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Blackout

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Blackout

By: Simon Scarrow
Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
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About this listen

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

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 . . .

©2021 Simon Scarrow (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Limited 20th Century Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Military Mystery Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Exciting War Scary

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Critic 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)

"Pivotal moments in history; utterly authentic characters; a gripping plot. The perfect way to bring history alive." (Damien Lewis)
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I enjoyed Blackout. A fairly mainstream and largely predictable detective novel with the good-cop with a heart of gold. Of course he lives in Nazi Germany but refuses to join the party because...hey, he's the GOOD-COP!

Since it's Nazi Germany there has to be a Jewish victim whom the good-cop must protect from everyone else on the police force who are....GOOD NAZIS! (Oxymoron if ever there was one). They do a nice job of pointing out the moral qualms a small percentage of German Christians felt about the anti-semitic laws (about .01% of the public was ever arrested for resistance).

This makes those who actually cared, much more rare and precious as human beings than a throwaway character...but I digress.

So the detective story moves pretty quickly and touches all the bases used in most detective tales and is a fun read/listen.

I enjoyed it, just like a candy bar. Tastes good. Feels good but basically empty calories.

Fun middle-lightweight quality story.

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Three threads to this book; a criminal investigation, a love story, a dangerous politicsl thriller. These all interweave as we are taken back to a time when any kind of trust was extremely dangerous. Set in the very specific time of early WW2 it reminds us that life goes on and war doesn't stop other crime, but also that politics can be crime and totalitarian regimes evolve by stealth and complicity. A book gripping story with a message for all times.

Gripping

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I still haven't come across a Simon Scarrow book I didn't love. Another Great story.

loved it

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Great story which was very well narrated. Most I've enjoyed an audible book this year. Nice to he entertained by two great professionals like Scarrow and Mattacks.

Entertaining

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Really enjoyed this. well written and narrated. I enjoy WW2 stories, am fascinated by Germany under the Nazis and love a good detective hunt for a serial killer this book combines all three.

Excellent WW2 Thriller

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There were moments when I felt like putting it down unfinished but I persevered. Slightly weak ending but overall I enjoyed it.

OK but......

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I have never read any of Simon Scarrows’ books before, I will be from now on!! I’ve just preordered the next instalment in the series. I was hooked from the start. The main character is a tough man, with a good heart. The narration was superb. All in all 5 stars!!

Excellent listen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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A DIFFERENT APPROACH BOTH TO DETECTIVE FICTION & RECENT HISTORICAL MYSTERIES, SETTING THIS IN & ABOUT NAZI GERMANY AT THE VERY START OF WW2.

AN INTERESTING APPROACH

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Another fantastically crafted novel from Simon Scarrow, it’s unusual backdrop and choice of protagonist add depth to a well paced plot. I sincerely hope this is the first in a new series of books as I would love to see these characters develop with the continuing events of WW2 and the further rise and eventual fall of the Third Reich.

Atmospheric and absorbing

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This was a different type of book for me as a I tend to go for sci-fi or supernatural. It’s a brave choice for an author to choose the early years of Nazi Germany for the setting but it allowed him to explore the sentiments of the time which was interesting. The story is a good one, with likeable, well thought out characters. The narration is a strange one. A lot of the characters were given “London” accents but you get used to it.
Overall a very good book. I’d certainly listen to more.

A welcome change for me

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