Secrets in the Cellar cover art

Secrets in the Cellar

The True Story of the Austrian Incest Case That Shocked the World

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Secrets in the Cellar

By: John Glatt
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.23

Buy Now for £12.23

Josef Fritzl was a 73-year-old retired engineer in Austria. He seemed to be living a normal life with his wife, Rosemarie, and their family - though one daughter, Elisabeth, had decades earlier been "lost" to a religious cult. Throughout the years, three of Elisabeth's children mysteriously appeared on the Fritzls' doorstep; Josef and Rosemarie raised them as their own. But only Josef knew the truth about Elisabeth's disappearance....

For 27 years, Josef had imprisoned and molested Elisabeth in his man-made basement dungeon, complete with soundproof paneling and code-protected electric locks. There, she would eventually give birth to a total of seven of Josef's children. One died in infancy, and the other three were raised alongside Elisabeth, never to see the light of day.

Then, in 2008, one of Elisabeth's children became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital. It was the first time the 19-year-old girl had ever gone outside - and soon, the truth about her background, her family's captivity, and Josef's unspeakable crimes would come to light.

©2009 John Glatt (P)2013 Tantor Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons True Crime Emotionally Gripping Scary
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
if I didn't know better then I'd have thought this was fiction. I'm not even going to mention the monster, rather amazement at what human being can endure for love Bravo Elizabeth..

what an amazing & strong woman

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Finally. An informative, true and complete account of the somewhat incomprehensible story that lay beneath the ground, confined within the walls of that infamous cellar. Secrets in the cellar fills in the gaps that were left by the media since uncovering the truth behind Fritzl's 'secret family'
The story not only offers a brutal blow by blow account of Fritzl's depraved crimes but gives an entire timeline of events, witness testimony and full access to the back story, life and psyche of the Austrian man behind it all.
The book gives readers the opportunity to see behind the headlines and learn of the true nightmare that was Elizabet Fritzl's life and what followed.
A good read and well narrated. However, at times the narrator uses local accents, perhaps in an attempt to further dramatise and give more credence to the story. I felt this was unnecessary and at times, a fraction over done.
If you're a fan of true crime or merely seeking the truth behind the Fritzl story, this book should be on your wish list.

Totally harrowing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a tragic situation. And Fritzl himself showed no remorse whatsoever. Would love to know how Elizabeth and her children are doing now

Heartbreaking and compelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well written and narrated. I can only hope the victims have found peace in their freedom.

Horrifying truths

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is truly horrific,I found once I started it I had to keep going to see what happened. I'm glad they were finally free of that monster, if it were up to me I would have hanged Josef and his lawyer, the world doesn't need people like that, hopefully they have some sort of normal life now

Horrific Story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews