This story is very entertaining and the atmosphere is amazing
This is so suspenseful and was very well written with descriptive writing
A great book

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and flowed well. Good plot that played out well.. had never come across this author before. But will be looking out fir her in the future

A brilliantly plotted storyline, fascinating characters, and twists and turns along the way that you simply dont see coming. This book was wonderful, and kept me guessing right to the very end.

This book really set the autumn mood for me, with its chilly and bleak mood. Norah has moved to Vienna following some kind of incident in Berlin, to be revealed later in the book, she brings with her a few boxes and a sense of general depression which really resonated.
For me, the pacing of this novel was a bit off as the suspense didn’t quite have the boldness needed to complement the wonderfully dramatic ending. It felt a little like two books squished into one, a psychological drama of Norah overcoming her past and a thriller mystery. The latter not quite reaching the same standard as the former.

Despite the suspense not quite hitting the mark for me, I really enjoyed the atmospheric nature of the book – I really got a sense of the city and Norah’s loneliness, which kept me turning pages til the end.

Melanie Raabe has written a breathless, chilling psychological thriller that grips the reader as the plot takes its many twists and turns.
This is an utterly compelling story set in a dark-skied Vienna, which has so often been home to disturbing characters chasing their victims into an abyss.
Anyone who has seen the play, or the two film versions of the classic 'Gaslight' will understand the fear enveloping the heroine but in a clever twist the ending comes as a complete surprise.

Great premise and fantastic writing. Melanie Raabe is an amazing writer and the plot of the book was really interesting.

I really enjoyed learning about Norah and the fact that I could not tell whether she was a reliable character or not. The isolation and the move to a new city made it quite interesting and the little clues provided by the author made it interesting for me. My only slight problem was that the book was quite slow paced at the beginning and it was difficult for me to keep engaged. Nevertheless, once it started picking up pace, it was really good.

The plot twists were really good and the ending was also good although it left me with some questions. I would have liked that the last part of the book was explored a little bit more in detail.

Overall, it was a good read with a really good plot and I can’t wait to read more books by the talented Melanie Raabe.


I would like to thank Netgalley and Text Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Soon after Nora moves from Berlin to Vienna, a homeless woman prophesies that she will kill a man named Arthur Grimm on the 11th of February. But Nora neither knows him nor has she got a reason to kill him. Or does she?

I have read The Trap by Melanie Raabe, and I really enjoyed it, so I was excited to be approved for this ARC.
The story started off promising and got me intrigued, but sadly I found that it was very slow and uneventful, and that made me skim-read big chunks of it.
The twist at the end, however, turned out to be unexpected and shocking, and I was, therefore, in two minds about the rating. In the end, though, after some deliberation, I just couldn't justify raising the rating.
For me, it was an average read, but I'm sure it will find its fans.

This is a story with a twist that I would never have guessed. It is well thought out and well written and it was lovely to read about Vienna.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Journalist Norah Richter has moved to Vienna from Berlin following the ending of a relationship. Shortly after her arrival an unnerving prophecy is made by an old beggar woman who tells her she will kill a man called Arthur Grimm of her own free will on February 11th. This date is deeply significant to Norah, that alongside a number of other weird events draws her into a web of intrigue and manipulation. The story is principally told from Norah’s perspective.

First of all, having read The Trap several years ago I know Melanie Raabe is an excellent writer and this latest novel is equally as good. There are some vivid descriptions for example, of Vienna, some startling images that feel theatrical or like a scene from a movie and you find yourself quickly drawn into the compelling and puzzling storytelling. Norah’s mixed emotions are depicted well as she’s learned over the years to be self reliant and self contained. There are some very likeable characters such as her loyal friends Max, Paul and Sandra. The events that occur are extremely unsettling, very hairs on the back of your neck creepy and you feel the fear. There are some jaw dropping twisty moments and I love the way the whole thing cleverly came together. Norah completely turns the tables once she figures out what’s happening and in the process she lays some ghosts to rest. I like the optimistic end.

Overall. A really well written thriller that is engrossing which I recommend. The translation is excellent too as it flows extremely well.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Text Publishing for the ARC.

This is a genuinely gripping and fantastic read that left me unable to put it down. This book has a great deal of twists and turns as well as some creepy moments. What makes this book so good is that it is so credible as are the characters, I'd definitely recommend this book.

An incredible book - one to highly recommend to all my friends. Tense, somewhat dark, heart in mouth psychological thriller with a superb twist at the end.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

What starts out as creepy,with strangers making premonitions,someone moving things,and placing things in your flat,friends acting out of character... turns into the most preposterous reason I can imagine for a crime.
Then I thought about it... and ,oh my,it was more than a little bit believable.
Twists and turns a plenty... kept me guessing to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the arc of the Shadow by Melanie Raabe and Imogen Taylor❤️

Thank you to Melanie Raabe and Imogen Taylor for writing this book❤️

This is translated from German🇩🇪


Journalist Norah Richter abandons her job, house, partner and her dog! January 2017 She heads to Vienna the Libel suit has stopped any chances of her keeping her own job. She's also been hunted by an Austrian magazine so her staying in Berlin isn't wise. 😞

After she gets to Vienna an old woman pronounces that she will kill this gentleman on February 11th called Arthur Grimm at Practer, with reason of her own will . She decides to ignore and she ignore the date as being coincidental.😳

She is an introvert but she does have friends in Vienna and but prefers to be living alone and independent, her work colleague thinks she's stand off ish her place is cold and sterile the person living upstairs wants to become friends with her but Norah is very insistent too🥺

Then twists and mysterious things starts to happen as her things start disappearing and things appearing, she feels like she is being watched by someone, she comes across a drowning victim then starts to receive texts messages off an unknown source but strange messages😩, then pending research she does she actually thinks about committing that murder that she was told ...😩😱

This is my first Melanie Raabe book, and this was worded and written executely in a perfected way, I love how all of it builds up from start to finish with all the twists and turns❤️

Recommend this book❤️
Definitely 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