We’re delighted to be sharing Laura’s thoughts on The Murder of Anton Livius by Hansjörg Schneider and translated by Astrid Freuler.
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- Publisher : Bitter Lemon Press (15 Jun. 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 232 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1913394875
- ISBN-13 : 978-1913394875
For Inspector Hunkeler the New Year begins with a most unwelcome phone call. He is summoned back to Basel from his holiday to unravel a gruesome killing in a gardening allotment on the city’s outskirts. An old man known as Anton Flockiger has been shot in the head and found hanging from a butcher’s hook from the roof of his garden shed – like butchers hang the carcasses of dead animals. Hunkeler must deal not only with the quarrelsome tenants of the allotment but with the challenges of investigating a murder that has taken place outside his jurisdiction, across the French border in Alsace. The case becomes increasingly mystifying when Hunkeler stumbles upon a sinister Second World War connection. What exactly happened in the Alsatian village of Ballersdorf in February 1943? And how are those events connected to the case?
Book Review
I thoroughly enjoyed Silver Pebbles so looked forward to reading the next Inspector Hunkeler book.
Hunkeler is summoned back to Basel to investigate a gruesome murder of an old man found in a community garden. He struggles with tension among the tenants and negotiating in areas outside his jurisdiction.
A series of clues including secrets form the Second World War leave Hunkeler perplexed to find the answer.
I found the detective’s character intriguing as he delved into the past to complete his investigation. I enjoyed his gruff character with a penchant for breaking social injustice.
The historical connections to the Second World War add another layer to this story which I enjoyed.
A great read set in Switzerland and France.
About the Author and Translator
Hansjörg Schneider lives in Basel and began his professional career as a journalist and essayist. He is the author of a number of highly acclaimed plays and of the bestselling Hunkeler crime series, now with ten titles published.
Astrid Freuler lives in Lidney, Gloucestershire. She is a young translator from German and has published translations of non-fiction and fiction, including the crime thriller A Shadow Falls by Andreas Pflüger. Twitter @AstridFreuler