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Mbuno & Pero #2
The Berlin Package
A film producer, a handsome star, and an African safari guide must race to protect themselves and the world from a terrorist nuclear trade.
Film producer Pero Baltazar thought he was taking a Berlin filming assignment. He needed the work, needed to get back in the saddle after fighting off a life-threatening experience in East Africa—al-Shabaab had attacked his crew, intent on a much larger terrorist attack. Suddenly he finds himself under orders from his part-time employers at the State Department and the CIA when he is handed a mysterious package. It’s an assignment he doesn’t want. The problem is, it’s a job contracted by mysterious patrons who are prepared to kill him if he doesn’t deliver.
Pero—now in far too deep—turns to friends, old and new, to help him unravel the mystery of the package, uncover connections to Nazi concentration camp gold recently sold by the US Treasury, and thwart the ex–Stasi chief, now head of a powerful banking group.
In this fast-paced sequel to Murder on Safari, Pero calls on Mbuno, his friend and East African safari guide, to anticipate the moves of his enemies as if they were animals—dangerous vermin—who have kidnapped both the film star and director. Mbuno’s tracking skills may keep them from getting killed—provided Pero can rope in more help and keep the CIA at bay.
Exhilarating and expertly crafted, The Berlin Package is a gripping, page-turning thriller set in post–German reunification Europe.
Film producer Pero Baltazar thought he was taking a Berlin filming assignment. He needed the work, needed to get back in the saddle after fighting off a life-threatening experience in East Africa—al-Shabaab had attacked his crew, intent on a much larger terrorist attack. Suddenly he finds himself under orders from his part-time employers at the State Department and the CIA when he is handed a mysterious package. It’s an assignment he doesn’t want. The problem is, it’s a job contracted by mysterious patrons who are prepared to kill him if he doesn’t deliver.
Pero—now in far too deep—turns to friends, old and new, to help him unravel the mystery of the package, uncover connections to Nazi concentration camp gold recently sold by the US Treasury, and thwart the ex–Stasi chief, now head of a powerful banking group.
In this fast-paced sequel to Murder on Safari, Pero calls on Mbuno, his friend and East African safari guide, to anticipate the moves of his enemies as if they were animals—dangerous vermin—who have kidnapped both the film star and director. Mbuno’s tracking skills may keep them from getting killed—provided Pero can rope in more help and keep the CIA at bay.
Exhilarating and expertly crafted, The Berlin Package is a gripping, page-turning thriller set in post–German reunification Europe.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
13 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Peter Riva
9 books102 followersUCLA Film School, BBC Apprentice, creator and producer 78+ hours of primetime wildlife TV, co-founder film history museum in Berlin, 30+ years work/w leaders aerospace + space exploration and environmental movement. 40+ years literary agent, writes Sci-Fi and Thrillers; true tales, knowledge, all based on life experience. Raised New York City, London, and Switzerland, lives in New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 21, 2016
The Berlin Package is the sequel to Riva's previous thriller novel called Murder on Safari. Because I enjoyed the previous book so much I was eager to also review his sequel novel which was released a year later. And I think Peter Riva couldn't have better managed to continue the series. There is a good use of the old and the new in this book which brings back something the reader is familiar with if they enjoyed book one - but also brings enough newness for this one to be its own separate story. You don't need to have read book one in order to be able to understand this novel.
This thriller takes place in Berlin, Germany. It spends less time describing the setting than book one did, but no doubt you'll easily be doused in the German culture effectively and realistically. At one point in the novel Pero even ends up in Paris, but that isn't for long and you don't get too much of a feel for the country. I really loved the setting in this one because despite it not being somewhere as exotic as Africa, it still managed to carry the culture, language and industrial side of Germany.
This one was also heavily linked to history. This time, Pero seems to be dealing with a package that originated in German history that rewinds all the way back to the Nazi period. There is a lot of the WW2 involved in this one, and more than I had assumed from reading the synopsis. As a historical fiction lover, I was pretty content to see how neatly this aspect of the book tired in.
As for the plot, Riva once again manages to prove how he has nailed the building of suspense and keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. I could never guess what was going to happen next. In this book, the enemy has become more ruthless and intimate than before, so there was a whole lot more at risk. Torture, kidnapping and hostages all come into play. No character is safe. The plot races and my heart was racing along with it!
At times this novel did get a bit technical. On top of all the thriller and historical business, nuclear radiation also comes into play (I don't want to give anything away so I can't say much more than that!) This did lead to there being a lot of science-y talk and explanations given which occasionally was a little overwhelming for me despite it already having been dumbed down. But it didn't deter me in the overall reading of this book, so I didn't mind much.
Riva brought back old characters that we were familiar with. For example, Pero was the main character once again. Mbuno was present even though he is a safari expert and was outside of his natural element. Riva managed to adapt his animal understanding to that of humans and it worked really well with the novel. Heep is also back again, as Pero's best friend and most trustworthy person. They shared the same characters as they always had before but it was good to see them together. There are also new characters like Bertha, Sam, Sergio and Susanna. They were fairly well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them. There was even a hint of a romance in this novel as well, which didn't take the forefront but was sweet.
A very good read. I'm looking forward to whatever it is that Riva publishes next!
This review be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This thriller takes place in Berlin, Germany. It spends less time describing the setting than book one did, but no doubt you'll easily be doused in the German culture effectively and realistically. At one point in the novel Pero even ends up in Paris, but that isn't for long and you don't get too much of a feel for the country. I really loved the setting in this one because despite it not being somewhere as exotic as Africa, it still managed to carry the culture, language and industrial side of Germany.
This one was also heavily linked to history. This time, Pero seems to be dealing with a package that originated in German history that rewinds all the way back to the Nazi period. There is a lot of the WW2 involved in this one, and more than I had assumed from reading the synopsis. As a historical fiction lover, I was pretty content to see how neatly this aspect of the book tired in.
As for the plot, Riva once again manages to prove how he has nailed the building of suspense and keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. I could never guess what was going to happen next. In this book, the enemy has become more ruthless and intimate than before, so there was a whole lot more at risk. Torture, kidnapping and hostages all come into play. No character is safe. The plot races and my heart was racing along with it!
