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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
*** Review is now live on my blog! ***
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Books for providing me with an ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
This wasn’t a bad book itself and I didn’t see the twist at the end of the book coming either. I enjoyed how it went on to explain how life after the stalking incident and twist is like and as mentioned, shows how much fear can affect you even when the threat of the fear has disappeared. I just didn’t enjoy the way this was written and how much backstory was involved which I didn’t feel was necessary. As this was a translation from the original language of German, maybe some of the flow of the main plot and back story was lost? Or maybe that’s how the Author intended it to be, who knows? Either way, the writing wasn’t for me, but I did enjoy the actual storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Books for providing me with an ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
This wasn’t a bad book itself and I didn’t see the twist at the end of the book coming either. I enjoyed how it went on to explain how life after the stalking incident and twist is like and as mentioned, shows how much fear can affect you even when the threat of the fear has disappeared. I just didn’t enjoy the way this was written and how much backstory was involved which I didn’t feel was necessary. As this was a translation from the original language of German, maybe some of the flow of the main plot and back story was lost? Or maybe that’s how the Author intended it to be, who knows? Either way, the writing wasn’t for me, but I did enjoy the actual storyline.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have no idea why I persisted with this book. It is painfully slow. The main character is narcissistic and sexist. The plot is simple but dragged out until it's ready to snap. There are futile tangents everywhere. The actual story could be written in 50 pages or less and the writer makes you feel nothing but annoyance at wasting personal time on this stack of nothing. Avoid.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, War
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
This is the kind of book that creeps up on you. Everything happens at the backdrop of what is being said. The entire time, I had the same feeling I get when cicadas ring at a distance in an open field. Eerie.
‘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
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
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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.
Where should I begin? Perhaps with how I was sure that Fear would suck me in and drag me along to terrifying lengths of psychological horrors. Perhaps with how I expected to be met with fast paced interactions and nail-biting suspense. But, unfortunately, I cannot say such things, because instead, I was met with a seemingly never-ending slump through a middle-aged man's mind. How he felt about his beautiful wife, the kids he built Lego with and the Michelin star meals he ate. It truly failed in thrilling me — even in the tiniest ways possible.
From the get go, I anticipated murder, sinister characters, bribes and difficult positions. Instead, what I got was the chance to wade through the inner thoughts of a middle-class architect with serious daddy issues. The stalker was not terrifying or intrusive. He wasn't much of a stalker, either, if I'm honest. (Unless you take into account the one time he buzzed the gate open for the protagonists wife.) The poems he left, sure they were disgusting in nature, but that didn't make the character frightening like a real stalker ought to be. Dieter Tiberius was truly nothing but a lazy slob addicted to old movies and flushing his toilet.
As for the conclusion, I can say that it really should have ended with Randolph's big revelation — which, if you have read Fear already, should know what I'm talking about because it's literally the only interesting thing that occurs. The following chapters were notoriously unnecessary.
Though, credit given where credit due, Fear did tackle some serious social issues, in it's own way, but did it have to do it in such an uninteresting fashion? The eventless chapters combined with the less-than-appealing writing style made me sure I'd give up on it, that I'd put it down and forget all about the tedious lives of the Tiefenhaler's, but instead I persevered, though that was simply due to my hatred of being defeated.
Perhaps others, those with more of a likening to semi-autobiographies, will enjoy this in a way I very much did not.
From the get go, I anticipated murder, sinister characters, bribes and difficult positions. Instead, what I got was the chance to wade through the inner thoughts of a middle-class architect with serious daddy issues. The stalker was not terrifying or intrusive. He wasn't much of a stalker, either, if I'm honest. (Unless you take into account the one time he buzzed the gate open for the protagonists wife.) The poems he left, sure they were disgusting in nature, but that didn't make the character frightening like a real stalker ought to be. Dieter Tiberius was truly nothing but a lazy slob addicted to old movies and flushing his toilet.
