On the Radar — That sad day will soon be upon. Yes, Philip Kerr’s final Bernie Gunther novel is hitting the shelves soon and it’s set during the topsy turvy days of the Weimar Republic, before the Nazis seized power in Germany. We know Kerr’s fans can’t wait to get their hands on it and neither can we. A sublime series. As ever, we also bring you plenty of other choices and this week they include some Icelandic crime fiction, thrillers and a trip back to Ancient Rome with Lindsey Davis.
Metropolis by Philip Kerr
Sadly, the author Philip Kerr passed away last year, leaving two Bernie Gunther novels unpublished. In April 2018 we reviewed Greeks Bearing Gifts, set in the 1950s, and on 4 April this year Metropolis arrives. It goes back to the year 1928, around the time Fritz Lang’s famous sci-fi film of the same name came out. Gunther is a vice detective and the Weimar Republic is staggering towards execution by the rising tide of Fascism. The head of the Berlin police calls Gunther in and asks him to investigate a homicide. Several, in fact. Someone is killing prostitutes using a signature method in the vicinity of the Silesian Station. Then, someone starts killing crippled WWI veterans as well…
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The Island by Ragnar Jonasson
The Icelandic author Ragnar Jonasson has proven incredibly popular since we announced his first translation, Snowblind, back in 2015. He’s now adding to his Dark Iceland series with a set of books called Hidden Iceland, and The Island is the second in that series. Inside, Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir heads to an isolated island to find out what really happened when four people went out there and only three returned. Turns out, the same thing happened a decade ago and not only will this book make you nervous of weekends away with friends, it’ll have you chilled to the bone with its depiction of the dark Icelandic winter. It’s out 4 April.
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Shooting Lessons by Lenny Kleinfeld
Ever been annoyed at the service you’ve received from Uber or Lyft? Bet you’ve never thought of bumping off the driver, though… Trouble is, in Chicago, someone is doing just that, and their employer, Makro, is none too happy in this darkly comic thriller that’s out on 31 March. Meanwhile, the American Gun Association is funding a flashy multimedia campaign to eliminate Illinois’ handgun permit restrictions. Detective Mark Bergman has become something of a celebrity – but that’s not going to help him solve this somewhat tech-driven crime fiction romp through the Windy City.
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55 by James Delargy
Australia is providing rich pickings for crime fiction lovers these days, and James Delargy could be another to add to the list. Wilbrook is a sleepy little place in Western Oz where nothing much happens. Then police sergeant Chandler Jenkins’ easy life takes a knock – a man called Gabriel stumbles into the police station and claims he’s escaped a serial killer called Heath and was to be his 55th victim. Then Heath walks into the same station, claiming have been earmarked as the 55th victim of a serial killer called Gabriel. Just who is telling the truth? This intriguing debut is out on 4 April.
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A Capitol Death by Lindsey Davis
We’ve reached number seven in the Flavia Albia series, set in Ancient Rome. Emperor Domitian has demanded a Triumph to celebrate two so-called victories. Preparations are going swimmingly until one of the men overseeing the celebration falls to his death from a cliff on Capitoline Hill. It’s being classed as an accident, but Flavia isn’t too sure. The man wasn’t well liked and had his fingers in a lot of dodgy pies. Can she see to the heart of the matter and catch those responsible for the unpopular man’s untimely death? Out 4 April.
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