The Good German
by Joseph Kanon

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Book Reviews of The Good German

Book Review: "In Berlin . . . theres always something worse"
Summary: 5 Stars

The rendition of Geismar's story is presented in so compelling a manner that you feel every nuance of his frustrations and shocks. Every character seems to offer issues you feel compelled to offer a personal response. He confronts us with many of the fundamental questions. What's right and what's wrong? What is the true cost of survival under totalitarian regimes? How much would you sacrifice for friends or neighbours? Clearly, Kanon will accept no absolutes on these questions. There are countless "gray areas" and just when you feel you can cope with the questions, "there's always something worse." You are an outsider in the Berlin of 1946, but tomorrow it could be where you are now.

The city's ruin is distressing to Jake as he hadn't seen the impact of "strategic bombing." The physical ruins, however, prove as nothing compared to the impact of Nazi policies on the populace. Jake discovers Nazis where he least expects them. Even worse, he learns an old friend was compelled to become a "greifer," a Jew who identifies other Jews for the Gestapo. Geismar is also confronted by the Allied wish to overlook the role of some Nazis in order to put them to use for scientific and commercial ends. Kanon leaves no stone unturned in his ambition to paint a vivid and accurate picture of post-war Berlin. He does a stunning job of it, without overwhelming the reader in irrelevant details.

Jake finds his abandoned lover, perhaps the only implausible event in the book. It's a small matter, however, as Kanon flawlessly carries the reader along in his historical journey. Although the murder almost sinks from sight as Kanon develops his persona, it remains the key to many of Greismar's encounters. The solution to the murder brings all the elements together. Kanon does more than exhibit his abilities at historical research. He delves into human feelings in ways few "mystery" novels can achieve. As he leads Greismar through the tortured city he confronts new realities of life under the Nazis and Allied greed. Right and wrong are increasingly blurred. Kanon has achieved a new level in the "mystery" genre.

Historical Books

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