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Gereon Rath #1
Der nasse Fisch
Berlin, 1929: Rath, neu in Berlin und abgestellt bei der Sitte, erlebt eine Weltstadt im Rausch, die von sozialen und politischen Spannungen zerrissen ist. Ungefragt schaltet sich der Kommissar in die stagnierenden Ermittlungen eines Mordfalls ein – und stößt in ein Wespennest. Dann verliebt Rath sich in Charly, Stenotypistin in der Mordkommission, und missbraucht ihr Insiderwissen für seine einsamen Ermittlungen.
494 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
1451 people are currently reading
6641 people want to read
About the author
Volker Kutscher
23 books610 followersVolker Kutscher ist ein deutscher Schriftsteller. 1995 veröffentlichte er mit Bullenmord seinen ersten Kriminalroman im Kölner Verlag Emons. 2008 erschien unter dem Titel Der nasse Fisch der erste Band einer auf mehrere Bände angelegten Reihe von historischen Kriminalromanen um die literarische Figur des Kölner Kommissars Gereon Rath, die im Berlin der späten Weimarer Republik und des Nationalsozialismus spielen. Die bis 2019 erschienenen ersten 7 Bände spielen in den Jahren 1929 bis 1935.
Volker Kutscher lebt in Köln.
Volker Kutscher lebt in Köln.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 889 reviews
June 26, 2019
”When would they return? In the darkness even the smallest noise seemed infernal; the quietest of whispers grew to a roar. Silence itself became an interminable throb in the ears. He had to pull himself together, to ignore the dripping sound of his own blood as it hit the hard, damp floor.”
Gereon Rath, played by Volker Bruch
Inspector Gereon Rath arrives in Berlin, to a city in turmoil. The underground fleshpots are catering to every bizarre whim or dark desire that a man or woman can envision. Booze is flowing through the tangled web of bars, in quantities large enough to fill the river Spree. The dancing in the nightclubs reflects the frantic and desperate nature of those trying to make a go of it in the German capital. The cabarets are soulful and sad and full of boys dressed as girls and girls dressed as boys.
That is the nightlife, but the daylight brings more tumultuous chaos. The workers are dissatisfied with low pay and terrible working conditions. They are filling the streets with their protests, and the socialists are taking full advantage of their discontent. In the background, the Nazis are gaining power behind the fiery speeches of this scrawny corporal who is still fuming over his inability to make a go of it as an artist. Failure has bred contempt in him for those he believes are responsible for the downfall of Germany. ”On the wall hung a framed photograph of that Hitler, a strange bird with a Charlie Chaplin moustache.” Yes, in 1929, he is still perceived for whom he really is by most reasonably intelligent people.
Gereon Rath has more than one moment when he wishes he could go back to Cologne, but he would only be stepping back into the fine mess he left there. He is assigned to vice in a city where the philosophy followed by most is anything goes. Hard to make headlines or influential friends by busting up the party. He catches a break of sorts when an unidentified, brutally tortured body of a dead Russian shows up in the middle of a case he is working. He is too ambitious to turn the case over to homicide.
Lana Nikoros, AKA Countess Svetlana Sorokina
Little does he know that he is going to be thrust in the middle of a gangland style battle going on between two factions of Russians and their search for what is being called Sorokin’s gold. Not to mention he has to deal with a host of dirty cops, the Nazis, am organized crime boss called Dr. Marlow, and the Countess Svetlana Sorokina, AKA cabaret singer Lana Nikoros, who might be the most dangerous of the lot. Whether they are motivated by greed or a cause, they all want the gold. Rath is also introduced to a powdery substance that proves irresistible.
”He had reckoned with all sorts of possibilities: with seeing stars, a variety of colors, bright lights, but all he felt as he snorted the white powder was numbness. His whole nose was numb. He wouldn’t have noticed if someone cut it off, but when he felt the cocaine taking hold of his brain, all of a sudden he was wide awake. It is as if someone had turned the music up, and yet he could understand the numerous voices talking over one another considerably better than before. He felt himself positively oozing energy and lust for life.”
Charlotte Ritter
Rath falls in love/lust with the beautiful police stenographer Charlotte Ritter. Just as quickly as he finds love, he mucks it up by using her to further his career. (He also breaks the cardinal rule that one should never, ever shag the landlady.) Rath is a mess on about all levels, saved only by the fact that he is a pretty good detective. To make it in the city of vice, he will have to go beyond just bending the rules; he will have to break them over his knee.
A convoluted mystery, to say the least. Keeping track of all the various, suspected entities that go way beyond what I’ve mentioned in this review had me wondering at times if I was reading a Russian novel, but I did enjoy the flavor of 1929 in one of the most vice ridden cities in the world at the time.
Your pleasure is their pleasure to serve.
For those who have been watching or want to watch the Netflix series, the character of Charlotte (Charly) Ritter, portrayed in the series by Liv Lisa Fries, is a far cry from the woman depicted in the books. She is much more pedestrian in the books, but in the Netflix series she is frankly frilling awesome. Svetlana Sorokina, portrayed by Severija Janusauskaite, has a much bigger role on the screen than she had in the book. She is so manipulative, calculating, and as cold as a Siberian storm.
Basically, the writers of the TV series have taken the characters of the women from the book and expanded their roles. This takes the story from being a good story to being one of the more intriguing TV series I’ve seen in a long time. If I had not seen several episodes of the series before reading the book, I would have been happier with the book. Still, I’m on board to read more of the books and see how the characters develop as Volker Kutscher takes them through more sordid Berlin adventures.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Gereon Rath, played by Volker Bruch
Inspector Gereon Rath arrives in Berlin, to a city in turmoil. The underground fleshpots are catering to every bizarre whim or dark desire that a man or woman can envision. Booze is flowing through the tangled web of bars, in quantities large enough to fill the river Spree. The dancing in the nightclubs reflects the frantic and desperate nature of those trying to make a go of it in the German capital. The cabarets are soulful and sad and full of boys dressed as girls and girls dressed as boys.
That is the nightlife, but the daylight brings more tumultuous chaos. The workers are dissatisfied with low pay and terrible working conditions. They are filling the streets with their protests, and the socialists are taking full advantage of their discontent. In the background, the Nazis are gaining power behind the fiery speeches of this scrawny corporal who is still fuming over his inability to make a go of it as an artist. Failure has bred contempt in him for those he believes are responsible for the downfall of Germany. ”On the wall hung a framed photograph of that Hitler, a strange bird with a Charlie Chaplin moustache.” Yes, in 1929, he is still perceived for whom he really is by most reasonably intelligent people.
Gereon Rath has more than one moment when he wishes he could go back to Cologne, but he would only be stepping back into the fine mess he left there. He is assigned to vice in a city where the philosophy followed by most is anything goes. Hard to make headlines or influential friends by busting up the party. He catches a break of sorts when an unidentified, brutally tortured body of a dead Russian shows up in the middle of a case he is working. He is too ambitious to turn the case over to homicide.
Lana Nikoros, AKA Countess Svetlana Sorokina
Little does he know that he is going to be thrust in the middle of a gangland style battle going on between two factions of Russians and their search for what is being called Sorokin’s gold. Not to mention he has to deal with a host of dirty cops, the Nazis, am organized crime boss called Dr. Marlow, and the Countess Svetlana Sorokina, AKA cabaret singer Lana Nikoros, who might be the most dangerous of the lot. Whether they are motivated by greed or a cause, they all want the gold. Rath is also introduced to a powdery substance that proves irresistible.
”He had reckoned with all sorts of possibilities: with seeing stars, a variety of colors, bright lights, but all he felt as he snorted the white powder was numbness. His whole nose was numb. He wouldn’t have noticed if someone cut it off, but when he felt the cocaine taking hold of his brain, all of a sudden he was wide awake. It is as if someone had turned the music up, and yet he could understand the numerous voices talking over one another considerably better than before. He felt himself positively oozing energy and lust for life.”
”If you want to hang out, you've gotta take her out, cocaine
If you want to get down, get down on the ground, cocaine
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie,
Cocaine
If you got that lose, you want to kick them blues, cocaine
When your day is done, and you want to ride on cocaine
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie,
Cocaine
If your day is gone, and you want to ride on, cocaine
Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back, cocaine
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie,
Cocaine
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie,
Cocaine”
Charlotte Ritter
Rath falls in love/lust with the beautiful police stenographer Charlotte Ritter. Just as quickly as he finds love, he mucks it up by using her to further his career. (He also breaks the cardinal rule that one should never, ever shag the landlady.) Rath is a mess on about all levels, saved only by the fact that he is a pretty good detective. To make it in the city of vice, he will have to go beyond just bending the rules; he will have to break them over his knee.
A convoluted mystery, to say the least. Keeping track of all the various, suspected entities that go way beyond what I’ve mentioned in this review had me wondering at times if I was reading a Russian novel, but I did enjoy the flavor of 1929 in one of the most vice ridden cities in the world at the time.
Your pleasure is their pleasure to serve.
For those who have been watching or want to watch the Netflix series, the character of Charlotte (Charly) Ritter, portrayed in the series by Liv Lisa Fries, is a far cry from the woman depicted in the books. She is much more pedestrian in the books, but in the Netflix series she is frankly frilling awesome. Svetlana Sorokina, portrayed by Severija Janusauskaite, has a much bigger role on the screen than she had in the book. She is so manipulative, calculating, and as cold as a Siberian storm.
Basically, the writers of the TV series have taken the characters of the women from the book and expanded their roles. This takes the story from being a good story to being one of the more intriguing TV series I’ve seen in a long time. If I had not seen several episodes of the series before reading the book, I would have been happier with the book. Still, I’m on board to read more of the books and see how the characters develop as Volker Kutscher takes them through more sordid Berlin adventures.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
May 30, 2018
(German review below)
Although I don't think it's supposed to be, this is basically a cheesy romance novel for men, completely with:
1. Long and repetitive descriptions of people's appearances - when they are of the other sex than the main character. Usually starting with their breasts or legs.
2. Every female character wants the main character, even those who already have a man. Well, except for the ones described as "fat". That would be just gross, of course. (sarcasm)
3. The main character is supposed to be very clever, but mostly things just happen to him without him doing anything significant.
4. Wooden and cheesy dialogue.
5. A plot that could have been interesting, but is presented very straightforward to make room for a cheesy and boring romance will-they-won't-they plot and resolved too easily.
6. The characters are all very clever and capable, except when they need to not be.
7. The main character is not very consistent and thus not very likeable, although he is supposed to be... 'deep'.
8. The other characters are flat and cliché.
The book is very, very long. There are a lot of repetitions and unnecessary descriptions. The story could easily have been told in about half the pages.
I give it a second star because, although there are some inaccuracies, the author clearly did a lot of research.
I would have loved to read this book if he had provided the historical context and another author had done the actual writing.
__________________________________________________
Auch wenn es das vermutlich nicht sein möchte, ist das Buch ein Groschenroman für Männer. Komplett mit:
1. Langen und ständig wiederholten Beschreibungen von Charakteren des anderen Geschlechts (als der Hauptcharakter). Diese beginnen für gewöhnlich mit ihren "wölbenden" Brüsten oder ihren langen Beinen.
2. Jeder weibliche Charakter will natürlich mit dem Hauptcharakter ins Bett, auch die eigentlich vergebenen. Außer natürlich diejenigen, die als "fett" beschrieben werden. Das wäre ja eklig. (Sarkasmus)
3. Der Hauptcharakter wird als schlau und clever beschrieben, meistens tut er selbst aber eher wenig und Dinge passieren ihm einfach.
