Lead Review (One Berlin Day)

• Book: One Berlin Day
• Location: Berlin
• Author: Chris Humphreys

Review Author: tripfiction

This is an action-packed thriller that portrays the worst side of humanity, human trafficking, drugs – you name it, organised by venal crooks. One Sadiq Khan (no, not him, which is a tad confusing at the beginning) masterminds one side of the operations. Then there is Berndt Olsen, who has a long history of blowing with the wind – he hails from a family of Nazi supporters back in WW2 and then finds his niche as a Stasi acolyte, subsequently drawn to the AfD narrative. He is also a keen beekeeper and there is much intricate detail around managing his hives, soothing his nerves.

Mr Phipps (they like to refer to agents in MI6 by their surnames, apparently), who is no longer an assassin, is on a mission to track Olsen down. He is paired with MI5 agent Ellerby (her investigations somewhat hampered by Brexit), and together they start to crack down on the organised crime, although they perhaps have slightly different goals.

There is certainly a nod to le Carré, given the story blends gritty realism, with an element of spy culture, and various backstories enrich the character profiles. A short chapter between the two main sections is a curious device to offer further understanding into the unadulterated thoughts of some of the people involved. The inclusion of guns, an opening scene of an arranged fight and riotous football supporters all further underline the masculine feel of the novel.

Berlin is conjured up as a drab place in this novel, pockmarked by historical references. There is a trip out to the exclusive Schwanenwerder (which, by the way, is home to Berlin’s most expensive and futuristic building, valued at around €78 Million) in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf area of the city, once home to Göbbels and Speer. The echo of Berlin’s past reverberates through the story.

The plot is quite clever, although confusing at times.

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