I like these books, like the characters, like the history. Small suggestion - read them in order. I read 1,2,4,3. In order would've been a little better. But, anyway, it's all a fascinating view and mixture of view with US, Soviet, and German perspective. However, and this is a big spoiler (for me), I saw an uninspired author talk with Downing from 2014 at DC's Politics and Prose wherein he confesses to never having been in Berlin, because, he says, he didn't want to confuse it with the 1930s, 40s Berlin. I call bullshit. I was in the middle of "Stettin Station" and the next scenes I read after having listened to the talk included an ambulatory narrative that immediately felt fake and forced. Ah, well. I'll certainly finish the series and may even read #4 again first before continuing with 5, 6. ( )

This is the third novel of a six book series that I have really been enjoying. Stettin Station begins about 2 years after the prior novel in the series, a jump in time that unbalanced me a little. This story covers a short period of time in Berlin, from November 17, 1941 until the end of the year. Roughly six weeks. The reasons I like this series are here, the detailed look at life in Berlin under the Nazi regime, visits to nearby areas I am unfamiliar with (it helps to be a slight geography geek) and the cast of characters. Perhaps a few too many to keep track of I decided as I read. The plot here is rather minimal compared to the earlier books and since we know what is going to happen 3 weeks after the story opens our main worry is what is going to happen to the people we care about when Japan attacks America and Germany soon thereafter declares war against America. When one sees how bad things are for the average German in November 1941 it is hard to imagine how Hitler and associates thought a bigger war would be better. (Hitler had apparently been advised to not go to war with America but decided almost on a whim a few days after Pearl Harbor to declare war on the US. One of the biggest mistakes he ever made.)

I think this novel is a little weaker than the earlier entries but it does have moments of excitement, especially when the story kicks into a higher gear midway through, and I am very eager to continue the series and read the next book, Potsdam Station. I would recommend that anyone interested in these books start with the first novel, Zoo Station, and read them in order. Downing does a good job of refreshing the reader's memory of people and events from prior books, and this could certainly be read as a standalone, but the reader would then miss out on a lot of the backstory that informs this novel. ( )

A decent entry in the "Station" series, but much of it is largely indistinguishable from what's been offered in previous outings. In addition, there is very little in the way of significant plot development beyond slowly moving the protagonist and his long-time girlfriend toward the next big change in their lives, which occurs rather abruptly near the end of the book. Characterizations are good, however, and Downing does his usual good job with setting scenes and evoking war-torn Berlin, but for some reason this one just didn't grab me and hold on. I'm still very much a fan of John and Effi, though, so I will be checking out the next book in the series, but it's just not going to be rushed to the top of the list anytime soon. ( )

Another excellent story in the John Russell series, this period covers around 1941 up until the USA enters the war in December 1941. Unlike many stories covering the period, this series records the life of the average German under Hitler in a sympathetic light and illustrates many didn't really support him but were cowed by the police state that existed. The main character, John Russell is trying to balance the demands of his various intelligence masters, the SD, Abwehr, NKVD and the Americans without giving away his real allegiances. Once the US enters the war, as a US citizen, Russell will no longer be able to operate as a freelance journalist and spy, so needs to carefully plan his escape and be ready to move with his girlfriend, Effi Koenen quickly. As always things don't go quite to plan and Russelll finds himself having to make a dangerous trip to Prague. Highly recommended. ( )

In the third of the series the focus widens to also include Effi Koenen, John Russell's film star girlfriend. She's been there in the first two as a strong supporting character, but she really comes into her own in this one.

This story starts in the Autumn of 1941 leading up to the entry of the Americans into the war. Having been largely left alone for a couple of years following the outbreak of the war by the Germans and the Soviets Russell has been working as a foreign correspondent for some American papers. On the side he's been doing some investigative reporting on the fate of the Jews he's known.

As the entry of the US to the war approaches the journalistic work becomes less worthwhile, only authorised despatches can be sent, so there is little value to add. However Russell again comes under pressure from the intelligence agencies of three countries, the Abwehr are using him, the Americans want him to establish contacts for later, and the Soviets re-appear as they get over the shock of the invasion.

As one might expect there are a number of dead ends and narrow escapes in this story. I think it is an improvement on the previous two, largely because the cast has broadened. We now see scenes from Effi's point of view as well as John's. This adds personality to both of them and also allows a much wider perspective on Europe at the end of the beginning of WW2.

There is a characteristic tour of Central and Eastern Europe in the early days of the war. The impact of restrictions and heightened security is all in there, but none of the devastation has happened. Berlin is still mostly intact with only the odd British bomber raid to interrupt normal life.

John & Effi are still living a reasonable life, she has the privileges of stardom and he is a foreign journalist and less subject to rationing than the locals. Despite this you can see their pre-war world has gone, and the descent has already started. The story is a struggle for a happy way out that doesn't lead to getting arrested by the nazis.

I'll avoid spoilers, but the fact that there are three more books after this one tells you that the story must continue somehow, although you can still feel some of the tension. There's also room for some of the wider supporting cast to fall. ( )