A Quiet Flame

By: Philip Kerr

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Philip Kerr’s intricate novels featuring former Berlin homicide detective Bernie Gunther have earned ahallowed place in the hearts of mystery fans. It’s 1950, and Bernie has arrived in Argentina seeking asylum after being falsely identified as a Nazi war criminal. There he investigates the murder of a wealthy banker’s daughter ina case reminiscent of one he worked in Germany 18 years before.

©2009 Philip Kerr (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Philip Kerr Catches World of Germany in the 30's

Would you listen to A Quiet Flame again? Why?

Yes, excellent story well narrated.

What did you like best about this story?

The continued saga of Bernie Guenther.

Which character – as performed by Paul Hecht – was your favorite?

Excellent diction and German pronuncation

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Nothing

Any additional comments?

Kerr is the master of pre-war and war time Germany. His knowldege of Berlin is phenomonal.

Cinematic Noir

Was fun to get back to the B. Gunther series. Fun may not be the right word as there are many horrible events on display here, but having visited Argentina in recent years, I found the locations and descriptions very cinematic. The earlier era Germany flashback chapters were also a good anchoring for the character's past. One of the best in the series for me, once I got used to the rhythm of hardboiled similes (maybe overdone in this one) from the opening pages. I wonder if at some point someone will get the rights to make a film series of some of the novels. This particular one would make a great noir thriller.

Another good one!

What did you love best about A Quiet Flame?

Philip Kerr just knows how to tell a story. Interesting characters, interesting plot, interesting ending.

Long story.

This is a long one. Interesting because of the post war Argentine / German nazi angle but very labyrinthine and complex. Requires one to stick with it.

Not His Best but Still Worth It

The writing here is okay but not as good as usual. Hecht is still fine as the narrator. Even Kerr's not-so-good stories are still worth reading/listening to. In this episode it just seems that Bernie is making too many mistakes for the convenience of Kerr so he can make rather obvious political statements. It is more fun when Kerr is simply telling a story and letting Bernie smart-off and get into feasible trouble. In A Quiet Flame Bernie's arrests are far too contrived to enable the listener to feel a smooth flow of the plot. The wise-cracks are still there and the story is passable, even given the several bumps along the road.

Love Philip Kerr and Paul Hecht

The Bernie Gunther books are astoundingly good and I look for books narrated by Paul Hecht. One of the best narrators ever.

UGH! A European with a twangy American accent????

I simply cannot get through this book. I absolutely LOVE the previous Gunther books, but this accent is simply driving me nuts. What the heck? Bernie is GERMAN! this guy sounds like he is from the American Midwest. Just too bizarre. The narration is flat and uninteresting. I cannot continue. These books need to be re-narrated in an appropriate accent (John Lee) before I can pick up another one. Sorry Bernie. I just cant listen to any more.

Great Story

Great example of the noir genre. Great story, ‘dark’ characters, ‘can’t stop listening’ plot twists. Also very good narration. Definitely a 5 star experience.

Another wonderful novel by Philip Kerr

I absolute loved all Bernie Gunther novels,,this one so far, I particularly liked.Kerr shows his outstanding writing skills when he weaves the plot in current time Argentina back to Nazi Germany in the thirties- effortlessly and without creating an artificial or unbelievable pretext. His word-craft is elegant as usual,his images and ease handling the language a sheer joy. His knowledge of historical dates and characters is profound as always.
I'm still not used to the new narrator who has a problem giving the different characters a different voice.He also lacks a grip of the basic pronunciation guidelines. And unfortunately,Kerr's books are just full of German names, street names and titles of soldier, ranks etc.
Why Kerr used so many words directly taken from the German language-without explaining what they mean- beats me.I understand he studied German philosophers in their native language, and fair play to him. But how can a non-native speaker understand what "polyps are,bulls,warm brothers or even "the green minna?..to name but a few.
I saw on the Bernie Gunther fan site that they are referred to as slang. Some are and some are just normal German words which go unexplained. A glossary would be helpful for non-German speakers in my view.
Nevertheless, a superb read that kept me enthralled from cover to cover. I highly recommend the whole series. I'm working my way thru them,sometimes with the help of a few hardcovers, and dread the day when they will reach their natural end!

well written but ultimately forgettable

Kerr is a wonderful story teller but this one dragged a bit and the back and forth between times was bit too much yet I will go on top the next one in Cuba.