AMOK - A Press Release

I was sent this from the lovely Felicity at Midas PR, asking if I could share the news on this with you guys. And I said yes. I liked The Child by Sebastian Fitzek last year and this is going to be in the same vein as that - audiobook coming out today and book later this year/early next year. So, I have apress release for you to read and I hope it wet your appetite!

RAFE SPALL, ADRIAN LESTER, NATASCHA MCELHONE AND ROBERT GLENISTER  STAR IN NEW ORIGINAL AUDIO DRAMA

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

   AMOK

AVAILABLE FROM 8^th MAY 2015 ON AUDIBLE

A psychological thriller about an unsparing hostage situation at a radio station, as millions of listeners are drawn into one man’s vicious game…

Based on Sebastian Fitzek’s best-selling novel Amok Spiel, Amok stars Rafe Spall (Prometheus and Life of Pi), Adrian Lester (Hustleand Merlin) and Natasha McElhone (Californication and The Truman Show). The thriller follows an intense hostage situation unfolding at a radio station where a crazed psychopath, Jan May (Adrian Lester), initiates a morbid mind-game.  While the show is on air, he calls members of the public at random.  If they pick up the phone with a certain phrase, a hostage is set free.  If they don’t, a hostage is shot live on-air until the killer’s demands are met. 

Struggling with her own personal demons, renowned criminal psychologist, Ira Samin (Natasha McElhone) is called upon by her former fling Olivier Götz (Rafe Spall) - leader of a Special Operations Command troop – to assist in the harrowing circumstances.

A specialist in the field, Ira faces a seemingly futile negotiation, played out to millions of transfixed radio listeners.

Writer Sebastian Fitzek says of the new series: “The idea came to me whilst I was editor of the morning show at Berlin's most famous radio station 104.6 RTL.  One day a group of visitors passed through the station foregoing any identity and belonging checks – no safeguards whatsoever. If a hostage taker was posing as a visitor the effect would be horrifying because of the direct contact with the outside world. Each listener would be "live" and could communicate with the offender even.  This fascinating and terrifying idea never let go of me again and I had to write AMOK.”

Rafe Spall says of the experience: “As an actor the challenge of being stripped of all tools other than your voice is daunting yet liberating – you only have the nuances of language, accent, intonation and tone in your voice to portray your character to the audience. Amok has a thrilling story line which I think will really draw listeners in and keep them on tenterhooks right to the very end.”

Amok is award-winning writer Sebastian Fitzek’s second title available on Audible.co.uk; his first, the original audio drama The Child, launched in August 2014 and remained in the top-selling position for three consecutive weeks. Fitzek’s first book Therapy (Die Therapie) knocked The Da Vinci Code off the number one spot in his native Germany, whilst Fitzek’s novel Splinter was included in the 2014 Sunday Times 50 Best Crime and Thriller Books.

Also starring in Amok is Robert Glenister (Spooks) as narrator, Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) and Peter Firth (Spooks). 

Amok will be available on Audible.co.uk, as well as Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, the Audible apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 8, PC, Mac and some MP3 players.

Sign up to Audible and download the 8-hour drama for free at www.audible.co.uk/AMOK (URL TBC)