While THE ICE QUEEN is the latest of Nele Neuhaus’ Kirchhoff and Bodenstein novels to release in the United States, it chronologically predates SNOW WHITE MUST DIE and BAD WOLF in both real time and within the series. If you have already read those two titles, think of this one as a welcome prequel to what you already know; if not, consider it an introduction, beautifully translated by Steven T. Murray, to one of the better and more complex mystery series currently being published.

"THE ICE QUEEN is certainly one of Neuhaus’ more complex works due to the number of players in the game.... Students of history who are also fans of intricate mysteries will find much to love here and little to regret."

Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver Bodenstein are detectives whose jurisdiction includes the Taunus-Frankfurt region of Germany. Their case begins with the murder of Jossi Goldberg, a 92-year-old American citizen and Holocaust survivor. The killing has been performed in an execution-style manner. Among the clues is a five-digit number written on the wall in the victim’s blood. An autopsy also reveals an extremely surprising tattoo, consisting of a blood type identifier used by members of Hitler’s SS elite. The team has no idea why a Jewish Holocaust survivor would have such a tattoo unless he wasn’t Jewish after all. Before Kirchhoff and Bodenstein have barely started their investigation, the son of the victim, accompanied by members of the CIA and the U.S. general counsel, appear and take the body away. Furthermore, the investigation is halted immediately, on orders far above Kirchhoff’s and Bodenstein’s pay grade.

In short order, however, two more murders occur, both of which are carried out in a similar manner --- right down to the bloody number on the wall --- and involve elderly citizens. It develops that the three victims knew one another, and all were lifelong friends of Baroness Vera von Kaltensee, the head of an old and extremely wealthy family. The Baroness is a well-known and well-liked figure, but it appears obvious that she is the next target. Who would be targeting these individuals, and why?

Kirchhoff and Bodenstein’s investigation takes them back to the closing days of World War II and the fall of Germany. They discover that nothing connected with the case --- presently or in the past --- is as it seems. The answers almost certainly lie in the contents of a missing storage chest. Someone --- or several someones --- will do anything to keep the contents from being revealed to the world. Surprise after surprise is revealed as the book draws to a conclusion, even as Kirchhoff finds herself in mortal danger and almost without any hope of rescue.

THE ICE QUEEN is certainly one of Neuhaus’ more complex works due to the number of players in the game. The plot is especially interesting, given the mad scramble for survival that actually occurred on both sides of the battle line during the closing days of World War II and the manner in which the division of the spoils and riches of war have affected subsequent events. Students of history who are also fans of intricate mysteries will find much to love here and little to regret.