My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cell 8 is the third Roslund and Hellström novel that I have read. I continue to enjoy the series and its main detective Ewert Grens. The previous volumes in the series “Three Seconds” and “Box 21” just as just as inventive as this.
The story is no secret a man who died in a US prison on death row turns up in Sweden on assault charges. The story weaves retribution around an anti-capital punishment stand. The novel explores the value of capital punishment in from a very personal perspective. The message creeps into the story at many levels. This spans from the more socially orientated Swedish attitudes versus the American WASP attitude, where retribution or an eye for eye rules. We had a local politician who used to espouse rack ‘em pack ‘em and stack ‘em!
A central tenet of the story is the need for punishment but should the state be taking lives. Ultimately it doesn’t bring the deceased back. A compelling read on my part.
In common with the previous novels by Roslund and Hellström the end is not disappointing. Anyone who enjoys thrillers and crime novels will enjoy the read.