Russell is a very interesting character and the lives of many of the population of the four novels were unresolved, and downing is a very. Downing has also written numerous nonfiction novels. Browse david downings bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Explore the authors series in order, and discover new novels and standalone works. Zoo station john russell, book 1 by david downing book cover, description, publication history.
He has also written an eclectic mixture of nonfiction books, ranging from military and political history, russian football, musicians like neil young and much more. David downing is a british author of politicalspy thriller novels and nonfiction books. He is the author of the jack mccoll novels, the thriller the red eagles, and six books in the john russell espionage series, set in wwii berlin. From bestselling author david downing, master of historical espionage, comes a heartwrenching depiction of germany in the days leading up to world war ii and the difficult choices of one man of conviction. Downing s station cycle creates a fictional universe rich with a historians expertise but rendered with literary style and heart. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. May 09, 2014 david downing grew up in suburban london. One series that hes particularly well known for is his ongoing john russell franchise of novels, that charts the career of the eponymous journalist turned amateur spy. May 14, 2012 its so hard to be a good guy when russians ask you to spy for them in postwar berlin, especially when you owe those russians big timebut david downings character john russell does his best in lehrter station. The moscow option is a chilling reminder that history might easily. Praise for david downing a beautifully crafted and compelling thriller with a heartstopping ending as john russell learns the personal faces of good and evil. The author combines his erudition with an excellent political imagination. He has also been known to write under the pseudonym david monnery.
The series is also known as the john russell effi koenen series. I really loved the first four books in david downing s station series and couldnt wait to read lehrter station. David downing is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children, including zoo station, the first novel featuring john russell. Zoo station is the first book in john russell series by david downing set in germany before the second world war. Zoo station a john russell wwii spy thriller by david downing and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Shop amongst our popular books, including 27, lehrter station, diary of a dead man on leave and more from david downing. Silesian station john russell series book 2 by david downing 4. Zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, lehrter station. Author david downing bio and signed books vj books. A new york times notable book john russell has always been in the thick of things in david downings powerful historical novels set largely in berlin. Masaryk station is located in prague, not the berlin of downing s previous books in his john russell effi koenen ww2 and postwar series. A john russell thriller by david downing overview caught between soviets and americans, john russell cant escape his role as an accidental spy book 5 in the john russell historical thriller series. He is the author of six books in the john russell espionage series, set in wwii berlin. Potsdam station john russell series book 4 by david downing.
David downing is a contemporary british author of mystery novels and nonfiction. David downing books list of books by author david downing. David downing s zoo station, the first in his john russell novels, is a engaging suspense novel set against the backdrop of prewwii germany. It was followed by silesian station in 2008, stettin station in 2009 and potsdam station in. He is the author of the john russell espionage series, which is set in wwii berlin, and the jack mccoll series. He lives with his wife, an american acupuncturist, in guildford, england. Zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, lehrter station, and masaryk station and the nonfiction work, sealing their fate.
Having read and thoroughly liked the previous four novels in david downing s john russell series, i eagerly awaited the fifth and i would suggest to downing, the last installment for two reasons. Downing provides no platform for debate in this unsentimental novel, leaving his hero to ponder the ethics of his pragmatic choices while surveying the ground level horrors to be seen in berlin. The author is a genius and i do not use that word often. See all books authored by david downing, including zoo station, and silesian station, and more on. The fourth in downing s world war ii station series stettin station, 2010, etc. Russell, a halfamerican, halfbritish journalist lives in germany in the late 1930s to be close to his twelve year old son from a failed marriage, and his girlfriend, a film actress. The main character, john russell, is a freelance journalist from england living in berlin. I could go on for a very long time about how great these books are but i think you get the picture. Russell, a halfamerican, halfbritish journalist lives in germany in the late 1930s to be close to his twelve year old son from a. Bestseller this month title az title za release date newest first highest rated. Fursts novels are set in the cauldron of paris around the outbreak of ww2, and downings in berlin. Zoo station is a beautifully crafted and compelling thriller with a heartstopping ending as john russell learns the personal faces of good and evil. Author interview david downing, author of lehrter station. Downing s novels are a glimpse at the human side of the war.
Silesian station is a fastpaced account of the third reichs march toward all out war in the summer and fall of 1939. The series is also known as the john russelleffi koenen series. By 1939, angloamerican journalist john russell has spent fifteen years in berlin, where his germanborn son lives. Forced to work for both german and american intelligence, hes searching for a way out of germany. In zoo station, the first of the series, john russell, is in danzig when hes approached by a soviet nkvd agent offering him a lot of money for a series of articles that portrayed naziism in a positive light.
