Review: The Zodiac File

The Zodiac File was graciously provided to me as a review copy by Edel Elements Publishing. When this offer arrived, I felt like someone dangling chocolate in front of a chocoholic – how could anyone possibly refuse?

The Zodiac File

Linus Geschke

A double homicide involving a young couple presents Detective Eva Lendt and her investigation team with a perplexing mystery. The crime scene yields no usable evidence, no clear motive emerges, and witnesses are completely absent. To shed light on this darkness, her superior brings in criminal profiler Marco Brock to assist with the case. Though Eva isn't thrilled about this addition, she attempts to work cooperatively with him. His theory – that someone is replicating an infamous American cold case – strikes her as plausible, and together they begin hunting for a German counterpart to the notorious Zodiac Killer, diving deep into the original unsolved crimes.

It was an uncomfortable and rainy night; far too cold for late April. The wind was picking up and the leaves of the surrounding trees rustled. The Zodiac File, Volume 1, p. 5

My Thoughts

The narrative unfolds across multiple storylines that alternate throughout.

The Investigation Team

The core team consists of three key figures – Eva Lendt, Oliver Lamprecht, and Marco Brock. Marco Brock emerges as perhaps the most intriguing personality, though at times he veers into somewhat stereotypical territory. His occasionally arrogant demeanor can be a bit much, and his conversations with his deceased fiancée remind me of Dr. Daniel Pierce from Perception. Nevertheless, I found him compelling, and like Eva Lendt, he grew increasingly appealing to me over time. He's the one who first establishes a connection to the Zodiac Killer.

The Amateur Sleuths

At Helenius Boarding School, three students – Philipp Redel, Adam Lesch, and Kai Drechsler – are simultaneously investigating the murders alongside the official detectives. The trio forms a club called "Sons of Sam," named after the infamous serial killer. This is their passion, their obsession – they know everything about famous serial killers. With considerable ingenuity and a certain degree of questionable methods, they acquire information about the current case and draw their own conclusions.

The Perpetrator

Intermittently, Linus Geschke takes readers into the mind of the killer. This perspective proves equally thrilling and chilling, though naturally it doesn't reveal the perpetrator's identity. Until the very end, their true identity remains hidden – but there's plenty of room for readers to identify their own suspects. I enjoy this guessing game, the speculation and weighing of evidence; for me, it constitutes a major part of the suspense.

The Past

The story also includes periodic flashbacks to when the original Zodiac Killer was active. I found these sections particularly fascinating and – as odd as it sounds – they provided breathing room in the narrative. A kind of respite, if you will.

The Conclusion

I definitely needed those breathing spaces occasionally – because I felt pleasantly propelled through the book. The entire story is so gripping that I could barely put my reader down. I constantly wanted to know what would happen next and, most importantly, whether it was one of "my" suspects. I can reveal this much – it wasn't any of those I'd suspected, but someone completely different. That made the showdown genuinely exciting and intensely suspenseful.

My Verdict

The Zodiac File is an authentically thrilling thriller that I can wholeheartedly and confidently recommend to anyone who enjoys gripping entertainment.

Book Details