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A review by colinlusk
March Violets by Philip Kerr
4.0
Really good quality detective fiction, told in the classic noir style (and read in that voice by the American narrator). The detective is a tough guy who cracks wise with everyone he meets - and inevitably those people's appearance reflects their character: the women are all Hollywood-sexy and the hoods are all massive lunks with brutish faces and fists like hams.
But although everything about the narrative voice screams Bogart and San Francisco, it's set in Berlin, in the years before the Second World War. The Berlin Olympics are in full swing and the Nazis are tightening their grip on the country. The author seems to have researched it really thoroughly. He employs slang which certainly comes across as authentic (admittedly I'm no expert!), refers to actual historical events, mentions economic and political forces at work.
Against this background, Bernie Gunther investigates a double murder that takes him into all the murkiest parts of the underworld.
It's expertly done and definitely recommended for fans of twisty, well-executed crime thrillers.
But although everything about the narrative voice screams Bogart and San Francisco, it's set in Berlin, in the years before the Second World War. The Berlin Olympics are in full swing and the Nazis are tightening their grip on the country. The author seems to have researched it really thoroughly. He employs slang which certainly comes across as authentic (admittedly I'm no expert!), refers to actual historical events, mentions economic and political forces at work.
Against this background, Bernie Gunther investigates a double murder that takes him into all the murkiest parts of the underworld.
It's expertly done and definitely recommended for fans of twisty, well-executed crime thrillers.