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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Varg Veum is back with a cold case that has strange ties to the present. It’s been almost 25 years since 3 year old Mette Misvaer went missing from her yard. With the statute of limitations looming, her mother Maja asks Veum to take one final crack at finding the truth.
It would be a welcome paycheque but before he signs on, Veum will need to make a few changes to his lifestyle. In the 3 years since his partner died, his only relationship has been with a bottle. If he can put the Aquavit back on the shelf, he might find some answers & perhaps a little self respect along the way.
The book opens with an armed robbery of a jewelry store In Bergen. As the masked thieves flee the scene, a pedestrian is fatally shot. Police are unable to find or identify the culprits & the case is soon sliding toward the unsolved stack.
What’s the connection? Well, you’ll have to sit yourself down & ride shotgun with Veum to find out how this one thread is elegantly woven into the main story. It’s not easy tracking down those who were part of Mette’s world. Some have moved on, same have died, some have secrets they’ll do anything to protect. But Veum is a persistent guy & his relentless questions soon unveil more mysteries than he bargained for.
Staalesen excels at telling stories that are intricate & plausible. There are no bolts from the blue or hastily constructed endings. Every piece of the puzzle is uncovered through persistent digging & there’s almost an audible click as each slides into place on the way to a satisfying end. Violence is kept to a minimum as he chooses to employ Veum’s brains rather than brawn to find answers.
It’s a refreshing take on the P.I. genre & more believable given he’s now a man of “a certain age”. He’s not exactly the poster child for healthy living & doesn’t bounce back quite as easily. Instead, he relies on quick thinking & a well placed verbal jab when trouble comes knocking. Veum is a complex, fully developed character who may seem to fit the hardboiled stereotype at first glance. But as you spend time with him, it’s his introspection & compassion that will stay with you. He’s not a bad person, just a lost soul doing the best he can.
It’s a gritty & poignant story that flows at a steady pace until the jaw-droppers begin at the 3/4 mark. You’ll find yourself thinking about the nature of secrets, how they never really go away but just hibernate. And the longer they are hidden, the more powerful they become. It’s also a cautionary example of how easily we judge based on someone’s appearance or reputation.
If you get to a place where you’re putting out book #18, you’re doing something right. Probably several things, as is the case with this author. His Bergen based PI has become a benchmark in the genre who fans have been following for 40 years & this is a clever, absorbing addition to the series.
And hey, if you’re ever in Bergen, stop by & have your picture taken with Veum’s statue outside the Strand hotel near the fish market. He’s a looker.
It would be a welcome paycheque but before he signs on, Veum will need to make a few changes to his lifestyle. In the 3 years since his partner died, his only relationship has been with a bottle. If he can put the Aquavit back on the shelf, he might find some answers & perhaps a little self respect along the way.
The book opens with an armed robbery of a jewelry store In Bergen. As the masked thieves flee the scene, a pedestrian is fatally shot. Police are unable to find or identify the culprits & the case is soon sliding toward the unsolved stack.
What’s the connection? Well, you’ll have to sit yourself down & ride shotgun with Veum to find out how this one thread is elegantly woven into the main story. It’s not easy tracking down those who were part of Mette’s world. Some have moved on, same have died, some have secrets they’ll do anything to protect. But Veum is a persistent guy & his relentless questions soon unveil more mysteries than he bargained for.
Staalesen excels at telling stories that are intricate & plausible. There are no bolts from the blue or hastily constructed endings. Every piece of the puzzle is uncovered through persistent digging & there’s almost an audible click as each slides into place on the way to a satisfying end. Violence is kept to a minimum as he chooses to employ Veum’s brains rather than brawn to find answers.
It’s a refreshing take on the P.I. genre & more believable given he’s now a man of “a certain age”. He’s not exactly the poster child for healthy living & doesn’t bounce back quite as easily. Instead, he relies on quick thinking & a well placed verbal jab when trouble comes knocking. Veum is a complex, fully developed character who may seem to fit the hardboiled stereotype at first glance. But as you spend time with him, it’s his introspection & compassion that will stay with you. He’s not a bad person, just a lost soul doing the best he can.
