POSTMARK BERLIN

Father Brennan Burke was out at the local pub having a few round of drinks with his pals and forgot about his promised 10pm meeting with his parishioner Meika Keller. The next day she is found dead, her body washed up on a local Halifax Nova Scotia beach. And so begins his journey to discover what happened to her, trying to rid himself of his guilt for letting her down when she had so badly needed him.

This is a very good murder mystery with a strong and complex, yet believable storyline. Meika Keller, German immigrant, is an upstanding citizen within her community; a married physics professor with two grown children. But she is seen arguing with another man very late at night on the night she died. She also had received some cryptic
correspondence from Berlin not long before she died.

This is the newest book in the Collins-Burke Mystery Series. The story is told from three different perspectives: Father Burke, the lawyer Monty Collins, and the Detective Pete Van den Brink. Events of the story take place in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, and Leipzig and Berlin in Germany. Wonderful descriptions of historic architecture are plentiful. So are the many visits to taverns, pubs, and inns. It is a serious story but the characters are well developed and enjoyable, and the dialogue is very comfortable.

Although this story is well into the Collins-Burke series, 11th I believe, it is my first. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading about the earlier adventures of these two men and their families. I would like to thank NetGalley, Anne Emery, and ECW Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was provided with a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly this book has wonderful writing. The author has such skill in crafting a world for the reader to venture into.

However as this book is part of a series (which I unfortunately was unaware of), it felt a bit disjointed at times. I look forward to starting the series from the beginning to truly appreciate this work!

This book was well crafted and set in an extremely interesting period of history. However not having read any of the previous books in the series I felt a little out of things. As I very much enjoyed Anne Emery's style of writing I am encouraged to start reading from the beginning of this series.

A fascinating mystery with well developed characters, an interesting historical twist and a compelling plot. I highly recommend it.

Postmark Berlin is an intriguing who-done-it. Set in the mid-1990s Canada where a Cold War east Berlin defector has been found dead and a quest is on to figure out who killed her. This story is filled with twists and turns, some predictable and others shocking. I appreciated that even though this falls into a series of books it was able to be read as a stand alone without feeling lost.

Father Brennan Burke is haunted by his past, intensifying his weakness for alcohol. He is out drinking one night and forgets his promise to meet with his parishioner, Meika Keller. Her body washes up on shore the following morning. Was she murdered, or did she kill herself?

Father Burke selfishly hopes for the former, to assuage his guilt, but knows he owes it to Meika to learn the truth. Also investigating are Monty Collins—Brennan’s estranged friend and attorney for the man accused of killing Meika and Halifax detectives Piet and Ailsa. But only Brennan travels to Berlin, accompanied by his pilot brother, Terry, to determine how Meika’s past in East Germany impacted her last weeks.

This book is part of a series which I’ve not read, so following the characters was occasionally confusing. Plus, there were a number of unnecessary scenes and details which added little to the story. However, Brennan Burke is such an appealing character—brilliant, talented, loyal, but so flawed—that he makes up for any shortcomings. Nonetheless, I had trouble getting in to the story.

Postmark Berlin by Anne Emery is a mystery featuring a cast of characters searching for the truth in the death of Meika Keller, a local college professor an opera aficianodo. It's primary seeker is Father Brendan Burke, an alcoholic, but very talented singer and educator, who life has recently been disrupted by an eight-month stint in an Irish prison on a trumped up charge of terrorism. The story is told from several viewpoints, including that of the police. There are numerous subplots and personal stories included which add to the drama of the situation. Father Brendan is involved to assuage his own guilt at forgetting his appointment with the victim on the night of her death, hoping to prove that it was not suicide, which would possibly relieve him of any culpability.

Father Brendan is a complicated character at a difficult time in his life; his time in Ireland proved to be both physically and emotionally draining and changed his life in so many ways that he is having difficulty adjusting. Emery did a credible job in writing his character so the reader feels his pain and feels encouraging as he searches for redemption for that night and for other errors in his life. The mystery is a good one, and not what one would assume from the title of the book. People behave in odd ways. It is difficult to judge the behavior of another given circumstances to difficult to even imagine. Emery has written a wonderful book, one that deserves a reader's time. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Postmark Berlin from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #postmarkberlin

Today is PDay (Publishing day) for Postmark Berlin by Anne Emery. I’ve read this book for NetGalley in exchange for review.

I chose this book by the cover. Do not laugh. I’ve been to Berlin a few years ago and have seen Berlin Dome featured on the cover. Then I read synopsis…

It is always tricky to pick up series not at the beginning. This book being 11th in the series of Collins-Burke mysteries was especially complicated to adapt to. But, here it is…

I have never met a murder-mystery that would warm my heart as Postmark Berlin did.

