Some Murders in Berlin
by Karen Robards
Available Now
⭐️⭐️⭐️

🕵🏼‍♀️ #mystery
🤯 #thriller
⏳️ #historicalfiction
🏋🏼‍♀️ #strongfemalecharacters
🚓 #crimethriller

TLDR
A dark, gripping historical thriller set in Nazi-controlled Berlin in 1943. A Danish profiler is brought in to help track a serial killer targeting young women, navigating danger, secrets, and political tension.

Plot Summary
September 1943. Berlin is the last place Dr. Elin Lund wants to be. A Danish psychologist and expert in profiling, she is summoned from Copenhagen to investigate the gruesome murders of eight young women. Her reluctant partner, German homicide detective Kurt Schneider, has been ordered to solve the case or face dire consequences. As they dig deeper into the killings, they uncover a predator far more powerful and dangerous than anyone imagined. Racing to solve the case and return to her young son, Elin finds herself caught in a deadly cat-and-mouse game where she may be the killer’s next obsession.

My Thoughts
This novel is a tense and atmospheric dive into the heart of wartime Berlin. The psychological profiling element was fascinating and added depth to the suspense. I loved Elin as a character, smart, resilient, and determined, but I occasionally found her choices frustrating and some plot turns stretched plausibility. The setting is vividly rendered, steeped in darkness and dread, and while that makes for an immersive read, it sometimes tipped too far into bleakness for my taste. Still, it is undeniably fast-paced and suspenseful, perfect for fans of historical crime fiction with a strong female lead.

Thank you to Karen Robards, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Karen Robards delivers another compelling historical thriller with Some Murders in Berlin, a novel steeped in suspense, danger, and a chilling sense of foreboding.

Set in 1943 Berlin—the very heart of the Nazi regime—the story follows Dr. Elin Lund, a psychological profiler reluctantly drawn into investigating the brutal murders of young women. Robards captures the bleak, oppressive atmosphere of wartime Berlin perfectly, layering the dread of Nazi control over the already nerve-racking chase for a serial killer. The tension is relentless: every clue Elin uncovers not only brings her closer to the truth but also tightens the net around her, exposing her to new dangers.

The uneasy partnership between Elin and Homicide Detective Kurt Schneider adds another layer of intrigue. Neither fully trusts the other, and both are clearly guarding secrets, yet their combined skills are essential if they hope to stop a killer more powerful—and more terrifying—than anyone imagined.

What makes this novel stand out is the way Robards weaves historical detail with psychological suspense. The atmosphere is heavy with mistrust, desperation, and danger, making the reader feel as though every shadow might conceal a threat. The pacing is sharp, the twists unsettling, and the stakes never let you forget that in wartime Berlin, trust can be as deadly as betrayal.

Some Murders in Berlin is a tense, atmospheric thriller that blends history and crime fiction seamlessly. Fans of dark WWII fiction with a psychological edge will find this one both gripping and chilling.

I was drawn to this book because of the historical WWII serial killer.
The story was good and there were several sweet moments between Elin and Kurt but I felt this one did not live up to Robards other works.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

I went into Some Murders in Berlin blind, like I do most books. The only thing I knew, was that it was a historical suspense.

Now, moving on to the plot, there were many points that pulled on my heart strings and just had me holding on to my kindle for dear life. Dr. Elin Lund shows up in Berlin with her team to help the homicide unit and Detective Kurt Schneider solve the "hidden" murders of women in Berlin.

There were so many twists and turns. The partnership between Elin & Kurt. Both hiding the secrets and living a double life, both having people to protect but at what costs? And all of the evil things happening during this timeframe in N*zi Germany was just sick and heartbreaking.

The plot twist, was something I did not see coming. The murderer, the ending, all of the deaths. I was unwell. The last chapter almost took me up out of here.


4.5 rounded up

This novel is a tense historical thriller set in Nazi-controlled Berlin in 1943. Danish psychologist Elin Lund is brought in to help track a serial killer targeting young women, working alongside German detective Kurt Schneider. The novel blends psychological profiling with wartime intrigue, creating a dark, atmospheric backdrop. While the plot is fast-paced and the setting compelling, some moments stretch plausibility and character decisions were frustrating. Still, it’s a gripping, suspenseful read for fans of historical crime fiction with a strong female lead.

WWII in Nazi Germany. Dr. Elin Lund, a psychological profiler working to find a serial killer. Very unusual take on a historical fiction book written about WWII. I was surprised that the character of Dr. Lund was a woman, a well respected Dr. I didn't think that women were very valued by the Nazis. Interesting read.

Love historical fiction? Intrigued by thrillers? Appreciate a good romantic side storyline? This book has it all. It's the story of Dr. Elin Lund, a psychologist and criminal profiler who gets called to Nazi Germany to consult on a serial killer case just after Denmark, her home country is occupied. As she navigates investigating the murders alongside a local detective while not embarrassing the Reich, she worries for her jewish in-laws and half-jewish son back home.

