Dead of Night: The chilling new World War 2 Berlin thriller from the bestselling author (CI Schenke)

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Berlin, 1940. After Germany's invasion of Poland, many still hope that a peace can be agreed before the mayhem of all out war begins in earnest. The shortages are already being felt, as resources are diverted to the war effort, and the brutal, endless winter is starting to hit hard. He is investigating murders but who has sanctioned these murders and does he really want to find out as this might put his own life in danger. After Germany's invasion of Poland, the world is holding its breath and hoping for peace. At home, the Nazi Party's hold on power is absolute.

Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke of the Kripo, the criminal investigation department of the police force, is approached by a woman who recently helped him catch a murderer. She asks for his help to investigate the apparent suicide of a friend’s husband, a doctor and member of the Nazi party. His wife believes he was murdered. He feels he owes her this so begins investigating. He finds sufficient evidence that this death points to murder but he is told by his superiors the verdict of suicide will not be changed. Someone high up does not want an investigation. Schenke is warned off investigating further by his superiors and then again after being abducted and threatened with death if he carries on. Instead, Schenke and his team turn their attention to the mysterious death of a young child, and what they uncover both chills them to the bone, and appears to be connected to the murder of the Berlin doctor in some way. They have stumbled across a huge secret which reaches far into the highest echelons of the Nazi Party, and in doing so, have put themselves in grave danger.Kripo Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke, after being threatened to leave the case alone, suicide by the official Nazi channel, but after a plea by a mother who's convinced that her girl has been murdered, Schenke decides to investigate this case with the help of Sergeant Hauser and a former SS man called, Liebwitz, and eventually they will unearth more atrocious cases of murdered children, and all because of the children's disabilities mentally or physically. For years, Scarrow has kept us entertained with the antics of Cato and Macro, two soldiers in the Roman forces when the Roman Empire was a viable force and ruled much of the known world. Those books always managed to work in a bit of levity. This one does not. It is very dark. Of course, we are dealing with the Nazis and there wasn't much about Hitler and his gang of thugs which could provide much humour, so it's understandable this book doesn't have that lighter touch the Cato and Macro series has. The author has managed to create a story that has a harrowing reality to it and he has dealt with the subject sensitively whilst also highlighting the abhorrent practices of the Nazi party in their quest for the perfect race. The two seemingly separate investigations are brought together seamlessly and along with Schenke you can’t help but feel for the men who have taken matters into their own hands to bring the guilty to justice even when you know that it will not end well for them either. Even in times of war, under a ruthless regime A seriously gripping story - an outsider hero in jeopardy, a world of brooding danger, and an entirely, terrifyingly believable denouement' Owen Matthews

However, there were moments of dialogue that took me out of the plot, either unnecessary filler or to make grandiose statements about the themes of the novel - was it cowardice not to fight oppression? Is murder ever justified? How do morals and obligation intersect in such a twisted society? The novel did a good enough job of exploring these question without explicit comments by characters. One freezing night in 1940 Berlin, an SS doctor and his wife return from an evening mingling with their fellow Nazis at the concert hall. By the time the sun rises, the doctor will be lying lifeless in a pool of blood… For me, there is a clear improvement. The author has always superb stories in mind and this novel doesn't disappoint in any way. The characters are more formed now and the reader can relate to their respective evolution more. For me, I really enjoyed reading how the characters developed and grew, especially with how their own relationships with other characters within the story and universe developed.This is Simon Scarrow's second book featuring Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke in Berlin shortly after the Nazi invasion of Poland. I normally try and read most of Simon Scarrow's books, but found the predecessor to this book to be almost clumsy and inarticulate. So I was fortunate to be shared this book by the publisher and NetGalley, as I was intrigued to discover how this very new series has evolved and am appreciative to both.

Berlin, 1940. Germany is gripped by a spell of freezing weather. Food is rationed. The war is underway, but hopes are high it will end soon as the German people mistakenly believe Hitler is a man of peace. Saying I enjoyed this book feels wrong in respect of the subject matter, but I did. The police inspector is a man torn between two women, one of whom is very dangerous to know. His sergeant is a family man with children who struggles with the case as does the ss officer, but for a different reason.

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I read this book in two sittings, the second sitting I was determined to read it until the end because I was so engrossed in the story, a story that represents people who had to live through 1940 Berlin, believing Hitler to be a peaceful man, hoping the war wouldn’t last for long. It’s hard to comprehend how those that lived through those years survived. Schenkes private life is also getting more complicated he has asked Karin to marry him, but then he knows he has some sort of feelings for Ruth. But with Ruth being Jewish that would be a dangerous relationship to be in. I feel this story shows how many Germans may have felt revulsion at what the Third Reich was doing and how, but could not see or accept that it came from the very top. I found the plot engaging- I wont go into details to avoid spoilers, but needless to say the pressure to solve the murder of a prominent Nazi member provides immediate conflict for the characters and the readers. The historical context of the thriller both gives stark emotional weight, shedding valuable light on a dark chapter of the Nazi regime that goes to prove that no matter how much you know, it was always worse than you thought.

Having read the first book in what is turning out to be an excellent series I was excited to receive a review copy of the latest outing of Detective Inspector Horst Schenke of the Berlin Pankow Kripo. This is an interesting and dark read set at a bleak time in the history of humankind. Horst Schenke appears to be an honourable man and a dedicated policeman but he is working for a regime which is not honourable and which bases it’s very existence on crimes against humanity. I’m not going to give any more of the plot away, but let’s just say the speed of Dead Of Night and the storyline, are thrilling and utterly gripping, you will not be able to put it down. It also had me heading across to Google on several occasions to find out more about topics and people ( there are real Nazis in the books ) so as to add to the story. Writing about the inspiration for Dead of Night, Simon Scarrow describes it as being the story of how ‘an extreme ideology prepares the ground for unthinkable and unconscionable actions’. I expect we can all think of contemporary parallels. Navigating such a situation while keeping his integrity intact is the dilemma Schenke faces. He’s a patriot but one who has become ashamed of what his country is doing. It’s these difficult choices that make the book so powerful, exposing as it does some of the darkest deeds of the 20th century.Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke along with colleagues Sergeant Hauser, and the newest recruit who had been recruited by the Gestapo, Scharfuhrer Liebwitz, are working on a fraud case involving fake ration coupons, but they are waiting for some forensic results before they will know if it is one criminal gang, but the pressure is being put on Schenke to solve the case. Ruth wants him to look into Dr Manfred Schmesle’s suicide- Ruth is friendly with the family and Brigitte, his wife does not believe the verdict suspecting murder. Meanwhile young children are dying in a local children's home and the parents want answers. This thriller is set in January/February in Berlin 1940, when after a night out SS Dr Schmesler is found dead the next morning in his home office by his wife.