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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Few things in life are as satisfying than immersing yourself in a new book by the godfather of Norwegian crime writing, Gunnar Staalesen, and once again Fallen Angels, the latest in the Varg Veum investigations, brings a whole host of new delights, and something different to this long running series…
I am in total admiration of writers who undertake to sustain writing an established series featuring the same central character, and particularly Staalesen who always seems to be able to expose different facets to Veum’s character, which are always plausible and gratifying for the follower of this series. What is noticeable about this book, compared to the previous books, is the more noticeable meditative tone, and the feeling of a greater degree of introspection. There are significantly less of the cynical and wryly humorous asides that this character so often employs, and instead there seems to be a greater degree of digging down into his life and motivations, and an incredibly dark denouement that is both full of pathos and very disturbing. This book gives Veum a chance to ruminate on his life more, as individuals he has known since childhood and his formative years begin to have untimely deaths, forcing Veum to reassess incidents from the past, and how they could have led to these current events.
In one noteworthy passage Veum sums up these exact thoughts, “Childhood is a wound that never heals; your youth a poster someone has tried in vain to tear down. All the years you have lived are here, like dirty footprints in the snow behind you. You have left your own chalk-marks on most of the walls in this town and no charlady has bleach strong enough to wash them off completely. And the child you once were, you will never be again.” Consequently, childhood, life, death, love, friendship, loyalty and betrayal are key themes throughout the book, as Veum attempts to track a determined and vengeful killer, but finds himself immersed in loves lost and betrayals uncovered and exposed in this very personal case. There is a much more sombre tone to this book as a whole, and quite intense examinations of the public vs the private in terms of the character’s lives, and the role of the spiritual and religious as time marches on, and age begins to become a greater concern in Veum’s mind, intensified in the series of murders of his peers, a couple of misjudged entanglements, and also as an important connection is rekindled from the past.
Once again, Staalesen works wonders for the Norwegian tourist board with his precise and descriptive portrayal of Bergen- both the good and the not so good- and its surrounding landscapes, so as he traverses the country in search of vital clues, the visual representation of these locales is always imbued with clarity and atmosphere. Likewise, there is an almost complete bibliography of the Norwegian music scene from the 1960s onwards, which adds an other layer of interest to the book, and perhaps more starkly as he charts the musical journey of the fictional band, The Harpers, shows the highs and lows of life in the spotlight, the drugs, the groupies, and more brutally how some continue to try and hold on to fame beyond the time they should, when the glory years are indeed well behind them. The central investigation is very deeply imbedded in the events from this period of the band’s success, and like water circling a drain, Veum slowly closes in on the disturbing goings-on before their parting of the ways.
As I said, there is a much more meditative tone to Fallen Angels overall, although Staalesen does seem to get an inordinate amount of pleasure from putting Veum through the emotional wringer fairly consistently in the series. I liked the dark brooding tone to this one, with the growing self awareness Veum gains from revisiting his formative years, his appreciation of his own upbringing, and how this has shaped him on a moral and spiritual level, in contrast to the morally dubious and in some cases, really dislikeable figures from his past. Another satisfying addition to this already excellent series and who knows what awaits Varg Veum in his next investigation… Recommended.
I am in total admiration of writers who undertake to sustain writing an established series featuring the same central character, and particularly Staalesen who always seems to be able to expose different facets to Veum’s character, which are always plausible and gratifying for the follower of this series. What is noticeable about this book, compared to the previous books, is the more noticeable meditative tone, and the feeling of a greater degree of introspection. There are significantly less of the cynical and wryly humorous asides that this character so often employs, and instead there seems to be a greater degree of digging down into his life and motivations, and an incredibly dark denouement that is both full of pathos and very disturbing. This book gives Veum a chance to ruminate on his life more, as individuals he has known since childhood and his formative years begin to have untimely deaths, forcing Veum to reassess incidents from the past, and how they could have led to these current events.
In one noteworthy passage Veum sums up these exact thoughts, “Childhood is a wound that never heals; your youth a poster someone has tried in vain to tear down. All the years you have lived are here, like dirty footprints in the snow behind you. You have left your own chalk-marks on most of the walls in this town and no charlady has bleach strong enough to wash them off completely. And the child you once were, you will never be again.” Consequently, childhood, life, death, love, friendship, loyalty and betrayal are key themes throughout the book, as Veum attempts to track a determined and vengeful killer, but finds himself immersed in loves lost and betrayals uncovered and exposed in this very personal case. There is a much more sombre tone to this book as a whole, and quite intense examinations of the public vs the private in terms of the character’s lives, and the role of the spiritual and religious as time marches on, and age begins to become a greater concern in Veum’s mind, intensified in the series of murders of his peers, a couple of misjudged entanglements, and also as an important connection is rekindled from the past.
Once again, Staalesen works wonders for the Norwegian tourist board with his precise and descriptive portrayal of Bergen- both the good and the not so good- and its surrounding landscapes, so as he traverses the country in search of vital clues, the visual representation of these locales is always imbued with clarity and atmosphere. Likewise, there is an almost complete bibliography of the Norwegian music scene from the 1960s onwards, which adds an other layer of interest to the book, and perhaps more starkly as he charts the musical journey of the fictional band, The Harpers, shows the highs and lows of life in the spotlight, the drugs, the groupies, and more brutally how some continue to try and hold on to fame beyond the time they should, when the glory years are indeed well behind them. The central investigation is very deeply imbedded in the events from this period of the band’s success, and like water circling a drain, Veum slowly closes in on the disturbing goings-on before their parting of the ways.
As I said, there is a much more meditative tone to Fallen Angels overall, although Staalesen does seem to get an inordinate amount of pleasure from putting Veum through the emotional wringer fairly consistently in the series. I liked the dark brooding tone to this one, with the growing self awareness Veum gains from revisiting his formative years, his appreciation of his own upbringing, and how this has shaped him on a moral and spiritual level, in contrast to the morally dubious and in some cases, really dislikeable figures from his past. Another satisfying addition to this already excellent series and who knows what awaits Varg Veum in his next investigation… Recommended.
I've read a few books in Gunnar Staalesen's long-running Varg Veum series and always look forward with great anticipation to the next instalment. Fallen Angels actually takes us back in time as it was originally published in Norway in 1989 and being set in the 1980s, it gives English-speaking readers the opportunity to meet the younger Veum.
The book's typically melancholy opening finds Veum at the funeral of an old classmate where he is reunited with two other childhood companions, most notably Jakob Aasen. If Fallen Angels allows us to see the younger man then it forces Veum himself to look even further back at his past as he recalls his formative years with some longing albeit with the jaded cynicism of a man who has witnessed too much and who understands what awaits children as they grow into adults.
The slow-burning pace of the novel allows for a thoughtful exploration of psychology and religion but even the more superficial discussions - of the music of The Beatles, for instance - are given breathing space as the dialogue flows naturally throughout. Praise must be given to Don Bartlett here, of course for his excellent translation which loses nothing of the lyrical quality of the original writing.
The keen observations of human behaviour is complemented by the rich descriptions of Bergen, including the inclement weather and the exterior and interior environments of the town. The less salubrious nightlife is brought vividly to life with the fevered, highly-charged atmosphere ensuring the juxtaposition between the theological elements of the storyline and the explicit sensual and sexual encounters mean the term, 'sins of the flesh' have perhaps never been more apt.
The rising body count increases almost imperceptibly during the course of the novel which becomes a compelling exploration of the terrible consequences of the night of sixteenth October 1975. Jakob was once a member of a successful Norwegian band, The Harpers but everything came to an abrupt end that night and Varg becomes convinced that the truth as to what happens holds the key to the present day murders.
The awful truth is gradually revealed but although the final confirmation isn't unexpected, it's still shocking. Gunnar Staalesen doesn't devalue the horrific revelations by concluding the novel with a happy ending. The seedy reality is more painful and more brutal with few characters remaining untarnished by their part in what happened. Having knowledge of the older Varg Veum means it's fascinating to see how an earlier case like this has shaped who he became, explaining the darkness which haunts him throughout his life but it's not necessary to have read either prior or later novels in the series and Fallen Angels can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
This isn't an easy read, emotionally and it is a harrowing examination of some of the worst of human behaviour but the sheer poetry of Gunnar Staalesen's writing is an absolute delight throughout and this evocative, powerful novel is another welcome addition to this exceptional series. Highly recommended.
