This book is mostly set in 1956 with a couple of jump backs to Germany in 1938 and 1945. Both occasions are where Bernie is recalling previous encounters with a man who has turned up to stay at the French Riviera hotel where he is working as a concierge. This story is mostly about blackmail and espionage involving the Soviets and the British. Bernie is caught up in the middle of it all without really knowing why. He is being manipulated by everyone it seems. But, somehow along the way he solves and unrelated murder. 

This Bernie is a more contemplative and reflective Bernie. It's a slow read and takes a while for anything to happen. But that is usually the problem I find with espionage novels. I don't really like them and that part of this book I found boring and a bit far fetched as there is no definitive answer to anything.

This does continue the story of Bernie Gunther, ex-homicide detective, current fugitive. But if this was the first book in the series I had read it would probably be the last. The worst book in the series by far.