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Gereon Rath #4
Die Akte Vaterland
Im Juli 1932 steht die Berliner Polizei vor einem Rätsel: Ein Mann liegt tot im Lastenaufzug von "Haus Vaterland", dem legendären Vergnügungstempel am Potsdamer Platz, und alles deutet hin, dass er dort ertrunken ist. Und er ist nicht der Einzige, der auf diese Weise ums Leben gekommen ist...
Volker Kutscher schickt seinen Kommissar Gereon Rath auf eine außergewöhnliche Ermittlungsreise, die bis nach Ostpreußen führt. Und Rath an die Grenzen seiner Belastbarkeit,
Volker Kutscher schickt seinen Kommissar Gereon Rath auf eine außergewöhnliche Ermittlungsreise, die bis nach Ostpreußen führt. Und Rath an die Grenzen seiner Belastbarkeit,
564 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
259 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Volker Kutscher
23 books610 followersVolker Kutscher ist ein deutscher Schriftsteller. 1995 veröffentlichte er mit Bullenmord seinen ersten Kriminalroman im Kölner Verlag Emons. 2008 erschien unter dem Titel Der nasse Fisch der erste Band einer auf mehrere Bände angelegten Reihe von historischen Kriminalromanen um die literarische Figur des Kölner Kommissars Gereon Rath, die im Berlin der späten Weimarer Republik und des Nationalsozialismus spielen. Die bis 2019 erschienenen ersten 7 Bände spielen in den Jahren 1929 bis 1935.
Volker Kutscher lebt in Köln.
Volker Kutscher lebt in Köln.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
May 29, 2019
The reviews are not exaggerating; this is the best in the series, yet.
Undoubtedly, with all the background built in the previous three books Kutscher started laying down cards for Rath: personal, professional, and political events leapfrog ahead. Charly and Gereon are advancing their relationship, or are they? Yes, no, yes. Being prone to going it alone, Rath finds himself reprimanded and sent to the hinterland, East Prussia. Things are still tense at the Castle and ominous events happen at the Police headquarters as politics invade the judicial system.
Old connections and old enemies make appearances while Rath chases down a serial killer with the most intriguing MO. There is excellent layering of storylines, never a dull moment and definitely more mentally stimulating than the average mystery fare.
I am completely hooked. Part of me has no desire to see where this is going, because with the Weimar Republic failing that leaves the horrifying reality of history:
Still contemplating giving it 5 stars. May upgrade my rating.
Undoubtedly, with all the background built in the previous three books Kutscher started laying down cards for Rath: personal, professional, and political events leapfrog ahead. Charly and Gereon are advancing their relationship, or are they? Yes, no, yes. Being prone to going it alone, Rath finds himself reprimanded and sent to the hinterland, East Prussia. Things are still tense at the Castle and ominous events happen at the Police headquarters as politics invade the judicial system.
Old connections and old enemies make appearances while Rath chases down a serial killer with the most intriguing MO. There is excellent layering of storylines, never a dull moment and definitely more mentally stimulating than the average mystery fare.
I am completely hooked. Part of me has no desire to see where this is going, because with the Weimar Republic failing that leaves the horrifying reality of history:
'Perhaps it's time Herr Hitler headed back to Austria. Half a year ago he didn't have citizenship, now he's telling us what it means to be German?'
Still contemplating giving it 5 stars. May upgrade my rating.
December 13, 2023
Berlin 1932, die Reichsregierung "übernimmt" Preußen, indem sie die Obersten der Polizei austauscht. Die preußische Polizei unternimmt keinen Aufstand. Kommissar Rath muß nach Ostpreußen, dort haben sich die Nazis bereits festgesetzt. Man fiebert für die nächsten Wahlen. Mehrere zusammenhängende Morde. In den Reihen der Polizei findet sich wieder einmal einer der "Schurken", was wohl erst im 5. Teil weiter geführt wird.
May 14, 2025
Zum 1. Mal so eine Art Cliffhanger. Bin jedenfalls gespannter auf den nächsten Teil als sonst.
January 18, 2025
В тази част инспектор Рат се заема със случай на отровен удавник в заседнал асансьор, а Чарли обелва петдесет килограма лук за престижен ресторант, докато е под прикритие. Читателят научава някои разлики между източните и западните прусаци, а последният бастион на относителната демокрация в райха - Прусия с нейната столица Берлин - е окончателно погълнат от задаващия се нацистки мрак.
Фолкер Кучер се е върнал към верния тон. Сюжетът криволичи географски и между различните герои, но е удивително стегнат, пълен с мрачни искрици хумор, а Гереон Рат е по-интересен от всякога, и на моменти истински си проси боя както от любимата си Чарли, така и от колегите си. Злодеят в тази част е най-пълнокръвен и държи читателя нетърпеливо на нокти дали все пак ще си получи заслуженото.
Уви, 1932 г. подозрително и тъжно напомня на 21 век. Насред криминалните обрати повод за размисъл са вечната дилема между закон и справедливост; тънката и разтеглива граница между желанието за ред и “здрава ръка” в държавата и тоталитарното мракобесие; етническите проблеми в смесените райони, където довчерашните приятели са днешни врагове; трудностите на жените в един предимно мъжки свят; и - най-вече - как лесно умира свободата, когато е приета за даденост или се възприема като излишна глезотия…
4,5⭐️
—————
П.П. Не издържах на любопитството и прелистих последната - десета - книга. Краят на историята, избран от Кучер, много ме разочарова. Не толкова, че е мрачен, а по-скоро, че е творчески слаб и всъщност не е никакъв край - след него могат да се напишат още десет книги. Авторът не е могъл да вземе каквото и да е ясно решение как да завърши собствената си история! Много
лошо и претенциозно техническо изпълнение. Засега спирам с поредицата.
February 10, 2018
The best in the series so far. Grear plot, really evocative of the times and a very enjoyable read. It is a touch more complex than the other books and one gets much more development of the principal characters. I shall be reading the rest of the series.
May 15, 2019
Everybody is correct.
The series keeps on getting better with each new volume; this one certainly was the best so far.
The plot is convoluted almost to the point of being unbelievable, but that's perfectly fine, as all the loose ends are tied in and everything actually DOES hang together.
Rath is still an asshole, but that's a big part of what makes him such an appealing character. Like Wallander, he is all too human.
And, finally, the main ark of the whole series continues and becomes clearer and clearer: more than being a period mystery, this series is about the slow death of democracy, and draws parallels with the modern day society, which--thankfully--is not as far gone as Germany in 1932. Yet.
The series keeps on getting better with each new volume; this one certainly was the best so far.
The plot is convoluted almost to the point of being unbelievable, but that's perfectly fine, as all the loose ends are tied in and everything actually DOES hang together.
Rath is still an asshole, but that's a big part of what makes him such an appealing character. Like Wallander, he is all too human.
And, finally, the main ark of the whole series continues and becomes clearer and clearer: more than being a period mystery, this series is about the slow death of democracy, and draws parallels with the modern day society, which--thankfully--is not as far gone as Germany in 1932. Yet.
May 31, 2020
That was the best instalment for me until now, no doubts.
A mysterious murder case in the famous pleasure temple in central Berlin occurs to be a part of a murder series.
Haus Vaterland (Fatherland House) was a pleasure palace on the southwest side of Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin:
The traces of the murder series lead far to the East, to a small masurian town on the polish border.
Homicide Detective Gereon Rath follows the traces and finds himself in the totally different world full of dark secrets and undiscovered manipulated crimes. This investigation is not only dangerous - it puts his live as well as the lives of the people who want to help him at deadly risk.
