merlejuliane's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jabbeline's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
mandyist's review against another edition
4.0
This review first appeared on Addicted to Media.
Every year an average of 23 passengers disappear from cruise ships without a trace.
This is the first time one has come back.
The problem is that the young girl Anouk is too traumatised to speak despite evidence that something terrible happened during her disappearance.
Martin Schwartz is an undercover detective working in Berlin. Left devastated following the loss of his wife and son on a cruise ship five years earlier, Martin is free to take the more dangerous and seedy cases as required of him by the police force. He has nothing to lose.
Martin never wanted to set foot on board a ship again, nevermind the ship from which his wife and child disappeared but then he receives a phone call he can’t ignore. On board the Sultan of the Seas as it sails to New York, Martin begins to investigate Anouk’s reappearance as well as the strange circumstances surrounding the assumed suicide of his wife and son.
What he uncovers is a web of child abuse and murder, a killer who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on those deemed guilty of the most depraved of crimes. Time is running out for Martin but can he solve the crimes before he is the next to go overboard?
Passenger 23 is a novel by Sebastian Fitzek and the third of his novels to be translated from German into English and dramatised for Audible. Like The Child and Amok, Passenger 23 is narrated by Robert Glenister and features an all-star cast including Max Beesley (Hotel Babylon) as Martin, Anthony Head (Merlin) as ship captain Daniel and Rebecca Hall as Elena.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dramatisation which was brought to audio by Johanna Steiner and was thrilled to recognise Anthony Head’s distinctive voice.
Fans of Sebastian Fitzek will notice certain themes in his writing including child abuse and exploitation, teenagers running riot and bad mothers but even then it has to be said that the storyline in Passenger 23 is dark. From the very first chapter, Martin Schwartz is working to apprehend the very worst criminals in society, people who would take a boy off the streets and return him to those very streets once they’ve made use of him.
While I enjoyed the plot and especially the resolution, it is certainly possible that this book might be too dark for many readers.
Nevertheless, if you can stomach the subject matter, Passenger 23 is fast-paced and fascinating. Taking place almost entirely on board the Sultan of the Seas, this is a claustrophobic and terrifying thriller that will have you listening way into the night.
I give Passenger 23 an excellent four out of five stars and would especially recommend listening to the Audible dramatisation.
Every year an average of 23 passengers disappear from cruise ships without a trace.
This is the first time one has come back.
The problem is that the young girl Anouk is too traumatised to speak despite evidence that something terrible happened during her disappearance.
Martin Schwartz is an undercover detective working in Berlin. Left devastated following the loss of his wife and son on a cruise ship five years earlier, Martin is free to take the more dangerous and seedy cases as required of him by the police force. He has nothing to lose.
Martin never wanted to set foot on board a ship again, nevermind the ship from which his wife and child disappeared but then he receives a phone call he can’t ignore. On board the Sultan of the Seas as it sails to New York, Martin begins to investigate Anouk’s reappearance as well as the strange circumstances surrounding the assumed suicide of his wife and son.
What he uncovers is a web of child abuse and murder, a killer who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on those deemed guilty of the most depraved of crimes. Time is running out for Martin but can he solve the crimes before he is the next to go overboard?
Passenger 23 is a novel by Sebastian Fitzek and the third of his novels to be translated from German into English and dramatised for Audible. Like The Child and Amok, Passenger 23 is narrated by Robert Glenister and features an all-star cast including Max Beesley (Hotel Babylon) as Martin, Anthony Head (Merlin) as ship captain Daniel and Rebecca Hall as Elena.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dramatisation which was brought to audio by Johanna Steiner and was thrilled to recognise Anthony Head’s distinctive voice.
Fans of Sebastian Fitzek will notice certain themes in his writing including child abuse and exploitation, teenagers running riot and bad mothers but even then it has to be said that the storyline in Passenger 23 is dark. From the very first chapter, Martin Schwartz is working to apprehend the very worst criminals in society, people who would take a boy off the streets and return him to those very streets once they’ve made use of him.
While I enjoyed the plot and especially the resolution, it is certainly possible that this book might be too dark for many readers.
