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Berlin Gothic #1
The Beginning
The Bentheims of Berlin take in Till Anschutz, an orphan on the run, who quickly befriends twelve-year-old Max. The boys are intrigued by the office where Max's cold, distant father, Xavier Bentheim, writes his horror novels. And when they get up the nerve to explore, Max and Till are truly horrified by what they discover behind a hidden door. Till awakens strapped to a gurney. His belly is burning, and a young woman with dead eyes flicks her forked tongue against his face. "We've modified you ? you'll like it," a familiar voice purrs... Inspector Konstantin Butz discovers the mutilated corpse of a woman; beside her lies a power drill freshly wrenched from her stomach. This latest in a series of connected murders launches Butz on an obsessive search for the killer, but the key could lie hidden with his own girlfriend...Claire Bentheim.
Audio CD
First published August 26, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 7, 2012
I hesitate to say this, since I am loving the amount of translated fiction that Amazon is bringing to the US, but this book is a disaster. Although it is listed fairly clearly as the first in a seven-book series, it is completely unlike any crime/thriller series book I've ever read because it is in no way a self-contained story. At the end of the brief (2 hours max) read, you have nothing to show for it. You have met a few characters, passed back and forth across twelve years of their lives, and spied on some intriguing scenes -- but that's it. Much is hinted at but very little is revealed, and nothing is resolved in any way. I don't know what the release schedule is for the other six volumes, but I can't imagine why anyone would pick this up in chunks rather than waiting for a version that collects them into a single volume. I gather the book was originally published as an e-book in Germany, and perhaps that format lent itself more naturally to this kind of serial format, but to try and publish it as seven separate slim paperbacks is a major miscalculation. Wait for the completed series and then you'll have enough to be able to decide if the characters are people you want to spend time with and the storytelling is strong enough.
November 30, 2018
Full review to come!
October 11, 2013
As this new series is translated and takes off, Berlin Gothic will most definitely be one of those saga’s that make some thrill-seeker’s salivate. Definitely not a book for the faint of heart, this first volume begins a seven-volume series that has set its sights on being chilling, horrific and, most definitely, unique.
Inspector Konstantin Butz is knee-deep in a series of murders that are complete and utter mutilations. The most difficult part for him in this investigation however, is the fact that he’s beginning to suspect the love of his life, Claire Bentheim, may know something about the brutal killings.
The Inspector’s story runs parallel with another. Till Anschultz is an orphan on the run, and is adopted into Claire Bentheim’s family living in Berlin. Forming a bond with Max, the twelve-year-old son of the Bentheim’s - Till and Max act like the boys they are and choose to live adventurously.
Both of the boys are extremely interested in exploring the office of Xavier Bentheim, Max’s father. Xavier is an odd man, to say the least. But that’s not really a surprise seeing as that he lives his life as a writer of horror. When the boys finally get up the nerve to delve into the office, they find themselves scared silly by what they discover hidden behind a secret door. And the two stories become interwoven in a way that will have readers thinking about Stephen King at his most unusual.
To tell what the frightening treasure is would be a huge spoiler; readers most definitely deserve to see the real thing. Detailed with characters who are both fascinating and horrifying, the Berlin Gothic series will take its place in the category of horror, not suspense. And because of the great writing, it may just find itself on top of the American list of favorite fearful tales.
Suggestion? Make sure you can handle some truly terrifying narrative and read on. Because this is only The Beginning to what is sure to be a very memorable and horrifying ‘End’.
Inspector Konstantin Butz is knee-deep in a series of murders that are complete and utter mutilations. The most difficult part for him in this investigation however, is the fact that he’s beginning to suspect the love of his life, Claire Bentheim, may know something about the brutal killings.
The Inspector’s story runs parallel with another. Till Anschultz is an orphan on the run, and is adopted into Claire Bentheim’s family living in Berlin. Forming a bond with Max, the twelve-year-old son of the Bentheim’s - Till and Max act like the boys they are and choose to live adventurously.
Both of the boys are extremely interested in exploring the office of Xavier Bentheim, Max’s father. Xavier is an odd man, to say the least. But that’s not really a surprise seeing as that he lives his life as a writer of horror. When the boys finally get up the nerve to delve into the office, they find themselves scared silly by what they discover hidden behind a secret door. And the two stories become interwoven in a way that will have readers thinking about Stephen King at his most unusual.
