LESUNG / Leo Hansen / »Alstergrab«

In the organizer's words:

Doomsday atmosphere in Hamburg
A scientific congress on revolutionary technologies is being held in Hamburg, but gruesome crimes overshadow the event: researchers are tortured and murdered, others are kidnapped. The trio of investigators Dr. Elias Hopp, Janne Bakken and LKA profiler Zillinski set out in search of clues and delve deep into the world of an apocalyptic future scenario. Time is of the essence, because not only the lives of the hostages are at stake - the inhuman plan of a self-appointed elite must also be thwarted.

Leo Hansen's three investigators Dr. Elias Hopp, ex-soldier Janne Bakken and LKA profiler Zillinski get deeper and deeper into a dangerous chase with the masterminds of a large-scale conspiracy. Fast-paced scenes, changing narrative perspectives and information from the perpetrator's point of view, which is only served up in bits and pieces, make this crime thriller an extremely exciting page-turner. Thanks to their thematic superstructure, which always develops a current, explosive social scenario, Hansen's novels always have a certain gloominess - and not only that: his plots go far beyond the Hanseatic city in terms of social criticism and politics and have all-encompassing validity. Alstergrab" also has its finger on the pulse of the times and sketches a dystopian but highly imaginable case: embedded in atmospheric descriptions of Hamburg, Hansen focuses on a self-appointed elite who, fearing a doomsday scenario, do not shy away from radical measures to ensure the survival of themselves and their fortunes.

All this is livened up by Hansen's typical humor, Nordic-dry and always a little sarcastic. A complex crime thriller that is frighteningly topical.

Photo Leo Hansen: ©Ines Müller-Hansen