Metropolis, completed just before philip kerrs untimely death, is the capstone of a 14book journey through the life of kerrs signature character, bernhard genther, a sardonic and wisecracking homicide detective caught up in an increasingly nazified berlin police department. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Philip kerr is the author of many novels, but perhaps most important are the five featuring bernie gunthera quiet flame, the one from the other, and the berlin noir trilogy march violets, the pale criminal, and a german requiem. Joan acocella writes about the detective fiction of philip kerr, the author of. Kerr had abandoned berlin and his hero, writing more contemporary books in search of a wider audience. Bernie fought on the turkish front during world war i and was a cop before becoming a private eye in berlin before world war ii. Mar 24, 2018 it didnt offer a new exploit for gunther when it was issued in 1994, but it seemed the best one could hope for, as mr. Kerr has also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. Born in 1966, philip kerr is a british novelist whose bestknown books include the bernie gunther series of historical thrillers set mainly in germany during the 1930s, world war ii, and the cold war. Mark pryor is one of the smartest new writers on the block. Kerr has also written childrens books under the name p. Apr 16, 2020 but the berlin of philip kerr s stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. I lived and worked in athens in the 1950s, and philip kerrs colorful new novel greeks bearing gifts brought those times vividly back to mind. Apr 09, 2019 metropolis, written by philip kerr under the eye or perhaps into the teeth of his own mortality, is the 14th and final story about bernie gunther, kerrs conflicted investigator in.
Metropolis, completed just before philip kerr s untimely death, is the capstone of a 14 book journey through the life of kerr s signature character, bernhard genther, a sardonic and wisecracking homicide detective caught up in an increasingly nazified berlin police department. Once id been a good detective in kripo, but that was a while ago, before the criminals wore smart gray uniforms and nearly everyone locked up was innocent. He wrote two sequels over the next couple of years the pale criminal and a german requiem, but then abruptly discontinued the series, instead producing a succession of standalone thrillers. Follow our twitter feed to keep up with the latest news that may be of interest to bernie gunther fans. Philip kerr was the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of whichfield gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian bluewere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. Philip kerr, the new york times and usa today bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels, died on friday, march 23 in london after an eightmonth battle with cancer.
Apr 17, 2016 the author, most recently, of the other side of silence thinks heroes are always too heroic to be real. Metropolis, written by philip kerr under the eye or perhaps into the teeth of his own mortality, is the 14th and final story about bernie gunther, kerrs conflicted investigator in. His series include bernie gunther and the children of. Kerr was educated in northampton and later attended melville college, intending to become a lawyer. Philip kerr is the author of nineteen previous novels, including a philosophical investigation, and five bestselling childrens books. In his final book, new york times bestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on. Over fourteen stories beginning with his classic berlin noir trilogy kerr brilliantly evokes a murky world of secrets, corruption and lies, taking gunther through time from naziera berlin to a nascent postwar europe. In the twentyplus years we worked together i found him responsive, funny, brilliant, and totally committed to his writing and hence, to being edited as long as he thought the editing was serious. Philip kerr has written over thirty books of which the bestknown are the internationally renowned and bestselling bernie gunther series.
New york timesbestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime. Philip kerr is the author of more than 30 books, including 12 bernie gunther novels, several standalone thrillers, and seven books in the youngadult series children of the lamp under the pen name of p. Phillip kerr writes in the clearest of prose and is certainly one of the most gifted of our modern thrillermystery writers. March violets 1989, the pale criminal 1990, and a german requiem 1991. Mre insurance sent christof ganz to investigate the insurances claim for a sinking ship doris off the coast of greece. The sixth book in the series, if the dead rise not, won the cwa historical dagger. Philip kerr books list of books by author philip kerr. He went to grammar school in northampton, and would go to college at the university of birmingham from 1974 until 1980 and was able to get his masters degree in the subjects of law and philosophy.
