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The Warsaw Quartet #1
Blood Roses
As the Nazis roll into Warsaw, a serial killer is unleashed… September 1939. A city ruled by fear. A population brutalised by restrictions and reprisals. Amid the devastation, another hunter begins to prowl. What are a few more deaths amid scores of daily executions?
Former chief investigator Jan Kalisz lives a dangerous double life, forced to work with the occupiers as he gathers information for the fledgling Polish resistance. Even his family cannot be told his true allegiance.
When the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found terribly mutilated, Jan links the murder to other killings that are of less interest to his new overlords. Soon, he finds himself on the trail of a psychopathic killer known as The Artist. But, shunned as a Nazi collaborator, can he solve the case before another innocent girl is taken?
A chilling serial killer investigation, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow's Blackout and the TV series Hannibal starring Mads Mikkelson.
Former chief investigator Jan Kalisz lives a dangerous double life, forced to work with the occupiers as he gathers information for the fledgling Polish resistance. Even his family cannot be told his true allegiance.
When the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found terribly mutilated, Jan links the murder to other killings that are of less interest to his new overlords. Soon, he finds himself on the trail of a psychopathic killer known as The Artist. But, shunned as a Nazi collaborator, can he solve the case before another innocent girl is taken?
A chilling serial killer investigation, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow's Blackout and the TV series Hannibal starring Mads Mikkelson.
370 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2024
150 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Jackson
39 books261 followersAka James Douglas
Douglas Jackson turned a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans into his first novel, Caligula. He was born in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders and now lives in Bridge of Allan. He is an assistant editor at The Scotsman.
Douglas Jackson turned a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans into his first novel, Caligula. He was born in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders and now lives in Bridge of Allan. He is an assistant editor at The Scotsman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 9, 2019
Book one of the “Warsaw Quartet” which gives you hope that at least three more are on their way.
Ideal for fans of Philip Kerr, this is no lazy copy of a Bernie Gunther type story, but this has the same overlay of menace.
1939 and Warsaw has fallen to German occupation as the city becomes accustomed to their new status. Jan Kalisz starts work as an interpreter. His family and many citizens think he has turned traitor but in reality his is feeding information to the underground but can’t tell anyone. He is caught between doing his vital work and being despised by both his masters and his friends. As an ex detective he is supporting the new German police when it becomes apparent that there is a serial killer, and that killer might be German. The Germans are disinterested until the daughter of one of their senior officials is killed and now Kalisz has to not only play his double game, but help find a killer too.
The author is famous for his excellent Roman series and many of us have loved the adventures of Gaius Valerius Verrens through nine books. Now that historical and writing talent turns to another turbulent period of history. It took a little while to settle as we need to get a perspective of Warsaw at the time, the attitude of the Poles and Germans and the background of Kalisz. But then, about 25% of the book in, it started to fly and the menace and the situation under the Germans turns darker and darker and our hero is forced to make decisions that will see people dead. By the end of the book I was racing through to a very satisfying end. A brave and interesting choice to have Josef Mengele appear as a significant character and not as a cameo but as a fleshed out and interesting character.
Looking forward to the next one already.
Ideal for fans of Philip Kerr, this is no lazy copy of a Bernie Gunther type story, but this has the same overlay of menace.
1939 and Warsaw has fallen to German occupation as the city becomes accustomed to their new status. Jan Kalisz starts work as an interpreter. His family and many citizens think he has turned traitor but in reality his is feeding information to the underground but can’t tell anyone. He is caught between doing his vital work and being despised by both his masters and his friends. As an ex detective he is supporting the new German police when it becomes apparent that there is a serial killer, and that killer might be German. The Germans are disinterested until the daughter of one of their senior officials is killed and now Kalisz has to not only play his double game, but help find a killer too.
The author is famous for his excellent Roman series and many of us have loved the adventures of Gaius Valerius Verrens through nine books. Now that historical and writing talent turns to another turbulent period of history. It took a little while to settle as we need to get a perspective of Warsaw at the time, the attitude of the Poles and Germans and the background of Kalisz. But then, about 25% of the book in, it started to fly and the menace and the situation under the Germans turns darker and darker and our hero is forced to make decisions that will see people dead. By the end of the book I was racing through to a very satisfying end. A brave and interesting choice to have Josef Mengele appear as a significant character and not as a cameo but as a fleshed out and interesting character.
Looking forward to the next one already.
February 19, 2024
Initial thoughts:
* well written
* evocative
* engaging
* great read
* start of a series
There is a cadre of writers who set their protagonist in these same times - Furst, Kerr, Gardner - Jackson slots in nicely.
Suffice to say, this does not disappoint. Highly Recommended.
See fuller review here @ Melisende's Library
* well written
* evocative
* engaging
* great read
* start of a series
There is a cadre of writers who set their protagonist in these same times - Furst, Kerr, Gardner - Jackson slots in nicely.
Suffice to say, this does not disappoint. Highly Recommended.
See fuller review here @ Melisende's Library
September 23, 2024
Warsaw as the backdrop was an interesting change. I liked the way the relationship between the Poles and the Germans was shown. Some of the story was a little sketchy, but I am looking forward to the next one. This was a Good Read.
May 11, 2024
Blood Roses is the first book in what is supposed to be a quartet. If the other three books in the series turn out to be anything like this one, it has the makings of an absolutely great series. As I have also read Simon Scarrow’s Blackout, I feel that anyone who enjoyed that book would also surely be pleased with this book.
It is 1939—September—and the Nazi war machine has taken over Warsaw and now rules it by repression and fear. Among the invading forces, a serial killer, who is very much looking forward to setting up shop in a place where few would think twice about an extra dead body here and there due to the plethora of daily executions that are ramping up. An almost perfect killing field.
Jan Kalisz, was a Chief Investigator up until the Nazis took over control of Warsaw’s Policja Państwowa (State Police). He is also secretly trying to gather vital information for the Polish resistance and report it back to his contact. This proves harder than expected as he and his other colleagues are stripped of their duties and are forced to now to be nothing more than common clerks that have been relegated to the basement to sort files. It could also get him killed if the Nazis even suspect what he is up to.
But Kalisz, smarter than most of his colleagues, who luckily can also speak German is moved upstairs to assist with investigations and help with Polish/German translations for interviews and correspondence. This opens up his access to more useful information but makes his job no less dangerous. It also makes his own countrymen, and even his own family wonder just which side he is really on.
Nobody blinks an eye, and the Nazis certainly do not care when a few young local girls go missing… that is until the body a Wehrmacht general’s niece is found murdered and eviscerated. Now the Nazi head of the Policja Państwowa, Hauptsturmführer Hoth is determined to find who killed this young girl. Although Hoth seems to believe it is a Polish killer they are hunting down, Kalisz does some investigating of his own and thinks that the killer may actually be an SS Officer… now he has to somehow gather evidence and prove it without getting himself killed in the process.
This was one of those books that are hard to put down. I typically do most of my reading as I am unwinding just before I go to bed. There was more an once occasion where I spent much more time reading than I had allotted myself.
I am very much hoping that the author, Douglas Jackson, finds this book to be successful enough to continue on writing the other three books for this quartet.
It is 1939—September—and the Nazi war machine has taken over Warsaw and now rules it by repression and fear. Among the invading forces, a serial killer, who is very much looking forward to setting up shop in a place where few would think twice about an extra dead body here and there due to the plethora of daily executions that are ramping up. An almost perfect killing field.
Jan Kalisz, was a Chief Investigator up until the Nazis took over control of Warsaw’s Policja Państwowa (State Police). He is also secretly trying to gather vital information for the Polish resistance and report it back to his contact. This proves harder than expected as he and his other colleagues are stripped of their duties and are forced to now to be nothing more than common clerks that have been relegated to the basement to sort files. It could also get him killed if the Nazis even suspect what he is up to.
But Kalisz, smarter than most of his colleagues, who luckily can also speak German is moved upstairs to assist with investigations and help with Polish/German translations for interviews and correspondence. This opens up his access to more useful information but makes his job no less dangerous. It also makes his own countrymen, and even his own family wonder just which side he is really on.
Nobody blinks an eye, and the Nazis certainly do not care when a few young local girls go missing… that is until the body a Wehrmacht general’s niece is found murdered and eviscerated. Now the Nazi head of the Policja Państwowa, Hauptsturmführer Hoth is determined to find who killed this young girl. Although Hoth seems to believe it is a Polish killer they are hunting down, Kalisz does some investigating of his own and thinks that the killer may actually be an SS Officer… now he has to somehow gather evidence and prove it without getting himself killed in the process.
This was one of those books that are hard to put down. I typically do most of my reading as I am unwinding just before I go to bed. There was more an once occasion where I spent much more time reading than I had allotted myself.
I am very much hoping that the author, Douglas Jackson, finds this book to be successful enough to continue on writing the other three books for this quartet.
