The Gift

By: Sebastian Fitzek

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

Please note: This title contains mature content, including depictions of physical and sexual violence. Listener discretion advised.

The Gift is an exciting edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller by international best-selling author Sebastian Fitzek, performed by listener favorite Ari Fliakos.

Con man Milan Berg has a photographic memory. But he’s hiding a secret: He can’t read. Unable to interpret the world around him, Milan finds increasingly crafty ways to navigate it. That is, until he comes across a car in traffic with a girl in the back seat. She desperately holds a written note up to the window, but what does it say?

Fearing the girl is in mortal danger, Milan determines to search for her. As he follows a series of clues, each darker and scarier than the next, he’s thrust into a nightmarish odyssey with a deepening, disturbing progression: The clues are tied to his past. Lost in a web of lies, his world is upended as he lands in prison for a crime he claims he didn’t commit. Under the threat of death by his cellmates, Milan recounts his entire story to them from the beginning.

Will Milan save himself and the girl? Is he innocent and telling the truth? Or is he a master manipulator delivering one huge con?

©2019 Sebastian Fitzek and Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur GmbH & Co. KG (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC.

Very good

I loved the story and it keep my attention until the end, a must read

Ouch!

Not my usual genre, but compelling. I took it all in one day. Hard to follow sometimes but worth it

Okay

This was okay. Not as great as the reviews hyped it. It's very dark, not boring, not edge of your seat.

Deserves every one of its five stars!

"The Gift" is an extraordinary masterpiece that deserves every one of its five stars! This book is a true literary gem that transcends genres and expectations. It weaves a captivating tale of love, loss, and redemption that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impact. The characters are beautifully developed, and their journeys are both relatable and deeply moving. The writing is exquisite, filled with evocative prose that paints vivid pictures and stirs profound emotions. "The Gift" is a rare and precious find, a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling to touch the soul and illuminate the human experience.

Twisty Tale

At times I loved the story. At times I was a bit confused. At times shocked, pleasantly surprised, enthralled then back to confused. Not sure I liked the ending, but loose ends were tied up. The performance was perfect. I’m in the US and the setting in Germany was interesting. Overall I’m glad I took a chance on this one!

Have to really concentrate

A little hard to follow, had to rewind a lot. Wish I had my coin back.

clever

excellent narration. very clever delivery of a story that culminated in a "wait! what"?! Knowing what I found out at the end I'm tempted to go back and listen again from this different perspective. I will say this is one of those stories that should be listened to quickly, it's easy to forget what's happening (or where in the story's back-and-forth timeline you're at) if you don't stay tuned in.

Twisty Fun

I was hooked from beginning to end. Several times I thought I had things figured out, but I definitely did NOT. I rarely rate 5 stars, but this one earned every one of them.

The best confusing mess I've ever heard!

I got lost many times, but it was worth it. This story was confusing AF, with many unlikable characters and flat-out weird subplots, but I liked it! The narrator did a great job of keeping me locked in, and the story, while dark and brutal at times, was sprinkled with sarcasm and humor that I appreciated as someone with a dark sense of humor. As a reader, you're definitely required to suspend belief throughout, but hey, that's why this is fiction.

Who’s the bigger psycho?

Overall, an entertaining thriller, especially at the Daily Deal price. It’s a listen that requires focus, because there are time jumps, multiple POVs, and lost memories that jumble the story something fierce. There’s also a lot of focus on psychopaths, torture and sexual abuse, most of which is integral to the overall plot. While some of the science is far fetched, the scenarios contrived, and certain villains are obvious,
I forgave these slights in favor of the taught, twisty nature vs nurture intrigue.

One thing not so easily forgiven was the opening scene; the beginning prison assault was entirely unnecessary, in my opinion. This story could just as easily have been told sitting in the prison yard and relaying the events from two years before. If you’d prefer not to hear about a violent buggering, skip the 4.5 minute chapter 1 and you will lose absolutely nothing.