To tell what the frightening treasure is would be a huge spoiler; readers most definitely deserve to see the real thing. Detailed with characters who are both fascinating and horrifying, the Berlin Gothic series will take its place in the category of horror, not suspense. And because of the great writing, it may just find itself on top of the American list of favorite fearful tales.
Suggestion? Make sure you can handle some truly terrifying narrative and read on. Because this is only The Beginning to what is sure to be a very memorable and horrifying ‘End’.
October 15, 2014
I found this disjointed, and perverse at many times. It was really hard to follow, and really hard to become invested in the story.
February 12, 2019
I've given up on the audio book version of this book because it just isn't for me and I have too many other books waiting. It's rambling and confusing, with a timeline that alternates between Present and Twelve years earlier, but, worse, it's dull. Knowing it's the first in a series made me even more inclined to simp!y stop because most likely it won't have a satisfactory ending. Back in the day I used to read a lot of very dark fanfic about vampires and Very Bad People, a lot of it graphic (sex and violence), some of it better than most published fiction but a lot wasn't, stories with no coherent structure that never seem to end, written very much straight from the author's keyboard to publication online, and that's what this book reminds me of, sadly. There IS a story in there, with interesting characters- Til, for e.g.- but the good is swamped by poorly conceived and incoherent storytelling. You need to give your reader something to hang onto early on, grab their interest so they want to read on. This book just doesn't do that. I was listening but not truly listening because my attention kept wandering. I got to 25% but would have a hard time telling you what happened. Just not for me. Obviously, this is personal and subjective, and you might be thinking, "She's got cheek to judge so critically a book she couldn't be bothered to finish" , but I believe in being honest in my reviews and don't shy away from one-star ratings. Maybe not for me but it might be for you.
March 31, 2015
read this in june...finished the 13th, 2014...today is the 26th of december. 4-stars. i think i glanced at a review or two three before beginning. disagreed with at least one or two of the lower-rated reviews, those that actually said something. don't recall much about it...although i vagely remember disliking something...maybe it had to do with the...what? an appeal to the grotesque? the cruel? the gruel? i do not remember exactly...but i settled on 4-stars...so?
i also put this on the time passages shelf and i know i'll have more to add about that later, gator.
The Beginning, Berlin Gothic, Jonas Winner...I've only read this first from German Winner, but you might enjoy this one...if you can get past some of the nicely ambiguous story lines running through this one. But in here, the time passages refers to a writer-character...as in creepy writer character and creepy happenings via fiction, via the imagination. This is a variation on The Dark Half from King. I like how Winner incorporates fiction from one of the main characters herein...his son and another boy taken in, the manner they sleuth what the mister is up to and then some. They too use their imagination, trying to get a handle on what the old man is doing. The old man has his separate writing quarters (and then some) away from the main house. Curious series...have not yet started the second. Worth checking out.
i also put this on the time passages shelf and i know i'll have more to add about that later, gator.
The Beginning, Berlin Gothic, Jonas Winner...I've only read this first from German Winner, but you might enjoy this one...if you can get past some of the nicely ambiguous story lines running through this one. But in here, the time passages refers to a writer-character...as in creepy writer character and creepy happenings via fiction, via the imagination. This is a variation on The Dark Half from King. I like how Winner incorporates fiction from one of the main characters herein...his son and another boy taken in, the manner they sleuth what the mister is up to and then some. They too use their imagination, trying to get a handle on what the old man is doing. The old man has his separate writing quarters (and then some) away from the main house. Curious series...have not yet started the second. Worth checking out.
April 26, 2016
The first in the Berlin Gothic series is a very auspicious beginning indeed; it actually merits the definite article. ;)
I couldn't put it down. This is real horror, not just a thriller, and I found Jonas Winner's plot to be completely original.
What I found really striking was the sense of immediacy conveyed by Winner's prose. I felt like I was right in the action -- I guess that's normally true with books for fairly imaginative readers. If I had to pinpoint the difference I'd say I didn't find myself looking into my memory to fit what was happening into what already had transpired, and I was too absorbed to hazard guesses about what was to come next.
