Death in Tallinn

by Allan Martin

Estonia, a small country trying to survive - caught between the jaws of Germany and Russia.

And political crisis looms when a senior policeman is found impaled on the roof of a kiosk.

Chief Inspector Jüri Hallmets, former schoolteacher and veteran of Estonia’s struggle for independence, builds a team to investigate the crime. His political masters demand a quick and easy resolution to the case. But Hallmets has principles.

Two journalists are looking into the case too, but their curiosity could prove their own worst enemy. Their fates become entwined with Hallmets’ investigation.

And as Hallmets finds himself in a race against time, he uncovers a network of illegal activities.

After a bloody shoot-out, a plot unfolds which will threaten Estonia’s fragile democracy.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2020

Reviews

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and sometimes interesting but sometimes the story dragged and had trouble holding my interest.

[Tilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed reading this because of the historical background details, especially the political material relating to trying to appease the Baltic Germans, with the shadow of another war looming over the country. This is the first book I have read by this author and I wondered if it was to be the first in a series about the main characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this one months ago. It was really good. I really want to go to Estonia

[Cidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extraordinry book. It's set in Tallin, Estonia in 1933 when a very corrupt police inspector it turned out is killed, found impaled on a flagpole overlooking the sea (and this becomes the first of many), and Chief Inspector Juri Hallmets is called in from another division to lead the investigation. However he found this to be no walk in the park. The police department is run by bad police officers who are very good at framing people and the guy who was impaled on a flagpole was the Head of all of them. It was a hard read but did hold my attention very well even though I had some language difficulties! The framing of innocent people and the huge level of violence of police officers isn't something which we are used to encountering in modern books really, but this was an interesting ride in an interesting country just before Hitler fully takes over Germany and begins world war2 and I really liked the main (decent) police officers and hearing of how the police work in different countries. So this was a hit with me.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was certainly an interesting read. I think I enjoyed the whole setting in early 30s Estonia more than the investigation.

I loved the historical nature of the backdrop. I found it really fascinating. The murder investigation itself was riveting, with Hallmets dropped in to have an impartial and proper investigation rather than the way the victim did it which was to identify the guilty party and make the evidence fit. The frustration of having to conduct the investigation when many of his colleagues had their own views and methods, as well as politicians trying to shut things down as soon as possible, was very palpable. Hallmets himself was a likeable character and I liked the way his team willingly assisted him. I am glad to see there is a second book which I intend to read shortly.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is set in 1933 Estonia and was an overly lengthy, fairly standard police-procedural with some good local atmosphere although, unfortunately, words like “chappie”, “guv” and “blighter” took you out of the Estonian environment far too frequently, while the good guys, led by Tartu Chief Inspector and war veteran Juri Hallmets, commissioned by the Interior Ministry to investigate the murder of a brutal Tallinn Chief Inspector, were a bit bland. Subplots with crime reporters and German ex-landlords with illicit alcohol, complicated more than helped but the setting and era provided interest and engagement. More a 3.5 star read.

[Anthony Addis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this while on a city break in Tallinn. It’s a perfect accompaniment! Lots of interesting Estonian history and Tallinn settings that perfectly complement the plot. It’s fascinating reading about the Nazi takeover in Germany in 1933 from the pov of concerned Estonian next door neighbors! In terms of the characters, the two journalists interested me most, but I did like the main protagonist.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting especially the history of Estonia, but I thought the characters were flat. More than a three but not a 4. Hallmets and his team were good, but there seemed to be a lot of corruption and Hitler’s revving up in the background.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. I am fascinated by these little countries that fight so valiantly for their independence. As we cannot cruise there at the moment it was great to read an historical crime fiction story that was os full of history.