March 6, 2024
The serial killer is one of crime fiction’s most popular and overused villains. From Hannibal Lecter to the weekly procession of murderers on TV shows like “Criminal Minds,” it often seems that there are more serial killers on the loose than drug dealers or other evildoers. But just when you think it’s impossible to develop a new spin on the serial killer trope, an author like Douglas Jackson fools you with his fascinating new historical thriller, “Blood Roses.” Moreover, the killer himself is one of the less interesting aspects of this book.
The killer in “Blood Roses” calls himself the Artist and enjoys eviscerating young teenage girls and creating artistic tableaux with their body parts. Genre readers have encountered many similar psychos in their literary travels. The Artist isn’t all that different from many others, but his hunting ground and the cop pursuing him are unique in my experience. “Blood Roses” takes place in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Poland, from the German invasion until the summer of 1940. The Nazis take over police headquarters, and the Polish cops are turned into glorified file clerks, assembling dossiers on the various categories of criminals. The book’s hero, Jan Kalicz, is an inspector with the Polish State Police. After the war ends badly for Poland, he returns to work for the police, while gathering intelligence for a Resistance group.
At first, the Germans, who are now running the State Police, were more interested in rounding up Jews and war profiteers than protecting the Polish citizenry. So, when the Artist’s first victims are Polish girls, a couple of them Jewish, those in charge aren’t that interested in solving the murders, despite their gruesome nature. But when the niece of an important German general is killed, they get serious about finding the Artist. Some of his superiors recognize Kalicz’s skills, and he takes a more prominent role in the investigation.
Kalicz faces far more difficulties than the average cop trying to catch a clever killer. He can’t always move around freely (at one point, he’s arrested in a general hauling-in of people on the street). He has no official authority. And he has to maneuver around his various superiors. Some respect his police abilities. Others are vicious sadists who enjoy inflicting pain on the Polish populace, including Kalicz, if he gets in their way. On top of his problems with the investigation, Kalicz must deal with issues at home (his wife isn’t thrilled about living with a man she thinks is a collaborator). And he has to protect his Resistance contacts when the Germans get too close to them. Every chapter of “Blood Roses” seems to bring Kalicz a fresh crisis, and very few of them directly concern his pursuit of the Artist. I was fascinated by the constant gamesmanship the resourceful Kalicz must engage in to stay alive and on the hunt. This book is as much a story of a deadly serious version of office politics as it is a police thriller.
The author’s most brilliant touch is the introduction of Dr. Josef Mengele into the story. The Germans need forensic help in the case, and Dr. Mengele is happy to assist. In the book’s cruelest irony, Kalicz soon realizes that Mengele is the most likely person in authority to help him. Of course, readers know what Kalicz doesn’t: just who Mengele is and what he’s planning while in Warsaw. (The book apparently takes some liberties with Mengele’s actual military service during this time.) Seeing Kalicz work with Mengele while the doctor describes his soon-to-be-infamous observations about physiognomy is ironically fascinating. Mengele makes another discovery that’s even more of a shock for modern-day readers, but I won’t spoil it here.
The author did extensive research for “Blood Roses,” the first of a planned quartet of books featuring Jan Kalicz during the German occupation of Poland. This period of Polish history is little known, other than to World War II completists. However, the author makes the locations and characters seem real. There are far more shades of gray here than in most similar books. Jan Kalicz is a complex character with whom readers will emphasize even as he gets into more hazardous situations. Plus, the author uses the reader’s knowledge of major upcoming events in Polish history to great advantage. Key passages in the book serve as forewarnings about the Warsaw ghetto, the subsequent Warsaw Uprising, the concentration camps, and other events in the near future. The author’s afterword informs readers that some of these events will play an important role in the upcoming books.
I’ve read many crime novels centered on the hunt for twisted serial killers like the Artist. And I’ve read quite a few World War II historical thrillers. But I’ve never read a book like “Blood Roses” before that takes a familiar villainous type like the Artist and puts him in as bizarre a situation. And while I’ve read quite a few cop novels in which the main character worries about staying on the right side of his superiors, I’ve seldom read one like this where failure means losing his life instead of his job. “Blood Roses” is a very good police procedural and a very good historical thriller. Combine the two in one book, and the result is an excellent experience for readers.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
The killer in “Blood Roses” calls himself the Artist and enjoys eviscerating young teenage girls and creating artistic tableaux with their body parts. Genre readers have encountered many similar psychos in their literary travels. The Artist isn’t all that different from many others, but his hunting ground and the cop pursuing him are unique in my experience. “Blood Roses” takes place in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Poland, from the German invasion until the summer of 1940. The Nazis take over police headquarters, and the Polish cops are turned into glorified file clerks, assembling dossiers on the various categories of criminals. The book’s hero, Jan Kalicz, is an inspector with the Polish State Police. After the war ends badly for Poland, he returns to work for the police, while gathering intelligence for a Resistance group.
At first, the Germans, who are now running the State Police, were more interested in rounding up Jews and war profiteers than protecting the Polish citizenry. So, when the Artist’s first victims are Polish girls, a couple of them Jewish, those in charge aren’t that interested in solving the murders, despite their gruesome nature. But when the niece of an important German general is killed, they get serious about finding the Artist. Some of his superiors recognize Kalicz’s skills, and he takes a more prominent role in the investigation.
Kalicz faces far more difficulties than the average cop trying to catch a clever killer. He can’t always move around freely (at one point, he’s arrested in a general hauling-in of people on the street). He has no official authority. And he has to maneuver around his various superiors. Some respect his police abilities. Others are vicious sadists who enjoy inflicting pain on the Polish populace, including Kalicz, if he gets in their way. On top of his problems with the investigation, Kalicz must deal with issues at home (his wife isn’t thrilled about living with a man she thinks is a collaborator). And he has to protect his Resistance contacts when the Germans get too close to them. Every chapter of “Blood Roses” seems to bring Kalicz a fresh crisis, and very few of them directly concern his pursuit of the Artist. I was fascinated by the constant gamesmanship the resourceful Kalicz must engage in to stay alive and on the hunt. This book is as much a story of a deadly serious version of office politics as it is a police thriller.
The author’s most brilliant touch is the introduction of Dr. Josef Mengele into the story. The Germans need forensic help in the case, and Dr. Mengele is happy to assist. In the book’s cruelest irony, Kalicz soon realizes that Mengele is the most likely person in authority to help him. Of course, readers know what Kalicz doesn’t: just who Mengele is and what he’s planning while in Warsaw. (The book apparently takes some liberties with Mengele’s actual military service during this time.) Seeing Kalicz work with Mengele while the doctor describes his soon-to-be-infamous observations about physiognomy is ironically fascinating. Mengele makes another discovery that’s even more of a shock for modern-day readers, but I won’t spoil it here.
The author did extensive research for “Blood Roses,” the first of a planned quartet of books featuring Jan Kalicz during the German occupation of Poland. This period of Polish history is little known, other than to World War II completists. However, the author makes the locations and characters seem real. There are far more shades of gray here than in most similar books. Jan Kalicz is a complex character with whom readers will emphasize even as he gets into more hazardous situations. Plus, the author uses the reader’s knowledge of major upcoming events in Polish history to great advantage. Key passages in the book serve as forewarnings about the Warsaw ghetto, the subsequent Warsaw Uprising, the concentration camps, and other events in the near future. The author’s afterword informs readers that some of these events will play an important role in the upcoming books.
I’ve read many crime novels centered on the hunt for twisted serial killers like the Artist. And I’ve read quite a few World War II historical thrillers. But I’ve never read a book like “Blood Roses” before that takes a familiar villainous type like the Artist and puts him in as bizarre a situation. And while I’ve read quite a few cop novels in which the main character worries about staying on the right side of his superiors, I’ve seldom read one like this where failure means losing his life instead of his job. “Blood Roses” is a very good police procedural and a very good historical thriller. Combine the two in one book, and the result is an excellent experience for readers.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
January 18, 2020
A thought provoking page turner. I usually read books quite quickly, but I took my time with this one. It may be a work of fiction, but the setting is so recent and unsettling that it almost had me in tears at times. Let's hope that this type of history never repeats. Can't wait for the next instalment.
March 8, 2024
I’ve not posted a book review on here for AGES, mostly because I don’t get time to read fiction these days, what with all the research I have to do for my own novels. Douglas Jackson has been one of my favourite authors for years though, and we’re hoping to interview him on Rock, Paper, Swords so, when I noticed Blood Roses was his next release I thought I’d take a look, mostly based on how fantastic the cover art is. I’ve read plenty of non-fiction books about World War II, but never a novel (Victor and Commando comics don’t count, right?), and the premise for this sounded utterly compelling. A serial killer operating in a city that’s just been taken over by the Nazis? That’s all kinds of messed up, and should offer plenty of moments of excitement and fear! So I made the effort to find time to read this advance copy of the book, kindly sent to me by my own publisher, Canelo. I’m very glad I did, as it’s a great read!
