Sharks by Simone Buchholz

Chastity Riley returns in Sharks, the latest offering from prizewinning author Simone Buchholz. This is the sixth novel Buchholz has written about the volatile public prosecutor from Hamburg. It works well as a stand-alone, and once the reader has got to know Chastity they may wish to explore the rest of this addictive series.

In a rough area of Hamburg an elderly American couple are murdered in a derelict apartment block. The sadness of their social isolation touches Chastity’s heart. In spite of suffering from a racking cough she throws herself into tracking down the Tuckers’ killer.

The complexity of the case grows when Chastity challenges the powerful personalities intent on gentrifying unloved  Wilhelmsburg. She refuses to back down in the face of opposition from devious city officials and invisible investors. Ever willing to push the barrier between keeping the rules and becoming a full-blown maverick, Chastity pursues her prey with every weapon in her impressive armoury.

Chastity is surrounded by loyal friends and colleagues. Her lover Klatsche, best friend Karla and Karla’s partner Rocco form a protective inner circle. At work she has the reassuring support of Calabretta, who does his best to protect her from herself. Former colleague Faller, has retired from the police force and reinvented himself as a private detective, but remains very much on the scene.

Buchholz writes beautifully. She even makes dull urban weather sound exciting. Also, alongside the violence, drama and conflict there is plenty of dark humour. Thanks to Rachel Ward’s excellent translation the witty narrative flows smoothly.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Orenda Books and Random Things Tours for giving me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.