‘Playlist’ by Sebastian Fitzek

Published by Head of Zeus,
12 September 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-80454242-2 (PB)

Alexander Zorbach, ex-police officer and now a private investigator is contacted by a desperate Emilia Jagow. Her daughter Feline has disappeared, believed abducted on her way to school. She wants him to discover what happened and where she is, as there seems to be no trace of her. Emilia was given Zorbach’s name by Alina Gregoriev, a blind physiotherapist who used to treat Feline. A case some time ago involving the hunt for the “Eye Collector” had brought Alina and Zorbach together. This had been a traumatic time involving Julian, Zorbach’s son.

Because Feline’s father would not allow her to have access to music to listen to her favourite tracks, Alina had given her an MP3 player in the shape of a watch, which needed to be connected to a wireless network.

Out of the blue, a month after Feline’s disappearance, Alina realises the MP3 player is connecting and is able to track it. Zorbach and her trace it to a hotel, Ambrosia Resort. On investigation they discover it certainly is not all that it appears to be. Even more intriguing, Feline’s playlist of her favourite tracks has been changed in the last few days. Is it possible she is trying to send a clue as to her whereabouts?

The more Zorbach and Alina look into the abduction, the more it is evident that the perpetrator is playing a deadly game, leading to more than one horrifying death.

As Zorbach digs deeper he is dragged into an unbelievably disturbing nightmare, which is also connected to past horrors. He cannot possibly emerge from these latest terrifying events unscathed in body and mind.

The warped mind behind all the murder and mayhem is bent on setting all the people involved a “love test”, but why? Horrifyingly, not everyone passes the “test” leading to dire consequences.

A grippingly gruesome crime thriller telling of a manipulative genius leading to the brutal consequences of such a twisted mind. The author certainly knows how to grip the reader by the throat and squeeze! Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Sebastian Fitzek was born 13 October 1971 in Berlin Germany. He is a writer and journalist. His first book Therapy was a bestseller in Germany in 2006, toppling The Da Vinci Code from the #1 position.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new new authors.