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Mason Collins #1
Madness in the Ruins
A mutilated body. No witnesses. The only clue, a message, “Those who I have made suffer will become saints and they shall lift me up from hell.”
Winter, 1945. Munich is in ruins, and a savage killer is stalking the city.
U.S. Army investigator Mason Collins enforces the law in the American Zone of Occupation. This post is his last chance to do what he loves most—being a homicide detective.
But he gets more than he’s bargained for when the bodies start piling up, the city devolves into panic, and the army brass start breathing down his neck.
Then the murderer makes him a target. Now it's a high-stakes duel, and to win it Mason must bring into deadly play all that he values: his partner, his career—even his life.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
778 people are currently reading
1270 people want to read
About the author
John A. Connell
14 books74 followersJohn was born in Atlanta, where he earned a BA in Anthropology, and has been a motion picture camera operator, a jazz pianist, a stock boy in a brassiere factory, a machinist, repairer of newspaper racks, and a printing-press operator. His first in the Mason Collins series was nominated for Barry Award, and Where the Wicked Tread has been nominated for Best E-book 2022 by ITW. The series has also received endorsements from the likes of Lee Child and Steve Berry. He and his wife divide their time between the U.S. and France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 17, 2015
In "Ruins of War," World War II history,a tormented serial killer and a highly motivated military police investigator combine for a satisfying and intelligent read.
Mason Collins is a former Chicago homicide detective who was fired from his job, allegedly, for accepting kickbacks.
He's assigned to Munich, Germany CID in 1945. The city is divided into military segments after the end of the war. Collins's first assignment is to view the victim of a murderer. The action ratchets up as Collins gets an investigation unit working on the case and the killer selects his next victim.
There's a snag when Collins' boss would rather go after a gang that was partially made up of U.S. deserters and there was a connection to the U.S. while the killer had murdered a victim who was initially unidentified.
What particularly drew me to the story was the World War II setting and the vivid descriptions of Munich with bombed out buildings, multitudes of orphans, and many displaced persons. These DP's came from people who were freed from concentration camps, German and U.S. deserters, soldiers who came from counties where they were forced to fight for Germany such as Czechoslovakia and general criminals.
Mason shows his tenderness in helping to feed orphans and in his desire to do justice and find the killer - at all costs and the reader relates to him and hopes for his success.
The excellent descriptions of primary and secondary characters was another entertaining element to the story. The suspenseful story had me turning pages late into the night.
Recommended.
Mason Collins is a former Chicago homicide detective who was fired from his job, allegedly, for accepting kickbacks.
He's assigned to Munich, Germany CID in 1945. The city is divided into military segments after the end of the war. Collins's first assignment is to view the victim of a murderer. The action ratchets up as Collins gets an investigation unit working on the case and the killer selects his next victim.
There's a snag when Collins' boss would rather go after a gang that was partially made up of U.S. deserters and there was a connection to the U.S. while the killer had murdered a victim who was initially unidentified.
What particularly drew me to the story was the World War II setting and the vivid descriptions of Munich with bombed out buildings, multitudes of orphans, and many displaced persons. These DP's came from people who were freed from concentration camps, German and U.S. deserters, soldiers who came from counties where they were forced to fight for Germany such as Czechoslovakia and general criminals.
Mason shows his tenderness in helping to feed orphans and in his desire to do justice and find the killer - at all costs and the reader relates to him and hopes for his success.
The excellent descriptions of primary and secondary characters was another entertaining element to the story. The suspenseful story had me turning pages late into the night.
Recommended.
March 27, 2015
Ruins of War by debut author John A. Connell is, I always hate saying this, a book that I really wanted to like. Setting the story post-WWII war-torn Germany with former enemy American army detectives investigating a series of gruesome murders sounded riveting. It's a brilliant idea for a detective series. But, in the end, the execution, dialogue, and some of the painfully one-dimensional characters sabotage what could be an impressive debut.
