Treblinka Comedy Club

Åke Edwardson

A new literary novel by a pioneer and central figure in the Swedish detective scene.

1941.

Hatred is rapidly spreading across Europe, seeping into people’s minds through cracks and crannies. The German Reich is well on the rise and fear of what’s to come holds everyone who doesn’t fit the ideal, in a tight grip.

Arne Hoffmann was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, and is now an American journalist and a Jewish comedian. He hasn’t been back in Berlin for over twenty years but as a journalist for The New York Post, he feels compelled to return home and report on what’s happening behind the borders of the German Reich. He’s also worried about his cousin, who stayed behind. With rumours of Jewish people disappearing, he feels desperate to get her out before it’s too late.

With a naive perspective of what’s to come, Arne travels to Berlin, thinking he can help his cousin and her family leave the city without revealing his own identity and family background. However, it’s only a matter of time before the high-ups within the dictatorship he’s been getting closer to thanks to his profession, realize that they’re dealing with not only a journalist and comedian, but a Jew.

Treblinka Comedy Club is a celebration of life and a tribute to one of the darkest periods in modern history. With a backpack full of research, Åke Edwardson brilliantly combines fiction with historical events and people, such as Hermann Göring and Reinhard Heydrich. All the while, the main character’s humour shines through with jokes that Åke Edwardson has picked up from history books and interviews.

In five acts, Åke Edwardson guides the reader through Berlin during World War II, ending the story with the uproar at the Treblinka extermination camp in Poland. Treblinka Comedy Club is a thought-provoking novel in the style of Jojo Rabbit. The book is filled with dark humour and historical facts, making it a compelling page-turner that you won’t be able to put down until the very end when Treblinka begins to crumble to the ground.

Reviews for Treblinka Comedy Club:

‘This is a brilliant story that expertly balances through a vicious time.’
BTJ

Horrific and painfully pressing topical in today’s harsh reality.’
Dagens Nyheter

‘Åke Edwardson has written numerous books throughout his lengthy writing career, but he has never ventured into something like this before. Perhaps, this could be considered his magnum opus, his ultimate achievement. Regardless, he should be proud of the remarkably impressive creation he has written. The book is living and personal; it envelopes you, while being utterly painful.’
Kapprakt

‘The book is a compelling page-turner thanks to Edwardson’s vivid and sharp prose.’
Jönköpings-Posten

‘In Treblinka Comedy Club, humor is utilized as a means of survival, resulting in a captivating novel that is difficult to put down. This is an impressive feat achieved by Åke Edwardson. Through his work, he has successfully managed to sharpen our perception of reality, demonstrating the power of fiction at its best.’
Göteborgs-Posten

‘Edwardson’s writing is entertaining, even with its dark and vicious themes. It is reminiscent of the feeling you get from an American 1940s noir. Thanks to Edwardson’s skillful craftsmanship, the reader is hooked. As a pioneer in crime-writing, he knows just how to sharpen every aspect of his work, making it impossible to resist.’
Arbetarbladet