Death in Berlin
15. M. M. Kaye, Death in Berlin
When beautiful Miranda Brand accompanies her cousin and his wife to Berlin, she thinks it will be nothing more than a pleasant vacation; she is curious to see the German city that has recently been partitioned in the wake of World War II. Her trip takes a nasty turn, however, when an elderly Brigadier whom she met on the train is murdered en route to Berlin. The Brigadier had just told a fantastic story involving Nazi runaways and an enormous quantity of stolen diamonds - a substantial motive for murder - and anyone at the dining car could have overheard him, which makes Miranda and all her traveling companions suspects. Softspoken policeman Simon Lang is investigating the Brigadier’s death, and he seems to be particularly suspicious of Miranda. Can she clear her name and find the real killer before more people are murdered?
I very much enjoyed this mystery, which should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie. The characters are charming in that 1950s way, and it was fascinating to get a glimpse of Berlin between World War II and the construction of the Berlin Wall. I hadn’t ever imagined what Berlin would have looked like, or been like to visit, at that time; but M. M. Kaye actually was there in the early ‘50s, so I’m confident that her portrayal is accurate. The mystery plot has several good twists and turns, and a high body count keeps things interesting. There’s also a nice and subtle little romance. Overall, I really liked this book and can’t wait to read more of M. M. Kaye’s mysteries!