A well executed murder mystery. The setting is a zeppelin flying from Europe to Brazil in the 1930s, in the early days of the Nazi regime coming to power. The book actually mostly centres on the attitude and fate of homosexuals during that time, and the lengths they went through to survive, especially given the massive reduction in social status vs the days of the Weimar Republic. Beyond these more serious topics, it's also a homage to zeppelin air travel, and the minutiae of life on board one of these giants of the sky.

The book is well executed - brief, effective, and efficient. Nearly nothing goes to waste, and the ending is actually a surprising and unexpected twist. That being said, I found it rather like an initial sketch vs a fully executed book - it has all the elements that make a great book, but they didn't seem to have properly nurtured and brought together. Clearly, Murder on the Orient Express served as an inspiration, but that book had much more nuance and depth, and took longer to delve into each of the suspects' characters and motivations.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.

this is such an impressive book. a captivating read that draws you in as if you are knowing these events personally.
there are stark themes and reminders in this book. we must never forget those times. and never stop listening or reading the stories that surround them.
i am increasingly reminded of how important these stories are because of our present. you think its history what you are reading but sadly so much of it and somehow more is reflecting themes of our current world.
i loved learning a bit about zeppelin travels actually. its something i new zero about apart from what id seen in Indian Jones haha. we learn of how convenient they must have been versus how travel was over the seas at that time. and how they continued to many countries i didn't would be happening.
this is a murder mystery. and the victims has links to some very dark connections at the time. and it is down to our investigator Bruno to take on this investigation. there are some key suspects who were in the vicinity of the victim at the time. and to be honest you have to settle your views on them aside and not judge them for murder because they aren't likeable folk at all.
the rules, the views the horrid persecution of certain groups is never far from this time. and that carry over to today's beliefs is not far enough behind us, not at all.
this is a mystery book with some really clever knowledge and research surrounding it. it felt clever, tight and the pace was just right. how well written it is really makes you want to read more and more because the chapters just flow you over and through them.
this book takes you on a journey of knowledge, learning, shocks and arcs. its has the elements you love from many genres but somehow works. its just a really great story. its tense and harsh at times and the lets that leash go for just enough time to let it soak on and you read on.
there is so many elements to this book that just work. and i think it takes someone skilled at writing to make it do so.
i was intrigued and on edge and i just new i would need to keep reading, finish this book in one to be truly satisfied. and im so glad i did. i had lots of thoughts swirling throughout this book and long after. and im glad it gave me them.