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Catherine Berlin #2
A Bitter Taste
She was ten years old, but knew enough to wipe clean the handle of the bloody kitchen knife. The night was stifling; the windows were closed, sealing in the chaos. A table upturned, shattered crockery. Her distraught mother, bare shoulders raw with welts, knelt beside her motionless father. The child snatched up her backpack, and ran…
London sweats in the height of midsummer, and Catherine Berlin hides her scars from prying eyes. At the methadone clinic, she meets an old friend, Sonja Kvist, who begs her to help find her missing daughter. But the case is not as straightforward as it first appears, and Catherine soon realises that in order to find the girl, she must tackle a far greater threat …
A Bitter Taste is the thrilling second instalment in the magnificent crime series featuring civilian investigator Catherine Berlin, whose long-standing heroin addiction is only part of her story.
London sweats in the height of midsummer, and Catherine Berlin hides her scars from prying eyes. At the methadone clinic, she meets an old friend, Sonja Kvist, who begs her to help find her missing daughter. But the case is not as straightforward as it first appears, and Catherine soon realises that in order to find the girl, she must tackle a far greater threat …
A Bitter Taste is the thrilling second instalment in the magnificent crime series featuring civilian investigator Catherine Berlin, whose long-standing heroin addiction is only part of her story.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2013
3 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Annie Hauxwell
8 books31 followersAnnie Hauxwell was born in the East End of London and grew up there and in Melbourne, Australia. Her working life has included stints as a psychiatric nurse, cleaner, sociologist, taxi driver and lawyer. She abandoned the law to work as an investigator, an occupation she has happily pursued for more than twenty years, and which she now combines with writing.
She divides her time between Castlemaine, a small country town in Australia, and Barkingside in London.
She is a keen sailor, but suffers from seasickness, follows Spurs and St Kilda, and travels a great deal, because it's harder to hit a moving target.
She divides her time between Castlemaine, a small country town in Australia, and Barkingside in London.
She is a keen sailor, but suffers from seasickness, follows Spurs and St Kilda, and travels a great deal, because it's harder to hit a moving target.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 29, 2017
Whilst London is in the heart of a heat wave, Investigator Catherine Berlin is in the middle of battling her own personal demons one of them being addicted to heroin.
Getting through each day is a challenge for Catherine, but when an old friend is in need of Catherine's help to find her missing daughter, she must somehow try and get her life back in order. At first Catherine thought this was a straight forward case, but she soon finds out it's going to be more complicated than she first imagined.
A Bitter Taste is the second book in the Catherine Berlin series. With twists, turns, mystery and crime I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. Recommended.
Getting through each day is a challenge for Catherine, but when an old friend is in need of Catherine's help to find her missing daughter, she must somehow try and get her life back in order. At first Catherine thought this was a straight forward case, but she soon finds out it's going to be more complicated than she first imagined.
A Bitter Taste is the second book in the Catherine Berlin series. With twists, turns, mystery and crime I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. Recommended.
May 27, 2013
Investigator Catherine Berlin doesn't do matrimonial or missing persons but, after being fired from her last job with the Financial Services Agency, finds herself reduced to following her grocer's wife in exchange for daily rations of milk, bread and cheap Scotch and searching London's seething streets for a junkie's runaway ten year old daughter.
A Bitter Taste is the second gritty crime novel by Annie Hauxwell featuring Catherine Berlin. Set in contemporary London in the midst of a heatwave, this is a well paced story where the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. Repaying an old debt by searching for a missing ten year old girl places Berlin in the midst of a drug dealer's elaborate conspiracy, targeted by corrupt cops and identified as the lead suspect in a murder inquiry. Meanwhile, Berlin's simple investigation as to the movement's of her grocer's wife exposes something far more sinister than an affair. And Berlin is trapped in a dangerous maelstrom of betrayal and murder.
