The Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr is a gripping sequence of historical detective novels set primarily in Germany before, during, and after World War II. The series follows Bernie Gunther, a sardonic Berlin detective and private investigator, as he navigates the treacherous terrains of Nazi Germany, the Cold War, and various international intrigues. Kerr masterfully blends historical accuracy with complex mysteries, exploring the moral ambiguities of a turbulent era through the eyes of his cynical, yet morally upright protagonist.