Garden of Beasts

A Novel of Berlin 1936

De: Jeffery Deaver

Narrado por: Jefferson Mays

Duración: 13 h y 20 m

Resumen del Editor

In the most ingenious and provocative thriller yet from the acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Jeffery Deaver, a conscience-plagued mobster turned government hitman struggles to find his moral compass amid rampant treachery and betrayal in 1936 Berlin.

Paul Schumann, a German American living in New York City in 1936, is a mobster hitman known as much for his brilliant tactics as for taking only "righteous" assignments. But then Paul gets caught. And the arresting officer offers him a stark choice: prison or covert government service. Paul is asked to pose as a journalist covering the summer Olympics taking place in Berlin. He's to hunt down and kill Reinhard Ernst - the ruthless architect of Hitler's clandestine rearmament. If successful, Paul will be pardoned and given the financial means to go legit; if he refuses the job, his fate will be Sing Sing and the electric chair.

Paul travels to Germany, takes a room in a boardinghouse near the Tiergarten - the huge park in central Berlin but also, literally, the "Garden of Beasts" - and begins his hunt. In classic Deaver fashion, the next 48 hours are a feverish cat-and-mouse chase as Paul stalks Ernst through Berlin while a dogged Berlin police officer and the entire Third Reich apparatus search frantically for the American.

Garden of Beasts is packed with fascinating period detail and features a cast of perfectly realized locals, Olympic athletes, and senior Nazi officials - some real, some fictional. With hairpin plot twists, the reigning "master of ticking-bomb suspense" (People) plumbs the nerve-jangling paranoia of prewar Berlin and steers the story to a breathtaking and wholly unpredictable ending.

©2004 Jeffery Deaver (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Historical Fiction with Unforeseen Plot Twist - Great Listen!

I am a big fan of historical fiction book and this story did not disappoint. One of the best reads in this genre I’ve read in years. Definitely did not see the plot twist coming regarding the protagonist and his counterpart. Can easily envision a continuation of the story in book 2! Kudos to the author!

great historical fiction

The author did a brilliant and chilling job of immersing the reader into Nazi Germany in 1937, a time when civil rights were suspended including the right to trial. A time when citizens openly love Hitler else they were killed or sent to camps. A time of summary judgment handed out by thugs wearing SS and Gestapo uniforms.
This is the background of a believable plot
that is full of action, intrigue, and many twists.
The narrator did a very fine job of immersing the reader into the story with his performance of the many roles and the many voices.

An Engaging Story

My first time reading this author and he did not disappoint. A story of intrigue, betrayal, Nazi’s at the highest level and ordinary people trying to survive in pre war Germany. It was fast paced with a lot going on but not always obvious as to what was going on. Listen to find out what I mean.

Interesting historical thriller

This is quite the interesting WWII thriller. the different characters are all intriguing in their own right. It ends up being somewhat of a character study in what fanatasim and authoritarianism can do to the individual psyche.

Some twists are predictable and convenient, but more than once I was yelling WHAAAAAT while driving and listening.

thrilling!

The story line, though disturbing due to known actual atrocities, was engaging and thought provoking.

Best Deaver Novel

I was hesitant to pursue another Deaver novel, but this was well worth my time.

Excellent

This was an outstanding performance.
Very well written and believable.
And the narrator was 1st class and quite possibly the best narration I’ve heard to date!!

I didn't see that coming.

If you like a thriller combined with a police procedural with the addition of Nazis and the 1936 Berlin Olympics and enjoy saying, "I didn't see that one coming," this is the book for you.

A great surprise!

This was a great book, could not put it down, I typically don’t listen to fiction, but would recommend this book as it mixes history with a fictional story. The narrator was awesome! Great twists and turns in story.

Nail biter!

What can be more intense than an agent sent with a specific job into the heart of Nazi Germany in the 30’s?
Great story.