Rosa
Jonathan Rabb
What do you get when you take
a somewhat disgruntled, experienced
police detective, a volatile Central European country teetering on the brink of
political disaster, a brutal crime, and hints of corruption? Jonathan Rabb's
novel Rosa indeed has the classic
elements of a noir mystery, and successfully weaves them into the tapestry of
pre-Weimar Germany.
Detective Nikolai Hoffner is at once unique and standard, a no-nonsense
policeman with his own deep character faults who can nonetheless be counted
upon to do the right thing. Though he alternately comes across as a cardboard
cutout and as a fully fleshed character, he is sufficiently interesting and
complex to continually drive the story forward. So it is with the plot, divided
into two main halves but placed within the scope of plausible- if slightly
unlikely- historical fact. The story combines glimpses into Hoffner's personal
life and past with a cascade of discoveries that reveal a much more complex
case than either the main characters or the reader initially assumed. Though
there is little that is surprising within Rosa, it boasts a strong
cast of supporting characters and a nice mid-story plot twist that adds depth
and historical interest along with a hint of originality that sets this book
apart. Though Rabb easily falls into the historical cameo trap, involving
unsavory characters from the future Nazi Germany as well as- somewhat less
plausibly- Albert Einstein, he knows his stuff, and convincingly portrays
postwar Berlin
with the assistance of a strong supporting cast. While there is nothing to
particularly recommend the prose, Rabb is efficient and effective at revealing
details and maintaining suspense without wielding too much authorial
dictatorship. Regardless, the book is tightly plotted, and Rabb should be
commended for refusing to allow too many gotcha moments- everything fits
together neatly, but appropriately, without undue editorial wrangling. Sure,
the scope gets a bit out of hand at times, but can one really erase knowledge
of Germany's
near future? The book manages to posit an alternate history without vitally
altering anything of paramount significance, and gains some thematic depth and
historical resonance in the process. Ultimately,
Rosa
hits all the right notes and creates a convincing scene and story, satisfactory
to mystery fans and historians alike.
Grade: A-
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