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Matkustaja 23
Viisi vuotta sitten poliisipsykologi Martin Schwartz menetti vaimonsa ja lapsensa, kun he katosivat jäljettömiin kesken luksusristeilyn. Heidän kohtalonsa ei koskaan selvinnyt, ja poliisi kuittasi tapauksen murhana ja itsemurhana. Tragedian edelleen piinaama Schwartz saa viestin iäkkäältä kirjailijalta, joka väittää tietävänsä Martinin perheen kohtalon ja pyytää häntä saapumaan The Sultan of the Seas -laivan kyytiin.
Salamyhkäinen kirjailija kertoo, että Martinin perhe ei ole ainoa kadonnut, ja että Sultan of the Seas -laivalta on kadonnut toinen perhe vain kuukautta aiemmin. Hän uskoo, että matkustajien joukossa on sarjamurhaaja.
Kun kadonneen perheen tytär ilmestyy yhtäkkiä takaisin mukanaan Schwartzin pojan pehmolelu, käy ilmi, että kaiken takana on jotain vielä kammottavampaa.
Salamyhkäinen kirjailija kertoo, että Martinin perhe ei ole ainoa kadonnut, ja että Sultan of the Seas -laivalta on kadonnut toinen perhe vain kuukautta aiemmin. Hän uskoo, että matkustajien joukossa on sarjamurhaaja.
Kun kadonneen perheen tytär ilmestyy yhtäkkiä takaisin mukanaan Schwartzin pojan pehmolelu, käy ilmi, että kaiken takana on jotain vielä kammottavampaa.
426 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
944 people are currently reading
13537 people want to read
About the author
Sebastian Fitzek
87 books8,720 followersSebastian Fitzek was born in Berlin in 1971. After going to law school and being promoted to LL.D., he decided against a juridical profession for a creative occupation in the media. After the traineeship at a private radio station he switched to the competition as head of entertainment and became chief editor later on, thereafter becoming an independent executive consultant and format developer for numerous media companies in Europe. He lives in Berlin and is currently working in the programme management of a major capital radio station.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,930 reviews
January 24, 2019
Man könnte über das Buch sagen, dass
- durch die kompakten Kapitel und die kurzen Sätze in dem Buch eine Rasanz vermittelt wird,
- dass sich durch die vulgäre primitive Sprache eine Authentizität bei den wenig normalen, mit persönlichen Defiziten belegten Figuren entsteht,
- dass durch die detailreiche Schilderung von Gewalt und Perversität eine natürliche Spannung entsteht,
- durch die unzähligen Plottwists man sich prima unterhalten fühlt,
- durch die Verdrehung des Rollenbildes von Opfer und Täter der Autor mutige neue Wege beschreitet und dabei Tabuthemen, wie die Rolle der Frau als Täter anspricht,
- dass durch das Weglassen von atmosphärischen Beschreibung der Orte eine vollständige Konzentration auf die Handlung möglich ist.
Ich sage aber, dass
- dass das mit Abstand der schlechteste Fitzek ist, den ich bislang gelesen habe
- dass das Merkmal eines Psychothriller die angedeuteten Beschreibungen von Ängsten ist und dieses Buch dem Leser keine Raum für Phatansie lässt, wenn Folter und Vergewaltigung im Detail beschrieben werden. Das Buch gehört für mich eher in den Bereich Horror, den es geht ums das nackte Überleben in vielen Sequenzen. Fitzek sagt im Nachwort, dass es kein Psychothriller, sondern ein Familienbuch ist. Da fehlen mir die Worte.
- dass hier ein ganz verquerstes Frauenbild gezeichnet wird. Es gibt wirklich keine einzige normale weibliche Person in dem ganzen Buch. Es sind Täterinnen, Vergewaltigerinnen, Mörderinnen, Psychopathinnen, verstörte Mädchen, Gewaltopfer, Vergewaltigungsopfer etc. Dazwischen pendeln ahnungslose Männer umher wie blauäugige Staffagen,
- dass der Autor nicht in der Lage ist, eine Atmosphäre herzustellen, Orte zu beschreiben, den Leser in einen anderen Raum zu versetzen, den Personen einen Charakter zu geben, die Geschichten hinter den Handelnden zu erläutern. Es geht nur um Schnelligkeit und um das bewusste in die Irre führen des Lesers. Man wird das Gefühl nicht los, dass es dem Autor Spaß macht, mit immer noch einer Wendung und noch einer Absurdität den letzten Rest an Realismus aus der Geschichte herauszuschreiben, nur für den Effekt, dass sich der Leser am Ende wundert über die ach so erstaunliche Auflösung. Das ist für mich billige Effekthascherei, Pulp Fiction, aber es ist dann teilweise so wieder hanebüchen, dass ich es in einem Rutsch durchlesen musste, weil ich es kaum glauben konnte.
Bislang habe ich Fitzek als zumindest annehmbaren Autor von Psychothrillern kennen gelernt. Ob Nachtwandler, Therapie oder Splitter, es ging immer um einzelne Menschen und ihre verquerte Wahrnehmung der Tatsachen aufgrund psychischer Störungen oder anderweitige Eingriffe in ihr Leben. Man konnte eine Beziehungen zu den Hauptpersonen aufbauen und mit ihnen durch das Buch leiden. Das geht dem Passagier 23 völlig ab. Und dabei hätte man aus der Grundidee einer Kreuzfahrt mit dem Verschwinden von Menschen so viel an atmosphärischer Spannung auf einem Schiff mit unzähligen Gängen und Menschen, ohne die Möglichkeit zur Flucht, machen können. Stattdessen Gewaltpornographie und vergewaltigte Kinder. Das ist nicht mein Ding.
- durch die kompakten Kapitel und die kurzen Sätze in dem Buch eine Rasanz vermittelt wird,
- dass sich durch die vulgäre primitive Sprache eine Authentizität bei den wenig normalen, mit persönlichen Defiziten belegten Figuren entsteht,
- dass durch die detailreiche Schilderung von Gewalt und Perversität eine natürliche Spannung entsteht,
- durch die unzähligen Plottwists man sich prima unterhalten fühlt,
- durch die Verdrehung des Rollenbildes von Opfer und Täter der Autor mutige neue Wege beschreitet und dabei Tabuthemen, wie die Rolle der Frau als Täter anspricht,
- dass durch das Weglassen von atmosphärischen Beschreibung der Orte eine vollständige Konzentration auf die Handlung möglich ist.
Ich sage aber, dass
- dass das mit Abstand der schlechteste Fitzek ist, den ich bislang gelesen habe
- dass das Merkmal eines Psychothriller die angedeuteten Beschreibungen von Ängsten ist und dieses Buch dem Leser keine Raum für Phatansie lässt, wenn Folter und Vergewaltigung im Detail beschrieben werden. Das Buch gehört für mich eher in den Bereich Horror, den es geht ums das nackte Überleben in vielen Sequenzen. Fitzek sagt im Nachwort, dass es kein Psychothriller, sondern ein Familienbuch ist. Da fehlen mir die Worte.