At times this novel did get a bit technical. On top of all the thriller and historical business, nuclear radiation also comes into play (I don't want to give anything away so I can't say much more than that!) This did lead to there being a lot of science-y talk and explanations given which occasionally was a little overwhelming for me despite it already having been dumbed down. But it didn't deter me in the overall reading of this book, so I didn't mind much.
Riva brought back old characters that we were familiar with. For example, Pero was the main character once again. Mbuno was present even though he is a safari expert and was outside of his natural element. Riva managed to adapt his animal understanding to that of humans and it worked really well with the novel. Heep is also back again, as Pero's best friend and most trustworthy person. They shared the same characters as they always had before but it was good to see them together. There are also new characters like Bertha, Sam, Sergio and Susanna. They were fairly well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them. There was even a hint of a romance in this novel as well, which didn't take the forefront but was sweet.
A very good read. I'm looking forward to whatever it is that Riva publishes next!
This review be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
May 6, 2016
I enjoyed the first book in this series and was curious where the author would take it next.
Pero Baltazar, a film producer, thinks he’s going to be producing a film in Berlin. What he doesn’t know is, he’s been drawn back into work for the CIA and State Department. He’s to deliver a dangerous package. Failure to deliver will be his death.
Peter gives you great characters. They have depth, are emotionally compromised, and he throws them into situations no one could be prepared for.
The action is like shots of speed. Fast, violent, and intense. At any given time, someone could die.
Bringing back old characters and introducing new ones, The Berlin Package has you deep in a thriller with ties to Nazi gold, dirty bombs, and danger around every corner.
What I most enjoy about this author is his ability to write visually. I could see so many scenes like they were on the big screen. I even found myself trying to choose who would play the different characters.
The intrigue starts right away, then the story slows a bit while you are given some pertinent details, and then picks up speed as events unfold. A thrilling read right to the end.
I received this book for my honest review.
Pero Baltazar, a film producer, thinks he’s going to be producing a film in Berlin. What he doesn’t know is, he’s been drawn back into work for the CIA and State Department. He’s to deliver a dangerous package. Failure to deliver will be his death.
Peter gives you great characters. They have depth, are emotionally compromised, and he throws them into situations no one could be prepared for.
The action is like shots of speed. Fast, violent, and intense. At any given time, someone could die.
Bringing back old characters and introducing new ones, The Berlin Package has you deep in a thriller with ties to Nazi gold, dirty bombs, and danger around every corner.
What I most enjoy about this author is his ability to write visually. I could see so many scenes like they were on the big screen. I even found myself trying to choose who would play the different characters.
The intrigue starts right away, then the story slows a bit while you are given some pertinent details, and then picks up speed as events unfold. A thrilling read right to the end.
I received this book for my honest review.
May 13, 2016
Peter Riva is an established author who produces both SciFi/Cyberpunk and Action/Adventure novels. Of the two genres, I personally love his Action/Adventure stories the best. The Berlin Package is no exception.
Here we again meet film producer Pero Baltazar who occasionally takes assignments as a CIA courier. Unfortunately his last CIA assignment drew him into a frightening terrorist plot that he and his friends had to thwart as best they could. Now finally recovered from the overwhelming demands placed upon him in the previous book - and ready to dip his toe back into work - he reaches out to both his Hollywood agent and CIA contact. A film project in Berlin is offered. The CIA says not now.
When he arrives in Berlin, however, he approached at the airport by a CIA operative who gives him an unexpected package. Frustrated, he calls his contact at headquarters and is disturbed to find all in disarray. No one seems to know what is going on. Quickly he discovers holding this package has made him a target of the dreaded Stazi. Staying just ahead of his pursuers, Pero has to quickly discover why the package is so important, free his kidnapped friends and thwart a world nuclear threat.
It's obvious there is a mole within the CIA, so Pero has to find a solution on his own with just the support of a few trusted individuals. Fortunately one is African tracker and long time friend Mbuno. Together they must find not only the answer, but a solution. The clock is ticking.
This is one fabulous thriller to dive into - escapism at it's best. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down.
Here we again meet film producer Pero Baltazar who occasionally takes assignments as a CIA courier. Unfortunately his last CIA assignment drew him into a frightening terrorist plot that he and his friends had to thwart as best they could. Now finally recovered from the overwhelming demands placed upon him in the previous book - and ready to dip his toe back into work - he reaches out to both his Hollywood agent and CIA contact. A film project in Berlin is offered. The CIA says not now.
When he arrives in Berlin, however, he approached at the airport by a CIA operative who gives him an unexpected package. Frustrated, he calls his contact at headquarters and is disturbed to find all in disarray. No one seems to know what is going on. Quickly he discovers holding this package has made him a target of the dreaded Stazi. Staying just ahead of his pursuers, Pero has to quickly discover why the package is so important, free his kidnapped friends and thwart a world nuclear threat.
It's obvious there is a mole within the CIA, so Pero has to find a solution on his own with just the support of a few trusted individuals. Fortunately one is African tracker and long time friend Mbuno. Together they must find not only the answer, but a solution. The clock is ticking.
This is one fabulous thriller to dive into - escapism at it's best. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down.
April 28, 2016
Peter Riva in his new book, “The Berlin Package” Book Two in the Pero Baltazar Series published by Yucca Publishing gives us another adventure with Pero Baltazar.
From the back cover: A film producer, a handsome star, and an African safari guide must race to protect themselves and the world from a terrorist nuclear trade.
Film producer Pero Baltazar thought he was taking a Berlin filming assignment. He needed the work, needed to get back in the saddle after fighting off a life-threatening experience in East Africa—al-Shabaab had attacked his crew, intent on a much larger terrorist attack. Suddenly he finds himself under orders from his part-time employers at the State Department and the CIA when he is handed a mysterious package. It’s an assignment he doesn’t want. The problem is, it’s a job contracted by mysterious patrons who are prepared to kill him if he doesn’t deliver.
Pero—now in far too deep—turns to friends, old and new, to help him unravel the mystery of the package, uncover connections to Nazi concentration camp gold recently sold by the US Treasury, and thwart the ex–Stasi chief, now head of a powerful banking group.
In this fast-paced sequel to Murder on Safari, Pero calls on Mbuno, his friend and East African safari guide, to anticipate the moves of his enemies as if they were animals—dangerous vermin—who have kidnapped both the film star and director. Mbuno’s tracking skills may keep them from getting killed—provided Pero can rope in more help and keep the CIA at bay.
Pero Baltazar is trying to recuperate from his first adventure, “Murder on Safari“. You wouldn’t think that he could get involved in another global threat but that would be so wrong as the CIA want him to deliver a package to Berlin. Mr. Riva has given us a fast-paced thriller filled with action, and great suspense. “The Berlin Package” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Pero, Mbuno and all the rest of these characters are quite interesting and they hook you so that you want to read more about them. This book is going to take up all of your attention so start reading early because once you get started you will not want to put this book down until you actually finish. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IRead Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: A film producer, a handsome star, and an African safari guide must race to protect themselves and the world from a terrorist nuclear trade.
Film producer Pero Baltazar thought he was taking a Berlin filming assignment. He needed the work, needed to get back in the saddle after fighting off a life-threatening experience in East Africa—al-Shabaab had attacked his crew, intent on a much larger terrorist attack. Suddenly he finds himself under orders from his part-time employers at the State Department and the CIA when he is handed a mysterious package. It’s an assignment he doesn’t want. The problem is, it’s a job contracted by mysterious patrons who are prepared to kill him if he doesn’t deliver.
Pero—now in far too deep—turns to friends, old and new, to help him unravel the mystery of the package, uncover connections to Nazi concentration camp gold recently sold by the US Treasury, and thwart the ex–Stasi chief, now head of a powerful banking group.
In this fast-paced sequel to Murder on Safari, Pero calls on Mbuno, his friend and East African safari guide, to anticipate the moves of his enemies as if they were animals—dangerous vermin—who have kidnapped both the film star and director. Mbuno’s tracking skills may keep them from getting killed—provided Pero can rope in more help and keep the CIA at bay.
Pero Baltazar is trying to recuperate from his first adventure, “Murder on Safari“. You wouldn’t think that he could get involved in another global threat but that would be so wrong as the CIA want him to deliver a package to Berlin. Mr. Riva has given us a fast-paced thriller filled with action, and great suspense. “The Berlin Package” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Pero, Mbuno and all the rest of these characters are quite interesting and they hook you so that you want to read more about them. This book is going to take up all of your attention so start reading early because once you get started you will not want to put this book down until you actually finish. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IRead Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 2, 2016
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.
The Berlin Package by Peter Riva was another great book by this author. You don’t have to read the first book to understand what is going on in this book, but if you want to read both books, I would recommend that you read them in order because this book will ruin what happens in the first book if you read it first. I had high hopes for this book, and it was a good book, but I enjoyed the first book more than I did this one. I am not one hundred percent sure why I enjoyed the first book more, but I did like it more than this one. I also hope that he does write more in this series because I love the characters, and I would be sad if this were the last book with them. This book takes place in Berlin, which I enjoyed. I also loved that Mbuno is in this story as well because he was one of my favorite characters from the first book. If you love thrillers, I know you will love this book.
The Berlin Package by Peter Riva was another great book by this author. You don’t have to read the first book to understand what is going on in this book, but if you want to read both books, I would recommend that you read them in order because this book will ruin what happens in the first book if you read it first. I had high hopes for this book, and it was a good book, but I enjoyed the first book more than I did this one. I am not one hundred percent sure why I enjoyed the first book more, but I did like it more than this one. I also hope that he does write more in this series because I love the characters, and I would be sad if this were the last book with them. This book takes place in Berlin, which I enjoyed. I also loved that Mbuno is in this story as well because he was one of my favorite characters from the first book. If you love thrillers, I know you will love this book.
May 5, 2016
The Berlin Package took a while to get into and is a little more espionage than my usual fare, but once I got in the groove it was a very enjoyable read. The novel had an interesting plot that was action packed and left the reader little time to breathe. I also thought Pero was well-developed and a character I immediately wanted to become better acquainted with.
One thing I will about The Berlin Package is that, while part of a series was billed as a stand alone novel. It could be read that way but I would not recommend it. This is because vague references are made of Pero and Heep's trip to Kenya and for someone coming in late feels out of the loop. Because of this, I would suggest reading Murder on Safari first.
Despite that small gripe it was a fast paced read primed for a lover of thrillers and Jason Bourne.
One thing I will about The Berlin Package is that, while part of a series was billed as a stand alone novel. It could be read that way but I would not recommend it. This is because vague references are made of Pero and Heep's trip to Kenya and for someone coming in late feels out of the loop. Because of this, I would suggest reading Murder on Safari first.
Despite that small gripe it was a fast paced read primed for a lover of thrillers and Jason Bourne.
November 15, 2016
4.5
Full review here:http://www.chocomeiske.com/2016/05/25...
Found it a tad less exciting than the previous book.
Another great adventure featuring Pero, Heep and Mbuno whom we first met in “Murder On Safari”.The stakes are again really high and the enemy is adept at killing and staying hidden. Their agenda is initially unclear until Pero with the help of a few long time frineds and a couple new friends, are able to put together the clues. They must rush to prevent what would surely be a catastrophe if allowed to happen.
Full review here:http://www.chocomeiske.com/2016/05/25...
Found it a tad less exciting than the previous book.
Another great adventure featuring Pero, Heep and Mbuno whom we first met in “Murder On Safari”.The stakes are again really high and the enemy is adept at killing and staying hidden. Their agenda is initially unclear until Pero with the help of a few long time frineds and a couple new friends, are able to put together the clues. They must rush to prevent what would surely be a catastrophe if allowed to happen.
July 8, 2018
A Riveting Novel of Brains and Character
About halfway through Peter Riva’s The Berlin Package our hero Pero explains, “Something, some plan is being produced here—just like a rival film that now includes all of us whether we like or not.” Such are the complexities and layered cleverness of this novel that the reader too feels part of the “us.” The Berlin Package is described as a thriller, but this wonderful novel is so much more. Riva demonstrates a tremendous facility with languages (from French to German to Russian), spycraft (from field agent operations to administrative machinations), filmmaking (from documentaries to blockbusters), and even wildlife (from the arapaima to the dugong). The author expertly weaves this knowledge to build a plot that is both riveting and intellectually stimulating.
