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desolation73's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe more a 3.5 than a 4 but Will Dean is a solid writer and Tuva Moodyson as a deaf reporter come detective is also a pretty interesting character for me. It may be slow compared to some thrillers but it's still worthy of your time if you like a good yarn.
lindaleest's review against another edition
2.0
Een wat langzaam en springend verhaal, ook heel erg vervelend om in elk hoofdstuk te lezen over haar gehoor apparaat.
thechemicaldetective's review against another edition
5.0
As the level of gratuitous violence escalated, I’d stopped reading Scandinavian crime fiction; graphic torture of the powerless is not my idea of entertainment. Then along came Will Dean, my new guilty pleasure.
His writing is mellifluous, Tuva – his protagonist – delightfully normal. There’s plenty of gore (frozen eyeballs, splattered brains) but all diluted with brickbats of shock and buckets of compassion.
I loved Dark Pines and was lucky enough to receive an advance proof copy of Red Snow from my publisher.
Any book that includes the detailed (and reassuringly accurate) workings of a factory as part of the plot, is right up my street. Add a product as divisive as salty liquorice (not everyone finds glycyrrhizin sweet or anethole aromatic), the Grimberg family (who give the Groans of Castle Gormenghast a run for their money) and it has all the perfect elements.
No, Tuva, don’t go down there alone!
I didn’t think it could get any better than Dark Pines, but trust me, Red Snow is a fabulous read.
His writing is mellifluous, Tuva – his protagonist – delightfully normal. There’s plenty of gore (frozen eyeballs, splattered brains) but all diluted with brickbats of shock and buckets of compassion.
I loved Dark Pines and was lucky enough to receive an advance proof copy of Red Snow from my publisher.
Any book that includes the detailed (and reassuringly accurate) workings of a factory as part of the plot, is right up my street. Add a product as divisive as salty liquorice (not everyone finds glycyrrhizin sweet or anethole aromatic), the Grimberg family (who give the Groans of Castle Gormenghast a run for their money) and it has all the perfect elements.
No, Tuva, don’t go down there alone!
I didn’t think it could get any better than Dark Pines, but trust me, Red Snow is a fabulous read.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
After Dark Pines helped me get the hang of audiobooks, I knew I had to listen to the sequel, Red Snow. I liked revisiting Gavrik and the familiar, odd residents, even though I know a small town can only have so many murders. Tuva is moving on, and I think that's important so that Gavrik isn't some sort of Nordic Midsomer where life expectancy is incredibly low. I will miss Gavrik though!
The story focuses on a bunch of incidents at the local licorice factory, starting with the suicide of its owner. This introduces the Grimberg family who are central to the plot. They are a very private family, and David Holmqvist is writing a book about them and the factory. Only problem is, they are not very forthcoming. In steps Tuva, who wants to find out more about the death, so offers to help David with research.
There is a love interest for the bisexual Tuva. Bad timing considering she's about to leave for a new job in the south. She has one last story to write and then she's gone. She is struggling with guilt over her mother's death and turning to alcohol. Whilst she's not an alcoholic yet, it shows her starting to depend on it to get through situations.
I loved all the details about living in rural Sweden during the winter. Everything is made difficult by the snow, ice and cold. Tuva explains her dependency on a good vehicle and the danger of the cold is a theme throughout. It's not just people that can kill. Again, Will Dean's viewpoint as an outsider now living in Sweden comes through in how he explains things, observations from his real life I suspect.
I did not work out who did it. I thought I had a good theory, but I'd only guessed at the motive not the perpetrator. I was a little sad at the realisation though, I had wanted better from them. I liked that it was a bit more complicated than in Dark Pines, when I could nod and go, yes they deserved to be caught.
Whilst I'm enjoying the Tuva Moodyson series, it is reminding me a little of why I stopped reading crime fiction in large quantities. There is a formula at work which is a little annoying to notice now I know it's there.
Listening Notes
This series is one that I definitely think the audiobook adds to the story, rather than detracts. It's so refreshing to have a real accent. Maya Lindh is perfect as Tuva and she could read to me for hours. I guess she did! It's also great to hear the names pronounced correctly, I know I would not have said Grimberg the right way if I was reading it myself.
The story focuses on a bunch of incidents at the local licorice factory, starting with the suicide of its owner. This introduces the Grimberg family who are central to the plot. They are a very private family, and David Holmqvist is writing a book about them and the factory. Only problem is, they are not very forthcoming. In steps Tuva, who wants to find out more about the death, so offers to help David with research.
There is a love interest for the bisexual Tuva. Bad timing considering she's about to leave for a new job in the south. She has one last story to write and then she's gone. She is struggling with guilt over her mother's death and turning to alcohol. Whilst she's not an alcoholic yet, it shows her starting to depend on it to get through situations.
I loved all the details about living in rural Sweden during the winter. Everything is made difficult by the snow, ice and cold. Tuva explains her dependency on a good vehicle and the danger of the cold is a theme throughout. It's not just people that can kill. Again, Will Dean's viewpoint as an outsider now living in Sweden comes through in how he explains things, observations from his real life I suspect.
I did not work out who did it. I thought I had a good theory, but I'd only guessed at the motive not the perpetrator. I was a little sad at the realisation though, I had wanted better from them. I liked that it was a bit more complicated than in Dark Pines, when I could nod and go, yes they deserved to be caught.
Whilst I'm enjoying the Tuva Moodyson series, it is reminding me a little of why I stopped reading crime fiction in large quantities. There is a formula at work which is a little annoying to notice now I know it's there.
Listening Notes
This series is one that I definitely think the audiobook adds to the story, rather than detracts. It's so refreshing to have a real accent. Maya Lindh is perfect as Tuva and she could read to me for hours. I guess she did! It's also great to hear the names pronounced correctly, I know I would not have said Grimberg the right way if I was reading it myself.
pamela_xo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
nicjohnston's review
3.0
Having loved Dark Pines, I was hugely looking forward to the follow up and timed my reading to make sure I was ready for delivery day. The return of many of the same protagonists was welcome as was the chilly environment. However, the central story was (I felt) weak and too reliant on oddities. A solid 3/5.
christinebeswick's review against another edition
3.0
Grim and claustrophobic - Mid winter in a small town in central Sweden with everything grey, white and dark.
alipals's review against another edition
4.0
Listened on audiobook - the narrator is excellent :-) and another great Tuva story with plenty of suspense. I was totally fooled by a few red herrings so taken by surprise when the culprit's identity was revealed. Will Dean's description of the environment and community creates such a tense atmosphere, will be interesting to see what happens next to Tuva in her new surroundings.
btpbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first time I have read a book written by Will Dean and he has been highly recommended! Even though Red Snow is book two in the Tuva Moodyson series it read perfectly as a standalone with only a few references to the previous book Dark Pines, which I will be reading very shortly.
Red Snow is brilliant, I throughally enjoyed it! Well written, easy to read, fast paced and contains short chapters. I was in Tuvas world the whole time, beside her. For a small town there was a lot of drama, death and mystery. I loved how the factory seemed to be the centre point for the whole town.
Tuvas character is brilliant! I loved her. Strong, determined, friendly and a brave character. Perfect. I never expected the outcome of this book, so was shocked and angry (at a certain character) at the outcome! Brilliant. Keeps you guessing and turning those pages till the end.
I absolutely loved it. A real mystery. I cannot wait to take a step back and read Dark Pines now. Will Dean did not disappointment me, very impressed. I would highly recommend Red Snow to you all. I awarded a well deserved five stars and this story is a strong contender for my top twenty of the year already. A book that makes you go ahhh! That’s why it is called that. Perfect read for cold dark nights.
Red Snow is brilliant, I throughally enjoyed it! Well written, easy to read, fast paced and contains short chapters. I was in Tuvas world the whole time, beside her. For a small town there was a lot of drama, death and mystery. I loved how the factory seemed to be the centre point for the whole town.
Tuvas character is brilliant! I loved her. Strong, determined, friendly and a brave character. Perfect. I never expected the outcome of this book, so was shocked and angry (at a certain character) at the outcome! Brilliant. Keeps you guessing and turning those pages till the end.
I absolutely loved it. A real mystery. I cannot wait to take a step back and read Dark Pines now. Will Dean did not disappointment me, very impressed. I would highly recommend Red Snow to you all. I awarded a well deserved five stars and this story is a strong contender for my top twenty of the year already. A book that makes you go ahhh! That’s why it is called that. Perfect read for cold dark nights.