Exploring the tension between scientific innovation and economic pressures, the narrative follows a scientist navigating multiple realities and grappling with their validity. Set against the backdrop of an emotionally barren industrial environment, the story reflects on the disconnection from nature. Additionally, it contrasts European perspectives with American influences in the early 1990s, weaving together these themes for a contemporary audience in this republished work.
The story follows Juan Zinniker, a charismatic and affluent businessman who appears to have it all. Over the course of three pivotal weeks, readers delve into his true character, exploring the motivations behind his success and the unforeseen challenges he faces. As his life unfolds, the narrative reveals the complexities of his existence and the deeper struggles that lie beneath his glamorous surface.
Set against the backdrop of a bookshop in Zurich, the story follows Alice as she travels to Milwaukee for her uncle's funeral. This trip sparks a journey across the U.S., revisiting her past as a country singer. Along the way, she confronts her memories and experiences that illuminate her path forward, blending themes of nostalgia and self-discovery as she seeks a new direction in life.
Focusing on the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN), the narrative explores its establishment in 1968 and integration into the Paul Scherrer Institute in 1988. Set against a backdrop where physics was pivotal for progress, SIN's founding exemplified Switzerland's bold vision. The book highlights SIN's remarkable achievements relative to global counterparts and its significant impact on both Swiss and international scientific policy, illustrating the institute's unique role in advancing nuclear research and its broader implications for society.
Damian Trank, the great-grandson of Gerold Trank, navigates a world shaped by his ancestor's legacy. The story delves into themes of family heritage and the impact of the past on the present. As Damian uncovers secrets from his family's history, he grapples with the weight of expectations and the quest for identity. This narrative intertwines personal growth with historical reflections, exploring how the echoes of previous generations influence contemporary life.
The story follows Thomas Kremer, a determined investigator from Zurich, as he delves into a corruption case linked to a private clinic sale. Known for his independent thinking, Kremer uncovers a complex web of deceit, challenging government officials and financiers with his forthright demeanor. His half-Jewish heritage heightens his awareness of contemporary anti-Semitism, influencing his personal and professional interactions. Kremer's relentless pursuit of truth leads him to confront uncomfortable realities and societal contradictions.
A development engineer suspects Chinese partners of spying on his technology company and discreetly contacts the Federal Intelligence Service. Investigator Elliott Kern, tasked with the case, faces challenges due to political sensitivities. When a murder occurs, he collaborates with the Aargau Cantonal Police to solve it. Kern, a former FBI agent, lives with his mother and admires Montaigne.
A Case for Elliott Kern
A businessman from Lenzburg requests an export license for machines to Indonesia. According to his declaration, they are intended for palm oil production. However, they could also be used for uranium enrichment. Elliott Kern of the Federal Intelligence Service is assigned to examine the possible nuclear proliferation. In the process, he gets involved in a murder investigation by the Aargau Cantonal Police. The investigation takes place while the second Corona wave has reached Switzerland. At the same time, the controversy about the corporate responsibility initiative in Switzerland and the presidential election in the USA provide for hot discussions. Elliott Kern was formerly with the FBI. He lives with his mother in Aarau and admires the philosopher Michel de Montaigne.
A Case for Elliott Kern
During the corona crisis, a dispatcher of the Swiss Power Grid Company is murdered in Aarau. Did the perpetrator have personal reasons, or did someone intend sabotage? A large-scale failure of electric power-supply in addition to the pandemic would be particularly dangerous for the whole country. This risk requires the Federal Intelligence Service to participate in the investigation. The corona restrictions of the Swiss government make the investigation more difficult than usual. But in an unepected way, they also help to solve the crime within a short time.
A Novel
In a stately Zurich Villa, an unexplained case of fire results in a fatality. Was it arson, and if so, what could have been the motive? Greed, sabotage? Or was the cause simply carelessness? The narrator, a disillusioned journalist, is hired to play detective. His client is a former tobacco merchant who became a missionary do-gooder in old age. The old man wants to know more about the life of his nephew, an engineer, who looks critically at social trends. Underlying the investigation of the fire case, there is a quiet struggle between the journalist's moral attitude and the engineer's sense of responsibility. In the end, they both contribute to the solution of the fire case.