
Camilla Lackberg is the top-selling Swedish author who has a series of crime fiction mysteries, starring author and mother Erica Falck and her detective husband Patrik Hedstrom.
A man is found dead in his flat, shot through the back of the head, yet there seems to be no one who thinks he is anything but a likeable, responsible guy without any dark secrets. But does he actually have a double life? Who would want to kill him? At the same time, Erica’s former classmate has returned to live on the island off the coast of Fjallbacka, “Ghost isle” an island that has been abandoned for years. Is there a connection between the two? Does the Ghost Isle hold some dark secrets of it own?
This is the latest book in the series that has been translated to English. The series is set in idyllic Fjallbacka, on the Bohuslan coast of Sweden, where the author was born. The characters are now so familiar to me, (having read the books in the order that they were published), that they have become as endearing as an old much loved ‘cardi’. I find myself reproaching Patrik if he fails to investigate a particular clue, and chastising Gosta, and Mellberg, Hedstrom’s bumbling, aged colleagues and their over-inflated sense of self- importance. Whilst some might consider these novels not to be in the top league of crime stories, in terms of twists and turns and plot layers, a level of suspense and interest in the motives behind crime is maintained throughout every one.
The books often contain wonderfully descriptive passages on the emotions of the characters as well as excellent social commentary on love relationships, especially the position of women in Swedish society, either historically and in contemporary times, as Lackberg often runs two stories simultaneously. I like these stories in that there do not have to be a convoluted plot, for one to feel a sense of achievement if/when the identity of the killer is discovered, that is, if the reader heeds the clues Camilla leaves for us.
Camilla Lackberg
The Lost Boy
(Fyrvaktaren)
2009
The good: Challenging stereotypes and the position of women. Depictions of the complex nature of relationships
The bad: Incompetent police work
The ugly: Sam
Rating: 7.5 /10
Something to Ponder about.
So is 7½ enough to cause me to buy it ? I do love them Scandinavian crimes writers …
LikeLike
Did I do enough to convince you? If you do want to read Lackberg, then start with the first one, called The Ice Princess. It is the best.
LikeLike
Hmm … But I note that it’s “the best”, which doesn’t augur all that well for the rest. I’ll think. [grin]
LikeLike
Well it depends on your perspective for crime novels. Do you want to develop a relationship with your characters or be transfixed by the twists and turns if the plot?
LikeLike
The former. Which means, of course, that the plots have to be … credible ?
LikeLike
Oh yes, the plots are credible. It does not matter which one you read as they are all stand-alones as far as mysteries go, only the personal lives of the characters offer a continual thread. The local library should have copies of these books so you can try before you buy!
LikeLike
My nearest local library is a very irritating distance away … Still, I could catch the bus. Hokay – I’ll do that then. Thanks heaps, Amanda !
LikeLike
Can you ring them to make sure they have it ready for you when you arrive? And I hope you will let me know how you like it:-)
LikeLike
Will most surely do !
LikeLike
Well. This seems interesting. MR, do it!
LikeLike
yehhhh
LikeLike
Sounds good!
LikeLike
It was, but then I can be a little biased towards Scandi authors
LikeLike
I’ve read the Ice Princess and enjoyed it so I will have to look out for others. Is there a few before the lost boy?
LikeLike
Yes there is at least four others
LikeLike
Thanks. I’l keep my out for them. Cheers
LikeLike
I think from memory, The Preacher comes next, also The Stone Cutter, The Hidden Child, The Drowning. If you liked Ice Princess, you will definitely like all the rest.
LikeLike