4. Hölzerne Dialoge. (Ich bezweifle, dass Frauen in den 20ern mit vollem Ernst Dinge gesagt haben wie "Oh, du hast ja _noch_ eine Waffe dabei. Lass uns die doch mal rausholen.")
5. Ein Plot der interessant hätte sein können, sich aber sehr einfach entwickelt, um Platz für die langweilige Standard-Romanze zu lassen.
6. Die Charaktere sind schlau und fähig, außer wenn es notwendig ist, dass sie es nicht sind.
7. Das wirkt sich auch auf den Hauptcharakter aus, der nicht sehr konsistent präsentiert wird und damit leider nicht meine Sympathie wecken kann.
8. Die anderen Charaktere sind flach und Klischee-beladen.
Das Buch ist sehr, sehr lang, mit vielen Wiederholungen und unnötigen Beschreibungen. Die Geschichte hätte vermutlich auf ca. der Hälfte der Seiten erzählt werden können.
Ich vergebe einen zweiten Stern, weil der Autor offensichtlich seine Hausaufgaben gemacht hat. Es gibt ein paar Ungenauigkeiten, aber die gibt es immer. Davon abgesehen ist der hohe Rechercheaufwand zu erkennen.
Ich würde das Buch sehr gern lesen, wenn der Autor sein historisches Wissen beisteuert und eine andere Person die eigentliche Schreibarbeit übernimmt.
Although I don't think it's supposed to be, this is basically a cheesy romance novel for men, completely with:
1. Long and repetitive descriptions of people's appearances - when they are of the other sex than the main character. Usually starting with their breasts or legs.
2. Every female character wants the main character, even those who already have a man. Well, except for the ones described as "fat". That would be just gross, of course. (sarcasm)
3. The main character is supposed to be very clever, but mostly things just happen to him without him doing anything significant.
4. Wooden and cheesy dialogue.
5. A plot that could have been interesting, but is presented very straightforward to make room for a cheesy and boring romance will-they-won't-they plot and resolved too easily.
6. The characters are all very clever and capable, except when they need to not be.
7. The main character is not very consistent and thus not very likeable, although he is supposed to be... 'deep'.
8. The other characters are flat and cliché.
The book is very, very long. There are a lot of repetitions and unnecessary descriptions. The story could easily have been told in about half the pages.
I give it a second star because, although there are some inaccuracies, the author clearly did a lot of research.
I would have loved to read this book if he had provided the historical context and another author had done the actual writing.
__________________________________________________
Auch wenn es das vermutlich nicht sein möchte, ist das Buch ein Groschenroman für Männer. Komplett mit:
1. Langen und ständig wiederholten Beschreibungen von Charakteren des anderen Geschlechts (als der Hauptcharakter). Diese beginnen für gewöhnlich mit ihren "wölbenden" Brüsten oder ihren langen Beinen.
2. Jeder weibliche Charakter will natürlich mit dem Hauptcharakter ins Bett, auch die eigentlich vergebenen. Außer natürlich diejenigen, die als "fett" beschrieben werden. Das wäre ja eklig. (Sarkasmus)
3. Der Hauptcharakter wird als schlau und clever beschrieben, meistens tut er selbst aber eher wenig und Dinge passieren ihm einfach.
4. Hölzerne Dialoge. (Ich bezweifle, dass Frauen in den 20ern mit vollem Ernst Dinge gesagt haben wie "Oh, du hast ja _noch_ eine Waffe dabei. Lass uns die doch mal rausholen.")
5. Ein Plot der interessant hätte sein können, sich aber sehr einfach entwickelt, um Platz für die langweilige Standard-Romanze zu lassen.
6. Die Charaktere sind schlau und fähig, außer wenn es notwendig ist, dass sie es nicht sind.
7. Das wirkt sich auch auf den Hauptcharakter aus, der nicht sehr konsistent präsentiert wird und damit leider nicht meine Sympathie wecken kann.
8. Die anderen Charaktere sind flach und Klischee-beladen.
Das Buch ist sehr, sehr lang, mit vielen Wiederholungen und unnötigen Beschreibungen. Die Geschichte hätte vermutlich auf ca. der Hälfte der Seiten erzählt werden können.
Ich vergebe einen zweiten Stern, weil der Autor offensichtlich seine Hausaufgaben gemacht hat. Es gibt ein paar Ungenauigkeiten, aber die gibt es immer. Davon abgesehen ist der hohe Rechercheaufwand zu erkennen.
Ich würde das Buch sehr gern lesen, wenn der Autor sein historisches Wissen beisteuert und eine andere Person die eigentliche Schreibarbeit übernimmt.
November 8, 2022
3,5 Sterne
Das Buch hat mich ein bisschen überrascht. Ich muss gestehen, dass ich sehr hohe Erwartungen an das Buch hatte, denn ich habe zunächst einen anderen Teil dieser Reihe gelesen ("Märzgefallene"), und der Band hatte damals fünf Sterne von mir bekommen. Daher war meine Erwartungshaltung vermutlich recht hoch.
"Der nasse Fisch" ist ein guter Auftaktband, der definitiv Lust auf diese Buchreihe macht, aber so ganz überzeugt hat er mich nicht.
Es war eigentlich ein Auf und Ab. Es gab Episoden, die fand ich richtig gut und spannend, dann kamen aber auch wieder Strecken, die etwas langatmig waren.
Sehr gut hat mir aber die Komplexität gefallen. Es gibt viele Handlungsstränge, viele Charaktere, und am Ende läuft alles gekonnt zusammen.
Auch der Kommissar - Gereon Rath - ist eine sehr interessante Figur, über die ich gerne mehr lesen möchte.
Und sehr interessant war natürlich auch die Atmosphäre der 1920er Jahre, die der Autor gut rübergebracht hat.
Alles in allem ein guter solider erster Band, und ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiterlesen!
Das Buch hat mich ein bisschen überrascht. Ich muss gestehen, dass ich sehr hohe Erwartungen an das Buch hatte, denn ich habe zunächst einen anderen Teil dieser Reihe gelesen ("Märzgefallene"), und der Band hatte damals fünf Sterne von mir bekommen. Daher war meine Erwartungshaltung vermutlich recht hoch.
"Der nasse Fisch" ist ein guter Auftaktband, der definitiv Lust auf diese Buchreihe macht, aber so ganz überzeugt hat er mich nicht.
Es war eigentlich ein Auf und Ab. Es gab Episoden, die fand ich richtig gut und spannend, dann kamen aber auch wieder Strecken, die etwas langatmig waren.
Sehr gut hat mir aber die Komplexität gefallen. Es gibt viele Handlungsstränge, viele Charaktere, und am Ende läuft alles gekonnt zusammen.
Auch der Kommissar - Gereon Rath - ist eine sehr interessante Figur, über die ich gerne mehr lesen möchte.
Und sehr interessant war natürlich auch die Atmosphäre der 1920er Jahre, die der Autor gut rübergebracht hat.
Alles in allem ein guter solider erster Band, und ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiterlesen!
January 4, 2024
Peștele ud, acesta este titlu cărții și se referă la un caz de omor care este nerezolvat. Un roman interesant plasat în anul 1929 într-o Germanie care este divizată politic după primul război mondial. M-a surprins plăcut nu numai acțiunea complexă cât și modul de scrie, cartea are un ușoar iz de epocă interbelică. Sper să se traducă și restul volumelor din serie, momentan au tradus doar primele două, fiindcă chiar sunt o schimbare față de ceea ce suntem obișnuiți în literatura polițistă.
June 15, 2020
Το "Βρεγμένο Ψάρι" του *σχετικά* φρέσκου Φόλκερ Κούτσερ, είναι ένα αξιοπρεπές αστυνομικό ανάγνωσμα το οποίο σε σημεία πήγε να γίνει κάτι παραπάνω από αυτό που προοριζόταν και μπορούσε. Ο συγγραφέας είχε φοβερή δίψα να γράψει και να αναγνωριστεί, προσπαθώντας πάρα πολύ να λάμψει και να αποτελέσει το next best thing της γερμανικής νουάρ λογοτεχνίας. Ευτυχώς γι'αυτόν, το παράκανε τόσο όσο, παραδίδοντας μια πρώτη επαφή με τον αστυνόμο του εγκληματολογικού της πρωσικής αστυνομίας του Βερολίνου Γκέρεον Ρατ, που λόγω των καλών της στοιχείων επέτρεψε και στην κοινότητα των αναγνωστών να κάνει τα στραβά μάτια σε ευκολίες και σεναριακές υπερβολές που δεν θα συγχωρούσε αν αυτό ήταν το 3ο ή 4ο, ή ίσως και το 2ο, βιβλίο του.
Σαφώς και η όλη ιστορία με τον ρώσικο χρυσό, την αντεπανάσταση και πόσα άλλα οριακά κλισέ εργαλεία πλοκής θα μπορούσε να πουλήσει τρελά αν ταμπελιαζόταν ως pulp fiction και κυκλοφορούσε 60-70 χρόνια πριν, εκεί που η δίψα για κομμουνιστικό αίμα ήταν τεράστια και θα πούλαγε μια ιστορία για τους χ κομμουνιστές που θέλουν να αξιοποιήσουν τον πλούτο των ξεπεσμένων αριστοκρατών για να ρίξουν τους ψ κομμουνιστές που παραστράτησαν. Αυτό που σώζει μακράν το βιβλίο, είναι η αξιοθαύμαστη προσοχή του Κούτσερ στην ιστορική ακρίβεια και λεπτομέρεια, στοιχείο που πραγματικά ανεβάζει το βιβλίο πολλά επίπεδα. Είναι τρομακτικά προσεκτικός στο τι γράφει ώστε να συνάδει με την εποχή που τρέχει η ιστορία, σε ένα μεσοπολεμικό Βερολίνο του 1929, χωνευτήρι λαών, κινημάτων και ιδεολογιών, μερικές εξ αυτών όπως εκ των υστέρων φάνηκε καταστροφικές. Του βγάζω το καπέλο για αυτή του την ικανότητα να με ψήνει να ψάξω την τάδε ή την δείνα πληροφορία, είναι από μόνο του λόγος να πάρω και το δεύτερο μεταφρασμένο του. Ο Κούτσερ περιγράφει την πτώση της δημοκρατίας της Βαϊμάρης με όχημα το αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα.
Μια σημείωση για την μετάφραση/επιμέλεια: Καταλαβαίνω πως έγινε για λόγους ομοιομορφίας αλλά το να είναι μαζεμένες οι σημειώσεις του μεταφραστή και οι επεξηγήσεις στο τέλος αναγκάζει τον αναγνώστη σε ένα διαρκές πήγαινε-έλα που κουράζει πολύ και τον πετάει συνεχώς έξω από την ροή της ιστορίας. Πολύ καλύτερο να έμπαιναν σαν λεζάντες στην εκάστοτε σελίδα.
Σαφώς και η όλη ιστορία με τον ρώσικο χρυσό, την αντεπανάσταση και πόσα άλλα οριακά κλισέ εργαλεία πλοκής θα μπορούσε να πουλήσει τρελά αν ταμπελιαζόταν ως pulp fiction και κυκλοφορούσε 60-70 χρόνια πριν, εκεί που η δίψα για κομμουνιστικό αίμα ήταν τεράστια και θα πούλαγε μια ιστορία για τους χ κομμουνιστές που θέλουν να αξιοποιήσουν τον πλούτο των ξεπεσμένων αριστοκρατών για να ρίξουν τους ψ κομμουνιστές που παραστράτησαν. Αυτό που σώζει μακράν το βιβλίο, είναι η αξιοθαύμαστη προσοχή του Κούτσερ στην ιστορική ακρίβεια και λεπτομέρεια, στοιχείο που πραγματικά ανεβάζει το βιβλίο πολλά επίπεδα. Είναι τρομακτικά προσεκτικός στο τι γράφει ώστε να συνάδει με την εποχή που τρέχει η ιστορία, σε ένα μεσοπολεμικό Βερολίνο του 1929, χωνευτήρι λαών, κινημάτων και ιδεολογιών, μερικές εξ αυτών όπως εκ των υστέρων φάνηκε καταστροφικές. Του βγάζω το καπέλο για αυτή του την ικανότητα να με ψήνει να ψάξω την τάδε ή την δείνα πληροφορία, είναι από μόνο του λόγος να πάρω και το δεύτερο μεταφρασμένο του. Ο Κούτσερ περιγράφει την πτώση της δημοκρατίας της Βαϊμάρης με όχημα το αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα.
Μια σημείωση για την μετάφραση/επιμέλεια: Καταλαβαίνω πως έγινε για λόγους ομοιομορφίας αλλά το να είναι μαζεμένες οι σημειώσεις του μεταφραστή και οι επεξηγήσεις στο τέλος αναγκάζει τον αναγνώστη σε ένα διαρκές πήγαινε-έλα που κουράζει πολύ και τον πετάει συνεχώς έξω από την ροή της ιστορίας. Πολύ καλύτερο να έμπαιναν σαν λεζάντες στην εκάστοτε σελίδα.
July 19, 2017
Being a fan of the Philip Kerr Bernie Gunther series, this book looked tailor made for me.
It was really interesting, reading the experiences of a different character with almost the same role as Gunther has in (many of) the novels about him - a homicide detective in the Berlin Police force in the 1920s/1930s.
The story could quite easily be a Gunther novel but the main character Gereon Rath is a different kettle of fish. Gunther might eb cynical and hard-bitten but he is passionate and full of life. Rath I find to be a cold fish, possibly almost "psychopathic" in the sense of not being fully engaged with his fellow men. At one point he kills a man and buries him in concrete and there never seems to be a point where the dead man actually deserved it. Rath killed him accidentally, admittedly, but he simply buried the body because it made his life easier.
Having said all that, and that the main character is not massively sympathetic, the atmosphere of the 1920s is incredibly well evoked and the characters are all well drawn, well rounded and interesting.
The plot is interesting, too, from a historical viewpoint, all bound up with the Communists and Nazis of early 1930s Germany.
Googling around, I read that a high profile TV series is being made in Germany and will air in the UK towards the end of the year. Should be good.
It was really interesting, reading the experiences of a different character with almost the same role as Gunther has in (many of) the novels about him - a homicide detective in the Berlin Police force in the 1920s/1930s.
The story could quite easily be a Gunther novel but the main character Gereon Rath is a different kettle of fish. Gunther might eb cynical and hard-bitten but he is passionate and full of life. Rath I find to be a cold fish, possibly almost "psychopathic" in the sense of not being fully engaged with his fellow men. At one point he kills a man and buries him in concrete and there never seems to be a point where the dead man actually deserved it. Rath killed him accidentally, admittedly, but he simply buried the body because it made his life easier.
Having said all that, and that the main character is not massively sympathetic, the atmosphere of the 1920s is incredibly well evoked and the characters are all well drawn, well rounded and interesting.
The plot is interesting, too, from a historical viewpoint, all bound up with the Communists and Nazis of early 1930s Germany.
Googling around, I read that a high profile TV series is being made in Germany and will air in the UK towards the end of the year. Should be good.
March 26, 2018
like a 3.7 rounded up
Babylon Berlin is a book I didn't even know existed until I watched the Netflix series with this title a few weeks back. When I saw that it came from a book, I knew I had to read it. I also have the second one, The Silent Death, sitting here but it will have to wait until I return from vacation. Speaking of the Netflix series, anyone planning to read this book should know right up front that the book is not the series -- they are two very different entities, so a word of warning: don't expect the novel to be a mirror to the television show.
very teeny bits of plot are here with no spoilers:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/03/...
First novels in a series are generally the weakest, but this one is actually quite good. I mean, the reality is that there is a book two and beyond so we know things are going to work out, but I swear, I was on pins and needles throughout, wondering how the main character, Gideon Rath, was going to fare. But there's also the element of the here and now in this city that captured my attention; there are brief mentions of Hitler and of Nazis but this is a very "in this moment" sort of book that doesn't really give any clue as to where Germany will go in the next few years.
One reader noted that this book reminded her of the novels of Marek Krajewski, but I'm not sure I agree with that assessment -- Krajewski's work gets down into the deepest decadence of this period in ways that this book and author never do. I've also seen more than one comparison of Babylon Berlin to the work of Philip Kerr, but again, I don't think that's exactly accurate either. And good news for those readers who found this book "too long" and "tedious" -- there's also a graphic novel available.
If you can divorce yourself while reading this book from the stunning Netflix series, it turns into a very good read. Otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment since aside from people and a couple of plot elements that carry from page to screen, the two are very, very different.
Do not miss the series though; unexpected twists in every episode will keep you glued and wanting to binge.
Babylon Berlin is a book I didn't even know existed until I watched the Netflix series with this title a few weeks back. When I saw that it came from a book, I knew I had to read it. I also have the second one, The Silent Death, sitting here but it will have to wait until I return from vacation. Speaking of the Netflix series, anyone planning to read this book should know right up front that the book is not the series -- they are two very different entities, so a word of warning: don't expect the novel to be a mirror to the television show.
very teeny bits of plot are here with no spoilers:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/03/...
First novels in a series are generally the weakest, but this one is actually quite good. I mean, the reality is that there is a book two and beyond so we know things are going to work out, but I swear, I was on pins and needles throughout, wondering how the main character, Gideon Rath, was going to fare. But there's also the element of the here and now in this city that captured my attention; there are brief mentions of Hitler and of Nazis but this is a very "in this moment" sort of book that doesn't really give any clue as to where Germany will go in the next few years.
One reader noted that this book reminded her of the novels of Marek Krajewski, but I'm not sure I agree with that assessment -- Krajewski's work gets down into the deepest decadence of this period in ways that this book and author never do. I've also seen more than one comparison of Babylon Berlin to the work of Philip Kerr, but again, I don't think that's exactly accurate either. And good news for those readers who found this book "too long" and "tedious" -- there's also a graphic novel available.
If you can divorce yourself while reading this book from the stunning Netflix series, it turns into a very good read. Otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment since aside from people and a couple of plot elements that carry from page to screen, the two are very, very different.
Do not miss the series though; unexpected twists in every episode will keep you glued and wanting to binge.
May 24, 2018
her zamanki gibi keşke dizisinden önce kitabını okusaydım dedim ama iletişim yayınları geç kalıp diziden sonra yayımladı kitabı :/ babylon berlin dizisinin uyarlandığı kitap ıslak balık 1929'da geçen bir polisiye.
polis teşkilatı, bolşevikler, troçki'nin peşinde stalin, kızılları silahlandırmaya yarayacak rus aristokratlarının altınları ve en korkuncu yavaş yavaş kendini gösteren ss'ler...
1. dünya savaşı sonrası almanya'yı ve adım adım nasyonal sosyalizme giden yolu çok iyi bir polisiye kurgusuyla yazmış volker kutscher.
ağır işleyen, detaylarla dolu bir polisiye.
bu arada dizide konu bayağı değişmiş, hiç okumadan da izlenebilir ya da sadece o görsel şölen ve müzikler için izlenebilir.
kitap hakkında agos'a yazdım: http://tembelveyazar.blogspot.com.tr/...
polis teşkilatı, bolşevikler, troçki'nin peşinde stalin, kızılları silahlandırmaya yarayacak rus aristokratlarının altınları ve en korkuncu yavaş yavaş kendini gösteren ss'ler...
1. dünya savaşı sonrası almanya'yı ve adım adım nasyonal sosyalizme giden yolu çok iyi bir polisiye kurgusuyla yazmış volker kutscher.
ağır işleyen, detaylarla dolu bir polisiye.
bu arada dizide konu bayağı değişmiş, hiç okumadan da izlenebilir ya da sadece o görsel şölen ve müzikler için izlenebilir.
kitap hakkında agos'a yazdım: http://tembelveyazar.blogspot.com.tr/...
January 12, 2025
През късната пролет на 1929 г. Берлин посреща новопристигналия комисар Гереон Рат с пасаж мокри риби, което е немският полицейски жаргон за “неразрешени случаи”. Опитващият се да загърби миналото Рат се оказва здраво забъркан в пъстрия и доста опасен нощен живот на столицата, където вече се долавя бъдещата нацистка разруха, все още възпирана от многообразието в обществения и политическия живот на късната Ваймарска република. Шества и червената заплаха, макар тя вече да е беззъба и залязваща. За сметка на зловещата репресия от страна на държавата…
Романът е едновременно криминален и исторически, което ми достави голямо удоволствие. Дори - нещо рядко - спокойно и бавничко отгръщах страниците, без бързане да видя какво ще се случи или просто да пропусна скучен момент. Защото скучни моменти няма. Действието стабилно и неотклонно се движи, очертавайки една отминала и по-слабо изследвана епоха в германската история. Липсват резки шокове с цел сензация или емоционално изнудване на читателя, станали напоследък запазена марка на масовите трилъри. Липсва и изкуствения пълнеж на страници с цел да се срещнем с голямото “Бум!” в самия край. Но бумтежите са разпръснати из всяка страница - в различните малки клетки на берлинското общество, които все още очертават някакъв шанс нацизмът и тоталитаризмът да не се случат.
Стискам палци “Парадокс” да преведат и останалите книги от поредицата! Историята е чудесно развита, а картата на съвременен Берлин прозира през наслоените пластове време.
——
П.П. Поредицата е в основата на сериала “Берлински Вавилон”. За мен книгата е за предпочитане - сериала така и не го догледах, тъй като му липсваше единна свързваща нишка и беше натъпкан с опити за сензационност.
——
П.П.П. Само пет от десетте книги са с английски издания, което е срамота за чудесната поредица.
August 21, 2018
"Sometimes I have the impression that A Division devours CID officers like Cronos did his children."
As a new DCI for the Vice Division, Gereon Rath soon finds that his aspirations have landed him right smack in the middle of a knot of twisted connections and questionable allegiances. Babylon Berlin starts out with Gereon (and us) as the new guy in town. Quickly, things are happening and finding one's balance is soon a rollercoaster ride of pornography, nightclubs, drugs, and dead bodies.
In Homicide, he had known why he worked for the police. But Vice? Who cared about a bit of pornography every now and then? Self-proclaimed moral apostles perhaps, for they too had found their place in the Republic, but Rath didn't count himself amongst them.
I can see why this was made into a tv series; it has more happening in it than a lot of books get to in three. This is chockfull, well-plotted, and has enough intrigue to highlight just how political police work really is.The Interwar period is one of my favorites and definitely made this more interesting. The details of Berlin from the architecture, cars, new department stores to the more obvious communist and growing nazi elements in the city are so unobtrusively relayed that you feel enveloped as the reader rather than a distant observer. This is rather gritty and I really really liked it.
Stephan Jänicke sat on the rear seat with the type of frozen face only an East Prussian could achieve. There wasn't the slightest trace of emotion in it. Rath knew that the rookie hadn't exchanged a single word with the doorman in the last half hour. Not even the East Westphalians with whom Rath worked with in Cologne could manage that.