- dass hier ein ganz verquerstes Frauenbild gezeichnet wird. Es gibt wirklich keine einzige normale weibliche Person in dem ganzen Buch. Es sind Täterinnen, Vergewaltigerinnen, Mörderinnen, Psychopathinnen, verstörte Mädchen, Gewaltopfer, Vergewaltigungsopfer etc. Dazwischen pendeln ahnungslose Männer umher wie blauäugige Staffagen,
- dass der Autor nicht in der Lage ist, eine Atmosphäre herzustellen, Orte zu beschreiben, den Leser in einen anderen Raum zu versetzen, den Personen einen Charakter zu geben, die Geschichten hinter den Handelnden zu erläutern. Es geht nur um Schnelligkeit und um das bewusste in die Irre führen des Lesers. Man wird das Gefühl nicht los, dass es dem Autor Spaß macht, mit immer noch einer Wendung und noch einer Absurdität den letzten Rest an Realismus aus der Geschichte herauszuschreiben, nur für den Effekt, dass sich der Leser am Ende wundert über die ach so erstaunliche Auflösung. Das ist für mich billige Effekthascherei, Pulp Fiction, aber es ist dann teilweise so wieder hanebüchen, dass ich es in einem Rutsch durchlesen musste, weil ich es kaum glauben konnte.
Bislang habe ich Fitzek als zumindest annehmbaren Autor von Psychothrillern kennen gelernt. Ob Nachtwandler, Therapie oder Splitter, es ging immer um einzelne Menschen und ihre verquerte Wahrnehmung der Tatsachen aufgrund psychischer Störungen oder anderweitige Eingriffe in ihr Leben. Man konnte eine Beziehungen zu den Hauptpersonen aufbauen und mit ihnen durch das Buch leiden. Das geht dem Passagier 23 völlig ab. Und dabei hätte man aus der Grundidee einer Kreuzfahrt mit dem Verschwinden von Menschen so viel an atmosphärischer Spannung auf einem Schiff mit unzähligen Gängen und Menschen, ohne die Möglichkeit zur Flucht, machen können. Stattdessen Gewaltpornographie und vergewaltigte Kinder. Das ist nicht mein Ding.
March 11, 2021
Now I've finally read my first Fitzek. This author has so many enthusiastic fans, but also a not entirely insignificant number of critics. I'm afraid I won't be able to join the group of fans.
I found this novel raw and gross. In language, in storyline, in the character drawing, in everything.
For example, the author tried to express the eccentricity of an almost 80-year-old wealthy entrepreneur's widow by making her say things like "I'll go and push a piece of dirt out of my back" (p.58) The lady had to go to toilet and didn't have the slightest inhibitions to throw this phrase at a man she hardly knew. This is not even remotely eccentric, it's just vulgar.
The cruise ship is under the direction of a captain whose personality structure is not even suited to command a pedal boat and no shipowner interested in the success of his ship would hire such a man as a captain.
Of course the shipowner is a Russian mobster who keeps his employees on track by blackmailing them (Fitzek probably doesn't do anything less interesting).
The protagonist is a suicidal police officer with a severe post-traumatic stress disorder, but of course he is still fully engaged in his job as an undercover investigator, where he pulls off completely crazy actions that no halfway sane supervisor would approve of. Fortunately, if he feels like pursuing his private obsessions, he can leave his job abruptly without any further consequences. But that's the way it is with the German police. Everything is done for the well-being of the employees.
Of course there is a lot of violence and cruelty, most of it completely unnecessary. And I didn't talk about the plot at all, which can be described as more than stupid. Or the characters, each of whom is an exaggerated stereotype.
In a thriller you want to be entertained in an exciting way. Nobody expects an insane proximity to reality. But such an exaggeration of the characters and such a idiotic plot can hardly be tolerated by even the most undemanding reader. Nobody expects a particularly poetic language from a thriller, but here the author writes on a scrapbook level. On the other hand, the language goes very well with the rest of the novel.
I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't like this book at all. My expectations of the most successful German thriller writer had actually been different.
1 star.
----------------------------------------
Nun habe ich endlich auch meinen ersten Fitzek gelesen. Dieser Autor hat so viele begeisterte Fans, aber auch eine nicht vollkommen unerhebliche Anzahl von Kritikern. Ich befürchte, dass ich mich nicht in die Gruppe der Fans einreihen kann.
Ich habe diesen Roman als roh und grob empfunden. In der Sprache, in der Storyline, in der Charakterzeichnung, in allem.
Der Autor möchte beispielsweise die Exzentrität einer fast 80-jährigen wohlhabenden Unternehmerswitwe zum Ausdruck bringen, indem er sie Dinge sagen lässt wie „Ich geh mir mal ein Stück Dreck aus dem Rücken drücken.“ (S.58) Die Dame musste mal und hatte keine Hemmungen diesen Spruch einem nahezu unbekannten Mann an den Kopf zu werfen. Das ist nicht mal ansatzweise exzentrisch, das ist schlicht vulgär.
Das Kreuzfahrschiff steht unter Leitung eines Kapitäns, der von der Persönlichkeitsstruktur nicht mal geeignet ist ein Tretboot zu kommandieren und kein ansatzweise am Erfolg seines Schiffes interessierter Reeder würde einen solchen Mann als Kapitän einstellen.
Natürlich ist der Reeder ein russischer Mobster, der seine Angestellten durch Erpressung in der Spur hält (unter dem macht es Fitzek wohl nicht).
Der Protagonist ist ein suizidaler Polizist mit einer schweren posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung, der aber natürlich noch voll im seinem Beruf als Undercover-Ermittler steht, wo er völlig hirnrissige Aktionen abzieht, die kein halbwegs geistig gesunder Vorgesetzter so genehmigen würde. Glücklicherweise kann er seinen Arbeitsplatz schlagartig ohne weitere Konsequenzen verlassen, wenn ihm der Sinn danach steht, seinen privaten Obsessionen nachzugehen. Aber so ist sie halt, die deutsche Polizei. Man tut alles fürs Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter.
Selbstverständlich gibt es viel Gewalt und Grausamkeit, das meiste davon völlig unnötig. Und dabei habe ich gar nicht vom Plot gesprochen, den man wohl als mehr als bescheuert bezeichnen kann. Oder von den Charakteren, von denen jeder einzelne ein überzeichnetes Klischee ist.
Bei einem Thriller will man spannend unterhalten werden. Niemand erwartet eine wahnsinnige Nähe zur Realität. Aber eine solche Überzeichnung der Charaktere und ein derartig an den Haaren herbeigezogener Plot ist selbst dem anspruchslosesten Leser nicht mehr zuzumuten. Eine besonders poetische Sprache erwartet wohl auch niemand von einem Thriller, aber hier schreibt der Autor auf Schundheftchenniveau. Andererseits passt die Sprache sehr gut zum Rest des Romans.
Ich weiß nicht, ob ihr es gemerkt habt, aber mir hat dieses Buch ganz und gar nicht gefallen. Meine Erwartungen an den erfolgreichsten deutschen Thriller-Autor waren tatsächlich andere gewesen.
1 Stern.
I found this novel raw and gross. In language, in storyline, in the character drawing, in everything.
For example, the author tried to express the eccentricity of an almost 80-year-old wealthy entrepreneur's widow by making her say things like "I'll go and push a piece of dirt out of my back" (p.58) The lady had to go to toilet and didn't have the slightest inhibitions to throw this phrase at a man she hardly knew. This is not even remotely eccentric, it's just vulgar.
