Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Not a lot to commend it


Before reading this book, I knew the author by reputation only, as a well-respected and prize-winning German writer of psychological thrillers. I, therefore, looked forward to being royally entertained. Instead, I thought I had by mistake picked up a script of one of Brian Rix’s Whitehall farces.

Dr Emma Stein is a psychologist which is ironic as she is probably the character most ill-equipped to deal with life’s ups and down of any that can be found in fiction. She has given a paper to a conference and decides to stay at the hotel even though it’s in her hometown. Her husband is away on business so maybe she hopes to take advantage of his absence. Who knows and who cares?

She runs from disaster to disaster and almost seems to invite being take advantage of. It’s nigh on impossible to relate to her (or any of the other characters in the book) as the overwhelming feeling is that she brings all the woes she encounters on herself so there's no need for the reader’s sympathy.

I suppose the book’s one redeeming feature for me was a few laughs courtesy of Emma’s actions and the improbable twists in the plot. It was unrealistic and totally implausible.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing group received a copy of the book to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

Easy quick read, bestseller vibe but perfect for those days when you just want to zone out

“All you’ve done is taken in a parcel for a neighbour”

Okay! It’s time to let me out of this straitjacket, where I have been put to stop me tying myself up in knots any further, biting my nails down to the quick with anxiety, or pulling my hair out with frustration, because I just couldn’t work out what was being done to poor Emma, why and by whom, until the very last minute and only seconds away from the big reveal!

I think I have stated that just about every one of my eleven books read so far this year have been the best, but this one has trumped them all soundly and gone straight to the top of my charts!

I know that a good book should have the ability to take each reader on a totally unique and individual journey, but will someone please tell me where I have been for the last couple of days whilst I have been reading this book, as I’m not at all sure what just happened to me. I only know that I am mentally distraught after fighting Emma’s battles alongside her, willing her to pull through her mind-twisting nightmare; whilst physically exhausted with trying to turn the pages faster and faster, as the tension and danger was ratcheted up again and again.

The multi-layered plot offers no beginning, as Emma’s nightmare had started even before the first page had been opened and the first word read, and certainly long before ‘The Package’ arrives. No middle, as for Emma, her entire life had shifted from one mental health episode to another. No end, for as I closed the final cover and prepared to walk away, Emma is still as locked into her own personal hell as her tormenter, only for Emma there seems to be no way back, as she has seen too many horrific things and done such terrible things, that she can never unsee, undo, or make right!

With total authority and supreme confidence, the author has constructed an infinitely tangled web of lies, deceit, manipulation and control, the likes of which is unfathomable, unbelievable and which for Emma, who is the proverbial fly caught in the trap, has sealed her fate for a lifetime.

Events spiral further and further out of control, making this gipping, gritty and disturbing storyline, which is powerfully yet often unreliably told in Emma’s own voice and from her own rather fractured and disconnected point of view, unconventional, compelling and infinitely more dangerous than anyone could ever have envisaged.

The action is desperately intense, relentless and rich in atmosphere. The story flows along at a cracking pace, has some fast changing dynamics, yet with no break in the tension. The skilled narrative and dialogue is fluid and effortlessly written, although often difficult and upsetting to read, as Emma’s mental health deteriorates and she spirals down into the depths of despair, raising questions about her sanity and capacity to reason things logically, recognise fact from fiction, truth from lies, reality from imagination.

Yes! there are a couple of holes in the storyline, as totally invested as I was. even I could see that. However for the sheer thrill of this edge-of-the-seat, white-knuckle ride, a little implausibility is surely acceptable!

Emma’s mental health issues are unquestioned and unquestionable. Her torment, anguish, pain and daily struggle to survive, are laid bare and in excruciatingly vivid detail, for everyone to see, and I defy anyone not to be moved to despair at witnessing her downward spiralling decline. This made even more devastating by the eventual discovery that almost everything about her life is a lie, which has been contrived and supremely manipulated, with Emma herself, a mere puppet in someone else’s game. If family events from her childhood had been left to run their course, would she still have been quite so vulnerable and fragile as she is now, or could she have grown to lead a fulfilling and completely normal life? Not from any personal experience, only that witnessed as similar events unfolded with a close family member, I felt that the issues related to Emma’s steady mental health decline, were dealt with sympathetically yet with brutal honesty. It isn’t pretty or peaceful for either the victim, who loses all sense of reason and control, or their friends and family, who are powerless to stop the relentless steady breakdown of a loved one.

