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Mason Collins #2
Spoils of Victory
From the author of Ruins of War comes an electrifying novel featuring U.S. Army criminal investigator Mason Collins, set in the chaos of post-World War II Germany.When the Third Reich collapsed, the small town Garmisch-Partenkirchen became the home of fleeing war criminals, making it the final depository for the Nazis’ stolen riches. There are fortunes to be made on the black market. Murder, extortion, and corruption have become the norm.
It’s a perfect storm for a criminal investigator like Mason Collins, especially when his friend, CIC Agent John Winstone, claims that a group of powerful men are taking over the lucrative trade. But before he can fully explain, Winstone—and his girlfriend— are brutally murdered.
Determined to uncover the truth, Mason plunges into a shadowy labyrinth of co-conspirators including former SS and Gestapo officers, U.S. Army OSS officers, and liberated Polish POWs.
As both witnesses and evidence begin disappearing, it becomes obvious that someone on high is pulling strings to stifle the investigation—and that Mason must feel his way in the darkness if he is going to find out who in town has the most to gain—and the most to lose…
372 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2016
159 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
John A. Connell
14 books74 followersJohn was born in Atlanta, where he earned a BA in Anthropology, and has been a motion picture camera operator, a jazz pianist, a stock boy in a brassiere factory, a machinist, repairer of newspaper racks, and a printing-press operator. His first in the Mason Collins series was nominated for Barry Award, and Where the Wicked Tread has been nominated for Best E-book 2022 by ITW. The series has also received endorsements from the likes of Lee Child and Steve Berry. He and his wife divide their time between the U.S. and France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 7, 2016
“It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man.”
----Thomas Paine
John A. Connell, an American author, pens his new crime fiction, Spoils of Victory which is the second book in the Mason Collins mystery series. This book features CID criminal investigator Mason Collins in post WWII Germany, where he is investigating the local German gangs, there upon stumbling upon an old friend from his days in the military that opens the door to an unknown world of extortion and other crimes that ties the higher designation officials in the U.S Military.
Synopsis:
When the Third Reich collapsed, the small town Garmisch-Partenkirchen became the home of fleeing war criminals, making it the final depository for the Nazis’ stolen riches. There are fortunes to be made on the black market. Murder, extortion, and corruption have become the norm.
It’s a perfect storm for a criminal investigator like Mason Collins, especially when his friend, CIC Agent John Winstone, claims that a group of powerful men are taking over the lucrative trade. But before he can fully explain, Winstone—and his girlfriend— are brutally murdered.
Determined to uncover the truth, Mason plunges into a shadowy labyrinth of co-conspirators including former SS and Gestapo officers, U.S. Army OSS officers, and liberated Polish POWs.
As both witnesses and evidence begin disappearing, it becomes obvious that someone on high is pulling strings to stifle the investigation—and that Mason must feel his way in the darkness if he is going to find out who in town has the most to gain—and the most to lose…
Mason Collins is a former Chicago homicide detective, U.S. soldier, and prisoner of war- turned-U.S. Army CID. He is back in Germany and this time he is tailing behind a German gang in the small town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which has become the heart of black marketing and home to notorious criminals right after the World War II. That is when he meets his old friend, John Winstone, who is now a Counter Intelligence Corps Agent, who reveals that American officials are too joining their hands in the dirty trade of money extortion and corruption. In fact Winstone has jotted down the evidence, collected over the years, against some of the officials, but before he could hand over his evidence to Mason, he is brutally murdered along with his girlfriend. Mason is then sucked into the underbelly of Garmisch that turns out to be both life-threatening as well as risky when more dead bodies start piling up, and more cases of corruption surface up. Mason has to soon decide whom to trust and whom not to trust in a dark, dingy post WWII city of Germany.
The book's setting simply bowled me over and really caught me off-guard as the author has vividly painted that picturesque town in the Bavarian Alps in it's ruins after the war. Garmisch- home to notorious Nazi criminals, is projected with proper darkness thus capturing the perfect atmosphere of that dark corrupted town. The author's portrayal of post war era in Germany is vibrant, striking and and even an eye-opener for many. The author not only takes the readers on a roller-coaster ride through the streets of Garmisch, but also takes them back in time.
I was taken aback by the author's eloquent and pristine writing style that is layered with suspense at every turn of the page. With the progress of the story, the mystery thickened with brain-twisting twists ans turns and adrenaline-rushing actions. The narrative is extremely arresting and within few pages into the story, I was drawn deeper into the depths of the chaos in Garmisch and not even for once I could force myself to look away from it. And each and every scene is written with such great in-depth and vivid detailing, that it comes alive with the author's words. The story is thoroughly captivating till the very end, keeping me on my edges until it's very climax which is equally shocking and hard to anticipate it.
The characters are brilliant, especially the main character, mason, who is developed with lots of flaws and intelligence and given the fact that he served in the Army previously, it makes him even more brave and fearless, who can jump into anything without giving a second thought. His impulsive actions kept me glued and made me rooted for him till the very last page. The supporting characters are also quite well-developed and with whom I could easily connect with.
The mystery is layered with many dimensions and are filled with confusion which made it even more difficult on my part to anticipate that veiled faces of the criminals. The suspense in the air is evident all through out the story. In a nutshell, this is by far one of the most enthralling historical crime fiction that I read in a long time.
Verdict: Mystery fans do not miss out this intriguing book.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, John A. Connell, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Thomas Paine
John A. Connell, an American author, pens his new crime fiction, Spoils of Victory which is the second book in the Mason Collins mystery series. This book features CID criminal investigator Mason Collins in post WWII Germany, where he is investigating the local German gangs, there upon stumbling upon an old friend from his days in the military that opens the door to an unknown world of extortion and other crimes that ties the higher designation officials in the U.S Military.
Synopsis:
When the Third Reich collapsed, the small town Garmisch-Partenkirchen became the home of fleeing war criminals, making it the final depository for the Nazis’ stolen riches. There are fortunes to be made on the black market. Murder, extortion, and corruption have become the norm.
It’s a perfect storm for a criminal investigator like Mason Collins, especially when his friend, CIC Agent John Winstone, claims that a group of powerful men are taking over the lucrative trade. But before he can fully explain, Winstone—and his girlfriend— are brutally murdered.
Determined to uncover the truth, Mason plunges into a shadowy labyrinth of co-conspirators including former SS and Gestapo officers, U.S. Army OSS officers, and liberated Polish POWs.
As both witnesses and evidence begin disappearing, it becomes obvious that someone on high is pulling strings to stifle the investigation—and that Mason must feel his way in the darkness if he is going to find out who in town has the most to gain—and the most to lose…
Mason Collins is a former Chicago homicide detective, U.S. soldier, and prisoner of war- turned-U.S. Army CID. He is back in Germany and this time he is tailing behind a German gang in the small town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which has become the heart of black marketing and home to notorious criminals right after the World War II. That is when he meets his old friend, John Winstone, who is now a Counter Intelligence Corps Agent, who reveals that American officials are too joining their hands in the dirty trade of money extortion and corruption. In fact Winstone has jotted down the evidence, collected over the years, against some of the officials, but before he could hand over his evidence to Mason, he is brutally murdered along with his girlfriend. Mason is then sucked into the underbelly of Garmisch that turns out to be both life-threatening as well as risky when more dead bodies start piling up, and more cases of corruption surface up. Mason has to soon decide whom to trust and whom not to trust in a dark, dingy post WWII city of Germany.
The book's setting simply bowled me over and really caught me off-guard as the author has vividly painted that picturesque town in the Bavarian Alps in it's ruins after the war. Garmisch- home to notorious Nazi criminals, is projected with proper darkness thus capturing the perfect atmosphere of that dark corrupted town. The author's portrayal of post war era in Germany is vibrant, striking and and even an eye-opener for many. The author not only takes the readers on a roller-coaster ride through the streets of Garmisch, but also takes them back in time.
I was taken aback by the author's eloquent and pristine writing style that is layered with suspense at every turn of the page. With the progress of the story, the mystery thickened with brain-twisting twists ans turns and adrenaline-rushing actions. The narrative is extremely arresting and within few pages into the story, I was drawn deeper into the depths of the chaos in Garmisch and not even for once I could force myself to look away from it. And each and every scene is written with such great in-depth and vivid detailing, that it comes alive with the author's words. The story is thoroughly captivating till the very end, keeping me on my edges until it's very climax which is equally shocking and hard to anticipate it.
The characters are brilliant, especially the main character, mason, who is developed with lots of flaws and intelligence and given the fact that he served in the Army previously, it makes him even more brave and fearless, who can jump into anything without giving a second thought. His impulsive actions kept me glued and made me rooted for him till the very last page. The supporting characters are also quite well-developed and with whom I could easily connect with.
The mystery is layered with many dimensions and are filled with confusion which made it even more difficult on my part to anticipate that veiled faces of the criminals. The suspense in the air is evident all through out the story. In a nutshell, this is by far one of the most enthralling historical crime fiction that I read in a long time.
