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caecilius's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jmkemp's review against another edition
4.0
A very satisfying end to the series, although still leaving me with a wish for a more detailed epilogue that told us more about the rest of the cast's lives.
As with the others there is a lot of history being told here, Downing does his research and then puts it on the page. Although one obvious lack was the bit about copying a film where the story goes straight from copying to playback without going through the development process. This is in an era where chemical processing was needed to view pictures on film after they'd been shot. Given the rest of the research I'd have thought that was known to Downing.
I did enjoy this though, and there were a number of different angles. My favourite was Strohm, who we met in Stettin Station as the railway worker that was tipping off Russell when the Jewish transports were leaving so that he could witness them. By this story he's a senior member of the East German communist party (although not quite East Germany yet). He's on the inside track of what the Soviets are planning and he's also losing his faith in the Soviet control of the German Communist Party. Everything he's asked to do goes against his inner principles and belief in socialism. This was a common part of the KPD survivors and most of those where finally repressed after the June 1953 uprising.
This is the last of the series, Russell has got his out from the blackmail that made him work for the Soviets. Although I wouldn't be too surprised to find that there is a later book. Russell's leverage with the soviets will eventually expire, and he'll also have trouble working in the USA when the McCarthyites get going.
As with the others there is a lot of history being told here, Downing does his research and then puts it on the page. Although one obvious lack was the bit about copying a film where the story goes straight from copying to playback without going through the development process. This is in an era where chemical processing was needed to view pictures on film after they'd been shot. Given the rest of the research I'd have thought that was known to Downing.
I did enjoy this though, and there were a number of different angles. My favourite was Strohm, who we met in Stettin Station as the railway worker that was tipping off Russell when the Jewish transports were leaving so that he could witness them. By this story he's a senior member of the East German communist party (although not quite East Germany yet). He's on the inside track of what the Soviets are planning and he's also losing his faith in the Soviet control of the German Communist Party. Everything he's asked to do goes against his inner principles and belief in socialism. This was a common part of the KPD survivors and most of those where finally repressed after the June 1953 uprising.
This is the last of the series, Russell has got his out from the blackmail that made him work for the Soviets. Although I wouldn't be too surprised to find that there is a later book. Russell's leverage with the soviets will eventually expire, and he'll also have trouble working in the USA when the McCarthyites get going.
jmhobson's review
4.0
This has been THE series of the summer for me. So good. Also a tiny bit glad to leave all the Nazis, Soviets,and CIA behind.
didactylos's review
4.0
Sorry the series is ended, a very interesting final book with a very ambivalent view of the chaos of post war Europe - no one gets out without a sense of they could have done better. A shambles is what is portrayed and the protagonists manage to set courses between all the amoral and dubious characters that populate this world.
jeregenest's review
4.0
The John Russell books are over and I'm sad to see them go. A great series, perhaps the best of the current crop of "living under nazi" books out there, especially so because it went to the early days of the cold war.
David Downing is a master and evoking period and I can't recommend this series enough to fans of historical spy and mystery novels.
David Downing is a master and evoking period and I can't recommend this series enough to fans of historical spy and mystery novels.
booktimewithelvis's review
5.0
I really loved this series, it was absorbing and very enjoyable. I'm just disappointed that it's over. This story was just as good as the others and perhaps a fitting end to the adventures of John and Effi, I'd be very happy if they made a come back someday.
hlandes1's review against another edition
3.0
Overall an interesting series that sheds some light on occupied Berlin during and after WWII. Some parts of this final book were quite unbelievable.
avid_d's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this series but I felt this last was one of the weaker. Perhaps a less dramatic, more gentle last book might have been a more satisfying conclusion for me, but probably that would have disappointed most other readers of the series.
jameskemp's review against another edition
4.0
A very satisfying end to the series, although still leaving me with a wish for a more detailed epilogue that told us more about the rest of the cast's lives.
As with the others there is a lot of history being told here, Downing does his research and then puts it on the page. Although one obvious lack was the bit about copying a film where the story goes straight from copying to playback without going through the development process. This is in an era where chemical processing was needed to view pictures on film after they'd been shot. Given the rest of the research I'd have thought that was known to Downing.
I did enjoy this though, and there were a number of different angles. My favourite was Strohm, who we met in Stettin Station as the railway worker that was tipping off Russell when the Jewish transports were leaving so that he could witness them. By this story he's a senior member of the East German communist party (although not quite East Germany yet). He's on the inside track of what the Soviets are planning and he's also losing his faith in the Soviet control of the German Communist Party. Everything he's asked to do goes against his inner principles and belief in socialism. This was a common part of the KPD survivors and most of those where finally repressed after the June 1953 uprising.
This is the last of the series, Russell has got his out from the blackmail that made him work for the Soviets. Although I wouldn't be too surprised to find that there is a later book. Russell's leverage with the soviets will eventually expire, and he'll also have trouble working in the USA when the McCarthyites get going.
As with the others there is a lot of history being told here, Downing does his research and then puts it on the page. Although one obvious lack was the bit about copying a film where the story goes straight from copying to playback without going through the development process. This is in an era where chemical processing was needed to view pictures on film after they'd been shot. Given the rest of the research I'd have thought that was known to Downing.
I did enjoy this though, and there were a number of different angles. My favourite was Strohm, who we met in Stettin Station as the railway worker that was tipping off Russell when the Jewish transports were leaving so that he could witness them. By this story he's a senior member of the East German communist party (although not quite East Germany yet). He's on the inside track of what the Soviets are planning and he's also losing his faith in the Soviet control of the German Communist Party. Everything he's asked to do goes against his inner principles and belief in socialism. This was a common part of the KPD survivors and most of those where finally repressed after the June 1953 uprising.
This is the last of the series, Russell has got his out from the blackmail that made him work for the Soviets. Although I wouldn't be too surprised to find that there is a later book. Russell's leverage with the soviets will eventually expire, and he'll also have trouble working in the USA when the McCarthyites get going.
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