The Man from Berlin by Luke McCallin (May 2021)

[Nigeyb]

Welcome to our buddy read of....


The Man from Berlin (2013) (Gregor Reinhardt #1) by Luke McCallin


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More about The Man from Berlin....

Sarajevo, 1943, Marija Vukic, a beautiful young filmmaker and socialite, and a German officer are brutally murdered. Assigned to the case is military intelligence officer Captain Gregor Reinhardt. Already haunted by his wartime actions and the mistakes he's made off the battlefield, he soon finds that his investigation may be more than just a murder - and that the late Yugoslav heroine may have been more treacherous than anyone knew. Reinhardt manoeuvres his way through a minefield of political, military, and personal agendas and vendettas, as a trail of dead bodies leads him to a secret hidden within the ranks of the powerful – a secret they will do anything to keep. But Reinhardt has rediscovered a purpose in life once lost, and he is determined to follow the case to the end, whatever the cost may be.

[Nigeyb]

I've only just started this. First impressions of Abwher Captain Gregor Reinhardt are positive. A potentially classic character and the very epitome of world weary with his, as yet unclear, backstory that has resulted in him suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.

[Susan]

I am about halfway through. Too many books on the go and not enough time, but I am enjoying it more than Babylon Berlin. I note there is a forthcoming fourth book for pre-order, which is set during WWI, so wonder whether the author is borrowing Philip Kerr's idea of going backwards and forwards in a series? I don't mind that, although it can be unsettling sometimes, to try to remember what happened previously and having the benefit of hindsight of what is to come...

[Nigeyb]

Yes, very different from Babylon Berlin


This feels grittier and (I'm guessing) will dispense with a romantic subplot and (I'm also guessing) will be more about the political situation in Yugoslavia during this period which was complicated but fascinating.

[Susan]

I'm not that big on romantic subplots, to be honest. I always preferred Wimsey without Harriet, for example. I think this appeals to me far more.

[Nigeyb]

Romance schmomance

[Roman Clodia]

Thanks for the reminder, I'll make a start tonight - like Susan, too many books on the go :)

[Susan]

Reading this, it makes me wonder why I didn't read on. Probably just too many group/review books and too little time. I am forever starting a series and not continuing.

[Nigeyb]

Still early days for me.


I'm enjoying it. It feels well researched and Luke McCallin is doing a great job of evoking Sarajevo in May, 1943. Yugoslavia is nominally under Nazi rule but controlled by a myriad of appointed agencies. Things are further complicated by the other political and ethnic factions.

Whilst a central character in a crime novel awash with personal demons is hardly unusual it all feels particulary credible here. Captain Gregor Reinhardt is a veteran of WW1, to go along with any WW2 trauma he has endured, and there's hints of a tragic family situation. No wonder functioning in the suffocating and tense atmosphere of Sarajevo is a daily challenge.

I'll be interested to discover whether this downbeat and detailed procedural continues in the same manner or whether Luke McCallin injects a bit of drama or excitement into proceedings. In a way I'm hoping it carries on as is. I am enjoying the gritty and realistic feel.

[Susan]

Good to hear that you are enjoying it, Nigeyb. I am currently about 70% in. I must be enjoying it - I nearly missed my stop on the train this morning!

[Nigeyb]

70%. Wow. I'm always amazed at how you can devour books in such quick time. I still marvel at that year you read 300 books.

I'm at 16% and have just met Becker, with whom Gregor Reinhardt has longstanding beef (as my teenagers would have it).

[Susan]

I don't have nearly as much reading time at the moment. I do find that audible is fantastic, as I tend to be tapping away on the computer and listening at the same time when at home. I'm good at multi-tasking :)

[Nigeyb]

Wow. Impressive


I’m fine walking, or doing simple household activities, whilst listening to a book, but simultaneously reading or writing whilst also listening is beyond me. I just zone out of the audio.

I agree that, like you, audiobooks have increased my ability to get through books, and it’s usually a very enjoyable experience too

[Susan]

Oh, audiobooks were made for ironing :) I agree they are perfect for household jobs. I can't listen while out and about though, as my hearing isn't good enough if there is outside noise (I can't hear clearly on a train, or plane, for example). However, indoors, it's fine.

[Nigeyb]

Who is Gregor Reinhardt?


This is quite a good summary with only v mild spoilers (if indeed they are spoilers as they are just about his backstory)...

http://lukemccallin.com/who-is-gregor...

[Susan]

That's interesting, Nigeyb. Where does this series stand, do you think, compared to others you have read?

[Nigeyb]

A bit too early to say Susan, so please allow me to come back to that question.


So far I am very impressed and feel the series holds great promise.

I think it was originally intended as just a trilogy, although I think you mentioned there's a fourth installment in the offing?

[Susan]

Yes, there is a fourth book due in December:

Where God Does Not Walk

[Roman Clodia]

Crazy-busy week here so I've only listened to the first chapter - I need to swap to the book as I'm already confused about all the names of the various investigators.

First impressions are good. I feel it's more sophisticated than some historical crime series. There is perhaps the tendency to over-describe: the crime-scene rooms reminded me a bit of PD James ;)

[Nigeyb]

Good point RC. There’s a lot of detail

[Roman Clodia]

I'm at about 20% now, still very slow-moving with lots of backstory to halt the momentum. I like the attention to detail and the moodiness. But it feels like a bit of a cliche to have yet another 'good man' in Nazi ranks.

It's comforting but possibly part of that myth that people have a fixed sense of right and wrong and can't be swayed. In reality, values are often relational and are shaped by the cultural context in which they live: if that weren't the case, it's even harder to accept all the ordinary people who were actively or passively complicit with fascist states. I'm more interested in the latter, I think, than the beacon of righteous morality type.

I think the situation in Yugoslavia is fascinating, with the recognizable ethno-political pressures that exploded in the 1990s. Also the resistance to fascism coming from both nationalist groups and Tito's communist partisans.

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote:


"...it feels like a bit of a cliche to have yet another 'good man' in Nazi ranks"

I've been mulling over your excellent point RC as I read

Reinhardt's conflicts over whether to join the Party are explored further later in the book. I'm about a third of the way through now.

I wonder how much mileage there would be in a character who just goes along with social pressure to join the Party even though they might feel conflicted, perhaps even hate themselves?

Reinhardt's disgust with the conduct of his fellow officers is a theme that seems to be developing and, cliche or no, it's working for me.

More generally I am becoming increasingly absorbed in this book. Definitely my favourite character of the few I've experienced recently.

[Roman Clodia]

I listened to ch.8 this morning and it's interesting to see that issue of moral relativism (is that the right term?) is raised in the difference between Reinhardt and his son, where his son, having grown up with the Nazis, joined Hitler Youth etc. and was thus indoctrinated from a young age. I do wonder though if he's going to change his mind if he appears later.

I think you're right about the commercial attraction of "a character who just goes along with social pressure to join the Party even though they might feel conflicted, perhaps even hate themselves" - though that's sort of Reinhardt's position, isn't it? Can he be seen as resistant in the Abwehr? He certainly hates himself, albeit for different reasons which are not completely clear yet to me, though presumably to do with his dead wife.

I was thinking more about a character who's *not* conflicted about the Nazis. There must have been millions of them, clearly, yet they don't have a purchase in our literature. The only one I can think of is The Kindly Ones.

According to fiction, there are so many Germans who hated the Nazis that they'd never have been elected in the first place!

[Susan]

That's an interesting point. I know that, in 1933, the Nazi's did not get a majority, but had to form a coalition (aka Cameron and Clegg) to take power. I suspect intimidation, violence, stopping minorities - not only Jews, but also gypsies, etc. from being able to vote, helped. Talking of the Hitler Youth, the Nazi's also lowered the voting age, so that probably enabled the - suitably indoctrinated - youth to vote.

On another track, I didn't think the first book was on Audible, RC? Only book 2 and 3 when I searched. Also, I remember liking The Kindly Ones, despite the mixed reviews.

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "I didn't think the first book was on Audible, RC? Only book 2 and 3 when I searched."

I borrowed the audio from my library: it has the same cover as the book, is by Clipper Audio and read excellently by John Lee who does all the German and Yugoslavian accents excellently. But yes, just checked Amazon and it's not showing - weird.

[Susan]

That is odd. I got the next two books on Audible though. I am determined to read on in this series and I remember really liking Lumen too, so am looking forward to that one.

[Roman Clodia]

Sorry, guys: I got to the end of Part 1, about 50%, and realised this is too much of a slog for me. Still so slow moving and I don't like uptight Reinhardt with his overloaded baggage of issues: personal tragedy, alcoholism, suicidal tendencies, professional trauma, haunted by nightmares, hating the Nazis... Too much!

