Pirlo and the Perilous Pitch: A Game of Power, Betrayal, and Bloodsport
During his tenure with Eintracht, Pirlo displayed the brilliance of a century's best footballer.
When bestselling author Ingo Bott unleashes his fearless legal duo, Pirlo and Mahler, into the trenches of justice, chaos ensues: a murder mystery in Düsseldorf's elite circles, a deceased Nazi, and a criminal syndicate. But this time, the action unfolds on the football field.
Defense attorney Dr. Anton Pirlo, Düsseldorf's most recognized legal eagle, navigates a dangerous labyrinth of high stakes and treacherous alliances, all while craving the privacy of his personal life. Partnered with Sophie Mahler and the law firm "Recht.schaffen," they've made waves in the media for cases such as the highly-publicized murder in Düsseldorf's upper crust. However, a looming menace lurks in Pirlo's past - a deadly connection to a criminal cartel.
Pirlo is just a pseudonym. In reality, he is a man with long black hair, a bushy beard - a doppelganger for Andrea Pirlo, the Italian football legend. His father, a Lebanese immigrant, once provided for the family through honest labor, assimilating into German society and helping others with bureaucratic hurdles. As "the Arab," he gained a notorious reputation that led him into an illicit world of social fraud. After his father's demise, Pirlo eschewed the family's criminal lifestyle to excel in law.
Clan Games
When Pirlo's brother Ahmed, deemed the family's black sheep, proposes to venture into the football agent business, the stakes are raised. Ahmed targets a 16-year-old prodigy: Serdar Tuncay, a rising talent in Düsseldorf's Eintracht team, recently promoted to the Regionalliga, and the hero of an epic upset defeating local rivals Fortuna in the DFB-Pokal. Ahmed sees dollar signs, but Pirlo remains skeptical. With his distrust of Ahmed's ventures proven correct when the Eintracht president is found murdered, followed by another club official's demise, Pirlo's life takes a volatile turn.
The Ultimate Offside Trap
"Double Game," the fourth edition of Ingo Bott's gritty "Pirlo-Mahler" series, digs deep into the dark underbelly of Düsseldorf's criminal underworld, yet maintains a lighthearted charm. Readers will delight in Pirlo's strong-willed spirit, coarse humor, and quick wit. Paired with Mahler, their relentless pursuit of justice will keep you engaged, while their fiery debates and camaraderie add depth to their relationship.
Through Pirlo's eyes, the readers journey through Düsseldorf's diverse neighborhoods, witnessing the contrast between the old and the modern, the poor and the rich. Pirlo lives in Pempelfort, a nod to Bott's own neighborhood, with reminders of his Lebanese roots, adorned with an Oasis poster and a portrait of the Little Red Book. Pirlo's strength comes in his dark roast coffee, a beverage that Sophie Mahler describes as a "general attack on the central nervous system."
Sorcery with words, the Pirlo-Mahler books provide captivating dialogue filled with wit and wordplay. As the series delves into Germany's tough issues of clan crime, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, the focus remains on entertaining the audience, rather than educating. The juxtaposition of football culture amidst these grim circumstances sets the stage for an unputdownable thriller.
Source: ntv.de
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"Defense attorney Dr. Anton Pirlo, despite his passion for football, as the Italian football legend's doppelganger, decides he's not going to venture into the football agent business, even when proposed by his brother Ahmed."
"Despite the intricate football-driven plot in 'Double Game', the Pirlo-Mahler series prioritizes entertainment over education, weaving in captivating dialogues and witty wordplay, offering a unique blend of crime, sports, and North Rhine-Westphalia's clan crime issues."
