As usual for a Fitzek novel, The Gift is utterly compelling with a great premise that keeps you hooked. It would make for a great screen adapation

You never know what you’re going to get when you read a book by this author and after finishing The Gift I have to admit I still don’t know. Perhaps it’s too clever for me but whatever I didn’t enjoy it very much I can say I was never bored with enough going on to make me dizzy. It is no surprise that so many readers have given five star reviews but it simply wasn’t my cup of tea.

Sebastian Fitzek delivers another mind-bending psychological thriller with The Gift, a gripping and unsettling story that explores the dark side of human nature, the burden of truth, and the fragility of perception. With a protagonist unlike any other and a relentless, twist-filled narrative, this novel is an electrifying read for fans of psychological suspense.

A Unique and Flawed Protagonist

Milan Berg is no ordinary hero. When he sees a terrified young girl in the backseat of a car holding up a note, he immediately knows she’s in danger. The problem? Milan suffers from alexia—he can’t read the message. This unique limitation adds an intense layer of tension as Milan embarks on a desperate search for the girl, all while hiding his inability from those around him. His struggle to navigate a world that relies on the written word makes for a deeply psychological and unsettling journey.

A Twisty, Non-Linear Nightmare

Fitzek masterfully constructs The Gift with a non-linear storyline that constantly keeps the reader off balance. The narrative jumps between past and present, blurring the lines between what is real and what is illusion. Milan’s search for the kidnapped girl quickly spirals into something far bigger and far more personal than he ever expected. As the story unfolds, the stakes escalate, and the unsettling question emerges: Does Milan really want to uncover the truth?

Thematic Depth and Psychological Tension

Beyond its gripping thriller elements, The Gift explores profound themes: the weight of knowledge, the lengths we go to deceive ourselves, and the terrifying possibility that ignorance might sometimes be a blessing. Fitzek crafts an atmosphere of paranoia and claustrophobia, pulling the reader into Milan’s fractured reality. The novel constantly forces us to question what we believe to be true.

Final Verdict

Dark, disturbing, and utterly unpredictable, The Gift is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Fitzek’s signature twists, unreliable narration, and breakneck pacing make this a must-read for fans of thrillers that push the boundaries of the genre. If you love stories that challenge your perception and keep you guessing until the very last page, The Gift will not disappoint.

I absolutely love this author - he is probably my favourite translated author and I just wish that I didn't have to wait as long to read his new books - my O-Level German doesn't really cut it!
I am not a fan of warnings in books, especially this genre, even more so when it gets specific, but I think letting you know that this author writes some nasty stuff isn't really giving anything away. In fact, his opening scene here is probably enough to turn away the faint-hearted, definitely one for the sample facility most book sellers offer...
So... we start in prison where Milan Berg is getting a very rude awakening... part of which is to tell his tormentors what he did to get to where he is now...
So... back we go in time... following Milan as he tells how he suffers from something called alexia, the inability to read and write. He has suffered since childhood and has developed some really neat coping mechanisms, ways to prevent being found out. Some really clever ones. And he is clever, apart from this disability. We watch as one day he sees a car with a man and woman in the front and what looks to be a child in distress in the back. She is holding up a note on a piece of paper she presses to the window... But Milan can't read... but he can follow the car...
This even then sends him into a tailspin as he desperately tries to save the child...
And that's all I am saying as the rest of what follows is convoluted and interconnected, it's also non-linear so you really do have to have your wits about you when reading. Suffice to say, there's more to Milan than meets the eye. You will also have to (probably) read through a bit of confusion and it all not making sense for certain lengths of time. But trust me, as I have learned to trust the author, he always gets there eventually and never fails to bring it all together at the end.
Whether it's always credible leaves a bit to be desired. And I know that. But I have so much - well fun isn't the right word given the nastiness of some of the things that happen but you get what I am saying - with his books that I can easily accept the things I might have issue with.
And then there are the twists and turns... whew...! I'm exhausted just thinking back on them... And, that ending!
All in all, a cracking addition to what is already a very impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I am a big fan of Sebastian Fitzek so I was very excited for this, it had me on edge all the way through and was such an intense read.

What did I just read?? This rollercoaster of a thriller hits the ground running and the excitement doesn't stop until the last page is turned.

The short chapters and intrigue will make you turn the pages at warped speed to find out what on earth is going on, and who the "bad guy" is. With twist after twist The Gift will keep you guessing until the last page. But be warned - this book is not for the squeamish!

The Gift was the second book l have read by this author and I now want to read his whole backlist!

Twisted and just too graphic for me at points.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

It’s a long, long time ago since I read my first book by Sebastian Fitzek. It was not for review purposes so I cannot include it in my collection on GR. I do remember that I was very pleasantly surprised because in general, I find German crime authors have just not what it takes for me to really like their books.
So, when The Gift became available for review (in and edition by Head of Zeus, with publication date 4 March 2025) I was happy to pick it up. Unfortunately it was already published in December 2024 (don’t ask me why) but ‘better late than never’ I would like to share my thoughts about this story with you.

There is a lot going on in this book although it’s mainly about just a handful of characters, of which Miland Berg is the most important one. Poor Milan? Well, he’s not absolutely innocent and not even all that likable but what happens to him in the first chapter is rather gruesome. While the story unfolds, and we follow Milan and his girlfriend Andra on their quest to ‘save a little girl’ we read a lot about Milan’s background and how he coped with his alexia (being unable to recognize letters, let alone words).

This is a very high-paced story with surprise after surprise and no, I didn’t see the biggest surprise coming – what made reading all the more enjoyable. Not just a thriller where we start with A and read on to Z, so to say.

firstly I just wanted to say thank you to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

there was a lot going on in this book. there were multiple different mysteries surrounding the central one and multiple layers to the plot. this led to so many twists and turns, each very shocking.

I think this was done very cleverly and the main twist was executed so well. it was a very interesting story with the added element of illiteracy which had its own developing impact on the plot and was very unique to read about.

whilst this was fast-paced and definitely intriguing, I personally didn’t feel massively hooked with the book and felt my interest dropping from time to time. however, that could entirely be just a me problem&a timing issue for when I read this.

I would still recommend as I do think it is a good book and many people would enjoy it!

Another stunning psychological thriller from one of the very best storytellers.
This fast paced complex plot will keep you in suspense and page turning. With some wild twists and turns it can be a bit hard to follow but I thoroughly enjoyed this book

The Gift by Sebastian Fitzek is the first book I've read by the prolific German author (translated by Jamie Bulloch). I started a little reluctantly, as the book opens as main character, Milan is in prison getting beaten (and sodomised) by some thugs wanting information. It kinda forced me to check-myself a little about suppositions I make about characters - good or bad - in terms of those I prefer as narrators. I often read books narrated by not-good characters. Psychopaths. Lawyers... (haha, just kidding!) Having said that Milan is not at all who I thought he was going to be, and we learn why he lives the life he's been living as a conman.

When I started this I thought it was going down a certain path, but it becomes something far more complex and nuanced than I expected, although I was left wondering if it went a little too far or perhaps became a little too far-fetched as I finished the book a little unsure of its conclusion... but satisfied nonetheless.

Initially Milan's encounter appears to be a scam, as if the adults and girl drove around waiting for someone to care enough to act on the cry for help, but as we move forward it becomes obvious that Milan has been targeted with clues being left in a secret code that Milan used with his teenage girlfriend years earlier. We also get some insight into Milan's tragic life - the fire that killed his mother and left him with a brain injury.

As Milan and his girlfriend (who has her own secrets... from Milan AND us) track down the kidnapped girl they encounter others, including those from Milan's past. Milan learns of secrets his father's been keeping from him, and worse still, he's confronted with the possibility he had a role in his mother's death and inherited his grandfather's psychopathic traits.

In a note after the novel Fitzek talks about why he chose to have his main character illiterate and it's fascinating the impact it's had on Milan's life. 

I got a little muddled by some of the biochemical and forensic neurosurgical science introduced here - combining induced trauma with genetics and experimental treatment to 'eliminate wickedness with a single surgical intervention'... one that may come with unexpected side-effects.

