This contemporary thriller from this author is an entertaining change from his otherwise excellent historical novels.
Storytelling is of a very good quality, no doubt about that, but only the figures of Erik Amdahl, his daughter, Sofia, and the reindeer-herder and brother of Karine Helgeland, Hánas, are well worked out in this thriller while a lot of other figures are more or less superficial, but on the other hand the landscape and severe weather conditions, which you can certainly find in Norway, are wonderfully described and pictured by the author.
At the beginning of the book you'll find an excerpt by Robert Frost, while at the back you'll notice an Author's Note with some very useful information, in an attempt to make this tale understandable.
This thriller is set in Norway, and we find the Amdahl family, Erik, his wife Elise and daughter, Sofia, on a holiday break in an effort to come to terms with the death of their elder daughter/sister, Emilie, and so hoping to make a fresh new start as a family.
Somehow Elise still finds the time to keep on working with Karine Helgeland, for some kind of environmental enterprise, while not long after having met with Karine, and encountered some dangerous Russians, the Amdahl's are invited to have dinner at the home of Karine and Lars Helgeland.
Next day Erik will make his promise a reality for Sofia and take her on a long ski trip, but not long after striking a camp disaster will strike and Sofia is hurt and needs medical attention on her hand, and so they set off to the home of the Helgeland's, where Sofia gets treated and later on while sleeping upstairs Karine and Lars get visited by the Russians and they get murdered, and these murders are witnessed by Erik and Sofia, so they try to flee from the clutches of these Russian killers, and hoping to stay free.
What is to follow is a thriller where Erik and Sofia will have to endure much hardship and pain, but their bond as father and daughter will grow and strengthen that much stronger along the way, right up till the end where a final reckoning will take place in their ultimate sacrifice to stay alive and survive.
Really recommended, for anyone who likes a thriller without a real plot and having to guess the culprit(s), and so I can imagine people giving this book 5 stars, but for me personally this was a just a good thriller in comparison to his excellent historical novels, and that's why I like to call this book from this wonderful author: "A Good Straightforward Thriller"!
ChatGPT
2 / 2
This author's contemporary thriller is a departure from their usual historical novels, and provides an entertaining read.
While the quality of storytelling is excellent, the character development is lacking in many figures apart from Erik Amdahl, his daughter Sofia, and the reindeer-herder Hánas, who is the brother of Karine Helgeland. However, the author masterfully depicts the Norwegian landscape and harsh weather conditions, adding depth to the setting.
The story takes place in Norway, where the Amdahl family is on a holiday trying to come to terms with the loss of their elder daughter, Emilie. Erik, Elise, and Sofia meet Karine Helgeland while she is working on an environmental project, and soon after, the Amdahls are invited to dinner at the Helgeland's home. Disaster strikes during a ski trip, leaving Sofia injured and in need of medical attention, forcing them to seek refuge at the Helgeland's home. There, they witness the murder of Karine and Lars by dangerous Russian killers, and must flee to survive.
The rest of the book is a thrilling tale of survival and endurance, with Erik and Sofia's bond growing stronger as they face numerous hardships along the way. In the end, they make the ultimate sacrifice to stay alive.
Overall, this book is recommended for readers who enjoy a straightforward thriller without too many twists and turns. While it may not live up to the author's excellent historical novels, it is still a well-written and enjoyable read.
Storytelling is of a very good quality, no doubt about that, but only the figures of Erik Amdahl, his daughter, Sofia, and the reindeer-herder and brother of Karine Helgeland, Hánas, are well worked out in this thriller while a lot of other figures are more or less superficial, but on the other hand the landscape and severe weather conditions, which you can certainly find in Norway, are wonderfully described and pictured by the author.
At the beginning of the book you'll find an excerpt by Robert Frost, while at the back you'll notice an Author's Note with some very useful information, in an attempt to make this tale understandable.
This thriller is set in Norway, and we find the Amdahl family, Erik, his wife Elise and daughter, Sofia, on a holiday break in an effort to come to terms with the death of their elder daughter/sister, Emilie, and so hoping to make a fresh new start as a family.
Somehow Elise still finds the time to keep on working with Karine Helgeland, for some kind of environmental enterprise, while not long after having met with Karine, and encountered some dangerous Russians, the Amdahl's are invited to have dinner at the home of Karine and Lars Helgeland.
Next day Erik will make his promise a reality for Sofia and take her on a long ski trip, but not long after striking a camp disaster will strike and Sofia is hurt and needs medical attention on her hand, and so they set off to the home of the Helgeland's, where Sofia gets treated and later on while sleeping upstairs Karine and Lars get visited by the Russians and they get murdered, and these murders are witnessed by Erik and Sofia, so they try to flee from the clutches of these Russian killers, and hoping to stay free.
What is to follow is a thriller where Erik and Sofia will have to endure much hardship and pain, but their bond as father and daughter will grow and strengthen that much stronger along the way, right up till the end where a final reckoning will take place in their ultimate sacrifice to stay alive and survive.
Really recommended, for anyone who likes a thriller without a real plot and having to guess the culprit(s), and so I can imagine people giving this book 5 stars, but for me personally this was a just a good thriller in comparison to his excellent historical novels, and that's why I like to call this book from this wonderful author: "A Good Straightforward Thriller"!
ChatGPT
2 / 2
This author's contemporary thriller is a departure from their usual historical novels, and provides an entertaining read.
While the quality of storytelling is excellent, the character development is lacking in many figures apart from Erik Amdahl, his daughter Sofia, and the reindeer-herder Hánas, who is the brother of Karine Helgeland. However, the author masterfully depicts the Norwegian landscape and harsh weather conditions, adding depth to the setting.
The story takes place in Norway, where the Amdahl family is on a holiday trying to come to terms with the loss of their elder daughter, Emilie. Erik, Elise, and Sofia meet Karine Helgeland while she is working on an environmental project, and soon after, the Amdahls are invited to dinner at the Helgeland's home. Disaster strikes during a ski trip, leaving Sofia injured and in need of medical attention, forcing them to seek refuge at the Helgeland's home. There, they witness the murder of Karine and Lars by dangerous Russian killers, and must flee to survive.
The rest of the book is a thrilling tale of survival and endurance, with Erik and Sofia's bond growing stronger as they face numerous hardships along the way. In the end, they make the ultimate sacrifice to stay alive.
Overall, this book is recommended for readers who enjoy a straightforward thriller without too many twists and turns. While it may not live up to the author's excellent historical novels, it is still a well-written and enjoyable read.