Philip Kerr (1956–2018)

This was the first in the author's series of thrillers set in Nazi Germany featuring private investigator Bernhardt Gunther attempting to foil genuine crimes and be a decent human being, while avoiding getting caught up in politics. Very unsuccessfully on the latter point here. The backdrop is the Berlin Olympics in summer 1936 and the authorities are attempting to clean the city up temporarily (removing signs of anti-Jewish repression, for example) to avoid upsetting visiting foreigners. show more From the context, before the series start, Bernie already has a long past as an investigator and a policeman before that, and a prior First Word War record in Turkey. His latest client is a rich industrialist whose daughter has been horribly murdered with her husband. Needless to say, the truth is more complicated and Bernie becomes involved with beautiful actresses, criminal gangs, the Gestapo, SS, and even Hermann Goering and Reinhard Heydrich themselves. It is surprising he survives, the number of times he is beaten up and knocked out, and he even spends a spell in Dachau concentration camp; on the other hand he also has some surprising sexual opportunities. He has a resilient and self-deprecating character and a sardonic sense of humour, and I warmed to him as a character. There are some laugh out loud similes such as: "She gave me a smile that was as thin and dubious as the rubber on a secondhand condom" and "he swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple tossing around like a honeymoon couple under a thin pink sheet." I shall definitely be pursuing this series for the characters. show less

Having read a few Kerr novels over the last year I invested in a trilogy called Berlin Noir, of which March Violets is the first part.
March Violets is a crime novel which introduces us to Bernie Gunther, a private detective. The novel is written very much in the style of Raymond Chandler, but with language that would not have been acceptable in the 1930s and 40’s when Chandler was in his pomp. Bernie Gunther is Philip Marlowe dumped into 1930s Berlin. Hitler has come to power and the Nazis show more are consolidating their hold on every aspect of German culture. Former policeman Gunther hates Nazis and although he is himself a brutal, sexist pig, with a foul mouth and an equally revolting mind, the fact that the swirling anti-Semitism and Nazi cruelty around him is so gross makes him almost appealing and I certainly felt sympathy for his cause. He growls around the city gathering evidence through a mix of threats, bribery, persuasion and keen observation. Whether he is in it for profit, or whether he is seeking justice is a question that is not adequately answered.
March Violets sees Gunther employed by a powerful businessman who is seeking the truth following the death of his daughter and her SS officer husband. More to the point he wants to recover a collection of priceless diamonds that were stolen by the murderer. Taking on the case Gunther finds himself attending the Berlin Olympics, up against the Berlin underworld, harassed and threatened by the Gestapo and drawn into the orbits of Hermann Goering and the chilling Richard Heydrich.
I really enjoyed this and was delighted to discover that Kerr has written no less than 14 Bernie Gunther novels. This could keep me busy for quite some time (though it could make Last Orders! book reviews a bit samey). The picture of the early days of the Nazi regime, the full knowledge and complicity of civilians in the development of the concentration camps and persecution of Jews was a compelling backdrop to a good story, with clever twists and a character who is clearly going to grow in future outings. Having the evil of the real architects of Hell added to the mix, along with Kerr's great knowledge of Berlin gave the book great depth and I found myself carried along and unable to put it down. I'm on to the next in the series already. show less

A Quiet Flame is the 5th book in Philip Kerr's terrific "Bernie Gunther" Berlin noir series. The stories take place, mostly, in Berlin during the days just before and just after World War II. The first two books were pre-war, post-Nazi takeover Germany. The third was post-war Vienna. The fourth took us back to Germany in the late 40s, with flashbacks to fill in what happened to Gunther during the war. Throughout, Gunther's disgust with all things Nazi, and his ever-present sense of dread and show more regret, keeps him on thin ice, even while he's working with some of the top level villains of the era, as Kerr is not shy about working famous real-life characters into his fiction. In this fifth installment, it is 1950, and Gunther, falsely accused of being a war criminal, has had to join the large numbers of Nazis in flight to Argentina. Soon, of course, Gunther is involved in crime-solving in Buenes Aires. However, the case soon gives Kerr occasion to provide fascinating flashbacks to Berlin during the final days of the Wiemar Republic, amidst the ever-growing street violence between Nazis and Communists and ever-growing anti-Semitism, as well. History and atmosphere aside, the mystery itself, and the plotting, is very good. I love this series. show less

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 show more 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. show less