A dangerous encounter

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A dangerous encounter is a 1985 published detective novel by Ernst Jünger . It is set in Paris in the late 19th century. The detective Inspector Dobrowsky and the officer Etienne Laurens, who has been transferred to the police force, have to solve the murder of an actress. Since the act is compared several times with those of the English serial killer Jack the Ripper , the action must take place around 1888.

The detective novel is completely different from Jünger's work, which is otherwise characterized by diaries , essays, and utopian novels and stories. Also unusual for him is the long period of creation from 1949 to 1983.

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A Sunday morning in Paris

The impoverished, formerly influential Léon Ducasse takes pleasure in bringing the young, somewhat naive German diplomat Gerhard zum Busche together with Countess Kargané, who is regularly betrayed by her husband. He sends her a bouquet with Gerhard's card and arranges a meeting for both of them.

Behind the Madeleine

The rendezvous in the upscale hour hotel "Goldene Glocke" is interrupted early, however, when a face first appears in the frosted glass window above the room door and finally with a shrill scream in the hallway. When Gerhard opens the door, he finds a woman who has been stabbed to death.

To the Bastille

In an excursus, Inspector Dobrowsky and officer Etienne Laurens, who has been transferred to the police, discuss the possibility of a perfect crime with the thief Leprince, including the fact that attempts to cover up traces create new traces that chance can attach to (p. 95 )

Interrogate

Dobrowsky's and Lauren's interrogations reveal that the deceased was an actress whose companion had hidden his face behind a handkerchief when she entered.

The duel

Captain Kargané finds out about his wife's rendezvous and challenges Gerhard to a duel . Since Kargané is the far more experienced shooter, he has practically no chance. Gerhard chooses the decrepit Rittmeister von Goldhammer as his second. He thinks the duel is justified, but because he believes that he will not be able to get through it because of his alcoholism and other problems, he notifies Dobrowsky and Laurens. They set out in a hurry to prevent the duel. The murderer was discovered more or less on the side through further investigations.

epilogue

Dobrowsky explains some of the subtleties of his investigation to Laurens and both discuss why certain aspects should not be pursued further for political and social reasons.

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expenditure

Secondary literature