by Phillip Kerr, 2009, A Bernie Gunther mystery book 4, Kindle Edition, Penguin Publishing Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons imprint

This is the first book that I have read by Phillip Kerr, although it is the fourth book he wrote in the series. It takes place in 1947-1948 in Germany after WWII. At the beginning of the book Bernie is a proprietor of a hotel located adjacent to the infamous Nazi death camp, Dachau. He is having trouble attracting a clientele because of its location. He decides to try to sell the hotel and go back to being a private detective. He finds that uncovering unpleasant details about former Nazis is dangerous to his health.

The book captures the mood and attitudes of the German population and their circumstances after the war. Some of them want to forgo the trials of former Nazis and move on. Others want to track the perpetrators down and bring them to justice.

Bernie worked with the SS prior to the war, but he is no fan of the Nazis and was not a party member. Despite his loathing of the Nazis, he is dragged deeper and deeper into their intrigues.