The Scholl Case

The Deadly End of a Marriage

A woman is brutally murdered and buried in the woods. Suspicion falls on her husband—the former mayor of a small town south of Berlin. They had been married almost fifty years and were considered the perfect couple.

Award-winning journalist Anja Reich-Osang covered the trial. She spoke with relatives and friends of the victim and the accused—and with the former mayor himself, who denies his guilt to this day. But there is more to this story than the question of innocence or guilt. The Scholl Case is about a marriage, about a small town, about sex and politics. It is a psychological profile of a man driven to succeed—a man who started with nothing, conquered the world, and then lost all he had gained.

Anja Reich-Osang, a native of Berlin, has written for Die Zeit, Die Welt and Berliner Zeitung. In 2011, she and her husband published the book Where Were You? A September Day in New York, in which they recall their experiences of 9/11 while living in New York City. She was awarded the German Reporter Prize in 2012 and is currently working as senior editor at Berliner Zeitung. She lives in Berlin with her husband and her two children.

‘A chilling true story that reads like a thriller. Highly recommended.’  Caroline Overington

‘A gripping book about a mysterious murder that delves deeply into the psyches of its protagonists. Anja Reich-Osang’s clear language cuts like a knife, exposing the layers of two lives and one unhappy marriage. A great read!’ Melanie Raabe, author of The Trap

‘The Scholl Case shines a light into the dark corners of a fascinating mystery. Anja Reich-Osang captures the twists and turns of a doomed marriage with a tension that builds to its courtroom climax. A compelling story that pulls the reader along with every page.’ Jane Harper, author of The Dry

‘Despite the grim end to Brigitte’s life, this is not especially dark or depressing to read. The prose and tone that Reich-Osang strikes makes this much more a revealing examination around the foibles of lives and the hidden side to an otherwise success story.’ Abbey’s Crime Chronicle

‘The research was well-done and very detailed. I also enjoyed the writing style, which was fluent and practically swept me through the events and life history of Heinrich and his wife.’ I Heart Reading 

‘It reads like a novel—easy to get through, hard to put down, and never boring.’ Books by Scar

‘This is an intriguing story…Questions will linger about the verdict, conflicting testimonies and questionable evidence. Anja’s detailed research glides you through the lives of a couple whose marriage had been described as a long relationship of dominance and subjugation.’ PS News

'The Scholl Case is pure journalism: facts have not been altered to suit the story or build suspense. Instead, readers’ terror comes from seeing that, though unhappy, the Scholls are quite ordinary, thus giving the sense that this could happen to anyone. A quick and absorbing read for those who prefer their true crime without pretence.’ Booklist

‘Well-written and a worthwhile read. It will most certainly satisfy those readers who enjoy the combination of the psychology of marriage and true crime.’ New York Journal of Books