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kathlgpa's review
4.0
This was an enjoyable thriller.
It had comparisons to [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391120695l/16299._SY75_.jpg|3038872] and is labeled a mystery but I think that looking at it through a different lens makes it better. It is set in a futuristic dystopia loosely based on the USSR. The author states it was supposed to be fictional and the real point of the setting was to examine what I consider to be the point of the novel: how do people obey orders under stress. The setting on a remote island under a Communist-run experiment seems a fitting way to address it.
I can see why people going into for a locked room mystery may be disappointed. This was how I had heard of this but I'm glad I didn't think about it. The choices made by the characters and the narrative-style were riveting. I really enjoyed the final part of the novel with the debriefing.
It had comparisons to [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391120695l/16299._SY75_.jpg|3038872] and is labeled a mystery but I think that looking at it through a different lens makes it better. It is set in a futuristic dystopia loosely based on the USSR. The author states it was supposed to be fictional and the real point of the setting was to examine what I consider to be the point of the novel: how do people obey orders under stress. The setting on a remote island under a Communist-run experiment seems a fitting way to address it.
I can see why people going into for a locked room mystery may be disappointed. This was how I had heard of this but I'm glad I didn't think about it. The choices made by the characters and the narrative-style were riveting. I really enjoyed the final part of the novel with the debriefing.
storytimed's review
3.0
It's a Swedish novel set in a near-future Orwellian state! Our main character is Anna Francis, a workaholic bureaucrat with Trauma from being an aid worker in an unspecified foreign conflict. She's recruited by the party to investigate a group of elites and figure out which is the best candidate for a top political role.
The way she's supposed to do this is FAKE HER DEATH, and then hide in the walls to see how they all react to her fake murder!!!
I read the plan and I was like, AWESOME. There is nothing cooler or more interesting than this
Unfortunately, Avdic does not agree, as she spends great chunks of the novel devoting herself to a love affair that Anna has with an ex instead.
Then of course the plan all goes off the rails, and eventually it's revealed that she was the candidate under investigation all along, except she cracked under the pressure and started shooting everybody instead
But we don't have enough time with the plan going well to appreciate it when the plan goes poorly!
I feel like there are two distinct pleasures of the different genres this book is trying to be
1) The locked-room mystery, where you enjoy observing this little microcosm of a social world, examine each suspect and judge their flaws, and tease out all the little secrets and gossip in their sordid personal lives
2) The paranoiac novel, where you are suspended in the same tension as the protagonist, not knowing who to trust or what to think, trying to guess at the reality of things while knowing you don't have enough information to come to a finite conclusion
And Avdic never spends long enough with either of the modes to fully enjoy what they could be. Instead we get a lot of setup and the payoff is completely skipped over. Unsatisfying tbh
adorescherry's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
mattressy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mariahelene's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
seaswift14's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
skukic1031's review
2.0
I really wanted to love this book. The idea behind it was fantastic... it just didn't come through as well as I had wanted it to. It seemed a bit rushed to me... maybe focusing on the character development in parts that were not needed and not adding to the story at all... it just didn't work for me. It was enjoyable, but I really wanted it to be better.
literarylover37's review
5.0
Read in about a day. I really liked this one but And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books so it makes sense that I'd like this book. Great story out of Sweden.
linesuponapage's review
2.0
I’m not sure what happened while I was reading this book, but I just couldn’t connect to the characters and story line. I found the best part of the book was when you find out that Henry actually does care for Anna. I won’t spoil the rest of what happens between the two of them.
Sadly, it too 3/4 of the book to feel the suspense of this book. I might have to pick this book again and try it again sometime.
Sadly, it too 3/4 of the book to feel the suspense of this book. I might have to pick this book again and try it again sometime.