An excellent book by first-time novelist Vilmos Kondor (superbly translated from the Hungarian by Paul Olchvary). Publishers Weekly calls it "classic noir" which is appropriate as the story unfolds in the best Chandler tradition. Its protagonist is not a detective but a newspaper editor who just can't let go of a little mystery that everyone in the capital city seems to think is none of his business. Kondor renders 1936 Budapest colorfully and peoples it with idiosyncratic but believable characters. It's interesting to me how many talented contemporary writers are still mining the pre- and post-WWII eras for transfixing, intelligent stories filled with tension, intrigue, stealth, cruelty, and bravery. If you're a fan of Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series, David Downing's "Station" books featuring John Russell, Joseph Kanon's thrillers, or the amazing series of war-related espionage novels by Alan Furth, Budapest Noir fits right into that genre.

Share/Like this Review?