Tag: Crime

Frozen Tracks by Åke Edwardson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This felt like the longest of the series so far. I don’t mean that as negative. The story has many angles which are cleverly resolved as the book goes along. The story is set against the backdrop of the Christmas season. The sting is the now familiar city of Gothenburg. This time around the author Åke Edwardson has explored the ongoing characters more. As with any workplace where people are working together there are entwined relationships which bring their own tensions.

I am not sure how the title Frozen Tracks link to the story other than perhaps the season in which it is set. No murders this time around but rather some situations that would put most on edge. Inspector Winter is as always the consummate workaholic with a strong touch of insomnia.

He or should I say his team do crack the case but tensions are fraught as there are competing demands. The end was for my part satisfying and I enjoyed the read. I am reluctant to describe the plot in any detail as this may spoil the enjoyment that others would get from the book.

As I write I have already started the next one Sail of Stone. It is good discovering an author and being able to read several in the series and not be waiting for the next one.

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The Shadow Woman by Åke Edwardson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A mysterious and unexplained death in this the second of the Eric Winter series. As enjoyable as the other two that I have read. I accidentally started with number 3. A cleverly crafted mystery that moves across time. There is also reference to racism in Swedish society and how those groups are marginalised. The main protagonist in some ways mirror this separateness from society.
There is very little to go on and as is often the case a lucky break starts to unravel the case. There are plenty of diversions and red herrings that certainly got in my way.
Not much else to say unless I start spilling the beans on the whole plot. Best get a copy and read it.

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Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well this is first I have read of Åke Edwardson’s Inspector Winter series. I was rather annoyed when I discovered that this is the third in the series. I like to start at the beginning of a series. Enough rant, as the title suggests there us light and dark in this tale. The dark of a Swedish winter and the light of Spain. The light of a stable family and the dark of fractured families. The setting is Gothenburg on the eve of the twentieth century the millennium.
In amongst this is a cruel and sadistic killer who is stalking couples. I found it slow going at the beginning but the pace did pickup. In the end it was a satisfying read. As with many good stories a twist happened at the end. Although I thought that is was coming there were enough red herrings to steer me away.
I am now back tracking to the first in the series.

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The G File: Van Veeteren Mysteries Book 10 by Håkan Nesser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the last in the Van Veeteren series unless Håkon Nesser decides to resurrect him. It G file refers to the only case that Van Veetren hasn’t solved in his career. The G file has been hinted at in several previous instalments. The story is presented in two parts a retelling of the past and the story of the one who got away.
The G File does have a nice twist at the end which does tie the whole story up nicely. Also many of the characters that Van Veeteren has been associated with are found in this the last of his adventures. Definitely worth reading the series in order.
I enjoyed this one enormously it has in my opinion a most satisfying end. As with any series it’s like losing an old friend when the series comes to an end. Although there is a hint that it could come back. Van Veeteren is in a reflective mood pondering his mortality and he believes will be his last investigation. I will miss the “somewhere” in Northern Europe Maardam with its murderers and grumpy Chief Inspector.
A footnote
This is the third in this series that I have read on my Nexus 7 tablet. I complained in an earlier review that the punctuation was shot. The apostrophe falling foul of modern technology.  I can report that in is book punctuation makes a welcome return.

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The Strangler’s Honeymoon by Håkan Nesser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This the 9th in the series sees Van Veeteren more involved than the previous volume. This seems to be an unsolvable crime with the connection between the perpetrator and victim very tenuous. The intrepid Van Veeteren seems more content personally. The story traverses both hatred and revenge with something of surprise ending. Particularly to fans of the series who may find the conclusion unusual. I loathe to comment any more as I don’t want to spoil the ending.

There is a comfortable and familiar feel to this series and the next is a far as I can see the last.

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The Weeping Girl by Håkan Nesser

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Weeping Girl is the eight novel in the Van Veeteren series. The earlier books have Chief Inspector Van Veeteren as the main character. By this volume he is retired and more of a guiding light for Inspector Moreno who is one of his former officers. She becomes entangled in the tale of the weeping girl as she is about to commence her annual leave. The main story is interesting enough but maybe not as good as the previous in the series. However it remains a favourite series of mine and only two to go!
I bought this eBook from Google play and found  the poor punctuation a distraction. In particular the absence of any apostrophes. Rather poor I would have thought in this day and age.

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Bloody Meadow by William Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second Captain Korolev novel, this time he has been sent to the Ukraine to solve the murder of a young woman. She has connections to a powerful man in the ruling party. What follows is an interesting foray into the world of communism. The influence of the powerful and the privileges that they hold.
The ensemble cast is a film crew working in a remote location with almost everyone in contact with the victim at some level. The local militia are cut out by the presence of Captain Korolev. The fear of failure and very real repercussions are ever present. Being the child of a denounced citizen harks to the sins of the fathers and therefore denies access to the benefits of the state seem absurd in the context of a workers utopia. The climate of suspicion and not drawing attention to oneself for whatever reason casts a long shadow over this story.
Korolev is an honest hardworking detective who struggles in a climate where the truth is that which is confidently asserted.
Ryan certainly creates the mood of fear and repression that seems to be the legacy of Stalin’s USSR. Looking forward to the next one!

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