Babylon Berlin - Volker Kutscher
A hard-boiled detective story set in Germany in the roaring twenties? Count me in.
I first became aware of Babylon Berlin via the TV series, which is currently on Netflix. I blitzed season one and was keen to know more about the world of Gereon Rath.
The story is a compelling dash through the Berlin of the late 1920s. Inspector Gereon Rath is a man on the outside. New to Berlin, Rath is trying to find an angle into the prestigious homicide department while working in vice. He must also negotiate a web of political intrigue and alliances. The ace up his sleeve is the influence of his father, but it’s a card he’s reluctant to play. A grisly unsolved murder gives Rath the chance he’s been looking for.
We experience most of the story from Rath’s point of view. Like the hard-boiled detective stories of Raymond Chandler, we follow our protagonist through the depths of his investigation, sharing his tedium at dead ends and the thrill of new discoveries. We are generally unaware of the hidden lives of other characters until they reveal themselves at key moments in the plot. The intriguing Charlotte Ritter is a strong presence. However, like Rath, we are often left aching for more.
It’s a masterful piece of storytelling. Key tropes of the genre are combined with political intrigue against the historical backdrop of a Berlin between great wars.
The best part? Kutscher's already provided a whole lot more Gereon Rath for us to catch up on.
Don't worry if you've already seen the TV series. The stories are different enough to make the novel completely engaging, despite fore-knowledge of major plot events. You should still enjoy the novel.