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  • Secrets in the Cellar

  • The True Story of the Austrian Incest Case That Shocked the World
  • By: John Glatt
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (187 ratings)
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Secrets in the Cellar cover art

Secrets in the Cellar

By: John Glatt
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Summary

Josef Fritzl was a 73-year-old retired engineer in Austria. He seemed to be living a normal life with his wife, Rosemarie, and their family - though one daughter, Elisabeth, had decades earlier been "lost" to a religious cult. Throughout the years, three of Elisabeth's children mysteriously appeared on the Fritzls' doorstep; Josef and Rosemarie raised them as their own. But only Josef knew the truth about Elisabeth's disappearance....

For 27 years, Josef had imprisoned and molested Elisabeth in his man-made basement dungeon, complete with soundproof paneling and code-protected electric locks. There, she would eventually give birth to a total of seven of Josef's children. One died in infancy, and the other three were raised alongside Elisabeth, never to see the light of day.

Then, in 2008, one of Elisabeth's children became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital. It was the first time the 19-year-old girl had ever gone outside - and soon, the truth about her background, her family's captivity, and Josef's unspeakable crimes would come to light.

©2009 John Glatt (P)2013 Tantor

What listeners say about Secrets in the Cellar

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Interesting yet gruesome, I found the detail behind this real story intriguing, how can some individuals carry out such horrors defies me.

At first I found the narration stilted, as though some sort of auto-tune is used which makes it on the monotone side.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Factual and dry, but an amazingly disturbing story

I recommend this book based on the astonishing and disturbing story alone. It delves into the mind of a truly sadistic and damaged man.

I found the part about Fritzels own up bring the most fascinating as it gives clues as to how a person can do such horrific acts to his own family.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Griping & brilliantly read! English voice

First ever audio book and totally loved it. Was 3/4 way through within days.
Authors voice was great to listen to.
Such an interesting story, I've told many people about it already.

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3 people found this helpful

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

loved this book

What made the experience of listening to Secrets in the Cellar the most enjoyable?

Just loved this book, she explained every detail of what she did and felt.
How brave she is, to go through what she did, giving birth on her own, with no help from a doctor, and then coping with her children, and the life she was forced to endure.

How brilliantly she wrote this, so inspiring.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the main character.

What about Gildart Jackson’s performance did you like?

All of it, no faults at all.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me cry, in several places.
Not much joy in this book.

Any additional comments?

you will want to listen to this all in one go. Beware serious time needed. You cant stop.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

interesting book

Narration was not great but the story was interesting, I would recommend this book, shocking you know it's true

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Secrets in the cellar

It's an uncomfortable book due to the subject matter. However it's well written and well narrated. A shocking story but worth a listen if you are interested in true crime.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Fritzel

Evil evil rat of a man. Absolute incredible he got away with this for so much years. Not believing his wife never knew a thing.

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1 person found this helpful

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

True Crime

Horrific true crime, Elizabet is a woman who found an inner strength to survive an unimaginable fate at the hands of her own father.

The narration sounds 'robotic'

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1 person found this helpful

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

Hard hitting

Very well narrated and interesting throughout. harrowing to think what that poor girl experienced from her evil and twisted Father.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

True story this book covers it all

This book is a true account of the facts and what the poor girl Elizabeth had to go through with her underground children & evil father keeping her captive for 24 years! Read really well & interesting although a very sad story of such evil.

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