The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin

Good Thief's Guide #5

by Chris Ewan

You can't keep a good thief down . . . Charlie Howard is back and robbing the city of Berlin blind, until he witnesses a murder being committed right before his eyes

Charlie Howard, part-time writer, part-time thief, has been engaged in a veritable spree of larceny and misappropriation since moving to Berlin, Germany. He's supposed to be working on his next novel. But high rent and a love for thrill-seeking has been hard on his word count.

But Charlie's larcenous binge is interrupted by the call to duty—on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. Four embassy employees are suspected of stealing a sensitive item. Charlie is to break into their homes, find the culprit and recover the stolen property. But there's a catch. The item is so sensitive, Charlie isn't told what he's looking for. Not its size, not its weight, nothing. He's only told that he'll recognize it when he sees it.

Charlie has been a successful thief because he follows his own rules, the first being "Don't get caught." Well, after he enters the first suspect's home, he has to add a new rule: "Don't admire the view." As Charlie stares across the street, he sees something he really wishes he hadn't—a woman being murdered. And that's just for starters. What follows is a wild adventure in the former cauldron of spies.

With The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin, Chris Ewan shows why he was voted as one of America's favorite British authors by a Huffington Post poll. Clever and wildly entertaining, this is a mystery series that is "big fun" (The Seattle Times).

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Humor, Germany, Espionage

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 2012

About the author

Writing as C.M. Ewan, my latest thriller is A WINDOW BREAKS.

I'm also the author of the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard. The series has been praised as "crime writing at its best" (Sydney Morning Herald) and a "delightful series" (The Seattle Times) and comprises THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM (winner of the Long Barn Books First Novel Award), THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VEGAS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VENICE and THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO BERLIN.

To download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, simply visit my website www.chrisewan.com and enter your email details.

I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.
You can contact me via:
my website www.chrisewan.com
on Twitter @chrisewan
or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor

My critically acclaimed standalone thrillers include the major bestseller SAFE HOUSE (which has sold more than 500,000 copies in the UK and was shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award), DEAD LINE, DARK TIDES (an Observer "Thriller of the Month") and LONG TIME LOST (a "masterful thriller" The Independent). I'm also the author of the Kindle Single story SCARLETT POINT which, like many of my thrillers, is set on the Isle of Man.

I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.

Reviews

[Nikki Dudley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished a great read! I have to say, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Good Thief series! What struck me first was the chemistry between the characters, particularly Charlie and Victoria. Charlie Howard, the thief cum writer, is witty and likeable, drawing similarities with other hardboiled detectives that we all love (Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, Kemel Kayankaya etc). Victoria is also a believable ally who challenges Charlie and displays an unusual ruthless streak due to the fact that she earns commission on Charlie's endeavours, whether criminal or not.

The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin provides a good mystery straight off. Charlie is half-heartedly enlisted to investigate a missing item which was stolen from the British Embassy in Berlin. However, the catch is, Charlie isn't allowed to know what he's looking for. What follows (without too many spoilers) is a tempestuous search, hampered by other interested parties muscling in, as well as threats to the safety of both Charlie and Victoria.

What I enjoyed about the novel was the sharp dialogue, the page-turning plot, and as I said before, the solid relationship between Charlie and Victoria. My only gripe might be that Charlie goes through a lot, albeit as it is with a lot of hardboiled novels, that sometimes you wonder just how many injuries the character can realistically withstand. However, it's a well-written novel with a rich bank of characters to draw on, which makes it an enjoyable ride. You know you're reading a good novel when you're interested in seeing the side characters and they have real stories behind them.
The retrieval of mystery item, which at first seems like it could be straightforward, soon becomes a complex and messy task, which has far-reaching and serious repercussions.

Much recommended and I will definitely be looking at Ewan's other novels.

[Karine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very mixed bag. The first half of the book was failed homage to noir crime drama, with two-dimensional thugs based on national stereotypes and lots of rain. However, the second half was a page-turner with unique supporting characters. Some twists were predictable, but kudos for the unconventional ending.

[Wing Kee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Par for the course.

World: The world building is solid. I like that each book changes locales but I think that this one is probably the weakest of the lot, yes they spend time in Berlin but not a lot of time is done to tell readers about Berlin, it's merely buildings and apartments that Charlie visits.

Story: Solid and pretty expected for the series. Nothing here is very original and it's very paint by the numbers. That being said the writing is again solid and the pacing and tone well done. The dialog is fast and on point. The added Government angle is interesting and does make this story a big bigger in stakes then ones before but as I said the outcome and the story itself is fairly par for this series.

