This is turning into an excellent series and this book is even better than its predecessor. Horst Schenke is an intriguing character. A man of honour and breeding who walks a tightrope between his conscience and the Nazi zealots he is forced to serve.

A complex and convoluted plot ensues but the historical detail is accurate and the story intriguing.

He is still no Bernie Gunther but this is a series well worth reading.

Highly recommended.

Simon Scarrow's follows Blackout, his latest series, WW2 historical fiction with this sequel, set in the bitterly cold, freezing snow ridden winter in Berlin 1941, featuring Kripo Criminal Inspector, Horst Schenke, head of Pankow station, from an aristocratic background, a former racing driver who suffered a terrible accident that left him with a permanent limp. He and his team of Sergeant Hauser, and the Gestapo transferred Liebwitz, are urgently trying to get to the bottom of a forged ration coupons scam, facing pressure to get it resolved as soon as possible. To Schenke's dismay, the Jewish Ruth Frankel, who had helped them on their last murder inquiry, wants him to look into the suspicious suicide of a SS Dr Manfred Schmesle, his wife, Brigitte, is convinced it is murder.

Ruth, who is in real danger, is hiding from the Nazis, and despite Schenke's misgivings, he feels he owes it to her to look into the suicide, going to visit Brigitte's home, where it becomes clear that suicide does not fit the evidence. However, the dangers of looking into it soon become apparent when he is abducted by thugs, and when he gets a phone call from none other than Reinhard Heydrich warning him off, the suicide verdict will stand. Schenke's relationship with the beautiful Karin has progressed to a level that he asks her to marry her. She agrees, but he becomes aware that there is much he doesn't know about her when Karin asks for a favour, for him to meet an American journalist that will bring nothing but trouble. Unhappy, feeling coerced, he acquiesces, which is how he finds himself meeting a grieving mother, Johanna Scholz, whose daughter, Greta, supposedly died of pneumonia at the Schiller Clinic in Potsdam.

To Schenke's surprise, as the horrors of what is happening at the clinic emerge, there are connections to Dr Manfred Schmesle. Scarrow evokes the darkness and atmosphere of the period with skill, a Berlin and Germany illustrating the Nazis nightmare abuse of power, implementing the below the radar murders of those viewed as polluting the Aryan race, including those designated as physically and mentally deficient. Schenke is having to make pragmatic decisions when it comes to accommodating his conscience and unpalatable realities, something that disappoints Karin, his relationship facing further difficulties when he becomes aware of his feelings for another woman. Whilst it is all to easy to condemn the Nazis, it's worth noting that much of the thinking and practice behind eugenics and forced sterilisation came from other countries. This is harrowing and hard hitting WW2 fiction that makes for a tense, suspenseful and gripping read. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I normally try and read most of Simon Scarrow's books, but found the predecessor to this book to be almost clumsy and inarticulate. So I was fortunate to be shared this book by the publisher and NetGalley, as I was intrigued to discover how this very new series has evolved and am appreciative to both.

For me, there is a clear improvement. The author has always superb stories in mind and this novel doesn't disappoint in any way. The characters are more formed now and the reader can relate to their respective evolution more. For me, I really enjoyed reading how the characters developed and grew, especially with how their own relationships with other characters within the story and universe developed.

I also think the author worked respectfully with the subject manner, observing some restraint and respective, whilst truthfully accounting for the horror of the war and the German regime. This is already another series to read and appreciate, as the author's skill and productivity just exponentially increases.

Dead of night by Simon Scarrow.
BERLIN. JANUARY 1941. Evil cannot bring about good . . .
After Germany's invasion of Poland, the world is holding its breath and hoping for peace. At home, the Nazi Party's hold on power is absolute.
One freezing night, an SS doctor and his wife return from an evening mingling with their fellow Nazis at the concert hall. By the time the sun rises, the doctor will be lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
Was it murder or suicide? Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is told that under no circumstances should he investigate. The doctor's widow, however, is convinced her husband was the target of a hit. But why would anyone murder an apparently obscure doctor? Compelled to dig deeper, Schenke learns of the mysterious death of a child. The cases seem unconnected, but soon chilling links begin to emerge that point to a terrifying secret.
Really enjoyable read just didn't know how I felt about the characters. 4*.