REVS Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I'm enjoying a new book by one of my favourite detective fiction writers, Philip Kerr, starring the indestructible Bernie Gunther. This one, called "If the Dead Rise Not" is set back in 1934, while Bernie is the house detective at the Adlon Hotel in Berlin (so it predates the Berlin Noir trilogy for those familiar with Bernie's novels, all of which are set either before or immediately after WWII). I think in this book Bernie's anti-Nazi one-liners seem to be getting better, too, and I thought I'd post some for no particularly good reason at all. Here goes: "Their light brown tunics and red armbands made them easy to spot, which makes me think that Nazi officials and pheasants had something in common. You didn't have to know anything about them personally to want to shoot one." AND "Don't get me wrong," I said. "I just love Nazis. I've a sneaking suspicion that ninety-nine point nine percent of Nazis are giving the other point one percent an undeservedly bad reputation." Does anyone know of any other detective fiction set around the WWII era? I wouldn't mind reading some more, but it'll have to be good to match Bernie's exploits. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 There's the TV series, now available on DVD - "Foyle's War" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 REVS, Maybe these'll help. http://www.librarything.com/topic/41706 http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/booksf/mystery/britain.html http://www.south-central-media.co.uk/war/war-sts.htm Look this one up The Web of Iniquity: Early Detective Fiction by American Women by Catherine Ross Nickerson Clyde Clason reviewed here (Moon, hope this is okay!) http://www.ruemorguepress.com/authors/clason.html Really branching out here! http://wallacethinksagain.blogspot.com/2008/06/little-known-greats-in-contemporary.html The War Against Miss Winter By Kathryn Miller Haines http://www.themillions.com/2006/05/reading-list-world-war-2-fiction.html Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Does anyone know of any other detective fiction set around the WWII era? Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon. Slightly flawed by his idealized notion of how sexual relationships work, but an excellent novel anyway, especially if you have any interest on how The Bomb was created. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Look for Nestor Burma. I have only read one graphic novel based on the first book by Jacques Tardi, but it was really interesting - a French detective, after released from POW camp, investigating the murder of a friend in occupied Paris. The setting was brilliant. Several films and a tv series have been made of it. IL EST MORT! Robert Harris' Fatherland is a must read. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 REVS, Sergei is absolutely right about FATHERLAND. Brilliant book! Christie's Hercule Poirot novels would seem pertinent. http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Hercule:Poirot.html The there're these novels: http://www.slate.com/id/2212655/pagenum/2 Bibliography from the Golden Age of British detective novels http://www.twbooks.co.uk/authors/goldenage.html THE DEADLY EMBRACE: A Novel of World War II, Mrazek THE FIFTH MAN, Coles Nice discussion here http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=43081 Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REVS Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Thanks everyone, much appreciated, you've given me heaps of really useful leads. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I just remembered another one: Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler is mostly set in London during the Blitz. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bboyle Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 They are really spy novels but if you want to read truly excellent late 30's to WWII then get everything by Alan Furst. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanish Bombs Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Robert Harris' Fatherland is a must read. Agreed. Harris also wrote Enigma, a WW2 'mystery' set around Bletchley Park which was also a good read. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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