the_lirerate_owl's review against another edition
3.0
The stagnant plot was lacking forward propulsion amid a sea of subplots involving poorly fleshed-out characters that felt rushed and inconsequential to the overall story.
bookworm_42's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
enicanor's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
mnicanor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Complicated
knicanor's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sidnicole's review against another edition
3.0
Not really sure how I feel about this book honestly. I went into it without reading the first two books in the series, as the general consensus in the reviews seemed to be that it wasn't necessary. Unsure whether it would have made me like this book more or not.
It took me a while to really get into it, but by the time I was half-way through I was feeling pretty hooked. The plot was interesting, and I liked how all of the different character plots were connected by the end. Some of the storylines felt a bit unnecessary honestly, like how most of Esther's parts didn't really go anywhere important. And I guess everything with Trine was kind of a misdirect, but didn't really give any pay off imo. In terms of the actual mystery portion, my early guess about who the killer was turned out to be correct. Wasn't sure on the details, but they were my main suspect. Can't say I felt overly connected with any of the characters, but I didn't really dislike any of them either. The ending felt a tad rushed and some of my questions never got answered. Overall, I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it.
It took me a while to really get into it, but by the time I was half-way through I was feeling pretty hooked. The plot was interesting, and I liked how all of the different character plots were connected by the end. Some of the storylines felt a bit unnecessary honestly, like how most of Esther's parts didn't really go anywhere important. And I guess everything with Trine was kind of a misdirect, but didn't really give any pay off imo. In terms of the actual mystery portion, my early guess about who the killer was turned out to be correct. Wasn't sure on the details, but they were my main suspect. Can't say I felt overly connected with any of the characters, but I didn't really dislike any of them either. The ending felt a tad rushed and some of my questions never got answered. Overall, I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it.
aliciaczellmer's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. In general, I’ve never been a huge fan of crime thrillers—but I love the way Engberg writes, the way she combines compelling plots with excellent characterization, and thought-provoking prose. I will certainly be reading the rest of the ‘Kørner and Werner’ Scandinavian noir series.
joelpadgett's review against another edition
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? No
3.25