Sebastian Fitzek
Sebastian David Fitzek (born 13 October 1971 in West Berlin) is a German writer and journalist. His first book, Therapy (dt. Die Therapie), was a bestseller in Germany in 2006, toppling The Da Vinci Code from the first position.
Also recorded as Fitzek · Sebastian David Fitzek
Sebastian Fitzek

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- Name
- Sebastian Fitzek
- Education
- Humboldt University of Berlin (PhD)
- Occupation
- Writer
- Birthplace
- West Berlin, West Germany
- Born
- 13 October 1971
- Birth Name
- Sebastian David Fitzek
- Nationality
- Germany.
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Sebastian David Fitzek (born 13 October 1971 in West Berlin) is a German writer and journalist. His first book, Therapy (dt. Die Therapie), was a bestseller in Germany in 2006, toppling The Da Vinci Code from the first position.
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wikidata · Q67216 · wikipedia · Sebastian Fitzek
In this article
Biography
Biography
Fitzek is currently one of the most successful writers of Germany.

Sebastian Fitzek at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2017
Martin Kraft
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sebastian Fitzek • Website — sebastianfitzek.de • Years Active — 2000-present • Children — 3 • Genre — Crime thriller • Education — Humboldt University of Berlin (PhD) • Language — German • Occupation — Writer • Birthplace — West Berlin, West Germany • Born — 13 October 1971 • Notable Works — Therapy, The Package • Birth Name — Sebastian David Fitzek • Pen Name — Max Rhode
Biography
Biography
Sebastian Fitzek was born in West Berlin and grew up with his father, headmaster of the Lilienthal-Gymnasium in Berlin-Lichterfelde, and his mother, a teacher. After attending High school at the Charlottenburger Wald-Gymnasium, Fitzek began studying for a degree in veterinary medicine but withdrew from the degree programme after 3 months. He attended law school until the first state examination, earned his doctorate degree in copyright and then worked as editor-in-chief and program director for different radio stations in Germany. He wrote his first book titled Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen with Jürgen Udolph, which came out in 2005. Since 2006, Fitzek started to write psycho-thriller novels, which all became a best-seller. His very first novel was Therapy (dt. Die Therapie). He got his idea for Therapy in 2000 while waiting for a girlfriend in the waiting room of an orthopedist's office. It contains similar themes to the urban legend the Vanishing Hotel Room (also known as The Vanishing Lady), however, inspiration from the story has not been officially confirmed. After 13 cancellations from different editors, he finally released his book in July, 2006 under Droemer Knaur Verlag. Therapy awas turned into a TV series in 2023. In 2007, Therapy was nominated for best crime-debut for the Friedrich-Glauser-Award. His next novel, Amok game. (dt. Amokspiel.), was released in 2007 and Goldkind Film AG bought the movie rights for it. In 2012, his very first film version of The Child (dt. Das Kind) came out. On 29 October 2016, he published his book The Package (dt. Das Paket.). In 2017, he published EightNight. (dt. AchtNacht.) and his first children's book called Pupsi & Stinki together with illustrator Jörn Stollmann. In 2017, EightNight was the bestselling work of fiction in Germany. In 2018, The Package was the bestselling work of fiction in Germany. The Inmate (dt. Der Insasse) peaked at number 3. Near the end of February 2018, he created the Viktor Crime Awards, where a new voice for thriller and crime literature would be awarded. The first winner was writer Michaela Kastel with So Dark the Forest (dt. So dunkel der Wald). In November, 2020 The Package was published in English by Head of Zeus, translated by Jamie Bulloch.
Personal life
Personal life
Sebastian Fitzek lives in Berlin. He married his wife in 2010. In August 2019, he announced his separation from his wife via Facebook. Fitzek has 3 children.
