A review by happilyeveramy
The Assistant by K.O. Dahl
3.0
#giftedby #randomthingstours @annecater14
*Synopsis*
Oslo, 1938. War is in the air and Europe is in turmoil. Hitler’s Germany has occupied Austria and is threatening Czechoslovakia; there’s a civil war in Spain and Mussolini reigns in Italy.
When a woman turns up at the office of police-turned-private investigator Ludvig Paaske, he and his assistant – his one-time nemesis and former drug-smuggler Jack Rivers – begin a seemingly straightforward investigation into marital infidelity. But all is not what it seems, and when Jack is accused of murder, the trail leads back to the 1920s, to prohibition-era Norway, to the smugglers, sex workers and hoodlums of his criminal past ... and an extraordinary secret.
So I part liked this book and part not sure. This is the first time I've read a historical thriller and I'll be honest, I'm not too sure it's for me!?
Usually I'm not bad with different time frames and going from past to present. But this book I got confused at times (even though the chapter states which timeline we're in). I don't know whether it's because this story is very heavy into politics and also a war with Nazi's and Hitler and politics in books aren't my jam unfortunately. I can probably get past the era of this book but politic wise a lot of the time I got bored and just felt like skim reading to the end.
However, the thriller aspect of this book was good and it kept me guessing throughout the story which helped make me continue reading. The two characters Jack and Ludvig are very interesting, especially Jack and his shady past which we got an insight in. They certainly were entertaining and interesting, albeit Ludvig seems a lot more cold and reserved.
I do see a lot of potential in this book and the writing is done so well, the author knows how to capture you into the story. I think for historical fans and nordic-noir fans, you'll love this. I just prefer books not to be in the past or heavy on politics and wars.
*Synopsis*
Oslo, 1938. War is in the air and Europe is in turmoil. Hitler’s Germany has occupied Austria and is threatening Czechoslovakia; there’s a civil war in Spain and Mussolini reigns in Italy.
When a woman turns up at the office of police-turned-private investigator Ludvig Paaske, he and his assistant – his one-time nemesis and former drug-smuggler Jack Rivers – begin a seemingly straightforward investigation into marital infidelity. But all is not what it seems, and when Jack is accused of murder, the trail leads back to the 1920s, to prohibition-era Norway, to the smugglers, sex workers and hoodlums of his criminal past ... and an extraordinary secret.
So I part liked this book and part not sure. This is the first time I've read a historical thriller and I'll be honest, I'm not too sure it's for me!?
Usually I'm not bad with different time frames and going from past to present. But this book I got confused at times (even though the chapter states which timeline we're in). I don't know whether it's because this story is very heavy into politics and also a war with Nazi's and Hitler and politics in books aren't my jam unfortunately. I can probably get past the era of this book but politic wise a lot of the time I got bored and just felt like skim reading to the end.
However, the thriller aspect of this book was good and it kept me guessing throughout the story which helped make me continue reading. The two characters Jack and Ludvig are very interesting, especially Jack and his shady past which we got an insight in. They certainly were entertaining and interesting, albeit Ludvig seems a lot more cold and reserved.
I do see a lot of potential in this book and the writing is done so well, the author knows how to capture you into the story. I think for historical fans and nordic-noir fans, you'll love this. I just prefer books not to be in the past or heavy on politics and wars.