Brennan Burke Canadian-Irish Catholic priest, choir master and school principal. He is one modern dude who can wear jeans and a T-shirt with words ‘give me chastity… but not yet’ and who has human weaknesses galore. He loves his vocation and his pupils. He loves his family and friends. And that’s the warming thing about Burke’s story.

‘Most of what comes out of my mouth is not what God would say or ever wanted to hear’

Family and friends, love and devotion, loyalty and unconditional trust and support. No matter what Burke has been through, he has all these to fall back on. And he’s been through a lot.

I have not read any other books in these series and came into installment 11 where best friends Burke and Monty (lawyer) are estranged and on cool terms with each other. However, Postmark Berlin is well-rounded as a stand alone novel.

A physics professor and philantropist ends up washed up on shore. Father Burke blames himself for missing an appointment with this woman… Burke’s desire to give this parishioner of his her dues takes him on a journey with unexpected results. Unfortunate truths and hidden heartbreakes and betrayals would be uncovered all over the world…

Did she kill herself? Who is to blame – an eternal question.

It all would come down to – payment for overdue accounts…

The author has done an amazing job with juxtaposing family cozines of Irish clan with coldness of Berlin Wall and East/West confrontation, motherhood forgotten and looking after somebody’s children and loving them as one’s own, friendly relations and looking over one’s shoulder 24-7.

I enjoyed this read immensely. I loved the characters and would love to read more about Father Burke’s adventures including his academic inclusions and religious pearls.

I gave this book 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

This book did not work for me. It turns out it is the 11th book in a series ( there are two entries on goodreads and unfortunately the one I found the first time around before I requested it didn’t mention that fact), and that may be the reason I couldn’t really get into it. There was to much history that was being referenced and I was lost in the details.

I’m sure those who enjoy this series may enjoy this one too, but. it was a DNF for me.

Telling the Archbishop to “Fuck off’ is an unusual way to start a story. Then when it is followed by a dead body it peaks your interest right away. Postmark Berlin is my third book by Anne Emery, all have been in Collins-Burke Mystery Series, and I have enjoyed all three. I’ll also add that Anne Emery is an award winning writer of Crime fiction.

Though the Heavens Fall by Anne Emery was the first I read in this series and so far is my favorite.

I can say with certainty that you do not need to read this series in order, I started with Number 10. “Though the Heavens Fall”. The central characters are Monty Collins and his wife Maura MacNeil, lawyers based Halifax, and Father Brennan Burke also based in Halifax.

As mentioned, “Postmark Berlin” catches your interest quickly. The dead body mentioned in the opening paragraph of this review could have been the result of either murder or suicide. And the body belonged to a parishioner of Father Burke.

As the police investigation develops things start to get more complicated. And for their own reasons both Monty and Brennan try to solve the mystery.

For me the book seemed to slow down a bit near the middle but then picked up and was even better than the beginning.

The book is not coming out until May 19. I thank Netgalley for the privilege of reading this before the publication date.

I recommend Postmark Berlin . Try this series; I think you’ll like it.

Here are a few reviews on GoodReads. Not everyone agrees but most say this is a good mystery.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52026485-postmark-berlin

I had slight confusion getting everything straight with this book since it is 11th in a series, and I haven’t read any of them. I did however, like the principal characters. So I think I’ll go back to the beginning and perhaps things will seem a bit more clear. I was very interested to read both about Halifax (never been, but always wanted to) and the Irish background (my ancestry as well).

Father Brennan Burke skipped a meeting with Meilka- he was drinking and he just didn't make it. Then she ended up dead. Was it suicide or was she murdered? Turns out, she was murdered an a military officer, with whom she was thought to be having an affair has been arrested; Collins is defending him. The story, however, is more about Meilka. This shifts from Canada to Germany and back in forth in time to before the Wall fell. Meilka escaped East Germany at great personal cost but she remade herself and rebuilt her life in Canada. Burke's journey to Germany helps him understand not only Meilka but himself as well. I'd not read the earlier books in this long running series, which undoubtedly would have increased my enjoyment of this installment. Nevertheless, I liked this for the unusual protagonist and the settings-as well as the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A fascinating and gripping story that kept me hooked till the end.
A great cast of characters, a good storyline and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I had this book on my kindle. I could not get through the first chapter. In the few pages that I read I was scandalized. My eyes were assaulted with obscenities and profanities. I have no idea what the story was about and have no desire to learn.

