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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Actual Rating: 3.5*
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
This was good! I am glad I bought it as Audibles Daily Deal. I like thrillers where they have something a ~little~ different and this one definitely does. However, I can’t comment on if it is good representation of a deaf character in terms of disability portrayal but I like that Tuva was a badass who didn’t let anything stop her. I will say though that there were a few times I rolled my eyes because this was a woman written by a man and you could tell. But I recommend reading this!
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
This was good! I am glad I bought it as Audibles Daily Deal. I like thrillers where they have something a ~little~ different and this one definitely does. However, I can’t comment on if it is good representation of a deaf character in terms of disability portrayal but I like that Tuva was a badass who didn’t let anything stop her. I will say though that there were a few times I rolled my eyes because this was a woman written by a man and you could tell. But I recommend reading this!
Really strong and immersive sense of place, but I felt frustrated at times by the pacing and Tuva's slightly bumbling approach to investigative journalism.
I had high hopes for this book as I enjoy scandi noir but it fell flat for me. The setting was good and well described but I didn’t like Tuva the main character, I found her lacking in common sense and personality. Also for an investigative journalist her attempts at investigation were very poor. Throughout the book there were interesting lines and subjects introduced that were never expanded on or explored which could have made the plot more interesting. The ending was disappointingly predictable, the identity of the murdered was obvious from the very early on.
It may seem a little odd to be reading a Scandi-noir thriller set in a deep, dark forest during the summer months, but I couldn't wait any longer to read this one! I've been pretty open about my up and down (mostly down) relationship with thrillers on this blog, but I knew I could trust Bethany and Alice's recommendation on this one - and I was not disappointed. In fact, I think this might be the best thriller I have ever read; it genuinely kept me guessing right until the end, and despite the sunshine blazing outside my window, I felt truly immersed in the little town of Gavrik and the atmospheric wilderness of Utgard forest.
Tuva Moodyson is working as a reporter at the local paper in the small Swedish town of Gavrik, where she relocated from London to care for her mother, when a body turns up in the woods. Similarities to the infamous 'Medusa' murders of the 90s strike fear into the heart of the locals, and Tuva, sensing the opportunity to beef up her CV for when she eventually escapes small-town life, begins investigating and is soon entangled in the hunt for a serial killer...
It's hard to pin down which is a bigger strength of this thriller: the tight plot which maintains the intrigue right until the final moments, or the strong personalities of both Tuva and the supporting cast of characters. I'm excited that Will Dean seems to be writing more of Tuva's adventures because I warmed to her so much; her own backstory is woven throughout and provides real motivation as she buries herself in the story. She's also queer and deaf, and it's so refreshing that, although those facts about her obviously feature and colour her experiences, it's not what the book is centred on. There's so many vivid characters in this book, from Tuva's friend Tammy, who runs a Thai food truck and keeps a gun for protection against racist customers, to the people who live in the forest and form the basis of Tuva's suspicions - the wood-carving sisters, the tree-hugging hoarder, the reclusive ghostwriter, the creepy taxi driver, and the Stepford-style rich couple. They were all painted so perfectly and, with some heart-stopping moments and constant about-faces thrown in for good measure, this is the thriller I didn't even know I was looking for.
Tuva Moodyson is working as a reporter at the local paper in the small Swedish town of Gavrik, where she relocated from London to care for her mother, when a body turns up in the woods. Similarities to the infamous 'Medusa' murders of the 90s strike fear into the heart of the locals, and Tuva, sensing the opportunity to beef up her CV for when she eventually escapes small-town life, begins investigating and is soon entangled in the hunt for a serial killer...
It's hard to pin down which is a bigger strength of this thriller: the tight plot which maintains the intrigue right until the final moments, or the strong personalities of both Tuva and the supporting cast of characters. I'm excited that Will Dean seems to be writing more of Tuva's adventures because I warmed to her so much; her own backstory is woven throughout and provides real motivation as she buries herself in the story. She's also queer and deaf, and it's so refreshing that, although those facts about her obviously feature and colour her experiences, it's not what the book is centred on. There's so many vivid characters in this book, from Tuva's friend Tammy, who runs a Thai food truck and keeps a gun for protection against racist customers, to the people who live in the forest and form the basis of Tuva's suspicions - the wood-carving sisters, the tree-hugging hoarder, the reclusive ghostwriter, the creepy taxi driver, and the Stepford-style rich couple. They were all painted so perfectly and, with some heart-stopping moments and constant about-faces thrown in for good measure, this is the thriller I didn't even know I was looking for.
Dark Pines is a great debut with a lot to recommend it - a strong, likeable main character in Tuva Moodyson; an atmospheric setting; an interesting crime. However, there were times when I wanted the author to 'get on with it'. The final chase scene, for example, we don't need Tuva to describe each ditch she stumbles into, or how many mosquitos are biting her, or how many trees there are - WE WANT TO GET TO THE CLIMAX! We especially don't need to know what the forest looks like - again - because the author has already described this in great length at earlier stages in the book. Also, I couldn't give this 5* because I worked out the identity of the killer and in the climax scene the explanation of their motivation was a little weak. That said, Dark Pines is an enjoyable read and there were moments of genuine creepiness. I'd read another Tuva Moodyson crime should the author write one.
Thanks to the publisher who provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher who provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
A really well written crime thriller, would have given it four stars if I'd not guessed the villian so early on. Really looking forward to the next installment and hopefully that one will keep me guessing.