Book Review: March Violets — by Philip Kerr

After the success of the Nazis in the election of 5 March 1933, swarms of Germans scrambled to jump onto the bandwagon by joining the Nazi Party. Such latecomers were termed ‘March Violets’ by the old-time Nazis.

March Violets is the title of the first book in the trilogy Berlin Noir, written by British author Philip Kerr. The trilogy represents the beginning of a long series of novels featuring Kerr’s famous protagonist, Bernie Gunther.

The chances are that you already know Bernie very well. If not, you are in for a treat.

Bernie is a some-time private eye and a some-time detective on the Berlin police force. In March Violets, the year is 1936 and Bernie is hired by a wealthy German industrialist to investigate his daughter’s death: shot in her bed with her husband; her diamonds have disappeared.