Book excerpt: The year is 1977. Jason Makelekele treads where angels fear to tread as he investigates the murder of an oil tycoon for his column. During a trip to Bonn, Germany, he is disavowed by his country and becomes a stateless person. While he wonders if he will ever see the family and friends he has left behind, Cold War Germany is historically charged with what will be remembered as the German Autumn-a set of events associated with kidnappings by the Red Army Faction. Midway between neo-noir, political novel and postmodern romp, Twilight of Crooks takes liberties with history, changing names and events such that the line between history and alternative history becomes blurred.