Silesian Station
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Review
'An extraordinary evocation of Nazi Germany'
C.J. Sansom
'A remarkable achievement . . . David Downing is one of the brightest lights in the shadowy world of historical spy fiction'
Birmingham Post
'Excellent . . . Downing's strength is his fleshing out of the tense and often dangerous nature of everyday life in a totalitarian state'
The Times
'Stands with Alan Furst for detail and atmosphere'
Donald James, author of Monstrum
'Think Robert Harris and Fatherland mixed with a dash of Le Carré'
Sue Baker, Publishing News
'A wonderfully drawn spy novel . . . A very auspicious debut, with more to come'The Bookseller on Zoo Station
'Exciting and frightening all at once . . . It's got everything going for it'
Julie Walters --...
C.J. Sansom
'A remarkable achievement . . . David Downing is one of the brightest lights in the shadowy world of historical spy fiction'
Birmingham Post
'Excellent . . . Downing's strength is his fleshing out of the tense and often dangerous nature of everyday life in a totalitarian state'
The Times
'Stands with Alan Furst for detail and atmosphere'
Donald James, author of Monstrum
'Think Robert Harris and Fatherland mixed with a dash of Le Carré'
Sue Baker, Publishing News
'A wonderfully drawn spy novel . . . A very auspicious debut, with more to come'The Bookseller on Zoo Station
'Exciting and frightening all at once . . . It's got everything going for it'
Julie Walters --...
Product Description
In July 1939 Russell returns to Berlin as the newly-appointed Central European correspondent of an American newspaper. With his communist past, German son and English-American parentage he's the perfect catch for any of Europe's warring espionage services -- and none will take no for an answer.
Through the long Berlin summer, through trips to Prague, Warsaw and Moscow tracking Europe's descent into war, Russell seeks to satisfy his secret masters, protect his girlfriend Effi and his son Paul, and retain some sense of his fragile integrity.
And if this wasn't difficult enough, a friend needs his help in finding the missing Jewish niece of an employee. With a whole continent headed for self-immolation, saving just one person shouldn't be so difficult . . .
Through the long Berlin summer, through trips to Prague, Warsaw and Moscow tracking Europe's descent into war, Russell seeks to satisfy his secret masters, protect his girlfriend Effi and his son Paul, and retain some sense of his fragile integrity.
And if this wasn't difficult enough, a friend needs his help in finding the missing Jewish niece of an employee. With a whole continent headed for self-immolation, saving just one person shouldn't be so difficult . . .
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really liked "Zoo Station", the first John Russell thriller but with "Silesian Station", David Downing has crafted a thriller of some class worthy of the likes of Alan Furst or John le Carre.
"Silesian Station" is a well-written, well-researched thriller set in Berlin in the weeks leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. John Russell, a journalist, becomes involved in espionage, in the embryonic Jewish resistance and in the hunt for a young woman who has disappeared shortly after arriving in Berlin.
The characters are well drawn, the plot measured and the atmosphere evoked outstanding. In Russell, David Downing has created an excellent character of some complexity.
I look forward eagerly to the third book in the series.
"Silesian Station" is a well-written, well-researched thriller set in Berlin in the weeks leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. John Russell, a journalist, becomes involved in espionage, in the embryonic Jewish resistance and in the hunt for a young woman who has disappeared shortly after arriving in Berlin.
The characters are well drawn, the plot measured and the atmosphere evoked outstanding. In Russell, David Downing has created an excellent character of some complexity.
I look forward eagerly to the third book in the series.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been waiting for something like this for almost 20 years. A series about pre-war Germany that actually makes you feel that you are there.
Not since Phillip Kerr has someone come along who has created a character and stories to equal his Bernie Gunther series.
I read Zoo Station before Christmas and held out on reading this so that I could enjoy this and prepeare for the what will hopefully be the third in the series later this year.
I read this while recovering from the flu and kept my wife amused as I purred, laughed and sighed my way through the book. It immediately brought back my own visits to Berlin (though not that long ago). You can smell the food, beer and see the sights as you read the book.