We have a Polish soldier, Jan Kalisz, injured during a battle with the Germans and sent home to return to his previous job as a detective in Warsaw. The city has been occupied by the evil Nazi overlords though, and Jan, along with his fellow Poles is not treated well at all. The Jews are, as we all know, treated even worse, and throughout the book we really do get a sense of just how cruel the Nazis were and how they dehumanized their victims. None of the German characters are likable or pleasant. One or two are less nasty, but even those guys are bastards – I mean, Josef Mengele, the infamous butcher of Auschwitz and subject of Slayer’s classic thrash metal song “Angel of Death” is one of the nicer Nazis here!*
This is all good though – I know sometimes authors feel like they need to show characters as more rounded, more grey than simply black or white, but in this situation, where the Germans were part of an all-powerful occupying force, facing the constant hatred of Warsaw’s inhabitants, it’s easy to believe the characters on both sides are quite realistic and having extreme feelings all the time.
Soon we discover that one of these jackbooted stormtroopers is even MORE of a complete bastard than his comrades, as he goes on a killing spree, targeting teenage girls who he…Well, I won’t say too much. I’ll just say Douglas Jackson has a very disturbing way of writing these scenes, something I’ve noticed before in his writing. I found myself skipping certain paragraphs here as I found them unsettling. Trust me, you’ll be wanting this maniacal serial killer, dubbed ‘The Artist’ by the people of Warsaw, brought to justice just as much as Jan Kalisz does.
There are some great twists within the story, and the ending is satisfying while again leaving the reader somewhat unsettled. I won’t spoil it for you, but we are left with a moral question at the end and I’m a big fan of that sort of thing – force your reader to think, don’t just tell them what to feel.
Douglas is a master of historical fiction, giving the reader just enough of his research into the actual history without it ever becoming boring or overbearing, and he can certainly write a great action scene as well as a great main character. This is the first book in a planned quartet and I can heartily recommend it. It’s exciting, claustrophobic and disturbing at times, but ultimately it’s a hugely satisfying and thrilling read. Do yourself a favour and check out Blood Roses, and then read Douglas’s other novels. Oh, and look out for our interview with Douglas on the Rock, Paper, Swords podcast sometime in the coming weeks.
* I’m not sure if he’s ever named as Josef, and I don’t think the real guy served in Poland as a Nazi in 1939 but I’m guessing that’s who it’s supposed to be, I mean, Dr Mengele, who else would it be…? Update: I asked Douglas about this and he said: “The events happen while Mengele was recovering from wounds received during the invasion of Poland, so he was definitely in a position to be on leave in Warsaw.” So there you go!
We have a Polish soldier, Jan Kalisz, injured during a battle with the Germans and sent home to return to his previous job as a detective in Warsaw. The city has been occupied by the evil Nazi overlords though, and Jan, along with his fellow Poles is not treated well at all. The Jews are, as we all know, treated even worse, and throughout the book we really do get a sense of just how cruel the Nazis were and how they dehumanized their victims. None of the German characters are likable or pleasant. One or two are less nasty, but even those guys are bastards – I mean, Josef Mengele, the infamous butcher of Auschwitz and subject of Slayer’s classic thrash metal song “Angel of Death” is one of the nicer Nazis here!*
This is all good though – I know sometimes authors feel like they need to show characters as more rounded, more grey than simply black or white, but in this situation, where the Germans were part of an all-powerful occupying force, facing the constant hatred of Warsaw’s inhabitants, it’s easy to believe the characters on both sides are quite realistic and having extreme feelings all the time.
Soon we discover that one of these jackbooted stormtroopers is even MORE of a complete bastard than his comrades, as he goes on a killing spree, targeting teenage girls who he…Well, I won’t say too much. I’ll just say Douglas Jackson has a very disturbing way of writing these scenes, something I’ve noticed before in his writing. I found myself skipping certain paragraphs here as I found them unsettling. Trust me, you’ll be wanting this maniacal serial killer, dubbed ‘The Artist’ by the people of Warsaw, brought to justice just as much as Jan Kalisz does.
There are some great twists within the story, and the ending is satisfying while again leaving the reader somewhat unsettled. I won’t spoil it for you, but we are left with a moral question at the end and I’m a big fan of that sort of thing – force your reader to think, don’t just tell them what to feel.
Douglas is a master of historical fiction, giving the reader just enough of his research into the actual history without it ever becoming boring or overbearing, and he can certainly write a great action scene as well as a great main character. This is the first book in a planned quartet and I can heartily recommend it. It’s exciting, claustrophobic and disturbing at times, but ultimately it’s a hugely satisfying and thrilling read. Do yourself a favour and check out Blood Roses, and then read Douglas’s other novels. Oh, and look out for our interview with Douglas on the Rock, Paper, Swords podcast sometime in the coming weeks.
* I’m not sure if he’s ever named as Josef, and I don’t think the real guy served in Poland as a Nazi in 1939 but I’m guessing that’s who it’s supposed to be, I mean, Dr Mengele, who else would it be…? Update: I asked Douglas about this and he said: “The events happen while Mengele was recovering from wounds received during the invasion of Poland, so he was definitely in a position to be on leave in Warsaw.” So there you go!
October 21, 2024
Hey there book lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes. Coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I have for you my review of Douglas Jackson’s Blood Roses. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!
I am a student of history. It was my major in college, it flows through my veins, it drives my imagination. I have always said that some of the best horror stories are in history. Do you think I am wrong? Look at the World War II era. That is what Douglas Jackson did. He turned his talented eye from ancient Rome to Warsaw, Poland at the beginning of the war and showed us in vivid detail the results of Hitler’s war machine, and the effect of occupation upon the citizens of Warsaw.
Jan Kalisz, husband, father, inspector, soldier…traitor? When Germany invaded Poland, he was one of the men who picked up arms to defend his country. His fight did not last long. He was wounded at the start and woke up in a hospital, concussed, several ribs broken, and a chunk of shrapnel taken out of his leg. He spent over a month in the hospital, and it was there that he learned of other ways to fight. To do so, he has to work with the enemy. This goes against everything he believes in. BUT, to help the underground resistance he will do just that. He works with the Kriminalpoleizi (Kripo for short), the German investigative unit in Warsaw.
All he has to do is keep his eyes and ears open and report anything of interest to his contact in the underground. The catch is he cannot tell anyone what he is doing. If he is caught those who know him have plausible deniability. He soon rises in the ranks, mainly because he has German blood (on his mother’s side) and speaks German fluently. He is not completely trusted, but he now has certain advantages to help him take more risks.
While all this is happening, there is a killer on the loose called The Artist. He abducts young girls, cuts their throats, and then eviscerates them. He takes their organs and lays them out in a mock painting known as “Blood Roses”. The Artist makes a mistake when he kills the daughter of a high-ranking German official. The Germans are out for blood, rounding up anyone suspected of being in the resistance. For each day that the killer is not caught, ten Poles are executed. Among those rounded up is Kalisz’s father-in-law. Can he find the killer before his father-in-law is killed?
Okay, I have to start by saying my main problem with this book is it ended. Not the ENDING, but the fact that it ENDED! Yes, it is that good. Douglas Jackson does not take you by the hand and take you through his story. He grabs you by the throat and takes you hostage in the most amazing way. His characters are flawlessly flawed, he captures all of the tension, fear, rage, and hate behind those who are victims of the German war machine. He does not pull punches when it comes to horrific acts committed upon the Polish people by their German oppressors. There is a sense of fear, tension, and paranoia. on every page, not just for the murders going on, but also because you can literally turn a page and run into a firing squad or public hangings or other forms of oppression. Jan Kalisz faced beatings just because he was Polish and viewed as something less than human. He was also “put in his place” just because he was a better investigator than his German counterparts.
This book fired on all thrusters. The pace was consistent, the writing sharp, the mood was dark, the characters never broke character, even the blood and gore was not there for the sake of being there. It served a purpose, and made me want to solve the mystery along with the hero. What was happening in Warsaw at the time is a matter of historical fact, and it is apparent that Mr. Jackson did his homework.
The highest compliment I can give a book of this genre is my grandfather would have loved it!
I give this book 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
I am a student of history. It was my major in college, it flows through my veins, it drives my imagination. I have always said that some of the best horror stories are in history. Do you think I am wrong? Look at the World War II era. That is what Douglas Jackson did. He turned his talented eye from ancient Rome to Warsaw, Poland at the beginning of the war and showed us in vivid detail the results of Hitler’s war machine, and the effect of occupation upon the citizens of Warsaw.
Jan Kalisz, husband, father, inspector, soldier…traitor? When Germany invaded Poland, he was one of the men who picked up arms to defend his country. His fight did not last long. He was wounded at the start and woke up in a hospital, concussed, several ribs broken, and a chunk of shrapnel taken out of his leg. He spent over a month in the hospital, and it was there that he learned of other ways to fight. To do so, he has to work with the enemy. This goes against everything he believes in. BUT, to help the underground resistance he will do just that. He works with the Kriminalpoleizi (Kripo for short), the German investigative unit in Warsaw.
All he has to do is keep his eyes and ears open and report anything of interest to his contact in the underground. The catch is he cannot tell anyone what he is doing. If he is caught those who know him have plausible deniability. He soon rises in the ranks, mainly because he has German blood (on his mother’s side) and speaks German fluently. He is not completely trusted, but he now has certain advantages to help him take more risks.
While all this is happening, there is a killer on the loose called The Artist. He abducts young girls, cuts their throats, and then eviscerates them. He takes their organs and lays them out in a mock painting known as “Blood Roses”. The Artist makes a mistake when he kills the daughter of a high-ranking German official. The Germans are out for blood, rounding up anyone suspected of being in the resistance. For each day that the killer is not caught, ten Poles are executed. Among those rounded up is Kalisz’s father-in-law. Can he find the killer before his father-in-law is killed?
Okay, I have to start by saying my main problem with this book is it ended. Not the ENDING, but the fact that it ENDED! Yes, it is that good. Douglas Jackson does not take you by the hand and take you through his story. He grabs you by the throat and takes you hostage in the most amazing way. His characters are flawlessly flawed, he captures all of the tension, fear, rage, and hate behind those who are victims of the German war machine. He does not pull punches when it comes to horrific acts committed upon the Polish people by their German oppressors. There is a sense of fear, tension, and paranoia. on every page, not just for the murders going on, but also because you can literally turn a page and run into a firing squad or public hangings or other forms of oppression. Jan Kalisz faced beatings just because he was Polish and viewed as something less than human. He was also “put in his place” just because he was a better investigator than his German counterparts.
This book fired on all thrusters. The pace was consistent, the writing sharp, the mood was dark, the characters never broke character, even the blood and gore was not there for the sake of being there. It served a purpose, and made me want to solve the mystery along with the hero. What was happening in Warsaw at the time is a matter of historical fact, and it is apparent that Mr. Jackson did his homework.
The highest compliment I can give a book of this genre is my grandfather would have loved it!
I give this book 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
March 15, 2024
Douglas Jackson (https://douglasjackson.net) is the author of more than a dozen novels. Blood Roses was published earlier this month and it is the first book in his Warsaw Quartet series. It is the 22nd book I completed reading in 2024.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.
The novel begins just a few days after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Germany is rapidly pressing forward into the heart of Poland. Polish Army Lieutenant Jan Kalisz is recovering from his wounds in a Warsaw hospital. Though he knows there is little chance of halting the German advance, he is anxious to return to the front lines.
A mysterious man visits him in the hospital one night. The stranger quietly advises Kalisz that he can do more for his country by slipping back into his old life than dying on the front lines. He had been an investigator with the state police before being called up. The Polish resistance expects the Germans to retain infrastructure employees when they take Warsaw. Kalisz would be an inside man for the resistance.
Reluctantly, Kalisz agrees. To many Poles, he appears to be a collaborator. Even his wife feels that he has given up on his own country. He is attacked on more than one occasion by his fellow Poles for working with the Germans. A neighbor approaches him about a missing Jewish girl. Knowing his German masters will not allow resources to be ‘wasted’ on the girl, he sends them away.
The authorities reconsider the case of the missing Jewish girl after a 13-year-old German girl, Trundl Kleist, is found murdered. Not only has she been murdered, but her body has been cut open and her organs used for an ‘artistic’ display. This gruesome crime gets the attention of the Germans. Bodies of other young girls are discovered, each subjected to a similar end. While not all Germans trust or like working with a Pole, Kalisz becomes deeply involved with the investigation.
The murderer considers himself an artist. He had a start in Germany, but only after his transfer to Poland has he been able to express his art. His canvas being the eviscerated bodies of the young women.
Kalisz desperately wants to find the killer before yet another young girl dies. He must find his way through hatred amongst the Poles, as well as through the hatred and distrust of the Germans. Their assumption that only a Jew would be capable of the brutal deaths makes his efforts at finding the truth even more difficult.
I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 347-page WWII-era mystery. The author expects to have three more novels in this series. I look forward to reading them, though they do have a dark and sinister air. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.
The novel begins just a few days after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Germany is rapidly pressing forward into the heart of Poland. Polish Army Lieutenant Jan Kalisz is recovering from his wounds in a Warsaw hospital. Though he knows there is little chance of halting the German advance, he is anxious to return to the front lines.
A mysterious man visits him in the hospital one night. The stranger quietly advises Kalisz that he can do more for his country by slipping back into his old life than dying on the front lines. He had been an investigator with the state police before being called up. The Polish resistance expects the Germans to retain infrastructure employees when they take Warsaw. Kalisz would be an inside man for the resistance.
Reluctantly, Kalisz agrees. To many Poles, he appears to be a collaborator. Even his wife feels that he has given up on his own country. He is attacked on more than one occasion by his fellow Poles for working with the Germans. A neighbor approaches him about a missing Jewish girl. Knowing his German masters will not allow resources to be ‘wasted’ on the girl, he sends them away.
The authorities reconsider the case of the missing Jewish girl after a 13-year-old German girl, Trundl Kleist, is found murdered. Not only has she been murdered, but her body has been cut open and her organs used for an ‘artistic’ display. This gruesome crime gets the attention of the Germans. Bodies of other young girls are discovered, each subjected to a similar end. While not all Germans trust or like working with a Pole, Kalisz becomes deeply involved with the investigation.
The murderer considers himself an artist. He had a start in Germany, but only after his transfer to Poland has he been able to express his art. His canvas being the eviscerated bodies of the young women.
Kalisz desperately wants to find the killer before yet another young girl dies. He must find his way through hatred amongst the Poles, as well as through the hatred and distrust of the Germans. Their assumption that only a Jew would be capable of the brutal deaths makes his efforts at finding the truth even more difficult.
I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 347-page WWII-era mystery. The author expects to have three more novels in this series. I look forward to reading them, though they do have a dark and sinister air. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
February 11, 2024
Douglas Jackson's mixed genre "Blood Roses", to be published by Canelo, represents a fascinating mix of historical fiction and police procedural. According to a self description on the cover of the book (I am working from an ARC provided by the publisher), it is "A Chilling WW2 Serial Killer Thriller, and that is a pretty good summary in a nutshell. Set in Warsaw, Poland just after the collapse of the Polish State under the assault of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, this intensely atmospheric thriller captures the enormous stresses which fell upon the Polish people following their defeat and occupation by the Nazis. The protagonist is a Polish policeman who finds himself released back into Poland rather than taken into custody as he has served in the military where he has received wounds serious enough to prevent his capture on the battlefield or internment as ex-military. He finds his way back into service as an unofficial investigator working for the Nazis. He is also working for the nascent Home Army (the Polish Resistance) while posing as a collaborator to everyone else, including his intensely patriotic and rather naive family. Obviously, the potential stresses here are intense and made that much worse when he finds himself on the trail of a particularly violent and troubled serial killer in a place and time when the occupiers were themselves engaged in mass murder at every turn. The author does a superb job of showing how a decent, patriotic man finds himself immersed in a society imprisoned and at war with a ruthless enemy surrounded by a world turned upside down. Add in to that the barbarism of an individual predator hiding in an ocean of predators, and it isn't hard to understand the intense pressures on the protagonist and his friends and family as they try to survive in an unfamiliar nightmare with the constant threat of violent death all around them. The anguish and pain, not to speak of the chaos and confusion of the situation, are omnipresent as a backdrop to the plot. It is the kind of book that is hard to put down, and full of twists and turns rooted in the historical moment as well as the character of the serial killer and assorted other characters, including some startling surprises. . I recommend it without reservation.
January 29, 2024
A first-rate serial killer thriller with a twist.
"Blood Roses" opens in Warsaw, Poland, in September 1939, where former Police chief investigator Jan Kalisz is recovering from injuries sustained in battle. Warsaw is surrounded, and the Nazis are about to take the city. He is approached by a member of the fledgling resistance movement. They want Kalisz to take up his old position, work alongside the occupiers, and feed information to the resistance. He agrees, knowing that not even his close family can know this, and so he will likely be labelled a collaborator.
Events become more complicated when the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found mutilated, and Kalisz links the murder to other killings, surmising a serial killer is at large. He is paired with a Nazi ex-cop, and together they set out to solve the murder. The meaning of the book's title soon becomes clear as the investigation deepens.
And so the reader is launched into a story which is part wartime thriller, part serial killer crime story. It's a tense story, as Kalisz struggles to justify his decision, and to live with the consequences. He witnesses first-hand how the Nazi occupation affects the citizens, Jewish and Gentile, and sees how things will escalate. He is viewed with suspicion by all sides, and yet somehow must stop the killer before he strikes again.
The prose is tight and descriptive; Kalisz emerges as a damaged man, but a determined one, and as this book is the first in a planned series of four, I look forward to seeing him develop further. The Nazi occupation, and its general advance across Europe is vividly portrayed, The dread and fear and anger experienced by everyone, but especially the Jewish population of Poland is written in red on every page, and the fanatical brutality of the Nazis is clear but never gratuitous. The identity of the killer is revealed in the final few pages, and while it's not a huge surprise, it doesn't matter, because this book is as much about the journey as the destination.
Whether you are a fan of wartime thrillers, or serial killer investigations, this book is perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Chris Lloyd and Luke McCallin. I look forward to the next book, while heartily recommending this one.
"Blood Roses" opens in Warsaw, Poland, in September 1939, where former Police chief investigator Jan Kalisz is recovering from injuries sustained in battle. Warsaw is surrounded, and the Nazis are about to take the city. He is approached by a member of the fledgling resistance movement. They want Kalisz to take up his old position, work alongside the occupiers, and feed information to the resistance. He agrees, knowing that not even his close family can know this, and so he will likely be labelled a collaborator.
Events become more complicated when the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found mutilated, and Kalisz links the murder to other killings, surmising a serial killer is at large. He is paired with a Nazi ex-cop, and together they set out to solve the murder. The meaning of the book's title soon becomes clear as the investigation deepens.
And so the reader is launched into a story which is part wartime thriller, part serial killer crime story. It's a tense story, as Kalisz struggles to justify his decision, and to live with the consequences. He witnesses first-hand how the Nazi occupation affects the citizens, Jewish and Gentile, and sees how things will escalate. He is viewed with suspicion by all sides, and yet somehow must stop the killer before he strikes again.
The prose is tight and descriptive; Kalisz emerges as a damaged man, but a determined one, and as this book is the first in a planned series of four, I look forward to seeing him develop further. The Nazi occupation, and its general advance across Europe is vividly portrayed, The dread and fear and anger experienced by everyone, but especially the Jewish population of Poland is written in red on every page, and the fanatical brutality of the Nazis is clear but never gratuitous. The identity of the killer is revealed in the final few pages, and while it's not a huge surprise, it doesn't matter, because this book is as much about the journey as the destination.
Whether you are a fan of wartime thrillers, or serial killer investigations, this book is perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Chris Lloyd and Luke McCallin. I look forward to the next book, while heartily recommending this one.
February 22, 2024
Jan Kalisz is a Polish soldier, wounded and returning to his wife and son in Warsaw, once the Poles are defeated by the Germans. However Kalisz is also a policeman and when he is approached by someone high up in the Polish resistance who asks him to remain in the police and work with the Nazis he cannot refuse. He will be in a perfect position to pass useful information to his fellow resistance fighters.
However, he cannot reveal what he is doing, even to his own family, so he is considered a traitor by his wife as well as by his fellow countrymen. Jan is an honourable man but he finds himself in an increasingly difficult situation and has to make some hard decisions as the novel progresses.
When a young German girl is murdered by a viscous serial killer known as “The Artist” Jan must track him down to save others being killed.
The irony of hunting a serial killer in a society being run by a bunch of murderers is not lost on Jan but he is determined to do what he can to prevent other killings. His situation is precarious- if the Nazis discover what he is really doing it will mean almost certain death.
I really enjoyed this compelling and well researched story. I like crime mysteries and books set in World War 2 so this was a perfect read for me.
The characters were well drawn and the setting very atmospheric and menacing, in part due to the occupation and the violence of the occupiers and also because of the killer who is lurking in their midst. It did occur to me that the Nazi invaders were free to practice state sanctioned murder whilst “The Artist”committed equally horrific acts but these were only considered a crime because he killed a German child.
.I particularly liked Jan and was pleased to see that this was going to be the first in a series of books meaning that I would be meeting him again in the future.
I definitely recommend “Blood Roses” as a well constructed and exciting thriller which had me gripped from the very first page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
However, he cannot reveal what he is doing, even to his own family, so he is considered a traitor by his wife as well as by his fellow countrymen. Jan is an honourable man but he finds himself in an increasingly difficult situation and has to make some hard decisions as the novel progresses.
When a young German girl is murdered by a viscous serial killer known as “The Artist” Jan must track him down to save others being killed.
The irony of hunting a serial killer in a society being run by a bunch of murderers is not lost on Jan but he is determined to do what he can to prevent other killings. His situation is precarious- if the Nazis discover what he is really doing it will mean almost certain death.
I really enjoyed this compelling and well researched story. I like crime mysteries and books set in World War 2 so this was a perfect read for me.
The characters were well drawn and the setting very atmospheric and menacing, in part due to the occupation and the violence of the occupiers and also because of the killer who is lurking in their midst. It did occur to me that the Nazi invaders were free to practice state sanctioned murder whilst “The Artist”committed equally horrific acts but these were only considered a crime because he killed a German child.
.I particularly liked Jan and was pleased to see that this was going to be the first in a series of books meaning that I would be meeting him again in the future.
I definitely recommend “Blood Roses” as a well constructed and exciting thriller which had me gripped from the very first page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
August 17, 2024
Book 1 of the Warsaw Quartet.
The story takes place in 1939 and Poland has just been invaded by the Nazis. They destroy most of Warsaw and turn it into a ghetto virtually overnight, impose martial "law", and begin to systematically murder the Jews and the Poles.
The main character is a Pole by the name of Jan Kalisz. He's a former army intelligence reservist, but currently he's an inspector with the Warsaw state police. He is of Polish/German descent and is bilingual. Once the Nazis take over he's placed in the awful position of leading an extremely hazardous double life. He has to stay subservient to the SS in charge, while quietly becoming an informant for a resistance group. His family and friends believe he's a traitor since they see him working for the Nazis, and he doesn't reveal the truth so as to keep them safe. The pressure on him is immense! As if all of this isn't horrendous enough, there is a serial killer known as "The Artist" loose in the city. The SS naturally blame the Jews and the Poles, while Kalisz believes the killer is more than likely a high-ranking German.
This book was very, very absorbing. I really felt for all of these poor people and it's still relatively early in the war yet! They have several years to yet endure, and Hitler will destroy Warsaw before all is said and done. Kalisz, his family, his Jewish friends and neighbors, the stupid teenagers, I felt for all of them. There were just so many extremely upsetting scenes. Although well-written, the story is extremely bleak, depressing and oppressive. Although due to the subject matter, it would have to be.
Douglas Jackson is one of my favorite authors. His Valerius Verrens series taking place in ancient Rome is awesome, and I'll generally read anything he writes. But I don't know if I'll continue this series. It's expertly written, but it's also heartbreaking. And the concentration camps are still only rumors at this point in the narrative! I'll have to decide when the next one's published.
The story takes place in 1939 and Poland has just been invaded by the Nazis. They destroy most of Warsaw and turn it into a ghetto virtually overnight, impose martial "law", and begin to systematically murder the Jews and the Poles.
The main character is a Pole by the name of Jan Kalisz. He's a former army intelligence reservist, but currently he's an inspector with the Warsaw state police. He is of Polish/German descent and is bilingual. Once the Nazis take over he's placed in the awful position of leading an extremely hazardous double life. He has to stay subservient to the SS in charge, while quietly becoming an informant for a resistance group. His family and friends believe he's a traitor since they see him working for the Nazis, and he doesn't reveal the truth so as to keep them safe. The pressure on him is immense! As if all of this isn't horrendous enough, there is a serial killer known as "The Artist" loose in the city. The SS naturally blame the Jews and the Poles, while Kalisz believes the killer is more than likely a high-ranking German.
This book was very, very absorbing. I really felt for all of these poor people and it's still relatively early in the war yet! They have several years to yet endure, and Hitler will destroy Warsaw before all is said and done. Kalisz, his family, his Jewish friends and neighbors, the stupid teenagers, I felt for all of them. There were just so many extremely upsetting scenes. Although well-written, the story is extremely bleak, depressing and oppressive. Although due to the subject matter, it would have to be.
Douglas Jackson is one of my favorite authors. His Valerius Verrens series taking place in ancient Rome is awesome, and I'll generally read anything he writes. But I don't know if I'll continue this series. It's expertly written, but it's also heartbreaking. And the concentration camps are still only rumors at this point in the narrative! I'll have to decide when the next one's published.
March 10, 2024
Book one of the “Warsaw Quartet”, ideal for fans of Philip Kerr, this is no lazy copy of a Bernie Gunther type story, but this has the same overlay of menace.
1939 and Warsaw has fallen to German occupation as the city becomes accustomed to their new status. Jan Kalisz starts work as an interpreter. His family and many citizens think he has turned traitor but in reality his is feeding information to the underground but can’t tell anyone. He is caught between doing his vital work and being despised by both his masters and his friends. As an ex detective he is supporting the new German police when it becomes apparent that there is a serial killer, and that killer might be German. The Germans are disinterested until the daughter of one of their senior officials is killed and now Kalisz has to not only play his double game, but help find a killer too.