It’s a gritty & poignant story that flows at a steady pace until the jaw-droppers begin at the 3/4 mark. You’ll find yourself thinking about the nature of secrets, how they never really go away but just hibernate. And the longer they are hidden, the more powerful they become. It’s also a cautionary example of how easily we judge based on someone’s appearance or reputation.
If you get to a place where you’re putting out book #18, you’re doing something right. Probably several things, as is the case with this author. His Bergen based PI has become a benchmark in the genre who fans have been following for 40 years & this is a clever, absorbing addition to the series.
And hey, if you’re ever in Bergen, stop by & have your picture taken with Veum’s statue outside the Strand hotel near the fish market. He’s a looker.
PI Varg Veum has been commissioned in a last-ditch effort of a desperate mother to find out what happened to the disappearance of her 3 year old daughter almost 25 years before. The mother still lives in the same house she did when the girl went missing, in a small planned community in Norway, where the neighbors all seem to be riddled with reservations, making it hard for Varg to weasel out the truth behind their suspicious behavior. When another crime occurs that may have a link to the missing girl, Varg finds the stakes even higher as he rushes against the ticking clock of the statute of limitations to bring the girl's fate to light.
I didn't realize this book was number EIGHTEEN in a series when I downloaded the audiobook version of it, but I have to say that while Varg's past was alluded to at several points, it didn't make it weird to pick up his story at the 18th installment; I didn't feel like I was missing integral parts of the overall plot as I read it. I appreciated the mystery and characters and setting a small Nordic town. Varg was a multidimensional protagonist with a backstory and a believable voice. The mystery was well-developed and gripping. The pace of the book was quick, and I finished it in under a day.
I can't say the book was entirely unique, as at this point a lot of these P.I. mystery books kind of blend together, but I found it an engrossing and entertaining read that is sure to be a solid bet for any mystery lovers out there.
TINY LITTLE SPOILER:
There was a part of the book that started to go down an almost pedophilic path which made me highly uncomfortable (but then again, with a missing little girl, it's kind of to be expected, I suppose), but that's my only big gripe about the book.
I didn't realize this book was number EIGHTEEN in a series when I downloaded the audiobook version of it, but I have to say that while Varg's past was alluded to at several points, it didn't make it weird to pick up his story at the 18th installment; I didn't feel like I was missing integral parts of the overall plot as I read it. I appreciated the mystery and characters and setting a small Nordic town. Varg was a multidimensional protagonist with a backstory and a believable voice. The mystery was well-developed and gripping. The pace of the book was quick, and I finished it in under a day.
I can't say the book was entirely unique, as at this point a lot of these P.I. mystery books kind of blend together, but I found it an engrossing and entertaining read that is sure to be a solid bet for any mystery lovers out there.
TINY LITTLE SPOILER:
There was a part of the book that started to go down an almost pedophilic path which made me highly uncomfortable (but then again, with a missing little girl, it's kind of to be expected, I suppose), but that's my only big gripe about the book.
This is the next book in the Varg Veum series following We Shall Inherit the Wind. In my review of that book, I predicted that difficulties would lie ahead for the protagonist. I was not wrong.
Three years after the loss Varg experiences in We Shall Inherit the Wind, he has become an alcoholic. As he conducts his next investigation, he struggles with the siren call of aquavit. His case is the disappearance of 3-year-old Mette Misvær twenty-five years earlier, in 1977. Her mother Maja wants Varg to find out what happened to her daughter who went missing from the sandpit outside her home, one of five houses in a small housing co-op.
Varg is very methodical. He spends his time interviewing people, first focusing on the other four families living in the co-op. A lot of characters are introduced in a short span of time so it is difficult sometimes to remember who is who and the connections among characters. Of course Varg always manages to extract information that allows him to move forward. Mette disappeared without a trace, and the police never solved the case, but Varg does of course.
The incompetent police trope is annoying, especially because Varg solves more than one case. A recent jewelry heist has more than one connection to the people who were Maja and Mette’s neighbours. All these connections stretch credibility.
