Lars Keplar's latest thriller starts with a young couple at sea running
for their lives. They have been having sex on a remote island. When
they return to their boat they find the woman's sister dead on board.
They flee to another island and the boat drifts free.
Detective
Joona Linna has been called to what appears to be a murder by hanging,
but his knowledge and experience in the National Criminal Investigation
Department tells him it is actually a suicide.
While discussing the suicide's autopsy, Linna is
shown the remains of the young woman. She has drowned, but her clothes
were dry. Linna has another mystery on his hands. The pathologist
agrees with Linna that it is mysterious death. During his examination
of the boat Linna's attention is continually drawn to a bucket of sea
water swinging each time the boat moves. He realises that she was
drowned in it and that is why her clothes are dry. Linna also fears for
the life of the murdered woman's sister.
When Linna goes to the
sister's apartment he is attacked and barely manages to escape with his
life. Linna realises that this was a hit, well planned and organised,
but why?
Further investigation of an Internet cafe computer ties
the boyfriend to the suicide. As the investigation progresses, Saga
Bauer, team leader of an anti-terrorism agency helps Linna. Evidence
points to gun running.
The young woman, whose sister was
murdered, and her lover are on the run from someone, but they don't know
who. Will they be able to survive in the wild on their own, or be able
to get to safety before they are caught and killed too? As the story
progresses, author Lars Keplar lets the reader in on more of the
background to the deaths, filling in details bit by bit.
Keplar keeps the reader guessing and tense as this thriller take you to its gripping conclusion. An excellent read, hard to put down.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bethlehem Road
A Member of Parliament has been murdered and his body left hanging on a
lamp post on Tower Bridge. Inspector William Pitt has been tasked with
investigating it. Was it a targeted murder, a random act, or an act of
anarchists?
Meantime, Pitt's wife Charlotte has been to a meeting of women suffragettes, who are demanding the right to vote. Unfortunately an argument broke out amongst some of the women and a melee ensued.
When a second MP is killed in the same place in the same manner, Pitt is left wondering if it is the actions of a lunatic, a copycat murder or was the first victim a case of mistaken identity? It is later during his investigation that fingers start to point to a possibility that a suffragette could be the culpable one.
Pitt's investigation leads to a woman who had a conflict with one of the MPs. This in turn brings his wife, Charlotte, into the case because the suspect is the niece of a friend of her great-aunt, Vespasia. They set out to create their own investigation.
When a third MP is murdered in similar circumstances and location the police are left scratching their collective heads. Pitt has his suspicions, but no evidence. Charlotte and her fellow investigators are at a loss, too.
When one of the MPs offers to act as a decoy in a sting operation, the police take him up. Unfortunately the MP shoots the assassin moments after the attempt is made on his life. Pitt is left with niggling questions. Will his visit to Bedlam help him find the answers?
Author Anne Perry once again presents a well written Victorian murder mystery.
Meantime, Pitt's wife Charlotte has been to a meeting of women suffragettes, who are demanding the right to vote. Unfortunately an argument broke out amongst some of the women and a melee ensued.
When a second MP is killed in the same place in the same manner, Pitt is left wondering if it is the actions of a lunatic, a copycat murder or was the first victim a case of mistaken identity? It is later during his investigation that fingers start to point to a possibility that a suffragette could be the culpable one.
Pitt's investigation leads to a woman who had a conflict with one of the MPs. This in turn brings his wife, Charlotte, into the case because the suspect is the niece of a friend of her great-aunt, Vespasia. They set out to create their own investigation.
When a third MP is murdered in similar circumstances and location the police are left scratching their collective heads. Pitt has his suspicions, but no evidence. Charlotte and her fellow investigators are at a loss, too.
When one of the MPs offers to act as a decoy in a sting operation, the police take him up. Unfortunately the MP shoots the assassin moments after the attempt is made on his life. Pitt is left with niggling questions. Will his visit to Bedlam help him find the answers?
Author Anne Perry once again presents a well written Victorian murder mystery.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Death on the Rive Nord
It is now October, 1963, and Inspector Lucas Rocco is well settled in as a citizen of Poissions-les-Marais.
His latest case involves human smuggling. Africans from Algeria are secretly being smuggled into France and their destination of choice seems to be Amiens, near Rocco's home of Poissions-les-Marais. Unexpectedly he comes face-to-face with one, only he is a floater; found dead under a barge.
Shortly into his investigation, and while clearing his head at a nearby grotto, Rocco briefly meets a young, attractive woman who piques his interest. His interest is also piqued by a new assembly factory in Amiens where he feels that the men in charge are lying through their teeth when he shows them a photo of the dead man.
Later, the young woman approaches him and informs him that she has entered the country illegally and her husband is a criminal set in killing her. When he checks with his former senior officer in Paris, the details she provided turn out to be true.
A police sting is set up in Amiens to catch illegal immigrants, however, the factory that Rocco thinks has the most potential is put off limits by the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile the criminal set upon killing his wife for his loss of face has landed in France and is set to take over the Algerian gangs in France. Violence and murder ensue as the net closes in on the young woman, and she has come to Rocco in search of safety.
Author Adrian Magson does a great job of building up the tension in this sory for the reader before bringing it to the grand conclusion.
