Insights into the Writing Process of a Crime Writer
On November 27, 2025, the Society for the German Language hosted a one-hour online reading. Crime writer Elias Mateo presented selected passages from his Bremen-set crime novel *Schwarz Weiß Tot*. Following the reading, publisher Manuel Dotzauer and Dr. Lutz Kuntzsch engaged in an in-depth discussion with the author. The focus of the event was less on the book launch and more on the writing process, the development of the characters, and the collaboration between author and publisher from manuscript to publication.
From the First Image to the Finished Crime Novel
Elias Mateo described how his stories often begin with cinematic images of real locations, such as Bremen’s Überseestadt or Ostertorsteinweg. From these impressions, he develops plotlines that combine elements of the regional crime novel with socially critical noir, for example by addressing topics like right-wing extremism. Manuel Dotzauer explained why recognizable locations are of particular importance for regional crime novels and how publishers edit texts, strategically position them, and place them in a highly competitive book market. Lutz Kuntzsch repeatedly steered the conversation toward questions of language, reading practices, and the role of editing and style in the impact of a crime novel.
A Discussion on the Market and Language
In several Q&A sessions, Elisas Mateo and Lutz Dotzauer discussed the growing trend toward regional crime novels and what readers expect from characters like Inspector Álvarez. The discussion focused on striking a balance between a gripping plot, the investigators’ personal lives, and linguistic precision. Kuntzsch asked about digital and analog reading habits and demonstrated how linguistic choices shape the atmosphere of crime fiction.
Robert Manikowski and Larissa Heimann are third-semester students in the Master of Education program for elementary school teaching at the University of Bremen. This report on the reading was written as part of a seminar on online journalism.
