In Gordian Maugg's historic crime story ZEPPELIN! the airship casts its long shadow over three generations of a southern German family: Why did Robert Silcher, crew member of the LZ 129 Hindenburg, die in the flames at Lakehurst on 7 May 1937? Unsuccessfully his son Jakob spent his life trying to shed light on the mysterious circumstances of the accident. His grandson Matthias remembers his father's deep sadness and a trip to Lake Constance in 1973. Matthias' investigation leads him to the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen to one of Robert's former colleagues, Karl Semmle. But the old man rejects Matthias and first wants to know why he is so curious before he breaks his silence.