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kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
MASTER, LIAR, TRAITOR, FRIEND is the third in the Swedish Leo Junker series, a set of books which hopefully all fans of Scandinavian crime fiction are aware of.
Up there with the very best of Scandinavian crime fiction, partly it's the interweaving of the past and present into the backgrounds of the crimes and the main characters, partly it's beautifully descriptive writing that never becomes overdone, that help make this series work so well. Ultimately it's the realness of the situations and the characters that take the reader directly into the story, seeing and feeling much of the action, and in particular the reactions, of everyone involved.
MASTER, LIAR, TRAITOR, FRIEND is particularly intriguing because Junker is central to so many threads within this story. The dead man and Junker had a close, and fraught relationship. Charles Levin was a mentor to Junker, and then something happened to fracture their friendship. Levin moved to a small village after retiring from the Police Force and it is there he's found shot dead. Tove Waltersson, the local detective in charge of the preliminary investigation, is a native of this small village. Her older brother had also been in the police force, until he was killed in a shoot-out a year ago. Junker's arrival on the scene to launch his own investigation before the National Bureau of Investigation takes over is difficult for Waltersson - not that he realises why, but she knows that Junker is the one that accidentally shot and killed her brother.
And then there's a small kitten. What on earth does a kitten have to do with the murder of an ex-cop and Junker's problems with his own past, and everybody's reaction to him? Well nothing, and everything. Which is part of the point about Carlsson's storytelling ability. There's plenty of introspective, brooding Scandinavian cop portrayal, and there's tensions between Stockholm and the outlying districts. Then there's characters who are rubbing up against each other, or downright hate, regardless of whether the target of that feeling (or even readers) know why. But there are also touches of lightness and asides - often times funny, frequently touching, along with that constant searching for how the past infects the present and how the present isn't just the job, that makes this a series extremely believable and involving.
It's interesting that this author's background is in criminology, as there's something about these books that speaks to a searching for meaning. For exploring consequences and understanding why things turn out as they do. Even in the character of Junker there's that constant searching within himself - to explain his past, his decisions, his addictions and his methods for handling all of that.
All of which feeds into why this is a series for fans of crime fiction. It's introspective, considered, thoughtful, insightful and brilliant.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-master-liar-traitor-friend-christoffer-carlsson
Up there with the very best of Scandinavian crime fiction, partly it's the interweaving of the past and present into the backgrounds of the crimes and the main characters, partly it's beautifully descriptive writing that never becomes overdone, that help make this series work so well. Ultimately it's the realness of the situations and the characters that take the reader directly into the story, seeing and feeling much of the action, and in particular the reactions, of everyone involved.
MASTER, LIAR, TRAITOR, FRIEND is particularly intriguing because Junker is central to so many threads within this story. The dead man and Junker had a close, and fraught relationship. Charles Levin was a mentor to Junker, and then something happened to fracture their friendship. Levin moved to a small village after retiring from the Police Force and it is there he's found shot dead. Tove Waltersson, the local detective in charge of the preliminary investigation, is a native of this small village. Her older brother had also been in the police force, until he was killed in a shoot-out a year ago. Junker's arrival on the scene to launch his own investigation before the National Bureau of Investigation takes over is difficult for Waltersson - not that he realises why, but she knows that Junker is the one that accidentally shot and killed her brother.
And then there's a small kitten. What on earth does a kitten have to do with the murder of an ex-cop and Junker's problems with his own past, and everybody's reaction to him? Well nothing, and everything. Which is part of the point about Carlsson's storytelling ability. There's plenty of introspective, brooding Scandinavian cop portrayal, and there's tensions between Stockholm and the outlying districts. Then there's characters who are rubbing up against each other, or downright hate, regardless of whether the target of that feeling (or even readers) know why. But there are also touches of lightness and asides - often times funny, frequently touching, along with that constant searching for how the past infects the present and how the present isn't just the job, that makes this a series extremely believable and involving.
It's interesting that this author's background is in criminology, as there's something about these books that speaks to a searching for meaning. For exploring consequences and understanding why things turn out as they do. Even in the character of Junker there's that constant searching within himself - to explain his past, his decisions, his addictions and his methods for handling all of that.
All of which feeds into why this is a series for fans of crime fiction. It's introspective, considered, thoughtful, insightful and brilliant.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-master-liar-traitor-friend-christoffer-carlsson
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
3rd book in the series about Leo Junker and while I didn't enjoy it as much as the others it's still a good solid book and I'm hopefully to read the next and last i think in the series soon.
ecka2's review against another edition
4.0
http://frokenchristina.blogspot.se/2017/06/mastare-vaktare-lognare-van-av.html
scribepub's review
Of the crime novels I’ve read so far this year, Christoffer Carlsson’s new one is without a doubt the best.
Icakuriren
A multi-layered book with a complex intrigue, but above all a beautiful, well-written and plaintive book about Sweden, about betrayal, shortcomings and atonement.
Dagens Nyheter
It’s skillfully accomplished, […] Carlsson is, also this year, one of the most original and interesting Swedish authors writing in the genre.
Sydsvenskan
Carlsson has always been a confident writer and his poetic noir style is easily recognized … Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend is not a book you throw yourself over to read in one sitting, but rather a jigsaw puzzle to assemble a few pieces at a time whenever the opportunity is given … Through a dramatic denouement the already worn out Leo Junker hits a kind of bottom, hopefully to return with regained strength in the next instalment of this dark but unusually empathetic crime series.
Hallandsposten
Christoffer Carlsson has a flow to his language, it’s clear that he’s found inspiration from the masters of the genre. This forces the reader to constantly be on their toes, to be prepared for the unexpected … A style that feels forceful, authentic and alive.
Dast Magazine
Christoffer Carlsson is skillful and has no trouble portraying four parallell narratives that he weaves together in the end. The fact that he also connects the fictitious murder case in Bruket with the [real] unsolved murder of journalist Cats Falck adds an extra dimension to the third book about Leo Junker.
Skaraborgs Allehanda
Has Christoffer Carlsson lost it? Is Leo Junker’s crime solving starting to feel routine? Is the crime mystery bleak and the plot slow? A resounding no to all of these questions! He’s more interesting than ever! The complexity and depth makes it so much more than a thrilling crime mystery. The characters flourish and come alive while at the same time the prose flows and maintains a nerve in the story … A perfect read to cuddle up in the couch with on a chilly autumn day.
Litteraturmagazinet
Christoffer Carlsson’s books are permeated with great storytelling zest, and in each book his narrative technique and ability to create milieus and atmosphere is developed further … I like it a lot, and one can simply conclude that Swedish crime literature has been awarded with a new, great storyteller. When you turn the last page of Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend you can’t help but start waiting for Christoffer Carlsson to give us yet another book to be captivated by.
Johannas Deckarhörna, blog
Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend is a book entirely to my liking. On all levels. A book that was a pure pleasure to read … There’s something about Christoffer Carlsson’s way of writing that is so appealing that it lets me enjoy every word … I will definitely be on the lookout for Christoffer Carlsson’s next book. Please hurry with it!
Lottens Bokblogg, blog
Christoffer Carlsson has also made a leap forward language-wise in this new novel, and through great turns of phrase he manages to create images that stay with you … Carlsson has once again managed to write a really good crime novel, well in the same class as the first Leo Junker novel … I warmly recommend Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend.
Crimegarden, blog
Icakuriren
A multi-layered book with a complex intrigue, but above all a beautiful, well-written and plaintive book about Sweden, about betrayal, shortcomings and atonement.
Dagens Nyheter
It’s skillfully accomplished, […] Carlsson is, also this year, one of the most original and interesting Swedish authors writing in the genre.
Sydsvenskan
Carlsson has always been a confident writer and his poetic noir style is easily recognized … Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend is not a book you throw yourself over to read in one sitting, but rather a jigsaw puzzle to assemble a few pieces at a time whenever the opportunity is given … Through a dramatic denouement the already worn out Leo Junker hits a kind of bottom, hopefully to return with regained strength in the next instalment of this dark but unusually empathetic crime series.
Hallandsposten
Christoffer Carlsson has a flow to his language, it’s clear that he’s found inspiration from the masters of the genre. This forces the reader to constantly be on their toes, to be prepared for the unexpected … A style that feels forceful, authentic and alive.
Dast Magazine
Christoffer Carlsson is skillful and has no trouble portraying four parallell narratives that he weaves together in the end. The fact that he also connects the fictitious murder case in Bruket with the [real] unsolved murder of journalist Cats Falck adds an extra dimension to the third book about Leo Junker.
Skaraborgs Allehanda
Has Christoffer Carlsson lost it? Is Leo Junker’s crime solving starting to feel routine? Is the crime mystery bleak and the plot slow? A resounding no to all of these questions! He’s more interesting than ever! The complexity and depth makes it so much more than a thrilling crime mystery. The characters flourish and come alive while at the same time the prose flows and maintains a nerve in the story … A perfect read to cuddle up in the couch with on a chilly autumn day.
Litteraturmagazinet
Christoffer Carlsson’s books are permeated with great storytelling zest, and in each book his narrative technique and ability to create milieus and atmosphere is developed further … I like it a lot, and one can simply conclude that Swedish crime literature has been awarded with a new, great storyteller. When you turn the last page of Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend you can’t help but start waiting for Christoffer Carlsson to give us yet another book to be captivated by.
Johannas Deckarhörna, blog
Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend is a book entirely to my liking. On all levels. A book that was a pure pleasure to read … There’s something about Christoffer Carlsson’s way of writing that is so appealing that it lets me enjoy every word … I will definitely be on the lookout for Christoffer Carlsson’s next book. Please hurry with it!
Lottens Bokblogg, blog
Christoffer Carlsson has also made a leap forward language-wise in this new novel, and through great turns of phrase he manages to create images that stay with you … Carlsson has once again managed to write a really good crime novel, well in the same class as the first Leo Junker novel … I warmly recommend Master, Liar, Traitor, Friend.
Crimegarden, blog
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