"Living in Custody" is a novel based on a true story. The reader immerses themselves in the everyday life of the GDR years. They encounter people who were born into this country and must adapt to life behind the wall. Some are strong, like the young teacher Sigi, whose fate collides with the system seemingly by chance. Love meets stupidity and hatred. Some are too weak to resist the temptations of the manipulators. We meet the blonde Viking Paul, who becomes a traitor to himself and his friends due to the system. Manni, the main character, rises up. From a follower, he grows into a man who tries to resist. Those who do not bend must be broken. He is betrayed, eroded, captured, and imprisoned. We suffer alongside the individual in their hopeless struggle against the overpowering system. However, the story also provides insights into the inner lives of the characters.