Nevertheless, if you can stomach the subject matter, Passenger 23 is fast-paced and fascinating. Taking place almost entirely on board the Sultan of the Seas, this is a claustrophobic and terrifying thriller that will have you listening way into the night.
I give Passenger 23 an excellent four out of five stars and would especially recommend listening to the Audible dramatisation.
kruemelgizmo's review against another edition
3.0
Der verdeckte Ermittler Martin Schwartz, der seit dem Tod seiner Frau und seines Sohnes vor 5 Jahren auf dem Kreuzfahrtschiff "Sultan of the Sea" nur noch ein psychisches Wrack ist und sich für jedes Himmelfahrtskommando meldet, erhält mitten im Einsatz einen Anruf einer seltsamen alten Frau. Sie behauptet Beweise zu haben was seiner Familie damals wirklich zugestoßen ist, dafür müsste er nur zu ihr auf die "Sultan" kommen. Nie wieder wollte er auf ein Schiff und schon gar nicht auf dieses, aber er muss einfach diesem Hinweis nachgehen. Auf dem Schiff erfährt er das ein Mädchen, das vor Wochen mit seiner Mutter verschwunden ist, wieder aufgetaucht ist mit dem Teddy seines Sohnes im Arm.
Dies ist das neuste Werk von Sebastian Fitzek und leider lässt es mich doch ein wenig enttäuscht zurück, denn dieser Psychothriller konnte mich nicht so überzeugen wie seine Vorgänger.
Martin Schwartz, der Hauptprotagonist dieser Geschichte war mir als Charakter zu überzeichnet, zu übertraumatisiert, zu selbstzerstörerisch, bei allem war es mir einfach eine Prise zu viel. Ich konnte zu diesem Charakter keine wirkliche Verbindung aufbauen.
Die Geschichte an sich entwickelt sich spannend und hält auch ein paar Überraschungen parat, aber im weiteren Verlauf und vor allem beim Schluss bekam ich immer mehr das Gefühl dies schon einmal so ähnlich von ihm gelesen zu haben. Da hatte ich einfach was anderes, neues erwartet.
Der Schreibstil selbst konnte mich wie immer für sich einnehmen und so flog ich wie bei Fitzek gewohnt durch die Seiten und damit durch die Geschichte.
Mein Fazit lauetet:
Ein netter Thriller für Zwischendurch, denn leider konnte er mich nicht so überzeugen wie die vorherigen Werke des Autors, als Fan dennoch ein Muß. Wer noch nie einen Fitzek gelesen hat, sollte mit einem anderen Buch von ihm beginnen, denn ich finde es gibt bessere von ihm.
Dies ist das neuste Werk von Sebastian Fitzek und leider lässt es mich doch ein wenig enttäuscht zurück, denn dieser Psychothriller konnte mich nicht so überzeugen wie seine Vorgänger.
Martin Schwartz, der Hauptprotagonist dieser Geschichte war mir als Charakter zu überzeichnet, zu übertraumatisiert, zu selbstzerstörerisch, bei allem war es mir einfach eine Prise zu viel. Ich konnte zu diesem Charakter keine wirkliche Verbindung aufbauen.
Die Geschichte an sich entwickelt sich spannend und hält auch ein paar Überraschungen parat, aber im weiteren Verlauf und vor allem beim Schluss bekam ich immer mehr das Gefühl dies schon einmal so ähnlich von ihm gelesen zu haben. Da hatte ich einfach was anderes, neues erwartet.
Der Schreibstil selbst konnte mich wie immer für sich einnehmen und so flog ich wie bei Fitzek gewohnt durch die Seiten und damit durch die Geschichte.
Mein Fazit lauetet:
Ein netter Thriller für Zwischendurch, denn leider konnte er mich nicht so überzeugen wie die vorherigen Werke des Autors, als Fan dennoch ein Muß. Wer noch nie einen Fitzek gelesen hat, sollte mit einem anderen Buch von ihm beginnen, denn ich finde es gibt bessere von ihm.
king1403's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
lynnha's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
eines der unglaublichsten und verstörendesten Bücher die ich je gelesen habe.
krisreadingcorner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookshelfofhorror's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
carojgh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25