Rita Falk (born 30 May 1964) is a German writer. She is especially known for her crime fiction featuring village policeman Franz Eberhofer, which has spawned many film adaptations.

Rita Falk was born inOberammergau,Bavaria, Germany, on 30 May 1964.^[1][2]

She lived at her place of birth until age eight, then moved with her parents first for one year toMunich, then toLandshut, where she attended theclassical grammar school [de].^{[citation needed]}

Falk was working as an office clerk until her breakthrough as an author.^[3]

She achieved fame through her "provincial crime fiction" centered on village policeman Franz Eberhofer, set in the fictitious town of Niederkaltenkirchen. In her eyes the location of the film adaptations, the municipality ofFrontenhausen, comes closest to it.^[4][5] Next to criminal cases the series also focuses on Franz' private life and relationships. These include his grandmother (Oma Eberhofer), his father, his girl-friend Susi, his brother Leopold and his best friend Rudi Birkenberger.

Following three volumes of provincial crime fiction with a mode of story-telling strongly influenced byBavarian dialect, Falk presented her first family novel,Hannes, in 2012. Several books of both genres have been published since.

Her debut novel,Winterkartoffelknödel (2010), the first volume of theEberhofer series – as well as the second and third,Dampfnudelblues (2011), andSchweinskopf al dente (2011) – reached no. 6 on theSpiegel bestseller list (hardcover fiction). With the fifth instalment,Sauerkrautkoma (2013), Rita Falk reached no. 1 for the first time. The following volumes of the series hit first place on theSpiegel bestseller list (paperback fiction) as well.^[6]

Several films based on theEberhofer series, starring Austrian actorSimon Schwarz as private detective Rudi Birkenberger have been made,^[7] includingDampfnudelblues [de] (2015) andLeberkäsjunkie [de] (2019).

• Since 2013:Eberhofer crime film series includes:^{[citation needed]}

1. Dampfnudelblues, 2013
2. Winterkartoffelknödel, 2014
3. Schweinskopf al dente, 2016
4. Grießnockerlaffäre, 2017
5. Sauerkrautkoma, 2018
6. Leberkäsjunkie, 2019
7. Kaiserschmarrndrama, 2021
8. Guglhupfgeschwader, 2022
9. Rehragout-Rendezvous, 2023

• 2021:Hannes^{[citation needed]}

From September to December 2021, Falk appeared weekly in the official podcast on theFranz Eberhofer series,^[8]Radio Niederkaltenkirchen – Der Eberhofer-Podcast, which was hosted byChristian Tramitz, narrator of the audio versions of theEberhofer provincial criminal fiction, andFlorian Wagner. In various sections, guessing games and prank calls the podcast offers behind-the-scenes insights into Falk's stories. Christian Tramitz and Florian Wagner in the podcast also talk with guests from the Eberhofer cosmos, the team of the movies and police officers.

Theroundabout north of the municipality ofFrontenhausen, which features in the film version of theEberhofer crime stories, has officially been named "Franz Eberhofer roundabout" since 8 August 2018.^[9]

• 2019:Bayerische Verfassungsmedaille in silver
• 2023:Bavarian Order of Merit^[10]
• 2023:Österreichischer Krimipreis [de]^[11]
• 2023:Kulturpreis Bayern [de]^[12]

The author lived in Munich with her second husband, former policeman Robert Falk, who died 2 July 2020 age 60.^[13][14] She has three adult children.^[15]

As of October 2023^[update] Falk was in a relationship again, her new partner being an entrepreneur from theAllgäu, who has been a long-time friend.^[16]

1. Winterkartoffelknödel. Novel.Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, dtv premium, 2010, ISBN 978-3-423-24810-5.
2. Dampfnudelblues. Novel. dtv premium, 2011, ISBN 978-3-423-24850-1.
3. Schweinskopf al dente. Novel. dtv premium, 2011, ISBN 978-3-423-24892-1.
4. Grießnockerlaffäre. Novel. dtv premium, 2012, ISBN 978-3-423-24942-3.
5. Sauerkrautkoma. Novel. dtv premium, 2013, ISBN 978-3-423-24987-4.
6. Zwetschgendatschikomplott. Novel, dtv premium, Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-423-26044-2.
7. Leberkäsjunkie. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2016, ISBN 978-3-423-26085-5.
8. Weißwurstconnection. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2016, ISBN 978-3-423-26127-2.
9. Kaiserschmarrndrama. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2018, ISBN 978-3-423-26192-0.
10. Guglhupfgeschwader. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2019, ISBN 978-3-423-26231-6.
11. Rehragout-Rendezvous. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2021, ISBN 978-3-423-26273-6.
12. Steckerlfischfiasko. Novel. dtv premium, Munich 2023, ISBN 978-3-423-26377-1.

• Knödel-Blues. Oma Eberhofers bayerisches Provinz-Kochbuch. Christian Verlag, Munich 2014, ISBN 978-3-86244-127-3. (Cookbook)
• Arnika und Bohnerwachs. Oma Eberhofers bewährtes Wissen für Haushalt und Küche. Christian Verlag, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-86244-249-2. (Guidebook)
• Eberhofer, zefix! Geschichten vom Franzl. dtv, Munich 2018, ISBN 978-3-423-28991-7. (Stories)

• Hannes. Novel. dtv premium, 2012, ISBN 978-3-423-28001-3.
• Funkenflieger. Novel. dtv premium, 2014, ISBN 978-3-423-26019-0.

• 2010:Winterkartoffelknödel. Read byChristian Tramitz,Der Audio Verlag [de] (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, as audio file download or 4 CDs (303 min), ISBN 978-3-89813-991-5.
• 2011:Dampfnudelblues. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, as audio file download or 4 CDs (319 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-045-6.
• 2011:Schweinskopf al dente. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, as audio file download or 4 CDs (320 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-104-0.
• 2012:Grießnockerlaffäre. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 5 CDs (397 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-204-7.
• 2013:Die große Franz-Eberhofer-Box. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, 12 CDs (926 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-262-7.
• 2013:Sauerkrautkoma. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 6 CDs (422 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-307-5.
• 2014:Winterkartoffelknödel. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, 1 mp3 CD (353 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-360-0.
• 2014:Dampfnudelblues. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, 1 mp3 CD (319 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-429-4.
• 2014:Winterkartoffelknödel (Film audio drama). WithSebastian Bezzel,Lisa Maria Potthoff,Simon Schwarz, u.v.a, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, Audio drama, as audio file download or 1 CD (78 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-467-6.
• 2015:Zwetschgendatschikomplott. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 6 CDs (480 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-417-1.
• 2015:Schweinskopf al dente. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, abbreviated version, 1 mp3 CD (304 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-481-2.
• 2015:Grießnockerlaffäre. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 1 mp3 CD (397 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-584-0.
• 2016:Leberkäsjunkie. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 7 CDs (554 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-541-3.
• 2016:Schweinskopf al dente (Film audio drama). With Sebastian Bezzel, Simon Schwarz, u. v. a., Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, Audio drama, as audio file download or 1 CD (80 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-816-2.
• 2016:Weißwurstconnection. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 7 CDs (553 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-821-6.
• 2017:Grießnockerlaffäre (Film audio drama). With Sebastian Bezzel, Lisa Maria Potthoff, Simon Schwarz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, Audio drama, as audio file download or 1 CD (87 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-0244-8.
• 2018:Kaiserschmarrndrama. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, as audio file download or 6 CDs (474 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-0452-7.
• 2018:Die große Franz-Eberhofer-Box 2. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 17 CDs (1286 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-0381-0.
• 2018:Eberhofer, zefix! Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 1 CD (70 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-0757-3.
• 2019:Guglhupfgeschwader. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 6 CDs (489 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-1120-4.
• 2019:Leberkäsjunkie (Film audio drama). With Sebastian Bezzel, Lisa Maria Potthoff, Simon Schwarz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, Audio drama, as audio file download or 2 CDs (94 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-1158-7.
• 2020:Die große Franz-Eberhofer-Box 3. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 2 mp3-CDs (1524 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-1832-6.
• 2021:Kaiserschmarrndrama (Film audio drama). With Sebastian Bezzel, Lisa Maria Potthoff, Simon Schwarz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, Audio drama, as audio file download or 2 CDs (96 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-1622-3.
• 2021:Rehragout-Rendezvous. Read by Christian Tramitz, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, unabridged version, 6 CDs (483 min), ISBN 978-3-7424-1667-4.

• 2012:Hannes. Read byJohannes Raspe, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, 2012, Reading, as audio file download or 4 CDs (270 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-171-2.
• 2014:Funkenflieger. Read by Johannes Raspe, Der Audio Verlag (DAV), Berlin, 2014, Reading, as audio file download or 6 CDs (480 min), ISBN 978-3-86231-380-8.

• Rita Falks at Wikimedia Commons
• Website at the author's publisher (dtv)
• Franz Eberhofer, website published by Rita Falk
• Literature by and about Rita Falk in theGerman National Library catalogue

• Living people
• 1964 births
• 21st-century German women writers
• German women novelists

• CS1 German-language sources (de)
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from October 2025
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from October 2025
• Articles containing potentially dated statements from October 2023
• All articles containing potentially dated statements