Paul Grossman

This book was a pleasure to read. You can really tell a difference between a book that is well written vs. other books. Even though I was not sure I wanted to read about the rise of the Nazi party, I found myself enthralled by the story of Willi Kraus, a Jewish detective trying to solve a murder amidst the growing anti-Jewish sentiment. The central mystery was intriguing, and we got to meet an eccentric cast of characters including a hypnotist, street children, prostitutes and aristocrats. All of the characters were well written and drew me into their stories.

As I read, I felt an increasing sense of sorrow and anxiety. Willi and his Jewish friends grow more worried about the Nazi agenda, while at the same time not believing that it could really be carried out. As a reader, I know how the story will turn out for millions of Jewish people, but Willi does not, and I wanted to scream at him to leave Germany before it is too late. The ending was very stressful for me to read, and I could not put it down until I was finished.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend it to my friends.

I received this book for free through the goodreads first reads program.
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I've read all three of Grossman's novels about Willi Kraus, the Jewish police detective on the lam from the Nazis in 1930s Europe. In this third novel, Willi is now an exile in Paris, caught in a murderous conspiracy involving Commitern activists, right wing death squads, and Corsican mobsters. The qualities I liked about Grossman in his first two novels now seem a bit flat - walk-ons and cameos by famous historical figures, one honest man battling long odds and sinister conspiracies, an exotic urban landscape, and some contrived plot devices. I found I didn't care overly much for the other characters, including the femme fatale girl and the sketchy investor who becomes Willi's best friend. I wish I could say I liked it more.… (mehr)