New Xavier-Kieffer thriller will be released in autumn

Tom Hillenbrand is now officially announced on his Instagram channel: there will be a new Xavier Kieffer thriller. It will be the eighth part of the book series about the Luxembourg cook and hobby detective.

After « devil fruit », « red gold », « last harvest », « deadly olives », « dangerous recommendations », « bitter chocolate » and « golden poison », the next case should bear the title « Fating champagne ».

A sign of tingling tension and reading pleasure? The euphoria of some fans can already be felt in the comments. « I think I have to start with the series again by then to bridge the time. I’m happy! », The user writes « Gimmbytes ». « Finally. :), » comments « Herrkolkmann » the author’s Instagram post.

However, the title should only be retired on November 6, 2025 (in paperback format for 14 euros and as an audio book at the Amazon audio book platform Audible). Luxembourg is said to be one of the venues of the eighth adventure again.

The content reveals the Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch on his website First roughly: « A sensational murder in a winery – and investigations that reveal the dark secrets of the champagne industry. »

So it goes to the Loire and Kieffer once more faces a body: « The Luxembourg Koch Xavier Kieffer once completed his apprenticeship in the champagne. When he visits an old friend who now leads a champagne house, he witness to a terrible accident. Secrets hide – and that not everything that pearls and mouss actually deserves the name of champagne during his research in Paris, Reims and Luxembourg, which is right to get into global billion dollar business. « 

A strong brand

Kiepenheuer & Witsch apparently knows what she has about the « Hillenbrand / Kieffer » brand. Spiegel bestseller list places are included with Hillenbrand stories. Over 900,000 copies – including all titles of the book series between « Crime and Enjoyment » – have now been sold. Therefore, the Cologne publisher announces a media offensive with internet and social media campaigns, cooperation with radio stations and a wine online trade for « fatal champagne » to get the title to the target groups.

According to the last editorial status, the film rights on the Kieffer fabrics are still with the Luxembourg producers of Iris Productions (« Bad Banks »). The Luxembourg Film Fund had provided 60,000 euros in help in 2023 for the screenplay development of a Kieffer series. However, there have been attempts before – also for a film series, for which the German top star Moritz Bleibtreu had been requested, according to Iris Productions at the time. So far there are no signs of production.

So fans have to be patient in terms of Kieffer, whether in book or series form. But a direct encounter with the author is already on the plan. Tom Hillenbrand is not only in Luxembourg for research. On May 27, the author wants to present his science fiction thriller « Thanatopia » (also published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch last March). The event will take place at 6.30 p.m. in the main town of Cercle Cité.

It is also determined here: “Vienna, 2095. A body in the Danube is actually nothing unusual for Commissioner Landauer. But this time it is two, and what is worse: the two dead women are like the last hair. Why is there the dead twice? In his research, Landauer comes across a bizarre high-tech death: young people who murder themselves again and again. Deather simply crazy?