This is a mystery novel in the Bernie Gunther series and it is a good one. Bernie is a tough, world-weary, cynical, sarcastic character who has, against all odds given his view of mankind and his experience in the war on the eastern front, maintained a sense of values and morals that he is not prepared to compromise. This often gets him into trouble, in the morally ambiguous world of post-war Germany where the church actively helps to ferret SS officers out of the country despite the horrendous crimes they have committed, where the CIA (and others) have a flexible morality that allows them to hang some war criminals, but others they coddle and support because their “experience” is potentially useful to the interests of the home country and/or in the perceived, looming, global struggle against communism. As with Kerr’s other books, this one is characterized by strong dialogue, plot, pace, characterizations and the atmosphere of the time and place. The plot is intricate and I won’t go into it so as not to act as a spoiler, but I do recommend this to read.

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I was absolutely riveted to this book from beginning to end. I picked it up, expecting to only read a few pages before bed. I ended up staying awake and finishing the book all the way through in 5 hours. I just couldn't put it down, even if my life depended on it.

Bernie Gunther is kind of like 24's Jack Bauer. He's a complete nutcase but you're always cheering for him. Whenever he starts to get his revenge or bust a few heads, you'll shouting at him to hit harder! It's very satisfying to see him winning or to see him make a smart comment at someone. Kerr really excels at this kind of writing.

The year is 1949. Gunther's wife is in a pyschiatric institution and he is running a failing hotel near Dachau. After a CIA agent arrives at his hotel to dig up stolen Nazi loot, Bernie moves to Munich to be closer to his wife, sells up the hotel and becomes a detective again.

His first cases are morally distasteful to him - locating witnesses who can help accused war criminals escape their punishment. Then his wife suddenly dies.

In his grief, he is asked by a woman to find her SS husband and he reluctantly takes the case when serious cash is thrown at him. But unknown to Bernie, he is being led into a deadly trap involving the ODESSA, the SS, the CIA, Israeli assassination squads and secret deadly medical experiments.

With the walls closing in around him, Bernie must fight back under the guise of a wanted Nazi. But all around him are people intent on killing him - and he's sharing a room with Adolf Eichmann, the most wanted man in the world.

HIGHLY recommended. Do not read this if you have an urgent appointment in the following 24 hours. I guarantee you won't make it out of the door! ( )

4. del af Berlin Noir-serien. Foregår i Tyskland få år efter 2. verdenskrig. God intrige og spændende. ( )