A disturbing novel set in Berlin in the recent past, where a seemingly straightforward crime is gradually revealed as having complex roots on both the victim’s and the criminal’s sides. The story is related by the son of a man convicted of manslaughter, but rather than being a simple account of events, he delves into his own psyche and relationships with his family, especially his father. Randolph and his wife Rebecca are unexpectedly and seemingly without reason, accused of abusing their children by their downstairs neighbour Dieter Tiberius, which leads to the involvement of the police and social services, with the pair of them receiving no help from either of the services. As a child, Randolph’s pacifism was a source of disagreement with his father who enjoyed shooting and this pacifism also stains Randolph’s relationship with his younger brother and inhibits his response to Dieter. Randolph fears for his and his wife’s future as their seemingly comfortable middle-class lives are threatened. What follows is a tense and intriguing re-evaluation of his beliefs by Randolph in an absorbing book

DNF
Sadly this one wasn't for me I found the writing itself hard to get my head around and just couldn't get to grips with it.
I believe this is a translation so maybe that was the main issue here for me.
Had to give up as it just wasn't getting any better.
I received a review copy of "Fear" from Netgalley.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

DNF
Sadly this one wasn't for me I found the writing itself hard to get my head around and just couldn't get to grips with it.
I believe this is a translation so maybe that was the main issue here for me.
Had to give up as it just wasn't getting any better.
I received a review copy of "Fear" from Netgalley.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

Well, it wasn't the suspenseful thriller I was expecting. I wasn't on the edge of my seat. The idea had promise but no oomph. I'm afraid if it were my family being threatened I would have pulled that trigger long before he did! Maybe it lost something in translation? I don't know. ( )

You have to wade through a lot of social commentary to arrive finally at a plot twist, as recounted by the unreliable narrator. ( )