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Judith Kepler #1
Zeugin der Toten
Ein Mädchen verschwindet spurlos aus einem DDR-Kinderheim. Fünfundzwanzig Jahre später findet die Tatort-Cleanerin Judith Kepler ihre eigene Heimakte in der Wohnung einer ermordeten Frau. Was verbindet sie mit der Toten? Kaum beginnt Judith Fragen zu stellen, gerät sie ins Visier mächtiger Gegner. Im Schatten immer dabei: zwei konkurrierende Geheimdienste.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2011
55 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Herrmann
35 books84 followersElisabeth Herrmann ist eine der aufregendsten Stimmen unserer Zeit. Lebendig, abgründig, atmosphärisch – ihr Stil begeistert Krimileser seit der Veröffentlichung von Das Kindermädchen. (In der Verfilmung für das ZDF wird Jan Josef Liefers in der Hauptrolle zu sehen sein.) Mit Zeugin der Toten legt Elisabeth Herrmann nun einen Spannungsroman vor, der eine ganz ungewöhnliche Heldin vorstellt. Die Autorin lebt mit ihrer Tochter in Berlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 6, 2017
3.5 stars
This started really well. It was complex and clever, with a ballsy main character who cleans crime scenes for living, and set amongst the labyrinthine politics and espionage of East Germany. It made me think of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, layered with conspiracy and the double cross.
Then at almost exactly 50% in it...faltered.
The forward momentum ground to a halt, it was sideways trips to all over the place and unnecessary meetings and throwing every possible character into the mix to escalate the confusion. It lost me. And it was not that pleasurable confusion you get when you're sure the author is building to something explosive, more that I became more sure that it had all escaped their control. I pushed on through to the end because I had been so engaged in the beginning, but it never reached those heights again. The finale was flat, drawn out, and unconvincing. If I wasn't reading the same names, I'd have thought the second half was a different book, that's how stark the divide felt to me.
Disappointing overall, but it hasn't put me off trying the next offering from the author.
ARC via Netgalley
This started really well. It was complex and clever, with a ballsy main character who cleans crime scenes for living, and set amongst the labyrinthine politics and espionage of East Germany. It made me think of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, layered with conspiracy and the double cross.
Then at almost exactly 50% in it...faltered.
The forward momentum ground to a halt, it was sideways trips to all over the place and unnecessary meetings and throwing every possible character into the mix to escalate the confusion. It lost me. And it was not that pleasurable confusion you get when you're sure the author is building to something explosive, more that I became more sure that it had all escaped their control. I pushed on through to the end because I had been so engaged in the beginning, but it never reached those heights again. The finale was flat, drawn out, and unconvincing. If I wasn't reading the same names, I'd have thought the second half was a different book, that's how stark the divide felt to me.
Disappointing overall, but it hasn't put me off trying the next offering from the author.
ARC via Netgalley
March 30, 2016
The Cleaner is a superb and intelligent thriller, some beautiful writing and a really very engaging and intriguing story, something a little different to anything I’ve read lately in the best possible way.
There are many layers to the tale, not least of which is the political landscape – intensely fascinating it provides a backdrop to the story of one womans journey towards the truth of her history. In Judith Ms Herrmann has created a realistically flawed and conflicted character that you immediately get behind – the horrors of her job speak to who she is, which ties into her reaction to finding something telling at her latest crime scene and the whole story is beautifully constructed to make it entirely addictive.
It can be a challenging read at times, I lost the nuances of the politics occasionally but the historical flavour the author brings to the past during those strands is immersive and wonderfully described. As a thriller it is bang on the money – plenty of twists and turns to keep you enthralled throughout, edge of the seat moments to die for (and hold your breath during) and all the way through Judith is the anchor and the person you are rooting for.
Putting all that aside, there is a huge hook to be had in what Judith does for a living. I was completely into that part of the book, her attitude, especially to others coming into the job allows for some more humerous moments within the narrative – the fact that there are actually people that do this job gave me many moments of thought, I can’t imagine being that person, the one that comes in after the shouting and quietly makes it go away. A different side to things that works so well within the story as a whole. I loved it.
Overall a great thriller. Great. Highly Recommended.
There are many layers to the tale, not least of which is the political landscape – intensely fascinating it provides a backdrop to the story of one womans journey towards the truth of her history. In Judith Ms Herrmann has created a realistically flawed and conflicted character that you immediately get behind – the horrors of her job speak to who she is, which ties into her reaction to finding something telling at her latest crime scene and the whole story is beautifully constructed to make it entirely addictive.
