Nearly thirty years ago, philip kerrs debut novel march violets introduced the character of bernie gunther, a sardonic, harddrinking detective tackling the dark depths of. Kerr wrote for the sunday times, the evening standard, and the new statesman. The bernie gunther novels are historical literature. 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. Bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels by british novelist philip kerr. Praise for philip kerr and the bernie gunther novels a brilliantly innovative thriller writer. Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. A gripping alternative history thriller set in the second world war, from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels. Quercus pays tribute to cherished author philip kerr.
Links are provided to more detailed information about each bernie gunther book. Philip kerr was born february 22, 1956, in edinburgh. These are the dilemmas i choose in order to give the stories a sharper edge. Jun 01, 2011 philip kerr has also written eight standalone novels as well as a very popular childrens series, children of the lamp, under the pen name pb kerr. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime fiction lover. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of historical detective thrillers.
Following university he worked as a copywriter at a number of advertising agencies, during which time he wrote no advertising slogans of any note. 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. Philip kerr, the new york times and usa today bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels, died on friday, march 23 in london after an eightmonth battle with cancer. The groundbreaking trilogy by scottish author philip kerr that introduced the world to bernie gunther, an ordinary german soldier turned kripo cop turned private detective who just tries to do his job and keep his wits about him amidst the rising tide of naziism in 1930s berlin sardonic, toughtalking, and cynical, bernie smokes too much, drinks too much, has a rough. Some of those books offer stories in the past, but there are framing scenes in the 1950s. The first three bernie gunther novels a bernie gunther novel by philip kerr 4. Philip kerrs last novel and a new series from alexander.
Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. Prague fatale is the first bernie book that does not really follow the chronological order. Philip kerr books list of books by author philip kerr. A combination of medical thriller, actionadventure, and science fiction novel, the second angel is an i. Philip kerr, a scottishborn writer whose popular novels. Philip kerr has also written eight standalone novels as well as a very popular childrens series, children of the lamp, under the pen name pb kerr. New york times bestselling author philip kerr was best known for his acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of which field gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian blue were finalists for the edgar award for best novel. In prussian blue, philip kerr once more shows himself one of the greatest master storytellers in english. A bernie gunther novel series philip kerr philip kerr has won an international reputation as a master of historical suspense with his noir detective bernie gunther tackling the dark underbelly of nazi and postwarera germany. Philip kerr is the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, two of whichfield gray and the lady from zagrebwere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. His most recent novel, field gray, is out this month. Metropolis, written by philip kerr under the eye or perhaps into the teeth of his own mortality, is the 14th and final story about bernie gunther, kerrs conflicted investigator in. 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.
Mar 25, 2018 berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. Philip kerr was born in edinburgh and read law and philosophy at birmingham university, subjects which drew him to germany. In prussian blue, philip kerr once more shows himself one of the greatest master storytellers in. Kerr, who passed away back in march after battling bladder cancer, was able to finish his next manuscript before his death. But the berlin of philip kerr s stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead. Kerr got his masters in law from the university of birmingham before working as a copywriter and finally becoming a fulltime author in 1989. Philip kerr was synonymous with his series of novels featuring fictional detective bernie gunther. Quercus pays tribute to cherished author philip kerr the. Mar 26, 2017 in all the gunther novels, kerr uses real personages as characters in last years the other side of silence the novelist w. 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 set.
For most novelists, the city where the action takes place is a backdrop or a stage set, nothing more than scenery. March violets 1989, the pale criminal 1990, and a german requiem 1991. Philip kerrs singular creation, bernie gunther, is a character who believes that law exists yet is often unsure where he stands on that long arch that spans the chasm between its moral existence and practical application. Bernard gunther is a former soldier he fought with the wehrmacht on the turkish front in the first world war and an excop an inspector for the krimin. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british novelist. Apr 09, 2019 metropolis, written by philip kerr under the eye or perhaps into the teeth of his own mortality, is the 14th and final story about bernie gunther, kerrs conflicted investigator in. Order of bernie gunther books bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels by british novelist philip kerr. Philip kerrs bernie gunther books in order fantastic fiction. His bernie gunther novels are extraordinary, a mix of great storytelling and brilliant research, with a. Philip kerrs final bernie gunther novel announced with. For that reason we think firsttime readers are better off getting to know bernie in the way philip kerr presented him. Philip kerr, a scottishborn writer whose popular novels feature a naziera. In all the gunther novels, kerr uses real personages as characters in last years the other side of silence the novelist w.
