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Alex Glauberman #1
Return to Sender: 2 by Dick Cluster
HE WENT TO THE POST OFFICE - AND ENDED UP IN BERLIN Meet reluctant detective Alex Glauberman—just a guy who fixes foreign cars, a 41-year-old divorced father with a brilliant British girl friend. But he’s got a complication right now—he’s trying to survive chemo. And then Gerald Meyer, a stranger he meets at the Post Office, asks him to mail a package to Meyer’s daughter. Easily done, but too late, Meyer changes his mind. And turns up dead. But now the package is gone, and clearly dangerous! Will Meyer’s daughter be the next victim? Worse, is Alex about to be arrested for murder? Out of those fears is born Alex’s career as an international detective—because the stranger’s daughter lives in Berlin, and he doesn’t know how to contact her. Too intrigued to let it go (and also because he’s a mensch) Alex sets off on an adventure that takes him to London and Berlin in the last years of the Wall, in a search for package, perpetrators, and to prove his own innocence. Along the way he’s plunged into the wreckage of Gerald Meyer’s life, a wake that includes the daughter, half-German and half-Jewish, as well as an underworld network, unusual banking transactions, blackmail, shadowy neo-Nazis, and a city in which, as Meyer’s daughter puts it, “Under all the showy stuff, Berliners are frightened of so many things.” Police detectives in two countries don’t make it any easier, but Alex learns to cope, trading bits of information while explaining his actions with metaphors such as the Yiddish meaning of his family name. Great scenes in Berlin make this a must-read for fans of international mysteries and thrillers, and World War II buffs will appreciate the historical aspects. Fans of Jewish detectives like Rabbi Small, Jake Samson, Rebecca Schwartz, Peter Decker, and Rina Lazarus will find themselves adding another series to their favorites. But it’s a great P.I. story for all mystery fans, in the vein of vintage male sleuths who are neither cozy nor hard-boiled—just regular detective guys, like Ellery Queen, Father Brown, Gideon Oliver, Charles Paris, and Tubby Dubonnet.
Hardcover
First published November 2, 1988
213 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Dick Cluster
34 books9 followersWhat seems like mystery, says a reggae lyric by Jimmy Cliff, is only untold history. I've written both crime novels and history books, as well popular economics (another mystery, for sure). Some of these have been translated into Japanese, Danish, Hungarian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Bulgarian.
Most recently, a few years living in Cuba led me to do translation myself, from Spanish to English, and to co-author a social history of Havana with a Cuban colleague. We tell what it's been like for people living in the Cuban capital over the past five centuries, and something about why.
You can find some of my translations linked via this author page; others won't show up here, because the industry is still ambivalent about translators, but if you search by my name you'll find them.
Most recently, a few years living in Cuba led me to do translation myself, from Spanish to English, and to co-author a social history of Havana with a Cuban colleague. We tell what it's been like for people living in the Cuban capital over the past five centuries, and something about why.
You can find some of my translations linked via this author page; others won't show up here, because the industry is still ambivalent about translators, but if you search by my name you'll find them.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 3, 2019
Nice plot and twists, main character is entertaining but I wouldn’t call this a cozy (lotsa sex - some vulgarity), cheating on his girlfriend type. I use fast forward to get thru those scenes (usually 2 pages to describe each “session” - if it’s more consider it soft porn - this one isn’t). Buyer beware equals reader be advised.
October 23, 2017
Review: Return To Sender
The plot was good and the characters likeable. I don't think the vulgar language or sex scenes had anything to do with the plot. I felt like the main character thought a lot of himself. I would like to see a character who is in love with one person not think that it ok to have sex with another. So much of what people see and read gives them the right to do the same thing. Instead of books, movies and plays showing how people should live to have a better life we get stories about the people of no character who make the lower they go in life sound better.
The plot was good and the characters likeable. I don't think the vulgar language or sex scenes had anything to do with the plot. I felt like the main character thought a lot of himself. I would like to see a character who is in love with one person not think that it ok to have sex with another. So much of what people see and read gives them the right to do the same thing. Instead of books, movies and plays showing how people should live to have a better life we get stories about the people of no character who make the lower they go in life sound better.
December 3, 2015
Too much going on
Started off good but kept getting lost, mainly I think in translation. I wouldn't exactly recommend it, it was just going too slow
Started off good but kept getting lost, mainly I think in translation. I wouldn't exactly recommend it, it was just going too slow
November 27, 2017
Somerville, MA. Petros’s Greek restaurant. Gerald Meyer (NY bank employee) made Detective Alex Glauberman (41, divorced father, master car mechanic), Meredith (Alex’s GF) an offer of $2,500 to retrieve a package he had mailed to his daughter Cynthia Meyer in West Berlin, Germany.
The contents contained in the unopened partial Gerald had made up a hair-brain story.
Alex called & let Cynthia know about her father.
Hackney, East London, England. Meredith Phillips (Alex’s GF, Professor) was so happy to see Alex.
Alex located Jack Mazelli (50+, aka Moselle, wealthy A/A, money launderer, asset-management firm, ex-marketer).
A meeting was scheduled.
Next stop for Alex; Lady Jane Friedhoff (British, widow) house.
As Alex was leaving Pete & Cloth cap took him hostage.
What was Captain Gerhard Schultheiss questioning Alex about?
Alex received word that Gerald had been brutally murdered.
Sergeant Trevisone (Cambridge PD) was doing the investigation.
Cynthia was blown to smithereens in her VW.
Joanna Connor (Cynthia ½ sister) name had come up in Alex’s investigation.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Detective mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Detective mystery movie, or better yet mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Penguin Crime fiction; booksbnimble; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The contents contained in the unopened partial Gerald had made up a hair-brain story.
Alex called & let Cynthia know about her father.
Hackney, East London, England. Meredith Phillips (Alex’s GF, Professor) was so happy to see Alex.
Alex located Jack Mazelli (50+, aka Moselle, wealthy A/A, money launderer, asset-management firm, ex-marketer).
A meeting was scheduled.
Next stop for Alex; Lady Jane Friedhoff (British, widow) house.
As Alex was leaving Pete & Cloth cap took him hostage.
What was Captain Gerhard Schultheiss questioning Alex about?
Alex received word that Gerald had been brutally murdered.
Sergeant Trevisone (Cambridge PD) was doing the investigation.
Cynthia was blown to smithereens in her VW.
Joanna Connor (Cynthia ½ sister) name had come up in Alex’s investigation.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Detective mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Detective mystery movie, or better yet mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Penguin Crime fiction; booksbnimble; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
December 21, 2020
A car mechanic suffering from cancer is drawn into international intrigue after helping a man at the post office. The man regrets mailing the package and pays the mechanic to go to Germany to retrieve it from his daughter. Stakes are raised when the man's murdered body is placed outside Alex's house.
Set in a time before cell phones this book is readable if dated. The story moves along although not especially believably. I did not care for the cheating on the girlfriend. The sex scenes are just icky and so is Alex. He wants people to touch his tumors which is just gross. He has an awful lot of energy for someone not yet in remission. There are the usual anti right wing rants. An okay read.
Set in a time before cell phones this book is readable if dated. The story moves along although not especially believably. I did not care for the cheating on the girlfriend. The sex scenes are just icky and so is Alex. He wants people to touch his tumors which is just gross. He has an awful lot of energy for someone not yet in remission. There are the usual anti right wing rants. An okay read.
April 14, 2018
Return to Sender: An Alex Glauberman Mystery (The Alex Glauberman Series #1)
was interesting read but Alex Glauberman presents himself as a very unusual hero and really not all that believable in that role. As the first book in a series it left me with little clue as to where the author is going with this new series. the suspension of disbelief is really hard because the plotting seemed really contrived from the very beginning. Sorry Dick but I just don't see myself buying and reading any more Alex Glauberman books.
