Brandmal

Jan Fabel #3

by Craig Russell, Bernd Rullkötter (Übersetzer)

Kristina Dreyer ist eine reinliche Frau. Deshalb bleibt ihr der Schrei im Halse stecken, als sie in der Badezimmertür von Herrn Hauser im Hamburger Schanzenviertel steht. Zwei Mal pro Woche macht Dreyer dort sauber, aber in diesem Zustand hat sie den Raum und seinen Besitzer noch nie gesehen. Herr Hauser nämlich liegt skalpiert zwischen der Toilette und der Wanne und ist alles andere als ein reinigender Anblick. Das hat auch damit zu tun, dass Kristina Dreyer eine schmutzig dunkle Vergangenheit hat, zu der auch viel vergossenes Blut gehört. Deshalb macht die Putzfrau das Badezimmer sauber, bis alle Beweise für das Verbrechen verschwunden sind. Damit aber macht sie sich verdächtig, obwohl Kommissar Jan Fabel schnell begreift, dass der Fall anders liegt. Er führt zurück zu einer Moorleiche namens Roter Franz ins Jahr 324 nach Christus -- und einem RAF-Terroristen gleichen Namens, der den Mörder irgendwie inspiriert zu haben scheint...

Brandmal des 52-jährigen britischen Autors Craig Russell hat dieselben Stärken und Schwächen wie Blutadler und Wolfsfährte, die ebenfalls um das Team des Hamburger Polizisten Jan Fabel kreisen, und in einem Fall könnte eine Schwäche vielleicht auch eine Stärke sein (oder umgekehrt). Denn der Versuch, den zunächst englischsprachigen Lesern die kriminelle Landschaft von Deutschland und Hamburg nahe zu bringen, wird manchem Leser hierzulande allzu merkwürdig erscheinen. Die Art und Weise, wie der Autor den Terrorismus des deutschen Herbstes in seinen teils arg brutalen Thriller einwebt, will so gar nicht zu dem passen, was wir von ihm zu wissen glauben. Und auch die Erläuterungen zu Hamburg erscheinen für jemanden, der schon einmal etwas von der Stadt gehört hat, arg befremdlich. Auf der anderen Seite macht der dadurch entstehende Verfremdungseffekt Hamburg nur fremder -- und damit noch bedrohlicher. Und das tut der Fabel um Fabel natürlich auch ein wenig gut.

Nicht gut hingegen tun Brandmal die vielen sprachlichen Holprigkeiten und Ungenauigkeiten, von denen es fast auf jeder Seite welche gibt. Unter einem Kommissar, der „etwas über mittelgroß“ ist, weiß man sich so gar nichts vorzustellen. Warum die Helden sagen „Das war wirklich eine wunderbare Mahlzeit“, wenn sie meinen, dass es lecker war oder wundervoll geschmeckt hat, irritiert. Und warum statt Frisuren im Buch ausgerechnet Haare „Geheimratsecken aufweisen“ (die sich ja gerade im Fehlen jeglichen Haares manifestieren), ist nur schwer nachzuvollziehen. Die Liste solcher ärgerlichen Beispiele ließe sich endlos weiterführen. Vielleicht sollte der Lektor in Personalunion mit dem Übersetzer hier beim nächsten Fabel-Fall etwas genauer sein. -- Thomas Köster, Literaturanzeiger.de

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Horror, Serial Killer

415 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.

Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.

Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell

Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so bad, if you survive over first fifty pages and decide to read with some more patience. Terrorists, esoterism, some history facts, a huge amount of blood, some adjacent mini-plots, a final I've seen twenty pages before.
Otherwise, a very clever author...

[Nikos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ομάδα Μπάαντερ-Μάινχοφ,Γιοσκα φισερ,ενα μουμιοποιημενο πτωμα και ενας τυπος που παιρνει σκαλπ,μαλιστα!!!!!!!!!!Ψιλοπεριεργο θριλερ αλλα με αρκετο ενδιαφερον.

[Bren · Rating 4 out of 5]

De los tres libros de esta serie, este se lleva la palma, es brutal, ya me tenía ganada Craig Russell con los otros libros, me gusta su estilo y me encanta la manera en que desarrolla sus historias, pero este libro, simplemente se ha superado a sí mismo.

Sin duda este libro toca temas que van un poco más allá del thriller, ha resultado realmente original, sin contar que en esta ocasión nos hemos topado con un asesino realmente inteligente, diferente y si bien, no sospeché de quien se trataba, no estaba muy lejos en mis sospechas.

