Learning German through Storytelling: Heidis Frühstück - a detective story for German language learners (for intermediate and advanced students)

Baumgartner & Momsen #5

by André Klein

This is the fifth episode of the popular Baumgartner & Momsen mystery series for German learners. When a loyal family dog comes upon a human ear in its feeding dish one morning, the police is notified immediately, but due to a sudden change in staff, the investigation proceeds only haltingly.Help Kommissar Baumgartner and Kommissarin Momsen to solve this case and improve your German effortlessly along the way! Why brood over grammar sheets and lifeless workbooks when you can be entertained and learn natural German at the same time!This book page-turning story crammed with humor and suspensespecial emphasis on idioms and natural Germanvocabulary sections with difficult and important words translated to Englishready for on-demand translationexercises for comprehension traininghand-drawn illustrations by the author

Genres: German Literature, Fiction, Mystery

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2014

About the author

André Klein was born in Germany, grew up in Sweden and Thailand and currently lives in Israel. He has been teaching languages for more than 15 years and is the author of short stories, picture books and non-fiction works in English and German.

Reviews

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta historia detectivesca es otro caso resuelto por los comisarios Baumgartner y Momsen, quienes en esta aventura están acompañados por un pasante hablantín que los saca de quicio con frecuencia.
La familia Müller se reune alrededor de la mesa para tomar el desayuno antes de salir corriendo a la escuela y al trabajo. Mientras conversan y toman café, Frau Müller llama a su perrita Crokerspaniel Heidi. Después de unos minutos aparece con una oreja humana en el hocico para la sorpresa de todos.
Luego de hacerlo del conocimiento de los comisarios, éstos entregan la evidencia al forense Garbowski, quien les informa que la oreja pertenece a un sujeto del sexo masculino que murió dos semanas antes.
La investigación empieza en la fábrica de comida para perros, ahí obtienen del gerente una lista de los empleados que sufrieron accidentes de trabajo recientemente. Lo que resta hay que leerlo.
Para fortuna del aprendiz, el autor provee de un vocabulario y una serie de modismos muy necesario para entender la lógica de este difícil idioma.

[Efe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it just me or the ending was a bit weird? I know I shouldn't really be focusing on the storyline but the offender's motivation seemed very off to me. Even Momsen herself had a hard time believing that. Christie-esque indeed.

From a language learning standpoint, the series ended in a bit of a low note. It felt quite a bit easier than the last one. I learned less than 50 words from the entire 115-page book, so either I was quite lucky with the vocabulary or the author failed to include new words this time. Not sure if the grammar was harder because I'm already beyond B1 level, so pretty much all books felt the same.

Overall, a very good series with a somewhat unfortunate ending.

[Tali · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is, it's quite good. Would recommend it to all German learners. The story and writing is in line with typical 'krimi' writing, and the vocabulary is intentionally tricky, but not too obscure. Hoping there are more language learning books like these in German (and Italian maybe) to be found.

[Nancy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another engaging story by Andre Klein--this one a murder mystery involving a body part that turns up in a dog's dish. The text uses many idiomatic phrases and much unfamiliar vocabulary, but the glossary is helpful. In some parts, it is a bit gruesome, but the story is lightened by the interaction between the two police detectives.

[Ruth clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book; it seems it's the first time I have read this one. the books are getting a lot easier to read, and I am appreciating the subtleties more. Andre Klein's books are the type one reads and reread over and over; they are really that good.

[Filipe Nader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relativamente tranquilo de ler, fica mais bacana ouvindo o audiolivro junto.

[Lauren Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book when you are at a B1 or higher level.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another most helpful book from André Klein as I mosey along the path to eventually attaining a useful level of fluency in German. I've been collecting and reading his books in Kindle and audible format for some years. I've read (and in many cases re-read) all of the Dino lernt Deutsche (with the exception of the most recent release). I find myself strangely cheering for Dino as he goes through his various life, relationship, and vocational changes. I want to see him happy, and I cannot explain why I feel that as deeply as I do.

In addition, I've read all of the Baumgartner & Momsen crime "thrillers" and, oh yeah, one more title—the first volume of Aschkalon. I'll admit, I'm not much of a fan of the interactive reading experience, but there's no dispute that I still have benefited from even that one in terms of advancing language skills.

I highly recommend Klein's oeuvre to any and all German students.

While I'm here and perhaps still have your attention. For those of you who are taking a leisurely and informal method of learning this fascinating language, let me recommend another couple of excellent online resources. There's a charming podcast, coffeebreakgerman.com. I have also received a great deal of education, entertainment, and chuckles from yourdailygerman.com. Again, both are highly recommended.

Viel Spaß!

[Mycala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich liebe diese Buch! While I have very far to go before I am fluent in German, I find it encouraging that by reading books in German, I am able to grasp a good bit of the story even when I don't know all the vocabulary yet. I was still able to catch a lot of the humor and I laughed out loud often while reading. I will definitely read this over and over and with each reading I will understand more. I didn't realize this was part of a series, and it is uncharacteristic of me to read a series out of order! I look forward to reading the rest. Andre writes compelling stories.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting way to learn a language. Ganz einfach und gut genug!

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

狗粮里面离奇出现了人耳朵。警探二人组随即开始调查。狗粮生产厂几周前改为了全部由机器全自动生产，而之前发生过几起工伤事件。警探走访狗粮工厂和前员工家，收集证词，工伤记录簿也被带回进行调查。死尸在河里被发现。事情的真相慢慢浮出了水面..

[Carol Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and really helped improve my German.