Ashes of Berlin is shortlisted for the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger
World War II is over, and former German intelligence officer Captain Gregor Reinhardt has returned to Berlin.
He's about to find that the bloodshed has not ended - and that for some, death is better than defeat.
When a man is found slain in a broken-down tenement, Reinhardt embarks on a gruesome investigation.
It seems a serial killer is on the loose, and matters only escalate when it's discovered that one of the victims was the brother of a Nazi scientist.
Reinhardt's search for the truth takes him across the divided city and soon embroils him in a plot involving the Western Allies and the Soviets.
He soon realises that this investigation could cost him everything as he pursues a killer who believes that all wrongs must be avenged...
'An insightful and provocative page-turner...A riveting read hard to put down.'Mature Times
'A gritty thriller...Luke McCallin's third, and finest, novel...Reinhardt is a terrific creation.'The Times
'historical thrillers don't come any better than The Ashes of Berlin.'Barry Forshaw,Financial Times
Shortlisted for the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger 2017
'Let's not mince words: historical thrillers don't come any better than The Ashes of Berlin' - Financial Times
1947 and Gregor Reinhardt has been hired back onto Berlin's civilian police force. The city is divided among the victorious allied powers, tensions are growing, and the police are riven by internal rivalries as factions within it jockey for power and influence with Berlin's new masters.
When a man is found slain in a broken-down tenement, Reinhardt embarks on a gruesome investigation. It seems a serial killer is on the loose, and matters only escalate when it's discovered that one of the victims was the brother of a Nazi scientist.
Reinhardt's search for the truth takes him across the divided city and soon embroils him in a plot involving the Western Allies and the Soviets. And as he comes under the scrutiny of a group of Germans who want to continue the war - and faces an unwanted reminder from his own past - Reinhardt realizes that this investigation could cost him everything as he pursues a killer who believes that all wrongs must be avenged...
'Tough, gritty and atmospheric - a new Luke McCallin novel is a cause for celebration' - William Ryan, author of The Constant Soldier
'If you like Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther books, you will love The Ashes of Berlin. Luke McCallin has skilfully crafted an atmospheric and gripping tale set amid the ruins of a war ravaged city that feels wholly authentic. Historical fiction at its best' - Howard Linskey, author of Behind Dead Eyes
'A compelling, addictive narrative that had me turning the pages into the small hours. Superlative' - CJ Carver
'Luke McCallin's best Reinhardt novel yet. It's dark, brooding and raw. Also, impeccably researched...' - Jon Courtenay Grimwood
'A gripping and atmospheric thriller... a thoroughly involving and worthwhile read' - Crime Time
Look out for other books in the Gregor Reindhart series: The Man from Berlin and The Pale House
The Ashes of Berlin is published in the US under the title The Divided City.
