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Almost Criminal
A disenchanted husband and wife. One reckless move. With a little luck, a tank full of gas, and an unexpected accomplice, they’ll go far in this funny and exhilarating novel about friendship, redemption, and reinvention on the run.
Tina and Markus Michel are an unexceptional couple with a mountain of debt and dead-end jobs. Until Markus impulsively robs a gas station (with a toy gun) and goes on the lam with a blindsided Tina and an accidental octogenarian hostage, Oskar Krauss.
But Oskar is far from the frail nursing home resident he’s portrayed as in the media. In fact, the spry and shrewd ex–petty criminal is in his element again, helping the anxious, middle-aged Bonnie and Clyde navigate an escape plan that turns a not-so-run-of-the-mill day absurdly on its head. The world is watching. The police give chase. And with every mile and exhilarating new day, Tina and Markus realize that leaving the conventional life behind for the thrilling unknown could be the best thing that ever happened.
As for Oskar, he has a destination and a lost love in mind—and surprises in store as a cross-country getaway becomes the adventure of a lifetime.
Tina and Markus Michel are an unexceptional couple with a mountain of debt and dead-end jobs. Until Markus impulsively robs a gas station (with a toy gun) and goes on the lam with a blindsided Tina and an accidental octogenarian hostage, Oskar Krauss.
But Oskar is far from the frail nursing home resident he’s portrayed as in the media. In fact, the spry and shrewd ex–petty criminal is in his element again, helping the anxious, middle-aged Bonnie and Clyde navigate an escape plan that turns a not-so-run-of-the-mill day absurdly on its head. The world is watching. The police give chase. And with every mile and exhilarating new day, Tina and Markus realize that leaving the conventional life behind for the thrilling unknown could be the best thing that ever happened.
As for Oskar, he has a destination and a lost love in mind—and surprises in store as a cross-country getaway becomes the adventure of a lifetime.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 26, 2026
This was such a quick, fun read that had me hooked from the very beginning! I both read and listened to this one through Kindle Unlimited, and I really enjoyed both formats. The narration brought the characters to life, while reading made it easy to savor all the sweet moments.
The story was entertaining from start to finish, with just enough suspense to keep me wondering how everything was going to play out. I loved the characters—they were absolutely adorable, and their journey was full of chaos and heart, making them easy to root for.
While parts of the plot were a little unrealistic, I didn’t mind because it was such a fun, feel-good escape. Overall, this was a charming, heartfelt read that left me smiling, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light, entertaining, and full of lovable characters!
The story was entertaining from start to finish, with just enough suspense to keep me wondering how everything was going to play out. I loved the characters—they were absolutely adorable, and their journey was full of chaos and heart, making them easy to root for.
While parts of the plot were a little unrealistic, I didn’t mind because it was such a fun, feel-good escape. Overall, this was a charming, heartfelt read that left me smiling, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light, entertaining, and full of lovable characters!
March 24, 2026
(Rounded up from 4.5 stars)
This translated work of fiction is such a cozy and heartwarming read! When Markus spontaneously decides to rob a gas station in a desperate attempt to help with the mounting bills at home, he has no idea that his wife is in there. Her decision to jump in the getaway vehicle, an ambulance, sets both of them on an unforgettable and life changing journey, far away from the daily grind that has worn them both down and created distance in their marriage. Oskar, the octogenarian ‘kidnapping victim’, steals the show with his clever mind and ability to think on the spot. The resulting trio shows us the importance of second chances and friendship. I loved the ending! A fun, easy to read and truly enjoyable book! This is the story that will get you out of a reading slump or cheer you up on a bad day.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for my copy.
This translated work of fiction is such a cozy and heartwarming read! When Markus spontaneously decides to rob a gas station in a desperate attempt to help with the mounting bills at home, he has no idea that his wife is in there. Her decision to jump in the getaway vehicle, an ambulance, sets both of them on an unforgettable and life changing journey, far away from the daily grind that has worn them both down and created distance in their marriage. Oskar, the octogenarian ‘kidnapping victim’, steals the show with his clever mind and ability to think on the spot. The resulting trio shows us the importance of second chances and friendship. I loved the ending! A fun, easy to read and truly enjoyable book! This is the story that will get you out of a reading slump or cheer you up on a bad day.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for my copy.
January 9, 2026
Almost Criminal is a light, clever story about what happens when one bad decision turns into the best kind of adventure. It finds humor and heart in chaos, showing how letting go of the everyday grind can wake you up again and make you grateful for the little things in life that really matter. The chemistry between the main characters gives everything an extra spark. They’re partners in both minor crimes and discovery of themselves, and that’s what makes it such an enjoyable ride.
Almost Criminal is funny and full of charm — a reminder that sometimes making a mess is exactly what we need to feel alive again.
Almost Criminal is funny and full of charm — a reminder that sometimes making a mess is exactly what we need to feel alive again.
March 16, 2026
Love love love! What a wonderfully funny and beautiful story about friendship and second chances in life. Yeh characters came to life on the pages for me, and I enjoyed every second of this book. An unlikely trio and their stories, this is a quick and very enjoyable read. I’d love to see it adapted as a film. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
April 29, 2026
Such a quick, great and funny read!!! Oskar was the true shining light in this book ❤️
November 24, 2025
Almost Criminal by Ulrike Herwig is a funny, cozy novel. I loved it. The characters were endearing and you will love them. Oskar was my favorite. I read this in a couple hours. It's a quick read at 207 pages. It is scheduled for release March 24 2026. You definitely need to mark your calendar to get your copy.
Synopsis-" Tina and Markus Michel are an unexceptional couple with a mountain of debt and dead-end jobs. Until Markus impulsively robs a gas station (with a toy gun) and goes on the lam with a blindsided Tina and an accidental octogenarian hostage, Oskar Krauss."
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon crossing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Don't forget to look for this book March 24 2026
Synopsis-" Tina and Markus Michel are an unexceptional couple with a mountain of debt and dead-end jobs. Until Markus impulsively robs a gas station (with a toy gun) and goes on the lam with a blindsided Tina and an accidental octogenarian hostage, Oskar Krauss."
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon crossing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Don't forget to look for this book March 24 2026
March 26, 2026
This book is the literary equivalent of a chaotic road trip where nobody has a map but everyone has a secret. I absolutely loved the prose—it’s punchy and has that distinct, dry wit that often shines in translated fiction.
The pacing is fantastic; it starts as a slow roll and picks up speed until you’re essentially hurtling down the autobahn with the characters. Speaking of characters, the multi-generational dynamic is everything.
The banter between the older and younger generations was so sharp and heart-tugging at the same time. The setting moves beautifully, making the travel feel like an essential part of the plot rather than just a backdrop.
It’s "almost" a crime how much I enjoyed this.
The pacing is fantastic; it starts as a slow roll and picks up speed until you’re essentially hurtling down the autobahn with the characters. Speaking of characters, the multi-generational dynamic is everything.
The banter between the older and younger generations was so sharp and heart-tugging at the same time. The setting moves beautifully, making the travel feel like an essential part of the plot rather than just a backdrop.
It’s "almost" a crime how much I enjoyed this.
June 3, 2026
Very amusing book
It saved me from my reading slump
A short book, a quick read but very entertaining.
Great escape from a heavy reality!
Tho there was a mini moment where I though eee why did this happen but then flipped the page and all was fixed ~ it had worked out just fine 🙂
I recommend it ~
I could have read the german version but somehow ended up with the english hehe
Would I had it enjoyed as much in german as well? 👀
It saved me from my reading slump
A short book, a quick read but very entertaining.
Great escape from a heavy reality!
Tho there was a mini moment where I though eee why did this happen but then flipped the page and all was fixed ~ it had worked out just fine 🙂
I recommend it ~
I could have read the german version but somehow ended up with the english hehe
Would I had it enjoyed as much in german as well? 👀
May 1, 2026
Delightful!
I just couldn't put this one down, I had to find out what happened to the fleeing threesome. I loved the beginning, middle and ending!
I just couldn't put this one down, I had to find out what happened to the fleeing threesome. I loved the beginning, middle and ending!
August 17, 2026
This has got to be my book of the year, it was absolutely brilliant, it started slowly and like the cars they acquired picked up speed as it went along, loved it! Tina and Markus have been married for a long time and both are/were fed up in their daily grinding jobs and now were in debt with no way in sight to improve on that. Until one morning for some inexplicable reason Markus decided to wave a gun (fake) in a petrol station and set off to run away with their money. Until he ran into his wife Tina who had had enough of her dreary job and had left the office to buy a sandwich with the few coins she had left and surprise there was her husband holding up a gas station and robbing it. The alarm was sounded and they both ran out of the door with the takings in an Aldi shopping bag, outside was an ambulance and no driver so Markus jumps in and so does Tina and they drive off into the distance. However they were unaware that there was a passenger in the back, an elderly man in his wheelchair on his way home from the hospital and having not gone far he's demanding they stop as he needs the toilet.
His name is Oskar and he's 87yrs old and the MAJOR star of this book, he's absolutely incredible, he knows loads of people who help them along their way, he gets them away from the police on more than one occasion and even the minister of a church realises who they are as their photos are plastered over his morning newspaper, but helps them along with another vehicle when their ambulance has given up, they aren't meant to be driven as such high speeds I think. And even their son left at home is amazed by his parents behaviour but backing them all along the line!
This book is really special in the sense that Tina and Markus really do care for Oskar and he in return shares that care with them, his son-in-law wants him put in a home, and not a very nice one and he doesn't want to go into a home like that where he'll just be sitting in a chair and dying, he wants to live a lot more. And meeting Tina and Markus has really helped him more than they could know. He knows a lot of people too and knows how to deal with different types and without him they would have been arrested and imprisoned but no, all 3 are bonded in ways which make you want to cry Oskar is actually really ill and by spending his last time with these two unlikely criminals has given him more time to enjoy his life and boy is he enjoying this adventure with two ordinary people caught up in criminal behaviour. Their kindness to him makes me want to cry, it comes over as genuine and that's in a book!
And when it comes time to a parting of the ways Tina and Markus don't want to leave him they are now like one caring loving family of three (well add into that their son who is with them making off into greater ventures away from Sweden). I have to say when I got to the end I finally did find tears softly falling down my face but they were tears of hopefulness in what was just a funny book I was going to read but it was so much more than that, showing that people, any person can change their way and find greater happiness caring for someone else who has helped them much more than they know. I found myself sitting on the swing seat in the garden under the canopy with the cat and smiling but teary at the same time! I am keeping this book on my kindle, someday maybe I may want to re-read it and remind myself that there are folks out there going about their daily lives who could make you sit up and smile, and help.
His name is Oskar and he's 87yrs old and the MAJOR star of this book, he's absolutely incredible, he knows loads of people who help them along their way, he gets them away from the police on more than one occasion and even the minister of a church realises who they are as their photos are plastered over his morning newspaper, but helps them along with another vehicle when their ambulance has given up, they aren't meant to be driven as such high speeds I think. And even their son left at home is amazed by his parents behaviour but backing them all along the line!
This book is really special in the sense that Tina and Markus really do care for Oskar and he in return shares that care with them, his son-in-law wants him put in a home, and not a very nice one and he doesn't want to go into a home like that where he'll just be sitting in a chair and dying, he wants to live a lot more. And meeting Tina and Markus has really helped him more than they could know. He knows a lot of people too and knows how to deal with different types and without him they would have been arrested and imprisoned but no, all 3 are bonded in ways which make you want to cry Oskar is actually really ill and by spending his last time with these two unlikely criminals has given him more time to enjoy his life and boy is he enjoying this adventure with two ordinary people caught up in criminal behaviour. Their kindness to him makes me want to cry, it comes over as genuine and that's in a book!
And when it comes time to a parting of the ways Tina and Markus don't want to leave him they are now like one caring loving family of three (well add into that their son who is with them making off into greater ventures away from Sweden). I have to say when I got to the end I finally did find tears softly falling down my face but they were tears of hopefulness in what was just a funny book I was going to read but it was so much more than that, showing that people, any person can change their way and find greater happiness caring for someone else who has helped them much more than they know. I found myself sitting on the swing seat in the garden under the canopy with the cat and smiling but teary at the same time! I am keeping this book on my kindle, someday maybe I may want to re-read it and remind myself that there are folks out there going about their daily lives who could make you sit up and smile, and help.
April 27, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of this audiobook.
4.5 ⭐
Oh, this book was wonderful. Definitely not something I have read before and I found the 6 hours of the audiobook to not be long enough. I loved the found family within the book and thought the translation from German to English to be fantastic.
Oscar was definitely my favorite character!
I loved the narrator and thought her German accents to be absolutely authentic. I couldn't tell if she was German, with a great English accent or English with a great German accent.
4.5 ⭐
Oh, this book was wonderful. Definitely not something I have read before and I found the 6 hours of the audiobook to not be long enough. I loved the found family within the book and thought the translation from German to English to be fantastic.
Oscar was definitely my favorite character!
I loved the narrator and thought her German accents to be absolutely authentic. I couldn't tell if she was German, with a great English accent or English with a great German accent.
July 8, 2026
Finally finished a book this month the audio was cute
April 8, 2026
loved this book
What a great book and different loved the old man great addition. Good characters I say it’s a must read I enjoyed it
What a great book and different loved the old man great addition. Good characters I say it’s a must read I enjoyed it
August 12, 2026
🪻 Spoiler-filled reviews: http://tinyurl.com/LadyCReviews
📖 Title: Almost Criminal
✍️ Author: Ulrike Herwig
🏷️ Genre: Crime Comedy / Contemporary Fiction / Road-Trip Fiction
📅 Start Date: August 11, 2026
🏁 Finish Date: August 12, 2026
⭐ Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
❤️ Favorite Character: Oskar Krauss. There was never really any competition. This 87-year-old “kidnapping victim” turned out to be the most experienced criminal in the vehicle and the heart of the entire story. He stole money, stole vehicles, casually admitted to dealing in coke and hash, screamed about being kidnapped while refusing to leave his kidnappers, and generally treated Tina and Markus’s catastrophic situation like the adventure he’d been waiting for. But underneath all of that ridiculousness was a dying man determined to get back to Elise, the love of his life, and spend whatever time he had left actually living.
😡 Least Favorite Character: Ralf Kirchmeier. We don’t spend much time with him directly, but according to Oskar he was the “biggest asshole on God’s green earth,” and frankly I trust Oskar’s assessment enough to give him the title.
👥 Favorite Supporting Character: Magda. She arrived with artificial titian-red hair piled high, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, a peach velvet suit, and stories about her call girls, and I loved her immediately. Then the book revealed that after losing her husband Ludwig more than forty years earlier, she never remarried or dated again and still visits the cemetery every day to talk to him. She was outrageous, funny, loving, loyal, and unexpectedly heartbreaking.
😭 Most Emotional Scene: Oskar finally admitting that his heart is failing. By then he has found Elise again and given Tina and Markus the money because he doesn’t need it anymore. When he says, “I have everything I need” because he got the love of his life back, the entire ridiculous road trip suddenly takes on another meaning. Oskar knew his time was running out. He wasn’t just escaping a nursing home. He was racing back toward the life and woman he loved while he still had time.
😂 Funniest Moment: Markus literally stopping to sniff a rose while they are trying to switch getaway vehicles. Tina is frantically trying to get this man to MOVE because they are FUGITIVES, and Markus is apparently having a botanical awakening. Honorable mention to the argument about checking the toilet, when Markus suddenly starts comparing himself to Al Capone after committing exactly one toy-gun robbery.
😱 Biggest Surprise: Susi helping Tina and Markus escape after finally catching them. The entire book builds her up as an incredibly thorough, unyielding police officer who “knows no friends” when it comes to her work. Then she essentially gives them instructions for escaping and even tells them approximately where to throw the gun so she won’t have to search the whole forest for it. I absolutely did not expect that.
🔍 Favorite Plot Twist: Oskar turning out to be a genuine longtime criminal. At first he’s this funny 87-year-old man Tina and Markus accidentally kidnap. Then little pieces start dropping: stolen money, stolen vehicles, coke, hash, cash, old criminal connections. Eventually it becomes obvious that the “hostage” is vastly more qualified for this adventure than either of his kidnappers. The title Almost Criminal becomes funnier every time another crime gets added to the pile.
💜 Favorite Quote (if any): “The first love is always the most beautiful. And the last love is the true one.” Honorable mention, for completely different reasons, to Tina’s magnificently stupid imitation of modern rap: “Fuckyoufuckmefuckyeahfuckfuckfuckbrofuckhofuckyeah!”
📖 What I Loved: This book was FUN. It took an armed robbery with a toy gun, an Aldi bag full of stolen money, a stolen ambulance, an accidental kidnapping, an 87-year-old career criminal, a former madam, stolen cars, hitchhikers, police roadblocks, fake identities, and a dying man’s search for his lost love and somehow turned all of it into a warm story about waking back up. I especially loved the older characters. Oskar, Magda, and Elise aren’t treated like harmless little elderly side characters whose lives are already over. They’ve had sex, committed crimes, loved deeply, lost people, made mistakes, held grudges, and still have things they want. Oskar physically becoming stronger once he starts taking photographs again and reunites with Elise was especially beautiful. I also loved Tina’s sarcastic internal commentary and watching her realize that what should have been the worst experience of her life was making her feel freer and more alive than she’d felt in years.
🤔 What Didn’t Work: The story definitely requires you to throw realism into the trunk and keep driving. 😂 The sheer number of lucky escapes, helpful strangers, conveniently available vehicles, criminal connections, and people willing to assist wanted fugitives becomes increasingly ridiculous. The legal consequences are also treated very lightly considering what Tina and Markus actually do. But the book clearly isn’t trying to be a realistic crime thriller, so most of that ridiculousness became part of its charm rather than ruining it for me.
⏳ Did It Earn Its Length?: Absolutely. At under 200 pages, this thing moves. It doesn’t hang around long enough for the premise to wear thin, and there is constantly another ridiculous complication, character, crime, escape, or emotional revelation waiting down the road.
📈 Momentum Rating: 9.5/10. Nearly every chapter either escalated the getaway, revealed something about Oskar, complicated Tina and Markus’s situation, or moved the characters emotionally. For such a short book, it packed in an absurd amount of story without feeling overloaded.
🎯 Would I Read This Again?: Yes. This would be a great palate-cleanser reread when I want something short, funny, warm, and completely unserious about the logistics of committing approximately 900 crimes across Germany.
👥 Who Should Read This?: Readers who like quirky crime fiction, elderly characters who refuse to behave themselves, found-family stories, unconventional road trips, second chances, dark-ish humor without a dark overall tone, and stories where ordinary people suddenly decide they are DONE with the lives they’ve been sleepwalking through.
🚫 Content Notes: Crime, armed robbery involving a toy gun, drug references, prostitution/sex-work references, police pursuit, death of spouses discussed, infidelity discussed, and terminal heart disease.
🧠 What this book left behind…: The idea that being alive and actually LIVING are not necessarily the same thing. Tina and Markus begin the book trapped in routines that are technically respectable but have drained them dry. Oskar is 87, sick, and supposedly at the end of his useful life, yet he’s the person who wakes everyone else up. His final adventure gives Tina and Markus their marriage back, gives Oskar his photography and Elise back, and ultimately gives the whole family another chance. Beneath all the crimes and comedy, this became a story about refusing to let age, fear, routine, or other people’s expectations decide when your life is finished. Oskar didn’t need the money in the end. He got what he actually came for.
🏆 Hall of Fame?
☐ Yes
☒ No
💜 Official Goodreads Review: Imagine trying to get lunch and discovering that your husband is robbing a gas station with a toy gun, escaping in a stolen ambulance, and has accidentally kidnapped an 87-year-old man who turns out to be a better criminal than either of you. That is basically how Almost Criminal begins, and somehow it only gets more ridiculous from there.
Oskar Krauss absolutely made this book for me. Our supposed kidnapping victim has criminal connections, steals money and vehicles like he’s running errands, casually discusses coke and hash, and seems positively delighted to be along for the ride. Watching Tina and Markus slowly realize that Grandpa Felony is actually the most competent person in their getaway vehicle was hilarious.
But what surprised me was how much heart was hiding underneath the comedy. Oskar isn’t simply looking for adventure. He’s trying to get back to Elise, the woman he has loved for most of his life, while his failing heart is quietly reminding him that he doesn’t have forever. Magda was another unexpected favorite: a fabulous former madam in peach velvet who lost the love of her life more than forty years ago and still visits his grave every day.
Meanwhile, Tina gradually realizes that being a wanted fugitive feels strangely more freeing than returning to a minimum-wage job where she’s miserable. The whole absurd adventure wakes something up in both her and Markus. Their life had become something they were enduring rather than living.
Is any of this remotely realistic? Absolutely not. These people accumulate crimes, stolen vehicles, convenient helpers, miraculous escapes, and unlikely coincidences like they’re collecting reward points. At some point you either accept the ridiculousness or you’re going to have a terrible time.
I accepted it. 😂
Almost Criminal turned out to be a funny, fast little road-trip story about second chances, aging, freedom, love, and realizing that it might not be too late to choose a different life. Oskar may have been running out of time, but he understood something everyone else had forgotten: having more days isn’t worth much if you aren’t actually living them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Title: Almost Criminal
✍️ Author: Ulrike Herwig
🏷️ Genre: Crime Comedy / Contemporary Fiction / Road-Trip Fiction
📅 Start Date: August 11, 2026
🏁 Finish Date: August 12, 2026
⭐ Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
❤️ Favorite Character: Oskar Krauss. There was never really any competition. This 87-year-old “kidnapping victim” turned out to be the most experienced criminal in the vehicle and the heart of the entire story. He stole money, stole vehicles, casually admitted to dealing in coke and hash, screamed about being kidnapped while refusing to leave his kidnappers, and generally treated Tina and Markus’s catastrophic situation like the adventure he’d been waiting for. But underneath all of that ridiculousness was a dying man determined to get back to Elise, the love of his life, and spend whatever time he had left actually living.
😡 Least Favorite Character: Ralf Kirchmeier. We don’t spend much time with him directly, but according to Oskar he was the “biggest asshole on God’s green earth,” and frankly I trust Oskar’s assessment enough to give him the title.
👥 Favorite Supporting Character: Magda. She arrived with artificial titian-red hair piled high, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, a peach velvet suit, and stories about her call girls, and I loved her immediately. Then the book revealed that after losing her husband Ludwig more than forty years earlier, she never remarried or dated again and still visits the cemetery every day to talk to him. She was outrageous, funny, loving, loyal, and unexpectedly heartbreaking.
😭 Most Emotional Scene: Oskar finally admitting that his heart is failing. By then he has found Elise again and given Tina and Markus the money because he doesn’t need it anymore. When he says, “I have everything I need” because he got the love of his life back, the entire ridiculous road trip suddenly takes on another meaning. Oskar knew his time was running out. He wasn’t just escaping a nursing home. He was racing back toward the life and woman he loved while he still had time.
😂 Funniest Moment: Markus literally stopping to sniff a rose while they are trying to switch getaway vehicles. Tina is frantically trying to get this man to MOVE because they are FUGITIVES, and Markus is apparently having a botanical awakening. Honorable mention to the argument about checking the toilet, when Markus suddenly starts comparing himself to Al Capone after committing exactly one toy-gun robbery.
😱 Biggest Surprise: Susi helping Tina and Markus escape after finally catching them. The entire book builds her up as an incredibly thorough, unyielding police officer who “knows no friends” when it comes to her work. Then she essentially gives them instructions for escaping and even tells them approximately where to throw the gun so she won’t have to search the whole forest for it. I absolutely did not expect that.
🔍 Favorite Plot Twist: Oskar turning out to be a genuine longtime criminal. At first he’s this funny 87-year-old man Tina and Markus accidentally kidnap. Then little pieces start dropping: stolen money, stolen vehicles, coke, hash, cash, old criminal connections. Eventually it becomes obvious that the “hostage” is vastly more qualified for this adventure than either of his kidnappers. The title Almost Criminal becomes funnier every time another crime gets added to the pile.
💜 Favorite Quote (if any): “The first love is always the most beautiful. And the last love is the true one.” Honorable mention, for completely different reasons, to Tina’s magnificently stupid imitation of modern rap: “Fuckyoufuckmefuckyeahfuckfuckfuckbrofuckhofuckyeah!”
📖 What I Loved: This book was FUN. It took an armed robbery with a toy gun, an Aldi bag full of stolen money, a stolen ambulance, an accidental kidnapping, an 87-year-old career criminal, a former madam, stolen cars, hitchhikers, police roadblocks, fake identities, and a dying man’s search for his lost love and somehow turned all of it into a warm story about waking back up. I especially loved the older characters. Oskar, Magda, and Elise aren’t treated like harmless little elderly side characters whose lives are already over. They’ve had sex, committed crimes, loved deeply, lost people, made mistakes, held grudges, and still have things they want. Oskar physically becoming stronger once he starts taking photographs again and reunites with Elise was especially beautiful. I also loved Tina’s sarcastic internal commentary and watching her realize that what should have been the worst experience of her life was making her feel freer and more alive than she’d felt in years.
🤔 What Didn’t Work: The story definitely requires you to throw realism into the trunk and keep driving. 😂 The sheer number of lucky escapes, helpful strangers, conveniently available vehicles, criminal connections, and people willing to assist wanted fugitives becomes increasingly ridiculous. The legal consequences are also treated very lightly considering what Tina and Markus actually do. But the book clearly isn’t trying to be a realistic crime thriller, so most of that ridiculousness became part of its charm rather than ruining it for me.
⏳ Did It Earn Its Length?: Absolutely. At under 200 pages, this thing moves. It doesn’t hang around long enough for the premise to wear thin, and there is constantly another ridiculous complication, character, crime, escape, or emotional revelation waiting down the road.
📈 Momentum Rating: 9.5/10. Nearly every chapter either escalated the getaway, revealed something about Oskar, complicated Tina and Markus’s situation, or moved the characters emotionally. For such a short book, it packed in an absurd amount of story without feeling overloaded.
🎯 Would I Read This Again?: Yes. This would be a great palate-cleanser reread when I want something short, funny, warm, and completely unserious about the logistics of committing approximately 900 crimes across Germany.
👥 Who Should Read This?: Readers who like quirky crime fiction, elderly characters who refuse to behave themselves, found-family stories, unconventional road trips, second chances, dark-ish humor without a dark overall tone, and stories where ordinary people suddenly decide they are DONE with the lives they’ve been sleepwalking through.
🚫 Content Notes: Crime, armed robbery involving a toy gun, drug references, prostitution/sex-work references, police pursuit, death of spouses discussed, infidelity discussed, and terminal heart disease.
🧠 What this book left behind…: The idea that being alive and actually LIVING are not necessarily the same thing. Tina and Markus begin the book trapped in routines that are technically respectable but have drained them dry. Oskar is 87, sick, and supposedly at the end of his useful life, yet he’s the person who wakes everyone else up. His final adventure gives Tina and Markus their marriage back, gives Oskar his photography and Elise back, and ultimately gives the whole family another chance. Beneath all the crimes and comedy, this became a story about refusing to let age, fear, routine, or other people’s expectations decide when your life is finished. Oskar didn’t need the money in the end. He got what he actually came for.
🏆 Hall of Fame?
☐ Yes
☒ No
💜 Official Goodreads Review: Imagine trying to get lunch and discovering that your husband is robbing a gas station with a toy gun, escaping in a stolen ambulance, and has accidentally kidnapped an 87-year-old man who turns out to be a better criminal than either of you. That is basically how Almost Criminal begins, and somehow it only gets more ridiculous from there.
Oskar Krauss absolutely made this book for me. Our supposed kidnapping victim has criminal connections, steals money and vehicles like he’s running errands, casually discusses coke and hash, and seems positively delighted to be along for the ride. Watching Tina and Markus slowly realize that Grandpa Felony is actually the most competent person in their getaway vehicle was hilarious.
But what surprised me was how much heart was hiding underneath the comedy. Oskar isn’t simply looking for adventure. He’s trying to get back to Elise, the woman he has loved for most of his life, while his failing heart is quietly reminding him that he doesn’t have forever. Magda was another unexpected favorite: a fabulous former madam in peach velvet who lost the love of her life more than forty years ago and still visits his grave every day.
Meanwhile, Tina gradually realizes that being a wanted fugitive feels strangely more freeing than returning to a minimum-wage job where she’s miserable. The whole absurd adventure wakes something up in both her and Markus. Their life had become something they were enduring rather than living.
Is any of this remotely realistic? Absolutely not. These people accumulate crimes, stolen vehicles, convenient helpers, miraculous escapes, and unlikely coincidences like they’re collecting reward points. At some point you either accept the ridiculousness or you’re going to have a terrible time.
I accepted it. 😂
Almost Criminal turned out to be a funny, fast little road-trip story about second chances, aging, freedom, love, and realizing that it might not be too late to choose a different life. Oskar may have been running out of time, but he understood something everyone else had forgotten: having more days isn’t worth much if you aren’t actually living them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
Ever feel like you’re wasting your life away working at your mundane job where you’re barely getting by? Where everything seems to be falling apart and no matter how hard you try, it’s one step forward and two steps back? Where there’s literally no more edges to “trim-the-fat” as they say. Well that is where Almost Criminal starts!
After being at their wit’s end, Tina discover’s Markus, her husband, robbing a gas station. To her dismay, she now not only finds herself to be an accomplice to the robbery, but an abductor of an elderly man as well.
While they aren’t bad people, just ones who drew the short in of the stick in life, Tina and Markus are stuck with their new travel companion Oskar as he has zero intentions of returning to the nursing home.
This books is a wholesome, morally grey, story portraying their journey on a way to a new life.
Oskar is the star of the show, undoubtedly, as he has plenty of witting, blunt, and hilarious things to say. It’s true in real life, as well in this book - the older you get, the less filter you have!
While I don’t condone robbery or thief, I sense the plot more or less wants to persuade people that if you aren’t happy where you are in life, it’s up to you to change it. Step out of your comfort zone. Otherwise, nothing will change.
This is a quick easy read at a little over 200 pages. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for the ARC and thank you Ulrike Herwig for allowing me to read your book!
After being at their wit’s end, Tina discover’s Markus, her husband, robbing a gas station. To her dismay, she now not only finds herself to be an accomplice to the robbery, but an abductor of an elderly man as well.
While they aren’t bad people, just ones who drew the short in of the stick in life, Tina and Markus are stuck with their new travel companion Oskar as he has zero intentions of returning to the nursing home.
This books is a wholesome, morally grey, story portraying their journey on a way to a new life.
Oskar is the star of the show, undoubtedly, as he has plenty of witting, blunt, and hilarious things to say. It’s true in real life, as well in this book - the older you get, the less filter you have!
While I don’t condone robbery or thief, I sense the plot more or less wants to persuade people that if you aren’t happy where you are in life, it’s up to you to change it. Step out of your comfort zone. Otherwise, nothing will change.
This is a quick easy read at a little over 200 pages. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for the ARC and thank you Ulrike Herwig for allowing me to read your book!
April 3, 2026
I didn’t really know what to expect, but this ended up being a surprisingly good read! The translation was so smooth that if I hadn’t noticed the author’s name, I never would’ve guessed it wasn’t originally written in English.
It was genuinely funny, with a cast of lovable characters—even if I didn’t exactly agree with their choices or behavior. That mix made it really entertaining to follow along.
It’s a quick, easy read that doesn’t overstay its welcome. I read this one, but I can easily imagine the audiobook being fantastic just based on how distinct and lively the characters felt. Overall, a fun and unexpected read!
Thank you NetGalley, and Amazon Crossing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
It was genuinely funny, with a cast of lovable characters—even if I didn’t exactly agree with their choices or behavior. That mix made it really entertaining to follow along.
It’s a quick, easy read that doesn’t overstay its welcome. I read this one, but I can easily imagine the audiobook being fantastic just based on how distinct and lively the characters felt. Overall, a fun and unexpected read!
Thank you NetGalley, and Amazon Crossing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
December 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Crossing and Ulrike Herwig for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.
Almost Criminal is amazing. The characters are just the right amount of morally grey. I fell in love with Oskar right from the start. For what starts out as a chaotic mess, turns turns into something completely different... something meaningful. The world building is excellent. The flow is a perfect pace.
I truly recommend that y'all get y'alls hands on this one.
Almost Criminal is amazing. The characters are just the right amount of morally grey. I fell in love with Oskar right from the start. For what starts out as a chaotic mess, turns turns into something completely different... something meaningful. The world building is excellent. The flow is a perfect pace.
I truly recommend that y'all get y'alls hands on this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Finished reading: February 19th 2026
"Criminal?" Oskar asked back. "Well, I think it's always a question of perspective. I was, first and foremost, a gentleman."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Amazon Crossing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
November 28, 2025
📖 THE STORY
Almost Criminal takes an ordinary, exhausted couple and throws them into the wildest, most unexpectedly heartwarming adventure of their lives. Tina and Markus, buried under debt and disappointment, end up on the run with Oskar — an octogenarian who is absolutely not the fragile “victim” he appears to be. What begins as a chaotic mistake quickly becomes something far more meaningful: a chance for all three of them to rediscover who they are, what they want, and how much life they still have left to live. It’s funny, warm, chaotic, and surprisingly tender.
♥️ WHAT I LOVED
What really stole my heart in this story was the second-chance love for Oskar — watching him reconnect with a lost love was such a tender, beautiful thread. I also adored the way Tina and Markus found their way back to each other through sheer chaos; seeing them rediscover their connection was surprisingly moving. The theme of new beginnings born from mess and mayhem hit perfectly for me, the idea that sometimes life has to fall apart to make room for something better. And of course, the found-family dynamic absolutely shone — I’m always a sucker for it, and this trio delivered peak chaotic–heartfelt bliss. Oskar completely stole the show too; mischievous, sharp, and full of life, he was hands down my favourite character. I’ll never say no to an older character who brings humour, wisdom, and just the right amount of trouble.
🤔 WHAT DIDN’T QUITE LAND
Some pacing dips: A few scenes linger longer than they need to, but the charm makes up for it.
💡 OVERALL
This story is warm, funny, chaotic in all the right ways, and full of heart. I loved the way second chances — in love, in life, in relationships — are woven through the narrative. Tina and Markus will never go back to their old lives and honestly? That’s the beauty of it. Almost Criminal is a delightful reminder that sometimes the best things come from the messiest moments, and that found family (especially when it includes a mischievous old man like Oskar) can make all the difference.
A lovely, heartfelt read with charm and humour in every chapter. a paints him to be. Sharp, mischievous, and more than a little too comfortable with crime, he slides right back into old habits and becomes the unlikely mastermind of their getaway. As the trio races across the country, the police close in, the public becomes obsessed, and Tina and Markus start to realise that ditching their dead-end lives for the unknown might be the best decision they’ve ever made.
And Oskar? He has his own mission — a destination, a lost love, and a few surprises that turn this impulsive escape into the adventure none of them saw coming.
💫 Thank you to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review💫
Almost Criminal takes an ordinary, exhausted couple and throws them into the wildest, most unexpectedly heartwarming adventure of their lives. Tina and Markus, buried under debt and disappointment, end up on the run with Oskar — an octogenarian who is absolutely not the fragile “victim” he appears to be. What begins as a chaotic mistake quickly becomes something far more meaningful: a chance for all three of them to rediscover who they are, what they want, and how much life they still have left to live. It’s funny, warm, chaotic, and surprisingly tender.
♥️ WHAT I LOVED
What really stole my heart in this story was the second-chance love for Oskar — watching him reconnect with a lost love was such a tender, beautiful thread. I also adored the way Tina and Markus found their way back to each other through sheer chaos; seeing them rediscover their connection was surprisingly moving. The theme of new beginnings born from mess and mayhem hit perfectly for me, the idea that sometimes life has to fall apart to make room for something better. And of course, the found-family dynamic absolutely shone — I’m always a sucker for it, and this trio delivered peak chaotic–heartfelt bliss. Oskar completely stole the show too; mischievous, sharp, and full of life, he was hands down my favourite character. I’ll never say no to an older character who brings humour, wisdom, and just the right amount of trouble.
🤔 WHAT DIDN’T QUITE LAND
Some pacing dips: A few scenes linger longer than they need to, but the charm makes up for it.
💡 OVERALL
This story is warm, funny, chaotic in all the right ways, and full of heart. I loved the way second chances — in love, in life, in relationships — are woven through the narrative. Tina and Markus will never go back to their old lives and honestly? That’s the beauty of it. Almost Criminal is a delightful reminder that sometimes the best things come from the messiest moments, and that found family (especially when it includes a mischievous old man like Oskar) can make all the difference.
A lovely, heartfelt read with charm and humour in every chapter. a paints him to be. Sharp, mischievous, and more than a little too comfortable with crime, he slides right back into old habits and becomes the unlikely mastermind of their getaway. As the trio races across the country, the police close in, the public becomes obsessed, and Tina and Markus start to realise that ditching their dead-end lives for the unknown might be the best decision they’ve ever made.
And Oskar? He has his own mission — a destination, a lost love, and a few surprises that turn this impulsive escape into the adventure none of them saw coming.
💫 Thank you to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review💫
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧 Audio Review: While I’m sure this will be enjoyable in physical/ebook format, I absolutely LOVED the audiobook!! When it comes to the old man, Oskar, that they accidentally abduct, hearing him in the audio is amazing and truly brought his character to life!! Highly recommend!! 👏
📝 Story Review: I loved this story so much!
Tina and her husband Markus have struggled with barely being able to make ends meet and being unhappy in their jobs. But Tina wasn’t expecting to wind up on the run from the police, in an ambulance with her husband, who had just held up a gas station. Things get even wilder when they realize that they’re not alone in the ambulance… Now they’re on the run, but also kind of taking a road trip with their humorous elderly companion, Oskar.
Picture Bonnie and Clyde vibes, but with a lot less bloodshed and a lot of humor! Oskar was my fave character and I loved the dynamics between the 3 of them as time went on. Despite some criminal activity and being on the run from the law, you’ll be rooting for these characters! I wanted them to have a happy ending, but was unsure how that could possibly happen. (You’ll have to find out for yourself.) - This was fun and heartwarming, with great found family vibes!
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5!
Vibes: Funny; Heartwarming; Road trippy.
Tropes 👇
- Road trip (while on the run)
- Accidental hostage
- Humorous situations
- Lovable old man
- Found family
- Lost love, found!
- Hidden treasure
- Bonnie and Clyde… yet not really
CW’s 👇
- Mention of elderly abuse at a care facility
Audio Release Date: March 24, 2026
Audio Run Time: 6 hrs, 34 mins
Narrated By: Jessica Taige
Genre: Comedic Suspense; Women’s Fiction
POV: Third Person; Single
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review!
📝 Story Review: I loved this story so much!
Tina and her husband Markus have struggled with barely being able to make ends meet and being unhappy in their jobs. But Tina wasn’t expecting to wind up on the run from the police, in an ambulance with her husband, who had just held up a gas station. Things get even wilder when they realize that they’re not alone in the ambulance… Now they’re on the run, but also kind of taking a road trip with their humorous elderly companion, Oskar.
Picture Bonnie and Clyde vibes, but with a lot less bloodshed and a lot of humor! Oskar was my fave character and I loved the dynamics between the 3 of them as time went on. Despite some criminal activity and being on the run from the law, you’ll be rooting for these characters! I wanted them to have a happy ending, but was unsure how that could possibly happen. (You’ll have to find out for yourself.) - This was fun and heartwarming, with great found family vibes!
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5!
Vibes: Funny; Heartwarming; Road trippy.
Tropes 👇
- Road trip (while on the run)
- Accidental hostage
- Humorous situations
- Lovable old man
- Found family
- Lost love, found!
- Hidden treasure
- Bonnie and Clyde… yet not really
CW’s 👇
- Mention of elderly abuse at a care facility
Audio Release Date: March 24, 2026
Audio Run Time: 6 hrs, 34 mins
Narrated By: Jessica Taige
Genre: Comedic Suspense; Women’s Fiction
POV: Third Person; Single
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to Amazon Crossing Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Tina and Markus Michel have never been lucky with finances. One fateful day, Markus snaps and robs a gas station with a toy gun. Tina, who happens to be in the store looking for cheap snacks for her lunch, recognizes her husband and runs after him, only to end up in a stolen ambulance with an 87-year-old man locked in the back. While the entire police force chases them, the accidental Bonnie and Clyde and their conniving grandpa "hostage" soon realize that this thrilling cross-country chase may as well be the best thing that has ever happened to each of them.
I must say that this has been one of the most light-hearted and funny novels I've read in a very long time! The situation is an absolute pickle, yes, but Oskar... He's an 87-year-old rockstar on wheels (of his wheelchair)! He is just the kind of character I adore: elderly and sarcastic, but hilarious to the bone! I loved the dynamics between Tina, Markus, and Oskar, and how they became found family in the course of a couple of days and during their hide-and-seek with the police. The tricks Oskar pulled off to save the day were clever and mostly entertaining. Seeing the realizations they come to during their journey made me consider the things I take for granted in my life, too, and in a way warmed my heart and made me see how blessed my life is in many ways.
If you are looking for banter, a fun adventure full of "coming-of-age" vibes, and one hell of a cool grandpa to make you realize it's actually all very simple in life, this one is a great and quick read (just over 200 pages).
PLOT SUMMARY:
Tina and Markus Michel have never been lucky with finances. One fateful day, Markus snaps and robs a gas station with a toy gun. Tina, who happens to be in the store looking for cheap snacks for her lunch, recognizes her husband and runs after him, only to end up in a stolen ambulance with an 87-year-old man locked in the back. While the entire police force chases them, the accidental Bonnie and Clyde and their conniving grandpa "hostage" soon realize that this thrilling cross-country chase may as well be the best thing that has ever happened to each of them.
I must say that this has been one of the most light-hearted and funny novels I've read in a very long time! The situation is an absolute pickle, yes, but Oskar... He's an 87-year-old rockstar on wheels (of his wheelchair)! He is just the kind of character I adore: elderly and sarcastic, but hilarious to the bone! I loved the dynamics between Tina, Markus, and Oskar, and how they became found family in the course of a couple of days and during their hide-and-seek with the police. The tricks Oskar pulled off to save the day were clever and mostly entertaining. Seeing the realizations they come to during their journey made me consider the things I take for granted in my life, too, and in a way warmed my heart and made me see how blessed my life is in many ways.
If you are looking for banter, a fun adventure full of "coming-of-age" vibes, and one hell of a cool grandpa to make you realize it's actually all very simple in life, this one is a great and quick read (just over 200 pages).
May 25, 2026
Book Review — Crime Fiction / Dark Comedy
Just finished Almost Criminal by Ulrike Herwig
⭐ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… watching ordinary people accidentally turn into criminals and somehow getting worse at lying with every mile.
I went into this expecting crime drama, but honestly? The dark humor and chaotic energy completely won me over.
Tina and Markus are drowning in debt and disappointment when one impulsive gas station robbery suddenly sends them on the run — along with an accidental elderly hostage who turns out to be WAY more experienced in crime than either of them expected.
Did I care about the characters? Definitely. They were messy, frustrated, reckless, and surprisingly easy to root for even while everything spiraled out of control.
Tropes included: crime gone wrong, accidental criminals, road trip chaos, morally messy characters, found friendship, older mentor figure, dark comedy.
These tropes made the story feel tense and hilarious at the same time.
Pacing? Fast, chaotic, and ridiculously bingeable once the road trip begins.
This book made me feel: stressed for everyone involved but also weirdly hopeful underneath all the disaster.
What really worked for me was the balance between humor and emotional depth. Beneath all the ridiculous situations, the story is really about people feeling trapped in their lives and desperately reaching for freedom, even in the worst possible way.
And honestly?
Oskar completely stole the show for me.
Perfect for readers who love darkly funny crime stories, morally complicated characters, and road-trip chaos where absolutely nobody has a good plan.
Just finished Almost Criminal by Ulrike Herwig
⭐ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… watching ordinary people accidentally turn into criminals and somehow getting worse at lying with every mile.
I went into this expecting crime drama, but honestly? The dark humor and chaotic energy completely won me over.
Tina and Markus are drowning in debt and disappointment when one impulsive gas station robbery suddenly sends them on the run — along with an accidental elderly hostage who turns out to be WAY more experienced in crime than either of them expected.
Did I care about the characters? Definitely. They were messy, frustrated, reckless, and surprisingly easy to root for even while everything spiraled out of control.
Tropes included: crime gone wrong, accidental criminals, road trip chaos, morally messy characters, found friendship, older mentor figure, dark comedy.
These tropes made the story feel tense and hilarious at the same time.
Pacing? Fast, chaotic, and ridiculously bingeable once the road trip begins.
This book made me feel: stressed for everyone involved but also weirdly hopeful underneath all the disaster.
What really worked for me was the balance between humor and emotional depth. Beneath all the ridiculous situations, the story is really about people feeling trapped in their lives and desperately reaching for freedom, even in the worst possible way.
And honestly?
Oskar completely stole the show for me.
Perfect for readers who love darkly funny crime stories, morally complicated characters, and road-trip chaos where absolutely nobody has a good plan.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The premise of this story made me pick up this book. A couple going through the mundane and hard grind of life with nothing very spectacular or enjoyable and suddenly the wife is caught up in her husband's not well planned out robbery and accidental kidnapping. Oskar, the 87 year old man, makes the story for me. He keeps them on their toes and running from authorities. He surprises them at every corner and challenges them not to go back to life as they knew it.
I always love the surprising main characters and love the forty some year old woman and this quirky kidnapped man who becomes just as much a part of this running from the cops adventure.
The audio book is great! This may be the only contemporary translated novel I've read and although the setting is in Germany it feels like it could have happened anywhere. The only thing that made me rewind sometimes were names of people and places as I was like "what was that?" and then I remembered the original was written in German.
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this title. I will definitely be purchasing this title for my store.
Note/Caution/Warning:
Language: some minor swearing throughout
I always love the surprising main characters and love the forty some year old woman and this quirky kidnapped man who becomes just as much a part of this running from the cops adventure.
The audio book is great! This may be the only contemporary translated novel I've read and although the setting is in Germany it feels like it could have happened anywhere. The only thing that made me rewind sometimes were names of people and places as I was like "what was that?" and then I remembered the original was written in German.
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this title. I will definitely be purchasing this title for my store.
Note/Caution/Warning:
Language: some minor swearing throughout
March 20, 2026
Thank you Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for this ARC, out March 24th.
What starts as a desperate mistake quickly spirals into something far more unexpected…
Tina and Markus, a struggling couple in Germany, make a reckless decision that turns them into unlikely criminals—robbing a petrol station and, somehow, accidentally kidnapping 87-year-old Oskar. But Oskar isn’t your typical victim. Instead of panic, he sees opportunity—his last shot at adventure.
What follows is a chaotic, witty road trip across Germany, as Oskar convinces them to take him to his hometown by the North Sea to recover a family treasure. Along the way, things get increasingly messy, with questionable decisions, shady connections, and plenty of scheming.
This is a light-hearted, slightly absurd crime comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The humour lands well, Oskar absolutely steals the show, and the whole story has that “what did I just read—but in a good way” vibe.
That said, it leans more into quirky fun than depth, so if you’re looking for strong emotional stakes, this might feel a bit too light.
Overall, a quick, entertaining read with a lovable wildcard at its centre.
What starts as a desperate mistake quickly spirals into something far more unexpected…
Tina and Markus, a struggling couple in Germany, make a reckless decision that turns them into unlikely criminals—robbing a petrol station and, somehow, accidentally kidnapping 87-year-old Oskar. But Oskar isn’t your typical victim. Instead of panic, he sees opportunity—his last shot at adventure.
What follows is a chaotic, witty road trip across Germany, as Oskar convinces them to take him to his hometown by the North Sea to recover a family treasure. Along the way, things get increasingly messy, with questionable decisions, shady connections, and plenty of scheming.
This is a light-hearted, slightly absurd crime comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The humour lands well, Oskar absolutely steals the show, and the whole story has that “what did I just read—but in a good way” vibe.
That said, it leans more into quirky fun than depth, so if you’re looking for strong emotional stakes, this might feel a bit too light.
Overall, a quick, entertaining read with a lovable wildcard at its centre.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
grateful to NetGalley, the Author, and publishers for granting me this audiobook ARC!
⭐️.75
first, i would like to say that i somewhat enjoyed the audio narration of this book. aided by that fact, this book was entertaining enough to keep me listening, but it was also overly silly, highly corny and wildly unrealistic. the plot jumps from one exaggerated situation to another, relying on coincidence and chaos rather than believable stakes and plot lines, which made it hard to take anything seriously—even the intended “serious” scenes.
the characters were personable on the surface, but felt more like caricatures than real people. their motivations lacked depth, and many of their choices made little sense beyond pushing the plot forward. alongside this, their interactions were cringe and dialogue felt odd.
i also came across a few lines, intended as jokes, that felt offensive and unnecessary, which further dampened my enjoyment.
overall, it was a quick, mildly amusing listen but was just far too unrealistic and all over the place to leave much of an impression.
⭐️.75
first, i would like to say that i somewhat enjoyed the audio narration of this book. aided by that fact, this book was entertaining enough to keep me listening, but it was also overly silly, highly corny and wildly unrealistic. the plot jumps from one exaggerated situation to another, relying on coincidence and chaos rather than believable stakes and plot lines, which made it hard to take anything seriously—even the intended “serious” scenes.
the characters were personable on the surface, but felt more like caricatures than real people. their motivations lacked depth, and many of their choices made little sense beyond pushing the plot forward. alongside this, their interactions were cringe and dialogue felt odd.
i also came across a few lines, intended as jokes, that felt offensive and unnecessary, which further dampened my enjoyment.
overall, it was a quick, mildly amusing listen but was just far too unrealistic and all over the place to leave much of an impression.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this.
The premise and writing style is reminiscent of Fredrik Backman, and immediately I was sold.
This story is about life and second chances, and what happens when a desperate man decides to hold up a gas station...
Oskar was by far my favourite character. He was a hoot - always ready with a plan of escape.
it was also refreshing reading about regular people going through life hating their jobs (which is relatable on some level to everyone) and seeing Tina especially realising and sharing with her former colleague that you don't have to stay in that space if you don't want to be there.
In the grand scheme, I guess that is the true message of the book: the trajectory of your life is completely up to you (not that I'm saying you should rob a gas station and kidnap an elderly man before going on the run).
This book gets a definitive yes from me.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC of this title.
The premise and writing style is reminiscent of Fredrik Backman, and immediately I was sold.
This story is about life and second chances, and what happens when a desperate man decides to hold up a gas station...
Oskar was by far my favourite character. He was a hoot - always ready with a plan of escape.
it was also refreshing reading about regular people going through life hating their jobs (which is relatable on some level to everyone) and seeing Tina especially realising and sharing with her former colleague that you don't have to stay in that space if you don't want to be there.
In the grand scheme, I guess that is the true message of the book: the trajectory of your life is completely up to you (not that I'm saying you should rob a gas station and kidnap an elderly man before going on the run).
This book gets a definitive yes from me.
Thank you to Amazon Crossing Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC of this title.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really cute read. It’s a story about love, family, friendship, and finding your way when life doesn’t go as planned. I really enjoyed it.
Tina and Markus Michel are a struggling married couple drowning in debt and stuck in dead-end jobs. Everything changes when Markus makes a reckless decision and robs a gas station with a toy gun. Suddenly they’re on the run—with Tina unwillingly along for the ride and an accidental hostage, eighty-year-old Oskar Krauss.
But Oskar isn’t the helpless old man everyone thinks he is. The clever former petty criminal quickly becomes the unexpected guide for this chaotic escape. As the police chase them and the whole world watches, their strange road trip turns into an unforgettable adventure.
Along the way, the trio discovers friendship, second chances, and maybe even a little redemption. With plenty of humor and heart, this story shows that sometimes the most unexpected journeys can lead to the biggest changes.
Tina and Markus Michel are a struggling married couple drowning in debt and stuck in dead-end jobs. Everything changes when Markus makes a reckless decision and robs a gas station with a toy gun. Suddenly they’re on the run—with Tina unwillingly along for the ride and an accidental hostage, eighty-year-old Oskar Krauss.
But Oskar isn’t the helpless old man everyone thinks he is. The clever former petty criminal quickly becomes the unexpected guide for this chaotic escape. As the police chase them and the whole world watches, their strange road trip turns into an unforgettable adventure.
Along the way, the trio discovers friendship, second chances, and maybe even a little redemption. With plenty of humor and heart, this story shows that sometimes the most unexpected journeys can lead to the biggest changes.
March 26, 2026
thankyou #netgallery for the audiobook arc
this was such a fun and hilarious book to read. its a book truly based on "what else could go wrong" phrase. This book is a cozy, funny, and heartwarming read.
It follows Markus, who impulsively robs a gas station to help with bills, only to discover his wife is inside. When she unexpectedly joins his getaway in an ambulance, the two are launched into a chaotic, life changing journey. Along the way, Oskar the elderly “kidnapping victim” completely steals the show with his wit and charm. The trio’s dynamic is hilarious, touching, and full of unexpected warmth. I loved how the story explored second chances, friendship, and reconnecting through chaos. i almost cried at the ending The pacing starts gently but quickly turns into a wild, unforgettable road trip, with found family vibes. I was rooting for them the entire time.
Funny, uplifting, and deeply enjoyable, this is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump.
this was such a fun and hilarious book to read. its a book truly based on "what else could go wrong" phrase. This book is a cozy, funny, and heartwarming read.
It follows Markus, who impulsively robs a gas station to help with bills, only to discover his wife is inside. When she unexpectedly joins his getaway in an ambulance, the two are launched into a chaotic, life changing journey. Along the way, Oskar the elderly “kidnapping victim” completely steals the show with his wit and charm. The trio’s dynamic is hilarious, touching, and full of unexpected warmth. I loved how the story explored second chances, friendship, and reconnecting through chaos. i almost cried at the ending The pacing starts gently but quickly turns into a wild, unforgettable road trip, with found family vibes. I was rooting for them the entire time.
Funny, uplifting, and deeply enjoyable, this is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump.
April 15, 2026
Accidental Outlaw
Imagine popping out of the office for a quick gas station lunch, only to find yourself in the middle of a heist. Now, imagine the robber’s voice sounds suspiciously like your husband’s.
That is the chaotic reality for Tina, the protagonist of Almost Criminal. After chasing down the getaway car and hitching a ride with her bewildered husband, Marcus, the couple finds themselves accidental outlaws on the run. Their duo quickly becomes a trio when they encounter Oscar, a nursing home escapee with a shadowy past who becomes the unlikely "brains" of the operation.
Written by Ulrike Herwig and narrated by Jessica Taige, this audiobook is an absolute riot. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the seven-hour runtime and powered through it in just two days. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced "ride-along," this is it!
Imagine popping out of the office for a quick gas station lunch, only to find yourself in the middle of a heist. Now, imagine the robber’s voice sounds suspiciously like your husband’s.
That is the chaotic reality for Tina, the protagonist of Almost Criminal. After chasing down the getaway car and hitching a ride with her bewildered husband, Marcus, the couple finds themselves accidental outlaws on the run. Their duo quickly becomes a trio when they encounter Oscar, a nursing home escapee with a shadowy past who becomes the unlikely "brains" of the operation.
Written by Ulrike Herwig and narrated by Jessica Taige, this audiobook is an absolute riot. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the seven-hour runtime and powered through it in just two days. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced "ride-along," this is it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed Almost Criminal by Ulrike Herwig well enough, but it wasn’t anything particularly memorable for me. The story deals with some fairly serious subject matter, yet it manages to keep a fun and lighthearted tone throughout, which made it an easy read.
Oscar was definitely the highlight of the book for me. His banter and the stories he shared were a breath of fresh air and brought a lot of smiles while reading. He added a nice bit of personality and humor that helped balance the heavier elements of the plot.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t quite stand out in a way that made it feel especially unique or memorable. A solid, pleasant story—just not one that completely wowed me.
Oscar was definitely the highlight of the book for me. His banter and the stories he shared were a breath of fresh air and brought a lot of smiles while reading. He added a nice bit of personality and humor that helped balance the heavier elements of the plot.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t quite stand out in a way that made it feel especially unique or memorable. A solid, pleasant story—just not one that completely wowed me.
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