Scan barcode
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
Be careful what you wish for…
Paul Hjelm and the team have had very little to do since they wound up their last case in [b:The Blinded Man|17308635|The Blinded Man The first Intercrime thriller|Arne Dahl|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361749778s/17308635.jpg|1433799]. 'Violent crimes with an international character' seem to be in short supply. And Paul is bored...
'What they needed was a robust serial killer, of a robust, international character, thought Paul Hjelm as he slid back into his orgy of self-pity.'
Be careful what you wish for! Even as Paul thinks this, a serial killer is on his way to Sweden - a killer who tortures his victims in the cruellest ways - a killer so professional he has eluded the FBI for decades. But why is he coming to Sweden? And is this killer more than just your 'ordinary' psychopath?
In this second instalment of the Intercrime series, Dahl lets us see how the team members have developed since their experiences the year before. Although Paul is still the main character, we find out more about the lives of the others, particularly Nyberg and Norlander, and this adds an extra layer of interest to the book. Paul himself, happily, is suffering much less from the existential angst that afflicted him so much in the last book. Back with his wife, he still has feelings for the enigmatic Kerstin Holm though their relationship has changed. Kerstin is a much more rounded character here - in the last book she really seemed only to be there to allow Paul to fantasise about her, but in this one she becomes a real person.
At first this looked as if it was going to be a fairly straightforward manhunt for a serial killer book, but when Paul and Kersten go to America to liaise with the FBI, it becomes obvious there are some strange and unexpected things about this killer. Firstly, the method he uses was one developed during the Vietnam war and known to very few people. Secondly the killer had stopped fifteen years before, but has now started up again - the murder method remains the same but the type of victim has changed. And thirdly, the FBI's main suspect is dead. And yet the obvious explanation of copycat killings doesn't fit either since there are aspects to the crimes that a copycat couldn't have known. As the plot progresses, it become increasingly dark and complex, raising some uncomfortable questions of personal and state ethics.
I found this book to be both less complicated but deeper than The Blinded Man, and although there is some graphic violence right from the start, it's not the main focus. The translation by Rachel Willson-Broyles is fine, although as in the first book sometimes the humour doesn't travel very well. The plotting is very good, stretching but not breaking credibility, and the characterisation is much stronger and less stereotyped in this novel than the last. Recommended - and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Paul Hjelm and the team have had very little to do since they wound up their last case in [b:The Blinded Man|17308635|The Blinded Man The first Intercrime thriller|Arne Dahl|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361749778s/17308635.jpg|1433799]. 'Violent crimes with an international character' seem to be in short supply. And Paul is bored...
'What they needed was a robust serial killer, of a robust, international character, thought Paul Hjelm as he slid back into his orgy of self-pity.'
Be careful what you wish for! Even as Paul thinks this, a serial killer is on his way to Sweden - a killer who tortures his victims in the cruellest ways - a killer so professional he has eluded the FBI for decades. But why is he coming to Sweden? And is this killer more than just your 'ordinary' psychopath?
In this second instalment of the Intercrime series, Dahl lets us see how the team members have developed since their experiences the year before. Although Paul is still the main character, we find out more about the lives of the others, particularly Nyberg and Norlander, and this adds an extra layer of interest to the book. Paul himself, happily, is suffering much less from the existential angst that afflicted him so much in the last book. Back with his wife, he still has feelings for the enigmatic Kerstin Holm though their relationship has changed. Kerstin is a much more rounded character here - in the last book she really seemed only to be there to allow Paul to fantasise about her, but in this one she becomes a real person.
At first this looked as if it was going to be a fairly straightforward manhunt for a serial killer book, but when Paul and Kersten go to America to liaise with the FBI, it becomes obvious there are some strange and unexpected things about this killer. Firstly, the method he uses was one developed during the Vietnam war and known to very few people. Secondly the killer had stopped fifteen years before, but has now started up again - the murder method remains the same but the type of victim has changed. And thirdly, the FBI's main suspect is dead. And yet the obvious explanation of copycat killings doesn't fit either since there are aspects to the crimes that a copycat couldn't have known. As the plot progresses, it become increasingly dark and complex, raising some uncomfortable questions of personal and state ethics.
I found this book to be both less complicated but deeper than The Blinded Man, and although there is some graphic violence right from the start, it's not the main focus. The translation by Rachel Willson-Broyles is fine, although as in the first book sometimes the humour doesn't travel very well. The plotting is very good, stretching but not breaking credibility, and the characterisation is much stronger and less stereotyped in this novel than the last. Recommended - and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
ginatous's review against another edition
4.0
Follow up to Mysterioso. Hit all of the notes of Nordic Noir book. Enjoyed immensely.
wouter3659's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aubergenie_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
marblemenow's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
phouweling's review against another edition
4.0
My first Arne Dahl. I liked the combination of suspense and humor. The open ending was a bit frustrating, but that probably keeps the door open for sequels. Will definitely read more books by this author.
psalmcat's review against another edition
4.0
Very good, but very dated. While it was published in English fairly recently, it came out prior to 9/11 in Swedish. But...very good. May have to dig up some others by Dahl.
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Δεν ήταν κακό αλλά δεν ήταν και σούπερ ουαου!
Αρκετά φλύαρο (όπως όλα της σουηδικής σχολής) και τελικά πιο αμερικανιά από ο,τι θα ήθελα.
Αρκετά φλύαρο (όπως όλα της σουηδικής σχολής) και τελικά πιο αμερικανιά από ο,τι θα ήθελα.