Masuria, Treuburg, the marketplace. Indeed, a huge one:
An enthralling and complex story-line against the background of the historical events in the early summer 1932. Very atmospheric and thrilling from the start up to the end.
My only complain is the chemistry between Gereon and Charly. I know they belong to each other (because I am constantly told about it), but I don't feel it.
Their relationship just reminded me why I don't read romance books. Luckily this series is not a romance.
September 20, 2019
kutscher'in kitapları bir çok iyi - bir orta şeklinde ilerliyor. bir öncekini daha çok beğenmiştim. bu kez charlie'yle gereon arasındaki gerilim, türk filmi gibi yanlış anlamalar beni biraz sıktı.
ama acayip coğrafi ve tarihi bilgi var. mazuryalılar kimmiş? karavan markası sandığım westfalia da bir bölgeymiş. prusya'dan çıkıp polonya koridorundan geçip tekrar prusya'ya nasıl varılır? garibim doğu almanlar nasıl herkesten önce hitler'e sığınıp sonra ilk kazığı yemişler, hepsi var romanda.
polonyalı nefreti de had safhada, insanlık nefret edecek bir komşusunu bulmadan yaşayamayan bir varlık. kesin bilgi.
hitler adım adım ayak seslerini gösteriyor. emniyet'ten darbeyle indirilen weiss romanın sonunda hâlâ hukuka inanıyor ama bir yahudi olarak hukukun neye dönüştüğünü ilk göreceklerden olacak sanırım :(
neyse gereon rath polisiyeleri yazmaya devam etsin kutscher, ben hepsini okurum ^.^
ama acayip coğrafi ve tarihi bilgi var. mazuryalılar kimmiş? karavan markası sandığım westfalia da bir bölgeymiş. prusya'dan çıkıp polonya koridorundan geçip tekrar prusya'ya nasıl varılır? garibim doğu almanlar nasıl herkesten önce hitler'e sığınıp sonra ilk kazığı yemişler, hepsi var romanda.
polonyalı nefreti de had safhada, insanlık nefret edecek bir komşusunu bulmadan yaşayamayan bir varlık. kesin bilgi.
hitler adım adım ayak seslerini gösteriyor. emniyet'ten darbeyle indirilen weiss romanın sonunda hâlâ hukuka inanıyor ama bir yahudi olarak hukukun neye dönüştüğünü ilk göreceklerden olacak sanırım :(
neyse gereon rath polisiyeleri yazmaya devam etsin kutscher, ben hepsini okurum ^.^
August 17, 2020
ok, time to finally review this (and the next book, which i also already finished)
This is definitely my favorite in the series at this point.
The story is split into three parts, and widens the setting/location: instead of keeping to Berlin as usual and exploring the different neighborhoods within the city, this time the investigation actually takes Rath far away, to Masuria, a region that was at this point in history part of East Prussia, bordering on Poland. This location in the countryside is a stark contrast to the modernity emerging out of Berlin - the mentality is deeply conservative and nationalist, extremely sceptical of foreigners, and there's a dark secret somewhere in its history that Rath is dedicated to digging up.....
It's exactly the kind of premise I knew I'd love - as a historical novel, this book is itself occupied with history, its construction and deconstruction, its being shaped into an ideology, its hidden truths and blind spots.
The first part of the book, which does take place in Berlin, didn't excite me that much, but from the second part on this is just an amazing read. The atmosphere is impeccable, and there's an immense amount of suspense built out of to the descriptions of this town, its inhabitants and all its secrets. I specifically loved the (new) characters in this volume. They all had very distinct personalities, reflecting the different attitudes toward the changes in society and politics at the time. They all seem pretty much like archetypes: There's the mysterious outsider, the wise teacher, the grumpy old guy who probably knows more than he lets on, the sleek rich guy who you also know is hiding something.... the way the book plays around with these types is so entertaining.
The plot also fits perfectly into the wider historical setting, which is right at the crucial point where a dissolving democracy tips over into dictatorship, and subsequently nationalist myths are taking over the dominant culture and drowning out all opposition. The topic of mythologizing history fits right into this, and there is a very potent sense of tragedy to the fact that Masuria effectively destroyed its own multiethnic culture by falling prey to these narratives. In this context I loved the woods between Prussia and Poland as a setting - at one point while walking through it for his investigation Rath asks which country they're actually in now, and his companion just says 'who knows, around here you can't tell.' The woods are exactly the same on both sides - in that way they show not only the arbitrariness of (national) borders and the narratives that are shaped around them, but also serve as a space that, in its depth and mysteriousness, seems removed from time and space, contrasting the territorialized and ideologically loaded human spaces. Nature's still going to be there, while cultural ideologies claim their victims and then collapse themselves, like an endless cycle. That's the focus of the epilogue, which I loved a lot, as it extends the whole story into the future and gives it additional weight.
One thing I also loved was the topic of law vs justice, which is always a favorite for me.
Then there's also the parallel plot of Charly in Berlin, which mainly focuses on sexual harrassment in the workplace, which leads her to doubt her position as a woman working in the extremely male-dominated police force. I didn't dislike the plot and felt it was pretty realistic, but it was also....well, it didn't exactly add anything new to the topic, and it fell prey to the usual problem of very clearly marking the offenders out as all around bad and unpleasant people, when in reality sexism being as normative as it was at the time, would have been perpetuated by a lot more people (even 'good men') and in multiple ways. Rath himself is sexist to Charly multiple times, and not even in a subtle way, but in this context he gets to be the heroic fiance defending his girlfriend, which....doesn't sit right with me.
Nonetheless, it's not bad, and Charly working undercover was a nice touch too. But the main plot is definitely the best part of the book.
This is good. A very strong 4 stars!
This is definitely my favorite in the series at this point.
The story is split into three parts, and widens the setting/location: instead of keeping to Berlin as usual and exploring the different neighborhoods within the city, this time the investigation actually takes Rath far away, to Masuria, a region that was at this point in history part of East Prussia, bordering on Poland. This location in the countryside is a stark contrast to the modernity emerging out of Berlin - the mentality is deeply conservative and nationalist, extremely sceptical of foreigners, and there's a dark secret somewhere in its history that Rath is dedicated to digging up.....
It's exactly the kind of premise I knew I'd love - as a historical novel, this book is itself occupied with history, its construction and deconstruction, its being shaped into an ideology, its hidden truths and blind spots.
The first part of the book, which does take place in Berlin, didn't excite me that much, but from the second part on this is just an amazing read. The atmosphere is impeccable, and there's an immense amount of suspense built out of to the descriptions of this town, its inhabitants and all its secrets. I specifically loved the (new) characters in this volume. They all had very distinct personalities, reflecting the different attitudes toward the changes in society and politics at the time. They all seem pretty much like archetypes: There's the mysterious outsider, the wise teacher, the grumpy old guy who probably knows more than he lets on, the sleek rich guy who you also know is hiding something.... the way the book plays around with these types is so entertaining.
The plot also fits perfectly into the wider historical setting, which is right at the crucial point where a dissolving democracy tips over into dictatorship, and subsequently nationalist myths are taking over the dominant culture and drowning out all opposition. The topic of mythologizing history fits right into this, and there is a very potent sense of tragedy to the fact that Masuria effectively destroyed its own multiethnic culture by falling prey to these narratives. In this context I loved the woods between Prussia and Poland as a setting - at one point while walking through it for his investigation Rath asks which country they're actually in now, and his companion just says 'who knows, around here you can't tell.' The woods are exactly the same on both sides - in that way they show not only the arbitrariness of (national) borders and the narratives that are shaped around them, but also serve as a space that, in its depth and mysteriousness, seems removed from time and space, contrasting the territorialized and ideologically loaded human spaces. Nature's still going to be there, while cultural ideologies claim their victims and then collapse themselves, like an endless cycle. That's the focus of the epilogue, which I loved a lot, as it extends the whole story into the future and gives it additional weight.
One thing I also loved was the topic of law vs justice, which is always a favorite for me.
Then there's also the parallel plot of Charly in Berlin, which mainly focuses on sexual harrassment in the workplace, which leads her to doubt her position as a woman working in the extremely male-dominated police force. I didn't dislike the plot and felt it was pretty realistic, but it was also....well, it didn't exactly add anything new to the topic, and it fell prey to the usual problem of very clearly marking the offenders out as all around bad and unpleasant people, when in reality sexism being as normative as it was at the time, would have been perpetuated by a lot more people (even 'good men') and in multiple ways. Rath himself is sexist to Charly multiple times, and not even in a subtle way, but in this context he gets to be the heroic fiance defending his girlfriend, which....doesn't sit right with me.
Nonetheless, it's not bad, and Charly working undercover was a nice touch too. But the main plot is definitely the best part of the book.
This is good. A very strong 4 stars!
May 19, 2025
11. Juli 1920 // 2. Juli bis 6. August 1932 // 30. April 1945
War spannend, historisch aufschlußreich und teilweise sogar witzig.
Gemeinsames Zigarettenrauchen, davon war der Kommissar fest überzeugt, war das beste Mittel, um Animositäten abzubauen oder Misstrauen. (S. 63)
"Allerdings würde das bedeuten, dass der Mörder, während er den Kollegen Wengler einen langsamen Tod hat sterben lassen, dabei in aller Seelenruhe auch noch den Verkehr geregelt hat." (S. 321)
Gennat schlug mit der Handfläche auf die Akte. "Mein lieber Herr Rath, es fällt mir schwer, auch nur die Hälfte dieser haarsträubenden Geschichte zu glauben."
"Ich kann nichts dafür, Herr Kriminalrat, wenn die Wahrheit manchmal haarsträubend ist."
Gennat schaute ihm tief in die Augen, so tief, dass es Rath tatsächlich unangenehm wurde. "Wir werden wohl niemals erfahren, was wirklich an diesem See in Masuren passiert ist." (S. 549)
1. Satz - Er ist wieder unterwegs und schleicht durch die Wälder, hat seinen Unterschlupf verlassen und schnürt durchs Gehölz, niemand wird ihn hören, niemand wird ihn sehen.
letzter - Ich bin mit allem verwandt.
War spannend, historisch aufschlußreich und teilweise sogar witzig.
Gemeinsames Zigarettenrauchen, davon war der Kommissar fest überzeugt, war das beste Mittel, um Animositäten abzubauen oder Misstrauen. (S. 63)
"Allerdings würde das bedeuten, dass der Mörder, während er den Kollegen Wengler einen langsamen Tod hat sterben lassen, dabei in aller Seelenruhe auch noch den Verkehr geregelt hat." (S. 321)
Gennat schlug mit der Handfläche auf die Akte. "Mein lieber Herr Rath, es fällt mir schwer, auch nur die Hälfte dieser haarsträubenden Geschichte zu glauben."
"Ich kann nichts dafür, Herr Kriminalrat, wenn die Wahrheit manchmal haarsträubend ist."
Gennat schaute ihm tief in die Augen, so tief, dass es Rath tatsächlich unangenehm wurde. "Wir werden wohl niemals erfahren, was wirklich an diesem See in Masuren passiert ist." (S. 549)
1. Satz - Er ist wieder unterwegs und schleicht durch die Wälder, hat seinen Unterschlupf verlassen und schnürt durchs Gehölz, niemand wird ihn hören, niemand wird ihn sehen.
letzter - Ich bin mit allem verwandt.
January 22, 2020
Babylon Berlin serisinin şimdiye kadar okuduğum en iyi kitabıydı. Kurgusu, olay örgüsü aktı götürdü. Nazilerin iktidarına aylar kala Almanya'nın kırsalı ile Berlin arasındaki uçurum, bir siyasi görüşün fanatiği olmayan sıradan insanların bezmişliği, kayıtsızlığı ve git gide kapana kısıldıklarının bilincinde olmayışları dokunaklıydı. Özellikle görevinden el çektirilen yahudi emniyet müdürünün adalete hala inanması ve yeni iktidarla her şeyin daha iyi olabileceğine inanması... Yıl 1933.
Umarım İletişim seriyi yayınlamaya devam eder 🤞.
Kitaptan sonra Mazurya tarihini merak edip wikipedia'dan baktım. Halk 1920 yılında yapılan plebisitte %99 oranla Polonya'ya değil Alman imparatorluğu'na bağlı olmayı tercih etmiş. Anadilleri Mazurca (Lehçe) olmasına karşın seçimlerinin böyle olmasının birçok sebebi var yıllardır yürütülen Almanlaştırma politikalarının yanı sıra, 1. dünya savaşında Ruslara karşı şiddetli çarpışmaların geçtiği bir bölge olması ve Polonyalıların Katolik kendilerinin ise Protestan olmalarının da etkisi olmuş. Böylece Polonya koridorunun ötesinde, yürekten bağlı oldukları Almanya'ya uzak, nefret ettikleri Polonya'ya ve Ruslara yakın bir konumda kalınca, Alman milliyetçiliğine ve Hitler'e sarılmışlar. 1933'te başlayan Hitler iktidarında ise kültürleri yok edilmiş, asimile olmak istemeyenler öldürülmüş. 2. Dünya savaşında Sovyetler üzerlerinden geçmiş, yakmış, yıkmış; savaş sonunda Polonya tarafından ilhak edilince birçoğu Almanya'ya kaçmış, kalanlar millileştirme politikasına tabi tutulmuşlar. Yani hallaç pamuğu gibi atılmışlar. Bugün Mazurca konuşan 5.000-15.000 kişi kalmış.
Kaubuk'un yemyeşil ormanları, berrak gölleri, ıssız bataklıklarıyla sevdiği cennet vatanı, Mazurya halkına yar olmamış. Kaubuk da zaten kadim Mazurya halkının özünü temsil ediyordu, sonu da ona göre oldu.
Umarım İletişim seriyi yayınlamaya devam eder 🤞.
Kitaptan sonra Mazurya tarihini merak edip wikipedia'dan baktım. Halk 1920 yılında yapılan plebisitte %99 oranla Polonya'ya değil Alman imparatorluğu'na bağlı olmayı tercih etmiş. Anadilleri Mazurca (Lehçe) olmasına karşın seçimlerinin böyle olmasının birçok sebebi var yıllardır yürütülen Almanlaştırma politikalarının yanı sıra, 1. dünya savaşında Ruslara karşı şiddetli çarpışmaların geçtiği bir bölge olması ve Polonyalıların Katolik kendilerinin ise Protestan olmalarının da etkisi olmuş. Böylece Polonya koridorunun ötesinde, yürekten bağlı oldukları Almanya'ya uzak, nefret ettikleri Polonya'ya ve Ruslara yakın bir konumda kalınca, Alman milliyetçiliğine ve Hitler'e sarılmışlar. 1933'te başlayan Hitler iktidarında ise kültürleri yok edilmiş, asimile olmak istemeyenler öldürülmüş. 2. Dünya savaşında Sovyetler üzerlerinden geçmiş, yakmış, yıkmış; savaş sonunda Polonya tarafından ilhak edilince birçoğu Almanya'ya kaçmış, kalanlar millileştirme politikasına tabi tutulmuşlar. Yani hallaç pamuğu gibi atılmışlar. Bugün Mazurca konuşan 5.000-15.000 kişi kalmış.
Kaubuk'un yemyeşil ormanları, berrak gölleri, ıssız bataklıklarıyla sevdiği cennet vatanı, Mazurya halkına yar olmamış. Kaubuk da zaten kadim Mazurya halkının özünü temsil ediyordu, sonu da ona göre oldu.
May 11, 2025
This series keeps improving, which is a great sign. This installment sees Gereon traveling to East Prussia, specifically to the region of Masuria, caught between Poland and Prussia, and trying to solve a decade-old murder while preventing a series of newer ones. His relationship with Charlotte progresses, and her own struggles to make a career take center stage. And I see that some parts of Babylon Berlin were taken from this book (which makes me curious - as always - to see what they will adapt later on for that wonderful show!)
Audiobook version read by David Nathan is fabulous. Finished listening in May 2025
Audiobook version read by David Nathan is fabulous. Finished listening in May 2025
May 8, 2018
Das Ende war dann doch zu viel des Guten...
February 26, 2023
Eine tolle Geschichte, hervorragend gelesen von David Nathan. Die Krimigeschichte ist in dieser Folge eher nebensächlich. Die Zeigeschichte ist packend erzählt.
April 26, 2022
Der vierte Fall für Kriminalkommissar Gereon Rath. Diesmal führt ihn seine Ermittlungen nach Masuren, der früheren Provinz Ostpreußen. Für mich ganz unbekanntes Terrain. Der Roman entführt in die damalige Zeit und das damalige Berlin, eine wahrlich Zeitreise. Ich bin begeistert von der Art zu schreiben und den Charakteren, die wir mittlerweile ganz gut kennen. Ein spannender Fall zwischen Eifersucht und Rache. Ich freue mich auf Teil 5.
January 2, 2025
Her kitapta olduğu gibi diziden çok bağımsız bir kitap ve okurken biraz yordu beni. Spoiler vermek istemem dizi ve kitap hakkında yüzüklerin efendisi, game of thrones, harry Potter vb serilerde olduğu gibi diziyle bağımlı gitmesini isterdim.
August 19, 2021
In terms of its plot and suspense, I thought that Die Akte Vaterland was pretty good. I found it particularly compelling how Kutscher depicted the political struggles of the era--I have been interested in how he has addressed the building intensity of the Nazi party during the era throughout the series. The plot does include a fairly outlandish thread of a hermit living in the woods and moors outside of an East Prussia town but was otherwise solid for the genre.
However, I found the tone and language surrounding some topics to be jarring. Kutscher and his characters use outdated and offensive terms for Indigenous people and an African-German character that are probably accurate to the period depicted but still stood out to me in a way that clouded the reading experience. Part of my struggle with the terminology undoubtedly comes from a lack of German-language skill (I read this in the original as a way to try to keep up my German). I may miss nuance that he is bringing to the conversation. But, I did find it disruptive.
However, I found the tone and language surrounding some topics to be jarring. Kutscher and his characters use outdated and offensive terms for Indigenous people and an African-German character that are probably accurate to the period depicted but still stood out to me in a way that clouded the reading experience. Part of my struggle with the terminology undoubtedly comes from a lack of German-language skill (I read this in the original as a way to try to keep up my German). I may miss nuance that he is bringing to the conversation. But, I did find it disruptive.
January 29, 2021
Gereon Rath ermittelt in Die Akte Vaterland in seinem vierten Fall. Es ist Juli 1932 und die Weltwirtschaftkrise und der aufkommende Nationalsozialismus prägen den Alltag. Nachdem Charly seinen Heiratsantrag angenommen hat, könnte er sich glücklich schätzen, doch bekommt er es mit einem Fall zu tun, der ihn buchstäblich aus seinem Leben in Berlin reißt. Die Spuren im Mord an dem Spirituosenhändler Lamkau und einem weiteren Fall führen nach Ostpreußen und so reist Rath in die masurische Kleinstadt Treuburg. Die Ermordeten arbeiteten früher beide für die dort ansässige Destillerie Luisenbrand. Rath erscheint der Besitzer Wengler verdächtig und so stöbert er weiter in dessen Vergangenheit und macht sich damit nicht nur bei Wengler unbeliebt. Weitere Morde geschehen und auch Rath selbst gerät in Lebensgefahr, bis er schließlich doch noch die Zusammenhänge aufdecken kann.
Auch in diesem Band gelingt es Volker Kutscher auf großartige Weise, das detailliert recherchierte und geschilderte historische Geschehen im Jahr 1932 mit einem spannenden Kriminalfall zu verknüpfen. Er politisiert nicht im eigentlichen Sinne, lässt die Ereignisse eher beiläufig einfließen und bildet damit einen authentischen Hintergrund mit plausibel handelnden Figuren. Sein Wissen um das historische Berlin ist beeindruckend und unterhaltsam. Hier sei nur die am Potsdamer Platz heute wieder zu bestaunende erste Verkehrsampel (siehe Cover) zu erwähnen, in dessen Turm Kutscher kurzerhand einen der Morde geschehen lässt. Gefallen hat mir auch die Schilderung des dörflichen Alltags in Masuren, die im Buch geschilderte Abstimmung (1920), ob der Ort zu Preußen oder zu Polen gehören wolle, hat tatsächlich stattgefunden. Insgesamt ist die Reihe von Volker Kutscher bisher durchgehend sehr lesenswert, hinter der die ihr nachempfundene Fernsehproduktion weit zurückbleibt.
Auch in diesem Band gelingt es Volker Kutscher auf großartige Weise, das detailliert recherchierte und geschilderte historische Geschehen im Jahr 1932 mit einem spannenden Kriminalfall zu verknüpfen. Er politisiert nicht im eigentlichen Sinne, lässt die Ereignisse eher beiläufig einfließen und bildet damit einen authentischen Hintergrund mit plausibel handelnden Figuren. Sein Wissen um das historische Berlin ist beeindruckend und unterhaltsam. Hier sei nur die am Potsdamer Platz heute wieder zu bestaunende erste Verkehrsampel (siehe Cover) zu erwähnen, in dessen Turm Kutscher kurzerhand einen der Morde geschehen lässt. Gefallen hat mir auch die Schilderung des dörflichen Alltags in Masuren, die im Buch geschilderte Abstimmung (1920), ob der Ort zu Preußen oder zu Polen gehören wolle, hat tatsächlich stattgefunden. Insgesamt ist die Reihe von Volker Kutscher bisher durchgehend sehr lesenswert, hinter der die ihr nachempfundene Fernsehproduktion weit zurückbleibt.
May 17, 2020
I wasn't such a big fan of the Gereon Rath detectives after the first two books (which I read a couple of years back in their Dutch translation). There is always the comparison with Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther books. And where Bernie sometimes has too much personality Gereon has almost none. In the last his character starts to develop and being built upon.
Another thing is the pace. Kustler's is rather slow with not as many twists and turns. This is something which I start to appreciate however.
For me the comparison with Kerr will remain as long as new Gereon Ratho books are written. I starting to like them more the more I read. This was the best book in the series this far; 4 starts this time, perhaps 5 for the new book later this year?
Another thing is the pace. Kustler's is rather slow with not as many twists and turns. This is something which I start to appreciate however.
For me the comparison with Kerr will remain as long as new Gereon Ratho books are written. I starting to like them more the more I read. This was the best book in the series this far; 4 starts this time, perhaps 5 for the new book later this year?
October 2, 2020
Das beste Buch bis jetzt!
I really liked this one. Definitely my favorite so far. I really loved Ostpreussen as a setting for a lot of the action along with the twists and turns in it. I liked how so many of the characters made progress, especially Oberkommisar Boehm.
