Philip Kerr (1) (1956–2018)

Quite a refreshing read. This author is not afraid to try new things and changes around the trappings of the long established detective genre, with mixed results. We follow Jake, a protagonist we can freely call a militant lesbian since the author himself does exactly that. To my great relief this strong characterization doesn't get in the way of the plot or the story and shouldn't make anyone uncomfortable, in fact there are so many other politically incorrect situations described correctly that at some point the extreme descriptions feel quite natural and appropriate.

Police Detective Jake manages to place herself at the head of an investigation into the search for a serial killer who hunts other potential killers. Written in 1992 the novel postulates what society and criminal investigation might look like in our current age. Some is spot on some not so much. Both Jake and the killer use criminal profiling in their cat and mouse game but the core method of investigation is, or should have been, philosophy. The killer is obsessed with his idol the philosopher Wittgenstein and kills other killers who's assigned nickname by the criminal database also correspond to philosophers.

What should have been a battle of wits turns instead out to be a battle of wills. The author is so focused on trying to fit philosophy work in the context of crime that the entire endeavor feels forced to say the least. There is much to be enjoyed in this book and I would recommend anyone to read this if only to see the bravado of the author in breaking stereo types and trying out near future predictions. Describing this as a book thought of by Neal Stephenson and executed by William Gibson without directions doesn't feel far from the mark. If there are any gaping plot holes it would have to be things you would think the author knew something about. For example:

Schizophrenia is not the same as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD).

A sociopath is not someone who suffers from schizophrenia.

There are also incredibly clumsy plot holes that have nothing to do with the technical details of mental illness or philosophy. Quite early on in the novel the police bureau comes up with a good description of the killer and even has a police sketch of his face. As a final touch Jake has an elaborate recording of the killer's voice. However Jake does not instantly recognize the killer after coming in close contact and even speaking with him.… (more)

2.5 Stars

" Bernard Gunther is a private eye, specializing in missing persons. In Hitler's Berlin, He is never short of work."

A thriller with an interesting setting but the author's numerous wisecracks became a bit tiresome and just didnt float my boat overall.

I am not a fan of private Eye style thrillers which become a series but I choose this book because it was set in Berlin during the Winter of 1936 and thought the setting for a crime novel in Nazi Germany could work and be really interesting.

About 50 pages into the Novel I became very tired of the sarcasm and endless wisecrack attempts at humor of the narrator and while I enjoy humour in any novel this seemed forced. I did find the author's sense of time and place acurate and the book well researched and this was the only reason I stuck with the novel as I found the characters and the plot a bit flat.

An ok read but not one I will be recommending.… (more)

Originally published in 1989, March Violets by Philip Kerr is a historical mystery that takes place in Berlin during 1936. It is the first book in a series that features Bernard Gunther, a private investor. Gunther is a 38 year-old ex-cop who has been hired by wealthy industrialist Hermann Six to recover a diamond necklace stolen from a safe at his daughter Grete’s house. At the same time, Grete and her husband were both murdered and the house burnt. The setting is a pre-war Berlin that is getting ready to host the Olympics.

These novels have become recognized as classic noir with the hard-boiled detective working the angles and dealing with everyone from fascists to underground lowlifes. To me the best part of the book was the descriptions of Berlin, with it’s violence and brutality, pomp and posturing, and, with the Olympics on the horizon, the hiding of shady and morally grey aspects of the government. The Nazi’s banned books, but for the Olympics these banned books were placed back on the shelves. The mystery plot was quite convoluted yet it’s clever writing did draw me in.

March Violets is hard-hitting, detailed, and dark. There is a fair amount of grisly violence and women are treated as second-class citizens. Gunther has a sarcastic wit and a wry perspective on life in Berlin. He is not a fan of the Nazis but is smart enough not to risk seriously confronting them. I have more of these books on my shelves and will certainly give a Bernie Gunther mystery another try in the future.… (more)

Bernhard Gunther, a World War I veteran and a former detective who was based in Berlin, has always been a smart aleck. When Hitler came to power, Bernie was repelled by the Nazis' cruelty and barbarity, and he habitually made wisecracks about National Socialism in front of important party officials. Gunther was fortunate that his superiors brushed off his insolence as harmless banter, or he would have been summarily executed. Another weakness that has gotten Bernie in hot water is his soft spot for attractive women. Time and again, he has fallen in love (or lust) only to find out that he was played for a fool. In 1956, an older and wiser Bernie works as a hotel manager in the French Riviera.

Out of the blue, a former acquaintance, Comrade-General Erich Mielke, who is a bigwig in East Germany's Stasi, makes an offer Bernie had better not refuse. Either kill someone Mielke wants dead or risk being killed himself. This unnerving situation makes Bernie think back to 1939, months before the outbreak of the Second World War. At the time, Reinhard Heydrich dispatched Gunther to Hitler's lavish retreat in Bavaria. Bernie's task was to apprehend the sharpshooter who gunned down a man in Hitler's compound shortly before the Führer was scheduled to arrive. Martin Bormann, Hitler's right-hand man, warned Bernie that the Leader would be very displeased to learn that a murderer is on the loose. Therefore, Bernie had better close the case quickly and satisfactorily.

"Prussian Blue," by Philip Kerr, is an ambitious work of historical fiction that requires a sizeable commitment of time and energy on the part of its readers. Not only does Kerr move back forth between 1939 and 1956, but the cast of characters is large, and the novel's dense plot has more curves than one of Bernie's buxom beauties. At various times, our beleaguered hero is threatened and attacked, both verbally and physically. During the chapters set in 1939, Bernie conducts a challenging investigation that is both messy and dangerous. In 1956, he becomes a fugitive in order to elude a band of murderous thugs.

It is entertaining to observe this resilient and resourceful sleuth try to keep his cool while dealing with fierce political infighting, corruption, drug use, deceitful witnesses, elusive evidence, and self-serving Nazis. Bernie is no Boy Scout. He smokes incessantly, drinks too much, and cuts corners to achieve his goals. However, he is honest, compassionate, moral, and unwavering in his resolve to protect the innocent and make sure that those who are guilty pay for their misdeeds. The conclusion is brilliant. Gunther's life come full-circle, the past and the present converge, and he feels as if fate is having a huge laugh at his expense. Kerr's exhaustive research, literate and intelligent prose, incisive and satirical social commentary, vivid portrayal of repugnant villains, biting humor, and authentic use of geographical, historical, and biographical details make this a must-read for fans of the irrepressible Bernie Gunther.… (more)