• Genre: Crime thriller

• Atmosphere: Dark and suspenseful, with an intense sense of mystery that draws you into the depths of human nature.

• A dark investigation that starts from Hamburg and reaches all the way to Marseille.

• The hunt for a man who seems to have been lost in his past.

• The attempt to solve a crime that hides deep secrets.

• For its cinematic plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first moment.

• For the way the author connects the action with the psychology of his characters.

• For the directness of the language and the vivid descriptions of the landscapes of Europe.

Do you enjoy fast-paced crime novels that don't just stay on the surface of the crime but delve deep into psychology and mystery?

"An old man was climbing the steps to the deck with difficulty. He wore an old, gray coat and his face was furrowed by time and the salt. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, looking at the harbor fading away. The lights of Hamburg looked like small sparks slowly disappearing into the mist.

No one paid him any attention. The passengers were few, and most had already withdrawn to their cabins. The old man put his hand in his pocket and grasped a crumpled piece of paper. It was a letter that had never been sent, a confession that had waited years to come to light. He held it tightly, as if afraid the wind would steal it from him.

The sea was restless that night. The waves struck the sides of the ship with force, creating a rhythmic, almost hypnotic noise. The man knew this journey had no return. He had made his decision, and now all that remained was to reach his destination, whatever that might be."

Minos Efstathiadis was born in 1967 and studied law in Athens and Hanover. He has written novels and plays, while his work “The Meal” won first prize in the national playwriting competition in 2011. His crime novels have achieved great success, with his hero, detective Chris Papas, starring in stories that go beyond the Greek borders. His books have been translated and successfully published in France and Germany, winning over an international readership.

“There’s a killer on the road…” The Doors start playing just as the girl climbs on top of him. They laugh at the coincidence: Riders on the storm. At least tonight it isn’t raining. The back of the seat is reclined and her head is pressed against the roof of the Renault Clio, as if some metallic hand is pushing them down from above. As he’s almost lying down, something bothers him on the left. His knee hits the car’s dashboard. As soon as he pulls back a little, she does the opposite to press against him again. Their sharp breaths mingle with the speakers, creating a different music, more alive. How long will they keep their clothes on? There’s no rush. They could stay there for hours, with no one to look for them or disturb them. He unhooks her bra and sucks, as deeply as he can into his mouth, half of her left breast. He always prefers the side of the heart.

They have parked at the edge of a final clearing that looks like a fallow field. Right in front of them, the solid mass of the Langweiler forest rises imposingly. At this spot the ground slopes gently upward and above the windshield hangs the night sky, with a blade of gray cutting through the black. They left the nearest village, Folsbach, far behind long ago. There are no houses, roads, or lights around. Their car seems to be the only human mark on the horizon. First the shirts and then the pants land on the seat next to them. They try not to rush, but it isn’t easy. With every exhale the windows fog up more, visibility has dropped to almost zero. They withdraw, stepping outside the world – like all lovers.