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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
The first 2 3rds of this was such a chore to get through. Quite slow and rehashing of the same information that became really tedious, had to skim read until it started picking up in the last 3rd. It did pick up well and I'd already guessed the majority of the twists but it was a fun section.
Could've lost 5-8 chapters and still conveyed the story and kept the momentum going rather than slowing it down.
Maybe it reads better in its intended language, I'll blame the translation.
The first 2 3rds of this was such a chore to get through. Quite slow and rehashing of the same information that became really tedious, had to skim read until it started picking up in the last 3rd. It did pick up well and I'd already guessed the majority of the twists but it was a fun section.
Could've lost 5-8 chapters and still conveyed the story and kept the momentum going rather than slowing it down.
Maybe it reads better in its intended language, I'll blame the translation.
Van Veeteren is absent for the majority of the book having taken time off to run a bookshop. As a consequence Münster and Moreno come to the fore and more is learnt about them. The murders didn't seem to be the focus or perhaps the repetitive nature of much of the police work made this seem mundane. There is something to Nesser's writing style that will lead me to read more in the series.
medium-paced
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Muidu mulle meeldis. Põnevust oli algusest lõpuni, kordagi igav ei hakanud. Aga pensionil oleva peakomissari väga osaline abistamine ei aidanud minu arvates uurimisele kuidagi kaasa. Ja mis peamine - mulle ei meeldi, et mõrvar puhtalt pääses.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Shakespeare meets police procedural. Tragic story that starts in an almost amusing fashion.
In America this is Munsters Case. An excellent story, but perhaps a bit drawn out. And Van Veeteren is only somewhat there.
Münsters is the focus and it puts some real interest into the series.
Münsters is the focus and it puts some real interest into the series.
I found this book when I was looking for a novel that had a character with the same occupation as me (yes, for a Goodreads Challenge - see Fiction Fanatics "All About Me" challenge). It was quite fun searching the library website to find a novel that appealed to my usual likes while having an ESOL teacher or a bookshop worker. I was prepared to look at previous jobs as well, but found this. Of course, the character working in a bookshop is really a policeman on leave (Van Veeteren, the chief protagonist in a series by this author) and his role in the book was minimal. Sometimes we have to flex things a little to fulfill the challenges.
So, what's the book about and what did I like about it? It's about the investigation into a murder, which expands to be an investigation of a murder and two disappearances. The murder is of an old fellow, who with his 3 mates has just won the lottery. The first disappearance is another of the group of 4 old fellows, and the second, only a few days later, is that of the caretaker's wife in the apartments where the murdered old fellow and his wife live.
I liked the dour characters and the dreary weather and the philosophizing - it's all so perfectly dreary Northern Europe, and so different to American or British crime novels. I also liked that it gave me enough information about the characters and their history that I didn't feel I needed to have read the preceding novels. Having said that, I'm going to look for the first in the series because I liked this one enough to see if the liking keeps going.
So, what's the book about and what did I like about it? It's about the investigation into a murder, which expands to be an investigation of a murder and two disappearances. The murder is of an old fellow, who with his 3 mates has just won the lottery. The first disappearance is another of the group of 4 old fellows, and the second, only a few days later, is that of the caretaker's wife in the apartments where the murdered old fellow and his wife live.
I liked the dour characters and the dreary weather and the philosophizing - it's all so perfectly dreary Northern Europe, and so different to American or British crime novels. I also liked that it gave me enough information about the characters and their history that I didn't feel I needed to have read the preceding novels. Having said that, I'm going to look for the first in the series because I liked this one enough to see if the liking keeps going.
As usual, great characters and storyline! The depth and nuance in this series are remarkable. Each book is as good or better than the previous one. Loving this series!
There is confusion & consternation through the whole case in this story. Van Vetteran has only a small role because he has taken leave & running an Antiquarian book store. The story is not truly solved until the last chapter & it would be a spoiler to comment further on that. Nesser always includes the psychological elements not just of the crime but the officers as well. Well worth the read.