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Bad Cop
After putting away the head of the Albanian mafia in Hamburg, Homicide Detectives Thomas Ritter and Motz Beck are confronted with a bloody war to control the local drug trade in the mobster’s absence. First an Albanian courier is shotgunned to death at the edge of Hamburg Harbor. Then a Hells Angel gets the same treatment on the Alster River. As the bodies pile up, Ritter and Beck are forced to work with an organized crime expert, a burned-out narcotics agent with his own drug issues. Before long, they suspect that their new partner is working for one of the rival gangs.
"A strong sequel and a pitch-dark noir pulsing with action in its own right, Bad Cop will keep thriller readers engaged and eager for more."
-- Publishers Weekly
"With two classic noir protagonists, sharp dialogue, and a sinister edge of vigilante justice on the gritty streets of Hamburg, Sarda's latest installment is a solid and satisfying work of crime fiction that improves on its predecessor."
-- SPR
"A strong sequel and a pitch-dark noir pulsing with action in its own right, Bad Cop will keep thriller readers engaged and eager for more."
-- Publishers Weekly
"With two classic noir protagonists, sharp dialogue, and a sinister edge of vigilante justice on the gritty streets of Hamburg, Sarda's latest installment is a solid and satisfying work of crime fiction that improves on its predecessor."
-- SPR
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2022
10 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Peter Sarda
5 books4 followersPeter Sarda (www.peter-sarda.com) is a third-generation Californian living and working in Hamburg, Germany. His first novel, "Cash-n-Carry," is a coming-of-age story based on his rough-and-tumble upbringing in the murder capital of the Golden State. His crime thriller series, "Hamburg Noir," is set in his adoptive home, a rugged harbor town with lots of old trading money, a “sinful mile” devoted to the world’s oldest profession, and a robust and colorful criminal underworld.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2022
Great mystery writing - a worthy sequel
California author Peter Sarda now lives in Germany where he serves as the in-house editor at a scientific facility in Northern Germany. His novels reflect his locales – CASH-N-CARRY in California and A HAMBURG NOIR series of which BAD COP is volume 2 - in his adopted hometown in Germany. In creating a thriller set in Hamburg, making the city and the performing characters credible, Sarda provides an excellent list of characters and terms at book’s end – a quality reference guide for complete involvement in the story. The fervor of his skill in creating atmosphere is apparent as the Prologue opens – ‘Noah opened the battered Deutsche Grammophon case, pulled out the first CD, slipped it into the ghetto blaster, and skipped to the fifth track, Vivaldi’s Concerto No.8 for Two Violins in A Minor. “Ready?” he said, his bow hovering above the violin grasped by his shoulder and jaw. The smell of resin on horsehair made his scalp tingle in anticipation. After a few cracks and pops of the digitally remastered recording, he felt a burst of energy. He lifted his instrument dramatically to signal to his partner…’’ With that brief entre, Sarda demonstrates his skill with setting a moment that surprises the reader when it is explained - just the sort of intro mysteries thrive upon!
Sarda has mastered the art of pungent dialogue, and proves his skill in capturing and maintaining attention throughout this superb thriller, outlined as follows: ‘After putting away the head of the Albanian mafia in Hamburg, Homicide Detectives Thomas Ritter and Motz Beck are confronted with a bloody war to control the local drug trade in the mobster’s absence. First an Albanian courier is shotgunned to death at the edge of Hamburg Harbor. Then a Hells Angel gets the same treatment on the Alster River. As the bodies pile up, Ritter and Beck are forced to work with an organized crime expert, a burned-out narcotics agent with his own drug issues. Before long, they suspect that their new partner is working for one of the rival gangs.’
Peter Sarda is becoming a writer to respect, explore, and commit to his superb novels. Excellent mystery thriller, written with consummate skill. Very highly recommended.
California author Peter Sarda now lives in Germany where he serves as the in-house editor at a scientific facility in Northern Germany. His novels reflect his locales – CASH-N-CARRY in California and A HAMBURG NOIR series of which BAD COP is volume 2 - in his adopted hometown in Germany. In creating a thriller set in Hamburg, making the city and the performing characters credible, Sarda provides an excellent list of characters and terms at book’s end – a quality reference guide for complete involvement in the story. The fervor of his skill in creating atmosphere is apparent as the Prologue opens – ‘Noah opened the battered Deutsche Grammophon case, pulled out the first CD, slipped it into the ghetto blaster, and skipped to the fifth track, Vivaldi’s Concerto No.8 for Two Violins in A Minor. “Ready?” he said, his bow hovering above the violin grasped by his shoulder and jaw. The smell of resin on horsehair made his scalp tingle in anticipation. After a few cracks and pops of the digitally remastered recording, he felt a burst of energy. He lifted his instrument dramatically to signal to his partner…’’ With that brief entre, Sarda demonstrates his skill with setting a moment that surprises the reader when it is explained - just the sort of intro mysteries thrive upon!
Sarda has mastered the art of pungent dialogue, and proves his skill in capturing and maintaining attention throughout this superb thriller, outlined as follows: ‘After putting away the head of the Albanian mafia in Hamburg, Homicide Detectives Thomas Ritter and Motz Beck are confronted with a bloody war to control the local drug trade in the mobster’s absence. First an Albanian courier is shotgunned to death at the edge of Hamburg Harbor. Then a Hells Angel gets the same treatment on the Alster River. As the bodies pile up, Ritter and Beck are forced to work with an organized crime expert, a burned-out narcotics agent with his own drug issues. Before long, they suspect that their new partner is working for one of the rival gangs.’
Peter Sarda is becoming a writer to respect, explore, and commit to his superb novels. Excellent mystery thriller, written with consummate skill. Very highly recommended.
April 17, 2023
Real noir
First time I tried this author. This book is skillfully plotted and excruciatingly dark. Main characters are solid and vivid. Others not so much, but the story carries them.
First time I tried this author. This book is skillfully plotted and excruciatingly dark. Main characters are solid and vivid. Others not so much, but the story carries them.
March 15, 2024
2nd in the Hamburg Noir series from Peter Sarda.
I’m not really sure who the lead character is, more a team affair, and the detecting all happens matter of factly.
I’m not really sure who the lead character is, more a team affair, and the detecting all happens matter of factly.
May 28, 2025
This title was selected for IngramSpark's Indie Title Discovery Spotlight 2025!
November 27, 2023
I felt like the characters and story line lacked development
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews