Fjallbäcka book # 9
I knew of this author but never had the pleasure to read any of Ms. Läckberg works till my friend gave me “The Ice Child” and I am glad she did now I can add another great author to my very very long list.
Although this may be the 9th book in the series it can easily be read as a standalone the author gives us enough background to fill the gaps and for us to understand where the characters fit into this saga. This is an excellent “Nordic Noir” story that combines a chilling and heart-wrenching plot with the lives of the main players and the horrendous crimes being investigated. This book deals with a group of people in a pretty unpleasant way.
“The Ice Child”, is set in the small Swedish town of Fjallbäcka and features Detective Patrik Hedström and his crime writer wife Erica Falck. The broad canvas is also filled with a huge cast of interconnected characters and I assure you it is quite a challenge to remember them all. Some may said this book has a fairly simple structure but I found the long chapters, the many threads in each chapter including flashbacks was difficult to get used to but once I got familiar with the style I enjoyed the plot much more and of course by then I was shaken by a steady escalation of suspense and sadism. Although this story may have taken some time to process it nevertheless kept me interested and on my toes till the very last page. This story is an insane page-turner once you are in the swing of things.
Book #1, in the Cases of Lieutenant Kane
This story is very intense no doubt about it with its fair amount of gory descriptions and its suspenseful drama that keeps coming up no way any reader can say that “Malevolent” is boring. I was kept me on the edge furiously flipping the pages to see how it will end. …. This is one twisted story that may be somewhat realistic but is captivating to read….if you are into gruesome murders and police procedural this book is for you.
The main character, Lieutenant Kane, is a homicide detective from the Tampa police department and his day to day consist of decomposing bodies and hunting for murderers in order to remove them from the public. This first story is about a killer looking to make a name for himself by doing gruesome experiments on women. The media has dubbed him the Psycho Surgeon. Kane’s main focus is to get him before he kills again or before the case becomes far more personal…….
The killer’s point of view is soon said in alternate chapters as he goes about doing his draconian methods to alter his victims’ behavior. Not a dull moment and as the plot moves quickly along it is easy to be fast pulled into this top shelf drama filled with funny scenes to give us a break from all the mayhem and crime scenes. This is one riveting cat and mouse game that pins the bad guy against the good guy.
I enjoyed the plot and its characters and to steal words from a reviewer “As thriller mystery goes, this one fills the bills in every way”
Book # 13, in the Bernie Gunther series
“Greeks” opens in 1957, Bernie has shed his badge and gun and has created a new cover, has grown a beard and has taken a new name, Christof Ganz, a nobody with no connection with the police and even less with the Third Reich. He finds himself taking a new job as a claims adjuster investigating a fire in Athens that has sunk a small ship.
By now we well know that Bernie has a history that includes more than passing acquaintance with mass murder and evil. In this latest the themes of morality, mortality, philosophy, atonement and redemption is much discussed and smoothly woven into a detective story. This story has two layers: a look at the past and its effect on the future and the second is personified by Bernie Gunther.
“Greeks Bearing Gifts” is vintage Bernie Gunther, despite the ex-criminal investigation detective’s name rarely appearing in the novel. It is dark, smart and showcases Mr. Kerr’s atmospheric writing, his meticulous research and his gift for witty dialogue but the overuse of metaphors although some are pretty funny gets tiring in the long run. This story is less suspenseful than the previous installment but it surely transports us to 1957 with its great amount of details during that time.
All of Bernie’s stories are noir in genre but this one is black with no relief from deceit or greed. Even Bernie becomes bitter and sarcastic and makes stupid moves and has developed fascination with female cleavage. In this latest I found Bernie to be not very likeable.
Although I did like parts of this book it is by far not my preferred. The story drags at lot and was kind of flat. We have many characters to keep up with and a convoluted plot to follow that is not at all surprising. This mystery is dialogue driven and a lot of bickering goes on and on…. I was disappointed but I push along till the end.
Book #4, in the Alex Troutt series
A Redemption Thriller
Although this is part of a series this 4th book can easily be read as a stand-alone but it is always more pleasant if you read series in sequence.
In this installment, Alex is on a well-deserved vacation with her family and heads to small town in Texas where she grew up near the Gulf of Mexico. Focussing primary on her kids and her dad, leaving work behind to enjoy for a short time a fun vacation on the beach was her main wish…what a wonderful trip this is going to be ….well of course not, all changed by a drive by shooting…..
Once again, FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt gives us a twisting, heart pounding saga that grips our attention from the first page. I simply had a hard time putting this thriller down. The story is full of suspense, thrill and mystery. The plot is exciting and the whodunit is a big puzzle to untangle. The twists and turns kept my adrenaline pumping and I was on the edge of my seat till the wee hours wanting to see how far Alex would go….Balancing family life and career is a heavy task, in Alex case her job continually threatens to take over but watch out she is a wolverine and she will get her man/woman.
