mistert's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kristinasshelves's review against another edition
2.0
What a mess....
I loved the unique premise of this closed circle mystery- a train gets derailed in Norway due to a blizzard, leaving the passengers stranded at a hotel when someone is murdered. However the execution did not live up to the plot. This is the eighth entry in an established series, so there was some backstory missing on the main character, Hanne Wilhelmsen. However, with how hard to author repeatedly described her as aloof and unlikeable, I didn't have any desire to know more about her.
The identity of the murderer was also far too easy to pinpoint, as there were too few characters showcased among the 100+ trapped in the snow.
I loved the unique premise of this closed circle mystery- a train gets derailed in Norway due to a blizzard, leaving the passengers stranded at a hotel when someone is murdered. However the execution did not live up to the plot. This is the eighth entry in an established series, so there was some backstory missing on the main character, Hanne Wilhelmsen. However, with how hard to author repeatedly described her as aloof and unlikeable, I didn't have any desire to know more about her.
The identity of the murderer was also far too easy to pinpoint, as there were too few characters showcased among the 100+ trapped in the snow.
allyexa's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
At first, I loved this book. The “strangers stuck in a snowstorm murder mystery “ atmosphere was everything I hoped. I slowly warmed to main character Hanne, a cranky, observant, very reluctant person in charge. The characters were vivid and mostly sympathetic.
But then the plot blew up and could never quite settle down or fit itself back together again. Characters came in and out of the story in ways that didn’t really strengthen the plot.
I liked the writing style, and the main character was interesting, I might give another in this series a try. I hope Adrian shows up again. He deserved more.
1/13/23
But then the plot blew up and could never quite settle down or fit itself back together again. Characters came in and out of the story in ways that didn’t really strengthen the plot.
Spoiler
The terrorism plot was just weird. I never really understood it, and what I did understand, I didn’t like. Too bad that ended up being a lot of the endingI liked the writing style, and the main character was interesting, I might give another in this series a try. I hope Adrian shows up again. He deserved more.
1/13/23
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
3.0
Originally published on Cozy Up With A Good Read
I found this book thanks to a great post over at Book Spark that highlights some new releases on Netgalley. This one sparked my interest because I love mystery books. I was intrigued with the idea that there are so many people trapped in this hotel together that it makes it hard to figure out who the culprit is.
I had some difficulties in the beginning with this book, not that it was bad, I just couldn't seem to find myself getting interested, I feel like there was a little bit too much going on in the beginning of the book that I couldn't wrap my head around everything and everyone. I found it difficult to remember all the characters, the names made it a little difficult (understandable because they are Norwegian). The main disappointment I had was the ending, there were still questions left unanswered as to what was being concealed throughout the book (I'm wondering if it will be answered in a forthcoming book since this is a planned series).
It did start getting interesting though when the murder happened, I found myself wanting to read more to find out who it was (which after awhile I kind of figured out...) but Anne does a pretty good job of taking the reader in circles of who the culprit is. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster with this book, it would get interesting at points where I didn't want to stop and then I found there was so much happening and I wasn't really interested. I finally got really interested in the last half of the book and just really wanted to find out what happened, and who this secret thing was that was being hidden from everyone.
I enjoyed the mystery to this story and Anne Holt has some great writing, she really gets inside Hanne Wilhelmsen's head, readers get to see how she thinks through things. This was an interesting beginning to a new series and I would like to see where it gets taken from here.
I found this book thanks to a great post over at Book Spark that highlights some new releases on Netgalley. This one sparked my interest because I love mystery books. I was intrigued with the idea that there are so many people trapped in this hotel together that it makes it hard to figure out who the culprit is.
I had some difficulties in the beginning with this book, not that it was bad, I just couldn't seem to find myself getting interested, I feel like there was a little bit too much going on in the beginning of the book that I couldn't wrap my head around everything and everyone. I found it difficult to remember all the characters, the names made it a little difficult (understandable because they are Norwegian). The main disappointment I had was the ending, there were still questions left unanswered as to what was being concealed throughout the book (I'm wondering if it will be answered in a forthcoming book since this is a planned series).
It did start getting interesting though when the murder happened, I found myself wanting to read more to find out who it was (which after awhile I kind of figured out...) but Anne does a pretty good job of taking the reader in circles of who the culprit is. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster with this book, it would get interesting at points where I didn't want to stop and then I found there was so much happening and I wasn't really interested. I finally got really interested in the last half of the book and just really wanted to find out what happened, and who this secret thing was that was being hidden from everyone.
