Postmark Berlin

Written by Anne Emery

Narrated by Gerard Doyle

The latest mystery from a two-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award

Father Brennan Burke is struggling, and he’s been coping the only way he knows how: self-medicating with
drink. He’s barely managing, but his troubles intensify when the body of one of his parishioners washes up on the
coast of Halifax.

Meika Keller came to Canada after escaping past a checkpoint in the Berlin Wall. An army colonel is charged with
her murder, and defence lawyer Monty argues that Meika’s death was a suicide, which is the last thing Father Burke
wants to hear. Guilty of neglecting his duties as a priest when Meika needed him most, Brennan feels compelled to
uncover whatever instigated her cry for help and led to her death.

The story takes us from the historic Navy town of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the history-laden city of Berlin, as
Brennan and his brother Terry head to Germany in search of answers. And while Brennan will stop at nothing to find
what, or who, is responsible for Meika’s death, nothing could have prepared the priest for the events that unfold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980090885

Reviews for Postmark Berlin

[brianewilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Father Brennan Burke investigates the suspicious death of one of his parishioners, Meika Keller. Her body washed ashore on a Halifax beach and at first the cause of death was thought to be suicide. This troubles Burke because he failed to meet with Meika the night before her death as he promised. He feels he may have let her down in an hour of need. Before long, however, police charge an army officer with her murder because he was seen with her the night she died. Burke's investigation leads him eventually to Germany from where Meika emigrated to Canada after escaping from then Communist East Germany in 1974. Using his family network of contacts, Burke learns that Meika's backstory is much different from the one she told her family and friends in Canada. The already complex story takes a twist when the man accused of her murder is himself murdered. The resolution to the mystery comes when Burke tracks down Meika's family in Germany. He learns the truth about her escape from East Germany, and this in turn leads him to discovery of the cause of her death.

Burke is the principal narrator of the story, supplemented by the Halifax police officer investigating Meika's death, and Monty Collins, a recurring character in the series as Burke's long time friend. Collins coincidentally is the criminal defence lawyer for the army officer charged in Meika's death. This storytelling approach results in difficulty for a reader trying to follow the story. The narrators are at different points in uncovering what is going on and this interferes with a reader's progress. The police officer's narrative is a large red herring involving among other things, the storage of nuclear weapons in Atlantic Canada and the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. Collin's role is largely from his past association with Burke and a falling out they have over a past event which led to Burke being imprisoned in Northern Ireland. The storytelling could have been pared down by eliminating these narrators and making for a smoother, less disjointed read.

A positive to the storytelling is the portrayal of the various locales. Halifax, is portrayed for what it is, a naval town with a strong military background. The author demonstrates a knowledge of Atlantic Canada culture and the Canadian military. The best portrayals are atmospheric of the German locales, particularly Leipzig, bearing in mind the story is set in 1996, a short time after the re-unification of Germany.

This book is the eleventh of a series, but there will be no difficulty reading it as a standalone. The author does a good job of telling enough about Burke's backstory to explain his then current situation and motivations.

It's a busy story that requires a close reading. Father Burke is the standout character of the book with several solid supporting characters. There's plenty of atmosphere from an abundance of local colour for both Halifax, Berlin and Leipzig . While it's a good blend of crime fiction and spy thriller, the complex storyline told through several narrators. muddles the storytelling. Despite these nits, it's a worthwhile read.

I requested and received a complementary advance reading copy of this book from the publisher, ECW Press, via Netgalley. The comments about it are my own.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brennan Burke, a priest from Halifax Nova Scotia, was too drunk one night to meet with a parishioner, Meika, who had reached out to him for help. When she washed up on the shore the next morning, he felt responsible and determined to find out if in fact she had committed suicide or been murdered. His quest brought him to East Germany from which Meika had escaped before the Wall came down. It turned out that Meika had several secrets, both in Germany and back home in Nova Scotia, and people in her life were less than forthcoming about revealing them. This is the latest in a series of mysteries involving Burke and his lawyer friend Collins, and this one stands alone. However, the pacing and character development make me look forward to reading the earlier ones for the back story.