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ariel_tat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lolloreads00's review against another edition
4.0
A man once thought to be the victim of the notorious serial killer Jurik Walter is found alive. The only way to save his sister is to get Jurik talking. But how do you get someone who’s serving a life sentence in a maximum security psychiatrically facility to confess?
So starting of with the biggest trigger warning ever, the list is so long. The book is about a serial killer so most of them makes sense, what I didn’t expect was the sexual assault.
It’s a really interesting book, very different from anything I’ve read before. So creepy all the way thru, very dark and there are so many surprises in there. Tbh it’s a bit to crazy for my taste but I would think more avid thriller readers would love this. The ending is insane!
The chapters are really short, most of them only 3 pages but there are more then 180 chapters 500+ pages. It’s told from a multiple pov which is very effective, love that. After reading it I found out that it’s actually the fourth part of the series, ops. But I don’t think that made a difference.
So starting of with the biggest trigger warning ever, the list is so long. The book is about a serial killer so most of them makes sense, what I didn’t expect was the sexual assault.
It’s a really interesting book, very different from anything I’ve read before. So creepy all the way thru, very dark and there are so many surprises in there. Tbh it’s a bit to crazy for my taste but I would think more avid thriller readers would love this. The ending is insane!
The chapters are really short, most of them only 3 pages but there are more then 180 chapters 500+ pages. It’s told from a multiple pov which is very effective, love that. After reading it I found out that it’s actually the fourth part of the series, ops. But I don’t think that made a difference.
darkpsychereads's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 Stars - Spine-chillingly spooky & obscurely guttural psychological thriller.
The writing is genuinely immersive and spooky, that I had to take breaks to ease my mind. The story takes on supernatural elements and there are a few psychologically disturbing scenes which just toy with the mind and seem genuinely original. I absolutely loved the haunting words around the sandman: his porcelain fingers clinking, dark shadowy figures unseen, and the wisps of sand, snow or dust that are a constant foreshadowing of the elusive sandman's presence. Brr!
Lars Kepler does very well for this grimly atmospheric story. Characters are very rough around the edges and well-written. And this cover perfectly encapsulates the feeling of fear and mystery around the imprisoned but somehow omnipotent serial killer, Jurek Walter. You are put under a spell from the very first pages.
I deducted stars as I felt (like in a lot of Nordic noirs) the story can feel like it's dragging in the middle. And the ending wasn't exactly what I was expecting, or took some strange turns. But overall, the first half of the book was very spooky and the ending was decent enough. And Kepler's style may be a tad too psychologically vile/raw for me for future reads but I may reconsider if I feel a craving for that deeply gutting writing. (Keep in mind my review reflects around the pandemic so this may not be an accurate review based on my general psychological impact of the time).
TW: attempted rape scene
The writing is genuinely immersive and spooky, that I had to take breaks to ease my mind. The story takes on supernatural elements and there are a few psychologically disturbing scenes which just toy with the mind and seem genuinely original. I absolutely loved the haunting words around the sandman: his porcelain fingers clinking, dark shadowy figures unseen, and the wisps of sand, snow or dust that are a constant foreshadowing of the elusive sandman's presence. Brr!
Lars Kepler does very well for this grimly atmospheric story. Characters are very rough around the edges and well-written. And this cover perfectly encapsulates the feeling of fear and mystery around the imprisoned but somehow omnipotent serial killer, Jurek Walter. You are put under a spell from the very first pages.
I deducted stars as I felt (like in a lot of Nordic noirs) the story can feel like it's dragging in the middle. And the ending wasn't exactly what I was expecting, or took some strange turns. But overall, the first half of the book was very spooky and the ending was decent enough. And Kepler's style may be a tad too psychologically vile/raw for me for future reads but I may reconsider if I feel a craving for that deeply gutting writing. (Keep in mind my review reflects around the pandemic so this may not be an accurate review based on my general psychological impact of the time).
TW: attempted rape scene
elindx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
lefttorread's review against another edition
2.0
The books in the Joona Linna series for me are quite long and detailed, they're what some people might call slow burners. Whilst this is not usually what I look for in books, I seem to really enjoy this format in this series, I'm not sure why, whether it's the love for the stories, the characters, the atmosphere or the authors writing I don't know but I love going into these books.
Unfortunately THE SANDMAN was one of those typical, slow burning books that I hate. It was dragged out for way too long and because it was based on a killer that they kind of already have captured it got boring quickly. In my own opinion I think this book was at least 200 pages too long, the start is interesting, in the middle it falls flat then you find out the twist and all you really need to know from there is how it ends.
