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.
I thought this was quite good, and a departure for Mrs. Kellerman. Axel Berg is not the morally sound police detective you’re used to seeing as the main character in a novel like this. Berg is flawed and imperfect and realistic, much like Munich itself in 1929. The roiling political climate makes an excellent backdrop to the story. The end is unexpected, but not unthinkable.
