For me, this is the first volume in the Julia Durant series, even though it is the 12th volume in the series. The good thing about it is that this is the first volume that Daniel Holbe completed from manuscripts started by the late Andreas Franz, so it's like a kind of 'reboot' of the series.
Julia Durant, chief inspector in Frankfurt, returns to her department after a year's 'recuperation break'. At first she is transferred to the back office, which doesn't suit her at all, so she always has the feeling that she only gets half of the case.
A dead, abused young student is found in a shared student flat. Who has done this to her? Four students are arrested, but the reader soon realises that these four did not kill the victim. However, they are convicted because they abused the victim and offered no help. Another student is acquitted for lack of evidence. Of course, the reader immediately has the feeling that he must be the perpetrator.
Two years later, more women are brutally murdered, following the same pattern. They are filmed and these films are sold on the Darnet. In addition to the women's bodies, a male corpse is also found, equally abused and killed. How does he fit into this scheme? The man who brutally killed the women is also found abused and dead himself.
There are many unanswered questions that Julia Durant and her team have to solve.
It is very excitingly written and I read it in one go. ( )