It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. The english translation for the second in the series, The Silent Death, is due this winter and I am eager. Please note that it is British English not American English.
As a new DCI for the Vice Division, Gereon Rath soon finds that his aspirations have landed him right smack in the middle of a knot of twisted connections and questionable allegiances. Babylon Berlin starts out with Gereon (and us) as the new guy in town. Quickly, things are happening and finding one's balance is soon a rollercoaster ride of pornography, nightclubs, drugs, and dead bodies.
In Homicide, he had known why he worked for the police. But Vice? Who cared about a bit of pornography every now and then? Self-proclaimed moral apostles perhaps, for they too had found their place in the Republic, but Rath didn't count himself amongst them.
I can see why this was made into a tv series; it has more happening in it than a lot of books get to in three. This is chockfull, well-plotted, and has enough intrigue to highlight just how political police work really is.The Interwar period is one of my favorites and definitely made this more interesting. The details of Berlin from the architecture, cars, new department stores to the more obvious communist and growing nazi elements in the city are so unobtrusively relayed that you feel enveloped as the reader rather than a distant observer. This is rather gritty and I really really liked it.
Stephan Jänicke sat on the rear seat with the type of frozen face only an East Prussian could achieve. There wasn't the slightest trace of emotion in it. Rath knew that the rookie hadn't exchanged a single word with the doorman in the last half hour. Not even the East Westphalians with whom Rath worked with in Cologne could manage that.
It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. The english translation for the second in the series, The Silent Death, is due this winter and I am eager. Please note that it is British English not American English.
May 23, 2018
“Babylon Berlin” (the English title of both the book and the series) is already causing an enormous buzz in Germany: Kutscher’s hardboiled crime novel has been turned into the most expensive German series ever, produced and partly directed by none other than Tom Tykwer (“Cloud Atlas”, “Perfume” etc.), an orgy of decors and costumes bringing to life the Berlin of the Weimar Republic (between WW I and II). If you’re German, having “Variety” repeatedly reporting about a series produced in your country is quite a novelty, plus the series raises interest as it features both well-established stars (Brandt, Eidinger, Herzsprung) and popular newcomers (Bruch, Fries).
Kutscher’s book is telling the story of Gereon Rath who, unlike his classical counterparts Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, is not a private, but a police detective. Rath is the new guy in town and gets involved in a case that has links to many historical circumstances: The “Bloody May” (Blutmai) of 1929 in which the police killed and injured people who took part in an unauthorized rally organized by the Communist Party (KPD), the growing strength of the paramilitary Nazi “brownshirts”, and the sparkling Berlin night life of the time with its famous cabarets and vibrant cultural scene – a world that collapsed with the Wall Street Crash and Hitler’s rise to power.
The book lives from its setting and its strong main character, and though the text is clearly a little too long, it is pretty entertaining. I am curious to see what Tykwer managed to make out of it.
Kutscher’s book is telling the story of Gereon Rath who, unlike his classical counterparts Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, is not a private, but a police detective. Rath is the new guy in town and gets involved in a case that has links to many historical circumstances: The “Bloody May” (Blutmai) of 1929 in which the police killed and injured people who took part in an unauthorized rally organized by the Communist Party (KPD), the growing strength of the paramilitary Nazi “brownshirts”, and the sparkling Berlin night life of the time with its famous cabarets and vibrant cultural scene – a world that collapsed with the Wall Street Crash and Hitler’s rise to power.
The book lives from its setting and its strong main character, and though the text is clearly a little too long, it is pretty entertaining. I am curious to see what Tykwer managed to make out of it.
December 10, 2024
2,5 Sterne Hat mich leider nicht überzeugt. Wollte eigentlich 3 Sterne vergeben, aber wegen des scheußlichen Endes gibt es noch mal einen halben Stern Abzug.
Ich zögere, die Reihe fortzusetzen. Mag mich jemand überzeugen weiterzumachen? (Bin echt kein Krimi-Fan).
Ich zögere, die Reihe fortzusetzen. Mag mich jemand überzeugen weiterzumachen? (Bin echt kein Krimi-Fan).
June 22, 2016
First in a series of crime stories set during the "Weimar Republic" - the unofficial designation for the German state between 1919 and 1933, when it was ended by Hitler and his right wing associates. The main character is Kriminalkommissar Gereon Rath of Berlin's Homicide Squad. Rath has been transferred to Berlin after a shooting incident ended his successful career in the Cologne Homicide Division. First though, he's sent to work with the Vice Squad in Berlin, a job he hates, even though he's been befriended by his boss, Chief Inspector Wolter. Berlin 1929 is a city of violent political unrest with the Commissioner of Police ordering the Vice Squad to join their uniformed colleagues in enforcing a ban on May Day demonstrations. The result is catastrophic with many dead and injured, and a state of emergency declared in the Communist strongholds of Berlin. Meanwhile, Rath has become involved with a murder case after a car - with a mutilated corpse inside - is hauled out of city’s Landwehr Canal. Berlin's Police Commissioner decides to use this mystery to divert the attention of press and public from the casualties of the May Day demonstrations. But first, there's one of many problems with the canal murder case - the corpse can't be identified. Working on his own, Gereon Rath uncovers a conspiracy involving a secret cache of gold bullion and weapons deals between Germany's new army - The Reichswehr - and Nazi stormptroopers. Along the way are a spate of murders, some love interest between Rath and a female police officer and a wealth of colourful characters from Berlin's criminal class. Despite the occasional confusion in the plot, I enjoyed this book and hope that more translations of Volker Kutscher's Rath novels follow soon.
December 19, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable crime scamper through that most foreboding of places Weimar Berlin. Quite different from the excellent tv series.
February 27, 2020
Mit "Der nasse Fisch" legt Volker Kutscher den ersten Band seiner Reihe um den Kommissar Gereon Rath vor, der im Berlin der 1920er/1930er Jahre Mordfälle aufklärt. Die Reihe ist mittlerweile um einige Bände angewachsen und erlangte vor wenigen Jahren zusätzliche Bekanntheit, als sie unter dem Namen Babylon Berlin als Vorlage für eine aufwändig produzierte Fernsehserie diente.
In dem Fall, der den Neu-Berliner Gereon erst zur Sittenpolizei, dann zur Mord bringt, fließen die Ansätze verschiedener Ermittlungen zusammen. Es geht um Pornofotos mit Doppelgängern der Politprominenz, um verschwundenes Gold, um Machtkämpfe zwischen Bolschewiken und Zaristen, um die aufkeimende Nazibrut und verbotene Militärs. Mittendrin unser Ermittler, skandalumwoben und frisch verliebt in Charly, eine kompetente Stenotypistin.
Das Buch liest sich flott weg und ist sehr unterhaltsam. Der solide Kriminalfall bietet viele Wendungen und falsche Fährten, die Auflösung ist stimmig. Die eingeführten Charaktere bleiben zwar teils noch etwas blass, bieten aber auf jeden Fall genug Raum für weitere Entfaltung in kommenden Bänden. Auch die zeitgenössische Stimmung kommt gut rüber - der Filter des Berlins der 20er Jahre sitzt.
Dennoch habe ich mich dazu entschieden, die Reihe nicht weiterzulesen. Der Grund hierfür liegt darin, dass ich die Serie bereits kenne - die ersten beiden Staffeln habe ich mehrfach gesehen, die dritte live auf Sky, während ich dieses Buch las. Und ich muss sagen, dass ich mich im "Serienuniversum" sehr viel wohler fühle. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass mich das zusätzliche Material der Serie besonders fasziniert, hier spreche vor allem von den weit komplexeren Charakteren, allen voran den Frauen. Die Serien-Charlotte finde ich weitaus faszinierender, die unfassbar tolle Gräfin spielt im Buch nur eine verschwindend kleine Rolle, Hannah Rath gar keine. Der Kriminialfall war, zumindest im ersten Band, erstaunlich nah dran am Buch. Keine Ahnung, ob das in den nächsten Bänden auch so ist, aber ich werde vorsichtshalber lieber am Bildschirm miträtseln und mich nicht vom Buch spoilern lassen - soll es ja auch geben, sowas ;)
Abgesehen von dieser, meiner persönlichen Entscheidung, ist dieser grundsolide Krimi mit einem ordentlichen Schuss deutscher Geschichte für Genrefans durchaus empfehlenswert.
In dem Fall, der den Neu-Berliner Gereon erst zur Sittenpolizei, dann zur Mord bringt, fließen die Ansätze verschiedener Ermittlungen zusammen. Es geht um Pornofotos mit Doppelgängern der Politprominenz, um verschwundenes Gold, um Machtkämpfe zwischen Bolschewiken und Zaristen, um die aufkeimende Nazibrut und verbotene Militärs. Mittendrin unser Ermittler, skandalumwoben und frisch verliebt in Charly, eine kompetente Stenotypistin.
Das Buch liest sich flott weg und ist sehr unterhaltsam. Der solide Kriminalfall bietet viele Wendungen und falsche Fährten, die Auflösung ist stimmig. Die eingeführten Charaktere bleiben zwar teils noch etwas blass, bieten aber auf jeden Fall genug Raum für weitere Entfaltung in kommenden Bänden. Auch die zeitgenössische Stimmung kommt gut rüber - der Filter des Berlins der 20er Jahre sitzt.
Dennoch habe ich mich dazu entschieden, die Reihe nicht weiterzulesen. Der Grund hierfür liegt darin, dass ich die Serie bereits kenne - die ersten beiden Staffeln habe ich mehrfach gesehen, die dritte live auf Sky, während ich dieses Buch las. Und ich muss sagen, dass ich mich im "Serienuniversum" sehr viel wohler fühle. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass mich das zusätzliche Material der Serie besonders fasziniert, hier spreche vor allem von den weit komplexeren Charakteren, allen voran den Frauen. Die Serien-Charlotte finde ich weitaus faszinierender, die unfassbar tolle Gräfin spielt im Buch nur eine verschwindend kleine Rolle, Hannah Rath gar keine. Der Kriminialfall war, zumindest im ersten Band, erstaunlich nah dran am Buch. Keine Ahnung, ob das in den nächsten Bänden auch so ist, aber ich werde vorsichtshalber lieber am Bildschirm miträtseln und mich nicht vom Buch spoilern lassen - soll es ja auch geben, sowas ;)
Abgesehen von dieser, meiner persönlichen Entscheidung, ist dieser grundsolide Krimi mit einem ordentlichen Schuss deutscher Geschichte für Genrefans durchaus empfehlenswert.
September 20, 2013
Dieses Buch könnte wirklich fantastisch sein – wenn es nicht so unterirdisch schlecht geschrieben wäre.
Ganz im Ernst, könnte man hier null Sterne vergeben, würde ich es tun.
Allerdings muss ich auch zugeben, dass ich das Buch nicht sehr lange gelesen habe. Ich bin nur etwa 60 Seiten weit gekommen.
Und bevor jetzt alle wieder das Schreien anfangen, von wegen „Wie kannst du es wagen, ein Buch zu be- und verurteilen, obwohl du es gar nicht zu Ende gelesen hast?“, hier ist der Grund:
Weil es mich nicht mehr interessiert! Dieses Buch ist so schlecht, dass es schon auf den ersten gerade mal 60 Seiten geschafft hat, mir mein anfänglich großes Interesse zu nehmen und es dann auch noch in komplette Gleichgültigkeit zu verwandeln.
Deshalb!
Ich hatte das Buch bei meinem letzten Berlin-Urlaub in einem Hugendubel entdeckt und der Klappentext versprach auf jeden Fall spannende Unterhaltung. Dann hatte ich noch ein bisschen reingelesen, irgendwo in der Mitte, und es hörte sich tatsächlich gar nicht so schlecht an. Ich hatte eine Stelle erwischt, in der die Leute tatsächlich „Berlinerisch“ reden (wenn auch nicht immer ganz korrekt) und ich mag diesen Dialekt. Schließlich bin ich ja Berlinerin. (Zwar „im Exil“, aber ich bin in Berlin geboren und habe immerhin 21 Jahre da gelebt.)
Berlin in den 20er/30er Jahren, politische Wirren, Mord… klang auch nicht schlecht.
Also entschloss ich mich dazu das Buch zu kaufen und freute mich auf einen schönen, „alten“, spannenden Berlin-Krimi.
Diese Freude verpuffte allerdings praktisch gleich nach dem Prolog.
Ja, okay, Gereon Rath arbeitet zur Zeit bei der Sitte. Mir ist klar, dass es da sprachlich etwas derber zugeht, aber irgendwie hatte ich trotzdem die ganze Zeit das Gefühl, ich befinde mich im Berlin der Gegenwart. Polizei und Abteilung Sitte hin oder her, das ist in einer so derart… einfachen und ordinären Sprache geschrieben, dass absolut keine 20er-Jahre-Atmosphäre aufkommen will. Sätze wie „Der König bumst beim Kaiser“ oder „Ein fickender Kaiser reicht da nicht“, finde ich weder besonders lustig noch irgendwie 20er-Jahre-Style.
Und 20er Jahre Pornos? Echt jetzt? Damit fängt das Buch an? Rasend interessant.
Und dann kommt auch noch der kokainsüchtige Strippenzieher. Genau.
Die Charaktere bleiben absolut flach und uninteressant, es gibt keinen Punkt, an dem man irgendwie mit einem von ihnen mitfiebert oder dass auch nur ein Fünkchen Sympathie aufkommt, die Dialoge wirken lustlos und konstruiert. Ich hatte den Eindruck, der Autor will einem irgendwie vermitteln, dass die Jungs von der Sitte eine total gute und coole Truppe sind, aber für den Leser kommen sie nur wie gefühllose Idioten rüber. Oder zumindest mal für mich.
Und wie ich diese Frage hasse: „Wann hattest du eigentlich zum letzten mal eine Frau? Kein Wunder, dass du dich bei der Sitte nicht wohlfühlst, wenn du lebst wie ein Mönch.“
Ja. Sex ist die Lösung für alle Probleme.
Gott sei Dank schläft der Protagonist im nächsten Absatz gleich mal mit seiner 10 Jahre älteren Cougar-Vermieterin, die er eigentlich gar nicht leiden kann und über die er vorher nur gelästert hat. Und obwohl er gerade behauptet hat, er „hatte vorerst die Nase voll von Frauen“. Was für ein toller Kerl!
Nee, echt nicht.
Und es hilft auch nichts, wenn man dem Leser erklärt, dass man gerade über den Alexanderplatz läuft. Und dass das Präsidium am Alexanderplatz steht. Oder dass ein Auto über den Alexanderplatz fährt. Wir haben es begriffen!!! Du hältst dich am Alexanderplatz auf!!!
Ach, überhaupt! Die ersten 60 Seiten dieses Buches waren langweilig, konstruiert, humorlos und absolut enttäuschend. Ich hatte etwas erwartet wie z. B. die Charaktere in dem Film „M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder“ (Ja, dumm von mir, ich weiß.), was ich gekriegt habe, waren kokainsüchtige Pornokaiser, die nicht richtig berlinern können.
Da ich mich geschichtlich in dieser Zeit nicht wirklich gut auskenne, hätte ich die ab und zu von anderen Lesern erwähnten „inhaltlichen Fehler“ sowieso nicht mitgekriegt, daher hat mich daran auch nichts gestört. Andererseits ist auf den ersten 60 Seiten ja auch noch gar nichts passiert – weder fallmäßig noch politisch.
Und dem Autor ist es in diesen 60 Seiten nicht gelungen, mich davon zu überzeugen, dass das Buch danach besser wird; dass die Charaktere eine Entwicklung zum Besseren durchmachen werden; dass es sich lohnt, sich durch den Anfang zu quälen und einfach weiterzulesen, weil man am Ende mit einem spannenden Finale und einer überraschenden, einleuchtenden Wendung belohnt wird.
Nein, DAS Vertrauen kam in mir nie auf.
Deshalb habe ich mich entschlossen, dieses Buch nicht weiter zu lesen. Es ist mir absolut und komplett piep egal, was mit Gereon Rath und den anderen passiert und was es nun mit dem Toten auf sich hat.
Ganz im Ernst, könnte man hier null Sterne vergeben, würde ich es tun.
Allerdings muss ich auch zugeben, dass ich das Buch nicht sehr lange gelesen habe. Ich bin nur etwa 60 Seiten weit gekommen.
Und bevor jetzt alle wieder das Schreien anfangen, von wegen „Wie kannst du es wagen, ein Buch zu be- und verurteilen, obwohl du es gar nicht zu Ende gelesen hast?“, hier ist der Grund:
Weil es mich nicht mehr interessiert! Dieses Buch ist so schlecht, dass es schon auf den ersten gerade mal 60 Seiten geschafft hat, mir mein anfänglich großes Interesse zu nehmen und es dann auch noch in komplette Gleichgültigkeit zu verwandeln.
Deshalb!
Ich hatte das Buch bei meinem letzten Berlin-Urlaub in einem Hugendubel entdeckt und der Klappentext versprach auf jeden Fall spannende Unterhaltung. Dann hatte ich noch ein bisschen reingelesen, irgendwo in der Mitte, und es hörte sich tatsächlich gar nicht so schlecht an. Ich hatte eine Stelle erwischt, in der die Leute tatsächlich „Berlinerisch“ reden (wenn auch nicht immer ganz korrekt) und ich mag diesen Dialekt. Schließlich bin ich ja Berlinerin. (Zwar „im Exil“, aber ich bin in Berlin geboren und habe immerhin 21 Jahre da gelebt.)
Berlin in den 20er/30er Jahren, politische Wirren, Mord… klang auch nicht schlecht.
Also entschloss ich mich dazu das Buch zu kaufen und freute mich auf einen schönen, „alten“, spannenden Berlin-Krimi.
Diese Freude verpuffte allerdings praktisch gleich nach dem Prolog.
Ja, okay, Gereon Rath arbeitet zur Zeit bei der Sitte. Mir ist klar, dass es da sprachlich etwas derber zugeht, aber irgendwie hatte ich trotzdem die ganze Zeit das Gefühl, ich befinde mich im Berlin der Gegenwart. Polizei und Abteilung Sitte hin oder her, das ist in einer so derart… einfachen und ordinären Sprache geschrieben, dass absolut keine 20er-Jahre-Atmosphäre aufkommen will. Sätze wie „Der König bumst beim Kaiser“ oder „Ein fickender Kaiser reicht da nicht“, finde ich weder besonders lustig noch irgendwie 20er-Jahre-Style.
Und 20er Jahre Pornos? Echt jetzt? Damit fängt das Buch an? Rasend interessant.
Und dann kommt auch noch der kokainsüchtige Strippenzieher. Genau.
Die Charaktere bleiben absolut flach und uninteressant, es gibt keinen Punkt, an dem man irgendwie mit einem von ihnen mitfiebert oder dass auch nur ein Fünkchen Sympathie aufkommt, die Dialoge wirken lustlos und konstruiert. Ich hatte den Eindruck, der Autor will einem irgendwie vermitteln, dass die Jungs von der Sitte eine total gute und coole Truppe sind, aber für den Leser kommen sie nur wie gefühllose Idioten rüber. Oder zumindest mal für mich.
Und wie ich diese Frage hasse: „Wann hattest du eigentlich zum letzten mal eine Frau? Kein Wunder, dass du dich bei der Sitte nicht wohlfühlst, wenn du lebst wie ein Mönch.“
Ja. Sex ist die Lösung für alle Probleme.
Gott sei Dank schläft der Protagonist im nächsten Absatz gleich mal mit seiner 10 Jahre älteren Cougar-Vermieterin, die er eigentlich gar nicht leiden kann und über die er vorher nur gelästert hat. Und obwohl er gerade behauptet hat, er „hatte vorerst die Nase voll von Frauen“. Was für ein toller Kerl!
Nee, echt nicht.
Und es hilft auch nichts, wenn man dem Leser erklärt, dass man gerade über den Alexanderplatz läuft. Und dass das Präsidium am Alexanderplatz steht. Oder dass ein Auto über den Alexanderplatz fährt. Wir haben es begriffen!!! Du hältst dich am Alexanderplatz auf!!!
Ach, überhaupt! Die ersten 60 Seiten dieses Buches waren langweilig, konstruiert, humorlos und absolut enttäuschend. Ich hatte etwas erwartet wie z. B. die Charaktere in dem Film „M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder“ (Ja, dumm von mir, ich weiß.), was ich gekriegt habe, waren kokainsüchtige Pornokaiser, die nicht richtig berlinern können.
Da ich mich geschichtlich in dieser Zeit nicht wirklich gut auskenne, hätte ich die ab und zu von anderen Lesern erwähnten „inhaltlichen Fehler“ sowieso nicht mitgekriegt, daher hat mich daran auch nichts gestört. Andererseits ist auf den ersten 60 Seiten ja auch noch gar nichts passiert – weder fallmäßig noch politisch.
Und dem Autor ist es in diesen 60 Seiten nicht gelungen, mich davon zu überzeugen, dass das Buch danach besser wird; dass die Charaktere eine Entwicklung zum Besseren durchmachen werden; dass es sich lohnt, sich durch den Anfang zu quälen und einfach weiterzulesen, weil man am Ende mit einem spannenden Finale und einer überraschenden, einleuchtenden Wendung belohnt wird.
Nein, DAS Vertrauen kam in mir nie auf.
Deshalb habe ich mich entschlossen, dieses Buch nicht weiter zu lesen. Es ist mir absolut und komplett piep egal, was mit Gereon Rath und den anderen passiert und was es nun mit dem Toten auf sich hat.
September 23, 2021
When Tom Tykver applies talented hands to excellent literary material, and the most expensive non-English-language series is born: a delightful stylish retro noir-it is no wonder to forget about the source. Volker Kucher's book, however, is worth a few kind words
In fact, the first novel about the adventures of Berlin police Commissioner Gereon Rath is called Der nasse Fisch-wet fish. An idiom that means the same as the Russian "capercaillie" or "hangman" in the professional slang of the German police. Although in this case, some aspects coincide literally. The corpse of a man who was subjected to monstrous tortures before his death is pulled out of the water and yes, it does not look like a crime that will be solved in hot pursuit.
Здесь мой город, мой Вавилон
Вчера один труп русского, сегодня второй. Эти люди рискованно живут! Может быть, они имеют дело не с теми, с кем надо.
Когда к отменному литературному материалу прилагает талантливые руки Том Тыквер, и на свет является самый дорогой неанглоязычный сериал: восхитительный стильный ретро-нуар - об источнике немудрено позабыть. Книга Фолькера Кучера, тем не менее, стоит нескольких добрых слов
На самом деле, первый роман о похождениях комиссара берлинской полиции Гереона Рата называется Der nasse Fisch - мокрая рыба. Идиома, обозначающая то же, что русский "глухарь" или "висяк" на профессиональном сленге немецкой полиции. Хотя в этом случае некоторые аспекты совпадают буквально. Труп мужчины, который перед смертью подвергался чудовищным пыткам, вытаскивают из воды и да, это не выглядит преступлением, которое удастся раскрыть по горячим следам.
Вскоре удается выяснить, что он был русским и каким-то образом связан с исчезнувшей недавно певицей кабаре Ланой Никорос, псевдоним которой не что иное, как анаграмма Светланы Сорокиной - русской графини эмигрантки, выступающей под этим именем. Молодой амбициозный комиссар берлинской полиции Гереон Рат, недавно переведенный из Кельна в, берлинскую полицию нравственности понимает, что для него это расследование шанс получить работу в отделе убийств (знаменитом отделе А).
Нельзя не сказать несколько слов о возникновении этого подразделения, созданного усилиями тогдашнего его шефа Эрнста Генната, известного как "полный Эрнст", который прославился инновационным и очень эффективным подходом к расследованию убийств. Он добился, чтобы в группу по расследованию входило от четырех до шести человек, если нужно - с кинологом, сопровождающим служебную собаку. По его проекту была оборудована "машина убийств" - передвижная лаборатория на базе Даймлер-Бенца. Тот Геннат, что шеф Рата в книге - име��но он.
На дворе двадцать девятый, Веймарская республика еще кажется вполне жизнеспособным социально-политическим конструктом. Да. коррумпирована и аморальна, но гостиничный номер по-прежнему можно снять за пять марок, а неделя жизни в пансионе обойдется вам в пятнадцать.
Восхитительное смешение бюргерской респектабельности с бурной ночной клубной жизнью. Самая сильная в Европе коммунистическая партия и Рот-Фронт с одной стороны, нарождающийся национал-социализм и чернорубашечники - с другой. Эмигранты и агенты сталинских спецслужб. Организованная преступность, проституция, оружие, наркотики, тонны золота эмиграции, которое ищут все - поистине "Вавилон-Берлин"
Написано хорошо, из худого материала доброго фильма не получилось бы. И атмосфера передана великолепно, такое, знаете, между Ремарком и Ишервудом, сильно проще обоих и с уклоном в криминал. Но детектив стоящмй. И развязка нетривиальная.
In fact, the first novel about the adventures of Berlin police Commissioner Gereon Rath is called Der nasse Fisch-wet fish. An idiom that means the same as the Russian "capercaillie" or "hangman" in the professional slang of the German police. Although in this case, some aspects coincide literally. The corpse of a man who was subjected to monstrous tortures before his death is pulled out of the water and yes, it does not look like a crime that will be solved in hot pursuit.
Здесь мой город, мой Вавилон
Вчера один труп русского, сегодня второй. Эти люди рискованно живут! Может быть, они имеют дело не с теми, с кем надо.
Когда к отменному литературному материалу прилагает талантливые руки Том Тыквер, и на свет является самый дорогой неанглоязычный сериал: восхитительный стильный ретро-нуар - об источнике немудрено позабыть. Книга Фолькера Кучера, тем не менее, стоит нескольких добрых слов
На самом деле, первый роман о похождениях комиссара берлинской полиции Гереона Рата называется Der nasse Fisch - мокрая рыба. Идиома, обозначающая то же, что русский "глухарь" или "висяк" на профессиональном сленге немецкой полиции. Хотя в этом случае некоторые аспекты совпадают буквально. Труп мужчины, который перед смертью подвергался чудовищным пыткам, вытаскивают из воды и да, это не выглядит преступлением, которое удастся раскрыть по горячим следам.
Вскоре удается выяснить, что он был русским и каким-то образом связан с исчезнувшей недавно певицей кабаре Ланой Никорос, псевдоним которой не что иное, как анаграмма Светланы Сорокиной - русской графини эмигрантки, выступающей под этим именем. Молодой амбициозный комиссар берлинской полиции Гереон Рат, недавно переведенный из Кельна в, берлинскую полицию нравственности понимает, что для него это расследование шанс получить работу в отделе убийств (знаменитом отделе А).
Нельзя не сказать несколько слов о возникновении этого подразделения, созданного усилиями тогдашнего его шефа Эрнста Генната, известного как "полный Эрнст", который прославился инновационным и очень эффективным подходом к расследованию убийств. Он добился, чтобы в группу по расследованию входило от четырех до шести человек, если нужно - с кинологом, сопровождающим служебную собаку. По его проекту была оборудована "машина убийств" - передвижная лаборатория на базе Даймлер-Бенца. Тот Геннат, что шеф Рата в книге - име��но он.
На дворе двадцать девятый, Веймарская республика еще кажется вполне жизнеспособным социально-политическим конструктом. Да. коррумпирована и аморальна, но гостиничный номер по-прежнему можно снять за пять марок, а неделя жизни в пансионе обойдется вам в пятнадцать.
Восхитительное смешение бюргерской респектабельности с бурной ночной клубной жизнью. Самая сильная в Европе коммунистическая партия и Рот-Фронт с одной стороны, нарождающийся национал-социализм и чернорубашечники - с другой. Эмигранты и агенты сталинских спецслужб. Организованная преступность, проституция, оружие, наркотики, тонны золота эмиграции, которое ищут все - поистине "Вавилон-Берлин"
Написано хорошо, из худого материала доброго фильма не получилось бы. И атмосфера передана великолепно, такое, знаете, между Ремарком и Ишервудом, сильно проще обоих и с уклоном в криминал. Но детектив стоящмй. И развязка нетривиальная.
February 3, 2017
A thriller taking place in Berlin a few years before the ascension of Adolf Hitler, Babylon Berlin is obviously a success, considering that it has launched a whole series, that it has been translated in many countries, and that it’s been adapted into a TV series. Truth be told, though, this novel isn’t very good. Most of the characters are cliché-ridden and rather superficially drawn (the main hero, inspector Rath is likeable enough but his supposed complexities actually follow all the genre’s conventions to the point that they are predictable). The writing is efficient but bland, and sometimes wooden, especially when it comes to the dialogues. The plot itself, although intricate, isn’t really exciting and its surprises are, well, not very surprising. Yet, Babylon Berlin manages to remain a pleasant read, and there's one reason for that: it benefits immensely from the research Volker Kutscher, the author, has done. Kutscher actually has two aces up his sleeve, and they serve his book well: first, there is the context in which the story takes place. Berlin at the end of the twenties, as the vibrant world of the Weimar Republic is being challenged by political turmoil and the rise of the Nazi movement, is an incredibly fascinating metropolis and is certainly wonderful material for any novel. Second, Kutscher’s knowledge of his subject is remarkable: be it daily life in Berlin, the dark corners of the underworld (Berlin was then the European equivalent of Chicago), the political and economical tensions simmering through all layers of society, or the complicated ways the police administration functions, Kutscher writes as if he had been there, giving immense credibility to his novel, adding depth to his storyline, and painting a colorful portrait of a city on the edge (on that level, it reminded me a little bit of Fritz Lang’s cinematographic masterpiece, M, a far superior work of art). Berlin is the real heart of the novel and is definitively the best thing about it.
July 23, 2023
Die Buchserie ist in den Jahren ab 1929 angelegt. Dies ist ein Teil meines geschichtlichen Lesespektrums. Thema ist die Verstrickung eines Teils der Polizei zur rechten Szene. Die Handlung hat sich im letzten Drittel des Buches verstärkt und Spannung aufgebaut und mein Interesse an der Geschichte gewonnen. Den Hype finde ich etwas übertrieben.
May 25, 2024
šlapia vieta
Istorinius detektyvus mėgstu. Jie daug šarmo prideda vidutiniškiems detektyvams ir juos skaityti darosi kiek įdomiau. ‘Šlapia žuvis’ pateikė daug istorinio tarpukario Berlyno konteksto ir spalvų, bet labai nuvylė siužetiškai.
Berlynas trečio dešimtmečio pabaigoje čia nuteptas ryškiomis spalvomis, o jos neretai įtrauktos ir į siužetą. Pašėlę nelegalūs naktiniai klubai, prabangūs restoranai ir nusivylimo pralaimėtu karu kupinos, beužgimstančio nacizmo nuotaikos. Tokiame kontekste vienas juokas susukti bent jau pusėtiną detektyvą, bet Volker Kutscher kažkaip sugebėjo prašauti. Jis tiek užsižaidė aprašymuose ir lygioje vietoje užgimusia seilėta romantine istorija, kad pamiršo parašyti detektyvą. Ta siužetinė linija yra, bet ji paskęsta pusę knygos užėmusiuose Dorovės policijos reiduose, sekso scenose, kurios buvo neįdomios, jų buvo per daug ir tiesą sakant į lovą sugulta buvo gerokai per anksti - nespėta nei kažkokios traukos tarp veikėjų pajusti. Viskas vyksta itin lėtai, tyrimo praktiškai nėra, viskas pagrindiniam veikėjui tiesiog krenta skraitan, o ir šiaip kai kurie elementai taip akivaizdžiai kišami panosėn, kad vietomis tapdavo viskas skausmingai nuspėjama.
Pagrindinis veikėjas - viena silpniausių knygos vietų - jo nesupranti, jis tipo kietas tyrėjas, bet daro nesąmones ir seilėjasi dėl panos kas trečiame puslapyje ir kuria neįtikėtinas teorijas iš kelių labai silpnų užuominų. Man jis pasirodė vos ne antiherojus vietomis, o vargu ar toks buvo autoriaus užmanymas.
Aukščiausi balai už atmosferą ir istorinę dalį, žemiausi už siužetą ir veikėjus, tai rezultatas gaunasi tikrai prastokas. Džiaugiuosi visgi neužkibusi už stilingo viršelio ir nusipirkusi elektroninę versiją vietoj popierinės, nes serijos toliau netęsiu.
Istorinius detektyvus mėgstu. Jie daug šarmo prideda vidutiniškiems detektyvams ir juos skaityti darosi kiek įdomiau. ‘Šlapia žuvis’ pateikė daug istorinio tarpukario Berlyno konteksto ir spalvų, bet labai nuvylė siužetiškai.
Berlynas trečio dešimtmečio pabaigoje čia nuteptas ryškiomis spalvomis, o jos neretai įtrauktos ir į siužetą. Pašėlę nelegalūs naktiniai klubai, prabangūs restoranai ir nusivylimo pralaimėtu karu kupinos, beužgimstančio nacizmo nuotaikos. Tokiame kontekste vienas juokas susukti bent jau pusėtiną detektyvą, bet Volker Kutscher kažkaip sugebėjo prašauti. Jis tiek užsižaidė aprašymuose ir lygioje vietoje užgimusia seilėta romantine istorija, kad pamiršo parašyti detektyvą. Ta siužetinė linija yra, bet ji paskęsta pusę knygos užėmusiuose Dorovės policijos reiduose, sekso scenose, kurios buvo neįdomios, jų buvo per daug ir tiesą sakant į lovą sugulta buvo gerokai per anksti - nespėta nei kažkokios traukos tarp veikėjų pajusti. Viskas vyksta itin lėtai, tyrimo praktiškai nėra, viskas pagrindiniam veikėjui tiesiog krenta skraitan, o ir šiaip kai kurie elementai taip akivaizdžiai kišami panosėn, kad vietomis tapdavo viskas skausmingai nuspėjama.
Pagrindinis veikėjas - viena silpniausių knygos vietų - jo nesupranti, jis tipo kietas tyrėjas, bet daro nesąmones ir seilėjasi dėl panos kas trečiame puslapyje ir kuria neįtikėtinas teorijas iš kelių labai silpnų užuominų. Man jis pasirodė vos ne antiherojus vietomis, o vargu ar toks buvo autoriaus užmanymas.
