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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
For the Missing, the first novel to feature DI Charlie Lager set in the Swedish town of Gullspång, Västergötland, is the epitome of Scandi Noir and a very promising start to a new series. It has all the claustrophobia and atmosphere that good noir fiction can evoke, but the author adds refreshing originality by making it more of a character study. The analysis focuses on DI Lager and the missing girl Annabelle and shows the unravelling of both of their lives over the course of the novel. Despite the lack of action, the book held my interest for the duration. That's the mark of an excellent writer, one who can make even the most mundane situations exciting and interesting.
Charlie is the typical, slightly cliched investigator with issues in her personal life, however, she does not allow her afflictions and addictions to affect her at work. She's a very troubled protagonist and you learn more about her as the novel progresses and by the conclusion, I was right behind her. The writing is incredible and flows effortlessly from one page to the next, it's hard to believe that's this is a debut. The translator also deserves a mention as I had completely forgotten that I was reading a work that has been translated until I read about it again after finishing it. If you enjoy character-driven novels then this may be a good fit for you, but I don't feel this is a thriller per se, it's more of a suspense or domestic noir than anything else, but that doesn't make it any less engrossing.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Charlie is the typical, slightly cliched investigator with issues in her personal life, however, she does not allow her afflictions and addictions to affect her at work. She's a very troubled protagonist and you learn more about her as the novel progresses and by the conclusion, I was right behind her. The writing is incredible and flows effortlessly from one page to the next, it's hard to believe that's this is a debut. The translator also deserves a mention as I had completely forgotten that I was reading a work that has been translated until I read about it again after finishing it. If you enjoy character-driven novels then this may be a good fit for you, but I don't feel this is a thriller per se, it's more of a suspense or domestic noir than anything else, but that doesn't make it any less engrossing.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
I've not read any Scandi noir before so was keen to read this highly acclaimed police thriller, recently translated into English.
The story begins with a missing teenage girl Annabelle, who went to a party and never returned home. The police in Gullspång (a small town in Sweden) contact Stockholm police for help in solving her disappearance and DI Charlie (Charline) Lager along with her partner Anders are sent to the town to help solve the crime.
Straight away we know Charlie is not the most together individual - when we first meet her she is hungover and in the bed of a man whose name she can't remember. She's not adverse to using both drugs and alcohol to get her through life. We soon find out that Gullspång is her home town, where she lived with her single mother, Betty (who was an alcoholic who liked to party) but we also know that something terrible happened to her there and she has not returned since.
Told from the point of view of Annabelle (leading up to the night of her disappearance), Fredrik (Annabelle's father) and Charlie, the narrative gives us some clues about what might have happened.
I really enjoyed this - I thought the translation was excellent. It felt Swedish somehow despite it being written in English. Charlie as a character is realistic and flawed and I believe For the Missing is the first in a series featuring Charlie as the central character and I'd be keen to read more about her. I liked the similarities between Charlie and Annabelle - she is also pretty messed up, being very bright, attending bible group but also being into drugs, drink and sex.
There are lots of twists and turns throughout and I suspected almost everyone of being involved at some point!
The story begins with a missing teenage girl Annabelle, who went to a party and never returned home. The police in Gullspång (a small town in Sweden) contact Stockholm police for help in solving her disappearance and DI Charlie (Charline) Lager along with her partner Anders are sent to the town to help solve the crime.
Straight away we know Charlie is not the most together individual - when we first meet her she is hungover and in the bed of a man whose name she can't remember. She's not adverse to using both drugs and alcohol to get her through life. We soon find out that Gullspång is her home town, where she lived with her single mother, Betty (who was an alcoholic who liked to party) but we also know that something terrible happened to her there and she has not returned since.
Told from the point of view of Annabelle (leading up to the night of her disappearance), Fredrik (Annabelle's father) and Charlie, the narrative gives us some clues about what might have happened.
I really enjoyed this - I thought the translation was excellent. It felt Swedish somehow despite it being written in English. Charlie as a character is realistic and flawed and I believe For the Missing is the first in a series featuring Charlie as the central character and I'd be keen to read more about her. I liked the similarities between Charlie and Annabelle - she is also pretty messed up, being very bright, attending bible group but also being into drugs, drink and sex.
There are lots of twists and turns throughout and I suspected almost everyone of being involved at some point!
Jag vacklar mellan att ge den två och tre stjärnor i betyg... Stundtals var boken otroligt bra, stundtals var den alldeles för flummig för mig. Men den höll sig ändå relativt spännande rakt igenom.
For The Missing is one of my best reads of the year. The book is told from three perspectives which work off each other to create a tense, atmospheric read. The story does more than present readers with a puzzling crime; it is a picture of consequences, and of toxic relationships. I love that the author gave us a glimpse of Annabelle as a person rather than as a victim. For The Missing, although having three different narrators, created a feeling of loneliness and confusion, tying the knot tighter and tighter as the story progressed. Our main character, Charlie Lager is a troubled protagonist who struggles with alcoholism. Her character is one that seems to reflect Annabelle. I enjoyed reading her character because while she was quite brazen, Charlie also had deep compassion. Her struggles and history are something I hope to read more of, and hopefully see addressed in an upcoming sequel.
For The Missing is a tense read; the author's prose is engrossing and focused a lot on its characters. I found it the perfect read to curl up with and devour on a cold day!
Thank you to Orion Books for a copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Camillea Reads || Twitter || Instagram || Tumblr
For The Missing is a tense read; the author's prose is engrossing and focused a lot on its characters. I found it the perfect read to curl up with and devour on a cold day!
Thank you to Orion Books for a copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Camillea Reads || Twitter || Instagram || Tumblr