THE NIGHTWALKER is the first of Sebastian Fitzek’s novels to be published in the United States, but he is already a household name in many other countries, including his native Germany, where he is the top-selling author of contemporary fiction. This is an impressive and unforgettable introduction (due in part to the efforts of translator Jaime Lee Searle) that demands to be read in one sitting and commands attention and reflection long thereafter.

A troubled gentleman named Leon Nader is the subject of THE NIGHTWALKER. Leon had a troubled childhood, which included such tragedies as losing his parents and sister in an automobile accident. A stint with a foster family abruptly ended when he began experiencing sleepwalking episodes that, if not interrupted, almost certainly would have led to violence. He was subsequently adopted by a kindly couple who made sure that he received psychiatric treatment for his condition. He appears on the surface to have been cured.

"This is an impressive and unforgettable introduction (due in part to the efforts of translator Jaime Lee Searle) that demands to be read in one sitting and commands attention and reflection long thereafter."

In his present, Leon is a brilliant architect, on the cusp of having his gift recognized, and is married to an artist named Natalie, who has opened a successful gallery. The couple lives in a prestigious apartment building whose units are highly sought after. Their lives are not without difficulty, though. As we follow the breadcrumbs that Fitzek scatters throughout the book, we learn that they have had some tragedies of their own that they are unable to resolve as their careers take different directions. Natalie’s pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and the aftermath of that tragedy, as well as the stress of their professions, have put a strain on their marriage. None of this, however, prepares Leon for what happens when he wakes up one morning to find that Natalie is leaving him. Or has she?

Leon makes some discoveries indicating that his sleepwalking activities might have returned. He seeks out the doctor who helped him during his childhood, who in turn outfits him with a wearable, motion-activated video camera that will record what he does while he sleeps. He is surprised when he views the results the next morning. There is a door in the apartment bedroom that had been hidden and leads to places he literally never would have imagined. It’s not just the places that are surprising; it’s what they contain, and what they say about Natalie and about himself, that are astounding.

Meanwhile, Leon begins to have memories that contradict each other and what others tell him. He can no longer rely on what he thinks, or even what he sees. Then things get worse. There is an explanation for everything he is experiencing, but it’s a shocking one, and the truth is something that neither he nor the reader may wish to confront.

Fitzek creates a world wherein he takes the reader step by step into madness that is far too close to reality. The result seems like a collaboration between Franz Kafka and Philip K. Dick, with each author attempting to wrest the driving wheel of the story away from the other. This is not a book to be read before bedtime, and it’s not all that settling during the daylight hours, either. I recommend it to thriller and (old-school) science fiction fans alike, but only those who have a firm grip upon themselves. Hang on and start reading.