Home the books forum about bernie about philip kerr. Hes sardonic, toughtalking, and cynical, but he does have a rough sense of humor and a rougher sense of right. Now in one volumethe first three novels in philip kerrs new york times bestselling historical mystery series starrin. His most recent novel, field gray, is out this month. The scottish crime writer philip kerr, best known as the creator of the fictional detective bernie gunther, has died at the age of 62. Kerr has also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. Discover the original bernie gunther stories that make up the late philip kerrs berlin noir. Philip kerrs latest book is prussian blue, his 12th bernie gunther thriller, published in 2017. Every time were afraid weve seen the last of bernie gunther, philip kerr. Read berlin noir the first three bernie gunther novels by philip kerr available from rakuten kobo. Philip kerrs bernie gunther solves crimes for nazi germany.
Philip kerr is the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, two of whichfield gray and the lady from zagrebwere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of. In it, kerr steps up the chandleresque dialogue and complex plotting that won so many fans in the original berlin noir trilogy. Berlin noir by philip kerr, 9780140231700, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. March violets, the pale criminal, a german requiem by philip kerr discover the original bernie gunther stories that make up the late philip kerr s berlin noir. Berlin noir is a onevolume trilogy comprised of the first three bernie gunther novels republished in a single book.
Berlin noir is the onevolume trilogy of march violets, the pale criminal,and a. After a break of some fifteen years, kerr resurrected gunther for a. What started as a trilogy has now become 9 books so far thru his main character bernie gunther, philip kerr describes what it must have felt like being german. Philip kerr is the author of more than 30 books, including 12 bernie gunther novels, several standalone thrillers, and seven books in the youngadult series children of the lamp under the pen name of p. Against the backdrop of the rise and fall of nazi germany, philip kerr has produced a trilogy focused on the life of bernhard gunther, former police officer turned private investigator. Bernhard gunther is 38 years old, a veteran of the turkish front, and an expoliceman. I love the city of berlin and reading kerr i feel like being right there in the middle of the action.
It is a powerful exploration of the occult side of nazism and a skillful evocation of the social tensions that pervaded prewar berlin. Philip kerr was born in edinburgh and read law at university. Philip was the son of william kerr, a building planner, and his wife, ann nee brodie. The protagonist gunther goes back and forth from being a berlin policeman, and a private detective throughout the books investigating crimes, mostly murders, before and after the second world war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A writer of both adult fiction and nonfiction, he is known for the bernie gunther series of historical thrillers set in germany and elsewhere during the 1930s, the second world war and the cold war. But then he went freelance, and each case he tackled sucked him further into the grisly excesses of nazi subculture. Berlin noir is a collection of the first three of four bernie gunther novels, march violets, the pale criminal and german requiem. Publications novels bernie gunther berlin noir bernie gunther trilogy, republished 1993 by penguin books in one volume. Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead.
This volume captures his three bernie gunther novels, each a gem on its own. Kerr was educated in northampton and later attended melville college, intending to become a lawyer. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the us. He stayed on as postgraduate and read law and philosophy, most of this german, which was when and where he first became interested in german twentieth century history and, in particular, the nazis. Berlin noir book bellingham public library bibliocommons. Hardhitting, fastpaced, and unfailingly witty, the pale criminal is philip kerrs second novel. Expoliceman bernie gunther thought hed seen everything on the streets of 1930s berlin. There was just one bad apple, and, once located, it could be removed. Salman rushdie philip kerr is the only bona fide heir to raymond chandler. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets. However, philip kerr has managed to create an interesting trilogy out of it. The first three bernie gunther novels ebook written by philip kerr.
Kerr, philip published by viking penguin, new york, ny, u. A german requiem by philip kerr and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Philip kerr s latest book is prussian blue, his 12th bernie gunther thriller, published in 2017. The washington post every time were afraid weve seen the last of bernie gunther, philip kerr comes through. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of birmingham, where he attended school from 1974 to 1980. The first novel in berlin noir, for example, is called march violets. Taking his cues from chandler but making them its own, kerr takes us into berlin, 1936. Though wary of being typecast as a onenote author, mr. Praise for philip kerr and the bernie gunther novels a brilliantly innovative thriller writer. But then the nazis came to power, and bernie realised the most dangerous criminals were the ones in charge.
His death on friday was confirmed by his publisher. The pale criminal takes place in 1938 germany mostly berlin and has gunther working a case involving the murder of several teeange german girls. The onevolume trilogy of march violets, the pale criminal, and a german requiem 1993. He wrote two sequels over the next couple of years the pale criminal and a german requiem, but then abruptly discontinued the series, instead producing a succession of standalone thrillers. The thirteenth bernie gunther series novel, greeks bearing gifts, is published april 2018 and is available to order now. In one big paperback you get the complete berlin trilogy. It is a sincere pleasure to read a wellwritten book, in this case a compilation of three books that seamlessly span the nazi germany years.
Kerr got his masters in law from the university of birmingham before working as a copywriter and finally becoming a fulltime author in 1989. Now in one volumethe first three novels in philip kerrs new york times bestselling historical mystery series starring hardboiled detective bernie gunther a chandleresque knight errant caught in insane historical surroundings. The groundbreaking trilogy by scottish author philip kerr that introduced the world to bernie gunther, an ordinary german soldier turned kripo cop turned private detective who just tries to do his job and keep his wits about him amidst the rising tide of naziism in 1930s berlin. Bernie gunther thriller 7 bernie gunther mystery book 4 english. The narrative is swift and adept, and so wellgrounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed. And even after the war, amidst the decayed, imperial splendour of vienna, bernie uncovered a legacy that made the wartime atrocities look lilywhite in. The pale criminal is the second book in philip kerr s berlin noir trilogy featuring bernie gunther, a toughtalking, harddrinking, chainsmoking, cynical excop, now private detective. March violets 1989, the pale criminal 1990, and a german requiem 1991. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read berlin noir. Berlin noir best thrillermistery writer on the second world war era that i have discovered in a long time.
To ask other readers questions about berlin noir, please sign up. Philip kerr february 22, 1956 march 23, 2018 was born in edinburgh and read law at university. Since the late eighties, philip kerr had been redefining crime fiction with his justlylauded bernie gunther sequence. At the time, i was on assignment in germany, staying in hotels. Philip kerr was born february 22, 1956, in edinburgh. Bernie gunther audiobooks listen to the full series. Berlin noir by philip kerr used very good 9780241962350. March violets the pale criminal a german requiem penguin crimemystery ser. The pale criminal is the second book in philip kerrs berlin noir trilogy featuring bernie gunther, a toughtalking, harddrinking, chainsmoking, cynical excop, now private detective. Hes also a private eye, specializing in missing persons, which means that hes a very busy man. The original trilogy march violets, the pale criminal and a german requiem, available also as a standalone collection berlin noir is considered one of the great highpoints of crime literature. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime. Kerr died from bladder cancer on 23 march 2018 and was survived by his wife and children. Start with berlin noir, a collection of the first three volumes, published by penguin and available at all good bookshops and every internet terminal.
March violets, the pale criminal, a german requiem et. I discovered philip kerr, the scottish detectivenovel writer, only. Mar 27, 2018 though wary of being typecast as a onenote author, mr. He stayed on to read law and philosophy as a postgraduate, most of this german, which was when he first became interested in german twentieth century history. Phillip kerr writes in the clearest of prose and is certainly one of the most gifted of our modern thrillermystery writers.
Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for. March violets, the pale criminal, a german requiem uk ed. Berlin noir bernie gunther trilogy, republished 1993 by penguin books in one volume. This was my introduction to philip kerr, so please forgive me if i am in error, but i believe this is the beginning of the bernie gunther saga. March violets, the pale criminal, a german requiem by philip kerr, in very good condition. The groundbreaking trilogy by scottish author philip kerr that introduced the world to bernie gunther, an ordinary german soldier turned kripo cop turned private detective who just tries to do his job and keep his wits about him amidst the rising tide of naziism in 1930s berlin sardonic, toughtalking, and cynical, bernie smokes too much, drinks too much, has a rough sense of. His series include bernie gunther and the children of. Fifteen years after the publication of a german requiem, philip kerr returned to gunther with the one from the other, again set in postwar germany. Herr gunther was a policemanturnedprivate detective. Berlin noir by philip kerr used very good 9780140231700. Kerr, to keep his fans satisfied, ended up writing novels about a detective in naziera berlin.
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