Simone Strobel: compelling book

Compelling insight into caravan park killing

A COMPELLING new book probing the murder of a young German backpacker at a NSW caravan park is selling like "hot cakes" in nearby bookstores.

It was nine years ago that fun-loving traveller Simone Strobel was mercilessly suffocated at the 2.5-star  Lismore Tourist and Caravan Park.

The Bavarian kindergarten worker's body was found six days later hidden under a pile of rotting palm fronds opposite the caravan park after boyfriend Tobias Suckfuell, also from Germany, reported her "missing".

Creative writer and mother-of-three Virginia Peters has now penned a book about the murder and its aftershocks.

And, according to Lismore's major bookshops, there has been an avalanche of interest in Have You See Simone? which is already selling well.

BIG W's book department told Caravanning News that sales were on a par with the highly popular book about the murder of Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.

"No sooner we restock the shelves than people snap them up," a spokesman said.

"It is selling really well ... like hot cakes."

The Book Warehouse said it had received "heaps of inquiries" about the book and had already sold 50 copies.

"It seems to have re-ignited the interest of many locals who were shocked over the murder," a spokesman said.

After the murder, the stunned Lismore community opened its heart and festooned the spot where Simone's body was found with messages of sympathy, flowers and candles.

About 200 mourners attended a candlelight vigil near the site and the community even funded Suckfuell's flight back to Germany with his girlfriend's body.

Ms Peters became obsessed with uncovering the truth after seeing a poster bearing Simone's photograph near the caravan park during the search for her.

The writer burned the midnight oil analysing the evidence and uncovering new lines of investigation.

She flew to Germany on several occasions to interview the families and friends of Simone and Tabias, finally tracking down and questioning Tabias himself.

Ms Peters' website says that Have You See Simone? "explores grief and loss, truth and accountability, and asks whether justice in this case can ever be done".

Tabias remains the chief suspect and has refused frequent requests, including one from the coroner, to speak with police.