His latest case involves human smuggling. Africans from Algeria are secretly being smuggled into France and their destination of choice seems to be Amiens, near Rocco's home of Poissions-les-Marais. Unexpectedly he comes face-to-face with one, only he is a floater; found dead under a barge.
Shortly into his investigation, and while clearing his head at a nearby grotto, Rocco briefly meets a young, attractive woman who piques his interest. His interest is also piqued by a new assembly factory in Amiens where he feels that the men in charge are lying through their teeth when he shows them a photo of the dead man.
Later, the young woman approaches him and informs him that she has entered the country illegally and her husband is a criminal set in killing her. When he checks with his former senior officer in Paris, the details she provided turn out to be true.
A police sting is set up in Amiens to catch illegal immigrants, however, the factory that Rocco thinks has the most potential is put off limits by the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile the criminal set upon killing his wife for his loss of face has landed in France and is set to take over the Algerian gangs in France. Violence and murder ensue as the net closes in on the young woman, and she has come to Rocco in search of safety.
Author Adrian Magson does a great job of building up the tension in this sory for the reader before bringing it to the grand conclusion.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Death on the Marais
It is 1963; France and Inspector Lucas Rocco has been sent, from Paris, to
Poissions-les-Marais, in rural France by his superiors for reasons as yet
unknown to the reader, however hints are given at the beginning of each
chapter. It appears to be a part of a nation-wide shuffle of officers
at all levels. He finds himself back in time when it comes to services
like running water and a telephone.
Just as he is settling in on his first day, while visiting the local cop, Claude LaMotte, a body is reported of a woman in the local British cemetery, and she is dressed in a Gestapo uniform. Unfortunately Rocco will find that the transfers include a new commissarie, whom he knows from his wartime experience in Indochina. Will this new commisarie help or hinder his investigations? Things take a strange twist when the body is released by the pathologist almost immediately after he had received it.
The following day the pathologist provides the name of the deceased. She is the daughter of a wealthy person in Paris. Rocco decides to go to Paris, which is outside his jurisdiction, to investigate. Roadblocks quickly appear, and a twist appears in the story when the local scrap dealer has his hand blown off by a grenade that may have been booby trapped with plastique. Is the scrap dealer a target because of his history with the Resistance? Is there a connection between him and the dead woman? Rocco's investigation leads him down a path of treachery, across time and through differing social levels.
The sub-climax is very exciting, leading the reader on to a very interesting conclusion to this thriller. Well written and a great read. Kudos to the author, Adrian Magson. I look forward to the sequel.
Just as he is settling in on his first day, while visiting the local cop, Claude LaMotte, a body is reported of a woman in the local British cemetery, and she is dressed in a Gestapo uniform. Unfortunately Rocco will find that the transfers include a new commissarie, whom he knows from his wartime experience in Indochina. Will this new commisarie help or hinder his investigations? Things take a strange twist when the body is released by the pathologist almost immediately after he had received it.
The following day the pathologist provides the name of the deceased. She is the daughter of a wealthy person in Paris. Rocco decides to go to Paris, which is outside his jurisdiction, to investigate. Roadblocks quickly appear, and a twist appears in the story when the local scrap dealer has his hand blown off by a grenade that may have been booby trapped with plastique. Is the scrap dealer a target because of his history with the Resistance? Is there a connection between him and the dead woman? Rocco's investigation leads him down a path of treachery, across time and through differing social levels.
The sub-climax is very exciting, leading the reader on to a very interesting conclusion to this thriller. Well written and a great read. Kudos to the author, Adrian Magson. I look forward to the sequel.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Odin's Wolves
This is the third of the Raven trilogy. Raven and his Norse friends
narrowly escaped in their longboats from the Franks at the end of the
last book, and in doing so saved two groups of Danes and their boats.
Now the four boats have headed south in search of more treasure.
They run into a group unknown to them that are fierce fighters, but have strange wrappings around their heads. They also don't worship the Christian god, but bow down twice a day in prayer to the sound of some strange chanting.
Further south they pass the Pillars of Hercules. As they head east for Constantinople, their ultimate goal, they run into sea raiders with whom they do battle. Later as winter settles in they find an island to create a winter camp on. After the winter the group move on to Rome, where they are left in awe of the huge structures.
In Rome, Raven and two of his friends end up fighting in a battle to the death as part of a bet by his jarl. Unfortunately his friend, Bram, is killed, but they win the bet and plenty of silver. This victory will set them onto their next adventure and on to Constantinople.
Author Giles Kristian tells of a great battle the Norsemen fight in Constantinople as he draws the reader to the conclusion of this saga. An intensely good read.
They run into a group unknown to them that are fierce fighters, but have strange wrappings around their heads. They also don't worship the Christian god, but bow down twice a day in prayer to the sound of some strange chanting.
Further south they pass the Pillars of Hercules. As they head east for Constantinople, their ultimate goal, they run into sea raiders with whom they do battle. Later as winter settles in they find an island to create a winter camp on. After the winter the group move on to Rome, where they are left in awe of the huge structures.
In Rome, Raven and two of his friends end up fighting in a battle to the death as part of a bet by his jarl. Unfortunately his friend, Bram, is killed, but they win the bet and plenty of silver. This victory will set them onto their next adventure and on to Constantinople.
Author Giles Kristian tells of a great battle the Norsemen fight in Constantinople as he draws the reader to the conclusion of this saga. An intensely good read.
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