Author:Olen Steinhauer
It's 1948; three years after the Soviets liberated a tiny nation from German occupation. But the ideals of the revolution have dissipated - the Red Army still patrols the rubble-strewn streets of the Capital; everyone is careful to address one another as Comrade. Lawlessness and corruption are the rules of the City.
The young homicide inspector Emil Brod, fresh from the police academy, is unprepared for the instant hatred his colleagues appear to have towards him. It seems they believe he is a spy. When the wealthy state songwriter, Janos Crowder, is found murdered, the case is, surprisingly, assigned to Emil. It's not long before Emil discovers threads that link Crowder's death to very highest levels of the Party.
Emil's investigations threaten to lead him into more and more danger. And Lena, Crowder's beautiful widow, complicates matters further. But Emil's choice is simple - between the truth and that of his and Lena's safety.
Steinhauer's thoughtful and impressive debut... is a welcome addition to wartime ground mapped out by Philip Kerr, Alan Furst and J Robert James
—— GuardianBleak and uncompromising, this powerful novel grips from beginning to end
—— Sunday TelegraphRobinson rules the waves -- matches Clancy at his best.
—— Northern EchoOne of her darkest and best.
—— Literary ReviewIf Ruth Rendell were not slotted into the category of writer of mystery novels, she would have won the Booker long ago
—— Books of the Year, Evening StandardProbably the greatest living crime writer in the world
—— Ian RankinA writer of extraordinary imagination
—— Sunday ExpressThe striking gothic setting of London under fire proves fruitful ground for a bizarre dark comedy of an investigation... bawdy, unpredictable and at times hilarious, with a cast of wonderful grotesques
—— Maxim Jakubowski , GuardianFowler belongs with the mythographers of London: Iain Sinclair, Peter Ackroyd
—— New StatesmanIts combination of Grand Guignol and place setting does command attention
—— Metro LondonOriginal, moving and entertaining for adults as well as for older children
—— Julia Donaldson , Daily ExpressA deservedly acclaimed read.
—— Time Out London