Catherine Berlin is a complex protagonist. A functional heroin addict, she has distanced herself from typical junkie behaviour, but as her doctor begins to enforce 'managed reduction' of her habit she is concerned about her standards slipping, particularly as she is struggling with the painful physical scarring she was left with after the events first book of the series, In Her Blood. The contradictions inherent in Berlin's flawed character are intriguing, she appears to be a solid investigator but she is often distracted by her addiction. Law and justice seems to be separate considerations for her, based on her own experiences and cynical view of life. I found Berlin to be likeable but not a character I could really identify with.
A Bitter Taste is a dark, gritty crime fiction novel. Annie Hauxwell's unique heroine and intriguing plot ensures this is an engrossing read and I am looking forward to the series continuing.
October 28, 2021
3.5 stars. So far I find these books a little hard to follow at some times—just a whirlwind of action taking place—but I like them overall. I liked this one a little better than the first one.
September 27, 2014
There is not a lot to like in the character of Catherine Berlin. She's colourless, blunt, down at heel and has no redeeming qualities that I can discern. Admittedly there is some sort of fascination with her long-term heroin addiction, which she manages very well. Sometimes the need for chemical solace gets in the way of her work as a private eye. Not with the police or part of any mainstream agency, Catherine's free agent style takes her regularly into the most deplorable parts of London's underbelly. She seems perfectly at home amid the most squalid and criminal quarters of the city, limping on her gammy leg around the streets and squats of the East End, with junkies, dealers, thugs and, most significantly, corrupt policemen. She takes on seemingly innocuous cases, and soon finds herself plunging deep into murky waters where she encounters the very worst of society. After everyone is found to be lying their heads off, the dead bodies mount up in piles, as she gets herself into some truly ridiculous situations, all of which seem to end in bloodshed. Meantime, cut or punched or injured yet again, she limps off home to her cosy flat in Bethnel Green while the officials are left to squirm their way out of the embarrassments.
What I really dislike about the character of Berlin is her 'Saviour' complex. She thinks she is the only one who can save the victim of some nasty underworld plot all by herself while the corrupt coppers and the sleazy crims double cross and murder each other. In this, the second volume of the Berlin series, she is determined to get her former friend Sonja Kvist and daughter Princess out of the country to escape the evil clutches of Sonja's de facto, the drug dealing Cole Mortimer. No, actually Catherine, you don't. You could just stop poking your nose in and go home, have another hit, drink some more Scotch and stare at your blank walls because you are totally alone and have nothing better to do with your life. Of course, Berlin is destined to keep blundering into sticky situation after sticky situation, and the author Annie Hauxwell has to dream up more and more preposterous scenarios.
The whole thing was a farrago of rubbish. The so-called thrilling 'roller coaster ride' of Berlin's adventures in the underworld just does not have a skerrick of realism about it. OK, you may say, this is detective fiction. BUT Hauxwell stakes her reputation on her alleged realistic portrayals of the life of a high-functioning addict and the grim realities of the impoverished parts of London, far removed from the glitz and glamour of The City. So for me the core problem with this book and its predecessor 'In Her Blood' is its falsity.
I certainly will not be reading the third volume which was published earlier this year.
What I really dislike about the character of Berlin is her 'Saviour' complex. She thinks she is the only one who can save the victim of some nasty underworld plot all by herself while the corrupt coppers and the sleazy crims double cross and murder each other. In this, the second volume of the Berlin series, she is determined to get her former friend Sonja Kvist and daughter Princess out of the country to escape the evil clutches of Sonja's de facto, the drug dealing Cole Mortimer. No, actually Catherine, you don't. You could just stop poking your nose in and go home, have another hit, drink some more Scotch and stare at your blank walls because you are totally alone and have nothing better to do with your life. Of course, Berlin is destined to keep blundering into sticky situation after sticky situation, and the author Annie Hauxwell has to dream up more and more preposterous scenarios.
