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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
"Even though Jurek Walter has committed the most heinous crimes of any serial killer in Swedish history, he is completely unknown to the public. The proceedings against him in the Central Court House and at the Court of Appeal were held behind closed doors, and all the files are strictly confidential."
Detective Inspector Joona Linna is determined to find The Sandman who held a young boy and his sister captive for 13 years, and the serial killer, Jurek Walter, locked away in a mental institution with no physical contact with other people holds the secret. The young boy, now a young man, has escaped the elusive Sandman and tells a terrifying tale of terror and suffering beyond all comprehension. The boy's sister is still a captive, and Jinna must find her before it's too late. In order to get Jurek Walter to talk, Linna elicits Inspector Saga Bauer's help to be part of a risky undercover operation posing as a mental patient and getting Walter to tell her the place where the missing girl is being held captive.
See my complete review at The Eclectic Review
Detective Inspector Joona Linna is determined to find The Sandman who held a young boy and his sister captive for 13 years, and the serial killer, Jurek Walter, locked away in a mental institution with no physical contact with other people holds the secret. The young boy, now a young man, has escaped the elusive Sandman and tells a terrifying tale of terror and suffering beyond all comprehension. The boy's sister is still a captive, and Jinna must find her before it's too late. In order to get Jurek Walter to talk, Linna elicits Inspector Saga Bauer's help to be part of a risky undercover operation posing as a mental patient and getting Walter to tell her the place where the missing girl is being held captive.
See my complete review at The Eclectic Review
The Sandman kept me up reading into the night - I definitely meant to go to bed at a reasonable time last night, but I couldn't put this book down.
This was my first experience with the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler - this is the third book in the series, and it's very easy to get invested quickly. I wasn't confused, and I think this book can work very well as a standalone novel. However, since I loved it, I ordered the first 3 books in the series after I finished this one.
I am not always great at connecting with Nordic noir, but I was hooked on this book from page one. I feel like most of the ones I've read in this genre have had slower starts, but The Sandman drew me in, and then kept me excited throughout the whole story. This was definitely a page-turner for me. The chapters are very short, and it was always hard to find a stopping place because I just wanted to keep going.
I really liked the characters in this novel. A few different POVs are added in throughout the novel (it's all in third person, though), and everything was woven together nicely by the end. Saga was definitely my favorite, and now I also wish my name was Saga haha.
As I said before, it is easy to get invested in this story. I cared about the characters, and there are some heartbreaking moments. This is just a damn good book. I will definitely be continuing with this series, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Thank you to Crime by the Book for recommending this one, and thank you to AA Knopf for sending me this review copy. The Sandman will be out on 3/6!
This was my first experience with the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler - this is the third book in the series, and it's very easy to get invested quickly. I wasn't confused, and I think this book can work very well as a standalone novel. However, since I loved it, I ordered the first 3 books in the series after I finished this one.
I am not always great at connecting with Nordic noir, but I was hooked on this book from page one. I feel like most of the ones I've read in this genre have had slower starts, but The Sandman drew me in, and then kept me excited throughout the whole story. This was definitely a page-turner for me. The chapters are very short, and it was always hard to find a stopping place because I just wanted to keep going.
I really liked the characters in this novel. A few different POVs are added in throughout the novel (it's all in third person, though), and everything was woven together nicely by the end. Saga was definitely my favorite, and now I also wish my name was Saga haha.
As I said before, it is easy to get invested in this story. I cared about the characters, and there are some heartbreaking moments. This is just a damn good book. I will definitely be continuing with this series, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Thank you to Crime by the Book for recommending this one, and thank you to AA Knopf for sending me this review copy. The Sandman will be out on 3/6!
The Sandman kept me up reading into the night - I definitely meant to go to bed at a reasonable time last night, but I couldn't put this book down.
This was my first experience with the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler - this is the third book in the series, and it's very easy to get invested quickly. I wasn't confused, and I think this book can work very well as a standalone novel. However, since I loved it, I ordered the first 3 books in the series after I finished this one.
I am not always great at connecting with Nordic noir, but I was hooked on this book from page one. I feel like most of the ones I've read in this genre have had slower starts, but The Sandman drew me in, and then kept me excited throughout the whole story. This was definitely a page-turner for me. The chapters are very short, and it was always hard to find a stopping place because I just wanted to keep going.
I really liked the characters in this novel. A few different POVs are added in throughout the novel (it's all in third person, though), and everything was woven together nicely by the end. Saga was definitely my favorite, and now I also wish my name was Saga haha.
As I said before, it is easy to get invested in this story. I cared about the characters, and there are some heartbreaking moments. This is just a damn good book. I will definitely be continuing with this series, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Thank you to Crime by the Book for recommending this one, and thank you to AA Knopf for sending me this review copy. The Sandman will be out on 3/6!
This was my first experience with the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler - this is the third book in the series, and it's very easy to get invested quickly. I wasn't confused, and I think this book can work very well as a standalone novel. However, since I loved it, I ordered the first 3 books in the series after I finished this one.
