The German writer and translator Gisbert Haefs was born on 09.01.1950 in the North Rhine-Westphalian Wachtendonk. He studied English and Spanish at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn, and has composed and interpreted chansons during his studies. These were published in 1981 under the title Whimsical songs on disc.

Following his studies, Haefs worked as a freelance writer and translator. Among other books, Gisbert Haefs translated crime writers Arthur Conan Doyle and G.K. Chesterton, Georges Brassens and Mark Twain, and lyrics by Bob Dylan. He also translated the works of Rudyard Kipling, Jorge Luis Borges and Ambrose Bierce, of which he published the German total expenditure.

Over the years, he also wrote numerous articles for the literary magazine "The Raven" and translated the children's book Doctor Dolittle by writer Hugh Loftings. Gisbert Haefs did not work only as a translator and editor, but also wrote numerous novels and short stories.

He was not limited to crime stories around the university lecturer Balthasar Matzbach and the triumvirate, but he also used the science fiction genre in his tetralogy about the protagonist Dante Barakuda and wrote the guest novel The Iron Finger of God to the novel series Perry Rhodan, published in July 2005. The thrillers about the triumvirate were produced as a radio play by WDR and repeatedly broadcast on the radio and, like many other books by Gisbert Haefs, are also available as audiobooks.

The German author also achieved great success with his historical novels. His novels written with great detail were highly recognized.

Gisbert Haefs is a member of the Kipling Society in London and the Association of crime writers "The Syndicate" and takes part in the annual international literary festival "Black Week" (Semana Negra) in Gijon, Spain.

In Germany Gisbert Haefs received the Wallce Edgar Award, the German Crime Prize, the German Science Fiction Award and numerous other awards. Moreover, the very popular and sought after author in Spain has received in this country many other awards and honors.

Novels in the Balthasar Matzbach Series

Murder on the Million Dollar Hill

There Sits a Raven

The Double Grave in Provence

Murderers and Marder

Matzbach’s Navel

No Free Beer for Matzbach

Cuddle Murder

Fireworks for Matzbach