Scan barcode
coded_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
Thank goodness the earlier books in this series are now available, because understanding Hanne Wilhelmsen requires back story. Especially now as it's hard to avoid a sneaking suspicion that there's just a little bit of her in Saga Norén. Maybe only a little, but still bells are ringing.
A classic slow burning Scandinavian thriller with some balance between the personal and the professional, there is a lot of back story in DEAD JOKER. Which fans of this series may appreciate, whilst some readers might feel it just creates a lot of pages. Personally, this reader loved the chance to fill in so much of what makes Wilhelmsen tick, where she struggles, and the colleagues she's closest to - including the wonderful Billy T. Everybody really needs a friend like Billy T, although he might sometimes wonder why he has a friend like Wilhelmsen.
The crimes and investigations at the centre of DEAD JOKER involve a couple of horrific, violent events, particularly in the case of Halvorsrud's wife, where he has been an enforced witness to his wife's awful death. For the longest time the investigation team struggles to find any connections between the two killings, or to explain how it is that their chief suspect has a very good alibi (any more on that would be way too much of a spoiler).
Combine the hefty personal components with some interesting sidelines into the workings of the Norwegian justice system and DEAD JOKER obviously isn't supposed to be a thriller, or a rapid, superficial read. All the book's in this series I've been fortunate enough to read thus far require commitment, and concentration. They aren't trying to be just entertaining, they are deep, introspective, thoughtful and often confrontational. They are built around real characters for whom life often goes pear-shaped (and that's not just the victims). And they are absolutely fascinating and worth every minute of your reading time.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dead-joker-anne-holt
A classic slow burning Scandinavian thriller with some balance between the personal and the professional, there is a lot of back story in DEAD JOKER. Which fans of this series may appreciate, whilst some readers might feel it just creates a lot of pages. Personally, this reader loved the chance to fill in so much of what makes Wilhelmsen tick, where she struggles, and the colleagues she's closest to - including the wonderful Billy T. Everybody really needs a friend like Billy T, although he might sometimes wonder why he has a friend like Wilhelmsen.
The crimes and investigations at the centre of DEAD JOKER involve a couple of horrific, violent events, particularly in the case of Halvorsrud's wife, where he has been an enforced witness to his wife's awful death. For the longest time the investigation team struggles to find any connections between the two killings, or to explain how it is that their chief suspect has a very good alibi (any more on that would be way too much of a spoiler).
Combine the hefty personal components with some interesting sidelines into the workings of the Norwegian justice system and DEAD JOKER obviously isn't supposed to be a thriller, or a rapid, superficial read. All the book's in this series I've been fortunate enough to read thus far require commitment, and concentration. They aren't trying to be just entertaining, they are deep, introspective, thoughtful and often confrontational. They are built around real characters for whom life often goes pear-shaped (and that's not just the victims). And they are absolutely fascinating and worth every minute of your reading time.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dead-joker-anne-holt
oblivione's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sjorgie's review against another edition
4.0
I love finding new authors to follow. I started with Dead Joker and didn't realize it was part if a series until i was too engrossed in the book to stop. Can't wait to continue with the series.
zzzrevel's review against another edition
3.0
This was an average read. The writing style was good,
the plot interesting, and the solution satisfying although
not sensational.
My problem was that the protagonist seemed overly
tired and wrought throughout the story (excessively
redundant to me as a reader), and I did not feel it quite
matched the events happening in the story.
I also agree with some of these other reviews that
the whole book is rather depressing. Not much
relief in the 300-plus pages.
Not having read the first four books in this series,
I was not too interested in several of the tangential
elements of the story which seemed to rely on
past information I was not aware of.
the plot interesting, and the solution satisfying although
not sensational.
My problem was that the protagonist seemed overly
tired and wrought throughout the story (excessively
redundant to me as a reader), and I did not feel it quite
matched the events happening in the story.
I also agree with some of these other reviews that
the whole book is rather depressing. Not much
relief in the 300-plus pages.
Not having read the first four books in this series,
I was not too interested in several of the tangential
elements of the story which seemed to rely on
past information I was not aware of.
margardenlady's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Hanne is usually in control of every detail. Not this time. Her partner is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She is investigating the décapitation of a prosecutor’s wife and has little in the way of clues. And yet she solves that case snd several others by the end.
ladydewinter's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was one of the single most depressing books I ever read. I liked it, but not a single good thing happens in this story.
It was a very quick read - I absolutely love her style. Her language is very clear cut and really gets to me. Which is kind of the problem, I suppose. It wasn't just the case, although it was extraordinarily gloomy. At the beginning it just looked as if Hanne Wilhelmsen, the leading detective of the book, just had problems in the relationship department - she and her lover seem to have grown apart, hardly ever talk, etc. I could have handled that. But then the lover is diagnosed with cancer and deteriorates throughout the course of the book until she dies in the end. I am not kidding when I say that not a single good thing happens in this book. There are moments of odd peace, but they are weaved with melancholy at best. It was a beautiful book, and I enjoyed it, but it was very depressing.
It was a very quick read - I absolutely love her style. Her language is very clear cut and really gets to me. Which is kind of the problem, I suppose. It wasn't just the case, although it was extraordinarily gloomy. At the beginning it just looked as if Hanne Wilhelmsen, the leading detective of the book, just had problems in the relationship department - she and her lover seem to have grown apart, hardly ever talk, etc. I could have handled that. But then the lover is diagnosed with cancer and deteriorates throughout the course of the book until she dies in the end. I am not kidding when I say that not a single good thing happens in this book. There are moments of odd peace, but they are weaved with melancholy at best. It was a beautiful book, and I enjoyed it, but it was very depressing.
More...