Fear audiobook

Fear by Dirk Kurbjuweit is for anyone who has ever had a nightmare neighbour. Admit it, we’ve all had one! I can still remember how I went out of my way to avoid a certain neighbour who lived in the flat beneath me. I still shudder at her annoying habits. She used to bang on the ceiling at the slightest noise and whine at me. I can’t say this particular situation ever escalated to murder though.Fear traces the impact of Dieter Tiberius on one family. It is inspired by events that actually took place and this shows. The scenario feels very authentic. One middle aged man becomes a nightmare problem for a family. We find out that a man in his seventies is behind bars for his murder. What drove him to kill?Randolph is in his forties, an unhappily married professional with two children. It is his father that has been convicted of murder. He recounts the tale of buying a flat and moving in. He encounters Dieter, a new neighbour. A man described as fat and lazy. Yes, he makes an impression straight away. The relationship between Dieter and the family starts quite well, with gifts left. A love letter is then found on the mat, addressed to the wife, Rebecca, which sparks bad feelings. Bizarre accusations of child sexual abuse are made. Events escalate, as Dieter continues to act strangely and inappropriately. The police don’t seem to be taking the family’s concerns seriously. At what point does the family crack and decide to take matters into their own hands? What makes a nice middle class German family kill?Oooo I really loved this one. It hit a nerve with me. I could completely empathise with the poor family demonised by their neighbour. Dieter seems twisted and in turmoil about his childhood. He is a survivor of abuse. He seems to be projecting what he went through onto Randolph and Rebecca. With the law seemingly useless in a situation of increasing intimidation and threats, it really is no wonder that the family feel isolated and fearful. There seems to be no anwers from the law about how to proceed. Anyone in their position would move house as soon as they could. I would.Dark, highly emotive and intensely sad. I couldn’t help but feel that the family and Dieter should have had some kind of professional intervention. Someone should have seen the warning signs. No one should have to live with neighbours from hell. Highly recommended.

What would you do to protect your family if the law failed to? This thriller based on Dirk Kurbjuweit’s real-life experience of his family being stalked by a neighbour is tense to its very core. It’s an intelligent page-turner but also an exploration of a marriage, family life and an intense father-son relationship. I loved it.

"I had always believed my father capable of a massacre. Whenever I heard on the news that there had been a killing spree, I would hold my breath, unable to relax until it was clear that it couldn't have been him." (Wording may not appear the same in final published edition).Randolph Tiefenthaler grew up with a father who had an extensive gun collection. Not only were the guns loaded but Randolph’s father had a bit of a temper. Randolph always had a fear that one night his father would come upstairs and kill him and/or his brother. Randolph is an adult now with a wife and children when his father is arrested for murder. It all started when Randolph moved his family to a new building where Dieter Tiberius is living in the basement apartment. Dieter is an odd character who turns into a menacing one when he starts to stalk Randolph and his family and accuses the parents of sexually abusing their children.This is an excellent psychological thriller with deep insight into family bonds and the fears implanted in us as children that we continue to live with throughout our adult life. I’ve seen other reviews saying the author lectures about issues but I thought the whole book was fascinating. I hung on every word and loved the buildup of suspense. No one seemed to be able to help this family – not their lawyer, not the police and not children’s services. At times I thought, just move away, but they hadn’t done anything wrong to lose their home, but since it involved children, I would have been out of there. Regardless, I was quite impressed by this author. Apparently, the book is loosely based on the author’s own experience with a stalker so he had firsthand knowledge of what this type of situation can do to a person.The author is from Germany and he has written 8 novels, many of which, including this book, have been adapted for film, television and radio in Germany. “Fear” is the first to be translated into English. I’ll be keeping an eye out for any others that will be translated in the future for sure.I don’t usually give thrillers 5 star reviews as I reserve 5 stars for books that really have a profound impact on me. But in a way I think the book did have a profound impact on me as I’m still thinking about it though I’m writing this review weeks after reading the book. This story showing how quickly our immediate world can become one that’s horribly distressful fills my thoughts throughout the days. If you’re looking for a thriller with psychological insight, I highly recommend this one.This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

