This is the third book in Norwegian crime writer Anne Holt's Selma Falck series, but it stands well enough on its own that I understood everything despite not having read the others. Threads of history and the characters' pasts are woven into this particular narrative, so any questions I had about relationships or reactions were always answered.
I am in awe of how complex the plot is, and how the author manages to drop subtle hints throughout the book that you, as a reader, totally disregard until something is discovered that deems them important. There's a whole lot going on from start to finish, which can be tricky to follow at times, but when it all pulls together it's so brilliantly clever that it almost makes up for all the prior confusion.
Personally, I found Selma Falck unlikeable and unfeeling, although in her line of work and having lived through what she has, that's relatively understandable. She is also a great thinker and detective, and I definitely admired her drive and ambition.
All in all, if you enjoy twisty whodunnits with multiple perspectives and expertly hidden clues, look out for this one.
I am in awe of how complex the plot is, and how the author manages to drop subtle hints throughout the book that you, as a reader, totally disregard until something is discovered that deems them important. There's a whole lot going on from start to finish, which can be tricky to follow at times, but when it all pulls together it's so brilliantly clever that it almost makes up for all the prior confusion.
Personally, I found Selma Falck unlikeable and unfeeling, although in her line of work and having lived through what she has, that's relatively understandable. She is also a great thinker and detective, and I definitely admired her drive and ambition.
All in all, if you enjoy twisty whodunnits with multiple perspectives and expertly hidden clues, look out for this one.