I enjoyed “At Dawn” it is a well-crafted story with good players. The multiple treads are easy to follow and as they gradually intertwine and come together we are left with one of those suspenseful novels hard to resist. In a few words: this is a fast and furious and sometime funny plot that I enjoyed quite a bit.
Mission to the Past
This stunning debut novel is a highly imaginative blend of fiction enhanced with historical events and well-known personages. It also gives us a well-researched travelogue and insights into cities and countries visited by the story’s main player.
Richly written the story transports us back to the mid-1970 where high school graduate Ian Richard, a highly recruited athlete questions his future after viewing a documentary of the liberation of thousands of prisoners at Bergen-Belsen at the end WW11 by the Allied Forces . Ian’s father was among the liberators. Over several weeks Ian immerses himself in articles of past atrocities and those guilty of war crimes. He particularly concentrates on those who never came to trial. The novel tells Ian’s newfound interest in finding one particular guard Gertrude Sommer and bringing her to justice.
The story opens slowly as we are introduced to Ian, his parents and his interest then as it progresses with his training with the Mossad and his hunt for “The Angel of Death” commences. To Argentina he is sent and we soon fall into a very intense and captivating drama which gives us a lot of action, some predictable twists and others we hardly can imagine. Ian has a soft spot for beautiful women and plays with his good looks to lure the illusive Gertrude into a trap. Suspense is at times intercepted by some sex scenes, we have a few but they are quite vanilla. To add tension to this exciting read, Ian encounters violence and demonstrates that all his training was not wasted time…… During this nail-biting journey, the author did not forget to give us a taste of culinary delights ….
In short words, we have an original and well-written plot, smooth narration, good dialogue, great characterization and where this novel excels is in its sense of place….
Well-done Mr. Ledoux “The Angel of Justice” is an excellent debut and I hope to read more of Ian’s missions in the future.
A Birder Murder Mystery #2
This neatly constructed series is quite original intertwining avian with the classic whodunit and doing so in an entertaining way. This second book is a smart and absorbing read. With some series you need to read the novels in sequence, here I suggest strongly doing so otherwise you will need to piece the missing parts and back read…..( this is exactly what I have to do)…..
In book 2, we have more bird related murder and mayhem in which the author’s ornithological background shines. Chief Inspector Dominic Jejeune, an avid birder and lead investigator is called out at a gruesome scene at a bird sanctuary where a researcher is found dead beside the body of a senior attaché from the Mexican consulate. You would think this to be a cut and dry investigation but when Powers that Be want to squash any wrongdoing… things turns out not to be that simple……
To enjoy this mystery you need a certain suspension of belief. The story is a tightly woven plot where every twist seemed to relate back to birding. Of course being heavy on bird information I inevitable learn a good deal about doves. I love birds so more information did not bother me but if you do not maybe you should skip this series all together or maybe give it a try; you may change your mind.
The main character Dominic Jejeune is an extremely complex individual with deep secrets. He often ponders on things, what could trouble him so much….well this second story tease us even more by dropping some clues that say little and leaving us wondering if the sequel will reveal more… or not. The story progresses slowly and as it does I was trying hard to pin point the murderer, I never did work out the whodunit….I really thought it was someone else and certainly I am not alone reaching a wrong conclusion….Quite suspense in its own way “ A Pitying of Doves” is a good and entertaining read.
Based on true historical events and real people, “Auschwitz Lullaby “brings to life the story of Helene Hannemann—a woman who sacrificed everything for family and fought furiously for the children she hoped to save.
In a straightforward and poetic style Mr. Escobar tells an enthralling story involving the Nazi persecution of Gypsies, Jews and other minorities during WW11. Helene was a German woman married to a Gypsy man, they had five children when they were brutally removed from their home and sent to Auschwitz. Helene could have evaded arrest, however she rather be with her family. This novel tells how as a German nurse under Dr. Mengele managed to keep hope in the midts of the darkness.
Mr. Escobar expertly describes the setting and characters while maintaining a captivating and fast-paced storyline that is brutal, honest and heartbreaking. The author demonstrates through his words the power of sacrifice and the strength of human dignity even when there is no hope left. This sad journey is powerful, haunting, chilling and one that shook me to my core. The pages are filled with the evil intentions and practices of Dr. Mengele but what is more remarkable is the strength and bravery of Helene Hannemann. All through her ordeal Helene sang a beautiful lullaby to calm the children…..
This is definitely not a feel good story but a well-researched one filled with details right down to the smells….it really feels as the author spent time in the camps….
This is an excellent novel worth spending time reading
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