Characters: Charlie is interesting and his narration and point of view is fun. This is the strongest thing about the book and his journey this time around is just as interesting and fun. The added bonus on Victoria which has been around for a couple of books now is also good and she is great with him and their banter makes me smile. The villain and the new characters this time around are standard crime caper fare and nothing of note here. I do like the fact that Ewan does have some long series characters that show up every now and then.

A solid book in the series but it is what it is, a fun solid standard caper.

Onward to the next book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hated the ending and there was a bit too much violence for my taste. Also found the premise a bit ridiculous; who would demand that someone look for something and not tell what it is??? Enjoyed other books in this series more. 2.5 stars.

[Mark B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent series, but it definitely jumped the shark with this one. I’d be surprised if there’s another installment. Utterly unbelievable and cringeworthy at times. Hard to decide decide who was more annoying, the bird or his editor.

[Inga Potzblitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first and the second book of the series, but I had a hard time with part three and four (Las Vegas and Venice). Book number five is a lot better again!

[Nefty123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another thievery expedition. I enjoyed the flow of the story and characters. A very pleasant read.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

sad to say I thought this a particularly weak entry in the series (and it might be the last.) Even a lovely reader (Simon Vance--one of my favorites) could not save a story that really seemed to have seriously lost its way. Sigh.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure about the open ending, but still very enjoyable.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is apparently the last book in the series, but it ends in sort of a cliffhanger. Dislike.

[George]

This book just couldn’t keep interested and to read more. I never finished it

[Emma Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Vegas’ stakes weren’t high enough, then The Good Thief’s Guide to Berlin takes its stakes, sets them on fire, climbs up a skyscraper and waves them like a flag.

The fifth and final book in the series has a different tone to the others. Not only does it feel darker, but right from the start the book feels intense. It begins with a murder, right before Charlie’s eyes, then moves into conspiracy and government secrets and four heists going wrong.

There are a lot of characters in this book – a lot of pieces of the puzzle to juggle – but not once did I get confused as to who was who, and who wanted what. On the contrary: it made the whole book seem larger, the mystery more gripping, to know so many people surrounded it.

Out of all the books in the series, this is the one that had me on the edge of my seat, thinking how the bloody hell Charlie was going to get out of this one.

And speaking of Charlie, this book doesn’t shy away from challenging our loveable protagonist. His wit won’t always get him out of the mess he’s in, his charm only goes so far, as do his thievery skills.

Not only this, but Victoria is also challenged, circumstances forcing her to reconsider her connection to Charlie, to think about just what she is doing by enabling his crimes. It’s nice to finally see the status quo tremble between the two – it makes the book that much more engaging, and their relationship that much more realistic.

The only thing I am sad about is that this is the last book in the series! Especially after that ending! While I recommend reading Venice and Paris before this one – as it will help put some events of the plot into context – I can say that, by far and away, The Good Thief’s Guide to Berlin is my favourite in The Good Thief’s Guide series.

[Steve Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery thriller is an engaging romp through the city of Berlin, written in the first person by a chummy, jocular narrator. The good thief, Charlie Howard, is hired by British Intelligence to burgle a mysterious item. He is given four possible locations, but he is not told what the item is. While at the first location, he witnesses a woman being strangled across the street. Then he is accosted by four national groups, presumably spies, who seem to know his every move and greatly desire his cooperation in giving them the mystery item. To complicate matters, the good thief is also an author of mystery novels, and, while I can particularly appreciate the need for authors to have alternate sources of income, this risky trick presents some technical problems. Every time the narrator speaks to the veracity of his fictional narrative or comments at length about the technique of writing, the reader is pulled out of the flow of the story, pausing to consider a mystery author writing about being a mystery author. It's hard enough to suspend disbelief with all the crazy things going on in this fast-paced novel! I also dislike the common practice in this genre of deliberately withholding information from the reader in order to propel the pace, especially when the first-person narrator is so jokingly intimate about everything else.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome, Charlie Howard, a suspense writer, and discrete thief. Charlie has been hired to find an item in one of four apartments. The person hiring Charlie, the British Ambassador of Berlin. The catch is, he didn’t know what he was looking for. In the first apartment, while closing the blinds, Charlie witnessed a murder in progression in the apartment building across the way. There was nothing to do, but it bothered him so much that he used the apartment phone to call the Polizei. In the second apartment, Charlie found what he thought he sought but encountered more trouble at home. That was one problem but he couldn’t get over what he saw. His investigation into the murder he witnessed was a secondary part of the story. The initial quest for what he was hired for continued. As it turned out they were both connected. Subterfuge and treason as the foundation of the story. An interesting story although somewhat drawn out.