Barely seven months after Germany surrendered, the country is in chaos. Neighborhoods are destroyed, families separated, children orphaned and the threat of a long, cold, and hungry winter has descended upon the once proud country. To make matters worse, the presence of the American army antagonizes a major part of the population. There is no mutual trust or respect. Criminal Investigator Mason Collins, an American police officer with a less than stellar reputation, is the lead detective in a gruesome killing. A body was found wired to a pole, it's abdomen flayed open, the arms and legs missing. What complicates this murder is the possibility the victim was German and the bureaucrats running the Criminal Investigation Division feel the Germans should handle this case. They are unwilling to supply the necessary time and manpower for a German "problem".
Mason Collins feels differently, especially after a second body is discovered in the same condition. This becomes a point of contention between Collins and his unbelievably one-dimensional commanding officer. No matter how much progress or effort Collins makes in the case, the CO inevitably tells Collins it's not enough. His negative responses are inevitable and predictable. It gets old real fast. And I was stunned by his reaction near the end of the book when the killer kidnaps yet another victim. It's a race against time and he chooses to send his men on a different raid?
When Collins meets an American journalist, Laura, their mutual attraction to one another would be an entertaining diversion from the horror that pervades the story if it weren't for one thing: their flirty banter is laughable. And not in a good way. The dialogue in the book is not the best but it really flattens when these two converse. It reminded me of an old B-movie. In fact, the whole book reads like a movie script and when I found out that the author is in the movie business I wasn't surprised.
The serial killer has left mutilated bodies throughout Munich in bizarre displays that reminded me of the TV series "Hannibal" and the reader finds out he is a creature filled with self-loathing and anger. His cruelty is appalling but I laughed out loud when he reminded himself what he does for a living. The reader will figure out who he is and what drives him to do such barbaric acts rather early on in the book.
The author's strongest writing comes from his commentary concerning post-war Germany. It's powerful and paints a vivid picture that leaves the reader sympathetic towards the citizens of the former Nazi regime. The hostility between the two former enemy countries is palpable, and understandable, from both sides. There are some good suspenseful scenes but if the story had been written more tightly the twists would have been more shocking and less predictable. And the author missed a perfect opportunity to better hide the killer's identity from the reader. He was on the right track.
This is the first book in the Mason Collins detective series but I don't think I will continue to follow it. There is some strong writing in parts of this book, but it didn't satisfy me.
Barely seven months after Germany surrendered, the country is in chaos. Neighborhoods are destroyed, families separated, children orphaned and the threat of a long, cold, and hungry winter has descended upon the once proud country. To make matters worse, the presence of the American army antagonizes a major part of the population. There is no mutual trust or respect. Criminal Investigator Mason Collins, an American police officer with a less than stellar reputation, is the lead detective in a gruesome killing. A body was found wired to a pole, it's abdomen flayed open, the arms and legs missing. What complicates this murder is the possibility the victim was German and the bureaucrats running the Criminal Investigation Division feel the Germans should handle this case. They are unwilling to supply the necessary time and manpower for a German "problem".
Mason Collins feels differently, especially after a second body is discovered in the same condition. This becomes a point of contention between Collins and his unbelievably one-dimensional commanding officer. No matter how much progress or effort Collins makes in the case, the CO inevitably tells Collins it's not enough. His negative responses are inevitable and predictable. It gets old real fast. And I was stunned by his reaction near the end of the book when the killer kidnaps yet another victim. It's a race against time and he chooses to send his men on a different raid?
When Collins meets an American journalist, Laura, their mutual attraction to one another would be an entertaining diversion from the horror that pervades the story if it weren't for one thing: their flirty banter is laughable. And not in a good way. The dialogue in the book is not the best but it really flattens when these two converse. It reminded me of an old B-movie. In fact, the whole book reads like a movie script and when I found out that the author is in the movie business I wasn't surprised.
The serial killer has left mutilated bodies throughout Munich in bizarre displays that reminded me of the TV series "Hannibal" and the reader finds out he is a creature filled with self-loathing and anger. His cruelty is appalling but I laughed out loud when he reminded himself what he does for a living. The reader will figure out who he is and what drives him to do such barbaric acts rather early on in the book.
The author's strongest writing comes from his commentary concerning post-war Germany. It's powerful and paints a vivid picture that leaves the reader sympathetic towards the citizens of the former Nazi regime. The hostility between the two former enemy countries is palpable, and understandable, from both sides. There are some good suspenseful scenes but if the story had been written more tightly the twists would have been more shocking and less predictable. And the author missed a perfect opportunity to better hide the killer's identity from the reader. He was on the right track.
This is the first book in the Mason Collins detective series but I don't think I will continue to follow it. There is some strong writing in parts of this book, but it didn't satisfy me.
April 18, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads. I enjoyed it immensely. From the very beginning, I was totally involved with the characters. Each character was well developed & interacted in the plot to make the story emerge.
Mason Collins is a military policeman with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) after WWII in Germany. A serial killer is at work, displaying his work in horrible & bizarre ways. Mason, between helping orphan children, seeing a beautiful female war correspondent and trying to track down clues while fighting military red tape and working around superior officers who want answers, but don’t always provide the means to do so.
I look forward to other books this author will write.
Mason Collins is a military policeman with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) after WWII in Germany. A serial killer is at work, displaying his work in horrible & bizarre ways. Mason, between helping orphan children, seeing a beautiful female war correspondent and trying to track down clues while fighting military red tape and working around superior officers who want answers, but don’t always provide the means to do so.
I look forward to other books this author will write.
May 8, 2024
A not so perplexing mystery but a prodigious thriller with a detective and dastardly villain set in the devastation of Munich, the novel is a decent piece of historical fiction.
December 4, 2015
Dark and gruesome, this riveting thriller takes plaze post-Nazi Germany. Holding nothing back, Connell delivers unforgettable visuals of the horrors as a serial killer takes victims left and right, causing a relentless manhunt that seems almost impossible during an age when paper trails were bleak and leads were sparse. Connell writes with a compulsion that pushes the limits while gripping his readers. This book is not for the weak, but for those who enjoy a psychological mind game, it's a must-read.
July 25, 2022
It's a great setting, and the author gives us a flavor of post war Germany and how the average citizen struggled. But by insinuating a cat and a mouse game between a CID officer and a serial killer, the stakes are elevated and the nightmarish quality is exaggerated.
A well written novel. I enjoyed it immensely.
A well written novel. I enjoyed it immensely.
August 31, 2018
This is a mystery/crime book set in Germany (post WWII). The MC, Mason Collins, is trying to solve a case involving a serial killer. The murders are quite graphic. Sometimes it felt like a 'shock and awe' campaign. But with that aside, there were some great things that I liked about this, but then there were things that had me rolling my eyes. So I settled on 3 stars.
What I loved was the psychological aspect of this. I was pulled into the story because of that. I also really liked the the MC. He was a little too perfect but I liked his "normal-ness".
What I loved was the psychological aspect of this. I was pulled into the story because of that. I also really liked the the MC. He was a little too perfect but I liked his "normal-ness".
September 4, 2016
There are no worse villains then Nazi doctors and this book solidifies their special dark furnace in hell that I'm sure is prepared for them. A solid chase after a serial killer through post World War II Berlin.
March 25, 2020
Having joined the author’s e-mail list I was given a free copy of “In Malevolent Hands” a novella introducing us to Mason Collins. It’s just after the end of WW2 and Collins is an ex-detective in Germany and searching out a murderer in a US military hospital. I enjoyed it and decided to pick up the first “official” book.
Collins is now in Munich and an official US Army investigator. Given a savage murder to look into, Collins realises that he is on the trail of a serial killer who is as clever as he is dangerous.
Post war Munich is a great setting. A starving resentful population and a ruined city provide a vibrant backdrop to the investigation and the post war mind set and damage of everyone concerned.
Collins is under pressure but he is not a man to let anything get between him and catching a dangerous killer.
Not one for the faint hearted but plenty in this to enjoy.
Collins is now in Munich and an official US Army investigator. Given a savage murder to look into, Collins realises that he is on the trail of a serial killer who is as clever as he is dangerous.
Post war Munich is a great setting. A starving resentful population and a ruined city provide a vibrant backdrop to the investigation and the post war mind set and damage of everyone concerned.
Collins is under pressure but he is not a man to let anything get between him and catching a dangerous killer.
Not one for the faint hearted but plenty in this to enjoy.
March 28, 2023
I got this through freebooksy.com via their 25March23 email. The summary and the recommendation on Amazon from Lee Childs brought me to download and read this one.
The author depicts the horrors of post-World War II Germany, as well as the personal difficulties of American Army CID investigators and German police figuring out who a serial killer is.
Prejudice by some soldiers on both sides is explored and sometimes alleviated. There is much conflict with superior officers throughout.
All in all, this was a great, though sometimes intense, story.
I have already added the next five in the series to my TBR shelf.
The author depicts the horrors of post-World War II Germany, as well as the personal difficulties of American Army CID investigators and German police figuring out who a serial killer is.
Prejudice by some soldiers on both sides is explored and sometimes alleviated. There is much conflict with superior officers throughout.
All in all, this was a great, though sometimes intense, story.
I have already added the next five in the series to my TBR shelf.
May 9, 2015
It's winter 1945, and Mason Collins, former Chicago homicide detective, now an Army criminal investigator, is hunting a killer in Munich. This is no ordinary murderer. He's dissecting and dismembering his victims alive, with surgical skill, and enacting strange rituals with their remains. Mason, having been a prisoner of war as well as a soldier, has no love for the Germans, but the horror is too much for him to accept his immediate superior's pressure: That this is a German killing Germans, and not a major concern of the US military.
Even if it means cooperating with the German police, he'll do his job as he sees it, and find the killer. Mason's newly assigned partner, a woman war reporter, a member of his old unit in Army intelligence, and a senior German Munich police inspector, all play important roles in tracking the killer, and following him into places where Mason's own life is in real danger.
What makes this more than just another police procedural is the characterization. There is no cardboard here, no one-dimensional characters, not even the killer. He turns out to be a very complex individual, someone beset by internal demons, and there are moments when the saner piece of him is even somewhat sympathetic. Characters on both sides of the American/German divide are decent at their core. The sheer bureaucratic and practical difficulties of trying to conduct a reasonably efficient investigation when records are entirely paper, many records have been destroyed, police and population legitimately regard each other as enemies, and there's a major language barrier. People who in more normal circumstances would be motivated to cooperate, are motivated not to.
Mason has to pick his way through this minefield, before the killings cause public panic.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Penguin's First to Read program.
Even if it means cooperating with the German police, he'll do his job as he sees it, and find the killer. Mason's newly assigned partner, a woman war reporter, a member of his old unit in Army intelligence, and a senior German Munich police inspector, all play important roles in tracking the killer, and following him into places where Mason's own life is in real danger.
What makes this more than just another police procedural is the characterization. There is no cardboard here, no one-dimensional characters, not even the killer. He turns out to be a very complex individual, someone beset by internal demons, and there are moments when the saner piece of him is even somewhat sympathetic. Characters on both sides of the American/German divide are decent at their core. The sheer bureaucratic and practical difficulties of trying to conduct a reasonably efficient investigation when records are entirely paper, many records have been destroyed, police and population legitimately regard each other as enemies, and there's a major language barrier. People who in more normal circumstances would be motivated to cooperate, are motivated not to.
Mason has to pick his way through this minefield, before the killings cause public panic.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via Penguin's First to Read program.
October 3, 2015
A friend recommended this book as he knows that I like historical mysteries and this one is first rate. I enjoyed the setting in Munich, right after WWII ended. The writing is good and the story is compelling.
