For years, there was uncertainty about the whereabouts of Martin Bormann, Hitler’s right-hand man. Was he dead, or did he manage to escape to a country such as Argentina? Some people said he was behind many of Hitler’s actions and should stand trial after the Second World War. In Mission 37, Michael Berk neatly solves this problem in a fictitious account of an autopsy of Bormann, which was witnessed by four doctors from different nationalities. But Jack Monroe, MD, is not convinced and, in voicing his opinion, places himself and the other doctors in grave danger. One by one, the doctors are murdered. The author neatly includes in the story some verified historical facts, the subterfuge from the Vatican, and the hunt for Nazi criminals led by the Jewish community. An unlikely alliance springs up between opposing sides, as the killing spree continues, but the author makes it all very plausible. A fast-moving thriller that is both informative and entertaining.

An enclosed list of the numerous characters in Mission 37 by Michael Berk at the beginning of the book is a real help to the reader. While some of them are real people from history, others are fictional, and the author has cleverly combined them into an exciting and thrilling tale. It sent me off to investigate the truth about the death of Martin Bormann, which was not finally solved until the 1990s. In a tale that leaps from one country to another, and with spies around every corner, there is never a dull moment. All the characters are relatable, and the pace does not let up for a moment. For readers of exciting post-World War II period pieces, this book will certainly appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is so well written that the author makes an unlikely scenario very plausible indeed.

When an order from his commanding officer pulls Dr. Jack Monroe into the autopsy of a fallen Nazi, he scents the aroma of espionage in the process. By certifying the death documents of Hitler’s right-hand man, Jack stops being a witness and becomes a piece of the conspiracy. Despite the efforts of the Reich, the Jews haven’t gone quietly. A fearsome group of well-connected agents demands justice for the Holocaust and won’t stop until they get it. When the other witnesses of the autopsy suffer mysterious deaths, Jack picks a side that puts him in increasing peril. Was the man on the autopsy table really Martin Bormann, and for Jack, is it better to be right or dead? Mission 37 by Michael Berk details a frantic race across postwar Europe in pursuit of the truth.

This Cold War historical thriller is fast-paced and gripping. Michael Berk highlights a consequence of the Holocaust rarely examined in this shameful period of the world’s history. With the Allies in a post-war crisis, justice was no longer their priority. I appreciated the ruthlessness of Mission 37. It pulls no punches as to the savagery of the time. The detail is both phenomenal and painful, such as the scene with the pawnbroker who profits from jewelry stolen from dead Jewish families. The narrative contains raw anguish, deception, and passion as a few good people try to address the awful imbalance of a postwar world. I loved how Jack Monroe morphed from a healer, coming full circle back to the soldier with a cause, because there he finds his greater purpose. Mission 37 is a roller coaster read.