This is not only a quick, fast-paced read, but it's one that gets under the skin of the reader as we are thrust into a complicated and multi-layered plot. I devoured this one in one sitting, not because it's rather short, but because I couldn't put it down. The first chapter is addicting and confusing enough to make you devour the pages and really open your mind up to these amazing and complicated characters and the devilish things they do.FEAR doesn't hold back on the creep-factor as we witness enough acts and scenes that do not hold back on their wickedness and the scare tactics in this one are enough to chill you on the hottest summer day. Kurbjuweit not only builds characters that we grow to love and hate, but they are imperfect, honest, and grippingly real. The family in this one is one that you really feel for as you get an inside look into how this antagonist is an evil genius and really toys with the family and these scenes are chilling, terrifying, and will ensure the reader is constantly checking for the evils that lurk in the shadows.This read is one I will definitely recommend to any crime fiction fan. Part domestic drama, part character study, and part brilliantly thrilling, I couldn't get enough and thoroughly enjoyed these characters that this plot all the way to the jaw-dropping finale that I never saw coming.

A really quite terrifying stalker story - and the lengths you might go to if the law can't or won't help. Beautifully written and immersive. Full review nearer to July publication.

Koks jausmas yra augti nesaugioje aplinkoje? O koks jausmas yra kai suaugę žmonės gyvena savo namuose ir jaučiasi įbauginti? Ir dieną, ir naktį. Ir kai bandydami užtikrinti tą saugumo jausmą vaikams, jaučiasi tarsi jų rankos būtų surištos, o net įvairios institucijos nepadeda kovoje. Nes niekas fiziškai nesužeistas. Nuolatinė įtampa netraktuojama kaip įstatymo pažeidimas.Architektas Tyfentaleris gyvena gana ramų gyvenimą su savo žmona ir vaikais, kol neatsikrausto į naują namą, kur pusrusyje po jų butu gyvena keistokas senukas. Kaimynas vardu Tiberijus netrunka pradėti keistai elgtis – siunčia architekto žmonai meilės laiškus, nešti pyragus, maltis po langais ir slapta stebėti… Tyfentaleris pradeda jaustis nesaugiai savo paties namuose, o visai netrukus situacija pablogėja – kaimynas pradeda siuntinėti grasinančius laiškus, neva jie su žmona seksualiai tvirkina savo vaikus. Atrodytų normali šeima pradeda kovą – kreipiasi į visas įmanomas institucijas prašydami pagalbos… tačiau pagalbos iš niekur nesulaukia… o ir šeima turi labai nemažai problemų – vyras vengia žmonos, žmona isterikuoja…Jau ne kartą esu kalbėjusi apie tai, jog tam tikros istorijos yra linkusios kartotis. Jei vaikystę praleidai apsuptas nesaugumo, tėvai tavęs nesuprato – itin tikėtina, kad vėliau gyvenime vėl atsidursi situacijose, kuomet abejosi viskuo ir visais. Bus tam pagrindas, ar jo nė nebus.Šis romanas yra apie tai – apie baimę, kai augi namuose, o tavo tėvas kaupia ginklų kolekciją ir vaikus kone prievarta verčia eiti į šaudyklą ir mokytis šaudyti. Kai gyveni ramų gyvenimą, tačiau jį trikdo svetimas žmogus. Baimė, paranoja, moralė, žmogaus teisės, šeimos santykiai, įstatymų spragos, ir tiesiog ribos, kurias arba peržengi, arba ne. Visa tai yra šioje knygoje.“Namai man buvo vieta, kur gali būti nušautas”Pagrindinis knygos veikėjas man nuo pat pradžių neatrodė patikimas ar nuoširdus. Jis nebuvo empatiškas, nuolat gyrėsi, pasakojo apie savo skaudžias praeitis per tokią… net nežinau kaip įvardinti, ironijos prizmę, ir kartais viską patiekdamas net gana sarkastiškai. O kai žmogus kalba apie skaudžius ir sudėtingus dalykus nuolat ką pašiepdamas, juo patikėti darosi vis sunkiau.Pasiėmusi šią knygą nemaniau, jog ji man sukels tiek minčių, kiek sukėlė. O tai man patiko. Netikėta pabaiga, nors… aš nenumaniau, o gal tik save įtikinėjau, kad yra kitaip.Ir man ko gero labiausiai patikusi mintis visoje knygoje:“Nebeklausinėjo: kas tau? Nieko. Toks atsakymas yra baisiausias iš visų, jį reikėtų uždrausti ir draudimą įštvirtinti vedybų sutartyje, nes toks atsakymas beveik niekada nebūna teisingas ir verčia kitus jaustis bejėgiškai.”Knyga sunkaus kalibro. Trileris? Detektyvas? Šeimos drama? Gal, drįsčiau teigti – viskas viename. Patiks, kam patinka painesnės ir intelektualesnės istorijos.Susitikime instagrame:www.instagram.com/gretabrigita.ltVisas apžvalgas rasite čia:www.gretabrigita.lt

‘Fear shifts our moral codes. It makes us sympathetic to violent revenge, accessories to murder. Do we want the victim to survive? No, we don’t. Long after I had put this book down I still didn’t. A great achievement.’Herman Koch‘Dirk Kurbjuweit exposes the evil lurking just below the surface of civilised life.’Stern‘A subtle and engrossing psychological thriller that gives an intelligent, carefully considered response to thequestion of how much our liberal values are worth when we feel our lives are threatened.’Brigitte‘High-voltage and multi-layered.’Frankfurter Neue Presse‘Fear forces us to see just how thin the delicate veneer of civilisation really is, and thus confirms it: any one of us can become a murderer.’Der Tagesspiegel‘Gripping, suspenseful and unbelievably dark…As a thriller, Fear more than holds its own against the competition. It reminds one of Dutch author Herman Koch’s bestselling novels, and not only because of the moral question—How far will you go to protect your family?—at the heart of the story.’Welt‘Flawlessly translated from German by Imogen Taylor…a gripping and thought-provoking read.’BookMooch‘This is a murder story, a psychological thriller, and something more.’ArtsHub‘Fear is a smart, psychologically complex and morally acute fable of modern German society decked out in the garb of an intricate thriller…This is a wry, complex, at times disturbing survey of middle-class German life in the decades since the end of World War II.’Sydney Morning Herald‘This psychologically acute novel examines the stresses parents feel when family members are under serious threat. Some readers might even cheer Randolph’s dad.’New Zealand Listener‘Kurbjuweit delivers an urban thriller and ethical minefield…[He] effectively builds the tension, while throwing barbs at classist attitudes that might be fuelling some of Randolph’s reactions. Though he never comes out and asks the question, this definitely will have readers thinking about the lengths they might go to in a similar situation.’Pile by the Bed‘An indelible examination of middle-class values, relationships, masculinity, identity, violence, history and fear that comes full circle to a conclusion as shocking as it is logical. A finely crafted and disturbing psychological thriller.’Newtown Review of Books‘An effective thriller…Though he never comes out and asks the question, this definitely will have the readers thinking about the lengths they might go to in a similar situation. And facing the realisation that no matter how strange Randolph’s upbringing that their reaction (if not their ultimate response) might be exactly the same.’PS News‘A compelling tale of perception and threat that reveals dark thoughts and a ripper twist.’Townsville Eye‘An exploration of maleness, beliefs and aggression.’Otago Daily Times‘I loved it. Such great writing, evoking a domestic landscape as creepy as the man in the basement downstairs. Cool in every sense of the word. Dirk conjures up such unsettling images - the woman at home trotting around in her Gucci high-heels with a husband who can't bear the sound of her voice - the scenes of Randolph eating alone in fancy restaurants—all so rich and claustrophobic—an unsettling tale of merciless self-scrutiny. Loved its honesty.’Renee Knight‘Its layers of paranoia and memories are brilliantly done to play on every parents' deepest fears—including mine’Fiona Barton‘A sophisticated psychological thriller.’SA Weekend

Fear is written by German Author Dirk Kurbjuweit and is loosely based on his own personal experience of being stalked by a neighbour, which makes this story all the more chilling. The protagonist Randolph narrates the entire story beginning with the fact his elderly father has just shot and killed Randolph’s neighbour.“Fear” then takes us on a journey through Randolph’s childhood and strained relationship with his father throughout his life, often over examining his memories and recollections and making the reader question Randolph’s version of his childhood. Fear has been translated into English and therefore the language and prose makes the reader work that little bit harder, but nevertheless this is a chilling and terrifying account of being stalked in your own home and trying to protect your wife and young family when the authorities can’t help.An uncomfortable, claustrophobic story that will send shivers down your spine and make you think how far you would go to protect the ones you love.

