A German Requiem (A Bernie Gunther Novel) / Philip Kerr

This is the first Bernie Gunther novel I have read that was completely set after the fall of the Third Reich. It takes place in 1947 with a Berlin in ruins, its inhabitants trying to survive under very difficult circumstances with the Russians exerting an enormous influence, and the fragile peace struck between the allied victors fraying at the seams. Partly due to the struggle for everyday existence in the former German capital, Bernie takes on a job in Vienna, another city that is split between the Amis, Brits, French, and the Russkies.

He very quickly finds himself caught in a complex web of intrigue involving the Russians and Americans, and a shady association of ex-Nazis who are creating a network of influence in postwar Europe.

This novel is extremely suspenseful up until the last pages, and is an enjoyable foray into the history of Europe in the immediate aftermath of World War II and its earliest efforts at reconstruction.

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