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Alexander Gerlach #1
Heidelberg Requiem
Most first days in a new job go well - some don't . . .
Alexander Gerlach assumes that his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life. A widower and a single parent raising twin teenage daughters, Gerlach is slowly beginning to rediscover not only himself, but also the dating scene again.
On his first day in his new job, however, the body of a chemistry student is discovered, and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex. When another murder casts doubt on all previous assumptions, Gerlach must unravel the conspiracy, before it's too late . . .
Meet the Heidelberg version of Commissario Brunetti in the first book in the highly-praised Alexander Gerlach series.
Alexander Gerlach assumes that his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life. A widower and a single parent raising twin teenage daughters, Gerlach is slowly beginning to rediscover not only himself, but also the dating scene again.
On his first day in his new job, however, the body of a chemistry student is discovered, and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex. When another murder casts doubt on all previous assumptions, Gerlach must unravel the conspiracy, before it's too late . . .
Meet the Heidelberg version of Commissario Brunetti in the first book in the highly-praised Alexander Gerlach series.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 25, 2016
This is a police procedural set in the German city of Heidelberg. Alexander Gerlach has been promoted and appointed as the new police chief. This necessitates him having to move. He is a single dad with 13 year old twin daughters, Sarah and Louise. He trusts them to organise their days with some input from him whilst he is out working, which made me feel ill at ease, but it works for them. Gerlach is at a function organised in his honour where he gives an acceptance speech and meets some of his colleagues. Around the same time, Patrick Grotheer is slowly bleeding to death. Gerlach had been hoping for a quieter life in his new job, but finds himself instead on a complex murder case.
Grotheer is a chemistry student and it is assumed that the cause of death is a foregone conclusion. Not so. In fact, the case becomes increasingly complex as another murder takes place. Gerlach finds himself stretched as he tries to discover the truth. Oddly enough, his observations of the behaviour of his daughters leads to him to make progress in the case. Gerlach is a nice, ordinary, friendly, thoughtful man who favours the gentle approach. This can be seen in his interactions with his colleague, Vangelis, who is antagonistic and resentful that he got the job rather than her. He is not overly consumed by emotional issues and finds a romantic interest. This is a suspenseful story which engages the reader. Thanks to Bonnier Publishing for an ARC.
Grotheer is a chemistry student and it is assumed that the cause of death is a foregone conclusion. Not so. In fact, the case becomes increasingly complex as another murder takes place. Gerlach finds himself stretched as he tries to discover the truth. Oddly enough, his observations of the behaviour of his daughters leads to him to make progress in the case. Gerlach is a nice, ordinary, friendly, thoughtful man who favours the gentle approach. This can be seen in his interactions with his colleague, Vangelis, who is antagonistic and resentful that he got the job rather than her. He is not overly consumed by emotional issues and finds a romantic interest. This is a suspenseful story which engages the reader. Thanks to Bonnier Publishing for an ARC.
September 4, 2016
According to the blurb on one of Burger's other books, "Wolfgang Burger, born in 1952 in the southern Black Forest, today is best known for his Heidelberg crime novels with police chief Alexander Gerlach." Heidelberg Requiem, first published in German in 2005, is the first of those novels, and as far as I can tell, the first one translated in English.
This is a terrific start to a series, and it is my earnest hope that they translate more of these books. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, not just for the pleasure of reading a crime novel set in another country, but for the story itself. Without giving any spoilers, Alexander Gerlach has been recruited as the chief of detectives in Heidelberg, the new man coming from Karlsruhe, so he has to get used to a new city and a new job, and his detectives have to get used to him. Immediately after he starts his job a murder occurs, and Gerlach and the detectives are plunged into a sensational and confusing situation. They think they have it solved until another murder occurs, and then things really start to speed up.
There are also subplots in this well-structured book; Gerlach is a recent widower and the father of twin teenage girls, and his life with his children is nicely balanced with his job, although I have to say either I was a very strict mother, or Gerlach is a very lax, if loving, father, because I would never have allowed my teenage children to get up to the hijinks which he allows of his daughters. We also see Gerlach settling into his job, and his relations with his secretary and his subordinates, one of whom had hoped for the job which Gerlach got.
This is a police procedural, rather than a mystery, when the mystery of the murderer is revealed, it comes through painstaking police work rather than through any "eureka!" moments. Burger plays absolutely fair with the reader, and we see what the police see as the book goes along.
A note about the translation; this must have been translated for the British market because this is a British, rather than American, translation. Mostly, of course, it doesn't matter, but some of the slang is noticeably British, which I rather liked, but readers should be on notice.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to read crime novels.
I was given an ARC by the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
This is a terrific start to a series, and it is my earnest hope that they translate more of these books. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, not just for the pleasure of reading a crime novel set in another country, but for the story itself. Without giving any spoilers, Alexander Gerlach has been recruited as the chief of detectives in Heidelberg, the new man coming from Karlsruhe, so he has to get used to a new city and a new job, and his detectives have to get used to him. Immediately after he starts his job a murder occurs, and Gerlach and the detectives are plunged into a sensational and confusing situation. They think they have it solved until another murder occurs, and then things really start to speed up.
There are also subplots in this well-structured book; Gerlach is a recent widower and the father of twin teenage girls, and his life with his children is nicely balanced with his job, although I have to say either I was a very strict mother, or Gerlach is a very lax, if loving, father, because I would never have allowed my teenage children to get up to the hijinks which he allows of his daughters. We also see Gerlach settling into his job, and his relations with his secretary and his subordinates, one of whom had hoped for the job which Gerlach got.
This is a police procedural, rather than a mystery, when the mystery of the murderer is revealed, it comes through painstaking police work rather than through any "eureka!" moments. Burger plays absolutely fair with the reader, and we see what the police see as the book goes along.
A note about the translation; this must have been translated for the British market because this is a British, rather than American, translation. Mostly, of course, it doesn't matter, but some of the slang is noticeably British, which I rather liked, but readers should be on notice.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to read crime novels.
I was given an ARC by the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.
August 19, 2016
I have read a lot of police procedural /detective fiction novels recently - all very commendable - but most of them have female protagonists who are quirky, vulnerable, harbouring their own issues and heartache while they simultaneously transcend all boundaries to solve murders and violent crimes. Although I cannot deny I hugely enjoy these sorts of stories which are incredibly exciting and appealing, this novel was a kind of back-to-basics detective story and for this reason, I found it very refreshing and enjoyable.
This is a quite a "straightforward" novel. The writing is simple and direct, the crime is suitably complex but easy to keep up with and the protagonist is not plagued by numerous emotional issues - he has a family, a love interest and a back story, but largely he is an ordinary, up front, capable professional policeman. It is an easy read and feels very much like Sunday night TV - engaging, engrossing, exciting, but not too demanding or harrowing.
The story opens cleverly with Gerlach, our protagonist, publicly accepting his new job - a promotion in a new city and with a police force entirely new to him, and meeting his new colleagues. Simultaneously a crime is taking place:
"This must have been around the time when Patrick Grotheer died. Slowly, bleeding to death, drop by drop. For around ninety minutes."
As the story unfolds, the crime scene and investigation is well described, evoking an atmosphere full of suspense. There is a kind of matter- of-fact style to Burger's writing and a directness that actually creates further tension.
The body of a fully grown adult contains around five litres of blood. Half a bucketful, no more......All in all the dead man probably lost no more than two litres of blood. But when these two litres are spread over a seventy square metre room, which is largely decorated in white, then it's a lot.
Further intrigue is created through the surrounding characters. Vangelis, who also applied for Gerlach's job and is already highly established within the team, does not hide her animosity towards him or her power over her colleagues.
Vangelis allowed the nervous officers to report to her and acted as if Balke and I were not there. ......
......'That woman is an animal,' he mumbled, 'Does she ever smile?'.....
Gerlach is not afraid to tackle this head on. His gentle and non threatening approach, and subsequent relationships within the team, reflect his professional experience and affable nature.
"You probably would have been a better choice for the job. You know your way around the place. You know the city, the people."
"But I'm a woman."
He is a "good guy". He is likeable and easy to relate to and respect. It is clear that he will be successful and is always well meaning and considerate towards anyone who he interacts with. In the words of the author himself, the protagonist, Chief Inspector Alexander Gerlach, "is not a doomed alcoholic, not frustrated by his life and his job, not bullied by his boss or colleagues, not a lone wolf, but a person like you and me. He has issues but he also has strengths. He has worries and hardships and also successes and beautiful moments. Sometimes he muddles his way through like we all do; occasionally he is really very good. Often things become too much for him, but then somehow he manages to make it work."
Indeed Gerlach is very likeable central character. He is also reflective and I liked his moments of observation, insight and comment.
"instead [I had} a lot of new questions. But it didn't matter. Questions are the beginning of everything."
"Are we responsible for thoughts we don't think because we fear that they would hurt us? Can we be blamed for knowledge that we hide away in our subconscious because we don't want to face it?"
Gerlach is a single parent and has 13 year old twin daughters which provide a bit of "light relief" at times with their high jinks and general adolescent tricks. He manages them as best he can. I must admit, I was intrigued by his ability to set them chores and tasks while he went out to work all day and was a little suspicious about how believable this really was, but maybe this reflects a different cultural approach to parenting. Or because Gerlach is a man and in the police force...or my children are younger and I cannot envisage a point where I could ever turn my back on them for five minutes let alone a day! The girls did appear to be older than their 13 years but perhaps attitudes to freedom and independence are different in Heidelberg or when you are a single parent family.
What does work well is how the girls' behaviour inadvertently leads to Gerlach making several breakthroughs with his investigation and I liked this. It also shows us that Gerlach is human, fallible and juggling a high profile job with a needy family.
I also enjoyed the love interest and how this adds some mystery and another dimension to both Gerlach's character and the plot. His relationship with the mystery woman is a welcome sub plot and equally results in a further twist towards the end of the novel.
I'd like to finish by quoting the author again as he sums up what he hoped to achieve through Gerlach's character:
My Gerlach doesn't believe in the bad in people, even if he persistently gives a different impression in conversation. Deep down he holds the same beliefs, the same fundamental optimism as his creator. You constantly fear for him. Sometimes you want to give him a shake; occasionally you want to hug and comfort him, but in the end, I am invariably happy with Gerlach, when against the odds, things turn out alright after all. Even when he hasn't been able to remove the bad from the world or at least create order on his desk.
I enjoyed this novel and would be happy to read future books about Gerlach and his twin daughters. I hope this is the beginning of a series as I think it would appeal to a wide readership. The European setting is effective and no longer a barrier or distraction as I think with the growth of "Nordic Noir" and the recent increase in crime series set in Amsterdam, Germany or other European cities- on TV as well as in fiction - appeals to readers and has opened up a whole host of "new" authors for crime readers to enjoy and discover.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Publishing for the advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.
"Heidelberg Requiem" was published by Manilla on the 18th August 2016.
This is a quite a "straightforward" novel. The writing is simple and direct, the crime is suitably complex but easy to keep up with and the protagonist is not plagued by numerous emotional issues - he has a family, a love interest and a back story, but largely he is an ordinary, up front, capable professional policeman. It is an easy read and feels very much like Sunday night TV - engaging, engrossing, exciting, but not too demanding or harrowing.
The story opens cleverly with Gerlach, our protagonist, publicly accepting his new job - a promotion in a new city and with a police force entirely new to him, and meeting his new colleagues. Simultaneously a crime is taking place:
"This must have been around the time when Patrick Grotheer died. Slowly, bleeding to death, drop by drop. For around ninety minutes."
As the story unfolds, the crime scene and investigation is well described, evoking an atmosphere full of suspense. There is a kind of matter- of-fact style to Burger's writing and a directness that actually creates further tension.
The body of a fully grown adult contains around five litres of blood. Half a bucketful, no more......All in all the dead man probably lost no more than two litres of blood. But when these two litres are spread over a seventy square metre room, which is largely decorated in white, then it's a lot.
Further intrigue is created through the surrounding characters. Vangelis, who also applied for Gerlach's job and is already highly established within the team, does not hide her animosity towards him or her power over her colleagues.
Vangelis allowed the nervous officers to report to her and acted as if Balke and I were not there. ......
......'That woman is an animal,' he mumbled, 'Does she ever smile?'.....
Gerlach is not afraid to tackle this head on. His gentle and non threatening approach, and subsequent relationships within the team, reflect his professional experience and affable nature.
"You probably would have been a better choice for the job. You know your way around the place. You know the city, the people."
"But I'm a woman."
He is a "good guy". He is likeable and easy to relate to and respect. It is clear that he will be successful and is always well meaning and considerate towards anyone who he interacts with. In the words of the author himself, the protagonist, Chief Inspector Alexander Gerlach, "is not a doomed alcoholic, not frustrated by his life and his job, not bullied by his boss or colleagues, not a lone wolf, but a person like you and me. He has issues but he also has strengths. He has worries and hardships and also successes and beautiful moments. Sometimes he muddles his way through like we all do; occasionally he is really very good. Often things become too much for him, but then somehow he manages to make it work."
