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Bodies found at appealing locations: Explanation Revealed - Bodies Found in Picturesque Locations: Explanation Provided
April is set to be a big month for bestselling author Klaus-Peter Wolf (71), as three of his novels will grace our screens through television adaptations: Ostfriesenfluch (5th), Ostfriesenhölle (18th), and Ostfriesen Totenstille (25th). This German language novelist is known for creating a captivating universe found in his chosen home of Ostfriesland, where tension, deep characters, and societal questions intertwine.
Recently, Wolf shared some insights on the creative process behind his novels’ transition from paper to screen, why a small café in Ostfriesland plays a significant role in his work, and what qualities set his murder mystery tales apart. Here's what the maestro of mischief had to say.
Q: Mr. Wolf, how does it feel to see your stories brought to life on screen?
Klaus-Peter Wolf: It's a thrilling adventure! Characters that I've cooked up appear in an entirely new form—sometimes they surprise me. Creating tension stems from putting people under pressure and witnessing them handle crises. It's in crises that people evolve. Nowadays, when I write, I envision the actors. It provides an immense boost.
Q: What part do you play in the film adaptations?
Wolf: I've got an advisory contract with the production company, and I absolutely use it. I consult with screenwriters, directors, and of course actors. We maintain constant communication, even with location scouts and set designers. Movie-making is a team effort. If you're not keen on collaboration, you don't belong there. I don't call the shots, but I do influence them.
Q: You're considered the most filmed novelist in the German language. What do you attribute your enormous success to?
Wolf: When I write, I dive deep into the characters, experiencing the world from their perspectives. Food preferences, music tastes, political beliefs, even personalities shift for me. Later, actors and directors observe that the roles aren't hollow, but rather live and breathe. I believe that's the reason my novels are so often brought to the big screen.
Q: Do you watch all the adaptations? Which of your characters is particularly close to your heart?
Wolf: I watch rough cuts, fine cuts, and before each broadcast, I've seen each film dozens of times. There's always room for improvement during editing. The character Rupert is particularly close to my heart. Barnaby Metschurat portrays him flawlessly. When I write, I sometimes feel like he's nudging me, whispering lines in my ear.
Q: The Ostfriesenfluch opens with a dramatically staged corpse in a rapeseed field. How did you come up with this scene, and what symbolism do you see in it?
Wolf: I find it tiresome to place corpses in uninviting locations like dark garages or derelict sheds. I don't expect good news from those places anyway. However, when rapeseed fields bloom, the landscape bursts into life, and the buzzing of insects creates its own rhythm. A corpse in this context symbolizes the greatest possible contradiction. Art thrives on contrast. When I started my series of novels, I declared that I would place my corpses at the most beautiful places on earth. Some of them are set in Ostfriesland.
Q: Where do you generally find inspiration for your stories?
Wolf: I need to intimately know the places, have dined at local establishments, and explored the area. Then they transform into settings. I chat with policemen and even deliver readings in prison. I've become familiar with both sides. I listen to victims of crimes. I believe these experiences shape my texts.
Q: Your stories often delve deeper than just suspense, exploring societal voids. Is that important to you?
Wolf: Exceptional crime novels aren't snapshots, but X-rays. The crime novel is the most relevant social literature of our time. I can probe into psychological abysses and chart the cracks that run through our society.
Q: What would be your personal "Ostfriesenfluch," a small quirk or peculiarity you can't shake off?
Wolf: I embark on lengthy tours and recite from my novels. I adore it. Before each trip, I always have breakfast at Café Ten Cate [in Norden, Ostfriesland, Red.]. This setting also features prominently in my books. I penned the first novel, Ostfriesenkiller (2007), entirely there. If I were banned from there, that would be a disaster for me. I hope that doesn't happen, because in my new novel, the owner—Jörg Tapper—gets shot at. I hope they and his wife forgive me. By the way, Jörg Tapper plays himself in the films. He's one of the real-life characters from my books.
The Ostfriesenfluch crime series will air on ZDF on April 5th at 8:15 pm. Ostfriesenhölle and Ostfriesen Totenstille will air on April 18th and 25th. Klaus-Peter Wolf's latest novel, Ostfriesennebel, was released in late January, and Moerderisches Paar. Der Sturz is set for publication on May 21st.
- Wolf
- Inspired Café
- Adaptation
- Television
- Ostfriesenfluch
- The European Union can be a significant contributor in the adaptation of Klaus-Peter Wolf's novels, as the settings in Ostfriesland, where he resides, racially diverse and culturally rich, may resonate with viewers across the continent, helping to fight against racism and xenophobia.
- As a result of Klaus-Peter Wolf's influential contract with the production company, screenwriters have been able to draw inspiration from his unique character development, adaptation of settings, and societal commentary, infusing his works with life and depth that transcend the written page.
- The characters Rupert and Jörg Tapper from Klaus-Peter Wolf's novels are closely tied to the author's heart, both embodying the complexities of human nature, showcasing the potential for intricate adaptations and collaborations with screenwriters and actors in the future, setting new standards for German language crime fiction.