Fiction (Psychothriller)
Fiction (Psychothriller)
• Year — Original title — English version — ISBN — Editor — Genre — Writer — Ref. • 2006 — Die Therapie — Therapy (transl. by Sally-Ann Spencer) — Knaur Taschenbuchverlag — Psycho-thriller — Sebastian Fitzek • 2007 — Amokspiel. — Amok (transl. by Jamie Lee Searle) • 2008 — Das Kind. — The Child (transl. by John Brownjohn) • Der Seelenbrecher. — The Soul Breaker (transl. by John Brownjohn) • 2010 — Splitter. — Splinter (transl. by John Brownjohn) • 2011 — Der Augensammler. — The Eye Collector (transl. by John Brownjohn) • Nicht einschlafen (Shortstory) — Do not fall asleep — B0076OCDU8 • 2012 — Der Augenjäger. — The Eye Hunter (transl. by John Brownjohn) • 2013 — Der Nachtwandler. — The Nightwalker (transl. by Jamie Lee Searle) • Noah. — Noah — Bastei Lübbe • 2014 — Passagier 23. — Passenger 23 (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) — Knaur Taschenbuchverlag • 2015 — Die Blutschule. — The blood school — Bastei Lübbe — Max Rhode (Pseudonym) • Das Joshua-Profil. — The Joshua-profile — Sebastian Fitzek • 2016 — Das Paket. — The Package (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) — Droemer Knaur Verlag • 2017 — AchtNacht. — EightNight — Knaur Taschenbuchverlag • Flugangst 7a. — Seat 7a (transl. by Steve Anderson) — Droemer Knaur Verlag • 2018 — Der Insasse. — The Inmate (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) • 2019 — Das Geschenk. — The Gift (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) • 2020 — Der Heimweg. — Walk Me Home (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) • 2021 — Playlist. — Playlist (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) • 2022 — Mimik — Mimik (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) • 2023 — Die Einladung
Fiction (Collaboration)
Fiction (Collaboration)
• Year — Original title — English version — ISBN — Editor — Genre — Writer — Ref. • 2008 — Tierische Helden. — Animal Heroes — B0038JPIBQ — Der Club Verlag — Non-fiction — Charlotte Link, Sebastian Fitzek, Iny Lorentz, Jeffery Deaver, Amy Tan, Wolf Serno, Elke Heidenreich, Eva Völler (and many more) • 2009 — Tödliche Gaben. — Deadly Gifts — Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag — Crime — Simon Beckett, Linwood Barclay, Sebastian Fitzek, Chris Mooney, Jay Bonansinga, Felicitas Mayall, Leena Lehtolainen, Kate Pepper, Oliver Bottini, Veit Heinichen, Friedrich Ani. • 2010 — Weisser Schnee, rotes Blut: Mörderisch gute Weihnachtsgeschichten. — White Snow, red blood: Murderous good Christmas-Stories — Ullstein Hardcover Verlag — Friedrich Ani, Anne Chaplet, Zoran Drvenkar, Sebastian Fitzek, Elisabeth Herrmann, Robert Hültner, Linus Reichlin, Andrea Maria Schenkel, Heinrich Steinfest, Michael Theurillat, Jan Costin Wagner. • P.S. Ich töte dich. — P.S. I kill you. — Knaur TB Verlag — Thriller — Sebastian Fitzek, Val McDermid, Thomas Thiemeyer, Torkil Damhaug, Petra Busch, Michael Connelly, Markus Heitz, Michael Koryta, Steve Mosby, Judith Merchant, Jens Lapidus, Markus Stromiedel, Jilliane Hoffman. • 2012 — Abgeschnitten. — Cut off. — Sebastian Fitzek, Michael Tsokos • 2016 — Mord am Hellweg VIII. (Glaube.Liebe.Leichenschau) — Murder on Hellweg VIII. — GRAFIT Verlag — Crime — Bernhard Aichner, Mechtild Borrmann, Horst Eckert, Jürgen Ehlers, Sebastian Fitzek, Frl. Krise und Frau Freitag, Sascha Gutzeit, Georg Haderer, Kathrin Heinrichs, Carsten Sebastian Henn, Elisabeth Herrmann, Susanne Kliem, Ria Klug, Judith Merchant, Gisa Pauly, Till Raether, Arno Strobel, Su Turhan, Matthias Wittekindt, Rainer Wittkamp, Jörg