I am not always great at connecting with Nordic noir, but I was hooked on this book from page one. I feel like most of the ones I've read in this genre have had slower starts, but The Sandman drew me in, and then kept me excited throughout the whole story. This was definitely a page-turner for me. The chapters are very short, and it was always hard to find a stopping place because I just wanted to keep going.
I really liked the characters in this novel. A few different POVs are added in throughout the novel (it's all in third person, though), and everything was woven together nicely by the end. Saga was definitely my favorite, and now I also wish my name was Saga haha.
As I said before, it is easy to get invested in this story. I cared about the characters, and there are some heartbreaking moments. This is just a damn good book. I will definitely be continuing with this series, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Thank you to Crime by the Book for recommending this one, and thank you to AA Knopf for sending me this review copy. The Sandman will be out on 3/6!
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was debating between a 3 or a 4 star review. It could be either depending on which portion of the story I focus on. One major drawback for me was that sometimes things just seem too bloody convenient - information comes by too easily, or the detectives know exactly who to call etc. But, overall it's a fast paced story that progresses quickly (hallmark of great Nordic noir). Lots of reviewers have said that this book is terrifying - it was not. Not for me atleast. Maybe if you are a parent then this might give you the shivers... but even that will be because of what your imagination conjures up, rather than the storytelling or the prose.
Lastly, I don't know if it's just me, but I was not smitten with the prose. It felt too matter-of-fact (even for Nordic noir which is famous for cutting to the chase), and I missed the smartness, wisdom or reflective nature of words. The kind where you reread a sentence because of its impact. There was none of that. It's a very, "then this happened, and then this happened" kinda story.
But it's a good story. Keeps you reading.
The end, for me, was solid. Tightly wraps up everything and even manages to leave a little surprise for the end. Very well created bad guy too. All his motivations and triggers make sense in the end.
So, no regrets.
Lastly, I don't know if it's just me, but I was not smitten with the prose. It felt too matter-of-fact (even for Nordic noir which is famous for cutting to the chase), and I missed the smartness, wisdom or reflective nature of words. The kind where you reread a sentence because of its impact. There was none of that. It's a very, "then this happened, and then this happened" kinda story.
But it's a good story. Keeps you reading.
The end, for me, was solid. Tightly wraps up everything and even manages to leave a little surprise for the end. Very well created bad guy too. All his motivations and triggers make sense in the end.
So, no regrets.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perfectly good story, just read almost more like a screenplay than a novel to me - though some of that may be due to the translation. I liked it but I've read better thrillers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I wanted something that kept me on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put it down, I read a recommendation about this book saying yes you could start at book 4. Ok so that was true. This book was fine to read as a stand-alone no worries.
I have been left wanting and a little annoyed by this book hence the low rating. First I’ll say I did really enjoy the short sharp chapters that was a big plus for me. The characters were fine. I didn’t feel attached to any of them negatively or positively they did the job they were meant to throughout the book. There were some edge of your seat moments so I was happy about that.
But… for me this book wasn’t a winner and it won’t have me going back to binge read the series. It was disjointed and if that all tied up well at the end and not in a rush with pages to go I would be fine with it. However, this was not the case. Things were waaaaay over the top when it came to the deaths and I’m not talking gore I’m just talking over the top ridiculous stuff.
The storyline was choppy and didn’t flow well, whether something was lost in the English translation or this is simply the style it wasn’t for me. I kept finding myself thinking that’s ok stuff will get wrapped up or things will become clearer there were hanging storyline’s and overall my initial enjoyment went way down. I found myself just wanting it to be over.
I know I’m in the minority but it wasn’t for me.
I have been left wanting and a little annoyed by this book hence the low rating. First I’ll say I did really enjoy the short sharp chapters that was a big plus for me. The characters were fine. I didn’t feel attached to any of them negatively or positively they did the job they were meant to throughout the book. There were some edge of your seat moments so I was happy about that.
But… for me this book wasn’t a winner and it won’t have me going back to binge read the series. It was disjointed and if that all tied up well at the end and not in a rush with pages to go I would be fine with it. However, this was not the case. Things were waaaaay over the top when it came to the deaths and I’m not talking gore I’m just talking over the top ridiculous stuff.
The storyline was choppy and didn’t flow well, whether something was lost in the English translation or this is simply the style it wasn’t for me. I kept finding myself thinking that’s ok stuff will get wrapped up or things will become clearer there were hanging storyline’s and overall my initial enjoyment went way down. I found myself just wanting it to be over.
I know I’m in the minority but it wasn’t for me.
This was an exceptional read. Joona Linna of the National Crime Squad has thought he has solved a case when Jurek Walter is given a life sentence for serial murder. Things change when one of his victims surfaces alive several years later and others are murdered , all bearing the hallmarks of Jurek Walter. This is impossible as he is locked in a secure unit. But Joona has always thought Jurek has an accomplice. Is he right? What follows is a tale that has you turning the pages eager to know if Joona can bring closure and tie up the loose ends that have been troubling him for years. This is a book that can be read as a stand alone, but to really enjoy it at it's best it is best to start at the beginning. The Hypnotist being the first in the series. A well deserved 5 stars.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No