Scan barcode
risager's review
2.0
Lidt vel lang, men alligevel spændende.
Lydbogen er fra dengang man brugte cd'er, så "Her slutter CD nr. 1."
Og en el-griffel viste sig at være et våben, der er egnet til at nedlægge elge med. Sådan er der så meget.
Lydbogen er fra dengang man brugte cd'er, så "Her slutter CD nr. 1."
Og en el-griffel viste sig at være et våben, der er egnet til at nedlægge elge med. Sådan er der så meget.
viktoriya's review
3.0
I am really surprised that I actually finished this book. It is very easy for me to DNF a book if it doesn't grab and hold my attention. To give it credit, the story grabbed my attention right away, but it was struggling to hold it. Even though the whole "who done it" takes place over just a few days, it felt like it was taking MONTHS. Everything was moving at a glacier's speed and there way too many completely unnecessary things thrown in: no need to spend 20 pages on a train ride that Irene took to and from Copenhagen, there was no need for a story Tommy told to Irene and her family about his great-parents and their short life in Germany right before WWII (don't get me wrong, it's a heartbreaking story, but I felt it didn't belong in this book). On the overall, I think about 100 pages or so could have been easily edited out without a great loss to the story.
There is one thing that I absolutely love about Scandinavian writers is how atmospheric their stories are: you really feel like you are IN it. This one, however, was lacking that feeling.
The mystery itself wasn't all that earth-shattering. I am still trying to understand why Irene Huss was selected by the author as the main character: she is not the greatest detective, she is not in charge of anything. She was kind of boring, to be honest.
There is one thing that I absolutely love about Scandinavian writers is how atmospheric their stories are: you really feel like you are IN it. This one, however, was lacking that feeling.
The mystery itself wasn't all that earth-shattering. I am still trying to understand why Irene Huss was selected by the author as the main character: she is not the greatest detective, she is not in charge of anything. She was kind of boring, to be honest.
quietjenn's review
4.0
This book was recommended to me by a patron, which makes me happy. It fits very squarely in the tradition of the Swedish police procedural it's a part of - reminding me lots of early Mankell and Per Wahloo/Maj Sjowall. But! Lady cop, who is allowed to be just as complicated and prickly as Wallendar and Beck. Yes, please.
nonna7's review
3.0
After finishing this book, I remembered why I never pursued other books in the series. I had read three of these several years ago. I never shared the enthusiasm many have for the series. It may be the translations. This book, like others in the series, seems to have a lot of awkward phrasing including the word "luscious" to describe both a woman and the paint color of her car, a shade of pale yellow. Yet the car is also described as bright red.
This book was written in 1991 and is interesting in that it talks about Sweden being a closed society and how anyone with a name that an employer can't pronounce will never be called to a job no matter how qualified he or she is. Of course that's often true in this country as well except that we have a lot more immigrants and there is a better chance that the company is actually looking for diversity in the workplace. Anyway, this book introduced DI Huss to the world in an explosive case.
When a wealthy man falls to his death from his balcony, the assumption is that he has committed suicide. However, the acidic police coroner soon puts that to rest pronouncing that he has been murdered. Shortly thereafter a "devil bomb" goes off in the building in which he has an office. Coincidence? Of course not. It seems as if all of the suspects have alibis - at first.
Meanwhile DI Huss has problems at home. She and her husband, Kirster, a chef in an upscale restaurant, have twin daughters. One is fair and artsy, the other is dark and moody and interested in music. She joins a punk rock band and shaves her head. Soon she is telling her parents that the Holocaust never happened and singing songs with antisemitic lyrics, saying she just likes the music.
It took me longer to read this book than it should have really. Also, I couldn't warm up to the character at all even after having read several books in the series.
Still, these are well written and have interesting plots. You may enjoy the series better than I did.
This book was written in 1991 and is interesting in that it talks about Sweden being a closed society and how anyone with a name that an employer can't pronounce will never be called to a job no matter how qualified he or she is. Of course that's often true in this country as well except that we have a lot more immigrants and there is a better chance that the company is actually looking for diversity in the workplace. Anyway, this book introduced DI Huss to the world in an explosive case.
When a wealthy man falls to his death from his balcony, the assumption is that he has committed suicide. However, the acidic police coroner soon puts that to rest pronouncing that he has been murdered. Shortly thereafter a "devil bomb" goes off in the building in which he has an office. Coincidence? Of course not. It seems as if all of the suspects have alibis - at first.
Meanwhile DI Huss has problems at home. She and her husband, Kirster, a chef in an upscale restaurant, have twin daughters. One is fair and artsy, the other is dark and moody and interested in music. She joins a punk rock band and shaves her head. Soon she is telling her parents that the Holocaust never happened and singing songs with antisemitic lyrics, saying she just likes the music.
It took me longer to read this book than it should have really. Also, I couldn't warm up to the character at all even after having read several books in the series.
Still, these are well written and have interesting plots. You may enjoy the series better than I did.
chfugal's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ebook library
Translated swedish
Good beginning to a mystery series
Translated swedish
Good beginning to a mystery series
pollyno9's review
2.0
I'm surprised by my own inclination to only give this 2 stars. It could be I'm weary of Scandinavian Noir (maybe?), it could be that this book just didn't give me what i was hoping for.
I really enjoyed the plotline about her daughter Jenny, I thought that was fascinating and insightful. The mystery was good, maybe a touch convuluted, but perhaps I was jarred by the presence of what, in my mind, is a VERY American criminal organisation. Maybe my two stars is because that didn't feel wrapped up, but hopefully more comes of that in late books in the series, which, yes, I will give the next one a try.
I really enjoyed the plotline about her daughter Jenny, I thought that was fascinating and insightful. The mystery was good, maybe a touch convuluted, but perhaps I was jarred by the presence of what, in my mind, is a VERY American criminal organisation. Maybe my two stars is because that didn't feel wrapped up, but hopefully more comes of that in late books in the series, which, yes, I will give the next one a try.