The cruise ship is under the direction of a captain whose personality structure is not even suited to command a pedal boat and no shipowner interested in the success of his ship would hire such a man as a captain.
Of course the shipowner is a Russian mobster who keeps his employees on track by blackmailing them (Fitzek probably doesn't do anything less interesting).
The protagonist is a suicidal police officer with a severe post-traumatic stress disorder, but of course he is still fully engaged in his job as an undercover investigator, where he pulls off completely crazy actions that no halfway sane supervisor would approve of. Fortunately, if he feels like pursuing his private obsessions, he can leave his job abruptly without any further consequences. But that's the way it is with the German police. Everything is done for the well-being of the employees.
Of course there is a lot of violence and cruelty, most of it completely unnecessary. And I didn't talk about the plot at all, which can be described as more than stupid. Or the characters, each of whom is an exaggerated stereotype.
In a thriller you want to be entertained in an exciting way. Nobody expects an insane proximity to reality. But such an exaggeration of the characters and such a idiotic plot can hardly be tolerated by even the most undemanding reader. Nobody expects a particularly poetic language from a thriller, but here the author writes on a scrapbook level. On the other hand, the language goes very well with the rest of the novel.
I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't like this book at all. My expectations of the most successful German thriller writer had actually been different.
1 star.
----------------------------------------
Nun habe ich endlich auch meinen ersten Fitzek gelesen. Dieser Autor hat so viele begeisterte Fans, aber auch eine nicht vollkommen unerhebliche Anzahl von Kritikern. Ich befürchte, dass ich mich nicht in die Gruppe der Fans einreihen kann.
Ich habe diesen Roman als roh und grob empfunden. In der Sprache, in der Storyline, in der Charakterzeichnung, in allem.
Der Autor möchte beispielsweise die Exzentrität einer fast 80-jährigen wohlhabenden Unternehmerswitwe zum Ausdruck bringen, indem er sie Dinge sagen lässt wie „Ich geh mir mal ein Stück Dreck aus dem Rücken drücken.“ (S.58) Die Dame musste mal und hatte keine Hemmungen diesen Spruch einem nahezu unbekannten Mann an den Kopf zu werfen. Das ist nicht mal ansatzweise exzentrisch, das ist schlicht vulgär.
Das Kreuzfahrschiff steht unter Leitung eines Kapitäns, der von der Persönlichkeitsstruktur nicht mal geeignet ist ein Tretboot zu kommandieren und kein ansatzweise am Erfolg seines Schiffes interessierter Reeder würde einen solchen Mann als Kapitän einstellen.
Natürlich ist der Reeder ein russischer Mobster, der seine Angestellten durch Erpressung in der Spur hält (unter dem macht es Fitzek wohl nicht).
Der Protagonist ist ein suizidaler Polizist mit einer schweren posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung, der aber natürlich noch voll im seinem Beruf als Undercover-Ermittler steht, wo er völlig hirnrissige Aktionen abzieht, die kein halbwegs geistig gesunder Vorgesetzter so genehmigen würde. Glücklicherweise kann er seinen Arbeitsplatz schlagartig ohne weitere Konsequenzen verlassen, wenn ihm der Sinn danach steht, seinen privaten Obsessionen nachzugehen. Aber so ist sie halt, die deutsche Polizei. Man tut alles fürs Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter.
Selbstverständlich gibt es viel Gewalt und Grausamkeit, das meiste davon völlig unnötig. Und dabei habe ich gar nicht vom Plot gesprochen, den man wohl als mehr als bescheuert bezeichnen kann. Oder von den Charakteren, von denen jeder einzelne ein überzeichnetes Klischee ist.
Bei einem Thriller will man spannend unterhalten werden. Niemand erwartet eine wahnsinnige Nähe zur Realität. Aber eine solche Überzeichnung der Charaktere und ein derartig an den Haaren herbeigezogener Plot ist selbst dem anspruchslosesten Leser nicht mehr zuzumuten. Eine besonders poetische Sprache erwartet wohl auch niemand von einem Thriller, aber hier schreibt der Autor auf Schundheftchenniveau. Andererseits passt die Sprache sehr gut zum Rest des Romans.
Ich weiß nicht, ob ihr es gemerkt habt, aber mir hat dieses Buch ganz und gar nicht gefallen. Meine Erwartungen an den erfolgreichsten deutschen Thriller-Autor waren tatsächlich andere gewesen.
1 Stern.
February 4, 2021
Passenger 23 is a code for people who disappear from cruise ships either accidentally or by suicide. When under cover police officer Martin Schwartz is urgently contacted by passenger Gerlinde Dobkowtiz on board cruise liner Sultan of the Seas requesting he comes aboard as soon as he can, he does not hesitate. His wife Nadja and son Timmy disappeared from the same ship five years ago, presumed a murder/suicide. What unfolds is a very dark tale taking you on an unexpected journey into some surprising areas on the ship.
The book starts well with a chilling incident on the cruise ship and draws you in with many questions about what is actually happening on the Sultan of the Seas. This is a multifaceted plot with several points of view contributing to the outcome taking the storyline into some dark places with stories of sexual abuse. However, although this is intrinsic to the plot it’s not gratuitous though some readers may wish to avoid such storyline. Martin is a flawed but good central protagonist although you do feel you don’t REALLY know him even by the end of the novel which may be due in part to his role changing job undercover. It’s possible too that grief for the loss of his family has led to him putting barriers up and armouring himself against the depths of its despair. The plot is very twisty and has a number of elements such as blackmail, revenge, coverups, murder and violence. Some sections are very sad and heartbreaking as victims suffering is revealed. It’s a convoluted plot with multiple red herrings along the way and the setting on board a cruise ship is excellent as it allows for many literary possibilities. There are some tense scenes which don’t always make sense initially but do keep the readers interest. The end is partly unexpected although I guess guess some of it but this does not detract from how good it is.
My negatives about the book are that the plot convolutions takes a while for the threads to connect, there are quite a lot of characters to sort out and some dialogue strikes a casual off note although this may be down to translation issues. I’m not totally convinced we needed all of Martin’s undercover backstory as although it’s interesting it doesn’t add to the events on the ship. I assume by including it the author is trying to help us understand his character.
Overall, it’s a darkly twisted thriller with a hint of a horror vibe that keeps you reading to seek out the truth.
With thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ar for an honest review.
The book starts well with a chilling incident on the cruise ship and draws you in with many questions about what is actually happening on the Sultan of the Seas. This is a multifaceted plot with several points of view contributing to the outcome taking the storyline into some dark places with stories of sexual abuse. However, although this is intrinsic to the plot it’s not gratuitous though some readers may wish to avoid such storyline. Martin is a flawed but good central protagonist although you do feel you don’t REALLY know him even by the end of the novel which may be due in part to his role changing job undercover. It’s possible too that grief for the loss of his family has led to him putting barriers up and armouring himself against the depths of its despair. The plot is very twisty and has a number of elements such as blackmail, revenge, coverups, murder and violence. Some sections are very sad and heartbreaking as victims suffering is revealed. It’s a convoluted plot with multiple red herrings along the way and the setting on board a cruise ship is excellent as it allows for many literary possibilities. There are some tense scenes which don’t always make sense initially but do keep the readers interest. The end is partly unexpected although I guess guess some of it but this does not detract from how good it is.