Given the eventual devastating outcome to this seriously sick and evil debacle, I was left wondering exactly who actually had the most serious mental health issues, Emma or the perpetrator of her downfall, whose depravity seems to have no limits, no remorse and no outwardly visual signs to the lay person of the evil which lurks within. It takes the tenacity and perseverance of an outsider, with a trained eye and an ounce of conscience to question what is happening within the confines of Emma’s troubled mind and thus get inside the sick mind of her tormenter.

All of the other characters are really just so much complex ‘window dressing’ for the main cast, Emma and her nemesis. They are without exception, a bunch of spineless, manipulative wasters, all out to play on Emma’s vulnerability and capitalise on her downfall to further their own ends and cover up their own multifarious crimes and indiscretions. Murder, assault, theft, rape, adultery, abuse of authority, abortion – the list is endless, all crimes committed in Emma’s name, then leaving her to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, alone! Sebastian has done an amazing job of getting me to despise every single one of this disparate bunch and had me screaming at the pages as they individually and collectively coerce Emma, in her ever-declining state of cognizance and vulnerability, to also commit crimes in their names, leaving her to bear the full burden of culpability,

I have previously read books by written by German authors, who have commissioned historian Jamie Bulloch, to translate their books into English. The Package has been treated to Jamie’s usual faultless attention to detail, making it, from a purely technical perspective, a real joy to read.

This thriller is a real tour de force! I found it very compelling and it repeatedly led me astray with red herrings only to double back on itself and do the completely unexpected. As soon as I had finished this book I was eager to chat about it with someone, which I find is always the sign of a successful thriller. I was also very confident that I had guessed the ending but I was completely and utterly incorrect! This book is a very fun yet surreal ride.

Like books that keep you guessing and surprise you? Then you must The Package.
It's an unpredictable and utterly unputdownable read that keeps you in suspense and the edge of your seat right until the end.

The Package had a prologue that gripped me instantly, and I thought the premise was such an original idea. The protagonist is a psychiatrist, married to a chief investigator.

However, a couple chapters in, I noticed that the writing was focusing more on being prose-like than dedicating itself to the plot, which I thought failed to deliver that amount of suspense I was expecting. Nonetheless, this was an interesting read that I think might appeal to other thriller readers more than it did me.

Dr Emma Stein is a psychiatrist and is at a conference where she’s raped by a serial killer known as “The Hairdresser” because he shaves the victims’ heads. Unlike his other victims, all sex workers, he doesn’t kill Emma but leaves her alive. She’s deeply traumatised and turns into a recluse. Her husband, a criminal profiler in the German police, secures their property with locks and gates and she spends her days and nights frightened by every noise or shadow. One day a package is delivered for a neighbour who’s name she doesn’t recognise and so is set in motion a series of events that will bring to conclusion the trauma of her rape and that of her abusive childhood.

Go online and read reviews of The Package by Sebastian Fitzek, one of Germany’s most successful crime novelists, and you will find it divides people. Some love this book, and some hate it. Those that hate it often complain of how unrealistic the plot is. Those who love it, some of them anyway, concede this but say you just have to suspend disbelief.

I’m with the lovers. This is a madcap ride of a book, and absolute page turner of a novel. Is it completely unrealistic? Hell, yes. The plot has so many holes you could drive a truck through. But it becomes apparent quite quickly that the author doesn’t care, he’s not after realism, he’s just looking to entertain his readers, and entertain them he does. This is my first Sebastian Fitzelf novel, I’ve not read him before (though I have another novel of his, Passenger 23, courtesy of NetGalley, and ready to go) so I don’t know if this is usual for him at all. But I loved this book.

Absolutely bonkers and a hell of a read, I recommend this to anyone who can suspend disbelief and just go with the ride.

This book requires commitment, just to keep up with the amount of twists and turns. Though only a handful of characters are present, they all revolve around the main protagonist – Dr Emma Stein. We first meet Emma as a child and these moments are the building blocks for the rest of the book. Emma’s now older, married to Phillipp – a policeman and living in fear for her life. She’s experienced what can only be described as a hideous and life-altering experince, at the hands of ‘The Hairdresser’ a serial killer who she managed to escape from, though she doesnt know how, she has no memory of her time with him, other than the buzz of the clippers as he began to shave her hair.

Emma, now a trained and psychiatrist with her own practise and renowned reputaltion in her chosen field was attacked and found in a bus stop. Since then some six months ago shes been in hospital and is now home but suffering severe paranoia and flashbacks. Her house is now like fort knocks and every little creak is thought to be someone whos got in and is hiding. Its the first time Phillipp has had to go away for work and Emmas been left in the house alone. The local delivery man drops off The Package and that where it all begins.

Who is A. Palandt – she can’t remember a neighbour named that.

Who can she trust, her best friend Sylvie doesn’t believe her and Konrad has become distant. Samson her trusted four legged friend becomes ill and she has to take him to the vet, she’s not left the house for months, can she do this alone? Has she the strength?

Sebastian Fitzek has laid down some serious clues in this book and they are all there, you must need to keep them in mind and even then I think this one is tricky enough to fool most people – go ahead and prove me wrong, I know I thought I had it sussed, nope, wrong again!

To say I was excited when I got my grubby paws on this book is an understatement! Sebastian Fitzek is and will always be 1 of my favourite authors and again he didn't disappoint with this brilliant book!
He is the master of mind games and he keeps you guessing till the end. If you know his books you know to expect twist upon twist but I was still left with my jaw hanging open in the end.
A brilliant story that you don't want to put down and you also don't want to end.
Part of the story is also about the Rosenhan Experiment that is something I find fascinating and that I've been looking into. How reliable is psychiatric prognosis  really?

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the honour to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Now here's a book which won't just confuse you - it will tie you up in knots, and then some!

Emma was attacked and raped in her hotel room by a predator commonly referred to as The Hairdresser, due to his penchant for shaving the head of his victims. She is convinced of this but not everyone believes her, not even her husband. It has left her with understandable fears of everyday life. She has given up her job as a doctor and stays at home where she feels safe and secure in the knowledge that her aggressor won't find her. After all, his previous victims were all murdered. Then she is persuaded to accept a package for a neighbour. She has no idea just how much that one little parcel is going to affect her.

I've never heard of this author before; hardly surprising since he is the number one bestselling author in Germany and I live in Scotland. This is an excellent translation, very readable indeed. Not for the faint-hearted, this book has more changes of direction than anything else I've read. Twists and turns galore, I was pulled one way and then the other and just could not decide which version to believe. This is one novel where you can trust no-one - not a single soul. But what an outcome! I must admit, at one point I wondered if we were ever going to get to the crux of the matter, but I'm glad I stuck with it. This one will play with your mind, and earns 4.5*.

Oh I didn't like this at all. Very gruesome and gory and very strangely written. Much of the novel seemed to be full of unlikely events and the violence was overdone in my mind. Maybe a strange thing to point out but I was disappointed to find out what the package was.

A psychological thriller that keeps you guessing. Every time you think you have a handle on the story, a new surprise in the plot lands.

Emma suffered delusions when she was a child, inventing a friend who helped her deal with the unhappiness caused by a harsh father. As an adult, she is attacked and raped in a hotel room by a serial rapist /killer. But her story is not 100% believed, as she is the only survivor not murdered by this criminal, and the room number she claims she was raped in at the hotel does not exist. Was it real or was it fantasy?
Living as a virtual hermit after these events, a delivery man asks her to receive a package on behalf of a neighbour. This sets off a series of events for Emma, and again we are left wondering if things are real or are they in Emma's mind.
A few holes in the plot that made aspects implausible in my mind, but I'll forgive them because of the gripping tension and plot that keeps you guessing all the way.

The Package is a standalone psychological thriller from Best selling
German Author Sebastian Fitzek.

The story tells of Emma, A Psychologist herself, with a disturbed past. When she takes In a package for a neighbour things begin to unravel as a frightening and taut tale takes shape.

It’s intelligent, really quite clever as Fitzek pens this thriller that really gets into the mind of a troubled soul.

Immersive, fast paced , intense and really very good. It’s not a massive read but one I thoroughly enjoyed and it’s full of twists and turns from a very talented author.

At times I struggle with translated books but never with this one. Great stuff and highly recommended.

Very original and immersive, and I liked the fact it was set in Berlin. I didn't finish because it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be but I could appreciate the imagination and appeal.

This is a fast-paced gothic horror of a novel, full of plot twists and turns.
Doctor Emma Stein is raped in a hotel room that doesn’t exist by a killer known as the hairdresser’ because he shaves his victims’ heads.
But a bizarre series of events including a package delivered for her neighbour is set in motion and every chapter brings a surprise.
And it gradually becomes apparent that Dr Stein’s version of events may not be the true one.
If you like a rollercoaster ride of a thriller full of shifting sands, this is definitely for you.
I prefer more depth of character but have to admire Fitzek’s imagination!

I did enjoy this book, but I didnt enjoy the lack of growth from the main character, and i didn't understand a lot of her decisions. I finished it, but u wouldn't pick it up again