Verdict: Mystery fans do not miss out this intriguing book.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, John A. Connell, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
February 10, 2024
The original appeal of this series was the setting (post-WW2 Germany in the American zone), but once you get past that, they're just your standard, implausible thriller. Not exactly a criticism, but not a ringing endorsement either.
June 17, 2018
Märztot
In die Welt der Schmuggler und Schwarzhändler will US-Officer Mason Collins sich einschleusen lassen. Das geht jedoch fürchterlich schief, denn als nach Monaten der Vorbereitung die Kontaktaufnahme naht, bricht eine Art Bandenkrieg los. Bei etlichen der Opfer handelt es sich um diejenigen, von denen Mason Informationen einholen wollte. Seine Operation ist geplatzt und bevor sich Mason wirklich von der Enttäuschung erholt hat, kommt es zu noch grausameren Todesfällen. Mit einem der Toten war Mason persönlich bekannt und dieser hatte ihn um Hilfe gebeten, da er sich in Gefahr sah. Wie recht hatte er mit seiner Vermutung und wie wenig konnte Mason tun.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen im Jahr 1946, eine Welt, die sich von den Strapazen des Krieges noch lange nicht erholt hat. Viel Geld zu verdienen gibt es nicht, viel Arbeit auch nicht, viel liegt noch in Trümmern. Nur der Schwarzmarkt floriert. Und amerikanische Soldaten, wenn nicht gar Offiziere, scheinen daran beteiligt zu sein. Wie so oft heißt es, Geld stinkt eben nicht. Mason Collins stemmt sich gegen diese Entwicklung. Ein ehrenhafter Offizier sollte doch nicht so tief sinken, passiert dies doch, so gehört die Sache durchermittelt und die Täter bestraft, ungeachtet ihrer Position und Herkunft. Mit seiner Meinung steht Collins allerdings relativ alleine da.
Der amerikanische Teil des besetzten Nachkriegsdeutschlands ist wahrlich ein spannender Schauplatz. Schmuggel, Schwarzmarkt, Liebe und Mord sind Zutaten, die vor dem Hintergrund des gerade erst zurecht verlorenen Krieges viel versprechen und neugierig machen. Doch der zweite Band der Reihe um den Militärermittler Mason Collins hält nicht ganz, was er verspricht. Eher hat man hier einen ganz normalen Thriller, der eben diese Kulisse hat. Das Verbrechen ist nicht aus der Geschichte heraus entwickelt, sondern es könnte auch in jeder anderen Zeit geschehen, in der Schmuggel und Schwarzmarkt blühen. So versuchen hier wenige Aufrechte, die Verstrickungen in den eigenen Reihen mit dem Verbrechen zu stoppen und gleichzeitig die Morde aufzuklären. Dabei gehen sie um der Aufklärung willen teilweise selbst recht rigoros vor.
Ein durchaus fesselnder Thriller, der wohlmöglich eine bessere Wirkung erzielt, wenn er unvoreingenommener angepackt wird.
3,5 Sterne
In die Welt der Schmuggler und Schwarzhändler will US-Officer Mason Collins sich einschleusen lassen. Das geht jedoch fürchterlich schief, denn als nach Monaten der Vorbereitung die Kontaktaufnahme naht, bricht eine Art Bandenkrieg los. Bei etlichen der Opfer handelt es sich um diejenigen, von denen Mason Informationen einholen wollte. Seine Operation ist geplatzt und bevor sich Mason wirklich von der Enttäuschung erholt hat, kommt es zu noch grausameren Todesfällen. Mit einem der Toten war Mason persönlich bekannt und dieser hatte ihn um Hilfe gebeten, da er sich in Gefahr sah. Wie recht hatte er mit seiner Vermutung und wie wenig konnte Mason tun.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen im Jahr 1946, eine Welt, die sich von den Strapazen des Krieges noch lange nicht erholt hat. Viel Geld zu verdienen gibt es nicht, viel Arbeit auch nicht, viel liegt noch in Trümmern. Nur der Schwarzmarkt floriert. Und amerikanische Soldaten, wenn nicht gar Offiziere, scheinen daran beteiligt zu sein. Wie so oft heißt es, Geld stinkt eben nicht. Mason Collins stemmt sich gegen diese Entwicklung. Ein ehrenhafter Offizier sollte doch nicht so tief sinken, passiert dies doch, so gehört die Sache durchermittelt und die Täter bestraft, ungeachtet ihrer Position und Herkunft. Mit seiner Meinung steht Collins allerdings relativ alleine da.
