A review by summerpy
The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

This historical mystery crime procedural novel begins when city watchman Mikal Carnell finds a dead body in the river - arms, legs, eyes all missing.

Setting: We are thrown into the intense setting of Stockholm in 1793. Historically, King Gustav III had just been assassinated. The crown prince was too young and thus Sweden was controlled by an oppressive puppet regime. At the same time, Europe was feeling the after currents of revolutionary fever. In France, Marie Antoinette had just been executed. All of this created a bleak sense of chaotic paranoia and dread permeating the dark, dirty streets of Stockholm.

Characters: The characters really shine in this story. First we have watchman Mikal Carnell. He had fought in the Russo-Swedish War and lost his arm and best friend. As the story starts, he is barely getting by, burdened by shell shock and phantom limb pain, and drowning out life with drink. After fishing the body from the water, he is paired with brilliant, incorruptible lawyer/detective Cecil Winge, who is diagnosed and dying of consumption. We also have Kristofer Blix, a young man with a gambling problem, and Anna Stine Knapp, a poor teenage who after the death of her mother, finds herself at the mercy of depraved men.

The rising tensions of Carnell and Winge working against the clock to solve the mystery, Winge’s declining health, the precarious situations of Blix and Anna, and the unstable social environment really elevate this book to a different level. The different points of view serve a valuable purpose in the end, tying together details and filling in context.

In all honesty, I had to take several breaks while reading this novel. It’s very dark and bleak with a lot of graphic violence. However, it is exceptionally crafted and I am very glad to have read it. The plan is to read a comedy and then go back to the 1793 sequel. I loved the two main characters, Carnell and Winge. Wolf and the Watchman is a definite recommend for me. Just be very careful with the violence and triggers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



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