I also was irritated by the representation of the female victim and the gratuitous titillation of her sex life.

I far preferred Gereon Rath and the author's sense of humour.

[Susan]

We can't all like the same things, RC. I like this way more than Rath, although I didn't particularly dislike Babylon Berlin, just found it a bit boring and didn't like the female love interest.

It is interesting that Reinhardt - and others - is very aware of what is going on in Russia. I wonder whether we will get to meet his son at some time, as I never read on.

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote:


"Sorry, guys: I got to the end of Part 1, about 50%, and realised this is too much of a slog."

Fair enough RC

I read somewhere that Part 2 is more of a standard thriller - so it might pick up

I'll let you know

More generally I'm still enjoying this and finding it interesting and compelling. A lot of detail but done in a credible way, and I can accept Reinhardt's paranoia and self disgust.

The victim's sex life does seem to be pored over a bit too much, but I suppose in that era it would be something people would comment on.

Susan wrote: "I wonder whether we will get to meet his son"

The son subplot is very similar to the one in Inspector Frank Stave (The Murderer in Ruins + The Wolf Children) and in that one Stave's son does come back from the Russian front and there is a rapprochment. The son had also lost all his Nazi conditioning. I would not be surprised to discover a similar outcome with Reinhardt. Mother dead in both instances too.

[Susan]

That's interesting. I seem to recall something similar in Fatherland by Robert Harris too.

[Roman Clodia]

Ah, thank you both for not making me feel bad about abandoning this :)

I did skim through most of part 2, and read the last three chapters to know what happened at the plot level - won't say anything till Nigeyb has finished.

I felt there was a mismatch between McCallin's research and writing style, and the genre he chose - if he'd written a straight historical novel, it might have worked better. And maybe he'd have sidestepped all the detective cliches? His research is good, and his ability to grapple with the complex politics of Sarajevo. But I just felt there was lots of moving around, lots of talking, lots of interviews and yet the central crime just wasn't making any progress.

I'm glad I tried it, anyway.

[Nigeyb]

I‘be just finished Part One. As mentioned above, I understand it gets a lot more exciting in the second part. Bring it on.

[Susan]

I am on Part Three now. Really enjoying it.

[Nigeyb]

Susan wrote: "I am on Part Three now. Really enjoying it."


Great news Susan. I must admit I have been engaged throughout and have the sense it's building to something interesting

[Nigeyb]

I’m now at 71% and there’s been quite a dramatic twist with the arrival of Meissner


Still enjoying this, and I am increasingly gripped

[Susan]

I have finished now. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, Nigeyb.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Susan.


I’m entering Part Three (the Mountains) with 24% left.

The plot has certainly taken a few more dramatic twists.

I can imagine plenty of scope to develop the character in further instalments

[Susan]

Although this gets more 'exciting,' I never felt the author was writing with a view to a possible television show - as I felt with Babylon Berlin. I agree there is plenty of scope for future books. I know you mentioned it was meant to be a trilogy, but then I suppose he has already gone beyond that with a prequel.

[Nigeyb]

Yes, I agree with all of that Susan


I can see this series going beyond the prequel

[Nigeyb]

Verhein is a magnificent character - I’m at 90% and totally gripped

[Susan]

Hurrah!

[Nigeyb]

Finished. Finally.


I was very impressed

Here's my spoiler free review...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I look forward to continuing Gregor Reinhardt's story

4/5

[Roman Clodia]

Glad this was such a success, Nigeyb.

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Glad this was such a success, Nigeyb."


Thanks RC

I'm sorry it didn't land with you

[Roman Clodia]

Oh well, that's the way with books, isn't it - and Mr RC is reading it now and is as engrossed as you and Susan :)

[Susan]

I thought it was the best of the similar series that I have read so far.

[Nigeyb]

Having really enjoyed The Man from Berlin (2013) (Gregor Reinhardt #1) by Luke McCallin, I was keen to continue the Gregor Reinhardt series.

In readiness for our mid-July 2021 buddy read of The Pale House (2014) (Gregor Reinhardt #2) I decided to get ahead of the game.

I've just finished The Pale House.

The Pale House (2014) (Gregor Reinhardt #2) is, if anything, even better than the first installment.

Spoiler free review here...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4/5

Looking forward to our discussion in a few weeks