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The Child
- An Audible Drama
- Narrated by: Rupert Penry-Jones, Jack Boulter, Emilia Fox, Stephen Marcus, Robert Glenister, Andy Serkis
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Performance
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
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Editor reviews
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!Critic reviews
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What listeners say about The Child
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Graham
- 24-01-20
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.
34 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sally
- 13-12-19
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.
27 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 07-06-15
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.
35 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
41 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Ms Gillian M Stone
- 26-12-19
Too much noise
Too much interference. I listen to audible as I can’t hold a book properly. But I have to listen without interference as I am deaf.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Gee
- 15-08-14
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!!
19 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Lawrence Wray
- 12-10-20
Lots of potential, but...
When I read a book I don't have sound effects as the writer provides context, but this effort is filled with sound effects that distract and make it hard to listen to. The door slams. Okay, we know what that sounds like: yeah, but just in case you don't, we've included a stupid sound effect. Why? Oh, and here's the sound of rain, just in case... Hey, have you ever heard a car engine before, well, here's one now. With headphones on, your ears are assaulted between chapters with bass music that actually hurts and only frustrates due to the delay other audiobooks don't have. There were loads of times I had to rewind to decipher what was being said due to unnecessary sound effects. When the robotic voice was talking I had to pause, rewind, turn the volume up, then turn it back down again. The story seems to have been ruined in interpretation, which, considering the actors involved is unforgivable. There's a lot of telling throughout and it's just not good - not even close. Pity, considering the cast and all the effort.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kellmorris
- 02-09-14
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
21 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy
- 19-11-14
Proper edge of the seat stuff
Would you consider the audio edition of The Child to be better than the print version?
Difficult to say. However this audio version with multiple actors is a new approach that worked wonderfully well.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Andy. You weren't sure whether his character was genuine or embedded in the darker side of Berlin's ugly under belly. I like that in a character, leaves you guessing.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
When reading I have to put a picture in my mind of what the actor looks like. If a book then translates to film or TV and the actor chosen is nothing like what you imagined from the book, that can spoil it for me. In this audio version, Andy Serkis for example, his voice fitted perfectly with his character.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. You need breaks, adds to the tension and fills out the laborious car journey home from work each day of the week
Any additional comments?
There were elements in this story which were very uncomfortable to listen too, and for the main character to be caught up in it (albeit for very good reasons) you felt his unease, fear, disgust and anger. Like I said at the top, edge of the seat stuff all the way, even if on occasion it causes periods of unease and you long for it too end and justice to prevail
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steve Clayton
- 19-08-14
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.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- @MrBookChief
- 12-10-14
My favourite listening experience to date
Where does The Child rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It reminded me very much of HBO's True Detective and was a very different listening experience to other audiobooks. It felt more akin to a good film and I thoroughly enjoyed each listening session that I had with it.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Child?
The Voice
Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?
Robert Stern
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It opened my eyes to child trafficking
21 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Knitterati
- 02-10-14
Sound Editing Subpar
Would you try another book from Sebastian Fitzek and/or the narrators?
No.
What was most disappointing about Sebastian Fitzek’s story?
Promising start. Around the middle the wheels came off.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?
The narrators were fine. I like the concept of using a group of narrators. It reminded me of a radio drama, in a good way.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Child?
The pedophile scene was gratuitous and disturbing. I would have cut pretty much everything from the midpoint and asked for a different ending.
Any additional comments?
This recording can be salvaged to some degree by remixing the sound. Often the spoken word was obscured by what was supposed to be the background noise. The opening scene was a prime example--the rain was so disproportionately loud, they may have just as well been standing next to Niagra Falls.
55 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Rolando
- 30-09-14
Disappointing
The story wasn't that great, pretty much unbelievable. I am disappointed at the rave reviews that misled me into thinking that this would be a good experience. The characters were lame, the story was forced and unbelievable, the subject matter is intentionally disturbing. I think that what made this "book" so disappointing is that the producers have such little faith in the audience's imaginations that they decided to take it upon themselves to create the world in their image, and expecting listeners to embrace it. No thank you.
49 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Fifi Star
- 21-03-15
Hands down worst Audible title I've ever bought
What disappointed you about The Child?
Where to begin? This was a ridiculous production. Bad story. Bad writing (translation). Overwrought acting. Laughable sound effects. Bizarre production choices. There's probably a reasonable explanation for this, but why all the Cockney rhyming slang in Berlin? Is that a thing now?
Has The Child turned you off from other books in this genre?
No, I love all sorts of genres, including, sometimes, these dramatized productions. This was definitely an exception.
Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?
Probably. I don't think this was the fault of any of the narrators.
What character would you cut from The Child?
All of them. Absolutely all of them.
Any additional comments?
Obviously, lots of people like this one, so if you decide to try it out anyway, remember that you can always return books to Audible with no questions asked and get your credit or money back.
26 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- ofanoa
- 30-09-14
Auditorily Noxious
Any additional comments?
The creepy voice and sound effects from screechy tires to phlegmy aspirations were intolerable to me (listening by headset). The acting was canned, harkening back to old-time radio dramas. It was an interesting endeavor for audible so I gave an extra star for that.
42 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Cyndy
- 03-04-15
Good, but distracting sound effects
It was a good book that kept my interest. The performances were also good.
Although, I found the sound effects very distracting.
13 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anna Chalet
- 19-02-15
Great Idea --- Bad Execution
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
First of all, I love radio dramas and radio plays. I listen to a lot of BBC Radio 4 so I'm used to the idea of listening in this way. From other reviews I know this style annoyed some people. Although I listen to a lot of drama, this one felt like I was listening to a TV in the next room.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
I'd probably listen to anything for Rupert as I have a thing for him, but this audio book sounded like I was eavesdropping on a TV show. I didn't buy into the premise of the story either. I like the character having their own voice but I felt it was distracting at times too - again, it was less of an audio book and more like a TV production - I know I'm over stressing this point but I don't know how else to explain the OVER USE of sound effects, it was annoying.
Was The Child worth the listening time?
Yes, it was. Overall the story was captivating and I really enjoyed the lead up to the middle part. In fact, its only because the lead up was so good that I stayed around to see how it would end.
I felt that it slipped into stupid territory quite quickly after that when the reveal of how this boy is made a serial killer is exposed and by then I feel like the goodwill of the listener had been exhausted. They should have stuck with the supernatural line to give it edge. I feel that dragging us along on the ride for a few crumbs at the end was really an anti climax. All lose ends were tied up but I was left with so many 'what if' possibilities that had been sparked from the initial potential of the book that I felt a bit let down.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A User
- 12-10-14
Wow I didn't see that coming!
The twist and turns this book has will keep you on the edge of you seat. Good story.
10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alwayswalkingmydog
- 24-09-14
A Bone Chilling Voice Imbedded in a Unique Story
What made the experience of listening to The Child the most enjoyable?
The music, the Voice and the dramatization. Audible, please provide more just like this one! You have a winner here! :-)
What did you like best about this story?
The Voice...freaky scary
Any additional comments?
This is one of the scariest novels I have listen to, and one of the most enjoyable short audible dramatized books. I cannot count the many times I jumped, startled by the musical score or the voices of the narrators. The premise of the story is simply fascinating, raising questions about reincarnation, regression therapy, insanity, fear and revenge.
Setting: Berlin, Germany. Characters: Ten year old Simon - termally ill, does not want to die before he knows if he killed people in a former life, Rober Stern - defense attorney, Carina - nurse, Andi Borchart - former criminal, Engler - investigating police officer.
There are not many books by Sebastian Fitzek available in English translation, nor as e-books, however, being fluent in German in will read everything this fine author has in print in his native language.
32 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TW Brown, Author, Editor, and Reviewer
- 03-10-14
European Authors are revamping the crime drama!
There is a real art to a good suspenseful crime drama. With stories like "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and others, a real movement has emerged from the European author circles. These have carried over in the US with stories like "The Killing".
If you have not yet delved into this genre, this would be an excellent toe in the water. There are twists, turns, and enough drama to have you turning pages or (in audible versions) listening well into the night. The beauty is the grittiness that pulls no punches and is not sanitized to a generic construct.
The Child is gripping, raw, and compelling. Give it a go.
6 people found this helpful