Again, horror fans, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
One negative note: Can Berlin please get a break? Winner shamelessly excoriates the city as more or less the worst place ever on the first page. It's not like the place is underrated for its connections to the darker side of human nature...it would be nice to set the horror someplace more counterintuitive. I felt too drawn into some German guilt performance, but then again, what do I, the American reader, know about that?
BTW, I got my copy of this delight through Goodreads Giveaways.
I couldn't put it down. This is real horror, not just a thriller, and I found Jonas Winner's plot to be completely original.
What I found really striking was the sense of immediacy conveyed by Winner's prose. I felt like I was right in the action -- I guess that's normally true with books for fairly imaginative readers. If I had to pinpoint the difference I'd say I didn't find myself looking into my memory to fit what was happening into what already had transpired, and I was too absorbed to hazard guesses about what was to come next.
Again, horror fans, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
One negative note: Can Berlin please get a break? Winner shamelessly excoriates the city as more or less the worst place ever on the first page. It's not like the place is underrated for its connections to the darker side of human nature...it would be nice to set the horror someplace more counterintuitive. I felt too drawn into some German guilt performance, but then again, what do I, the American reader, know about that?
BTW, I got my copy of this delight through Goodreads Giveaways.
December 14, 2011
An den stakkatohaften Satzbau kann man sich gewöhnen. Manch einer wird ihn sogar richtig mögen.
Die Story zeigt spannende Ansätze, die Charaktere beginnen interessant zu werden... und dann ist das "Buch" zu Ende.
Für mich macht die Veröffentlichungsweise (jeden Monat kommt ein neuer Teil für 1€ raus) die ganze Sache kaputt. Erstens bin ich am Ende doch (mindestens?) beim Preis eines normalen Buchs (was ja in Ordnung wäre, das ganze aber zu einer Lockvogelaktion degradiert). Zweitens aber müsste ich immer wochenlang warten, sobald ich den Autor eingeholt hätte (was innerhalb kürzester Zeit möglich wäre, die einzelnen "Bücher" sind wirklich kurz).
Deswegen war die ganze Sache für mich jetzt nur vergeudete Zeit. Da hätte ich die Lesezeit auch schon in was "richtiges" investieren können.
Die Story zeigt spannende Ansätze, die Charaktere beginnen interessant zu werden... und dann ist das "Buch" zu Ende.
Für mich macht die Veröffentlichungsweise (jeden Monat kommt ein neuer Teil für 1€ raus) die ganze Sache kaputt. Erstens bin ich am Ende doch (mindestens?) beim Preis eines normalen Buchs (was ja in Ordnung wäre, das ganze aber zu einer Lockvogelaktion degradiert). Zweitens aber müsste ich immer wochenlang warten, sobald ich den Autor eingeholt hätte (was innerhalb kürzester Zeit möglich wäre, die einzelnen "Bücher" sind wirklich kurz).
Deswegen war die ganze Sache für mich jetzt nur vergeudete Zeit. Da hätte ich die Lesezeit auch schon in was "richtiges" investieren können.
September 4, 2013
I'm still not sure if I liked or hated this book. It was well-crafted and engaging, creepy, intense. It's also incredibly noir, much darker than what I'm accustomed to reading. I cringed, frequently. As I don't read German, I'm rather put-out that only the first volume of this seven-part series has been translated to English. Or am I relieved? Do I want to know what happens to Till and the Bentheim family, or don't I? A must-read for fans of Stieg Larsson. Still unsure whether I'll read the remainder, if and when it makes it into English translation.
September 20, 2013
This book is so good!!! It's intriguing, riveting, thrilling and keeps you guessing. I loved it! It's just the first of 7 in a series and was 406 pages and hope to read them all. It left me in the middle of a huge mystery; I need to find out what's going on!
May 1, 2012
Was fuer eine geile Krimireihe.!!! Macht süchtig und ist echt spannend! Ausserdem sehr tiefgründig!
May 28, 2013
Really not very good :(
Can't believe it's the first of a series, I shall not be reading any more!
Can't believe it's the first of a series, I shall not be reading any more!
July 30, 2014
I didn't finish this but I WILL NOT GIVE UP. I'm going to try again.....!!!!1q
August 19, 2014
Hooked!
February 1, 2015
Tried the audio book, had to give in .. sounds to me like some more vampire porn the ladies seem to like.
Others may get it but not I :)
Others may get it but not I :)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews