In East German literature, the crime novel was regarded as the literary medium that could best reflect the everyday lives of people. Through fiction, conflicts, desires, and fears of various population groups within East German society could be addressed. After the reunification, many crime novels deal with the processing of East German history, the role of the state security, and typical biographies from the time of the transition. Anyone wanting to learn about the reality of East Germany even after the fall of the Wall should turn to the crime novel. Gerhard Schilling approaches the East German crime novel with great expertise. He explains what is characteristic of the genre, compares key works, interviews authors, and shows how they bring the atmosphere of the time to life in the readers' imagination.