A review by thebooktrail88
The Cabin by Jørn Lier Horst

4.0

Discover the locations in the novel
There’s always something chilling about Nordic thrillers and this series has cold cases galore through them which makes them even chillier. These are cases which were never solved or which still have unanswered questions attached. The author is a former police investigator as well which adds to the novels appeals even before you start.

This case is about the murder of a politician who has a cabin tucked away in the woods. When this is looked into, they find a stash or two of cash. And when I say stash, I mean Huge pile. Matters get complicated when they look into the case more and it appears to involve a hiker who went missing….There’s more threads than a broken spiders web, but Horst being the master he is, slowly winds them around and around until you are trapped and sucked into the centre of the plot.

The interesting thing about this series – well there are many – but the main one for me is that the lead detective is…well just your average guy. He hasn’t come from a broken home or an ex-wife and nor does he have a bottle in his hand. He has his issues yes, but the focus is on the investigation and what he can bring to the case. Add Wisting’s daughter, Line, and the story takes on a very interesting dimension.

A crime novel which focuses on the crime (s) and not the alcoholic lead is always going to win in my eyes. This one has added depth and texture I really enjoy. This is a real puzzle that takes you around some icy places in and around Oslo. From the high echelons of power to the inner city gangs, this is quite the ride!