Philip kerr books list of books by author philip kerr. In his final book, new york times bestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on. Kerr was educated in northampton and later attended melville college, intending to become a lawyer. Links are provided to more detailed information about each bernie gunther book. New york timesbestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on berlins. Hes sardonic, toughtalking, and cynical, but he does have a rough sense of humor and a rougher sense of right.
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, 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. Phillip kerr writes in the clearest of prose and is certainly one of the most gifted of our modern thrillermystery writers. Apr 16, 2020 but the berlin of philip kerr s stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. It is 1957, and bernie gunther is now working as an insurance investigator under the name of christof ganz. 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. It is a sincere pleasure to read a wellwritten book, in this case a compilation of three books that seamlessly span the nazi germany years. Mar 24, 2018 it didnt offer a new exploit for gunther when it was issued in 1994, but it seemed the best one could hope for, as mr. This volume captures his three bernie gunther novels, each a gem on its own.
Mark pryor is one of the smartest new writers on the block. He lives in london and cornwall, england, with his family. Kerr has also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. It didnt offer a new exploit for gunther when it was issued in 1994, but it seemed the best one could hope for, as mr. 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. Philip kerr first made money as an author when he was 12 years old, writing and then renting out pornographic stories for the edification of his schoolmates.
Mar 25, 2018 berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. 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. In the twentyplus years we worked together i found him responsive, funny, brilliant, and totally committed to his writing and hence, to being edited as long as he thought the editing was serious. In many ways, it is bernies origin story and, as kerr s last novel. Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged. In the night streets, political gangs wander, looking for fights.
He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of. Kerr also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. And stay tuned because rumor has it bernie may be on the small screen soon thanks to tom hanks, german sky tv, and hbo. In many ways, it is bernies origin story and, as kerrs last novel. Metropolis, completed just before philip kerrs untimely death, is the capstone of a 14book journey through the life of kerrs signature character, bernhard genther, a sardonic and wisecracking homicide detective caught up in an increasingly nazified berlin police department. This posthumously published novel sees the worldweary berlin cop join the murder squad on. But the berlin of philip kerrs stories is a character in the books a personality as complex and troubled as his privateinvestigator protagonist. When i started writing i was after the character of the berliner rather than the history of berlin, says kerr. Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. 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.
Metropolis, the final novel kerr wrote before his untimely death a year ago after a brief bout with cancer, takes readers back to gunthers origins. I lived and worked in athens in the 1950s, and philip kerrs colorful new novel greeks bearing gifts brought those times vividly back to mind. 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. At the end of the book, bernie enters a boathouse with one of sixs. Apr 17, 2016 the author, most recently, of the other side of silence thinks heroes are always too heroic to be real. Kerr has also written childrens books under the name p. Jan 23, 2012 philip kerr first made money as an author when he was 12 years old, writing and then renting out pornographic stories for the edification of his schoolmates. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. This posthumously published novel sees the worldweary berlin cop join the murder squad on the eve of the nazi rise to power. Hes young, but hes seen four bloody years of trench warfare. Follow our twitter feed to keep up with the latest news that may be of interest to bernie gunther fans. Philip kerr was born february 22, 1956, in edinburgh. 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. In his final book, new york times bestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring bernie gunthers first weeks on berlins murder squad.
Philip kerr was synonymous with his series of novels featuring fictional detective bernie gunther. Mre insurance sent christof ganz to investigate the insurances claim for a sinking ship doris off the coast of greece. Philip kerr has left the literary world a parting gift that will not only resonate with longtime readers but should indoctrinate a new legion of fans to his bernie gunther detective series. He received masters degrees in both law and philosophy from the university of birmingham, where he attended school from 1974 to 1980. Metropolis, completed just before philip kerr s untimely death, is the capstone of a 14 book journey through the life of kerr s signature character, bernhard genther, a sardonic and wisecracking homicide detective caught up in an increasingly nazified berlin police department.
The author, most recently, of the other side of silence thinks heroes are always too heroic to be real. Philip kerrs last novel and a new series from alexander mccall. Short descriptions of philip kerrs bernie gunther novel. Each book, he later admitted, was aimed at painting gunther into a corner so. Visit our forum to connect with other readers of the series. Working with philip kerr was the kind of experience all editors hope to have. 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. 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. The sixth book in the series, if the dead rise not, won the cwa historical dagger. Philip kerr has written over thirty books of which the bestknown are the internationally renowned and bestselling bernie gunther series. Joan acocella writes about the detective fiction of philip kerr, the author of. Philip kerr is the author of many novels, but perhaps most important are the five featuring bernie gunthera quiet flame, the one from the other, and the berlin noir trilogy march violets, the pale criminal, and a german requiem. Kerr had abandoned berlin and his hero, writing more contemporary books in search of a wider audience.
Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets. Philip kerr books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes. Greeks bearing gifts, by philip kerr washington post. From new york timesbestselling author philip kerr, the much anticipated return of bernie gunther in a series hailed by the daily beast as the best crime novels around today. Mar 28, 2018 i lived and worked in athens in the 1950s, and philip kerrs colorful new novel greeks bearing gifts brought those times vividly back to mind.
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. New york timesbestselling author philip kerr treats readers to his beloved heros origins, exploring. His series include bernie gunther and the children of. March violets 1989, the pale criminal 1990, and a german requiem 1991. Short descriptions of philip kerr s bernie gunther novel. 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 last novel and a new series from alexander. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime. 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. His most recent novel, field gray, is out this month. Kerrs longtime editor, marian wood, said in a statement. The narrative is swift and adept, and so wellgrounded in the history and custom of the period that the reader is totally immersed.
Greeks bearing gifts is book in the bernie gunther series by philip kerr. Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead new york times though wary of being typecast as a onenote author, mr. It may be that, for philip kerr, depositing gunther in the city where the german nightmare began in a beer hall, in 1923, was a way of settling gunthers debt to consciencea very painful. Philip kerr is the author of nineteen previous novels, including a philosophical investigation, and five bestselling childrens books. Born in 1966, philip kerr is a british novelist whose bestknown books include the bernie gunther series of historical thrillers set mainly in germany during the 1930s, world war ii, and the cold war. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of historical detective thrillers. Once id been a good detective in kripo, but that was a while ago, before the criminals wore smart gray uniforms and nearly everyone locked up was innocent.
1179 164 412 1054 653 1380 1297 1120 310 1319 1515 1019 653 852 143 1281 1152 1212 253 909 1078 259 802 489 841 855 876 726 1108 1400 282 1247