After a Miami drug bust goes sour, German cop Max Ballauf is sent home to be Cologne's homicide chief, and is immediately confronted with partner Freddy Schenk's professional jealousy - and the dead body of a former colleague. Directed by Kaspar Heidelbach, 1997.

A teacher recently acquitted of sexual molestation charges is killed by a bomb blast at his school. Suspicions initially fall on the victim's accuser, and Ballauf and Schenk struggle to piece together what happened when a second death rocks the campus. Directed by Kaspar Heidelbach. 1997.

While investing a highway rest stop robbery/murder, Ballauf picks up a little Filipino boy in flight. Could he be the lead they need to bust an international child-trafficking ring? Directed by Niki Stein, 1998.

The body of a banker is found in the woods near Cologne; next to his body is a pile of charred bank notes. Ballauf and Schenk investigate this mysterious murder, as protesters threaten violence over an exhibit of photos documenting Nazi atrocities. Directed by Niki Stein, 1998.

A woman's body is fished out of the Rhine, and the victim turns out to be an acquaintance of Ballauf's. The investigation leads to a chemical company, and the German intelligence services are found to be involved. Directed by Markus Fischer, 1998.

A dancer is found murdered near the grounds of a psychiatric hospital, and the prime suspect is a patient with a history of violence. But Ballauf and Schenk’s investigation opens up new possibilities: Is the patient merely a pawn in a devilish game? Directed by Claus-Michael Rhone, 1999.

Freddy and Max investigate the death of a wealthy gynecologist who's found dead in his swimming pool. The doctor’s wife and son suspect a prominent Pro-Life group, but the search for the killer leads to a maze of half-truths and evasions. Soon, a number of possible killers emerge, each with a completely different motive. Directed by Wolfgang Panzer, 1999.

After a colleague’s long-time girlfriend is killed in the courtyard of a crowded apartment complex, Freddy and Max are frustrated when none of the residents admit to seeing or hearing a thing – and their frustration turns to bafflement when they discover that the victim was secretly pregnant. Who was the father of the child, and why was the victim planning a secret move to Hamburg? Directed by Kaspar Heidelbach, 1999.

The body of a four-year-old boy is found in a working class area. An autopsy reveals posthumous injuries. Schenk suspects they're dealing with a psychopath preying on the weak. Meanwhile, Max befriends Mirko, an emotionally neglected eight-year-old he suspects knows more than he's willing to admit. As they investigate the murder, they are drawn further into the world of children's fears, and grown up's dreams. Directed by Niki Stein, 1999.

The body of wealthy real estate magnate Gerd Wesibach is found, his pores emanating a familiar odor: bitter almonds. At first his death is thought to be an assisted suicide, but it is soon discovered that he was poisoned. Ballauf and Schenk have a long list of suspects, and soon uncover a dubious euthanasia ring. Directed by Kaspar Heidelbach, 2000.

A blackmailer has been threatening the Kölsch brewery in Cologne. Concerned with his company's reputation, Belcher Sr. decides to pay the ransom in person, and is soon shot dead. But when the blackmailer demands a higher ransom and poisons the beer, Ballauf and Schenk suspect they're dealing with a copycat offender. Directed by Markus Fischer, 2000.

A man is shot dead in broad daylight in Cologne city center. The bullet was fired from 700 meters away and went straight to the heart. Chief Inspector Freddy Schenk believes he knows the murder weapon that can hit the target with pinpoint accuracy from such a great distance. The victim, Charly Hecker, was a successful businessman who apparently had never done anything wrong in life. During the interrogations of Hecker's young wife Franka, something happens to Inspector Ballauf that should not happen: He falls in love with the murdered man's widow and begins to meet her secretly.

To mark the 30th anniversary of Tatort, there was to be a special anniversary crime thriller with this episode. The Cologne detectives Ballauf and Schenk investigate together with their East German colleagues Ehrlicher and Kain. The four have to solve two murders.