Barrister Finn Richter’s life is turned upside down when his 95-year-old father, Hans, a retired country doctor from the picturesque river-side town of Waikerie, is to be charged under the Commonwealth War Crimes Act for offences allegedly committed in Auschwitz during WWII. When Hans Richter migrated to South Australia in the early 1950s, was he travelling under an alias? Is he the notorious Dr Klaus Speigel recognised by an Auschwitz survivor at the Waikerie Hotel? Finn arranges for his childhood friend, Marjorie Davies QC, to represent Hans and refute the allegations. Together, they must prepare for a trial, while having to deal with an arrogant commonwealth prosecutor; manage the local, national and international press; avoid being distracted by social interest protest groups who have their own agendas to push; and respect the different interests of the town’s residents while confronting their own painful childhood memories. Getting a verdict is not the end of the story-far from it.