It can be a challenging read at times, I lost the nuances of the politics occasionally but the historical flavour the author brings to the past during those strands is immersive and wonderfully described. As a thriller it is bang on the money – plenty of twists and turns to keep you enthralled throughout, edge of the seat moments to die for (and hold your breath during) and all the way through Judith is the anchor and the person you are rooting for.
Putting all that aside, there is a huge hook to be had in what Judith does for a living. I was completely into that part of the book, her attitude, especially to others coming into the job allows for some more humerous moments within the narrative – the fact that there are actually people that do this job gave me many moments of thought, I can’t imagine being that person, the one that comes in after the shouting and quietly makes it go away. A different side to things that works so well within the story as a whole. I loved it.
Overall a great thriller. Great. Highly Recommended.
March 13, 2016
This novel begins in the Yuri Gagarin Children’s Home in East Germany. It is 1985 and one of the staff, illicitly listening to Radio Luxenbourg, finds a young girl wandering the corridors. Her name is Christel Sonnenberg and so Martha takes her back to bed; only to be told by her superiors that she is mistaken and the girl is called Judith Kepler. Afraid of getting into trouble, Martha agrees to the deception, because, in Cold War East Germany, it is sensible, and safer, not to question what you are told…
Years later, we meet Judith Kepler again. She is a Cleaner, working for the Dombrowski Facility Management. Kepler is employed in the “administration of death;” making houses, or apartments, inhabitable again after someone has died there. Often these are just elderly people who have been forgotten about. Sometimes, it is after a crime scene. Judith Kepler has always believed she was sent to a children’s home after being neglected by an alcoholic mother. However, after going to clean at the apartment of a murdered woman, she comes into the possession of a file about her own case. Before long, Kepler is plunged into an investigation which involves the CIA, the German Intelligence agencies and other agents. Many believe she is in possession of a missing microfilm, containing details of East German spies now working in the West and there are those who want her dead, or to frame her for a crime she didn’t commit
This is a fast paced atmospheric thriller, with lots of plot twists and turns and a great cast of characters. From the Stasi in East Germany, through to the modern times, we follow Judith’s quest to discover who she really is and what happened in her past. The author, Elisabeth Herrmann has written crime novels before, but this is a her first thriller and, I believe, her first novel translated into English. Hopefully, there will be more, as this is an exciting, intelligent thriller and I would like to read more by her. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Years later, we meet Judith Kepler again. She is a Cleaner, working for the Dombrowski Facility Management. Kepler is employed in the “administration of death;” making houses, or apartments, inhabitable again after someone has died there. Often these are just elderly people who have been forgotten about. Sometimes, it is after a crime scene. Judith Kepler has always believed she was sent to a children’s home after being neglected by an alcoholic mother. However, after going to clean at the apartment of a murdered woman, she comes into the possession of a file about her own case. Before long, Kepler is plunged into an investigation which involves the CIA, the German Intelligence agencies and other agents. Many believe she is in possession of a missing microfilm, containing details of East German spies now working in the West and there are those who want her dead, or to frame her for a crime she didn’t commit
This is a fast paced atmospheric thriller, with lots of plot twists and turns and a great cast of characters. From the Stasi in East Germany, through to the modern times, we follow Judith’s quest to discover who she really is and what happened in her past. The author, Elisabeth Herrmann has written crime novels before, but this is a her first thriller and, I believe, her first novel translated into English. Hopefully, there will be more, as this is an exciting, intelligent thriller and I would like to read more by her. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
March 12, 2016
I’m always wary of any title with “unputdownable thriller” in it , however this lives up to the billing.
Judith Kepler is an industrial cleaner. Got some serious stains?, she’s your woman. However one job results in her questioning her past and regenerating some uncomfortable memories.
This is a great thriller, with a strong female lead. The story keeps you guessing with the threads of Stasi, W German intelligence and cold war politics intertwining to provide with a very entertaining and stimulating read.
Highly recommended
Judith Kepler is an industrial cleaner. Got some serious stains?, she’s your woman. However one job results in her questioning her past and regenerating some uncomfortable memories.
This is a great thriller, with a strong female lead. The story keeps you guessing with the threads of Stasi, W German intelligence and cold war politics intertwining to provide with a very entertaining and stimulating read.
Highly recommended
February 21, 2019
Benim için ortamamanın altında bir kitaptı. Judith Kepler olay yeri temizlikçisi olarak çalışmaktadır. Bir gün bir olay yerinde garip bir şey olur ve Judith kendini geçmişini sorgularken bulur. Bu, 10 yıl boyunca kaldığı yetimhane ile ve aile geçmişiyle ilgilidir. Kitap Almanya, naziler, stasi ve lenin ile ilgili. Ajanlık tarzı şeyler var ve çok sıkıcı. Türüne polisiye demek abartı olur. Daha çok aksiyon kitabı gibiydi.
