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tsenteme's review
5.0
Ότι και να πεις γι αυτό το βιβλίο είναι λίγο. Διαβάζεται χωρίς σταματημό. Από τους πιο συμπαθείς ήρωες βιβλίων. Εξαιρετική γνώση της ιστορίας από τον συγγραφέα που σε βάζει αμέσως στο κλίμα της εποχής.
sethro93's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
heatheranne23's review
4.0
Classic detective stories (complete with Bogartesque private eye jargen!) set in my favorite city during one of history's most fascinating if gruesome times, Nazi Germany. I like!
jamesvw's review
3.0
A compilation of three novels, Kerr makes a jarring choice to set the first two before the start of World War II (1936, 1938) and the third after (1947). The protagonist is a private detective who flows fairly seamlessly from official roles in the Nazi police and back to his private work, all while espousing anti-national socialist frustrations and standing up for those who stood little chance of survival. There is an implausibility that arises from this backdrop, but one that a reader can sympathize with, even if it isn't completely believable.
The strength of the novels come through in the research Kerr put into writing these novels, interweaving fiction with beautiful, realistic descriptions of Berlin and Vienna and bringing in mostly minor (though sometimes major) figures from the various Nazi military branches. Gunther, the detective, is also as enjoyably sarcastic or perhaps sardonic as Chandler's Marlowe, though with a bit more melancholy as befits the time period and surrounding circumstances. Yet at times, this wit and perchance for odd analogies is cringe-inducing. Racial and religious quips are frequent and in the middle of scenes of brutal descriptions of the early stages of the Holocaust and then, in the third installment, amidst the horrific sexual crimes perpetrated against women in occupied Austria and Germany, it can come across as callous or at least crossing the line a few too many times.
Overall, these were enjoyable stories - there is danger in writing a book that is filled with gallows humor, but Kerr pulls it off more often than not.
The strength of the novels come through in the research Kerr put into writing these novels, interweaving fiction with beautiful, realistic descriptions of Berlin and Vienna and bringing in mostly minor (though sometimes major) figures from the various Nazi military branches. Gunther, the detective, is also as enjoyably sarcastic or perhaps sardonic as Chandler's Marlowe, though with a bit more melancholy as befits the time period and surrounding circumstances. Yet at times, this wit and perchance for odd analogies is cringe-inducing. Racial and religious quips are frequent and in the middle of scenes of brutal descriptions of the early stages of the Holocaust and then, in the third installment, amidst the horrific sexual crimes perpetrated against women in occupied Austria and Germany, it can come across as callous or at least crossing the line a few too many times.
Overall, these were enjoyable stories - there is danger in writing a book that is filled with gallows humor, but Kerr pulls it off more often than not.
saraah_jahan's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
nghia's review
3.0
The first book, Berlin Noir would get 4-stars if ranked on its own. It is a fresh (for me at least) take on the noir detective genre. The characters tend to be a little too clearcut (i.e. all Nazis are evil, the main character likes Jews and women's rights, etc) in the way that much historical fiction is.
Later books aren't quite as good and fall into another trap of historical fiction of tying in to actual historical events and having famous personages show up in their pages.
Later books aren't quite as good and fall into another trap of historical fiction of tying in to actual historical events and having famous personages show up in their pages.
testpattern's review
3.0
A great setting, some great stories, and blah. Flat, dead on the page prose. Kerr did some research, and the texture is right on. The story reads hard boiled until the pot is dry and the soup is ruined. Or some labored metaphor about overboiling. You know, when an egg yolk is so chalky and dry that it chokes you going down? Like that. This book chokes you going down.
robsonjv's review against another edition
4.0
A remarkable trilogy, notable for the amount of geographical and historical research that went into each of the books. I live in Berlin, and it's interesting reading about neighborhoods I am familiar with today described as they were in the 1930s and after World War 2. It is pretty standard tough-talking detective stuff, but entertaining. The chief weakness is that it becomes difficult to believe he could have survived the first novel, by number three it's like "no f'ing way." But suspension of disbelief is necessary to enjoy most books, so I am OK with with the protagonist's amazing survival skills. This was my commuting book on the S-Bahn, and it was perfect for that.
akadamo's review
5.0
Another great author, captivating glimpse of a man (Bernie Gunther) and his time/place in history.