Set in the Cold War era, around 1976, in the Communist part of Eastern Europe featuring, once again, Young’s detective Karin Muller (her third outing), this book does not disappoint.
The distant Communist regime with the Ministry of State Security (Stasi) as the all-powerful overseeing eye is wonderfully portrayed. The story is not subservient to its location and rattles along symbiotically at a pleasant pace without being completely anchored in East Germany.
There is a murder for Muller to investigate, along with locating a missing person that leads to a series of events that implicates the upper echelons of the ruling party. Undertones of corruption and the fact that everything comes with a price are deftly detailed by Young in this intelligent story.
The story flits backwards and forwards in time in relation to the same overriding narrative arc that lead to a conclusion that I was keen to reach.
This may be David Young’s third outing with Karin Muller but stands the test of readability on its own merits, like any of the excellent Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo.
The city of Historical Crime Fiction has a rich avenue of Cold War Authors and David Young is in residence there with excellent company including Tom Robb Smith, Joseph Kanon and Philip Kerr.
I am already looking forward to Mr Young’s next offering (he has a deal for at least another two books). Fans of Historical Crime Fiction (especially the Cold War era) are in for a treat.
The distant Communist regime with the Ministry of State Security (Stasi) as the all-powerful overseeing eye is wonderfully portrayed. The story is not subservient to its location and rattles along symbiotically at a pleasant pace without being completely anchored in East Germany.
There is a murder for Muller to investigate, along with locating a missing person that leads to a series of events that implicates the upper echelons of the ruling party. Undertones of corruption and the fact that everything comes with a price are deftly detailed by Young in this intelligent story.
The story flits backwards and forwards in time in relation to the same overriding narrative arc that lead to a conclusion that I was keen to reach.
This may be David Young’s third outing with Karin Muller but stands the test of readability on its own merits, like any of the excellent Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo.
The city of Historical Crime Fiction has a rich avenue of Cold War Authors and David Young is in residence there with excellent company including Tom Robb Smith, Joseph Kanon and Philip Kerr.
I am already looking forward to Mr Young’s next offering (he has a deal for at least another two books). Fans of Historical Crime Fiction (especially the Cold War era) are in for a treat.