[Helen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie's having a hard time completing his latest book. Berlin isn't providing the inspiration he needs however it is providing him with distractions in the shape of a new job. Find something stolen from the British ambassador, four suspects and top secret - so secret that Charlie isn't even told what he's actually looking for. What he doesn't expect though whole rifling through the first suspects apartment is to witness a murder. What will our burglar author do?

Being book 5 in the series I think there's a lot of assumption and less set up in this installment. Charlie and Victoria's relationship is really an afterthought in this one and as always there's a lot of suspects and double crossing and while Charlie is a pretty good burglar he is pretty bad at nearly everything else. It's a real shame it ends on a cliffhanger.

[Tracey Gemmell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book because the author is from my home county of Somerset in England. I'm sorry to say I hadn't heard of Chris Ewan before, but I won't forget him now! I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced thriller for its portrayal of Berlin, its humor and the on-going banter between the main character, Charlie Howard, and his inner self about whether or not his should do what he's about to do. He's a good thief-bad thief and the author does a great job of keeping the reader on Charlie's side. I haven't read the prior installments but found I didn't enjoy the story less for coming into the series late. I'll read the others in sequence now.

[S.K. Conaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes yes yes. The best of the bunch. I LOVED these novels and so sorry they’re over with this last one.

Our snappy sarky good-hearted Charlie finds himself in the middle of a clandestine investigation that for once doesn’t make him the criminal (does it?), but it does thrust him into an altogether more shocking situation—being the eyewitness to a grisly murder. The twists and punches are plentiful and unexpected, and Charlie never loses his wicked sense of humour.

But that ending…

Chris Ewan trying to kill me with that ending. Took me hours to work through it, and eventually I think I’ll get over it…but maybe not.

[Jay Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, a return to form following the Venetian departure. If you haven't read the other books yet, stop what you're doing and go back to Amsterdam. Now that Charlie is more mature, you need to understand what brought him here.

I've enjoyed the series, and I'm okay with the way Ewan left things at the end. Charlie has to wonder if it's time to hang up the surfboard, but he also has to realize what he's good (and sometimes not so good) at.

4 stars because it's 3.5 and a half point for being so much better than Venice.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this a 3.5. The mystery happening in this one was great but I didn't like how whiny Victoria was throughout the entire book. She never had a nice thing to say and it was grating, like listening to a complaining teenager. The setting didn't do as much for me as the other books since I haven't visited Berlin and in the book it was always raining, so kind of gloomy. The ending was really open-I hope there will be more Good Thief's Guides in the future.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I’ve read all the books in this series and enjoy the sense of place, the quick pacing, and the lighthearted tone. Not happy with the open ending, however, especially since there’s no indication another installment is coming. Best to read the books in order.

[Susan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder ow Charlie manages to get himself into thee situations he does and till get out ok. The ending leave you hanging, will he get out of jailtime, will he sell his soul so to speak to get him and Victoria out of Germany? I don't think have done job for the British Embassy will help.

[Patricia Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I’ve enjoyed this series, this was definitely not my favorite. It was much slower for me, and I had a hard time losing myself in it, probably because it was more spy than thief-oriented. I also did not appreciate the ending. It was left too open for the end of a series!

[Rogue Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The thief is enmeshed in political intrigue as the various intelligence agencies converge on and impinge his actions. Same sorts of lost or bumbled opportunities but some interesting scenes and characters.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book took a hot second for me to get into (maybe because I unknowingly started with #5 in a series? LOL!), I enjoyed the dry sarcasm of the main character, the twists and turns of the plot, and the introduction to a city I've never visited.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cleverly plotted book with interesting characters, but the writing is a bit pedestrian and slowed me down.

I'll probablly try another book by Ewan but he isn't top of list for series purchases.

[Amuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. So glad Elka recommended this author

[Brianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not incredibly well written but an interesting story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy this “The Good Thief’s Guide...” series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story following this series in major cities. Best character in the book is the city of Berlin. I'm wondering where we go from here because the book ends on a cliff!

[Jenny Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad to finish and not have the next one to start. I want to know what happens next!