Hans Werner Kettenbach Black Ice

Black Ice

Hans Werner Kettenbach

Bitter Lemon, Feb 2006, $13.95

ISBN: 1904738087

Everyone is shocked to learn that the highly regarded heiress Erika Wallmann fell down the steps in her lakeside home and died. The police, knowing how popular Erika has been due to her good deeds, investigate carefully. Some hints at suicide surface, but that and foul play are not proven; instead the cause of death is a tragic accident.

Fifty eight year old Jupp Scholten worked for Erika's father for years at Kottgen Civil Engineering Contractors, but recently her husband Kurt took over running the firm. Jupp dislikes his pompous new boss, who he believes is nothing like his previous employer. Soon after the funeral, Jupp hears disturbing rumors that Kurt is sleeping with his secretary leaving the clerk to wonder how this sleaze can hop into another woman's bed while mourning his loss. He postulates how Kurt could have killed Erika leaving no clues that homicide occurred. As he develops his homicide theory, instead of immediately explaining to the cops what he affirms happened, Jupp wonders if he could duplicate the murder with his nagging wife Hilde as the victim.

BLACK ICE is a terrific translation of a fabulous German thriller that grips the audience with an apparent hero starring as a stumbling amateur sleuth, but soon takes a dark psychological spin that leaves the audience to ponder whether Scholten will rid himself of his wife in a copy cat murder. Readers realize immediately that Jupp is unhappy with his bitter lemon personal life that is cleverly interwoven with his inquiries and conceptual contemplations; for instance using hookers for sexual release. Fans in one sitting will want to know whether his hatred for Hilde proves enough for him to kill her, expose Kurt, or something else.