I love books set in Berlin as it allows me to connect with the city´s stories. And if Berlin doesn´t have enough stories to share, tell me one single city who does it more?
As a rule, I do read books by German authors in the original but Nightingale&Co by Charlotte Printz was an exception. After enjoying the impecable translations from Romania by Marina Sofia, Corylus Books offered me the chance of a fresh German translation she translated, again, flawlessly, seizing the richness of meanings and direct sarcasm of the Berlin-based characters and their colourful dialect.
Set on the backdrop of the Berlin Wall and the post-war life accommodating the new harsh social and political realities, Nightingale&Co has mostly women characters. After the war, with men dead or in prisons, there were mostly women who played an important role in the everyday life and therefore, the book reflects properly just another historical fact among many others that were instrumentalized in building the events.
Carla, the force behind the detective agency Nightingale&Co inherited the company after the tragic death of her father. With a mysterious half-sister who appeared suddenly into her life - that she is not naive to do not have some doubts about - she may create a very interesting dynamic that may help solve some cases, but also get a different insight into a reality on the move.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book, and the historical context that may even include some iconic cultural references as Billy Wilder turning in Berlin, at Brandenburg Gate. Some very mundane references to my beloved Charlottenburg district were more than relatable for me as it matches my own researches about this part of the city.
I will really want to come back to those characters - and please, more of the charismatic mess of aunt Lulu - soon, and if Marina Sofia will continue the translation, will make again another exception from my exclusive German reading menu.
Charlotte Printz is the pseudonyme of a former TV ediror and one of the founders of Munich Writing Academy.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
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