It is 1957, and bernie gunther is now working as an insurance investigator under the name of christof ganz. New york timesbestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on berlins murder squad. Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. Kerr got his masters in law from the university of birmingham before working as a copywriter and finally becoming a fulltime author in 1989. Berlin detective bernie gunther bows out at last in the 14th and final book of the sunday times and new york times bestselling series. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets. When i started writing i was after the character of the berliner rather than the history of berlin, says kerr. And stay tuned because rumor has it bernie may be on the small screen soon thanks to tom hanks, german sky tv, and hbo.
Kerr also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. Author philip kerr is a british man and was born in edinburgh in february of 1956. Kerrs longtime editor, marian wood, said in a statement. Mar 25, 2018 berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer.
He lives in london and cornwall, england, with his family. Short descriptions of philip kerr s bernie gunther novel. Greeks bearing gifts is book in the bernie gunther series by philip kerr. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of. Greeks bearing gifts, by philip kerr washington post. This posthumously published novel sees the worldweary berlin cop join the murder squad on.
New york timesbestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on berlins. His most recent novel, field gray, is out this month. Jan 23, 2012 philip kerr first made money as an author when he was 12 years old, writing and then renting out pornographic stories for the edification of his schoolmates. Metropolis, the final novel kerr wrote before his untimely death a year ago after a brief bout with cancer, takes readers back to gunthers origins. Each book, he later admitted, was aimed at painting gunther into a corner so. In the night streets, political gangs wander, looking for fights. It may be that, for philip kerr, depositing gunther in the city where the german nightmare began in a beer hall, in 1923, was a way of settling gunthers debt to consciencea very painful. Philip kerr has left the literary world a parting gift that will not only resonate with longtime readers but should indoctrinate a new legion of fans to his bernie gunther detective series.
Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of historical detective thrillers. Hes young, but hes seen four bloody years of trench warfare. Philip kerrs last novel and a new series from alexander. Philip kerr was synonymous with his series of novels featuring fictional detective bernie gunther. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of birmingham, where he attended school from 1974 to 1980. Hes sardonic, toughtalking, and cynical, but he does have a rough sense of humor and a rougher sense of right. From new york timesbestselling author philip kerr, the much anticipated return of bernie gunther in a series hailed by the daily beast as the best crime novels around today.
Order of bernie gunther books bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels by british novelist philip kerr. Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. But the berlin of philip kerrs stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. Short descriptions of philip kerrs bernie gunther novel. At the end of the book, bernie enters a boathouse with one of sixs. Philip kerr first made money as an author when he was 12 years old, writing and then renting out pornographic stories for the edification of his schoolmates. Visit our forum to connect with other readers of the series. The author, most recently, of the other side of silence thinks heroes are always too heroic to be real. Philip kerrs last novel and a new series from alexander mccall. Philip kerr was born february 22, 1956, in edinburgh. In many ways, it is bernies origin story and, as kerr s last novel. It didnt offer a new exploit for gunther when it was issued in 1994, but it seemed the best one could hope for, as mr. Working with philip kerr was the kind of experience all editors hope to have. Philip kerr books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes.
New york times bestselling author philip kerr was best known for his acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of which field gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian blue were finalists for the edgar award for best novel. This volume captures his three bernie gunther novels, each a gem on its own. The narrative is swift and adept, and so wellgrounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed. It is a sincere pleasure to read a wellwritten book, in this case a compilation of three books that seamlessly span the nazi germany years. Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead new york times though wary of being typecast as a onenote author, mr. Mar 28, 2018 i lived and worked in athens in the 1950s, and philip kerrs colorful new novel greeks bearing gifts brought those times vividly back to mind. Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged.
1398 160 1606 544 406 1049 1561 204 59 1286 1440 965 740 643 50 1383 1230 1356 107 684 1172 519 1455 101 29 1196 277 189 1303 1519 638 48 1144 850 1125 177 781 1252 30 1406 705 359