I am a huge fan of this author since my introduction to the Bernie Gunther series some time ago. I simply could not stay there waiting for the next installment so why not backtrack and “Hitler’s Peace” became my preferred choice.
This is briskly paced and a sharp standalone spy thriller set in 1943 when Hitler and his advisors see that they are losing the war and unconditional surrender is out of the question. Hitler and his advisers then work on a secret plan to manipulate the Allies to turn their backs on the Russian State.
With this as background, Willard Mayer, a former Princeton philosophy professor currently working as an intelligence analyst is given an unexpected assignment from the President of the U.S.A to examine the facts surrounding the Katyn Forest Massacre and to be part of his entourage to the Teheran Conference where the “Big Three” (Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill) would meet to strategize about the war.
Meanwhile general Schellenberg plans to kill the Allies leaders in order to save the Fatherland from further destruction and then begins the high stakes game of deals and double-dealing. The body count mounts, twists spins the tale and eventually every piece of the puzzle falls into place.
This is indeed an interesting concept and a great fiction based on facts, Mr. Kerr explains which one are true at the end of the book. The story is told in the first person narrative by the protagonist, Willard Mayer, a pretentious and somewhat bland character. The book is populated with overpowering historical figures that once on the stage could have overshadowed everything else. With excellent portrayal of them, Mr. Kerr did manage to make them appeared less stringent at times. Some side escapades were a fun read and brought a light touch to the suspense. Despite its flaws (a fiction is a fiction) this fast paced novel left me wanting more as I flipped the pages.
“Hitler’s Peace” is an interesting and entertaining novel I enjoyed quite a bit..
This is a wonderful fiction, a sort of Cinderella story in disguise. Through her words Ms. Amato rich narrative draws a picture of the Mexico’s society and how its Caste System has had an impact on every aspect of life. The story illustrates how this inequality has given strength to the drug cartels, fosters a culture of corruption and made people take risk to escape to the United States.
The main players are Luz de Maria Alba Mora, a poor house maid sometime artist, and Eduardo “Eddo” Cortez Castillo, a rich Mexico City attorney. Opposite as can be on the echelon of society, Maria and Eddo unexpected and vulnerable relationship can only be a liability for a high profile attorney. It soon comes to the forefront when Eddo investigates links between the Minister for Public Security and one of the most elusive drug cartel leaders and definitely not a good time to uncover a political double-cross fueled by drug money.
This story is a mixed of fairy tale romance between Maria and Eddo and high suspense when Eddo follows the money trail deep into the underworld of Mexico’s drug culture. We have many exciting chases and some violent scenes in alternate chapters but we also have many tender moments. This is definitely a character and dialogue driven thriller.
“The Hidden Light of Mexico City” is a quality novel written with passion, has a polish prose, a beautiful style, great characterization and above all an excellent and creative plot that sounds authentic. I must admit being hooked from the start and engaged till the very end. Well done Ms. Amato can’t wait to read the “Cliff-Diver”..
Right from the start this thriller had me hooked. It provided one of those exciting plot that teases you on the first page, grabs you in the intensity of its suspense and never lets go till all the pieces are neatly wrapped. Based during the 6 weeks leading up to the wedding it is a race to see who wants the protagonist (Lee Eyre) dead. The pacing is non-stop and lets you ponder while the story moves on. At no point during the book was I able to guess the outcome and was rather baffled by the discovery at the end.
This is an intricate layered story which interweaves a myriad of characters' lives. We follow a police officer, his fiancé, his ex-wife, his co-workers and some shady characters. Each adding their touch to the puzzle, a puzzle that kept on getting better and better as it was pieced together. "Vows to Kill" is a wonderful crime novel with skittish romance that is quite entertaining.
The premise of the book is the following:
Lee Eyre is a detective who receives an email saying: "I will kill you on your wedding day". Is this a joke or a threat? Lee is about to marry Lucy but has avoided telling her about his past, a past stuff with nightmares. Lee's approach has been to bury and pretending the events never happened. He now must investigate a crime that hasn't happened yet...his own murder......
"Vows to Kill" was my first experience reading this author and it was an excellent one.
