Murder in the 11th House

… Is an astrological detective story written by an American author named Michelle Scott Lewis. The author is himself an astrologer and is said to have predicted a series of economic events as the crash of the 2008th. The book is not translated into Swedish, but is available on the major international sites such as Amazon.com. This is Scott Lewis’s debut crime novel, and was released this year.

Story

David Lowell is a private investigator who uses astrology to in his detective work. Through a person’s social security number, he can pressent a series of characteristics that the person possesses. That way he can figure out how a person should act / have acted in different situations. I’m not much for astrology as science but the book was still a nice mix between astrology and reasoning reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. In this book. Davids daughter ask him to him to help to clear a client. The client is a dual nature with a bad temper, and David does not know how he should interpret her, but when both the client, David and his daughter is threatened, he realizes that it’s probably more to the case than a fiery temper.

Style

The book is exciting, but not hard-boiled. Cozy but not wimpy, and has a set of great characters. The main character David belongs to the category of super detectives who both have brains but doesn´t hesitate to use force if necessary. It is certainly an enjoyable read and interesting enough to withstand a stretch reading.

…two turtle doves,

and a partridge in a pear tree.

About Twelve Days of Christmas

About Twelve Days of Christmas…

The Nicholas Le Floch Affair

To symbolize the gift on the third day of Christmas (three french hens) we found a french historical crime novel, The Nicholas Le Floch Affair by Jean-François Parot.

The Nicholas Le Floch Affair is the fourth novel in the series about Nicolas Le Floch, a police commissioner in Paris in the 1770s. Le Floch’s mistress is murdered and all the clues point to Le Floch. His friends and colleagues believe he is innocent and together they reveal the real killer. At the same time, the king (Louis XV) sends him on a diplomatic mission to England.

The author is a diplomat and historian, and the novel is a mixture of authentic and made-up characters that make the story very believable. He describes the streets, houses and environment in a way that makes you feel like you are there. The language is beautiful and the translator has done a really great job.

This is a novel for anyone who likes history just as much as you like crime novels. If you also enjoy juicy descriptions of food you have hit the jack pot!

Some of you may have read Harlan Cobens book thriller Tell no one. This movie is a french adaption of that movie and when I saw it I was blown away. It is great!

Story

8 years ago the wife of Alexander Beck was presumed killed by a serial killer who later was captured. Now the doctor receives an e-mail from, what it seems, his late wife…. and fter the police finds a new body, killed in the same way as the other victims the case is reopened and Alexander is the prime suspect. Now he has to escape from the law as well as try to find out if his wife still is alive…

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The movie from 2006 is directed by Guillame Canet. If you still aren´t convinced that it is great you can watch this trailer.  Harlan Coben himself figures in the movie. Why not see if you can spot him!

A couple of years ago I read Jed Rubenfelds historical crime novel from 2006 ”The Interpretation of  Murder” a historical crime novel set in New York in the 1920s.

Acts of terrorism and radium

In this book we have moved forward a decade to 1920. Just as in the previous book the author adds true events and real characters to create a possible scenario we can believe in. In the center stands a terrorist act that killed many people in the heart of New York’s business district. Who performed the deed is to this day a mystery. Here’s another true story that Rubenfeld weaves into the action – The radium girls:

“Radium was formerly Distressed in self-luminous paints for watches, nuclear panels, aircraft switches, clocks, and instrument dials. In the mid-1920s, a lawsuit was filed by five dying” Radium Girl “dial painters WHO HAD painted radium-based luminous paint on the dials of watches and clocks. The dial painters’ exposure to radium caused serious health effects Which included Sores, anemia, and bone cancer. “(from Wikipedia)

The story begins and ends in New York with a few detours to Europe, as well as flashbacks from the first World War.

Main Characters

The story alternates between two characters. Dr. Younger, who have returned from Europe after World War 1, and Police Commissioner Littlemore who clearly have “inherited” his analytical abilities from Sherlock Holmes. We are also introduced to Colette Rousseau a French woman, who studied and worked for the famous, Marie Curie who develops a rather pretty love story with Younger. Colette also has a younger brother who is mute after the horrors of war.

Title

The Death instinct refers to one of Freud’s theories that man has a death wish that may manifest itself in destructive behavior against him/herself or others. (Very rough and simplified described.) For those who are interested in psychology the conversations between Freud and Younger are of course, very interesting.

