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A review by waytoomanybooks
The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
I’m new to reading murder mysteries and crime fiction, but I can safely say that Heinrich Böll did a bang up job with The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum. Though it is set in 1974, the issues and topics addressed—truth in reporting, relationship dynamics, sexism, etc.—all feel very modern, and Böll handles them all beautifully.
Böll’s writing style is concise, sharp, and deliberate, and it makes for an engrossing read. All the events and all the characters tie in seamlessly with each other. There were no holes to prod and no loose ends left dangling, two things which I find to be quite common and quite annoying in the crime fiction genre. This is a really great “why done it.” I would absolutely recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read, a snappy story, and strong, distinct characters.
Böll’s writing style is concise, sharp, and deliberate, and it makes for an engrossing read. All the events and all the characters tie in seamlessly with each other. There were no holes to prod and no loose ends left dangling, two things which I find to be quite common and quite annoying in the crime fiction genre. This is a really great “why done it.” I would absolutely recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read, a snappy story, and strong, distinct characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism