Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look ahead to 2027, with an outstanding upcoming murder mystery with a promising historical dark side, Sons of the Reich by Simon Scarrow.
Readers of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of historical fiction author Simon Scarrow, whose various books set across multiple historical periods has produced some gripping and fantastic reads. I am primarily a fan of his Eagles of the Empire series, the next book of which, The Sword of Rome, is set for release later this year. However, while I wait for The Sword of Rome to come out, I thought I would look ahead and highlight the next Scarrow book coming out with Sons of the Reich, the fourth book in the author’s Criminal Inspector Schenke thriller series.
The Criminal Inspector Schenke series, also known as the Berlin Wartime series, are an addictive and captivating series that focus on dark murder investigations in Berlin during World War II. Following protagonist CI Horst Schenke, a Kripo investigator and one of the few good cops left in the city, the series sees Horst investigate murders that occur against the backdrop of the war and the Nazi regime. Inevitably, Schenke runs up against powerful Nazis and members of the SS as the crimes he investigates skirt the dark secrets of the Nazi government. The first three books in this series, Blackout, Dead of Night and A Death in Berlin, were impressive reads that expertly combined compelling narratives with the ominous historical setting. As such, I keep a close out for any additional books in the series, and it looks like we are going to be blessed with a new entry in the series in 2027 with Sons of the Reich.
Set for release in March 2027, Sons of the Reich sees Schenke once again in a dangerous and politically sensitive investigation, this time involving the Hitler Youth. Featuring a very interesting story idea that will showcase murder and secrets at the heart of the Nazi movement, Sons of the Reich sounds like another complex and exciting read with a ton of potential.
Plot Synopsis:
May 1940. Nazi Party propaganda indicates that the war is nearly won, but disturbing news of casualties makes for a tense atmosphere in Berlin.
Violent crime is growing, with arrogant members of the Hitler Youth amongst the worst culprits. When a young man of the group is found brutally murdered, Criminal Inspector Schenke is called in. The crime has occurred outside his precinct, but the dead boy’s uncle is Gestapo, and SS Gruppenfuhrer Heydrich wants Schenke to investigate. Or, rather, to focus on one suspect to the exclusion of all others.
Schenke is determined to discover the truth rather than follow instructions from on high. Evidence seems too easily discovered, while the accounts shared by the victim’s fellow Hitler Youths are disturbingly similar in every detail. But if Schenke pushes his search for the truth too far, will his luck finally run out, as the might of a ruthless regime is turned against him?
I am very excited to dive into this new historic murder mystery, especially after how impressive and clever the previous three books in this series have been. It sounds liked Scarrow has come up with a particularly intriguing scenario for Sons of the Reich that should produce an outstanding story, and I’m expecting both an impressive standalone mystery, as well as a continuation of some of the series ongoing storylines, such as the protagonist’s illicit relationship with a fugitive Jewish woman hiding in the city. I am also quite intrigued see the author’s take on the Hitler Youth and their role in this stage of Berlin life, as well as the powers working behind them. I have no doubt Scarrow will continue to explore and utilise the fascinating and sinister historical elements of this setting to his full extent, and I cannot wait to see how they continue to enhance the excellent crime fiction elements of the narrative.
Based on how much I have enjoyed the first three novels in this series, there is no way that I won’t be grabbing Sons of the Reich next year. Simon Scarrow is such a good author, and I have really enjoyed this impressive World War II crime fiction series, especially as it allows him to explore wartime Berlin through the eyes of a conflicted protagonist. I am very curious to see how this new story will unfold, and I have no doubt I am going to find it fascinating and compelling. Due to all this, Sons of the Reich is one of my most anticipated historical fiction novels for next year, and I will dive into it the first chance I get.