Straight into Darkness

By: Faye Kellerman

Narrated by: Paul Michael

AudioFile Earphones Award, Winner, 2006

In 1920s Munich, the body of Anna Gross, a young society wife, has been found in the English Gardens, still clothed in finery. Soon a second body is discovered, also a woman of high society. When a third body is found, homicide detective Axel Berg realizes he's dealing with unprecedented evil. Is the murderer politically motivated? Is he a lone madman? Or worse, is the killer possessed by both political and personal demons? Detective Berg soon finds himself entangled in a web of dangerous intrigue, surrounded by potential enemies. As Munich slips further into turmoil, overrun by political factions and the rise of Hitler, a dedicated policeman can never know who to trust, and one simple mistake could be deadly.

©2005 Faye Kellerman (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

SID Review

Disturbing on many levels but puts you in the time and place.

Good historical mystery

Okay, I did fast-forward through Hitler's speeches, but I thought Kellerman did a good job creating the atmosphere of pre-WWII Germany. That atmosphere is critical to the story. The protagonist is a German who despises Hitler and who must conduct his investigation in the face of bigotry that infuses the police force as well as as the general population. The novel may not appeal to Kellerman's regular readers but will be enjoyable for readers who enjoy historical mysteries.

Not her best

I generally like this writer. Her writing is clear and her stories engaging. This one dragged on and on. It was all bed Germans good Jews, look how they suffered. The story was weak and the characters way too ordinary.

The Weimar Republic

This is on a par with the Bernie Gunther series, by Phillip Kerr. Realistic. I'll look for more!

Blech!

I expect a lot better from Faye Kellerman. This book is really depressing and there seems to be no point to it at all. I am quite surprised because I love her Dekker/Lazarus mysteries. I would have guessed this was an early book, but it's 2005!