Translated by Sally-Ann Spencer — When the English-language edition of Sebastian Fitzek’s debut Therapy came out in translation 12 years ago, we predicted he would be a big deal, and the author has become one of the leading German crime writers, highly popular for his series of what we’ve called ‘psychological mindbenders.’ In 2016, Therapy was adapted for the stage and in 2023, it became a six-part series on Amazon Prime. With the popularity of this story, here at Crime Fiction Lover we decided to revisit Therapy in its audiobook form, which is read by well-known British actor Robert Glenister.
In Fitzek’s novel, Josy, the beloved 12-year-old daughter of celebrity psychiatrist Dr Viktor Larenz and his wife – conveniently in New York for most of the book – has disappeared. Larenz had taken her to yet another doctor to try to find a diagnosis and treatment for the baffling set of symptoms that has made her distressingly ill. He left her in the waiting room for a moment to get her some water. When he returned, she was gone without a trace. That was four years ago, and nothing since. Refusing to believe Josy is dead, Larenz has given up his psychiatric practice to focus on finding her. At the same time, he’s become increasingly isolated from his professional colleagues and his wife.
Larenz has always refused to engage with the media about the case and his search, despite their persistent interest, but he finally decides to do so. He’ll sequester himself on the remote North Sea island of Parkum where his family has a vacation home and spend his time there writing responses to a list of questions provided by a reporter. Once he’s on the island, his situation grows increasingly weird and, very possibly, dangerous.
He’s visited by a beautiful, but strange woman, Anna Glass, who was called Anna Spiegel in the print version. She’s a former children’s author desperate for help with her own mental problems. She admits she’s schizophrenic and, in the past, some of her fictional characters have ‘come alive’ to her and done things she’s written about.
It’s all very troubling, as well as intriguing, and Larenz repeatedly explains he’s no longer treating patients. Mostly he wants Glass to leave him alone until, over a period of days, she confides that the last of her characters who manifested herself was a nine-year-old girl named Charlotte, who suffered from a mysterious and hard-to-treat malady. Charlotte decided to run away from home and seek out a treatment on her own.
It’s a tenuous lead from a highly unreliable source, but is nevertheless too tempting for Larenz to ignore, and he agrees to counsel her.
The island is in the grip of a major storm, akin to a hurricane. Power and phone connections are iffy, and every time Larenz tries to pin down any details about Anna’s arrival, where she’s staying or her plans to leave, none of the few people on the island have any idea what he’s talking about.
Glenister does a fine job portraying the rather crusty island residents, and his presentation of the women characters is good. Anna certainly comes across as someone to be wary of – always so excessively calm and reasonable. At some points his Larenz sounds a little dismissive, too quick to judge a situation and steer it the way he wants it to go. Certainly, Larenz seems almost cavalier as he ignores all the warning signs, not to mention the direct advice he receives on every hand that Anna is dangerous. To him, Anna is a possible lifeline, if she can finally shed light on Josy’s whereabouts – dead or alive. The listener is fully aware, through Glenister’s reading, that the disruptions caused by the storm and the pressure from Anna’s possible revelations are pushing Larenz toward a breaking point.
It’s a riveting story, and Larenz, through Glenister, generates a whole array of strong feelings – compassion, frustration, anger, sorrow and yet somehow, hope.
Also see the Crime Fiction Lover audiobook reviews Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, narrated by Leslie Manville, and Stuart Neville’s The House of Ashes, narrated by Caroline Lennon.
Audible Studios
Audiobook
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
