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David C. Dawson
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A Death in Berlin (The Simon Sampson Mysteries Book 2) Kindle Edition

by David C Dawson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 82 ratings
2023 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best LGBTQ+ Mystery
Berlin 1933: When the parties stop...the dying begins
The city that's been a beacon of liberation during the 1920s is about to become a city of deadly oppression. BBC foreign correspondent Simon Sampson risks his life in a bid to save thousands from the growing Nazi threat.
He moves to Berlin where he meets British author Christopher Isherwood and his lover Heinz. He’s also reunited with his banter-partner Florence Miles, better known to her friends as Bill. She’s recruited him into the British intelligence services and he’s got the task of hunting down communist spies.
But when Simon is ordered to spy on an old college friend, his loyalties are brought into question. Who are his real enemies? And how much can he trust his masters?
This is the second in the Simon Sampson mystery series. The first, A Death in Bloomsbury, was hailed as:
‘A good old-fashioned John Buchan-esque mystery reworked for the twenty-first century’.
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  1. Book 2 of 3
    The Simon Sampson Mysteries
  2. Print length
    282 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 28, 2022
  5. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  6. File size
    1.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BB7WHR4N
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Park Creek Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781916257375
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Simon Sampson Mysteries
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 82 ratings

About the author

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David C. Dawson

David C. Dawson

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David C. Dawson is an award-winning author, journalist and documentary maker. He writes British-themed thrillers, both contemporary and period, and occasional romances.

His book "A Death in Berlin" was a finalist in the 2023 Lambda Literary Awards for Best LGBTQ+ Mystery. It's the second in the Simon Sampson Mysteries series. The first was "A Death in Bloomsbury".

His first novel: "The Necessary Deaths", won an FAPA award in the best suspense/thriller category. It's the first of three books in the Delingpole Mysteries series.

David has also written two gay romances: "For the Love of Luke" and "Heroes in Love".

David lives in London, with his boyfriend and two cats. In his spare time, he tours Europe and sings with the London Gay Men's Chorus.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
82 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • SandyB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing entry in series
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Simon Sampson is off to 1933 Berlin as a news announcer and SIS agent, leading to an excellent period mystery filled with a lot of political intrigue and suspense with just a touch of romance. As a gay Jewish journalist from the UK who has visited the city before, Simon quickly discovers just what is happening in Germany even as he struggles to get his superiors to acknowledge it.

    The whole story is like my favorite classic spy novels - an engrossing mystery, fantastic world-building, “right place at the right time” coincidences, with a bit of romance and humor to provide a much-needed counterbalance. There’s a promise at the end of more books to follow, and I can’t wait.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bizzy
    4.0 out of 5 stars A well-plotted mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
    As in book 1, LGBTQ establishments and the LGBTQ community are the primary backdrop, and Simon reflects often on what it means to be a gay man in his position, both in comparison with straight men and with other members of the LGBTQ community. The author did an excellent job with this aspect of the story, and put a very different lens on what would otherwise be a fairly typical historical setting.

    The mystery kept me interested and was better paced than in book 1. I especially liked Simon’s struggle with how to be both a journalist and a secret agent, and the moral questions that raised for him. However, I felt the story suffered a bit from having the stakes set too high at times, and didn’t really find it believable that Simon spied on so many high-level officials essentially alone (although I did like how his investigation relied so heavily on the LGBTQ community and showed how intertwined LGBTQ people were with German society and government—and also how denial of that reality allowed Simon’s contacts to operate right under the government’s nose). When authors put characters in historical settings where the audience already knows the high-level outcomes, I think it’s most satisfying when the characters’ primary mission isn’t to change something that the reader already knows cannot be changed—or if they do, have the characters grapple with the frustration of not being able to do anything. In the end, though, the stakes of Simon’s ultimate mission/goal were just right (though I wish the prologue hadn’t telegraphed the outcome).

    One of my favorite parts of book 1 was Simon’s complicated relationship with Bill, who in book 2 is his boss. I was really disappointed that she spends the entire book as an antagonist and suspect, and wish this book had explored more of the nuances of their relationship, as well as Bill’s perspective on major events. I liked the other side characters in this book, but missed Bill’s voice, which added so much to the first book. If the author writes another in this series, I hope Bill will be more than just a thorn in Simon’s side.

    Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a LGBTQ mystery.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mido
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jolly good reading...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Can't wait to download more books from Mr. Dawson. These books were great for a review in history. And there is a lot of history in England and Europe. Great storyline and great characters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • CrabbyPatty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2022
    Dawson builds a solid historical background as Simon Sampson relocates to 1933 Berlin, obstensibly as a BBC foreign correspondent, in the second book of the series. This is the Berlin of Christopher Isherwood (who briefly appears) as well as Hitler's early days as German Chancellor. It was a time when people could still think "No. I don't think we've got anything to worry about. It's the communists they're after. And the Jews of course." And the stirrings of fascism were considered as "little more than a manifestation of patriotism."

    Simon, as an agent of British intelligence services and a closeted gay man, has a unique set of qualifications. "When one spends most of one's waking hours watching how one presents oneself to the rest of the world, it becomes ludicrously easy to keep other secrets as well." And through his relationships and acquaintance with several richly developed secondary characters (both real and fictional), Simon finds himself investigating the possibility of Germany's covert rearmament, if his first love Justin, who is now a MP, may be a communist spy, and if the records of the renowned Sexual Institute in Berlin can be freed from the reach of the Nazi party.

    Dawson's skillful blending of actual historic events makes the espionage and intrigue especially engaging, and from a current standpoint, terrifying. Anyone who loves history knows the old adage “Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it” (which Edmund Burke, George Santayana or Winston Churchill may have first said), and one cannot help but be aware that there are clear parallels to current developments in our nation and world.

    My only niggle about this book is the enigmatic personality of Bill, Simon's fellow spy and former BBC head of libraries. Bill is confounding, abrasive and a tough nut to crack (and appreciate.) 5 stars for A Death in Berlin and I anxiously wait the next book in the series!
    One person found this helpful
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  • M. King & A. Petersen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2022
    Wow, what a well developed story. This was definitely a very well researched book, it is apparent in the plot the amount of time and effort spent. The author's note was very interesting. The plot was so engaging. I did have to read the book in small sections, because it is so detailed. However, those details are what draws you in. I felt invested in the story and the characters' lives. Simon has a lot going on in this book both with his job with the BBC and as a spy. He has to do hard things like spy on an old friend. As well as realizing what is actually going on in Germany and what they are planning. There are great new characters as well as well known ones. I experienced so many emotions reading the book, but definitely enjoyed Simon’s journey. I highly recommend you read this especially if you like historical based spy/mystery books. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
    One person found this helpful
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