The Berlin Murders

Miss Clara Vale Mysteries #5

by Fiona Veitch Smith

The new unputdownable case from Clara Vale!
The perfect Golden Age cosy mystery for fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie and Verity Bright won't want to miss this!

September, 1930. Fearless detective Miss Clara Vale is bound for Berlin, but this trip is all about la mode - not murder. Clara is set to walk the runway at Berlin Fashion Week, as a favour to her designer friend Juju, with her assistant Bella in tow.

Elections loom in Germany, and among Juju's Jewish friends, the Spieglers, all the talk is of the National Socialists. But trouble brews closer to home, when a shocking murder at their clothing factory points the finger at the couple's brilliant young son.

With the victim an old friend of the fashion crew, emotions run high - and Clara quickly joins the investigation, setting out to untangle Nazi conspiracies and nasty colleagues. To complicate matters, Clara's old flame Larry Winter is in town, and it seems he may know more than he's letting on...

When a second body turns up, pressure mounts. Amidst the dark glamour of 1930s Berlin, on the eve of the Third Reich, can Clara find the real killer and protect those around her? From silks to secrets, peplums to poison, this will be a Fashion Week like no other...

A page-turning Golden Age mystery, for fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie & Verity Bright.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Crime

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[marita lazarus · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay.... let me start by saying this book, as the author and publisher state takes place before wwII but with Hitler and the Nazi party taking more power and anti semitic feelings towards Jews. There is nothing in the book with concentration camps etc, but as anyone who has read wwII and holocaust history, IT MAY trigger feelings.... there are strong anti semitic feelings and comments.

the story is good, the background well researched and it comes with a nice resolution. Like most historical cozie mysteries, this one has some true events (like the fashion industry and dept stores). It's nice to see how Germany was prior to the outbreak of WWII

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara Vale, Smith’s intrepid female detective, finds herself short of interesting cases, so she accepts an invitation to try something new – modelling some of the latest designs at an international fashion show. Which she thinks it might make a nice break from her normal routines.

But this is 1930, and the fashion show is in Berlin, and before long Clara finds herself not only investigating a bizarre murder, but digging into some very dark and dangerous politics.

As always, Smith makes full use of the time and the setting in building her plot. Berlin is a city of magnificent architecture, the centre of a vibrant fashion culture, with a wild night life for those of any and all tastes. But it is also a place where synagogues are defaced with anti-Jewish graffiti, where thugs in brown shirts commit violent assaults that the Police ignore, where the Swastika symbol is everywhere as the National Socialist party plots to win the imminent election by any means. Greed and fear make a combination as deadly as any murder weapon.

It’s powerful stuff, but Clara, and her assistant Bella, are just the people to unravel the layers of deception and penetrate to the heart of the mystery – though not without some risks to themselves!

As always, Smith’s writing is well paced and vivid, combining fictional drama with a real insight into events which shaped our history.

And also into the people caught up in them. It’s sad and disturbing to read about the Jewish designers and business men focused on creating stunning fashions and showing them to the world, whilst knowing what happened to them just a few years later. But for me the most poignant was the secondary character, a young German member of the Nazi party, who believed in the promises made by the leaders and trusted the vision they painted of the future, even though they were disturbed by some things being done by the more extreme members.

That’s something to ponder on.

[Kathleen Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book our lady detective is helping her friends with their fashion show at the Berlin fashion week, it is 1930 and we see the beginnings of the Nazi Party starting to emerge and when Clara stumbles upon a dead body she can’t help but investigate. There was lots to learn and absorb in this book I like the way that Clara investigates and the way the author includes bits of science and chemistry to give Clara something for her scientific mind to sink into. Overall this was a good read and I look forward to the next in the series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of all in the series so far! I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here

I am Clara Vale in this book and a detective no doubt. It makes me giggle when I find out that I am going there to walk on a fashion runway! Now this will be a first. However, I remember that it’s the 1930s and that there are elections looming in Germany. It’s a very niche idea to go into a novel knowing what the other characters don’t.

