DI Gereon Rath is parachuted from Cologne to Berlin in the wake of a scandal in his home city. He lands at Vice, where he starts working for Bruno Wolter. Their first case is a raid on a porn film ring, which soon explodes into a violent morass involving organised crime, Russian emigres and the emerging Nazi movement.

This is a splendid evocation of the seamy side of Berlin during the Wiemar Republic. Rath is a complex character; sometimes full of self-doubt but at other times repellently ambitious. Kutshcer's plot barrels along and includes some major twists leading up to a tense and gripping finale.

( )

It was pretty good. I liked the setting in 1929 Berlin and the story was OK. I haven't seen the TV series at all, but learning about that led me to this book. I'm fascinated with pre-WW II Germany and would have liked more descriptive atmosphere than what there was. Still not a bad mystery and a good leading character in Inspector Rath from Cologne. I may read more of these. ( )

(German review below)

Although I don't think it's supposed to be, this is basically a cheesy romance novel for men, completely with:
1. Long and repetitive descriptions of people's appearances - when they are of the other sex than the main character. Usually starting with their breasts or legs.
2. Every female character wants the main character, even those who already have a man. Well, except for the ones described as "fat". That would be just gross, of course. (sarcasm)
3. The main character is supposed to be very clever, but mostly things just happen to him without him doing anything significant.
4. Wooden and cheesy dialogue.
5. A plot that could have been interesting, but is presented very straightforward to make room for a cheesy and boring romance will-they-won't-they plot and resolved too easily.
6. The characters are all very clever and capable, except when they need to not be.
7. The main character is not very consistent and thus not very likeable, although he is supposed to be... 'deep'.
8. The other characters are flat and cliché.

The book is very, very long. There are a lot of repetitions and unnecessary descriptions. The story could easily have been told in about half the pages.

I give it a second star because, although there are some inaccuracies, the author clearly did a lot of research.

I would have loved to read this book if he had provided the historical context and another author had done the actual writing.
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Auch wenn es das vermutlich nicht sein möchte, ist das Buch ein Groschenroman für Männer. Komplett mit:
1. Langen und ständig wiederholten Beschreibungen von Charakteren des anderen Geschlechts (als der Hauptcharakter). Diese beginnen für gewöhnlich mit ihren "wölbenden" Brüsten oder ihren langen Beinen.
2. Jeder weibliche Charakter will natürlich mit dem Hauptcharakter ins Bett, auch die eigentlich vergebenen. Außer natürlich diejenigen, die als "fett" beschrieben werden. Das wäre ja eklig. (Sarkasmus)
3. Der Hauptcharakter wird als schlau und clever beschrieben, meistens tut er selbst aber eher wenig und Dinge passieren ihm einfach.
4. Hölzerne Dialoge. (Ich bezweifle, dass Frauen in den 20ern mit vollem Ernst Dinge gesagt haben wie "Oh, du hast ja _noch_ eine Waffe dabei. Lass uns die doch mal rausholen.")
5. Ein Plot der interessant hätte sein können, sich aber sehr einfach entwickelt, um Platz für die langweilige Standard-Romanze zu lassen.
6. Die Charaktere sind schlau und fähig, außer wenn es notwendig ist, dass sie es nicht sind.
7. Das wirkt sich auch auf den Hauptcharakter aus, der nicht sehr konsistent präsentiert wird und damit leider nicht meine Sympathie wecken kann.
8. Die anderen Charaktere sind flach und Klischee-beladen.

Das Buch ist sehr, sehr lang, mit vielen Wiederholungen und unnötigen Beschreibungen. Die Geschichte hätte vermutlich auf ca. der Hälfte der Seiten erzählt werden können.

Ich vergebe einen zweiten Stern, weil der Autor offensichtlich seine Hausaufgaben gemacht hat. Es gibt ein paar Ungenauigkeiten, aber die gibt es immer. Davon abgesehen ist der hohe Rechercheaufwand zu erkennen.

Ich würde das Buch sehr gern lesen, wenn der Autor sein historisches Wissen beisteuert und eine andere Person die eigentliche Schreibarbeit übernimmt. ( )

Pretty good but surprisingly not as good as the tv series. Will definitely read more. ( )

Berlin 1929: opium dens, night clubs, debauchery and decadence. You can see, hear and smell the city. The depth of detail is equalled by suspense and complex characters. Gereon Rath is a detective recently arrived in Berlin from Cologne where his policeman father is. Rath wants to impress his father with whom he has a fraught relationship.
Rath is keen but unworldly when he arrives in the city where political ferment threatens to erupt. He becomes involved in the murder of an unidentified Russian. Rath's discovers a plot to smuggle Russian gold and guns. To bring the perpetrators to justice, he must navigate a labyrinth of political and police intrigue. The tension builds as Rath is forced to take enormous risks that could end not just his career but his life.
Fans of Germany's Weimar period will love this magnificent glimpse of the era as will those who enjoy a thriller with substance. ( )