As for the conclusion, I can say that it really should have ended with Randolph's big revelation — which, if you have read Fear already, should know what I'm talking about because it's literally the only interesting thing that occurs. The following chapters were notoriously unnecessary.
Though, credit given where credit due, Fear did tackle some serious social issues, in it's own way, but did it have to do it in such an uninteresting fashion? The eventless chapters combined with the less-than-appealing writing style made me sure I'd give up on it, that I'd put it down and forget all about the tedious lives of the Tiefenhaler's, but instead I persevered, though that was simply due to my hatred of being defeated.
Perhaps others, those with more of a likening to semi-autobiographies, will enjoy this in a way I very much did not.
Randolph and his family move into a new flat. A man called Dieter Tiberius lives in the basement flat below them and becomes fixated on Randolph’s wife and children. He sends them letters saying that they were sexually abusing their children. They try everything they can to reason with him but nothing works, they even seek legal advice and go to the police but nothing helps. What more can Randolph do to protect his family?
The is the second book I’ve read within a month expecting a tense psychological thriller that turns out to be something different.
I had high hopes when it opened with his father in jail. Why was he in jail? Well you find that out pretty quickly, (I don’t want to spoil it for you) then it goes back in time and you basically get Randolph’s life history, as it documents his relationship with his father, then later his wife and brother.
It does go backwards and forwards between the past and the time they are being terrorised by Dieter but with all the back and forth I felt it lost a lot of the tension.
Then there was our narrator, Randolph. I found it really hard to relate to him, not just because he’s a man but I also found him condescending, selfish with a tendency to waffle on a bit. Okay it is horrible to be accused of any crime, especially if you’re innocent, but I kept thinking to myself why don’t you just move?
Overall not my style but if you’re a fan of character driven plots focusing on family relationships then it might be for you.
The is the second book I’ve read within a month expecting a tense psychological thriller that turns out to be something different.
I had high hopes when it opened with his father in jail. Why was he in jail? Well you find that out pretty quickly, (I don’t want to spoil it for you) then it goes back in time and you basically get Randolph’s life history, as it documents his relationship with his father, then later his wife and brother.
It does go backwards and forwards between the past and the time they are being terrorised by Dieter but with all the back and forth I felt it lost a lot of the tension.
Then there was our narrator, Randolph. I found it really hard to relate to him, not just because he’s a man but I also found him condescending, selfish with a tendency to waffle on a bit. Okay it is horrible to be accused of any crime, especially if you’re innocent, but I kept thinking to myself why don’t you just move?
Overall not my style but if you’re a fan of character driven plots focusing on family relationships then it might be for you.
Fear is written extremely well. It is written from the point of view of Randolph, who moves into a flat with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children. Not long after moving in, Rebecca begins to receive “love letters” and poems from Dieter, who lives in the flat below. These letters then progress to make serious allegations against Randolph and Rebecca, who obviously feel threatened and unsafe.
The book jumps between this current turmoil and exploring Randolph’s childhood and relationship with his father, and later his relationship with his wife.
Fear held so much promise and, during the first half of the book, I could really feel the tension building and was expecting some hugely fearful act from Dieter. However, it never really got going for me. I felt there was so much more that could have been given.
The translation is excellent, and I do think this book could have had so much more potential. The writing is, however, exceptional and the fact that Fear is based on a true story makes it even more disturbing.
Thank you to Orion Publishing for a review copy of this book.
The book jumps between this current turmoil and exploring Randolph’s childhood and relationship with his father, and later his relationship with his wife.
Fear held so much promise and, during the first half of the book, I could really feel the tension building and was expecting some hugely fearful act from Dieter. However, it never really got going for me. I felt there was so much more that could have been given.
The translation is excellent, and I do think this book could have had so much more potential. The writing is, however, exceptional and the fact that Fear is based on a true story makes it even more disturbing.
Thank you to Orion Publishing for a review copy of this book.