Kluftingerkrimi Collection

A body with a dead crow carefully draped on top of it is one of the stranger things detective Kluftinger has seen during his career in the police force. He finds himself hunting down a serial killer who incorporates elements of local legend in his crimes.

Detective Kluftinger is investigating the murder of an employee of the local dairy plant. While this provides a welcome excuse not to go on a sunny Mediterranean holiday with his wife, he finds that many locals, including his own father, are doing their best to obstruct his investigations. Kluftinger himself is uncomfortable investigating local dairy farmers and their affairs, but he keeps going and eventually discovers a huge scandal.

Police Inspector Kluftinger finds an apparently dead diver in a blood-red puddle by the shore of a lake. When he investigates the matter, he finds that the diver is not dead and he comes into contact with a group of shaman-like elderly men who seem to protect the lake and some secret resting at its bottom.

A mysterious phone call puts Kluftinger and his colleagues Maier and Hefele on the trail of a brutal series of murders. A serial killer who cuts out the hearts of his victims and drapes them macabrely at the crime scene is up to mischief in the Allgäu. There is hardly any time for Kluftinger's own worries, the chest pains that are making his life hell. Does he suffer from heart problems like his father? Kluftinger thinks - also because of the strange statements of his doctor Dr. Langhammer - terminally ill. But he will solve this case. Even if it's the last thing he does. In fear of death, Kluftinger takes surprising measures to turn things around again. A yoga class with Dr. Langhammer is one of them. The investigations lead him to the clinic in Oberstaufen, where his father is lying after heart surgery. The first murder victim turns out to be the chief physician of this clinic, Dr. Steiner. Drug residues were found in his blood. A drug that is only used in one series of tests in this clinic. Is it about illegal drug trials? Is Kluftinger's father also in danger? More victims are found: an insurance broker and an employee of the Augsburg regulatory office. A book of matches is found at all crime scenes, each time there is one less match in it. From five it goes down until there is only one left. But what is the connection between the dead? When Maier suddenly disappears, Kluftinger has to ask himself whether the last match is meant for his pedantic colleague. A dramatic race against time culminates in a showdown in the ghost train.

The monstrance with the relic of St. Magnus, which Kluftinger was unable to prevent from being stolen as a young policeman, is finally returning home. Kluftinger was deeply affected by the fact that Lodenbacher hired Maier of all people to ensure the safety of the Allgäu patron saint at the opening of the exhibition. He would have liked to iron out the embarrassment from back then himself, but instead he has to solve the murder of an old woman. But Kluftinger wouldn't be Kluftinger if he didn't realize that the murder of old Frau Zahn was connected to the monstrance and its safety. Everything indicates that Frau Zahn had rented a shed from the old sawmill to the gang, of all people, who are planning to steal the monstrance again. In this situation, Kluftinger hopes to get help from Heinz Rösler, one of the art thieves of the time who is now in prison in Vienna. He flies to Vienna with Maier, not realizing that Sandy has put her up with Austrian police colleague Valentin Bydlinski overnight. Bydlinksi, who obviously has a full-blown messie problem, generously clears his bedroom for Kluftinger and Maier, but the two have to share a bed. During a private conversation, Rösler guides Kluftinger to the chapel in Roßhaupten, where a copy of the monstrance is kept. In a Bible there, Kluftinger finds a photo that reminds him of the second art thief from back then. Apparently, Rösler actually knows more about the planned renewed robbery of the monstrance, which is supposed to take place during the grand opening of the exhibition. But for supporting the local police, Rösler demands to be transferred to the Allgäu. It was only later that Kluftinger realized that Rösler wanted to place his very own cards in this game.