Death's Head, Berlin

In this engrossing mystery, the author of The Whitehall Sanction and The Back of the Tiger clearly captures the tensions of 1934 Berlin. With Hitler poised for his step to total power, three of his ``old comrades'' meet their ends at the hands of an expert with the garrote. Despite a strong dislike for the Nazi Party and its methods, Inspector Lohmann of the Criminal Police answers the call to investigate these brutal murders. His belief that ``the Law should be above political parties and their considerations'' is tested when the trail he follows leads him through derelict tenements and vandalized synagogues to Nazi Party headquarters. Though the clues that reveal the killer's identity are apparent, readers will be engaged by the taut pace of the writing and the believable interaction of historic figures and fictional characters. (Dec.)