Metropolis

New York Times-bestselling author Philip Kerr takes readers to the start of his beloved heroes journey, diving into the origin story of Bernie Gunther. This is how it all began: in 1928 and under a dozen blood-soaked blankets, in the city at a crossroads and where nothing's against the law. It is a hellhole, with gangs roaming the streets looking to start a fight, and when daylight comes, people barely able to cope with life after the heavy inflation that followed World War I. At police headquarters, they are struggling to keep up with a killer who leaves clues but no hints--who seems to be taunting them. He's left his first corpse behind on Bernie's first day there, and the press have an absolute field day. There's even talk that he has been made part of their elite Murder Commission because they believe he could have what it takes to be an exceptional detective.