Rating: 
Summary: Lengthy - sameness - but a good mystery noir
Review: First two novellas have a lengthy - sameness 'gefuehl'. And some explicit brutality and mysogynism ... if you like film noir on Monday nights on the Mystery Channel, you may like this book. I agree with other review regarding the apparent maturation of Kerr through the three works. Thought last novella set in Vienna was the most developed with insight on German / Austrian differences as well as postwar Germany occupation.
Rating: 
Summary: Great "Period Piece" detective stories
Review: I am a big Alan Furst fan because of his ability to weave good-to-great spy stories against an intricately illustrated background of one of the most fascinating periods of history, Europe during the first half of the Twentieth Century -- the period of "Isms". I can't get enough of an author who can portray the feeling of that period well. That is how I came to Mr. Kerr and Berlin Noir, and I was not disappointed. Through a most mundane and less than perfect character, Gunther, Kerr exposes us to both excellent stories and a well researched, well portrayed background that gives you the sense of "being there". The only reasons I give 4 and not 5 stars is because at times Kerr's writing style and hyperbole is a bit too heavy and amatuerish (albeit, moreso in the first volume) and his story line goes a bit far in terms of Gunther's omniscience and coincidence. All in all, though, definitely worth the read. Don't let the fact that this is a "three novel in one volume" scare you off -- this is quality storytelling through and through! Does anybody know whether Gunther is retired forever? I would love to see one or two novels squeezed out of his character in early Cold War Central Europe (Kerr has clearly left the loose ends to do so).
Rating:
Summary: Great collection to read and pass time nicely
Review: I am a first-time Kerr reader who appreciated and (mostly) enjoyed this trilogy of Bernie Gunther stories. While at first put off by the fact that the novels are based in the historical period of WWII and pre-Cold War (not my period and I'm not a pro-Nazi), I quickly found myself emersed and mesmerized by Kerr's writing. The triology format of the book makes this a great buy... But what's also nice about this type of format is that the reader gets to actually see Gunther (and by extension Kerr's own writing) grow and mature into his own as a complex, personal, psychological detective set in a specific historical context that is more-or-less rooted in historical facts. (Kerr ends each novel with a short piece that explains the history and, in one case, ongoing mystery that contemporary researchers and journalists are still striving to solve.) There is also a fine sense of sharp, wry humor that occasionally makes its way into Kerr's writing. I only wish there were more of this, it would help to balance the very dark, ominuous, and sinister setting that evenly pervades all three novels. My only complaints: The novels are also filled with their own share of too-graphic violence, the plot line in A German Requiem is incredibly convoluted, and the trilogy ended far too soon for me! If you're an avid mystery reader and interested in books that are set in specific historical periods and try to embelish/extend well-known mystery genres, definitely pick this book up! I think it's definitely worth your time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Great collection to read and pass time nicely
Review: I am a first-time Kerr reader who appreciated and (mostly) enjoyed this trilogy of Bernie Gunther stories. While at first put off by the fact that the novels are based in the historical period of WWII and pre-Cold War (not my period and I'm not a pro-Nazi), I quickly found myself emersed and mesmerized by Kerr's writing. The triology format of the book makes this a great buy... But what's also nice about this type of format is that the reader gets to actually see Gunther (and by extension Kerr's own writing) grow and mature into his own as a complex, personal, psychological detective set in a specific historical context that is more-or-less rooted in historical facts. (Kerr ends each novel with a short piece that explains the history and, in one case, ongoing mystery that contemporary researchers and journalists are still striving to solve.) There is also a fine sense of sharp, wry humor that occasionally makes its way into Kerr's writing. I only wish there were more of this, it would help to balance the very dark, ominuous, and sinister setting that evenly pervades all three novels. My only complaints: The novels are also filled with their own share of too-graphic violence, the plot line in A German Requiem is incredibly convoluted, and the trilogy ended far too soon for me! If you're an avid mystery reader and interested in books that are set in specific historical periods and try to embelish/extend well-known mystery genres, definitely pick this book up! I think it's definitely worth your time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Great historical thriller!
Review: I devoured this trilogy in just under 10 days, I thought it was fantastic. I really enjoyed how Kerr managed to naturally weave in the historical facts with his fictional characters. I particularly liked the first section "March Violets" the best, it was a real page-turner which I found hard to set down once I started. The second, "The Pale Criminal" was good, but had several parts which dragged a bit and the third "A German Requiem" picked it up a bit with a refreshing change of scenery and a fast-paced plot line. Kerr's writing is phenomenal and witty and the superb and complete way the characters are developed is very unique. The reason I did not give it 5 stars is that in certain places (especially when romantic situations and physical relationships are described) the dialogue and occurences aren't believable and can be laughable in parts....seems out of place with Kerr's otherwise sparkling writing. Also, at the ends of the individual books, there are a few loose ends - I was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to be clarified, but to no avail....sometimes this quality is a plus, attesting to skill of the writer to pull you in, but I felt abandoned by the text, as if I'd been loyal to the construction but was tricked out of the satisfaction of seeing the final product. However, overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it extremely favorably, especially to those who have a special interest in this time period of WWII and Nazi Germany. Even if you don't, you won't regret putting in the time to get to know these characters as well as Kerr's writing style. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Great historical thriller!
Review: I devoured this trilogy in just under 10 days, I thought it was fantastic. I really enjoyed how Kerr managed to naturally weave in the historical facts with his fictional characters. I particularly liked the first section "March Violets" the best, it was a real page-turner which I found hard to set down once I started. The second, "The Pale Criminal" was good, but had several parts which dragged a bit and the third "A German Requiem" picked it up a bit with a refreshing change of scenery and a fast-paced plot line. Kerr's writing is phenomenal and witty and the superb and complete way the characters are developed is very unique. The reason I did not give it 5 stars is that in certain places (especially when romantic situations and physical relationships are described) the dialogue and occurences aren't believable and can be laughable in parts....seems out of place with Kerr's otherwise sparkling writing. Also, at the ends of the individual books, there are a few loose ends - I was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to be clarified, but to no avail....sometimes this quality is a plus, attesting to skill of the writer to pull you in, but I felt abandoned by the text, as if I'd been loyal to the construction but was tricked out of the satisfaction of seeing the final product. However, overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it extremely favorably, especially to those who have a special interest in this time period of WWII and Nazi Germany. Even if you don't, you won't regret putting in the time to get to know these characters as well as Kerr's writing style. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Nasty too
Review: I enjoyed the earthy, impudent and skeptical tone of the narrator-detective, and found the first novel great at conjuring up the atmosphere of Berlin in the early Nazi years, but was disturbed by the vicious homophobia in the second novel, THE PALE CRIMINAL, which plays in part in the gay subculture. While the hero objects to Nazi anti-semitic policies and stresses the need for moral backbone, he apparently fully ENDORSES --without irony-- the Nazis' persecution of homosexuals. The novel is filled with invective against gays, and the protagonist not only endorses sending homosexuals to concentration camps, but enjoys (!) shooting them "between the eyes" himself. I'm frankly surprised that of all the people writing here, nobody has even noticed these hateful diatribes.
Rating:
Summary: Buy, buy, buy
Review: I feel this is well worth it. Kerr is a highly talented writer and he is on par with Michael Crichton in his ability to write about different topics & characters with such detail. I had read many different world war II novels (spy and mystery) and this collection surpasses them all. The books are admittedly dark. I can't tell you what specifically happens as it has been 3 1/2 years since I read these books, but I can tell you they were good enough for me to want to write a review years later. Read them and Dead Meat by Kerr as well.
Rating:
Summary: If you're going to Berln, take this with you.
Review: I read this excellent trilogy while on vacation in Berlin. It even inspired me to visit some of the grim places mentioned in the stories, like Plotzensee Prison. Kerr's imagery is quite inventive, and his take on various historic Nazi figures is right on. But it is his use and vivid re-creation of the setting of Nazi Berlin that really impressed me while there. Also, if you haven't seen it, be sure to watch the movie "The Third Man" before reading the third novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark, Enduring Mystery
Review: I read this trilogy almost three years ago, yet it regularly comes to mind as one of the most enjoyable books I've read. As someone who reads primarily non-fiction or fiction by "great" writers, I ventured to read something different with Berlin Noir. Three years later, I am still searching for a comparable novel in this genre. Kerr's presentation matures throughout these novels. The hackneyed detective that he presents in March Violets, transforms slowly into a fuller, more entertaining character. Bernie Gunther loses his overuse of trite, detective-style similes by the end of the first story. By then, the reader is enveloped in a dark world of mystery and political barbarity. Kerr's portrait of Berlin is enticingly eerie. His characters are cut from typical molds, but are presented with enough freshness to keep the reader very interested. And using the different backdrops of pre-war, war-time, and post-war Germany, Kerr was able to modify the setting but maintain the same dark intensity. I was sorry to finish this trilogy. It is fantastic escapist literature. I have read a couple of the J. Robert Janes novels, although neither the plots, nor the characters compare favorably to Berlin Noir.
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