LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGERTHE WESTERN FRONT, JULY 1918. Lieutenant Gregor Reinhardt is in a stormtrooper battalion on the Western Front.
When one of his subordinates is accused of murdering a group of officers, and then subsequently trying to take his own life, Reinhardt begins to investigate.
He soon begins to uncover a conspiracy at the heart of the German army, aimed at ending the war on the terms of those who have a vested interest in a future for Germany that resembles her past.
The investigation takes him from the devastated front lines of the war, to the heights of society in Berlin, and into the hospitals that treat those men who have been shattered by war.
Along the way, Reinhardt comes to an awakening of the man he might be. A man whose eyes have been painfully opened to the corruption and callousness all around him.
His calls to duty, devotion to the Fatherland and to the Kaiser, begin to ring increasingly hollow...
'A gripping, original thriller' Sunday Times
'Irresistible... McCallin once again combines authoritative characterisations with an incisive picture of a dangerous historical milieu'Financial Times
'Sharp, fast and very enjoyable'NB Magazine
** LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER **
THE WESTERN FRONT, JULY 1918. Gregor Reinhardt is a young lieutenant in a stormtrooper battalion on the Western Front when one of his subordinates is accused of murdering a group of officers, and then subsequently trying to take his own life. Not wanting to believe his friend could have done what he is accused of, Reinhardt begins to investigate. He starts to uncover the outline of a conspiracy at the heart of the German army, a conspiracy aimed at ending the war on the terms of those who have a vested interest in a future for Germany that resembles her past.
The investigation takes him from the devastated front lines of the war, to the rarefied heights of Berlin society, and into the hospitals that treat those men who have been shattered by the stress and strain of the war. Along the way, Reinhardt comes to an awakening of the man he might be. A man freed of dogma, whose eyes have been painfully opened to the corruption and callousness all around him. A man to whom calls to duty, to devotion to the Fatherland and to the Kaiser, ring increasingly hollow...
PRAISE FOR THE GREGOR REINHARDT SERIES
'Gritty and atmospheric - a new Luke McCallin novel is a cause for celebration' - William Ryan
'Let's not mince words: historical thrillers don't come any better' - Financial Times
'Reinhardt is a terrific creation' - Times (Book of the Month)
'What makes the book terrific is the humanity and hope that shine through even the darkest of scenes' - The Herald
'Assiduous research, often beautiful writing, and an engaging protagonist whose melancholy cynicism seems just right for the time and place' - David Downing
'A compelling, addictive narrative... Superlative' - CJ Carver
