Girl in the Cellar: The Natascha Kampusch Story

In March 1998, ten year old Natasha Kampusch was kidnapped on her way to school. Investigations as to the identity of the abductor or Natasha's whereabouts come to a dead end. Then more than eight years later, Natasha, now a young woman, escapes to tell the world a story that will horrify the world. Natasha has spent this time as a prisoner in Wolfgang Priklopil's cellar in a suburban home that on the surface looks ordinary. No one looking from the outside would ever have suspected that this ordinary man in this ordinary looking life held the key to an unimaginable nightmare. Does Natasha's difficult childhood hide a clue to her future fate? What kind of monster would commit such an evil act? What kind of person was Natasha to be able to survive? How was she abducted and why did the trails and investigation lead nowhere? How did she escape? How did this young woman, a woman imprisoned and living her childhood mostly alone, handle the instant media fame frenzy after her escape? In THE GIRL IN THE CELLAR, journalists Allan Hall and Michael Leidig summarize the main facts behind this horrific true crime without sensationalizing the case, especially given the fact that Natascha Kampusch herself refuses to reveal personal details about her life and her relationship with Wolfgang Priklopil and Austria's strict privacy make such information less available. Without being a detailed psychological treatise that most lay persons might find tedious, the authors turn to those in the field to give readers some insight into the main psychological issues raised by this case. Allan Hall and Michael Leidig also turn to history and literature to draw a picture for readers of the few existent cases of similar but not identical situations that might help a reader imagine the dynamics of Natascha's captivity and her relationship with Woflgang Priklopil. As such, this book is helpful in separating fact from media hype. Readers of true crime familiar with some of the modern classics of literature will appreciate the author's literary examples to spark the imagination. As with the parallels drawn to concentration camp prisoners, or their examination of the psychology, the authors do not turn this true crime story into a scholarly examination, but rather use such examples to fill in the reader's imagination and/or provide readers with other areas to explore without turning away from the case and issues in hand. Sixteen pages of color plates and diagrams accompany the text, allowing readers, particularly American readers perhaps less conversant in the case, to identify the key characters and events, then and now. An index at the back helps readers relocate particular references after finishing the book. Most intriguing are the author's insight into the media frenzy surrounding her escape, Natascha's marketing and branding of herself, and the effects this case has had within Austrian society. Since enough time has elapsed between the hardcover edition an

This book does a good job in giving a very good background into the events that transpired resulting in the kidnapping, and into the life and mind of Wolfgang Priklopil. A lot is speculative, and what actually happened during the 8 years of confinement is not covered in any great detail - possibly because Natascha herself has not divulged anything from her own journal or diary etc. Nevertheless it is still an inspiring story of one individuals will not to be "broken" by anothers, and ultimately out survive her captors. The final chapters are particularly enthralling, almost like out of a "thriller" movie, and leave one to be inspired by Natashcha. Derek

This was an interesting and easy book to read. But the thing I liked best was the description of the strength of the victim, her personal ethics, and her refusal to share any details that she didn't want to share. The young woman is a good role model for other young survivors.

I found this book compulsive reading. It presented a well written picture of a really complex crime, one which I think we have not heard the last of by a long way. The authors have pieced together a portrait of Natascha's dysfunctional family, reconstructing their links with Priklopil: They all drank in the same bar and the police never even knew! And their portrait of the failed police investigation to find her was both detailed and compelling. These guys packed a lot of detail in, if only other instant crime writing was as good. There were interviews with every one involved, including Natascha, her father, teachers, her doctors - and, oh yes, one of the cops who led the hunt for her who also found her mother flakey! A thoroughly good read I would heartily recommend.