Der amerikanische Teil des besetzten Nachkriegsdeutschlands ist wahrlich ein spannender Schauplatz. Schmuggel, Schwarzmarkt, Liebe und Mord sind Zutaten, die vor dem Hintergrund des gerade erst zurecht verlorenen Krieges viel versprechen und neugierig machen. Doch der zweite Band der Reihe um den Militärermittler Mason Collins hält nicht ganz, was er verspricht. Eher hat man hier einen ganz normalen Thriller, der eben diese Kulisse hat. Das Verbrechen ist nicht aus der Geschichte heraus entwickelt, sondern es könnte auch in jeder anderen Zeit geschehen, in der Schmuggel und Schwarzmarkt blühen. So versuchen hier wenige Aufrechte, die Verstrickungen in den eigenen Reihen mit dem Verbrechen zu stoppen und gleichzeitig die Morde aufzuklären. Dabei gehen sie um der Aufklärung willen teilweise selbst recht rigoros vor.
Ein durchaus fesselnder Thriller, der wohlmöglich eine bessere Wirkung erzielt, wenn er unvoreingenommener angepackt wird.
3,5 Sterne
February 2, 2016
Lee Child called John's Mason Collins books a "must read series" and I totally agree--John's novels are completely gripping and suspenseful, and Spoils of Victory turns the heat well past the boiling point. If you're looking for a brilliantly-written thriller set in post-WWII Germany, full of psychological twists and turns and one of the most winning protagonists (and devious killers) I've ever met, look no further. You've found it.
August 15, 2019
Another homerun
John has come up with an intricate post war crime with not only greedy ganster types but vicious and sadistic killers running the post war black market in Germany. Some scenes are quite violently explicit, as some of the bad guys learned their "craft" during the war. Mason has more complications from superiors than previously, and as previously doesn't much give a *!*! Great read!
John has come up with an intricate post war crime with not only greedy ganster types but vicious and sadistic killers running the post war black market in Germany. Some scenes are quite violently explicit, as some of the bad guys learned their "craft" during the war. Mason has more complications from superiors than previously, and as previously doesn't much give a *!*! Great read!
August 13, 2019
Great Read
Picked this up during vacation and couldn't put it down. Vacation had hardly started and I had already finished it.
Picked this up during vacation and couldn't put it down. Vacation had hardly started and I had already finished it.
May 11, 2017
This was a great novel about US Army CID investigator Mason Collins who has to deal with rival black-market gangs and a murder spree in occupied Germany at the end of WWII. Good characters and an interesting plot line set in a period not often used for novels.
January 29, 2019
Better portrayal of post-WWII chaos in Germany than the first of the series (Ruins of War), but also a bit over the top on the violence used in telling the story; in fact, the lesser descriptive recounts were much more effective. Not a bad story, however . . .
June 9, 2020
Awesome stories!
This series of books is very eye-opening for someone who spent time in West Germany 30 years post WWII. Unbelievable how well the country was able to recover. I am still fascinated with how Nazis were able to escape.
This series of books is very eye-opening for someone who spent time in West Germany 30 years post WWII. Unbelievable how well the country was able to recover. I am still fascinated with how Nazis were able to escape.
July 12, 2020
Very good detective suspense thriller, very enjoyable. This takes place in post-war US occupied Germany. The ending was slightly abrupt, but much better than his previous book, Ruins of War. l recommend reading this.
March 9, 2021
Liked it! It read like a good movie. A bit of humor. Even Hans was a little funny. I’m sure there was a lot of the black market stuff and that Americans were heavily involved but I wonder if they were as vicious as these characters.
February 2, 2025
Great story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The post war setting in Germany was accurately portrayed, and the Army life was accurate as well. Exciting storyline, great character development. Thanks to Mr. Connell!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The post war setting in Germany was accurately portrayed, and the Army life was accurate as well. Exciting storyline, great character development. Thanks to Mr. Connell!
May 24, 2018
The second Mason Collins novel is better than the first. Good read for road trips.
March 23, 2021
Entertaining story
Well writen and readable. Tells an engaging and entertaining story, all you can ask of a novel. Will read more of this authors work.
Well writen and readable. Tells an engaging and entertaining story, all you can ask of a novel. Will read more of this authors work.
August 23, 2021
REally good series of crime that went on in post war set in Germany .
January 18, 2022
historical crime fiction
A really great series that combines mystery and history to make a very imaginative crime story well worth your time to binge on
A really great series that combines mystery and history to make a very imaginative crime story well worth your time to binge on
February 23, 2025
A bit all over the place. Like the stakes were too high.
August 27, 2025
Great post war read!
Excellent main character. Lots of historical significance. Good character development too. I’ll follow John A. Connell in the near future.
Excellent main character. Lots of historical significance. Good character development too. I’ll follow John A. Connell in the near future.
December 6, 2016
Good action, good mystery and looking forward to #3.
July 6, 2016
Spoils of Victory
Mysterious Book Report No. 247
by John Dwaine McKenna
Late last year an authentic, entertaining, and exciting new detective series hit the bookstores and became an instant success. Part crime fiction, part historical fiction and part military fiction, the novel featured a U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) named Mason Collins. He’s a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Officer in Occupied Germany just after the Third Reich’s defeat and unconditional surrender. In his debut entitled Ruins of War, CWO Collins was on the hunt for a sadistic, cunning and demented serial killer in the devastated city of Munich. It was one of the best first novels I’ve reviewed . . . and a yarn I didn’t think could be surpassed. Damn! Was I wrong.
Spoils of Victory, (Berkley/Penguin Random House, $27.00, 372 pages, ISBN 978-0-425-28156-7) by John A Connell . . . the second Mason Collins thriller . . . is an absolute barn burner the likes of which we haven’t seen since Ludlum or Clancy’s first. Yeah. He’s that good.
As the novel begins, Collins has been transferred to the alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s an area that’s intact--untouched by the allied bombing campaigns—the place many war criminals transit before fleeing Europe and the war crimes tribunals, and it’s a place where much of the stolen treasure looted from the banks, museums and Jews of the European occupied territory is situated. Despite its storybook setting and fairytale appearance, Garmisch is a city on the verge of anarchy. Rival gangs, consisting of ex-Nazis, former POWs, deserters from various armies and plain old criminals are fighting for control of a black market teeming with the booty looted from entire continents. It’s a target-rich environment for a criminal investigator like Collins, but the appearance of a new, and utterly ruthless group that’s bent on taking over by killing all the competition is bad news of the worst kind for the detective. When another undercover operator and his mistress is murdered, right after telling Collins that Allied OSS (Office of Secret Services) operatives are responsible for the black market takeover, he thinks they’re being protected by high-ranking army of occupation officers. Collins doesn’t know who to trust, or how high up the chain of command the corruption goes. With all of Europe in chaos and tens of tens of millions of looted dollars in possible gains to be had, the most honest of officers might be tempted to go to the dark side, even at the risk of their careers. When the attempts on his life begin, Collins is sucked into an ever-greater, ever-widening, ever-deadlier maelstrom of corruption, conspiracy and criminality from which he may not survive.
You’ll just have to read the book to find out if he does, or not, in this electrifying sophomore novel from a monster talent. His name is John A. Connell.
Mysterious Book Report No. 247
by John Dwaine McKenna
Late last year an authentic, entertaining, and exciting new detective series hit the bookstores and became an instant success. Part crime fiction, part historical fiction and part military fiction, the novel featured a U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) named Mason Collins. He’s a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Officer in Occupied Germany just after the Third Reich’s defeat and unconditional surrender. In his debut entitled Ruins of War, CWO Collins was on the hunt for a sadistic, cunning and demented serial killer in the devastated city of Munich. It was one of the best first novels I’ve reviewed . . . and a yarn I didn’t think could be surpassed. Damn! Was I wrong.
Spoils of Victory, (Berkley/Penguin Random House, $27.00, 372 pages, ISBN 978-0-425-28156-7) by John A Connell . . . the second Mason Collins thriller . . . is an absolute barn burner the likes of which we haven’t seen since Ludlum or Clancy’s first. Yeah. He’s that good.
As the novel begins, Collins has been transferred to the alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s an area that’s intact--untouched by the allied bombing campaigns—the place many war criminals transit before fleeing Europe and the war crimes tribunals, and it’s a place where much of the stolen treasure looted from the banks, museums and Jews of the European occupied territory is situated. Despite its storybook setting and fairytale appearance, Garmisch is a city on the verge of anarchy. Rival gangs, consisting of ex-Nazis, former POWs, deserters from various armies and plain old criminals are fighting for control of a black market teeming with the booty looted from entire continents. It’s a target-rich environment for a criminal investigator like Collins, but the appearance of a new, and utterly ruthless group that’s bent on taking over by killing all the competition is bad news of the worst kind for the detective. When another undercover operator and his mistress is murdered, right after telling Collins that Allied OSS (Office of Secret Services) operatives are responsible for the black market takeover, he thinks they’re being protected by high-ranking army of occupation officers. Collins doesn’t know who to trust, or how high up the chain of command the corruption goes. With all of Europe in chaos and tens of tens of millions of looted dollars in possible gains to be had, the most honest of officers might be tempted to go to the dark side, even at the risk of their careers. When the attempts on his life begin, Collins is sucked into an ever-greater, ever-widening, ever-deadlier maelstrom of corruption, conspiracy and criminality from which he may not survive.
