Mimik by Sebastian Fitzek, published by Head of Zeus, Aria & Atria, is the latest pulsepounding thriller by this talented author.
Hannah is a specialist working with law enforcement, but suffering from memory loss. Her latest case is a complex, difficult one and when the suspect escapes from prison only Hannah can avoid disaster.
A complex, complicated thriller of its finest. UNputdownable, twisty as they come, a fantastic read, 5 stars.

I was intrigued by the book's description and rightfully so, Fitzek delivered a fast paced psychological thriller, a definition of an unputtable page-turner.
Full of suspense, plot twists and mystery, you follow the story of policewoman and mother who tries to find out who killed her family but also waches her confession on a video. Less harsh but still dark, more cerebral and action oriented than "The Gift" (the 1st Fitzek book i ve read), i enjoyed every single chapter.
I am definitely going to read more of him.

Thanks Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the eCopy of this title.

Some thrillers twist your mind before they grip your heart Mimik does both. Sebastian Fitzek delivers a chilling psychological puzzle where truth hides in micro-expressions and memory is the most unreliable witness of all.

🧍‍♂️ Plot Summary
Hannah Herbst is Germany’s leading facial resonance expert. She can read a person’s true intentions from the tiniest twitch of a lip or flicker of a pupil. As a consultant to the police, she’s helped convict violent criminals with nothing more than a glance.

But after a recent operation leaves her with memory loss, Hannah is thrust into her most terrifying case yet: a woman has confessed to the brutal murder of her entire family except her young son. The woman escapes prison, and the only evidence left is a short video of the confession. The twist? The woman in the video is Hannah herself.

As Hannah races to uncover the truth, she must confront the possibility that she is both the hunter and the hunted. The deeper she digs, the more her fractured mind becomes the battleground.

🔍 What I Liked
Unique Premise: The concept of facial resonance as a crime-solving tool is fascinating and adds a fresh layer to the psychological thriller genre.

Tension and Pacing: Fitzek keeps the suspense taut, with short chapters and cliff hangers that make it hard to put down.

Unreliable Narration: Hannah’s memory loss adds complexity and doubt to every scene, making the reader question everything.

Atmosphere: The tone is claustrophobic and intense, perfect for fans of cerebral thrillers.

🧬 Final Thoughts
Mimik is a smart, unsettling thriller perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, or Before I Go to Sleep. If you enjoy psychological suspense with a scientific twist and a protagonist you’re never quite sure you trust, this one will keep you guessing to the last page.

Another brilliant novel from Sebastian Fitzek. Scary, fascinating, unbelievable in parts but totally mind blowing. As psychological thrillers go very hard to beat. Lots of twists and turns and as for the ending - WOW! If you want to read something that is that little bit different I definitely recommend Mimik!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I love the twisted mind of Sebastian Fitzek and I absolutely adored this book. At no point did I understand what was going on and I mean that in a good way!

Hannah, a specialist in reading facial expressions, faces memory loss and the possibility of having murdered her family while a psychopath holds her captive.
A novel with tremendous pace, mind-boggling twists and a plot that keeps you reading from start to finish.
Definitely recommended for fans of the genre.

Wow, this was different. Hannah Herbst is an expert in facial resonance, and she is trained to detect hidden truths in the slightest facial movements. She is also a trusted police consultant, and bringing violent offenders to justice is what she does best. Hannah then endures a procedure, and she suffers memory loss but is then presented with a case where apart from her young son, a woman has killed her whole family. After escaping custody, all that remains is a brief video of the confession. However, the worst is yet to come for Hannah as she is the woman in the video. Hannah’s fragmented memory injects uncertainty into every moment, leaving readers constantly second-guessing what’s real. If you are looking for a very different psychological mystery and a protagonist whose reliability is always in question, this one may be right up your alley. A very cleverly put together story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

Sebastian Fitzek’s “Mimik” was a very exciting and thought-provoking book for me. I had already seen Fitzek and Dirk Eilert live, so I was especially curious to read this story. The main character, Hannah Herbst, is a facial expression expert who loses her memory and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder case. The plot is full of twists and surprises, and I really enjoyed how the author used the science of microexpressions to build tension. It made me think about how much we can really trust what people show on their faces—and even what we believe about ourselves.

What I liked most was how realistic and emotional the story felt. Fitzek doesn’t just write about crime; he writes about fear, confusion, and identity. The book made me reflect on how easily we can be manipulated, and how fragile our memories can be. Because I had seen Dirk Eilert explain his work in person, I could really imagine how Hannah would analyze people’s expressions. That made the story even more powerful. “Mimik” is not just a thriller—it’s a book that makes you look at people differently.

I have just finished Mimik. How does a writer start with such a story with so many twists and turns and then the ending. Well. I really enjoyed this book and found it fascinating. There are many stories within the story even the investigator having a sick wife but still dedicated to finding the serial killer. I am not really sure what to write as a review as there are so many elements and one leads to another seamlessly. I cannot say any more than this other than read it for yourself and enjoy the journey. It is the first book I have read of this author and I intend to read more. His mind is amazing for storytelling.

Thank to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book is amazing!! Love the story and the twists, just like always, Fitzek is a genius. There's no book I didn't like it and I've read quite a few.

Oh wow! What a story and the twist was amazing. I thoroughly enioyed reading this book, my first of this author.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Aria & Aries for the ARC.

Brilliant as always,this author defines thrillers and the unexpected and although at times I was maybe unsure as to 100% what was happening and why his writing is so good and intriguing it doesn’t matter
Another great read from this too author

what happens when you dont remember? what happens what you are supposed to remember could be that you murdered your whole family?
this book was full of so many toe curling moments of tensions, suspense and twists. you are wondering who to trust even our main character. at the start all i could think about was being in this woman's place. imagine you wake to memory loss, you get a new case as you are the best facial profiler of everything and anything she can tell just by looking. that new case is a woman who has confessed to murder, all but of her son. and then... the woman confessing...is you!! arrrrgh right???
this book doesn't just give you a thriller or crime book. its delving so much deeper. i truly felt so much emotional moments throughout. the moments you question things in this book. the moments you wonder about manipulation and how easy it might be to be so. i got so much fear and confusion from our character. it rippled off the pages.
i love the facial profiling inclusion in this book. ive read a bit on this and became quite interested in this over the years. the science of it is brilliant but also rather scary. i cant imagine studying this to such a degree, how would you ever have a conversation with anyone ever again! you'd just read them all the time and wonder...what if someone twitches wrong, haha. i jest but its serious too.
the book obviously hits upon some darker themes but it totally fit with the book and it didn't just do it for the sake of it.
this is definitely ones of those books i love. the type that get to your mind and not just your thrills. the books that really make you think.
throughout the book i was worried for the truth, in a way i was actually concerned at one point that justice would be found and the truth wouldn't come,the baddies win? and then i was taken in another direction and doubted whether that truth was even the truth now... you see this is what this book does to you. have you doubting so much. and then piece by piece all the connective dots come together in one perfectly sequenced story.
this was just brilliant. i cannot tell you the ride it took me on. i couldn't breathe at times. i was frustrated at other. and questioning everything.
but i never once felt confused or out of my reading depth, or like i wouldn't get there in the end with the writers direction.
brilliant.

I love Fitzek’s writing. It’s layered, clever, and always comes with those little signature touches that make his thrillers feel different from everything else out there. His books are usually packed with macabre detail, but funnily enough, this one is probably the least graphic of all the Fitzeks I’ve read. And I really enjoyed the premise, the plot, and especially the constant tension (from all the books I’ve read by him, this one is definitely his most fast paced).

My only negative comment, which applies to all this book in general, is that I felt some of the motives and some of the plot twists were a bit too conveniently built for the sake of the story, and that does take away a little of my enthusiasm. That said, I still 100% recommend this read if you want a solid thriller with a quick pace.

"Mimik" by Sebastian Fitzek was recommended by a friend and I'm glad she did.

Thank you Aria & Aries for the digital copy of the book.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This book is a page turner and I enede up finishing it in one day.
The start was a bit confusing for me, but it also got me interested in the story.

Most of the book is from Hannah's perspective.
She is a facial resonance expert and she has temporary memory loss after receiving anaesthesia.

The whole book is a series of twists and revelations and you do not know who is lying and telling the truth.
I have to say that the ending crossed my mind as a possibility, but I truly hoped to be wrong.

Hannah is such a great character, she is strong, but also vulnerable, with traumas, but also the conviction that she can uncover the truth.
I liked the emotional side of the story, even if it deals with hard subjects.
It was a bit triggering, especially because I have a kid, so I would recommend checking for content warnings before reading.

Hannah's gift of reading people's faces is fascinating and it's based on science.

This is not an easy read, but the story kept me interested until the end.

Identity, memory, and fear collide in this unsettling novel. Fitzek’s short, sharp chapters keep the pace relentless, while Hannah’s unreliable narration forces readers to question every clue.

Having read several books by this author, I am prepared for the dark subjects that this author investigates! Although I found it quite difficult to get into at first, I was soon fully engaged and unable to put the book down until the end. I did suspect who the killer was but it did not spoil my 'enjoyment' of the story and still left me uncomfortable at the end. Twists and turns galore! Facial tells an interesting subject!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sebastian Fitzek/Aria and Aries for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another great story from this master of the psycho thriller.
This book has got the lot. suspense, twists and turns and a storyline that will keep guessing until the very end
I highly recommend all Sebastian Fitzek books

Oooo this was a good one! Darker and more intense than expected. Loved every dark, twisted moment. A must read

I chose to read a free eARC of Mimik but that has in no way influenced my review.

This is not the first Sebastian Fitzek novel I have read. I've been a fan now for over ten years. How do I know this? I remember reading The Eye Collector when I was in the hospital waiting to have my second child (who is eleven years old!). I've read a number of this author's other books but most of them were pre-blog, so I don't have any reviews to share with you. Other than this review of The Nightwalker and this one of Seat 7A. The one thing you can always guarantee with a Sebastian Fitzek novel is that it will be highly entertaining throughout, with twists and turns galore.

Hannah Herbst studies your face. She notes the tiny movements, the muscle spasms, the way your eyes move, and she immediately knows whether you're lying, whether you're hiding something, what's going on inside your head. She knows your secrets, and you can't lie to her. But Hannah has a rare condition where, when given an anaesthetic, she completely loses her memory. Awakening in a hotel room with a strange man, the situation she's in appears to be beyond dire. He tells her that a terrible crime has been committed. Most of her family has been killed, her young son escaped but his whereabouts are unknown. The police know who committed the atrocity because they have a confession on video. The man shows Hannah the video, but it can't be true. Her eyes do not believe what she sees. The woman in the video is Hannah. What has she done? She can't recall the murders, the confession, or where her son, Paul, is...?

Mimik is a rip-roaring, non-stop, highly entertaining psychological thriller from an author who always delivers. Fitzek takes his readers on a journey. A journey where you will encounter things you expect, and things you really, really won't expect. Yes, this author's books can be a little bit bonkers in part, but that's kind of the reason why I enjoy Fitzek's storytelling. Returning to his books time and time again. Mimik opens with a shocking prologue. The situation the characters were in was so different, so unusual, that it took me a moment or two to catch up. Is what I think is happening, REALLY happening? Yes, yes it is. We then skip forward twenty-seven years and meet Hannah Herbst arriving at her son's kindergarten to collect him early. But Hannah's spidey senses tell her something is very wrong. Another leap in time takes us to Hannah, post-op, waking up in a hotel room with no memory of how she got there, nor who the man in the room with her is. There are a number of threads that don't necessarily seem connected, but everything makes perfect sense and is tied up beautifully in the end.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Mimik is a clever, multi-layered thriller with a devilishly good twist in the tale. A highly unreliable narrator leads the reader down a path of uncertainty, wrong turns and convincing lies. I found myself doubting whether the truth, the real truth, would ever be uncovered. You do get there in the end, and it's well worth waiting for! The characters are interesting but not particularly likeable. I did, of course, feel a little sorry for Hannah. Is she being told the whole truth? Did she really kill her family in cold blood? Was the confession real? You can't be sure of anything in Mimik. I found myself doubting everything and everyone, and I loved it! All in all, a gripping, engaging thriller with a perfect twist. Another cracking book from Sebastian Fitzek. Dark, tense and packed full of emotion. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Mimik. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Review will be published on 4th December 2025]

This book is crazy. I'm starting to think the author has a twisted mind himself after reading two of their books thanks to Netgalley. They are far being easy reads, but they are worth every minute, every line, everyt page.
I do not read crime or suspense novels very often, but in my opinion, this man is a master. These books are exciting, interesting, well researcbed, it feels like, and full of suspense. Full of twists too. I don't know why this man seems to be fascinated by characters with psyho tendencies, but he writes them very well, very believably. Distrubingly so at times.
I will say this book is often very German, especially in the tone and language - even after the English translation, but the story is fairly universal, even with all of its specificity.
And I did love to see the science of body language being explored, explained, and sometimes debunked to help solve the crimes that drive the plot.
I am certainly a fan.

Mimik by Sebastian Fitzek is a tense and mind-bending book that grips from the first page and never lets go. Hannah Herbst is a renowned facial resonance expert who can read guilt and deception in a single glance. But when she wakes from surgery with memory loss and discovers a video of herself confessing to the brutal murder of her own family, her world collapses.

What follows is a relentless psychological thriller as Hannah tries to uncover the truth. Is she really capable of such violence, or is someone manipulating her memories and identity? Fitzek masterfully builds suspense through shifting timelines, unreliable memories and constant twists that keep the reader questioning everything.

Hannah is a fascinating character, both vulnerable and resilient, and the exploration of trauma, guilt and perception gives the story real emotional depth. The pacing is tight, the tension unrelenting and the atmosphere deeply unsettling.

Clever, chilling and full of surprises, this is a dark and cerebral thriller that keeps you guessing until the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Very much a case of living in the moment. I tried to read this book in one sitting but just couldn’t devote the time.

Ultimately, there’s much to enjoy from the observation s around body language but perhaps a little too much for the purpose of a crime fiction novel.