I recently watched all three seasons of the excellent German TV series, Babylon Berlin. I had seen references to this series on line including on Goodreads. Most of the reviews I read of the series before watching it encouraged the viewer to watch it in the original German with subtitles even though it is available dubbed into English. I started watching it in English and the dubbed words didn't quite go with the flow so I switched to the German version. Glad I did...it turned out to be a really excellent series taking place in the Berlin of 1929 with all its gaudiness.
After watching the series, I decided to borrow the first book (of 8) in the series from the library to see how it compared to the TV version. The book introduces Gereon Rath to the reader who is new to Berlin and working in the vice unit of the police force. Rath came from Cologne where he ran into some difficulties while working in the homicide division there. He wants to move back into homicide in Berlin and sees his chance when an unidentified body is fished from a canal with signs of atrocious torture. He connects this death to a circle of exiled Russians who are trying to purchase arms using some smuggled gold. But there are others interested in the gold and the arms including the head of the vice division, Rath's boss. So where is the gold? Is it real and is it in Berlin? Along the way Rath falls for Charlotte, a typist in the homicide division but by using her inside information, he becomes estranged from her and gets more and more entangled in the case.
Overall, I enjoyed the TV series more than the first book. The series embellished the story and made it more exciting and really gave the viewer an inside look at pre-WWII Germany including the nightclubs, bars, and brothels of Berlin. Although the book also tries to do this, I don't think it quite succeeded as well. Not sure if I will continue reading the series but I'm hoping season 4 of the TV show will show up soon on Netflix. I'll definitely be tuning in.
After watching the series, I decided to borrow the first book (of 8) in the series from the library to see how it compared to the TV version. The book introduces Gereon Rath to the reader who is new to Berlin and working in the vice unit of the police force. Rath came from Cologne where he ran into some difficulties while working in the homicide division there. He wants to move back into homicide in Berlin and sees his chance when an unidentified body is fished from a canal with signs of atrocious torture. He connects this death to a circle of exiled Russians who are trying to purchase arms using some smuggled gold. But there are others interested in the gold and the arms including the head of the vice division, Rath's boss. So where is the gold? Is it real and is it in Berlin? Along the way Rath falls for Charlotte, a typist in the homicide division but by using her inside information, he becomes estranged from her and gets more and more entangled in the case.
Overall, I enjoyed the TV series more than the first book. The series embellished the story and made it more exciting and really gave the viewer an inside look at pre-WWII Germany including the nightclubs, bars, and brothels of Berlin. Although the book also tries to do this, I don't think it quite succeeded as well. Not sure if I will continue reading the series but I'm hoping season 4 of the TV show will show up soon on Netflix. I'll definitely be tuning in.
