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kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
Ultra-gritty describes the 1930's Stockholm that Harry Kvist occupies, as well as Kvist himself. To say nothing of the people that he mixes with. It's a beautifully evoked world of dark and despair, littered with violent sexual encounters, drinking, and oddly, an unexpected love affair of sorts.
Told from his point of view Kvist is nothing if not brutally honest about himself, his situation, even the way he looks. And as an ex-boxer he's well suited to his now role of debt-collector, and general intimidating presence. It's the role of debt collector that sees him become the prime suspect after a debtor he has just visited, and roughed up just a touch, is discovered murdered in his apartment. Kvist might be the last known person to have seen him alive, but this time he knows he's definitely not guilty. Unfortunately clearing his name isn't going to be straightforward as finding the witness that saw him leaving on the night, when he's just got is a working name and physical description to go on, isn't easy.
The plot itself is not unfamiliar - the lone wolf character, presumed guilty because that's the easiest conclusion to draw, setting out on his own to clear his name. What lifts CLINCH out of the familiar is the strength of the character of Kvist and the world that he occupies. Working the streets, the slums, the brothels and the dives of Stockholm, there's something deeply physical about the way that Kvist undertakes his quest. But then sheer physicality is the thing about Kvist - be it his hetero- and homo-sexual encounters, or the way he inhabits the darker places in which he seeks.
When Scandinavian crime / thriller fiction first elbowed itself into the consciousness of crime fiction fans it frequently bought with it something unusual at the time - introspection and consideration, the examination of why people do what they do, rather than always the crime, an investigation and resolution. CLINCH seems to come from somewhere slightly different again. Kvist feels like he'd be comfortable walking the dark, gritty streets of a dangerous American city, and equally at home on the hard edges of the Scottish and Irish tenements plagued with violence and social problems. That he's from Stockholm, and the world he inhabits is dark, cold, dirty, desperate, and frequently pretty nasty makes more sense than this reader ever imagined would be possible.
If you've read the blurb for CLINCH and formed some conclusions about style, and outcome in your mind, then it's likely you got close in some things and miles away in others. There are shades of noir in this novel so unexpected that even after reading CLINCH, this reader is still mildly stunned and absolutely thankful for the opportunity.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-clinch-martin-holmen
Told from his point of view Kvist is nothing if not brutally honest about himself, his situation, even the way he looks. And as an ex-boxer he's well suited to his now role of debt-collector, and general intimidating presence. It's the role of debt collector that sees him become the prime suspect after a debtor he has just visited, and roughed up just a touch, is discovered murdered in his apartment. Kvist might be the last known person to have seen him alive, but this time he knows he's definitely not guilty. Unfortunately clearing his name isn't going to be straightforward as finding the witness that saw him leaving on the night, when he's just got is a working name and physical description to go on, isn't easy.
The plot itself is not unfamiliar - the lone wolf character, presumed guilty because that's the easiest conclusion to draw, setting out on his own to clear his name. What lifts CLINCH out of the familiar is the strength of the character of Kvist and the world that he occupies. Working the streets, the slums, the brothels and the dives of Stockholm, there's something deeply physical about the way that Kvist undertakes his quest. But then sheer physicality is the thing about Kvist - be it his hetero- and homo-sexual encounters, or the way he inhabits the darker places in which he seeks.
When Scandinavian crime / thriller fiction first elbowed itself into the consciousness of crime fiction fans it frequently bought with it something unusual at the time - introspection and consideration, the examination of why people do what they do, rather than always the crime, an investigation and resolution. CLINCH seems to come from somewhere slightly different again. Kvist feels like he'd be comfortable walking the dark, gritty streets of a dangerous American city, and equally at home on the hard edges of the Scottish and Irish tenements plagued with violence and social problems. That he's from Stockholm, and the world he inhabits is dark, cold, dirty, desperate, and frequently pretty nasty makes more sense than this reader ever imagined would be possible.
If you've read the blurb for CLINCH and formed some conclusions about style, and outcome in your mind, then it's likely you got close in some things and miles away in others. There are shades of noir in this novel so unexpected that even after reading CLINCH, this reader is still mildly stunned and absolutely thankful for the opportunity.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-clinch-martin-holmen
rpc_2024's review against another edition
4.0
Really atmospheric Swedish noir story. Kvist is an ex boxer in 1930s Stockholm living on the seedy side of life. Story is a gritty murder and there are no heroes, but lots of strongly drawn charactersI look forward to the next one.
mmollx's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
markhoh's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve not read Scandinavian Noir quite like Martin Holmen’s ‘Clinch’ before and I’ve got to say I really loved it. Holmen introduces us to Harry Kvist, a most intriguing character who is dark, broody, at times violent and provocative. He’s described as kind of an antihero in some reviews and that is probably quite apt. And while he’s actually kind of unlikeable I found myself really liking him. He’s a character who appeals to our darker side in some respects.
Holmen is powerfully descriptive in his writing and spends a lot of time giving the reader a strong picture of 1930s Stockholm. It’s dark, cold, dreary and stark but yet utterly intriguing and drew me right in. Holmens descriptions are in no way superfluous.
The story comes together quite rapidly in the last few chapters building quite slowly throughout.
I’m definitely keen for more of Harry Kvist.
Holmen is powerfully descriptive in his writing and spends a lot of time giving the reader a strong picture of 1930s Stockholm. It’s dark, cold, dreary and stark but yet utterly intriguing and drew me right in. Holmens descriptions are in no way superfluous.
The story comes together quite rapidly in the last few chapters building quite slowly throughout.
I’m definitely keen for more of Harry Kvist.
kfrench1008's review
3.0
Very atmospheric, but there are long plotless stretches and a lot of repetition (how many times do we have to hear about car wheels spinning on icy roads?).
zzzrevel's review against another edition
2.0
As weird as this may sound, I have to say that this is the best
2-star rated book I have ever read. This is noir prose as good
as many others, but the story goes meandering for alot of the
book. Once a murder has been committed, the reason for the
protagonist's motive/urgency seems a bit weak to me.
He's looking for a witness that may exonerate him and this
goes on for a long time in the book while other (seemingly)
superfluous incidents arise. They end up being important
though.
The payoff however is in the interesting near-finish to the
book (when the protagonist has his last dialogue with the
police), and then the actual finish is a bit so-so.
To top it off, it's book one of a trilogy. I may have to get
the next one, even knowing it may be another 2-star evening.
2-star rated book I have ever read. This is noir prose as good
as many others, but the story goes meandering for alot of the
book. Once a murder has been committed, the reason for the
protagonist's motive/urgency seems a bit weak to me.
He's looking for a witness that may exonerate him and this
goes on for a long time in the book while other (seemingly)
superfluous incidents arise. They end up being important
though.
The payoff however is in the interesting near-finish to the
book (when the protagonist has his last dialogue with the
police), and then the actual finish is a bit so-so.
To top it off, it's book one of a trilogy. I may have to get
the next one, even knowing it may be another 2-star evening.
kjlarsen's review against another edition
3.0
Egentlig er romanen spændende nok, men samtidig også bare en irriterende roman. Noir stemningen fungerede ikke for mig, som den ellers gør i andre romaner, og hovedpersonen blev aldrig min kop te, han er for meget, kort og godt.