Everything is about decisions. Decisions we are forced to make. Or decisions we choose to make. Either way, with each and every one of them, our lives change irreversibly.
The synopsis of Gustaf Skörderman's debut, Geiger, promises a delicious Nordic noir mystery, but it delivers something a little bit different. Now, I have to be honest - I didn't expect the story to take the turn it's taken, and I feel the novel was somewhat missold to me. Luckily, I quite enjoy high-concept political espionage stories firmly rooted in Cold War history, but I can see why many readers may potentially dislike the book. The very first chapter throws us a bombastic, truly explosive opening, but then the mood changes, and from a tense crime thriller, we descend into a multi-layered espionage novel, heavily spiked with historical events.
I felt like a certain disconnect between what the novel initially was planned to be and what it has become. The pace gets diluted as more characters are being introduced. The rhythm of the story slows down and staggers. The narrative starts getting inconsistent, and we are being tossed between events. Again, I am fortunate to have understood and appreciated the intricacies of the book's historical context, but, sadly, the story will look convoluted and disjointed to the readers who may not be interested in history is a shame because the story is fascinating.
The biggest flaw of Skördeman's debut is character development. The author focuses a lot on politics and espionage, forgetting to give his characters an interesting voice, despite starting them off strong.
I am really torn by this book. On the one hand, there's a lot to like, but on the other, it feels underwhelming. Disappointing even.
The synopsis of Gustaf Skörderman's debut, Geiger, promises a delicious Nordic noir mystery, but it delivers something a little bit different. Now, I have to be honest - I didn't expect the story to take the turn it's taken, and I feel the novel was somewhat missold to me. Luckily, I quite enjoy high-concept political espionage stories firmly rooted in Cold War history, but I can see why many readers may potentially dislike the book. The very first chapter throws us a bombastic, truly explosive opening, but then the mood changes, and from a tense crime thriller, we descend into a multi-layered espionage novel, heavily spiked with historical events.
I felt like a certain disconnect between what the novel initially was planned to be and what it has become. The pace gets diluted as more characters are being introduced. The rhythm of the story slows down and staggers. The narrative starts getting inconsistent, and we are being tossed between events. Again, I am fortunate to have understood and appreciated the intricacies of the book's historical context, but, sadly, the story will look convoluted and disjointed to the readers who may not be interested in history is a shame because the story is fascinating.
The biggest flaw of Skördeman's debut is character development. The author focuses a lot on politics and espionage, forgetting to give his characters an interesting voice, despite starting them off strong.
I am really torn by this book. On the one hand, there's a lot to like, but on the other, it feels underwhelming. Disappointing even.