In this book, Anne seeks to prove the innocence of her father who has been arrested as a serial killer.
The book is well-writtern and the author creates an atmosphere of suspense.
This is not an easy-read. I found the different timelines and the sudden changes of narrative hard to follow at times. This spoilt the enjoyment of what is otherwise a good thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of Anatomy of a Killer, a stand-alone set mostly in Berlin in 2017.

When Ann Lesniak’s father, renowned philosopher and anthropologist Walter, is arrested for the murder of nine young children over several years she can’t believe it. Walter refuses to cooperate with the police so Ann decides she will have to prove his innocence herself.

I had a strange reaction to Anatomy of a Killer and I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I haven’t read the author’s work before, so perhaps my reaction is totally normal, but it’s not my usual or what I expected. I loved the novel when I was reading it, but that didn’t give me the urge to read it at all costs or to want to pick it up when I had to put it down.

I should point out that the novel has a format that I don’t particularly like as it switches timelines frequently from the present to the past and sometimes the future, not, I hasten to add, that the future is some kind of time travel thing, it’s an interview with the unnamed killer. It pays to pay attention to the headings for a timeline and for a narrative voice as there is an unidentified creepy voice that hints at nefarious purpose as well as Ann’s present and past narrative and the interviews. It goes without saying that Ann, who drives the novel, is unreliable with her single minded obsession on one man as an alternative to her father being the killer and unhealthy love of her father. And yet, there is a curiosity inducing plot that kept me turning the pages, raising so many questions and a bit of confusion as there isn’t an obvious through line to where it’s going and not offering many answers.

Anatomy of a Killer is a clever novel that constantly keeps the reader off balance. It’s as much about the human mind and the tricks it plays on thinking and belief as it is about who killed 10 little girls and became known as the red ribbon killer. I found it absolutely fascinating, even if it required me to think deeper than I usually do and hurt my brain. I can see why it might not appeal to all readers, but I, personally, found it rewarding and therefore have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

Police in Berlin have been searching for the Ribbon murderer in Berlin. Finally they arrest Walter Lesniak as their main suspect. Walter’s daughter, Ann, tries to clear his name. Will she find that a wrongful arrest has been made?

I liked the premise of this story, finding the overall plot interesting. The chapters, told in different narratives, seem to change quite suddenly, with a lot of different focus points, which did add some confusion while reading. The writing style definitely adds a creepy element to the overall story and creates a dark, suspenseful atmosphere. The ending wasn’t what I expected and a little different! This was definitely not a bad book but I found myself not completely invested in the story, partly due to it taking a while to make sense. I would like to go back to the start and see if there are bits that I missed! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy I’m return for an honest review.

The first thought I have with finishing this book is that there is too much going on and too many threads. This detracts from the story and makes finishing the book more of a chore rather than wanting to find out who the killer was.
Ann’s world falls apart when her father is arrested on suspicion of being the “red ribbon serial killer” responsible for abducting and killing 10 young girls, so the girls can be found he leaves a red ribbon tied to a nearby fixture. Ann cannot believe her kind, gentle, loving father could be capable of this and sets out to find the real killer.
Like I mentioned there is a lot going on in this book. Several different narratives, many different time frames and lots of characters. All together it, for me, detracted as apposed to adding to the story. Of course it all comes together at the end but by that stage it’s like….who cares.

#AnatomyOfAKiller. #NetGalley

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading Dear Child. I am sorry to say that this mish mash is nothing like it. The premise sounded so good but I hated the main character Alice, spoilt, condescending and never wrong. The story was so repetitive and bloody confusing. If Alice really wanted to prove her father's innocence she would have tried a lot harder. Instead she just zeroed in on one man until he was proven innocent then picked another target. The only good thing about this book was the real killer and in my opinion would have made a better story. My advice is to give this book a wide berth as all I got was a pounding headache. I will not be posting a review.

Berlin 2017 and young girls are disappearing over the last 14 years, they are found dead by the killer leaving red ribbons showing where the body is.
The main character in the book Ann is shocked when her father is arrested on suspicion of being the killer of the girls and what follows is the story of Ann… her disbelief that her father is guilty and her determination to prove his innocence and find the real killer.
This for me was a hard read there is a lot going on the book and at the beginning I found it difficult to follow but about halfway through it felt like someone had lifted the confusion and things started to fall into place or so I thought …clever stuff !
I love books that are different and this one really was I had many theories but non were right and this for me is what made this such a good read.
So a book that as I say isn’t easy but it sure kept me gripped, this is my third book by this author and I have loved them all so I look forward to the next.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A daughter'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.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I wont lie, I really struggled with this book. It was very underwhelming and didn't grip me at all. I love thrillers and crime fiction but this just fell flat for me for some reason.

3/5 stars for this book⭐️⭐️⭐️

this book was such a whirlwind and there were just so many twists and turns i didn’t expect! i had thought that ann was the killer all along - for me to be super duper wrong😂 the plot was pretty interesting and i didn’t expect it to go that way - it was super intense!

i really enjoyed the second latter of the book because things were making sense and i wasn’t confused! honestly it took me a while to get into the book because the way the book was formatted was so confusing and there was really weird spaces and gaps (though this might just be my copy) so it felt super disjointed and it didn’t help with me trying to get into the plot. also sometimes sentences didn’t make sense or flow well - this could be because this is a translation of the book.

anyway for my first thriller novel, this was fun to read and i hope to read more in the future!

