Budapest Noir: A NovelThe murder of a Jewish woman leads a reporter to a terrifying political conspiracy in this “dark and edgy” historical thriller (Kirkus). Budapest, 1936. When Hungary’s prime minister dies in office, his fascist ambitions die with him. It’s a heady time for the nation’s capital, but crime reporter Zsigmond Gordon has his eye on a far humbler story. A proper young Jewish woman was found murdered in one of the city’s seedier neighborhoods, and Gordon is determined to unravel the mystery of her demise. The investigation leads him deep into the city’s dark underbelly—a shadow world of pornographers, crime syndicates, and Communist cells—and to the highest echelons of power, where one of Hungary’s most influential executives plans to make an economic killing through his strong political ties to Germany’s leaders . . . if he can somehow keep secret the fact that he was, at one time, Jewish. “Kondor’s impressive first novel, which unfolds against an atmosphere tinged by alienation, fear, and the threat of violence, stands out for its deft writing, plausible scenarios, vivid sense of place, and noir sensibility.” —Library Journal |
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Antal Kocsis armchair asked Gordon asked Krisztina Bárczy began blazer Budapest called chair cigarette coffee Coffeehouse couple of minutes Csuli Czövek Darányi daughter dead desk detective door everything eyes face Fanny fillérs front gave Gellért girl glass Gömbös Gordon looked Gordon nodded Gordon replied Gordon sat Gordon stepped Gordon turned Grand Boulevard hair happened heard Hungarian hurried inside Jacek Józsi Kálmán Darányi knew knocked Kocsis Kosik Krisztina leaned Lillafüred listened looked at Gordon Miklós Horthy Mór Nagy Diófa Street National Unity Party newsroom Oktogon once opened Parliament building Pazár pengős pocket Pojva police pulled Red Margo replied Gordon Róna Samu shook his head sitting Skublics slowly smoke someone Square stared stood stopped Strasser Strausz Szőllősy talk tell Teréz There's thing took tram Turcsányi Valéria Vécsey waiter waiting walked watch wave window woman Zsigmond