Saying I enjoyed this book feels wrong in respect of the subject matter, but I did. The police inspector is a man torn between two women, one of whom is very dangerous to know. His sergeant is a family man with children who struggles with the case as does the ss officer, but for a different reason.

This very gripping murder mystery set in Nazi Germany from the author, Simon Scarrow, is another daring project of his, and one I absolutely and fully approve. I have to say that I liked the character of Horst Schenke. He is making the best of his life after his career took a dramatic turn that lead to him becoming a Kripo officer. He is often torn between doing what is expected of him and doing what he knows to be right. Knowing that should anyone find out that he does not wholly follow the party line could cause harm to both him and those close to him. Despite knowing that he could be shot he does everything he can to protect Ruth a young Jewish girl who had helped him in a previous case and is now helping him again in the investigations into the doctor’s death. Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.Unable to choose between the comfort of home and the glamour of an illicit liaison, Dorner wants it all. But keeping secrets might lead to betrayal for this powerful intelligence officer . . .

La acción arranca justo en el inicio de la expansión del Tercer Reich. Polonia acaba de ser conquistada con mucha facilidad y el nazismo se encuentra en la cima de la ola. Esto hace que vivir en el Berlín de 1939 sea complicado para aquellos que no quieran unirse al partido. El miedo a ser considerado un traidor está a la orden del día y la falta de combustible y víveres, tampoco ayuda a sobrellevar la situación.I read this book in two sittings, the second sitting I was determined to read it until the end because I was so engrossed in the story, a story that represents people who had to live through 1940 Berlin, believing Hitler to be a peaceful man, hoping the war wouldn’t last for long. It’s hard to comprehend how those that lived through those years survived. Having read the first book in what is turning out to be an excellent series I was excited to receive a review copy of the latest outing of Detective Inspector Horst Schenke of the Berlin Pankow Kripo.

The discovery of a second victim, then some determined police work by his team uncovering at least five more probable murders centred on the rail network, confirms Schenke’s worst fears that there is a serial killer on the loose. The investigation takes him closer to the sinister heart of the regime, and with the prime suspect apparently a member of German military intelligence, Schenke realises there is danger everywhere, particularly as his lover is the dangerously outspoken Karin Canaris, niece of the Abwehr boss Rear Admiral Wilhelm Canaris.Me apetecía ver a Scarrow fuera de su zona de confort, y lo cierto es que al final nos ha dado una novela notable y sobre todo entretenida.

Ruth wants him to look into Dr Manfred Schmesle’s suicide- Ruth is friendly with the family and Brigitte, his wife does not believe the verdict suspecting murder. Meanwhile young children are dying in a local children's home and the parents want answers. Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all characters come vividly to life within this mystery of corruption, intimidation and death, and its a story where the once beautiful surroundings and buildings of Berlin in these dark, bleak and deadly conditions at the end of 1939 are wonderfully pictured and described.As I already bought this installment together with its recent second installment I can continue in what looks to be an interesting series situated in Nazi Germany.