So, for me Milan's backstory and 'why' he was targeted got a little murky but Fitizek does a brilliant job at throwing in a twist or two near the end that he'd very cleverly kept concealed, giving this a breathtaking and explosive conclusion.

3.5 stars

Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch, The Gift (2025) by Sebastian Fitzek is a dark crime tale. It opens with Milan Berg in Tega prison, being made to talk, so he begins his story: Out riding his bike one day, Milan was stopped at traffic lights, when he noticed a teenage girl in the car who holding up a sign saying she was being abducted. This seemingly almost inconsequential observation sets off numerous interconnected people’s versions of what unfolded. A topic warning is given as there are several graphic descriptions, which ultimately detract and seem unnecessary to the unfolding drama with its various twists and surprise reveals. Unfortunately, the enticing premise and generally engaging story have time chronology jumps and bleak descriptions that make for a disappointing two and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given. With thanks to Head of Zeus and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Really fast page-turner, a psycho thriller, a suspenseful book that you can't put it down.
A bit harsh sometimes but really, every chapter has a twist. You cant let it go.

Thanks Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy.

I’m also looking to broaden my reading and regularly see Sebastian Fitzek recommended among international thriller authors.

Milan is a conman, he’s also illiterate, something he keeps hidden. When he sees a girl a distress he is compelled to rush in and try to rescue her…

I found this to be quite a strange and disjointed book, it’s hard to know how much was lost in translation, or whether the style of humour didn’t really come off. Milan was an interesting character, and could be likeable in a less awkward book. I tried but it just wasn’t one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head Of Zeus

The premise is clever, with a sense of urgency and danger that keeps you turning the pages. The plot twists, while unexpected, create a sense of intrigue and mystery that keeps the suspense high.

However, at times, the story felt a bit too implausible and stretched my suspension of disbelief. The character development also left something to be desired, with motivations that didn’t always feel entirely convincing. Despite this, The Gift is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller that will satisfy fans of Fitzek’s work, offering plenty of suspense, though it might not be his best. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with dark twists, this one will still keep you hooked to the end.

Having read several of Fitzek's translated books I was not surprised by its somewhat graphic content. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted. The story was quite complex and we were drip fed bits of the story and where it was going very slowly.
The explanations, as they came, were surprising and unusual. Some very unpleasant characters and some very strange, challenged ones.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sebastian Fitzek/Head of Zeus for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A shocking start as we discover Milan Berg in prison and getting a welcome of the worst kind, a horrible violation. Zeus is the convict who calls all the shots in Tegel Prison and he knows the reason Milan is behind bars, though the reader doesn’t. Milan is promised a fate worse than he has already experienced, though on similar lines, unless he can convince Zeus to do otherwise. He has to tell the tale of how he got there and make it convincing enough to save his life. Milan now relates his backstory, though parts are filled in third party observations of other characters.

The story arc moves back and forth as the tale is told, starting from two years previous with the fateful introduction of Milan to Andra, to whom proves to be an instant hit and is to become his girlfriend. The more it is told, then it will also revert to a terrible day fourteen years previous. There is much to be revealed and lots to understand about Milan’s life and the way he has been manipulated.

The key aspect of Milan’s life is he is illiterate, no matter what help he has been given he is unable to make sense of words and letters. As with any disability (in its broad sense) coping mechanisms are learned and develop to allow him to navigate some kind of life. He is constantly mindful of this inability, and it has restricted his opportunities and enjoyment of life. Even after two years he still hasn’t plucked up the courage to be honest with Andra, something he realises is cowardly, but he fears losing her. Milan does have one compensation in that he possesses a photographic memory, such that his doctor believes he could be a savant.

Any reader familiar with the author’s work will have a good idea what to expect and The Gift doesn’t let you down. It’s slick and stylish with a great grasp of what would work visually, such that one would expect this will come to the screen. Then there is the violence, which appear in short sharp interludes that are bloody and visceral, but boldly imagined and recounted almost with glee. This is one author who possesses the power to shock the reader be it by revealing the completely unexpected or by a sudden injection of brutality.

The plot is tight and complex, revolving around surprisingly few characters. The supporting characters are entertaining and nicely drawn, with few being as straightforward as they first appear. Expect to feel in the dark for great periods as the significance of the kidnapping is played out. This is a story of secrets and hidden motivations, with the final third providing surprise after surprise with reveal after reveal. Just when you think you understand where the story is heading the rug is pulled out from under you. It is certainly creative and imaginatively put together, but at times it does push credibility and those readers obsessed with detail on reflection may spot some ‘holes.’ However, it is written with total conviction with that I must keep going vibe that the best thrillers possess. The translator Jamie Bulloch has done a fine job in keeping it a pacy read.

The themes and motivations revolve around the well-trod nature versus nurture debate, in this case can one be born evil or does it develop from life experience, and can some disabilities be overcome. To over elaborate would spoil the story but it questions the ethics of medical and psychiatry professions, the damage done by secrets and how a simple lie or deception can lead to a cycle of more. That these are carried out with the best intentions makes it seem more damning.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to review in exchange for a fair review.

Content warning - Sexual Violence.

Sebastian Fitzek delivers an electrifying psychological thriller with The Gift, a gripping tale of deception, desperation, and a haunting pursuit of the truth. With its non-linear narrative and chilling twists, the novel plunges readers into a harrowing odyssey that will keep them guessing until the very end.

Milan Berg, a con artist with a photographic memory, harbours a devastating secret: he cannot read. His inability to interpret the written word has forced him to develop cunning ways to navigate the world, concealing his alexia even from those closest to him. However, his carefully constructed facade begins to crumble when he encounters a terrified young girl in the back seat of a car. She presses a handwritten note against the window, pleading for help, but Milan is unable to read it.

Haunted by the encounter and fearing for the girl’s life, Milan embarks on a desperate search to uncover her fate. His journey leads him into a labyrinth of increasingly dark and horrifying revelations, each tied to his enigmatic past. When Milan finds himself imprisoned for a crime he insists he didn’t commit, the stakes escalate further. To survive the brutal conditions of his cell, he must recount his tale to his fellow inmates—offering a suspenseful, unreliable account of the events that brought him there.

Fitzek expertly weaves a web of suspense, blending Milan’s fractured narrative with psychological depth and unnerving tension. The novel explores profound themes, including the nature of truth, the burden of memory, and the painful realisation that ignorance may, at times, be a merciful gift.

The pace is relentless, with every chapter uncovering new layers of deception and fear. Fitzek’s masterful storytelling keeps readers on edge, leaving them questioning Milan’s reliability and motivations. Is he an innocent man caught in a nightmarish conspiracy, or a manipulative con artist orchestrating the ultimate scheme?

For fans of Chris Carter and Lars Kepler, The Gift is an exceptional psychological thriller that deftly balances intricate plotting with emotional intensity. Fitzek’s ability to craft a non-linear, edge-of-your-seat narrative ensures this novel will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page. A dark, unsettling exploration of the human psyche, The Gift is a must-read for thrill-seekers and mystery enthusiasts alike.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This book is wild. So wild I think it could only be German - because it is a translation from what I understand. It is a mystery, a psychological thriller, and while I'm not too prone to readig these, it was a great time. It really threw me at every turn, even if there is very good abd clear foreshadowing, as is customary in the genre.
So i the beginning we meet Milan, who is being tortured in prison by another inmate and starts retelling the tale that brought him to his point as a means to stop the torture. Milan is illiterate and lost his mother in adolescence in a fire back in his hometown that left him crippled and with some memory loss. One day, after a fight witth his girlfriend, hw gets sucked into a crazy plot that brings back his past in unexpected ways. In all of this madness, Milan is forced to uncover and face his past and the qyestion of whether evil is inherent and unavoidable or not.
The book is written in many perspectives, but all of them are clearly different and useful. They all help build the picture of the events fully. They add details and sometimes confuse us as well. They are always full of foreshadowing and brilliantly wruten.
I really had a hard time putting this book down once I started. The translation makes sence even with my very limited German and never having read the original. It is a very solid 5 star.

This book gave me whiplash!
There were so many revelations throughout, and many came with new parameters you had to remember which I loved. This was great for the core 70-80% of the book, but then I just started getting sick of it towards the end.

Couldn't find this English version of the book on Goodreads.