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beanpod's review against another edition
4.0
I’m loving these Martin Beck mysteries. The politics of the authors peppered into the plots. The progressive views on mental illness and society, weapons and policing and brutality. And the way the novels all just end, but each time in a different, abrupt way just makes me chuckle. Not as filled with back story as some, but still engaging.
felicitydisco's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As always for this series, compelling and philosophically interesting.
rocketiza's review against another edition
4.0
More of an action novel then most in the series, still excellent and more thoughtful than most American cop writers.
michael5000's review against another edition
4.0
The Beck novels are realistic in a way no other detective novels are. Or maybe I don't mean "realistic" so much as "true to life." I mean, I have no idea how well the world of Swedish law enforcement is depicted here. But I have an increasingly veteran experience of the way that life works, which is to say not according to plan. Martin Beck starts investigating crimes in a perfectly rational fashion, but he never follows a procedure or a chain of deduction through to their logical end. He's always interrupted by too much random shit that happens while the police and the criminals and everybody else bumble around trying to get their acts together. Just like you and me!
rainbowarpaint's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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, Violence, and Gun violence
smemmott's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality
marco5599's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Another fast and fun Martin Beck case. Subtle as a sledgehammer, the social criticism, but who cares when our hero and his team of grumblers are after a cop killer whose weapon of choice is a.. Bayonet! Such a bloody mess. And not the only weapon he's handy with. The why and the who make it compelling, the action makes it spectacular and tense. Yes, shots will be fired. And lots of 'em. Best Beck I have read. Best Beck I have seen as well. With that I mean Bo Widerberg's (little known?) film adaptation The Man on the Roof (1976). Worth the watch for the helicopter scene alone.
obredwolf's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25