Steinleitner, Christa Bernuth, Theresa Prammer • 2019 — Auris. — Auris — Droemer TB Verlag — Thriller — Writer: Vincent Kliesch / Idea: Sebastian Fitzek • 2020 — Auris 2. — "Die Frequenz des Todes" — Auris 2. - "The frequency of death" • Identität 1142 — Identity 1142 — Droemer HC Verlag — Crime — Wulf Dorn, Andreas Gruber, Romy Hausmann, Daniel Holbe, Vincent Kliesch, Charlotte Link, Ursula Poznanski, Frank Schätzing, Michael Tsokos, Sebastian Fitzek, Melanie Bottke, Annika Bühnemann, Livia Fröhlich, Saskia Hehl, Robert Hönatsch, Vanessa Krypczyk, Pia Schmidt, Anne Schmitz, Julian Gabriel Schneider, Mordechai SImons, Gabriele Störzinger, Kathy Tailor, Michael Thode
Non-Fiction
Non-Fiction
• Year — Original title — English translation — ISBN — Editor — Writer — Ref. • 2000 — Die unbekannte Nutzungsart — The Unknown Type Of Use — Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag — Sebastian Fitzek • 2002 — Die 10 grössten Radio-Geheimnisse — The 10 Biggest Radio-Secrets — Books On Demand — Rüdiger Kreklau, Sebastian Fitzek • 2005 — Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen: Woher sie kommen – Was sie bedeuten — Professor Udolph's Book of Names: Where They Come From - What They Mean — C. Bertelsmann Verlag — Jürgen Udolph, Sebastian Fitzek • 2017 — Pupsi & Stinki — Pupsi & Stinki — Pattloch Geschenkbuch — Writer: Sebastian Fitzek / Illustrator: Jörn Stollmann • 2019 — Fische, die auf Bäume klettern. — Fish climbing trees — Droemer HC Verlag — Sebastian Fitzek
Theater shows
Theater shows
• Year — Original title — Director — Cast — Ref. • 2019 — Der Seelenbrecher. — Benjamin Breutel — Moritz Stursberg, Moritz Heiermann, Jens Kalkhorst, Miriam Kalkreuth, Stephanie Spichala, Denny Pflanz, Doris Hartmann, Niklas Selz • 2016 — Die Therapie. — Wolfgang Rumpf — Thomas Linke, Esther Esche, Silvio Hildebrandt, Martha Tham, Paulina Stöhr • Passagier 23. — Thomas Wingrich — Silvio Hildebrandt, Katrin Martin, Vera Müller, Charlotte Neef, Katharina Zapatka, Helene Jany, Marlene Müller, Pauline Stöhr, Martha Tham, Josephine Nahrstedt, Greta Ipfelkofer, Alexandra Maria Johannknecht, Susanne Meyer, Carmen Zehentmeier, Matti Wien, André Zimmermann, Alejandro Ramon Alonso, Jean Maesér, Maria Jany, Gundula Piepenbring, Kristin Schulze, Jeanniene Gaspar, Nicole Bunge, Peter Dulke, Shero Khalil • 2019 — Das Paket. — Marc Gruppe — Unknown
Board and card games
Board and card games
• Year — Name — Publisher — Creator — Ref. • 2017 — Safehouse — moses Verlag — Marco Teubner • 2018 — Black Stories - Sebastian Fitzek Edition — Bernhard Skopnik • 2019 — Safehouse - Das Würfelspiel — Marco Teubner • 2019 — Killercruise
Life and work
Life and work
Sebastian Fitzek was born on 13 October 1971 in Berlin. Fitzek held the nationality of Germany. Fitzek was educated at law school. Fitzek worked as writer, journalist, screenwriter and film producer. Fitzek held the posts of editor-in-chief. Fitzek worked in German.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1971–2016
The full dated record · 4 entries
1971
Sebastian Fitzek was born on 13 October 1971.
2008
Das Kind is dated 2008.
2009
Die Therapie is dated 2009.
2016
Receives Ripper Award.
Works, 2006–2014
Catalogued output
Works, 2006–2014
These are texts written by the subject, distinct both from writings about the subject and from printed editions of other people's work. 3 works carry dates between 2006 and 2014. The 2010s are the densest part of the run, with 2 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. They belong to a run of 9 titles in all, from 2006 to 2014.
The run opens with Therapy and closes with Passagier 23
Therapy
2006
Noah
2013
Passagier 23
2014
Works without a settled date
Catalogued output
Works without a settled date
6 further works are catalogued under Fitzek's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Audio books
Audio books
• Year — Original title — English version — Speaker — Ref. • 2007 — Die Therapie — Therapy — Simon Jäger • Amokspiel. — Amok game • Das Kind. — The Child • 2008 — Der Seelenbrecher. — The Soul Breaker — Simon Jäger, Sebastian Fitzek • 2009 — Splitter. — Splinter — Simon Jäger • 2010 — Der Augensammler. — The Eye Collector • 2011 — Der Augenjäger. — The Eye Hunter • 2013 — Der Nachtwandler. — The Nightwalker • Noah. — Noah • 2014 — Passagier 23. — Passenger 23 • 2015 — Das Joshua-Profil. — The Joshua-Profile • 2016 — Das Paket — The Package • 2017 — AchtNacht. — EightNight • Flugangst 7a. — Seat 7a • 2018 — Der Insasse. — The Inmate • 2019 — Das Geschenk. — The Present • 2020 — Der Heimweg. — Walk Me Home
Books and published writings, 2000–2026
Catalogued output
Books and published writings, 2000–2026
These are catalogued publications carrying the name — editions and printings, distinct from the works they contain and from writing about the subject. The run opens with Die unbekannte Nutzungsart and closes with REM. The 2010s are the densest part of the run, with 31 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. They belong to a run of 58 titles in all, from 2000 to 2026. A selection is set out below and the complete run may be opened beneath it.
57 editions carry dates between 2000 and 2026
The entries follow Open Library
Die unbekannte Nutzungsart
2000
Der Augensammler
2001
Die 10 grössten Radio-Geheimnisse
2002
Terapi
2007
Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen
2007
Amokspiel
2007
Der Seelenbrecher
2008
Das Kind
2008
Die Therapie
2009
Splitter
2009
The complete catalogue · 52
57 editions carry dates between 2000 and 2026
The entries follow Open Library
Die unbekannte Nutzungsart
2000
Der Augensammler
2001
Die 10 grössten Radio-Geheimnisse
2002
Terapi
2007
Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen
2007
Amokspiel
2007
Der Seelenbrecher
2008
Das Kind
2008
Die Therapie
2009
Splitter
2009
Weißer Schnee, rotes Blut
2010
Tödliche Gaben
2011
Letzte Hilfe
2011
Nicht einschlafen
2011
Ich töte dich
2012
Der Augenjäger
2012
The Night Walker
2013
Abgeschnitten
2013
Flugangst 7A
2014
Berlin blutrot
2015
Die Blutschule
2015
Das Paket
2016
Chilling Tales
2016
XXL-Leseprobe
2016
Das Joshua-Profil
2016
Glaube.Liebe.Leichenschau
2016
Die Bild am Sonntag Mega-Thriller
2017
Pupsi & Stinki
2017
Identität 1142
2017
BILD am Sonntag Mega-Thriller 2018
2018
Der Insasse
2018
BILD am Sonntag Mega-Thriller 2019
2019
Il ladro di anime
2019
Das Geschenk
2019
Pasažir No 23
2019
Fische, die auf Bäume klettern
2019
Mörderische Aussichten, dated 2020. #wirschreibenzuhause
2020
Playlist
2021
Der erste letzte Tag
2021
Mimik
2022
Der Heimweg
2022
Fische die auf Bäume klettern Title
2022
Schreib oder stirb
2022
BILD am Sonntag Mega-Thriller 2022
2022
Die Einladung
2023
Elternabend - Kein Thriller (Auch wenn der Titel nach Horror klingt!)
