What readers think of The Berlin Exchange, plus links to write your own review.

The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon is an enthralling story of intrigue and suspense set in post-war Berlin. It is a gripping tale of espionage, morality, and the human cost of war.

The novel follows the lives of three characters: Adam Miller, a former American soldier; his wife Liz; and their friend Paul Richter, a German journalist. The trio are caught up in a web of secrets and lies as they search for answers about the mysterious death of Paul's brother.

The novel weaves together an intricately detailed plot with vivid descriptions of life in post-war Berlin. Joseph Kanon's writing is lyrical and evocative, capturing both the beauty and tragedy of this tumultuous time period. His characters are complex and sympathetic, making it impossible to put down this book once you start reading it.

The Berlin Exchange is an emotionally charged novel that will leave readers with an appreciation for the power of storytelling to move us all.

Every time I finish reading a Joseph Kanon book, I'm afraid he might retire and not write another. I feel that way now after reading his THE BERLIN EXCHANGE. Please, do it again, Joe!

From 1962 to 1989, West Germany traded (exchanged) goods or money for political prisoners in East Germany. That is the background of THE BERLIN EXCHANGE.

Martin, an American who was a KGB spy and has been in an English prison for the last 10 years, is swapped for three political prisoners in East Germany. He was not forced but has chosen to go there because his ex-wife, Sabine, and son live there, even though he has heard nothing from her during the entire 10 years and even though she has divorced him and married an East German. This is the trouble I had with Martin: he cares too much for that long-gone wife. I expected nothing good from her and was always suspicious of what she said and did.

Martin wants out of the spy business now, but that seems to be why the East Germans want him there. Then again, it’s hard to tell who wants him there and why. Martin doesn’t know if anyone in East Germany can be trusted.

After Sabine's East German husband commits a crime and it looks like Martin may be implicated, he knows he needs to get out of that country. All his spy training comes in handy as he plans his escape into West Germany with his son and ex-wife.

This is a great historical thriller with that Kanon style. He tells much of the story through dialogue, and he spares no words.

An incredibly boring and repetitive account of the Cold War...one of the few books I ever abandoned, on page 178 to be precise!! The author must have considered his readers as amnesiacs considering his repetitious descriptions of characters, dialogue, events and locations.