Indeed Gerlach is very likeable central character. He is also reflective and I liked his moments of observation, insight and comment.
"instead [I had} a lot of new questions. But it didn't matter. Questions are the beginning of everything."
"Are we responsible for thoughts we don't think because we fear that they would hurt us? Can we be blamed for knowledge that we hide away in our subconscious because we don't want to face it?"
Gerlach is a single parent and has 13 year old twin daughters which provide a bit of "light relief" at times with their high jinks and general adolescent tricks. He manages them as best he can. I must admit, I was intrigued by his ability to set them chores and tasks while he went out to work all day and was a little suspicious about how believable this really was, but maybe this reflects a different cultural approach to parenting. Or because Gerlach is a man and in the police force...or my children are younger and I cannot envisage a point where I could ever turn my back on them for five minutes let alone a day! The girls did appear to be older than their 13 years but perhaps attitudes to freedom and independence are different in Heidelberg or when you are a single parent family.
What does work well is how the girls' behaviour inadvertently leads to Gerlach making several breakthroughs with his investigation and I liked this. It also shows us that Gerlach is human, fallible and juggling a high profile job with a needy family.
I also enjoyed the love interest and how this adds some mystery and another dimension to both Gerlach's character and the plot. His relationship with the mystery woman is a welcome sub plot and equally results in a further twist towards the end of the novel.
I'd like to finish by quoting the author again as he sums up what he hoped to achieve through Gerlach's character:
My Gerlach doesn't believe in the bad in people, even if he persistently gives a different impression in conversation. Deep down he holds the same beliefs, the same fundamental optimism as his creator. You constantly fear for him. Sometimes you want to give him a shake; occasionally you want to hug and comfort him, but in the end, I am invariably happy with Gerlach, when against the odds, things turn out alright after all. Even when he hasn't been able to remove the bad from the world or at least create order on his desk.
I enjoyed this novel and would be happy to read future books about Gerlach and his twin daughters. I hope this is the beginning of a series as I think it would appeal to a wide readership. The European setting is effective and no longer a barrier or distraction as I think with the growth of "Nordic Noir" and the recent increase in crime series set in Amsterdam, Germany or other European cities- on TV as well as in fiction - appeals to readers and has opened up a whole host of "new" authors for crime readers to enjoy and discover.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Publishing for the advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.
"Heidelberg Requiem" was published by Manilla on the 18th August 2016.
December 1, 2024
Altijd als ik in DL ben, koop ik als souvenir een regiokrimi. Dit x was ik weer in Heidelberg waar ik het 1e deel kocht van de Alexander Gerlach reeks. Geen verschrikkelijk goede krimi, maar toch met veel plezier gelezen en goed om m'n duits op orde te houden.
Altijd leuk als je de plekken die beschreven worden herkent. Ik wil deze reeks wel verder verkennen, dus wie weet ns terug naar Heidelberg
Altijd leuk als je de plekken die beschreven worden herkent. Ik wil deze reeks wel verder verkennen, dus wie weet ns terug naar Heidelberg
December 22, 2024
3,5
Toller Reihenauftakt. Werde mehr lesen
Toller Reihenauftakt. Werde mehr lesen
December 19, 2016
While most of the crime I read is either British or American, I have read some Scandinavian crime as well. What I’d never read before was German crime, though I have to confess that when I was really, really young I used to watch Tatort and Der Alte with my grandparents. So I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started Heidelberg Requiem by Wolfgang Burger. It’s the first in the Alexander Gerlach series and the first of Burger’s books to have been translated into English. What I got was a complex mystery featuring some fabulous characters set in a very interesting location.
To start with that last element, Heidelberg rather reminded me of my own hometown of Leiden as they are both very old cities best known for their universities and of a similar size with a large student population. Because of that it was easy to picture what things might look and feel like in the town. The mystery was also interwoven with the town and very fun to follow to its conclusion. But the true stars of the book were Alexander Gerlach and his daughters. I really liked Gerlach as a character and it was interesting to see a crime novel featuring a single dad, especially one to twin, tween daughters. I also like that we meet all of them at a point of transition. Not only are they all still coping with the loss of their mother, they are also all having to adjust with their move to a new town and a new place of work and education. I liked seeing how they coped with the situation and how Gerlach and the girls navigate the change together.
Heidelberg Requiem is a solid opening to a new series, with plenty of hooks left for character development in further books. If you are looking for a new crime series to start and want to try something a little different, Burger’s Heidelberg Requiem is definitely worth a try. Hopefully Bonnier Zaffre will translate and release the rest of the series as well.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
To start with that last element, Heidelberg rather reminded me of my own hometown of Leiden as they are both very old cities best known for their universities and of a similar size with a large student population. Because of that it was easy to picture what things might look and feel like in the town. The mystery was also interwoven with the town and very fun to follow to its conclusion. But the true stars of the book were Alexander Gerlach and his daughters. I really liked Gerlach as a character and it was interesting to see a crime novel featuring a single dad, especially one to twin, tween daughters. I also like that we meet all of them at a point of transition. Not only are they all still coping with the loss of their mother, they are also all having to adjust with their move to a new town and a new place of work and education. I liked seeing how they coped with the situation and how Gerlach and the girls navigate the change together.
Heidelberg Requiem is a solid opening to a new series, with plenty of hooks left for character development in further books. If you are looking for a new crime series to start and want to try something a little different, Burger’s Heidelberg Requiem is definitely worth a try. Hopefully Bonnier Zaffre will translate and release the rest of the series as well.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
July 31, 2014
Das schöne an Lokalkrimis ist natürlich der Ortsbezug. Wenn man die Gegend, die Straßen und Gebäude kennt, macht das Lesen Spaß. Das war auch hier in dem Krimi für mich der Fall. Aber der eigentliche Kriminalfall, die Figuren und auch der literarische Stil waren nichts für mich.
Die Hauptfigur Alexander Gerlach ist für mich nur ganz schwer zu verstehen. Ich kann seinen Gefühlen nicht folgen, sie nicht verstehen. Sei es bezogen auf sein Familienleben mit seinen Töchtern, auf sein Liebesleben oder auf seinen Fall. Ich verstehe oft die plötzliche (und grundlose) Gereiztheit der Figur nicht, das "Am Ende" sein wird nicht aufgebaut und ist somit einfach logisch nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Stil ist sehr holprig und fühlt sich nicht "rund" an. Bilder und Metaphern werden oft krampfhaft gesucht. Manchmal kamen mir Beschreibungen merkwüdig vor, als ob bestimmte Adjektive nicht in den Satz passten. Vielleicht nachträglich eingebaut?
Daneben ist der Krimifall nicht wirklich aufregend und spannend. Der erste Verdacht ist so eindeutig falsch, dass der Leser dieser Spur nicht ein bisschen glauben schenken kann. Das hat natürlich Auswirkungen auf die Spannung. Naja.
Schade! Hätte gern einen guten Heidelberg-Krimi gelesen.
Die Hauptfigur Alexander Gerlach ist für mich nur ganz schwer zu verstehen. Ich kann seinen Gefühlen nicht folgen, sie nicht verstehen. Sei es bezogen auf sein Familienleben mit seinen Töchtern, auf sein Liebesleben oder auf seinen Fall. Ich verstehe oft die plötzliche (und grundlose) Gereiztheit der Figur nicht, das "Am Ende" sein wird nicht aufgebaut und ist somit einfach logisch nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Stil ist sehr holprig und fühlt sich nicht "rund" an. Bilder und Metaphern werden oft krampfhaft gesucht. Manchmal kamen mir Beschreibungen merkwüdig vor, als ob bestimmte Adjektive nicht in den Satz passten. Vielleicht nachträglich eingebaut?
Daneben ist der Krimifall nicht wirklich aufregend und spannend. Der erste Verdacht ist so eindeutig falsch, dass der Leser dieser Spur nicht ein bisschen glauben schenken kann. Das hat natürlich Auswirkungen auf die Spannung. Naja.
Schade! Hätte gern einen guten Heidelberg-Krimi gelesen.
May 30, 2014
Ich habe am Ende dieses Buchs angekommen! Ein ganzes Buch habe ich auf Deutsch gelesen. Nicht weil es ein Stück Literatur für Klasse ist, aber weil es interessant und entspannend ist. Ich habe drei Wochen plus zwei Tage gebraucht. Jetzt klopfe ich mich selbst auf die Schulter. Dann überlege ich was als Nächstes zu lesen.
Alle Sie Deutsche Leseren und Leserinen, bitte, schicken mir Ihre Vorschläge. Ich würde sehr dankbar sein.
Und ich halte noch die folgende Empfehlung:
Wenn Sie Deutsch ernst lernen wollen, ist dieses Buch für fortgeschrittenen Anfänger und Anfängerinen ein guter Eintritt dazu. Der Stil ist klar. Die Erzählung ist interessant und lebendig. Die Figuren sind sympathisch. Außerdem sind die Sätzen kurz--eine Tugend in einem deutschen Buch.
Alle Sie Deutsche Leseren und Leserinen, bitte, schicken mir Ihre Vorschläge. Ich würde sehr dankbar sein.
Und ich halte noch die folgende Empfehlung:
Wenn Sie Deutsch ernst lernen wollen, ist dieses Buch für fortgeschrittenen Anfänger und Anfängerinen ein guter Eintritt dazu. Der Stil ist klar. Die Erzählung ist interessant und lebendig. Die Figuren sind sympathisch. Außerdem sind die Sätzen kurz--eine Tugend in einem deutschen Buch.
February 21, 2017
I love German crime fiction so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read Heidelberg Requiem. However, I'm afraid this book and I did not click at all. It's taken me a full two weeks to read from start to finish and yes, life did get in the way a little, but I had to push myself to pick up my Kindle (this coming from a bookworm!). The characters held no attraction for me; they felt cold, lifeless and I couldn't really bring myself to care for any of them. The story I found uninteresting and I hate to say it, dull. I'm not one to give up on a book part way through and although I did consider walking away from Heidelberg Requiem, I persevered and I'm glad I did. I'm sorry but I can not recommend this book.
September 5, 2017
An ordinary, a little above mediocre, police procedural novel. I reduced its rating to one star (pretty awful!) because of the extremely poor quality of the English translation from the German and the very large number of typographic/proofreading errors in the kindle version. I have little doubt the translation is accurate. But, unfortunately, it is a little too accurate. It preserves the extremely Germanic style: long, convoluted sentences, with multiple qualifying clauses. All that is missing is multiple verbs at the end of sentences. In my opinion translation is more than turning a text in one language into a similar text in another. In translating novels, some "transcreation" is needed, so that an English language reader's experience of reading the novel is similar to that of a German reading the original. In this case that probably means the translator probably should have broken some of those long, convoluted sentences into several shorter, simpler ones.
February 20, 2019
More books in English please
This is a quality Police procedural well written, descriptive and engaging from first to last page. Unusually our hero newly promoted has no serious faults or problems, well apart from being recently widowed with teenage twin daughters, who can twist him round their fingers. We have a normal everyday bloke. He reminds me as a cross between Arkady Renko and Inspector Clouseau, sometimes genius sometimes comic, but entertaining and interesting throughout, throw in a team of engaging colleagues you want to get to know better, and you have the beginning of an imaginative intriguing new detective series.
Highly recommended more please translated to English soon.
This is a quality Police procedural well written, descriptive and engaging from first to last page. Unusually our hero newly promoted has no serious faults or problems, well apart from being recently widowed with teenage twin daughters, who can twist him round their fingers. We have a normal everyday bloke. He reminds me as a cross between Arkady Renko and Inspector Clouseau, sometimes genius sometimes comic, but entertaining and interesting throughout, throw in a team of engaging colleagues you want to get to know better, and you have the beginning of an imaginative intriguing new detective series.
Highly recommended more please translated to English soon.
March 5, 2018
Jeideberg
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend this book to my friends who read gripping thrilllers.
I particularly thought the idea of the Georgian daughters of Gerlach was excellent and the part they played was just right in amount. All detectives have some private lives and small discussion of makes them human.
Shirley Stevens
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend this book to my friends who read gripping thrilllers.
I particularly thought the idea of the Georgian daughters of Gerlach was excellent and the part they played was just right in amount. All detectives have some private lives and small discussion of makes them human.
Shirley Stevens
November 17, 2025
What a boring book.
There is a lot of fillers in this short book. No sense to it, it won’t help the story or the characters.
Like there is no thrill, there is no real “something” to catch the reader’s attention.
Too many times that I was just sooo bored with the book that I wanted to stop reading.
I don’t even know who I could recommend this book to.
I won’t read the next book.
There is a lot of fillers in this short book. No sense to it, it won’t help the story or the characters.
Like there is no thrill, there is no real “something” to catch the reader’s attention.
Too many times that I was just sooo bored with the book that I wanted to stop reading.
I don’t even know who I could recommend this book to.
I won’t read the next book.
November 25, 2017
Good solid read
I liked this book. It had the right balance of work and home and a plausible storyline. The cultural differences were evident and the translation sometimes halting but overall good.
I liked this book. It had the right balance of work and home and a plausible storyline. The cultural differences were evident and the translation sometimes halting but overall good.
June 17, 2018
Easy and interesting read
September 28, 2021
I want to read more!
November 21, 2025
Respektabler Heidelberger Lokalkrimi mit leichten Spannungsschwächen.
December 24, 2024
This is the first volume in a new series for me.
It begins with the induction ceremony for the new detective Alexander Gerlach in Heidelberg, at which his former colleagues from Karlsruhe have also turned up. He is a single father of pubescent twin girls. He is still looking for a new flat, so Gerlach travels to Heidelberg every day while his daughters go wild in Karlsruhe.
His new job actually consists more of desk work and coordination, but the new detective can't change his mind so quickly and heads to the crime scene himself with detectives Klara Vangelis and Sven Balke when the first murder is reported. The victim is chemistry student Patrick Grotheer. He was tied to the bed, then his wrists were slit and he bled to death. The officers soon discover that Grotheer was producing synthetic drugs and leading a luxurious life. He had long since fallen out with his father, the world-famous doctor and head of the surgical department at Heidelberg University Hospital. His mother had often feared that things would come to such an end with her son.
There are more deaths during the investigation. In addition to the fact that his private life is very turbulent, he also has to find his place in the new team.
I was only partially convinced by this crime thriller. However, as I still have a few volumes of this series on my Tolino, I will certainly read the other volumes too.
It begins with the induction ceremony for the new detective Alexander Gerlach in Heidelberg, at which his former colleagues from Karlsruhe have also turned up. He is a single father of pubescent twin girls. He is still looking for a new flat, so Gerlach travels to Heidelberg every day while his daughters go wild in Karlsruhe.
His new job actually consists more of desk work and coordination, but the new detective can't change his mind so quickly and heads to the crime scene himself with detectives Klara Vangelis and Sven Balke when the first murder is reported. The victim is chemistry student Patrick Grotheer. He was tied to the bed, then his wrists were slit and he bled to death. The officers soon discover that Grotheer was producing synthetic drugs and leading a luxurious life. He had long since fallen out with his father, the world-famous doctor and head of the surgical department at Heidelberg University Hospital. His mother had often feared that things would come to such an end with her son.
There are more deaths during the investigation. In addition to the fact that his private life is very turbulent, he also has to find his place in the new team.
I was only partially convinced by this crime thriller. However, as I still have a few volumes of this series on my Tolino, I will certainly read the other volumes too.
August 13, 2025
Este libro me pareció interesante y complejo. La historia sigue a Lackner, quien es nombrado jefe de policía en un nuevo destino donde espera que todo sea más tranquilo… hasta que aparece un asesinato. Al principio, el caso parece bastante sencillo: un estudiante de química, aparentemente relacionado con drogas. Pero todo cambia cuando ocurre un segundo asesinato, que da un giro total a la trama.
Si bien tiene un desarrollo sólido y un buen nivel de misterio, a mí personalmente no me terminó de convencer. Hay escenas que me parecieron demasiado gráficas, e incluso incómodas de leer.
Sé que es un tipo de historia que puede gustarle mucho a quienes disfrutan de los thrillers policiales más crudos, pero en lo personal, no fue completamente de mi estilo.
Si bien tiene un desarrollo sólido y un buen nivel de misterio, a mí personalmente no me terminó de convencer. Hay escenas que me parecieron demasiado gráficas, e incluso incómodas de leer.
Sé que es un tipo de historia que puede gustarle mucho a quienes disfrutan de los thrillers policiales más crudos, pero en lo personal, no fue completamente de mi estilo.
May 30, 2013
Ich habe diesen Krimi verschlungen und werde die weiteren Bände wohl ebenfalls lesen.
Meine Motivation zu dieser Reihe war eigentlich keine Besondere. Ich war auf der Suche nach einem Krimi für ein ruhiges Wochenende und dieser Band gefiel mir am ehesten.
Ich mag es, wenn in einem Krimi neben der eigentlichen Tat auch das Miteinander des ermittelnden Teams beschrieben wird und das schafft Wolfgang Burger in seinem Roman äußerst gut. Da gibt es den Womanizer Oberkommissar Balke und seine griechische Kollegin Hauptkommissarin Vangelis, den neuen Kriminalrat Alexander Gerlach als Hauptperson, seine Zwillingstöchter Sarah und Louise, seinen Chef und dessen Frau Theresa, mit dem unser Krminalrat zu Beginn unwissend, später bewusst eine Affäre beginnt, Frau Walldorf alias Sönnchen - Gerlachs Sekretärin und natürlich nicht zu vergessen Kommissar "Rübe", ein etwas gemütlicher Zeitgenosse und Kollege. Durch diese Vielzahl an verschiedenen Charakteren wird die Geschichte in meinen Augen erst richtig interessant.
Der Fall an sich (siehe Zusammenfassung oben) ist schon nicht ohne, aber wenn man beim Lesen schmunzeln muss, weil die Personen einfach menschlich rüber kommen und man sich bei einigen Fauxpas in das Handeln der einzelnen Charaktere hineinversetzen kann, dann ist es für mich ein nicht nur gutes sondern äußerst gut gelungenes Buch!
Hierfür gebe ich gerne 5 Sterne!! *****
Meine Motivation zu dieser Reihe war eigentlich keine Besondere. Ich war auf der Suche nach einem Krimi für ein ruhiges Wochenende und dieser Band gefiel mir am ehesten.
Ich mag es, wenn in einem Krimi neben der eigentlichen Tat auch das Miteinander des ermittelnden Teams beschrieben wird und das schafft Wolfgang Burger in seinem Roman äußerst gut. Da gibt es den Womanizer Oberkommissar Balke und seine griechische Kollegin Hauptkommissarin Vangelis, den neuen Kriminalrat Alexander Gerlach als Hauptperson, seine Zwillingstöchter Sarah und Louise, seinen Chef und dessen Frau Theresa, mit dem unser Krminalrat zu Beginn unwissend, später bewusst eine Affäre beginnt, Frau Walldorf alias Sönnchen - Gerlachs Sekretärin und natürlich nicht zu vergessen Kommissar "Rübe", ein etwas gemütlicher Zeitgenosse und Kollege. Durch diese Vielzahl an verschiedenen Charakteren wird die Geschichte in meinen Augen erst richtig interessant.
Der Fall an sich (siehe Zusammenfassung oben) ist schon nicht ohne, aber wenn man beim Lesen schmunzeln muss, weil die Personen einfach menschlich rüber kommen und man sich bei einigen Fauxpas in das Handeln der einzelnen Charaktere hineinversetzen kann, dann ist es für mich ein nicht nur gutes sondern äußerst gut gelungenes Buch!
Hierfür gebe ich gerne 5 Sterne!! *****
October 18, 2017
I didn't know what to expect of this book, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Alexander Gerlach has been promoted to Chief Inspector in Heidelberg. He must now move to that town from Karlsruhe with his adolescent twin daughters, typical teenagers with an attitude. His wife died some time ago and there's only the three of them.
Gerlach is one of the most agreeable characters I've found in thriller books. He's confused, trying to be a good father (and sometimes failing miserably), a good boss and in general, trying to get his life in track again. He's not a super policeman/detective/man. Quite the contrary!
His first case makes him question if he is fit to be a Chief Inspector, as what he really likes is the investigative work, not the paperwork part of it, much to the annoyance of his superiors. A man has been left to bleed to death and this will not be the only murder in the book.
The plot is made lighter by the interaction between Gerlach and his daughters, and also by a mystery woman with whom he embarks in a relationship.
I hope the next books in the series will be soon translated into English, as this seems to be the only one available now.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander Gerlach has been promoted to Chief Inspector in Heidelberg. He must now move to that town from Karlsruhe with his adolescent twin daughters, typical teenagers with an attitude. His wife died some time ago and there's only the three of them.
Gerlach is one of the most agreeable characters I've found in thriller books. He's confused, trying to be a good father (and sometimes failing miserably), a good boss and in general, trying to get his life in track again. He's not a super policeman/detective/man. Quite the contrary!
His first case makes him question if he is fit to be a Chief Inspector, as what he really likes is the investigative work, not the paperwork part of it, much to the annoyance of his superiors. A man has been left to bleed to death and this will not be the only murder in the book.
The plot is made lighter by the interaction between Gerlach and his daughters, and also by a mystery woman with whom he embarks in a relationship.
I hope the next books in the series will be soon translated into English, as this seems to be the only one available now.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2016
Really, really wanted to like this book, but didn't. Not enough Heidelberg, and too much ugliness :(
I didn't like the protagonist--I hated the casual sex, and the casual attitude toward his now-motherless twin daughters. Mostly dark and sad.
I didn't like the protagonist--I hated the casual sex, and the casual attitude toward his now-motherless twin daughters. Mostly dark and sad.
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