Gritty 40’s novel. Germany 1944 and after …

The Inconvenient German (Willi Geismeier Thriller #3) by Peter Steiner    

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this! I thought I heard some echoes of Phillip Kerr and Bernie Gunther. 

Here we meet a sacked investigating police officer completely fed up with the Nazi regime. Willi Geismeier “had been a troublesome policeman, even before Hitler had come to power, and had been kicked off the force.” He’s now the leader of the Flower Gang. All the agents have a flower name. 

The Gang provided “false papers for Jews, resistance operatives, Allied pilots, anyone who needed their help, hiding them, escorting them to the border. No one knew how many they were, but they were all over Bavaria. Even Willi had no idea who they all might be.”

Captain Charlie Herder’s mustang is shot down behind enemy lines. His theft of various items as he tries to escape is like a line on a map for his pursuers. The Flower Gang are to help him to get out of Germany. However the organisation is compromised. Things do not play out well!

Willi’s nemesis is SS Lieutenant Peter Laumann, a dogged individual who pursues the Flower Gang with an almost religious fervor. His methods of intimidation have him coming close to Willi.

Post the war, the police force is reorganised by the Allies. Willi is reinstated as a detective. That’s when he comes across some familiar names and more disturbing uncovers the trafficking in children. Despite complaints from the hierarchy he continues his investigation.

Set before and after the war the thread of various characters and their actions carry throughout, linking betrayal and criminal activities, the glue holding the tale together is Willi Geismier.

Intriguing and present, a noir novel of the times. I am definitely now on a mission to read the previous novels in the series!

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change