What an interesting & different style book! Based loosely on something that happened to the author it tells the tale of a unique family dynamic & childhood. But it also tells a creepy story of a sadistic neighbor. I literally had a gasp moment at one point & thoroughly enjoyed this read! Thanks to Orion books for a very early copy from across the pond in exchange for review.

Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.This was such a gripping thriller and a really unique read. The book made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable – partly because the story is somewhat based on the authors own experiences, and also because it was so believable, it could so easily happen to you or someone you know.The book is a really interesting look at the family dynamic and the effect that a difficult situation can have on that. Randolph starts to wonder whether his wife could possibly commit the acts that their neighbour accuses them off, and she thinks the same of him. Fear really hits the nail on the head with the psychology behind such an event.One of the things I found really interesting was the ambiguous nature of the murder. Normally with crime thrillers you feel sorry for the victim and condemn the murderer for their horrific act, but it was much more ambiguous. Was the murder justified? Was the victim at fault? These were questions I kept thinking about long after I’d finished reading.The book was well written in a tense, exciting style. The short chapters kept the reader hanging on and itching to know more. The book is tense and enthralling, all the more so because this is every new homeowner’s worst nightmare. I really enjoyed the way that the Fear was written in quite a personal style, making the story seem much more like a realistic account.Fear is divided up into chapters which explores the nightmare the family experience at the hands of the downstairs neighbour, as well as a look at Randolph’s childhood, growing up around his father – a devout gun enthusiast. The book puts forth some really interesting ideas about the effects such things can have on a child.Fear is almost certainly set to be one of 2018’s hottest thrillers, so what are you waiting for?

I loved this book. It posed such fascinating questions about our lives as "civilized" beings. We are insulated from scrounging for our survival and from hand to hand combat and yet our existences are dependent upon having reputations as law abiding citizens. When an allegation is made against any one of us, we are thought to be responsible in some way or the allegation would never have been made. The concepts of pacificism and courage are examined and challenged, as well as the very nature of truth. To what lengths would any of us go to protect our families? We like to think we will rely upon the police and the rule of law to protect us, but in some cases, the law may fail us.To what degree does a person's past trauma excuse their actions?I liked some of the wording and remember some of it."A father is always a good place to look for a demon."

FEAR is a tremendous novel where tension is continually ratcheted up and psychological insights are delivered like sucker punches which function in the same way as killer plot twists: changing how we view and/or feel about what has come before with just a few exquisitely chosen words. There is an elegance to the prose, together with deft philosophical underpinnings, such that I was in mind of Bernhard Schlink and Herman Koch (who, along with Lionel Shriver, is one of the authors quoted on the book’s jacket as also having loved FEAR). One of the central arguments here is that our fears aren’t just based on what *is* happening, but what we think is happening - or indeed, what may or may not happen next. What’s interesting here is that this proves as true for the stalker as the family he is stalking. I don’t wish to trade in spoilers, but suffice it to say - although we don’t ever enter the stalker’s POV - certain of his actions and letters he writes clearly suggest he is operating from a position of fear as well. In my reading experience it tends to be women who are the victims of stalkers and so it was very interesting to see the situation from the POV of a male narrator. Randolph is an architect born and raised in Berlin. He’s a clever, sometimes smug, middle class European pacifist who likens the escalation in unwanted attention his family is receiving to an emotional arms race. As well as the problem of the stalker in the basement, Randolph is afraid of what all of this, and his responses to it, say about his masculinity, his ability to look after his wife and children. On top of these fears, other terrible ones insinuate themselves into his mind - as well as the minds of other characters - but again, no spoilers. The point is that what’s going on between the stalker and stalkee is an intense relationship which spills out everywhere until all other relationships are infected. There are plenty of phrases here that will stay with me for a long time to come, such as the stalker being referred to as ‘the lodger in my head’. Throughout the novel, Randolph is frequently to be found opening bottles of a lovingly described wine called Black Print. Intrigued, I have been trying to find a stockist here in the UK. Sadly, not easy. But my guess is that as the FEAR spreads through the UK in the weeks and months to come, there will soon be several stockists.I read elsewhere that Herr Kurbjuweit has published several other novels, many of which have been adapted for telly in Germany. I very much hope more of his work will be available in translation here soon, and that the TV adaptations are on our screens here before too long.With thanks to the publisher for letting me see an advance copy of FEAR in exchange for a review.

Randolph Tiefenthaler is a successful Berlin based architect. With his wife Rebecca and their two kids, they just moved into the stylish old houses of the German capital where they have find the seemingly perfect home. Yet, it doesn’t take too long until the neighbour from the basement, Dieter Tiberius, becomes more and more awkward and strange. He writes love letters to Rebecca, which is just annoying, but then he accuses her of child abuse and repeatedly calls the police to check on them. Randolph gets a lawyer, he contacts the youth welfare service, but there is nothing he can do to protect his family from the crazy man in the basement. The fear that he might attack his wife or hurt the children grows and with it the marriage become increasingly fragile. There nerves are on the edge until the day they cannot support it anymore and they need to help themselves to protect the family.Dirk Kurbjuweit plays with the family idyll which is threatened in the core: the home. The loving father who has built the perfect life for himself and his wife, becomes suddenly incapable of action. He cannot protect his beloved, there is a danger close at hand that he cannot control and sees himself exposed defencelessly. The pressure which is on Randolph and Rebecca is palpable and you as a reader also feel the growing impression of being helpless, powerless and most of all vulnerable.Even though from the start it is clear what the outcome of all will be, the thriller is full of suspense and the development of the plot gives you the creeps. Kurbjuweit has a very lively style of writing and making Randolph the narrator underlines the feeling of being a part of the story and makes it easy to sympathise with him and to commiserate with him.

This German book translated to English deals with a narrator whose rhythm is different than what the normal thriller reader will be used to. Saying this, it also brings something new to the table which will give readers something new to gnaw their teeth on. The main plot deals with a man who is desperate to protect his family when he has no one else to turn to as the police and the court system proves to be no help. The story is very enriched with questions and social dilemmas that will test your views on child abuse, gun control, protection of property and family, etc. This is a very interesting and as there are different sensibilities due to the country of origin of the novel being Germany, this gives the novel a lot of food for thought. The narrator is Randolph is trying to protect his family and he comes across as an unreliable narrator as you are seeing things from his point of view but not given a total 360 degree narrative. This lends itself for the reader to be placed into his shoes and look at the situation from his view point. This is a gripping read and one that would very much enhance any reading group as there is enough found within the pages to start very interesting discussions. The writer really has a grip and is able to give enough background information to really immerse yourself into the story. This is an excellent read and one that will haunt you days and even weeks afterwards. This is a mandatory must read.

This German thriller is set in Berlin. It’s narrated by architect Randolph, who tells the story of how he, his wife and two children, were persecuted by their disturbed downstairs neighbour, Dieter Tiberius. The book begins with Randolph visiting his father in prison, and a description of how his father shot Tiberius in the head and was found guilty of manslaughter. Randolph then goes back to explain how Tiberius pursued his wife, and accused them both of abusing their children. But this isn’t only about a stalker – it’s also an examination of family dynamics, the pressure of society on ideas of masculinity, and how the presence of fear can sometimes result in positive as well as negative outcomes. Randolph describes his childhood, with his distant father who stockpiled a collection of guns; and dissects his marriage to the beautiful and intelligent Rebecca, who he was drifting away from before the threat of Tiberius brought them back together. The prologue explains how it was inspired by a real event from Kurbjuweit’s life. This is a superior crime novel, with philosophy and ethics at its heart, as it asks if it’s ever really justifiable to kill someone in cold blood.