Gunter Ohnemus, The Russian Passenger

The Russian Passenger

Gunter Ohnemus

Bitter Lemon Press, 2004, $14.95, 260 pp.

ISBN: 1904738028

In Munich, the beautiful but obviously nervous Russian, Sonia Kovalevskaya, hails the taxi that fifty-year- old Harry Willemer drives for a living. She asks him to take her around Munich before dropping her off at the airport to catch a flight to Luxembourg. She explains to Harry that her Russian Mafia husband is after her because she stole four million dollars of their loot.

Somehow Sonia's plight touches Harry, who gave up on life twenty-two years ago when he got into a fight with his wife Ellen. Sick of his accusations, she left taking their daughter Jessie with her. Perhaps it was anger that blinded Ellen, but her vehicle crashed into a tree killing Jessie. Harry still blames himself, drifting through life as a loner until now.

Harry offers to drive her all the way to the ill-gotten money; Sonia accepts knowing that has to be safer than the airport or rails obviously under Mafia surveillance. Not long afterward, with goons on their tail and the German police seeking them for questioning about two dead Russians, Harry and Sonia flee for their lives.

This English translation of a tense German thriller grips readers as the chase crosses Europe to America with friends of Harry assisting them; his sudden contacts bring out the pivotal moment that destroyed his life over two decades ago. Sonia is an intriguing protagonist and the antagonists are deliciously evil, but title aside Harry takes the novel above the typical pursuit thriller. He sees Sonia as a chance at some redemption that might relieve him a bit (not totally) from his self-flagellation, culpability and negative musings.

Harriet Klausner