The Murder of Anton Livius

Inspector Hunkeler is summoned back to Basel from his holiday to investigate a gruesome killing in a gardening allotment on the city's outskirts. The clues lead to the Emmental in Berne and events from the last weeks of the Second World War in Alsace, which have never healed in the region.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2023
Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press

Inspector Hunkeler's New Year begins with a most unwelcome phone call, summoning him back to Basel from his holiday to unravel a gruesome killing in a gardening allotment on the city's outskirts. An old man known as Anton Fluckiger has been shot in the head and found hanging from a butcher's hook from the roof of his garden shed, a chilling reminder of the butchers who hang the carcasses of dead animals. Hunkeler must navigate not only the quarrelsome tenants of the allotment but also the complexities of investigating a murder that takes place outside his jurisdiction, across the French border in Alsace. The clues lead him to the Emmental in Berne, and then events from the last weeks of the Second World War in Alsace come to light, wounds that have never healed in the region.

As Hunkeler delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that connect the victims to a dark chapter of Alsace's history. He must confront his own prejudices and biases as he tries to piece together the clues and unravel the truth, facing resistance from those who believe in covering up the past.

In the end, Hunkeler must confront the darkest forces of human nature and make a difficult decision that will have far-reaching consequences for the future of the region. The case brings to light the enduring scars of war and the importance of facing the past to move forward.

Weight: 206g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913394875