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The Schirmer Inheritance Paperback – December 2, 2003

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 671 ratings

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It wasn’t anyone’s idea of a glamorous first assignment at a white show law firm. George Cary, former WWII bomber pilot and newly minted lawyer, was given the ignoble task of going through the tons of files on the Schneider Johnson case, just to make sure nothing had been overlooked. But, as luck would have it, George did discover something among the false claims and dead-end leads that made this into more than just another missing-heir-to-a vast-fortune case. And what he found would connect a deserter from Napoloeon’s defeated army to a guerrilla fighter in post-war Greece, and lead Cary himself into a dangerous situation where his own survival will depend more on what he learned in the army than anything he learned in law school.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A masterful contribution to the literature of international dirty work." --The New Yorker

“As ingenious a tale as any Mr. Ambler has told. It is a wonderfully ingenious tale.” --Herald Tribune

“Thriller readers should hail this yarn with joy.” --San Francisco Chronicle

“Eric Ambler’s books show an unusual flair for creating alarm, if not despondency, in the gentle reader.”--The New York Times Book Review

From the Inside Flap

It wasn t anyone s idea of a glamorous first assignment at a white show law firm. George Cary, former WWII bomber pilot and newly minted lawyer, was given the ignoble task of going through the tons of files on the Schneider Johnson case, just to make sure nothing had been overlooked. But, as luck would have it, George did discover something among the false claims and dead-end leads that made this into more than just another missing-heir-to-a vast-fortune case. And what he found would connect a deserter from Napoloeon s defeated army to a guerrilla fighter in post-war Greece, and lead Cary himself into a dangerous situation where his own survival will depend more on what he learned in the army than anything he learned in law school.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; Reprint edition (December 2, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375726764
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375726767
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.51 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 671 ratings

About the author

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Eric Ambler
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Eric Ambler is often said to have invented the modern suspense novel. Beginning in 1936, he wrote a series of novels that introduced ordinary protagonists thrust into political intrigues they were ill prepared to deal with. These novels were touted for their realism, and Ambler established himself as a thriller writer of depth and originality. In the process he paved the way for such writers as John Le Carre, Len Deighton, and Robert Ludlum. He was awarded four Gold Daggers and a Diamond Dagger from The Crime Writers Association, named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers Association, and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. In addition to his novels, Ambler wrote a number of screenplays, including A Night to Remember and The Cruel Sea, which won him an Academy Award nomination.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
671 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story intriguing and well-crafted. They describe the book as an enjoyable read with a satirical edge that keeps them engaged. Readers praise the writing quality as skillful and believable. They find the premise unique and relatable, making the book entertaining and funny at times. The characters are memorable and considered classic Eric Ambler characters. The post-World War II Europe setting is vividly depicted.

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26 customers mention "Suspenseful story"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the story intriguing and well-written. They appreciate the fresh idea and good plot. The satirical edge keeps the plot moving forward and entertaining. Readers describe the historical story as captivating, with surprising turns in the sophisticated and nuanced plot.

"...travels a perilous, vividly-drawn post-WWII Europe, in the company of enigmatic, suspect and all-too-human characters of remarkable diversity...." Read more

"...The Schirmer Inheritance I found particularly well written with a very good plot. A twisting story with surprises that continue to the end...." Read more

"...From there, the novel becomes a chase through Europe, looking for the heir, a German soldier who may or may not have survived the war...." Read more

"...is intriguing, but once the action moves to the finale in Greece, Ambler seems to have..." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story well-written with surprising twists. The book sets a good standard for spy thrillers.

"Author is such a good writer that plot hardly matters. But, the story is also intriguing...." Read more

"...obscure history, and some insight into the human condition.....a great read." Read more

"A great read!!" Read more

"...The book is OK if you like reading spy books. It the type of book you read and throw away" Read more

9 customers mention "Writing quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it readable and believable, with a satirical edge that keeps the plot moving forward. The characters are described as captivating and relatable, making it a worthwhile read.

