Reviews

Red Wolf by Liza Marklund

jenny_hedberg's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Den här var riktigt tråkig och jag blev besviken när jag läste den här. Det var min första Liza Marklund-bok och jag trodde att hon skulle vara bättre.

victoriaschou's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

2.0

kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

The fifth book in the Annika Bengtzon series, I've absolutely no idea whether or not the entire series has been translated in order or not. I've sort of lost the plot with this series, probably because the first book - THE BOMBER - didn't appeal a lot. The last I read, PRIME TIME, was better, but a lot of the problem is that Annika, as the main focus, is a character I find it very hard to either warm to, or increasingly raise much interest in.

The plot of RED WOLF, that idea of the past having a direct impact on the present, is something I'm noticing a lot these days. The interweaving of the 1969 destruction of a plane on a Swedish air base, home-grown Communist sleeper cells and the impacts of the Cold War on Sweden then and now was carefully drawn out, given immediacy and current day relevance by the death of another journalist, Benny Ekland. It's an interesting idea, in this book executed reasonably well, although it does take a little while to get going. Which wasn't exactly helpful, as there's also a lot going on in Annika's personal life, which, if like me, you're having trouble with Annika, doesn't help with getting into this book.

This is probably my biggest cause of confusion with this series. I can't work out why Annika grates quite as much as she does. Somehow she comes across to me as less stoic and determined and more whingy and inclined to play the martyr. Less put upon and more the cause of most of her problems.

There's also another pattern I've noticed a bit. Whilst having a journalist as an investigator of crimes, outside the law, isn't that big a stretch of the imagination, there is sometimes a tendency to just make out that the official police investigators have "missed" vital clues. Again, not a big stretch of the imagination to think that maybe it could happen... but every time a journalist is involved?

Blast, I think I'm in nitpicking territory. Which isn't a good thing. The biggest problem I've now got is that I'm not keen on the idea of just abandoning a series based on problems with one or two books - working on the principle that a book should stand alone, as well as be part of the series. 3 books out of 5 translated that have left me feeling a bit disappointed might mean that I have to shuffle the other couple down the priority pile a bit.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/red-wolf-liza-marklund

fla07's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

tt569's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

etoiline's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Reminded me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, of course. There were definitely times when I could tell that this was part of a series, but overall I didn't feel like I was missing too much. One day I might go back and look for the previous books. Like The Girl... this story took a while to get going but once it did, things moved along pretty rapidly and the story was well told.

lisadolak's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This was a good book. I had a feeling there had been others in the series, but that didn't detract from the story. I think the plot might have been a bit complicated for me at this time of year. Back to School reading needs to be a bit lighter. After a long day of teaching, I need fluff. I would read another book by this author.

cwebb's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Not too bad, kinda standard

aquaflame64's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I won this book in a good reads contest and can't wait to read it. I adore this series and can't wait to get my hands on the book.

pjmurphy3's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A bit slow to get into.