Hunter says, “This book is set in an empty German Spa town. The Town in empty because the nearby forest is on fire. Ash rains down constantly. The main character owns a spa and is feeling the effects of not having visitors. One day a woman and her young daughter show up, which is strange. Stranger still is when a man calls asking about them…. This is an atmospheric, at times thrilling climate fiction novel with a group of resilient women at its core.”
When Iris took over the family hotel from her grandfather, Bad Heim was still a popular spa town. But now fierce wildfires rage in the area, spewing smoke into the air. The summers are dry and hot and never seem to end. Guests have become a rare sight. But suddenly, a young mother shows up with her small daughter and asks for a room. Something doesn’t seem right about her. Does she need help? Or even pose a threat?
Franziska Gänsler’s debut conjures up the heat of the fires, the ashes falling on skin, and the all-pervading smell of smoke. Yet you will want to stay with these women in this inhospitable place as they draw closer together and prepare to fight for their freedom.