La Loupe Garmisch-Partenkirchen No. 5

L.L. Mr. Maurer you have been publishing an Inspector
Jennerwein crime thriller every year since 2009. And since
then the idyllic alpine town has seen it all – lies, cheating
and, of course, even murder. What was the reaction of those
who live in your hometown at the foot of Zugspitze when
they first read your thrillers?
J.M. Well, what can I say: many of them are already dead,
since they’ve been murdered. So obviously they don’t react
at all. The others, the liars, cheaters, and murderers – well
they’d better not put in their two cents. So, I guess I don’t
have any reactions at all to fear!
Kunst & Kultur
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engl. / The literary prize Agatha-Christie-
Krimi-Preis, the MIMI audience award and
the Radio-Bremen crime award – the author
and cabaret artist Jörg Maurer currently is one
of the most sought-after and also one of the
funniest authors in the German-speaking
world. His crime series starring inspector
Hubertus Jennerwein has acquired a kind of
cult-status and a broad fanbase – and not just
in the author’s home at the foot of Zugspitze
where the terrible incidents occur. La Loupe
spoke to the best-selling author – about
Werdenfelser Hoba, the cruellest way to
murder someone and his latest book.
L.L. You studied German literature in Munich, then you
worked as a teacher for five years, later you were a musical
cabaret artists, and then you were in charge of your own
Schwabinger theatre. How come you started writing?
And why write crime thrillers?
J.M. I always used to enjoy writing, even when I was a
teacher, musical cabaret artist, and theatre manager. When
you have a passion for literature and when you read a lot
you’re bound to end up wanting to try out writing yourself.
And crime has always been the most fascinating genre for
me. The balancing act between high-quality literature and
exciting entertainment has always been and still is appealing
for me.
L.L. Your new thriller “Im Grab schaust du nach oben”
(=You’ll be looking upwards in your grave) Inspector
Jennerwein’s investigations take place during the G7-
summit which did actually take place in Krün, only 17
kilometres from Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2015. Do you
like to let real events that happen in the region inspire you?
J.M. The summits have taken place dozens of times in
different locations all over the world, I think they all follow
the same pattern: great commotion, nothing happens. This
staging of power and impotence is what I wanted to portray
in a satirical fashion. And as far as inspiration is concerned –
I usually prefer to come up with things myself.
“The thing with
inspiration is a bit
difficult – I prefer
coming up with
things myself, that’s
more exciting.”
“I always used to
enjoy writing, even
back when I was a
teacher, a musical
cabaret artist, and
theatre director.”
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