Kein Schnaps für Tamara

by Hansjörg Martin

Ένα έγκλημα χωρίς ιδιαίτερη πρωτοτυπία. Ένας νεαρός διαφημιστής ανακαλύπτει το πτώμα μιας γυναίκας που ταξίδευε δεύτερη θέση με το τραίνο σε κάποιον επαρχιακό σταθμό της Δυτικής Γερμανίας.

Η αναζήτηση του δολοφόνου αποκαλύπτει μια εικόνα της μεταπολεμικής πραγματικότητας, που δεν είναι μόνο γερμανική: περιουσίες που αποκτήθηκαν ή αυξήθηκαν ακατανόητο σε σκοτεινές εποχές, ένοχες μνήμες από κάποιες ύποπτες συνεργασίες, ή εύκολη ρητορία εκείνων, που θεμελίωσαν το ''οικονομικό θαύμα'' και τις κοινωνίες της ευημερίας πάνω σ' έναν πομπώδη πατριωτισμό.

Ο Χ.Γ.Μάρτιν οικοδομεί με χιούμορ, άνεση ύφους και απαράμιλλα γοητευτική γραφή, μια ενδιαφέρουσα αστυνομική πλοκή που προσφέρει όλα τα πλεονεκτήματα της κλασσικής συνταγής, ενώ ταυτόχρονα την ξεπερνάει για να μπει στο χώρο της λογοτεχνίας.

Genres: Fiction

85 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helps me brush up on my German. It's no work of art. But as a primer for non-native speakers, sure, it's fine.

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that this was a 1960s murder mystery, with a very kitschy title (No Schnapps For Tamara), I had low expectations for this book insofar as the quality of writing was concerned. I was hoping for a light read, noting too heavy, and got just that. But to my surprise the writing was actually quite good. The main character in any case (Hans Obuch) was nicely developed, which is to say the reader was given more than just a superficial gloss of motives and personality. The story was told from Hans' perspective with plenty of satirical wit, warts, and self-deprecating humor. The other characters were left more superficial, but since the book was as much about Hans as about the murder itself, it didn't matter. The ultimate compliment is that I found it hard to put this book down. I've got two other books by this author on the shelf, I'm looking forward to reading them as well.

[Joshua Vink · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite rather confusing, especially when one replaces the word Schnaps with sweets and believes that the story was about an old man. Nevertheless, it improved my German quite a bit. So I don't want you to take this review to heart, as I couldn't really understand what was going on, and was confused nearly the whole time through.

If you like German, and can actually understand it, then it's a definite recommend!!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For clarification I am reading the translated version of this "Sleeping Girls Don't Lie". This novel was amazing to me. It was peaceful and suspenseful, the main character was interesting, and the plot kept me interested the whole time. Particularly I enjoyed reading my first German translated mystery, which worked very well.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good krimi story, sets it up well at the beginning, too quick ending. But a page turner, albeit in German!

[Hannah Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's certainly no Emil und die Detektive, but it did help improve my German, somewhat

[Honorata · Rating 2 out of 5]

i wonder if much was changed due to the 'vereinfachung' but the story is bland and predictable, character traits are non existent and the lead has no charm whatsoever. the second star is a courtesy, the worst phoenix wright cases have more depth.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an easy reader; it's not meant to be good literature.

[Sina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but will probably not read it again.

[Vita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, I don't remember a thing about this book. I think we read it in class... I must not have been paying much attention. Lol