elettra_passerini's review against another edition
Too much all at once, it's unreadable
emp1234's review against another edition
1.0
Picked this up because of all the good reviews and think I saw it recommended in an online list of "must-read suspense novels" or something like that. Sorry. Couldn't even finish it. I got about halfway through and thought "Wow. I seriously don't care what happens in this book" so I stopped forcing myself to read it. It wasn't BAD; it was just slow moving - especially considering the subject matter.
esmu's review against another edition
3.0
I was told that it reminded of Stieg Larsson's writings - to me it didn't! But it very much reminded me of Sjowall and Wahloo's books about Beck.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
This is a new series to me and I had missed the recent tv adaptation. The murder of very prominent Swedish business men leads to the creation of a small team of maverick police officers to investigate what appears to be a crime with numerous red herrings and plot twists.
The principal character is Paul hjelm who at the outset faces disciplinary procedures before being rescued by a move to the 'A team' under the leadership of the head office Hultin who is controlled but violent.
It was an enjoyable read and certainly a series I will revisit and also try and catch the tv series.
The principal character is Paul hjelm who at the outset faces disciplinary procedures before being rescued by a move to the 'A team' under the leadership of the head office Hultin who is controlled but violent.
It was an enjoyable read and certainly a series I will revisit and also try and catch the tv series.
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
‘Behind the mystery, there’s a mist…’
When two top-level financiers are murdered in quick succession, the Swedish authorities decide to put together a special unit to investigate. Fortunately for our hero, Paul Hjelm, he is asked to join just as he is about to be fired for shooting an immigrant during a hostage situation. As the murder toll continues to climb, the unit is following several leads. Are the crimes to do with something in the men’s pasts? Or is the murderer an insane serial killer? Could the victims’ membership of a Masonic-type secret society be involved? Or is the spate of murders a sign that the Russian Mafia is moving in? Apparently this book was previously published under the name Misterioso - a reference to the Thelonious Monk album of the same name.
I watched the first episode of the Arne Dahl TV series last Saturday (BBC4) and was seriously underwhelmed. I’m glad to say the book impressed me considerably more. Like most Nordic crime, there’s a lot of angst in the book and dark undertones about a society that doesn’t ever seem very comfortable with itself. However our hero, though of course profoundly miserable and with the obligatory unhappy home life, at least is neither a total maverick nor a drunk.
The book is well written and very well translated by Tina Nunnally, and the plotline is satisfyingly complex. Each of the leads is followed through to its conclusion and each shows us a different aspect of Swedish society. The various members of the A-unit are a bit stereotyped – the foreigner (so we can talk about questions of race), the intelligent one who wrestles with moral questions, the older one, trying to prove he’s still got it, and, of course, the beautiful and complicated token female whose main purpose seems to be to allow Hjelm to indulge in some rather unnecessary sexual fantasizing. However, they are in the main developed well and we see them change from a group of strangers into a cohesive team as the book progresses.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, well plotted police procedural with elements of both mystery and thriller and a good deal better than the TV adaptation would suggest. I’ll certainly be looking forward to the author’s next, Bad Blood, which I believe is due out in August 2013, although apparently with a different translator.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
When two top-level financiers are murdered in quick succession, the Swedish authorities decide to put together a special unit to investigate. Fortunately for our hero, Paul Hjelm, he is asked to join just as he is about to be fired for shooting an immigrant during a hostage situation. As the murder toll continues to climb, the unit is following several leads. Are the crimes to do with something in the men’s pasts? Or is the murderer an insane serial killer? Could the victims’ membership of a Masonic-type secret society be involved? Or is the spate of murders a sign that the Russian Mafia is moving in? Apparently this book was previously published under the name Misterioso - a reference to the Thelonious Monk album of the same name.
I watched the first episode of the Arne Dahl TV series last Saturday (BBC4) and was seriously underwhelmed. I’m glad to say the book impressed me considerably more. Like most Nordic crime, there’s a lot of angst in the book and dark undertones about a society that doesn’t ever seem very comfortable with itself. However our hero, though of course profoundly miserable and with the obligatory unhappy home life, at least is neither a total maverick nor a drunk.
The book is well written and very well translated by Tina Nunnally, and the plotline is satisfyingly complex. Each of the leads is followed through to its conclusion and each shows us a different aspect of Swedish society. The various members of the A-unit are a bit stereotyped – the foreigner (so we can talk about questions of race), the intelligent one who wrestles with moral questions, the older one, trying to prove he’s still got it, and, of course, the beautiful and complicated token female whose main purpose seems to be to allow Hjelm to indulge in some rather unnecessary sexual fantasizing. However, they are in the main developed well and we see them change from a group of strangers into a cohesive team as the book progresses.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, well plotted police procedural with elements of both mystery and thriller and a good deal better than the TV adaptation would suggest. I’ll certainly be looking forward to the author’s next, Bad Blood, which I believe is due out in August 2013, although apparently with a different translator.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
grigid's review against another edition
3.0
I was entertained by the author's motley bunch of detectives brought together as the "A-Team" to solve the serial killing of rich and powerful business men. The crime thriller covers various topics such as the banking crisis; bootlegging; abuse; smuggling; bank robbery, the mafia; music by Thelonius Monk (central to the plot) and....... darts.
We follow the protagonist, Hjelm, through what seems to be a mid-life crisis, prompted by his shooting of an asylum seeker (which raises issues of racism. his growing paranoia about an ever changing blemish on his cheek and his infatuation with a colleague.
There are some funny moments too, and some (mainly the sex scenes) that are cringe-worthy, but all in all it's worth a read.
We follow the protagonist, Hjelm, through what seems to be a mid-life crisis, prompted by his shooting of an asylum seeker (which raises issues of racism. his growing paranoia about an ever changing blemish on his cheek and his infatuation with a colleague.
There are some funny moments too, and some (mainly the sex scenes) that are cringe-worthy, but all in all it's worth a read.
fat_girl_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
I was familiar with the TV series of the same name before I picked up The Blinded Man, the first in this collection.
The casting director of the TV series did a top notch job hiring actors that perfectly portrayed Arne Dahl's characters. Of course, the obvious exception is the leader of the A-Team, who is turned from a man in the novel, to a female on screen. Despite their flaws, they're all thoroughly likeable and their individual stories and quirks display their humanity. It's also interesting to see how each of them develop relationships with each other.
The case itself is nicknamed 'The Power Murders' by newspapers and media. Over a short period of time, three men who are high in society and wealthy are killed, execution style. Paul Hjelm is our main character and we follow him on his many leads as the case twists and turns to it's eventual conclusion.
Dahl not only writes characters well, but he knows how to wrack up the tension and excitement. As the authorities close in on their suspect, I literally felt on the edge of my seat (or more appropriately, my bed, which is where I mostly read).
My only complaint is the title. In Nordic circles it's known as 'Misterioso' which makes sense as there is piece of music by the same name linked directly to the murders. I feel like The Blinded Man was a quick afterthought.
The casting director of the TV series did a top notch job hiring actors that perfectly portrayed Arne Dahl's characters. Of course, the obvious exception is the leader of the A-Team, who is turned from a man in the novel, to a female on screen. Despite their flaws, they're all thoroughly likeable and their individual stories and quirks display their humanity. It's also interesting to see how each of them develop relationships with each other.
The case itself is nicknamed 'The Power Murders' by newspapers and media. Over a short period of time, three men who are high in society and wealthy are killed, execution style. Paul Hjelm is our main character and we follow him on his many leads as the case twists and turns to it's eventual conclusion.
Dahl not only writes characters well, but he knows how to wrack up the tension and excitement. As the authorities close in on their suspect, I literally felt on the edge of my seat (or more appropriately, my bed, which is where I mostly read).
My only complaint is the title. In Nordic circles it's known as 'Misterioso' which makes sense as there is piece of music by the same name linked directly to the murders. I feel like The Blinded Man was a quick afterthought.