Beton Rouge

Chastity Riley is chasing a madman. Or at least that’s what it seems like. Because who else would lock high-ranking executives in a cage in the middle of Hamburg? And so Chastity experiences one of the rare occasions where her bosses stop trying to rein her in and confine her to the tediousness that is her desk. Her investigations take her into the world of publishing and the institutions that form elites. And all the while her friends are driving her crazy, because of all people it’s those that usually give her support who suddenly prove to be a fickle bunch.

An unusually warm September morning in St. Pauli. Last night’s rain has not yet evaporated, and in front of the headquarters of a major magazine publishing house sits a cage holding the head of human resources. Naked, unconscious and obviously abused. Three days later, another cage appears in front of the publishers, this time containing the CEO. Riley and her new, inscrutable colleague Stepanovic believe it to be an act of revenge carried out by the publishing house’s employees – for years, people have been let go while the executives were filling their pockets with large bonus payments. Just when it becomes known that the two victims are not only connected by their status, but also by their more than dubious past, the chairman of the board disappears...

»Chastity Rileys view is so sharp and fierce and at the same time caring and affectionate.« Elmar Krekeler, DIE WELT

»… fast, humorous, very, very well written.« Frank Drieschner, DIE ZEIT

»Chastity Riley belongs amongst Germany’s most complex crime heroines: a lone wolf who looks into the chasms of human society.« Brigitte

»Caustic, incisive prose. A street-smart, gutsy heroine. A timely and staggeringly stylish thriller.« Will Carver

»With plenty of dry humour and a good old dash of despair, Simone Buchholz is an unconventional, refreshing new voice.« Crime Fiction Lover

»Lyrical and pithy.« Sunday Times Crime Club

»Buchholz also does a nice line in wry, black humour in her novels and there are some very funny moments in Beton Rouge set against a backdrop of greyness and pessimism … Beton Rouge is a touch of class, a superb noir.« New Books Magazine

»Beton Rouge is a killer read, original, unusual and yet I felt that a part of it, in fact a part of Chastity, lodged itself deeply within my soul, it’s quite simply fabulous.« LoveReading

Crime bloggers’ opinions on Beton Rouge:

»Simone Buchholz has once again delivered a gripping read which is brought together through her wonderful narrative and strong, well developed characters who complement each other’s personalities and flaws! […] I really enjoyed Beton Rouge, it’s a book that if you had the opportunity to, you could easily read in one sitting as it is gripping and a page turner. However, if you don’t have that luxury, it will continue to tempt you to read just a chapter or two in between real life getting in the way…well it did me.« Have Books Will Read

»Simone Buchholz has an extraordinary and very effective writing style which grabs you from the beginning. […] With a brilliant title, fabulously punchy chapter headings and a style and wit to die for, Simone Buchholz cuts a crystal clear path to Chastity’s world view and in so doing, opens our eyes to cruelty, inequality and a political world view that resonates deeply.« Live and Deadly

»I loved this book!! I thought that the story was excellent and I was very quickly addicted to the plot! The book flowed very well and I loved the writing style, it is a beautifully written story. The characters are fantastic, very well developed and I loved their interaction. Chastity is a superb character and definitely one of my favourites! […] An excellent plot, brilliant writing style with some fantastic characters – I loved it!!« Donnas Book Blog

»It’s snappy, with short, crisp chapters, which lend themselves well to this very modern novel. It creates the perfect atmosphere … The story is strong and bold. I loved the way it looks at how society treats those that are different and creates from that a classic whodunit about cruelty and retribution. It paints and image of a shadowy city, dismal and unpredictable, creating an atmosphere where I as a reader felt danger lurking around every corner. It cleverly takes the reader down into the bowels of the city and behind the tortured mind of a protagonist bent on punishing his enemies … Without doubt this book is a fitting follow-up to Blue Night and carries on the obvious talent the writer showed in the first novel.« Books are my Cwtches

»Simone Buchholz has created such a brilliantly vibrant and believable character that it will take you a matter of pages to get the measure of her and develop a little bit of Chastity Riley book love like the rest of us. Fast paced, full of delightfully diverse and lovable (and detestable) characters, all set against an intriguing and cunningly crafted story, Beton Rouge is an absolutely brilliant book. I loved it and I’m only gutted I read it so quickly. I’m missing Chastity and Ivo already. Please tell me they’ll be back?« Jen Meds Book Reviews

»The story is from Chastity’s point of view, she’s the narrator, so we learn a lot about her, her life and how she thinks. The style hints at Chandlers Marlowe but is uniquely Simone Buchholz. It is a beautifully written book, lyrical and a joy to read. […] Let’s hope it won’t be long before we get to read more of Chastity Riley.« Love Books Read Books

»The writing is beautiful [and it] feels real, these characters aren’t whiter than white. They have problems, they feel lonely, they sometimes do things that they shouldn’t do. I hope more of this series will be translated. It’s one that I could happily read back to back.« Stephs Book Blog

»Chastity Riley is one of those characters that gets under your skin, like the Hamburg fog, you don’t realise she is in there until you are bone deep into the story. […] Why has someone decided to display, like circus animals, 2 publishing managers? Tortured, humiliated and literally as well metaphorically exposed, the police have not only a hard time figuring out who done it, but how it was done with no witnesses and many thinking the men got their due. Add in a narrator who makes you feel like you are living in her stream of consciousness, the landscape of Hamburg which is a character in and of itself plus a unique writing style which has me clamouring to read Blue Night and follow where Chastity Riley goes next, and you have a winning combination of noir thriller.« Rachel Read It

»This book delivers punch after punch, and does so rapidly before I knew it, it was all over, leaving me dazed and with little ability to do much more than sit there. It was brilliant. This is a thriller unlike any I have read before. It is quite a quick read […] but what is contained in there is a wonderfully written protagonist whose flaws make her all the more relatable. She is gutsy, street wise, and thoroughly enjoyable … I found the storyline brilliant, the writing style straying from what is the norm in this genre, to its benefit. Brilliantly stylish, great wordplay and with just the right touch of humour, this is one that deserves your attention. Highly recommended.« Don Jimmy Reviews

»Not only is characterisation strong in this book, the plotting is superb. Buchholz leads [Riley] on a journey through the pages that twists and weaves expertly into the darkness of an individual who is hellbent on making a point with the torture and caging of two men« The Quiet Knitter

»Chastity herself is an unusual heroine. She’s a hard-drinking mess of a person but somehow manages to get the job done. Her story is compelling and seems complex. She has suffered and is obviously running from her own demons. The writing style is sharp and punchy adding to the sense of chaos that seems to follow Chastity. How she gets up and with it most days I’m not sure but there is a steely determination about her. It’s refreshing to see such a strong but damaged female lead and I look forward to getting to know her more. This is a series to watch and I thoroughly urge you to jump on board.« Tales Before Bedtime

»Although Beton Rouge is a crime thriller which for once doesn’t have murder as the central case being investigated, it is still a sharply insightful exposé of a shadowy world most of us are only dimly aware of. The humour is acerbically black and it’s a pessimistic reflection of society but there’s a poetry to the writing too making Beton Rouge such a joy to read from start to finish. […] Beton Rouge is an outstanding thriller which evokes all the stylishly cool spirit of traditional hard-boiled Noir yet is a fresh and compelling addition to the current crime fiction scene. Highly recommended.« Hair Past a Freckle