(Goodreads description)
Willi Geismeier thought he’d faced the worst of humanity on the battlefield in World War I , but when he returns to Munich he is drawn into an investigation that proves to be just as chilling.
Munich, 1913. Nineteen-year-old Willi Geismeier is showing great promise as a rookie detective in the Munich police department when he is sent to fight in World War I. After narrowly surviving the horrors of the conflict, Willi returns home, where the challenges he faces are just as grave.
The Spanish flu rips through Munich with devastating consequences. Willi, now back in the police force, finds himself investigating an insurance scam, missing drugs and the mysterious death of a prisoner. Chilling links emerge between all three, and Willi finds himself facing a ‘scientific’ killer and the rising fascists determined to stop him in his tracks .
In a way, it feels like there are two different stories here. I really enjoyed the first part of the novel. The historical setting was fantastic, and the description of how WWI disrupted everyone’s lives, how it unfolded, and the aftermath, paired with the influenza pandemic, was really good. I’ve seldom seen the 1918-19 influenza pandemic used paired to WWI in a historical faction, but I suppose we are becoming more sensitive towards that experience. It was a bit confusing at the beginning because all events felt disconnected. But slowly, after the war, everything seemed to come together. I intrigued me greatly – until the author revealed everything from a POV different from that of the protagonist.
Now, I know this is a thriller, not a mystery, but it was conducted as a mystery up to that point. It disappointed me. It smashed my involvement. After that, it was harder for me to stay interested. Also, I found that the way the German social situation evolved toward Nationalism after WWI was portrayed too simplistically. There was nothing semplicistic about that situation, and I was a bit put off by this.
I understand the author is employing historical facts and characters, but since I’m not familiar with them (as, I suppose, most readers), I would have appreciated some notes at the end to explain how much is fiction and how much is history. I know I can google it, yet I would have appreciated some pointers.
But apart from this, I found the plot very strong, although I didn’t like the ending. I was just wondering how such an intricate story could end in the next 10 pages… when something independent from the protagonist’s action happened and ‘sorted out’ the ending. I didn’t really appreciate that, and I found ending with that twist, after a plot build so solidly, was disappointing.
The style is very journalistic (I understand the author is a journalist), which I found particularly suited for the story, and yet gave some surprisingly heartfelt moments.
Overall, it was a good story. I just liked the first part a lot better than the second.
The New Detective by Peter Steiner (Book Review) – A young, determine detective fights for justice in pre WWI Germany #HistoricalFiction #Thriller Share on XThe New Detective
Excerpt
Willi held up his badge for Schäuble to see. ‘Detective Willi Geismeieir,’ he said in case the doctor had not heard him the first time. ‘And I need the name of the doctor who last attended the deceased prisoner.’
‘Young man!’ said Schäuble, ‘I have no intention of giving you the doctor’s name.’
‘Herr Schäuble, I can get a court order, if you require it. But trying to keep me from speaking with this doctor would waste your time and mine…’
The doctor snorted and shook his head in exasperation at the suggestion that his priorities and those of this young, rude policeman could in any way be regarded as equal. Nevertheless, he pushed the button on his intercom.
‘Jawohl, Her Professor Doctor?’ came the receptionist’s voice. ‘Frau Becker, where is Herr Doctor von Fischer at this hour?’
Frau Becker did not know exactly, but she said she would find out. ‘Would you please give that information to the young detective who is now leaving? Thank you. ‘
‘Now, detective, there is nothing else…’
‘As a matter of fact, there is,’ said Willi. ‘There is the matter of drugs going missing from your hospital. I have learned that, after doing an internal investigation, you decided not to notify the police about the missing drugs. Could you tell me, please, Herr Doctor, how you reached that decision?
‘As I already told your chief, Detective, we conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that the theft of these drugs is of no concern to the police. Now, if you will…’
‘But how did you determine that the police should not be brought in?’ ‘
I must insist, young–‘
‘Was it you, Doctor, who decided not to notify the police, or someone else?’
‘My staff and I, we met and discussed–‘
‘I would like a list of everyone who was involved in that decision.’
‘Why on earth would you need such a list? I’ve told you, young man, we have decided–‘
Willi opened the little notebook again. ‘I’m ready when you are, Doctor,’ he said.
The other books in the series so far
The Thursday Quotables was originally a weekly post created by Lisa Wolf for her book blog Bookshelf Fantasy . It isn’t a weekly post anymore, not even for Lisa, but just like her, I still love to share my favourite reads on Thursdays and I still use the original template which included an excerpt.
