A tense thriller.

Now that I have read a book by Rory Clements, I can understand why he is so highly rated. We have here a fast-moving, very dark thriller with several twists in the story. It's set in Munich early 1936, at the time of the Winter Olympics, which preceded the better known Summer Olympics held later that year. Both these. events were used as a vehicle to promote the then government in Gsrmany,the National Sicialists ( Nazis).

The mail character, Sebantian Wolff, who is not a fan of the regime, works hard at his job as Munich's Chief of Detectives despite political interference from all sides. An SS Officer is found murdered and Wolff is tasked with investigating the crime but is under strict instructions to not let any information get out about the death, which would cause adverse publicity for the regime. The situation is made worse whenaa famous actress is found dead in suspicious circumstances.

The author has spun a brilliant story and manages to bring in a number of real-life characters of the time as well ass well known members of the Nazi regime. A worthwhile read.

This is the second Sebastian Wolff book and just as good, if not better, than the first.

Munich 1936, Wolff is called into the office of his superior and is told to look for Elena Lang, not only a famous actress filming nearby, she is also the lover of Goebbels. No news of her disappearance must be allowed to reach the media, not with the Olympics beginning shortly, which must be kept clear of any scandal at all costs.

Brilliantly written, with twists and turns, great characters both imaginery and real are interwoven into this story, and Wolff, a man who despises the Nazis is as enigmatic but sensitive as ever.

Throw in an old lover from Wolff's past, the Olympics themselves, and Unity Mitford, you have a book that you cannot put down.

Highly recommended

Rory Clements writes excellent historical fiction and Evil in High Places sees the return of Detective Sebastian Wolff in what is another brilliant book that will keep readers both new and old thoroughly engaged.

The storyline moves along at a great pace with many twists and turns that keep the reader guessing throughout.

Definitely recommended.

Evil In High Places is a highly recommended book. I didn't realise this was the second book in the Sebastian Wolff series. I have now put a hold on the first book on Libby, I hope the person in front me reads it fast! This book is set in Munich in 1936, Germany are holding the Summer Olympics. Hitler wants everything to appear perfect so all crime has to be hushed and investigated in secret. Elena Lang a famous actress has gone missing. Elena is the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's right hand man. The search for the truth will take Sebastian to German High Society but also to its darkest corners.

Wolff and Winters both have their own struggles with the regime which I found very compelling. I liked that this book contained some real life people, such as Unity Mitford, Rudolph Hoss, Heinrich Deubel and the British Olympic skier Peter Lunn.

I really loved this book, it is a pacy, exciting and dark thriller. I honestly did not want it to end. I cannot wait to see what Wolff (who I have a book crush on) Winters, Hexi and Jürgen get up to next. But while I wait I am off to read all of Rory Clements previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the opportunity to read this phenomenal book.

Elegant prose and lightly-worn research combine to deliver an engaging, informative and enjoyable read. Couched in a crime- solving format, well drawn characters sustain the narrative around the higher echelons of German society as it teeters on the brink of war.

When I read Munich Wolf I thought it was a standalone, sitting well alongside his Tom Wilde historical thrillers.

Image my delight hearing about Rory Clements’ latest novel which is in fact Detective Sebastian Wolff’s second outing.

We haven’t strayed from Munich. Bavarian is the seat of power for Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists. Germany is greedy for sporting heroes in the Third Reich. Even before the Berlin Olympics they were hosting the Winter Games too in that same year. Like many authoritarian States they tried to clean up their act as they welcomed their guests and fell under the spotlight of the international media.

Part of that operation involved surprising negative stories so imagine the lot of poor Wolff charged with investigating the murder of a SS officer close to and just before the Opening Ceremony. The press must not get wind of it.

The murder investigation, doomed to fail, gets more complicated. The intrepid detective finds difficulties establishing motive and interviewing persons of interest. Matters are made more difficult still when a world famous actress disappears. All is not well in the State of Bavarian.

A quite brilliant book.
Another terrific work of historical fiction based within a real environment of tension and the growth of fear within Nazi Germany.
Character driven, but at the heart of the book is the dilemma of a police officer trying to do his duty, loving his country but not political and very troubled by the corruption and power enacted by Hitler’s enforcers and the Gestapo.
We often read and watch accounts of life under occupation during the war years but this is set in 1936 within the borders of Germany. It paints a very different picture of the path to war and how the population succumbed and fell into line. How far does that make them culpable?

For you see the futility of resistance; the fear of the people to not draw attention to themselves and comply to survive. Opposition is suppressed and interned. The Jews face discrimination, loss of work and possessions and sent to camps.

This is an important historical time with modern similarities today.
The book speaks of the struggle for justice where normal law and order has broken down. The writing is deep and far-reaching about the issues of appeasement, turning the other way. Societal fear, a loss of democracy and the dangers of compliance. Interestingly bravery is displayed within these pages and compassion and brutality co-exist in some. It is moving, reflective and asks questions of you - what would you do to survive? This is a high action thriller reflecting life in Dachau, fear in public office and the pressures on family life.

It left me breathless at times; this isn’t a fair contest. We yearn for the detective to solve his case; we recognise is shortcomings and poor hand. While there is more good than pragmatism in Seb Wolff, there is evil in high places.

This was my first dive into the world of Detective Wolff. Set in pre-World War II Germany, the story captures a time of high tension, especially for those who oppose the Third Reich. It's 1936, and all eyes are on Munich as the Winter Olympics approach. When a famous actress vanishes, Wolff is ordered to find her quickly. But Elena Lang is no ordinary woman—she's the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's right-hand man, whom Wolff loathes. Corruption runs rampant in Munich, and Elena is only the first to disappear. As Wolff's investigation takes him from the heights of society to its darkest depths, he learns how easily the hunter can become the hunted in a city on the brink of war, where some enemies are best left untouched.

This gripping thriller is full of tension and keeps readers hooked. Wolff is a relatable and compelling protagonist, and I found myself rooting for him as he faced the evil threatening to derail him. There is also a link to real life individuals which fascinated me. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t recommend Evil in High Places by Rory Clements highly enough. It’s a tremendous thriller set during the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria. Hitler has decreed that the Winter Olympics have to be a huge success and not marred by any bad news or scandals.

To that end, Detective Sebastian Wolff and Sergeant Hans Winter have to investigate crimes strictly under the radar so as not to detract attention away from the Olympic Games. Wolf and Winter begin by investigating the disappearance of a famous actress, Elana Lang, who just happened to be Joseph Goebbel’s mistress. The stakes are really high and Wolff and Winter are investigating in a time where the Nazi Party is exercising fear and intimidation over its citizens.

I loved this book. It’s a pacy thriller and I found the historical backdrop fascinating. Prior to reading the book, I was aware of the 1936 Summer Olympics and how Hitler and politicised them. I did not realise that earlier in the year there were Winter Olympic Games in Germany as well.

Wolff and Winter have their own different struggles with the Nazi regime which I found utterly compelling. I also really liked that there were real-life people woven into the book including the infamous Unity Mitford, Joseph Goebbels and the British Olympic skier and British Team Captain Peter Lunn who refused to attend the Opening Ceremony in protest of the regime.

I really can’t wait to read the next instalment of the Wolff and Winter books.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin General UK, for making this e-ARC available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another great thriller set in pre WW2 Germany. Featuring the charismatic Sebastian Wolff, a German policeman trying to avoid getting into trouble with the Nazi's while solving high profile murders. Highly recommended.

Another adventure for Sebastian Wolff, now Captain of detectives in Munich It's 1936 and the Winter Olympics are about to open. Seb is ordered to find an actress who has gone missing and to keep it quiet since she is a mistress of Goebbels, the propaganda minister. On top of this an SS officer is found shot dead in a forest and again Seb must keep it quiet to avoid distracting the world's attention from how how brilliantly the Nazis are running Germany and the Olympics. Clearly there are powerful people involved whose toes Seb should avoid stepping on, but you guess he's going to step on the anyway. Rory Clements is brilliant at evoking the feeling of the times and weaving it into an exciting thriller detective story.
First class read.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review a copy of this book.
Rory Clements is a good storyteller, specialising in ripping yarns. This is part of that genre but he sets this at the time of the winter olympics when Hitler and the Nazis were at the heart of their power and few would stand against them. The book builds a sense of menace and the difficulty of anyone doing their job against a background of total power, thuggery and contempt for the ordinary citizen. In this case it is a Munich police officer required to solve two murders but without causing any ripples that could impinge on the success of the Olympics.
With the current rise of the far Right in Europe and the USA (and Britain?) this gives a glimpse of what the future could be like.

Evil in High Places is another cracker in Rory Clements’ Sebastian Wolff series. Set against the backdrop of 1936 Munich, just before the Winter Olympics, this darkly atmospheric historical crime novel delivers a twisting dark murder mystery.

Clements brings pre-war Munich to life, from the icy grandeur of high society to the shadowy underbelly of a city teetering on the edge of chaos. Detective Seb Wolff, ever the reluctant hero, is once again drawn into a case laced with danger, corruption, and political intrigue. When a glamorous film star—who also happens to be Goebbels’ mistress—vanishes, the stakes skyrocket. What begins as a straightforward disappearance quickly spirals into something far more sinister.