"The "prologue," and last 50 pages, are among the best-written, most skilled and entertaining--and unpredictable...." Read more

"...The Schirmer Inheritance I found particularly well written with a very good plot. A twisting story with surprises that continue to the end...." Read more

"...Ambler was an outstanding writer. This thing reads like a true story; there is nothing incredible or hard to swallow in the whole tale...." Read more

"Author is such a good writer that plot hardly matters. But, the story is also intriguing...." Read more

7 customers mention "Entertainment value"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find the premise unique and relatable, and the plot keeps them engaged with each sentence. The book is described as an enjoyable adventure that is funny at times.

"...One can chuckle at the dullness, though, and enjoy the roller-coaster ride as Carey travels a perilous, vividly-drawn post-WWII Europe, in the..." Read more

"...Moreover, the book is at times very funny, in an understated way." Read more

"...I'm going to read more Ambler as a result. A very entertaining book." Read more

"This was an interesting and inventive story. The action and characters were intriguing and entertaining. The premise was unique and relatable." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters memorable and classic.

"...The story is fascinating, and the characters unforgettable (if not always likable). Moreover, the book is at times very funny, in an understated way." Read more

"...Great characters, wonderfully written...." Read more

"...Now I have a 3rd book to add the other two. Great characters, a puzzling mystery, some obscure history, and some insight into the human condition..." Read more

"Another Ambler gem. Fascinating story line and compelling characters. This book was a breath of fresh air after many very ordinary books...." Read more

3 customers mention "Era"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the era. They describe it as vintage Amber and vividly drawn post-WWII Europe.

"...enjoy the roller-coaster ride as Carey travels a perilous, vividly-drawn post-WWII Europe, in the company of enigmatic, suspect and all-too-human..." Read more

"Pure Ambler although obviously dated; the action takes place in the early fifties, in a Greece still affected by the sequels of the Second World War...." Read more

"Vintage Amber..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2014
    The "prologue," and last 50 pages, are among the best-written, most skilled and entertaining--and unpredictable. The "middle" sometimes slows, but all is done for good purpose and the quality never lapses. Yes, lead character George Carey is dull, especially for a WWII bomber pilot, but after all, he's now a Philadelphia corporate lawyer. One can chuckle at the dullness, though, and enjoy the roller-coaster ride as Carey travels a perilous, vividly-drawn post-WWII Europe, in the company of enigmatic, suspect and all-too-human characters of remarkable diversity. By the end, Carey also experiences a transformation. So too, fellow reader, will you. Highly recommended.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2014
    I am a fan of all Amblers works. The Schirmer Inheritance I found particularly well written with a very good plot. A twisting story with surprises that continue to the end. This book is one of my favorites from Ambler.
    Ambler avoids the sensationalism that is prevalent in todays spy novels. His heroes are commonplace citizens who do not have super powers and the fate of the world is not at stake. You are transported into the European world with an explanation of how it was during the 30's and 40's with the Nazi's rampaging the land Their inhuman brutality keeps you hoping for a good outcome for the "good" characters.
    He handles the troubled and mysterious Miss Kolin especially well.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016
    Written in 1953, this novel features an ambitious young attorney whose first assignment, after being hired at a prestigious white shoe Philadelphia law firm, is to review the estate file of a wealthy female decedent--the Johnson-Schneider file--to see whether anyone has credibly claimed heirship, or whether the fortune should be allowed to escheat to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the case made the papers, and several hundred spurious "heirs" came forward to try to claim the fortune. It will take weeks, possibly months, to plow through all the files of people who claimed to be this woman's relative and heir, and the overwhelming likelihood is that she died without a lawful heir. Our young lawyer is appalled that his first assignment is such pointless drudgery, until, after three weeks of plowing through the spurious claims, he finds the private file of another lawyer who previously worked on the case, just before the outbreak of WW2. The papers show that he had a lead on a legitimate heir, but the last part of his memo to the file was written in some sort of a code.

