23 and Dead

Dave Hartmann received a belated letter from his father. In the correspondence, Dave’s father, Dr. Ernst Hartmann, apologized for keeping a secret, one that his father hoped Dave would understand – Dave was adopted. The letter gave no insight into the identity of Dave’s biological parents other than he was born in Steinhoring, Germany. Dave’s overwhelmed mind tried to process the reality that he was adopted. “Am I German? Was I given up for adoption because of rape or incest? Were my birth parents good or bad people? Was one or both of my biological parents a psychopath or a criminal? Are they alive or dead? Do I have siblings? What diseases are prevalent in my ancestors: diabetes, coronary disease, or an unknown allergy? Why did my birth mother and birth father leave me? Why was I given away? Was there something wrong with me? Did they give me away because they did drugs or abused me? What does this mean about me? Why didn’t my birth parents work things out and take care of me? Did my birth father care about my birth mother, or was it a one-night stand? Who am I?” Dave never envisioned he would ponder such questions.


Based on an overheard discussion, he subscribed to an ancestry personal genomics and biotechnology DNA testing firm named My23Match.com. Dave wanted to know more about Dave, his ethnic background, possible relatives, and especially the identity of his biological parents.


Dave’s search for answers opens old wounds and starts a chain of events resulting in murder and brutal beatings to unearth hidden assets long believed lost and forgotten.