Bright days, dark guilt

A woman fighting for her place in life in the post-war era, a man battling against injustice, and a historical criminal case based on true events. The first major thriller by Spiegel bestselling author Eva Völler – authentic, stirring, and gripping.

Ruhr Area, 1948. Detective Carl Bruns works for the Major Crimes Unit at the Essen police headquarters after being unable to practice his profession during the Nazi regime. During a murder investigation, he learns of a horrific crime that occurred three years earlier towards the end of the war. As he tracks down the fugitive perpetrator from that time, more murders take place. Gradually, Carl Bruns realizes that they are pieces of a deadly puzzle. Not only does he find himself in the crosshairs of the murderer, but so does the woman he loves – the widowed nurse Anne, who desperately believes in a better future for herself and her sisters. However, Anne harbors a dark secret that Carl is unaware of.

An exciting historical crime novel set in the post-war period featuring a charismatic investigator against the backdrop of the devastated Ruhr area. The story takes place in 1948, at a time when responsibility for the police and judiciary is slowly returning to German authorities. However, they are far from being denazified. The thriller is partly based on a true case and marks the beginning of a crime series.