The author is famous for his excellent Roman series and many of us have loved the adventures of Gaius Valerius Verrens through nine books. Now that historical and writing talent turns to another turbulent period of history. It took a little while to settle as we need to get a perspective of Warsaw at the time, the attitude of the Poles and Germans and the background of Kalisz. But then, about 25% of the book in, it started to fly and the menace and the situation under the Germans turns darker and darker and our hero is forced to make decisions that will see people dead. By the end of the book I was racing through to a very satisfying end. A brave and interesting choice to have Josef Mengele appear as a significant character and not as a cameo but as a fleshed out and interesting character.
Looking forward to the next one already.
1939 and Warsaw has fallen to German occupation as the city becomes accustomed to their new status. Jan Kalisz starts work as an interpreter. His family and many citizens think he has turned traitor but in reality his is feeding information to the underground but can’t tell anyone. He is caught between doing his vital work and being despised by both his masters and his friends. As an ex detective he is supporting the new German police when it becomes apparent that there is a serial killer, and that killer might be German. The Germans are disinterested until the daughter of one of their senior officials is killed and now Kalisz has to not only play his double game, but help find a killer too.
The author is famous for his excellent Roman series and many of us have loved the adventures of Gaius Valerius Verrens through nine books. Now that historical and writing talent turns to another turbulent period of history. It took a little while to settle as we need to get a perspective of Warsaw at the time, the attitude of the Poles and Germans and the background of Kalisz. But then, about 25% of the book in, it started to fly and the menace and the situation under the Germans turns darker and darker and our hero is forced to make decisions that will see people dead. By the end of the book I was racing through to a very satisfying end. A brave and interesting choice to have Josef Mengele appear as a significant character and not as a cameo but as a fleshed out and interesting character.
Looking forward to the next one already.
March 10, 2024
For me Douglas Jackson is one of the finest writers of historical fiction, he has now combined that genre with a thought provoking thriller set in occupied Warsaw
Blood Roses is the first book in a quartet, refreshingly this one is set in Poland at the start of the occupation by the German forces, straight away this gives the book a different dynamic.
There is so much to admire this book, a read with real heart and feeling
The book takes a historical setting and combines this with a police thriller, with a deliciously dark feel
There are in someways two parts to the story, the obvious hunt for a killer, but equally the story behind the occupation and the effect that this had on the people and the landscape, this fascianted me as I read the book the way the writing captures the emotions and fear for the Polish people and the Jewish community
The plotting of the book is sublime, superbly thought out and constructed in a way that heightened the suspense and drama, it is difficult to say much about the storyline as I don’t want to spoil anything,
This is a read which doesn’t pull any punches and shows the horror and brutality of the Germans at the time, the book really conveys differing emotions
I liked the way that Jan navigated his way around his role, you can see certain attitudes slowly start to change in his relationship with some of his german colleagues in the Krippo, equally his relationship with his wife and son at times is a tumultous one, it’s a fine line to tread, the characters show off differing feelings and the way in which they deal with the situations
The characters within the book are all wonderfully drawn out, there is a lot of emotion within them, you feel for them. Jan Kalisz comes across as a man of principal, to do the best for his family he has to play the game, you can feel the fear within him as he has to tread a fine line with his German masters
There is a strong narrative to the book, with a darkness which befits the times. There are some stark moments within the book, it is difficult to predict what actions people will take, there were moments which I certainly wasn’t expecting the characters to take, the plot has a twisted and disturbing feel, which really gives depth to it.
Historical fiction is nothing without a feeling of authenticity in the people, location, landscape and geography, it is clear as you read that the author has carried out extensive research that gives the reader that authentic feel, I could feel myself there walking the streets. You are given a real feeling not only for the period and the times, but the people, the writing is like taking a trip round the Jorvik centre, you can soak up the atmosphere.
This was a book which I found hard to put down, the writing drew me in from the opening pages to the dramatic ending, it was a captivating and compelling read.
One to highly recommend
Blood Roses is the first book in a quartet, refreshingly this one is set in Poland at the start of the occupation by the German forces, straight away this gives the book a different dynamic.
There is so much to admire this book, a read with real heart and feeling
The book takes a historical setting and combines this with a police thriller, with a deliciously dark feel
There are in someways two parts to the story, the obvious hunt for a killer, but equally the story behind the occupation and the effect that this had on the people and the landscape, this fascianted me as I read the book the way the writing captures the emotions and fear for the Polish people and the Jewish community
The plotting of the book is sublime, superbly thought out and constructed in a way that heightened the suspense and drama, it is difficult to say much about the storyline as I don’t want to spoil anything,
This is a read which doesn’t pull any punches and shows the horror and brutality of the Germans at the time, the book really conveys differing emotions
I liked the way that Jan navigated his way around his role, you can see certain attitudes slowly start to change in his relationship with some of his german colleagues in the Krippo, equally his relationship with his wife and son at times is a tumultous one, it’s a fine line to tread, the characters show off differing feelings and the way in which they deal with the situations
The characters within the book are all wonderfully drawn out, there is a lot of emotion within them, you feel for them. Jan Kalisz comes across as a man of principal, to do the best for his family he has to play the game, you can feel the fear within him as he has to tread a fine line with his German masters
There is a strong narrative to the book, with a darkness which befits the times. There are some stark moments within the book, it is difficult to predict what actions people will take, there were moments which I certainly wasn’t expecting the characters to take, the plot has a twisted and disturbing feel, which really gives depth to it.
Historical fiction is nothing without a feeling of authenticity in the people, location, landscape and geography, it is clear as you read that the author has carried out extensive research that gives the reader that authentic feel, I could feel myself there walking the streets. You are given a real feeling not only for the period and the times, but the people, the writing is like taking a trip round the Jorvik centre, you can soak up the atmosphere.
This was a book which I found hard to put down, the writing drew me in from the opening pages to the dramatic ending, it was a captivating and compelling read.
One to highly recommend
March 6, 2024
This is a story of a former Polish Chief Investigator, forced to collaborate as an interpreter for occupying German forces while under pressure from many directions to find a serial killer.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Warsaw, Poland, 1939
Characters: Chief Investigator Jan Kalisz, his family, colleagues, and a large cast of Polish resistance and German High Command, including some of the most menacing in history.
Overview: In addition to leading a double life of providing information to the resistance and working as an interpreter with the Nazi occupiers, Kalisz is tasked with finding the psychopathic killer of a Wehrmacht General’s niece. Unable to tell his family his true connection to the resistance, forced by the German hierarchy to work under pressure while his fellow countrymen hold him in contempt for his collaboration with the occupiers, he is determined to prove that his suspect will kill again and to find him before it is too late.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: This book reminds me of Simon Scarrow’s Blackout, another excellent tale. There are several intriguing and uniquely different insights to familiar notorious Nazi characters that keep readers alert and apprehensive. This book is the proposed first of a four-part series and it certainly deserves to have more Jan Kalisz stories to look forward to. Here is a plea to the publisher to keep this terrific series going.
Thanx to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Warsaw, Poland, 1939
Characters: Chief Investigator Jan Kalisz, his family, colleagues, and a large cast of Polish resistance and German High Command, including some of the most menacing in history.
Overview: In addition to leading a double life of providing information to the resistance and working as an interpreter with the Nazi occupiers, Kalisz is tasked with finding the psychopathic killer of a Wehrmacht General’s niece. Unable to tell his family his true connection to the resistance, forced by the German hierarchy to work under pressure while his fellow countrymen hold him in contempt for his collaboration with the occupiers, he is determined to prove that his suspect will kill again and to find him before it is too late.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: This book reminds me of Simon Scarrow’s Blackout, another excellent tale. There are several intriguing and uniquely different insights to familiar notorious Nazi characters that keep readers alert and apprehensive. This book is the proposed first of a four-part series and it certainly deserves to have more Jan Kalisz stories to look forward to. Here is a plea to the publisher to keep this terrific series going.
Thanx to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
January 4, 2025
Jan Kalisz is now in my all time top ten favourite characters, the book reminded me of Bernie Gunther and what Phillip Kerr did with the character.
How one man conscience can work for the Nazis but also work as a double agent working for the polish underground, how he balances his married life, his work life and his espionage work. The sacrifices he has to make in war torn Poland, his native country.
Douglas brought Poland back then to life, from the massacres of poles and Jews, to when the Germans were in the middle of basically tearing Poland apart piece by piece, whilst building a ghetto all under the noses of native poles.
There was a murderer on the loose but with a war torn country, not one single person took much interest in the killing part from Kalisz and even Mengele. (Douglas brought one of the most dangerous men on the planet to life)
The killings of the woman were just, brutal and sadistic and Douglas kept us all in suspense when and where the next killings would be and how they would be and what the artist was going to show at his next deprived scene.
The ending was perfect and Kalisz now has more chance and opportunity to bring down this sadistic regime step by step to it is honourable conclusion the uprising.
If I didn’t have enough books to read I would pick the second one up immediately, but I will eventually and I can’t wait. But for now I am leaving this on tenterhooks for myself!
How one man conscience can work for the Nazis but also work as a double agent working for the polish underground, how he balances his married life, his work life and his espionage work. The sacrifices he has to make in war torn Poland, his native country.
Douglas brought Poland back then to life, from the massacres of poles and Jews, to when the Germans were in the middle of basically tearing Poland apart piece by piece, whilst building a ghetto all under the noses of native poles.
There was a murderer on the loose but with a war torn country, not one single person took much interest in the killing part from Kalisz and even Mengele. (Douglas brought one of the most dangerous men on the planet to life)
The killings of the woman were just, brutal and sadistic and Douglas kept us all in suspense when and where the next killings would be and how they would be and what the artist was going to show at his next deprived scene.
The ending was perfect and Kalisz now has more chance and opportunity to bring down this sadistic regime step by step to it is honourable conclusion the uprising.
If I didn’t have enough books to read I would pick the second one up immediately, but I will eventually and I can’t wait. But for now I am leaving this on tenterhooks for myself!
May 5, 2024
I've read a few War books now and I'm starting to appreciate them a lot more. That's why I requested this book as well and I was lucky enough to receive it. It came out on the 7th of March and I received a copy from Canelo books via Netgalley.
Once the war starts, chief investigator Jan Kalisz is no longer in charge, the Germans are. From the very start, he is asked to live double life, forced to work with the occupiers while, at the same time gathering information for the resistance. He can't even tell his family.
Even in war, serial killers targeting young girls exist. Jan finds himself on the hunt for the killer known as The Artist. Can he solve this case while secretly working against the Germans?
I really appreciated this story as it is a basic detective story but now taking place during World War 2. The main character struggles a lot between his loyalty to Poland and his family under the same time he wants to be able to do his job which is to find a serial killer. This struggle is quite apparent in the book and the author did a magnificent job in describing that. I liked the flow of the story but sometimes I had some difficulty concerning the believability of Jan and his position. This also speaks to the horrific situation in those times of course, so I can understand it to some extent.
4/5 ⭐
Once the war starts, chief investigator Jan Kalisz is no longer in charge, the Germans are. From the very start, he is asked to live double life, forced to work with the occupiers while, at the same time gathering information for the resistance. He can't even tell his family.
Even in war, serial killers targeting young girls exist. Jan finds himself on the hunt for the killer known as The Artist. Can he solve this case while secretly working against the Germans?
I really appreciated this story as it is a basic detective story but now taking place during World War 2. The main character struggles a lot between his loyalty to Poland and his family under the same time he wants to be able to do his job which is to find a serial killer. This struggle is quite apparent in the book and the author did a magnificent job in describing that. I liked the flow of the story but sometimes I had some difficulty concerning the believability of Jan and his position. This also speaks to the horrific situation in those times of course, so I can understand it to some extent.
4/5 ⭐
November 21, 2024
Historical thriller set during WW2, in Nazi-occupied Warsaw. As an emigrant in Poland, I had to check it out when I heard about it, and it does not disappoint!
I don't often read thrillers, so I'm not in a position to judge that aspect and compare it with its peers. What I can do, is say that it had me hooked from roughly 20% in until the end. It took a little bit of time to get wrapped up in the bleak, dark atmosphere of 1939 Warsaw, but once it does, it won't let go.
Jackson did a really good job in conveying the brutal reality of nazi occupation and the consequences for the local population, both Polish and Jewish.
To be honest, for most of the story the mystery and intrigue of the "thriller" takes a bit of a backseat and we have a fairly normal historical fiction novel in wartime Warsaw, and I really loved that. The thriller aspect was just an added bonus, as it was really well done. You're being sent one direction, then think you have it figured out only to realize you have been bamboozled.
That being said, except for the main characters I think the characterization was a bit bland and could've been better. The book was a bit on the short side with only 350 pages, so might have been better to add ~50 pages to focus on characterization maybe.
All in all, a very enjoyable introduction to Douglas Jackson and I immediately bought Blood Sacrifice.
I don't often read thrillers, so I'm not in a position to judge that aspect and compare it with its peers. What I can do, is say that it had me hooked from roughly 20% in until the end. It took a little bit of time to get wrapped up in the bleak, dark atmosphere of 1939 Warsaw, but once it does, it won't let go.
Jackson did a really good job in conveying the brutal reality of nazi occupation and the consequences for the local population, both Polish and Jewish.
To be honest, for most of the story the mystery and intrigue of the "thriller" takes a bit of a backseat and we have a fairly normal historical fiction novel in wartime Warsaw, and I really loved that. The thriller aspect was just an added bonus, as it was really well done. You're being sent one direction, then think you have it figured out only to realize you have been bamboozled.
That being said, except for the main characters I think the characterization was a bit bland and could've been better. The book was a bit on the short side with only 350 pages, so might have been better to add ~50 pages to focus on characterization maybe.
All in all, a very enjoyable introduction to Douglas Jackson and I immediately bought Blood Sacrifice.
January 18, 2025
Warsaw, September, 1939. Jan Kalisz wakes in a hospital, after trying to fight for Poland's freedom, to find the Germans are victorious and the city invaded. He goes back to his job in the police, which forces him to work with the occupiers. His wife, Maria and son, Stefan, are confused by his outward compliance, but Jan is really working for the underground resistance. He is seen as being in a good position to gain information and so he accepts the suspicion of his neighbours and keeps his secrets.
Meanwhile, we learn of the Artist, a murderer who arrives in Warsaw and uses the opportunity to continue his killing. In a city, and a country, full of violence, torture and death, a murder has the perfect backdrop for his crimes, especially if they are German. The author paints a vivid portrait of Warsaw in wartime, and of how casual cruelty and power damages both the occupiers and the occupied. Meanwhile, girls are dying and casual retributions mean that nobody is safe.
This is a good opening to a quartet of books set in occupied Warsaw. I look forward to reading the next in the series and seeing how the characters develop.
Meanwhile, we learn of the Artist, a murderer who arrives in Warsaw and uses the opportunity to continue his killing. In a city, and a country, full of violence, torture and death, a murder has the perfect backdrop for his crimes, especially if they are German. The author paints a vivid portrait of Warsaw in wartime, and of how casual cruelty and power damages both the occupiers and the occupied. Meanwhile, girls are dying and casual retributions mean that nobody is safe.
This is a good opening to a quartet of books set in occupied Warsaw. I look forward to reading the next in the series and seeing how the characters develop.
March 7, 2024
September 1939 and Poland is in the hands of the Nazi’s. The country is ruled by fear and everyone must follow the rules or there will be reprisals.
In Warsaw former police chief investigator Jan Kalisz has been forced to work with the regime and at the same time secretly try aid the resistance, whilst keeping secrets from his family.
But when the Wehrmacht general’s niece is found brutally murdered, Jan starts to see links to other horrendous murders and he voices his opinion to say there maybe a link, but he is totally ignored.
In the most desperate of times, can he catch the killer known as The Artist before he kills another girl, help his people in their fight and stay alive, all under the eyes of the evil Nazi regime.
I’ve read a lot of books based in the Second World War and I have to say I’ve not read a better one than this.
The atmosphere is incredible, the writing is just sublime and the main character is quite brilliant.
I hope there is more to come. Five star reviews don’t come any easier than this.
In Warsaw former police chief investigator Jan Kalisz has been forced to work with the regime and at the same time secretly try aid the resistance, whilst keeping secrets from his family.
But when the Wehrmacht general’s niece is found brutally murdered, Jan starts to see links to other horrendous murders and he voices his opinion to say there maybe a link, but he is totally ignored.
In the most desperate of times, can he catch the killer known as The Artist before he kills another girl, help his people in their fight and stay alive, all under the eyes of the evil Nazi regime.
I’ve read a lot of books based in the Second World War and I have to say I’ve not read a better one than this.
The atmosphere is incredible, the writing is just sublime and the main character is quite brilliant.
I hope there is more to come. Five star reviews don’t come any easier than this.
March 22, 2024
Jan Kalisz is working as a chief investigator in the Warsaw police but when the Nazis occupy the city he is faced with a stark choice, work with the new regime or hope to survive alone. Kalisz is recruited by the underground and so begins a dangerous double life. Across the city the Jewish population is being ruthlessly dealt with, assets stripped and residents placed into the beginnings of a ghetto, even the ethnic Poles are treated badly, subject to summary justice. In the midst of this a serial killer is at large, mutilating young girls, and Kalisz's investigations are leading him towards a high-ranking member of the SS.
There are several book series which set police procedurals in the time of the Third Reich so this is not a new market. However, what sets this separate from others is that it is also set in occupied Poland and the main protagonist is not german. This makes the story so much richer as there is the opportunity to explore different aspects related to the setting eg. life under occupation, the polish resistance, the treatment of the jewish people.
