bookishnatalia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beachflower's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
A short Christmas review:
When two top writers get their heads together, what can you expect? Brilliant new Nordic Noir that's what. I am on a role with good creepy, complex books at the moment and this one is a great addition.
A police officer and a media blogger join forces in what is a very unique and modern way.I haven't read of this mix before in a crime novel - at least not in this way - and I loved the match of the serious and the not so serious aspects of our society. There are a lot of questions up for discussion with this novel. What is celebrity and what causes controversy nowadays?
Clues being left around the city - now that's a nice touch and this really stood out for me how the city and the sites lead to more clues. I LOVED the fact this was a new series and the two characters soon felt as if I'd known them for years. They're very different but a good match. Complex too. Blix's past in particular - well you just know that is going to come back to haunt him in later books.
First book of many I hope!
When two top writers get their heads together, what can you expect? Brilliant new Nordic Noir that's what. I am on a role with good creepy, complex books at the moment and this one is a great addition.
A police officer and a media blogger join forces in what is a very unique and modern way.I haven't read of this mix before in a crime novel - at least not in this way - and I loved the match of the serious and the not so serious aspects of our society. There are a lot of questions up for discussion with this novel. What is celebrity and what causes controversy nowadays?
Clues being left around the city - now that's a nice touch and this really stood out for me how the city and the sites lead to more clues. I LOVED the fact this was a new series and the two characters soon felt as if I'd known them for years. They're very different but a good match. Complex too. Blix's past in particular - well you just know that is going to come back to haunt him in later books.
First book of many I hope!
daisykajsa's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
ljwrites85's review against another edition
5.0
Death Deserved is the first co-written novel between Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger and I really hope there are going to be more.
When Sonya Nordstrøm doesn’t show up for the launch of her controversial new autobiography, celebrity blogger Emma Ramm pays her a visit. At Sonya’s house there’s signs of a struggle so she calls the police. Alexander Blix is dispatched to investigate. What they both don’t realise is that this is just the beginning of a sadistic game that will come too close to home...
Death Deserved is one of those novels that keeps you on your toes throughout, you’re never quite sure what clever plot twist the authors are going to throw at you!
It’s been a while since I’ve read any Scandi-noir and this book really reminds me why I love the genre so much. It’s tense, it’s dark, and honestly there’s never a dull moment.
I loved both Emma and Blix. It’s a little bit of an odd pairing, a blogger and a police officer but it works well for the story. Both characters have emotional baggage and a few surprising secrets. I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress through the story.
Death Deserved is an utterly gripping read that I’d definitely recommend if you love good police procedural.
When Sonya Nordstrøm doesn’t show up for the launch of her controversial new autobiography, celebrity blogger Emma Ramm pays her a visit. At Sonya’s house there’s signs of a struggle so she calls the police. Alexander Blix is dispatched to investigate. What they both don’t realise is that this is just the beginning of a sadistic game that will come too close to home...
Death Deserved is one of those novels that keeps you on your toes throughout, you’re never quite sure what clever plot twist the authors are going to throw at you!
It’s been a while since I’ve read any Scandi-noir and this book really reminds me why I love the genre so much. It’s tense, it’s dark, and honestly there’s never a dull moment.
I loved both Emma and Blix. It’s a little bit of an odd pairing, a blogger and a police officer but it works well for the story. Both characters have emotional baggage and a few surprising secrets. I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress through the story.
Death Deserved is an utterly gripping read that I’d definitely recommend if you love good police procedural.
marco5599's review against another edition
1.0
Thrillers with a countdown. 5,4,3.. Will they make it in time? So exciting! Not. Of course they will. Not the only embarrassing aspect of this book, almost every move it makes is. Well-known people are being killed and the lead detective (Blix) decides to leak information to a celebrity blogger (Ramm) for personal reasons. Am I supposed to root for this guy? I had enough trouble doing that after the prologue, in which he also screws up. With deadly consequences, I might add. Ramm can't save it either. Her most striking feature, a shiny one, made me laugh. Preposterous. And it doesn't stop there. The police work usually ends up with one of those cringeworthy aha moments and the killer, well, he sure is something. Unbelievable how he does it, how he gets away with it. Literally. Zero credibility and by the end of it (hi, mom!) downright laughable. If you can't guess where the finale will take place after the first chapter, this contrived Hollywood drivel is for you.
markhoh's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been a big fan of Norwegian Scandi Noir and Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are two authors whom I have really enjoyed reading. Having them team up as a duo to co-author Death Deserved seems like a real treat, especially as it is the first of a series with police officer, Alex Blix and journalist Emma Ramm. Blix and Ramm have a unique connection and while this is revealed in the book I can imagine that this connection will go from strength to strength in subsequent story lines down the track.
Death Deserved has all the usual ingredients of Scandi Noir and I must admit I was kinda hoping for something a little stronger in a way. That sounds hyper critical and I don’t mean it to be but perhaps because I’ve read so much of this genre now I’m getting more difficult to please. It’s certainly a solid story with a creative plot, serial killer with some unique elements but I must admit I was waiting for Blix and Ramm to grab me. For me to somehow connect with them as people, connect with their stories, how they think, where they’re at etc in a deeper way. It was kind of very surface. As serparate authors I would say that William Wisting (Horst) and Henning Juul (Enger) are stronger characters with far more depth.
So a good read all in all, not the 5 star read I was hoping for but 3.5 rounded to 4 for me. And yes, I will read the book number two in the series but just not yet.
Death Deserved has all the usual ingredients of Scandi Noir and I must admit I was kinda hoping for something a little stronger in a way. That sounds hyper critical and I don’t mean it to be but perhaps because I’ve read so much of this genre now I’m getting more difficult to please. It’s certainly a solid story with a creative plot, serial killer with some unique elements but I must admit I was waiting for Blix and Ramm to grab me. For me to somehow connect with them as people, connect with their stories, how they think, where they’re at etc in a deeper way. It was kind of very surface. As serparate authors I would say that William Wisting (Horst) and Henning Juul (Enger) are stronger characters with far more depth.
So a good read all in all, not the 5 star read I was hoping for but 3.5 rounded to 4 for me. And yes, I will read the book number two in the series but just not yet.
crystal6's review against another edition
4.0
A very entertaining book, with lots of different story strands. Very interesting characters especially Blix. A few red-herrings but such a great reading. ( and I didn't guess who had done it) Will definitely be looking out of more in this series.
isabelrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS.
I have been highly anticipating this new Nordic Noir novel for quite some time now and it definitely didn’t disappoint
I have been highly anticipating this new Nordic Noir novel for quite some time now and it definitely didn’t disappoint