The Russian Donation: Book summary and reviews of The Russian Donation by Christoph Spielberg

The Russian Donation Summary

Doctor Felix Hoffmann's life is textbook success: a seasoned physician at a Berlin hospital, respected by colleagues, and devoted to his amorous and intelligent girlfriend Celine. It's a life filled with medical work, televised soccer games, and the chill of German beer.

Yet, when a former patient shows up dead by causes unknown, Hoffmann signs a death certificate that may be his own. Curiosity and sheer medical devotion propel him to investigate. However, his autopsy order goes unfulfilled as the body is cremated and hospital records vanish. Soon, Hoffmann discovers a diagnosis of conspiratorial proportions. The deeper he scans, the darker it gets, until a criminal clue emerges from Russia. Despite adversity, Hoffmann is determined to sleuth through with his own brand of logic and the aid of Celine's powers of deduction.

The Russian Donation Reviews

"Starred Review. Hoffmann and his girlfriend, Celine, make a winning investigative pair, and his endearing persona elevates this well above the majority of hospital-based mysteries." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. This is a very well constructed book, with a protagonist-narrator who is strong, resourceful, and unwilling to put up with any crap. Three more Hoffman novels are due to make their first English appearances soon, but anything less than immediately might not be soon enough for readers who crack open this cracking good thriller." - Booklist

"Starred Review. With the help of his girlfriend Celine, Dr. Hoffman jumps in with both feet in order to solve the case and takes readers along for the ride of their lives. Although sometimes medical tomes can be a little too high-handed and medically in-depth, this one was truly great. Dr. Hoffman immediately becomes a likeable character and readers will definitely look forward to the forthcoming titles. Each one should be more fascinating than the last! - Suspense Magazine, Amy Lignor

"While I enjoyed the book immensely, I found myself wishing he'd pick the pace up occasionally. I never wanted to put it down, but I did want to move along a little faster. However, I found the ending of the book very satisfying and completely plausible considering the events that led up to the finale." - Criminal Element, Leigh Neely

"From Germany, a witty crime series. Readers who like a good mystery sprinkled with wit and a touch of sarcasm will enjoy the thrusts and parries administered by author Christoph Spielberg... The novel is ably translated by Gerald Chapple, who must have enjoyed a good chuckle or two as he worked." - BookPage, Barbara Clark

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Cardiologist and Agatha Christie prize-winning author Christoph Spielberg lives in Berlin, Germany, where his mystery novels have gained national notoriety. Spielberg was awarded the prestigious Friedrich Glauser prize from the German Crime Writers Association for The Russian Donation, the first in his ongoing Dr. Hoffmann crime series, and his books have been translated into both English and Japanese.

Critical acclaim for the Dr. Hoffmann series has prompted the German ZDF television network to produce a run of TV movies based on the novels. Today, Spielberg continues to draw from his medical experience, writing novels, short stories, and providing medical care to his patients.