Ben konuyu çok karmaşık buldum. Başrolü çok sarsak buldum. Bir geçmiş bir günümüz olayı vardı yine, sevmedim.
Genel olarak başarısız buldum kitabı, beğenmedim. Biraz elimde süründü 😑
Ben konuyu çok karmaşık buldum. Başrolü çok sarsak buldum. Bir geçmiş bir günümüz olayı vardı yine, sevmedim.
Genel olarak başarısız buldum kitabı, beğenmedim. Biraz elimde süründü 😑
August 4, 2018
I'm always looking out for crime fiction with a twist, and that's excatly what The Cleaner, whose protagonist is a crime scene cleaner, is. I hadn't really thought before about the fact that someone has to come in and clean up a crime scene after a death to make it fit for purpose again, and so I really enjoyed that aspect to the story. The Cleaner has more layers than that though, as Judith Kepler, the eponymous cleaner, is sent to clean up a crime scene with links to her own mysterious past and the East German secret police. Judith is a brilliantly fiesty and realistic character, whom I immediately fell in love with, and The Cleaner is a thoroughly engaging thriller, which kept me reading late into the night.
September 22, 2018
Knjiga mi se svidjela. Neobična je, drugačija od drugih trilera koje sam dosad pročitala, jer glavna junakinja nije neka školovana policajka, vojno lice ili inspektor. Ona je tek "obična čistačica" koja dolazi na poprište da bi očistila mjesto zločina i pripremila ga za prodaju. Nakon još jednog takvog čišćenja upetlja se u slučaj tajnih službi i počne da saznaje neke stvari iz svoje prošlosti koje su trebale da ostanu tajna.
Malo mi je pretjerano kako se Judith uhvatila u koštac sa svim izazovima sa kojima se susrela. Kao što sam već spomenula, nema nikakvu obuku, a ipak zna da puca, može da preskače preko ograde sa žicom i da se sakrije od nekoliko tajnih službi. :/
To je jedino što mi se nije dopalo, ali to su sitnice i uživala sam čitajući. Nadam se da će nam uskoro stići i preveden nastavak o Judith. :)
Malo mi je pretjerano kako se Judith uhvatila u koštac sa svim izazovima sa kojima se susrela. Kao što sam već spomenula, nema nikakvu obuku, a ipak zna da puca, može da preskače preko ograde sa žicom i da se sakrije od nekoliko tajnih službi. :/
To je jedino što mi se nije dopalo, ali to su sitnice i uživala sam čitajući. Nadam se da će nam uskoro stići i preveden nastavak o Judith. :)
April 11, 2025
Toll geschrieben, extrem viele Logiklücken, zu dick aufgetragen, tolle Hauptfigur
Judith Kepler reinigt das, was andere nicht wahrnehmen wollen: die Hinterlassenschaften der Toten. Ob sanft entschlafen, lange bei Hitze unentdeckt in der Wohnung gelegen oder Gewaltverbrechen, sie sieht (und putzt) alle diese Orte. Die Antwort auf das Warum fällt ihr nicht leicht. „Vielleicht hätte sie ihm sagen sollen, dass der Unterschied zwischen Aufstehen und Weiterschlafen genauso groß war wie der zwischem allem und nichts. Und dass sie jeden Tag aufs Neue gegen das Nichts kämpfte und immer noch nicht dahintergekommen war, warum sich dieser Kampf eigentlich lohnen sollte.“ S. 86
Als die 32jährige eine Wohnung gegenüber ihrer eigenen in Berlin reinigen soll, nimmt sie eine für die erschossene Wohnungsinhaberin bestimmte Expresslieferung an, in der sich überraschend ihre eigene Akte aus ihrer Heimkindheit in der DDR findet. Dabei sei die Akte vernichtet worden, hieß es. Sie sei ein Asozialen-Kind, nichts wert, sagte man ihr immer. Gleichzeitig wartet in Berlin Ex-BND-Agent Quirin Kaiserley auf eine Informantin, die nie kommt. Sie wollte ihm die „Rosenholz-Akte“ aushändigen, eine Liste mit den Klarnamen sämtlicher Auslandsagenten der DDR.
Ich habe das Buch zum zweiten Mal gelesen und bin gespaltener als zuvor. Das Buch ist toll geschrieben, spannend, actionreich und hat ein Thema, das ich wichtig finde und das mich brennend interessiert. Die Hauptperson wirkt in ihrer Sprödheit glaubwürdig auf mich, ich finde aber auch die anderen Charaktere meist gut (Angelina ist ein Klischee).
