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tt569's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
3.75
fictionfan's review against another edition
3.0
Series...or serial?
When the family of a Swedish sport star is gassed to death during a robbery on the Costa del Sol, the Evening Post sends reporter Annika Bengtzon to cover the story. Meanwhile a reorganisation at the newspaper means that Annika’s colleague Patrik has been promoted to be her new boss. And the appeal is about to be heard for Filip Andersson, a man convicted of murder, apparently in a previous book.
This is a very well written slowburn thriller that takes Nordic crime away from the cold of the north to the sunshine of Spain. Marklund gives a real feel for these ex-pats living in the brash world of the Costa Cocaine, as Patrik wishes to dub it. The story lets us see how the police are failing to stop the drug route through Spain from the hash farms in Morocco and on to the rest of Europe. Annika’s character is well developed and she’s a likeable lead although with the usual confused personal life. She’s not superwoman, thankfully – just a hard-working, professional journalist with a well-defined set of ethics. And we see her as a caring mother to her two young children and struggling to come to terms with the break-up of her marriage.
Many crime novels are part of a series where each book can be read on its own merits. However, this one is very much part of a serial – i.e. the main plot clearly runs on from book to book and this is an instalment rather than a distinct story. Unfortunately this means the book doesn’t work as a standalone. I spent most of my time baffled about characters whose story had obviously begun in the previous books, which I haven’t read; and as all the threads began to come together my lack of knowledge of who had done what and why in previous books meant I hadn’t a clue what was going on. And unfortunately that confusion continued right through to the end. And yet, so much of the book was given over to retelling bits of previous instalments I am left with little desire to backtrack, especially since I now know what has happened to many of the recurring characters. Of course, it’s quite normal for there to be a running story arc in the background, but I’ve never come across another crime novel where the main plot was so dependant on a thorough knowledge of the previous books.
I’m reluctant to mark it down because I’m sure that for people who’ve been following the serial this will be an interesting and enjoyable read. Even with my problems with understanding the plot, there was much that I enjoyed – the quality of the dialogue, the characterisation, the sense of place, Annika’s family life. So 4 stars from me, but I doubt I’ll be reading the past books, since this book contains so many spoilers about them. And while this instalment felt as if it had come to a proper, if rather incomprehensible, conclusion, I wouldn’t be willing to read any future books unless I could be sure that major plot points didn’t rely on the reader knowing about things that happened in the previous books. Shame.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Random House.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When the family of a Swedish sport star is gassed to death during a robbery on the Costa del Sol, the Evening Post sends reporter Annika Bengtzon to cover the story. Meanwhile a reorganisation at the newspaper means that Annika’s colleague Patrik has been promoted to be her new boss. And the appeal is about to be heard for Filip Andersson, a man convicted of murder, apparently in a previous book.
This is a very well written slowburn thriller that takes Nordic crime away from the cold of the north to the sunshine of Spain. Marklund gives a real feel for these ex-pats living in the brash world of the Costa Cocaine, as Patrik wishes to dub it. The story lets us see how the police are failing to stop the drug route through Spain from the hash farms in Morocco and on to the rest of Europe. Annika’s character is well developed and she’s a likeable lead although with the usual confused personal life. She’s not superwoman, thankfully – just a hard-working, professional journalist with a well-defined set of ethics. And we see her as a caring mother to her two young children and struggling to come to terms with the break-up of her marriage.
Many crime novels are part of a series where each book can be read on its own merits. However, this one is very much part of a serial – i.e. the main plot clearly runs on from book to book and this is an instalment rather than a distinct story. Unfortunately this means the book doesn’t work as a standalone. I spent most of my time baffled about characters whose story had obviously begun in the previous books, which I haven’t read; and as all the threads began to come together my lack of knowledge of who had done what and why in previous books meant I hadn’t a clue what was going on. And unfortunately that confusion continued right through to the end. And yet, so much of the book was given over to retelling bits of previous instalments I am left with little desire to backtrack, especially since I now know what has happened to many of the recurring characters. Of course, it’s quite normal for there to be a running story arc in the background, but I’ve never come across another crime novel where the main plot was so dependant on a thorough knowledge of the previous books.
I’m reluctant to mark it down because I’m sure that for people who’ve been following the serial this will be an interesting and enjoyable read. Even with my problems with understanding the plot, there was much that I enjoyed – the quality of the dialogue, the characterisation, the sense of place, Annika’s family life. So 4 stars from me, but I doubt I’ll be reading the past books, since this book contains so many spoilers about them. And while this instalment felt as if it had come to a proper, if rather incomprehensible, conclusion, I wouldn’t be willing to read any future books unless I could be sure that major plot points didn’t rely on the reader knowing about things that happened in the previous books. Shame.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Random House.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
The Long Shadow finds Marklund’s heroine Annika going through a period of change. As she is recovering from what seems to be an irrevocable breakage with her partner and father of her two children, she must also deal with the changing face of the newsroom, including a change in her status as well as a new direct superior. Then there is a murder in Spain that ties into
It’s somewhat upsetting that Marklund isn’t more readily/easily available in the United States (Red Wolf, which is not the first in the series was the first published in the U.S.), especially when one considers the popularity of all other Nordic thrillers. This book seems to be more closely tied with others in the series, though it is not necessary to read the preceding ones before this – I know, I speak from experience. Like the girl with the tattoos, Annika is somewhat disconnected from society, if to a lesser degree. The lesser degree is nice because Annika does actually have a friend or two, a woman she can take to, if not about personal issues, than work issues and they back each other up. Annika also has her children who she loves. Unlike Sandler, Annika does acknowledge her behavior and the effects it has on those around her as well as herself. Whether or not she will actually stick to the small changes, she resolves to try is another matter, but she has a degree of self awareness that few Nordic heroes have as well as a idea or decision to change – not to conform, but to make her life easier. She takes responsibility in a way that though tortured thriller or mystery heroes actually do.
The plot of the novel hinges on more the Swedish community in Costa del Sol but on drugs and money. It is global in scope and the missing daughter is not only half of it, though it is this connection, this missing child, that drives Annika, that arouses her instinct of what a good story it can be, something that her boss in the newsroom disagrees with.
In many ways, the newsroom issues, Annika’s job and her interaction with her co-workers, are some of the most interesting parts of the novel. It reminds one of the final season of the Wire, with its close up at the newspaper industry. It is also depressing. America isn’t the only place with dumb down news, if Marklund’s portrayal is accurate.
Marklund’s novel does have violence; Annika’s life is touched by it in more than one way and several characters outside of the victims also have violent pasts. However, unlike many other mysteries/thrillers where the violence is directed almost elusively towards women and has a sexual undertone to it, the violence in Marklund’s books would occur to the victims (who are both genders) regardless of gender. Annika, for instance, is targeted because she is an investigative reporter and not a woman. Perhaps it is sad that I find such use of violence refreshing, yet there is something nice about a book where women are not the only victims, were they are active and actually interact with each other as equals.
Crossposted at Booklikes.
It’s somewhat upsetting that Marklund isn’t more readily/easily available in the United States (Red Wolf, which is not the first in the series was the first published in the U.S.), especially when one considers the popularity of all other Nordic thrillers. This book seems to be more closely tied with others in the series, though it is not necessary to read the preceding ones before this – I know, I speak from experience. Like the girl with the tattoos, Annika is somewhat disconnected from society, if to a lesser degree. The lesser degree is nice because Annika does actually have a friend or two, a woman she can take to, if not about personal issues, than work issues and they back each other up. Annika also has her children who she loves. Unlike Sandler, Annika does acknowledge her behavior and the effects it has on those around her as well as herself. Whether or not she will actually stick to the small changes, she resolves to try is another matter, but she has a degree of self awareness that few Nordic heroes have as well as a idea or decision to change – not to conform, but to make her life easier. She takes responsibility in a way that though tortured thriller or mystery heroes actually do.
The plot of the novel hinges on more the Swedish community in Costa del Sol but on drugs and money. It is global in scope and the missing daughter is not only half of it, though it is this connection, this missing child, that drives Annika, that arouses her instinct of what a good story it can be, something that her boss in the newsroom disagrees with.
In many ways, the newsroom issues, Annika’s job and her interaction with her co-workers, are some of the most interesting parts of the novel. It reminds one of the final season of the Wire, with its close up at the newspaper industry. It is also depressing. America isn’t the only place with dumb down news, if Marklund’s portrayal is accurate.
Marklund’s novel does have violence; Annika’s life is touched by it in more than one way and several characters outside of the victims also have violent pasts. However, unlike many other mysteries/thrillers where the violence is directed almost elusively towards women and has a sexual undertone to it, the violence in Marklund’s books would occur to the victims (who are both genders) regardless of gender. Annika, for instance, is targeted because she is an investigative reporter and not a woman. Perhaps it is sad that I find such use of violence refreshing, yet there is something nice about a book where women are not the only victims, were they are active and actually interact with each other as equals.
Crossposted at Booklikes.
lesezimmer's review against another edition
3.0
All in all this was a suspenseful read with some twists and turns that I really enjoyed. I only rated it 3 stars because the story felt very constructed and I couldn‘t find motive for many of the crimes described. At some point it felt as if everyone in this story is just evil - except for Annika maybe but towards the end she did this stupid crimebook-cliché where she runs off to a place she expects to be dangerous without telling anyone where she‘s going and I was kind of annoyed by that. This wasn‘t a typical nordic noir but it was a fun read nonetheless.
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