Just rereading all books now in the published order. Short descriptions of philip kerr s bernie gunther novel. His bernie gunther novels are extraordinary, a mix of great storytelling and brilliant research, with a believable. The most interesting legal philosophy is german, so naturally i went to germany, particularly to berlin, quite a bit. The chronology of the novels does not match the order in which they were published.
Kerr has taken bernie through three decades, five continents, and a dozen novels to date. Focusing on twins john and phillipa gaunt and the discovery that they are in fact genies, the books have become bestsellers. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of birmingham, where he attended school from 1974 to 1980. 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 along the way, he won many plaudits, not least.
Philip kerr, the author of esau, introduces us to a dark and dismal future earth where pure blood has become the worlds most precious commodity. The complete series list for bernie gunther philip kerr. Our comprehensive guide to all 14 novels in philip kerrs excellent. A classic crime novel that delivers in high style by nick harkaway, washington post published 3. Kerr died from bladder cancer on 23 march 2018 and was survived by his wife and children. Scott manson, coach for a premier league football club, and their allround fixer, in london, england. Bernard gunther is a former soldier he fought with the wehrmacht on the turkish front in the first world war and an excop an inspector for the kriminalpolizei now working as a private eye in the preworld war ii years of berlin, specializing in the missing persons.
Apr 16, 2020 for most novelists, the city where the action takes place is a backdrop or a stage set, nothing more than scenery. Dont miss a single philip kerr book and read them all in the best order. 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. These novels are from the historical, crime, mystery, and thriller genres. The bernie gunther novels are set in nazi germany, but some are set after the fall of the nazis starting in the mid thirties. Philip kerr is the author of nineteen previous novels, including a philosophical investigation, and five bestselling childrens books. The groundbreaking trilogy by scottish author philip kerr that introduced the world to bernie gunther, an ordinary german soldier turned kripo cop turned private detective who just tries to do his job and keep his wits about him amidst the rising tide of naziism in 1930s berlin.
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. As kripos superlative homicide detective, bernie is assigned by martin bormann to the murder case of a lowranking bureaucrat at obersalzberg, home to an elite nazi community and hitlers mountaintop retreat. Philip kerr books checklist in order with summaries updated 2017 includes. Includeslist and summaries for bernie gunther and all philip. He spent most of his time in advertising researching an idea he had for a novel. Philip kerr was the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of whichwere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. This little book includes story summaries, checklist includes all philip kerr novels and series information. Philip kerrs final bernie gunther novel announced with details it turns out that, after some speculation, philip kerrs 14th bernie gunther novel will, in fact, be a prequel story. 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. Philip kerr has written the scott manson series, the bernie gunther series and some stand alone work.
This is also the chronological order untill field grey. Kerr was educated in northampton and later attended melville college, intending to become a lawyer. Philip kerr, new york times, 14 april 2016 the writer philip kerr, who has died at the age of 62, did what some great writers graham greene, john le carre, alan furst preeminent among them. But the berlin of philip kerrs stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. 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. Bernie gunther and all all philip kerr books with summaries including the latest releases.
Salman rushdie philip kerr is the only bona fide heir to raymond chandler. At his death he left behind a gunther manuscript titled metropolis. I believe the final novel is metropolis, published in 2019. Bernie gunther series in order philip kerr fictiondb. Mar 27, 2018 philip kerr at his home in london in 2016. Smashwords philip kerr series reading order checklist. Philip kerr was born in edinburgh, scotland and studied at the university of birmingham. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets. Too often many modern novels forget the story and the need to keep the readers attention. Publications novels bernie gunther berlin noir bernie gunther trilogy, republished 1993 by penguin books in one volume. The narrative is swift and adept, and so wellgrounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed.
Nov 27, 2018 philip kerr books checklist in order with summaries updated 2017 includes. Kerr has also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. Somerset maugham was a central figure and in this one. Philip kerr simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kerr is also author of a string of young adult fantasy novels that together form the children of the lamp series 2004present. Some novels jump many years back and forth from chapter to chapter while others are more linear and span a few weeks to a few months. Short descriptions of philip kerrs bernie gunther novel. In our conversation below, held recently in the lobby of bostons four seasons hotel, we discuss the latest entry in the bernie gunther saga, which takes gunther from cuba in 1951 to new york. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime. This is, according to me, the best way to read them. Jan 23, 2012 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 set.
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