Books by Max Hertzberg

Wondering which book is next in the series? Here’s a simple list of Max Hertzberg’s books in reading order.

Fiction

Cold Island Look Inside Buy

Cold Island

Chilling post-Brexit fiction set in the moors and towns of Northern England
Peace News
Cover of Cold Island

ISBN paperback: 9780993324765
ISBN ebook: 9780993324772
ISBN hardback: 9781913125158

It’s more than twenty-five years since Mara arrived in Britain, yet today she no longer feels safe in the country she thought she knew.
Desperate to prove her right to remain in the country, but trapped between bureaucratic inflexibility and administrative failure, Mara sees no other option than to go underground. There she meets others who have made their home in the UK but are now being forced to lead their lives in the half-shadows of society.
Supported by a secretive group of activists calling themselves the Borises, Mara and her new friends flee across the moors of northern England, hoping to reach relative safety in Scotland—but Immigration Enforcement is never far behind.

Cold Island explores the personal cost of Brexit

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ISBN paperback: 9780993324765
ISBN hardback: 9781913125158

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The East Berlin Series

A compelling re-imagining of East Germany’s peaceful revolution in 1989—exploring what might have been.
Fiona Rintoul, author of The Leipzig Affair
Stealing The Future Look Inside Buy

Stealing The Future

#GDR #Revolution #Utopia #Hopepunk

What if the Berlin Wall never fell …

The first book in the East Berlin Series.

Cover of Stealing The Future

ISBN paperback: 9780993324703
ISBN ebook: 9780993324710

Behind the Berlin Wall a dissident is on the trail of a killer

1993. After forty years of communist rule it’s time for change in the GDR.
Direct democracy, citizen’s movements and de-centralization are part of the new political landscape.
But when a politician’s crushed body is found a constitutional crisis erupts.
Former dissident, Martin Grobe, is caught up in an investigation that points towards the KGB, the Stasi and the West Germans—but is it really the start of a putsch against the new GDR, or just a murder?

‘An honest portrayal of a young country and the struggle to keep alive the dream of freedom, justice and equality.’ – New Internationalist

Book 1 of the East Berlin Series

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Thoughts Are Free Look Inside Buy

Thoughts Are Free

#GDR #Revolution #Utopia #Hopepunk

The second book in the East Berlin Series.

Cover of Thoughts Are Free

ISBN paperback: 9780993324727
ISBN ebook: 9780993324734

1994: Life isn’t easy in the GDR
Fascist skinheads roam the streets of East Berlin, the country is divided by a referendum.
With the start of the East German revolution in 1989 Martin Grobe switched from opposing the state to working for the state.
Four years later, the GDR is in turmoil: in a city ravaged by politics and economic meltdown it’s up to Martin to make the dreamers of 1989 face up to hard reality.
But when an ex-Stasi agent goes undercover on a mission against the fascists, events begin to spiral out of Martin’s control.

Book 2 of the East Berlin Series

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Spectre At The Feast Look Inside Buy

Spectre At The Feast

#GDR #Revolution #Utopia #Hopepunk

The third book in the East Berlin Series.

Cover of Spectre At The Feast

ISBN paperback: 9780993324741
ISBN ebook: 9780993324758

East Berlin, Summer 1994
In the wake of a divisive referendum, the people of the GDR are struggling to find common ground.
Concerned that populist leader, Klaus Kaminsky, is poised to take power in East Germany, Karo and Martin come together again to defend the grassroots democracy they are helping to build.
But as Kaminsky holds rallies across the country, the mood of the people of the GDR begins to change. Can the delicate balance of round tables and workers’ councils survive, or will the country be dragged back into the authoritarian rule of the past?

“The Soldiers’ Council of the Border Regiment 33 had a
meeting this morning. We’re on strike.”
“You call this being on strike?”
“Yeah, fun isn’t it?”

Book 3 of the East Berlin Series

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Ask for Spectre At The Feast by Max Hertzberg, ISBN paperback: 9780993324741

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East Berlin Series Omnibus Buy

East Berlin Series – all the books in an omnibus edition

Cover of omnibus edition of East Berlin Series

ISBN paperback: 9781913125141
ISBN ebook: 9781913125073

The Omnibus edition includes:

  • Stealing The Future
  • Thoughts Are Free
  • Spectre At The Feast

Available as ebook and paperback

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Ask for East Berlin Series, omnibus edition by Max Hertzberg, ISBN paperback: 9781913125141

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Lieutenant Reim of the Stasi

Stasi Vice Look Inside Listen Buy

Stasi Vice

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime
Cover of Stasi Vice
ISBN Audiobook: 9781913125165
ISBN paperback: 9780993324796
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125042
ISBN ebook: 9780993324789

For Lieutenant Reim of the Stasi, life in East Berlin is a satisfying blend of days behind a desk and nights in front of a bottle.

But when a senior officer has a messy affair, it falls to Reim to do the clearing up.

It should be a straightforward job. Lean on a few people to get them to shut up. Intimidate neighbours, bribe officials and appeal to the socialist conscience of Party members. But when Reim starts his interrogations, he realises his boss is hiding more than just a lover.

Lieutenant Reim begins to investigate his superior—and what he uncovers puts his own life at risk.

Book 1 of the Reim Series

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Listen to a sample of the audiobook version of Stasi Vice:

Short sample:

Chapter 1:

Audio ISBN: 9781913125165
Narrated by Kerry Hutchinson

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Ask for Stasi Vice by Max Hertzberg
ISBN paperback: 9780993324796
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125042

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Operation Oskar Look Inside Buy

Operation Oskar

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime


ISBN paperback: 9781913125004
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125059
ISBN ebook: 9781913125011

Lieutenant Reim of the Stasi is down in the dumps. Literally.

Sent to Schöneiche landfill site on a punishment assignment, Reim soon discovers Soviet soldiers searching the tip for porn, Westerners smuggling cigarettes and a truck driver with something to hide.

Determined to find out more, Reim is soon caught up in a case that takes him over the Berlin Wall to the capitalist West. But when the KGB and the British occupation forces in Berlin take an interest, Reim begins to question whether Operation Oskar is worth risking his life for.

Book 2 of the Reim Series

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ISBN paperback: 9781913125004
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125059

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Berlin Centre Look Inside Buy

Berlin Centre – part 1 of the Bruno Trilogy

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime

Cover of Berlin Centre

ISBN paperback: 9781913125028
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125066
ISBN ebook: 9781913125035

When a West German police officer defects to the GDR, he brings news of a mole in the Stasi.

Lieutenant Reim leads the initial inquiry but is unconvinced by the defector’s claims.

As news of the affair spreads through Berlin Centre, Reim is sent to Bonn on a mission to catch a mole he doesn’t want to find – does his reluctance to investigate have anything to do with the secrets he’d prefer remained hidden?

Book 3 of the Reim Series,
part 1 of the Bruno Trilogy

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Ask for Berlin Centre by Max Hertzberg
ISBN paperback: 9781913125028
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125066

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Baltic Approach Look Inside Buy

Baltic Approach – part 2 of the Bruno Trilogy

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime

Cover of Baltic Approach

ISBN paperback: 9781913125080
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125103
ISBN ebook: 9781913125097

When the West German, Werner Seiffert, crosses the Berlin Wall to ask for an agent by name, the Stasi want to know why.

Lieutenant Reim is haunted by the deaths of two of his colleagues, but has to leave his ghosts behind when he’s ordered to trace Seiffert.

He follows the trail north to a seaside hotel populated by spies and winter holiday makers, but is the man Reim tracks down the one he was sent to find? And can the West German force the Stasi to re-open a case that Reim had hoped was closed forever?

Book 4 of the Reim Series,
part 2 of the Bruno Trilogy

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ISBN paperback: 9781913125028
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125066

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Rostock Connection Look Inside Buy

Rostock Connection – part 3 of the Bruno Trilogy

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime

Cover of Rostock Connection

ISBN paperback: 9781913125110
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125134
ISBN ebook: 9781913125127

He spied for the KGB, now they want him dead

Rumours of a mole in the Stasi’s foreign intelligence wing just won’t go away, and once again Lieutenant Reim is tasked with investigating.

But six months after he first heard reports of a Western agent in the ranks of the Stasi, he’s no closer to finding enough evidence against the officer he believes to be responsible for the leaks.

To find the traitor and close the case, Reim has to go deeper undercover than ever before—but will he survive the final showdown with the agent he’s tracked through East Germany and across the Iron Curtain?

Book 5 of the Reim Series,
part 3 of the Bruno Trilogy

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Ask for Rostock Connection by Max Hertzberg
ISBN paperback: 9781913125110
ISBN large print paperback: 9781913125134

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Reim Collection Set Buy

The Lieutenant Reim Collection Set (Reim 1 – 5)

#GDR #Stasi #Spy #Crime

Cover of the Reim Collection
ISBN paperback: 9781913125196
ISBN ebook: 9781913125189
ISBN hardback: 9781913125202

All five Reim books in one collection – available as ebook, paperback or collector’s hardback.

The collection contains:

  • Stasi Vice
  • Operation Oskar
  • Berlin Centre
  • Baltic Approach
  • Rostock Connection

NB – this is a really nice edition (not only for collectors), but at nearly a thousand pages is pretty heavy (the hardback even more so!). Also I can only apologise that there’s no large print version of this edition – we tried really hard to make it work, but it was just too big to print in one volume. If you struggle with smaller print sizes then I’d recommend you get the individual large print paperbacks or the ebook version.

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Ask for Lieutenant Reim Collection Set by Max Hertzberg
ISBN paperback: 9781913125196
ISBN hardback: 9781913125202
NB – this collection is really nice, but at nearly a thousand pages is pretty heavy (the hardback even more so!). Also I can only apologise that there’s no large print version of this edition – we tried really hard to make it work, but it was just too big to print in one volume. If you struggle with smaller print sizes then I’d recommend you get the individual large print paperbacks or the ebook version.

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NB Due to Amazon’s pricing policies the ebook version of the Lieutenant Reim Collection Set is not available in the Kindle store, but is available at practically every other ebook store (the most popular are linked to above).

Non-fiction (co-written by Max Hertzberg)

A Consensus Handbook Buy

A Consensus Handbook

Co-operative decision making for activists, co-ops and communities by Seeds for Change.

cover of A Consensus Handbook

ISBN paperback: 9780957587106
ISBN ebook: 9780957587113
Download low-resolution PDF for free from https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/handbook

Practical guide to facilitating the consensus decision making process
Includes:

  • Skills and tools for facilitation and decision making
  • Small and large groups
  • Face to face or virtual meetings
  • Spirit and philosophy of consensus decision making
  • Troubleshoot your consensus process – a guide to dealing with common pitfalls and problems
  • Consensus in the wider world – how can consensus decision making be used outside small groups?

Whether you’re new to consensus or are experienced; whether you think it’s the best way to make decisions or are struggling to make it work: this book is for you!

Excellent – clear guidance, thoughtful reflection on power and conflict’ – The Guardian

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Download PDF or order paperback of A Consensus Handbook from Seeds for Change
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Ask for A Consensus Handbook by Seeds for Change Lancaster Co-operative ISBN paperback: 9780957587106

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How to Set Up a Workers' Co-operative Buy

How to Set Up a Workers’ Co-operative

Published by Radical Routes.

Cover of book: How to set up a Workers' Co-op

ISBN paperback: 9781899212033

A practical guide to setting up and running a workers’ co-op, with information and tips on equitable working, legal issues and running a business.
Includes:

  • What is a workers’ co-op
  • Setting up your co-op, business planning and raising finance
  • Running a business and working together
  • Choosing your legal form (includes Coops UK approved model articles for a Workers’ Co-op (Company limited by guarantee))
  • Sample employment contracts, grievance and disciplinary procedures etc
Order Direct from the publisher
How To Set Up A Workers’ Co-op can be bought direct from Radical Routes.
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Ask for How to Set Up a Worker’s Co-op by Radical Routes ISBN paperback: 9781899212033