cantocultzineo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
What a surprising read! Slow paced and full of interesting characters, Fatal Isles keeps you glued to the story without even noticing! The case seems quite easy, a woman with troubles with her ex-husband appears dead. Of course, the main suspect will be the ex-husband, the only problem is that he is a police officer and has a tight alibi for the moment of the killing. So, who had motives to kill her? Is the husband really innocent?
This had been a very addictive read, seen from Detective Inspector Karen Eiken perspective, we will see how everyone in this little community keeps secrets from each other, for fear or shame, but they hide some really dark secrets.
I was surprised how is it possible that in this case, in which the wife appeared dead and the main suspect is the husband, all the police thinks that he is innocent. Jounas is not an easy man or very likable, the marriage was hell, but is this motive enough to kill? They have been divorced for a long time, so, why now?
Sexism and women discrimination is always present on this story, Karen has to fight it everyday, from her colleagues and bosses, but it makes the reader realize how we all sometimes don’t pay enough attention or ignore the comments and we should answer more to it. Because it seems that if we (women) stay silent, they continue provoking us, maybe it’s time that we say stop, we don’t like this type of comments or abuse!
I like when a book tries to provoke some type of reaction and believe me, this one has done it. From now on, I won’t stay as quiet as I was before on sexism comments, enough is enough! This is the first book of the series “Doggerland” and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Ready for “Fatal Isles”?
This had been a very addictive read, seen from Detective Inspector Karen Eiken perspective, we will see how everyone in this little community keeps secrets from each other, for fear or shame, but they hide some really dark secrets.
I was surprised how is it possible that in this case, in which the wife appeared dead and the main suspect is the husband, all the police thinks that he is innocent. Jounas is not an easy man or very likable, the marriage was hell, but is this motive enough to kill? They have been divorced for a long time, so, why now?
Sexism and women discrimination is always present on this story, Karen has to fight it everyday, from her colleagues and bosses, but it makes the reader realize how we all sometimes don’t pay enough attention or ignore the comments and we should answer more to it. Because it seems that if we (women) stay silent, they continue provoking us, maybe it’s time that we say stop, we don’t like this type of comments or abuse!
I like when a book tries to provoke some type of reaction and believe me, this one has done it. From now on, I won’t stay as quiet as I was before on sexism comments, enough is enough! This is the first book of the series “Doggerland” and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Ready for “Fatal Isles”?
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
When Karen Eiken wakes up with an almighty hangover and in the bed of her boss, she doesn't think the day could get worse. She manages to drive home and crash into bed but is awakened by a call into work. A woman has been murdered, the ex-wife of her boss and Karen is to lead the investigation. For the island nation of Doggerland, murder is becoming too frequent but the roots of this murder lie back in the past.
If one reads this as purely another scandi-crime novel then it rates very highly but there is far more. The author has imagined an entire nation that doesn't exist, a group of islands in the North Sea with a distinctly Scandanavian character but close links to continental Europe and the UK. Therefore there is a whole other layer to this book which is phenomenal, the setting and the detail given to different areas, transport links, history and folklore is spot on.
If one reads this as purely another scandi-crime novel then it rates very highly but there is far more. The author has imagined an entire nation that doesn't exist, a group of islands in the North Sea with a distinctly Scandanavian character but close links to continental Europe and the UK. Therefore there is a whole other layer to this book which is phenomenal, the setting and the detail given to different areas, transport links, history and folklore is spot on.
amanda_readz's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
theoneandonlyredrose's review against another edition
2.0
Liked the idea of the fictional location but it could have been so much better if it wasn’t so filled with extraneous detail on things that just didn’t matter or add to the story. Way, way too long. The denouement at the end was a bit too Agatha Christie for me. Shan’t be reading any more of this authors book.
wendoxford's review against another edition
4.0
Despite knowing Doggerland was a fictional (once in existence, now long submerged) island group, it felt so real as a Scandi setting that I was sold.
DI Karen Eiken Hornby works in a parochial, sexist murder team and, if anyone else could have been chosen to lead this enquiry, they would have been chosen. However the murder victim is the disliked ex-wife of her boss and she is tasked with speedily clearing him and solving the case. However it is inevitably more complex than that despite the small terrain and involves events and generations past.
It is an intelligent read. I loved the fact that this is as much character as plot driven. We are drip fed Karen's backstory as the investigation progresses. The characters, although a lot of them, were carefully drawn and gained texture through their actions rather than description. They were also played in a Doggerland way of life and culture that felt completely authentic.
I had a few issues with the translation but not so much that it interfered with my enjoyment
DI Karen Eiken Hornby works in a parochial, sexist murder team and, if anyone else could have been chosen to lead this enquiry, they would have been chosen. However the murder victim is the disliked ex-wife of her boss and she is tasked with speedily clearing him and solving the case. However it is inevitably more complex than that despite the small terrain and involves events and generations past.
It is an intelligent read. I loved the fact that this is as much character as plot driven. We are drip fed Karen's backstory as the investigation progresses. The characters, although a lot of them, were carefully drawn and gained texture through their actions rather than description. They were also played in a Doggerland way of life and culture that felt completely authentic.
I had a few issues with the translation but not so much that it interfered with my enjoyment
melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
What a fantastic opening to a book, with an extremely hungover Karen trying not to wake the occupant of the bed as she searches frantically for her clothes the morning after the Oyster Festival. We soon learn she has good reason for not waking him as it turns out he is her boss.
However it only goes downhill from there as her boss’s ex wife is then found murdered and she is his alibi. Not great when you are the Detective Inspector assigned to the case. With the police all sticking by her boss even though it was an acrimonious marriage and he is a pretty horrible man, is that enough for murder? With very few suspects Karen starts digging into the victim’s past.
Having to fight against sexism in the workplace Karen has a tough job on her hands. The locals shut down and become insular, trying to protect their secrets.
It made a pleasant change to read from the point of view of a woman my age rather than the normal green and much younger police officers. It lent the book some gritty realism even when the setting was completely imagined, not that it ever felt fictitious.
I haven’t read much translated fiction, sometimes they work sometimes they don’t. This is very much in the former category and I look forward to returning to Doggerland.
However it only goes downhill from there as her boss’s ex wife is then found murdered and she is his alibi. Not great when you are the Detective Inspector assigned to the case. With the police all sticking by her boss even though it was an acrimonious marriage and he is a pretty horrible man, is that enough for murder? With very few suspects Karen starts digging into the victim’s past.
Having to fight against sexism in the workplace Karen has a tough job on her hands. The locals shut down and become insular, trying to protect their secrets.
It made a pleasant change to read from the point of view of a woman my age rather than the normal green and much younger police officers. It lent the book some gritty realism even when the setting was completely imagined, not that it ever felt fictitious.
I haven’t read much translated fiction, sometimes they work sometimes they don’t. This is very much in the former category and I look forward to returning to Doggerland.
ladulcinella's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting thriller set in a non existent island between England and Denmark. I liked the characters and their interactions. The book was a bit too long (esp. in the middle) but all in all it was well worth the read. The rating would be between 3 and 4.