Hals- und Beinbruch

Overview

A routine patrol by Hubert and Girwidz comes to an abrupt end when a fallen branch blocks their path. As Hubert moves to clear it away, he discovers the body of physiotherapist Frank Albrecht. Apparently, Albrecht had fallen down an unpaved embankment with his bicycle. Before Dr. Fuchs arrives, Girwidz is supposed to secure the initial evidence at the scene, but he twists his knee and ends up in the emergency room of the Wolfratshausen district hospital. He refuses to take sick leave and, despite his limited mobility and against Hubert's wishes, continues to take part in the investigation. During the autopsy, Dr. Fuchs determines that the fatal broken neck could not possibly have been caused by the fall. The prime suspect in Albrecht's murder appears to be Joschi Breitenbichler, who had arranged to meet the victim at the time of the crime. In the Bavarian Oberland, he is known as the "bone breaker"—able to detect blockages and tension simply by touch. However, he has been legally prohibited from practicing his craft on people and allegedly now treats only horses and other livestock. Had the victim discovered that the bone breaker was continuing to treat humans despite the court order? While Girwidz, with his injured knee, finds himself increasingly impressed by the bone breaker's healing skills, a second suspect unexpectedly emerges: Girwidz's own attending physician, the surgeon at the Wolfratshausen district hospital, Dr. Wilfried Söderling.