Berlin Syndrome

Melanie Joosten

“A courageous and exciting debut…Berlin Syndrome is an intelligent novel, and Joosten is masterful in her descriptions of the loneliness that can be found both in a foreign city full of strangers and in an apartment shared by two people.”

Eloise Keating, Bookseller & Publisher

“Berlin Syndrome is a beguiling psychological dance.”

Canberra Times

View all reviews

“In language that's hypnotic and sparse, Joosten's remarkable first novel demands to be guzzled in one sitting.”

Courier Mail

“Begs to be guzzled in one sitting.”

Daily Telegraph

“This gripping psycho-thriller has put the talented Melbourne writer on our radar big time.”

Grazia

“Joosten’s debut novel is a taut and intimate psychological thriller…an unflinching examination of power dynamics in a relationship.”

Literary Minded

“[Joosten’s] frank evocative depiction of what happens when loneliness and obsession collide makes for a striking debut novel.”

North & South magazine

“Startling yet understated…Joosten writes with authority and restraint, uncommon attributes for a first-time novelist.”

Patrick Allington, SA Weekend magazine

“A gripping, well-written, undisputedly strong novel.”

Louise Swinn, Saturday Age

“Elegantly written, especially difficult given the subject matter.”

Sunday Age

“A psychological thriller of the highest order, this is a strong first showing. More, please.”

Sunday Herald Sun

“A true psychological thriller.”

Sunday Tasmanian

“[A] haunting debut novel.”

Sydney Morning Herald

“An impressive debut.”

Vogue Australia

“Capture[s] the psychodynamics of a generation that is just emerging into its own on the page. I look forward to seeing what she does next.”

Weekend Australian

“Joosten excavates the psychology of captivity—its fear, smells, delusions and helplessness—in relentless detail and with considerable skill.”

Fiona McGregor

“Berlin Syndrome is a compelling literary thriller.”

Australian Book Review

Now a major film, distributed by Artificial Eye.

A tense and compelling literary thriller set in Berlin.

One afternoon, near the site of the Berlin Wall, backpacker Clare meets charismatic local Andi. There is an instant attraction, and when Andi invites her to stay, Clare thinks she may finally have found somewhere to call home.

But when Clare wakes up in Andi’s apartment, she discovers that the door is locked. And it soon becomes clear that he has no intention of letting her go. Clare begins to wonder if it’s really love that Andi is searching for—or something else altogether.

Berlin Syndrome is a closely observed and gripping psychological thriller that shifts between Andi’s and Clare’s perspectives, revealing the power of obsession, the fluidity of truth, and the kaleidoscopic nature of human relationships.

Eloise Keating, Bookseller & Publisher

“Berlin Syndrome is a beguiling psychological dance.”

Canberra Times

View all reviews

“In language that's hypnotic and sparse, Joosten's remarkable first novel demands to be guzzled in one sitting.”

Courier Mail

“Begs to be guzzled in one sitting.”

Daily Telegraph

“This gripping psycho-thriller has put the talented Melbourne writer on our radar big time.”

Grazia

“Joosten’s debut novel is a taut and intimate psychological thriller…an unflinching examination of power dynamics in a relationship.”

Literary Minded

“[Joosten’s] frank evocative depiction of what happens when loneliness and obsession collide makes for a striking debut novel.”

North & South magazine

“Startling yet understated…Joosten writes with authority and restraint, uncommon attributes for a first-time novelist.”

Patrick Allington, SA Weekend magazine

“A gripping, well-written, undisputedly strong novel.”

Louise Swinn, Saturday Age

“Elegantly written, especially difficult given the subject matter.”

Sunday Age

“A psychological thriller of the highest order, this is a strong first showing. More, please.”

Sunday Herald Sun

“A true psychological thriller.”

Sunday Tasmanian

“[A] haunting debut novel.”

Sydney Morning Herald

“An impressive debut.”

Vogue Australia

“Capture[s] the psychodynamics of a generation that is just emerging into its own on the page. I look forward to seeing what she does next.”

Weekend Australian

“Joosten excavates the psychology of captivity—its fear, smells, delusions and helplessness—in relentless detail and with considerable skill.”

Fiona McGregor

Buy from IndieBound

BUY EBOOK

Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 7.75in × 5.12in

Extent:256pp

ISBN (13):9781922070364

RRP:$14.95

Pub date:11 Sep 2017

High-res cover:Download Image

AWARDS

2012 Kathleen Mitchell Award for Young Writers - Winner 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist -

CATEGORIES / tags

AUTHOR

Melanie Joosten

Melanie Joosten's debut novel, Berlin Syndrome, saw her named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist and receive the Kathleen Mitchell Award; it has since been made into a motion picture directed by Cate Shortland. In 2016, she published the essay collection A Long Time Coming. Her work appears in various publications, including Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Best Australian Stories 2014, and Going Down Swinging.