Avid Series Reader's Reviews > The Northern Cross

The Northern Cross by Hendrik Falkenberg is the second book of the contemporary Baltic Sea Crime mystery series set on the German coast. Hannes Niehaus is an athlete and police detective. He's training for a canoe competition, and working for a very difficult boss in the police department. A man is found crucified on a large wooden cross. The victim was an attractive and popular porn star, which makes for a big media splash (extra pressure for the police). A second murder follows fairly quickly; the victims are connected by an alternative style church they attended. The New Way church is directly across the street from a fundamentalist Christian church, whose members are harshly critical of New Way and want it shut down.

Each subsequent murder victim was a member of the New Way. A pattern emerges: the victims were selected "for their sins", as perceived by the as-yet-unknown serial killer. This is a difficult case to work; there are many likely suspects with secrets hidden in their past. Hannes pursues many dead ends in his attempts to isolate the killer by a process of elimination from all the likely suspects.

Hannes is reluctant at first to visit his former boss and mentor Fritz in jail. Once he does, however, he's reminded how brilliant Fritz is, and grateful for his insights. Fritz is eager to help solve the crime, and Hannes returns often, relying on Fritz's help interpreting clues.

Hannes has very little time for leisure, but is able to reconnect with his friends, and resume a romance with Anna. He struggles with boating lessons in order to be able to pilot Fritz's boat, a gift from Fritz.