“Justice is truth in action.”
Chapter 1: The Crime
The novel opens with the brutal murder of industrialist Hans Meyer in a Berlin hotel. The killer, Fabrizio Collini, an elderly Italian man, surrenders calmly to the police without explanation. The crime shocks Germany, particularly because Meyer was a respected figure.
Chapter 2: The Defense
Young lawyer Caspar Leinen is assigned to defend Collini. Though inexperienced, he takes the case, unaware of its personal stakes—Meyer was his childhood benefactor. Collini remains silent, refusing to cooperate, leaving Leinen frustrated and desperate for answers.
Chapter 3: Uncovering the Past
Leinen digs into Collini’s background and discovers he was a forced laborer in Nazi Germany. He also learns Meyer’s dark history—his involvement in war crimes during WWII. The legal system’s failure to prosecute Meyer becomes a central theme.
Chapter 4: The Trial
The courtroom drama unfolds as Leinen struggles to reconcile his duty to Collini with his loyalty to Meyer’s family. Prosecutors paint Collini as a cold-blooded killer, while Leinen argues the murder was an act of delayed justice for Meyer’s Nazi past.
Chapter 5: The Revelation
Collini finally breaks his silence, revealing Meyer’s role in the execution of Italian civilians, including Collini’s father. The German legal system had shielded Meyer under post-war immunity laws, fueling Collini’s vengeance. The testimony forces Leinen to confront moral and legal contradictions.
Chapter 6: The Verdict
Collini is convicted but given a reduced sentence due to mitigating circumstances. The trial exposes Germany’s flawed reckoning with its Nazi past. Leinen, disillusioned, questions the limits of the law in delivering true justice.
Key Ideas
- The moral ambiguity of justice and revenge.
- Germany’s unresolved Nazi-era crimes and legal protections for perpetrators.
- The ethical dilemmas faced by defense attorneys.
- The generational trauma of war crimes victims.
- The conflict between personal loyalty and professional duty.
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Collini Case (Film) | German adaptation starring Elyas M’Barek as Caspar Leinen. |
Who should read this book?
- Fans of legal thrillers with historical depth.
- Readers interested in post-WWII German history and justice.
- Those exploring themes of morality, revenge, and systemic failure.