Jetzt die wirklich zahlreichen Kritikpunkte: da passt einiges nicht. „Christina Borg“ wurde als Kind misshandelt (die Spuren von Knochenbrüchen), galt als nicht sehr helle und lebt später mit der gleichen Mutter normal, lernt eine Fremdsprache und plant den Coup um die Rosenholz-Akte; wie wahrscheinlich ist das? Außerdem hebt sie ein Spielzeug aus der Kindheit über Jahre auf, klar (tue ich auch, aber halt nicht sehr viele Leute). Agentinnen sehen in Büchern/Filmen immer aus wie Männer oder Sexbomben, normal geht natürlich nicht. Außerdem hat Angelina echt mit allen Männern im Buch was gehabt, Quirin, Teetee, Kellermann,…? Ganz zu Beginn, Martha Jonas geht zu einem toten Briefkasten – und was soll das für die Handlung bringen, das kommt nie wieder? Wer als 5jährige zum letzten Male ein Heimkind war, stellt 25 Jahre später noch die Hausschuhe wie im Heim verordnet unter das Bett? Woher wissen Christina Borg und ihre Mutter überhaupt von Sassnitz, sie waren damals doch nicht eingeweiht, keine echten Insider (sie dürften nur mitbekommen haben, dass dort ein Fluchtversuch geplant war)? Und gaaaanz zufällig bekommt ausgerechnet Judith diese Wohnung als Cleanerin zugeteilt? Wer findet exakt gegenüber von jemandem, den man beobachtet (Judith), eine Wohnung („Christina Borg“)? Warum wurde die Akte an Christina Borg geschickt – wer schickte die, sie sich selbst, was soll das? Warum wurde Judith überhaupt in ein Heim geschickt, sie war fünf Jahre alt – man hat viel ältere Kinder von Republikflüchtigen zur Adoption freigegeben und ihre Identitäten „umfrisiert“ – die waren sicherlich nicht einmal so traumatisiert wie Judith? Warum wurde Judith nicht zu Verwandten gegeben, um sie „republiktreu“ zu erziehen?
Den großen Showdown (Aquarium) musste ich nochmals lesen – vorher kommt die Information scheibchenweise, in diesem Abschnitt geballt, so dass ich erst gar nicht mitbekam, wer da wen weshalb verriet; das war mir schon beim ersten Lesen so gegangen – es ist eine dieser Szenen, bei denen man „wow“ sagt und erst später merkt, dass man bei der Logik hinterherhinkt. Immerhin scheint das hier alles zu passen, beim Nachlesen.
Nö. Das ist mir insgesamt zu dick auftragen mit zu vielen Logiklücken. 3 Sterne, bedauernd.
(ich kenne auch die Verfilmung mit Anna Loos: Dombrowski ist zu jung und definitiv kein väterlicher Freund, Teetee fehlt glaube ich, die Rollen der anderen Agenten wurden irgendwie getauscht und zusamengefasst, Judiths Eltern sind weniger zweischneidig. Vom Ton her ist die Verfilmung hingegen gut getroffen)
Judith Kepler reinigt das, was andere nicht wahrnehmen wollen: die Hinterlassenschaften der Toten. Ob sanft entschlafen, lange bei Hitze unentdeckt in der Wohnung gelegen oder Gewaltverbrechen, sie sieht (und putzt) alle diese Orte. Die Antwort auf das Warum fällt ihr nicht leicht. „Vielleicht hätte sie ihm sagen sollen, dass der Unterschied zwischen Aufstehen und Weiterschlafen genauso groß war wie der zwischem allem und nichts. Und dass sie jeden Tag aufs Neue gegen das Nichts kämpfte und immer noch nicht dahintergekommen war, warum sich dieser Kampf eigentlich lohnen sollte.“ S. 86
Als die 32jährige eine Wohnung gegenüber ihrer eigenen in Berlin reinigen soll, nimmt sie eine für die erschossene Wohnungsinhaberin bestimmte Expresslieferung an, in der sich überraschend ihre eigene Akte aus ihrer Heimkindheit in der DDR findet. Dabei sei die Akte vernichtet worden, hieß es. Sie sei ein Asozialen-Kind, nichts wert, sagte man ihr immer. Gleichzeitig wartet in Berlin Ex-BND-Agent Quirin Kaiserley auf eine Informantin, die nie kommt. Sie wollte ihm die „Rosenholz-Akte“ aushändigen, eine Liste mit den Klarnamen sämtlicher Auslandsagenten der DDR.
Ich habe das Buch zum zweiten Mal gelesen und bin gespaltener als zuvor. Das Buch ist toll geschrieben, spannend, actionreich und hat ein Thema, das ich wichtig finde und das mich brennend interessiert. Die Hauptperson wirkt in ihrer Sprödheit glaubwürdig auf mich, ich finde aber auch die anderen Charaktere meist gut (Angelina ist ein Klischee).
Jetzt die wirklich zahlreichen Kritikpunkte: da passt einiges nicht. „Christina Borg“ wurde als Kind misshandelt (die Spuren von Knochenbrüchen), galt als nicht sehr helle und lebt später mit der gleichen Mutter normal, lernt eine Fremdsprache und plant den Coup um die Rosenholz-Akte; wie wahrscheinlich ist das? Außerdem hebt sie ein Spielzeug aus der Kindheit über Jahre auf, klar (tue ich auch, aber halt nicht sehr viele Leute). Agentinnen sehen in Büchern/Filmen immer aus wie Männer oder Sexbomben, normal geht natürlich nicht. Außerdem hat Angelina echt mit allen Männern im Buch was gehabt, Quirin, Teetee, Kellermann,…? Ganz zu Beginn, Martha Jonas geht zu einem toten Briefkasten – und was soll das für die Handlung bringen, das kommt nie wieder? Wer als 5jährige zum letzten Male ein Heimkind war, stellt 25 Jahre später noch die Hausschuhe wie im Heim verordnet unter das Bett? Woher wissen Christina Borg und ihre Mutter überhaupt von Sassnitz, sie waren damals doch nicht eingeweiht, keine echten Insider (sie dürften nur mitbekommen haben, dass dort ein Fluchtversuch geplant war)? Und gaaaanz zufällig bekommt ausgerechnet Judith diese Wohnung als Cleanerin zugeteilt? Wer findet exakt gegenüber von jemandem, den man beobachtet (Judith), eine Wohnung („Christina Borg“)? Warum wurde die Akte an Christina Borg geschickt – wer schickte die, sie sich selbst, was soll das? Warum wurde Judith überhaupt in ein Heim geschickt, sie war fünf Jahre alt – man hat viel ältere Kinder von Republikflüchtigen zur Adoption freigegeben und ihre Identitäten „umfrisiert“ – die waren sicherlich nicht einmal so traumatisiert wie Judith? Warum wurde Judith nicht zu Verwandten gegeben, um sie „republiktreu“ zu erziehen?
Den großen Showdown (Aquarium) musste ich nochmals lesen – vorher kommt die Information scheibchenweise, in diesem Abschnitt geballt, so dass ich erst gar nicht mitbekam, wer da wen weshalb verriet; das war mir schon beim ersten Lesen so gegangen – es ist eine dieser Szenen, bei denen man „wow“ sagt und erst später merkt, dass man bei der Logik hinterherhinkt. Immerhin scheint das hier alles zu passen, beim Nachlesen.
Nö. Das ist mir insgesamt zu dick auftragen mit zu vielen Logiklücken. 3 Sterne, bedauernd.
(ich kenne auch die Verfilmung mit Anna Loos: Dombrowski ist zu jung und definitiv kein väterlicher Freund, Teetee fehlt glaube ich, die Rollen der anderen Agenten wurden irgendwie getauscht und zusamengefasst, Judiths Eltern sind weniger zweischneidig. Vom Ton her ist die Verfilmung hingegen gut getroffen)
May 16, 2016
3.5 stars
Huge thanks to Elisabeth Herrmann, Bonnier Publishing and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
A German crime novel with trips to Sweden involving Cold War spies, agents and double agents and lies, lots of lies.
This is the first German crime novel I've read and I'm still not sure what to make of it. The mystery and backstory was enjoyable and interesting but I couldn't really connect with the characters that well and I felt it dragged in parts.
I would be interested to see if there are anymore books involving these characters, maybe I'd be able to engage more with those.
Huge thanks to Elisabeth Herrmann, Bonnier Publishing and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
A German crime novel with trips to Sweden involving Cold War spies, agents and double agents and lies, lots of lies.
This is the first German crime novel I've read and I'm still not sure what to make of it. The mystery and backstory was enjoyable and interesting but I couldn't really connect with the characters that well and I felt it dragged in parts.
I would be interested to see if there are anymore books involving these characters, maybe I'd be able to engage more with those.
June 9, 2021
Started well. The bad old days of the Cold War and a home for children who parents had been naughty and had offended the East German Government (or the Russians or maybe the CIA). A 5 year old girl arrives and is given a new name and told to forget the past.
30 years later and a feisty lady crime scene cleaner comes to a house of a murdered woman. Secrets of the past are unlocked and further murders pursue. The various links to the feisty lady's past became a little unbelievable.
What is believable is that the book was adapted to TV as the book read like it was made for TV or a movie.
30 years later and a feisty lady crime scene cleaner comes to a house of a murdered woman. Secrets of the past are unlocked and further murders pursue. The various links to the feisty lady's past became a little unbelievable.
What is believable is that the book was adapted to TV as the book read like it was made for TV or a movie.
January 24, 2020
Erst gelesen und den Rest gehört - beides nicht zu empfehlen.
Nach mehreren Versuchen ist es einfach nicht meine Autorin.
Nach mehreren Versuchen ist es einfach nicht meine Autorin.
May 19, 2024
Not sure why I bothered 😂 didn’t even read the last 2 chapters as I couldn’t care less 🤣🤣
However some chapters did really build some tension about what was happening then it wouldn’t go anywhere 🤦🏻♀️
However some chapters did really build some tension about what was happening then it wouldn’t go anywhere 🤦🏻♀️
March 16, 2017
It probably says a lot about me as a reader that it was the cover that attracted me to this book. I thought it was a really good read even though I did find it a bit confusing at times. If this had been highlighted as a spy thriller I probably wouldn't have chosen it and that would have been my loss but I do think that to find the right readers it is relevant to mention it. It strikes me that this would transfer easily to tv or cinema. Recommended for those who enjoy a twisty thriller but even more so for those who like a bit of espionage.
I received a free copy of The Cleaner via NetGalley and my thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for that.
I received a free copy of The Cleaner via NetGalley and my thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for that.
June 22, 2017
This was a really interesting take on a crime thriller that explored the crimes of The Stasi in East Germany in 1980's . I liked the heroine Judith Kepler , a gutsy character who is employed as the eponymous cleaner, the individual that has to go into properties post murders and deaths to clean to allow rerental or sale. Following one such episode she discovers a connection to herself and her history going back to 1983. She then joins with a reporter to discover the mystery.
well plotted and tense I really enjoyed the story although perhaps one or two slight romantic elements that were unnecessary- but overall a good read.
well plotted and tense I really enjoyed the story although perhaps one or two slight romantic elements that were unnecessary- but overall a good read.
April 3, 2016
Six stars--the best post-German Unification thriller to date. (It almost makes me want to downgrade "Stasi Child".) The book is non-stop action, a maze of complexion, with writing taut and tender, as required. If the book has any flaw, it's the absence of character development in anyone except the protagonist. But that's because when the Stasi's most precious secrets are on the loose even decades after the death of the DDR -- and Western Intelligence services are complicit in the cover-up -- all the novel's other characters are suspects.
May 9, 2020
On paper, this is a good book. It's tightly plotted with well drawn characters and is well written. However, it didn't grab me on any level. I felt no emotional connection to it and lost interest very quickly in the espionage. Maybe I didn't have enough background knowledge in the politics of East Germany as a lot of references were lost on me, I don't know. I feel that for many readers this would be an excellent read, it's just not my cup of tea.
February 19, 2019
Was für eine Protagonistin - die hat mir sehr gefallen und die Wendungen in der Geschichte auch - Judith möchte ich gerne noch öfter begegnen.
Wieder ein Roman von E.H. der mir super gefallen hat. Bisher hat mich noch keiner enttäuscht.
Wieder ein Roman von E.H. der mir super gefallen hat. Bisher hat mich noch keiner enttäuscht.
January 1, 2023
Endlich einmal kommt frischer Wind in die deutsche Krimi-Landschaft, denn in dem Auftakt der Reihe um Judith Kepler ist die Heldin keine typische Kriminalkommissarin oder Ermittlerin im klassischen Sinne, sondern eine Tatortreinigerin, die eines Tages eine Wohnung saubermachen muss, in der eine Frau ermordet wurde, die im Besitz von Judiths Heimakte aus der Kindheit war. Urplötzlich gerät Judith in einen Strudel aus alten Geheimnissen, Doppelgängern und steht kurz darauf zwischen den Fronten von BND, CIA und Verfechter*innen des Systems der ehemaligen DDR. Es beginnt ein Wettlauf um die Wahrheit, der sie bis nach Schweden führen wird.
Die schnoddrige antiheldische Art der Protagonistin ist ebenso erfrischend wie die gut recherchierte Geschichte um die Rosenholz-Filme, die ehemalige Stasi-Agent*innen enttarnen sollte. Der Auftakt zu dieser Reihe macht definitiv Lust auf die Fortsetzung.
Die schnoddrige antiheldische Art der Protagonistin ist ebenso erfrischend wie die gut recherchierte Geschichte um die Rosenholz-Filme, die ehemalige Stasi-Agent*innen enttarnen sollte. Der Auftakt zu dieser Reihe macht definitiv Lust auf die Fortsetzung.
May 11, 2020
I quite liked most of this book, but I feel like it should have come with a warning to brush up on your German history before reading it. I remember well the news broadcasts of the Berlin Wall coming down but as I was quite young then I had no idea what East and West Germany really were like at the time, the differences between the way they were run, the espionage that went on.
I was confused right up to the very end of the book about who people were and what side they were on, but if I had been more knowledgeable I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.
I was confused right up to the very end of the book about who people were and what side they were on, but if I had been more knowledgeable I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.
Read
June 25, 2023DNF @ 20%
The Details:
Narrated by Imogen Church
Unabridged
I've had the physical book for so long, but I just stopped gravitating towards it, so ended up borrowing the audiobook from my library app, instead.
Unfortunately this storyline wasn't of interest for me and I wasn't intrigued enough to see where it would go.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
The Details:
Narrated by Imogen Church
Unabridged
I've had the physical book for so long, but I just stopped gravitating towards it, so ended up borrowing the audiobook from my library app, instead.
Unfortunately this storyline wasn't of interest for me and I wasn't intrigued enough to see where it would go.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
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September 23, 2017
An entertaining, riveting thriller that shows you the shadowy face of Germany's dark Cold-War past.
'The Cleaner' centres around the story of crime-scene cleaner Judith Kepler, a specialist in removing traces of violent crime when the investigators and scientists have finished their work. Interestingly, I made some notes earlier this year to research the profession for a potential future novel of my own. I was unaware of any novels featuring a crime scene cleaner as a central character. By sheer coincidence, my girlfriend gifted me a copy of 'The Cleaner' last month.
The novel opens with an intriguing scene at a children's home in East Germany in 1985. One child is switched for another, and so begins the glimpses of a past that haunts all the characters of the book.
We first meet Judith as she introduces a new temporary staff member to the reality of a crime scene and their role. She is soon distracted when a new assignment leads her to discover a link to her own life. Determine to find out why, she embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover secrets that may answer questions to her own past.
'The Cleaner' is a superb espionage tale that weaves past and present, personal and political, to deliver a thrilling and satisfying climax.
'The Cleaner' centres around the story of crime-scene cleaner Judith Kepler, a specialist in removing traces of violent crime when the investigators and scientists have finished their work. Interestingly, I made some notes earlier this year to research the profession for a potential future novel of my own. I was unaware of any novels featuring a crime scene cleaner as a central character. By sheer coincidence, my girlfriend gifted me a copy of 'The Cleaner' last month.
The novel opens with an intriguing scene at a children's home in East Germany in 1985. One child is switched for another, and so begins the glimpses of a past that haunts all the characters of the book.
We first meet Judith as she introduces a new temporary staff member to the reality of a crime scene and their role. She is soon distracted when a new assignment leads her to discover a link to her own life. Determine to find out why, she embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover secrets that may answer questions to her own past.
'The Cleaner' is a superb espionage tale that weaves past and present, personal and political, to deliver a thrilling and satisfying climax.
May 1, 2022
Neznam iz kojeg razloga aki nije mi knjiga sjela nikako... Ono kad se mucis sa citanjem, vjerujem da nije bilo vrijeme za citanje te knjige
October 5, 2017
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 400
Publisher - Bonnier Zaffre
Blurb from Goodreads
Judith Kepler has seen it all. She is a crime scene specialist. She turns crime scenes back into habitable spaces. She is a cleaner. It is at the home of a woman who has been brutally murdered that she is suddenly confronted with her own past. The murder victim knew Judith's secret: as a child Judith was sent to an orphanage under mysterious circumstances—parentage unknown. And the East German secret police were always there, in the background. When Judith begins to ask questions, she becomes the target of some powerful enemies. And nothing will ever be the same again.
My Review
We open at a children's home in Germany, 1985, a child is placed in the middle of the night - no questions asked. Flip to present day, Judith Kepler is a crime scene specialist - cleaning up scenes to return them to livable areas. When she comes across one crime scene it opens up links to her own past, things Judith may not wish to revisit. As Judith digs she crosses the path of members of Stasi and ends up on a path of death and destruction.
I thought this book was primarily going to be about a crime scene tech, learning about techniques and to be fair there is a bit of that. However it is a bit of a thriller, crime, mystery combo. Lots of action, twists and turns and Judith is one ballsy feisty character which is nice to see and pretty loyal. Focused, driven and can certainly handle herself, she isn't afraid of confrontation and will see something through to the bitter end.
The book has almost two tones, the first being a build up and getting a feel for who Judith is as a person and the second is action, shooting, being hunted or hunting. It works fine and whilst this is my first dance with this author I would read her again, 3/5 for me this time.
Pages - 400
Publisher - Bonnier Zaffre
Blurb from Goodreads
Judith Kepler has seen it all. She is a crime scene specialist. She turns crime scenes back into habitable spaces. She is a cleaner. It is at the home of a woman who has been brutally murdered that she is suddenly confronted with her own past. The murder victim knew Judith's secret: as a child Judith was sent to an orphanage under mysterious circumstances—parentage unknown. And the East German secret police were always there, in the background. When Judith begins to ask questions, she becomes the target of some powerful enemies. And nothing will ever be the same again.
My Review
We open at a children's home in Germany, 1985, a child is placed in the middle of the night - no questions asked. Flip to present day, Judith Kepler is a crime scene specialist - cleaning up scenes to return them to livable areas. When she comes across one crime scene it opens up links to her own past, things Judith may not wish to revisit. As Judith digs she crosses the path of members of Stasi and ends up on a path of death and destruction.
I thought this book was primarily going to be about a crime scene tech, learning about techniques and to be fair there is a bit of that. However it is a bit of a thriller, crime, mystery combo. Lots of action, twists and turns and Judith is one ballsy feisty character which is nice to see and pretty loyal. Focused, driven and can certainly handle herself, she isn't afraid of confrontation and will see something through to the bitter end.
The book has almost two tones, the first being a build up and getting a feel for who Judith is as a person and the second is action, shooting, being hunted or hunting. It works fine and whilst this is my first dance with this author I would read her again, 3/5 for me this time.
March 9, 2016
The Cleaner is a Cold War thriller set in Germany. It opens with a scene from a children's home in 1985, in East Germany, a new child is brought in, an old one disappears, and it's safer not to ask any questions.
The story then jumps forward, the Berlin Wall has come down. Judith Kepler is a grown women, a loner, she has struggled for years. Now she has some stability in her life. She works as a cleaner, one who cleans a place after a death has occurred. Sent to the home of a murder victim, Judith has a huge job on her hands, but more shocking is the discovery of a letter with her own name and details of her time at the children's home.
Quirin Kaiserley is an intelligence expert, he's always hunting answers over a secret agent plot which went wrong back in 1985. Recently approached by a women claiming to hold the lost evidence from the failed plot, he is ready to expose all on a popular TV talk show. However the women fails to turn up at the studios.
Judith takes her questions about the past to Kaiserley, but they are waking some dangerous players who thought the past was dead and buried.
This is a chilling story with lots of twists and turns, people with several aliases and demons from the past to dig up. The Cold War, spies, agents and double agents, mixed with the German and Swedish backdrop make it an enjoyable read.
The story then jumps forward, the Berlin Wall has come down. Judith Kepler is a grown women, a loner, she has struggled for years. Now she has some stability in her life. She works as a cleaner, one who cleans a place after a death has occurred. Sent to the home of a murder victim, Judith has a huge job on her hands, but more shocking is the discovery of a letter with her own name and details of her time at the children's home.
Quirin Kaiserley is an intelligence expert, he's always hunting answers over a secret agent plot which went wrong back in 1985. Recently approached by a women claiming to hold the lost evidence from the failed plot, he is ready to expose all on a popular TV talk show. However the women fails to turn up at the studios.
Judith takes her questions about the past to Kaiserley, but they are waking some dangerous players who thought the past was dead and buried.
This is a chilling story with lots of twists and turns, people with several aliases and demons from the past to dig up. The Cold War, spies, agents and double agents, mixed with the German and Swedish backdrop make it an enjoyable read.
May 6, 2011
Spannender Agententhriller, der die menschenverachtende Arbeit der Geheimdienste -hie BND/CIA, da MfS -zum Thema hat. Herrmann scheint sehr gut recherchiert zu haben, man kann sich vorstellen, dass die Geschichte so abgelaufen sein könnte. Die Gefühle und Handlungen der Hauptfigur -Judith Kepler - sind ebenfalls sehr glaubwürdig geschildert. Deutsch/deutscher Thriller mit Tiefgang!
March 3, 2016
For fans of spy driven thrillers. Set in Germany do not be fooled by the simple "cleaner" Judith Kepler who is in her element dousing rooms in bleach to remove any trace of the body matter left behind. This is a story of spies, lies, and a "bending" of the truth with a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure. A worthy read.
Thanks to the publishers for the ARC.
Thanks to the publishers for the ARC.
August 11, 2024
I don’t know what is going on in this book. Far too many names, acronyms and things all over the place. I was confused most of the time, maybe I’m just dumb. But I pushed through hoping things would click into place but I was just getting frustrated and couldn’t wait for it to end
February 27, 2016
izvrsna
February 21, 2019
Was für ein spannender Auftakt einer Serie. Mal eine ganz andere Prota als Tatortreinigerin, aber auch Ermittler in in eigener Sache. Grandios!
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