As a former professional tennis player, Chief inspector Hans Lucarelli had learned to follow his instinct to anticipate the game of his opponents. His capacity becomes relevant when two lovers are found dead in an abandoned car park in the forest on the outskirts of the German city of Freiburg. The double murder strongly resembles the doing of a famous, wanted serial killer. Something, however, does not quite seem to fit. Against all odds and the instructions of his superior Lucarelli investigates the history of the male victim, Henry Huth. It turns out that he held evidence for the involvement of the top management of a giant car firm into a huge fraud with Diesel emissions. Gradually, the inspector is opening doors that were intended to stay shut.

"The instinct of the tennis player" is the second novel of the investigative crime series with Inspector Lucarelli, written by Jean Moose.