Book Review: The Basel Killings by Hansjörg Schneider

It is the end of October, the northern Swiss city of Basel is grey and wet. It could be December.

It is just after midnight when Hunkeler, on his way home and slightly worse for wear, spots old man Hardy sitting on a bench under a streetlight. He wants to smoke a cigarette with him, but the usually very loquacious Hardy is silent – his throat a gaping wound. Turns out he was first strangled, then his left earlobe slit, his diamond stud stolen.

The media and the police come quickly to the same conclusion: Hardy’s murder was the work of a gang of Albanian drug smugglers.

But for Hunkeler that seems too obvious. Hardy’s murder has much in common with the case of Barbara Amsler, a prostitute also found killed with an ear slit, and her pearl stud missing.

He follows his own intuition and the trail leads him deep into a dark world of bars, bordellos and strip clubs, but also into the corrupt core of some of Basel’s political and industrial elite. More ominously, he will soon discover the consequences of certain events in recent Swiss history that those in power would prefer to keep far from the public eye.

*****

When Detective Peter Hunkeler finds a dead body, he is soon pulled into a murder investigation that has a similarity to another unsolved case. Can he find the killer before someone else gets hurt?

I do love a good crime novel and so was pleased to be sent a review copy of The Basel Killings by Hansjörg Schneider, translated by Mike Mitchell.. I am unfamiliar with this author’s novels so this was a chance to discover something new.

This book is the first novel in the Inspector Hunkeler series and therefore does spend some time introducing the main character. However, this doesn’t get in the way of the action. The reader is immediately thrown into the story and it’s not long before a crime is committed.

Peter Hunkeler is a man who has his flaws but is also a dog with a bone. He is determined to solve an old case, even when other people tell him that it’s a lost cause and even if it means braking the rules.. The surrounding characters represent a variety of personalities. I don’t want to say too much but these people have been hit with the realities of life.

The plot weaves an intriguing and intense murder mystery. It got to the point where for me, everyone was a suspect and I really couldn’t figure out who the perpetrator was and what their motivations were. The conflict, suspense and tension are built well. I felt that there was a gritty feeling to the setting which added to these things and made for a great story where nothing is straightforward and secrets are gradually revealed.

If you like your crime novels, this book is perfect.

About Hansjörg Schneider:

Hansjörg Schneider (born 1938) lives in Basel and began his professional career as a journalist and essayist.

He is the author of a number of highly acclaimed plays and of the bestselling Hunkeler crime series, now with ten titles published. “The Basel Killings”, the first to be published in English, was awarded The Friedrich Glauser Prize, Germany’s most prestigious crime fiction prize.

The second in the series, “Silver Pebbles”, was published in 2022 and “The Murder of Anton Livius” was released in 2023.

Find out more on The Bitter Lemon Press website.

The Basel Killings was translated by Mike Mitchell.

Click to buy The Basel Killings (book one in the Inspector Hunkeler Investigates series) from Amazon and Waterstones.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.