    From there, the novel becomes a chase through Europe, looking for the heir, a German soldier who may or may not have survived the war. Ambler was an outstanding writer. This thing reads like a true story; there is nothing incredible or hard to swallow in the whole tale. Understand that there isn't the level of sex and violence that you see in modern "thrillers" and other fiction. But that just made it more readable and more believable.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2012
    I've read almost all of Ambler's novels, and this is my least favorite. The premise (post-WWII, an American lawyer must track down the rightful owner of a German-American inheritance, which requires sorting through a complicated cast of potential heirs and wartime secrets) is intriguing, but once the action moves to the finale in Greece, Ambler seems to have run out of ideas. The resolution comes about through the seemingly out-of-character and unexplained actions of the protagonist's female translator; Ambler wrote far better women characters than this (in, for example, State of Siege), but his treatment of this one is really just sexist. It almost seems like he is projecting some sort of personal bad experience with a woman into the novel. Anyway, the result is an unsatisfying ending that isn't worthy of the buildup and backstory he began with.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
    One of my two personal favorites from the Ambler ouvre. It starts off with a Prussian deserter in 1806, moves on to the peaceful precincts of a Philadelphia law office, and proceeds to the affairs of another Prussian deserter, this one wandering through the chaos of post-WW2 Europe. The story is fascinating, and the characters unforgettable (if not always likable). Moreover, the book is at times very funny, in an understated way.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016
    Ambler starts this tale at the beginning of the 19th century, in order to set the stage for a twentieth-century problem: finding an heir who may or may not exist. From this, as always, he has constructed an engrossing tale that moves along briskly to its satisfying (and to me unexpected) end.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2017
    Author is such a good writer that plot hardly matters. But, the story is also intriguing. Takes place right after WW2, American lawyer sent to Germany to investigate an inheritance. Great characters, wonderfully written. Not many writers like this now who have this command of the language and no need of writing scenes for pure shock value.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2018
    One summer long ago I read several of Ambler's books. Journey into Fear and A Coffin for Demetrios were my favorites. Now I have a 3rd book to add the other two. Great characters, a puzzling mystery, some obscure history, and some insight into the human condition.....a great read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rachel D
    4.0 out of 5 stars A well researched,well told story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2017
    I first read Eric Ambler's books in the sixties and decided recently to re- read them. This book features an American lawyer who has been a bomber pilot in WW 2. He joins a prestigious law firm and is disappointed to be given what he regards as a mundane job going through all the tons of paperwork concerning claims to fortune. He eventually decides to go to Germany to try to find more information about a possible heir.whose ancestor was a sergeant is Napoleon's army. He and his interpreter follow various leads to narrow down the field.
    What Ambler does so well is give a sense of the place, his description of the retreat from the battle is excellent. He is also a superb storyteller. This story goes through several countries and ends up in post war Greece. I didn't know a lot about this period of history but it has been well researched , yet told in an easy readable way. The only thing that disappointed me was the ending.
  • bobsebrof
    4.0 out of 5 stars A nice read
    Reviewed in Australia on February 19, 2017
    This is a nice comfortable read. There is no gratuitous violence or sex. It is the story of a lawyer seeking the descendent of a lady who died with no will. The blurb is a bit over the top when it talks of a dangerous situation the requires more of what he learned during the war than of his skills as a lawyer. The documents he reviews leads him from the United States to Europe and investigations eventually take him to Greece where the journey ends, but unexpectedly.
  • Klaus
    5.0 out of 5 stars NOCH besser als das deutsche, weil: ORIGINAL
    Reviewed in Germany on February 9, 2014
    -an anderer Stelle (der Übersetzung) mehr, was soll ich mich wiederholen. Aber das Original ist immer das sicherste und schönste.
  • Roger Larry
    4.0 out of 5 stars always a pleasure Ambler delivers another suspenseful yarn
    Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2023
    Perhaps not the most profound of his novels but a treat right to the quirky end. Clever g device with the two Sargents
  • Catherine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great writing by a clever and knowledgeable man.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2022
    This is the first book by this author that I've read and I was blown away by it. It's just not the story but the amount of knowledge and history that the author includes which was in itself very interesting. I know this book is a couple of decades old and after reading it, you can understand where John LeCarre and Jeffrey Archer etc. learnt how to create a pacy thriller. (I'm Irish and live in Ireland but am a little puzzled as to why Amazon posted my review as though I live in the UK......strange...)...