Aukščiausi balai už atmosferą ir istorinę dalį, žemiausi už siužetą ir veikėjus, tai rezultatas gaunasi tikrai prastokas. Džiaugiuosi visgi neužkibusi už stilingo viršelio ir nusipirkusi elektroninę versiją vietoj popierinės, nes serijos toliau netęsiu.
July 6, 2019
Berlin Babylon looked so promising. Set against a background of the turmoil of interwar Berlin with its Bolsheviks, Fascists, and Social Democrats warring against each other, a detective with a past that haunts him, and a young stenographer/ detective female lead, it had all the elements to ensure a deep and enthralling thriller. Unfortunately, it decided to stay in the shallow end of the pool . It didn’t really explore the interwar years in depth, or the detective’s inner struggles, and the character development of the female ‘hero’ remained fairly superficial. There was a lot of action, and that action was exciting, but I wanted more.
April 18, 2019
Babylon Berlin is the brilliant German TV show based upon the writing and books of Volker Kutscher and his leading character police inspector Gereon Rath in Weimer Germany also known as Interbellum, the period between the two great wars in Europe in the twentieth century. The story is set in Berlin in the year 1929. The Russian revolution is still fresh, the German Emperor is growing tulips in the Netherlands ( a neutral nation during WWI and one of the richest European countries after that war, giving asylum to the German leader). And a fascists are a growing movement in Europe which is a flowerbed of angry sentiments towards their leaders and those they deem guilty for their place in live.
Rath has been transferred to Berlin from his hometown Cologne after he got involved with a deadly shooting. He is attached to the Vice department of the Berlin police. And during the 1st of May demonstrations of the communists the city runs amok and Rath by pure chance finds himself in the morgue and face to whats-left-of-face with a victim who had been drunk at his door in the middle of the night a few days before. The unknown victim does serve the Murder squad with a question that cannot be solved or so it seems. With Rath having a few more answers and not stopped due to his ambitions to become part of the legendary Berlin murder-squad.
His lifestyle and quest for questions to prove himself does bring Rath in big problems and he has to be smart and wicked to get out a beautiful mess he got himself in. And his attempt at romance leaves quite a lot to be required.
Generally one expects the books to be better than the TV show and it is absolutely not, the series is a beautiful celebration of Berlin, shows the darker side and the historical Berlin in a great way. And the roles played by the women in the book are vastly improved upon what Kutscher wrote. So watch the series and just enjoy the book that is well researched and it shows in his description of the era Rath is placed. The book is an easy and well written story.
Before this book I read the brilliant Metropolis written by Philip Kerr which is placed in the same time with similar characters, the year 1928. Rath and Gunther should have met at the Berlin murder-squad. It is in my opinion too much of a coincidence that Kerr chose for a prequel in old Berlin in close to the same time as Kutchers books are situated. This Kutcher book was released in 2007 so it stands to reason that Kerr must have taken notice of the book.
that said this is the first of a series of six books so far, the next one is also translated into the Dutch after that I will probably have to read them in German.
This book is well advised as is the TV show and watch the show in the original German.
Rath has been transferred to Berlin from his hometown Cologne after he got involved with a deadly shooting. He is attached to the Vice department of the Berlin police. And during the 1st of May demonstrations of the communists the city runs amok and Rath by pure chance finds himself in the morgue and face to whats-left-of-face with a victim who had been drunk at his door in the middle of the night a few days before. The unknown victim does serve the Murder squad with a question that cannot be solved or so it seems. With Rath having a few more answers and not stopped due to his ambitions to become part of the legendary Berlin murder-squad.
His lifestyle and quest for questions to prove himself does bring Rath in big problems and he has to be smart and wicked to get out a beautiful mess he got himself in. And his attempt at romance leaves quite a lot to be required.
Generally one expects the books to be better than the TV show and it is absolutely not, the series is a beautiful celebration of Berlin, shows the darker side and the historical Berlin in a great way. And the roles played by the women in the book are vastly improved upon what Kutscher wrote. So watch the series and just enjoy the book that is well researched and it shows in his description of the era Rath is placed. The book is an easy and well written story.
Before this book I read the brilliant Metropolis written by Philip Kerr which is placed in the same time with similar characters, the year 1928. Rath and Gunther should have met at the Berlin murder-squad. It is in my opinion too much of a coincidence that Kerr chose for a prequel in old Berlin in close to the same time as Kutchers books are situated. This Kutcher book was released in 2007 so it stands to reason that Kerr must have taken notice of the book.
that said this is the first of a series of six books so far, the next one is also translated into the Dutch after that I will probably have to read them in German.
This book is well advised as is the TV show and watch the show in the original German.
April 29, 2021
I love crime novels set in the era of Weimar/Nazi Germany and so thought I would give this book a try - it has been on my reading radar for some time and I am still, desperately, trying to find a series to replace my beloved Bernie Gunther, now that his author Philip Kerr has sadly died and I try to come to terms with the fact there will be no more books...
This series starts in 1929, which gives plenty of time for the author to develop the series. It features Detective Inspector Gereon Rath, who has to leave Cologne's Homicide Division after killing a man. Luckily, his father has contacts and so he finds himself transferred to Vice in Berlin, headed by Chief Inspector Bruno Wolter. However, he has no intention of staying there and longs to work in Homicide again, so is keen to be noticed and make a name for himself.
This is a first novel in a series and so, of course, there is some need to set the scene and introduce characters that will, presumably, populate future books. Still, this is quite a confusing read at times, with various interlinked storylines and a whole host of names, criminal gangs, relationships and political allegiances to keep track of. Rath soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation, involving a body dragged pulled from a canal, missing gold, Russians, police corruption and a difficult romance with stenographer, Charlotte Ritter.
Overall, I found this a mixed start to a series. I will try the second in the series and hope I feel more warmly towards Gereon Rath, who lacked personality, while the other characters often seemed stereotyped (an overweight colleague, obsessed with cake, love interest Charlotte Ritter, who seemed to switch emotions from minute to minute). Sadly, I doubt this will fill my Bernie sized loss, but I will hope that the series improves and I find some affinity with the characters if I do read on.
This series starts in 1929, which gives plenty of time for the author to develop the series. It features Detective Inspector Gereon Rath, who has to leave Cologne's Homicide Division after killing a man. Luckily, his father has contacts and so he finds himself transferred to Vice in Berlin, headed by Chief Inspector Bruno Wolter. However, he has no intention of staying there and longs to work in Homicide again, so is keen to be noticed and make a name for himself.
This is a first novel in a series and so, of course, there is some need to set the scene and introduce characters that will, presumably, populate future books. Still, this is quite a confusing read at times, with various interlinked storylines and a whole host of names, criminal gangs, relationships and political allegiances to keep track of. Rath soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation, involving a body dragged pulled from a canal, missing gold, Russians, police corruption and a difficult romance with stenographer, Charlotte Ritter.
Overall, I found this a mixed start to a series. I will try the second in the series and hope I feel more warmly towards Gereon Rath, who lacked personality, while the other characters often seemed stereotyped (an overweight colleague, obsessed with cake, love interest Charlotte Ritter, who seemed to switch emotions from minute to minute). Sadly, I doubt this will fill my Bernie sized loss, but I will hope that the series improves and I find some affinity with the characters if I do read on.
March 12, 2018
3.5 stars. "Babylon Berlin" is the first book in a series about Gereon Rath, a man who finds himself in the big city of Berlin after coming from a smaller city where he had to leave the police department in disgrace. He's looking to turn around his life in a new place: Berlin. There is so much going on in Berlin at this time (late 1920s). It's the time of the Weimar Republic and the crimes that take place there threaten to wrap up even those fighting for justice like Gereon. Will Gereon end up disgraced again?
I have been thoroughly enjoying watching "Babylon Berlin" on Netflix. It's an exciting show with a lot of gorgeous detail that transports you to Berlin. I was excited to see how the book stacked up with the miniseries. While there are some differences, the feeling between the miniseries and the book are the same. The miniseries is a little more glitzy, while still capturing the grittiness that weaves its way throughout the book. There are other differences in the story lines but I don't want to give anything away!
Gereon Rath is a great character. He is the kind of fallen hero that we all like to root for but he also has a lot of demons. He is flawed but you still want things to turn out okay for him. He goes through so much throughout the book and really grows and changes. It will be interesting to see where the future books take him.
I loved the setting! I don't know very much about the Weimar Republic years as they seem to largely set up for some of the later chaos wrought on Germany by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. I thought that the author did a great job of capturing everything that was going on.
The writing was good. It did get bogged down in a few places and I can't tell if it was the story or the way things were translated. The plot moves fairly well for the most part though. Overall, this was a pretty good story!
I have been thoroughly enjoying watching "Babylon Berlin" on Netflix. It's an exciting show with a lot of gorgeous detail that transports you to Berlin. I was excited to see how the book stacked up with the miniseries. While there are some differences, the feeling between the miniseries and the book are the same. The miniseries is a little more glitzy, while still capturing the grittiness that weaves its way throughout the book. There are other differences in the story lines but I don't want to give anything away!
Gereon Rath is a great character. He is the kind of fallen hero that we all like to root for but he also has a lot of demons. He is flawed but you still want things to turn out okay for him. He goes through so much throughout the book and really grows and changes. It will be interesting to see where the future books take him.
I loved the setting! I don't know very much about the Weimar Republic years as they seem to largely set up for some of the later chaos wrought on Germany by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. I thought that the author did a great job of capturing everything that was going on.
The writing was good. It did get bogged down in a few places and I can't tell if it was the story or the way things were translated. The plot moves fairly well for the most part though. Overall, this was a pretty good story!
September 3, 2018
The Berlin between the wars is an interesting setting, however the author just keeps piling it on; the reds, the gangland groups, the corrupt police, the underworld, the snitches, the porn industry, the nazis, the russians, the hunt for a gold treasure smuggled out of Russia, the artistes in the underground clubs, the Russian secret police, the countess in hiding - the list goes on...
Our hero accidentally killing a man and covering it up but having to investigate it himself, confronting the underworld boss, exposing moles, being suspected, set up, exposing a colleague, knowing his wife's secret, the another colleague getting killed, the accidental shooting of civilians in the riots, the secret affairs with women he wasn't supposed to get involved with, the cocaine on duty... on and on!
There are just too many things going on here, too many threads, too many descriptions of routes in Berlin to fill in between. Maybe if this had been 2 or 3 novels (and preferably less than 400+ pages) it might have worked, but it's just a kaos of red herings, reds, anti-reds and 100 other minor characters running around this three ring circus of a book.
For some the historical element might save it, the charm and atmosphere of Berlin in the 20s - but that seemed a bit exaggerated too. And apparently not exactly accurate either (I've lived in Berlin and found it strange that it refers to Ostbahnhof. Looked it up, and it wasn't called that until 30 years later, have a feeling it's not the only thing off). And while you could argue it's not about accuracy, but about being entertained, I wasn't really - it's, a bit of a mess really.
Our hero accidentally killing a man and covering it up but having to investigate it himself, confronting the underworld boss, exposing moles, being suspected, set up, exposing a colleague, knowing his wife's secret, the another colleague getting killed, the accidental shooting of civilians in the riots, the secret affairs with women he wasn't supposed to get involved with, the cocaine on duty... on and on!
There are just too many things going on here, too many threads, too many descriptions of routes in Berlin to fill in between. Maybe if this had been 2 or 3 novels (and preferably less than 400+ pages) it might have worked, but it's just a kaos of red herings, reds, anti-reds and 100 other minor characters running around this three ring circus of a book.
