A death in Berlin is a taut crime thriller set against the early years of the Nazi regime. A seemingly straightforward murder of a club boss, quickly unravels into a layered web of shady officials, gangsters and corrupt policeman. The lead character of Schenke is a movie ready part, complicated, brooding, but true to his word. His resistance to the Nazi party's allure is problematic as he tries to follow the letter of the law which he has spent his life protecting. Unlikely alliances, violent encounters and a dangerous romance all ensure that this is a page turner.

Although part of a series this can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel.

The Kripo unit is getting nowhere with its investigation into forged food coupons so the murder of a local gang leader is a welcome diversion. However when the murdered man's club is destroyed in an arson attack Schenke discovers that the two cases are linked. This brings him into the orbit of Guttmann, a highly connected Berlin criminal. When Guttmann sees a way of getting him on his payroll, Schenke has to decide how far he can stretch his loyalties.
I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series and this is the best one yet. I love the way that morality is tested through the Nazi regime where failure to conform as demanded can have serious consequences. Therefore this book works as a historical novel, an exploration of the effect of Nazi power on the ordinary people of Germany and also as a really satisfying police procedural.

Schenke already has plenty on his plate, after nearly six months they are still no closer to breaking the forgery ring that has been producing ration coupons. The chaos this has been causing on supplies has not gone unnoticed and political pressure has been brought to bear, results are needed now. Schenke also has a new boss who is party loyal and one of his first actions has been to note the investigator’s lack of membership and questions where his loyalties lie.

Another superb crime story set against the backdrop of war. Victory in Poland was straightforward, but the phony war is coming to an end and the hints are there to see. Obviously writing in retrospect it is clear what happened, but the author has done an excellent job in capturing the sense of change, of impending danger within the story. Subtly done but there is an ominous undercurrent.
There are two strands to the plot that coalesce in a clever way. There is the forgery case which has been running through the two previous instalments and the murder of the gang boss.

The forgery case is finally resolved, almost by accident. The answer managing to be so beautifully simple and blindingly obvious, yet thanks to some over thinking on the part of investigators not considered. There is a touch of an Edgar Allan Poe short story here, I will say no more. Whether this was the original solution envisioned when introduced in book one, or came later to him, this is clever writing and beautifully executed on the page.

The gang related strand is violent and builds up to an excellent, extended and bloody finale. These are violent gang land criminals and of course violence begats more violence. This is a thriller that packs a punch and a hefty one at that. The motivations are simple and base, human greed and human need, familiar but written with a touch of understanding.

Schenke’s relationship with the well-connected Karin, niece of Admiral Canaris, has run its course and he is somewhat ambivalent. It was good while it lasted, but he couldn’t envisage it lasting long term, not now he realises his feelings for Ruth are deeper. Karin represented safety, but as Ruth is a Jew and kind of relationship with her is fraught with danger. What better way for an author to introduce conflict and jeopardy to a storyline. Here we have a man on the edge and that is certainly borne out on the page, but it’s also a timely reminder that not all Germans were taken with the antisemitism.

It is Schenke’s personal battles with the state and party hierarchy that provides the moral complexity to the series. He continues to rub shoulders with the upper echelons of the Nazis but loathes them and what they stand for. A man of morals but one who is coming to realise that direct confrontation is not the answer against the all-powerful state. He must play along, appearing to go along with his orders, whilst simultaneously undermining them where he can. He remains a good cop at heart but the moral corruption at the heart of the establishment poses him questions. Compromise is to be avoided and here he must contemplate the possibility of summary justice. Schenke is a magnificent creation, the troubled man trying to keep his head when those around him have succumbed to a kind of madness, determined to do the right thing even though options are reducing all the time.

The ever-dependable Hauser and decidedly different Liebwitz play lesser roles this time around but remain essential characters to move the story along. Their interactions are dynamic, with a degree of friction added within this story to test loyalties.

The reader gets an interesting glimpse of the nightlife of the period, one coming down from the Bohemian decadence of that of the 1920s, one of more subtle sleaze, one that produces enough money to be controlled by crime gangs. This is wonderfully described making it easy for the reader to imagine and soak it all up.

I would like to thank NetGalley for access to this novel in exchange for a fair review.

It conveys the under currents and issues there were in Berlin at the time when the police were struggling to keep the Nazi influencers at bay . There were perhaps some flaws in the story line but overall it was a good read

Book three in this superb series of thrillers set in Berlin in 1940, early in the Second World War.

You don’t get to be a bestselling author without being able to write a cracking story and Simon Scarrow comes up with the goods every time. Just like Simon’s other books, this one grabbed me right from the beginning.

In this instalment, we again meet the dedicated CI Horst Schenke of the Kripo unit which is the criminal investigation department of the police force, as he and his team are investigating forgery of ration coupons.

To add to his workload, the gangster owner of a seedy club is shot dead in his car in a dead end street. His lady friend is injured in the shooting. There are no doubt many who wanted to see him dead so DI Schenke has his work cut out to investigate the murder whilst also being pushed to quickly find those responsible for the ration coupon forgeries. 

Schenke is an excellent investigator who does not agree with the Nazi regime, politely refusing offers to join the SS. He must keep his thoughts and opinions to himself however, as if his opinions were found out it would put his life at risk. We get to know Schenke well, and hear his innermost thoughts and concerns as Germany heads deeper into war.

Scarrow is keen to bring as much authenticity to his writing as possible and has done a great deal of research into this period of time in Germany. I could feel the atmosphere seeping from the pages and how worried and scared the people of Berlin are as the war is not ending as quickly as expected. The Jewish population are suffering and just trying to survive. Hitler, himself, makes a brief but impactful appearance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing thriller. The setting, the characters, the storyline all combine to produce another gripping thriller and I look forward, and hope for, a book 4 in the series as I’m not ready to say goodbye to Horst Schenke.

My Rating ~ 4.5

A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow, the latest in his CI Schenke series, published March 13th with Headline and is described as a ‘stunning new Berlin wartime thriller'.

Criminal Inspector Schenke alongside his colleagues, Sergeant Hauser and Scharführer Liebwitz, of the Kriminalpolizei (Kripo) are investigating a case involving ration coupon forgery. Schenke has a moral compass that places him in a very precarious position within his work. As a ranking officer of the force and known as ‘the daredevil champion of the Silver Arrows’ racing team, Schenke is expected to align his thoughts with that of the Nazi regime. He strives to avoid scenarios where his loyalty is tested, remaining focused on the job at hand but in a A Death in Berlin, he finds himself on very shaky ground.

‘A good conscience was a luxury, and a dangerous one. It seemed to him now that all that mattered was to survive and protect those closest to him as best he could, and silently pray for deliverance from the Führer and his followers.’

With criminal gangs in cahoots with members of the regime, who to trust has become a major thorn in his side. With pressure from his superiors heavy on his shoulders, Schenke is frustrated and fearful because he carries a closely guarded secret by ‘playing a dangerous game…maintaining a relationship with a Jew’. As the bodies fall, fingers are pointed and Schenke finds himself in a very uncompromising position. With the world on the brink of the Second World War it’s quite striking to see how Hitler’s trajectory and views spread far and wide, while alongside him the criminal networks thrive. It ‘was further proof, if it was needed, of the dark symbiosis between the party and the crime rings’.

CI Schenke is a complex individual caught up in a web of secrets with personal views that have to remain hidden at all times. An acknowledged hero of the racing world, his sporting prowess is now a hindrance to him. There is an expectation that he will bow to the regime and kowtow to the party beliefs and this duplicity causes serious friction in both his work and personal life. As he attempts to bring down a crime gang, his moral beliefs are pushed to the extreme.

The novel’s high-octane action and tense scenes propel the narrative forward but, as events unfold, CI Schenke’s loyalties are indisputably thrown into disarray. Highlighting the ethical and logistical challenges faced by law enforcers in maintaining order under the oppressive laws of the Third Reich, Simon Scarrow has delivered a very authentic and engaging novel. The police investigation and the rise of the Nazi Party’s influence, in conjunction with the criminal underbelly in Berlin during that period, all seamlessly blend into a very engrossing and immersive read. Highly entertaining historical fiction, with sinister characters, seedy gangsters, and glamorous women, A Death in Berlin is a thrilling noir-infused tale.

An excellent read because the characters are so well drawn, and the story is intriguing. I like these books also because it comes across as very realistic when it comes to setting out why characters act as they do.. I would rank this up there with March Violets by Philip Kerr and Germania by Harald Gilbert’s. Thank you for the free copy for an impartial review. I will buy the audiobook.

A Death in Berlin is the third book featuring Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke, the follow-up to Blackout and Dead of Night.

Horst Schenke is a brilliant character. He has a strong sense of justice and bringing criminals to book is what drives him. It enables him to temporarily put to one side his growing alarm at and distaste for what is happening to Germany under the Nazis. But that’s becoming increasingly difficult. The fact he has not yet joined the Nazi party or applied for membership of the SS and turned down a role working for Heydrich marks him out in the eyes of his new boss Oberfuhrer Radinsky as a maverick. Nazi Germany does not care for mavericks. It’s only Schenke’s excellent results that protect him. Oh, and his previous career as a famous racing driver. It turns out he has an unexpected fan too.

Schenke has an additional weak spot in the form of his relationship with Ruth, a Jewish woman. Their relationship must remain clandestine for both their sakes: snatched meetings in out of the way places organised by coded messages and constant vigilence. For Schenke, discovery would mean the end of his career, and possibly worse. For Ruth it would mean certain death. ‘Caution was not just a watchword but the essence of their survival.’

But a secret makes you vulnerable and open to manipulation, as Schenke discovers. It results in the most difficult moral dilemma he has faced in his career.

Schenke’s team return: the trusty Sergeant Hauser, handy in a brawl; and Scharfuhrer Liebwitz, seconded from the Gestapo and possessed of a remarkable memory and eye for detail. (I did love learning a little more about their personal lives.) Their investigation into forged ration coupons, a valuable commodity in a time of increasing deprivation for ordinary Germans (but not for high-ranking Nazis), takes them into the murky, dog-eat-dog, world of criminal gangs.

For Schenke, increasingly there’s little difference between the immorality of the criminal underworld and that of the Nazi regime. And sometimes – just sometimes – your enemy’s enemy is your friend and the end does justify the means. It’s the cue for some terrific action scenes, including one fuelled by revenge and a desperate attempt to save a life.

As Hitler unleashes the full might of the German army on Western Europe, Schenke can only despair at what his country has become. I’m sure we can all think of contemporary parallels.

If you’re looking for a brilliant historical thriller set against the backdrop of real events with a leading character you can’t help but root for, A Death in Berlin will not disappoint.

The first story I have read in this new series, and I really enjoyed it.
It is full of meticulous research, but that doesn’t turn it into a full blown history lesson, but gives a useful background. There are three main and very likeable characters.
CI Horst Schenke serves with the Kripo unit in 1940’s Berlin. He is from an Aristocratic background and has an ambivalent loyalty to the Nazi party, he also has a secret relationship with a Jewish woman, this man is walking on egg shells.
Liebwitz has been reassigned from the Gestapo to work with Schenke, he takes things very literally, he is wired differently and wouldn’t last long on the front line with his habit of analysing requests and orders, but he is likeable, direct, and his character is developing throughout this story, although driving vehicles is another matter altogether.
Sgt Hauser is a welcome addition to the crew, he is sardonic, very cynical, no nonsense, and loyal to Schenke, these attributes are in short supply in these difficult times.
The story revolves around the death of a black market dealer in forged ration coupons. When Max Remer and his girlfriend Kitty are shot, who ordered the attack, who wants to take over this crime ring? Every time Schenke comes up with information, either that person disappears or a body is found, he begins to wonder if there is an informant in his department.
This is a great detective story set in the pre war days in Berlin. Jewish people and those of “ lesser races”” are in great danger, this story is full of disturbing but very interesting facts.
I became very involved in the fates of Schenke and Liebwitz, they make for a very entertaining duo, they each struggle at times with their personal demons and misunderstandings, but it appears to be a very effective partnership.
This story is quite emotionally draining, the injustices experienced by the Jewish community are well documented, but, I am looking forward to reading both the previous books and the next in this interesting series. These books are quite a departure from Ancient Greece and the Roman world, but political ambition remains the dominant theme.
A five star read, I look forward to recommending this to my local library and both book groups.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Headline, for my eARC, freely given in return for my honest review. I will post to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

The Schenke books really do showcase Scarrow’s writing at its very best. After the outright evil portrayed in book 2, Schenke’s latest thriller is an exciting, yet brutally stark page turner that delves in the underworld of wartime Berlin

Berlin. 1940. Germany is about to escalate the war and march west.
CI Horst Schenke a Kripo investigator has other things on his mind.
He has a new boss, he is in a relationship with a Jewish woman he must keep secret, and he has to solve a murder, whilst trying to discover who is forging ration books.
All of this under the eyes of the Nazi party who are at the peak of their power, and to top things of a gangland dispute has risen, which he must stop before it gets out of control.
This is going to be the most difficult and perilous time in his career and if he doesn’t get results it could be the end for him.
This is the third book in this brilliant series and probably the best one so far.
Simon Scarrow has a wonderful eye for detail in his writing and not many writers can match him.
I found myself drawn into the story from the start and couldn’t put it down.
I hope there are more books in this series as they are exactly what I like to read.
A superb book and one I highly recommend.

Simon Scarrow's "A Death in Berlin," the third installment in his Berlin Wartime Thrillers series featuring Inspector Horst Schenke, immerses readers in Nazi Germany at a crucial point in history. Set in May 1940, with Poland already overpowered and Hitler's formidable war machine tensed to unleash its westward offensive, the novel weaves historical authenticity through every thread of its narrative fabric.

Berlin is a city under blackout restrictions where criminal activity flourishes in the darkness, where rationing has created black markets, and ideological "education" sessions are mandatory. Casual references to propaganda films and the "lesser races" have become normalized in everyday conversation.

The plot ignites with a high-profile murder in Berlin's criminal underworld that draws Inspector Schenke into investigating both the killing and a potentially linked forgery operation. What begins as an apparently straightforward case gradually unravels to reveal intricate layers of complexity.

As Schenke probes deeper, he uncovers connections suggesting the boundaries between Berlin's underworld and the Nazi power structure are considerably more intertwined than officially acknowledged. His investigation compels him to question not merely the killer's identity but how justice itself functions within a system thoroughly corrupted by extremist ideology and the ruthless pursuit of power.

The novel's characters embody the moral compromises essential for survival under totalitarianism. Inspector Horst Schenke is a nuanced protagonist—methodical and intelligent yet harboring a potentially fatal secret: his relationship with Ruth Frankel, a Jewish woman, constitutes a serious criminal offense under the Reich's racial laws.

This forbidden relationship forces Schenke to confront the regime's ideology on a profoundly personal level rather than maintaining professional detachment. When his secret becomes vulnerable to exposure, Schenke faces impossible choices that test both his professional ethics and personal loyalties.

The supporting characters receive similarly thoughtful treatment. Schenke's team includes the precise, socially awkward Liebwitz with his remarkable memory and the more cynical Sergeant Hauser, whose sardonic remarks offer a brief respite from the pervasive darkness. The criminals themselves are, for the most part, portrayed with psychological complexity rather than as stock villains.

"A Death in Berlin" transcends conventional crime fiction by weaving broader sociopolitical themes throughout its historical setting. The narrative draws explicit parallels between the Nazi power structure and criminal organizations, revealing how both entities maintain their dominance through similar mechanisms of intimidation, loyalty demands, and systematic violence.

The novel also examines how totalitarianism erodes individual morality, creating an atmosphere where survival often necessitates compromise and complicity. Characters retreat into "secret inner worlds," carefully monitoring their speech even in private settings.

Though set over eighty years ago, "A Death in Berlin" addresses issues with striking relevance today. The gradual normalization of extremist ideology depicted in the novel serves as a warning about how societies can incrementally accept the unacceptable. Scarrow shows how language itself becomes weaponized, with terms like "un-German" and "lesser races" functioning to dehumanize targeted groups, a mechanism recognizable in contemporary political discourse.

The novel's exploration of institutional corruption, where law enforcement becomes entangled with the very criminality it purports to fight, speaks to ongoing debates about accountability and the abuse of power. Particularly effective is how Scarrow presents the personal cost of resistance. Schenke's internal struggle between professional duty and moral conscience reflects the universal question of how individuals should respond when legal frameworks become instruments of injustice.

Perhaps most compelling is Scarrow's examination of information control. Characters navigate a treacherous divide between official propaganda and observable reality, where questioning the sanctioned narrative carries severe consequences. This exploration resonates powerfully in our contemporary information landscape, with its parallel challenges of misinformation, censorship, and the fortitude required to preserve independent thought amid social pressure.

Scarrow's prose strikes a balance between clarity and atmospheric detail. His descriptions of locations, from the shabby glamour of Berlin nightclubs to the clinical sterility of police headquarters, immerse readers in 1940s Berlin. Although there are occasional lighthearted moments of dry wit, "A Death in Berlin" is very much a serious novel, as is appropriate given its subject matter.

The dialogue feels natural as it reveals character, advances the plot, and reflects the politically charged environment. Characters speak in ways that reflect their positions and personalities, from police detectives' precise questioning to the ideologically loaded rhetoric of Nazi officials.

"A Death in Berlin" succeeds as an engaging murder mystery and as an exploration of life under totalitarianism. Scarrow integrates the political context into the fundamental nature of crime, justice, and individual moral choices during this period. The novel powerfully illuminates the corrosive psychological effects of surviving under a regime that systematically criminalizes basic human connections while normalizing atrocity as a patriotic duty. For readers drawn to historical crime fiction that unflinchingly confronts the darkest corners of human nature, "A Death in Berlin" delivers a gripping journey into one of history's most morally complex and disturbing periods.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Headline. It is scheduled for release in the USA on March 13, 2025.

Great crime drama set in 1940, the phoney war period of World War II.
Inspector Schenke has to track down the murderer of a gangland boss whilst treading a political tightrope of his beliefs, set against those of the Nazi regime.
Interesting read with tension throughout, where one wrong one step can lead to arrest or death or worse for people's families.
Provides an interesting backdrop and questions, where crime and morals cross, especially given the murderous standards of the Nazis, but their strange beliefs regarding what was a crime or contravenes law and order and what does not.
This backdrop gives Schenke problems, with his secret disgust of the Nazi regime and what it stands for, against his wish for a better Germany and one at peace.

Another Horst Schenke episode and an excellent addition it is. Set in 1940 Berlin it catches the dark period brilliantly with the threat from the regime never far away Horst manoeuvres his investigation into an underworld killing and forged food vouchers with his trusted colleagues from the earlier stories skilfully. His clandestine relationship with a Jewish girl continues and becomes central to the tale as the violence increases towards the finale. All cleverly rounded up at the end with hopefully more to come.

The third book in the well-researched historical series featuring detective Horst Schenke. It's 1940 and Schenke and his team are struggling to get to the bottom of a coupon forgery outfit. An ambush and killing of a notorious gang leader appears to be linked with this crime. Schenke must tread carefully to negotiate is way around the Berlin underworld if he is to solve the mysteries.
The atmosphere of the time is wonderfully conveyed, the constant sense of menace comes through well. There are many sensitive issues that are handled with thought and care. The first half of the book I found to be rather slow and unexciting but the pace picked up towards the end and the story became more enjoyable.

I only realised this was the third in a series towards the end - it certainly provides all the information you need to understand the characters and their personal context again the wider geopolitical context of Berlin 1940. Reminiscent in some ways of Babylon Berlin, insomuch that the initial focus is on a Weimar-era nightclub that keeps running for those with the position to keep going to clubs, this police procedural is perhaps less subtle but by no means less enjoyable. Being the third in the series makes more sense when some of the “bigger names” in the nazi hierarchy make an appearance - I can’t imagine they were all making cameos in the earlier books… and perhaps the ending of the book stretches credibility somewhat, but in the world Scarrow has created for Inspector Schenke in wartime Berlin it roughly holds together and is - most importantly- entertaining.

I’ve read a great deal of Simon Scarrow. His books are always written so well, with tremendous emphasis on strong, realistic characters carrying engaging and creative stories.
I’m indebted to the publisher for allowing me to read this book early as it was a sheer joy to read. By far the strongest book in this series to date, with a searing story that is punctuated throughout with moments of sensitivity and respect, relating to the real life horrors perpetrated by the Nazis.
Once again the author creates an authentic world, populated by love and hope, perpetually threatened by mob mentality and violence.

I’ve become a firm fan of this excellent series set in Berlin during World War 2. Horst Schenke is a police inspector doing his best to combat crime in the Third Reich. He realises the difficulty he faces working for a regime which he opposes, the supreme irony of catching criminals in a society run by men equally as vile “ When it came down to it, such men were no worse than the gangsters running the Nazi Party……… There was very little difference between any of them. And the Führer ….. was the greatest criminal of all”
Schenke is an honourable man, in love with a woman forbidden to him by the times he lives in, trying to do his job and keep both himself and those close to him safe.
Whilst investigating a forged ration coupon scheme, Schenke and his team become involved in the investigation of the murder of a criminal gang leader, Remer. As they look into the crime they begin to discover a lot of information, none of it easy to tie up.
Meanwhile a new boss arrives at the precinct and tries to persuade Schenke to join the SS to help his career leading to encounters with some very high up officials in the regime. Schenke still works with Sergeant Hauser and the slightly odd Liebwitz who uses his sharp mind to help crack the case.
This is a fast moving and exciting thriller and the setting only serves to add more tension to the plot. The reader is always on edge worrying that Schenke will give his true feelings away.
The book is well researched by the author and the historical details he adds makes the book all the more believable
For me this is definitely a five star read and I thoroughly recommend it to all historical. crime thriller fans- I can’t wait for the next one in the series and just hope that Schenke manages to to survive the war!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

This is my first read by this author and it really hit the mark with me. I think this can be read as a standalone although I'll definitely be looking to read the previous books in this series. I'm a fan of historical fiction and I think the author portrays his characters and the era the story takes place in so well. I really liked Schenke and his work colleagues who investigate forged ration coupons, murders and the criminal underworld in Nazi Germany. The authors writing is engaging, the story flows well and I was drawn into the story straight away. The plot line is well thought out with plenty of surprises that had me second guessing what would happen next. I loved the intrigue, suspense and mystery the author creates in his story and the build up to the ending is fast paced and thrilling. If you like historical fiction with a crime element then I'd recommend this book, although if you're new to this author you're best to read the series in order to know the characters and their backgrounds from the start.

4 stars

*A big thank-you to Simon Scarrow, Headline, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Mr Scarrow continues with the Schenke series and keeps the writing style and period details at the high level. I have read two previous books, and was delighted with Book 3.
Horst Schenke investigates another case which this time involves forgery of food coupons and brutal killings behind it. Horst's loyalties lie with his conscience despite attempts to bribe him.
Mr Scarrow shows both the official Nazi Berlin and the underworld which exist along each other. The series is well-researched and is an interesting take on the Nazi regime at its heart.