My negatives about the book are that the plot convolutions takes a while for the threads to connect, there are quite a lot of characters to sort out and some dialogue strikes a casual off note although this may be down to translation issues. I’m not totally convinced we needed all of Martin’s undercover backstory as although it’s interesting it doesn’t add to the events on the ship. I assume by including it the author is trying to help us understand his character.
Overall, it’s a darkly twisted thriller with a hint of a horror vibe that keeps you reading to seek out the truth.
With thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ar for an honest review.
March 4, 2018
Ich lese ja eigentlich nie Thriller, aber irgendwie hat mich dieses Buch neugierig gemacht. Ich fand die Idee der verschwundenen Passagiere toll und schön umgesetzt. Auch die weiteren Themen, die sich im Laufe der Geschichte ergeben, passten gut und kamen gleichzeitig sehr überraschend. Es gab einige Wendungen und blieb immer spannend, bis zum Schluss hatte ich keine Ahnung, wer hier der "Täter" ist. Dennoch hat mir ein wenig der Nervenkitzel gefehlt, den ich bei einem Psychothriller erwartet hätte..
December 8, 2025
Посредствен трилър, който ми досади и се отказвам да го дочета. Слабо изградени герои и некачествена мистерия - наистина не разбирам, как се е харесал на толкова много читатели тук?
Сам съм работил на круизен кораб и не мисля, че Фицек се е справил достоверно с изграждането на сюжета. Много от нещата за корабния живот са невероятни измислици и могат да служат само за присмех.
Не се прави секс на кораба, защото хората имали съквартирант - на място, където се работи по 10-12 часа всеки ден, няма нищо по-лесно от това да е свободна кабината ти за час.
Всяка седмица имало сбивания - пасажерите, с малки изключения са 70+ годишни пенсионери. А екипажът не смее въобще и да си го помисли - а нещо стане, а на другия ден пътуват към родните си села. Уволняват на мига всички замесени!
За толкова години съм чул слух само веднъж за изчезнал човек - филипинец, уж задлъжнял сериозно на карти на колегите си. Но най-вероятно си е било просто корабен фолклор. Да, умирали са пасажери, но още в следващото пристанище ги изпращат на роднините им.
Нещо и преводът не ми допадна, вероятно книгата е пусната без редакция…
Dnf на 80%.
Сам съм работил на круизен кораб и не мисля, че Фицек се е справил достоверно с изграждането на сюжета. Много от нещата за корабния живот са невероятни измислици и могат да служат само за присмех.
Не се прави секс на кораба, защото хората имали съквартирант - на място, където се работи по 10-12 часа всеки ден, няма нищо по-лесно от това да е свободна кабината ти за час.
Всяка седмица имало сбивания - пасажерите, с малки изключения са 70+ годишни пенсионери. А екипажът не смее въобще и да си го помисли - а нещо стане, а на другия ден пътуват към родните си села. Уволняват на мига всички замесени!
За толкова години съм чул слух само веднъж за изчезнал човек - филипинец, уж задлъжнял сериозно на карти на колегите си. Но най-вероятно си е било просто корабен фолклор. Да, умирали са пасажери, но още в следващото пристанище ги изпращат на роднините им.
Нещо и преводът не ми допадна, вероятно книгата е пусната без редакция…
Dnf на 80%.
January 29, 2020
This is the third audiobook I’ve listened too based on books by this author. I say ‘based on’ because they’ve all been Audible Drama productions, complete with a big cast, sound effects and all of the extras you’d expect from a radio production. My previous experiences with The Child and Amok were excellent and I liked the look of the cast here too, with British actor Max Beesley playing the lead character.
The plot surrounds an investigator (Beesley) whose wife and child disappeared overboard on a cruise some years ago. The deaths were assumed to be suicide. As a result, he’s become reckless and wild, taking on the riskiest undercover operations with no fear at all for his own safety. He just doesn’t care. But one day he gets a phone call that challenges the assumption concerning the fate of his family. In order to learn more he’s enticed to join a cruise where a strange lady seems to have set up permanent home aboard the very ship from which his wife and son had supposedly taken a jump.
Experience has taught me that in Fizeck’s stories nothing is quite as it seems: expect surprises and lots of them. And such is the case here with twists and turns throughout the eight-hour long production. The quality is excellent, both in terms of the acting, the effects and the way the story mixes narration and scenes that are acted out. The whole thing was tense, slightly shocking and highly entertaining.
I won’t go into the detail – if you’re interested it's best you go in with as little information as possible – but I will say that you should be prepared for some uncomfortable scenes featuring young children. It’s certainly not gratuitous or graphic, but best be forewarned.
I found this production to be on a par with the others I've listened to. The story itself was gripping and, in it's own way, though provoking. If you like audiobooks you’ll find that this is a slightly different take on this particular format – you might want to give it a try.
The plot surrounds an investigator (Beesley) whose wife and child disappeared overboard on a cruise some years ago. The deaths were assumed to be suicide. As a result, he’s become reckless and wild, taking on the riskiest undercover operations with no fear at all for his own safety. He just doesn’t care. But one day he gets a phone call that challenges the assumption concerning the fate of his family. In order to learn more he’s enticed to join a cruise where a strange lady seems to have set up permanent home aboard the very ship from which his wife and son had supposedly taken a jump.
Experience has taught me that in Fizeck’s stories nothing is quite as it seems: expect surprises and lots of them. And such is the case here with twists and turns throughout the eight-hour long production. The quality is excellent, both in terms of the acting, the effects and the way the story mixes narration and scenes that are acted out. The whole thing was tense, slightly shocking and highly entertaining.
I won’t go into the detail – if you’re interested it's best you go in with as little information as possible – but I will say that you should be prepared for some uncomfortable scenes featuring young children. It’s certainly not gratuitous or graphic, but best be forewarned.
I found this production to be on a par with the others I've listened to. The story itself was gripping and, in it's own way, though provoking. If you like audiobooks you’ll find that this is a slightly different take on this particular format – you might want to give it a try.
November 3, 2017
Ach man, der liebe Fitzek muss am Ende auch immer über die Stränge schlagen.. hätte er es nicht so übertrieben, wäre das für mich ein 5 Sterne Buch, allerdings legt er immer noch eine Schippe drauf & das geht mir meistens einfach zu weit. So gings mir bis jetzt mit jedem seiner Bücher, die ich gelesen habe (gut, mit dem hier eingeschlossen sind es erst 3 😂) Ich mag seinen Schreibstil sehr und auch die Story ist grandios gewesen, aber wie gesagt, am Ende übertreibt er mir einfach zu sehr und macht etwas einigermaßen realistisches total unrealistisch.
September 29, 2018
Ese es el problema con los deseos, señor Schwartz. Solo los equivocados se cumplen de inmediato.Como no podía ser de otra manera, otro libro más de Fitzek que leo del tirón. Imposible no hacerlo. Buen trabajo de este autor que no para de sorprenderme.
March 4, 2022
Un crucero es el lugar idóneo para ocultar secretos que se hundirán para siempre en el fondo del mar. Un ámbito apropiado para reinventarse y mutar en quien uno quiera o las circunstancias lo obliguen a ser. Un paisaje ideal para un suicidio. Un sitio perfecto para un asesinato.
