Elegant prose and lightly-worn research combine to deliver an engaging, informative and enjoyable read. Couched in a crime- solving format, well drawn characters sustain the narrative around the higher echelons of German society as it teeters on the brink of war.

When I read Munich Wolf I thought it was a standalone, sitting well alongside his Tom Wilde historical thrillers.

Image my delight hearing about Rory Clements’ latest novel which is in fact Detective Sebastian Wolff’s second outing.

We haven’t strayed from Munich. Bavarian is the seat of power for Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists. Germany is greedy for sporting heroes in the Third Reich. Even before the Berlin Olympics they were hosting the Winter Games too in that same year. Like many authoritarian States they tried to clean up their act as they welcomed their guests and fell under the spotlight of the international media.

Part of that operation involved surprising negative stories so imagine the lot of poor Wolff charged with investigating the murder of a SS officer close to and just before the Opening Ceremony. The press must not get wind of it.

The murder investigation, doomed to fail, gets more complicated. The intrepid detective finds difficulties establishing motive and interviewing persons of interest. Matters are made more difficult still when a world famous actress disappears. All is not well in the State of Bavarian.

A quite brilliant book.
Another terrific work of historical fiction based within a real environment of tension and the growth of fear within Nazi Germany.
Character driven, but at the heart of the book is the dilemma of a police officer trying to do his duty, loving his country but not political and very troubled by the corruption and power enacted by Hitler’s enforcers and the Gestapo.
We often read and watch accounts of life under occupation during the war years but this is set in 1936 within the borders of Germany. It paints a very different picture of the path to war and how the population succumbed and fell into line. How far does that make them culpable?

For you see the futility of resistance; the fear of the people to not draw attention to themselves and comply to survive. Opposition is suppressed and interned. The Jews face discrimination, loss of work and possessions and sent to camps.

This is an important historical time with modern similarities today.
The book speaks of the struggle for justice where normal law and order has broken down. The writing is deep and far-reaching about the issues of appeasement, turning the other way. Societal fear, a loss of democracy and the dangers of compliance. Interestingly bravery is displayed within these pages and compassion and brutality co-exist in some. It is moving, reflective and asks questions of you - what would you do to survive? This is a high action thriller reflecting life in Dachau, fear in public office and the pressures on family life.

It left me breathless at times; this isn’t a fair contest. We yearn for the detective to solve his case; we recognise is shortcomings and poor hand. While there is more good than pragmatism in Seb Wolff, there is evil in high places.

This was my first dive into the world of Detective Wolff. Set in pre-World War II Germany, the story captures a time of high tension, especially for those who oppose the Third Reich. It's 1936, and all eyes are on Munich as the Winter Olympics approach. When a famous actress vanishes, Wolff is ordered to find her quickly. But Elena Lang is no ordinary woman—she's the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's right-hand man, whom Wolff loathes. Corruption runs rampant in Munich, and Elena is only the first to disappear. As Wolff's investigation takes him from the heights of society to its darkest depths, he learns how easily the hunter can become the hunted in a city on the brink of war, where some enemies are best left untouched.

This gripping thriller is full of tension and keeps readers hooked. Wolff is a relatable and compelling protagonist, and I found myself rooting for him as he faced the evil threatening to derail him. There is also a link to real life individuals which fascinated me. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t recommend Evil in High Places by Rory Clements highly enough. It’s a tremendous thriller set during the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria. Hitler has decreed that the Winter Olympics have to be a huge success and not marred by any bad news or scandals.

To that end, Detective Sebastian Wolff and Sergeant Hans Winter have to investigate crimes strictly under the radar so as not to detract attention away from the Olympic Games. Wolf and Winter begin by investigating the disappearance of a famous actress, Elana Lang, who just happened to be Joseph Goebbel’s mistress. The stakes are really high and Wolff and Winter are investigating in a time where the Nazi Party is exercising fear and intimidation over its citizens.

I loved this book. It’s a pacy thriller and I found the historical backdrop fascinating. Prior to reading the book, I was aware of the 1936 Summer Olympics and how Hitler and politicised them. I did not realise that earlier in the year there were Winter Olympic Games in Germany as well.

Wolff and Winter have their own different struggles with the Nazi regime which I found utterly compelling. I also really liked that there were real-life people woven into the book including the infamous Unity Mitford, Joseph Goebbels and the British Olympic skier and British Team Captain Peter Lunn who refused to attend the Opening Ceremony in protest of the regime.

I really can’t wait to read the next instalment of the Wolff and Winter books.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin General UK, for making this e-ARC available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another great thriller set in pre WW2 Germany. Featuring the charismatic Sebastian Wolff, a German policeman trying to avoid getting into trouble with the Nazi's while solving high profile murders. Highly recommended.

