A German Requiem

By: Philip Kerr

Narrated by: John Lee

A supremely disturbing thriller set in the ruins of the Third Reich by an internationally acclaimed master of historical suspense.

Bernie Gunther had his first brush with evil as a policeman in 1930s Berlin and came to know it intimately as a private eye under the Nazis, when each case drew him deeper into the enormities of the regime. Now the war is over and Gunther’s in Vienna, trying to clear an old friend of the murder of an American officer. Amid decaying imperial splendor he traces concentric circles of depravity that lead him to a former head of the Gestapo. Gripping, frightening, and pungently atmospheric, A GERMAN REQUIEM demonstrates Philip Kerr’s power to take his listeners hostage.

“Echoes of Raymond Chandler but better on his vivid and well-researched detail than the master.” –Evening Standard (London)

“Kerr has the talent to . . . take you places you have never been.”–The Washington Post Book World©1991 Philip Kerr; (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

Praise for Philip Kerr and the Bernie Gunther Novels

“A brilliantly innovative thriller writer.”—Salman Rushdie

“Philip Kerr is the only bona fide heir to Raymond Chandler.”—Salon.com

“In terms of narrative, plot, pace and characterization, Kerr’s in a league with John le Carré.”—The Washington Post

“Every time we’re afraid we’ve seen the last of Bernie Gunther, Philip Kerr comes through with another unnerving adventure for his morally conflicted hero.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

“Just as youth is wasted on the young, history is wasted on historians. It ought to be the exclusive property of novelists—but only if they are as clever and knowledgeable as Philip Kerr.”—Chicago Tribune

“Kerr quantum leaps the limitations of genre fiction. Most thrillers insult your intelligence; his assault your ignorance.”—Esquire

“A richly satisfying mystery, one that evokes the noir sensibilities of Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald while breaking important new ground of its own.”—Los Angeles Times

“Part of the allure of these novels is that Bernie is such an interesting creation, a Chandleresque knight errant caught in insane historical surroundings. Bernie walks down streets so mean that nobody can stay alive and remain truly clean.”—John Powers, Fresh Air (NPR)

“The Bernie Gunther novels are first-class, as stylish as Chandler and as emotionally resonant as the best of Ross Macdonald.”—George Pelecanos

“Kerr’s stylish noir writing makes every page a joy to read.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

I really Love this series.

Really enjoy this series. John Lee's narration pulls me immediately into the story. I often look up references made in the Gunther series to check historical accuracy. Entertaining and educational. Still waiting for Movie/TV interpretations. So sad we no longer have Mr. Kerr.

Excellent.

A bit hard to follow the plot at times,
but it’s a good one, and ties up nicely at the end. The series gets steadily better.

Excellent

Fabulous narration, great atmosphere and compelling story. Highly recommended.

An awakening experience.

"A German Requiem" had no care for my expectations. I wanted noir. It delivered noir, brutal and overwhelming through a force of macabre interest. I felt a sense of dark trepidation as every new event took shape on the horizon. I was beginning to feel i could not predict this book. Just when I opened an inquisitive eye to expose the motives of the author I was again jerked in a different direction. It was everything your looking for now and don't realize. Not only was I insatiably drawn to the story but the book paints such a visceral scene of post-war Europe (particularly Berlin and Venice) I learned more about the people affected by WW2 than I thought I knew before. It offered a new perspective on life after all the "interesting" war action took place, on which many are so fixated...where countless millions of people stood by and wondered what to do with their shattered civilization. This book places you there, in the desperation, the gloom, the fear and the force of will that shaped that space and time in history. Its easy enough to get all worked up about the dread of the war itself but after this book I understand the people that created the war and the people that ended it.

Among those that would have shined through the aftermath is Herr Gunther, our protag. His antihero atributes are his most endearing. His life is not enviable yet your forced to respect him. You won't always agree with his actions but you'll feel like you'd stand behind them. Philip Kerr also creates character equally hate worthy -effigies of social commentary that demand dislike and are so sharply depicted they seem familiar.

A German Requiem

Terrific read, fabulous narrator, looking forward to reading more of Kerr's books and doing more of John Lee, he is a great one to listen to.

Context

Like his knowledge of post war Europe. I learn a lot and also a great story.

Great period piece

Would you listen to A German Requiem again? Why?

Good historical references, especially to The Third Man which was filmed in Vienna I 1948.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Other than Bernie, with whom I can relate, the KGB colonel has a honesty about his job and his actions.

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

Bernie Gunther

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Bernie does not give you the cold cabbage!

Another great story, I cannot get enough of this series. Fantastic plot lines, with double back switches kept me guessing until the very end.

Another great Chandler pastiche, now with Soviets!

Solid story. Great plot twists. Like the others in the series, does a great job recalling the noir mysteries of the 30s and 40s in an interesting new environment. Darkly funny at times as well.

Philip Kerr and John Lee- a great team!

As with every other Philip Kerr book I've read, I enjoyed it from beginning to end. He has become one of my favourite writers and the experience is enhanced by John Lee's superb narration. I believe John Lee is simply the best audiobook narrator in the world. He makes a great book even better.