Cada año muchas personas desaparecen en cruceros, nos cuenta Sebastian Fitzek, la causa subyacente no siempre ve la luz y, más o menos por eso, escribió esta intrincada historia. Una historia cruda que, sin eufemismos, toca alguno de los tópicos que más repudio, incredulidad y rechazo pueden provocar en los seres humanos. Entonces "lo brutal" no es la historia sino el desagradable impacto de reconocer que "eso", tristemente, puede ocurrir y que algunas personas lo han sufrido o continúan haciéndolo.
Considero que es mejor leerla sin mucha información previa para dejarse invadir por una historia compleja, dolorosa y definitivamente desconcertante. Fitzek elige sumergir nuestra confundida cabeza en la novela, empujar y dejarnos ahí hasta el final de la historia, cuando ya suplicábamos por un poco de aire.
4,5 estrellas para este muy buen libro.
Cada año muchas personas desaparecen en cruceros, nos cuenta Sebastian Fitzek, la causa subyacente no siempre ve la luz y, más o menos por eso, escribió esta intrincada historia. Una historia cruda que, sin eufemismos, toca alguno de los tópicos que más repudio, incredulidad y rechazo pueden provocar en los seres humanos. Entonces "lo brutal" no es la historia sino el desagradable impacto de reconocer que "eso", tristemente, puede ocurrir y que algunas personas lo han sufrido o continúan haciéndolo.
Considero que es mejor leerla sin mucha información previa para dejarse invadir por una historia compleja, dolorosa y definitivamente desconcertante. Fitzek elige sumergir nuestra confundida cabeza en la novela, empujar y dejarnos ahí hasta el final de la historia, cuando ya suplicábamos por un poco de aire.
4,5 estrellas para este muy buen libro.
January 20, 2021
What an interesting book that was. Martin Schwartz is a German police officer with a bit of a death wish. Ever since his wife and son died 5 years ago on a cruise - the wife tossed the boy overboard and then jumped from the ship herself - he has volunteered for the most dangerous undercover assignments. And he has had to do some truly awful things.
Then he gets a phone call from an old lady on board a ship, the Sultan of the Seas, who gives him a garbled account of it happening again - a mother and child disappearing from the ship. Apparently it happens more than you would think and cruise companies find it is better for business to claim most of the disappearances are suicides. Martin is not really interested until the old lady, Gerlinde Dobkowitz, who happens to live on the ship tells that the daughter has recently reappeared. Oh, and that she suspects there is a hidden deck on the massive ship where really weird stuff goes on. And the real kicker is, it is the same ship that his family died on.
So, although it is the last place Martin wants to re-visit, he joins the ship post haste. From then on things get weirder and weirder and there is a definite sense of menace throughout the remainder of the story. You know there’s something fishy going on but you have no idea what. The captain is being evasive but eventually it transpires that he is under the control of the owner who happens to be on board. It’s a feast of misdirection and unreliable narrators and the menace continues to grow.
I don’t want to say any more about the plot except that whatever you think is going - that’s not going to be it. This story is much too twisty for us armchair sleuths! I was suspecting everyone at some point. The pace was excellent and never really let up. I loved the plot, the intrigue, the red herrings and I had to feel some sympathy for the much beleaguered Martin who had a tough time putting the jigsaw pieces in the correct spots while fending off would-be assassins. We had the odd murder, dead people turning up alive, people being not who they say they are a meddlesome old lady who somehow stumbles on some things she’s not supposed to see.
All in all, a fabulous story that I can recommend to all mystery and thriller fans. Thanks to Netgalley, Head of Zeus publishers and Sebastian Fitzek for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
Then he gets a phone call from an old lady on board a ship, the Sultan of the Seas, who gives him a garbled account of it happening again - a mother and child disappearing from the ship. Apparently it happens more than you would think and cruise companies find it is better for business to claim most of the disappearances are suicides. Martin is not really interested until the old lady, Gerlinde Dobkowitz, who happens to live on the ship tells that the daughter has recently reappeared. Oh, and that she suspects there is a hidden deck on the massive ship where really weird stuff goes on. And the real kicker is, it is the same ship that his family died on.
So, although it is the last place Martin wants to re-visit, he joins the ship post haste. From then on things get weirder and weirder and there is a definite sense of menace throughout the remainder of the story. You know there’s something fishy going on but you have no idea what. The captain is being evasive but eventually it transpires that he is under the control of the owner who happens to be on board. It’s a feast of misdirection and unreliable narrators and the menace continues to grow.
I don’t want to say any more about the plot except that whatever you think is going - that’s not going to be it. This story is much too twisty for us armchair sleuths! I was suspecting everyone at some point. The pace was excellent and never really let up. I loved the plot, the intrigue, the red herrings and I had to feel some sympathy for the much beleaguered Martin who had a tough time putting the jigsaw pieces in the correct spots while fending off would-be assassins. We had the odd murder, dead people turning up alive, people being not who they say they are a meddlesome old lady who somehow stumbles on some things she’s not supposed to see.
All in all, a fabulous story that I can recommend to all mystery and thriller fans. Thanks to Netgalley, Head of Zeus publishers and Sebastian Fitzek for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
July 30, 2021
This book was a must for me as soon as saw the title I knew I would be reading it as love anything to do with travel and means of transport and stories set around that theme
As a bonus I love cruising ( ok a cheap joke but there you go ) so this even more shouted ‘READ ME’
Now it turns out ‘Passenger 23’ is the code that all ships use for ‘missing passengers’ those that have vanished ( presumed overboard ) on journeys and there are many more than we would imagine, as many ships are governed by the flag they bare most ‘Passenger 23’s’ are not really investigated and are swept under the carpet ( or under the sea!!)
This book looks at the possibilities that there are more sinister reasons than a drunken stumble or a gust of unexpected wind for these deaths
But what the story shows is not a ‘dipping the toe in the ocean’ mamby pamby look but a full on hardcore story of what could really be happening
It hold’s no punches, there is no frilly dialogue, it is there, bold and in your face and ‘please or offend’ take your choice, at times very raw the subjects covered are not sugar coated and are dealt with in jaw dropping honesty, it’s fair to warn that every subject that may trigger people is covered and often not subtly but honestly and in grim crude reality, the opening chapter is probably one of the most shocking read and more than a few times I winced throughout the book
The story however captivates and doesn’t let go, the detail, narrative and characters are all to be applauded and the 4 possibly 5 endings just keep going and dont let up
An amazing book, informative and dramatic, scary and unshying of the norm,it is a book that I wont forget and an author I am now going to look up more about and look for his other books
10/10
5 Stars
As a bonus I love cruising ( ok a cheap joke but there you go ) so this even more shouted ‘READ ME’
Now it turns out ‘Passenger 23’ is the code that all ships use for ‘missing passengers’ those that have vanished ( presumed overboard ) on journeys and there are many more than we would imagine, as many ships are governed by the flag they bare most ‘Passenger 23’s’ are not really investigated and are swept under the carpet ( or under the sea!!)
This book looks at the possibilities that there are more sinister reasons than a drunken stumble or a gust of unexpected wind for these deaths
But what the story shows is not a ‘dipping the toe in the ocean’ mamby pamby look but a full on hardcore story of what could really be happening
It hold’s no punches, there is no frilly dialogue, it is there, bold and in your face and ‘please or offend’ take your choice, at times very raw the subjects covered are not sugar coated and are dealt with in jaw dropping honesty, it’s fair to warn that every subject that may trigger people is covered and often not subtly but honestly and in grim crude reality, the opening chapter is probably one of the most shocking read and more than a few times I winced throughout the book
The story however captivates and doesn’t let go, the detail, narrative and characters are all to be applauded and the 4 possibly 5 endings just keep going and dont let up
An amazing book, informative and dramatic, scary and unshying of the norm,it is a book that I wont forget and an author I am now going to look up more about and look for his other books
10/10
5 Stars
dnf
January 21, 2021DNF at 10%
I know that Fitzek is a phenomenon here in Germany. I know his books are loved and praised. It seems like everyone I know has read at least one book by him and everyone's telling me to read a Fitzek if I want to start with thrillers. But this was bullshit. I couldn't get into the story, I hated the characters and I hated even more how they talked. Do we actually talk that stilted?
A story shouldn't feel like a construct and you shouldn't be able to see the pillars and cross braces. I did. Every action, every sentence felt like it needed to happen at that exact moment 'cause otherwise the whole story would come tumbling down.
Ultimately, a bitter disappointment, but not a surprising one. Me and thrillers don't mix well and Passagier 23 showed me, why that is.
I know that Fitzek is a phenomenon here in Germany. I know his books are loved and praised. It seems like everyone I know has read at least one book by him and everyone's telling me to read a Fitzek if I want to start with thrillers. But this was bullshit. I couldn't get into the story, I hated the characters and I hated even more how they talked. Do we actually talk that stilted?
A story shouldn't feel like a construct and you shouldn't be able to see the pillars and cross braces. I did. Every action, every sentence felt like it needed to happen at that exact moment 'cause otherwise the whole story would come tumbling down.
Ultimately, a bitter disappointment, but not a surprising one. Me and thrillers don't mix well and Passagier 23 showed me, why that is.
January 8, 2021
Que historia para más fuerte. Si están buscando un thriller “creepy” que los enganche desde la primera página este es. De todas maneras seguiré leyendo a Fitzek
Read
April 1, 2021In the world of mystery writing, there are many ways in which a body can disappear, as noted in the massive collection of books in the genre. Sebastian Fitzek pushes the reader to think outside the box with this thriller, which takes mystery to a new level and places the story on the high seas. While a handful of passengers who travel by boat go missing every year, they are mere statistics. However, to one man, they mean a great deal, as he lost his wife and son in such a way and then never turned up again. Five years on, a missing girl reappears aboard one of the large ocean liners, holding a relic from the past. Where has she been and how might her disappearance be part of a larger plot? Fitzek stirs up something inside the reader and keeps them guessing throughout.
Martin Schwartz is still trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife and son. Their disappearance aboard a pleasure cruise still haunts him five years later. When no trace could be found of them, it was determined to be a sick sort of murder-suicide, where they went overboard. The phenomena of missing passengers on ships has a name, Passenger 23, attributed to the number of people who go missing in this manner every year. Now, Schwartz has been summoned aboard the Sultan of the Seas, a massive ship travelling from the English Coast over to New York. When he boards, he is greeted by an old woman who is known for her fiction writing. However, she has a story to tell that may change Schwartz’s mind about what happened to his family.
While the ship lumbers out into the open waters, a girl mysteriously reappears, looking haggard and highly confused. What’s more, Anouk Lamar was declared missing while travelling aboard. She’s clutching something highly intriguing, the teddy bear Schwartz’s son had during his journey on the open waters. Schwartz, a trained police psychologist, tries to learn what’s happened to Anouk and discover who may have been holding her captive.
While the results come back that Anouk was raped, it is the crew of the Sultan that want to keep the news under wraps. Schwartz is tasked with trying to figure out what happened to Anouk and who may be responsible, all before they make it to shore. Schwartz is baffled at the cloak and dagger games, but does his best to discover where Anouk and others may have been held, as well as who might be responsible for it all.
Meanwhile, someone has Anouk’s mother captive, another supposed victim of Passenger 23. There is a game of cat and mouse—more like spider and fly—taking place and the elusive captor has a plan. Stopping at nothing to instil fear and push various forms of torture on the broken woman, someone has a plan that may be larger than this single woman. Time is running out and the ship is massive, leaving every door a possible spot to stow someone away, in a sick game that few know is even taking place. A chilling story to say the least and proves that Fitzek is on his game.
It takes a certain type of writer to really get to the heart of a chilling tale and grip the reader throughout. Sebastian Fitzek has proven capable of that with his unique take on the crime thriller, using the open seas as the primary setting. While the story progresses as many others might, it is the compartmentalization of the entire group aboard a ship that gives the story a new sense of urgency and thrill. Fitzek builds the narrative up and keeps the reader guessing what awaits them, as the piece is full of twists and turns that no one could have seen coming.
While Martin Schwartz is the presumed protagonist, he shares the important portions of the story with many others. Schwartz has an interesting backstory, both with the police and the loss of his family. Schwartz works tirelessly when he is aboard the ship to better understand what’s happened and get to the root of the issue. However, things take many a turn and Schwartz ends up learning a great deal about himself as he pieces the mystery together. I have no idea if Fitzek writes standalone only, but Martin Schwartz would be intriguing to see again, allowing his character to develop a little more.
The vast array of supporting characters provides an intriguing flavour to the narrative. From those who work aboard the Sultan of the Seas to the passengers who have their own backstories, the collection of people who grace the pages of the book help to enrich the reading experience. I can see Fitzek developing them throughout, as each plays a key role in the larger story. There is definitely not a skimping when it comes to constructing them to effectively tell the story needed to better understand what is going on.
The book itself flows relatively well, with little when it comes to poor pacing. The fact that it was translated is not obvious, as Fitzek’s writing has surely been placed in the hands of a professional. The story flows with ease and the mystery builds throughout, adding twists at just the right time to keep the reader guessing until the final pages. Strong narrative movement and a plot that is somewhat unique let the book stand out from many in the genre. A mix of chapter lengths help tease the reader into wanting to get ‘just a little more read’ before putting it aside at any one time. I am eager to see some of the other work that Fitzek has penned and hope they were as exciting as this novel.
Kudos, Mr. Fitzek, for intriguing me a great deal. I hope to find some of your other work soon and compare it with this stunning piece of writing.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful book summaries by strong reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/pa...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Martin Schwartz is still trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife and son. Their disappearance aboard a pleasure cruise still haunts him five years later. When no trace could be found of them, it was determined to be a sick sort of murder-suicide, where they went overboard. The phenomena of missing passengers on ships has a name, Passenger 23, attributed to the number of people who go missing in this manner every year. Now, Schwartz has been summoned aboard the Sultan of the Seas, a massive ship travelling from the English Coast over to New York. When he boards, he is greeted by an old woman who is known for her fiction writing. However, she has a story to tell that may change Schwartz’s mind about what happened to his family.
While the ship lumbers out into the open waters, a girl mysteriously reappears, looking haggard and highly confused. What’s more, Anouk Lamar was declared missing while travelling aboard. She’s clutching something highly intriguing, the teddy bear Schwartz’s son had during his journey on the open waters. Schwartz, a trained police psychologist, tries to learn what’s happened to Anouk and discover who may have been holding her captive.
While the results come back that Anouk was raped, it is the crew of the Sultan that want to keep the news under wraps. Schwartz is tasked with trying to figure out what happened to Anouk and who may be responsible, all before they make it to shore. Schwartz is baffled at the cloak and dagger games, but does his best to discover where Anouk and others may have been held, as well as who might be responsible for it all.
Meanwhile, someone has Anouk’s mother captive, another supposed victim of Passenger 23. There is a game of cat and mouse—more like spider and fly—taking place and the elusive captor has a plan. Stopping at nothing to instil fear and push various forms of torture on the broken woman, someone has a plan that may be larger than this single woman. Time is running out and the ship is massive, leaving every door a possible spot to stow someone away, in a sick game that few know is even taking place. A chilling story to say the least and proves that Fitzek is on his game.
It takes a certain type of writer to really get to the heart of a chilling tale and grip the reader throughout. Sebastian Fitzek has proven capable of that with his unique take on the crime thriller, using the open seas as the primary setting. While the story progresses as many others might, it is the compartmentalization of the entire group aboard a ship that gives the story a new sense of urgency and thrill. Fitzek builds the narrative up and keeps the reader guessing what awaits them, as the piece is full of twists and turns that no one could have seen coming.
While Martin Schwartz is the presumed protagonist, he shares the important portions of the story with many others. Schwartz has an interesting backstory, both with the police and the loss of his family. Schwartz works tirelessly when he is aboard the ship to better understand what’s happened and get to the root of the issue. However, things take many a turn and Schwartz ends up learning a great deal about himself as he pieces the mystery together. I have no idea if Fitzek writes standalone only, but Martin Schwartz would be intriguing to see again, allowing his character to develop a little more.
The vast array of supporting characters provides an intriguing flavour to the narrative. From those who work aboard the Sultan of the Seas to the passengers who have their own backstories, the collection of people who grace the pages of the book help to enrich the reading experience. I can see Fitzek developing them throughout, as each plays a key role in the larger story. There is definitely not a skimping when it comes to constructing them to effectively tell the story needed to better understand what is going on.
The book itself flows relatively well, with little when it comes to poor pacing. The fact that it was translated is not obvious, as Fitzek’s writing has surely been placed in the hands of a professional. The story flows with ease and the mystery builds throughout, adding twists at just the right time to keep the reader guessing until the final pages. Strong narrative movement and a plot that is somewhat unique let the book stand out from many in the genre. A mix of chapter lengths help tease the reader into wanting to get ‘just a little more read’ before putting it aside at any one time. I am eager to see some of the other work that Fitzek has penned and hope they were as exciting as this novel.
Kudos, Mr. Fitzek, for intriguing me a great deal. I hope to find some of your other work soon and compare it with this stunning piece of writing.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful book summaries by strong reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/pa...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 3, 2023
Пожелах тази книга заради заглавието и корицата, още преди да прочета анотацията. Много харесвам "Жената в каюта 10" на Рут Уеър и ми се щеше да прочета подобен трилър, чието действие се развива на круизен кораб.
"Пасажер 23" е зловещ и отвратителен съспенс, който лесно може да открадне съня на човек още с пролога и първите няколко глави. Признавам си, че надмина очакванията ми с нивото на обратите и добре изградените персонажи.
Оценката ми е 4, защото някъде до средата действието се развиваше много бавно. Дълбоко впечатлен съм, но не се нарежда сред любимите ми книги.
"Пасажер 23" е зловещ и отвратителен съспенс, който лесно може да открадне съня на човек още с пролога и първите няколко глави. Признавам си, че надмина очакванията ми с нивото на обратите и добре изградените персонажи.
Оценката ми е 4, защото някъде до средата действието се развиваше много бавно. Дълбоко впечатлен съм, но не се нарежда сред любимите ми книги.
February 3, 2021
A twisty and compelling psychological thriller that doesn't compromise on character depth and quality writing in order to deliver that twist that everyone sees coming, but instead offers a layered tale of a spate of mystery disappearances on cruise ships and takes you on an unpredictable journey towards the truth.
You probably won't want to go on any kind of cruise after reading Passenger 23, which follows one man's search for the truth about his wife and son. The plotting is superb and often disturbing, there is a lot of emotional tension and edgy action and you never really know where this is going until you get there.
I read it in one sitting, luckily starting it on a day off, it is one of those page turning yet considered thrillers that immerses you straight into its vivid world and holds you there until the final breathless reveals.
Really excellent. Recommended.
You probably won't want to go on any kind of cruise after reading Passenger 23, which follows one man's search for the truth about his wife and son. The plotting is superb and often disturbing, there is a lot of emotional tension and edgy action and you never really know where this is going until you get there.
I read it in one sitting, luckily starting it on a day off, it is one of those page turning yet considered thrillers that immerses you straight into its vivid world and holds you there until the final breathless reveals.
Really excellent. Recommended.
June 10, 2022
The story couldn't keep my interest the whole time.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2022...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2022...
January 2, 2024
+Veiksmo vieta- netikėta ir nauja;
+Veiksmas- nuo pirmo iki paskutinio užversto puslapio;
- Tema, priežastys- brrrr...pirma mintis- labai labai neskanu, antroji-baigiant knygą-neįtikino..
-Herojai- šį kartą man jie pasirodė pernelyg pritempti.
-Pirmoji Fitzeko knyga, kur radau atsakymą į mįslę, anksčiau nei tai buvo deklaruota autoriaus..
O gal visumoj kartelę buvau pernelyg užkėlusi...
***************************************************
+Place of action - unexpected and new;
+Action- from the first to the last turned page;
- Topic, reasons - the first thought - very, very unpleasant, the second - at the end of the book - was not convincing..
-Heroes- this time I found them too artificially developed.
-The first Fitzek book where I found the answer to the riddle, before it was declared by the author..
Or maybe I set the bar too high...
+Veiksmas- nuo pirmo iki paskutinio užversto puslapio;
- Tema, priežastys- brrrr...pirma mintis- labai labai neskanu, antroji-baigiant knygą-neįtikino..
-Herojai- šį kartą man jie pasirodė pernelyg pritempti.
-Pirmoji Fitzeko knyga, kur radau atsakymą į mįslę, anksčiau nei tai buvo deklaruota autoriaus..
O gal visumoj kartelę buvau pernelyg užkėlusi...
***************************************************
+Place of action - unexpected and new;
+Action- from the first to the last turned page;
- Topic, reasons - the first thought - very, very unpleasant, the second - at the end of the book - was not convincing..
-Heroes- this time I found them too artificially developed.
-The first Fitzek book where I found the answer to the riddle, before it was declared by the author..
Or maybe I set the bar too high...
August 3, 2017
Mal wieder ein nur zu empfehlender Fitzek!
