The BBC has acquired the four-part German crime drama The Black Forest Murders from STUDIOCANAL. Written by Robert Hummel and Martina Mouchot, the series is inspired by SOKO Erle, a non-fiction book by Walter Roth. It centers on a gripping 2016 police investigation into the mysterious murders of two young women in southern Germany.
Set to stream on BBC iPlayer and air on BBC Four, the 4 x 45-minute drama weaves together two real-life criminal cases from southern Baden. The series offers a dramatized yet authentic portrayal of the painstaking work involved in solving complex crimes.
The story begins with the disappearance of a young woman whose body is later discovered—brutally bludgeoned by an unknown attacker. Senior Detective Barbara Kramer (played by Nina Kunzendorf) and her colleague Thomas Riedle (Tilman Strauß) lead the investigation. Despite intensive witness interviews and evidence collection, progress is slow.
As the case expands, the investigative team grows into a major task force, sifting through hundreds of clues while confronting a second murder with uncertain connections to the first. Parallels begin to surface between the case and an unsolved Austrian murder from four years prior. Under increasing public scrutiny, the team battles mounting pressure until their relentless efforts finally lead to a breakthrough.
Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, commented: “The Black Forest Murders is an authentic and compelling crime series focusing on the work of a meticulous investigative team. As well as being a gripping murder mystery, the series offers a detailed look at the challenges of solving complex crimes, and the psychological toll on those involved in such high-stakes investigations.”
The cast is led by Nina Kunzendorf as Barbara Kramer and Tilman Strauß as Thomas Riedle. Supporting roles include Aliki Hirsch, Božidar Kocevski, Atrin Haghdoust, David Richter, Liliane Amuat, Florian Hertweck, Markus Krojer, Katja Bürkle, Sophia Schober, and Mira Huber.