Fiona always draws a city so well and Berlin here really comes alive off the page. I could see the streets, the Nazi signs and feel the sense of fear as I walked around the streets. When there is a murder in the clothing factory we are in, there is fear everywhere. Not surprisingly, a Jew is blamed.

Well Clara – or me as I should say – was flung head first into a mystery and a crime to solve all the while trying to make sense of some of my colleagues whilst avoiding the attention of the Nazi government.

Cosy? well not really as there are some dark moments and themes here. Map and sense of place are second to none. Just thank goodness it’s in a book and not in real life.

Nazi Germany is not somewhere I ever want to visit even if I could. I mean, the museums and Berlin sights are a must to understand the past but it’s only in a book would I want to visit the real thing. This book showed me what it would have been like and what women had to face, not to mention the Jews in particular. A great crime drama with a serious undertone.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

September, 1930 & private detective Miss Clara Vale is bound for Berlin, but this trip is all about la mode - not murder. Clara is set to walk the runway at Berlin Fashion Week, as a favour to her designer friend Juju, with her assistant Bella in tow. Elections loom in Germany, and among Juju's Jewish friends, the Spieglers, all the talk is of the National Socialists. But trouble brews closer to home, when a shocking murder at their clothing factory points the finger at the couple's brilliant young son, Karl. With the victim an old friend of the fashion crew, emotions run high - and Clara quickly joins the investigation. To complicate matters, Clara's old flame Larry Winter is in town, and it seems he may know more than he's letting on.
The fifth outing for Clara, how many strings in her bow does she have? Detective, chemist & now fashion model. I do love Clara & her assistant Bella, they make a good partnership & bring out each other’s strengths. This was an intriguing case, there were a few suspects but there are also outside influences as the author didn’t hold any punches about the rise of Nazism. A very well written cosy mystery, which was well researched & gave a somewhat chilling insight into 1930’s Berlin, I liked the backdrop of the fashion world. I also loved how Clara picked her way through the evidence whilst wanting to ‘clear’ her friends. I look forward to Clara’s next adventure
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berlin Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith is a Miss Clara Vale Mystery. The story finds Clara and Bella in Berlin with Juju and Jonny for Berlin Fashion Week. Clara was to be Jojo’s model and she was not certain about that at all. They witnessed the earliest years of the Nazi regime and it was frightening. A friend of Jonny, another designer, named Hugh was found murdered in the laboratory of Karl Speigler, the son of their host, who was trying to develop a cheaper version of linen with which to craft read-to-wears fashions, less expensive than couture. Of course, Clara feels the need to investigate and there is an amenable police detective so all was well. While there, the ladies ran into a pilot they had met in Egypt, Larry, and his friend, Rudy. Both welcome additions to the adventure, at least to Clara and Bella, although full of surprises.

Interesting, fun characters, and an especially moving setting make this a must-read. Every move Clara makes is complicated by the fact most of the people involved were Jewish and the authorities didn’t regard them as very important. It is interesting to watch the very beginnings of the Nazi regime. Clara is a good detective but she is not able to do it alone and all these people contributed in small ways. The mystery was good, but involved with politics and spy craft. It was a novel full of industrial espionage, off-color relationships, love, and small complications.

I was invited to read The Berlin Murders by Embla Books. A;; thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EmblaBooks #FionaVeitchSmith #TheBerlinMurders

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read in a series I have really grown to love.

Set in 1930's Berlin, Clara finds herself at the heart of where fascism rears its ugly head and must deal with that along with murder, antisemitism, and overt hate [the brown shirts are already violent in 1930] on what she thought was going to be a lovely outing [with her right-hand gal/bestie Bella - WHO really grows and shines in this one] helping her friend Juju [by being a model] during Berlin Fashion Week. Add in several questionable characters and the reemergence of Mr. Larry Winters [boy was I NOT happy to see him; I like him the least of all of Clara's paramours, and he is no better here], and it is at times, a pretty tense read.

