Reviews

The Winter of the Lions by Anthea Bell, Jan Costin Wagner

andrew61's review against another edition

4.0

I do like this series. The books are relentlessly gloomy and the lead detective kimmo joentaa makes Kurt wallander look like polyanna. In the third of the series kimmo investigates the murder of two men who both have appeared on a well known chat show, a pathologist and a man who makes life size puppets for crime scenes etc. At the same time he starts a bizarre relationship with a very damaged woman. It was a good plot, the writing is succinct, and having started at book 1 I am enjoying this very miserable hero (what does that say about me, am I now a grumpy old man). It certainly makes me realise that so often crime novels are two hundred pages too long, anyway id recommend it but suggest start at book one first 'ice moon'.

naimfrewat's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book, I loved the writer. I didn't know it's another volume in a Kimmo Joentaa series; this doesn't diminish it's worth one bit. It's not a procedural police story and nothing wrong-footing the reader will be revealed in the end. The pleasure one gets from this book comes from the crude and honest portrayal of the characters; crude in that descriptive words barely make their presence which fits nicely on the winter atmosphere of Finland. Honest in that the ideas that take shape in someone's head are rarely linearly connected nor does their formulation into words makes them more meaningful.
I didn't mention the plot in my review because it doesn't matter. Which is why I will buy another book from this writer; his rendering of the conscience of the characters is what interests me.

bookdancing's review

4.0

4.5 stars actually

http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=The_Winter_of_the_Lions_by_Jan_Costin_Wagner_and_Anthea_Bell_(translator)