I can understand a mother wanting answers to what happened to a missing child, but considering the many secrets Maja has, it’s surprising that she hired a private investigator. Varg uncovers many secrets and lies, many of which involve Maja.
I found parts of the book to be predictable. From the beginning, I guessed Maja’s secret which added to her guilt. And when a certain character was introduced, I immediately heard alarm bells and guessed much of the ending. I read to the end to discover the other details which are not obvious.
I think I’ll return to this series at a later date; in the meantime, I’ll begin listening to a Canadian series I’ve been meaning to read.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).
Three years after the loss Varg experiences in We Shall Inherit the Wind, he has become an alcoholic. As he conducts his next investigation, he struggles with the siren call of aquavit. His case is the disappearance of 3-year-old Mette Misvær twenty-five years earlier, in 1977. Her mother Maja wants Varg to find out what happened to her daughter who went missing from the sandpit outside her home, one of five houses in a small housing co-op.
Varg is very methodical. He spends his time interviewing people, first focusing on the other four families living in the co-op. A lot of characters are introduced in a short span of time so it is difficult sometimes to remember who is who and the connections among characters. Of course Varg always manages to extract information that allows him to move forward. Mette disappeared without a trace, and the police never solved the case, but Varg does of course.
The incompetent police trope is annoying, especially because Varg solves more than one case. A recent jewelry heist has more than one connection to the people who were Maja and Mette’s neighbours. All these connections stretch credibility.
I can understand a mother wanting answers to what happened to a missing child, but considering the many secrets Maja has, it’s surprising that she hired a private investigator. Varg uncovers many secrets and lies, many of which involve Maja.
I found parts of the book to be predictable. From the beginning, I guessed Maja’s secret which added to her guilt. And when a certain character was introduced, I immediately heard alarm bells and guessed much of the ending. I read to the end to discover the other details which are not obvious.
I think I’ll return to this series at a later date; in the meantime, I’ll begin listening to a Canadian series I’ve been meaning to read.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).
As you may be aware, I have a habit at the moment of coming to a series several books in. I tend to start with book two or (heaven forbid!) book six. I think this book and it’s beleaguered lead, PI Varg Veum, takes the biscuit though. Gunnar Staalesen has been writing about Veum since 1977! Granted, only a handful of his novels have been translated from their original Norwegian to English, but I intend to hunt down every single one of them!
It’s 1977 and a young girl is snatched whilst playing in the sand pit outside her home. She and her family live in a remote but secure co-op, designed by one of the residents and surrounded by handpicked neighbours. They all trust each other…to some extent. After a thorough police investigation the family is none the wiser and Mette is not found. As the statute of limitations approaches (25 years later), Maja, Mette’s mother contacts Veum hoping he will discover the truth, before time runs out. All Veum discovers though is a community in pieces harbouring the most shocking of secrets…
Brilliant! I have a real soft spot for translated books but have always tended to avoid Scandinavian authors and Nordic Noir (I can’t say why that is but it may be something to do with reading a novelisation of ‘The Killing’, which was written by a Brit!). That won’t be the case in future!
I really warmed to PI Varg Veum despite his very obvious flaws and addictions. He is quite a character and I feel a little jealous of Norwegian readers who have grown up reading his stories.
One thing I will say, this is not a ‘fast paced, thrill-a-second’ book. More of a slow build to a blistering conclusion (which is superb). There are unexpected twists throughout the story which are cleverly placed to make sure you keep turning the pages. It’s a very enjoyable read about a group of people who aren’t necessarily what they seem.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely. Thanks to Gunnar Staalesen’s Varg Veum, Nordic Noir has a new fan. My Norwegian is pretty rusty (haha, read: non existent!) so I’m off to find Gunnar’s other translated-to-English Veum books so I can fall in love with him just a little bit more.
Five out of five stars.
Thanks to Karen Sullivan at Orenda books for my copy of Where Roses Never Die in exchange for an honest review.