That plot centers around the titular package, a briefcase of radioactive material. Without giving away too much, let’s just day the package has quite the lurid history with deeply disturbing present-day implications that will lead Pero and his friends into an intense race for discovery and capture. From the novel’s opening on a malfunctioning aircraft, the reader is hooked. The early combination of espionage and a film shoot (which includes charismatic star Danny Redmond) is one not only very appealing, but establishes a cinematic sensibility that stays with the reader throughout. As I read The Berlin Package, all I kept thinking is this novel would make a hell of a film.
The atmospheric noirish scenes with Pero and the memorable villain Tische in Technisches Museum and on the U-bahn serve as bookend climaxes. The nefarious and brutal Tische, abetted by his ex-Stasi operatives, looms over the narrative like some great puppeteer. Yet Pero, aided by his ingenious group of friends old (Mbuno, Sam, Heep, and Sergio) and new (Susanna, Ambassador Pontnoire, and Major Schmitz), thinks his way through one thorny challenge after another, piecing together troubling alliances and foreboding implications. The resourcefulness of Pero’s friends is matched by their likeableness. Typical of Riva’s deftness of grounding his intense plot with humanity are the exchanges between Pero and his nuclear physicist Sam. Those conversations are a great mixture of crisis urgency and old friend banter.
Right down to its surprising ending that delivers a dose of poetic justice, The Berlin Package propels forward with excitement and intelligence. Riva pulls off one great scene after another (the Russian sleeper train is a favorite) as he sheds light on some of the darker corners of Germany’s and the CIA’s past. Yes, The Berlin Package is indeed a thriller, but this rich and thoughtful novel offer even more in its character and its characters.
About halfway through Peter Riva’s The Berlin Package our hero Pero explains, “Something, some plan is being produced here—just like a rival film that now includes all of us whether we like or not.” Such are the complexities and layered cleverness of this novel that the reader too feels part of the “us.” The Berlin Package is described as a thriller, but this wonderful novel is so much more. Riva demonstrates a tremendous facility with languages (from French to German to Russian), spycraft (from field agent operations to administrative machinations), filmmaking (from documentaries to blockbusters), and even wildlife (from the arapaima to the dugong). The author expertly weaves this knowledge to build a plot that is both riveting and intellectually stimulating.
That plot centers around the titular package, a briefcase of radioactive material. Without giving away too much, let’s just day the package has quite the lurid history with deeply disturbing present-day implications that will lead Pero and his friends into an intense race for discovery and capture. From the novel’s opening on a malfunctioning aircraft, the reader is hooked. The early combination of espionage and a film shoot (which includes charismatic star Danny Redmond) is one not only very appealing, but establishes a cinematic sensibility that stays with the reader throughout. As I read The Berlin Package, all I kept thinking is this novel would make a hell of a film.
The atmospheric noirish scenes with Pero and the memorable villain Tische in Technisches Museum and on the U-bahn serve as bookend climaxes. The nefarious and brutal Tische, abetted by his ex-Stasi operatives, looms over the narrative like some great puppeteer. Yet Pero, aided by his ingenious group of friends old (Mbuno, Sam, Heep, and Sergio) and new (Susanna, Ambassador Pontnoire, and Major Schmitz), thinks his way through one thorny challenge after another, piecing together troubling alliances and foreboding implications. The resourcefulness of Pero’s friends is matched by their likeableness. Typical of Riva’s deftness of grounding his intense plot with humanity are the exchanges between Pero and his nuclear physicist Sam. Those conversations are a great mixture of crisis urgency and old friend banter.
Right down to its surprising ending that delivers a dose of poetic justice, The Berlin Package propels forward with excitement and intelligence. Riva pulls off one great scene after another (the Russian sleeper train is a favorite) as he sheds light on some of the darker corners of Germany’s and the CIA’s past. Yes, The Berlin Package is indeed a thriller, but this rich and thoughtful novel offer even more in its character and its characters.
November 5, 2025
The Berlin Package was a freebie I downloaded, so I didn't have too high an expectation of it but was pleasantly surprised. It was well written and well paced with interesting, if slightly formulaic, characters and a good old traditional radiation threat to the world. In all honesty, I could have given this book a higher rating but some things were just not right.
The main reasons for giving this a three are simple, it kept referring to the previous book, which I haven't read, and everyone knew all about something in Kenya that I hadn't knowledge of. Secondly, too much was too coincidental. The protagonist, Pero, at every step seemed to know someone perfectly placed or with the exact skills and knowledge to solve his problems- the old boy's network with bells on. And finally, I really don't like it when a character says something in one language, in this case, mainly German, and it is immediately translated. This happened so often I started to wish it was all just written in English as it interfered so much with the pace of dialogue and any sense of tension.
The main reasons for giving this a three are simple, it kept referring to the previous book, which I haven't read, and everyone knew all about something in Kenya that I hadn't knowledge of. Secondly, too much was too coincidental. The protagonist, Pero, at every step seemed to know someone perfectly placed or with the exact skills and knowledge to solve his problems- the old boy's network with bells on. And finally, I really don't like it when a character says something in one language, in this case, mainly German, and it is immediately translated. This happened so often I started to wish it was all just written in English as it interfered so much with the pace of dialogue and any sense of tension.
Read
November 18, 2016“The Berlin Package” begins as the world comes to a full stop. The reader, like the narrator, is riveted to his seat in a Boeing 767: at thirty-nine thousand feet, in the dead of a winter night, the left jet engine has just coughed out beyond the window. It is silent. The tension is immediate. The narrator’s mind hurriedly goes over personal details, the might-have-beens, another flight he almost took but didn’t.
The narrative is visceral. Eyes, ears, all the senses are alert. An original and remarkable feature of the novel is that the narrator, Pero, has a full technical background; he is aware of the exact altitude and flight path, the ambient mechanical sound that has died, the plane now a silent eighty-ton glider. Pero passes a note to the stewardess, then the security marshal, that a basic mistake is being made. They are flying at 39,000 feet but he knows “the old GE turbofans” have an operational ceiling of 36,000 feet, the fate of the plane is hanging in the balance. Pero is allowed into the cabin where the copilot flips feverishly through a 3-ring binder that holds the “SOP” (standard operating procedure) and specifications. Pero tells them: “Restart at 36,000 feet. Don’t dump fuel. Purge first. Use cold start procedure.” This eventually works. First one engine comes to life, then, later, the second.
