Death Squad London

In this diverting mystery, Berlin Police Inspector Ernst Lohmann, first seen in Death's Head Berlin , returns as a Jewish refugee in London in 1936. He is asked by a Jewish friend to investigate the ostensible suicide of reporter Beth Coverly (nee Kovel). He assumes that Beth's death was somehow related to a story she was pursuing, but his sleuthing, impeded by his ``alien'' status, German nationality and, in particular, by his religion, leads at first only to apparent attempts on his and Beth's father's lives. However, a blue-blooded friend of Beth's falls for Lohmann and willingly introduces him to the highest levels of government. Lohmann confirms that Beth's murder was intended to prevent her from learning who helped England funnel money to Hitler's then-fledgling Nazis. Such flaws as the repeated failure of Raven Marshall, the ``blackshirt'' leader of London's anti-Semites, to kill Lohmann, and Gerson's over-use of ellipses are offset by Lohmann's bravery and the tale's intriguing premise. (Jan.)