The whole thing was a farrago of rubbish. The so-called thrilling 'roller coaster ride' of Berlin's adventures in the underworld just does not have a skerrick of realism about it. OK, you may say, this is detective fiction. BUT Hauxwell stakes her reputation on her alleged realistic portrayals of the life of a high-functioning addict and the grim realities of the impoverished parts of London, far removed from the glitz and glamour of The City. So for me the core problem with this book and its predecessor 'In Her Blood' is its falsity.
I certainly will not be reading the third volume which was published earlier this year.
November 10, 2017
This author gets stars for the creation of Catherine Berlin. Who knew that a middle aged heroin addict could make such a compelling heroine. One of the one hand, it's a classic roller coaster thriller with lots of well crafted characters and on the other hand, it's a unique take on a leader character.
May 22, 2017
I liked this better than the first in the series but the co structure to provide tension (time until the heroin runs out in the first of the series and London heatwave in the second) feel so contrived.
June 4, 2013
Heroin-addicted Catherine Berlin has turned private investigator after the case that cost her her career and the financial crisis that shut down her former department. Now she works mundane domestics, taking her payment in groceries.
In the midst of a London heatwave, it’s not just the rainfall that’s dried up. There’s a serious shortage on heroin as well and when a face from Catherine’s past turns up on her doorstep, Catherine’s first instinct is to get rid of her. She hasn’t seen Sonja Kvist in years but Sonja’s 10 year old daughter has gone missing in a dangerous area and Catherine does owe Sonja a debt of a sort, being the one responsible for bringing the once good girl down, via a taste of her favourite poison.
And so Berlin sets off on the trail of a 10 year old girl amidst homeless junkies and corrupt cops who are looking for their own payday. When a young girl that Catherine had brief contact with is murdered, she suddenly finds herself in the frame for the killing. Soon it seems like cops from everywhere are wanting a piece of Berlin but she can’t let that happen. She has a job to do and that is to keep a 10 year old safe….from more than just the dangers that lurk on the street.
A Bitter Taste is the second novel in the Catherine Berlin series and in this installment, Berlin has moved into private investigation after losing her job and she’s now on a methodone program to help manage her pain from the injuries she sustained after being caught in the animal traps. She’s also on the program to attempt to kick her addiction but Berlin is always in two minds about that. The idea of being clean after 20 or more years is a daunting one. She’s not exactly living the high life these days, taking payment in groceries and cheap scotch on a matrimonial case but things get a lot more interesting (and dangerous) when she is tracked down by a former acquaintance from the days she was still smoking heroin, not injecting it legally.
I think the demise of Berlin’s job does open up a whole new range of opportunities for the character – in the first novel she seemed a bit of a loose cannon, investigating where she’d been told to leave it lie, risking her job many times over. She’s obviously a person who is a magnet for trouble, as she proves even more in this book when she gets involved in searching for Sonja Kvist’s missing 10 year old daughter. Detectives just happen to be running an operation on Kvist and her dealer on again/off again boyfriend and Berlin is starting to turn up in a few too many places for their liking. Unfortunately for Berlin, the cops are less than straight and getting her out of the way would be a benefit for everyone because Berlin has a nose for sniffing out trouble. Or really I should say that Berlin more likely has a magnet that attracts trouble to her like honey draws flies.
Despite the fact that Catherine is not desperate about where her next fix is coming from in this novel like she was in the first in this series, I still do find it hard to connect with her. She’s a very solitary type of person, she doesn’t have many friends, she rarely speaks to her remaining family. We have only been given the barest hint into some of her past, mostly about her father. There’s no mention of previous partners or romantic relationships. She seems to have no lasting friendships, only a former colleague who she does call for information sometimes and although he helps her, I’m not entirely sure what benefit he gets out of the friendship as it does seem rather one sided. I did find Catherine’s determination to find the missing child rather admirable, even when it becomes obvious that there are many other factors at play here that Berlin wasn’t made aware of. However as a lead character in what is going to be a series, it is very difficult to get a handle on her. What motivates her other than her fix? Does anything other than that motivate her? She appears to be struggling for money but the feeling that she might indeed owe Sonja for all those years ago seems to lead to her taking this job for free. I’m hoping that each new installment continues to offer up another piece of the puzzle that is Berlin so I feel as though I can understand her more. Although I enjoyed this book more than the first one in the series, I feel as though I would’ve liked it more if I’d been able to really get Berlin as a character.
