Field Gray

A Bernie Gunther Novel

By: Philip Kerr

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Philip Kerr crafts a thrilling chapter from his critically acclaimed Bernie Gunther series. In Field Gray, Bernie finds himself imprisoned in 1954—and told he can either work for French intelligence or he can hang. Accepting his new job, Bernie begins interviewing POWs returning from Germany. And things get interesting when he meets a French war criminal and member of the French SS who has been posing as a German Wehrmacht officer.

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©2011 Philip Kerr (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Historically very well researched novel

The way Kerr mixes his story with extremely well researched historical facts is fascinating. He really does not like the French, dislikes the Russians or the Americans and sometimes his main character Bernie Gunther seems to go a long way to explain (excuse?) the German behavior. Probable truth is that every nation is guilty at some point in its history of horrible behavior, but the systematic, organized murder of millions is not easy to forgive. One last point: in the 5 Bernie Gunther books I have read so far, the Brits appear only sporadically and are rarely criticized.

Not the best in the series

I am a fan of the Bernie Gunther series, well, some of them. Volumes 4, 5 and 6 were superb. This one (#7) was way too talky and bored me; maybe it gets better but I gave up a third of the way in. It starts strong, a continuation of where #6 left off in Havana, but gets bogged down pretty quick in Germany. Paul Hecht is excellent, but in this edition the recording is uneven, and also has a lot of breath intake sounds that distract.

Bernie Guenther from Cuba to Germany

What did you like best about Field Gray? What did you like least?

Best was the Gurnther character and the narrator.
Worst was the over-extensive bouncing in time and place from Cuba to Guantanamo to Germany to France

Would you be willing to try another book from Philip Kerr? Why or why not?

I like them all, some more than others.

Have you listened to any of Paul Hecht’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Fine.

Did Field Gray inspire you to do anything?

To look for more Bernie Guenther books

Any additional comments?

Too much self-analysis and too many attempts to put forward his anti-Nazi, anti-Communist, anti-French, non-anti-semitic qualifications ending in anti-American rants as well.
If accurate, amazing reconstructions of the politics of Germany, France during the pre-WW II and during the WW II eras.

I love Bernie

This character has all the worldweary charm of the era. I love the writing and it was very well read. Makes a nice companion piece with Mission to Paris by Alan Furst.

You've got to pay much closer attention this time.

Kerr weaves a story of prisoners that encompasses so much history and so much espionage that he keeps you on your chess game of knowing where all the pieces lie and guessing at how they all move.

Great listening

What made the experience of listening to Field Gray the most enjoyable?

Phillip Kerr is an exceptional writer. Paul Hecht is an exceptional narrator. Bernie Gunther is an exceptional book character. And yes, this book is an exceptional listen.

Patience and concentration required. Brilliant!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I love complicated books and this strange genre of the WWII noir detective novel is right up my alley. I listened to this book twice over a few months and still have trouble placing and remembering all the people and events in Bernie's tale. The book moved forward, back and sideways as Bernie recalled and made up stories to the various characters and intelligence agencies. I had trouble following what was true and not until the last 15 minutes. An actual book might have made it easier. The reader is very good and can sound like David McCullough at times. I like John Lee too and can understand why the transition may be difficult for some reviewers but, although they have different styles, both are excellent.

Best of a great series

This one is a "must read." Flashes forward/backward are handled extremely well and are singularly appropriate in their timing. Narration is outstanding.

?

I have read every Kerr book ,so I must like them. I have gone to US holocaust Memorial Museum website. I guess one is saying and the other is proving : there is no god, there is no justice, and nothing is solved by war.
I don't know how to rate this book. I don't know if I like or not. I guess the one liner by the old peasant to Pancho Villa says it all "doesn't matter who is in charge, they all still you chickens." However , this is much to simple for this book that starts slow and familiar and grows on you.

Kerr Mastered the Style

In the Bernie Gunther series, Kerr manages to tell a story about Bernie in his pre-war or wartime life, and then jumps to Bernie's then current-day, after the war. The series progresses from just after the war up to the late 50's and early 60's.

This book is his best effort by far. Early on, the books were a bit hard to follow at times and it was hard to catch the story's flow over the gap in years. Field Gray nails it! It's a fabulous story with interesting characters and an intriguing story that ends up being a page turner!

The narrator, Paul Hecht is overall, a very good narrator and he does a fine job on this one.

Overall, this one is Highly Recommended! The series is likewise a recommend!