Kerrs writing is terrific, full of wise observations. The author of over 30 books since his debut in 1989, kerr is best known for his 14 novels novels featuring excop turned private detective bernhard bernie gunther, who finds his progress up the ranks of the berlin kriminalpolizei interrupted by the rise of the national socialist german workers party. We are very sad to have lost philip kerr today, a wonderful man and a great author. The books include adventures, battles and the need to save people like uncle nimrod who are held hostage by evil. A complete list of every philip kerr book published over 30 books. This is the order of philip kerr books in both chronological order and publication order. Where do field gray, prague fatale and man without breath fit into the series, historically speaking. Kerr also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. He was married to fellow novelist jane thynne kerr was known for the bernie gunther series of historical thrillers set in germany and elsewhere during the 1930s, the second world war and the cold war.
In prussian blue, philip kerr once more shows himself one of the greatest master storytellers in english. He stayed on as postgraduate and read law and philosophy, most of this german, which was when and where he first became interested in german twentieth century history and, in particular, the nazis. Praise for philip kerr and the bernie gunther novels. Just before his death in 2018, he was made a fellow of. Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. Essentially, theres a good police procedural hidden in it but you have to wade through pages of verbiage and codphilosophising that the author puts into bernies mouth. The first few stories that philip kerr tells are actually set in berlin before the second world war. The 10 books dont relate bernies story in chronological order, but its probably best to approach.
Philip kerr february 22, 1956 march 23, 2018 was born in edinburgh and read law at university. Dont miss a single philip kerr book and read them all in the best order. Bernie gunther and all all philip kerr books with summaries including the latest releases. Philip kerr books list of books by author philip kerr. The novels are based in the 1930s and take place in germany and other locations. The narrative is swift and adept, and so wellgrounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed. He also has written nonfiction and novels that do not link to his bernie gunther series. Below is a list of philip kerrs bernie gunther books in order of when they were. In this vivid portrait of nazi berlin, from its high society to its devastating fall, jane thynne examines the truths we sometimes dare not tell ourselves. Bernie gunther series in order philip kerr fictiondb. He is not pointing the finger, but evaluating history as hardly ever told in books. An interview with philip kerr washington independent. Our comprehensive guide to all 14 novels in philip kerrs excellent. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Bernie fought on the turkish front during world war i and was a cop before becoming a private eye in berlin before world war ii. Has anyone done a list of the bg books in chronological order, rather than published order. Home the books forum about bernie about philip kerr. Kerr wrote for the sunday times, the evening standard, and the new statesman. Bernard cornwells sharpe books in chronological order. Kerrs bernie gunther series was his first foray into writing fiction. Philip kerr was synonymous with his series of novels featuring fictional detective bernie gunther. When i started writing i was after the character of the berliner rather than the history of berlin, says kerr.
But the berlin of philip kerrs stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. Includeslist and summaries for bernie gunther and all philip kerr books, including latest release book lis with summaries 31 kindle edition by maven, book. The bernie gunther novels are historical literature. Author philip kerr is a british man and was born in edinburgh in february of 1956. Philip kerr novels are listed in best reading order, chronological order, with a summaries, a checklist. However, readers can have difficulty putting the many volumes into chronological order, especially as the author has written many prequels and sequels. Each is shown with their proper position in each series. Kerr got his masters in law from the university of birmingham before working as a copywriter and finally becoming a fulltime author in 1989. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime. List verified daily and newest books added immediately. This is exactly the reference you need to make sure you dont miss a book or story and you get a chance to read each one in the best reading order. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british novelist.
Such a frightful shame philip passed away last year. So there is really no way to accurately read them in chronological order bernies chronological time because the timelines skip around within some of the books. Philip kerr is the author of more than 30 books, including 12 bernie gunther novels, several standalone thrillers, and seven books in the youngadult series children of the lamp under the pen name of p. This unofficial fan site is a hub of information about these historical novels, set initially in 1930s berlin, and the unforgettable character of bernie gunther. For that reason we think firsttime readers are better off getting to know bernie in the way philip kerr presented him. Philip kerr is the author of more than 30 books, including 12 bernie gunther novels, several standalone thrillers, and seven books in the youngadult series. Philip kerr is the author of nineteen previous novels, including a philosophical investigation, and five bestselling childrens books. Has anyone done a list of the bg books in chronological order, rather. He went to grammar school in northampton, and would go to college at the university of birmingham from 1974 until 1980 and was able to get his masters degree in the subjects of law and philosophy. There are now nine gunther novels that dont follow any chronological order. Loving philip kerrs bernie gunther novels the great. The jalna books form a different kind of series in that they are definitely chronological. I discovered philip kerr, the scottish detectivenovel writer, only recently, and one thing i like about him is. Bernard cornwells books about the adventures of british soldier richard sharpe during the napoleonic wars have been enjoyed by millions, mixing as they do a combination of action, combat, and historical research.
The novels cover the period of world war ii and the cold war. Ive been a lawyer, ive been an advertising man, ive been a telly executive, ive been a teacher. There is absolutely nothing to be found wrong with these books. When juno reads the unfinished novel, she resolves to uncover the secret that continued to divide the sisters amid the turmoil of love, espionage, and war. Philip kerrs final bernie gunther novel announced with. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting.
Follow our twitter feed to keep up with the latest news that may be of interest to bernie. Philip kerrs berlin noir series was published between 1989 and 1991, and introduced the world to bernie gunther. Philip kerr books checklist in order with summaries updated 2017 includes. This is the reading order, as it is the published order. This seems to be the last of the late philip kerrs bernie gunther novels. Over fourteen stories beginning with his classic berlin noir trilogy kerr brilliantly evokes a murky world of secrets, corruption and lies, taking gunther through time from naziera berlin to a nascent postwar europe. Kerr was a prolific writer of over thirty books, including works of adult fiction and nonfiction, in addition to writing childrens books under the name, p. Kerr paints a vivid picture of the tension that was rife at the time, this as hitlers party began to oppress the jewish populace even as germany struggled to keep its atrocities hidden. Philip kerr simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
From philip kerr, the new york times bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels, comes a breathtaking journey of survival in the dark days of wwii in ukraine, a country that remains tumultuous today. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of historical detective thrillers. Order of bernie gunther books bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels by british novelist philip kerr. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime fiction lover.
The death of philip kerr last year was a tragic loss for the crime fiction world. The complete series list for bernie gunther philip kerr. The first, march violets, was published in 1989, followed by the pale. Discover the bernie books as well as kerrs impressive catalogue of nonbernie titles. As some readers of this blog will have noticed, im a huge fan of the historical detective novels by scotsman philip kerr featuring his wwiiera berlin police detective bernie gunther. Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. The author, most recently, of the other side of silence thinks heroes are always too heroic to be real. Philip kerr by albie berk overdrive rakuten overdrive. His childrens books are published by scholastic press. Excitement, pathos, history, wisecracking humour, suspense, tension, world weariness, and brilliant, beautiful writing. He wrote two sequels over the next couple of years the pale criminal and a german requiem, but then abruptly discontinued the series, instead producing a succession of standalone thrillers. The first three bernie gunther novels a bernie gunther novel by philip kerr 4.
In 1989, firsttime british author philip kerr introduced the world to bernie gunther, his sardonic, toughtalking fictional detective who was as the new york times put it the right kind of hero for his time. Author philip kerrs complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Every now and then i read a crime novel that makes me feel grumpy, usually because of the poor quality of the writing, plotting or characterisation. Philip kerr was born in edinburgh and read law and philosophy at birmingham university, subjects which drew him to germany. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets. Berlin, 1928 sadly, last march british author philip kerr passed away. Kerr jumps around quite a bit in the last few books, after seemingly reached the end of his career in if the dead rise not. For a scot, philip kerr knows history and the german soul in detail. Hereafter, his novels dont follow a strict chronological order and can be read in any order. Equally, as youve noticed, i shift around the timeframe so there is no chronological order. Book maven lists the thirteen fascinating bernie gunther books in chronological order and gives a very informative. Now, five new novels later, kerr has abandoned the chronological order, and prague fatale is set back in 1942, in the czech city under the command of reinhard heydrich, where bernie is.
Strangely, it wasnt until 2006 that the books march violets, the pale criminal and a german requiem were followed up with the one from the other, and since then the edinburghborn author has been bringing us regular episodes from the life of his tough, resourceful and. The most interesting legal philosophy is german, so naturally i went to germany, particularly to berlin, quite a bit. This is the order of bernie gunther books in both chronological order and. Philip kerr was the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of whichfield gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian bluewere finalists for the edgar award for best novel.