Peter Riva has fashioned a very effective narration that makes use of all the senses and immediate thoughts, at the same time it is very well-informed about technology and international events. The canvas is very broad. If this is fiction, and a “thriller,” it also points out a number of important truths about international life. Nuclear terrorism, and the great danger posed by nuclear proliferation, is at the forefront of the novel’s action and the radioactive “package” given to the narrator. An East-West confrontation occasionally recalls John LeCarre but it is given a very different twist: German security personnel-- ex-Stasi-- have thoroughly infiltrated cumbersome American institutions like the CIA and FBI as “friends.” The ambitious power-hungry Tisch, actually a serial killer, represents the sinister presence at the highest levels of government of ex-Stasi operatives. In this novel cliches and reverential attitudes from the past, probably dating from the Cold War, are seen skeptically, or are completely shattered. A number of actions by American organizations are botched. (Mistakes that are part of a long series stretching into the past. They anticipate recent actions by the FBI’s James Comey tilting the important 2016 US presidential election.)
A visit to CERN in Switzerland and an inquiry into the theft of radioactive uranium is described with impressive knowledge. It is also a source of cliff-hanging suspense. There are some very warm portraits of interesting people in the novel, for example the African Mbuno; Pero met him while filming in Kenya, a reminder that “The Berlin Package” is one of a series of books that began with a film project in Africa. Some of the characters in “The Berlin Package” were present in the earlier book.
December 30, 2016
REVIEW:
Only a few books draw me in so completely. They might not necessarily be bestsellers, nor do they need to be real page turners in the commercial sense. But sometimes, certain words, phrasing or character description, even visualisation of scenes, or a few random words like a quote, they attract my attention and manage to hold it until something else comes to occupy my time, and then I reluctantly leave the book. This book had one line about first class seats in airplanes that caught and held my undivided attention, and I am not even sure why. First to arrive, first to perish. And from then on, there was no looking back until I was about halfway through. The book begins with a high adrenaline plane engine failure. And from then on, it is only a race against time. Pero as the protagonist has actually started to attract the reader in me. Being a person who focuses more on supporting characters and their roles and appearances in the book instead of rooting for the protagonist, this was a bit rare for me. Starting with the mysterious package that causes so much of carnage, the story reveals only as much as is essential to keep the reader glued. The pace is even, steady and sometimes racy, but thankfully it never slackens.
Some things hold a longstanding mystery value associated with them. Nazi as a word evokes certain preconceived notions and emotions from a variety of people for various reasons. But it is good fodder for a suspense thriller and it actually works in the case of Peter Riva. He brings the resourceful, striking Pero, puts a package of Nazi gold in his hands, and makes him run to deliver it to one group while another chases him. Is it just the gold or is it something more? The mystery keeps developing and readers are left with little option but to keep reading.
I liked the writing. Except for dialogues at certain places, the flow was awesome, smooth and amazing overall. The plot itself was tight, clear and without many other sidetracks. And the little facts thrown in and woven seamlessly through the story are the highlights. While it was East Africa last time, this time the honors go to post world war 2 Germany, and it is equally interesting, if not more. Peter Riva has made me look for his other works, and has, in some way, attracted the reader in me.
WHAT I LIKED:
The plot is tight. It does not have many fillers.
Book seems well researched, with the right amount of interesting detail added to get the story along without being too descriptive or distracting.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Characters aren't as expressive as in the last book.
The dialogues could have been bit more coherent.
VERDICT:
A great standalone sequel
RATING: 4/5
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All views here are mine and remain unbiased
Only a few books draw me in so completely. They might not necessarily be bestsellers, nor do they need to be real page turners in the commercial sense. But sometimes, certain words, phrasing or character description, even visualisation of scenes, or a few random words like a quote, they attract my attention and manage to hold it until something else comes to occupy my time, and then I reluctantly leave the book. This book had one line about first class seats in airplanes that caught and held my undivided attention, and I am not even sure why. First to arrive, first to perish. And from then on, there was no looking back until I was about halfway through. The book begins with a high adrenaline plane engine failure. And from then on, it is only a race against time. Pero as the protagonist has actually started to attract the reader in me. Being a person who focuses more on supporting characters and their roles and appearances in the book instead of rooting for the protagonist, this was a bit rare for me. Starting with the mysterious package that causes so much of carnage, the story reveals only as much as is essential to keep the reader glued. The pace is even, steady and sometimes racy, but thankfully it never slackens.
Some things hold a longstanding mystery value associated with them. Nazi as a word evokes certain preconceived notions and emotions from a variety of people for various reasons. But it is good fodder for a suspense thriller and it actually works in the case of Peter Riva. He brings the resourceful, striking Pero, puts a package of Nazi gold in his hands, and makes him run to deliver it to one group while another chases him. Is it just the gold or is it something more? The mystery keeps developing and readers are left with little option but to keep reading.
I liked the writing. Except for dialogues at certain places, the flow was awesome, smooth and amazing overall. The plot itself was tight, clear and without many other sidetracks. And the little facts thrown in and woven seamlessly through the story are the highlights. While it was East Africa last time, this time the honors go to post world war 2 Germany, and it is equally interesting, if not more. Peter Riva has made me look for his other works, and has, in some way, attracted the reader in me.
WHAT I LIKED:
The plot is tight. It does not have many fillers.
Book seems well researched, with the right amount of interesting detail added to get the story along without being too descriptive or distracting.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Characters aren't as expressive as in the last book.
The dialogues could have been bit more coherent.
VERDICT:
A great standalone sequel
RATING: 4/5
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All views here are mine and remain unbiased
July 8, 2018
A Riveting Novel of Brains and Character
About halfway through Peter Riva’s The Berlin Package our hero Pero explains, “Something, some plan is being produced here—just like a rival film that now includes all of us whether we like or not.” Such are the complexities and layered cleverness of this novel that the reader too feels part of the “us.” The Berlin Package is described as a thriller, but this wonderful novel is so much more. Riva demonstrates a tremendous facility with languages (from French to German to Russian), spycraft (from field agent operations to administrative machinations), filmmaking (from documentaries to blockbusters), and even wildlife (from the arapaima to the dugong). The author expertly weaves this knowledge to build a plot that is both riveting and intellectually stimulating.
That plot centers around the titular package, a briefcase of radioactive material. Without giving away too much, let’s just day the package has quite the lurid history with deeply disturbing present-day implications that will lead Pero and his friends into an intense race for discovery and capture. From the novel’s opening on a malfunctioning aircraft, the reader is hooked. The early combination of espionage and a film shoot (which includes charismatic star Danny Redmond) is one not only very appealing, but establishes a cinematic sensibility that stays with the reader throughout. As I read The Berlin Package, all I kept thinking is this novel would make a hell of a film.
The atmospheric noirish scenes with Pero and the memorable villain Tische in Technisches Museum and on the U-bahn serve as bookend climaxes. The nefarious and brutal Tische, abetted by his ex-Stasi operatives, looms over the narrative like some great puppeteer. Yet Pero, aided by his ingenious group of friends old (Mbuno, Sam, Heep, and Sergio) and new (Susanna, Ambassador Pontnoire, and Major Schmitz), thinks his way through one thorny challenge after another, piecing together troubling alliances and foreboding implications. The resourcefulness of Pero’s friends is matched by their likeableness. Typical of Riva’s deftness of grounding his intense plot with humanity are the exchanges between Pero and his nuclear physicist Sam. Those conversations are a great mixture of crisis urgency and old friend banter.
Right down to its surprising ending that delivers a dose of poetic justice, The Berlin Package propels forward with excitement and intelligence. Riva pulls off one great scene after another (the Russian sleeper train is a favorite) as he sheds light on some of the darker corners of Germany’s and the CIA’s past. Yes, The Berlin Package is indeed a thriller, but this rich and thoughtful novel offer even more in its character and its characters.
About halfway through Peter Riva’s The Berlin Package our hero Pero explains, “Something, some plan is being produced here—just like a rival film that now includes all of us whether we like or not.” Such are the complexities and layered cleverness of this novel that the reader too feels part of the “us.” The Berlin Package is described as a thriller, but this wonderful novel is so much more. Riva demonstrates a tremendous facility with languages (from French to German to Russian), spycraft (from field agent operations to administrative machinations), filmmaking (from documentaries to blockbusters), and even wildlife (from the arapaima to the dugong). The author expertly weaves this knowledge to build a plot that is both riveting and intellectually stimulating.
That plot centers around the titular package, a briefcase of radioactive material. Without giving away too much, let’s just day the package has quite the lurid history with deeply disturbing present-day implications that will lead Pero and his friends into an intense race for discovery and capture. From the novel’s opening on a malfunctioning aircraft, the reader is hooked. The early combination of espionage and a film shoot (which includes charismatic star Danny Redmond) is one not only very appealing, but establishes a cinematic sensibility that stays with the reader throughout. As I read The Berlin Package, all I kept thinking is this novel would make a hell of a film.
The atmospheric noirish scenes with Pero and the memorable villain Tische in Technisches Museum and on the U-bahn serve as bookend climaxes. The nefarious and brutal Tische, abetted by his ex-Stasi operatives, looms over the narrative like some great puppeteer. Yet Pero, aided by his ingenious group of friends old (Mbuno, Sam, Heep, and Sergio) and new (Susanna, Ambassador Pontnoire, and Major Schmitz), thinks his way through one thorny challenge after another, piecing together troubling alliances and foreboding implications. The resourcefulness of Pero’s friends is matched by their likeableness. Typical of Riva’s deftness of grounding his intense plot with humanity are the exchanges between Pero and his nuclear physicist Sam. Those conversations are a great mixture of crisis urgency and old friend banter.
Right down to its surprising ending that delivers a dose of poetic justice, The Berlin Package propels forward with excitement and intelligence. Riva pulls off one great scene after another (the Russian sleeper train is a favorite) as he sheds light on some of the darker corners of Germany’s and the CIA’s past. Yes, The Berlin Package is indeed a thriller, but this rich and thoughtful novel offer even more in its character and its characters.
April 25, 2016
In this sequel to Murder on Safari, an unlikely trio including a movie producer, a film star, and an African tour guide must protect themselves and the world from a dangerous terrorist nuclear trade. Pero Baltazar is the aforementioned film producer, thinking initially he is taking a film assignment in the German capital of Berlin and is attempting to get his career back on track that experienced a turnaround due to a life-endangering experience in East Africa where the terroristic al-Shabaab attacked his convoy. However, he again is reluctantly thrust into the world of danger when the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency give him a secret assignment, its contractors ready to eliminate him if he doesn’t succeed.
Baltazar thus seeks help from friends and allies to uncover the mystery of the package, with potential connections to Nazi concentration camp gold that the United States Treasury Department recently sold. He must also help thwart the head of a prominent banking group that once served as the head of the deceased East German Ministry for State Security, or Stasi as it was commonly called during the Cold War. Pero thus summons his old friend, the African tour guide Mbuno, to help track the moves of his adversaries as though they were animals, and race to rescue a kidnapped film star and director.
The novel itself commences with an airplane having troubles over the Atlantic during a night in March, aboard which protagonist Pero Baltazar is, and is effective in rectifying the aircraft’s engine problems, and is lauded for a safe landing. He’s ultimately recruited by police for a dangerous mission that takes him to European locales such as Switzerland, with this sequel overall being an enjoyable one, having an agile pace and never becoming boring or repetitive as can be the case with subsequent novels in franchises. Overall, this reviewer would very much recommend this book to those that enjoyed its predecessor.
Baltazar thus seeks help from friends and allies to uncover the mystery of the package, with potential connections to Nazi concentration camp gold that the United States Treasury Department recently sold. He must also help thwart the head of a prominent banking group that once served as the head of the deceased East German Ministry for State Security, or Stasi as it was commonly called during the Cold War. Pero thus summons his old friend, the African tour guide Mbuno, to help track the moves of his adversaries as though they were animals, and race to rescue a kidnapped film star and director.
The novel itself commences with an airplane having troubles over the Atlantic during a night in March, aboard which protagonist Pero Baltazar is, and is effective in rectifying the aircraft’s engine problems, and is lauded for a safe landing. He’s ultimately recruited by police for a dangerous mission that takes him to European locales such as Switzerland, with this sequel overall being an enjoyable one, having an agile pace and never becoming boring or repetitive as can be the case with subsequent novels in franchises. Overall, this reviewer would very much recommend this book to those that enjoyed its predecessor.
May 15, 2016
**Reviewed for www.saharsblog.com**
The same elements which have become familiar in the prequel, Murder on Safari, make a return in The Berlin Package: main protagonist Pero Baltazar, some of his friends who help him along, Pero’s contact at the CIA, and a series of events that come at them back to back in an intriguing and fun to follow thriller. Yet again, author Peter Riva goes beyond the ploys used in mass-produced thrillers. Instead of making up for a watered down plot by adding emotional ploys to keep readers going, The Berlin Package has a tight plot filled with details that will do a much effective job doing the same.
Riva has also written two science fiction books I recently reviews, The Path and Reaching Angelica; just like with Murder on Safari, The Berlin Package does not have as much to reflect on as the first two titles. While Murder on Safari could potentially help open minds to some of the realities common to large parts of the African continent, The Berlin Package provides some interesting historical facts about post World War II events. I haven’t checked to see if these events are true or not—or even based on true facts—but they are very interesting to go through and, in the current climate of greed-fuelled distrust, make one wonder about many a thing.
Just like with any author, there are certain things about Riva’s style which, after reading four of his books back to back, start becoming a little irritating; one in particular is the choppy, jerky way that the characters express themselves. Although meant to reflect the reality of how people talk in stressful situations, it disturbs the flow of reading, making it go from smooth to halting. But this is not reason enough to discourage anyone from reading The Berlin Package or any other one of Riva’s books. They are meant to entertain and, in the case of this thrillers, to get readers’ hearts pumping—and indeed they manage to do both quite well.
The same elements which have become familiar in the prequel, Murder on Safari, make a return in The Berlin Package: main protagonist Pero Baltazar, some of his friends who help him along, Pero’s contact at the CIA, and a series of events that come at them back to back in an intriguing and fun to follow thriller. Yet again, author Peter Riva goes beyond the ploys used in mass-produced thrillers. Instead of making up for a watered down plot by adding emotional ploys to keep readers going, The Berlin Package has a tight plot filled with details that will do a much effective job doing the same.
Riva has also written two science fiction books I recently reviews, The Path and Reaching Angelica; just like with Murder on Safari, The Berlin Package does not have as much to reflect on as the first two titles. While Murder on Safari could potentially help open minds to some of the realities common to large parts of the African continent, The Berlin Package provides some interesting historical facts about post World War II events. I haven’t checked to see if these events are true or not—or even based on true facts—but they are very interesting to go through and, in the current climate of greed-fuelled distrust, make one wonder about many a thing.
Just like with any author, there are certain things about Riva’s style which, after reading four of his books back to back, start becoming a little irritating; one in particular is the choppy, jerky way that the characters express themselves. Although meant to reflect the reality of how people talk in stressful situations, it disturbs the flow of reading, making it go from smooth to halting. But this is not reason enough to discourage anyone from reading The Berlin Package or any other one of Riva’s books. They are meant to entertain and, in the case of this thrillers, to get readers’ hearts pumping—and indeed they manage to do both quite well.
June 9, 2016
A taut thriller, “The Berlin Package” is an excellent and well-written sequel to Peter Riva’s “Murder on Safari.” A first-rate thriller, it's a gut-churning ride of international intrigue set at nitty gritty ground level.
Summoned to Berlin ostensibly for a movie assignment, film producer (and part-time CIA agent) Pero Baltazar is tasked to deliver a mysterious radioactive package. Assisted by his East African safari guide, Mbuno, Pero embarks on a jolting adventure that involves international intrigue, Nazi gold, former East German Stasi operatives, and disturbing secrets that transcend borders and time.
As he did with “Murder on Safari,” a story that could only be crafted by someone who had actually invested a large chunk of his life in the land and people of East Africa, Peter Riva paints his canvas with a deft hand. The sweeping stage is set with incredible veracity. The scenery is real, and the technical nuances are spot-on. This is not a journey for a casual tourist; Riva salts the narrative with fascinating details that only a careful observer could capture. As the chaotic world of post-Unification East Germany swirls in the background, the action takes off at a blistering pace and does not relent.
Warning: Before you pick up this volume, make sure that you plan on not getting much sleep; “The Berlin Package” has more twists and turns than a dark jungle trail, and just when you suspect that you have a good grasp on where the story is headed, it lurches in another direction. And be prepared to look cautiously back over your shoulder---often---to look for dangers lurking in the shadows.
I anxiously await another installment of Pero Baltazar’s adventures, and hope that Peter Riva’s hands are busy at his keyboard. Bravo!
Summoned to Berlin ostensibly for a movie assignment, film producer (and part-time CIA agent) Pero Baltazar is tasked to deliver a mysterious radioactive package. Assisted by his East African safari guide, Mbuno, Pero embarks on a jolting adventure that involves international intrigue, Nazi gold, former East German Stasi operatives, and disturbing secrets that transcend borders and time.
As he did with “Murder on Safari,” a story that could only be crafted by someone who had actually invested a large chunk of his life in the land and people of East Africa, Peter Riva paints his canvas with a deft hand. The sweeping stage is set with incredible veracity. The scenery is real, and the technical nuances are spot-on. This is not a journey for a casual tourist; Riva salts the narrative with fascinating details that only a careful observer could capture. As the chaotic world of post-Unification East Germany swirls in the background, the action takes off at a blistering pace and does not relent.
Warning: Before you pick up this volume, make sure that you plan on not getting much sleep; “The Berlin Package” has more twists and turns than a dark jungle trail, and just when you suspect that you have a good grasp on where the story is headed, it lurches in another direction. And be prepared to look cautiously back over your shoulder---often---to look for dangers lurking in the shadows.
I anxiously await another installment of Pero Baltazar’s adventures, and hope that Peter Riva’s hands are busy at his keyboard. Bravo!
May 28, 2016
Pero Balatzar is a film producer who has no real interest in being a hero – he just wants to lead an ordinary life. However, when you lead a secret life as an "Observer" for the CIA and State Department. is it any wonder that you continuously find yourself in one dangerous situation after another?
In The Berlin Package - the sequel to Murder On Safari - Pero Balatzar has finally emotionally and physically recovered from his harrowing adventures in Africa and is ready to tackle a new assignment: a filming project in Berlin for an adventure movie.
While poor Pero is in transit, however, he is given a non-descript package and asked to deliver it. The problem is, the package is “hot” – and there are deadly consequences for him should he fail to follow through on the assignment.
