attytheresa's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely my favorite of the Nina Borg series so far - I have read the first three but out of order. A page turner which, like [b:The Boy in the Suitcase|10776592|The Boy in the Suitcase (Nina Borg, #1)|Lene Kaaberbøl|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320545877s/10776592.jpg|15688402], ended in an unexpected place. It was also prescient in that the treatment of immigrants and gypsies and their children in both Hungary and Denmark that underpin this story reflect the current US Executive Office policies roiling us today. Downright depressing in fact.
I read this as my book with 2 authors for Pop Sugar 2018 Reading Challenge. Also fit 2018 ATY #set in a country I'd like to visit but have never been to (2 actually - Hungary and Denmark).
I read this as my book with 2 authors for Pop Sugar 2018 Reading Challenge. Also fit 2018 ATY #set in a country I'd like to visit but have never been to (2 actually - Hungary and Denmark).
carrix2's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, [b:The Boy in the Suitcase|10776592|The Boy in the Suitcase (Nina Borg, #1)|Lene Kaaberbøl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320545877l/10776592._SY75_.jpg|15688402]. Unfortunately, that did not carry over to this book. This story was confusing and doesn't come together until the end. I really dislike Nina, she's a terrible mother, and she tries to justify her decisions to make us empathize with her.
Not only that, the audiobook for this one was not well made. The narrator repeats the same 5-7 word phrase immediately after saying it the first time, like the sound engineer didn't cut the recording together right. This happens over a dozen times throughout the book. Once is odd, but not a big deal. 15 times is too much.
Not only that, the audiobook for this one was not well made. The narrator repeats the same 5-7 word phrase immediately after saying it the first time, like the sound engineer didn't cut the recording together right. This happens over a dozen times throughout the book. Once is odd, but not a big deal. 15 times is too much.
__karen__'s review against another edition
5.0
Love the "Nina Borg" series. Interesting stories, relatable female protagonist.
pema66's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed " the boy in the suitcase" this follow up, not so much. It was very slow and I almost gave up, it is not until three quarters of the way through that it picks up pace and grabs your interest. If the reason for the sickness half way in is supposed to come as a surprise it really doesn't, there are no big twists or shocks, even the ending whilst clever and societally pertinent just invokes a nod of recognition rather than a gasp.
In terms of characters, nobody is likeable, I won't be reading any further in the Nina Borg series as I don't like Nina Borg. I suppose Sarah Lund in the Killing tv series ( who it's clearly loosely based on) would also come across like this on paper, but at least she has strong analytical powers, Nina is just a bleeding heart doofus who ironically is quite cold at heart. Two stars so I feel like I didn't entirely waste my time getting to the end.
In terms of characters, nobody is likeable, I won't be reading any further in the Nina Borg series as I don't like Nina Borg. I suppose Sarah Lund in the Killing tv series ( who it's clearly loosely based on) would also come across like this on paper, but at least she has strong analytical powers, Nina is just a bleeding heart doofus who ironically is quite cold at heart. Two stars so I feel like I didn't entirely waste my time getting to the end.
hnagle15's review against another edition
1.0
1.5/5
I picked up this book because it was on sale at Chapters for a ridiculously low price and the premise seemed promising. I love a good mystery/thriller so a story of a nurse "treating Hungarian Gypsies living illegally in a Copenhagen garage. What are they hiding? What makes them so sick?" was appealing.
I was disappointed. The "mystery" of what is making people sick seemed relatively obvious so that thrill was gone for me. I also found this book to be incredibly violent. There were scenes with detailed torture and abuse, including a fairly graphic human-trafficking sexual abuse scene which I felt added nothing to the book and was completely unnecessary. Sooo many characters died, and for no reason other than the sake of violence/proving a point.
I also really struggled with our hero, Nina, the nurse who uncovered it all. She was so pathetic! I couldn't stand her - pathetic and selfish. I was thrilled when. I felt that she deserved that.
I cannot imagine continuing this as a series - I hadn't realised I picked up #2 but there was really no need to have read #1, this worked as a stand-alone. I cannot imagine continuing on with a lead character/hero that annoying and inconsiderate.
One thing I did enjoy: I enjoyed the discussion/portrayal of the racism that exists in Hungary/Denmark. I didn't know much about this topic going into the novel and found the discussion very interesting.
I picked up this book because it was on sale at Chapters for a ridiculously low price and the premise seemed promising. I love a good mystery/thriller so a story of a nurse "treating Hungarian Gypsies living illegally in a Copenhagen garage. What are they hiding? What makes them so sick?" was appealing.
I was disappointed. The "mystery" of what is making people sick seemed relatively obvious so that thrill was gone for me. I also found this book to be incredibly violent. There were scenes with detailed torture and abuse, including a fairly graphic human-trafficking sexual abuse scene which I felt added nothing to the book and was completely unnecessary. Sooo many characters died, and for no reason other than the sake of violence/proving a point.
I also really struggled with our hero, Nina, the nurse who uncovered it all. She was so pathetic! I couldn't stand her - pathetic and selfish. I was thrilled when
Spoiler
her husband came to her and said he took the kids and was leaving... Good! She put her kids in a ridiculous amount of danger, plus her 14 year old daughter was sexually assaulted, beat up, and had her naked pictures taken by men that were involved in the whole thingI cannot imagine continuing this as a series - I hadn't realised I picked up #2 but there was really no need to have read #1, this worked as a stand-alone. I cannot imagine continuing on with a lead character/hero that annoying and inconsiderate.
One thing I did enjoy: I enjoyed the discussion/portrayal of the racism that exists in Hungary/Denmark. I didn't know much about this topic going into the novel and found the discussion very interesting.
kerrynicole72's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the first book in this series quite a bit more than this one. It just sort of dragged in the middle. The ending redeemed the book for me, but I don't know that I'll read the third.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
Though I didn't have the opportunity to read [b:The Boy in the Suitcase|10776592|The Boy in the Suitcase|Lene Kaaberbøl|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320545877s/10776592.jpg|15688402] it received such good press that I couldn't resist the opportunity to pick up the series sequel, Invisible Murder. Set in Eastern Europe, it features Nina Borg, a nurse who clandestinely supports an underground organisation that provides medical care and assistance to illegal immigrants in Denmark. When Nina is asked to assess a group of sick Roma (Gypsy) children hiding in a derelict mechanic workshop she assumes the nausea and diarrhea are a result of a virus or food poisoning. But the cause is far more sinister, tied to an abandoned Soviet hospital, a desperate Hungarian Roma teenager and a suspected terrorist threat.
I have to admit at around a third of the way into Invisible Murder I was contemplating abandoning it but decided to give it just a little more time. The turning point came not long after, as the established threads of the story began to merge and two hours later I turned the last page, replete. The tension in the last half of the novel had me riveted and I was intrigued by the growing twists and turns. I love that I didn't work out the the conclusion except in the most general way, the author's present an unusual yet credible twist.
The action of the plot is balanced neatly by the personal circumstances of the characters. Nina's altruistic fervour is offset by her difficult relationship with her teenage daughter and the consequences of her activities for her family. Sandor is a young man caught between loyalties whose life is turned upside down by his younger brother Tomas. I was particularly intrigued by Magnus and look forward to perhaps learning more about him in later books.
Invisible Murder is also a social commentary on the treatment of the Roma, the increase in racial intolerance within society and the ever present threat of terrorism that has law agencies straining at their limits. It's an interesting glimpse into the society of two countries that I am almost wholly unfamiliar with.
Despite the slow start, I really enjoyed Invisible Murder and hope to pick up The Boy in the Suitcase before the third translation of the Danish series is released, which will definitely be on my wishlist.