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Quick answer: If you liked Berlin Noir, read Philip Kerr's March Violets, The Pale Criminal and A German Requiem, then Fatherland, The Good German, Gorky Park and Child 44. All are dark historical crime novels set in totalitarian states.
Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir collects the first three Bernie Gunther novels, set in 1930s Nazi Germany and postwar Europe, about a wry, cynical detective who sees the regime clearly but must survive within it. The books are hard-boiled, witty and bitter. The books below offer similar historical noir and thrillers set under totalitarian rule.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| March Violets | Philip Kerr | Adult | Bernie Gunther start |
| The Pale Criminal | Philip Kerr | Adult | the second Gunther case |
| A German Requiem | Philip Kerr | Adult | postwar Vienna |
| Fatherland | Robert Harris | Adult | Nazi victory thriller |
| The Good German | Joseph Kanon | Adult | postwar Berlin |
| Gorky Park | Martin Cruz Smith | Adult | Soviet detective |
| Child 44 | Tom Rob Smith | Adult | Stalinist serial killer |
| SS-GB | Len Deighton | Adult | occupied Britain |
| Dominion | C. J. Sansom | Adult | Britain under appeasement |
| The Alienist | Caleb Carr | Adult | Victorian serial killer |
| The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | John le Carre | Adult | Cold War classic |
| Munich | Robert Harris | Adult | 1938 thriller |
| City of Thieves | David Benioff | Adult | Leningrad adventure |
| Night Soldiers | Alan Furst | Adult | pre-war Europe |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | Adult | the noir classic |
1. March Violets by Philip Kerr
A Berlin private eye takes a case in 1936. Dark, witty and gripping.
Best for: Bernie Gunther start.
2. The Pale Criminal by Philip Kerr
Gunther investigates murders linked to the Nazi hierarchy. Tense and bleak.
Best for: the second Gunther case.
3. A German Requiem by Philip Kerr
Gunther is sent to prove a man's innocence in postwar Vienna. Moody and tense.
Best for: postwar Vienna.
4. Fatherland by Robert Harris
A detective investigates a murder in a Germany that won the war. Tense and clever.
Best for: Nazi victory thriller.
5. The Good German by Joseph Kanon
A journalist returns to a ruined Berlin and a mystery. Moody and historical.
Best for: postwar Berlin.
6. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
A Moscow detective investigates three bodies in a park. A classic of Cold War crime.
Best for: Soviet detective.
7. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
A state security officer hunts a killer in a country that denies murder. Gripping and dark.
Best for: Stalinist serial killer.
8. SS-GB by Len Deighton
A Scotland Yard detective works under German occupation. Cool and atmospheric.
Best for: occupied Britain.
9. Dominion by C. J. Sansom
In 1952 Britain, a civil servant joins the resistance. Long and gripping.
Best for: Britain under appeasement.
10. The Alienist by Caleb Carr
A psychologist and a journalist hunt a killer in 1896 New York. Dark and detailed.
Best for: Victorian serial killer.
11. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carre
A British agent takes a last mission in East Germany. Bleak and brilliant.
Best for: Cold War classic.
12. Munich by Robert Harris
A diplomat and a former friend are caught up in the Munich conference. Clever and tense.
Best for: 1938 thriller.
13. City of Thieves by David Benioff
Two young men are sent to find eggs during the siege of Leningrad. Dark and funny.
Best for: Leningrad adventure.
14. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
A Bulgarian recruited by Soviet intelligence moves through Europe. Atmospheric.
Best for: pre-war Europe.
15. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Marlowe is hired by a wealthy general to deal with a blackmailer. Stylish and cynical.
Best for: the noir classic.
How to Choose
For more Kerr read the Bernie Gunther series in order. For Nazi-era crime choose Fatherland, The Good German or Munich. For Soviet noir pick Gorky Park or Child 44. For classic spy fiction read le Carre or Furst. For the roots of noir try Chandler. Berlin Noir is grim, so these picks suit readers who like history with wit. Philip Kerr wrote more than a dozen Bernie Gunther novels before his death in 2018, so readers who enjoy the first three have a long series to follow. Gunther's wry narration is his signature. Historical noir works best when you know a little of the period, but Kerr explains what you need as he goes. If you enjoy the wit, Chandler is the source. If you want other eras, Gorky Park and Child 44 offer Soviet settings. Audiobooks bring out Gunther's dry voice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Berlin Noir?
A collection of three Bernie Gunther novels: March Violets, The Pale Criminal and A German Requiem.
Who wrote it?
Philip Kerr.
When was it published?
The novels appeared in 1989-91, and the omnibus followed.
Who is Bernie Gunther?
A cynical Berlin detective who survives Nazi Germany.
Is it historically accurate?
The setting is carefully researched, with real figures.
Is it violent?
Yes, with dark themes and violence.
How many Bernie Gunther books are there?
More than a dozen.
What should I read next?
Try Fatherland or The Good German.
Is Berlin Noir one book or three?
It is an omnibus of three novels, which can be read as one long story.
Is Bernie Gunther a Nazi?
No, he is a detective who dislikes the regime but must work around it.
Which book here is best for Nazi victory thriller?
Try Fatherland by Robert Harris, which suits readers looking for Nazi victory thriller.