Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #211236 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
Englishman John Russell is a member of the foreign press corps in Berlin and a first-hand witness to the brutal machinations of Hitler and the Nazi party in the build-up to war during the early months of 1939. Unlike many of his colleagues, Russell wishes to remain in Berlin for as long as possible to be close to his eleven-year-old son, who lives with his estranged German wife. When an old acquaintance turns up at his lodging house, Russell's life begins to change. Gradually, he is persuaded by a combination of threats, financial need and appeals to his conscience to become a spy - first for the Soviet Union and then, simultaneously, for the British.

Customer Reviews

taut and atmospheric
I too ordered this book as soon as it became available and, perhaps because I am a slower reader, am getting round to reviewing it after your man below... I reckon his judgement is a bit harsh. I too found it extremely exciting and well researched but it didn't have the same sense of predictability to me. On the contary I relished the sense of a net tightening around Russell and he - not a particularly brave man - finding himself drawn into the intrigue for a variety of not exactly noble reasons. I found his girlfriend to be well characterised, headstrong and unpredictable and felt a real danger in the scenes where they almost run into trouble with nazi soldiers. As for the sense that it is like a TV pilot and there is a lot left unfinished, I found it more like an effective introduction to what I hope will become a great series. Sure, there are plenty more strands to be tied up, but the 2nd half (and resolution of the main plot here) is as taut and exciting a thriller as I can remember... I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed [...] and sure as hell can't wait for the next instalment... Great stuff.

Worth reading
I read this book on the strength of it being brought to my attention by Amazon when I was ordering some of Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels (the March Violets triple-set).

I have long been fascinated by this period of history - what made ostensibly intelligent and rational people embrace Nazism, either wholeheartedly or by simply tolerating the pervading power of the State machinery in everyday life?

Previous reviewers have noted the lack of set-piece action (though the story itself is taut and believable), but I think the events of this book probably better reflect the reality of the situation, in particular the inability to trust all but a select few with your true thoughts, and the fact that simple kind deeds could leave you in very real danger.

In fact, when compared to Kerr's entertaining Gunther mysteries, Downing's protagonist (John Russell) emerges the much more plausible character. Gunther - particularly by the time we reach The One From The Other and A Quiet Flame - starts to enjoy some outrageous coincidences and good fortune, quite apart from the oddity that he has survived the war despite being on first-name terms with Artur Nebe and Reinhard Heydrich (amongst others).

So in short, a worthwhile and credible read with a good feel for the times. If you want a more action packed but less plausible feel for the same time period, go with Gunther.

Pre WWII Berlin tension
I thought this was one of the best books I've read lately. I found the description of inter war Germany pretty scary and was thoroughly involved with the characters.

This is the first book I have read by this writer. I will look for others.