Tears of Innocence

In this routine thriller from Rapp (Berlin Breakdown), Capt. Karl Baier, an American employed by U.S. Army intelligence in post-WWII Berlin, examines “German industrial and scientific records” to identify individuals who actively aided the Nazis. When Baier explores the house where he’s billeted, he finds an unfamiliar laundry ticket bearing his name. Intrigued by this remarkable coincidence, Baier goes to the launderer to learn more, only to discover that there’s nothing there to claim. Baier does meet Sabine, who reveals that her husband, a German supply officer who is also named Karl Baier, has disappeared. Attracted to the married woman, he agrees to do what he can to learn what happened to the other man. Meanwhile, Baier becomes suspicious of his driver and follows the man to a romantic rendezvous, only to witness his murder. Baier is often a step behind the reader, and the depiction of 1945 Berlin suffers in comparison with the Berlin depicted in Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther series. (Feb.)