Книга Elly: a gripping tale of grief, longing, and doubt
LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA DAGGER AWARD FOR FICTION IN TRANSLATION
A missing child is a nightmare for any family. But what happens when they come back?
Eleven-year-old Elly is missing. After an extensive police search she is presumed dead, and her family must learn to live with a gaping hole in their lives. Then, four years later, she reappears. But soon her parents and sister are plagued by doubts. Is this stranger really the same little girl who went missing? And if not, who is she?
Elly is a gripping tale of grief, longing, and doubt, which takes every parent’s greatest fear and lets it play out to an emotionally powerful, memorable climax. It is a literary novel with all the best qualities of a thriller.
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‘This short, haunting novel that can be read in one sitting is a devastating study of grief and loss.’
" - The Daily Mail"
‘Revolving around the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl, this slender German novel builds into a brutal, uncomfortable story, told from the alternating perspectives of family members.’
" - The Guardian, ‘Ten of the best new books in translation’"
‘In few yet incredibly precise words, Maike Wetzel creates an oppressive tension around a family falling apart. A book that will not let you go.’
" - Brigitte Woman"
‘Reminiscent of Ian McEwan’s A Child in Time, Elly will have wide appeal ... Maike Wetzel’s fresh, original take on the popular literary theme of missing children is delivered in her clear, understated prose with its unflinching eye for detail.’
" - New Books in German"
‘Wetzel tells the story of the loss of a child as a family drama from various perspectives, in permanent present tense.’
" - Süddeutsche Zeitung"
‘An elaborate mosaic about the unrelenting belief in a happy ending.’
" - Brigitte"
‘A highly focused and accurate novel about that which is not supposed to happen.’
" - Frankfurter Rundschau Online"
‘Breathtaking. An intense, abysmal study of the trauma of abandonment and uncertainty.’
" - Luzerner Zeitung"
‘Wetzel’s powerful narrative style reminds of Judith Hermann, who does not waste a word, but uses unusual imagery to create atmospheres that express the unconscious, the inexpressible, the outrageous.’
" - Volksdorfer Zeitung"
‘Maike Wetzel mercilessly writes about overwhelming pain and its destructive power.’
" - Deutschlandfunk Kultur"
‘Psychologically refined, linguistically brilliant.’
" - Hessischer Rundfunk"
‘Wetzel’s literature gets right to the core of human existence ... How she conveys primal fears and their consequences is captivating and unsettling. Her laconic, unruffled style is in contrast to the inner life of her protagonists ... This book fits only too well in a time when assumed certainties and principles are shattered.’
" - Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk"
‘The perfect book for those moments when you forget the world around you.’
" - Deutschlandfunk Nova"
‘So haunting and touching, so captivating and intense that you cannot resist it.’
" - Norddeutscher Rundfunk"
‘An enigmatic study, a polyphonic monologue.’
" - Bayerischer Rundfunk"
‘A fascinating narrative revolving around the question whose story is being told — and to whom stories actually belong.’
" - Bettina Hesse"
‘A breathless yet mournful rollout of the tides of grief and loss.’
" - Aust Crime Fiction"
‘A gripping read that ends on a thought-provoking and unsettling note … Recommended reading and an ideal one for book clubs.’
" - Theresa Smith Writes"
‘It kept me reading, the back and forth of the narratives coupled with the lyrical penmanship was quite breath-taking … Elly is a compelling literary thriller that’s snappy and dynamic, which is fantastically translated and absolutely recommended for readers who enjoyed Lullaby, The Lovely Bones and The Girl in the Red Coat.’
" - The Reading Closet"
‘This is a very impressive novel, subtly layering great depth of feeling and meaning in very few words and those simply presented … [H]aunting and evocative, leaving the brain mulling over thoughts and questions even when the book is back on the shelf. It should be brilliant for book clubs that explore people, families and emotions.’
" - NB"
‘[Maike Wetzel] is a very cinematic writer.’
" - ABC Radio National The Bookshelf"
‘Short and sharp.’
" - Pile by the Bed"
Praise for Distant Beloved:
‘In a clear and elegant language, Maike Wetzel describes a sense of insecurity spreading around … How the everyday changes into something menacing reminds of Kafka's stories.’
" - MDR Kultur"
Praise for Distant Beloved:
‘Maike Wetzel’s sentences are like tiny barbs: eventually there are so many that any world can become unhinged.’
" - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung"
Praise for Distant Beloved:
‘This book knocks you down … Every page is a delight.’
" - Book Reviews