This is the third in series of books by Anne Holt's featuring Oslo involving Selma Falck, an ex-lawyer turned private investigator (amongst other things).
The story opens with Selma being injured following a sniper attack whilst she sits outside of a cafe with her close friends Linda Bruseth MP and Vanja Vegge. Her friend Linda is killed, but there is doubt over whether Selma was the intended victim.
Selma Falck character is a celebrity of sorts in Norway, and apparently quite well liked although it's hard to work out why as she seems quite aloof and self interested. She also has many contacts, who of course she can call upon (or who call upon her) to help her dig in to the case.
A possible suicide and a further death take place and Selma must work out whether and how they're, as well as convincing sceptical authorities.
I enjoyed the strong start to the story which left the door open for many possibilities. However, as the story progressed, it started to flatten out and things just seemed to happen for the sake of them happening. I also started to lose interest in why they were happening. By the end of the story, when we'd apparently come full circle, I was just happy to have finished and be able to move on.
It's not a bad book but does little more than pass the time. It felt like the main points had been pre-plotted, then stepping stones scribbled in to help the story hit those plot points (I hope that makes sense!). The use of 'sotto voce' several times also annoyed me!
The story opens with Selma being injured following a sniper attack whilst she sits outside of a cafe with her close friends Linda Bruseth MP and Vanja Vegge. Her friend Linda is killed, but there is doubt over whether Selma was the intended victim.
Selma Falck character is a celebrity of sorts in Norway, and apparently quite well liked although it's hard to work out why as she seems quite aloof and self interested. She also has many contacts, who of course she can call upon (or who call upon her) to help her dig in to the case.
A possible suicide and a further death take place and Selma must work out whether and how they're, as well as convincing sceptical authorities.
I enjoyed the strong start to the story which left the door open for many possibilities. However, as the story progressed, it started to flatten out and things just seemed to happen for the sake of them happening. I also started to lose interest in why they were happening. By the end of the story, when we'd apparently come full circle, I was just happy to have finished and be able to move on.
It's not a bad book but does little more than pass the time. It felt like the main points had been pre-plotted, then stepping stones scribbled in to help the story hit those plot points (I hope that makes sense!). The use of 'sotto voce' several times also annoyed me!