Wolff is a compelling protagonist: principled yet conflicted, and never one to back down from the truth, no matter how perilous. The villains are powerful, the threats all too real, and the sense of encroaching doom is palpable throughout. Clements keeps the tension high with just enough misdirection to keep you guessing, but without ever relying on cheap twists or last-minute reveals.

With a perfect blend of historical detail, espionage, and intelligent plotting, Evil in High Places is an utterly engrossing read. Fans of historical thrillers will devour this one—and newcomers to the series will be hooked.

I really enjoyed this novel set in Bavaria in 1936. The main protagonist, Sebastian Wolff, is a murder detective investigating the mysterious disappearance of a glamorous film star but there’s also the case of a murdered SS officer. All this has to be hushed up as the Winter Olympics are starting and the Nazis don’t want anything bad to spoil it.
Wolff is a great character and he’s assisted by his sergeant, Winter, who goes undercover in Dachau concentration camp. The scenes there were some of the most gruelling in the book and the author brilliantly conveys the horror of these camps, particularly the treatment of Jewish prisoners.
It’s a gripping read with lots of excitement and action but also a thoughtful main character who has no time for the Nazis.
Thanks to Viking Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Who do you trust when a stray word or action could mean a death sentence.

This is the second in a series, the first book being "Munich Wolf", which I do recommend reading before this one as it will give the reader move of an anchor for this second book. Both books are set in 1930s Germany, when the Third Reich was in the ascendant, war was not yet a reality, and the Olympic Games would be used by Hitler as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy.

Into this cauldron of conspiracy, suspicion, corruption, paranoia, elitism and racism, is a solid police procedural wherein our main character, Sebastian Wolff is at odds with the party line, and his Sergeant, Hans Winter, has a secret that could end not only his career but his life.

Both men are sent to investigate the disappearance of film star Leila Lang, and are required to conduct their investigation without treading on the toes of the German aristocratic elite and the dreaded SS. Against this, the reader is confronted by the treatment and persecution of Jews, the support given to Hitler from elements of the British aristocracy, and the growing control over all levels of society that was beginning to be more forcefully exerted and enforced.

The narrative is full of " .. twists and turns as tight as the winding bend up to Schloss Stark ...".

This is a compelling work and one I would liken to by that of author Douglas Jackson, whose books are set in late 1930s Warsaw.

5*

Thoroughly enjoyed this Nazi era thriller. I had not read the first in this series and was slightly hesitant to begin with this in mind, however, the story and the characters and the setting pulled me in and I was gripped from first page to last. I will be going back to the first one after this

Highly recommend.

Second book featuring Munich head of detectives Seb Wolff. Set against the backdrop of the 1936 Winter Olympics, it sees Wolff try a difficult balancing act investigating two murders with the SS taking a keen interest. Full of atmosphere and intrigue, Rory Clements is onto another top notch series.
An author at the top of his game and this ranks as one of his best novels to date.

This reads like a noir, hard boiled detective and all. I enjoyed the setting but found the book felt a bit long, however I think I really would have enjoyed it had it been a movie!

A sequel to 'Munich Wolf' this is set in Bavaria at the time of the 1936 Winter Olympics, amongst the rich, famous, and also those usually in the background. A famous actress - who happens to also be Goebbels mistress - is working with a British film crew, and then goes missing. Members of the SS are found murdered. What is happening? Detective Sebastian Wolff has to lead the enquiry, which uncovers corruption at the highest level.

Again, Rory Clements has written an excellent page-turner, to be recommended to anyone who appreciates a good book. Highly recommended.

With many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC.

This is the second outing in Rory Clements’ new series featuring Sebastian Wolff, a detective in the Munich police department. Set between the first and second World Wars, Wolff has to tread carefully while investigating a murder and the disappearance of a famous film star during the Winter Olympics. But it is clear that he is not a man to be cowed in the face of threats from the likes of those in high office or their friends including the ubiquitous Bobo Mitford. Wolff is a likeable and intelligent investigator. I liked the development of his relationship with Sergeant Hans Winter, now on a much firmer footing and the way in which Wolff’s family life is seamlessly melded into the storyline as part and parcel of his daily life. The plot is detailed and satisfying, the historical detail of time and place immaculate as always. It is an exciting story with plenty of action and different threads that keep it interesting as Winter goes undercover in Dachau and Jurgen’s mother turns up out of the blue. The story telling has a light touch of humour here and there especially between Wolff and his girlfriend Hexie that contrasts well with some of the darker themes of life in Nazi Germany that are explored.
Although I have enjoyed the author’s Tom Wilde series, I much prefer Seb Wolff as a protaganist and look forward to the next in the series, hopefully without the presence of Miss Mitford.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

An excellent piece of historical fiction. Atmospheric, detailed and gripping this has it all. Really looking forward to seeing it published and hope that it becomes a series!