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A review by lostinfrance
The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
3.0
I have this fascination with Scandinavian thrillers, so when I saw this on the shelf at work, I grabbed it. I thought (misread) that this book took place in modern times, but was about a murder back in the 18th century. Nope.
This is the story of a limbless body that is found floating in the waters of Stockholm in 1793 and two men's search to find the killer (and tormentor). It also follows the story of a man who was forced to kill another--- and a woman who was found in the wrong place and her fight to stay alive.
The story is gruesome and often heart wrenching--- a man who misses his sister so much that he continues to write her after he has left home--- and tells her of all the things that happen to him after he finds himself in a debt he can't repay. A woman who is barely surviving and loses her mother, so has to sell fruit to stay alive and is accused of prostitution. The torture that takes place inside the debtor's prison. I really couldn't read this at home late at night--- it is what nightmares are made of, but I continued reading it because I wanted to know who killed the limbless (tongueless) body....and why he was treated so cruelly.
I am not sure I am fully convinced the author had to include all of the characters he did--- or that I really thought the reason the man committed the torture was warranted. I never did find any compassion for him. But, I did reading about Sweden and a time period I know nothing about.
Read if you enjoy historical fiction--- and Scandinavian thrillers AND you don't have a weak stomach.
This is the story of a limbless body that is found floating in the waters of Stockholm in 1793 and two men's search to find the killer (and tormentor). It also follows the story of a man who was forced to kill another--- and a woman who was found in the wrong place and her fight to stay alive.
The story is gruesome and often heart wrenching--- a man who misses his sister so much that he continues to write her after he has left home--- and tells her of all the things that happen to him after he finds himself in a debt he can't repay. A woman who is barely surviving and loses her mother, so has to sell fruit to stay alive and is accused of prostitution. The torture that takes place inside the debtor's prison. I really couldn't read this at home late at night--- it is what nightmares are made of, but I continued reading it because I wanted to know who killed the limbless (tongueless) body....and why he was treated so cruelly.
I am not sure I am fully convinced the author had to include all of the characters he did--- or that I really thought the reason the man committed the torture was warranted. I never did find any compassion for him. But, I did reading about Sweden and a time period I know nothing about.
Read if you enjoy historical fiction--- and Scandinavian thrillers AND you don't have a weak stomach.