Another adventure for Sebastian Wolff, now Captain of detectives in Munich It's 1936 and the Winter Olympics are about to open. Seb is ordered to find an actress who has gone missing and to keep it quiet since she is a mistress of Goebbels, the propaganda minister. On top of this an SS officer is found shot dead in a forest and again Seb must keep it quiet to avoid distracting the world's attention from how how brilliantly the Nazis are running Germany and the Olympics. Clearly there are powerful people involved whose toes Seb should avoid stepping on, but you guess he's going to step on the anyway. Rory Clements is brilliant at evoking the feeling of the times and weaving it into an exciting thriller detective story.
First class read.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review a copy of this book.
Rory Clements is a good storyteller, specialising in ripping yarns. This is part of that genre but he sets this at the time of the winter olympics when Hitler and the Nazis were at the heart of their power and few would stand against them. The book builds a sense of menace and the difficulty of anyone doing their job against a background of total power, thuggery and contempt for the ordinary citizen. In this case it is a Munich police officer required to solve two murders but without causing any ripples that could impinge on the success of the Olympics.
With the current rise of the far Right in Europe and the USA (and Britain?) this gives a glimpse of what the future could be like.

Evil in High Places is another cracker in Rory Clements’ Sebastian Wolff series. Set against the backdrop of 1936 Munich, just before the Winter Olympics, this darkly atmospheric historical crime novel delivers a twisting dark murder mystery.

Clements brings pre-war Munich to life, from the icy grandeur of high society to the shadowy underbelly of a city teetering on the edge of chaos. Detective Seb Wolff, ever the reluctant hero, is once again drawn into a case laced with danger, corruption, and political intrigue. When a glamorous film star—who also happens to be Goebbels’ mistress—vanishes, the stakes skyrocket. What begins as a straightforward disappearance quickly spirals into something far more sinister.

Wolff is a compelling protagonist: principled yet conflicted, and never one to back down from the truth, no matter how perilous. The villains are powerful, the threats all too real, and the sense of encroaching doom is palpable throughout. Clements keeps the tension high with just enough misdirection to keep you guessing, but without ever relying on cheap twists or last-minute reveals.

With a perfect blend of historical detail, espionage, and intelligent plotting, Evil in High Places is an utterly engrossing read. Fans of historical thrillers will devour this one—and newcomers to the series will be hooked.

I really enjoyed this novel set in Bavaria in 1936. The main protagonist, Sebastian Wolff, is a murder detective investigating the mysterious disappearance of a glamorous film star but there’s also the case of a murdered SS officer. All this has to be hushed up as the Winter Olympics are starting and the Nazis don’t want anything bad to spoil it.
Wolff is a great character and he’s assisted by his sergeant, Winter, who goes undercover in Dachau concentration camp. The scenes there were some of the most gruelling in the book and the author brilliantly conveys the horror of these camps, particularly the treatment of Jewish prisoners.
It’s a gripping read with lots of excitement and action but also a thoughtful main character who has no time for the Nazis.
Thanks to Viking Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Who do you trust when a stray word or action could mean a death sentence.

This is the second in a series, the first book being "Munich Wolf", which I do recommend reading before this one as it will give the reader move of an anchor for this second book. Both books are set in 1930s Germany, when the Third Reich was in the ascendant, war was not yet a reality, and the Olympic Games would be used by Hitler as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy.

Into this cauldron of conspiracy, suspicion, corruption, paranoia, elitism and racism, is a solid police procedural wherein our main character, Sebastian Wolff is at odds with the party line, and his Sergeant, Hans Winter, has a secret that could end not only his career but his life.

Both men are sent to investigate the disappearance of film star Leila Lang, and are required to conduct their investigation without treading on the toes of the German aristocratic elite and the dreaded SS. Against this, the reader is confronted by the treatment and persecution of Jews, the support given to Hitler from elements of the British aristocracy, and the growing control over all levels of society that was beginning to be more forcefully exerted and enforced.

The narrative is full of " .. twists and turns as tight as the winding bend up to Schloss Stark ...".

This is a compelling work and one I would liken to by that of author Douglas Jackson, whose books are set in late 1930s Warsaw.

5*

Thoroughly enjoyed this Nazi era thriller. I had not read the first in this series and was slightly hesitant to begin with this in mind, however, the story and the characters and the setting pulled me in and I was gripped from first page to last. I will be going back to the first one after this

Highly recommend.

Second book featuring Munich head of detectives Seb Wolff. Set against the backdrop of the 1936 Winter Olympics, it sees Wolff try a difficult balancing act investigating two murders with the SS taking a keen interest. Full of atmosphere and intrigue, Rory Clements is onto another top notch series.
An author at the top of his game and this ranks as one of his best novels to date.

This reads like a noir, hard boiled detective and all. I enjoyed the setting but found the book felt a bit long, however I think I really would have enjoyed it had it been a movie!

A sequel to 'Munich Wolf' this is set in Bavaria at the time of the 1936 Winter Olympics, amongst the rich, famous, and also those usually in the background. A famous actress - who happens to also be Goebbels mistress - is working with a British film crew, and then goes missing. Members of the SS are found murdered. What is happening? Detective Sebastian Wolff has to lead the enquiry, which uncovers corruption at the highest level.

Again, Rory Clements has written an excellent page-turner, to be recommended to anyone who appreciates a good book. Highly recommended.

With many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC.

