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A review by billd
Calling out for You by Karin Fossum
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Calling Out for You is the 5th book in the Inspector Sejer mystery series by Norwegian author, Karin Fossum. It's the 2nd book I've read in this interesting series.
Gunder Jomann is an elderly bachelor who works as a salesman in a hardware / agriculture type shop. His main friend is his married sister, Marie, who gives him a book about the world. Gunder decides to travel to India in the hopes he will meet a woman he can marry. On his vacation to India, he meets a waitress, Poona. They fall in love and marry. Gunder makes arrangements for Poona to travel to Norway where he will pick her up at the airport and take her back to Elvestad where they would make a life together.
The day Gunder was to go to the airport to meet Poona, his sister Marie is in a car collision and taken to the hospital in a coma. Since her husband is out of town, Gunder makes arrangements with the local taxi driver to go pick Poona up. Kalle arrive at the airport but Poona isn't there. Later that same night, a body is discovered in a field just a few miles from Gunder's home, dead with her face terribly beaten.
Inspector Sejer and his assistant Skarre arrive in Elvestad to conduct the investigation into her murder. It makes for a fascinating story, moving between, Sejer, Skarre and the various suspects and witnesses. Each and every character is interesting and well developed. The little town holds its secrets and gossips. You've got the young woman who witnesses the car near the murder site and develops strange feelings for Skarre. There is the pub owner who has Poona's suitcase. Or the old man who lives next to the field and is afraid to speak out about what he's seen.
It's an excellent personal study as well as an interesting mystery. The ending wasn't totally satisfactory but that's probably because I do prefer my mysteries cut and dried whereas this leaves things a bit open. But still an entertaining read. (3.5 stars)
Gunder Jomann is an elderly bachelor who works as a salesman in a hardware / agriculture type shop. His main friend is his married sister, Marie, who gives him a book about the world. Gunder decides to travel to India in the hopes he will meet a woman he can marry. On his vacation to India, he meets a waitress, Poona. They fall in love and marry. Gunder makes arrangements for Poona to travel to Norway where he will pick her up at the airport and take her back to Elvestad where they would make a life together.
The day Gunder was to go to the airport to meet Poona, his sister Marie is in a car collision and taken to the hospital in a coma. Since her husband is out of town, Gunder makes arrangements with the local taxi driver to go pick Poona up. Kalle arrive at the airport but Poona isn't there. Later that same night, a body is discovered in a field just a few miles from Gunder's home, dead with her face terribly beaten.
Inspector Sejer and his assistant Skarre arrive in Elvestad to conduct the investigation into her murder. It makes for a fascinating story, moving between, Sejer, Skarre and the various suspects and witnesses. Each and every character is interesting and well developed. The little town holds its secrets and gossips. You've got the young woman who witnesses the car near the murder site and develops strange feelings for Skarre. There is the pub owner who has Poona's suitcase. Or the old man who lives next to the field and is afraid to speak out about what he's seen.
It's an excellent personal study as well as an interesting mystery. The ending wasn't totally satisfactory but that's probably because I do prefer my mysteries cut and dried whereas this leaves things a bit open. But still an entertaining read. (3.5 stars)