timeswary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chloebethx_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coops456's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting Norwegian police procedural.
It's set in the early 1990s and it's jarring just how dated that seems. But of course it's 25 years ago now and thankfully we've moved on. From obvious things like technology - all fax and no email - to social attitudes. Deeply closeted police detective Hanne Wilhelmsen's sexuality is detailed thus:
"She loved another woman, a defect in this otherwise perfect human being, the public admission of which she was convinced would destroy everything she had spent so many years building up."
How quickly we forget that even in liberal Scandinavia, societal acceptance of gay people is a recent advance.
It's set in the early 1990s and it's jarring just how dated that seems. But of course it's 25 years ago now and thankfully we've moved on. From obvious things like technology - all fax and no email - to social attitudes. Deeply closeted police detective Hanne Wilhelmsen's sexuality is detailed thus:
"She loved another woman, a defect in this otherwise perfect human being, the public admission of which she was convinced would destroy everything she had spent so many years building up."
How quickly we forget that even in liberal Scandinavia, societal acceptance of gay people is a recent advance.
alibi313's review
3.0
While I was quite impressed that the English translation of this Norwegian novel kept its sly humor intact, the story itself was a less-than-engaging police procedural. This is the first in a well-regarded series, so I'm going to try at least one more book to see if the author comes up with plots more deserving of her cast of characters.
Merged review:
While I was quite impressed that the English translation of this Norwegian novel kept its sly humor intact, the story itself was a less-than-engaging police procedural. This is the first in a well-regarded series, so I'm going to try at least one more book to see if the author comes up with plots more deserving of her cast of characters.
Merged review:
While I was quite impressed that the English translation of this Norwegian novel kept its sly humor intact, the story itself was a less-than-engaging police procedural. This is the first in a well-regarded series, so I'm going to try at least one more book to see if the author comes up with plots more deserving of her cast of characters.
irmelic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Ihan mukavaa viihdekirjallisuutta. Henkilöiden koko nimet mainittiin jotenkin häiritsevän useasti.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
2.0
On one hand the time line of this book is the thing that made it rather unpleasant to read. It started out fine but the middle section was just so dragged out and what would normally be a major event in most books are just brushed aside as insignificant and ultimately ignored. The lack of continuity of events is the problem with the book.
On the other hand being an English translation of a Norwegian book and set in Norway made it an interesting read.
Not the most enjoyable of reads.
On the other hand being an English translation of a Norwegian book and set in Norway made it an interesting read.
Not the most enjoyable of reads.
laura_n_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alifeofherown's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0