Overview
- Fitzek says many readers tell him they fear the present and want stories that pull them out of daily life, calling a good book a form of hypnosis.
- His new novel "Der Nachbar" focuses on a dangerous stalker without revealing plot details.
- Psychologist Corinna Perchtold-Stefan explains that engaging with frightening stories can function like a mental fitness exercise in a controlled setting.
- Industry figures report the suspense segment as the second-largest in German fiction with a 21.5% revenue share in 2024, according to Börsenverein and Media Control data.
- He told Bild, in remarks reported by Promiflash, that the book’s premise was inspired by an anecdotal real case relayed by a security-company friend.