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|title=The Dark Meadow

|sort=Dark Meadow

|date=August 2014

|isbn=978-1780877730

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It was at the end of the war that Afra Zauner returned to her parents' cottage in Finsterau. She'd lost her job as a waitress and it was some time before she realised that she was pregnant. When Albert was born her father turned against her and the boy and there was little sympathy for her in the village - but they didn't expect that Afra would be murdered. The obvious suspect was Johann Zauner. It was no secret that there had been constant arguments between him and his daughter and he had some injuries which he couldn't entirely explain. When a policeman 'obtained' a confession it seemed that this was an open-and-shut case.

I've read a lot of crime fiction: sometimes I think I've read too much when I realise that so little is new or even fresh - until I read something like ''The Dark Meadow'' (that's the translation of 'Finsterau') and suddenly the possibilities seem endless. Andrea Maria Schenkel has produced something quite original, totally engrossing and a joy to read. You see, there is no detective to investigate the crime, no one to tell us the story. We have the reminiscences of various people who were peripherally involved and the stories of those directly affected are teased out until we know the full story.

It's a book to buy and keep. In going back to check details for this review I found myself reading whole chapters and muttering ''Oh, so that's why/how...'' You'll read it once for enjoyment and the story - but the next time you'll see how it was done. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

{{amazontext|amazon=1780877730}}