I enjoyed the mystery to this story and Anne Holt has some great writing, she really gets inside Hanne Wilhelmsen's head, readers get to see how she thinks through things. This was an interesting beginning to a new series and I would like to see where it gets taken from here.
bookworm84's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. Holt is described as being "the godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction". Even though it is a well-written story, I think some of the plot gets lost in translation. It did keep my guessing until the very end though. However, I have to make the point that being repeatedly reminded that the main character in the book was paralysed after being shot, injured, can't feel her legs, can't stand and/or injured got a little bit annoying.
deanie's review against another edition
3.0
Confined to a wheelchair after being shot, former police officer Hanne Wilhelmsen is the closest thing to law enforcement available when the survivors of a train crash are stranded in hotel with a murderer during a blizzard.
I haven't read any of the previous Hanne Wilhelmsen novels, and this book might have been better if I did. Hanne is an interesting character, and the book gave a good insight into her thought processes as she investigates the murders. There are a lot of characters in this book. While that makes the book very realistic, it also makes it confusing. I had to go back and re-read to figure out who was who a couple of times. The subplot with the super-secret group on the train didn't make much sense to me, but I think that's one that would have if I was familiar with the rest of the series.
I haven't read any of the previous Hanne Wilhelmsen novels, and this book might have been better if I did. Hanne is an interesting character, and the book gave a good insight into her thought processes as she investigates the murders. There are a lot of characters in this book. While that makes the book very realistic, it also makes it confusing. I had to go back and re-read to figure out who was who a couple of times. The subplot with the super-secret group on the train didn't make much sense to me, but I think that's one that would have if I was familiar with the rest of the series.
emelieviklund's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
juaco1975's review against another edition
3.0
Como dije en mi anterior opinión la historia es bastante típica. Aún así es un libro que te engancha.
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
5.0
A fun, old-fashioned (but modern day) mystery. Took me no time to read and I loved the detective.
barry_x's review against another edition
2.0
MINOR SPOILERS BELOW
Well, that was a waste of time.
My last read was Jo Nesbo's 'Cockroaches' so another dose of Norwegian crime fiction was quite welcome. However, this was a deeply unsatisfying book.
So what was wrong with it;
- It's boring. Hardly anything happens. There are a couple of murders in a hotel cut off by snow and ice. I'd like to feel peril, a sense of being trapped, a wonder of who is next. Being in this hotel never felt remotely dangerous for the protagonist or the guests. What could have been terrifying was mundane.
- No sympathy for the victims. The victims are introduced quickly and bumped off quickly. They are uninteresting and not worth bothering with
- The principal character. I'm jumping in here on the 8th book of the series. I'm sure if you've followed the series you can easily identify with the lead character Hanne. I couldn't. She spends most of the book being rude and unapproachable to the other characters. She shows hardly any interest in the crime and is exceptionally reluctant to get involved. If she doesn't give a shit, why should I? Seriously, she's deeply dislikeable.
- A completely uninteresting and pointless subplot. There are secret, guarded guests in the hotel. They could be a red herring or an integral part to the plot. However they are completely incidental to the story, take up a lot of space and this strand could be completely left out of the book to be better. Waste of time reading all of that plot line.
- Agency. I could tell you who dies and then you can just read the second to last chapter where Hanne tells us all who did the crime. Seriously. You could do that. Most of the book is a waste of time
Really didn't enjoy this one.
Well, that was a waste of time.
My last read was Jo Nesbo's 'Cockroaches' so another dose of Norwegian crime fiction was quite welcome. However, this was a deeply unsatisfying book.
So what was wrong with it;
- It's boring. Hardly anything happens. There are a couple of murders in a hotel cut off by snow and ice. I'd like to feel peril, a sense of being trapped, a wonder of who is next. Being in this hotel never felt remotely dangerous for the protagonist or the guests. What could have been terrifying was mundane.
- No sympathy for the victims. The victims are introduced quickly and bumped off quickly. They are uninteresting and not worth bothering with
- The principal character. I'm jumping in here on the 8th book of the series. I'm sure if you've followed the series you can easily identify with the lead character Hanne. I couldn't. She spends most of the book being rude and unapproachable to the other characters. She shows hardly any interest in the crime and is exceptionally reluctant to get involved. If she doesn't give a shit, why should I? Seriously, she's deeply dislikeable.
- A completely uninteresting and pointless subplot. There are secret, guarded guests in the hotel. They could be a red herring or an integral part to the plot. However they are completely incidental to the story, take up a lot of space and this strand could be completely left out of the book to be better. Waste of time reading all of that plot line.
- Agency. I could tell you who dies and then you can just read the second to last chapter where Hanne tells us all who did the crime. Seriously. You could do that. Most of the book is a waste of time
Really didn't enjoy this one.