My hunt to solve the McCann mystery
Book 1
Jon Clarke
Maddie: Endgame 1 is the first part of a two book series about a reporter’s 18 year assignment to get to the bottom of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
– Maddie: Endgame 1 covers the initial years.
– Maddie: Endgame 2 covers the later part.
Jon Clarke was the first journalist on the scene when Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007. This book charts his often-frightening journey from the seemingly safe and well-ordered Ocean Club holiday resort in Praia da Luz, through to many isolated parts of Portugal and Spain – to infiltrate the often lawless and sordid ‘van lifer’ communities – that have silently sprung up on the shadowy fringes of southern Europe. Then, finally into Germany. But not the country we are familiar with from the TV travel shows and European Union summits. Again, Jon Clarke takes us into a seemier Germany of shabby industrial estates and broken communities made up of drifters and drug users. He meets numerous dark and unusual characters, some who live under the radar, and others whom he believes hold the key to what happened to Maddie all those years ago.
He points his finger firmly at the new prime suspect Christian Brueckner and explains, in detail and with the help of the people who knew Brueckner best, why he thinks he did it. He traces his grim upbringing, his ease of movement around Europe and also questions the integrity of the Portuguese police and asks if someone, somewhere is covering something up. With unrivalled access to official documents, exclusive interviews and confessions, no stone is left unturned as Jon searches for the truth, often putting himself in considerable danger in the process. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the case, the craft of crime journalism or just someone planning a family holiday in Europe this year.