He is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children, including four novels featuring angloamerican journalist john russell and the nonfiction work sealing their. David downings john russell books in order fantastic fiction. I like lots of different series and writing styles. The main character is john russell, working as a freelance journalist from england but living in berlin. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards.
Lehrter station john russell series book 5 david downing. Caught between soviets and americans, john russell cant escape his role as an accidental spy. The book paints a suspenseful and a dark picture of a country moving gradually towards war. He lives in guildford, englandmore hardcover, 336 pages published may 1st 2008 by soho press. David downing is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction. Downing provides no platform for debate in this unsentimental novel, leaving his hero to ponder the ethics of his pragmatic choices while surveying the. Buy a cheap copy of zoo station book by david downing. John russell has always been in the thick of things in david downing s powerful historical novels set largely in berlin. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Like authors philip kerr and jonathan rabb, downing has accomplished meticulous research which he seamlessly weaves into his plot to create an eerie noir atmosphere, made all the more realistic and frightening. Zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, lehrter station, and masaryk station.
She arrives at the berlin siliesian station now known as berlin ostbahnhof, it was a main station in east berlin expecting to be picked up by her uncle, but instead is met by someone in. This has ensured that the series is set to be one of the most enduring series to come from downing as an author, as readers will continue to discover this franchise for many years to follow. John russell s son paul is stationed on the eastern front with the german army, awaiting the soviets final onslaught. The first john russell and effi koenen novel, zoo station, was published in 2007 and became a wordofmouth bestseller. John russell, a british journalist and sometime amateur spy, and his partner effi koenen, a german actress, beginning in 1939 berlin, germany. The character of john russell is an extremely well drawn one as well, due to his realistic and downtoearth depiction in the series. A john russell wwii thriller john russell series book 5. David downings zoo station, the first in his john russell novels, is a engaging suspense novel set against the backdrop of prewwii germany. He is largely freelance at his craft although he does have affiliations with both an american newspaper chain and a british one but he writes what catches his eye and which he thinks his contacts will pay for. He writes humaninterest pieces for british and american papers, avoiding the investigative journalism that could get him deported. In april 1938, a man calling himself josef hofmann arrives at a boarding house in hamm, germany, and lets a room from the widow who owns it. David downing convincingly blends actual history with the stimulating world of alternate events. David downing audio books, best sellers, author bio.
He is the author of six books in the john russell series, zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, lehrter station, and masaryk station, as well as jack of spies, one mans flag. David downing has written a series of novels about an english journalist in berlin during ww ii. Downing begins his second novel in the john russell series with a girl being sent by her jewish farm family to berlin where they expect things to be better. John russells son paul is stationed on the eastern front with the german army. Whodunit columnist bruce tierney promises downings deft weaving of fiction and reallife wwii history is second to none. A john russell wwii thriller john russell series book 5 by david downing. Zoo station a john russell wwii spy thriller by david downing may 28, 20. Author david downing s protagonist, john russell, is an angloamerican journalist who winds up with a foot in every political camp as he tries to protect his german family from being swept up in the coming onslaught. Downing s station cycle creates a fictional universe rich with a historians expertise but rendered with literary style and. He is the author of five previous books in the john russell series, zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, and lehrter station. Set in 1939 during world war ii, russell is a british journalist who starts working as an amateur spy in berlin, germany. Zoo station is the first book in a series by david downing. Set in 1939 it sees him in germany, berlin, during the height of the nazi partys rise to power, as he does everything in.
By 1939, angloamerican journalist john russell has spent over a decade in berlin, where his son lives with his mother. Silesian station book by david downing thriftbooks. He is the author of the jack mccoll novels, jack of spies, one mans flag, lenins roller coaster, and the dark clouds shining. David downing is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children, including zoo station, the first novel featuring john russell. Set in prewwii berlin, downing s fine new thriller introduces a clever and honorable hero, british journalist john russell, who has spent 15 years working in germany. The strengths of the tale are the characterisation, sense of atmosphere and place, and the historicisation.
Downing manages to nicely blend the everyday realities and complexities of living in stettin station is the third book in the john russell and effi koenen series. Silesian station by david downing is the second book in downings john russell series. In the fall of 1941, angloamerican journalist john russell is still living in berlin, tied to the increasingly alien city by his love for two berliners. Browse david downing s bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Charles todd, author of the inspector ian rutledge series praise for previous books by david downing. There wasnt any real cohesive plot, just a couple of sub plots on the black market and the jewish exodus from europe which in themselves could have made an interesting book but it seems that mr. He has also written an eclectic mixture of nonfiction books, ranging from military and political history, russian football, musicians like. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.