The book's typically melancholy opening finds Veum at the funeral of an old classmate where he is reunited with two other childhood companions, most notably Jakob Aasen. If Fallen Angels allows us to see the younger man then it forces Veum himself to look even further back at his past as he recalls his formative years with some longing albeit with the jaded cynicism of a man who has witnessed too much and who understands what awaits children as they grow into adults.
The slow-burning pace of the novel allows for a thoughtful exploration of psychology and religion but even the more superficial discussions - of the music of The Beatles, for instance - are given breathing space as the dialogue flows naturally throughout. Praise must be given to Don Bartlett here, of course for his excellent translation which loses nothing of the lyrical quality of the original writing.
The keen observations of human behaviour is complemented by the rich descriptions of Bergen, including the inclement weather and the exterior and interior environments of the town. The less salubrious nightlife is brought vividly to life with the fevered, highly-charged atmosphere ensuring the juxtaposition between the theological elements of the storyline and the explicit sensual and sexual encounters mean the term, 'sins of the flesh' have perhaps never been more apt.
The rising body count increases almost imperceptibly during the course of the novel which becomes a compelling exploration of the terrible consequences of the night of sixteenth October 1975. Jakob was once a member of a successful Norwegian band, The Harpers but everything came to an abrupt end that night and Varg becomes convinced that the truth as to what happens holds the key to the present day murders.
The awful truth is gradually revealed but although the final confirmation isn't unexpected, it's still shocking. Gunnar Staalesen doesn't devalue the horrific revelations by concluding the novel with a happy ending. The seedy reality is more painful and more brutal with few characters remaining untarnished by their part in what happened. Having knowledge of the older Varg Veum means it's fascinating to see how an earlier case like this has shaped who he became, explaining the darkness which haunts him throughout his life but it's not necessary to have read either prior or later novels in the series and Fallen Angels can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
This isn't an easy read, emotionally and it is a harrowing examination of some of the worst of human behaviour but the sheer poetry of Gunnar Staalesen's writing is an absolute delight throughout and this evocative, powerful novel is another welcome addition to this exceptional series. Highly recommended.
"On the stairs going down it struck me that actually there was something I had omitted to mention: the fact that of the four men who had constituted The Harpers rock band from 1959 to 1975 only one was still alive…"
After a former classmate is murdered, Private Investigator Varg Veum must delve deep into his past and that of his childhood friends. But he's unprepared for the dark and murky secrets that will finally be revealed in this classic Nordic Noir.
As with any book published by Orenda, I went into this one with high hopes. It was my first time reading a book by this author and I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn't feel like that put me at any kind of disadvantage.
"Opening a photograph album is like being captured by the past."
Set in 1986, this was a fun trip down memory lane to a simpler time without mobile phones or social media. I think that setting the story in this time period added to the mystery as people genuinely lost contact and didn't instantly hear about current events. It allowed for an element of surprise in the investigation that wouldn't have been there in the present day.
I liked the author's writing style, particularly his use of metaphors. This was a steadily-paced novel rather than a quick page-turner, and it wasn't until almost half-way through that the murder actually occurs. For the first half of the book Varg is investigating the whereabouts of his school friend Jakob's wife Rebecca, who also happens to be the one that got away. While it is a compelling story overall, there were times I felt like it got bogged down in Varg's walk down memory lane and daydreams of Rebecca. But once the murder had occurred the tension began to increase, building to a crescendo as we approached finale and its shocking revelations.
Fallen Angels is a darkly atmospheric, layered and gripping thriller that keeps you guessing right until the last pages. It is particularly perfect for those who like a dark tale without the blood and gore.
After a former classmate is murdered, Private Investigator Varg Veum must delve deep into his past and that of his childhood friends. But he's unprepared for the dark and murky secrets that will finally be revealed in this classic Nordic Noir.
As with any book published by Orenda, I went into this one with high hopes. It was my first time reading a book by this author and I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn't feel like that put me at any kind of disadvantage.
"Opening a photograph album is like being captured by the past."
Set in 1986, this was a fun trip down memory lane to a simpler time without mobile phones or social media. I think that setting the story in this time period added to the mystery as people genuinely lost contact and didn't instantly hear about current events. It allowed for an element of surprise in the investigation that wouldn't have been there in the present day.
I liked the author's writing style, particularly his use of metaphors. This was a steadily-paced novel rather than a quick page-turner, and it wasn't until almost half-way through that the murder actually occurs. For the first half of the book Varg is investigating the whereabouts of his school friend Jakob's wife Rebecca, who also happens to be the one that got away. While it is a compelling story overall, there were times I felt like it got bogged down in Varg's walk down memory lane and daydreams of Rebecca. But once the murder had occurred the tension began to increase, building to a crescendo as we approached finale and its shocking revelations.
Fallen Angels is a darkly atmospheric, layered and gripping thriller that keeps you guessing right until the last pages. It is particularly perfect for those who like a dark tale without the blood and gore.
Private Investigator Varg Veum finds himself at a funeral of a former classmate, which becomes much more than he bargained for on this occasion. The funeral turns into a sort of reunion for Varg with several classmates, namely his old friend Jakob. This rekindled friendship is immediately thrown into turmoil after Varg’s discovery of a brutal murder. This murder leads Varg down a path into the past and his adolescence. He must explore some of his darkest memories in order to find a killer.
Gunnar Staalesen transports readers straight into Norway to follow along with Private Investigator Varg Veum as he investigates a case linked to his youth. I was a bit worried when I realized that this was the 8th installment in a series centered on Varg, however, I was instantly able to pick up the plotline and had no issues with the flow of this story.
One of the key aspects that makes this book work so well as a standalone installment is the focus on Varg’s adolescence. I love when books link two timelines together in order to solve a crime or murder. Staalesen effortlesses melds together Varg’s past and present to be one cohesive and fascinating story! I loved both of the timelines and how easy it was to flow back and forth between the two. Instead of awkward transitions or jumps the reader is able to reflect back on specific events with Varg the same way you reminiscence about your past regularly.
Staalesen has a true knack for not just transporting the reader to another time, but also another place. I truly felt the city of Bergen come to life while I was reading FALLEN ANGELS and tagging along with Varg. Talk about wanderlust! It speaks a great testament to a storyteller when you start to research places from their books while reading them in the hopes that one day (ya know, post-pandemic) you might be able to go exploring there!
FALLEN ANGELS is an excellent addition to any TBR in search of a slow-burn Nordic Noir story to cozy up with in the colder months!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my gifted copy!
Gunnar Staalesen transports readers straight into Norway to follow along with Private Investigator Varg Veum as he investigates a case linked to his youth. I was a bit worried when I realized that this was the 8th installment in a series centered on Varg, however, I was instantly able to pick up the plotline and had no issues with the flow of this story.
One of the key aspects that makes this book work so well as a standalone installment is the focus on Varg’s adolescence. I love when books link two timelines together in order to solve a crime or murder. Staalesen effortlesses melds together Varg’s past and present to be one cohesive and fascinating story! I loved both of the timelines and how easy it was to flow back and forth between the two. Instead of awkward transitions or jumps the reader is able to reflect back on specific events with Varg the same way you reminiscence about your past regularly.
Staalesen has a true knack for not just transporting the reader to another time, but also another place. I truly felt the city of Bergen come to life while I was reading FALLEN ANGELS and tagging along with Varg. Talk about wanderlust! It speaks a great testament to a storyteller when you start to research places from their books while reading them in the hopes that one day (ya know, post-pandemic) you might be able to go exploring there!
FALLEN ANGELS is an excellent addition to any TBR in search of a slow-burn Nordic Noir story to cozy up with in the colder months!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my gifted copy!
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced