Eintracht enjoyed the brilliance of Pirlo, who was hailed as the century's exceptional talent during his tenure.
Living on the Edge: Pirlo, Mahler, and Secret Footie Dealings
Delve into the thrilling world of Dr. Anton Pirlo, Düsseldorf's most notorious criminal defense attorney, and his partner Sophie Mahler, as they navigate a grimy underbelly riddled with high society murders, dead Nazis, blazing Covid test centers, and criminal clans. This time, the game is all about football.
Anton Pirlo, with his long black hair, beard, and resemblance to Italian football icon Andrea Pirlo, carries Lebanese roots. His father, once a hardworking man who learned German and helped others with bureaucratic tasks, found better ways to support the family through dishonest means.
When Pirlo's dad kicked the bucket, he was the only one of three brothers to study and steer clear of the unsavory clan life. He was considered a black sheep, but his middle brother Ahmed? Now that's a real rule-breaker. After botching a cocaine heist, getting shot, and landing the family on the hit list of a supposed ally clan, Pirlo was always putting out fires.
Sly Operator, Slick Gambles
Ahmed has his eyes on football management now, and he's handpicked the perfect player: Serdar Tuncay, a 16-year-old prodigy currently gracing Düsseldorf's Eintracht team in the Regionalliga, having recently booted local rivals Fortuna out of the DFB-Pokal with a mesmerizing golden goal.
Ahmed sees dollar signs when he pitches his idea to Pirlo, who remains hesitant. Not only is he a Fortuna fan, but Ahmed's plans always sound peachy at first but ultimately result in chaos. Pirlo's suspicions prove correct: after the Eintracht president is found murdered, he becomes the prime suspect. Then another club official meets a similar fate. The feces have truly hit the fan, especially with the media diving into the scandalous story.
Hell Weekend
If you're no stranger to Pirlo and Mahler's escapades in the first three books, you'll love "Double Game" – the fourth installment in the "Pirlo-Mahler" series by bestselling author and defense attorney Ingo Bott. It's packed with Düsseldorf local color, with characters such as Pirlo, who lives in the Pempelfort district, boasts an Oasis poster, a Little Red Book, and a penchant for strong, black coffee, coffee that Mahler refers to as "a general assault on the central nervous system."
Pirlo's office is equipped with a high-tech coffee machine for Mahler's comfort. Without their usual caffeine fix, the two can't function. They discuss cases, banter, and occasionally pull Kierkegaard quotes out of thin air. There's chemistry between Pirlo and Mahler, but Ahmed also harbors a soft spot for the blonde lawyer, who's quite the kickboxer and can hold her own in verbal and physical altercations.
In short, "Double Game" is an edge-of-your-seat read, even more so as an audiobook. Sascha Rotermund brings Pirlo and Mahler to life with his engaging and dynamic performance. The story tackles serious themes like crime and football, but Bott never loses sight of entertaining his audience. "Double Game" is an absolute winner!
- Crime
- Reviews
- Football
Reading this article, it seems likely that the story "Double Game" centers around piracy, deception, and criminal activities in the world of football, with Pirlo and Mahler caught up in the drama.
- Pirlo's middle brother Ahmed, a rule-breaker, harbors ambitions in football management but remains uncertain if he can convince Pirlo to support his plans, given Pirlo's hesitancy and their strained relationship.
- Despite his reservations and allegiance to local rivals Fortuna, Pirlo finds himself in the crosshairs as the prime suspect when the Eintracht president and another club official are murdered, coinciding with Ahmed's football-related dealings.
- In an unexpected crossover, Pirlo, a lawyer, is thrust into the realm of sports, including entertainment and books, as he navigates the complex world of football and uncovers the secretive underbelly of the industry.
- The high-stakes game of football transitions into a moral dilemma for Pirlo, as he grapples with his loyalty to Ahmed and his duty to uphold justice, much like a game of chess played against invisible opponents.
- Unable to steer clear of scandal and danger, even in the world of football, Pirlo and Mahler find themselves in the thick of crimes, proving once again that the line between justice and vengeance can be blurred to the point of oblivion.
