David Young (5)
Auteur van Stasi Child
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Over de Auteur
David Young is a respected writer, commentator, journalist, environmentalist, and historian. Working independently in the field of history and the environment he work explores the nature-culture relationship, including perspectives from indigenous nature and indigenous culture.
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Werken van David Young
Tagged
Algemene kennis
- Officiële naam
- Young, David John
- Geslacht
- male
- Nationaliteit
- UK
- Geboorteplaats
- Cottingham, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Opleiding
- Bristol Polytechnic (literature)
- Beroepen
- indie pop musician
novelist - Organisaties
- The Candy Twins
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Besprekingen
I’m probably wrong about this, but I think the trend of writing police procedurals set in totalitarian societies started with Martin Cruz Smith, whose Gorky Park was published back in 1981. Since then there have been many others, notably Philip Kerr’s ‘Bernie Gunther’ series, set mostly in Nazi Germany — and now with 14 books and still going strong. David Young’s series featuring Oberleutnant Karin Müller is set in East Berlin during the Cold War. This, the first of six novels in the series, takes place in 1975 and starts with the appearance of a dead body next to the Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier (what we would call the Berlin Wall). The body belongs to a young woman who appears, at first glance, to have been shot by West German border guards as he tried to cross into the East. But of course nothing is as it seems. It’s a long and complex story, genuinely disturbing at points, but I can’t decide yet if I want to continue with the series. Young works very hard to convince us of the reality of life in the German Democratic Republic, including an attempt to get into the head of a loyal police officer who understand that while the Stalinist regime is not perfect, it’s a more just and fair society than what she believes exists in the west. I finished the book unsure about how convincing it all was and whether I care enough about Oberleutnant Müller to spend more time in her company.… (meer)
The inderlying storyline - based on the historical massacre at Gardelegen - was riveting, but the writing is so ham-fisted & pedestrian that it seriously detracts from the impact of the novel. I wish this material were in the hands of a better writer.
The second book in the Karin Muller series. This time we see Karin involved in a case of baby abduction in the model town of Halle-Neustadt. Being a model town Karin has to investigate the case on the quiet as there is meant to be no crime. I enjoyed the first book in the series but I found this to be a bit of a let down. The amtosphere and setting are very well delivered but the plot is ridiculous. The ending in particular is very badly telegraphed and a step too far on the believability scale.
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Statistieken
- Werken
- 6
- Leden
- 360
- Populariteit
- #66,630
- Waardering
- 3.7
- Besprekingen
- 36
- ISBNs
- 223
- Talen
- 4
Readers familiar with Cold War novels set in Communist East Germany will feel at home in the setting and tone that Young creates. Readers new to the genre will quickly feel the bleakness of life in East Germany, from the pollution to inadequate winter clothing to the construction of monolithic Soviet block apartments.
Nothing is quite straight forward. Everyone has something to hide and/or some kind of damage that’s a weak spot that can be manipulated by those in power. Citizens have to walk a straight line to avoid suspicion. These threats are bad, but worst of all is the corrosive force of relentless propaganda and paranoia that wears people down. Everyone is a potential informer spying on everyone else, even family members.
[Read more: https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2017/08/review-stasi-child-by-david-young#...… (meer)