Blackout: The Richard and Judy Book Club pick

(Paperback)

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THE STUNNING SECOND WORLD WAR THRILLER FROM THE CELEBRATED SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR SIMON SCARROW

'Taut and chilling - I was completely gripped' Anthony Horowitz

'A wonderfully compelling thriller, reeking of authenticity, and a terrific depiction of the human world within the chilling world of the Third Reich' Peter James

Berlin, December 1939

As Germany goes to war, the Nazis tighten their terrifying grip. Paranoia in the capital is intensified by a rigidly enforced blackout that plunges the city into oppressive darkness every night, as the bleak winter sun sets.

When a young woman is murdered, Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is under pressure to solve the case, swiftly. Distrusted by his superiors for his failure to join the Nazi Party, Schenke walks a perilous line - for disloyalty is a death sentence.

The discovery of a second victim confirms Schenke's worst fears. He must uncover the truth before evil strikes again.

As the investigation takes him closer to the sinister heart of the regime, Schenke realises there is danger everywhere - and the warring factions of the Reich can be as deadly as a killer stalking the streets . . .

'A character who's a more than worthy successor to Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther.,, a gripping, terrifying read' David Young

Reviews

'Taut and chilling - I was completely gripped' * Anthony Horowitz *
'A wonderfully compelling thriller, reeking of authenticity, and a terrific depiction of the human world within the chilling world of the Third Reich' * Peter James *
'A promising new series . . . The Nazi capital is chillingly portrayed, from the freezing slums, where residents die of hypothermia, to high-society parties where shrill laughter echoes across grand apartments . . . An engrossing read' * Financial Times *
'A gripping thriller' * The Sunday Times *
'Mesmerising. Nail-biting. Unputdownable. Utterly authentic and beautifully written. The perfect way to bring the past alive' * Damien Lewis *
Scarrow is a genius and I love everything he writes, but Blackout takes things to a whole new level. It's by far the best book I've read this year * Tom Marcus *
'Superb . . . Blackout is a gripping, terrifying read, as well as being a thumping good page-turner. This is historical crime fiction at its finest from a much-loved writer at the very top of his game' * David Young *
Historical crime fiction at its finest - gripping, believable, intricate and sometimes terrifying. You won't find a better story which so perfectly captures time, place and attitude -- John Cleal * Crime Review *
A perilous world where high society, low desire, and suspected espionage intersect with infighting among the Hitler regime's power-hungry elite . . . A genuine page-turner * Frederick Taylor *
Hugely compelling and brimming with menace . . . The underlying atmosphere of a city held in the thrall of a killer and of a regime that thrives on fear and distrust is thoroughly authentic and gripping * Chris Lloyd *
'Loved Blackout. The Berlin of the very early days of the war is vividly drawn and already irredeemably corrupt, the rivalries between the Gestapo, the Kriminalpolizei, Goebbels in Propaganda and Canaris at Intelligence ring all too real, and I fear for Criminal Inspector Schenke's safety in future books given his refusal to join the Nazi Party, his insistence on following the evidence, and his reluctance to compromise the truth' * Jack Grimwood *
'Scarrow's deep knowledge of the Third Reich gives a chilling authenticity to this tense thriller. Thrust into the hunt for a serial killer, Inspector Schenke is a particularly sympathetic hero who must use all his wits to survive the Gestapo . . . A terrific read' * Julia Boyd *

Author Bio

SIMON SCARROW is the bestselling author of the Eagles of the Empire novels, most recently The Emperor's Exile, the Wellington and Napoleon quartet and many other acclaimed works of fiction, including Hearts Of Stone, set in Greece during the Second World War. Simon shared his passion for history as a teacher for many years before becoming a full-time writer. He lives in Norfolk with his wife.