Gerlinde Dobkowitz und ihre Sprüche warn zum schmunzeln und die Danksagung Fitzeks war mal wieder der Brüller :-D
Gerlinde Dobkowitz und ihre Sprüche warn zum schmunzeln und die Danksagung Fitzeks war mal wieder der Brüller :-D
![Profile Image for Tina [kupfermuenze].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1735673938i%2F63316474._UY200_CR20%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 13, 2017
Also irgendwie war das für mich kein PSYCHOthriller. Sondern einfach nur ein Thriller, welcher mir leider nicht so super gefallen hat. Es war okay, aber nicht Fitzeks bestes Buch.
August 19, 2017
A rather pointless thriller about a grieving police officer, Martin, who is lured on a cruise ship to investigate the return of a missing passenger. Little Anouk turned up out the blue, after having been gone for two months. Her disappearance had been settled as suicide and homicide on the part of the mother. Unfortunately, Anouk is silent.
The case bears an uncanny resemblanace to the disappearance of Martin's own wife and son, Timmy, a few years earlier. Martin has not come to terms with this and he is hoping that in solving the case of Anouk and her mother, the truth about the fate of his own family will come to light.
The author writes quite engagingly, and many (most) of the chapters end in little cliff hangers. This gets old quickly. By the half way point I had lost interest and it never really returned. Although I found Martin sympathetic, I couldn't really connect with him or any of the other characters. Many things bothered me that had nothing to do with solving the disappearances. The motive is farfetched beyond belief.
The one redeeming thing about this book is that is so easy to read that I feel I must have fantastic German skills. I know it isn't quite true - after all, I can't be bothered to cook together a review in German - but that's the only way this book brought anything to my table.
The case bears an uncanny resemblanace to the disappearance of Martin's own wife and son, Timmy, a few years earlier. Martin has not come to terms with this and he is hoping that in solving the case of Anouk and her mother, the truth about the fate of his own family will come to light.
The author writes quite engagingly, and many (most) of the chapters end in little cliff hangers. This gets old quickly. By the half way point I had lost interest and it never really returned. Although I found Martin sympathetic, I couldn't really connect with him or any of the other characters. Many things bothered me that had nothing to do with solving the disappearances. The motive is farfetched beyond belief.
The one redeeming thing about this book is that is so easy to read that I feel I must have fantastic German skills. I know it isn't quite true - after all, I can't be bothered to cook together a review in German - but that's the only way this book brought anything to my table.
April 21, 2024
Puikiai suraizgytas trileris. Visiskai nesitikejau pabaigos, kuri vistik buvo tokia supainiota, ypac del senoles ir Martino seimos. Faktai, kas is tiesu buvo zudikas taip pat laaaabai sokiravo.
Anuka su mama dingo kelte. Kaip ir dingo Martino zmona su sunumi pries 5erius metus. Sasaju , kodel zmones dingo, atrasta daug! Ir deja, bet tai yra vaiku prievartavimas… labai sokiravo, kad kalbama buvo apie vaiku prievartavima, kai tai dare mamos! Tikrai sokiravo. Labai idomiai pakrypusi knyga, nes apie toki siuzeta realiame gyvenime sunku ir pagalvoti. Taciau, kaip ir juodasis internetas, taip ir juodasis gyvenimas manau vis dar vyksta.
Rekomenduociau? Tikrai taip. Dar viena sio rasytojo puiki knyga. 🌸
Anuka su mama dingo kelte. Kaip ir dingo Martino zmona su sunumi pries 5erius metus. Sasaju , kodel zmones dingo, atrasta daug! Ir deja, bet tai yra vaiku prievartavimas… labai sokiravo, kad kalbama buvo apie vaiku prievartavima, kai tai dare mamos! Tikrai sokiravo. Labai idomiai pakrypusi knyga, nes apie toki siuzeta realiame gyvenime sunku ir pagalvoti. Taciau, kaip ir juodasis internetas, taip ir juodasis gyvenimas manau vis dar vyksta.
Rekomenduociau? Tikrai taip. Dar viena sio rasytojo puiki knyga. 🌸
July 16, 2019
thank u, next
July 22, 2020
Trzyma w napięciu do tego stopnia, że momentami miałam gęsią skórkę! Nie ma tutaj utartych schematów i to jest ogromny plus tej książki! Bardzo dobry thriller, bardzo!
January 30, 2023
Страхотен психологически трилър… остави ме без думи…🤔⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 27, 2020
Excelente libro. Una historia atrapante. Un suspenso que te va llevando, internando, en la historia de Martin, un barco de lujo y muchos interrogantes. Interrogantes que hasta el final, cuando ya parecía que todo estaba develado, da un giro y te deja atónito. Una trama retorcida que vale la pena.
Excellent book. An engaging story. A suspense that takes you, entering, in Martin's history, a luxury ship and many questions. Questions that until the end, when it already seemed that everything was revealed, takes a turn and leaves you stunned.
A twisted plot that pays off.
Excellent book. An engaging story. A suspense that takes you, entering, in Martin's history, a luxury ship and many questions. Questions that until the end, when it already seemed that everything was revealed, takes a turn and leaves you stunned.
A twisted plot that pays off.
October 17, 2017
2,5 Sterne
Ich mochte die Geschlechtsrollenverteilung gar nicht. Wieso müssen Frauen immer die Opfer sein und die Männer die "Helden"? Dazu kommt, dass die Story so an den Haaren herbei gezogen wirkt, vor allem die Auflösung...
Ich mochte die Geschlechtsrollenverteilung gar nicht. Wieso müssen Frauen immer die Opfer sein und die Männer die "Helden"? Dazu kommt, dass die Story so an den Haaren herbei gezogen wirkt, vor allem die Auflösung...
July 21, 2021
3.5 stars. Intricate multilayered plot. However, wasnt enraptured at all. The extra scene didnt really help to lift things up. Oh wells.
November 8, 2023
Тази книга се оказа ужасно преживяване за мен! След “Тайните убежища” на Жером Лубри ми се искаше да прочета друг завладяващ психологически трилър и се надявах, че това е той. Уви, не се оказа така. Напълно неподготвена започнах романа. Не знам как се случи това. Ако знаех темите и сцените, с които ще се сблъскам никога нямаше да посегна към него. Насилието на деца е нещо, от което съвсем умишлено страня. Като майка просто нямам капацитета да си го причинявам дори и като фикция. Няма да влизам в повече подробности, понеже е възможно да спойлна част от сюжета.
Мнението ми е абсолютно непопулярно, т.като край мен всички са дали оценки 4 и 5 звезди. Освен ужасните сцени, за които нямам стомах да смеля, сюжетно ми беше безкрайно скучно. Нямах никакво кой знае какво желание да разгръщам страниците. Първата половина беше безкрайно разтеглена и мудна. Героите бяха щрихирани и не успях да емпатизирам на никой…
Имайки предвид очакванията ми и какво прочетох, смело мога да кажа, че това е разочарованието ми за 2023.
Мнението ми е абсолютно непопулярно, т.като край мен всички са дали оценки 4 и 5 звезди. Освен ужасните сцени, за които нямам стомах да смеля, сюжетно ми беше безкрайно скучно. Нямах никакво кой знае какво желание да разгръщам страниците. Първата половина беше безкрайно разтеглена и мудна. Героите бяха щрихирани и не успях да емпатизирам на никой…
Имайки предвид очакванията ми и какво прочетох, смело мога да кажа, че това е разочарованието ми за 2023.
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