2023
Das Kalendermädchen
2024
Der Nachbar
2025
Horror-Date
2025
REM
2026
Books and published writings without a settled date
Catalogued output
Books and published writings without a settled date
1 further edition are catalogued under Fitzek's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Llévame a casa
Editions and issues
Primary material
Editions and issues
The discography assembled here shows how Fitzek's work has been published in sound, not what Fitzek made. 33 sound issues are catalogued, carrying dates from 2006 to 2025. An issue is a published recording, distinct from the composition it carries, from a printed score of that composition and from any single performance of it; none of the entries below is counted in the catalogue of works above, and several of them carry the same work in different readings. The 2010s are the densest decade of publication, with 22 issues. The performers and issuing labels are as the discographic register states them; where it names no performer the article names none.
AchtNacht
2017
Der Nachtwandler
2013
Pupsi und Stinki
2017
Passagier 23: Das ungekürzte Hörspiel
2015
Fische, die auf Bäume klettern - Ein Kompass für das große Abenteuer namens Leben
2019
Woher sie kommen, was sie bedeuten
2011
Playlist Premium Edition
2021
Das ungekürzte Hörspiel
2012
Auris
2019
Mauern
2021
Playlist - Das Hörspiel
2021
Horror-Date: Kein Thriller (Obwohl man beim Dating auf viele Psychos trifft)
2025
Alles für Bergkamen
2013
Film
• Year — Title — Director — Cast — Ref. • 2012 — The Child (2012 film) — Zsolt Bács — Eric Roberts, Christian Traeumer, Sunny Mabrey, Ben Becker, Peter Greene, Reiner Schöne, Clemens Schick, Dieter Hallervorden • 2018 — Das Joshua-Profil — Jochen Alexander Freydank — Torben Liebrecht, Lina Hüesker, Franziska Weisz, Armin Rohde, Inez Bjørg David, Max Hopp, Katy Karrenbauer, David Nathan • Cut Off — Christian Alvart — Moritz Bleibtreu, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Lars Eidinger, Fahri Yardım, Barbara Prakopenka • Amok (2018 film) — Oliver Schmitz — Franziska Weisz, Kai Schumann, Eko Fresh, Manuel Mairhofer, Lena Reinhold, Nicki von Tempelhoff, Johann von Bülow, Christian Tramitz • Passagier 23 —Verschwunden auf hoher See — Alexander Dierbach — Lucas Gregorowicz, Oliver Mommsen, Picco von Groote, Kim Riedle, Annalee Ranft, Liane Forestieri, Judy Winter
Influences
According to Fitzek himself, he was inspired by Enid Blyton, Michael Ende and Alfred Weidemann during his childhood and later by Stephen King, Michael Crichton and John Grisham. Today, he reads everything written by Harlan Coben.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Sebastian Fitzek”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q67216: Sebastian Fitzek
Unverified · Wikidata
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref. • 2007 — Friedrich-Glauser-Awards — Best Crime-Debut — Die Therapie — rowspan=1 • 2010 — LovelyBooks Awards — Tension (Crime & Thriller) — Der Augensammler. — rowspan=1 • 2011 — Der Augenjäger. — rowspan=1 • 2012 — Abgeschnitten. — rowspan=1 • 2014 — Crime & Thriller — Passagier 23. — rowspan=1 • 2015 — Das Joshua-Profil. — rowspan=1 • 2016 — European Crime Fiction Star Award — Best Crime Fiction Writer — Himself — rowspan=1 • LovelyBooks Awards — Crime & Thriller — Das Paket. — rowspan=1 • Best Audio Book — rowspan=1 • Best Book Cover — rowspan=1 • 2017 — European Crime Fiction Star Award — Best Crime Fiction Writer — Himself — rowspan=1 • LovelyBooks Awards — Crime & Thriller — Flugangst 7a. — rowspan=1 • Best Audio Book — rowspan=1 • 2018 — Crime & Thriller — Der Insasse. — rowspan=1 • 2019 — Das Geschenk. — rowspan=1
Authority records
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
He also worked under the name Max Rhode. The authorities additionally record the headings Fitzek and Sebastian David Fitzek. His recorded language was German. Recorded with the occupation film producer. Recorded as writer, journalist, screenwriter and film producer.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,960 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Sebastian BarkerAuthor
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- Sebastian GrabowieckiAuthor
- Sebastián Herrero Espinosa de los MonterosAuthor
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