In February 1945, the city of Dresden, Germany, a civilian town with no military significance, was mostly destroyed by Allied bombings. With this somewhat controversial event as a backdrop, Detective Inspector Max Heller attempts to solve the mystery of who mutilated and killed a young nurse. Heller's investigation is hampered at many levels, both before and after the bombing. Getting around the city is difficult, it's hard to know who to trust and, with the end of the war bearing down on them, his superior isn't too interested in one murder. But then another body is found. Is historical crime fiction a new genre? Goldammer's story intertwines nicely with his well-researched history of Dresden's darkest days (it's actually his hometown). The outcome isn't a real shocker in this whodunit, but getting there is an interesting, enjoyable read.