In the midst of a London heatwave, it’s not just the rainfall that’s dried up. There’s a serious shortage on heroin as well and when a face from Catherine’s past turns up on her doorstep, Catherine’s first instinct is to get rid of her. She hasn’t seen Sonja Kvist in years but Sonja’s 10 year old daughter has gone missing in a dangerous area and Catherine does owe Sonja a debt of a sort, being the one responsible for bringing the once good girl down, via a taste of her favourite poison.
And so Berlin sets off on the trail of a 10 year old girl amidst homeless junkies and corrupt cops who are looking for their own payday. When a young girl that Catherine had brief contact with is murdered, she suddenly finds herself in the frame for the killing. Soon it seems like cops from everywhere are wanting a piece of Berlin but she can’t let that happen. She has a job to do and that is to keep a 10 year old safe….from more than just the dangers that lurk on the street.
A Bitter Taste is the second novel in the Catherine Berlin series and in this installment, Berlin has moved into private investigation after losing her job and she’s now on a methodone program to help manage her pain from the injuries she sustained after being caught in the animal traps. She’s also on the program to attempt to kick her addiction but Berlin is always in two minds about that. The idea of being clean after 20 or more years is a daunting one. She’s not exactly living the high life these days, taking payment in groceries and cheap scotch on a matrimonial case but things get a lot more interesting (and dangerous) when she is tracked down by a former acquaintance from the days she was still smoking heroin, not injecting it legally.
I think the demise of Berlin’s job does open up a whole new range of opportunities for the character – in the first novel she seemed a bit of a loose cannon, investigating where she’d been told to leave it lie, risking her job many times over. She’s obviously a person who is a magnet for trouble, as she proves even more in this book when she gets involved in searching for Sonja Kvist’s missing 10 year old daughter. Detectives just happen to be running an operation on Kvist and her dealer on again/off again boyfriend and Berlin is starting to turn up in a few too many places for their liking. Unfortunately for Berlin, the cops are less than straight and getting her out of the way would be a benefit for everyone because Berlin has a nose for sniffing out trouble. Or really I should say that Berlin more likely has a magnet that attracts trouble to her like honey draws flies.
Despite the fact that Catherine is not desperate about where her next fix is coming from in this novel like she was in the first in this series, I still do find it hard to connect with her. She’s a very solitary type of person, she doesn’t have many friends, she rarely speaks to her remaining family. We have only been given the barest hint into some of her past, mostly about her father. There’s no mention of previous partners or romantic relationships. She seems to have no lasting friendships, only a former colleague who she does call for information sometimes and although he helps her, I’m not entirely sure what benefit he gets out of the friendship as it does seem rather one sided. I did find Catherine’s determination to find the missing child rather admirable, even when it becomes obvious that there are many other factors at play here that Berlin wasn’t made aware of. However as a lead character in what is going to be a series, it is very difficult to get a handle on her. What motivates her other than her fix? Does anything other than that motivate her? She appears to be struggling for money but the feeling that she might indeed owe Sonja for all those years ago seems to lead to her taking this job for free. I’m hoping that each new installment continues to offer up another piece of the puzzle that is Berlin so I feel as though I can understand her more. Although I enjoyed this book more than the first one in the series, I feel as though I would’ve liked it more if I’d been able to really get Berlin as a character.
September 15, 2014
'A bitter taste' is the second installment in the series about London-based criminal investigator Catherine Berlin, who happens to be a highly functioning addict. Following events in the first part of the series, Berlin has gained scars, a limp and a reputation, but lost her job with a government agency. Struggling to make ends meet she's shadowing the wife of her local corner store's proprietor in exchange for groceries and cheap scotch. Her mood is not helped by her doctor's plans to wean her off her prescribed morphine capsules. And there's a heat wave building up, making tempers fray and sleep impossible.
