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hashyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Lars Kepler’s Stalker is hard to classify. This novel is a crime narrative, and it contains elements of mystery, police procedures, action , adventure, psychological thriller, and even a bit of classic noir..the length of the book make it considerably longer than most contemporary novels in the genre and allows the author to develop a few intertwined narratives.
Spoiler free review: The Swedish police recieves a link to a short YouTube video showing a woman in her bedroom, filmed secretly from the outside. Soon after, the woman is found murdered, her face mutilated by multiple stab wounds in a horrific attack. When a second video is received, the police knows a serial killer is on the loose.Detective Margot Silverman, who is pregnant, is given the case, and the first things she does is ask Detective Joona Linna for help, and Linna brings in Erik Maria Bark, a renowned hypnotist who has helped Linna in previous cases. The trio tries to get to the person behind the videos.As they dig into the past one of Bark's secrets starts to haunt him.He puts a man in an asylum years before for a similar crime, but the new crimes start to make him think that he made a big mistake and placed the wrong man away. What follows is a sprawling, edgy and graphic narrative. The fast paced chapters and devious plot twists makes you eager to find the identity of the stalker.When you read the descriptions of the killings in the early chapters ,you feel like you are in steep descent of a roller coaster
This is one of those rare books that make writing a synopsis almost impossible.
It's definitely a wild ride and a smart whodunit.
Spoiler free review: The Swedish police recieves a link to a short YouTube video showing a woman in her bedroom, filmed secretly from the outside. Soon after, the woman is found murdered, her face mutilated by multiple stab wounds in a horrific attack. When a second video is received, the police knows a serial killer is on the loose.Detective Margot Silverman, who is pregnant, is given the case, and the first things she does is ask Detective Joona Linna for help, and Linna brings in Erik Maria Bark, a renowned hypnotist who has helped Linna in previous cases. The trio tries to get to the person behind the videos.As they dig into the past one of Bark's secrets starts to haunt him.He puts a man in an asylum years before for a similar crime, but the new crimes start to make him think that he made a big mistake and placed the wrong man away. What follows is a sprawling, edgy and graphic narrative. The fast paced chapters and devious plot twists makes you eager to find the identity of the stalker.When you read the descriptions of the killings in the early chapters ,you feel like you are in steep descent of a roller coaster
This is one of those rare books that make writing a synopsis almost impossible.
It's definitely a wild ride and a smart whodunit.
katiespooner27's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
juliaellie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
es_the_book_hoarder's review
5.0
I've not read the other books in this series, but I'm certainly going to get them now! I was drawn to this book simply because of the cover and I'm so glad I was. It really is a compelling read. I couldn't put it down and if the others in the series are half as good I'll be more than happy.
ausbelle's review against another edition
5.0
Joona Linna is a total badass.
Stalker is well paced, intelligent and a captivating read.
Stalker is well paced, intelligent and a captivating read.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
After finishing "Stalker" I was surprised to see that the book format is 640 pages. I tore through this thing like the famous hot knife through . . .
Well, when you finish "Stalker" you'll know what I mean.
With the outpouring about sexual harassment following the Kavanough confirmation, I wasn't sure I wanted to read a book full of women victims, but once I got started on "Stalker" it was impossible to stop. Lars Kepler's books include interesting psychological slants courtesy of the psychiatrist and hypnotist Erik Maria Bark, a badly flawed and deeply interesting character. DS Margot Silverman leads the police search for killer who posts videos of his victims in the moments before he enters their homes. She's days from having her third child, always hungry and very uncomfortable.. She refuses to go on maternity leave until this killer is caught.
So where's Joona Linna, the Finnish detective believed dead? Well, not. Joona reappears. He's another one of those characters who's such a fascinating mess you can't wait for him to show up in a scene. This novel works as a stand-alone but you will definitely want to go back and catch up on Joona's story.
How to do many of these really hair-raising crime stories come from countries with little crime? The two writers who equal Lars Kepler are all in on creating frighting, exciting, and un-putdownable stories. If you get that little frisson of pleasure at a truly chilling story, you'll love "Stalker."
Well, when you finish "Stalker" you'll know what I mean.
With the outpouring about sexual harassment following the Kavanough confirmation, I wasn't sure I wanted to read a book full of women victims, but once I got started on "Stalker" it was impossible to stop. Lars Kepler's books include interesting psychological slants courtesy of the psychiatrist and hypnotist Erik Maria Bark, a badly flawed and deeply interesting character. DS Margot Silverman leads the police search for killer who posts videos of his victims in the moments before he enters their homes. She's days from having her third child, always hungry and very uncomfortable.. She refuses to go on maternity leave until this killer is caught.
So where's Joona Linna, the Finnish detective believed dead? Well, not. Joona reappears. He's another one of those characters who's such a fascinating mess you can't wait for him to show up in a scene. This novel works as a stand-alone but you will definitely want to go back and catch up on Joona's story.
How to do many of these really hair-raising crime stories come from countries with little crime? The two writers who equal Lars Kepler are all in on creating frighting, exciting, and un-putdownable stories. If you get that little frisson of pleasure at a truly chilling story, you'll love "Stalker."
catearcagni's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good one, might read some more from Kepler.
Some tense scenes where way too drawn out though, especially the chases and action scenes. Instead of keeping the tension it seemed like the resolution would never come and it got frustrating.
But overall super great, interesting characters and good mystery, satisfying conclusion too.
Some tense scenes where way too drawn out though, especially the chases and action scenes. Instead of keeping the tension it seemed like the resolution would never come and it got frustrating.
But overall super great, interesting characters and good mystery, satisfying conclusion too.