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Anatomy of a Killer
Berlin, 2017: several young girls have been disappearing for the past fourteen years. Red ribbons show the police the way to their bodies, but there's no trace of the killer.
One evening, internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on the suspicion of the murders in the presence of his daughter, Ann.
'Professor Death' becomes the headline of the tabloid press and Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police. Ann is certain this is all some kind of mistake. And she will prove it. Yet, with the arrest of her father, she begins a journey into the unknown . . .
One evening, internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on the suspicion of the murders in the presence of his daughter, Ann.
'Professor Death' becomes the headline of the tabloid press and Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police. Ann is certain this is all some kind of mistake. And she will prove it. Yet, with the arrest of her father, she begins a journey into the unknown . . .
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2023
15 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Romy Hausmann
14 books928 followersRomy Hausmann was born in the former GDR in 1981. At the age of twenty-four she became chief editor at a film production company in Munich. Since the birth of her son, Romy has been working as a freelancer in TV. DEAR CHILD is her thriller debut, and her second mind-bending thriller SLEEPLESS publishes in 2021. She lives with her family in a remote house in the woods near Stuttgart.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 24, 2023
A daugter's devotion
The translation of the book is very confusing and hard to understand. The first half of the book jumps between past and present, making it difficult to follow.
However, the story itself is good. It's about Ann, whose father is accused of killing young girls and leaving red ribbons to show where he hid their bodies. Ann believes her father is innocent and is determined to prove it.
The idea behind the story is great, but the execution falls short. The confusing writing style makes it hard to get to know the characters. The ending is not very satisfying and left me disappointed.
Despite its flaws, I was still interested enough in the story to keep reading. There are plenty of suspenseful moments and things to look forward to.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.
The translation of the book is very confusing and hard to understand. The first half of the book jumps between past and present, making it difficult to follow.
However, the story itself is good. It's about Ann, whose father is accused of killing young girls and leaving red ribbons to show where he hid their bodies. Ann believes her father is innocent and is determined to prove it.
The idea behind the story is great, but the execution falls short. The confusing writing style makes it hard to get to know the characters. The ending is not very satisfying and left me disappointed.
Despite its flaws, I was still interested enough in the story to keep reading. There are plenty of suspenseful moments and things to look forward to.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.
June 16, 2023
This was an incredibly dark read, unsurprisingly considering the subject. While I did for the most part enjoy it, there were times when it dragged a little in the storytelling. The characters were all so very unlikeable, and it was hard to warm to any of them. We hear from multiple points of view through the book, and it took me a while to get my head around that. It did jump around quite a lot, but I did eventually figure out what was going on.
For 14 years, the Ribbon Murderer has been taking young girls and leaving a red ribbon for the police to find their bodies. Just before Christmas, police arrest 55 year old professor Walter Lesniak for these murders. His daughter Ann is mortified and immediately believes that they have got it wrong. She will stop at nothing to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, her father is not saying anything.
If you like a serial killer story with a twist, check this one out. Thanks to Quercus Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 3rd
For 14 years, the Ribbon Murderer has been taking young girls and leaving a red ribbon for the police to find their bodies. Just before Christmas, police arrest 55 year old professor Walter Lesniak for these murders. His daughter Ann is mortified and immediately believes that they have got it wrong. She will stop at nothing to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, her father is not saying anything.
If you like a serial killer story with a twist, check this one out. Thanks to Quercus Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 3rd
August 16, 2023
They call him a murderer...but how could he be...?
Oh my. I was so disappointed with this book sadly. I read and totally loved "Dear Child" so I was thrilled to see this one come up for request. It sounded intriguing. But...
Ann's father is in prison awaiting trial for the murders of several girls over a fourteen year period. Despite the evidence against him, Ann refuses to accept her father's guilt and so embarks on a journey to prove his innocence.
I didn't get that far.
Flipping burgers on Christmas Eve then going home with a customer/friend (still can't work out what he was meant to be) where she got drunk and confessed to the allegations against daddy dearest and her quest to see him free. I honestly couldn't get much past that. I really struggled with the format and the whole story just didn't gel with me. Ann was unlikeable and I found it hard to sympathise much with her. I found her internal dialogue and flashbacks somewhat confusing. But then that could be down to being lost in translation.
I must congratulate the translator as I can't even begin to imagine the task of translating an entire book page by page, line by line, word for word and maintain the integrity of the original. The inclusion of Ann's diary entries that were written phonetically, I think the translator did an astounding job.
At the end of the day, we can't like every book we read. That's never going to happen. You win some, you lose some. I may give this one another go further down the track but as it stands right now I just couldn't get into it. A shame really because "Dear Child" was the bomb. Totally brilliant. But then it was always going to be tough beating that one.
I would like to thank #RomyHausmann, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #AnatomyOfAKiller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Oh my. I was so disappointed with this book sadly. I read and totally loved "Dear Child" so I was thrilled to see this one come up for request. It sounded intriguing. But...
Ann's father is in prison awaiting trial for the murders of several girls over a fourteen year period. Despite the evidence against him, Ann refuses to accept her father's guilt and so embarks on a journey to prove his innocence.
I didn't get that far.
Flipping burgers on Christmas Eve then going home with a customer/friend (still can't work out what he was meant to be) where she got drunk and confessed to the allegations against daddy dearest and her quest to see him free. I honestly couldn't get much past that. I really struggled with the format and the whole story just didn't gel with me. Ann was unlikeable and I found it hard to sympathise much with her. I found her internal dialogue and flashbacks somewhat confusing. But then that could be down to being lost in translation.
I must congratulate the translator as I can't even begin to imagine the task of translating an entire book page by page, line by line, word for word and maintain the integrity of the original. The inclusion of Ann's diary entries that were written phonetically, I think the translator did an astounding job.
At the end of the day, we can't like every book we read. That's never going to happen. You win some, you lose some. I may give this one another go further down the track but as it stands right now I just couldn't get into it. A shame really because "Dear Child" was the bomb. Totally brilliant. But then it was always going to be tough beating that one.
I would like to thank #RomyHausmann, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #AnatomyOfAKiller in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 21, 2024
Finished reading: April 20th 2024
DNF at 25% (85 pages)
"All of us get the odd scratch and scrape over the course of our life. And not every one is visible on the outside."
REVIEW
August 2, 2023
Ann's father, Walter Lesniak, has been arrested as a serial killer. One who took children, killed them, leaving their bodies marked by red ribbons. She is completely convinced that he is innocent but is confused that he is not fighting the arrest charge. So she does the only thing she can, she starts to investigate herself... She has an alternative suspect, she just has to prove it was him instead...
As well as what is happening in the present, we also re-visit Ann's past. We see a scene play out and then examine the emotion around it from Ann's point of view at whatever age. It's interesting to see how she changes, matures, as she grows up.
And then there are "interviews" with the killer... these add a whole other insight into what is going on as the rest of the book plays out.
I have to admit that Ann did frustrate me along the way. Some of her motivations and actions did seem questionable at the time, but I guess, as I got to know her better as the book and story progressed, I did get to understand her and, maybe, like her a bit better...
And all those things together give credence to the eventually ending which is both shocking and satisfying. And also gave me food to do some more reading up about the subject. Spoilers prevent me mentioning anything here but it's so very fascinating, Please do also read the Afterword.
It's clever and disturbing and emotional, pulling no punches along the way. But it's also fascinating and compelling and made me keep reading. I've already read and enjoyed Dear Child and Sleepless by the same author so, if you do like this one, you could move on to them too.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
As well as what is happening in the present, we also re-visit Ann's past. We see a scene play out and then examine the emotion around it from Ann's point of view at whatever age. It's interesting to see how she changes, matures, as she grows up.
And then there are "interviews" with the killer... these add a whole other insight into what is going on as the rest of the book plays out.
I have to admit that Ann did frustrate me along the way. Some of her motivations and actions did seem questionable at the time, but I guess, as I got to know her better as the book and story progressed, I did get to understand her and, maybe, like her a bit better...
And all those things together give credence to the eventually ending which is both shocking and satisfying. And also gave me food to do some more reading up about the subject. Spoilers prevent me mentioning anything here but it's so very fascinating, Please do also read the Afterword.
It's clever and disturbing and emotional, pulling no punches along the way. But it's also fascinating and compelling and made me keep reading. I've already read and enjoyed Dear Child and Sleepless by the same author so, if you do like this one, you could move on to them too.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
August 10, 2023
‘They call him a murderer - but how could he be?’ - cover tag line.
My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Anatomy of a Killer’ by Romy Hausmann. It was translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch.
Berlin, 2017 over the past fourteen years a number of young girls have been disappearing. Red ribbons have been placed showing the police the way to their bodies. Yet to date there's been no evidence to lead them to the Ribbon Killer’. Then one evening internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on suspicion of the murders.
The tabloid press are calling him ‘Professor Death’ while Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police.
His daughter, Ann, is certain this is all some kind of mistake and decides that she will prove it, beginning her perilous journey into the unknown . . .
This is the third novel by Hausmann that I have read and so was aware that it would require a closer reading than the majority of crime fiction. The narrative moves about in time following both Ann’ story as well as the sinister voice of the serial killer.
Overall, I found ‘Anatomy of a Killer’ a complex, slow burn of a crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Anatomy of a Killer’ by Romy Hausmann. It was translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch.
Berlin, 2017 over the past fourteen years a number of young girls have been disappearing. Red ribbons have been placed showing the police the way to their bodies. Yet to date there's been no evidence to lead them to the Ribbon Killer’. Then one evening internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on suspicion of the murders.
The tabloid press are calling him ‘Professor Death’ while Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police.
His daughter, Ann, is certain this is all some kind of mistake and decides that she will prove it, beginning her perilous journey into the unknown . . .
This is the third novel by Hausmann that I have read and so was aware that it would require a closer reading than the majority of crime fiction. The narrative moves about in time following both Ann’ story as well as the sinister voice of the serial killer.
Overall, I found ‘Anatomy of a Killer’ a complex, slow burn of a crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
August 2, 2023
How far would YOU go, driven by familial loyalty?
Told from three perspectives, this is really interesting story. It took a little time for me to settle, as a reader, into switching between various voices, but the narrative remained compelling throughout.
It is 2017 in Berlin, and for the last decade and a half young girls have been disappearing, with no suspect in sight. They are found with a trail of red ribbons leading to their bodies, but the serial killer responsible has yet to be apprehended.
Until, that is, a middle-aged philosophy professor is arrested on suspicion of being the 'Red Ribbon Killer'. As Walter Lesniak is taken away in front of her, his daughter Ann vows to prove him innocent, beginning a crusade where almost nothing is off the table.
Of the three voices, Ann's tugged at me most strongly, although the insight provided into the killer's mindset is also compelling. This was a brilliant idea for a novel - and while not entirely unflawed in its execution, it nevertheless made for a gripping read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Told from three perspectives, this is really interesting story. It took a little time for me to settle, as a reader, into switching between various voices, but the narrative remained compelling throughout.
It is 2017 in Berlin, and for the last decade and a half young girls have been disappearing, with no suspect in sight. They are found with a trail of red ribbons leading to their bodies, but the serial killer responsible has yet to be apprehended.
Until, that is, a middle-aged philosophy professor is arrested on suspicion of being the 'Red Ribbon Killer'. As Walter Lesniak is taken away in front of her, his daughter Ann vows to prove him innocent, beginning a crusade where almost nothing is off the table.
Of the three voices, Ann's tugged at me most strongly, although the insight provided into the killer's mindset is also compelling. This was a brilliant idea for a novel - and while not entirely unflawed in its execution, it nevertheless made for a gripping read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 18, 2023
Really good. The beginning is amazing, it starts like it's going to be a deep dive into the wreckage left behind for the family of a murderer. Starts realistic and gritty. However about a third of the way it lost me for a bit and i thought it was turning into something silly and far fetched but it was simply fooling me. Then it brings it back to the grounded psycological thriller that it promised to be. It's an odd one in that it feels like a meander through different ways grief and dark events can break people and it's unlikely that one person would encounter it all in a a short spell but it doesn't really matter as that's not the point. Kind of a psycological fable maybe. What disappointed me with it was that almost every character from her previous book 'Dear child' has been recycled: the main character who is an impulsive mess, the journalist who poses as somebody else to gain her trust, the absent ex who she recently broke up with and a handfull of other small players that are all present in the other book and have just been renamed for this one. That aside it's great though.
July 22, 2023
I was looking forward to reading this after reading ‘Dear Child’ also from the author Romy Hausamann. I intrigued by the premise of the story of Ann daughter of Walter Lesniak, who us accused of being ‘Berlin ‘red ribbon’, murderer. Who killed 10 girls. She knows he is innocence, so she goes above and beyond to clear his name. I was hooked from the start but as I carried on reading and just got confused in the story going back and forth in time. So I lost connecting to it and struggled though the latter of the story 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews