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The Child cover art

The Child

By: Sebastian Fitzek
Narrated by: Rupert Penry-Jones, Jack Boulter, Emilia Fox, Stephen Marcus, Robert Glenister, Andy Serkis
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Editor reviews

‘My name is Simon. I'm 10 years old. I'm a serial killer.’ Thus begins the brilliant The Child, an audio drama from Audible Studios. In this audiobook, German author Sebastian Fitzek paints a chilling portrait. Defence attorney Robert Stern is persuaded by his old flame, nurse Carina, to take on the case of a young, terminally ill boy who claims to recall past-life experiences of murdering several men. Following Simon’s instructions, Robert and Carina are shocked to uncover several dead bodies around the shady areas of Berlin, and soon detective Engler has Robert in his sights as a suspect. With voice performances by Rupert Penry-Jones, Emilia Fox, Robert Glenister and the brilliant Andy Serkis, The Child is an astonishing drama.

Summary

Shortlisted for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015

My name is Simon. I’m 10 years old. I’m a serial killer. Robert Stern (Rupert Penry-Jones), a successful defense attorney, doesn’t know what lies in store for him when he agrees to meet a new client in a derelict estate on the outskirts of Berlin. Stern is more than surprised, when his old love interest and professional nurse Carina (Emilia Fox) presents him a ten year old boy as his new client: Simon (Jack Boulter), a terminally ill child, who is convinced he has murdered many men in a previous life.

Robert’s surprise turns into horror when he and Carina find human remains in a cellar the boy has led them to. The remains of a man whose head has been split with an axe 15 years ago - just like Simon claimed he had. Things go from bad to worse within hours when Stern discovers more dead bodies, the investigating police officer Engler (Andy Serkis) starts to chase him as a suspect in the murder cases, and his own past comes to haunt him. Stern’s friend and former criminal Andi Borchert (Stephen Marcus) is the only one to believe Stern and Carina. Hunted by the police, and led by Simon’s memories, they start to investigate shady sub cultures of Berlin, and soon discover things that are more gruesome than anything they could have imagined…

Audible Studios London presents a gripping audio dramatisation by Sebastian Fitzek, Germany’s most successful thriller writer, whose books are read around the world in more than 20 different languages. This unabridged dramatisation introduces listeners to a completely new approach to audio entertainment, a full-length dramatised book adaption with an original score and soundscapes from the heart of Berlin. Featuring amazing performances by a cast of over 20 actors in a breathtaking plot, The Child provides a truly immersive listening experience.

Like this and looking for more unabridged multicast drama from Sebastian Fitzek? Then simply type ‘Amok’ in the search box, download and enjoy!

©2014 Audible Studios (P)2014 Audible Studios

Critic reviews

"The Child is an unmissable milestone for fans and newcomers to audio dramas alike. A compelling, star-studded drama that mixes narration, performance, music and soundscapes into a moving story about a troubled young boy and a shocking series of dark crimes in Berlin. Essential listening," (David Hewson, author of The Killing series, co-author Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel and Macbeth: A Novel.)
"Fitzek’s thrillers are breathtaking and full of wild twists. The only disappointment : there is, inevitably, an end to the story!" (Harlan Coben)
"Action-packed and edgy, The Child is a dark and immersive listening journey." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Child

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  • jo
  • 14-08-14

Like watching a great thriller on TV...

This is such an obvious concept, it is surely is only the cost of getting big names and sound effects people involved which makes a fully dramatised book so rare. It really is just like watching a cracking drama on TV, so if you really want straight narration, you'd better steer clear. If you want something which you feel like you've actually seen because it paints a picture so vivid, you'll like it.

It is in truth not as exciting a plot as some others I've enjoyed such as The Woodcutter, but there was plenty of interest to keep me completely gripped right from the opening scene. Rupert Penry-Jones and Andy Serkis are particularly excellent - they're acting, not narrating. Meanwhile there is a narrator: Robert Glenister, who is fantastic. I wasn't so keen on the child who understandably wasn't up to the standard of the others (he's fine, it's just that he sounds like a child who's acting rather than enabling the belief that he IS the character he is portraying).

