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.
