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A review by markhoh
The Root of Evil by Håkan Nesser
5.0
“Why? Why not? These two sterile and perpetual questions that resist answer and constantly plague me. There should be clearer signposts.”
I can sense Håkan Nesser fast becoming one of my favourite Scandi Noir authors. The Root of Evil is the third of his books I have read and is the second instalment in his Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti series. Håkan Nesser has a way of writing that is really grounded and earthy and balances people, place and plot in perfect proportion.
The Root of Evil is told in two voices. There is the underpinning story of a group of Swedish acquaintances who happen to be holidaying together in Brittany, France, narrated by an unnamed author. This narrative piece sets the scene for understanding the central crimes occurring and offers tantalising morsels to the reader to try to piece together as the story unfolds. Ultimately all the puzzle pieces come together in a unique and intriguing way. I still had one or two unanswered questions at the end of the book but that didn’t detract at all from the absolute satisfaction of the read.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. This was a 595 page novel that I couldn’t put down and was almost equally as satisfying as the two previous books I have read.
I can sense Håkan Nesser fast becoming one of my favourite Scandi Noir authors. The Root of Evil is the third of his books I have read and is the second instalment in his Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti series. Håkan Nesser has a way of writing that is really grounded and earthy and balances people, place and plot in perfect proportion.
The Root of Evil is told in two voices. There is the underpinning story of a group of Swedish acquaintances who happen to be holidaying together in Brittany, France, narrated by an unnamed author. This narrative piece sets the scene for understanding the central crimes occurring and offers tantalising morsels to the reader to try to piece together as the story unfolds. Ultimately all the puzzle pieces come together in a unique and intriguing way. I still had one or two unanswered questions at the end of the book but that didn’t detract at all from the absolute satisfaction of the read.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. This was a 595 page novel that I couldn’t put down and was almost equally as satisfying as the two previous books I have read.