Overall, it kept a good pace, the actions of the characters were mostly reasonable, and the ending was pretty satisfying.
I really liked this one. Definitely my favorite so far. I really loved Ostpreussen as a setting for a lot of the action along with the twists and turns in it. I liked how so many of the characters made progress, especially Oberkommisar Boehm.
Overall, it kept a good pace, the actions of the characters were mostly reasonable, and the ending was pretty satisfying.
August 6, 2023
zuerst möchte ich sagen, dass es natürlich affengeil war, dieses buch im urlaub am strand wegzufetzen
finde es von den ersten vieren, die ich bis jetzt gelesen habe, am schwächsten. den mittelteil in masuren fand ich super und historisch-politisch auch sehr spannend. im letzten teil hat es stark nachgelassen. trotzdem stabiles leseerlebnis, freue mich auf die weiteren teile!
p.s. würde gerne mal ne overstolz rauchen
3,5/5 ⭐️
finde es von den ersten vieren, die ich bis jetzt gelesen habe, am schwächsten. den mittelteil in masuren fand ich super und historisch-politisch auch sehr spannend. im letzten teil hat es stark nachgelassen. trotzdem stabiles leseerlebnis, freue mich auf die weiteren teile!
p.s. würde gerne mal ne overstolz rauchen
3,5/5 ⭐️
September 22, 2012
Tokala
Gereon Rath ist im Dienst außerdienstlich unterwegs, schließlich kommt seine liebste Charly aus Paris zurück nach Berlin. Während Rath also nicht erreichbar ist muss Kriminal-Assistent Gräf zu einem ungeklärten Todesfall. In einem Lastenaufzug des Vergnügungslokals Haus Vaterland wurde eine Leiche gefunden, die Spuren des Ertrinkens aufweist. Die Mitarbeiter des Lokals geben auch bereitwillig Auskunft. Doch schon bald stellt sich heraus, dass die Todesursache auch eine andere sein könnte, was die Sache allerdings noch geheimnisvoller macht.
Viele Spuren warten auf Gereon Rath, die zunächst nicht zueinander passen wollen. Und Charly Ritter, die als Kommissar-Anwärterin bei der Berliner Polizei anfängt, reagiert nicht so erfreut über Gereons Heiratsantrag wie erhofft. Ein kniffliger Kriminalfall, der eigenwillige Kommissar Rath, die kapriziöse Charly, die politische Lage in Berlin und Preußen der 1930er Jahre: das ist die bekannte Mischung der Krimis um Gereon Rath. Wieder fühlt man sich in die 30er hineinversetzt. Die an die Zeit, in der der Roman spielt, angepasste Schreibweise zieht den Leser noch mehr in das Geschehen hinein. Die damalige Stellung einer berufstätigen Frau, die politische Lage - aus heutiger Sicht kaum mehr vorstellbar. Solche Zeiten kann man sich nicht wünschen. Dann der Umschwung des sozialdemokratischen Preußen zur braunen Diktatur, der immer mehr in den Vordergrund drängt. Der braune Sumpf, der alles durchdringt und der gerade den Mitläufern eine Gelegenheit zu bieten scheint, sich hervor zu tun und Geltung zu erlangen. Die vielen, die die Gefahr unterschätzen, da Preußen doch immer rot gewesen sei, und denen doch so langsam die traurige Wahrheit dämmert, dass es mit Demokratie und Republik wohl ein schlimmes Ende geben werde. Doch noch immer wird die Aufklärung der Todesfälle als zwingend erforderlich angesehen, das ist die Aufgabe der Polizei nicht nicht die Äußerung politischer Gedanken. In der Nachschau weiß man wo dieses Verhalten hinführt. Dieses Heraufdämmern des Nazi-Staates ist wie schon in den anderen Büchern hervorragend beschrieben, die sich ändernde Stimmung im Land und unter den Menschen, die sich doch immer mehr bewußt werden, dass großes Unheil droht. Als Leser spürt man die wachsende Beklemmung und das fortdauernde Bemühen, die Arbeit möglichst gut zu bewältigen. Gereons und Charlys Geschichte ambivalent auch wie immer. Nun könnte man denken, wenn alles ist wie immer, braucht der Roman ja eigentlich nicht gelesen zu werden. Doch die unterschwellige Steigerung dieses wie immer macht gerade diesen Band der Reihe für mich äußerst lesenswert und spannend. Schön ist auch die Darstellung der Langsamkeit der damaligen Zeit, die langsame Entwicklung der Vorgänge, die es dem interessierten Leser besonders gut ermöglich, sich in die alte Zeit hineinzufühlensich auseinander zu setzen und dabei zu der Erkenntnis zu kommen, dass es sich heute mit Demokratie und Republik doch erheblich besser leben lässt.. Erleb- und nachvollziehbare Geschichte, einfach klasse.
Gereon Rath ist im Dienst außerdienstlich unterwegs, schließlich kommt seine liebste Charly aus Paris zurück nach Berlin. Während Rath also nicht erreichbar ist muss Kriminal-Assistent Gräf zu einem ungeklärten Todesfall. In einem Lastenaufzug des Vergnügungslokals Haus Vaterland wurde eine Leiche gefunden, die Spuren des Ertrinkens aufweist. Die Mitarbeiter des Lokals geben auch bereitwillig Auskunft. Doch schon bald stellt sich heraus, dass die Todesursache auch eine andere sein könnte, was die Sache allerdings noch geheimnisvoller macht.
Viele Spuren warten auf Gereon Rath, die zunächst nicht zueinander passen wollen. Und Charly Ritter, die als Kommissar-Anwärterin bei der Berliner Polizei anfängt, reagiert nicht so erfreut über Gereons Heiratsantrag wie erhofft. Ein kniffliger Kriminalfall, der eigenwillige Kommissar Rath, die kapriziöse Charly, die politische Lage in Berlin und Preußen der 1930er Jahre: das ist die bekannte Mischung der Krimis um Gereon Rath. Wieder fühlt man sich in die 30er hineinversetzt. Die an die Zeit, in der der Roman spielt, angepasste Schreibweise zieht den Leser noch mehr in das Geschehen hinein. Die damalige Stellung einer berufstätigen Frau, die politische Lage - aus heutiger Sicht kaum mehr vorstellbar. Solche Zeiten kann man sich nicht wünschen. Dann der Umschwung des sozialdemokratischen Preußen zur braunen Diktatur, der immer mehr in den Vordergrund drängt. Der braune Sumpf, der alles durchdringt und der gerade den Mitläufern eine Gelegenheit zu bieten scheint, sich hervor zu tun und Geltung zu erlangen. Die vielen, die die Gefahr unterschätzen, da Preußen doch immer rot gewesen sei, und denen doch so langsam die traurige Wahrheit dämmert, dass es mit Demokratie und Republik wohl ein schlimmes Ende geben werde. Doch noch immer wird die Aufklärung der Todesfälle als zwingend erforderlich angesehen, das ist die Aufgabe der Polizei nicht nicht die Äußerung politischer Gedanken. In der Nachschau weiß man wo dieses Verhalten hinführt. Dieses Heraufdämmern des Nazi-Staates ist wie schon in den anderen Büchern hervorragend beschrieben, die sich ändernde Stimmung im Land und unter den Menschen, die sich doch immer mehr bewußt werden, dass großes Unheil droht. Als Leser spürt man die wachsende Beklemmung und das fortdauernde Bemühen, die Arbeit möglichst gut zu bewältigen. Gereons und Charlys Geschichte ambivalent auch wie immer. Nun könnte man denken, wenn alles ist wie immer, braucht der Roman ja eigentlich nicht gelesen zu werden. Doch die unterschwellige Steigerung dieses wie immer macht gerade diesen Band der Reihe für mich äußerst lesenswert und spannend. Schön ist auch die Darstellung der Langsamkeit der damaligen Zeit, die langsame Entwicklung der Vorgänge, die es dem interessierten Leser besonders gut ermöglich, sich in die alte Zeit hineinzufühlensich auseinander zu setzen und dabei zu der Erkenntnis zu kommen, dass es sich heute mit Demokratie und Republik doch erheblich besser leben lässt.. Erleb- und nachvollziehbare Geschichte, einfach klasse.
