When death visits a cozy nursing home just two days before Christmas, even seasoned detectives find the holiday spirit hard to maintain. Dat witte Lücht delivers a masterfully crafted German crime story that combines festive charm with genuine mystery, creating an atmosphere that will keep you turning pages long after you should be asleep.
The scene couldn't be more idyllic yet unsettling: Dat witte Lücht, a senior home in Pewsumer, where residents decorate for Christmas and anticipate the coming celebrations. But when one of their own dies under mysterious circumstances, festive cheer gives way to suspicion. Hauptkommissar David Büttner and his assistant Sebastian Hasenkrug arrive to find themselves caught between the ticking clock of holiday preparations and a case with no easy answers.
What makes this short crime story particularly engaging is how it balances the warmth of human connection against the cold reality of crime. The detectives face the unusual challenge of questioning elderly residents who may be confused or unreliable, each memory fragment potentially holding the key to solving the mystery. The narrative weaves together the pressures of modern policing with the timeless appeal of a classic whodunit.
Whether you're a fan of German crime fiction or simply enjoy well-crafted mysteries, this book offers something special. The setting feels authentic and lived-in, the characters have depth beyond their roles in the mystery, and the plot unfolds with satisfying precision. At just the right length for an evening's entertainment, it's the kind of story that stays with you, making you question the assumptions we make about the elderly and the secrets they might carry.
Part of the beloved Büttner and Hasenkrug series but perfectly readable on its own, Dat witte Lücht proves that the best mysteries often come from the most unexpected places—and that Christmas isn't always as peaceful as we imagine.
