Book Review of Hunkeler's Secret by Hansjorg Schneider trans Astrid Freuler

 

Name of Book: Hunkeler's Secret

Author: Hansjorg Schneider trans Astrid Freuler 

ISBN: 9781916725126

Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press 

Part of a Series: Inspector Hunkeler #9 (6 are untranslated) 

Type of book: Switzerland, Alsace, 2010s, revenge, hidden past, banking, family, Europe, farming, France, ww2, rejection of Jews 

Year it was published: 2015 (2025)

Summary:

Hunkeler, now a retired inspector of the Basel police force, is hospitalized following an operation. He’s sharing a room with cancer patient Stephan Fankhauser, an old acquaintance, and former head of Basel Volksbank. One night, a groggy Hunkeler witnesses something that makes him question his senses.

When he is told the next day that Fankhauser has died, Hunkeler grows suspicious. The body is quickly cremated with no autopsy performed, leaving Hunkeler determined to get to the bottom of the matter. His unorthodox investigation uncovers truths that will threaten Switzerland’s carefully curated reputation of neutrality during WWII.

Characters:

Main character is definitely Hunkelers, an irascible and world weary former inspector. He is determined, clever and thinks a lot outside the box. There are a lot of surprisingly secondary characters such as the tortured artist, then some surprising family members, a goat, neighbors and Hunkelers loyal girlfriend. 

Theme:

One never knows how the threads in life will run 

Plot:

The story is in third person narrative from Hunkelers point of view. The tale begins with Hunkelers stay at a hospital as well as getting to know a terminally ill patient who really annoys Hunkeler to no end. However one night Hunkeler sees something suspicious and begins to try to figure out what is going on. The mystery isn't straight forward but instead Hunkeler has to chase down different leads and figure out the most relevant. In addition to the mystery Hunkeler has also to contend with a lot of problems relating to friends and family. All in all a very fun mystery. 

Author Information:
(From Bitter Lemon Press)

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" will be released in 2023.

Opinion:

In original series, this is the 9th book; in English series this is the fourth book to be translated. ( I am still confused about why books are translated out of order?) Unlike the previous three I read, more time has passed and Hunkeler is no longer actively working. Like perhaps Murder of Anton Livius, this covers a very uncomfortable part of ww2 that Switzerland would prefer to keep hidden. This also is a lot more family oriented than previous series, and we learn a lot more about Hunkelers past. If one is to ask me, this focuses a lot more on Hunkelers family and friends than previous ones I read. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)