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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
1.0
I'm a bit of a believer in the fact that readers should try and start reading a series near the start of said series. I say this because unless the author manages to make the book a "standalone" book that doesn't rely on previous books, it'd be very hard to read. I'll be honest though, there hasn't been a book till now that I would absolutely, positively say "Don't start a series here". This book is so bad that I'd follow this up with "How has this author "sold 14 million copies"?" and "Why didn't his author say no to this book's current structure?"
Okay, so, the story. In a previous book a Swedish serial killer was killed by the police. The extent of his crimes are so severe that they've been hidden from the public (because you can achieve that these days). At the same time there's a policeman who went to prison for killing someone in the line of duty (maybe, it's never really clear). He's allowed to come back to the force (and carry police issued firearms) because a public outcry I think (it's getting daft already isn't it?).
The serial killer isn't dead, but more importantly, he's magic. He can talk ordinary people into killing for him, has mystical powers that allow him to find who the story needs him to kill next, and can audition other serial killers to kill for him. All of this is done in this book. We get pages of explanation of this because it wouldn't work otherwise.
At the same time, the serial killer has messed up the policeman's life. He's lost his family, and the killer has messed with his friends to such a degree that he feels isolated and alone. We get pages of explanation of this in the book, because it really isn't standalone.
When the policeman realises the killer is alive, no one believes him (of course), but he's right, allowing many and varied cataclysms to happen, before the denouement, which isn't really a denouement because any reader who has been paying attention is going to think "Hang on, what about this bit of the story?" before thinking "Oh you didn't deal with that, because you need more pre-prepared craziness for your next book."
Okay, so, the story. In a previous book a Swedish serial killer was killed by the police. The extent of his crimes are so severe that they've been hidden from the public (because you can achieve that these days). At the same time there's a policeman who went to prison for killing someone in the line of duty (maybe, it's never really clear). He's allowed to come back to the force (and carry police issued firearms) because a public outcry I think (it's getting daft already isn't it?).
The serial killer isn't dead, but more importantly, he's magic. He can talk ordinary people into killing for him, has mystical powers that allow him to find who the story needs him to kill next, and can audition other serial killers to kill for him. All of this is done in this book. We get pages of explanation of this because it wouldn't work otherwise.
At the same time, the serial killer has messed up the policeman's life. He's lost his family, and the killer has messed with his friends to such a degree that he feels isolated and alone. We get pages of explanation of this in the book, because it really isn't standalone.
When the policeman realises the killer is alive, no one believes him (of course), but he's right, allowing many and varied cataclysms to happen, before the denouement, which isn't really a denouement because any reader who has been paying attention is going to think "Hang on, what about this bit of the story?" before thinking "Oh you didn't deal with that, because you need more pre-prepared craziness for your next book."
mschiqui's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
viridis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
It's a great book but that won't stop me from hating the story. Let me go read my Nesbo and Stephen King and be peaceful.
ariel_tat's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
es_the_book_hoarder's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this latest installment. I just love this series really and although I didn't enjoy the last book as much, I couldn't put this one down - it's most certainly a page turner. I can't wait to see what happens next.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Is "Lazarus" the kind of book you want to be reading during a pandemic? It's dark, it's deep, it's twisty. You will not be able to stop reading. Are you in the space?
So if you are in the "Yep, I'm up for this" camp, this novel will definitely take you out of the current mayhem and fully involve you in another.
Superintendent Joona Linna of the Swedish National Crime Division has been tormented by Jurek Walter, a genius of horror, who punishes his victims by destroying those closest to them. Trying carefully not to spoil the earlier novels for new readers, Walter is believed to have been dispatched by Joona's colleague Saga Bauer when the skull of Joona's wife is found in a murder victim's freezer.
Saga is sure Walter is dead--she shot him and saw the body. But Joona believes that he is alive and has a new pattern. His number one priority is to keep his college student daughter safe.
"Lazarus" is one of the most satisfying Joona books, and that's saying something. The psychological exploration of the criminal mind is riveting and accessible, Joona and Saga are deep characters with complex relationships with others, fully human and achiching fallible. You can read this novel as a stand-alone, but I recommend new readers start with "The Hypnotist" to fully experience the arc of Joona's story. Kudos to the translator as well for smooth, natural reading text!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
So if you are in the "Yep, I'm up for this" camp, this novel will definitely take you out of the current mayhem and fully involve you in another.
Superintendent Joona Linna of the Swedish National Crime Division has been tormented by Jurek Walter, a genius of horror, who punishes his victims by destroying those closest to them. Trying carefully not to spoil the earlier novels for new readers, Walter is believed to have been dispatched by Joona's colleague Saga Bauer when the skull of Joona's wife is found in a murder victim's freezer.
Saga is sure Walter is dead--she shot him and saw the body. But Joona believes that he is alive and has a new pattern. His number one priority is to keep his college student daughter safe.
"Lazarus" is one of the most satisfying Joona books, and that's saying something. The psychological exploration of the criminal mind is riveting and accessible, Joona and Saga are deep characters with complex relationships with others, fully human and achiching fallible. You can read this novel as a stand-alone, but I recommend new readers start with "The Hypnotist" to fully experience the arc of Joona's story. Kudos to the translator as well for smooth, natural reading text!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
marjolein85's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
renardr's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
jalfredsson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0