In this riveting historical mystery novel from New York Times bestselling author Philip Kerr, Bernie Gunther trails a serial killer in 1950’s Buenos Aires… Buenos Aires, 1950. After being falsely accused of war crimes, Bernie Gunther—like the Nazis he has always despised—has been offered a new life and a clean passport by the Perón government. But the tough, fast-talking ex-Berlin detective … fast-talking ex-Berlin detective doesn’t have the luxury of laying low. The local police pressure Bernie into taking on a case in which a girl has turned up gruesomely mutilated. What’s more, her murder just might be linked to a missing German banker’s daughter and a long-unsolved case Bernie worked back in Berlin before the war. After all, the scum of the earth has been washing up on Argentina’s shores—state-licensed murderers and torturers—so why couldn’t a serial killer be among them?
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Such an intlternate view of world events
If this guy wrote any bad books I don’t know about them.
Wish I could meet Bernie Gunther in real life.
Interesting historical settings and times reflected in the novel. Well written and good plot twists.
Loved all the Bernie Gunther books! Sad that there will be no more. Excellent depictions of a decent and smart policeman trying to work and survive during the Nazi regime.
Kerr at top form!
Great read
Great main character and unusual setting
One of the best Bernie Gunther tales. Exotic and dangerous Argentina under Peron, the new Bernie is hero and chump. Wonderful German Philip Marlowe as usual in over his head. the series as a whole is a great achievement.
This is the 4th Kerr book I have read, and I have enjoyed them all thoroughly. I am addicted to WWII novels. He uses words I am unfamiliar with which has increased my vocabulary. Who knew!
I’m delighted to find a new mystery series where I want to read all the books in it. This book kept me glued, due to the interesting character of Bernie Gunther, and also it’s take on post-WW2 Nazis who’ve escaped to Argentina. All In all an excellent book.
It’s 1950 and Bernie Gunther finds himself among hundreds of former SS men now living in Argentina. Upon arriving in Buenos Airs, he is asked by Colonel Montalban shows up and asks him for help. A young girl has been viciously murdered, her sexual organs taken out and another girl, Fabienne, is missing. But, it is no coincidence Bernie was chosen for the job. Back in 1932, Bernie was also solving a similar crime of two girls who had their internal organs taken out. He never solved the case due to the fact he was getting too close to the Nazi party for his boss’s comfort. Now, Bernie may finally be able to solve the case. In addition, he is soon approached by Anna Yagubsky, a Jew, who wants him to find out what happened to her uncle and aunt who disappeared some three years ago. These two cases lead Bernie into the dark world in Buenos Airs which seems to have many similarities to the Nazi regime. I have been disappointed by the last three novels in the series but A Quiet Flame got the serious going for me again. I enjoyed this book much better, but still it couldn’t top my favorite one, A Pale Criminal. I really enjoyed the investigating of the murder but I didn’t much care for Anna’s case. It was interesting but I would preferred if the novel just focused on the murders instead. The book was well done and researched, though I didn’t notice a small historical error. In the book Bernie states how the Gestapo never used thugs, but Himmler had hired one to see if his brother-in-law was cheating on his sister. Actually, Himmler only had two brothers. But, that was truly the only historical error I noticed. Again, a good book and now I’m on to book number six.