Craig Russell no es alemán de nacimiento, así que toda la parte de la crítica a la política, el retrato no solo de una sociedad que todavía tiene memoria de la culpa de una guerra, también se mete con la memoria de una época difícil no solo para Alemania si no para Europa en general, los años 70’s y 80’s, donde el terrorismo político estaba en boga y que al final del día queda aún en la memoria de muchos que no solo lo vivieron si no también lo sufrieron.

Este libro le resultó a Russell en el premio “Estrella de la policía” que concede la policía de Hamburgo, siendo el primer autor no Alemán en ganar este premio, esto lo saco a colación porque eso demuestra mucho lo acertado que ha sido este autor en pintar la manera en que se maneja la policía y lo veraz que resulta en sus historias.

En está ocasión además por fin vuelve a salir el tema del primer libro, algo que se había quedado un poco en el aire y que sigue siendo tema inconcluso no solo para Fabel si no para Maria también, hay mucho todavía en esa historia por salir a la luz.

Un libro brillante, inteligente, audaz, con un ritmo espectacular, una historia brutal, un final de infarto y realmente fabuloso, original considerando que el final es contado en el prólogo

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again I read a Jan Fabel book after seeing a German Tv movie I remembered have a few unread installments with this character. Too be honest I never knew these movies existed so I took it as a sign to continue.

Once again there is a killer about who fancies murder in a most horrible way and one part is him scalping the victim and hanging it like a trophy. At first the choice victims seem to be random but are they?

A second theme is genetics in which reincarnation seems to play a big part in the killer and about the bog corpses that have been found in the northern parts in Germany.

Jan Faber is once again confronted by dark evil and it does make him consider his future, as a policeman and with his girlfriend Susanne.

Maria Klee his second in command recovering from her wounds from a previous book is hurt more than just physically. While she is recovering mentally this book and this story does not do her any favors at all.

A lesser book in my personal opinion but still an easy book to read and still delivers on a more than decent thriller which makes this series of books a pleasure to read. So I expect I will continue reading this series. If you want to read the series start with the first one. Well advised.

[Purple Quoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Jan Fabel's novel. Recommended!

[Michael Ridpath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternal is the third in the series featuring Hamburg detective Jan Fabel. In an attempt to learn how it’s done, I have read a number of crime novels by different British and American authors set in foreign countries. Of these, Craig Russell’s are the best.

His characters are clearly German and yet have an individual personality with which the English reader can easily sympathize. When it comes to the level of detail of police procedures and descriptions of Hamburg, he judges the balance between authenticity and the risk of confusion in perfectly. You see Hamburg from the inside, and share the characters’ love of their City.

Fabel is an interesting character, upon whom layers of complexity are added in each book. In this book he seems happily settled with his girlfriend, but flashes of irritation appear. The horror of the day job bears down on him. But I think Maria Klee, one of his sidekicks, is the most interesting character in this novel. Cool, sophisticated, beautiful, competent, the horror of what she has witnessed is extremely difficult for her to deal with. Her psychological response is both complex and authentic.

The plot of this novel involves the son of a terrorist from the 70s and 80s who seeks revenge. There are themes of genetic memory and reincarnation, which are intelligently dealt with. I sometimes wonder whether crime readers can be split into those who find psychotic serial killers fascinating (not me), and those who find them so unbelievable as to be uninteresting (me). Craig Russell likes serial killers; I don’t. But that is just a matter of taste.

Despite this, Russell is an excellent storyteller: the pages fly by, and yet the reader’s brain is kept engaged at all times.

[Claudiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Russell este englez, dar seria Jan Fabel are loc in Hamburg.
Trebuie sa incep asa pentru ca unul din cele mai importante aspecte legate de romanul acesta este faptul ca Russell nu scrie un roman cu actiune in Germania, ci un roman german . De la actiune pana la personaje, Russell a scris 100% un roman in spiritul romanelor nemtesti, multe dintre ele netraduse la noi. inca. poate le-o veni randul, dupa nordici.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Jan Fabel books. This series is so exciting and creepy. Can't wait to start the next book!

[Linda Plested · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.

[Phillipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the second of Craig Russell's books I've read and although the storyline is generally good, I just don't find them an easy read. This one was particularly slow and I'm not sure if it's because it's Germany-based as opposed to the usual British or American based novels we all generally read. Either way this one had a fantastic surprise ending that at the very least kept me gripped for the last few pages.