When an old mate from her junkie heydays comes knocking on her door, desperately seeking help with finding her runaway kid, Berlin's instinct is to run for her life also. But she owes a debt and so our heroine with a taste for heroin soon finds herself in midst a frantic search for ten-year-old Princess, crossing paths with corrupt coppers, overworked social workers, sly seniors and ruthless undercover agents. Mingling with London's homeless and downtrodden, Berlin is also often confronted with the ugly face of addiction and its consequences.
As the temperature rises, so does the novel's pace and Hauxwell tightly weaves the different plot lines together, throwing in plenty of twists and turns for good measure. Berlin may not be the most likeable protagonist, but she's an interesting one, whom Hauxwell firmly places in a decidedly more grimy London than the tourism bureau would allow.
'A bitter taste' makes for a cracking read; however, too often things pan out a bit too neatly for Ms Berlin, which started to grate on me while reading and made the plot unrealistic in hindsight. I hope Hauxwell, whose writing is assured, will find a better balance between plot-driving action and plausibility in the next part of the series.
"A place could tie you down, against all reason."
When an old mate from her junkie heydays comes knocking on her door, desperately seeking help with finding her runaway kid, Berlin's instinct is to run for her life also. But she owes a debt and so our heroine with a taste for heroin soon finds herself in midst a frantic search for ten-year-old Princess, crossing paths with corrupt coppers, overworked social workers, sly seniors and ruthless undercover agents. Mingling with London's homeless and downtrodden, Berlin is also often confronted with the ugly face of addiction and its consequences.
As the temperature rises, so does the novel's pace and Hauxwell tightly weaves the different plot lines together, throwing in plenty of twists and turns for good measure. Berlin may not be the most likeable protagonist, but she's an interesting one, whom Hauxwell firmly places in a decidedly more grimy London than the tourism bureau would allow.
'A bitter taste' makes for a cracking read; however, too often things pan out a bit too neatly for Ms Berlin, which started to grate on me while reading and made the plot unrealistic in hindsight. I hope Hauxwell, whose writing is assured, will find a better balance between plot-driving action and plausibility in the next part of the series.
February 19, 2014
Dark, quirky, intriguing and dangerous. Annie Hauxwell has created such an interesting and original crime story that had my mind going a million miles a minute.
We do follow a number of people throughout the book who intertwine with each other in some sort of way, however the main character, "Berlin", does take up the majority of the story. The heroin addict goes on one hectic, fast-paced journey in the search for and old "friends'" daughter, "Princess", but comes across numerous hiccups along the way, finding herself in trouble in more ways than one.
True to the description, A Bitter Taste really is an "addictive crime spiked with grit and grunge". I loved the non-stop crazy storyline that was a total guessing game until the very end. Life and death situations and intense scenes made me anxious and excited at the same time and Hauxwell didn't hold back on the itty-gritty descriptions either. The characters had depth and were believable and even though most of them carried a darkness, I loved them!
It was easy to become invested in the story and that's largely because of Hauxwell's ability to create an addictive story that is easy to read. She is one crazy talented author who has a knack for writing dark, individual and original stories. I have read nothing like it before! This is a good thing.
We do follow a number of people throughout the book who intertwine with each other in some sort of way, however the main character, "Berlin", does take up the majority of the story. The heroin addict goes on one hectic, fast-paced journey in the search for and old "friends'" daughter, "Princess", but comes across numerous hiccups along the way, finding herself in trouble in more ways than one.
True to the description, A Bitter Taste really is an "addictive crime spiked with grit and grunge". I loved the non-stop crazy storyline that was a total guessing game until the very end. Life and death situations and intense scenes made me anxious and excited at the same time and Hauxwell didn't hold back on the itty-gritty descriptions either. The characters had depth and were believable and even though most of them carried a darkness, I loved them!
It was easy to become invested in the story and that's largely because of Hauxwell's ability to create an addictive story that is easy to read. She is one crazy talented author who has a knack for writing dark, individual and original stories. I have read nothing like it before! This is a good thing.
July 21, 2013
The main character isn't your run of the mill type. She is a long term heroin addict and isn't particularly bothered who knows about her addiction.
One of her junkie friends turns up and wants Berlin to find her missing daughter. That little mission turns out to be a lot more complicated than she expected.
It also awakens something akin to a maternal instinct in the main character. For once her thoughts are not just filled with the gnawing need for the next high or how to get it.
I liked the grittyness of Berlin. Having a non stereotypical character often adds a fresh flavour to any genre.
So with that in mind this started out well and was quite good but I think the second half could have been better.
Scenes were quicker and less realistic. The police seemed to be thriving in a constant state of non-rule regime and mutual back slapping corruptness.
There was also no explanation for the miraculous return of you know who (sorry can't tell you who the who is, as that would be a spoiler).
I would like to see the author tighten the plot with more of the harshness she gives to her main character and let that tinge of reality flow a little more freely.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
One of her junkie friends turns up and wants Berlin to find her missing daughter. That little mission turns out to be a lot more complicated than she expected.
It also awakens something akin to a maternal instinct in the main character. For once her thoughts are not just filled with the gnawing need for the next high or how to get it.
I liked the grittyness of Berlin. Having a non stereotypical character often adds a fresh flavour to any genre.
So with that in mind this started out well and was quite good but I think the second half could have been better.
Scenes were quicker and less realistic. The police seemed to be thriving in a constant state of non-rule regime and mutual back slapping corruptness.
There was also no explanation for the miraculous return of you know who (sorry can't tell you who the who is, as that would be a spoiler).
I would like to see the author tighten the plot with more of the harshness she gives to her main character and let that tinge of reality flow a little more freely.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
February 9, 2017
depressing content, but i'm intrigued by the main character so would read any with her in it.
July 23, 2014
Annie Hauxwell is a new and authentic voice in crime fiction and I compeltely adored this book. It's not an easy read, but is engaging, there is an authentic voice and the creation of ex-detective Catherine Berlin is a new, exciting addition to crime fiction. The London backdrop is brilliantly realised and presents a charcter in it's own right. Having read the first Annie Hauxwell novel it was a no brainer to read the second.Many thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.
September 7, 2013
I was really drawn into the twists and turns of this novel, and am sufficiently intrigued by Berlin’s scarred state to want to go back to Book 1 in the Catherine Berlin Series, In Her Blood and take a look. I’m sure it’ll be more of the same grit and grunge!
For my full review please check out http://blog.thatbookyoulike.com.au/he...
For my full review please check out http://blog.thatbookyoulike.com.au/he...
July 4, 2013
The second in a series set in London and a debut legal thriller show some of the exciting variety of Australian crime fiction on offer. Review at: http://newtownreviewofbooks.com/2013/...
February 27, 2025
A quite unrealistic grimy crime novel. More grunge, grime and London police corruption than you can poke a stick at. Only one or two people in this story don't have some scheme in full swing. Surely, not every member of the British police is corrupt?
An unsatisfying read.
An unsatisfying read.
October 12, 2013
Another great read!
April 7, 2014
altought need a really long time to finish this book, but this is one of my favourite book all my life
October 16, 2013
Found this a bit unrealistic. Bit of a drag really. Things to conveniently placed
November 15, 2014
Just as gritty and tough as the first one. I will definitely read the third - although a little bit of space between them is probably a good thing.
May 30, 2015
Is that it? I won't bother seeking out this author again!
April 27, 2018
Annie Hauxwell is a new and authentic voice in crime fiction and I compeltely adored this book. It's not an easy read, but is engaging, there is an authentic voice and the creation of ex-detective Catherine Berlin is a new, exciting addition to crime fiction. The London backdrop is brilliantly realised and presents a charcter in it's own right. Having read the first Annie Hauxwell novel it was a no brainer to read the second.Many thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews