smemmott's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
kslphd0131's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This series includes some of the best writing about the human impacts of increasingly oppressive policing and social alienation on the police and communities that I've seen in procedurals. This particular book is a wry commentary on inflated egos, the way justice doesn't work, and the small resistances of people ground down by the systems they find themselves in.
esmu's review against another edition
4.0
The criticism of the Swedish society becomes more and more apparent. But I liked Martin Beck being more central.
senkahawke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oceanwader's review against another edition
5.0
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's were made famous by their expertise in portraying cops and police work to be as much about luck and chance, as dogged persistence and insight.
Chapter 18 of The Locked Room includes one of the best tragi-comic scenes of police bungling ever written in a police procedural.
So sad that only ten books were produced by this magnificent author pairing.
Chapter 18 of The Locked Room includes one of the best tragi-comic scenes of police bungling ever written in a police procedural.
So sad that only ten books were produced by this magnificent author pairing.
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
4.0
I read this some time ago, before I read any of the other Beck series. I didn’t reminder hours tongs ended and I don’t reserve what I thought of the book. But I didn’t know all the characters then so it must have made a different impression.
This book leans more heavily on humor than the others - in fact it is somewhat farcical and slapstick. It also relies on coincidence more than the others.
Nevertheless is was interesting and fun
Side notes: based on these books I would never want to line in Sweden (in the 1960s and 70s).
The discussion early on in the book about police becoming more oppressive could totally be about the US over the last 50 years.
This book leans more heavily on humor than the others - in fact it is somewhat farcical and slapstick. It also relies on coincidence more than the others.
Nevertheless is was interesting and fun
Side notes: based on these books I would never want to line in Sweden (in the 1960s and 70s).
The discussion early on in the book about police becoming more oppressive could totally be about the US over the last 50 years.