Craig Russell also takes care to make his characters 3 dimensional, they all have little sub-plots going, if not things in their life at least things in their psyche that affect who they are and the decisions they make thruout the story. Not a bad read, I'd read another of his books, but it's not earth shatteringly go-out-and-tell-all-your-friends brilliant either.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The truth is I got a little bored with this one. The last 100 pages were really interesting. The plot was good, especially the way with which that psychopath was killing his victims. The worst thing about this book is that there is nothing interesting about the main character Jan Fabel. It's like he has no personality at all!

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yazar cinayet şekli konusunda çok yaratıcı.. İlk 3kitapta da gördüm bunu.Iki kişiden şüphelendim ama bi yerden sonra katili tahmin etmek kolaylaştı. Fabel`in mesleği bırakma çelişkilerini de görüyoruz bu kitapta. Gayet güzeldi:)

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark serial killer mystery, third of the Jan Fabel series set in Hamburg

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3º libro que leo de este autor. Se recuperan las buenas sensaciones que tuve en el 1º, muy interesante. 8/10

[Cerisaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine crime mystery in the Jan Fabel series from Craig Russell, with the usual mix of German history, myth and politics. With continuing development of Fabel's character and back story, and his team of colleagues, too, the book will appeal to fans of the Hamburg policeman and to new readers. There are ongoing plot strands but the story can be read as a standalone.

Germany provides a rich seam for a writer to mine to concoct a serial killer story involving archaeology, burial customs, reincarnation, the Hamburg firestorm, 70s Marxist terrorism, the Green movement, and the fall of the Berlin wall.

Fabel is feeling the burden of twenty years service as a homicide detective. His personal life too coming under strain as he tries to decide whether to sell his small apartment with its wonderful view to buy a new place together with his girlfriend. A job offer from an old schoolmate makes a new start very tempting, but Fabel is surely too dedicated to his police work, too devoted to his team, to leave? I can't wait to read the next book to see how it resolves!

I'd guessed the identity of the serial killer before the end of the novel but it was still a page-turning read. Often very gory and disturbing, so be warned if you don't like that sort of thing. The multiple perspectives of the narrative mean the reader knows more than the police which can sometimes make Fabel & his team seem a bit plodding. It's fun though to see how eventually the murder squad gets to the truth, through hard work, intuition, science and a bit of luck.

[Alexandra Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este Best Seller forma parte de la tercera novela de la serie de Jan Fabel, un comisario de la policía de Hamburgo que se ve envuelto en una trama bastante intrincada e interesante mientras persigue a un asesino en serie, el cual cree haber reencarnado y ahora se venga de aquellos que le traicionaron en una vida anterior.

Fabel, se ve envuelto en una red de mentiras, obsesiones y venganza que data desde hace dieciséis siglos atrás. Por si fuera poco, tenemos a un asesino muy inteligente y despiadado que mata a sus víctimas de una forma particular: Arrancándoles metódicamente el cuero cabelludo y dejando en la escena del crimen un pelo teñido de rojo que ha sido arrancado hace 20 años aproximadamente y de la misma cabeza. Además, la historia entrelaza un grupo de terroristas anarquista de los años ochenta y una serie de teorías que podrían hacerle perder la cabeza a cualquiera por lo disparatadas y lógicas que llegan a ser.

Los personajes están muy bien descritos, me encanta la personalidad del asesino y lo admito, me permití estudiarlo muy bien y por eso quedé fascinada. La historia se entrelaza a la perfección y es muy difícil que queden cabos sueltos o preguntas sin responder. Los escenarios se adecuan a la historia y todo el libro está muy bien documentado en hechos reales. Por su parte, es difícil descubrir el desenlace o alguna pista, por lo que mientras lees nunca te imaginas quién puede ser el asesino hasta que te encuentras con un final completamente sorprendente e inesperado.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fabel nu putu să nu remarce ironia faptului că stația Nordenham era punctul terminus al căii ferate. Acesta era locul în care se sfârșea călătoria lor, din mai multe privințe. Ajunseseră într-un punct mort și nu mai aveau încotro s-o apuce de-aici.

