Munich, 1929. The city reeks of cabaret smoke and rising fascism, and Axel Berg—a detective with a Jewish wife and a conscience he can't quite shake—is investigating a string of murders targeting young women. The crimes are brutal, the political climate is volatile, and the Nazi party is gaining ground with every rally. Kellerman drops you into pre-war Germany with sharp period detail and moral ambiguity that cuts deep. This isn't a cozy mystery—it's noir filtered through the gathering storm of the Third Reich. Berg navigates corrupt colleagues, street violence, and a case that keeps spiraling into darker territory. Kellerman, best known for her Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series, shifts gears here into standalone historical crime territory and nails the atmosphere. Perfect for readers who like their detective fiction with historical weight and moral complexity, or anyone drawn to novels set on the edge of catastrophe.