Sorry I ever downloaded this one!

Too bad I can't give less than one star.

I made it about halfway through in 6 weeks time! I give up. There's nothing in it grabbing my attention and it's way too slow for my taste.

After struggling with this book for an hour or so last night, I decided to read other’s reviews today. AHA! It’s #11 in a series! No wonder I was feeling so lost in time and place and background! There’s simply too much in the history of this series that is not explained here for me to enjoy and understand this book.

I’m sure devotees of the series will delight in it – I’m sorry I couldn’t finish.

This was an ARC I received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Father Brennan Burke investigates the suspicious death of one of his parishioners, Meika Keller. Her body washed ashore on a Halifax beach and at first the cause of death was thought to be suicide. This troubles Burke because he failed to meet with Meika the night before her death as he promised. He feels he may have let her down in an hour of need. Before long, however, police charge an army officer with her murder because he was seen with her the night she died. Burke's investigation leads him eventually to Germany from where Meika emigrated to Canada after escaping from then Communist East Germany in 1974. Using his family network of contacts, Burke learns that Meika's backstory is much different from the one she told her family and friends in Canada. The already complex story takes a twist when the man accused of her murder is himself murdered. The resolution to the mystery comes when Burke tracks down Meika's family in Germany. He learns the truth about her escape from East Germany, and this in turn leads him to discovery of the cause of her death.

Burke is the principal narrator of the story, supplemented by the Halifax police officer investigating Meika's death, and Monty Collins, a recurring character in the series as Burke's long time friend. Collins coincidentally is the criminal defence lawyer for the army officer charged in Meika's death. This storytelling approach results in difficulty for a reader trying to follow the story. The narrators are at different points in uncovering what is going on and this interferes with a reader's progress. The police officer's narrative is a large red herring involving among other things, the storage of nuclear weapons in Atlantic Canada and the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. Collin's role is largely from his past association with Burke and a falling out they have over a past event which led to Burke being imprisoned in Northern Ireland. The storytelling could have been pared down by eliminating these narrators and making for a smoother, less disjointed read.

A positive to the storytelling is the portrayal of the various locales. Halifax, is portrayed for what it is, a naval town with a strong military background. The author demonstrates a knowledge of Atlantic Canada culture and the Canadian military. The best portrayals are atmospheric of the German locales, particularly Leipzig, bearing in mind the story is set in 1996, a short time after the re-unification of Germany.

This book is the eleventh of a series, but there will be no difficulty reading it as a standalone. The author does a good job of telling enough about Burke's backstory to explain his then current situation and motivations.

It's a busy story that requires a close reading. Father Burke is the standout character of the book with several solid supporting characters. There's plenty of atmosphere from an abundance of local colour for both Halifax, Berlin and Leipzig . While it's a good blend of crime fiction and spy thriller, the complex storyline told through several narrators. muddles the storytelling. Despite these nits, it's a worthwhile read.

I requested and received a complementary advance reading copy of this book from the publisher, ECW Press, via Netgalley. The comments about it are my own.

After taking a few days to let this story sink in, I'm finally ready to post my review. Thank you, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Here is my personal unbiased opinion:

It's hard for me to say what I liked the most about this book: Was it the story? Was it the characters? Was it all the little twists? Was it the trip down memory lane in the streets of my home country? I think all of them rank way up there!
Part of this book is set in Leipzig. I grew up about 30 minutes from Leipzig and loved reading about the characters' experience in this amazing city! The author definitely showed fantastic knowledge/research efforts in this story. I grew up in East Germany. I know what it felt like to grow up behind the Iron Curtain. I also have first-hand experience of the Stasi activities, the fear some people lived in, and the life in a country that called itself a communist country but was actually a totalitarian system. My family was one of those families where some members tried to deflect (and eventually succeeded) while others were either absolutely loyal to the corrupt system or were too scared to stand up for justice. This book took me back to those times when before November 1989. What surprised me was that there were still things that I learned from this book (about history). The author did a great job including information beyond what you can google.
In addition, I loved learning about Halifax and Canada as well as about Ireland. The author did an amazing job combining the history of these three countries. This book will definitely be on my list of books I will recommend to friends.

A myriad of characters explore the mysterious circumstances around the death of a local woman in Halifax, Canada with a murky past.
Postmark Berlin has an excellent plot but it's characters are a let down, with the possible exception of Father Brennan Burke. Relationships and motivations are slightly befuddling and confusingly sketched. Otherwise a good general mystery.

An interesting and fascinating story that takes you to and fro, building up the tension right up to the final pages. Definitely recommended to those who enjoy this genre.