A review by andrew61
Linda, As in the Linda Murder by Leif G.W. Persson

3.0

An interesting addition to the growing Scandinavian crime catalogue. Overall I enjoyed the book although it is too long by at least 100 pages as the plot got bogged down by the minutia of the investigation and was very police officer centred with little exploration of the victim or perpetrator. At the outset the crime has been committed , a young police trainee murdered at home and a central police investigating team are sent in to help the local police. The book then focusses on the lead detective Backstromm, as politically incorrect as any police officer I have met before who unlike the vast majority of his literary contemporaries has no subtlety , no hidden depths or poignant back stories to explain his enigmatic presentation, Backstromm is self obsessed, out to exploit expenses, drink himself silly and objectify any female within his vicinity. His qualities as a police officer are obscure as colleagues manage repeatedly to dig him out of holes and resolve the crime and ultimately he emerges skin intact. He is however a character I enjoyed in a bizarre way and will try more of the author's series if only because it was a change from the morose silent Scandinavian stereotype detective.