That said, it is much, much gorier than I usually read and it also deals with a demented serial killer. Ordinarily I do not read about gore or serial killers so this is something you should be aware of.
On the other hand, the book explores the interesting situation of being an occupying military officer in Germany after that country's defeat. I did like that angle very much.
That said, it is much, much gorier than I usually read and it also deals with a demented serial killer. Ordinarily I do not read about gore or serial killers so this is something you should be aware of.
On the other hand, the book explores the interesting situation of being an occupying military officer in Germany after that country's defeat. I did like that angle very much.
March 4, 2021
Munich, winter, 1945. Mason Collins a U.S. Army Investigator in the American Zone of Occupation is hunting a killer. Already one multilated body has been discovered. The reasoning is that there will be more. And he is right. He investigates with the help of Warrant Officer Vincent Wolski, and Inspector Becker of the Munich police.
Interesting historical dark mystery.
Interesting historical dark mystery.
April 21, 2015
Picked up the ARC in exchange for a review for the local indie. This story grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. Would definitely recommend to those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers
June 19, 2015
A wonderful blend of my favorite genres - historical fiction and thriller/crime! DO NOT START THIS BOOK BEFORE BED, you will stay up reading it all night!!!! :-)
June 29, 2021
Of the many genres of books I read, I especially enjoy crime thrillers. Another genre I get entertainment from are historical fiction novels. To find a riveting crime thriller that also has a heaping helping of historical worldbuilding is a win-win for me. I recently read one such book, “Madness in the Ruins” by John A. Connell.
The setting of the novel is Munich, Germany in December, 1945. World War II is over and, in the American Zone of Occupation, the U.S. Army is busy with the task of restoring law and order, among other missions. However, among the ruins of Munich, a savage killer is creating havoc for both the Army and the recently reconstituted Munich police force. Finding and apprehending the killer falls to Mason Collins, a chief warrant officer with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. Collins is an excellent choice for the assignment, being a former homicide detective with the Chicago police department. He and his partner, a newly-minted warrant officer named Vincent Wolski, begin running running down leads, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with an Oberinspektor Becker of the Munich Kriminalpolizei. However, the killer is adding to his tally of victims and being quite brazen about it, to the point of taunting the two CID warrant officers...
Connell certainly spins an enthralling, page-turning yarn and does an excellent job of recreating the look and feel of late 1945 in a devastated city seeking to rebuild out of the ashes of war. To spice things up for the reader, Connell gives Collins an intriguing bit of backstory: when he worked for the Chicago PD, Collins was falsely accused of being a dirty cop and kicked off the force. It's a burden Collins acknowledges, but doesn't let keep him from doing the best job he can. Connell also includes a love interest for Collins in the form of one Laura McKinnon, a comely newspaper reporter who proves helpful in the search for the wanted killer.
If this blend of police procedural and historical fiction sounds like your cup of tea, seek out “Madness in the Ruins.” It's definitely worth it.
The setting of the novel is Munich, Germany in December, 1945. World War II is over and, in the American Zone of Occupation, the U.S. Army is busy with the task of restoring law and order, among other missions. However, among the ruins of Munich, a savage killer is creating havoc for both the Army and the recently reconstituted Munich police force. Finding and apprehending the killer falls to Mason Collins, a chief warrant officer with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. Collins is an excellent choice for the assignment, being a former homicide detective with the Chicago police department. He and his partner, a newly-minted warrant officer named Vincent Wolski, begin running running down leads, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with an Oberinspektor Becker of the Munich Kriminalpolizei. However, the killer is adding to his tally of victims and being quite brazen about it, to the point of taunting the two CID warrant officers...
Connell certainly spins an enthralling, page-turning yarn and does an excellent job of recreating the look and feel of late 1945 in a devastated city seeking to rebuild out of the ashes of war. To spice things up for the reader, Connell gives Collins an intriguing bit of backstory: when he worked for the Chicago PD, Collins was falsely accused of being a dirty cop and kicked off the force. It's a burden Collins acknowledges, but doesn't let keep him from doing the best job he can. Connell also includes a love interest for Collins in the form of one Laura McKinnon, a comely newspaper reporter who proves helpful in the search for the wanted killer.