Russell is again caught in a vice between the German, Russian and American intelligence services. In between times he has a missing Jewsess to locate. All this is set against the impending war that everyone knows, and fears, is coming.
We follow Russell as he travels around Eastern Europe, taking in an occupied Czech republic, an "autonomous" Slovak republic, a pre=invasion Warsaw and Moscow just as the non agression treaty is agreed.
We meet spies, policemen, actresses and ordinary people struggling to survive in "the cage" - as Nazi Germany was known to those who lived there.
There is not only a thriller here but moments of comedy that surface without warning; moments where your heart is squeezed and, hidden away, small stories of everyday events that really happened.
Buy this and enjoy a great read by a superb author who really knows his craft and his historical place.
Not since Phillip Kerr has someone come along who has created a character and stories to equal his Bernie Gunther series.
I read Zoo Station before Christmas and held out on reading this so that I could enjoy this and prepeare for the what will hopefully be the third in the series later this year.
I read this while recovering from the flu and kept my wife amused as I purred, laughed and sighed my way through the book. It immediately brought back my own visits to Berlin (though not that long ago). You can smell the food, beer and see the sights as you read the book.
Russell is again caught in a vice between the German, Russian and American intelligence services. In between times he has a missing Jewsess to locate. All this is set against the impending war that everyone knows, and fears, is coming.
We follow Russell as he travels around Eastern Europe, taking in an occupied Czech republic, an "autonomous" Slovak republic, a pre=invasion Warsaw and Moscow just as the non agression treaty is agreed.
We meet spies, policemen, actresses and ordinary people struggling to survive in "the cage" - as Nazi Germany was known to those who lived there.
There is not only a thriller here but moments of comedy that surface without warning; moments where your heart is squeezed and, hidden away, small stories of everyday events that really happened.
Buy this and enjoy a great read by a superb author who really knows his craft and his historical place.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like Zoo Station, this is a thoroughly detailed and gripping historical spy novel. Appealing are the backdrop, the gathering pace and especially the way the lead character falls into a horribly complicated situation without really trying. Really good, I await the third volume with bated breath.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A delight
I must admit, after Zoo Station (which I was a bit disappointed with) I wasn't rushing to read the second in the series, but I am now so glad I did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Anderson
Enjoyable
I am enjoying this series and although I have to agree with a previous reviewer that it often reads like a satnav tour of Berlin, the subtle humour wins through, and the careful... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Debra Rixon
Darker but just as good
The second book in the Station series is as tightly written as the first, but much darker. We are quickly drawn into Berlin in summer 1939, just before the War, and whilst on the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Darren McCormac
Excellent tightly plotted thriller
The book starts with a young Jewish girl making a journey to Berlin.
The mystery of what happened to her, and why she never arrived, runs through the book, as John... Read more
The mystery of what happened to her, and why she never arrived, runs through the book, as John... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Wildpurl
Slow in places
This is my first foray in David Downing's "Station Books" and I'm tempted to read more - but ..... I am over half way through the book and am still waiting to find out what... Read more
Published 20 months ago by bookworm
One of the Very Best...
I bought this book because I had devoured Zoo Station in a thrilling three nights reading till 2 in the morning. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ann Parker
formulaic & uninspired
The characters have no depth. They're not believable. Instead of atmosphere there is a GPS-style guide of Berlin street names and U-bahn stations. The dialogue is wooden. Read more
Published 22 months ago by lasttango
Excellent evocation of life in Nazi Berlin
This atmospheric portrait of life in wartime Germany is a well observed and chilling observation of the depressing reality of life under Nazi rule.
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by davebp38
Read Zoo Station first...
...and then get this one.
Better still, buy this one, Zoo Station and the one after: Stettin Station. Make yourself comfy and have a great read. Read more
Better still, buy this one, Zoo Station and the one after: Stettin Station. Make yourself comfy and have a great read. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by Paradigmshift
Trailing off
This novel is excellently researched with a lot of period and topical detail. Unfortunately, the plot trails off (or maybe gets overloaded) about halfway through. Read more
Published on 28 May 2009 by helen
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