The Scholl Case is a non-fiction book by German journalist and author, Anja Reich-Osang. At midday on December 29th, 2011, Brigitte Scholl drove her silver Mercedes from her home in Ludwigsfelde to nearby woods for her daily walk with her cocker spaniel, Ursus. She never returned.

In early 2012, Heinrich Scholl was charged with the murder of his wife of 47 years. Her body, and that of her cocker-spaniel, were found in woods on December 30th, 2011. Heinrich was the former mayor of Ludwigsfelde, and well-respected in the community. His trial lasted eight months and he was convicted of Brigitte’s murder, for which he is currently serving a life sentence in the prison in Brandenburg an der Havel. He maintains his claim of innocence.

Reich-Osang attended the trial and was given permission by Scholl to conduct research about him. She states that her book is based on observations made during the trial, and interviews with the defendant, with friends and relations of both the victim and the defendant as well as business colleagues, politician friends, lawyers and others who could provide information about the couple.

This book examines in detail the events in the lives of this couple, both as individuals and together, from their teenage years onwards. Reich-Osang tracks the changes in what was essentially a marriage of convenience, changes that ultimately led to Brigitte’s murder. Reich-Osang herself makes no judgment on Scholl’s guilt or innocence, allowing the facts that her meticulous research has uncovered to speak for themselves. Flawlessly translated by Imogen Taylor, this is a fascinating read.