Berlin
Syndrome

"A courageous and exciting debut ... Berlin Syndrome is an intelligent novel, and Joosten is masterful in her descriptions of the loneliness that can be found both in a foreign city full of strangers and in an apartment shared by two people."
- Eloise Keating, Bookseller & Publisher

Berlin. The once-divided city still holds its share of secrets.

One afternoon, near the site of the Berlin Wall, backpacker Clare meets charismatic local Andi. There is an instant attraction, and when Andi invites her to stay, Clare thinks she may finally have found somewhere to call home.

But when Clare wakes up in Andi’s apartment, she discovers that the door is locked. And it soon becomes clear that he has no intention of letting her go. Clare begins to wonder if it’s really love that Andi is searching for — or something else altogether.

Berlin Syndrome is a closely observed and gripping psychological thriller that shifts between Andi’s and Clare’s perspectives, revealing the power of obsession, the fluidity of truth, and the kaleidoscopic nature of human relationships.

Berlin Syndrome is a beguiling psychological dance.

Canberra Times

Joosten’s debut novel is a taut and intimate psychological thriller … an unflinching examination of power dynamics in a relationship.

Literary Minded

In language that's hypnotic and sparse, Joosten's remarkable first novel demands to be guzzled in one sitting.’

Courier Mail