Garden of Beasts

Starred review from May 3, 2004
Deaver fans expect the unexpected from this prodigiously talented thriller writer, and the creator of the Lincoln Rhyme series and other memorable yarns (The Blue Nowhere
, etc.) doesn't disappoint with his 19th novel, this time offering a deliciously twisty tale set in Nazi Berlin. The book's hero is a mob "button man," or hit man, Paul Schumann, who's nabbed in the act in New York City but given an alternative to the electric chair: to go to Berlin undercover as a journalist writing about the upcoming Olympics, in order to assassinate Col. Reinhard Ernst, the chief architect of Hitler's militarization, seen as a threat to American interests. A German spy onboard Paul's transatlantic liner grows suspicious and sends a warning to Germany before Paul discovers and kills him. Then in Berlin, Paul, en route to meet his contact, kills a second suspicious man who may be a storm trooper, setting Insp. Willi Kohl of the Berlin police, or Kripo, on his trail. Deaver weaves the three manhunts—Paul after his target, Kohl after Paul and the Nazi hierarchy after Paul—with a deft hand, bringing to frightening life the Berlin of 1936, a city on the brink of madness. Top Nazis, including Hitler, Himmler and Göring, make colorful cameos, but it's the smart, shaded-gray characterizations of the principals that anchor the exciting plot. An affecting love affair between Paul and his German landlady goes in surprising directions, as do the main plot lines, which move outside Berlin as heroes become villains and vice versa. This is prime Deaver, which means prime entertainment. Agent, Deborah Schneider. (July)

Forecast:
S&S is betting big on this title, with a 250,000 first printing. A 14-city author tour and Deaver's increasingly hot rep should ensure a solid sell-through.

March 15, 2004
How can a principled hit man avoid doing prison time in 1930s New York? By agreeing to pose as an Olympic athlete at the Berlin games and then snuffing out Reinhardt Ernst, the man behind Germany's rearmament. With a 14-city author tour.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2005
Adult/High School -Paul Schumann, professional hit man, is arrested by the U.S. government. He is offered a deal: he can go to prison or he can take on the job of assassinating the man who controls Hitler's rearmament. Schumann leaves for Germany. He is hounded by the German police even as he is watched or chased by every kind of control group, including the Gestapo and Hitler's Youth. He gets some help from locals as he focuses on his target, Colonel Ernst. After complicated and unforeseen events, the story leads to an ending filled with surprises. Filling the tale with historical facts skillfully woven into the fiction, Deaver deftly places the characters into the chaos of 1936. American slang, German-language translations, food, and clothing are among the details used to create the setting. Individual characters clearly serve as examples of typical people caught up in the confusion and fear felt by the general population as they witness the rise of Hitler. Fans of action, adventure, or history will enjoy this fast-paced, tightly plotted story." -Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2004
Here's a real change of pace from the author of the Lincoln Rhyme series: a thriller set in 1936, the year of the Berlin Olympics. Paul Schumann, born in Germany but living in the U.S., is a hit man for the mob. Apprehended by government agents, he's given a tough choice: spend the rest of his life in prison or go to Germany and assassinate a key member of Hitler's Third Reich. Although not known for historical fiction, Deaver takes the new genre in stride, subtly and plausibly working real people into the tale while delivering his signature sense of story, depth of characterization, and sharply rendered dialogue. Readers looking for the author's usual startling plot twists will not be disappointed, either. Deaver's audience will be pleased with this one, but it will be an equally big hit with fans of such Nazi-era thrillers as Philip Kerr's Berlin Noir trilogy or Robert Harris' " Fatherland."(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

Starred review from May 15, 2004
World War I veteran Paul Schumann is a hit man with a conscience-he kills only bad guys. But then he is arrested, and the Office of Naval Intelligence makes him an offer: go to jail or go to Germany disguised as an Olympic athlete and kill a ranking Nazi. If he succeeds, he will be both forgiven and rich; if he fails, he'll be dead. Taking a break from his successful Lincoln Rhymes and Amelia Sachs thrillers (e.g., The Bone Collector), Deaver plays out an intriguing plot against the ominous backdrop of Hitler's growing power. Incredibly, there are still many Germans in 1936 who don't feel that Hitler is either serious or will last very long. Denial runs strong, but even stronger is the blanket of evil that is snuffing out dissent and freedom. Following Schumann through a multitude of twists, turns, and betrayals is exciting and helps illuminate the early days of the Third Reich. Highly recommended. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/04.]-Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.