée à Berlin en 1934. Mère d’une jeune fille de 20 ans, elle demande l’aide de Bernie afin qu’il éloigne sa fille de ses mauvaises fréquentations, dont un homme au passé violent, que tous les deux ont connu en 1934.
Bien que l’écriture de Philip Kerr soit impeccable, que les réparties de Bernie se veulent humoristiques, je n’ai pas apprécié ma lecture. Je ne crois pas que je lirai d’autres tomes de la série : le cynisme et les propos sexistes du héros sont venus à bout de mon intérêt envers ses aventures.
belanna2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
silkymoonshine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ericfheiman's review against another edition
3.0
Another solid, fun entry in the Bernie Gunther detective-in-Nazi-Germany series that is almost more history lesson than crime thriller. A social critique on level with the last installment, "A Quiet Flame," but not as structurally interesting, as this book is evenly split between the first half set in Germany, 1935, and the second in Havana, 1954. The second half is also a bit lazily plotted, despite the rug-pull ending which almost redeems itself with a high degree of cynicism surprising even for this literary genre.
jacki_f's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gripping detective story set in Berlin in 1934. The Nazis are in power and Germany is experiencing rapid change. The hero, Bernie Gunther, is a former cop who is now working as a hotel detective. He is investigating two deaths: one which took place in his hotel, and one which a police friend has asked for his assistance on. It's a complicated and skilfully constructed plot which encompasses corruption in the preparation for the Berlin Olympics, the possibility of a US boycott of the Olympics and the treatment of Jews and minorities in 1930s Germany. The plot later moves to Havana in the 1950s and at first you wonder why, but as some central characters re-appear it becomes evident that this is a continuation of the same story.
While this is the sixth Philip Kerr novel to feature hero Bernie Gunther, it is entirely possible to read and enjoy this book without having read the others. Some of the other books actually take place after the events of this one, while others pre-date it.
Philip Kerr's writing style combines the texture of Peter Temple's writing with the hard-boiled wit of Raymond Chandler. It's a pleasure to read. Like the best crime novels, the setting and the characters are as important to the story as the crimes themselves. The characters are wonderfully textured - real people.
While this is the sixth Philip Kerr novel to feature hero Bernie Gunther, it is entirely possible to read and enjoy this book without having read the others. Some of the other books actually take place after the events of this one, while others pre-date it.
Philip Kerr's writing style combines the texture of Peter Temple's writing with the hard-boiled wit of Raymond Chandler. It's a pleasure to read. Like the best crime novels, the setting and the characters are as important to the story as the crimes themselves. The characters are wonderfully textured - real people.