It’s 1977 and a young girl is snatched whilst playing in the sand pit outside her home. She and her family live in a remote but secure co-op, designed by one of the residents and surrounded by handpicked neighbours. They all trust each other…to some extent. After a thorough police investigation the family is none the wiser and Mette is not found. As the statute of limitations approaches (25 years later), Maja, Mette’s mother contacts Veum hoping he will discover the truth, before time runs out. All Veum discovers though is a community in pieces harbouring the most shocking of secrets…
Brilliant! I have a real soft spot for translated books but have always tended to avoid Scandinavian authors and Nordic Noir (I can’t say why that is but it may be something to do with reading a novelisation of ‘The Killing’, which was written by a Brit!). That won’t be the case in future!
I really warmed to PI Varg Veum despite his very obvious flaws and addictions. He is quite a character and I feel a little jealous of Norwegian readers who have grown up reading his stories.
One thing I will say, this is not a ‘fast paced, thrill-a-second’ book. More of a slow build to a blistering conclusion (which is superb). There are unexpected twists throughout the story which are cleverly placed to make sure you keep turning the pages. It’s a very enjoyable read about a group of people who aren’t necessarily what they seem.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely. Thanks to Gunnar Staalesen’s Varg Veum, Nordic Noir has a new fan. My Norwegian is pretty rusty (haha, read: non existent!) so I’m off to find Gunnar’s other translated-to-English Veum books so I can fall in love with him just a little bit more.
Five out of five stars.
Thanks to Karen Sullivan at Orenda books for my copy of Where Roses Never Die in exchange for an honest review.
I think the translation caused some of the flow to get lost in this one - it all felt very matter of fact and not as illustrative as I would have liked it to be. I will say I did not see the ending coming, and that's always a huge redeemer for mystery/crime/thriller books because I pride myself on my detective skills!
There are loads of other books in the series and I’m definitely interested in reading another. I actually think this could be a good one to read in German and see how the translation compares - adding one to my 2023 TBR.
There are loads of other books in the series and I’m definitely interested in reading another. I actually think this could be a good one to read in German and see how the translation compares - adding one to my 2023 TBR.
dark
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first heard about this author back in 2009, when I visited Bergen, Norway while on a cruise. Our cruise guide mentioned that Gunnar Staalesen wrote mysteries that took place in Bergen. However, not all of his books have been translated into English, and of those, my library only has some, even with inter library loan. I have now read 4 of his books, including 1 purchase. I recommend this series to mystery fans.
Varg Veum is a private investigator. A woman comes to him and asks him to review the case of her missing daughter, who disappeared 25 years ago at age 3. The statute of limitations is about to expire, so she wants answers now. Varg investigates and slowly uncovers secrets of what happened 25 years ago. There is a satisfactory ending that was a surprise to me.
One quote by Varg: "My mouth was as dry as an atheist's at a revival meeting."
The translation was excellent.
Varg Veum is a private investigator. A woman comes to him and asks him to review the case of her missing daughter, who disappeared 25 years ago at age 3. The statute of limitations is about to expire, so she wants answers now. Varg investigates and slowly uncovers secrets of what happened 25 years ago. There is a satisfactory ending that was a surprise to me.
One quote by Varg: "My mouth was as dry as an atheist's at a revival meeting."
The translation was excellent.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Where Roses Never Die is an excellent, satisfying slice of Scandi-crime. Varg Veum has been around for a long time, but although this book is well on into the series, there was no problem reading it without knowing any of Varg's background. He put me in mind of Inspector Rebus with his determination to solve the crime. In this book, he is investigating a cold case involving a missing child before the 25 year statute of limitations is reached. Staalesen has written a well-paced book which I was completely engaged with. I liked Varg despite his apparent lack of social skills and fondness for too much aquavit. Through his investigations, we get to know about all the neighbours of the missing girl and discover that there are plenty of secrets they are keen to keep. Seemingly unrelated incidents over the years all come together leading towards a fast-paced dramatic ending which still had me guessing what had gone on and who had been involved right up until the reveal. I would really like to find out more about Varg Veum both before this book and in his subsequent outings. Books like this will make a Nordic Noir fan of me yet!
This book took too long before it started to get interesting. Nonetheless, the ending was great in my opinion. But only the last 8 chapters truly got my attention.