eternal

Despite my great love for the first two books in the Jan Fabel series, this third installment disappointed me a bit. While in many ways it felt closer to the first book in the series,  Blood Eagle  (Vitrenko's name crops up more frequently, the murders also have a more political aspect, the writing style and use of language is stronger), I still felt more disconnected from it than the other books. This was largely due to the reincarnation-driven premise. The other novels in the series centered around plots there were a lot more plausible and realistic than the outlandish one featured here. And while the plot was unpredictable - it bordered on crossing the line into impossibility. Though the pieces did fit together, there were some holes that weren't really addressed, focusing more on the character side of the plot. Either way, the reincarnation spin felt trite and overused, unlike the fresh and original feelings the first two books left me with.The characters' lives and their development did continue here in interesting and believable ways. This progression will undoubtedly continue throughout the series - and some large changes seemed to be looming that would be covered in future novels. It will be very interesting to see just what direction the series will go from here!

This entire series is fascinating. Not just the story but the look at a city we rarely hear about.

This book is a very exciting read. The author takes you along on the adventure as you try to determine who is behind the ghastly murders. Fabel, the main character, seems to have a past that isn't elaborated on, which made me wonder if this book is part of a series. A quick search reveals that the author does indeed have a series of books featuring Jan Fabel. At least one has been made into a movie in Germany.The book does stand alone quite well however, so readers new to this author need not fear picking up this book to read. I would have given it a 5 star rating, but the book actually started out quite slow. When I was almost about to give up on it, the storyline suddenly became quite exciting and drew me into the rest of the book. The murders in the story are quite gruesome and Fabel tries to determine why the killer is killing the way he does. The ending does give some twists and turns, although the identity of the killer is not really all that difficult to figure out.All in all, this is an exciting book and I recommend it.

Two high profile victims - a former Left-wing radical turned environmental campaigner and a geneticist researching the possibility of inherited memory - are found murdered within 24 hours of each other. Both men have been scalped. Forensic tests reveal that single red hairs left at each scene belong to neither victim, but were cut from the same head - twenty years earlier. Jan Fabel and his murder team find themselves under political and media pressure to track down a killer whom the press has already christened 'The Hamburg Hairdresser'. Connections in the victims' pasts begin to emerge, but Fabel's team is working against the clock. Fabel is caught in a web of intrigue, obsession and revenge that seemingly spans sixteen centuries. He must discover the crucial link between an ancient mummified body, a long-disbanded terrorist group and its infamous leader and a killer who believes he has been reincarnated to exact a terrible revenge on those who betrayed him in a previous life.

Another great book in the series. There is a lot of history of the city of Hamburg during World War II that I really enjoyed learning aboutThe story begins with the gruesome murder of a high profile person - and another follows soon after - another high profile person. Fabel ( the lead detective) cannot seem to get a handle on the killer. THe killer always seems to be one step ahead - And...he leaves no clues at all. How these men connected? That seems to be the only "path" toward finding the killer.

I love Russel's writing but I do have to agree a bit with the 'negative' review at the top there. The begining of this book is almost too clever. Though I am a fantasy fan I don't like the hint of mysticism and as someone who is a bit thick with the short term memory of a fish I didn't like the time frame leaping about like the said fish out of water! Which the first 40 pages did.However once Russell has got that out of his system and he settles back into his Munich detective modus he delivers once again. For fans of the series we get to catch up on the latest life events of the detectives with particular attention to Maria Klee this time out and the furthering of Fabel's relationship with the good doctor.The meat of the story harps back to Germany's terrorist laden seventies with references to Baarder / Mienhoff and the Red army faction. This gave a grounded and authentic feel and was for me, quite educational as I was in an insular child/teenage period when it was happening so though I remember the names I had no clue as to what it was all really about.There that's your lot I will give nothing else away this is a who dunnit after all. But it's crime fighting at the sticky end, so expect your toes to curl every now and then.

To say that Craig Russell's work gets better and better isn't true, as all of 3 of the Jan Faber series are cracking reads - in all aspects of character, plot and quality of writing.There are books that immerse you from the beginning and stay with you long after you have finished them - Russell's work does just that.His writing is excellent - intelligent - moving - stimulating - frightening. I thought getting to grips with the German police terms would be difficult, but not at all, with Hamburg coming alive in his writing that makes you want to visit to see it for yourself.As a previous reviewer has stated, the personal doubts that Faber has are surprising and a little unsettling, which adds to the richness and realism of his character.

Loved this book. Really good characters. Read 3 books in a row

Ok

Bought this book after reading the Lennox series.So poor that I stopped after the first two chapters.Very disappointed.