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Shadow And Light (2009)

by Jonathan Rabb(Favorite Author)

3.4 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0374261946 (ISBN13: 9780374261948)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Farrar Straus Giroux

series

Berlin Trilogy

review 1: Interesting novel, mystery, dysfunctional family thriller. Along the way I realized I really should have paid attention to the fact this was Book 2 in a Trilogy(Duh!!) Nevertheless very interesting read. The title is a play on the German/American movie industry, the Berlin weather, the sex trade, and the organized crime that flourished in the city between the wars. Other readers have indicated a complicated plot full of twists and turns. I agree. I think I know whodunit, but I have my doubts. The city of Berlin is itself a character, a rather dark one at that. Although I haven't read the other books in the series National Socialism seems to play in all 3 so I would also consider this an evolutionary tale as well. I do plan to read the other titles in the series, thoug... moreh at points in this reading I kept waiting for Bernie Gunther to appear. Very similar characters on the same Berlin Police Force.
review 2: I can't say I enjoyed this as much as Rosa, the first of Rabb's Berlin trilogy, but I certainly enjoyed it enough to want to get my hands on the third book, The Second Son. There is a thin line between a complex plot that keeps you guessing, and one that merely leaves you confused, and too often in the first half of the book this novel crossed that line for me. Especially as the main character, Detective Inspector Nikolai Hoffner of the Kriminalpolizei, struggles to see the bigger picture for much of his investigation. However, it picked up hugely for me in the last quarter as we accelerated towards the end and a few (possible) answers. Nikolai Hoffner remains an interesting character and the evocation of Weimar Berlin was wonderful. less

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