June 15, 2014
Auch der vierte Gereon-Rath-Krimi überzeugt mich als Nicht-Krimi-Leser. Es gibt einige vorhersehbare Fäden, manches erscheint mir nicht gänzglich überzeugend, aber wie immer interessieren mich hier vor allem die Figuren und der historische Hintergrund. Krimis in der untergehenden Weimarer Republik, geschrieben von einem Historiker, der Liebe zum Detail zeigt! Meine Kritikpunkte wiegen denn auch nicht sehr, auch wenn sie die volle Punktzahl verhindern: Kutscher schreibt häufig unnötig Offensichtliches nieder. Zuweilen wird zu viel nachgedacht und der Leser an der Hand geführt, wo ich mir wünschen würde, zwischen den Zeilen lesen zu dürfen. Es gibt einfach Dinge, die ungesagt bleiben können.
Der fünfte Band erscheint demnächst und wird den Reichstagsbrand als historischen Hintergrund haben. Habenwollen!
Der fünfte Band erscheint demnächst und wird den Reichstagsbrand als historischen Hintergrund haben. Habenwollen!
September 6, 2020
Although a lot is going on in the 500+ pages, it is actually quite a straight forward story, although the reader (at least this one) had to stop to go over details once in awhile to remember what characters go with which story line. A large portion was set in East Prussia (now part of Poland) to the east of the Polish corridor. The politics there during that era, and a bit of their history was news to me. The rise of fascist ideology (or just plain thuggery) was shown just before Hitler's rise to the chancellorship. Gereon is as independent and bloody minded as ever as he often goes off on his own to investigate and Charlie, now his fiance, faces the divisiveness and intimidation faced by a woman in the police force.
June 3, 2019
This is possibly the most complex of the Gereon Rath stories. A drowned man is found in a service lift of the vast entertainment complex, Haus Vaterland, and Rath, is called in to investigate. It is discovered that the corpse in the lift is one of a series of similar murders; Rath leaves Berlin for East Prussia - which turns out to be the beginning of his problems.
This is a complex tale of betrayal, old sins catching up, blackmail, assassinations and murder, set against a worsening political situation in Germany, which marks the end of the Weimar Republic.
Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
This is a complex tale of betrayal, old sins catching up, blackmail, assassinations and murder, set against a worsening political situation in Germany, which marks the end of the Weimar Republic.
Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
March 8, 2021
Für mich auch nach dem Re-read der bisher beste Band der Reihe
Ich liebe die Gereon Rath Bücher, vor allem weil es Volker Kutscher immer wieder perfekt gelingt mich in diese schwierige Zeit der späten Weimarer Republik zu führen. Schon jetzt bin ich sehr gespannt was Rath nach 1933 tun wird. Gerade dieses ganze Klima das hier im Hintergrund immer wieder aufflammt, das ist auch die Stärke von "Die Akte Vaterland"- ein schönes Wortspiel das einerseits direkt mit dem Fall zu tun hat, andererseits aber auf einige weitere Verwicklungen anspielt. Gewohnt sperrig kommen natürlich die beiden Figuren Gereon und Charly daher. Charly, mit der ich zugegebener Maßen nie so richtig warm werde, im Gegensatz zu Gereon den ich nach wie vor vor allem deshalb mag weil er unbequem ist und doch auch mit sich hadert. Für mich eine absolut realistische Figur seiner Zeit. Außerdem gefällt es mir auch das Kutscher verschiedene Menschen zeigt, die alle in dieser Zeit leben könnten und die auch für den Leser vielleicht nicht immer angenehm sind. Raths Privatleben hat mich aber dieses Mal irgendwie gestört, sicher auch weil ich eben Charly nicht so mag, aber auch irgendwie... ich fand es hat ein paar Mal einfach die Handlung gehemmt. Am liebsten habe ich es einfach wenn Gereon alleine ermittelt und von nichts und niemandem dabei gehindert wird. ;) Charly's Erzähltstrang gefiel mir ebenfalls , ich fand es gut, das man ihre Probleme am Arbeitsplatz miterleben konnte. Gerade bei der Polizei immer noch ein Thema das nicht vom Tisch ist.
Der Fall selbst war dann auch einfach spannend erzählt und vor allem auch sehr clever konstruiert. Gerade die Verbindung ins das damalige Ostpreußen war sehr interessant, da gerade dort auch die politische Stimmung im kleinen schon deutlich spürbar war - und gleichzeitig auch durch Rath die Überzeugung das auch dieses Buschfeuer bald wieder erlöschen würde. Das man sich da geirrt hat, konnte man 1932 noch nicht absehen. Das Thema der damaligen deutschen Ostgebiete ist ja auch ein sehr Schwieriges, Kutscher ist es aber hier gelungen es im richtigen Tonfall mit einzubeziehen. Überhaupt, die ganze Wahrheit hinter den Morden, da wurde mir schon ganz anders. Als Leser weiß man auf einmal nicht mehr so genau auf welcher Seite man sich stellen soll. Ich mag es wenn man auch selbst dazu angehalten wird über die Lektüre nach zu denken ohne das man moralisch in die Eckte gedrängt wird.
Ich liebe die Gereon Rath Bücher, vor allem weil es Volker Kutscher immer wieder perfekt gelingt mich in diese schwierige Zeit der späten Weimarer Republik zu führen. Schon jetzt bin ich sehr gespannt was Rath nach 1933 tun wird. Gerade dieses ganze Klima das hier im Hintergrund immer wieder aufflammt, das ist auch die Stärke von "Die Akte Vaterland"- ein schönes Wortspiel das einerseits direkt mit dem Fall zu tun hat, andererseits aber auf einige weitere Verwicklungen anspielt. Gewohnt sperrig kommen natürlich die beiden Figuren Gereon und Charly daher. Charly, mit der ich zugegebener Maßen nie so richtig warm werde, im Gegensatz zu Gereon den ich nach wie vor vor allem deshalb mag weil er unbequem ist und doch auch mit sich hadert. Für mich eine absolut realistische Figur seiner Zeit. Außerdem gefällt es mir auch das Kutscher verschiedene Menschen zeigt, die alle in dieser Zeit leben könnten und die auch für den Leser vielleicht nicht immer angenehm sind. Raths Privatleben hat mich aber dieses Mal irgendwie gestört, sicher auch weil ich eben Charly nicht so mag, aber auch irgendwie... ich fand es hat ein paar Mal einfach die Handlung gehemmt. Am liebsten habe ich es einfach wenn Gereon alleine ermittelt und von nichts und niemandem dabei gehindert wird. ;) Charly's Erzähltstrang gefiel mir ebenfalls , ich fand es gut, das man ihre Probleme am Arbeitsplatz miterleben konnte. Gerade bei der Polizei immer noch ein Thema das nicht vom Tisch ist.