On the whole it's a very enjoyable listen. I listened to it all the same day, which is a first for me.

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43 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Chilling, Difficult in places, but damn good!

I'd definitely recommend this. The additional dimensions added by the multiple actors and sound effects make this a very engrossing format. All of the actors were very good in their roles and the narration was top notch.

The story strays into some difficult areas, there is violence and it descends into the world of the paedophile although it steers clear of going too far. The plot builds well and the very chilling "Voice" works very well.

I think some people might find the ending just a little weak but I liked it well enough. I will look out for more of these "radio plays" from Audible in the future.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

DREADFUL

Easily the worst Audible I have ever bought. Potentially a good storyline is ruined with the most ridiculous coincidences, implausible escapes and annoying music and sound effects. The actors try hard, which is the most and only positive thing I can say about this dreadful script. AVOID.

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34 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Overall great story but the sound effect were poor

Great story but the disguised voice sound effect meant it was too quiet or hard to distinguish what was being said which meant it was easy to miss important plot points. I like the idea of using actors and dramatising it for audible but I don't think all the sound effects, whispering and disguised voice effects were necessary and actually spoilt my enjoyment of the book as I could not hear what was going on and missed a lot of key facts.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

highly recommended

If you could sum up The Child in three words, what would they be?

gripping and scary

What did you like best about this story?

The story was gripping but some of the content, without giving a spoiler, the pedophile scenes were very uncomfortable. It followed one disaster after another and maybe wasn't entirely believable at times and the end was a bit weak but that didn't stop me enjoying it.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Robert Glenister as the narrator was excellent. As I really like dramatisations this was an a perfect choice for me, most audible dramas are about an hour long but this was like having a good film in my ears.I can put myself in the situation, the little unobtrusive sounds effects added to the drama.

Any additional comments?

More dramatised books please

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic - loved it!!

What made the experience of listening to The Child the most enjoyable?

I got totally engrossed in this audio drama. Trying to find something similar now. Having all the different actors made it such a brilliant listening book.

What did you like best about this story?

The whole story is brilliant and loved it all. Kept you engrossed all the way.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favourite?

Stern by Rupert Penry-Jones was fantastic

Any additional comments?

A def must listen to drama - need to bring out more like this!!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Audible Staff Reviewer: We're All Scared Here!

As a staff member of Audible, I'm writing a brief review at this point as I was really very chuffed to arrive mid-conversation at a more-animated-than-usual-on-a-Monday-morning office today, where my colleagues were all discussing The Child. They were mainly speaking at a rate of knots about how truly scared and hooked they were over the weekend- always a good sign for a title we describe as 'immersive' audio.

My own experience of listening to The Child was actually very similar - not necessarily my usual Genre (I prefer contemporary/contemporary-classic LitFic) though I personally really enjoyed the music and sound effects, paired with the narration. The production transported me to the gritter parts of Berlin and I enjoyed (and feared) it.

I'll definitely be reading some more Fitzek - and it sounds like my colleagues will too...if they dare!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!!

Any additional comments?

I bought this because I love anything performed by Robert Glenister and/or Rupert Penry-Jones and I was not disappointed. The story grips you right from the start and keeps you interested all the way through. The special effects and music all add to the visualisation and Robert Glenister narrates to his usual high standards. Please can we have more dramatisations Audible.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn't stop listening

If you could sum up The Child in three words, what would they be?

worth listening to

What did you like best about this story?

The acting, read like a play, and all actors were believable, it had a beginning, middle and end,

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I love Robert Glenester reading books, he narrates seamlessly, moving the story along.
Keeping the interest going

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This is the my first audible which was read as a play, with sound effects etc,I could have been in a theatre.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Prefer a narrated book!

What would have made The Child better?

To have been fully narrated, I did not enjoy long music intervals between scenes, just did not have my concentration so many different voices sound affects etc.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was fine.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was the best thing about the book!

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story was OK it was the way it was "played out" that was the problem for me

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9 people found this helpful