timeswary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
maud's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
adele_atm2468's review
5.0
This was an entertaining read. I haven't come across a crime novel where everyone had a motive to do it (some more plausible than others) and I was still confused with the end but in a good way (unlike 1222 where I felt it was fairly obvious who dun it).
tobyyy's review against another edition
2.0
I have to collect my thoughts for this review... this was a social justice awareness tale combined with a murder mystery and I gotta say, a lot of it just didn’t work for me.
First — I work with kids like Olav, who had been diagnosed with MBD, minimal brain dysfunction (dating this novel; this is now known as the ubiquitous ADHD). Throughout the book, Olav’s mother interjected flashbacks of raising Olav and always knowing that he was “different.”
However, Olav presents as not just having ADHD but also potentially having narcissistic personality disorder (though this can’t be diagnosed until later in teen years/early adulthood). That was never made very clear, however, but questions about it were raised, by asking if he was capable of love and affection as well as empathy... the lack of which are NOT hallmarks of ADHD.
And in the mother’s flashbacks (which added an element to the story that helped to clarify the purpose of Olav’s narrative), she discussed how children’s services were called in and how they told her she wasn’t parenting appropriately. I would’ve told her the exact same thing were I her therapist, though... never telling your child no, never enforcing boundaries — that’s not appropriate or effective parenting. It may seem to be fine when they’re little but look out when they’re 8 or 9+ and are still aggressive when they don’t get their way... and now can actually do significant damage.
So she grated on me a little.
First — I work with kids like Olav, who had been diagnosed with MBD, minimal brain dysfunction (dating this novel; this is now known as the ubiquitous ADHD). Throughout the book, Olav’s mother interjected flashbacks of raising Olav and always knowing that he was “different.”
However, Olav presents as not just having ADHD but also potentially having narcissistic personality disorder (though this can’t be diagnosed until later in teen years/early adulthood). That was never made very clear, however, but questions about it were raised, by asking if he was capable of love and affection as well as empathy... the lack of which are NOT hallmarks of ADHD.
And in the mother’s flashbacks (which added an element to the story that helped to clarify the purpose of Olav’s narrative), she discussed how children’s services were called in and how they told her she wasn’t parenting appropriately. I would’ve told her the exact same thing were I her therapist, though... never telling your child no, never enforcing boundaries — that’s not appropriate or effective parenting. It may seem to be fine when they’re little but look out when they’re 8 or 9+ and are still aggressive when they don’t get their way... and now can actually do significant damage.
So she grated on me a little.
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
Knifed in the back...
When respectable, middle-aged Agnes Vestavik is found at her desk with a kitchen knife in her back, it seems at first as if no-one could have wanted her dead. But as Hanne Wilhelmsen and her team investigate, they suddenly find themselves with a surfeit of suspects amongst the staff and in Agnes’ personal life, all with strong motives. And then there’s Olav – a 12-year-old newcomer to the foster home that Agnes ran: a boy with serious behavioural problems and a mother who can’t cope. Why did he run away on the night of the murder? Did he witness something? A question they can’t ask him until they find him - but Olav doesn’t intend to be found…
This was my first introduction to Hanne and her team and I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read. There’s obviously a back-story and it would probably be better to read the books in order, but I found this worked perfectly well as a standalone. Hanne has just been promoted to Chief Inspector and has persuaded her friend Billy T to transfer to her team. Their interactions are good fun and give the book a lighter side, without in any way detracting from the plot. We also see Hanne’s home-life with her partner Cecilie and get to see why Hanne is reluctant to make their relationship public.
The descriptions of the foster-home and the troubled children are very convincing and handled with a welcome light touch. So often such places are rather unfairly portrayed as being all doom and gloom, but Holt brings out much of the humour and genuine care that in reality usually exists in them. We see Olav’s past through his mother’s eyes – a child she loves but can’t control. Both Olav and his mother are very well-drawn characters and Holt manages to make the reader increasingly sympathetic towards them as the book goes on.
Overall, a very enjoyable read that will certainly encourage me to read more in the series.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When respectable, middle-aged Agnes Vestavik is found at her desk with a kitchen knife in her back, it seems at first as if no-one could have wanted her dead. But as Hanne Wilhelmsen and her team investigate, they suddenly find themselves with a surfeit of suspects amongst the staff and in Agnes’ personal life, all with strong motives. And then there’s Olav – a 12-year-old newcomer to the foster home that Agnes ran: a boy with serious behavioural problems and a mother who can’t cope. Why did he run away on the night of the murder? Did he witness something? A question they can’t ask him until they find him - but Olav doesn’t intend to be found…
This was my first introduction to Hanne and her team and I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read. There’s obviously a back-story and it would probably be better to read the books in order, but I found this worked perfectly well as a standalone. Hanne has just been promoted to Chief Inspector and has persuaded her friend Billy T to transfer to her team. Their interactions are good fun and give the book a lighter side, without in any way detracting from the plot. We also see Hanne’s home-life with her partner Cecilie and get to see why Hanne is reluctant to make their relationship public.
The descriptions of the foster-home and the troubled children are very convincing and handled with a welcome light touch. So often such places are rather unfairly portrayed as being all doom and gloom, but Holt brings out much of the humour and genuine care that in reality usually exists in them. We see Olav’s past through his mother’s eyes – a child she loves but can’t control. Both Olav and his mother are very well-drawn characters and Holt manages to make the reader increasingly sympathetic towards them as the book goes on.
Overall, a very enjoyable read that will certainly encourage me to read more in the series.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
caitlin_er's review against another edition
2.0
I don't really care for these, but I keep reading them! I hear 1222 is good so I will probably skip to that and give up if it doesn't get me.
oblivione's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
inamerata's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Death of the Demon is well written, but I didn't like the story. It was too mean for my taste, and I struggled to get invested in the mystery.
I did like how Hanne maintained a charitable and appropriate view of Olav throughout the entire book, recognizing that he is a literal child and treating him as such, even though it's shown at the the end that he was almost certainly the murderer. It was interesting to see how Hanne struggled with her promotion, highlighting her strengths (being in the field, rattling clues in her brain until they stick together) and weaknesses (teamwork, normal manners).
Additionally, she still has a lot of internalized homophobia, which well done and therefore tough to read. I hope we get to see more personal growth and development of her relationships in future books.
I did like how Hanne maintained a charitable and appropriate view of Olav throughout the entire book, recognizing that he is a literal child and treating him as such, even
Additionally, she still has a lot of internalized homophobia, which well done and therefore tough to read. I hope we get to see more personal growth and development of her relationships in future books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Homophobia
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I don't absolutely love this series but I am somehow compelled to keep reading them? Anyway, this was very interesting and I continue to be interested in Hanne's struggle with internalized homophobia and in Billy T's awesomeness. There was also some thought-provoking stuff in here about kids and social services.
trineeg's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75