A Trace of Smoke (Hannah Vogel)

This historical mystery takes place in 1931 Berlin where, as in the play and film CABARET, the decadence of the city's nightlife clashes with the rise of the Nazi party. Hannah Vogel is a 32-year old sketch artist who also writes as Peter Weill for a newspaper's crime reportage. On her daily visit to the police station and its display of photos of unidentified crime victims, she is shocked and devastated to see a picture of her brother Ernst, a gay cross-dressing singer in a nightclub. To protect friends who are temporarily using Ernst's identity papers, she cannot immediately identify Ernst to the police. She decides to investigate herself and, along the way, she meets up with members of the demimonde, Nazi thugs and even the then-head of Hitler's SA, Ernst Rohm. She also opens up her lonely personal life to a handsome widower and a five-year-old orphan. This is a quick read, with appealing characters and a fast-moving plot. It was refreshing to read a story whose plot had some twists and turns but was still easy to follow. The author has done her research and does an excellent job putting us in the time and place of the story. This is Cantrell's first novel and I look forward to her next.

Rebecca Cantrell hits a homerun with her stunning debut. The plot is intricate and her characters engaging, especially young Anton. Hannah Vogel, Cantrell's main character is believable and charming, yet tough as nails. I won't spoil the plot, but the ending took me by surprise. I read it in three sittings. My only complaint is that the book ended! I'll be buying Cantrell's next books. She's got a new fan for life.

This is fantastic book! It has lots of great detail and surprises. I could taste and smell the fear, the dirt, the hunger, the cold. I have never read a mystery where the protagonist is in such desperate situations and yet where tender relationships are also developed. I couldn't put it down for the second half of the book. This mystery does not disappoint! The author is truly brave and courageous!

In 1931 thirty two years old crime reporter for the Berliner Tageblatt Hannah Vogel visits Berlin's Hall of the Unnamed Dead. There on the wall is the picture of an unknown naked corpse whom she recognizes. The victim is her beloved gay brother Ernst, who could not harm a fly; he had no papers because he gave them to their Jewish friends to escape dangerous Germany for New York. Outraged that someone would torture and kill her effeminate kind sibling, she knows she must remain silent re his identity or her "lost papers until their friends reach America. Still Hannah investigates using Ernst's sexual proclivity and his performing at the underground El Dorado cabaret as the starting points With the help of her dedicated lover and a young urchin claiming to be her nephew, Hannah makes her inquiries including the claim of the street kid that her obviously gay brother sired a child. This is a powerful historical tale that looks deep inside the souls of the groups that make up the Weimer Republic at a time when Hitler is just starting to rise in power. The story line contrasts caring people from various religions vs. the brutal angry assaults of the Nazis. Not an easy read with no sugar coating, A TRACE OF SMOKE will have readers pondering whether this could happen in modern day America. Harriet Klausner