ibeforem
Written on Nov 7, 2007
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In 1920s Munich, homicide detective Axel Berg is called to the scene of a grisly murder, the victim being a young and pretty society wife. Soon, a second body is uncovered; the discovery of a third indicates that Berg is dealing with a killer who has no fear being caught. In the Germany of the time, no investigation on this scale can be straightforward. Adolph Hitler's power is growing, and the Nazis are a strong civic force in the city of Munich. Berg has always considered himself apolitical, and as an outsider living a routine life he's been of no interest to those with power. But this high-profile case changes all that, as senior officers work to their own agendas, while one theory is that the killings themselves are part of a fascist conspiracy. Berg is alone as never before, with the imminent threat at all times of making a mistake with deadly consequences.