"It wasn't the people who were buried who were being punished, but those left behind."
I find that once you spend a major amount of time with the bad guy of the book, they start to become less scary and less interesting. This story wasn't as gripping as the others in the series and I was left feeling very disappointed.
I still can not fault Lars Kepler's writing and the atmosphere these books give off, I have a lot of space in my heart for these books and I'm looking forward to moving on to the next in the series, STALKER.
Find my full review here https://littlereaderxoxo.wordpress.com/
Unfortunately THE SANDMAN was one of those typical, slow burning books that I hate. It was dragged out for way too long and because it was based on a killer that they kind of already have captured it got boring quickly. In my own opinion I think this book was at least 200 pages too long, the start is interesting, in the middle it falls flat then you find out the twist and all you really need to know from there is how it ends.
"It wasn't the people who were buried who were being punished, but those left behind."
I find that once you spend a major amount of time with the bad guy of the book, they start to become less scary and less interesting. This story wasn't as gripping as the others in the series and I was left feeling very disappointed.
I still can not fault Lars Kepler's writing and the atmosphere these books give off, I have a lot of space in my heart for these books and I'm looking forward to moving on to the next in the series, STALKER.
Find my full review here https://littlereaderxoxo.wordpress.com/
margaridang's review against another edition
3.0
Mais uma leitura de Lars Kepler. Acabei o Hipnotista com expectativas altas e baixas com o Executor, sendo que não estava à espera de grandiosidade da parte deste quarto livro da série sobre Joona Linna. Estava, no entanto, à espera de algumas melhorias.
Gostei bastante, os capítulos são superpequenos o que torna a leitura rápida e cativante. Estamos de volta aos assassinos em série. Jurek Walter é um mistério quase de início ao fim. Confesso que estava à espera de mais. Na descrição da obra podemos obter uma imagem de Jurek que é suposto fazer tremer, estamos a falar de um dos assassinos mais perigoso do mundo. Já vi pior. Jurek é talvez um dos mais manipuladores e sim, talvez seja essa a razão pelo qual é considerado um dos mais perigosos.
Não tenho razões de queixa, acho que cumpriu e atingiu todas as expectativas. Gosto da forma como os autores nos mostram detalhes da vida pessoal de algumas personagens porque torna as cenas muito mais fortes e pesadas. Por exemplo, Anders, achei interessante e quase irónico, o que ele faz à mulher e depois entra na ala psiquiátrica onde ele é médico, um paciente acusado por violações em série. O paralelo entre dois criminosos, mas só um é que está preso.
Descobrimos coisas novas sobre Joona Linna e a sua família, não consigo ainda estabelecer uma ligação com ele. Criei muito mais rapidamente uma empatia com a Saga do que com ele. Gosto, no entanto, da sua persistência e por conseguir sempre obter o máximo que consegue das pessoas. Vá aos limites que tenha que ir.
Estou ansiosa por continuar a minha leitura das restantes obras.
Gostei bastante, os capítulos são superpequenos o que torna a leitura rápida e cativante. Estamos de volta aos assassinos em série. Jurek Walter é um mistério quase de início ao fim. Confesso que estava à espera de mais. Na descrição da obra podemos obter uma imagem de Jurek que é suposto fazer tremer, estamos a falar de um dos assassinos mais perigoso do mundo. Já vi pior. Jurek é talvez um dos mais manipuladores e sim, talvez seja essa a razão pelo qual é considerado um dos mais perigosos.
Não tenho razões de queixa, acho que cumpriu e atingiu todas as expectativas. Gosto da forma como os autores nos mostram detalhes da vida pessoal de algumas personagens porque torna as cenas muito mais fortes e pesadas. Por exemplo, Anders, achei interessante e quase irónico, o que ele faz à mulher e depois entra na ala psiquiátrica onde ele é médico, um paciente acusado por violações em série. O paralelo entre dois criminosos, mas só um é que está preso.
Descobrimos coisas novas sobre Joona Linna e a sua família, não consigo ainda estabelecer uma ligação com ele. Criei muito mais rapidamente uma empatia com a Saga do que com ele. Gosto, no entanto, da sua persistência e por conseguir sempre obter o máximo que consegue das pessoas. Vá aos limites que tenha que ir.
Estou ansiosa por continuar a minha leitura das restantes obras.
densorterytter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75