I confess: I did not know Andreas Franz before reading this crime novel, and I only bought this 429-page thick tome because it was in the bestseller list among the top 10 and had the most interesting title.
Now I know that Andreas Franz has already written 11 crime novels about or featuring the Frankfurt chief inspector Julia Durant, along with many other (series) novels. In March 2011, A. Franz unexpectedly passed away at the age of 57, and after much back and forth, Daniel Holbe, a big fan of A. Franz, completed the 12th story about Julia Durant titled: "Death Melody." So much for the backstory.
"Death Melody" is the first case of Julia Durant after her kidnapping in the previous story, which is referenced throughout the book. However, even without having read the previous book, one can easily get into this new crime story, where a young student was tortured and brutally murdered. The suspected perpetrators were caught, and everything would have gone back to normal if a new murder with a similar pattern hadn't caught the inspector's attention. For example, the song "Stairway to Heaven" by LED ZEPPELIN was playing at both crime scenes. And the hunt for the new (?) murderer begins anew.
Basically, the story, which takes place in and around Frankfurt a. M., is exciting and attractively written. However, it is also very detailed and lengthy. Too lengthy in my opinion. Facts and moments that have nothing to do with the case are described too often and too elaborately. It feels to me like watching a crime scene with audio description for the blind: "A bar opens at the top of the screen and two blue eyes look straight ahead, the bar closes, and at the bottom of the screen, a new bar opens, the eyes look to the right, the bar closes, and in the middle, a bar opens as the eyes shift from left to center. A crosshair forms above the left eye....." I find this crime novel just as detailed, far too drawn out. And that’s why it doesn’t receive the top score but only 7 points.
