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charf47's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
debtat2's review against another edition
5.0
Tuva is back and better than ever as she returns to Gavrik to join the hunt for her missing friend Tammy.
But Tammy isn’t the only person to have gone missing, another young woman has also disappeared escalating the man hunt to desperate levels. With no clues to go one apart from a small splatter of blood found outside Tammy’s work place the community comes together to search the inhospitable Utgard forest.
Packed to the brim with some of the shadiest characters in recent fictional history and some of the most spectacular settings, this book is jam-packed full of atmosphere and tension. On top of that it has one of my favourite female protagonists in recent history.
This has been one of my favourite books in the whole of 2019 and a brilliant book to mark the start of a new year.
My review maybe lacking but the book most certainly is not!
Be prepared to enter the dark, creepy depths of Utgard forest and come face to face with some characters that match their surroundings.
If you have read the first two books in this series then you will know what to expect with the knowledge that this is his best book so far, but if you are new to this series then don’t fear, there is enough backstory to make this read just as well as a standalone novel. However, saying that, I can not recommend all three books highly enough and all three need to be on everyones tbr pile!
Black River is due to be published on 12 March 2020 and is available to preorder now from the link below or your local bookshop.
A massive thank you to the author Will Dean, publishers Oneworld Publications and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
But Tammy isn’t the only person to have gone missing, another young woman has also disappeared escalating the man hunt to desperate levels. With no clues to go one apart from a small splatter of blood found outside Tammy’s work place the community comes together to search the inhospitable Utgard forest.
Packed to the brim with some of the shadiest characters in recent fictional history and some of the most spectacular settings, this book is jam-packed full of atmosphere and tension. On top of that it has one of my favourite female protagonists in recent history.
This has been one of my favourite books in the whole of 2019 and a brilliant book to mark the start of a new year.
My review maybe lacking but the book most certainly is not!
Be prepared to enter the dark, creepy depths of Utgard forest and come face to face with some characters that match their surroundings.
If you have read the first two books in this series then you will know what to expect with the knowledge that this is his best book so far, but if you are new to this series then don’t fear, there is enough backstory to make this read just as well as a standalone novel. However, saying that, I can not recommend all three books highly enough and all three need to be on everyones tbr pile!
Black River is due to be published on 12 March 2020 and is available to preorder now from the link below or your local bookshop.
A massive thank you to the author Will Dean, publishers Oneworld Publications and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
nicjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
Some series are like spending time with old friends and a return trip to Gavrik with Tulsa, for her third outing, was very welcome.
Will Dean is superb at understated slow burn thrillers. The tension builds throughout Black River albeit the reveal was a bit of a stretch. The backdrop, town and main protagonists are a highlight of crime fiction in the last few years. My one issue is the inclusion of extremely odd characters in each book - I’m not sure they positively add and indeed detract from the realism. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend and would put this at level pegging with Dark Pines.
With thanks to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for the advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
Will Dean is superb at understated slow burn thrillers. The tension builds throughout Black River albeit the reveal was a bit of a stretch. The backdrop, town and main protagonists are a highlight of crime fiction in the last few years. My one issue is the inclusion of extremely odd characters in each book - I’m not sure they positively add and indeed detract from the realism. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend and would put this at level pegging with Dark Pines.
With thanks to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for the advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
jog2020's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.75
alipals's review against another edition
3.0
Listened on audio - found this a bit harder going than the earlier Tuva books but I can't put my finger on why. Still a good listen though and the way Will Dean describes the landscape and characters conjures up an intense atmosphere, adding to the tension.
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
It’s so good to be back with Tuva. We knew she couldn’t leave that town really didn’t we? I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for this series and Tuva. Brilliantly written. Brilliant story. It had me hooked! A real page turner. The amount of times this book got my heart pounding is unbelievable.
In Black River things start to get personal when Tuvas best friend goes missing. Tuva is desperate to find her and won’t stop until she does, even if that means putting herself in danger. In this story I saw Tuvas role change from journalist to her own personal investigator working alongside the police. She suspects lots of people but did she even get close?
Tense. Thrilling. Chilling. Gripping. Heart pounding. Everytime you think she is getting somewhere… It’s not. I need to mention theres a lot of bugs and snakes in this book which made me cringe. A lot of dodgy characters. A lot of secrets about to be uncovered. Especially when another local woman goes missing. What is happening in this small town? Whose next? Are the women alive? Do they have time? Clever plot. Loved it.
A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. I look forward to book four.
In Black River things start to get personal when Tuvas best friend goes missing. Tuva is desperate to find her and won’t stop until she does, even if that means putting herself in danger. In this story I saw Tuvas role change from journalist to her own personal investigator working alongside the police. She suspects lots of people but did she even get close?
Tense. Thrilling. Chilling. Gripping. Heart pounding. Everytime you think she is getting somewhere… It’s not. I need to mention theres a lot of bugs and snakes in this book which made me cringe. A lot of dodgy characters. A lot of secrets about to be uncovered. Especially when another local woman goes missing. What is happening in this small town? Whose next? Are the women alive? Do they have time? Clever plot. Loved it.
A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. I look forward to book four.
vennhardy's review against another edition
3.0
Tuva returns to Gavrik, and this time it's summer. Reading about the long days in northern Sweden made for a nice change from the previous books set in the extreme cold.
There is a mysterious disappearance of Tuva's friend Tammy. Will she be found alive? It's an interesting premise and the stakes are high.
There was a lot of detail in this installment, and I found myself skimming a bit. I understand the need for details as it can really immerse us in the story. But do we really need detailed descriptions of insects, horseflies, wasps, and mosquitos? I'll let you be the judge.
Still a good read with a satisfying conclusion. Also interesting commentary on some social issues such as racism. And the the best part, it leaves the door open for more Tuva stories to come.
There is a mysterious disappearance of Tuva's friend Tammy. Will she be found alive? It's an interesting premise and the stakes are high.
There was a lot of detail in this installment, and I found myself skimming a bit. I understand the need for details as it can really immerse us in the story. But do we really need detailed descriptions of insects, horseflies, wasps, and mosquitos? I'll let you be the judge.
Still a good read with a satisfying conclusion. Also interesting commentary on some social issues such as racism. And the the best part, it leaves the door open for more Tuva stories to come.
dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
4.0
Another good entry from Dean, once it got going - there was a slow start while you get introduced to new characters, and a lot of searching for Tam, who is missing. Somewhat frustrating that Tuva gets trapped twice towards the end, I did grind my teeth a little at that. But Lena’s newspaper idea sounds like a good set up for Tuva to stay around more... which is great news.
chaosofcold's review against another edition
4.0
The third tale in the Tuva Moodyson saga and by far the most dynamic. After her long dreamed of escape from Toytown followng the death of her mother, Tuva finds herself back there under the most horrific of circumstances.
With Tammy missing and a search underway it's Tuva leading the charge driving the Toytown into action. Black River is an incredibly well paced book with a continual momentum that makes it hard to put down.
The one sticking point is still Tuva's relationship with Noora, hopefully with future adventures this will become more fleshed out rather than feeling look an afterthought.
With Tuva's biological family gone, will she return to Toytown once more and return to her newly formed family? Hopefully the next book is not too far away!
This book was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
With Tammy missing and a search underway it's Tuva leading the charge driving the Toytown into action. Black River is an incredibly well paced book with a continual momentum that makes it hard to put down.
The one sticking point is still Tuva's relationship with Noora, hopefully with future adventures this will become more fleshed out rather than feeling look an afterthought.
With Tuva's biological family gone, will she return to Toytown once more and return to her newly formed family? Hopefully the next book is not too far away!
This book was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
When Tammy Yamnim disappears, the reporter Tuva Moodyson doesn’t doubt to leave everything and return to Gavrik till she finds her. Because she is her best friend and she can’t stay without doing as much as she can to find Tammy, her best friend, the only problem is even if the police is trying to find her, not everyone is eager to help. Which secrets and lies are hidden in this small village? Why someone would kidnap a young woman? Is she still alive? So many questions! Yes, you’ll have to read the book if you want to know all the answers.
If you are planning to isolate for a few days, this is the series you need to take; addictive, intriguing and gripping, Tuva will be part of your family from now on. Brave, resolute and nosy, she is the friend you’ll want in your worst moments, because as you’ll see in this book, she will not doubt to visit dark places and interrogate dangerous people to discover what has happened to her best friend.
But this is not only a kidnapping story, this is a little insight to the Sweden society, with racism, distrust and paranoia; to show us that no matter how “perfect” we think a country is, there’s always a dark side on it. Tuva will have to face all type of different characters, each one more scary than the previous one; she will be searching for Tammy with the help of her friends. Even if the police is searching for her, they don’t have much clues and their hands are so full that she will take the investigation in her own hands, putting her own life at risk.
This had been a quick and dark read, with an invisible pressure surrounding all the story, Tuva will do as much as she can to find her friend safe and alive. Ready to immerse to the Black River?
If you are planning to isolate for a few days, this is the series you need to take; addictive, intriguing and gripping, Tuva will be part of your family from now on. Brave, resolute and nosy, she is the friend you’ll want in your worst moments, because as you’ll see in this book, she will not doubt to visit dark places and interrogate dangerous people to discover what has happened to her best friend.
But this is not only a kidnapping story, this is a little insight to the Sweden society, with racism, distrust and paranoia; to show us that no matter how “perfect” we think a country is, there’s always a dark side on it. Tuva will have to face all type of different characters, each one more scary than the previous one; she will be searching for Tammy with the help of her friends. Even if the police is searching for her, they don’t have much clues and their hands are so full that she will take the investigation in her own hands, putting her own life at risk.
This had been a quick and dark read, with an invisible pressure surrounding all the story, Tuva will do as much as she can to find her friend safe and alive. Ready to immerse to the Black River?