Der Fall selbst war dann auch einfach spannend erzählt und vor allem auch sehr clever konstruiert. Gerade die Verbindung ins das damalige Ostpreußen war sehr interessant, da gerade dort auch die politische Stimmung im kleinen schon deutlich spürbar war - und gleichzeitig auch durch Rath die Überzeugung das auch dieses Buschfeuer bald wieder erlöschen würde. Das man sich da geirrt hat, konnte man 1932 noch nicht absehen. Das Thema der damaligen deutschen Ostgebiete ist ja auch ein sehr Schwieriges, Kutscher ist es aber hier gelungen es im richtigen Tonfall mit einzubeziehen. Überhaupt, die ganze Wahrheit hinter den Morden, da wurde mir schon ganz anders. Als Leser weiß man auf einmal nicht mehr so genau auf welcher Seite man sich stellen soll. Ich mag es wenn man auch selbst dazu angehalten wird über die Lektüre nach zu denken ohne das man moralisch in die Eckte gedrängt wird.
May 16, 2019
"The Fatherland Files" is German author Volker Kutscher's fourth book in his Gereon Rath series. I've read the preceding three books and the graphic edition of the first book, "Babylon Berlin". Kutscher's a good writer; both his characters and his plots are evocative of the times - 1920s-1930's Berlin. His protagonist is early 30's police detective, Gereon Rath, who's a bad boy/cowboy officer at Alex, the main Berlin police department building at Alexanderplatz. (I've also seen it referred to in novels as "the Alex", but Kutscher refers to it without the "the".)
Gereon Rath is the perfect policeman for 1932 Berlin. He's a bit crooked, he's moody, he doesn't like to follow orders, and he likes to drink. He'd come to Berlin from the Hannover police department where he'd done something in the line of duty he shouldn't have. For some reason - perhaps who he and his father "knew" in Berlin - Gereon has signed on with the Prussian state police. During the summer of 1932, the city was hit by two or three possible serial killers. It is also the prelude to the national elections with Adolf Hitler and his Nazis contending for power with Hindenburg. Between the murders and the politicing done by the brown shirts and other radical groups, the city.is on edge. Gereon's girlfriend is coming back to Berlin from 8 months in Paris and he and she have no joint vision of their future. Gereon has a diamond engagement ring with him when they meet at the train station. But they don't have the time to work on their relationship because the murders - one killer uses curare and simulated drowning - have heated up and Rath is pressed into service. At this point, the plot goes a bit off the track as Rath is sent off to Danzig to investigate the murders in a small town.
I'm sorry I'm making the plot sound confusing, but it truly is. However, it's filled with interesting characters and places and Kutscher milks the fraught political situation as much as possible, so you should make it through to the end of the book in okay shape. You'll also have "visited" a place on the German/Polish border where most of the inhabitants are fighting with each other and there's a strange wolf-man running around.
I enjoyed the book, and I assume any other longtime reader of the series will, too. If you haven't read the series before, I'd advise you begin with his first book, "Babylon Berline".
Gereon Rath is the perfect policeman for 1932 Berlin. He's a bit crooked, he's moody, he doesn't like to follow orders, and he likes to drink. He'd come to Berlin from the Hannover police department where he'd done something in the line of duty he shouldn't have. For some reason - perhaps who he and his father "knew" in Berlin - Gereon has signed on with the Prussian state police. During the summer of 1932, the city was hit by two or three possible serial killers. It is also the prelude to the national elections with Adolf Hitler and his Nazis contending for power with Hindenburg. Between the murders and the politicing done by the brown shirts and other radical groups, the city.is on edge. Gereon's girlfriend is coming back to Berlin from 8 months in Paris and he and she have no joint vision of their future. Gereon has a diamond engagement ring with him when they meet at the train station. But they don't have the time to work on their relationship because the murders - one killer uses curare and simulated drowning - have heated up and Rath is pressed into service. At this point, the plot goes a bit off the track as Rath is sent off to Danzig to investigate the murders in a small town.
I'm sorry I'm making the plot sound confusing, but it truly is. However, it's filled with interesting characters and places and Kutscher milks the fraught political situation as much as possible, so you should make it through to the end of the book in okay shape. You'll also have "visited" a place on the German/Polish border where most of the inhabitants are fighting with each other and there's a strange wolf-man running around.
I enjoyed the book, and I assume any other longtime reader of the series will, too. If you haven't read the series before, I'd advise you begin with his first book, "Babylon Berline".
August 11, 2020
Åh, hvor HAR jeg altså savnet kriminalassistent Gereon Rath😍🤓
Sagen Vaterland er fjerde bog i serien, der foregår i mellemkrigstidens Berlin og jeg kan lige så godt sige det som det er:
Den her serie er simpelthen forrygende🙌
Om handlingen:
Vi er i Berlin i 1932. På grund af et regeringsskifte er uniformsforbuddet ophævet og politiet har travlt med SA og SS folk, der marcherer rundt og leger politibetjente.
Gereon Raths hold får en ny mærkelig mordsag om en mand, der er fundet druknet i en vareelevator i forlystelsespaladset Haus Vaterland og mordet sender ham afsted mod den polske grænse til Masurien i Østpreussen.
Den nye politiske situation i Tyskland får konsekvenser for Berlins politi og ender med at gøre Raths arbejde i Østpreussen både besværligt og langt farligere.
Der er skruet helt op på de politiske knapper i fjerde bog og jeg havde nogle gange lidt svært at hitte rede i de politiske emner. Preussens historie og i det hele taget den tyske politiske historie er for mig ret indviklet og der er mange ting at holde styr på.
Men jeg er da blevet lidt klogere på både Preussen og den vilde politiske spænding, der eksisterede i Tyskland før anden verdenskrig. Det er simpelthen så fedt med de her historiske romaner, der giver læseren lyst til at vide mere😃🙌
Volker Kutscher er en fremragende formidler af tysk historie og hans karakterer er vildt interessante og nuancerede.
Det siges, at bøgerne kan læses selvstændigt og det er på sin vis også korrekt, da det er en ny sag i hvert bind.
Jeg vil dog kraftigt anbefale at læse dem i rækkefølge, for karakterernes skyld. Gereon Rath har det med at rage uklar med folk og han har nogle hemmeligheder fra de foregående bøger, der er værd at læse om. Og så er der hele Charlotte Ritter/ Gereon Rath-delen. Se, dét er klasse underholdning😆🙌
De her bøger er helt geniale og det er historisk krimi, når det er allerbedst👍
Det eneste minus ved serien er, at jeg får vildt lyst til at begynde med at ryge igen! 🚬😆
📖Anmeldereksemplar fra Lindhardt & Ringhof📖
Sagen Vaterland er fjerde bog i serien, der foregår i mellemkrigstidens Berlin og jeg kan lige så godt sige det som det er:
Den her serie er simpelthen forrygende🙌
Om handlingen:
Vi er i Berlin i 1932. På grund af et regeringsskifte er uniformsforbuddet ophævet og politiet har travlt med SA og SS folk, der marcherer rundt og leger politibetjente.
Gereon Raths hold får en ny mærkelig mordsag om en mand, der er fundet druknet i en vareelevator i forlystelsespaladset Haus Vaterland og mordet sender ham afsted mod den polske grænse til Masurien i Østpreussen.
Den nye politiske situation i Tyskland får konsekvenser for Berlins politi og ender med at gøre Raths arbejde i Østpreussen både besværligt og langt farligere.
Der er skruet helt op på de politiske knapper i fjerde bog og jeg havde nogle gange lidt svært at hitte rede i de politiske emner. Preussens historie og i det hele taget den tyske politiske historie er for mig ret indviklet og der er mange ting at holde styr på.
Men jeg er da blevet lidt klogere på både Preussen og den vilde politiske spænding, der eksisterede i Tyskland før anden verdenskrig. Det er simpelthen så fedt med de her historiske romaner, der giver læseren lyst til at vide mere😃🙌
Volker Kutscher er en fremragende formidler af tysk historie og hans karakterer er vildt interessante og nuancerede.
