Longlisted for theCWA Historical Dagger 2022
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 found brutally murdered,Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is under immense pressure to solve the case,swiftly. Treated with suspicion 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...
Publisher: Headline Publishing GroupISBN: 9781472258564Number of pages: 432Weight: 310 gDimensions: 196 x 128 x 32 mm
MEDIA 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
'I'm transfixed by the scenes of Nazi party dignitaries and the Berlin glitterati stomping the snow from their boots,as they gather for a decadent winter ball to celebrate how the Blitzkrieg - the lightning war - has crushed Poland,with most of Western Europe set to follow. Pivotal moments in history; utterly authentic characters; a gripping plot. The perfect way to bring history alive.'-Damian 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
'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
Praise for Simon Scarrow:
'Scarrow's novels rank with the best.'- The Independent
'A great read.'-Bernard Cornwell
'Gripping.'-The Sunday Times
'Tremendous.'-The Daily Express
'The author certainly understands the power of an action-packed narrative.'-The Daily Mail
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