For some the historical element might save it, the charm and atmosphere of Berlin in the 20s - but that seemed a bit exaggerated too. And apparently not exactly accurate either (I've lived in Berlin and found it strange that it refers to Ostbahnhof. Looked it up, and it wasn't called that until 30 years later, have a feeling it's not the only thing off). And while you could argue it's not about accuracy, but about being entertained, I wasn't really - it's, a bit of a mess really.
March 17, 2019
Ich muss vorausschicken, dass ich kein regelmäßiger Leser von Krimis bin, es muss immer was besonderes dazukommen, damit ich zu einem Krimi greife. Hier war es die Fernsehserie "Babylon Berlin", die mich auf die Vorlage von Volker Kutscher gebracht hat. Angesiedelt in den späten 20er Jahren in Berlin, wird der Kommissar Gereon Rath von Köln nach Berlin versetzt und ins Sittendezernat abgestellt. Viel lieber würde er in der Mordkommission arbeiten, aber dort war keine Stelle frei. So muss er sich mit Razzien in Nachtclubs und anderen Vergehen herumschlagen, die ihn eigentlich nicht wirklich interessieren. Erst als ein Auto über ein Brücke stürzt und der Fahrer bereits seit mehreren Stunden tot war und die Kollegen in den Ermittlungen auf der Stelle treten, nimmt er ungefragt Ermittlungen auf...
Inmitten der Weimarer Republik beginnt Volker Kutscher seine Reihe um Gereon Rath, den neuen Ermittler in Berlin. Es ist ein spannender und sehr gut zu lesender Roman der den Leser in eine Zeit versetzt, in der das Deutsche Reich politisch ständig von allen Seiten angegriffen wird und sich die Anhänger der Parteien Straßenschlachten liefern. Die Nachtszene blüht, legal wie illegal, und immer wieder gerät Rath bei seinen Nachforschungen in Szenekneipen, die dem Leser Zeit und Menschenschlag nahe bringen. Dieses Flair haben die Filmleute um Tom Tykwer hervorragend in Bilder umgesetzt, der Inhalt des Romans wurde jedoch dem Filmgeschmack angepasst. Auch deshalb lohnt die Lektüre des Romans, auch wenn man die TV-Serie bereits gesehen hat...
Inmitten der Weimarer Republik beginnt Volker Kutscher seine Reihe um Gereon Rath, den neuen Ermittler in Berlin. Es ist ein spannender und sehr gut zu lesender Roman der den Leser in eine Zeit versetzt, in der das Deutsche Reich politisch ständig von allen Seiten angegriffen wird und sich die Anhänger der Parteien Straßenschlachten liefern. Die Nachtszene blüht, legal wie illegal, und immer wieder gerät Rath bei seinen Nachforschungen in Szenekneipen, die dem Leser Zeit und Menschenschlag nahe bringen. Dieses Flair haben die Filmleute um Tom Tykwer hervorragend in Bilder umgesetzt, der Inhalt des Romans wurde jedoch dem Filmgeschmack angepasst. Auch deshalb lohnt die Lektüre des Romans, auch wenn man die TV-Serie bereits gesehen hat...
April 28, 2021
An entertaining read with a dizzying plot and some moments of horrific violence. I started listening to the audiobook but found that the plot complications made it difficult to keep track of the plethora of left- and right-wing groups as well as other interested parties so switched to the book. I also think the audiobook 'voice' perhaps gives away some of the plot points .
Gereon Rath is an attractively flawed protagonist who I enjoyed spending time with; and there is a palpable sense of Berlin in all its sleazy glory. The writing is nothing special and there are times when the PoV switches abruptly away from Rath for a few pages and then back again which can feel a bit clunky. So definitely switch-off reading rather than anything more literary but enjoyably labyrinthine all the same: 3.5 stars rounded up.
Gereon Rath is an attractively flawed protagonist who I enjoyed spending time with; and there is a palpable sense of Berlin in all its sleazy glory. The writing is nothing special and there are times when the PoV switches abruptly away from Rath for a few pages and then back again which can feel a bit clunky. So definitely switch-off reading rather than anything more literary but enjoyably labyrinthine all the same: 3.5 stars rounded up.
April 11, 2021
Συνδικάτα, κομματικές φραξιές, παραστρατιωτικές οργανώσεις, Τάγματα Ασφαλείας, εξόριστοι Σοβιετικοί και Πρωσική Αστυνομία συνθέτουν ένα αυτοκαταστροφικό κυνήγι θησαυρού στα σκοτεινά σοκάκια του Βερολίνου... Εκεί που —τελικά, όλοι κάτι έχουν να χάσουν. Σε μια Βαβυλώνα που σε ελκύει με σκοπό να σε καταστρέψει! Εξαιρετικό!
May 10, 2021
Still searching for something to fill the Bernie Gunther sized hole (RIP Philip Kerr), I turned to Babylon Berlin (2007) by Volker Kutscher, the first in the successful Gereon Rath series, and was suitably impressed.
Set in Berlin during 1929, Babylon Berlin quickly thrusts the reader straight into Weimar Berlin's underworld of pornography, gangsters, crime rings, cocaine, gun running and street politics. During this era, the communists are more in the ascendancy than the nascent Nazis who are just one more faction of extremists on the fringes of German politics.
When a car containing a mutilated corpse is hauled out of the Landwehr Canal, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath, newly arrived in Berlin after a scandal in his native Cologne, looks to solve the case and make a name for himself. Rath is soon up to his neck in office politics, organised crime, corrupt police officers and a tangled and troubled love life. Whilst somewhat convuluted, Babylon Berlin is undeniably engrossing and enjoyable, and builds to a dramatic and satisfying finale. It all augers very well for the rest of the series. I look forward to the next instalment.
4/5
Set in Berlin during 1929, Babylon Berlin quickly thrusts the reader straight into Weimar Berlin's underworld of pornography, gangsters, crime rings, cocaine, gun running and street politics. During this era, the communists are more in the ascendancy than the nascent Nazis who are just one more faction of extremists on the fringes of German politics.
When a car containing a mutilated corpse is hauled out of the Landwehr Canal, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath, newly arrived in Berlin after a scandal in his native Cologne, looks to solve the case and make a name for himself. Rath is soon up to his neck in office politics, organised crime, corrupt police officers and a tangled and troubled love life. Whilst somewhat convuluted, Babylon Berlin is undeniably engrossing and enjoyable, and builds to a dramatic and satisfying finale. It all augers very well for the rest of the series. I look forward to the next instalment.
4/5
The first book in the international-bestselling series that centers on Detective Gereon Rath caught up in a web of drugs, sex, political intrigue, and murder in Berlin as Germany teeters on the edge of Nazism.
It’s 1929 and Berlin is the vibrating metropolis of post-war Germany—full of bars and brothels and dissatisfied workers at the point of revolt. Gereon Rath is new in town and new to the police department.
When a dead man without an identity, bearing traces of atrocious torture, is discovered, Rath sees a chance to find his way back into the homicide division. He discovers a connection with a circle of oppositional exiled Russians who try to purchase arms with smuggled gold in order to prepare a coup d’état. But there are other people trying to get hold of the gold and the guns, too. Raths finds himself up against paramilitaries and organized criminals. He falls in love with Charlotte, a typist in the homicide squad, and misuses her insider’s knowledge for his personal investigations. And as he gets further entangled with the case, he never imagined becoming a suspect himself.
“The first in a series that’s been wildly popular in Germany is an excellent police procedural that cleverly captures the dark and dangerous period of the Weimer Republic before it slides into the ultimate evil of Nazism.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Conjures up the dangerous decadence of the Weimar years, with blood on the Berlin streets and the Nazis lurking menacingly in the wings.”—The Sunday Times (London)
February 20, 2019
Je nevyhnutelné, že cestu ke Kutscherově kriminální sérii si většina najde zprostředkovaně díky fenoménu v podobě seriálu Babylon Berlín. Otázka je, zda nebude následovat rozčarování. Předloha i adaptace sice mají (logicky) společné mnohé styčné body, ovšem každá si jde natolik svou vlastní cestou, že se v případě tvůrců seriálu nedá mluvit o adaptaci v pravém slova smyslu. Předlohy, ač zašmodrchané, jsou o poznání více přímočaré, jsou psány z pohledu několika mála postav a jsou věrné žánru drsné kriminálky. Kutschner nezapře, že má načteny klasiky žánru. A zvláště srovnání s Jamesem Ellroyem se snad ani vyhnout nedá; i zde je kriminální aspekt spojujícím elementem pro zdánlivou kakofonii poválečného rozčarování, proletářských nálad, kabaretní zhýralosti, mravnostních deliktů, dekadentnosti, směsice ideologií a mnoho dalšího. Zdánlivě nesourodé linie proplétá a nahlíží na ně společensky kritickým pohledem; přesto mu v centru dění vždy stojí hlavně a především charaktery.
Co mu nelze upřít je tempo, talent pro vystihnutí nepřikrášlené dobové atmosféry, dostane vás na místo dění, jeho postavy nejsou jednoznačné, dialogy mu odsýpají, přes veškerou zašmodrchanost nikdy neztratíte nit dění, máte dostatek indicií čili deduktivní mysl pojede na plné obrátky. Co mu naopak (minimálně v tomto prvním díle) chybí, aby se mohl zařadit po bok žánrových klasiků je… Rafinovanost a sofistikovanost. Ano, umí nastavovat zrcadla, skvostně zachytit dobu, kdy nebyl žádný rozdíl mezi hnědokošiláky a proletáři, kdy si elity nepřipouštěly nadcházející změny a kde koks a divoké večírky maskují problémy doby, ale výstavba oné spletité zastřešující zápletky mu paradoxně hapruje. Je sice dobrá, ale dosti šustí papírem v tom, jak jsou vzájemně propojované jednotlivé linie a jak vstupují „na scénu“ jednotlivé stopy i zvraty; tuplem to pak platí o samotném finále, kde je to z rázu hrrr pospojované dohromady na několika málo stranách.
Každopádně klady převažují. A v době, kdy jsou u nakladatelů v módě spíše severské noirovky, klasické detektivky či thrillery, tak taková to stará dobrá drsná škola přijde k duhu.
Co mu nelze upřít je tempo, talent pro vystihnutí nepřikrášlené dobové atmosféry, dostane vás na místo dění, jeho postavy nejsou jednoznačné, dialogy mu odsýpají, přes veškerou zašmodrchanost nikdy neztratíte nit dění, máte dostatek indicií čili deduktivní mysl pojede na plné obrátky. Co mu naopak (minimálně v tomto prvním díle) chybí, aby se mohl zařadit po bok žánrových klasiků je… Rafinovanost a sofistikovanost. Ano, umí nastavovat zrcadla, skvostně zachytit dobu, kdy nebyl žádný rozdíl mezi hnědokošiláky a proletáři, kdy si elity nepřipouštěly nadcházející změny a kde koks a divoké večírky maskují problémy doby, ale výstavba oné spletité zastřešující zápletky mu paradoxně hapruje. Je sice dobrá, ale dosti šustí papírem v tom, jak jsou vzájemně propojované jednotlivé linie a jak vstupují „na scénu“ jednotlivé stopy i zvraty; tuplem to pak platí o samotném finále, kde je to z rázu hrrr pospojované dohromady na několika málo stranách.
Každopádně klady převažují. A v době, kdy jsou u nakladatelů v módě spíše severské noirovky, klasické detektivky či thrillery, tak taková to stará dobrá drsná škola přijde k duhu.
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