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margaret21's review against another edition
4.0
A good read.This detective story is set in Malmo, where a powerful industrialist is shot during an after-dinner speech. There are repercussions both locally and internationally, and Chief Inspector Martin Beck is called in to spearhead the investigation. He is not alone in his efforts however, and it is one of the books's strengths that several of the Malmo team are as effectively described as Beck himself is. The boredom as well as the excitement of the chase seem authentically described. What becomes clear is that the victim is mired in all kinds of major and more minor wrongdoing, while the killer might well attract more sympathy.
I couldn't decide if the translation was stilted, or whether it accurately reflected the way the book was written in Swedish. But I rather liked it. A rather 'plain speaking' style that suits the material and characters well. I'll go on to read the other books in the series.
I couldn't decide if the translation was stilted, or whether it accurately reflected the way the book was written in Swedish. But I rather liked it. A rather 'plain speaking' style that suits the material and characters well. I'll go on to read the other books in the series.
rainbowarpaint's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
marco5599's review against another edition
4.0
Hot weather, dry humor and audacious murder! Yes, indeed, at the Savoy. Politically motivated perhaps. The authors sure are. You can easily tell when they are preaching instead of narrating. A little too pushy for me at times. Not enough to be a real killjoy though. Beck and his team do what they do best. Sigh, grumble, ponder, speculate and investigate. Also nice; the comeback of a number of characters, small and not so small, from previous books. Like one (not so) happy family. So yeah, great read, again. Looking forward to the next one, although I am getting slightly worried about S&W's increasing social commentary..
smemmott's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
amies808's review against another edition
3.0
I loved that the murder took place at a hotel I recently stayed at, and that I know most of the places mentioned in Malmo and Stockholm now after having vacationed those places recently (I actually bought my copy IN Stockholm). However, overall I felt like the plot moved slowly and the end felt very anticlimactic, especially because my version had another 75 pages... but it was all extra material and not some shocking twists and turns. Character development felt pretty flat - despite it being billed a Martin Beck novel, he felt secondary and I don’t really feel as if I know his personality. I liked the development of Månsson, though, and I kind of wish the story had been told from his point of view alone.
felicitydisco's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Odd but interesting, as usual for this series!
senkahawke's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0