Praise for Hunkeler's Secret:
“Hansjörg Schneider’s Hunkeler’s Secret (Bitter Lemon, 2025, £9.99), the translation of a 2015 original, is the fourth of the series to appear in English. Basle-set again, Hunkeler is retired, hospitalised, and, as such, witnesses the apparent murder of the next-bed patient, Stephanie Fakhauser, an irritating one-time student radical who had become a banker in the prestigious but questionable Basel Volksbank. As with some Scandi-noir, this is an approach that probes dark roots in World War Two conduct. It is sparely-written, short, and first-rate.” ---The Critic
"I reckon Hunkeler’s Secret, the latest in the ‘Inspector Hunkeler’ series, is my favourite thus far. While in hospital recovering from an operation, Hunkeler finds himself sharing a room with Stephan Fankhauser, the gravely ill former head of the Basel Volksbank. One morning, Hunkeler wakes to the news that Fankhauser died in the night. But was it a natural death? Or did a groggy Hunkeler witness something untoward being done to his fellow patient in the wee small hours? After his discharge from hospital, the retired police inspector starts to investigate in his dogged, somewhat grumpy way. There’s also a new family relationship to explore, a wayward goat, and lots of good food. One aspect of the ‘Hunkeler’ series I particularly like is its geographical setting. There’s the Swiss city of Basel on the one hand, where Hunkeler spent his working life and has a flat, and rural Alsace on the other, where he owns a little house. You get a real sense of the proximity of Switzerland, France and Germany to one another, with characters continually criss-crossing borders and speaking Swiss-German, Alsatian (an Alemannic dialect) and French. I love that Astrid Freuler integrates nuggets of the original languages into her excellent English translation, which gives readers an enhanced sense of the multiculturalism of the area. The region also has a complex territorial history, which plays a role in the resolution of this knotty Hunkeler case.”__Mrs. Peabody Investigates
"This Swiss-set crime novel with a somewhat grumpy lead is a fascinating mix of knotty crime investigation, complicated family relationships, the glory of food, and love of place. " This is a series and a police inspector worth meeting. Peter Hunkeler has just retired, while in hospital, he wakes and witnesses an incident, yet come the morning, questions whether it was just a dream. Award-winning Swiss author Hansjorg Schneider lives in Basel, the sense of place is wonderful, and I always feel transported to this corner of Switzerland on the French and German border. Hunkeler’s Secret is the fourth novel to be translated into English. I’ve read each one, which began with The Basel Killings, and can most definitely recommend the series. Astrid Freuler again translates beautifully, you feel at home, yet feel the differences too. Hunkeler has grown on me with each outing; he doesn’t suffer fools, yet acts with compassion, his love of food and wine is legendary, as is his nose for the truth. I adore the somewhat quirky nature of these novels, while crime fiction, equal footing is given to the relationships within, and the location simply sings. Hunkeler’s Secret is another absorbing read from a series that is as rewarding as it is satisfying. “---Liz Robinson, LoveReading
Praise for the Hunkeler series:
“Looks ideal for anyone who enjoys reading about detectives like Martin Beck and Wallander.” CrimeFictionLover
“Basel may be Swiss, but like all border cities it’s anything but squeaky clean, especially in his fast-paced, gritty stories.”—Financial Times
“Reminiscent of Wallander and Rebus, a little jaded, a bit rebellious and always independent with a strong intuition.”—NB Magazine
Hunkeler has been compared to Maigret, though there are no wreaths of pipe smoke or breaks for a quick digestif. After all, Basel is not Paris, it is cleaner, greyer and harder. Perhaps that’s the point.” —Shotsmag