If this blend of police procedural and historical fiction sounds like your cup of tea, seek out “Madness in the Ruins.” It's definitely worth it.
July 2, 2024
Holy cow! A brutal serial killer is loose in post-World War II Munich. I wanted a change of pace and Mr. Connell's first book in the Mason Collins series had me engrossed right from the start.
U.S. Army investigator Mason Collins and his investigative team unravel the disturbing mystery behind a series of gruesome ritualistic murders. With the top brass throwing impossible deadlines and little manpower on a seemingly unattainable serial killer, Mason is thrown a number of curveballs to find the madman. I admired Mason's dedication to the mission and his intelligent ways of skirting the bureaucratic red tape and post-war flak to get the information he needed. Add in the growing tension among the Germans and Americans in a city that has been destroyed, and it's a race against time to catch the killer before he strikes again.
The book also delves into the chilling mind of a serial killer, offering a disturbing glimpse into the depraved psyche behind the heinous crimes which adds an extra layer of intensity to the story.
The author does add lighter moments through Mason's quick-witted partner, Warrant Officer Vincent Wolski. Also, a budding romance is started between Mason and a beautiful reporter which provides a welcome reprieve from the tension and serves to humanize the characters.
I was particularly drawn to the vivid and haunting picture of the aftermath of war. The revealing descriptions of the desolate landscape, overflowing with displaced individuals and orphaned children, suggest a deep sense of hopelessness and despair. It was a bleak reality that was faced by both civilians and soldiers in the aftermath of war.
I recommend this cat and mouse mystery to those who enjoy compelling characters and action and adventure in war-torn landscapes. I look forward to seeing what Mason has in store in the next installment.
Trigger warning: The story contains descriptions of war atrocities and features explicit depictions of murder scenes, so readers sensitive to such themes should approach the book with caution.
U.S. Army investigator Mason Collins and his investigative team unravel the disturbing mystery behind a series of gruesome ritualistic murders. With the top brass throwing impossible deadlines and little manpower on a seemingly unattainable serial killer, Mason is thrown a number of curveballs to find the madman. I admired Mason's dedication to the mission and his intelligent ways of skirting the bureaucratic red tape and post-war flak to get the information he needed. Add in the growing tension among the Germans and Americans in a city that has been destroyed, and it's a race against time to catch the killer before he strikes again.
The book also delves into the chilling mind of a serial killer, offering a disturbing glimpse into the depraved psyche behind the heinous crimes which adds an extra layer of intensity to the story.
The author does add lighter moments through Mason's quick-witted partner, Warrant Officer Vincent Wolski. Also, a budding romance is started between Mason and a beautiful reporter which provides a welcome reprieve from the tension and serves to humanize the characters.
I was particularly drawn to the vivid and haunting picture of the aftermath of war. The revealing descriptions of the desolate landscape, overflowing with displaced individuals and orphaned children, suggest a deep sense of hopelessness and despair. It was a bleak reality that was faced by both civilians and soldiers in the aftermath of war.
I recommend this cat and mouse mystery to those who enjoy compelling characters and action and adventure in war-torn landscapes. I look forward to seeing what Mason has in store in the next installment.
Trigger warning: The story contains descriptions of war atrocities and features explicit depictions of murder scenes, so readers sensitive to such themes should approach the book with caution.
October 20, 2023
This is a true "Thriller"!
