In Matto's Realm: A Sergeant Studer Mystery (Sergeant Studer Mystery S.) [Kindle Edition]

Friedrich Glauser (Author), Mike Mitchell (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. First published in 1936, this golden age gem contains echoes of Durenmatt, Fritz Lang's film M and Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain. Just as Mann's Berghof Sanatorium mirrored the schadenfreude of the world outside, so the Swiss madhouse in Glauser's psychologically wrenching Sergeant Studer novel, the second to be translated into English (after 2004's Thumbprint), darkly illuminates the anguish and disorientation of Germany between the wars. When Peter Pieterlen, a child murderer, escapes from the Randlingen Psychiatric Clinic in Bern, Dr. Ernst Laduner asks Det. Sgt. Jakob Studer to investigate. Studer soon discovers the body of Randlingen's director in the clinic's boiler room, his neck broken. Despite the clinic doctors' claim that Pieterlen killed the man, Studer has doubts that leave him wondering if someone is using pseudopsychological theories and pretenses to commit murder. Both a compelling mystery and an illuminating, finely wrought mainstream novel, this classic will make it clear to American readers why the German-language prize for detective fiction is named after Glauser (1896–1938). (Jan.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* The second Sergeant Studer mystery was first published in 1936, and the German crime-fiction award was named for its author. It's hard to get more old school than that, which is why it's surprising to discover that Glauser's tale of murder at an insane asylum (finally appearing in English) has such a contemporary feel. As Studer investigates the director's murder and a child killer's escape, the savvy Swiss detective engages in a subtle test of wills with the assistant director, Ernst Laduner. While the doctor espouses progressive views about treating and even curing patients, his unorthodox methods result in high body counts, and he has much to gain from his supervisor's death. But Studer is strangely drawn to Laduner and seeks to shield him even as damning evidence seems to mount. Meanwhile, a true madman, heard only in snatches over the radio, spreads his insanity from nearby Germany. As Laduner wryly notes, "Had he had a psychiatric examination at the beginning of his career, perhaps the world might look a little different today." The first English translation of this atmospheric novel is no less satisfying for being so long overdue. Frank Sennett
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1467 KB
• Print Length: 334 pages
• Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press (January 1, 2006)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0029LHDY4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,154 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark period piece police procedural, January 17, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Matto's Realm: A Sergeant Studer Mystery (Paperback)

In the late 1920s in Bern, Dr. Ernst Laduner specifically asks to see Detective Sergeant Jakob Studer as they met in Vienna though the cop does not remember the psychiatrist. Laduner informs Studer that a patient Peter Pieterlen, a child murderer, escaped from the Randlingen Psychiatric Clinic; Studer concludes the psychiatrist is performing a classic CYA especially since another patient director Ulrich Borstli vanished.

Studer questions those on duty when Borstli allegedly disappeared and Pieterlen escaped from the asylum. As he continues his investigation in the boiler room, he discovers the murdered corpse of Borstli, whose neck is broken. While his superior and the psychiatrist claim that the murdering maniac Pieterlen killed Borstli before fleeing the crime scene, Studer thinks otherwise. The psychological theories brought forth to accuse the missing patient as the killer makes him wonder if someone is hiding the homicide behind psychological theory that sounds more like mumbo jumbo.

IN MATTO'S REALM is a dark period piece police procedural that grips the audience from the moment Studer enters the clinic and never lets go as the sleuth realizes those inside reflect those outside. The strong story line is cast-driven as the audience obtains a deep look at a 1920s German mental asylum accompanied by the prevalent psychological theories of the day. The who-done-it is shrewdly developed so that readers receive a fine detective story used to provide a look at a psychiatric clinic by an insider as author Friedrich Glauser spent time in psychiatric wards where he began his writing career.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Typically unconventional ending, April 17, 2007

By 

James Tetreault (North Grafton, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Matto's Realm: A Sergeant Studer Mystery (Paperback)

Like Fever and Thumbprint, the conclusion of this book was sort of unconventional for a detective story but somehow this one was more satisfying. Wonderfully consistent and concise tone of storytelling.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book, August 16, 2011

By 

E. Fasolino (NY, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Matto's Realm: A Sergeant Studer Mystery (Paperback)

Friedrich Glauser is a real find. Despite poor health, addiction, poverty and years spent in a psychiatric hospital and a prison Glauser found the optimism and willpower to write what he saw and knew and tell an excellent tale. From the details of lighting inside a psychiatric ward c. 1936 (the bulbs were shaded with blue paper at night,) to his understanding of the experimentation being done with Veronal, to keen observations on the lemming-like behavior of Hitler's followers and the parallels to be found among the mentally ill, this book is a great read. It flows, the characters are enigmatic and compelling, the plotting suspenseful and deft. I am so glad this was finally translated into English! Thanks to Mike Mitchell for that.