What is it about this book? I keep forgetting it. And I do not know why. I should like it. It has all the ingredients of a well made, creepy, keeper up’er, but it leaves me feeling a bit “meh”. I will definitely read the authors next book, and I will recommend this book for readers who is shopping for a serial killer mystery with a fresh perspective and a good read. But for me it did not hit all the way home.

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

#AnatomyOfAKiller #NetGalley
Must read.
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
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for giving me an advance copy.

After a thirteen year manhunt for the Berlin “Ribbon“ murderer, the police arrest a 55-year-old man. Ann’s beloved, father, Walter Lesniak, a well-known philosophy professor is the prime suspect. Ann is on autopilot but determined to prove that he is not the evil killer and that the police have made a terrible mistake. The story is told in three narratives, but principally by Ann.

After a dramatic opening, I go through a brief period of some confusion with the changing narratives and then something seems to click as I realise I’m glued to the storyline! Ann’s early memories are infused with present day events and some of these are very poignant as she tries to detect the truth. It’s inevitably emotional, it goes into some very dark corners after all, and I think the author does a good job at presenting Ann’s perspective. Her feelings, her pain, despair, the confusion and so on are all very well described and she has so much riding on her quest that I can’t help but admire her persistence and I do root for her, even if she doesn’t always do the right thing.

I like the three changing narratives too, as it builds intrigue as well as having a mind full of questions. They also create tension and several suspenseful scenes, this is especially true of the killer’s narrative which is bone chilling. A particularly good element is the progression of Ann’s thoughts as she gets older. It becomes clear through the narratives and present day events that things simply don’t add up and so the mystery deepens and deepens. It becomes a rollercoaster of a story that takes numerous twists and turns. As for the ending, there are parts I like but others less so but it does all make sense and I appreciate the authors afterwords.

I’d like to give a shout out for the translator who does an excellent job as parts of it, especially Ann’s early voice must have been a challenge.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The books has to many narratives that is difficult to keep up with them. The style of writing is poor and reading was tiring.

A Gripping Read and a Lovely Story

Berlin, 2017 Ann's father is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of several girls over a fourteen-year period. Ann refusing to accept her father's alleged guilt and sets out on a journey to prove his innocence. The book draws you in to Ann’s story and how a daughter does not want to believe in the smallest doubt that her father is guilty of these heinous crime against children.
Anatomy of a Killer is a beautifully written book and told through three people. One is in Walter Lesniak after the arrest on the suspicion of the murders in the presence of his daughter, Ann. Second is Ann who is convinced her father is innocent, and the third is a reporter named Jakob who is a friend of Anns and is granted the interview to draft his story to become a book.
Although there are three different people the author Romy Hausmann has captured their story’s and weave's them together beautifully. The book is written with the feelings of raw emotions told through Ann as she tries to prove her father's innocents. Walter’s story is deceptive as he denies everything. Jakob just wants the truth.
Along her journey Ann hears increased reasons why people believe her father is guilty. The book lets the readers realise life is a lottery and you do not choose your family and you do not have complete control over your lives, but you have the choice to choose your path and how we each have the choose how to treat each other.
A gripping read and a lovely story based on Ann’s emotions as the story unfolds and how she deals with her feelings of being the daughter of a serial killer. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is not for me, I realised this once I started I made it to around 20% and just couldn’t get into it. It is a me thing and not the writing the writing is actually very good I really like this author. Instead of reading and not enjoying it I will be rating this 5 stars for fairness!!

This book felt disjointed due to the multiple narratives. I kept trying to keep up with it but soon lost interest. It was disappointing because I have really enjoyed previous books by this author.

Romy Hausmann is best known for Dear Child, which I haven't read. I enjoyed Romy Haussmann's Sleepless, so was looking forwards to this.

An unusual angle on a serial k*ller mystery thriller.

Ann's father is arrested for multiple child m*rders, she In convinced of his innocence and determined to find the evidence to clear his name. What happens the crimes don't stop even though the main suspect is behind bars?

I like different angles and unusual characters. There are quite a few named characters and aside from Ann I didn't especially connect with them. The presentation didn't really help the flow, whole pages of text without paragraph breaks.

It's reasonably interesting, but the pivotal question of her father's guilt or innocence wasn't really enough to carry the story for me.

I was hoping for more for more but it kept me reading, I'll happily admit I may have missed something as I didn't find it the easiest book to follow.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books

Since her first book, I have been a huge fan of Romy Haussmann. As soon as I saw she had wrote a new book, I just had to read it. And it did not disappoint. Right from the start, I was hooked and to finish it as quickly as possible. There were so many twists and turns I had no idea who the killer was. And was definitely surprised by how it ended. If you like a thriller that will keep you on your toes, then this book is definitely worth reading. I also recommend her other two books as well.