This is the second outing in Rory Clements’ new series featuring Sebastian Wolff, a detective in the Munich police department. Set between the first and second World Wars, Wolff has to tread carefully while investigating a murder and the disappearance of a famous film star during the Winter Olympics. But it is clear that he is not a man to be cowed in the face of threats from the likes of those in high office or their friends including the ubiquitous Bobo Mitford. Wolff is a likeable and intelligent investigator. I liked the development of his relationship with Sergeant Hans Winter, now on a much firmer footing and the way in which Wolff’s family life is seamlessly melded into the storyline as part and parcel of his daily life. The plot is detailed and satisfying, the historical detail of time and place immaculate as always. It is an exciting story with plenty of action and different threads that keep it interesting as Winter goes undercover in Dachau and Jurgen’s mother turns up out of the blue. The story telling has a light touch of humour here and there especially between Wolff and his girlfriend Hexie that contrasts well with some of the darker themes of life in Nazi Germany that are explored.
Although I have enjoyed the author’s Tom Wilde series, I much prefer Seb Wolff as a protaganist and look forward to the next in the series, hopefully without the presence of Miss Mitford.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

An excellent piece of historical fiction. Atmospheric, detailed and gripping this has it all. Really looking forward to seeing it published and hope that it becomes a series!

Evil in High Place" by Rory Clements was a real surprise discovery for me, terrific historical thriller, plausible plot, set during the winter Olympics 1936 in Nazi Germany, with a very likeable protagonist, detective Stefan Wolff. He is called in to investigate the disappearance of a famous actress, Elena Lang who is rumored to have an affair with Goebbels. With the Nazi's firmly in place, his clash with officials is almost a certainty as Wolff's politics are not the same and his investigation is to be kept quiet.  

At times I was reminded of Volker Kutscher's superb novels, whose books are all set during the Nazi period in Germany. Very much enjoyed this captivating, atmospheric thriller, portraying  what it is like to live and to investigate in a totalitarian country. Thanks for the proof Penguin, out in August!

Having read an earlier novel by this author I was keen to read his latest. I wasn’t disappointed; a thrilling read. Set in Nazi Germany during the 1936 Winter Olympics with Sebastian Wolff, the police murder detective taking the lead role investigating the murders of several people. Twists and turns as expected, but also held elements of the real world, like Unity Mitford and other prominent characters. Clements has produced another mystery thriller masterpiece with his straightforward writing style and just the right level of descriptive detail. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone but continues with the theme of historical fiction covering the lives and sufferings imposed by Hitler’s hard line for a pure Aryan race, which was evident before the outbreak of WW2.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a review

A fantastic timely look into Nazi Germany pre-war, and the struggles of everyday men and women trying to survive - all the while murder, blackmail and sport rages around them.

This was a tense, well written story about disappearances, murders, stolen items, all while the backdrop of the 1936 winter Olympics happen around them.

It is a fantastic story, bittersweet in so many moments, downright horrific in others, as the abuse of power is played out again and again. I kept turning the pages, devouring this tale and will be hunting down the previous book to feature these characters.

Knowing what we all know of history, it hurts at times, to read about Seb Wolff, a man trying to do the right thing in impossible situations. He is not built for Nazi Germany and I shudder to imagine what will happen to him as the years go on. Or his partner, or his son, the loyal but misguided member of the Hitler Youth. Or Winter - well, I don't want to spoil Winter's arc, but I can't see any of them dealing well with what is to come.

But our past is their future and until then, enjoy these murky depths and glances at a world that is alien and yet all too familiar.

Another solid thriller from a master storyteller.

"Evil in High Places" opens in Munich, 1936. The Olympic games are about to begin, and nothing must happen to make Hitler look bad. So when famous actress Elena Lang disappears, Detective Sebastian Wolff is ordered to find her, quickly and quietly. As he embarks on his mission, he uncovers hidden secrets and hidden motives, something he knows all about in Nazi Germany. Soon he is up to his neck in murder and plots, all the while knowing that should he fail to keep the events quiet, he will be held responsible for spoiling Hitler's major event.

As with the previous book, events move along at a brisk pace, as Wolff attempts to do his job while working under the Nazi regime he despises.
He encounters a wonderful cast of characters, most of whom would rather he just went away. Familiar faces pop up - Unity Mitford, Detective Winter, and Hexie, his fiancé, all helping or hindering as they will, and we also learn a little more of Wolff's background, making his own story more poignant. New faces appear, few of whom are what they appear, including a vastly wealthy family and an arrogant film producer. We even meet a very Bond-esque hero I'd like to see more of. BPP officer Winter is also developing nicely, and his experiences in Dachau are very well depicted.

Once again the reader is exposed to the world of pre-war Germany - the decadence, the struggles for power, and the rising tide of Nazi-ism. On the one hand, there's the elite classes, riding high on Hitler's tails, on the other, the downtrodden and persecuted. The author skilfully combines real-life events with a story of a man torn between doing his job and doing what is right.

The Seb Wolff books are a different read from the Tom Wilde series, but still have the same fast-moving excitement. This book will appeal to fans of Simon Scarrow, Chris Lloyd and Douglas Jackson. Thoroughly recommended.