Review: "Trust No One" - "Der Walhalla-Code", Uwe Klausner et al.
Been doing an awful amount of reading lately...
"Der Walhalla-Code" - Uwe Klausner
Rating: **** of *****
It was one of these impulse buys that seem to happen frequently to me with books. But yeah, I'd been interested in it for a while anyway so that's totally okay. Or so I like to tell myself.
Anyway, a short synopsis: Tom Sydow, detective in Hitler's Berlin in 1942, is called to a crime scene. Usually, something normal for him... but this victim is a high-ranking member of the Gestapo. Who has records of murdered RSHA boss Reinhard Heydrich with some highly explosive content with him. And so Sydow and his faithful assistant plunge into mortal danger because Sydow just can't keep his fingers off the case, even though being followed and threatened constantly by the Gestapo.
I read it in the matter of a few hours, since it's got a fast-paced plot and a fluent style. What I found very brave was that Klausner actually integrated leading Nazi figures such as Heydrich and Himmler into his plot as literary protagonists. That's something still a little unusual and one really has to give him credit for that. As for his fictional characters: I think I developed a little crush on Tom Sydow (since he's my kind of boy in a book... and somehow reminded me of one of my Stargate OCs who also goes by the name of Tom ;)). I was also glad that when Klausner killed people off, he actually killed them off to serve the plot, not just because he can or because he feels the need to make a point. That's something I really value in a story.
As for the plot itself: It did seem a little too constructed at times and kept reminding me awfully much of C.J. Sansom's "Winter in Madrid" in that regard. But even though most of the twists could be guessed in advance I enjoyed most of "Der Walhalla-Code". And I got the end I secretely wanted, so there ;)
"Die Erbin von Flandern" - Jean C. van Rijckeghem, Patrick van Beirs
Rating: **** von *****
Another impulse buy and this time it was really one since I basically came into my favorite children's bookstore, browsed around a little, picked up this one, liked the summary... and bought it quite spontaneously.
And here is that summary: If it had been up to her father, Marguerite of Flanders should have been a boy. But she was born a girl and stayed the only child of the count and countess of Flanders and Burgundy. That didn't keep her from growing up like a boy, though and so she learned riding, fencing and getting into scrapes just like boys do. That is all over, though, when her father - bitter and broken after having fought in the 100 years war - agrees to marry her to the young king of England, a spoilt brat. Marguerite has to put up a fight to still get what she wants and she isn't afraid to.
What I liked most was the very unusual and direct style (for a children's/YA book, that is) and the refusal to euphemise or circumscribe anything. The Middle Ages were a dark time where children grew up to be adults much, much earlier than today and where excutions were actually major entertainment. Rijckeghem and Beirs don't beat around the bush and that's a very brave thing to do in a children's/YA book.
They also managed to make Marguerite a fascinating character and gave her a unique voice that manages to compell you into reading the book in one sitting. Which is also why I felt kind of cheated at the end. There has to be so much more to Marguerite's story and I would have loved to read about it. Alas, it just means I'll have to do a little research ;)
"By Love Undone" - Suzanne Enoch
Rating: ***** of *****
Boy, was I glad when I saw this book in a Berlin bookstore (since when does Hugendubel on Ku'Damm have English romances?) since I'd been a little hungry for a new Enoch. So of course I couldn't resist buying this one.
A short synopsis to start with: Madeleine Willits, once a member of London's upper society, is shunned after a scandal in her first - and thus only - Season and flees the city to be the companion to a nobleman in the English countryside. Her peaceful village life is interrupted though, when Quinlan Bancroft, Marquis of Warefield arrives at the scene to visit his uncle. When Quin makes the mistake of kissing Maddie and getting caught at it, he vows to help her restore her reputation with the ton... however, Maddie is less than willing to cooperate.
As always, I'm in awe of Miss Enoch's talent. Until now I thought "Reforming a Rake" was her best book but this one taught me differently. Enoch is the queen of dialogues (I did learn a lot from her) and in this book she really outdid herself. They're sparkly, witty, intelligent... everything I want in an Enoch romance and then some. I think this is also her most twisted and fast-paced plot yet and it was really fun to read it.
Additionally, Maddie is the female protagonist I like best of all those Enoch yet created. She's spunky, fiery, intelligent, doesn't take crap from anyone... and still a vulnerable and insecure young woman under all the bravado (sound familiar to anyone? ;)). It was a joy reading about her and her exploits. Her beau, Quin, even pales a little in comparison to her but he does get his chance to shine and so that is forgivable. Overall I'm very much in awe of Enoch's talent and bow before her genius. Seriously, I do.
PS.: Just to remind you: Today isn't only the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon but also the 65th anniversary of Operation Valkyrie (the real thing, not the movie, mind you). Please everyone take a minute to remember the courageous men and women around Stauffenberg and the general German resistance against the Nazis and what they gave their lives for.
