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holliem's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mihai_cristinam's review
4.0
I cannot wait for book 6. We have a lot to find out about Dunka and Kim... damn, i really hate him :).
Cliffhangers and more secrets.
But only 4 stars from me. The store was sometimes too long and boring.
Cliffhangers and more secrets.
But only 4 stars from me. The store was sometimes too long and boring.
c_liaaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
missmesmerized's review
5.0
Detective Fabian Risk actually could do with some free time to get his family together after the awful events that nearly killed his wife and daughter. Yet, he and his colleagues still have a serial killer on the loose and the killing of people does not stop. Even though the cases could hardly be more different, he senses that there must be some connection. They are finally getting closer to him, but while the Swedish seaside town of Helsingborg is gripped in fear, Fabian also has to complete his very own mission: His former colleague Elvin did not die from suicide, it was forensic scientist Ingvar Molander and obviously, Elvin had put the clues together correctly. Yet, there are still some missing pieces that Fabian needs to uncover before he can finally arrest him, knowing that he has not only a very clever nemesis who knows the rules of the game, but also one who is totally reckless and ready to do everything to get away with much more than one murder.
Stefan Ahnhem continues the story exactly where it ended in “Motive X” and does not waste any time but plunges directly into the plot. Just as in the novel before, “X Ways to Dies” moves at an extremely high pace and cleverly combines the different plot lines that finally tie the knot together. For me, Ahnhem is a worthy successor and heir of Stieg Larsson who set new milestones with his Millennium series; Ahnhem follows his footsteps in many respects by delivering a demanding plot full of suspense.
The latest instalment answers many questions which remained open in the one before thus completing the story and bringing it to a convincing end. What I totally adored was the fight between Risk and Molander, both very clever and certainly belonging to the best in their jobs thus fighting at eye level and giving a lot of insight into police work. Several setbacks make Risk an authentic and credible protagonist who also shows his weak and vulnerable sides.
The only question left to be answered: does and if so how can the story go on?
Stefan Ahnhem continues the story exactly where it ended in “Motive X” and does not waste any time but plunges directly into the plot. Just as in the novel before, “X Ways to Dies” moves at an extremely high pace and cleverly combines the different plot lines that finally tie the knot together. For me, Ahnhem is a worthy successor and heir of Stieg Larsson who set new milestones with his Millennium series; Ahnhem follows his footsteps in many respects by delivering a demanding plot full of suspense.
The latest instalment answers many questions which remained open in the one before thus completing the story and bringing it to a convincing end. What I totally adored was the fight between Risk and Molander, both very clever and certainly belonging to the best in their jobs thus fighting at eye level and giving a lot of insight into police work. Several setbacks make Risk an authentic and credible protagonist who also shows his weak and vulnerable sides.
The only question left to be answered: does and if so how can the story go on?
sartec's review against another edition
4.0
ÄLSKAR allt Ahnhem skrivit tidigare, och tyckte bok #4 (Motiv X) var jättespännande. Gillade de första 85% av denna bok också men kan inte bortse ifrån att jag (i.o.m. författarens skicklighet) hade skyhöga förväntningar på slutet/upplösningen av denna bok och blev väldigt besviken...
westwords's review
X ways to die continues immediately where Motive X left off and attempts to tie up the loose ends we were left with. Fabian Risk is still trying to keep his family together and the killer is still on the loose. By the end of this instalment, at least we find some answers.
Full review on https://wanderingwestswords.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/x-ways-to-die-stefan-ahnhem/
Full review on https://wanderingwestswords.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/x-ways-to-die-stefan-ahnhem/
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
X Ways to Die is the fourth (fifth if you count the prequel) book in the Swedish Detective Fabian Risk series and it's clear from the outset that the King of Scandi Noir is back with a bang. On the hunt for a brutal, unpredictable and fiendishly clever serial killer, Fabian and his team are up against it. The usual methods they use to try to identify a killer aren't of any use to them because the slayings are so random and seemingly motiveless that it's nigh on impossible to understand the reasoning of the perpetrator and why he targeted who he did. The major strand to the plot is complemented by a couple of minor ones, namely Fabian’s son Theodor’s decision to tell police about the deadly secret held by a group of teenagers as he feels it's the right thing to do but this unexpectedly lands him in hot water; he also has family troubles.. Not only is his family and personal life a bit of a distraction from his job but Fabian is adamant that a member of his own team, Ingvar Molander, is a serial murderer himself but whilst trying to covertly gather evidence to build a case against him it has come to Molander’s attention...
This is an author and a series I have always felt does not get the attention it deserves; Ahnhem writes thoroughly entertaining masterpieces and I feel strongly that this is his best thriller to date. He pens well-rounded plots with an engaging cast of characters, so many twists and turns, dangerous situations galore and plots that will gets the cogs whirring and the heart pumping. This is a direct continuation of the events in Motive X with multiple moving plot threads making this an intense and action-packed multidimensional read. The tension and suspense are palpable and this is a thoroughly exhilarating, compulsive and superbly crafted thriller from start to finish. Fabian is a fantastic character who despite the odds often being stacked against him remains steadfast and determined to nab the bad guys. The plot never lets up and there's never a dull moment; that goes for the killings too which are grisly and overwhelmingly gruesome.
This is a nail-biting, exciting and heart-pounding page-turner that'll please long-time fans and newcomers alike. You literally feel breathless once finished as you flip the pages ever more feverishly desperate to discover how everything is resolved. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC
This is an author and a series I have always felt does not get the attention it deserves; Ahnhem writes thoroughly entertaining masterpieces and I feel strongly that this is his best thriller to date. He pens well-rounded plots with an engaging cast of characters, so many twists and turns, dangerous situations galore and plots that will gets the cogs whirring and the heart pumping. This is a direct continuation of the events in Motive X with multiple moving plot threads making this an intense and action-packed multidimensional read. The tension and suspense are palpable and this is a thoroughly exhilarating, compulsive and superbly crafted thriller from start to finish. Fabian is a fantastic character who despite the odds often being stacked against him remains steadfast and determined to nab the bad guys. The plot never lets up and there's never a dull moment; that goes for the killings too which are grisly and overwhelmingly gruesome.
This is a nail-biting, exciting and heart-pounding page-turner that'll please long-time fans and newcomers alike. You literally feel breathless once finished as you flip the pages ever more feverishly desperate to discover how everything is resolved. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC
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