michael_k's review against another edition
Ένα ακόμη πολύ καλό αστυνομικό από τον συγγραφέα. Πλούσια πλοκή, συμπαθείς ήρωες, ωραίος ρυθμός αφήγησης. Όπως πάντα παράλληλα με το έγκλημα εμφανίζονται και τα κοινωνικά προβλήματα πίσω από αυτό χωρίς όμως να γίνονται κυρίαρχα στην αφήγηση.
Διαβάζεται εύκολα και ευχάριστα, ιδανικό για ένα χαλαρό Σαββατοκύριακο. Βασικό παράπονο είναι ότι το βιβλίο είναι "εκτός σειράς" με συνέπεια η ζωή του κεντρικού ήρωα να είναι μπερδεμένη όπως έχουν εκδοθεί τα βιβλία, ευτυχώς αυτό δεν επηρεάζει την κεντρική υπόθεση.
Διαβάζεται εύκολα και ευχάριστα, ιδανικό για ένα χαλαρό Σαββατοκύριακο. Βασικό παράπονο είναι ότι το βιβλίο είναι "εκτός σειράς" με συνέπεια η ζωή του κεντρικού ήρωα να είναι μπερδεμένη όπως έχουν εκδοθεί τα βιβλία, ευτυχώς αυτό δεν επηρεάζει την κεντρική υπόθεση.
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
A severed head is found stuck on a stake in the middle of the small town of Larvik. The victim, a young immigrant girl, her body missing. When a second body is found, shot execution-style, Wisting knows that this is a serious situation. His daughter Line, a journalist, is also pursuing her own leads and both converge around the trafficking of drugs across Scandinavia.
This is a really strong detective novel which has political undercurrents around Afghanistan and the play off between humanitarian support and the war against insurgents. As ever with Horst, the narrative is fact-paced and the plot tight.
This is a really strong detective novel which has political undercurrents around Afghanistan and the play off between humanitarian support and the war against insurgents. As ever with Horst, the narrative is fact-paced and the plot tight.
admacg's review
3.0
The Night Man' by Jørn Lier Horst is a nordic noir thriller with enough twists and turns to take you right up to the last page. But for me what raised it above other books in the genre is how rooted it is in modern social issues such as migration, trafficking, and drug networks.
The book begins in the quiet town of Larvik when a woman on her way to work suddenly comes across a human head on a stake. The police and journalists set off to investigate the young girl's identity. Various motives and suspects arise, each discovery seemingly bringing up yet more questions than answers.
Although set in Scandinavia, this book could be about any European country, with many similar problems such as migration and international drug smuggling networks. Subjects and headlines that are never off the front pages. What puts it above other many other thrillers is perhaps the detail it goes into in the background of the crime. Whether that's international drug supply routes, the growing threat of the far right, migrant children - there's a lot in here.
Honor killings, narcotics policies, and organised crime - this is a complex case with international connections. Nothing comes easy in this investigation, which is very much rooted in uncovering modern criminal networks and methods.
I also liked the interesting dynamic between the chief investigator William Wisting and the up-and-coming newspaper reporter Line being father and daughter. They don't butt heads as much as I thought they would, each going their own way with their leads but intersecting along the way. They may be in different roles, but they share a tenacious nature.
This is a well-plotted book with a pace that doesn't flag, and even when progress is slow, there is a feeling of momentum, of good investigative work being carried out. There are enough blind alleys to make it realistic and it never goes too fast, as it doesn't need to. I won't spoil it but the final part takes you in a completely new direction in terms of solving the case and it certainly ratcheted the tension.
Parts of the book are not for the faint at heart - it’s a gritty, realistic tale.
I got this book via NetGalley, so wasn't aware it was part of a series, so I’ll be checking out some of the earlier titles. There are references to other characters and events that had me intrigued. Also, a word for the translator, as the text flowed seamlessly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the published for the ARC
Review from here
The book begins in the quiet town of Larvik when a woman on her way to work suddenly comes across a human head on a stake. The police and journalists set off to investigate the young girl's identity. Various motives and suspects arise, each discovery seemingly bringing up yet more questions than answers.
Although set in Scandinavia, this book could be about any European country, with many similar problems such as migration and international drug smuggling networks. Subjects and headlines that are never off the front pages. What puts it above other many other thrillers is perhaps the detail it goes into in the background of the crime. Whether that's international drug supply routes, the growing threat of the far right, migrant children - there's a lot in here.
Honor killings, narcotics policies, and organised crime - this is a complex case with international connections. Nothing comes easy in this investigation, which is very much rooted in uncovering modern criminal networks and methods.
I also liked the interesting dynamic between the chief investigator William Wisting and the up-and-coming newspaper reporter Line being father and daughter. They don't butt heads as much as I thought they would, each going their own way with their leads but intersecting along the way. They may be in different roles, but they share a tenacious nature.
This is a well-plotted book with a pace that doesn't flag, and even when progress is slow, there is a feeling of momentum, of good investigative work being carried out. There are enough blind alleys to make it realistic and it never goes too fast, as it doesn't need to. I won't spoil it but the final part takes you in a completely new direction in terms of solving the case and it certainly ratcheted the tension.
Parts of the book are not for the faint at heart - it’s a gritty, realistic tale.
I got this book via NetGalley, so wasn't aware it was part of a series, so I’ll be checking out some of the earlier titles. There are references to other characters and events that had me intrigued. Also, a word for the translator, as the text flowed seamlessly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the published for the ARC
Review from here
fantasyaddict's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annarella's review
4.0
I changed my rating more times because the more I read the more I liked it. Chilling like the climate, well plotted, and gripping.
A good Scandinavian noir full of twists and darkness.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
A good Scandinavian noir full of twists and darkness.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
canada_matt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Back for another chilling thriller from the world of Jørn Lier Horst, I found myself standing alongside William Wisting as he followed a case that has social and international implications. Horst is able to bridge the language divide and provide a stellar piece of writing that kept me reading well into the evening or around the house when I could spare a moment. This series, which is as addictive as it is well-paced, is sure to keep readers talking the world round, no matter what language of the text they read.
The severed head of a girl is found on a stake, ruffling the feathers of everyone in the small Norwegian community. Inspector William Wisting is sent to investigate, though there is little in the way of clues to determine much of anything, save for the fact that she is not Norwegian, but rather from somewhere in Asia. Surely there is a message here and Wisting is baffled as to what it might be. Thankfully, his daughter, Line, is a sharp reporter with skills of her own, hoping to kick over a few stones to get some answers.
While Line cannot hope to get all the answers at once, she is determined to do it without using her father’s intel or appear to be his lapdog. When Line does find something, she’s surprised that this is not just the killing of a foreign national, but part of a larger criminal enterprise, headed by the Night Man. He’s a dangerous ring leader with powerful reach, both Line and Wisting himself will have to play their cards carefully.
Stirring up leads from a few loose lips, Wisting soon realised that the Night Man has plans to fuel his drug empire by using hapless foreigners to peddle his wares, or bring them into the country. However, Wisting hopes to neutralise this before things get even more out of control. More bodies emerge and this only pushes Wisting to make his move. That said, the Night Man is no wallflower and is ready to strike back at any time, making William Wisting an easy target for a new message; don’t mess with the Night Man! Horst dazzles as he spins this tale and takes readers on an adventure like no other.
Whenever I discover a new novel by Jørn Lier Horst, I find myself slightly more excited. I have come to realise that his books are always jam packed with action, great stories, and there is no sluggishness, even though the text is originally in Norwegian. Horst has been able to really make me care for both William and Line Wisting, especially as they evolve throughout the series. I can only hope that there’s s more to come, as I cannot help but wonder what William Wisting has waiting around the corner.
Scandinavian crime thrillers are usually successes for me. It would seem that whatever the authors drink, it helps them formulate strong plots and great storytelling abilities. Jørn Lier Horst shows repeatedly that he has the magic to come up with some stellar pieces, always pushing himself to outdo his previous publications. The narrative flow is there, keeping the reader fully informed, as they venture deeper into the piece. A handful of key characters, who develop and evolve throughout the series, leave the reader something familiar onto which they can latch as they progress. The plots, while never completely unique, are poignant with the times and always keep the reader guessing as to where things are headed. With a translation as seamless as anything i have read, I am often left to wonder if Horst actually write this in English, as it is so smooth. I can only wish that publishers would finally grab the first few novels in this series and translate them, as I am eager to get an early snapshot of how William Wisting developed before the loss of his wife and estrangement by his son. I keep asking and hoping, but nothing quite yet! This is the fifth book ever published, and the earliest ever to have been translated, so someone is getting the message that we want them all!
Kudos, Mr. Horst, for a dazzling thriller that is sure to keep series fans talking for a while.
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syren1532's review against another edition
4.0
A gruesome discovery in the early morning in dense fog - the head of a young girl left on a stake in the middle of the town. Wisting and his team struggle to identify the victim, all they can say for sure is that she is from an ethnic minority. The killing leads to intense press interest which includes Wisting's daughter Line. One of Line's contacts links the girl to the recent discovery of a suitcase filled with drugs left at Larvik station. Then another body is discovered in the local river - a man this time but he is also from an ethnic minority. As Wisting and his team link the two murders and discover connections to the international drug trade Line is investigating locals who could be involved in the drug trade in Larvik.
A great read which takes you from Norway to Sweden and Afghanistan. Love this series of books.
Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Jorn Lier Horst for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
A great read which takes you from Norway to Sweden and Afghanistan. Love this series of books.
Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Jorn Lier Horst for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
lina_petrina's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0