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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has been lurking in my TBR for far too long but I'm very glad I've now read it. It starts in a way which automatically had me intrigued, wondering just who the character, Annabelle Roos, was that we were immediately introduced to, and how she had come to find herself in such a precarious position. it is clear, from the foreboding tone of the narrative, that something bad is about to befall her, but why is really the question that lingered in my mind, and that of investigator, Detective Charlie Lager.
This is no straightforward missing person case which, for me anyway, made it all the more interesting. This book not only looks into the life of missing teenager, Annabelle, but that of her family, friends and, more importantly, of Charlie Lager herself. For Charlie has unexpected links to Annabelle's hometown, Gullspång, having spent most of her youth there, living with her mother, Betty. There is clearly some dark side to Charlie's back story that we are slowly to learn over the course of the novel, and it is clearly not the first time something bad has happened in the town. And there are a lot of queries that are thrown up about various characters, especially Annabelle's family and home life. Has she simply run away from an overprotective mother, or did something dark really happen on that fateful night when we first meet her?
The pacing of this book is actually quite deceptive. The investigation itself struggles to really gain any traction, and suspicion moves between characters, largely Annabelle's friends, without police finding any real incriminating evidence. But it is what happens in between the various interviews and interrogations that really drives the story on. Not just the fascination about Charlie's own life, but the secrets that are slowly revealed about the missing girl. The investigation is interspersed with scenes from Annabelle's perspective, giving context to all that we are about to learn about her, as well as two other girls, whose place in the story is not immediately clear, but, when revealed, probably gave the book some of it's most shocking and unexpected moments.
There are some scenes which are a little harder to read, especially if you are an animal lover, and those scenes don't appear to have any real place in the story to begin with. But it is the author's depiction of small town Sweden, the prejudice of city folk towards their country counterparts, and the way in which melancholy permeates the township that really made this read quite fascinating for me. Charlie is an interesting, and clearly very damaged, character, but I really did like her, and liked her determination to overcome all the times she seems on the verge of self destruction.
The ending may not have been exactly what I expected, although it was probably inevitable. I'm definitely drawn to the series though, and will be looking out books two and three very soon, if only to see how Charlie copes with what she learns of her family past going forward. Defintely recommended for fans of scandi noir.
This is no straightforward missing person case which, for me anyway, made it all the more interesting. This book not only looks into the life of missing teenager, Annabelle, but that of her family, friends and, more importantly, of Charlie Lager herself. For Charlie has unexpected links to Annabelle's hometown, Gullspång, having spent most of her youth there, living with her mother, Betty. There is clearly some dark side to Charlie's back story that we are slowly to learn over the course of the novel, and it is clearly not the first time something bad has happened in the town. And there are a lot of queries that are thrown up about various characters, especially Annabelle's family and home life. Has she simply run away from an overprotective mother, or did something dark really happen on that fateful night when we first meet her?
The pacing of this book is actually quite deceptive. The investigation itself struggles to really gain any traction, and suspicion moves between characters, largely Annabelle's friends, without police finding any real incriminating evidence. But it is what happens in between the various interviews and interrogations that really drives the story on. Not just the fascination about Charlie's own life, but the secrets that are slowly revealed about the missing girl. The investigation is interspersed with scenes from Annabelle's perspective, giving context to all that we are about to learn about her, as well as two other girls, whose place in the story is not immediately clear, but, when revealed, probably gave the book some of it's most shocking and unexpected moments.
There are some scenes which are a little harder to read, especially if you are an animal lover, and those scenes don't appear to have any real place in the story to begin with. But it is the author's depiction of small town Sweden, the prejudice of city folk towards their country counterparts, and the way in which melancholy permeates the township that really made this read quite fascinating for me. Charlie is an interesting, and clearly very damaged, character, but I really did like her, and liked her determination to overcome all the times she seems on the verge of self destruction.
The ending may not have been exactly what I expected, although it was probably inevitable. I'm definitely drawn to the series though, and will be looking out books two and three very soon, if only to see how Charlie copes with what she learns of her family past going forward. Defintely recommended for fans of scandi noir.
Een sterk verhaal verteld uit verschillende oogpunten. Door de verschillende tijdlijnen en oogpunten leer je veel over de achtergrond van Rechercheur Charlie, Het vermiste meisje en hun levens voor de verdwijning. Ook volg je Charlie in de zoektocht naar de waarheid van de verdwijning en gaat ze haar persoonlijke demonen te lijf.
Dit boek heeft mij op verschillende fronten verbaasd. Door de grote verhaallijn (de zoektocht naar het meisje) af en toe te onderbreken met een hoofdstuk uit het verleden en de dag van de verdwijning, krijg je de kans om zelf ook achter de waarheid te komen. Hierdoor kon ik het boek onmogelijk wegleggen en heb ik hem in een zit uitgelezen. Ik ga zeker de andere boeken uit de charlie Lager-trilogie lezen.
Dit boek heeft mij op verschillende fronten verbaasd. Door de grote verhaallijn (de zoektocht naar het meisje) af en toe te onderbreken met een hoofdstuk uit het verleden en de dag van de verdwijning, krijg je de kans om zelf ook achter de waarheid te komen. Hierdoor kon ik het boek onmogelijk wegleggen en heb ik hem in een zit uitgelezen. Ik ga zeker de andere boeken uit de charlie Lager-trilogie lezen.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Olipa page turner! Ja jotenkin kuin olisi vanhan ystävän kanssa jutellut. Seuraava osa on luettava heti perään.
Now this is a real mystery you can sink your teeth into…
Oh wow… This is one of those stories you finish and then need to think about. I found it ended suddenly and was trying to turn the page even though it was the end! Ooops. A story that has such an unexpected outcome I was left like… WHATTT!!! I really wanted more.
Charlie and Anders are sent to help solve the case/mystery of missing Annabelle but they are also having to deal with their own personal problems at the same time which can become tricky.
The story flicks from the present day to the day of Annabelles disappearance. It also includes a lot of flashbacks for Charlies character as she has returned to her hometown after so long… Makes you question her character even if she is a police officer does she have a hidden past? Alcohol problem? She’s a bit of a dark, secretive character at times. Infact it seems every character in this story has secrets and whole other side to them.
Brilliantly written, it will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the end. Fast paced. Thrilling. Can easily be devoured. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
Oh wow… This is one of those stories you finish and then need to think about. I found it ended suddenly and was trying to turn the page even though it was the end! Ooops. A story that has such an unexpected outcome I was left like… WHATTT!!! I really wanted more.
Charlie and Anders are sent to help solve the case/mystery of missing Annabelle but they are also having to deal with their own personal problems at the same time which can become tricky.
The story flicks from the present day to the day of Annabelles disappearance. It also includes a lot of flashbacks for Charlies character as she has returned to her hometown after so long… Makes you question her character even if she is a police officer does she have a hidden past? Alcohol problem? She’s a bit of a dark, secretive character at times. Infact it seems every character in this story has secrets and whole other side to them.
Brilliantly written, it will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the end. Fast paced. Thrilling. Can easily be devoured. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes