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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Almost as good as the first in this series, I couldn't put it down! I was a little apprehensive since the 2nd book absolutely didn't live up to the first one but this one was excellent. Spare story telling style but suspenseful and chilling. I have got to get the 3rd and 5th one now.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I am finally beginning to warm up toward this series. By now I am familiar with the repeating characters, particularly detective inspector Joona Linna. Since I've learned about the tragedy in his life, I've started to root for him. This makes the story more personal and makes me far more invested in events than I have been before.
Joona Linna has attachment issues. This stems from the time when he sent his wife and daughter away, pretending they died in a car accident, to save them from a brutal serial killer. Joona has a new girlfriend, Disa, and is desparately worried that his job might interfere with their relationship. The serial killer Jurek is in high security prison now, but he has a helper. When one of the children abducted years ago turns up and says his sister is still alive, someone has to enter the prison to try to get information out of Jurek in regards to his assistant.
The twists in this book are quite brilliant, I hardly saw any of them coming - I have in the previous books in this series. The book doesn't exactly end with a cliffhanger, but it certainly leaves me eager for the next installment which will be released in Swedish in just a few weeks.
Joona Linna has attachment issues. This stems from the time when he sent his wife and daughter away, pretending they died in a car accident, to save them from a brutal serial killer. Joona has a new girlfriend, Disa, and is desparately worried that his job might interfere with their relationship. The serial killer Jurek is in high security prison now, but he has a helper. When one of the children abducted years ago turns up and says his sister is still alive, someone has to enter the prison to try to get information out of Jurek in regards to his assistant.
The twists in this book are quite brilliant, I hardly saw any of them coming - I have in the previous books in this series. The book doesn't exactly end with a cliffhanger, but it certainly leaves me eager for the next installment which will be released in Swedish in just a few weeks.
I've written this review for Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
THE SANDMAN BY LARS KEPLER BOOK REVIEW
Truthfully, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading The Sandman. Rarely, do I read a book without at least reading the synopsis, but I dove in & didn’t come back for air until the final page. Honestly, The Sandman CAPTIVATED me. For real, I want you to just trust me & read this book.
So yes, this book is part of a series. No, you don’t have to read the other books to understand what’s going on. I am betting after you read The Sandman, you’ll be hooked on this series. I certainly am!
A BIT OF BACKGROUND
Years ago two kids went missing. You can imagine the surprise when 13 years later, one of the “kids” is found walking near train tracks. He is incoherent & rushed to the hospital. The suspense really kicks in when he tells investigators that he has to go back & rescue his sister. In grave detail, he describes his captor, a Sandman with porcelain hands that only arrives in the darkness.
JOONA LINDA
Here readers meet the bad-ass investigator, Joona Linda. He previously worked the case & Jurek Walter is serving time for the crime. Quickly, Joona begins to question whether he has the right man behind bars. See, the timelines don’t match. Who was keeping these two alive while Jurek is in jail? Is Jurek working with an accomplice? Does Joona Linda have the right guy? And how the hell are they going to get to get the truth from Jurek Walter?
FULL HANNIBAL LECTER VIBES, BUT WORSE!
Let me just tell you, Jurek Walter is downright terrifying. This is where Kepler does their thing. The authors craft this veil of mystery, fear & intrigue around Jurek. Although Jurek doesn’t say or do much in this story, I found my jaw clenched in any scene where characters made contact with him. Kepler makes it clear that Jurek Walter a seriously bad dude. One evening, I had to put The Sandman back on the nightstand after a particularly creepy scene where one of the guards has a nightmare starring Jurek Walter. BAH! I’ve got chills right now thinking about it.
LARS KEPLER
If you look below, we always include an author’s bio on our page. Lars Kepler is a pseudonym for a husband & wife team, Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril & Alexander Ahndoril. If you want to read more about them, check out their author page. The authors are doing a US press tour this week & I’m planning to see them when they visit Portland!
The Kepler writing duo is SO smart. The Sandman is fast paced & plays in my head like an edge of your seat thriller. One thing I love about their writing style is the authors don’t just describe the characters, we learn who they are through their actions.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! The Sandman is thrilling, suspenseful, scary & incredibly well written. I’m so excited to have found a new author & a new series. If you’re into Nordic thrillers, be sure to check out Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson.
Special thanks to Lars Kepler, Knopf Doubleday & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
THE SANDMAN BY LARS KEPLER BOOK REVIEW
Truthfully, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading The Sandman. Rarely, do I read a book without at least reading the synopsis, but I dove in & didn’t come back for air until the final page. Honestly, The Sandman CAPTIVATED me. For real, I want you to just trust me & read this book.
So yes, this book is part of a series. No, you don’t have to read the other books to understand what’s going on. I am betting after you read The Sandman, you’ll be hooked on this series. I certainly am!
A BIT OF BACKGROUND
Years ago two kids went missing. You can imagine the surprise when 13 years later, one of the “kids” is found walking near train tracks. He is incoherent & rushed to the hospital. The suspense really kicks in when he tells investigators that he has to go back & rescue his sister. In grave detail, he describes his captor, a Sandman with porcelain hands that only arrives in the darkness.
JOONA LINDA
Here readers meet the bad-ass investigator, Joona Linda. He previously worked the case & Jurek Walter is serving time for the crime. Quickly, Joona begins to question whether he has the right man behind bars. See, the timelines don’t match. Who was keeping these two alive while Jurek is in jail? Is Jurek working with an accomplice? Does Joona Linda have the right guy? And how the hell are they going to get to get the truth from Jurek Walter?
FULL HANNIBAL LECTER VIBES, BUT WORSE!
Let me just tell you, Jurek Walter is downright terrifying. This is where Kepler does their thing. The authors craft this veil of mystery, fear & intrigue around Jurek. Although Jurek doesn’t say or do much in this story, I found my jaw clenched in any scene where characters made contact with him. Kepler makes it clear that Jurek Walter a seriously bad dude. One evening, I had to put The Sandman back on the nightstand after a particularly creepy scene where one of the guards has a nightmare starring Jurek Walter. BAH! I’ve got chills right now thinking about it.
LARS KEPLER
If you look below, we always include an author’s bio on our page. Lars Kepler is a pseudonym for a husband & wife team, Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril & Alexander Ahndoril. If you want to read more about them, check out their author page. The authors are doing a US press tour this week & I’m planning to see them when they visit Portland!
The Kepler writing duo is SO smart. The Sandman is fast paced & plays in my head like an edge of your seat thriller. One thing I love about their writing style is the authors don’t just describe the characters, we learn who they are through their actions.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! The Sandman is thrilling, suspenseful, scary & incredibly well written. I’m so excited to have found a new author & a new series. If you’re into Nordic thrillers, be sure to check out Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson.
Special thanks to Lars Kepler, Knopf Doubleday & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
mysterious
tense
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
An edge-of-your-seat thriller, The Sandman is an intense, dark, and unputdownable ride. With chilling twists and a truly terrifying villain, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. The Nordic noir vibe and Kepler’s sharp, suspenseful writing make it perfect for fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Be prepared for some disturbing moments, but if you love gripping crime thrillers, you won’t want to miss this one!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The best book in Joona Linna-series - could not put it down. I still think about this alot
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes