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evangeline_miller's review against another edition
2.0
I thought I’d try out some Swedish crime fiction as part of the Invisible Cities (#invisiblecitiesproject) Reading Challenge for the month of October, but, so far, I’ve been really disappointed and put off by all the sexist, racist, and anti-gay sentiment from the lead protagonists in the books I’ve chosen. Bäckström is probably the worst of the bunch! Even though an intentional choice of the author—to write a very despicable character—I think one book in a series is more than enough to get the point across. There are realistic elements which comment on the corruption of those in positions of power and the sensationalist media coverage surrounding murder cases involving young women, but the story doesn't go far enough and Bäckström is so set in his ways that there doesn't seem to be room for any compelling character arc. If the novel had ended differently for Bäckström, with more damaging repurcssions for both his sexual harrasment and misuse of police funds I might have liked this more. Then the rest of the series could definitely have focused on Lisa Mattei or Anna Holt! (Sigh). Overall, the author does a good job at the procedural elements, which I think would appeal to crime novel readers, but the synopsis for the second book in the series promises more of Bäckström’s sexist and racist perspective, so, I think I’ll pass.
ariereads's review against another edition
4.0
This book will not be to everyone's tastes, but should appeal to fans of Steig Larsson (though I liked this better than The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) or J.K Rowling's latest, The Cuckoo's Calling. Maybe not quite 4 stars, but not quite 3.5 either.
Short, fat, lewd and vain, Bäckström is hilariously insufferable, which makes for entertaining reading but can occasionally grate on the nerves. It becomes pretty clear after the first few chapters that if he is the one to actually solve the murder, it will very likely be by accident. Luckily for the citizens of Växjö, Detective Superintendant Jan Lewin is much more onto it.
The book is very character focused and detail oriented in the tradition of Steig Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, or J.K. Rowling’s latest The Cuckoo’s Calling, and a large cast of varyingly odd and interesting co-workers complements the two policemen. Though it’s worth mentioning that Bäckström is very likely to seriously offend both character and reader alike, Linda, as in the Linda Murder should appeal strongly to fans of either writer.
Written by award-winning Swedish Criminologist Leif G.W. Persson in 2005, Linda, as in the Linda Murder has only recently been translated into English by Neil Smith, whose translation is faultlessly readable. That said, the book isn’t perfect, for all its good points. There are places where the plot begins to drag and the dark humour wears thin, but on the whole, Linda, as in the Linda Murder is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Full review here.
*Advanced review copy received from Random House through Nz Booklovers
Short, fat, lewd and vain, Bäckström is hilariously insufferable, which makes for entertaining reading but can occasionally grate on the nerves. It becomes pretty clear after the first few chapters that if he is the one to actually solve the murder, it will very likely be by accident. Luckily for the citizens of Växjö, Detective Superintendant Jan Lewin is much more onto it.
The book is very character focused and detail oriented in the tradition of Steig Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, or J.K. Rowling’s latest The Cuckoo’s Calling, and a large cast of varyingly odd and interesting co-workers complements the two policemen. Though it’s worth mentioning that Bäckström is very likely to seriously offend both character and reader alike, Linda, as in the Linda Murder should appeal strongly to fans of either writer.
Written by award-winning Swedish Criminologist Leif G.W. Persson in 2005, Linda, as in the Linda Murder has only recently been translated into English by Neil Smith, whose translation is faultlessly readable. That said, the book isn’t perfect, for all its good points. There are places where the plot begins to drag and the dark humour wears thin, but on the whole, Linda, as in the Linda Murder is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Full review here.
*Advanced review copy received from Random House through Nz Booklovers
vesper1931's review against another edition
1.0
During a Swedish summer Police Inspector Evert Bäckström leads a team to investigate the murder of Linda.
It rambles, I was bored reading it - some of this could be down to the translation but I just wasn't interested in reading to the end.
ANetGalley book
It rambles, I was bored reading it - some of this could be down to the translation but I just wasn't interested in reading to the end.
ANetGalley book
ragne's review against another edition
1.0
Jeg liker en god antihelt. Dette derimot, ble for tåpelig. Ble fort lei av at han tenker "typisk jævla kjerringer" hver gang han snakker med en dame, og at han MÅ komme med homofobe utsagn til enhver tid.
En karakter fullstendig uten forlikende trekk, og at forfatteren tror vi må minnes på hvor lite likendes han er flere ganger pr side, blir for slitsomt.
Ga meg etter 100 sider.
En karakter fullstendig uten forlikende trekk, og at forfatteren tror vi må minnes på hvor lite likendes han er flere ganger pr side, blir for slitsomt.
Ga meg etter 100 sider.
cspiwak's review against another edition
3.0
Fans of the tv show will be surprised. No brilliant detective, just the drunken misogynist at the head of an investigation. Very much a procedural, lightened by the semi humorous antics of the basically despicable backstrom