You’ll just have to read the book to find out if he does, or not, in this electrifying sophomore novel from a monster talent. His name is John A. Connell.
November 27, 2016
SPOILS of VICTORY
2016 by John A Connell – a peripatetic U.S. southerner, and author also of ‘The ruins of war’ 2015
BERKLEY BOOKS, New York US$27/C$#5 372 372 pp 9780425281567
In 1946 WW2 (1939 to 1945) is ended and Germany occupied and governed by the American, French, Russian, and British military and police. Bavarian South Germany is the American Zone with an American military government.
Mason Collins is an ex-cop and a crime investigator of the U.S. Military police in Garmisch - a pretty, un-bombed, ski resort town at the Austrian border of Bavaria.
In this town refugees, amnesic Nazis, war shocked civilians, humiliated German military and police, opportunistic villains from everywhere, together with the occupying armies with their own problems and foibles, all form a social chaos where the tentacles of crime, sadism and murder slither freely. Treachery and suspicion are rampant.
Mason Collins has to find a murderer.
Mason Collins’ friend - Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent John Winston – has reason to suspect here in this town the existence of a vast criminal conspiracy led by men of power in the sundry commercial, police, military and criminal forces of Bavaria. He tells Mason of this, then is slaughtered with his beautiful girl friend.
Mason goes on the hunt to dredge where he may for Winston’s evidence and villains. He must find and neuter the bad guys without upsetting the cozy ones.
John A Connell has given him a complex route, and a pig-headed stubbornness to succeed.
The characters are straight forward, the descriptions reasonably restrained, and the incidents well defined, logically interdependent, and complex without confusion.
For action, tension, beautiful women, and all types of men this coherent story satisfies.
John Coffey May 31 2016
2016 by John A Connell – a peripatetic U.S. southerner, and author also of ‘The ruins of war’ 2015
BERKLEY BOOKS, New York US$27/C$#5 372 372 pp 9780425281567
In 1946 WW2 (1939 to 1945) is ended and Germany occupied and governed by the American, French, Russian, and British military and police. Bavarian South Germany is the American Zone with an American military government.
Mason Collins is an ex-cop and a crime investigator of the U.S. Military police in Garmisch - a pretty, un-bombed, ski resort town at the Austrian border of Bavaria.
In this town refugees, amnesic Nazis, war shocked civilians, humiliated German military and police, opportunistic villains from everywhere, together with the occupying armies with their own problems and foibles, all form a social chaos where the tentacles of crime, sadism and murder slither freely. Treachery and suspicion are rampant.
Mason Collins has to find a murderer.
Mason Collins’ friend - Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent John Winston – has reason to suspect here in this town the existence of a vast criminal conspiracy led by men of power in the sundry commercial, police, military and criminal forces of Bavaria. He tells Mason of this, then is slaughtered with his beautiful girl friend.
Mason goes on the hunt to dredge where he may for Winston’s evidence and villains. He must find and neuter the bad guys without upsetting the cozy ones.
John A Connell has given him a complex route, and a pig-headed stubbornness to succeed.
The characters are straight forward, the descriptions reasonably restrained, and the incidents well defined, logically interdependent, and complex without confusion.
For action, tension, beautiful women, and all types of men this coherent story satisfies.
John Coffey May 31 2016
April 29, 2016
"Spoils of Victory" is American author John Connell's second book in his "Mason Collins" series. Set - so far - in post-war Germany, Collins is a policeman who is hired by the US Army to investigate criminal activity in occupied Germany. The first book in the series - "Ruins of War" - was set in Munich. This one is set in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a resort community in the mountains south of Munich. (It was also the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics.)
Something very rotten is happening in Garmisch. Mason Collins has been sent there after getting into trouble while solving crimes in Munich. People in Garmisch - innocent or not-so-innocent - are turning up dead. Some are turning up quite unattractively dead, with missing body parts. As the body count rises, Collins and his aide, Abrams, set out to investigate the active black market in the town. Basically, everything 's for sale - food and other necessities of life now in short supply in post-war Germany - and the black market trading seems to involve almost everybody around. Germans, American GIs, former concentration camp inmates - everyone's on the take. Connell's world of Garmisch-Partenkirchen seems to be gray and murky. All his characters, except for Collins and Abrams, exist in a mist of murder and cheating. And because everyone's murky, there are very few characters who are not drawn as caricatures. Now, that's not a criticism; if the reader cared for all those getting butchered, "Spoils of Victory" would be as depressing as a Scandinavian crime novel.
"Spoils of War" is an entertaining novel about that "murkiness" of post-war morals. It may be about 50 pages too long, but it makes good reading. I'll look forward to Connell's next "Mason Collins" novel.
Something very rotten is happening in Garmisch. Mason Collins has been sent there after getting into trouble while solving crimes in Munich. People in Garmisch - innocent or not-so-innocent - are turning up dead. Some are turning up quite unattractively dead, with missing body parts. As the body count rises, Collins and his aide, Abrams, set out to investigate the active black market in the town. Basically, everything 's for sale - food and other necessities of life now in short supply in post-war Germany - and the black market trading seems to involve almost everybody around. Germans, American GIs, former concentration camp inmates - everyone's on the take. Connell's world of Garmisch-Partenkirchen seems to be gray and murky. All his characters, except for Collins and Abrams, exist in a mist of murder and cheating. And because everyone's murky, there are very few characters who are not drawn as caricatures. Now, that's not a criticism; if the reader cared for all those getting butchered, "Spoils of Victory" would be as depressing as a Scandinavian crime novel.
"Spoils of War" is an entertaining novel about that "murkiness" of post-war morals. It may be about 50 pages too long, but it makes good reading. I'll look forward to Connell's next "Mason Collins" novel.
July 5, 2016
John A. Connell’s debut historical thriller ‘Ruins of War’ introduced us to Mason Collins, a former Chicago homicide detective, U.S. soldier and prisoner of war, turned U.S. Army criminal investigator. Now Collins is back in ‘Spoils of Victory’, which is again set in Germany in the immediate aftermath of World War II.
The action centers on the small town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen where extortion and corruption are rife and the black market is flourishing. This juxtaposition of chocolate-box cover and mayhem is conveyed so well in the novel and makes it hugely atmospheric.
Mason’s friend, Counter Intelligence Corps Agent John Winstone, claims that a group of powerful men are taking over the lucrative trade. Winstone is about to share his evidence with Mason but Winstone, along with his girlfriend, is brutally murdered before he can do so. Mason is determined to find those responsible. This is easier said than done in the murky underworld he enters.
His investigation quickly uncovers more deaths—and soon his own life is on the line, too. And not only is Mason unsure of who to trust, some of his past has returned to claw him back to a very dark place. I really liked Mason as a character. Yes, he’s the good guy but he has plenty of flaws and a history of his own.
Connell has crafted an intriguing, pacy thriller. Much of the action leaps off the page and the reader is with Mason every step of the way in trying figure out who is behind the murders. I really enjoyed it.
Note: I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book via Netgalley by the publisher. This review is my independent opinion.
The action centers on the small town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen where extortion and corruption are rife and the black market is flourishing. This juxtaposition of chocolate-box cover and mayhem is conveyed so well in the novel and makes it hugely atmospheric.
Mason’s friend, Counter Intelligence Corps Agent John Winstone, claims that a group of powerful men are taking over the lucrative trade. Winstone is about to share his evidence with Mason but Winstone, along with his girlfriend, is brutally murdered before he can do so. Mason is determined to find those responsible. This is easier said than done in the murky underworld he enters.
His investigation quickly uncovers more deaths—and soon his own life is on the line, too. And not only is Mason unsure of who to trust, some of his past has returned to claw him back to a very dark place. I really liked Mason as a character. Yes, he’s the good guy but he has plenty of flaws and a history of his own.
Connell has crafted an intriguing, pacy thriller. Much of the action leaps off the page and the reader is with Mason every step of the way in trying figure out who is behind the murders. I really enjoyed it.
Note: I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book via Netgalley by the publisher. This review is my independent opinion.
April 22, 2016
Investigating crimes and catching the perpetrators is a difficult job even under the most favorable circumstances. Imagine trying to do this job amid the confusion and chaos of post- World War II Germany. This is what faces Chief Warrant Officer Mason Collins and his partner WO1 Gill Abrams of the US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) as they try to unravel a series of murders tied to a black marketing ring. Their investigation is hampered by the lack of cooperation of other military branches as well as their own superiors. Adding to the complexity are the alliances formed among US military personnel and ex-Nazi functionaries trying to make a buck; and civilians just trying to survive when basic necessities are scarce. Hanging over the whole affair is the uncertainty associated with the Soviets and a potential conflict with them.
Mason Collins is an interesting character and has a certain amount of "baggage" that he brings to this story from his earlier life and from the previous book in this series. He is also a risk-taker and at times, stretches the rules in order to solve the case.
I think this is a well-written, complex crime story. The post-WWII setting adds another interesting element to the plot. I read the first book in this series (Ruins of War) and look forward to any future installments.
Mason Collins is an interesting character and has a certain amount of "baggage" that he brings to this story from his earlier life and from the previous book in this series. He is also a risk-taker and at times, stretches the rules in order to solve the case.
I think this is a well-written, complex crime story. The post-WWII setting adds another interesting element to the plot. I read the first book in this series (Ruins of War) and look forward to any future installments.
March 12, 2016
This second installment in the Mason Collins series lived up to expectations from the first book. Once again Collins former Chicago homicide detective, POW, and now CID for the US Army is once again verging on rogue behavior to see justice served. In this book, a US Army Intelligence officer and his German mistress are tortured and killed. Collins must fight corruption at the highest levels of the occupation government and the naturally suspicious vanquished German people. What was supposed to be a rather straightforward case of black marketering is convoluted and test every ounce of resolve and stamina Collins possesses to stay alive. The story flows so well that one does not realize the pages turning in rapid succession, but the prose is not hurried. I have fallen for this deeply flawed man who wants to see justice served and the politics involved be d@mned. So glad the author is already working on book three.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway program and the publisher for the beautiful hard-bound edition of this book.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaway program and the publisher for the beautiful hard-bound edition of this book.
August 22, 2016
There were several things I liked here. I like that the book is set in Berlin after the war. I rarely read books that deal with the messiness of cleaning up when war is done, and it was interesting trying to tell the desperate from the devious. I like the focus on corruption - both from Europeans trying to come out on top after occupation and from occupying forces taking advantage of their power. I like how dogged Collins is as an investigator, and how much it affects him when he can't save someone.
I did feel like overall the story moved a bit more slowly than I would have liked, though. Maybe it's because the focus is so much on intrigue and espionage, but it seemed like there would be long stretches of not much going on, followed by short sprints of oh-my-god-everything's-happening. It was solid, but I like a little more momentum in my spy thrillers.
I did feel like overall the story moved a bit more slowly than I would have liked, though. Maybe it's because the focus is so much on intrigue and espionage, but it seemed like there would be long stretches of not much going on, followed by short sprints of oh-my-god-everything's-happening. It was solid, but I like a little more momentum in my spy thrillers.
May 24, 2016
Inspector Trouble
The second novel by Connell that continues the story of Mason Collins, US Army criminal investigator. Collin's has left Munich and traveled south to Garmish. This small town has become the post WW II center of corruption and graft. He is hot on the trail of the high power organizers of a group that traffics Nazi Germany's stolen riches. But, the trail goes farther than he imagines and beyond to higher tier officials. Who can he trust? When the case becomes full blown there is still loose ends to tie up. The finale of this book will wake up your mind. Hold on tight when Mason Collins investigates. " there is no rest for the wicked"
The second novel by Connell that continues the story of Mason Collins, US Army criminal investigator. Collin's has left Munich and traveled south to Garmish. This small town has become the post WW II center of corruption and graft. He is hot on the trail of the high power organizers of a group that traffics Nazi Germany's stolen riches. But, the trail goes farther than he imagines and beyond to higher tier officials. Who can he trust? When the case becomes full blown there is still loose ends to tie up. The finale of this book will wake up your mind. Hold on tight when Mason Collins investigates. " there is no rest for the wicked"
May 21, 2016
With non-stop action which leaps off the page, and a complex, beleaguered, almost anti-hero main character, Spoils of Victory is a cinematic page-turner, in which Mason Collins brings to mind the iconic American GI-disobeying-orders-but-for-the-right-reasons from films such as Inglourious Basterds and even The Dirty Dozen. I absolutely couldn't put it down.
May 4, 2016
Enjoyable second book in the series. Collins has been transferred to Garmisch and becomes involved with investigating black marketeers, thieves, post-war Nazis, and murderers. Reminds me of early Robert Ludlum novels.
August 31, 2016
A strong second installment
Donnell's second Mason Collins book is a great follow-up . Collins is as scornful of authority as ever in his pursuit of justice. Good action, nice plot twists. Looking forward to #3!
Donnell's second Mason Collins book is a great follow-up . Collins is as scornful of authority as ever in his pursuit of justice. Good action, nice plot twists. Looking forward to #3!
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