Author:Jack Grimwood
'Note-perfect, multi-layered, rugged as a T-34 tank. Grimwood is about to become your new favourite thriller writer' Independent
A tense, atmospheric and breathtaking thriller that drops you deep into the icy heart of the Cold War - fans of A Gentleman in Moscow, John Le Carré and Red Sparrow will be gripped.
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1986, the Cold War is thawing . . .
But not for British intelligence officer Major Tom Fox. Smuggled into East Berlin, Fox's orders are clear: repatriate a remorseful defector.
But they are less clear about what to do when his mission is compromised.
Trapped in East Berlin, hunted by an army of Stasi agents and wanted for murder on both sides of the Wall, Fox must stay free and get out alive.
To do both he must discover who sabotaged his mission - and why . . .
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'A fine book for those who enjoy vintage Le Carré' Ian Rankin
'The new Le Le Carré. . . an absolutely brilliant page turner . . . if you love thrillers, Jack Grimwood is a name you need to remember' BBC Radio 2 The Sara Cox Show
'Thriller of the summer. A dark, twisty tale of Cold War conflict' i paper
'The rejuvenation of the espionage thriller continues apace' Guardian
A fine book this, for those who enjoy vintage Le Carre
—— Ian RankinMoskva was one of the most impressive spy thrillers of 2016 . . . Nightfall Berlin is even better. Grimwood's portrayal of dark and frightening East Berlin is excellent and he is skilful at describing the politics of espionage
—— The TimesA gripping Cold War tale that manages to be original as well as give a nod to classic John Le Carre
—— The SunThe atmosphere and tension perfectly pitched this excellent Cold War thriller with memorable well-drawn characters is compulsive reading
—— Choice MagazineA twisty tale of Cold War conflict, which sees tormented intelligence officer Tom Fox caught up in a dark story of establishment lies and long-buried secrets
—— The IndependentA book that pulls you in, teaches you something and gives you a protagonist you can't get enough of ... If you liked Ian McEwan's The Innocent, you'll love this evocation of Berlin at the other end of the Cold War
—— The PoolThe new Le Carre . . . an absolutely brilliant page turner . . . if you love thrillers, Jack Grimwood is a name you need to remember
—— BBC Radio 2 The Sara Cox ShowNightfall Berlin is just fabulous. So atmospheric, so elegantly written. The character, Major Tom Fox is intriguing... like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, or like early le Carre. I really recommend it. I just disappeared into it totally.
—— Marian KeyesA gripping Cold War thriller where life hangs by a thread. Dark secrets from the lawless rubble of WW2 threaten world peace and the family of British spy Tom Fox. After the success of Moskva, Grimwood works his magic on the grey but edgy streets of East Berlin. A powerful, addictive, twisty tale where no-one can be trusted.
—— David Young, author of Stasi ChildSpring's best thriller
—— ObserverNote-perfect ... Jack Grimwood is about to become your new favourite thriller writer
—— IndependentAn extraordinarily atmospheric and immersive read ... escapism at its best
—— Good HousekeepingThe rejuvenation of the espionage thriller continues apace with Nightfall Berlin
—— GuardianThe thriller of the summer ... Grimwood raises the stakes in this dark, twisty tale of Cold War conflict
—— iPaperThe superior spy thriller of the year. Le Carré fans will be delighted
—— Amanda CraigIf you love thrillers Jack Grimwood is the name you need to remember...
—— Viv Groskop , BBC Radio 2, Sara Cox ShowMesmerising, surefooted, vividly realised . . . something special in the arena of international thrillers
—— Financial TimesA compulsive and supremely intelligent thriller from a master stylist
—— Michael Marshall , author of The Straw MenEven better than Child 44 . . . A blizzard of exciting set pieces, superbly realized
—— Daily TelegraphGrimwood is a damned fine writer
—— IndependentThe writing is elegant, the dialogue razor sharp, the characters drawn economically but effectively, and the action is unrelenting
—— SciFi NowOsborne’s continuation of Raymond Chandler feels like the real thing
—— i[Only to Sleep] is compelling and Osborne often captures Marlowe’s voice
—— Paul Connolly , MetroOsborne gets Chandler and his version of the enduring detective, Philip Marlowe, is the best I've read... This mystery is well plotted and plays out with a twist to satisfy the readers who figure things out for themselves but still like to be surprised… if Osborne were to write another Marlowe thriller… I will be there to read it
—— NudgeBreathtaking. Read it in two sittings. Yet another instant Ragnar Jonasson classic
—— Thomas Enger, bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked.
—— Gregg HurwitzThe Darkness is Ragnar Jonasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan, author of The Holy ThiefIt had an intense, visceral sense of place and the connection between the emotional lives of the character and the landscape was evoked beautifully
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyIt will get your pulse racing, and keep you hooked to the last page
—— Simon Kernick of The Bone Field seriesMagnificently dark and twisted and that ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today
—— Lee ChildAs chilling as the nip in the Icelandic air
—— Choice MagazineSuperb. . . chilling . . . This is the first volume in Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy, which tells Hulda's story in reverse chronological order and establishes her as one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction
—— Sunday Times Crime Book of the MonthExpertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker, The Darkness is the first book in a trilogy featuring this engaging investigator, which is good news
—— The GuardianMagnificently dark and twisted! That ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManA sympathetic yet entirely unsentimental portrait of a flawed but decent detective seeking justice for a murdered Russian asylum seeker
—— Sunday Times Crime ClubIt will get your pulse racing and keep you hooked to the last page
Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year.
—— BOLO Books ReviewThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked
—— Gregg Hurwitz , Sunday Times bestselling author of Orphan XThe Darkness is Ragnar Jónasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan , author of The Holy ThiefAnother masterpiece from the King of Icelandic Noir
—— Thomas Enger , bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesUnbearably sinister
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyThe Darkness is a true masterpiece of a crime novel, introducing an original protagonist, a plot full of twists and turns and an ending that leaves you gasping for air
—— Yrsa Sigurðardóttir , author of the bestselling Thora Gudmundsdottir crime seriesPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -No country associated with the label Nordic noir is as bleak, cold, snowy and empty as Iceland. And no crime writer portrays those elements as evocatively and scarily as Ragnar Jonasson
—— The TimesA classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens... first rate and highly recommended
—— Lee Child, on , SnowblindA modern take on Agatha Christie--style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .
—— Ian Rankin, on , SnowblindRagnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir
—— Peter JamesDistinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction...atmospheric...economical and evocative prose
—— The Guardian on NightblindSeductive ... an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully
—— Ann CleevesThe ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach
—— FRÉTTATIMINN ****Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir ...all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone
—— Sunday ExpressHulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read
—— Fréttablaðið ****Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie
—— Kiljan, on The IslandThe threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden
—— Morgunbladid (Icelandic newspaper)A very good book, gripping and interesting, with all the threads carefully managed. Hopefully the author will publish as many books as possible with lead character Hulda
—— Vikan Magazine, on The Island