Farurile mașinilor de poliție înșiruite de cealaltă parte a căii ferate luminau peronul de parcă era o scenă de teatru. Imaginea avea ceva straniu: îți dădea senzația de duritate și limpezime deopotrivă. Până și fațada tencuită a gării părea oarecum decolorată: marginile sale erau de-o claritate nefirească, asemenea unei schițe arhitecturale sau unei scene de teatru, pe care se profilau umbrele gigantice ale celor două siluete de pe peron, una stând în picioare, iar cealaltă în genunchi.

Lumina cea mai intensă, mai pătrunzătoare venea de la cuțitul ce scânteia în mâna siluetei aflate în picioare, înconjurată de o aură luminoasă, în spatele bărbatului îngenuncheat.

Mintea lui Fabel începu să analizeze febril multiplele deznodăminte posibile ale acestei situații. Orice avea să zică, orice avea să întreprindă, consecințele erau inevitabile; urma să se declanșeze un șir întreg de evenimente. Iar unul dintre acestea avea să fie, probabil, moartea mai multor persoane.

[Andreea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victimele, două personalităţi renumite - un fost membru al mişcării politice de extremă stângă, care ulterior a devenit un susţinător înfocat al ecologismului şi un specialist în genetică, preocupat de teoria transmiterii amintirilor pe cale ereditară -, sunt găsite ucise la 24 de ore distanţă una de cealaltă. Amândoi bărbaţii fuseseră scalpaţi.
📕 Recenzie / Părere personală
Intriga acestui roman îl implică pe fiul unui terorist din anii 70-80 care caută răzbunare. Există teme ale memoriei genetice și reîncarnării, care sunt scrise în mod inteligent.
Este o poveste destul de bună, asta daca ai răbdare să ajungi la pagina 55 🫣.
Începutul este unul plictisitor, pe parcus avem parte și de acțiune, iar finalul este unul previzibil.
Cu părere de rău, criminalul a fost mult mai interesant decât Jan.
Personajele au fost scrise destul de detaliate, însă mi-ar fi plăcut că Jan să aibă personalitate .....
Per total este o poveste de 3⭐⭐⭐
Pagini : 407

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another difficult case for Jan Fabel which makes an exciting read. This the third of the Jan Fabel series and continues the story of Hamburg’s Murder Commission.
The team is the same as before with a couple of new characters who are all well defined and fit nicely into the storyline.
An intriguing case keeps the reader guessing from start to finish and brings a more personal edge to the story for the hero.
Once again I thoroughly enjoyed Craig Russell’s writing and I look forward to reading the next volume in the series.

[Άννα Τσιαπούρη · Rating 4 out of 5]

Εμπλέκονται θεωρίες για την αναγέννηση και την μετενσάρκωση, ιστορίες αρχαιολογίας όπως για τις μούμιες των βάλτων, η δράση πρώην μελών ριζοσπαστικών κινημάτων του εβδομήντα και του ογδόντα, προδοσία και εκδίκηση. Τα θύματα εντωμεταξύ αυξάνονται και η προσοχή στρέφεται στο λάθος άτομο. Θα προλάβουν να εντοπίσουν τον πραγματικό κατ’ επανάληψη δολοφόνο «Κόκκινο Φραντς» ή «Κομμωτή του Αμβούργου» προτού κινδυνέψει ένα μέλος της ομάδας του Φάμπελ;

Full review on Insta @vivliofreneia
https://shorturl.at/fgbrM

Follow me on Insta @vivliofreneia
https://www.instagram.com/vivliofreneia/

[Lisa Schwochow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the last two, this book was an awesome read and I finished it rather quickly for my standards. I‘m giving it four stars because it was missing something in my opinion. The ending didn’t catch me like the others did. Still would definitely recommend it and I’ll be looking forward to reading the next one.

[Nicole Aroca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the author keeps the reader reading without stopping, as the plot of the story etrapates you and note lets stop until you know how the end is, in this case we have the murderer Franz the Red. The plot entertains you and at the same time educates you.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid police procedural with Russell's usual mix of crisp detail, history and cultural observation. The crimes detailed are brutal but the descriptions are not stomach turning. Looking forward to reading more.

[Michael Oxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Great Addition To The Fabel Series

I loved this book. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down.

Eternal is a fine novel with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

[Lcube · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5

[Zaskya Benítez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read but perhaps went on a little too long.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Isabel Ogilvie]

I love finding a great new series. Now to read the rest.

[Jose Enrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra novela en la cual este autor deja a los lectores con ganas de mas, una gran historia como nos tiene acostumbrado este autor siempre, en cada una de las novelas de este detective.