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markhoh's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Secrets is the first installment in the ‘Sebastian Bergman chronicles’, a series of books centred around a Swedish criminal psychologist. The authors Hjorth and Rosenfeldt have created a character who I didn’t find particularly likeable however, I found myself identifying with so many aspects of his nature and way of being. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing - the authors have crafted Sebastian to be representational of aspects of humanity that we don’t always discuss or give rise to. He’s emotionally bereft, doesn’t care what others think of him, a loner who won’t let anyone in to his inner space, seeks sexual conquests like an addiction, and harbours deep unresolved grief. I love all this about him and see aspects of what these characteristics represent in myself.
This excerpt resonated with me:
“He had been able to touch the possibility of a different life. This was both frightening and tempting at the same time. There was something safe and secure about the life he had known for so long. However negative it might be, there was a comfort in the routine. It was an affiliation which he had somehow chosen himself, and which appealed to his innnermost being” p383.
So aside from my own psychological confrontations, this book is a fantastic read with a plot that builds in a logical and way maintaining reader interest. I find that some of the themes of the book are similar to some other scandi noir books that I have read however this is sufficiently different. The authors masterfully build suspense and mete multiple layered endings that are extremely satisfying and the clincher on the last page was quite a jaw dropping moment.
Looking forward to the rest of these chronicles and going on a journey with Sebastian.
This excerpt resonated with me:
“He had been able to touch the possibility of a different life. This was both frightening and tempting at the same time. There was something safe and secure about the life he had known for so long. However negative it might be, there was a comfort in the routine. It was an affiliation which he had somehow chosen himself, and which appealed to his innnermost being” p383.
So aside from my own psychological confrontations, this book is a fantastic read with a plot that builds in a logical and way maintaining reader interest. I find that some of the themes of the book are similar to some other scandi noir books that I have read however this is sufficiently different. The authors masterfully build suspense and mete multiple layered endings that are extremely satisfying and the clincher on the last page was quite a jaw dropping moment.
Looking forward to the rest of these chronicles and going on a journey with Sebastian.
kimgabriel's review against another edition
4.0
Just another Nordic Noir. No distinguishing features.
jennaorava's review against another edition
4.0
En av dom absolut bästa kriminalböckerna jag läst och så otroligt välskriven!
niinjah's review against another edition
3.0
Boken hadde driv og spennende karakterer, men eg liker ikkje når det er ubesvarte spørsmål på slutten (det var deler som ikkje blei forklart på slutten).
barbs's review against another edition
4.0
4,5
Ein Hauptcharakter, den man irgendwie mag. Dennoch wünsche ich ihm, dass er mal so richtig auf die Fresse fliegt (obwohl ihm das Schicksal schon übel mitgespielt hat).
Der Fall war richtig clever und ich habe manche Wendungen nicht kommen sehen.
Und das Ende war der Hammer. Da könnte man fast 5 Sterne geben.
Ein Hauptcharakter, den man irgendwie mag. Dennoch wünsche ich ihm, dass er mal so richtig auf die Fresse fliegt (obwohl ihm das Schicksal schon übel mitgespielt hat).
Der Fall war richtig clever und ich habe manche Wendungen nicht kommen sehen.
Und das Ende war der Hammer. Da könnte man fast 5 Sterne geben.
ladulcinella's review against another edition
3.0
An good start of a new series. I am allways happy to start a new series of scandinavian noir.
Interesting story, well written and suspenseful. I doubted between 3 and 4 stars. I hope I can give the 4 stars for the next part.
Interesting story, well written and suspenseful. I doubted between 3 and 4 stars. I hope I can give the 4 stars for the next part.
nelem's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cristinabessa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. Nas primeiras 200 páginas pensei que não gostava do livro né as personagens não prendiam. A partir daí não conseguia parar de ler e de querer saber mais. Vale pela curiosidade que inspira enquanto se lê.Parece mais um livro que quer transformar-se em série. A experimentar o segundo volume.
carina_dreamer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fazia talvez 2 anos desde que fiquei curiosa com estes livros, mas nunca pensei que iria gostar tanto deste primeiro livro.
Sebastian Bergman é um psicólogo que em tempos trabalhara com a polícia apanhando assassinos graças aos perfis que criava.
Era esse homem que eu pensava ficar a conhecer no início do livro, mas na realidade não, fazia anos desde que Sebastian fora esse homem e teve motivos para tal.
O início é lento, mas pode fazer isso. São 530 páginas para ficar a conhecê-lo a ele, aos outros policias envolvidos, o caso de homicídio de um jovem de 16 anos e quem é o assassino. Dêem um tempo para encarrilhar que depois fica tudo melhor e o comboio arranca em condições.
Eu gostei de como temos um narrador omnipresente que nos dá a conhecer os pensamentos dos policias, mas também do assassino (quem conhece Detective Conan e a figura negra até o culpado ser desmascarado, é basicamente isso). Foi o facto de termos vislumbres de como o culpado pensa que eu fiquei empenhada em descobrir quem era.
Outro ponto que adorei foi que o Sebastian é o protagonista, mas foi a primeira vez que encontrei o tão fugaz "protagonista do qual não se gosta". É arrogante, mulherengo e instigador, pelo que só podemos julgar negativamente as suas atitudes, mas aos poucos vais entendo como ele funciona. Tanto ele como todas as outras personagens são complexas e isso foi muito cativante, têm defeitos e erram.
O caso do homicídio tem tantas reviravoltas e é uma investigação detalhada, isso agradou-me bastante. É o meu primeiro policial e correspondeu positivamente. Descobri os envolvidos e razões, mas não foi cedo no livro nem acertei tudo completamente!
Quero muito ler os restantes livros 🤩