So, Pero wonders, what is so important about this package that someone is willing to kill him if it does not reach its intended destination? And, even if Pero successfully completes his mission, will he really be safe once the package arrives?
The Berlin Package is a tightly written book that will take you on a non-stop adventure. It’s a highly thrilling read for those who love fast-paced adventures.
This review is an excerpt from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
In The Berlin Package - the sequel to Murder On Safari - Pero Balatzar has finally emotionally and physically recovered from his harrowing adventures in Africa and is ready to tackle a new assignment: a filming project in Berlin for an adventure movie.
While poor Pero is in transit, however, he is given a non-descript package and asked to deliver it. The problem is, the package is “hot” – and there are deadly consequences for him should he fail to follow through on the assignment.
So, Pero wonders, what is so important about this package that someone is willing to kill him if it does not reach its intended destination? And, even if Pero successfully completes his mission, will he really be safe once the package arrives?
The Berlin Package is a tightly written book that will take you on a non-stop adventure. It’s a highly thrilling read for those who love fast-paced adventures.
This review is an excerpt from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 10, 2016
Wow – this novel was just as stunning and fast paced as Murder on Safari, I fell in love with this novel and could not put it down. While it is a sequel to Murder on Safari, you don’t necessarily have to read the first novel to understand this one (but trust me you will want to because the first novel is just as great!).
The plot line is incredible and slowly unfolds piece by piece, only giving you what you need when you need to know (which I love!). Pero after his experience in Africa felt he was done with the CIA and their missions. He wants to get back to his film producing so he jumps on a story based in Germany. It is only when he is there, that he becomes trapped into a mysterious assignment that he never wanted.
As he tries to deliver the package, he finds out unbelievable truths about Nazi concentration camp gold, individuals in power and his mysterious package. He must use his skills to thwart an enemy that he is never too sure who they are, to discover the details of the package and to ensure it remains out of the hands of his enemy (not to mention save his friends!).
The Berlin Package is beyond exciting, full of surprises that you never quite see coming and an exciting plot line that will have you unable to put the novel down. Peter Riva writes exceptional novels that are fresh, thrilling and full of adventure. I can not wait to see if we have another novel featuring Pero!
The plot line is incredible and slowly unfolds piece by piece, only giving you what you need when you need to know (which I love!). Pero after his experience in Africa felt he was done with the CIA and their missions. He wants to get back to his film producing so he jumps on a story based in Germany. It is only when he is there, that he becomes trapped into a mysterious assignment that he never wanted.
As he tries to deliver the package, he finds out unbelievable truths about Nazi concentration camp gold, individuals in power and his mysterious package. He must use his skills to thwart an enemy that he is never too sure who they are, to discover the details of the package and to ensure it remains out of the hands of his enemy (not to mention save his friends!).
The Berlin Package is beyond exciting, full of surprises that you never quite see coming and an exciting plot line that will have you unable to put the novel down. Peter Riva writes exceptional novels that are fresh, thrilling and full of adventure. I can not wait to see if we have another novel featuring Pero!
May 5, 2016
Book Tour: The Berlin Package by Peter Riva Pero asked for a filming job and wants to get back in the saddle after what happen the last time. He asks that we work with Heep. He got his wish.On the plane with Ambassador. He figures out a plane problem. He was on his way to Berlin when it occurs. Once Pero lands at the airport he gets a mysterious package.CIA and the State Department want him to read a packet. He did not get a packet. Now he is in a job he does not want. He got to protect his friends and family and now a movie star.A station is missing and someone is after Peru and his crew and want the package delivered to him. Pero want to find out why they want it and what they might want to do with it.Peter Riva does it once again that you want to turn the pages until you find out. Every page is an adventure as you turn the page. You wonder if Pero and his friends will survive or end up dead. Can Pero and Mubro and his new and old friends help rescued Heep and a film star?
May 20, 2016
A heart thumping sequel
I am blessed to have an opportunity to read Mr. Peter Riva's book The Berlin Package. It is a heart thumping sequel from his previous book Murder On Safari. Just like the first book, I loved reading this book as well.
The first few chapters are slow to prepare you for the real thrill as you read along. The adventure never stops until you reach the last page of the book. I love the twist and turn of this story. It is never a dull moment once you are in the best part. The book is hard to put it down. From Africa to Germany, the author blown me away with his travels. It feels like you are part of his adventures and the characters of his book.
I highly recommend this book. Mr. Peter Riva never stop to amazes with his trailer and suspense book which I loved to read.
Disclosure:
I received the paperback copy of the book in exchange of my honest review.
I am blessed to have an opportunity to read Mr. Peter Riva's book The Berlin Package. It is a heart thumping sequel from his previous book Murder On Safari. Just like the first book, I loved reading this book as well.
The first few chapters are slow to prepare you for the real thrill as you read along. The adventure never stops until you reach the last page of the book. I love the twist and turn of this story. It is never a dull moment once you are in the best part. The book is hard to put it down. From Africa to Germany, the author blown me away with his travels. It feels like you are part of his adventures and the characters of his book.
I highly recommend this book. Mr. Peter Riva never stop to amazes with his trailer and suspense book which I loved to read.
Disclosure:
I received the paperback copy of the book in exchange of my honest review.
May 23, 2016
Pero Baltazar thought that he was on a trip to do some filming when he realizes that he has been lied to. The State Dept and the CIA give him a very strange package. If he doesn't do what they ask he will probably be killed. He really has no other choice but to do what they want him to. Pero tries to get help wherever he can and contacts some friends to help him. This is a book that is full of mystery and suspense. This is the second book in this series, the first was "Murder on Safari" . Anyone who loves espionage in different locales will like this series. I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book for a review. These are my opinions.
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January 29, 2017
A rollicking, fast-paced thriller that brings together two murky underworlds: the CIA in reunified Germany and the world of movie-making. I hadn't read the first book in the series, but it didn't matter. The hero, Pero, leaps off the page and the setting is expertly rendered, with lots of period detail. Very enjoyable!
June 29, 2016
The Berlin Package by Peter Riva is a well written and captivating thriller. The protagonist Pero Baltazar is somewhat of a James Bond, Inspector Columbo and Sherlock Holmes all in one, adding a stylish aura to a definitive, page turning plot from the first page to the last.
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