June 28, 2019
this book was a sandwich, part mystery, think Perry Mason, part sex romp, think Dr. Ruth. The smut actually felt like a tangent from the story, I mean How brillient can the girlfrind oh never mind. :)
August 15, 2020
A little slow to start
Mystery, murder, Nazis. I was a little bit tempted to put it down because it took me a while to get into it, but I kept going and it got better.
Mystery, murder, Nazis. I was a little bit tempted to put it down because it took me a while to get into it, but I kept going and it got better.
July 12, 2017
Good book
I thought this was a good book. It was pretty interesting and it was a an easy read. Really enjoyed it.
I thought this was a good book. It was pretty interesting and it was a an easy read. Really enjoyed it.
June 19, 2018
Unusual story. It really seemed dated, and when I checked it was written 1988! Still worth the read though I had to plough a bit through the slow start.
November 28, 2019
Good read
Good creation of characters and storyline. Makes me want to read the next book. Highly recommend and enjoyed very much.
Good creation of characters and storyline. Makes me want to read the next book. Highly recommend and enjoyed very much.
January 16, 2022
first Published in 1988, it felt surprisingly relevant in 2022. Well, except for Checkpoint Charlie, but otherwise corruption and fringe groups haven’t changed.
April 2, 2024
Not a great setup -- I couldn't buy into it.
November 26, 2015
Murder Mystery
Amateur detective Alex Glauberman runs into a mysterious man at the post office. The man seems ill at ease and in a hurry to leave, so he asks Alex to post his parcel for him. Alex obliges but thinks things are a bit fishy and decides to follow the man to find out more. When he meets him later to deliver the postal receipt, the man offers him a job retrieving the parcel - apparently the man now needs the parcel back. Alex is not sure whether to accept the offer and decides to do some investigating. When the strange man ends up dead and murdered later that night Alex decides he needs to find out more in case the man is involved in some kind criminal activity. The hunt for answers takes him on an intriguing journey from Boston to the UK and on to Berlin, putting his own life in danger in the process.
The story flowed well, was easy to read and written well enough. Alex, the main character, is fighting cancer and this gives his persona an extra dimension, which I thought was at least original. However I do think the characters personalities could have been described better. At times I found it difficult to understand what made them tick and perhaps this added to the overall mystery.
My only real issue with the book was that the plot seemed to be a little unlikely. Accepting a job offer from a total stranger to travel to Berlin and pick up a parcel then persisting with it doesn’t gel. Especially when the guy who hires Alex ends up dead and Alex’s own life is endangered. I guess some people might take such a chance claiming “you only live once”.
Overall it’s an interesting read. If you can accept the plot and enjoy a good murder mystery then you will like this book.
Amateur detective Alex Glauberman runs into a mysterious man at the post office. The man seems ill at ease and in a hurry to leave, so he asks Alex to post his parcel for him. Alex obliges but thinks things are a bit fishy and decides to follow the man to find out more. When he meets him later to deliver the postal receipt, the man offers him a job retrieving the parcel - apparently the man now needs the parcel back. Alex is not sure whether to accept the offer and decides to do some investigating. When the strange man ends up dead and murdered later that night Alex decides he needs to find out more in case the man is involved in some kind criminal activity. The hunt for answers takes him on an intriguing journey from Boston to the UK and on to Berlin, putting his own life in danger in the process.
The story flowed well, was easy to read and written well enough. Alex, the main character, is fighting cancer and this gives his persona an extra dimension, which I thought was at least original. However I do think the characters personalities could have been described better. At times I found it difficult to understand what made them tick and perhaps this added to the overall mystery.
My only real issue with the book was that the plot seemed to be a little unlikely. Accepting a job offer from a total stranger to travel to Berlin and pick up a parcel then persisting with it doesn’t gel. Especially when the guy who hires Alex ends up dead and Alex’s own life is endangered. I guess some people might take such a chance claiming “you only live once”.
Overall it’s an interesting read. If you can accept the plot and enjoy a good murder mystery then you will like this book.
