judith krieger, a detective in cologne

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But as soon as the doctors had patched her up to some extent, the questions began. Why did you go into that house alone, Detective Krieger? Why didn’t you call for reinforcements? Why did you disobey your superior’s orders? Questions, questions, questions, always the same questions from the investigating police officers. Judith’s answers were not enough for them, turned, even as Judith spoke, into misjudgements and wrong decisions. Now the files are at the public prosecutor’s office, maybe there will be official criminal proceedings against her for manslaughter, a court date, a verdict. The people against Detective Chief Inspector Judith Krieger. Perhaps she will also receive a disciplinary sentence because she did not let herself be deterred by a prohibition from her boss to convict a murderer.

from: Farben der Schuld
(own translation)

The Warrior

Judith Krieger fights. She fights when she suspects an injustice, when she is convinced of the innocence – or guilt – of a person, when she feels drawn into worldwide criminal entanglements or at least believes so.

It once began with a law degree and the goal of standing by all victims, all the disadvantaged, all the oppressed, especially women, and helping them to get their rights. Then Judith took a turn and embarked on a new path: she became a detective. In the meantime, in her late thirties, early to mid forties, she deals with murder cases.

The cases are not always gentle with Judith. She is more often slightly or seriously injured and can reflect on her actions, especially on her passion to always trying to save the world alone, which always doesn’t sit well with her.

Judith lives alone, but has a relationship or affair every now and then, but she doesn’t seem born to live together. Perhaps it is because her father, whom she adores and worships in a special way, who left the family to follow his dream when she was a small child. He made his way to Kathmandu, where he perished in ice and snow. Her mother remarried shortly afterwards, but Judith didn’t become quite happy in the new family. It wasn’t that she was neglected or even mistreated … You definitely get the impression that she was loved. In any case, she has grown apart quite quickly … and enjoys a certain social contempt for her family. I wonder if her father’s hippie ideas are expressed here?

Judith is not a team player, which does not go down so well in the world of the criminal police by now. It’s the order of the day to act as part of a team. Judith likes to isolate herself and go her own way. What always speaks in her favour is that she is a good investigator who can show success. On the other hand, her escapades also repeatedly give rise to disciplinary measures. Judith is transferred or gets herself transferred or takes time off.

Her cases are not easy. She is always poking around in the social rubbish – whether it is child abduction or trafficking in girls, abused wives or Catholic priests gone astray. The cases and their surroundings, the collateral damage and the people involved, even if only marginally, who have to suffer from the deeds, are close to Judith’s heart and she despairs of reality and its brutal deeds. Even though she eventually moves from homicide to the missing persons department, she cannot escape her cases.

In the end, she finds herself back in Cologne in the midst of brutal activities … and she tries again to help justice win from her personal point of view, even if it is only possible at the expense of the truth. Judith remains true to herself and her fights.

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a faint cold fear thrills through my veins ... william shakespeare