Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
It was the bonds - the same bonds she herself had broken loose from. Vincent didn't show up at the prison yesterday either.
And somehow she was glad that her youngest son seemed aware that bonds can ensnare - because only then is it possible to face them.
The ties that bind… the bonds that ensnare… call it what you will but The Sons is an epic and taut tale of familial entrapment and particularly the relationship and influence of fathers on their sons. The sequel to the ‘based in truth’ The Father, The Sons is a far more fictitious narrative of the next chapter of the Duvnjak family, notoriously and infamously responsible for Sweden’s biggest bank robberies.
The Sons provides further insight into the childhood experiences of Leo, Felix and Vincent Duvnjak (the author notes that the events in the story occurring in the past are based in truth) and the abuses they witnessed at the hands of their father, Ivan. Explanations for later behaviours, not excuses. It’s quite a sobering read and one that the pseudo psychologist in me ‘goes to town’ over.
The Sons adds the dimension of the sonship of police officer John Broncks, responsible for capturing the brothers and the father back in book one. However, in this book we become privy to Broncks’ own past, experiences with his own father and brother and these come to bear in a parallel story that entwines, much like the threads that Leo and Ivan discuss in terms of what is woven together from individual threads into a whole.
This is an excellent sequel to what was also an outstanding read for me. Authenticity added as one of the authors is the fourth and unnamed brother unconnected to the crimes. His voice is real. 5 stars.
And somehow she was glad that her youngest son seemed aware that bonds can ensnare - because only then is it possible to face them.
The ties that bind… the bonds that ensnare… call it what you will but The Sons is an epic and taut tale of familial entrapment and particularly the relationship and influence of fathers on their sons. The sequel to the ‘based in truth’ The Father, The Sons is a far more fictitious narrative of the next chapter of the Duvnjak family, notoriously and infamously responsible for Sweden’s biggest bank robberies.
The Sons provides further insight into the childhood experiences of Leo, Felix and Vincent Duvnjak (the author notes that the events in the story occurring in the past are based in truth) and the abuses they witnessed at the hands of their father, Ivan. Explanations for later behaviours, not excuses. It’s quite a sobering read and one that the pseudo psychologist in me ‘goes to town’ over.
The Sons adds the dimension of the sonship of police officer John Broncks, responsible for capturing the brothers and the father back in book one. However, in this book we become privy to Broncks’ own past, experiences with his own father and brother and these come to bear in a parallel story that entwines, much like the threads that Leo and Ivan discuss in terms of what is woven together from individual threads into a whole.
This is an excellent sequel to what was also an outstanding read for me. Authenticity added as one of the authors is the fourth and unnamed brother unconnected to the crimes. His voice is real. 5 stars.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Thanks to Quercus Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
I started this one right after finishing Part One (THE FATHER) in the Made in Sweden series. I absolutely loved THE FATHER and was immediately sucked into the story about the infamous Military League that terrorized Sweden. Ten bank robberies, a bomb, a security car robbery, and one of the largest arms thefts in European history - these brothers and their father seemed unstoppable.
Their last job proved to be their downfall. After mistakes were made they were arrested for their crimes. The oldest brother, Leo, is released from prison and is unreformed. He has his sights set on the biggest heist yet - 100 million in Swedish crowns in the police headquarters. Are his goals too high this time? Will he have to go in this alone? When leaving prison his relationships are incredibly strained with his brothers, Felix and Vincent, as well as with his father, Ivan.
While the past events are based on their true story, the present events are a work of fiction. This series amazes me because we get to see how these young men were raised and how that turned them into the violent criminals they became. With family being the most important over all else, is Leo willing to lose them to pull off one last heist, or will he alienate them for good?
I would highly recommend reading THE FATHER first. Otherwise you will be missing out on a lot of backstory, and it's just a well-written novel. If you like a good crime thriller/suspense that is equal parts action and character study, then this needs to be on your TBR list!
I give this one 5/5 stars - as well as the series!
I started this one right after finishing Part One (THE FATHER) in the Made in Sweden series. I absolutely loved THE FATHER and was immediately sucked into the story about the infamous Military League that terrorized Sweden. Ten bank robberies, a bomb, a security car robbery, and one of the largest arms thefts in European history - these brothers and their father seemed unstoppable.
Their last job proved to be their downfall. After mistakes were made they were arrested for their crimes. The oldest brother, Leo, is released from prison and is unreformed. He has his sights set on the biggest heist yet - 100 million in Swedish crowns in the police headquarters. Are his goals too high this time? Will he have to go in this alone? When leaving prison his relationships are incredibly strained with his brothers, Felix and Vincent, as well as with his father, Ivan.
While the past events are based on their true story, the present events are a work of fiction. This series amazes me because we get to see how these young men were raised and how that turned them into the violent criminals they became. With family being the most important over all else, is Leo willing to lose them to pull off one last heist, or will he alienate them for good?
I would highly recommend reading THE FATHER first. Otherwise you will be missing out on a lot of backstory, and it's just a well-written novel. If you like a good crime thriller/suspense that is equal parts action and character study, then this needs to be on your TBR list!
I give this one 5/5 stars - as well as the series!
On its initial appearance it seems like another addition to the massive genre of Scandinavian crime novels, but it's much more and can stand alone as a piece of literary fiction deserving of high praise. Three young men have just served sentences for aggravated armed robbery. They are brothers, raised by the petty criminal and domestic abuser father that they committed their last crime with. On the final sons release we follow what happens next as they try to recreate some kind of normality - whatever "normality" means for each of them though is very different. Starting out I was worried that because I didn't really like any the characters my attention may sway, but that fear allayed pretty early on by the authors great descriptive writing which bares all to scene of a family torn apart by the criminal inclinations of a small representation of their larger sum. This is part 2 in the 'Made in Sweden' series, the first book being 'The Father'. Can't wait for the next one!