First published as Out of Shot under A. C. Koning. Berlin, 1933. The Nazi regime is gaining devastating power as Hitler is appointed Chancellor and stark oppression begins to unfold in Germany, blind war veteran Frederick Rowlands takes on the most challenging investigation of his life . A glamorous film star has been murdered and the menacing political undercurrents drag Rowlands into the heart of the German film industry. Rowlands discovers that he is closer to the action than he originally thought as his young nephew, Billy, was the last one to see the movie star alive. As the violence in Berlin escalates, Rowlands must race to find Billy before someone else does. Someone desperate to conceal the identity of the killer.
A very classic-feeling detective murder mystery, with the added bonus of being set in Berlin (a place I have recently visited) and following a blind investigator (not something you read about every day in the mystery/thriller genre!) I enjoyed the humor that was included related to the investigator’s blindness, and also how it included some aspects of advantage that his blindness brought in solving the mystery. The mystery itself was nothing special, but it was easy enough to follow and satisfying enough in its conclusion. I probably won’t seek out more books in this series UNLESS I continue to travel to the locations the books are set 😊
Another excellent book in the 'Blind Detective' series, the 4th I've read of the 8. I haven't read them in order, which isn't at all necessary in the case of this particular title, no prior knowledge at all is needed. I could very much picture it as a film. It is set against the glamorous backdrop of the film industry. Although this book opens on the day after Hitler comes to power. Lots of twists and turns.