Fascinating but still a bit messy

… is a good way to summarize the book. Rubenfeld has done well with putting real events into fiction. It is at times very exciting and interesting and I like that he brings life in to  people like Freud and Marie Curie, but it is a bit jumpy and messy at times. I think that Rubenfeld simply wanted a little too much and have too many threads running simultaneously. Even so, I will not be able to resist the next book by Rubenfeld!

What comes next?

Will the next book played out 10 years later again? in the early 1930s? President Roosevelt was President, the peniciline was invented and the Empire State Building was built. what could Rubenfeld do with those events?

Best selling author

Camilla Läckberg is one of Sweden’s best selling authors and have been translated in to 33 different languages. In an article in New York times she is compared to Stieg Larsson.

Village by the sea

Läckberg has located her books to a pitoresque village by the sea on the west coast of Sweden. The crimes committed there stands in total contrast to the quiet and beautiful surroundings.

Characters

The books focus on a small police team. The official leader Mellberg is an incompetent police who prefers to do as little as possible and constantly mess up the investigations. The real leader of the group is Patrik an intelligent police who is firm but gentle to his co workers. Erica, Patrick’s wife is an author who somehow always gets involved in the investigations. Together Patrik and Erica struggles with the daily troubles of combining work with family life.

Book nr. 8

This week Läckberg will be releasing her 8th book ín the series. The book is called Änglamakerskan in Swedish. Her first book is called the Ice Princess.

Try one of her books

I can definately recommend them.

A while ago I received a review copy by an unknown author (for me) named Bernadette Pajer. A spark of Death is the first book in a series about Professor Bradshaw who lives in Seattle in the beginning of the 20th century.

Story

One day Professor Bradshaw finds his colleague and Nemesis Professor Oglethorpe dead in a Tesla Oscillator Machine that is used for experiments with electricity. It is soon clear that the death was not an accident but a murder. Professor Bradshaw is soon targeted as the most likely suspect and he has to fight for his honour and freedom.

Characters

Bradshaw is a widower who lives together with his son and house-keeper in a pretty little house in Seattle. We also get acquainted with a young women who may? be Bradshaws love-interest in the future and learn how and why Bradshaws wife died.

Historical Crime Novels

I’ve lately read several historical crime novels and this is by comparison a pretty good example except that it was too much technique in it for my taste. I´m not sure I understood all of that, perhaps it would have been easier for me if it were in Swedish?. However Pajer does a great job with the characters and the surroundings.

Murdoch Mysteries

While reading the book i thought of the TV-series Murdoch Mysteries. It also takes place in the beginning of the 20th century (although in Canada) and the Main character Inspector Murdoch uses “new” techniques to help solve crimes. In one episode they even talked about Nikolas Tesla the inventor of the machine used to kill Oglethorpe.

Critique

I have one big critique. It was to technical for me. It could be a matter of taste or knowledge but I didn’t quite follow all the technical turns which dragged down the experience. However Pajer does a great job with the characters and the surroundings so I´m looking forward to read Bradshaw novel nr 2.

A dead Angel (my translation)

…. is the sequel to the Nephilim written by Åsa Schwarz who were released two years ago. I  really liked Nephilim and have been waiting for A dead Angel a long time. The main character in the books is the young environmental activist Nova Barakel who has similarities with Lisbeth Salander but has her own twist. To understand the mystical part of the book you can google the word Nephilim. I also advise you to read Nephilim before reading this book.

Åsa Schwarz

… works as an IT security consultant and besides writing novels and lives  in Stockholm.

Story

In the beginning of the book we find Nova on Mount Ararat in Armenia. Together with her friend Arvid she participates in a Greenpeace project that will build a new Noah’s Ark (Some believe that the ark stranded on the mountain) to raise public awareness on environmental issues The Ark will symolize the modern deluge. On site, she meets the charismatic but mysterious Benjamin and becomes totally and completely in love. However.. the journey ends in a disaster and Nova wakes up in a hospital in Stockholm with amnesia. What really happened? where is Benjamin? And how come her wounds heal so quickly?

International success

In the review of the Nephilim I wrote that the book has all the criteria for an international bestseller. I was right! Since then Nephilim has been sold to several countries abroad, and seems to be going very well.

I like this book and the series because:

* It addresses an important topic and the book makes me think about how we treat the environment

* It feels modern and fresh

* It is a page-turner

* Nova is an amazing character (You can find her on Facebook)

* I like the supernatural elements.

* Despite the supernatural elements, there is a sense of realism in the books which makes the book more convincing.

… is a Swedish journalist on one of the bigger Newspapers in Sweden. She previously worked on the Continent (Europe). Which, perhaps, is why the series takes place in the fictional city of Villette in Belgium in the 1990´s.

The Books

The main character is Martine Poirot who works as an investigating magistrate. Around her are several colourful characters such as her half Swedish husband Thomas, his famous sister and actress and a bar owner. The stories have often politcal and historical clutches. I´m actually not sure if it is translated in to other languages but if not, I think they should be. Hedström has written 4 pieces in the series so far. The first is called the Girls of Villette and the second “The (female) teatchers in Villette”. (My translations)

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Down under in Villette (My translation)

The third book in the series is perhaps the weakest of the four but don´t worry Ingrid Hedström has a high lowest point which makes it good anyway. In this book a man is found dead in the cargo of a boat. He worked as a journalist and worked on two stories. A powerful indstrualist and a mining accident that took the lives of many people during the 1950´s. What kind of affairs is the industralist really involved in and could any of the miners have survived? Evidence points to that direction and Martine has to found out what really happened both then and now.

Under a blood read moon in Villette (My translation)

I quite liked this book. Hedström has given Martine some more depth through a personal tragedy and the story is intriguing witch clutches to WW2. As a Christie fan I really liked the 1990´s version of the Orient Express trip. Not so glamourous as in Christies classic perhaps…but still, I liked the wink to Christie.

The Hawaii of Sweden

“Under a blood red moon in Villette” I partly read on the old (but beautifylly restaurated) fishing boat “The Eagle” that belongs to my Boyfriends parents. It fits his whole family and what better way to enjoy a good book in the archipelago of Sundsvall (eastcoast of Sweden) that some call the Hawaii of Sweden.

Volk…

….is short for Alexei Volkovoy an Russian ex-military with a prosthesis who does dirty jobs for the Kreml and a person called “The General” He is the opposite of a cozy detective and in many ways ruthless and cold  but there is a glimpse of soul left in him that makes him almost human.

Story

In this book an old flame and well known journalist (like Anna Politovskaya) is murdered under mysterious circumstances and Volk sets out for answers and revenge. The trail leads him to an area God, if he exist, have forgotten. A place with a lot of nuclear waste, poisoning the soil and the people living there. A Frenchman, a nuclear scientist and two dead Russians takes him to America.

Grayson Stone

In the USA another ex-agent/military is looking for some answers. Who killed two  Russian guys in the desert and why? During one of the wars Stone was in he made a “mistake” witnessed by a Frenchmen who now “owns” him. This makes him a chess-player in a big international political game.

What did I think?

I normally don´t read spy-novels so I may not have that much to compare with but… I liked Volk. He is on the edge of being to unsympathetic as a main character but it is refreshing with characters that´s not only black and white. The Story is believable and a bit terrifying. It has a cold war feeling to it, but is modern.  Even if it is a bit too tough for my taste I wouldn’t mind reading the next Volk-novel.

Recently the Swedish crime author Mari Jungstedt released her 9th crime novel about Inspector Anders Knutas who lives and work in the beautiful Island Gotland (outside the east coast of Sweden).

The fourth victim (may be another title in English)

Mari Jungstedt is one of these author, who is very common i Sweden, that adresses social problems. In this case it is about a young girl who ends up in foster home. A story like this could be very “black and white” put she manage to tell the story without pointing fingers. The message is that people are not just evil or just good.

Storyline

Like so many crime authors these days Jungstedt uses parallel stories and jumps from present to past. A young girl is sent to a foster home in the Island of Gotland but are having trouble adjusting with a family that are “normal”. The book start in the present with a bank robbery that goes terrible wrong. Anders Knutas and his team quickly start the chase, but the police are not the only one who is after the bank robbers….

Characters

Anders Knutas is a nice Inspector with some problems with his wife in this book. We also follow a journalist and his photographer that usually compete with the police on chasing criminals. In this novel the description of the young girl is heart breaking and made the book so good.

”Someone to discover”

I think Mari Jungstedt crime novels are something to discover. It took a while for me to get in to her books but with this book I can honestly say that she is a crime author to be reckoned with and I´m looking forward to her next book.