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Series Review
One Step Ahead of Death
In each of the four books in the Hannah Vogel Mystery Books series, journalist Hannah Vogel flees for her life from the Nazi death machine while trying to avenge the murdered and save the vulnerable.
Heart-in-the-mouth suspense in riveting stories of bravery in the face of grave danger
It's hard to bring off a mystery set in Nazi Germany because daily life was dangerous in so many ways, the society was extremely violent, corrupt and unjust and the penalties for acting against the regime were so harsh. Usually crime novels bring a small amount of light to a dark world by solving one crime, catching one killer, winning one case. In Nazi Germany there is no light to be found. In these novels, Vogel wins by getting herself and others away from Germany--that's the only way to succeed. This can be contrasted with Bernie Gunther's situation in the series of the same name written by Philip Kerr. Bernie is a complete captive of the regime: he can save no one. He wins by surviving and accomplishes this at very great cost.
What do I like about the Hannah Vogel Mystery Books? I love the page-turning suspense, the convincing period detail, the unusual and fascinating characters and the heroine who is incredibly brave, just like a heroine should be. But these books are scary, so not for the faint of heart.
Series Guide
As for where to start? Jump in anywhere.
Book Summaries and Timeline
Below, a list of the Hannah Vogel Mystery Books placed on a timeline in chronological order.
May 1931
In the Hall of the Unnamed Dead, located in the police station on Alexanderplatz in Berlin, crime reporter Hannah Vogel is scanning the photographs of unclaimed bodies when she gets a shock: a photograph of her younger brother, obviously murdered, is in the display. June 1934
Hannah, on assignment for a travel magazine, and son Anton are traveling by Zeppelin from South America to Switzerland, when the airship makes an unexpected stop--in Germany where they had fled three years before. Hannah fears that Ernst Rohm, the Nazi leader who had tried to kidnap Anton then would try again now. Soon enough her fears are realized.Summer 1936, Berlin Olympics
Hannah, now working for a Swiss newspaper and traveling under a Swiss alias, returns to Berlin at the behest of an old reporter friend who has important information to send out of Germany. He is killed while standing next to Hannah at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. November 1938, Kristallnacht
Traveling under Swiss aliases, journalist Hannah and son Anton travel to Poland to report on a national holiday. There they discover several thousand incarcerated Jews who had been deported to Poland from Germany. One of the refugees begs Hannah to help her daughter, a two-year-old left behind in Berlin when the woman was arrested.Book Reviews
Hannah Vogel Series
(From newest to oldest; Dates refer to publication in the US in English;
# refers to series order)
Above, from top to bottom:
El Dorado, a gay cabaret in Berlin, Germany in the 1920s; Mossehaus, 1923, Berlin. Where Hannah worked. Building designed by Erich Mendelssohn; The El Dorado after the Nazis closed it
A Trace of Smoke (2009, Hannah Vogel Mystery Books #1)
by Rebecca Cantrell
WINNER! Bruce Alexander Historical Award
WINNER! Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel
FINALIST! Barry Award for Best First Novel
Terrific book. Moving story of the murder of a gay man in the days right before the Nazis come to power in Germany, a very very hard time to be gay. Plus: great depiction of the crowd at El Dorado, a gay cabaret. Plus: searing depiction of boot girls--prostitutes catering to dangerous clients.
(Historical. Private Investigators. Noir aka Hardboiled. Female Heroes. Nazi Germany.)
A Night of Long Knives (2010, Hannah Vogel Mystery Books #2)
by Rebecca Cantrell
FINALIST! Bruce Alexander Historical Award
A bit over the top but my disbelief was entirely suspended anyway. A page turner.
Plus: Mother-in-Law from hell Plus: Hannah steals a Nazi staff car.
(Historical. Private Investigators. Noir aka Hardboiled. Female Heroes. Nazi Germany.)
A Game of Lies (2011, Hannah Vogel Mystery Books #3)
by Rebecca Cantrell
FINALIST! Bruce Alexander Award
NOT YET REVIEWED
(Historical. Private Investigators. Noir aka Hardboiled. Female Heroes. Nazi Germany.)
A City of Broken Glass (2012, Hannah Vogel Mystery Books #4)
by Rebecca Cantrell
FINALIST! Mary Higgins Clark Award
FINALIST! Left Coast Crime Bruce Alexander Award
FINALIST! Macavity Award for Best Historical Mystery
Non-stop action. Another fabulous page-turner from Rebecca Cantrell.
Plus: Lars returns! Plus: Anton at 13.
(Historical. Private Investigators. Noir aka Hardboiled. Female Heroes. Nazi Germany.)
Other mystery book series set in Nazi, Germany:
- Bernie Gunther Mystery Books by Philip Kerr
- John Russell Spy Novels by David Downing
Mystery series set in the Weimar Republic, during the Nazi rise to power:
- Willi Kraus Thrillers by Paul Grossman
Mystery series set in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia:
- Gregor Reinhardt Mysteries by Luke McCallin
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