"Der Walhalla-Code" - Uwe Klausner
Rating: **** of *****
It was one of these impulse buys that seem to happen frequently to me with books. But yeah, I'd been interested in it for a while anyway so that's totally okay. Or so I like to tell myself.
Anyway, a short synopsis: Tom Sydow, detective in Hitler's Berlin in 1942, is called to a crime scene. Usually, something normal for him... but this victim is a high-ranking member of the Gestapo. Who has records of murdered RSHA boss Reinhard Heydrich with some highly explosive content with him. And so Sydow and his faithful assistant plunge into mortal danger because Sydow just can't keep his fingers off the case, even though being followed and threatened constantly by the Gestapo.
I read it in the matter of a few hours, since it's got a fast-paced plot and a fluent style. What I found very brave was that Klausner actually integrated leading Nazi figures such as Heydrich and Himmler into his plot as literary protagonists. That's something still a little unusual and one really has to give him credit for that. As for his fictional characters: I think I developed a little crush on Tom Sydow (since he's my kind of boy in a book... and somehow reminded me of one of my Stargate OCs who also goes by the name of Tom ;)). I was also glad that when Klausner killed people off, he actually killed them off to serve the plot, not just because he can or because he feels the need to make a point. That's something I really value in a story.
As for the plot itself: It did seem a little too constructed at times and kept reminding me awfully much of C.J. Sansom's "Winter in Madrid" in that regard. But even though most of the twists could be guessed in advance I enjoyed most of "Der Walhalla-Code". And I got the end I secretely wanted, so there ;)
"Die Erbin von Flandern" - Jean C. van Rijckeghem, Patrick van Beirs
Rating: **** von *****
Another impulse buy and this time it was really one since I basically came into my favorite children's bookstore, browsed around a little, picked up this one, liked the summary... and bought it quite spontaneously.
And here is that summary: If it had been up to her father, Marguerite of Flanders should have been a boy. But she was born a girl and stayed the only child of the count and countess of Flanders and Burgundy. That didn't keep her from growing up like a boy, though and so she learned riding, fencing and getting into scrapes just like boys do. That is all over, though, when her father - bitter and broken after having fought in the 100 years war - agrees to marry her to the young king of England, a spoilt brat. Marguerite has to put up a fight to still get what she wants and she isn't afraid to.
What I liked most was the very unusual and direct style (for a children's/YA book, that is) and the refusal to euphemise or circumscribe anything. The Middle Ages were a dark time where children grew up to be adults much, much earlier than today and where excutions were actually major entertainment. Rijckeghem and Beirs don't beat around the bush and that's a very brave thing to do in a children's/YA book.
They also managed to make Marguerite a fascinating character and gave her a unique voice that manages to compell you into reading the book in one sitting. Which is also why I felt kind of cheated at the end. There has to be so much more to Marguerite's story and I would have loved to read about it. Alas, it just means I'll have to do a little research ;)
"By Love Undone" - Suzanne Enoch
Rating: ***** of *****
Boy, was I glad when I saw this book in a Berlin bookstore (since when does Hugendubel on Ku'Damm have English romances?) since I'd been a little hungry for a new Enoch. So of course I couldn't resist buying this one.
A short synopsis to start with: Madeleine Willits, once a member of London's upper society, is shunned after a scandal in her first - and thus only - Season and flees the city to be the companion to a nobleman in the English countryside. Her peaceful village life is interrupted though, when Quinlan Bancroft, Marquis of Warefield arrives at the scene to visit his uncle. When Quin makes the mistake of kissing Maddie and getting caught at it, he vows to help her restore her reputation with the ton... however, Maddie is less than willing to cooperate.
As always, I'm in awe of Miss Enoch's talent. Until now I thought "Reforming a Rake" was her best book but this one taught me differently. Enoch is the queen of dialogues (I did learn a lot from her) and in this book she really outdid herself. They're sparkly, witty, intelligent... everything I want in an Enoch romance and then some. I think this is also her most twisted and fast-paced plot yet and it was really fun to read it.
Additionally, Maddie is the female protagonist I like best of all those Enoch yet created. She's spunky, fiery, intelligent, doesn't take crap from anyone... and still a vulnerable and insecure young woman under all the bravado (sound familiar to anyone? ;)). It was a joy reading about her and her exploits. Her beau, Quin, even pales a little in comparison to her but he does get his chance to shine and so that is forgivable. Overall I'm very much in awe of Enoch's talent and bow before her genius. Seriously, I do.
PS.: Just to remind you: Today isn't only the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon but also the 65th anniversary of Operation Valkyrie (the real thing, not the movie, mind you). Please everyone take a minute to remember the courageous men and women around Stauffenberg and the general German resistance against the Nazis and what they gave their lives for.