We so often use the term thriller as a genre, as a category, as a term for any book that is vaguely exciting, that to come across the real deal is a bit of a shock. Michael Collins was an American ex-cop, POW at the liberation of the German camps as WWII came to an end. He had been CID but wanted back I criminal investigations. Within days of making the switch to investigator in Munich he is pulled into a string of murders of an incredibly comp!ex and crazily brutal nature. Working with the German police, as well as American military police the case becomes an obsession with him. There is a distraction fly beautiful American reporter Laura McKinnon on the periphery of the investigation and pulling at Collins attention . The bodies keep appearing in the chaos of a rubble strewn postwar Munich and Collins interaction with the military brass gets consistently worse as the tension builds. One can barely set the book aside to eat or rest. Guaranteed to thrill you.
We so often use the term thriller as a genre, as a category, as a term for any book that is vaguely exciting, that to come across the real deal is a bit of a shock. Michael Collins was an American ex-cop, POW at the liberation of the German camps as WWII came to an end. He had been CID but wanted back I criminal investigations. Within days of making the switch to investigator in Munich he is pulled into a string of murders of an incredibly comp!ex and crazily brutal nature. Working with the German police, as well as American military police the case becomes an obsession with him. There is a distraction fly beautiful American reporter Laura McKinnon on the periphery of the investigation and pulling at Collins attention . The bodies keep appearing in the chaos of a rubble strewn postwar Munich and Collins interaction with the military brass gets consistently worse as the tension builds. One can barely set the book aside to eat or rest. Guaranteed to thrill you.
July 14, 2017
This was the book selection for the mystery book club at my local library. Historical fiction is not a genre I typically read if selecting on my own, but I'm so glad this one was thrust upon me. It was a great story, with grit and gore but not overwhelming so. It also gave me things to think about concerning WWII that I'd not known before. It made me curious enough to do more research on my own, such as the denazification, or whatever it was called. I also liked that it showed the thought process of the serial killer. One of the women in my book club complained of the amount of gore, but I felt it was covered well without going into immense detail. As I said, I don't usually gravitate to historical fiction, but I will read the others in this series. I loved it!
March 25, 2021
A murder mystery set in the ruins of Munich in the immediate aftermath of WWII. A serial killer is brutally murdering and dismembering victims, and it is the military detective's job to find and stop the killer.
I found the story to be tense and exciting. The author did a fine job of crafting the story, which includes the Nazi prison camps as part of the overall storyline. Perhaps the characters could have been developed more, but this is the first installment in a series, so that development will likely continue in future segments.
For those who enjoy a good murder mystery in an unusual and unique setting, I recommend this.
I found the story to be tense and exciting. The author did a fine job of crafting the story, which includes the Nazi prison camps as part of the overall storyline. Perhaps the characters could have been developed more, but this is the first installment in a series, so that development will likely continue in future segments.
For those who enjoy a good murder mystery in an unusual and unique setting, I recommend this.
March 27, 2021
I’m way behind on getting my reviews done, so I will say only a two things on this:
1) SO good, so many twists and turns, I’ll need to read it again to track everything properly.
2) Trigger warning for....pretty much everything. Murder, sexual assault, torture, swearing, dismemberment, in-depth discussions of the medical experiments of the concentration camps and what they did to the human body.... Not everyone is going to have the stomach for this, so if ritual dismemberment that even CSI would have backed away from is not your thing, maybe move on.
But if you can take, this is an AMAZING thriller.
1) SO good, so many twists and turns, I’ll need to read it again to track everything properly.
2) Trigger warning for....pretty much everything. Murder, sexual assault, torture, swearing, dismemberment, in-depth discussions of the medical experiments of the concentration camps and what they did to the human body.... Not everyone is going to have the stomach for this, so if ritual dismemberment that even CSI would have backed away from is not your thing, maybe move on.
But if you can take, this is an AMAZING thriller.
April 23, 2021
'It was a humbling feeling for Mason to consider that no matter how many lives he could save from the hands of a crazed killer, it paled in comparison to those facing death at the hands of a cruel winter.'
Post War Germany
An American Detective
A vicious serial Killer born from Nazi experiments.
What more could you ask for?
This was perfect! A fantastic mix of Historical Fiction and Thriller! With some fantastic characters!
Mason is just Brilliant, and his relationships with his seniors, his partner Wolski and the German Police Becker was just fantastic!
5* Fantastic Read!
'The ocean always falls away before the tidal wave roars ashore.'
Post War Germany
An American Detective
A vicious serial Killer born from Nazi experiments.
What more could you ask for?
This was perfect! A fantastic mix of Historical Fiction and Thriller! With some fantastic characters!
Mason is just Brilliant, and his relationships with his seniors, his partner Wolski and the German Police Becker was just fantastic!
5* Fantastic Read!
'The ocean always falls away before the tidal wave roars ashore.'
November 20, 2020
Ruins of War is an unusual in many ways. It tells the story about war AFTER the war is over. The early chapters tells us of the danger the "winners" won after the Germans gave up in WW2. There's a perfect leader who is assigned to investigate the deaths of many people. There's some information (assume it's correct for the times of WW2) about military law. There's an interesting collection of characters. The end of the book has the usual genre ending. It's a challenging read but a good one.
July 24, 2018
Certainly, Mr. Connell tosses in enough grisly mayhem to his debut, although along with it comes plenty of cliches and little tension: we know all too well what is about to happen. Never-the-less, the characters and the post-WWII setting hold enough of our attention to see us through to the finish. The jacket promises a second in the series and indeed one has apparently been published. Doubtful I will be buying it.
March 8, 2021
One of the most nerve-wracking books I've read in quite a while... A thrilling story with a believable and flawed protagonist that is relentless in the pursuit of a psychopath in postwar Germany. A unique setting and a historical context made it a thoroughly engaging and engrossing read. If you like police procedurals, historical thrillers, or crime thrillers with a unique angle, you'll love this book!
November 27, 2021
The mystery was good (the main theme of the serial murderer, the burgeoning major crime, and the petty crime of those a heartbeat away from starvation). The characters were well drawn with room to grow. But the depiction of Munich in the Winter of 1945 was engrossing. I felt I was there, feeling the pain (psychic and physical) and understanding the attitudes of both the victors and the vanquished.
Fabulous read!
Fabulous read!
October 29, 2020
Post War Mystery
I read this because I like historical mysteries and it had very good ratings. I was pleased with the historical setting and background throughout the story. The action was splendid. However, this is a story about a deviant and it was written to showcase that. It had a very strong ending, but just a little bit disappointing. I give it 4.1 out of 5 stars.
I read this because I like historical mysteries and it had very good ratings. I was pleased with the historical setting and background throughout the story. The action was splendid. However, this is a story about a deviant and it was written to showcase that. It had a very strong ending, but just a little bit disappointing. I give it 4.1 out of 5 stars.
March 5, 2021
An excellent start to a new series involving detective Mason Collins. It’s a gritty, well written story about an American detective, Mason Collins, catching an abhorrent serial killer...what makes it different to me is that it is set after the WW2 in war torn Germany which is riddled with crime & poverty after the atrocities of the Nazi’s. I definitely look forward to reading the rest of series.
March 9, 2021
Good read
I choose five stars because it seemed so real . My father was in Germany after the war as a doctor and him used to tell use stories if his time there in the ruins and how people survived at that time. How most were were jyst trying to get on with life and others took advantage of them.
I choose five stars because it seemed so real . My father was in Germany after the war as a doctor and him used to tell use stories if his time there in the ruins and how people survived at that time. How most were were jyst trying to get on with life and others took advantage of them.
May 3, 2022
Good historical crime thriller
Set during the first winter following the end of WWII in Germany, this is a fast moving thriller with a credible plot and a satisfying ending. The characters are well drawn and some are likable and others are not. While I genuinely enjoyed reading the novel, there were a few instances where unlikely coincidences appeared a bit too often.
Set during the first winter following the end of WWII in Germany, this is a fast moving thriller with a credible plot and a satisfying ending. The characters are well drawn and some are likable and others are not. While I genuinely enjoyed reading the novel, there were a few instances where unlikely coincidences appeared a bit too often.
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