- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press (1 Feb 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1904738087
- ISBN-13: 978-1904738084
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.2 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,103,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Black Ice
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"A beautifully translated thriller, not a drop of blood on its pages. The nastiness takes place off-stage which makes it all the more threatening." BBC 2 Television "Culture" "A dark thriller in the Patricia Highsmith tradition. Kettenbach's protagonist, the bad tempered, foul-mouthed Jupp, is approaching retirement, and is devastated by the death of his long-time employer, the only person for whom he had any affection. The police have concluded that she died in an accident, but Jupp is convinced that her husband was responsible and he determines to prove the man's guilt. The slow build up to the cruel and bitter ending displays Kettenbach's skill and confirms his reputation as one of Germany's leading crime writers." Sunday Telegraph
Product Description
This is a beautifully crafted thriller set in a European world of small-town hypocrisy. Erika, an attractive local heiress, is married to Wallmann. When she falls to her death near their lakeside villa, the police conclude it as a tragic accident. Scholten, a long time employee of Erika's, knows a thing or two about the true state of her marriage. He suspects an almost perfect crime. Scholten's maverick investigation soon buys him a ticket for a most dangerous ride.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not so much a crime novel as an unfunny black comedy.,
By Flaubert. (Grimsby) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Black Ice (Paperback)
In Black Ice, Erica, married to Wallmann falls to her death from their seaside villa. Police conclude it's a tragic accident. Jupp Scholten however, Wallman's put upon employee, thinks otherwise. In fact he is convinced that Wallman killed her. And he's determined to find out how. In this determination he becomes more and more obsessed, this obsession leading to ever more bizarre behaviour.
Black Ice is published by Bitter Lemon Press, who specialise in translating European Crime fiction into English. A worthy cause of which I heartily support and on the cover, the author, Kettenbach is compared to Simenon and Patricia Highsmith. It sounded promising. I found however this is not so much a crime novel as an unfunny black comedy. A black comedy I didn't find enjoyable or interesting to read. I can only assume that this simple story written in it's native language was indeed, as the reviews say, beautifully told. When translated however, all I could read in very plain English, was a quite irritating story of a man who goes round in circles trying to find out how his boss could have killed his wife. It does have some merit. Some character's and situations are interesting. Scholten's love for his cat, for example, which far outweighs any affection he may once have had for his nagging wife. Overall though, I was simply glad to have finished the book and to have arrived at the predictably annoying ending. Maybe it's a language thing. Maybe I should learn German, but I'm sure there's many other titles in Bitter Lemon`s Press catalogue which I would read before this if I were you.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very different,
By ingram (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Black Ice (Paperback)
BLACK ICE is a distinctly unusual book. Not just a scandinavian thriller but a very cleverly crafted creation that pulled me in. it is written from an unusual perspective and it takes a while for the reader to relaise where it is all going... which i guess is the point as well as it being a crime novel. I recommend this highly.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
4.0 out of 5 stars
A classic whodunit,
By Sandy Harcourt - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Black Ice (Paperback)
A classic whodunit. Did the boss murder his wife? Did the underling who dislikes the boss copycat-kill his own wife? Did the police catch either of them? If you like Agatha Christie's plots and style, you'll surely like 'Black Ice'.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous German thriller,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Black Ice (Paperback)
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 years 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. Harriet Klausner |
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