As someone who has read quite a few World War 2 nonfiction books, I can tell that besides being an excellent writer, this author does her research; the writing, the way events unfold, the complete feeling of disorder, dismay, mixed with arrogance all felt very real [like for moments, I was actually reading and NF book] for that time [and sadly, feels very familiar for the now as well] and I feel that the author accurently conveys the feelings/attitudes [Bella's young man is a very good example of that] of that time all while having a murder mystery as well [which was also VERY good and I was really surprised at the reveal]. It was such a great read and I was so sad when it was over. This one was absolutely the best of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Veitch Smith, and Embla Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona Veitch Smith sweeps us into the glittering yet shadowed world of 1930s Berlin, where fashion and politics collide in dazzling—and dangerous—ways. The Berlin Murders finds fearless detective Clara Vale stepping onto the runway at Berlin Fashion Week, only to be pulled into a murder investigation that threatens both her friends and the fragile peace of the city.

What begins as a favour to her designer friend Juju quickly spirals into intrigue: a shocking death at a clothing factory, whispers of Nazi conspiracies, and the Spieglers’ son caught in the crossfire. Clara’s sharp mind and steady courage shine as she navigates silks and secrets, poison and politics, all while facing the unexpected complication of her old flame, Larry Winter, reappearing with mysteries of his own.

Smith captures the glamour and menace of Berlin on the eve of the Third Reich with vivid detail. The tension between beauty and brutality is palpable—fashion week’s dazzling gowns set against the rising tide of danger. Clara’s determination to protect those around her makes this installment both thrilling and deeply human.

This is a mystery rich with atmosphere: elegant, suspenseful, and threaded with emotional stakes. The Berlin Murders proves once again that Clara Vale is a heroine worth following, wherever history and danger may lead.

With thanks to Fiona Veitch Smith, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara Vale is off to Berlin in 1930 to be a model for her designer friend. Unfortunately, murder isn't too far away from where Clara decides to stay... (ok, that's bad, but I need something that is a little corny before the rest of this). Elections are looming in Germany and the talk is about the growing power of the National Socialists and their hate politics. But things hit closer to home when a murder occurs at a clothing factory, and Juju's friends' son is the prime suspect. Then another murder. Clara is determined to join the investigation to untangle Nazi's plots from good old fashion jealousy. But what really is the motive?

I have to say right off, I enjoyed this mystery but it was also depressing knowing what was coming. The Holocaust hasn't started yet but the foreshadowing is there. The author does a great job of portraying a vibrant culture that disappeared and depicting the rising power of the Nazi party without it feeling like a history lesson. It is always sobering to see such hatred and how a party can overwhelm the democratic framework because of popularity. People don't always want to see the danger in front of them.

But not all things are gloom and doom. Clara and her assistant are a great pair that balance each other and provide humor. Clara also shines in her chemistry knowledge something that doesn't usually show up in the main character of a cozy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, fascinating, and rich in historical detail. The Berlin Murders is the fifth book in the series, and I’m really enjoying how the characters continue to grow and deepen with each instalment. By now they feel so well established that it’s easy to become emotionally invested in what happens to them, and that ongoing development is one of the real strengths of this series.
I especially loved how much this book taught me about Berlin in the 1930s. The political tension and social atmosphere are woven so naturally into the story that you come away feeling you’ve learned something, as well as having enjoyed a compelling mystery. The setting adds so much weight and intrigue to the plot, making the danger feel very real.
The murder mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with multiple threads running at once. There are a lot of characters and storylines in play, and at times it did feel a little crowded, but it also added to the richness of the world. I liked how everything gradually came together, even when it kept me on my toes trying to remember who was connected to whom.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, engaging read that blends history and crime extremely well. A strong and intriguing instalment in an already excellent series.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Embla Books for the ARC of this book.

[Acantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clara Vale is back, and this time she's off to Berlin to support her friends at fashion week.

Of course, Clara being Clara, it isn't long before she finds herself caught up in a murder mystery that rapidly spirals into a dramatic thriller.

It's important to be aware, that because its set in Berlin in 1930, there is a lot of antisemitism in this book. Nazi's, both their rise to power and as a party, are major parts of the plot of this book. Certain suspects and friends are Nazi's, and many of the remaining characters are Jewish, which causes a lot of toxic tension within the pages. There is also a cameo from a rather infamous Nazi.

I have the same complaints of Clara as a character in this book, as I have in the past. She comes across as arrogant and all knowing, convinced that her way and only her way is the right way to go.

Bella got a lot more to do in this book, which I enjoyed, as getting to learn more about her friends/landlords. It is the relationships that make this series but its a shame we seem to have lost yet another LI. I was quite fond of where the story was promising to go with her most recent one, but we're back with Larry Winter.

It's an entertaining enough book, and surely very topical in these times, but I hope that Clara learns to deal with people a little better come book six. Which I'm bound to read.

[Allison Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoy this series by Fiona Vetich. The first book I had read in the series was the third one, and I was quickly hooked. I have since gone back and purchased the rest of this series and loved them all.

I enjoy the cases set where Miss Clara Vale lives, but I love the ones which take her abroad. In this book, Clara and team travel to Berlin for Fashion Week. But under the glamour lies Nazi conspiracies on the eve of the Third Reich, murders, and competitor shenanigans. And to complicate matters, Clara’s old flame Larry Winter (from Book 3) is in town. Can she trust him? Who else can she trust?

I work in the fashion industry, so it’s really fun to see what Berlin Fashion Week was all about. The author not only crafts well-written stories, plots, and characters, but she does a ton of research before she even sits down to write.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I am happy to share my opinion of this truly enjoyable book.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly the best adventure for Clara yet. The Berlin Murders is intricately plotted with well researched historical details describing the locations and fashions of 1930’s Berlin. The storyline gave insights into the fashion industry, the rise of the National Socialists and all the prejudice and upheaval that is associated with the time. The characters are depicted well with varying interests, skills, foibles, grudges and romantic intentions that make them all seem so real. Clara’s academic prowess is admired by other professionals both as a detective and scientist - her skills making her an unusual and brilliant leading lady. I was as invested in her first steps as a fashion model as I was in her solving the murders. You will not regret your visit to Berlin - where history is woven into a gripping storyline and familiar characters make the novel feel cosy as well as intriguing.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Clara Vale and her friends always deliver. It is such a comfort series and I hope there will be many instalments.

Clara Vale has agreed to model for her friend Juju Levine at a fashion show in Berlin. Her assistant Bella and Juju's brother Jonny Levine come with them, and along the way they meet both fashion designers, an acquaintance from their Cairo adventure and the Levines' Jewish cousins. It is mostly fun and games and fashion, until one of them is murdered.

The setting is Berlin in the 1930's, shortly before a general election. The National Socialists are gaining in numbers, swastikas are appearing on synagogues and in general, events and thoughts are set in motion that will escalate a decade later.

It's a good book, but also one of the darker in the series.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I adore this series is that it is quite historically accurate and, starting in 1928, it covers an enthralling section of world history. However, in this fifth entry in the series, we visit Berlin in 1930. I didn't realize how much the really horrendous anti-semitism and anti-LGBTQ+ actions depicted (quite rightly) were affecting me until I realized I was humming songs from Cabaret while reading. That said, this is another engrossing mystery in the series and well written as always. Recommended as long as you're in a mood for historical reality.

[Emily Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful Agatha Christie-esque cozy mystery. The Berlin Murders is my first read of the Miss Clara Vale Mysteries series and I just adored the characters! The quick, witty banter, a cast of perfectly quirky characters, a nod to women in STEM, pre-WWII setting, a little romance and of course murder and mystery were all wrapped up in this book. I can’t wait to read more in this series to see what adventures Clara and Bella find!

Thank you NetGalley and Embla Books for the advanced ebook!
All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Peter Rubinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatn a fabulous book. I have read a number of books, fiction & Non-Fiction, set in this period, during the Weimar Republic & the rise to power of the Nazis & this is up there with the best. It understates the Decadence of Weimar Berlin, but the plot & characters make up for it. I can't wait for Fiona Veitch-Smiths next book whether Poppy Denby, Clara Vale, I'd love a crossover, or an entirely new character.

[Shaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Fiona Veitch Smith for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Berlin Murders. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this series. It’s like a cozy historical travel series. I was expecting a little something like the other books in the series. It felt a little different and I wasn’t a fan of some of the things that happened. I would check out other books by this author.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Clara Vale series of historic murder mysteries. This one is set in Berlin in the early days of Hitler’s rise to power. Clara and her friends are off to Berlin for a fashion show. Their hosts are the Spieglers, clothing manufacturers with a Jewish origin. When a murder occurs at the factory, blame falls on the Spiegler’s brilliant son. As a Jew he is a convenient scapegoat. Clara is not going to let that happen.
I thought the treatment of this time period was very well done.

[Jo Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. Well written and the Audible narrator, Hannah Genacious, was pretty good, particularly as she had a lot more accents to keep straight this time!
Only a 4/5 as I did guess what was going on long before Clara did, but I have down loaded the rest of the series as I like the way she weaves the historical details in to the story.
This story involves fashion, Berlin during the rise of Hiltler, a bast from the past in the shape of Larry, and of course…. Murder.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, Intricate Mystery

There really was a thriving fashion industry in 1930’s Germany dominated by Jewish talent. The writing is on the wall, the atmosphere is fraught and of course there is a murder. Clara and Bella put the puzzle pieces together to save the day. Romance, high fashion and chemistry abound. This is a very well researched and written story that presents a very nuanced picture of Germans trying to live their lives while coping with the rise of the Nazis.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun cozy mystery with some fantastic plotting and great vibes. our protagonist is excellent, and the tie-ins to both modeling and scientific developments of the time were great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Murders

Fabulous book. No skip or speed reading, though. The reader must pay close attention to keep up. IMO not for younger readers.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another international take on the Clara Vale series, this time in Berlin. Clara and Bella have accompanied Johnny and JuJu to Germany for a fashion show but a murder and theft with a friend in the frame soon derail the jaunt.

There were plenty of new faces as well as some returning friends. A love triangle and star-crossed lovers trope seem to be in the works for Clara and for Bella. Overall, It felt a well plotted mystery with lots of twists and turns as we unpicked each character and their secrets. The atmosphere, being set in 1930s Berlin, was often unsettling. The writer has clearly done their homework as there were lots of nods to historical fact which I enjoyed.

I am, however, looking forward to seeing Clara back on home soil in the north east and also keen to see what’s next for her love life.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun book with some twists and turns.

[Nicky]

Audiobook - really enjoyed this set in Berlin between tbe wars. Some good history in the background.

[Jimmit Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable but fun

[Randee Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private detective Clara Vale and her assistant are bound for Germany to assist their friend, Juju, at Berlin Fashion Week. Juju’s cousins, the Spieglers, operate a clothing factory in Berlin, and they are responsible for hosting the weeklong series of fashion events. Clara’s debut on the runway is postponed when one of the fashion designers is found murdered in the Spieglers’ factory. As a favor to their friend, Clara and Bella, take on the case—not only to find the killer but to prove that Juju’s brother was not involved. Their task is made more difficult thanks the discovery of a second body, the disappearance of certain key players, and the unjust animosity towards Berlin’s Jewish’s designers thanks to the rise of Nazism. Clara’s occasional love interest, Larry Winter, is also in Berlin, and Clara thinks he might be involved in in the murders and with the Nazis.

Clara Vale and Bella Cuddy are two of my favorite historical private detectives. They are both courageous and innovative in their investigating techniques. Juju and her brother play a larger role in THE BERLIN MURDERS than in previous novels, and the reader learns more about their history. And the reappearance of dashing Larry Winter adds another mystery for Clara to solve—can she trust him to help with this investigation and is he involved in the rising Nazi Party? Fiona Veitch Smith brings 1930s Germany to life and gives the reader a glimpse into the fashion industry, the shifts in Jewish sentiment caused by Hitler, and Berlin’s underground LGBTQ community. I strongly recommend THE BERLIN MURDERS to all lovers of historical mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly Clara! Thinking a trip to Berlin to help her beloved landlords and friends, Juju and Jonny, with a fashion show would be a vacation! As we know, mystery and intrigue follow Clara everywhere she goes. But, as usual, Clara hunts down the guilty party with the utmost elegance and intelligence.