There are several book series which set police procedurals in the time of the Third Reich so this is not a new market. However, what sets this separate from others is that it is also set in occupied Poland and the main protagonist is not german. This makes the story so much richer as there is the opportunity to explore different aspects related to the setting eg. life under occupation, the polish resistance, the treatment of the jewish people.
July 12, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.
Delicious and superior World War 2 thriller.
Superbly researched and the novel is much more than a thriller set in Warsaw in the aftermath of the Nazi invasion.
The author explores the complexities and danger of working for the occupying Nazi government while secretly helping the underground resistance movement. The moments where the protagonist has to face his family's and people's wrath for cooperating with the Nazis are well drawn out and gives it the edge over most of the historical movels.
The author manages to convey the sense of place and time of wartime Warsaw before it was levelled by the Nazis. The author's rich description of the Polish society and the workings of Nazis in Poland after the invasion is superb. As a thriller it keeps us glued to the pages until the last one with its various plot twists.
A thinking person's thriller written with authencity and intelligence.
I am waiting for his next book.
Delicious and superior World War 2 thriller.
Superbly researched and the novel is much more than a thriller set in Warsaw in the aftermath of the Nazi invasion.
The author explores the complexities and danger of working for the occupying Nazi government while secretly helping the underground resistance movement. The moments where the protagonist has to face his family's and people's wrath for cooperating with the Nazis are well drawn out and gives it the edge over most of the historical movels.
The author manages to convey the sense of place and time of wartime Warsaw before it was levelled by the Nazis. The author's rich description of the Polish society and the workings of Nazis in Poland after the invasion is superb. As a thriller it keeps us glued to the pages until the last one with its various plot twists.
A thinking person's thriller written with authencity and intelligence.
I am waiting for his next book.
February 6, 2024
Blood Roses tells the story of Polish detective Jan Kalisz during the early occupation of Warsaw in 1939. A series of young girls are horrifically murdered and the occupying Germans need Polish interpreters to help them work with the locals. Kalisz, as a former detective, is a natural selection but unbeknown to the Germans, Kalisz is part of the Polish Resistance.
An excellent read, Jackson harnesses the tension of working for the Resistance whilst appearing outwardly to be collaborating with occupying forces. This is especially harrowing given Kalisz is unable to let even his wife know what he is doing, allowing her to think him
a traitor.
Great book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Thanks to the author and the publisher Camelot for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
An excellent read, Jackson harnesses the tension of working for the Resistance whilst appearing outwardly to be collaborating with occupying forces. This is especially harrowing given Kalisz is unable to let even his wife know what he is doing, allowing her to think him
a traitor.
Great book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Thanks to the author and the publisher Camelot for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
February 11, 2024
“Blood Roses” by Douglas Jackson is a gripping historical thriller set in war-torn Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. As the city grapples with the horrors of war, a serial killer known as The Artist begins to prey on innocent victims.
Former chief investigator Jan Kalisz, forced to navigate a dangerous double life under Nazi rule, is thrust into the heart of the investigation. With his true allegiance hidden from even his own family, Jan must race against time to catch the elusive killer before more lives are lost.
“Blood Roses” offers a chilling portrayal of wartime intrigue and suspense, drawing readers into a world of fear, deception, and relentless pursuit. With its compelling narrative and vivid historical detail, this novel is a must-read for fans of gripping serial killer mysteries.
Former chief investigator Jan Kalisz, forced to navigate a dangerous double life under Nazi rule, is thrust into the heart of the investigation. With his true allegiance hidden from even his own family, Jan must race against time to catch the elusive killer before more lives are lost.
“Blood Roses” offers a chilling portrayal of wartime intrigue and suspense, drawing readers into a world of fear, deception, and relentless pursuit. With its compelling narrative and vivid historical detail, this novel is a must-read for fans of gripping serial killer mysteries.
October 12, 2024
I was a child during the events described in this book and only became aware to some extent of the almost incredible extent of Nazi atrocities when I saw a display of the discoveries at Belsen when I was 14. That day I realised that is no god.
Even so when I read this book, and after watching the usual films, my eyes were opened to the total horror of the Occupied Countries, Poland in particular. The story is written with an insight into those horrors that could only have come from interviews with survivors.
Then I recalled that such a bloody dystopia was occurring in Russia before and during this period. The distance between rational and peaceful man and rabid killer is a very thin one.
So, you might ask why I give Douglas Jackson's book 5 stars. For the kill in writing, for the courage to tackle such enormity.
Even so when I read this book, and after watching the usual films, my eyes were opened to the total horror of the Occupied Countries, Poland in particular. The story is written with an insight into those horrors that could only have come from interviews with survivors.
Then I recalled that such a bloody dystopia was occurring in Russia before and during this period. The distance between rational and peaceful man and rabid killer is a very thin one.
So, you might ask why I give Douglas Jackson's book 5 stars. For the kill in writing, for the courage to tackle such enormity.
November 28, 2024
I was very pleased to come across this piece of historical WWII fiction; even though it meant staying up late for two nights in a row to complete the 349-page novel (which was very difficult to put down). Like Philip Kerr’s embattled Bernie Gunther, a Berlin detective who finds ways to work around his Nazi bosses, Douglas Jackson’s Polish detective, Jan Kalisz, faces a similar dilemma in Warsaw. Along with providing a thorough account of the horrendous experiences of the Poles and Jews at the beginning of the war, Jackson did a wonderful job of capturing the ever-present tension surrounding his central character, who’s learning the dangerous perils of being a double agent. While I’m not sure if it truly holds up to Kerr’s masterful series, this book is well worth the read and I suspect each novel in the series will only get better.
December 28, 2024
Well written, well researched serial killer thriller set in occupied Warsaw during the early stages of world war two.
This exceeded my expectations and I look forward to reading later additions to the series.
In many regards it's a slightly different take on the fairly common historical fiction story set during the war in that our hero is a Polish policeman trying to catch a killer whilst carrying out his own acts of resistance against his country's Nazi occupiers and his therefore superiors.
The depiction of a war ravaged Warsaw appears spot on and very vivid and lends weight to the ease in which a killer would be able to operate amongst a subjugated population.
I'm a huge fan of Philip Kerr and Robert Harris' second world war novels but this story can hold it's head up in that company and is an addition to the cannon.
Excellent.
This exceeded my expectations and I look forward to reading later additions to the series.
In many regards it's a slightly different take on the fairly common historical fiction story set during the war in that our hero is a Polish policeman trying to catch a killer whilst carrying out his own acts of resistance against his country's Nazi occupiers and his therefore superiors.
The depiction of a war ravaged Warsaw appears spot on and very vivid and lends weight to the ease in which a killer would be able to operate amongst a subjugated population.
I'm a huge fan of Philip Kerr and Robert Harris' second world war novels but this story can hold it's head up in that company and is an addition to the cannon.
Excellent.
April 3, 2025
An excellent thriller set in 1939 in just-invaded Warsaw. Jan Kaliz, chief police investigator, has to make an agonising decision: try to protect his family by co-operating with the Nazis or do nothing. In a world in which Jan in which there's no trust and threats abound, there's plenty of tension.
Jan is hunting for a serial killer. The evidence points to him being an SS officer who has murdered three Jewish girls and a Pole. He gets unlikely help along the way, including from the notorious and noxious Josef Mengele. The end is unexpected.
Philip Kerr is one of my favourite authors whose thrillers set in Europe in the 30s and 40s are action-packed page turners filled with unforgettable characters, especially the hero, Bernie Gunther. I agree with the blurb on the back of Blood Roses that says Jan Kaliz is a "natural heir" to Bernie.
Jan is hunting for a serial killer. The evidence points to him being an SS officer who has murdered three Jewish girls and a Pole. He gets unlikely help along the way, including from the notorious and noxious Josef Mengele. The end is unexpected.
Philip Kerr is one of my favourite authors whose thrillers set in Europe in the 30s and 40s are action-packed page turners filled with unforgettable characters, especially the hero, Bernie Gunther. I agree with the blurb on the back of Blood Roses that says Jan Kaliz is a "natural heir" to Bernie.
August 29, 2024
As the Nazis roll into Warsaw in September 1939, a serial killer known as The Artist is unleashed…
Former chief investigator, Jan Kalisz, lives a dangerous double life, forced to work with the German occupiers while at the same time gathering information for the Polish resistance. Even his family cannot be told about his true allegiance. When the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found dead and horribly mutilated, Jan links the murder to other killings that are of less interest to his new overlords because the victims are Jewish.
The savagery and inhumanity of the Nazi occupation is vividly told. Frighteningly gruesome in places, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
Former chief investigator, Jan Kalisz, lives a dangerous double life, forced to work with the German occupiers while at the same time gathering information for the Polish resistance. Even his family cannot be told about his true allegiance. When the niece of a Wehrmacht general is found dead and horribly mutilated, Jan links the murder to other killings that are of less interest to his new overlords because the victims are Jewish.
The savagery and inhumanity of the Nazi occupation is vividly told. Frighteningly gruesome in places, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
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