January 4, 2017
This book introduces us to a rather unusual hero – Alex Glauberman – skilled car mechanic who suffers from cancer, definitely not your obvious trans-Atlantic traveller and sleuth, but nevertheless a thoughtful and intelligent character. Asked to retrieve a package sent by a friend to his daughter in Germany, Alex finds himself embroiled in a quite complex financial mystery that also involves people willing to kill so that their secrets remain hidden.
I did not find this an easy read, although it has to be said that the writing is of a high standard and technically and grammatically very well put together. I may have not found sufficient time to read it in more extended chunks, and this could have led me to be always looking back to remind myself about the plot development. It is an intriguing start to a series and I will try to find time to follow it up with the others in the series.
I did not find this an easy read, although it has to be said that the writing is of a high standard and technically and grammatically very well put together. I may have not found sufficient time to read it in more extended chunks, and this could have led me to be always looking back to remind myself about the plot development. It is an intriguing start to a series and I will try to find time to follow it up with the others in the series.
January 27, 2016
An unusual hero, car mechanic Alex Glauberman has a mystery to solve.
We follow Alex as he attempts to uncover the truth of package and dead body while at the same time coping with lymphona.
Who really killed Jerry? Who is chasing after Alex?
This is an enjoyable tale that holds the readers interest all the way to the end. I look forward to more.
We follow Alex as he attempts to uncover the truth of package and dead body while at the same time coping with lymphona.
Who really killed Jerry? Who is chasing after Alex?
This is an enjoyable tale that holds the readers interest all the way to the end. I look forward to more.
April 28, 2016
Global mystery
Could be a 4 or 5 as it held my interest, but not where I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the movement from the USA to England, Germany, Russia and back and bits of history included. Many aspects could have been developed more, but it was good introduction to this main character and I would read another Glauberman mystery.
Could be a 4 or 5 as it held my interest, but not where I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the movement from the USA to England, Germany, Russia and back and bits of history included. Many aspects could have been developed more, but it was good introduction to this main character and I would read another Glauberman mystery.
November 14, 2015
Solid, readable murder mystery
Slow solid pacing in a who dun it combined with existential angst and some economic and political musings thrown in among the challenges of chemotherapy.
Slow solid pacing in a who dun it combined with existential angst and some economic and political musings thrown in among the challenges of chemotherapy.
December 19, 2015
Interesting mystery
A little slow at the start and it probably took me at least half the book to really get into it, but it is quite well written and the parts about Germany were quite interesting.
A little slow at the start and it probably took me at least half the book to really get into it, but it is quite well written and the parts about Germany were quite interesting.
February 24, 2016
Good story
I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.
Good story. Likable characters.
There were parts of the story that were predictable.
I found I skipped a lot of the details, just too many to care about.
I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.
Good story. Likable characters.
There were parts of the story that were predictable.
I found I skipped a lot of the details, just too many to care about.
March 21, 2009
An engaging and intelligent mystery - fun to read.
November 30, 2015
A good plot with good main characters, but way too long and plodding!
December 28, 2015
I consider a good book to be one which I cannot put down. I had no trouble putting this book down at night. I would say this was "okay".
February 25, 2016
An interesting story, lots going on, but a bit slow at times. Not a great page turner, but something to fill the gaps. Will read the others, to see if its Dick or me who is not quite there!
May 7, 2016
I'm fine with books written years ago, but this one really feels dated. I was waiting for the book to pick up the pace, but it never seemed to happen.
September 28, 2016
Exciting
Several venues. Good triumphs in the end. I liked the mystery and characters. A twist near the end. Good read. Check it out. A page turner. Alex is very believable.
Several venues. Good triumphs in the end. I liked the mystery and characters. A twist near the end. Good read. Check it out. A page turner. Alex is very believable.
August 22, 2022
What A Yawner
Pretty boring book...finally speed read the last 30%. I really couldn't follow it well. Not much excitement or suspense. I will pass anymore of this series.
Pretty boring book...finally speed read the last 30%. I really couldn't follow it well. Not much excitement or suspense. I will pass anymore of this series.
November 22, 2015
This was not bad. I'm not sure how plausible it is but I've read worse
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews