There were some interesting plot twists, but for the most part, the plot was over the top and unbelievable, which makes the mystery part of it not so mysterious. I wouldn't have read it, were it not a bookclub pick. Glad to be moving on to the next book in my stack! ( )

The Ice Queen is the third mystery novel by Nele Neuhaus featuring detectives Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver Bodenstein. As the book opens, an old Jewish man and holocaust survivor, has been found murdered execution style with the number “11645” written in the victim’s blood. During his autopsy they discover that his body has a tattoo marking him as a member of the Nazis SS. Shortly after the first murder, two more elderly people are killed in a similar way. As Pia Kirchoff and Oliver von Bodenstein of the Kripo hunt for the perpetrator of this crime, as well as the true identity of the victim, clues that suggest that each of these victims is not actually a survivor but a perpetrator of Nazi war crimes. The only other connection is their lifelong friendship with Vera Kaltensee, the head of a rich and well-respected local family.

The Ice Queen has some great twists that will keep readers guessing who the murderer is until the very end. Oliver and Pia make a great team and their camaraderie and friendship give them emotional depth that will intrigue the reader. The author does a great job describing the German setting. I felt like there were too many characters and as a result I found myself confused in some places and had to go back and reread a section. The plot was difficult to follow in some cases but I was interested enough in what was happening to keep reading. I definitely plan on continuing the series. ( )

Der 92-jährige Holocaust-Überlebende David Josua Goldberg wird durch einen Genickschuss getötet. Der Tote trägt am Arm Reste einer Blutgruppentätowierung, wie sie bei Angehörigen der SS üblich war. Zwei weitere Morde folgen, auch sie gleichen Hinrichtungen. Welches dunkle Geheimnis verband die Opfer miteinander?
Die Ermittlungen fĂĽhren Hauptkommissar von Bodenstein und Pia Kirchhoff tief zurĂĽck in Deutschlands Vergangenheit. ( )

Surprisingly good novel by a young, upcoming German author. I thought it was different from the Scandi-crimes and the Anglo-American stuff and quite refreshing. I'll try to find the other books she wrote if I feel like reading a good detective again. ( )

An old man is found dead, shot execution-style. He is a well-known and rich Jewish ex-pat visiting Germany regularly. However during his autopsy something odd is found, a tattoo indicating that he was a member of the SS. Then another old man is found murdered in the same way, then an old woman. How is this linked to Vera Kaltensee, a rich and irascible member of local society? Bodenstein and Kirchoff are tasked with untangling this series of cases and the clues lead to events that happened in 1945 in East Prussia, now Poland.

As with the previous Neuhaus book I read, this book took some getting into. The plot is convoluted but suddenly it all starts to make sense. There is a nice blind alley or two and the final solution is devastatingly simple. The workings of K-11 are still a little indecipherable but the development of the character of Pia Kirchoff is good. An enjoyable read. ( )