Police in Hamburg, Germany, have opened a murder investigation after relatives found bestselling novelist Alexandra Frohlich dead on her houseboat in the Moorfleet district. The 58-year-old author, celebrated for her Spiegel bestseller novels, died violently on Tuesday morning, per reports. Consequently, authorities now seek answers in a case that has shocked Germany's literary community.
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Relatives discovered Frohlich's lifeless body and alerted the fire department. Police quickly intervened, confirming the death as a homicide. "A 58-year-old woman died on her houseboat," Hamburg police told CNN. "We assume a homicide and urgently need public information." Local broadcaster NDR reported that someone shot Frohlich, intensifying the investigation.
Violent Death Sparks Search
The homicide squad took charge immediately. For instance, police divers searched the Elbe River near the houseboat docked at Holzhafen, CNN reported. Forensic experts used a 3D scanner to collect blood and fibers from the scene. Investigators believe Frohlich died between midnight and 5:30 a.m. Moreover, a coroner's report confirmed she suffered a violent death, ruling out natural causes.
Police actively seek witnesses to solve the case. "Even small details could break the case," a spokesperson said. Currently, no suspects appear in public statements.
Author Legacy
Frohlich's death has devastated fans and peers. She launched her career as a journalist, founding a women's magazine in Kyiv, Ukraine. Later, she freelanced for Stern and other German outlets. Her first novel, My Russian Mother-in-Law and Other Catastrophes (2012), humorously chronicled her marriage to a Russian and soared to Der Spiegel's bestseller list. Additionally, her crime novels Death is a Certainty (2016) and Skeletons in the Closet (2019) won critical acclaim.
Penguin, her recent publisher, praised her unique voice. "Alexandra's humor and depth resonated with readers," a spokesperson said. Frohlich, a mother of three sons, leaves a void in Germany's literary world.
Social media also overflowed with tributes. "Her stories brought joy," one fan wrote. "This tragedy hurts."
CNN added: "Frohlich was a freelance magazine editor, as well as a novelist. She started her career as a journalist. founding a women's magazine in Kyiv, according to German publisher Knaur, which published her first novel."