From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat. It just kept getting more and more gripping with twists and turns up to the very end. With only a few pages left, I was worried about a lack of closure or an unfinished sequel awaiting me, but I was wrong. The characters have depth and emotional range. There is strong backstory and realistic encounters with people alive during that time whose stories and perspectives are often overlooked. The tension between characters was palpable. It really puts you in a position to consider some of the difficult decisions people had to make who weren't simply Nazis or Jews, the persecutors or the persecuted, as we so often see and read about in stories about this period. There were a lot of complexities to be navigated trying to stay safe while doing the right thing.

I 100% recommend this book to anyone who wants to hunker down with a captivating story for an uninterrupted few days. You won't want to do anything else.

This was a fine mystery/suspense story with some interesting periodic elements. I always enjoy reading historical mysteries with a female protagonist, although I sometimes wonder how realistic this particular plot line might be. The protagonist, Dr. Elin Lund, is working as a psychological profiler in Hitler’s Nazi Berlin, in 1943. My feelings regarding this extremely unlikely, strong female character in this place and time is what kept me from appreciating this story more. It just didn’t feel especially believable, given what I know about the Nazi’s views of women. I also thought the ending was unfortunate, in that it was just too pat. That said, it’s a very decent read, with an interesting plot and relatable characters and I thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a review.

An excellent read! I love the look at the infancy of forensic science and that Elin was Danish but dispatched to Berlin to solve murders.
The action was fast paced and kept my attention.
I wasn’t sure how the book would turn out but happily it had a good ending against the backdrop of strife and agony.

I felt like this was two stories at once. The Nazis seemed to be very much a background to the mystery. I would have liked to see the stories work together a bit more seamlessly.

An immersive period suspense with a touch of romance. The characters and plot were well fleshed-out and compelling, making the brief epilogue a bit unsatisfying as it didn’t address the fate of a side character near and dear to one of the principals.

This novel had such a great premise but ultimately it fell flat. The enemies to lovers trope. The bio-mother serial killer plot - completely unnecessary. The story was intelligent and well written but drags. But also rushed somehow? Maybe it was with all the unnecessary backstory and sub-plots? I don't know.

typically like thrillers and especially anything during this time period (fiction and nonfiction) but Some Murders in Berlin just didn't resonate with me.

Thanks to NetGalley, I had the privilege of receiving an advanced copy to read. This book started a bit slow and was hard to read, but it eventually picked up and was well thought out.

Dr. Murder was the moniker Professor Elin Lund has been given. Wanted or not. Solving murders with psychological profiles has been her claim to fame. Having to do it under the eyes of Hitler's regime is a whole other story.

Working on this serial murder case with the officer in charge, Kurt Schneider, was going to be taxing. But she had to get through it. To get herself and her team back home. Home to her son - who, being half Jewish, is at constant risk.

This book is SO good!! So many elements that kept me constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat!

Karen Robards weaves a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue in Some Murders in Berlin. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows a captivating duo: a brilliant female professor, an expert on serial killers, and a determined German police detective. As they delve into the investigation of a sinister serial killer terrorizing Berlin, Robards masterfully captures the tension and uncertainty of wartime Germany, adding layers of complexity to both the characters and the plot.

Robards skillfully blends historical detail with a heart-pounding mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. The tense dynamic between the professor and the detective adds depth to the narrative, as they navigate personal and professional challenges while racing against time to catch a ruthless killer. Some Murders in Berlin' is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and suspense, offering a compelling glimpse into the dark underbelly of war-torn Berlin. I read it in a day- I didn’t want to put it down! Now I’m sad that I don’t have it to read. If you like crime novels, historical fiction, or better yet a combination of the two, this is the novel for you. 4.25/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

A twisty WWII historical murder mystery that sees a new psychiatric forensic scientist helping the German police track down a serial killer.
Denmark had just surrendered to the Nazis when Professor Elin Lund, a forensic psychiatrist, from Copenhagen is directed by Nazi command to go to Berlin to investigate a serial killer. Blonde women have been found murdered in identical situations.
Elin can’t disobey. She’s hiding a secret, or two.
This title was twisty, heart stopping and intriguing. Karen really knows how to co-mingle genres. This war novel brought the mystery, the history and a bit of romance too.

Please read my review at Shelf Awareness: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.html?issue=1239#m24130

If there is one thing about me, it's that I LOVE a WWII historical novel. Make it a mystery novel and it's even better! This entire book was incredibly fast paced and well done. I couldn't book this book down the entire time I was reading it! Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for the ARC!

In Berlin during World War II, Dr. Elin Lund is an expert in psychological profiling, and she’s been summoned from Copenhagen to investigate the gruesome murders of eight young women. With her homeland now under Nazi occupation and a young son to protect, Elin can’t refuse such a request.

Homicide Detective Kurt Schneider, head of the criminal police unit, is not welcoming at all The orders to find the killer come from the top, and to fail means death. The stakes are too high to risk any mistakes. This pair, trapped in this partnership, needs the other one. Each one is guarding secrets.

Every bit of evidence reveals a killer more dangerous and more powerful, than anyone suspected. I really liked the plot in this historical romance.

Some Murders in Berlin is a well written WWII historical mystery novel. This book is set in Berlin during World War II, and I found it to be very fast paced and engaging. This was my first Karen Robards novel and I would say she hit it out of the park, I will be back for more. The book deals with a serial killer killing Aryan women in the city and the government is trying to keep the citizens from finding out, along with a host of characters who have their own secrets this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.