Det siges, at bøgerne kan læses selvstændigt og det er på sin vis også korrekt, da det er en ny sag i hvert bind.
Jeg vil dog kraftigt anbefale at læse dem i rækkefølge, for karakterernes skyld. Gereon Rath har det med at rage uklar med folk og han har nogle hemmeligheder fra de foregående bøger, der er værd at læse om. Og så er der hele Charlotte Ritter/ Gereon Rath-delen. Se, dét er klasse underholdning😆🙌
De her bøger er helt geniale og det er historisk krimi, når det er allerbedst👍
Det eneste minus ved serien er, at jeg får vildt lyst til at begynde med at ryge igen! 🚬😆
📖Anmeldereksemplar fra Lindhardt & Ringhof📖
December 6, 2025
Serinin bu kitabı, yine çok çabuk okunduğu için özellikle biraz ara versem de, yine çok hızlı bitirdiğim ve Goldstein’dan sonra en sevdiğim kitap oldu. İsminde geçen Vaterland’in de bu kitap için özellikle seçildiği özenli okurun görebileceği bir şey, Kutscher’in bu zeki ipuçlarını çok seviyorum.
Kutscher’in bu seride en iyi yaptığı şeylerden biri, okurunu hep şaşırtmayı başarmak. Bu türde, hem de seri hâlinde yazılan; başrolleri aynı olan ve belli bir dönemde geçen hikâyelerde, bir süre sonra cinayetlerin ve olay yerlerinin tekrarlaması çok kolayken, bu kitapta hiç öyle olmuyor, cinayetler bizi bambaşka yerlere götürüyor.
Ve yine SA’ların, SS’lerin cirit attığı; Hindenburg ve Von Papen isimlerinin çokça geçtiği hikâyede bu defa zaten tarihi olarak var olan ama 1930’ların siyasi atmosferinde giderek artan Polonya düşmanlığını, Versailles’ın Alman halkında yarattığı hayal kırıklığı ve öfkeyi; bu defa Mazurya, Polonya Koridoru, özgür şehir Danzig ve Doğu Prusya coğrafyası ile tabii ki Berlin etrafında soluksuz giden bir seri cinayet vakasına yediriyor Kutscher, hem de bence çok ustaca bir şekilde. Bu defa katilin kim olduğunu sonlara kadar anlayamadım; sonra da kendim dedektifmişimcesine verdiği ipuçlarından kafamda “dosyayı” çözdüm ki bu türün kitaplarından beklenen de bu değil midir? Çok zevkliydi.
Ezcümle, Nazi iktidarı koşa koşa gelirken, esas malzemesini sürekli aynı çerçevede önümüze koymak yerine bambaşka olay örgüleri ve bilgilerle hemhâl ediyor bizi yazar. Rath’in her kitapta muhakkak ortaya koyduğu saflığını ve bitmek bilmeyen iyimserliğini de koyu Katolikliğine mi yoksa bazen gerçekten beni çok sinir eden erkek kafasına mı vereyim, onu bilemiyorum yalnız. Neyse ki aynı zamanda çok da zeki ve hazırcevap, o da çok hoşuma gidiyor.
•
“Siz kendinizi ne sanıyorsunuz?” dedi. “Bir SA takım çavuşuyla böyle konuşamazsınız.”
“Kahverengi bir gömlek giydi diye adam oldum sanan bir tıfılla nasıl konuşulursa öyle konuşurum.”
“Cumhurbaşkanı olamadı bir kere sayın Führer’iniz,” diye kesti Rath SA gencinin heyecanlı çıkışını. “Belki yavaş yavaş memleketine, Avusturya’ya dönse iyi olacak. Daha altı ay öncesine kadar Almanya vatandaşı bile değildi; kim hakiki Almanmış, kim değilmiş, o mu öğretecek bize?”
Kutscher’in bu seride en iyi yaptığı şeylerden biri, okurunu hep şaşırtmayı başarmak. Bu türde, hem de seri hâlinde yazılan; başrolleri aynı olan ve belli bir dönemde geçen hikâyelerde, bir süre sonra cinayetlerin ve olay yerlerinin tekrarlaması çok kolayken, bu kitapta hiç öyle olmuyor, cinayetler bizi bambaşka yerlere götürüyor.
Ve yine SA’ların, SS’lerin cirit attığı; Hindenburg ve Von Papen isimlerinin çokça geçtiği hikâyede bu defa zaten tarihi olarak var olan ama 1930’ların siyasi atmosferinde giderek artan Polonya düşmanlığını, Versailles’ın Alman halkında yarattığı hayal kırıklığı ve öfkeyi; bu defa Mazurya, Polonya Koridoru, özgür şehir Danzig ve Doğu Prusya coğrafyası ile tabii ki Berlin etrafında soluksuz giden bir seri cinayet vakasına yediriyor Kutscher, hem de bence çok ustaca bir şekilde. Bu defa katilin kim olduğunu sonlara kadar anlayamadım; sonra da kendim dedektifmişimcesine verdiği ipuçlarından kafamda “dosyayı” çözdüm ki bu türün kitaplarından beklenen de bu değil midir? Çok zevkliydi.
Ezcümle, Nazi iktidarı koşa koşa gelirken, esas malzemesini sürekli aynı çerçevede önümüze koymak yerine bambaşka olay örgüleri ve bilgilerle hemhâl ediyor bizi yazar. Rath’in her kitapta muhakkak ortaya koyduğu saflığını ve bitmek bilmeyen iyimserliğini de koyu Katolikliğine mi yoksa bazen gerçekten beni çok sinir eden erkek kafasına mı vereyim, onu bilemiyorum yalnız. Neyse ki aynı zamanda çok da zeki ve hazırcevap, o da çok hoşuma gidiyor.
•
“Siz kendinizi ne sanıyorsunuz?” dedi. “Bir SA takım çavuşuyla böyle konuşamazsınız.”
“Kahverengi bir gömlek giydi diye adam oldum sanan bir tıfılla nasıl konuşulursa öyle konuşurum.”
“Cumhurbaşkanı olamadı bir kere sayın Führer’iniz,” diye kesti Rath SA gencinin heyecanlı çıkışını. “Belki yavaş yavaş memleketine, Avusturya’ya dönse iyi olacak. Daha altı ay öncesine kadar Almanya vatandaşı bile değildi; kim hakiki Almanmış, kim değilmiş, o mu öğretecek bize?”
December 9, 2023
Rispetto agli altri libri della serie, questo è il più fantasioso e meno realistico.
Il personaggio di Gereon Rath mi ha proprio delusa in questo romanzo. Charly merita di meglio . Almeno Charly è coraggiosa e intelligente come sempre.
Nel complesso, avendo ormai letto tutti e cinque i libri tradotti, posso dire che il più bello per quanto riguarda i personaggi è il primo (Ombre su Berlino), mentre per quanto riguarda l'ambientazione e il caso giallo il più bello è il quinto (Berlino brucia). Comunque, sono libri piacevoli da leggere che tengono compagnia e che si leggono velocemente!
Il personaggio di Gereon Rath mi ha proprio delusa in questo romanzo. Charly merita di meglio . Almeno Charly è coraggiosa e intelligente come sempre.
Nel complesso, avendo ormai letto tutti e cinque i libri tradotti, posso dire che il più bello per quanto riguarda i personaggi è il primo (Ombre su Berlino), mentre per quanto riguarda l'ambientazione e il caso giallo il più bello è il quinto (Berlino brucia). Comunque, sono libri piacevoli da leggere che tengono compagnia e che si leggono velocemente!
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