Tracee de Hahn, "Swiss Vendetta" (Minotaur Books, 2017) - New Books Network

Podcast Summary: Tracee de Hahn, "Swiss Vendetta" (Minotaur Books, 2017)

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: G.P. Gottlieb
Guest: Tracee de Hahn
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the New Books Network’s Literature channel features author Tracee de Hahn discussing her debut mystery, Swiss Vendetta. The conversation, hosted by G.P. Gottlieb, delves deep into the novel’s atmospheric Swiss setting, its cast of complex characters, and the intricate cultural details woven into the plot. Swiss Vendetta centers on Agnes Luthi, a Swiss-American homicide detective, who is sent to investigate a murder in an isolated, storm-battered medieval chateau. The episode explores Tracee’s inspirations, research process, and writing journey, providing listeners with both insightful background on the book and intimate glimpses into Swiss life, culture, and language.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Role of Weather and Setting

Inspiration for the Storm:
- The atmosphere of Swiss Vendetta is heavily shaped by a dramatic winter storm, inspired by de Hahn’s own experience during a Kentucky ice storm and her years living in Switzerland.
- “The setting is crucial.” (Tracee de Hahn, 03:07)
- Combining the beauty of Switzerland with the disruptive power of weather, de Hahn sets the stage for a locked-room mystery in a seemingly idyllic place where things can go terribly wrong.
The Real Chateau Behind the Story:
- The fictional chateau is modeled after Chateau Chillon, “a true medieval fortress” on Lake Geneva.
- “Lord Byron, you know, did poetry about this place and it's a big tourist attraction.” (03:16)
- De Hahn situates her fictional chateau as a neighbor of the real landmark, adding authenticity to her narrative.

Cultural and Linguistic Details

Switzerland’s Multilingualism:
- The book is set in French-speaking Switzerland; de Hahn discusses the country’s linguistic tapestry (French, German, Italian, Romansh).
- She shares anecdotes about the complexities of Swiss German versus High German (Hochdeutsch), even noting her Swiss husband’s challenges:
  - “My husband, as a Swiss citizen going to school there, does not understand Swiss German. It is truly its own language.” (04:41)
Insider/Outsider Perspective in Characterization:
- Protagonist Agnes Luthi is Swiss-American, allowing her to observe Swiss customs with a nuanced, questioning eye, reflecting de Hahn’s own experience as an expatriate.
- A cultural anecdote: It is unusual in Switzerland to go to someone’s home for dinner unless you are truly inner circle—contrasting American and Swiss social expectations (06:41–07:35).

Character Profiles and Dynamics

Agnes Luthi:
- Swiss-American homicide detective, newly assigned to a murder investigation in dire conditions.
- De Hahn wanted Agnes to combine familiarity with Swiss culture and the curiosity of an outsider.
- Agnes’ personal challenges—grieving her husband, caring for children, career advancement—add depth and realism.
Key Supporting Characters:
- The Marquise (elderly aunt):
  - Swiss by birth, married a French Marquis, retaining her title as “Marquise.”
  - Based partially on de Hahn’s polyglot diplomat mother-in-law:
    - “She was just a little bit of my mother in law, but only in the very best way.” (10:17)
- Rafe Mulholland:
  - The Marquise’s godson, a relationship explained as a European tradition of close, quasi-familial bonds (12:03–12:55).
  - Rafe’s own background is tinged with loss and complexity; his parents are deceased.
- Julien Vallotton:
  - The chateau’s current owner, burdened by generational responsibility:
    - “You may live a life that seems of great privilege, but there can also be great responsibility that you have to accept and live up to. And there also may be a kind of constraints of just the situation.” (15:11)
- Marie Chantal & Daniel (Julien’s younger brother):
  - Daniel as the “bad boy,” demonstrating how privilege does not guarantee ease or direction in life (15:31–16:34).
Landscape and Isolation:
- De Hahn paints a vivid image of the chateau’s location—on a peninsula near the mountains and lake, isolated alongside a Russian neighbor’s home (16:52–18:27).
- “They're isolated. They would have to go up a steep drive to go up to the village and to the road that takes them to the rest of the Switzerland.” (18:11)

The Locked-Room Mystery & Professional Stakes

The murder investigation is Agnes' first as lead inspector—a high-pressure, isolating experience intensified by the storm and lack of reinforcements:
- “She gets kind of isolated there. And so she doesn't have the resources you would normally have.... It's a whole new level of responsibility.” (18:58)
Themes of being trapped—with colleagues, under professional and familial pressure—run throughout the story.

Research and Authenticity

Much of the setting and detail derive from de Hahn’s years living in Switzerland and regular return visits.
A particular story about confirming landmarks via Google Earth highlights her dedication to accuracy—even “someone who is from a place, sometimes your memory fools you.” (21:53)

Author’s Next Projects

De Hahn is working on both a political thriller (set in the 1960s and 1990s) and a historical drama spanning WWI to post-D-Day WWII:
- “One is a little bit more of a political thriller...and then I have another manuscript...the day before the beginning of the First World War, and it ends after D-Day in the Second World War.” (23:11–24:04)

Notable Quotes

On the importance of place:
- “Everyone thinks it's a perfect place. Oh no. Things can go wrong.” (02:44, Tracee de Hahn)
Reflections on Language:
- “My husband, as a Swiss citizen going to school there, does not understand Swiss German. It is truly its own language.” (04:41, Tracee de Hahn)
On writing a cross-cultural protagonist:
- “I thought, what if her parents were American? What if she grew up there? But she grew up in that American household. So she would also be able to cast an eye on things and be able to say, you know, why is this done?” (05:56, Tracee de Hahn)
On inherited responsibility:
- “There can also be great responsibility that you have to accept and live up to. And there also may be a kind of constraints of just the situation.” (15:12, Tracee de Hahn)
On privilege and struggle:
- “People's lives who are very privileged...doesn't necessarily mean your life is easy.” (16:22, Tracee de Hahn)
On researching for authenticity:
- “Even someone who is from a place, sometimes your memory fools you, you know, and you have to just go back and double check things.” (21:53, Tracee de Hahn)

Timestamps for Key Segments

03:08 — The real-life inspiration for the chateau and the central storm
04:05 — Swiss languages and the challenge of Swiss German
05:51 — Introduction of protagonist Agnes Luthi and her dual cultural perspective
08:57 — The Marquise and her influence
12:03 — Explanation of the godparent tradition and Rafe’s role
13:30 — Julien Vallotton’s background and generational weight
15:31 — Marie Chantal and Daniel as examples of privilege and its complexities
16:52 — Description of the chateau’s isolated geography and the neighboring estate
18:58 — Agnes' professional pressures, isolation, and the “locked-room” feel
21:18 — Research anecdotes; ensuring the book’s accuracy
23:11 — Upcoming projects: a political thriller and a large-scale historical novel

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, humorous, and introspective, with host and guest sharing personal anecdotes and thoughtful reflections on culture, responsibility, and creativity. Tracee de Hahn’s storytelling is detailed, engaging, and richly evocative, matching the atmospheric tone of her novel.

Listeners will come away with:

A vivid sense of Swiss life and history
An understanding of the inspiration and intricacies behind Swiss Vendetta
Insights into the author’s creative process and future works
An appreciation for mysteries that dig deep into setting and character as much as plot

Highly recommended for fans of international mysteries and those interested in Swiss culture.