The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge

Paperback | 6 July 2010

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The bodies are discovered on New Year's Day, sixteen dead in the freshly fallen snow. The adults lie stiff in a semicircle; the children, in pajamas and overcoats, are curled at their feet.
When he hears the news, Commissaire André Schweigen knows who to call: Dominique Carpentier, the Judge, also known as the "sect hunter." Carpentier sweeps into the investigation in thick glasses and red gloves, and together the Commissaire and the Judge begin searching for clues in a nearby chalet. Among the decorations and unwrapped presents of a seemingly ordinary holiday, they find a leather-bound book, filled with mysterious code, containing maps of the stars. The book of the Faith leads them to the Composer, Friedrich Grosz, who is connected in some way to every one of the dead. Following his trail, Carpentier, Schweigen, and the Judge's assistant, Gaëlle, are drawn into a world of complex family ties, seductive music, and ancient cosmic beliefs.
Hurtling breathlessly through the vineyards of Southern France to the gabled houses of Lübeck, Germany, through cathedrals, opera houses, museums, and the cobbled streets of an Alpine village, this ferocious new novel is a metaphysical mystery of astonishing verve and power.

Industry Reviews

"What begins as a hunt quickly becomes a cunning test of wills, a battle for the upper hand... The dynamic of the hunter and prey is reversed over and over again, and this complex, nuanced dance is the heart of the book. Duncker has written a tightly plotted thriller... a quick, instantly involving, page-turning mystery, written in fluid, lyrical prose, and populated with characters that are flawed and human and complete." - "Boston Globe""A literary pleasure of the highest order... A legal mystery of uncommon style and intelligence." - "Shelf Awareness""" "[A] haunting novel...the prose [is] vibrant." -"Publishers Weekly""" "I can only use the words extraordinary to describe this book. I will remember it for a long time. Recommended for readers of music, astronomy and literary fiction and fans of Louise Penny, Fred Vargas and Arturo Perez-Reverte." - Mystery Salon, "Killer Book" recommendation

"Haunting and exceptional... I can only use the words extraordinary to describe this book. I will remember it for a long time."--"Mystery Salon"

"Enigmatic."--"Booklist "

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