The Stone Cutter (2005)

The third in the series, and definitely a cut above the first two. Looking forward to the rest of the series being available in ebook format. ( )

Patrik Hedström and his partner Erica Falck have a 2 month old daughter Maya and neither of them are getting much rest. Patrik at least gets to escape to office but Erica feels trapped, especially with Patrik’s judgemental and domineering mother staying. Her friend Charlotte is concerned about post-natal depression. But then Charlotte’s world falls apart when her own eight year-old daughter is found dead. At first she is thought to have drowned accidentally but then evidence appears to indicate the death was more sinister.

In Australia during my youth there was an ad campaign for Claytons non alcoholic whisky (this is not the place to ponder the sheer pointlessness of such a product) with a slogan which said “the drink you have when you’re not having a drink” (it’s worth noting the slogan has become part of the local vernacular, the drink itself fell quickly into obscurity). Though I enjoy them a lot I do think Camilla Lackberg’s novels are the crime fiction you have when you’re not having crime fiction.

The first reason for me thinking that this is not entirely a crime fiction novel is that there is, as always with Lackberg’s books, so much else going on. As well as Erica and Patrik coming to grips with their new bundle of joy/horror we have Patrick’s (useless) boss learning a secret about his own past, a colleague at the police station moving in with his new girlfriend and we learn a little more about Erica’s sister’s abuse-filled relationship. And we haven’t even gotten to the suspects yet. Even before the tragic death of Charlotte and her family (she, her husband, mother and terminally ill stepfather all live together) have enough gruesome family secrets and psychological problems between them to keep a barrage of psychiatrists busy for months and their feuding neighbours don’t fare much better. Lackberg is a skilful storyteller though because she depicts these people very believably (they could easily be your neighbours) and draws the reader into caring about how these hastily glimpsed lives will resolve themselves. It is always a sign that an author has created good characters when I start muttering under my breath at some action or statement by someone I don’t like (and there were several someones not to like here).

I should also mention that the eponymous stonecutter is not a present-day character at all. He is a stonecutter living in the 1920′s and his rather tragic story unfolds via a separate historical thread that is woven throughout the novel. It won’t surprise anyone that the two threads are linked but the way this is done does take a bit of working out. For the majority of this part of the tale we’re more concerned with melodrama than we are with crime and I thought this thread had less of an engaging feel to it than the present-day story as it was all a bit inevitable.

And when you get right down to it the crime which is the nub of this novel could have been solved a lot more quickly by anything approaching a competent police force (though the resort town of Fjällbacka in Sweden where the novel is set appears to only have only 3 even vaguely competent people working at their police station). Even Patrik, who is a decent man and policeman, makes some fairly rudimentary mistakes at the outset of the case and he gets the inspiration for the crime’s solution only after he watches an American crime show on TV!

Despite this not-quite-crime-fiction feel though I enjoyed The Stonecutter as translated by the always-excellent Steven T Murray and read to me engagingly by Eamonn Riley (I should consume all my translated fiction this way and learn the proper pronunciations of names instead of the butchery I make of them in my head). Lackberg has created entirely credible characters who range across a spectrum that starts with ‘like a lot’ and ends with ‘would like to see boiled alive in a vat of hot tar’ and she makes the reader care about what happens to them all. I can live with the slightly haphazard crime solving in these circumstances. ( )

Gerard gave the book a five star review. After reading it, I can totally see why. Yeah, the subject matter is sensitive, surrounding a young girls' death, but when you look deeper into the mystery and suspense, you get one helluva story.
My emotions grew so strong towards the characters. I actually developed hatred for one woman. Looking back, when a story can draw that kind of emotion from you, all the while being make-believe, it must be a great tale!
I had no idea this was a third book in a series, and honestly it didn't matter at all. This is easily read as a stand alone. With that in mind, I want to go back and read the two previous books in the series. I love the flow and style of writing from this author, and can't wait to read more.
Even with sensitive subject matter, suspense lovers will gobble this right up as it does have a twist ending! ( )

I do a rotating display at the library on genres and authors. This last month I featured Scandinavian authors. I've read many of the authors I featured, but Camilla Lackberg was new to me.

The Stonecutter is the third book in her series set in Fjall­backa, Sweden that features Detective Patrik Hedstrom.

A local fisherman hauling in his nets draws up an unexpected and grisly catch - the body of a young girl. When Patrik is called to the scene, he is horrified to realize he knows the girl. Further investigation reveals that the drowning was no accident.

The present day chapters dealing with Patrik's investigation are alternated with chapters detailing a story beginning in 1923, set in the same village. The two narratives seemed to have no connection to each other whatsoever in the beginning, but I was fascinated by the older story as well. More and more of the past is revealed with every chapter and I started to get an inkling of where the two narratives might meet. I quite enjoyed having the story slowly but deliciously pieced together. Lackberg has done an excellent job with her plotting - it's intriguing and inventive.

Although Patrik is the lead protagonist, there are other recurring characters that are just as well drawn and developed. Patrik's girlfriend Erica has just given birth to their first child and is having great difficulty coping. His colleagues at the station run the gamut - from keen to lazy to dangerous. The townsfolk are a mixed bunch - all with secrets it seems. I enjoy a series that lets us 'know' the characters and see their lives evolve from book to book.

Lackberg's mystery is excellent, but I also appreciated the depth with which she explored the psyches of all involved - both police and suspects. The theme of relationships is explored in many forms - especially that of parent/child. These explorations were the most frightening parts of the book. There are sub plots never fully wrapped up as well, which was okay - the ending has only left me eager to read the next in the series - The Gallows Bird. A great read and a new addition to my list of must read mystery authors. ( )

The Stonecutter
By
Camilla Lackberg

My"in a nutshell"summary...

A little girl is found dead in a fishing village...mystery surrounds her death.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Whew...this book has a ton of issues going on with all of the characters all at the same time. First of all...a little girl...Sara...is found drowned. Within hours what was thought to be an accident is now declared a murder. So now...suddenly...this little village is filled with suspects! There are families feuding, neighbors feuding and lots of mysteries and unexplained actions. Plus the detective on the case has just had a baby with his girl friend and while they are both exhausted...she...Erica...seems to be suffering from a post baby depression that is making everyone miserable. There does not seem to be a likeable or normal person in sight anywhere! Lilian...the little dead girl's grandmother...is atrocious!

What I loved about this book...

Ok...I truly loved the story...I loved Patrick...frustrated detective. I loved the whackadoodle characters...Lilian...the neighbor you love to hate...Kaj...their ridiculous feuding...there was so much going on!

What I did not love about this book...

I did not understand the story that was happening in 1923. I was happily reading along and then every now and then...we are in 1923 with a rich man's daughter and a stone cutter and a pregnancy. I am still trying to figure it out! Plus everyone in this book is miserable! Totally thoroughly miserable! And also just when I think I know the members of one family...another member pops in and I have no clue where he/she came from...I did not like this at all. But by the end of the book...it all makes sense.

Final thoughts...

An interesting mystery...with quite a few confusing parts and quite a few exciting parts... It's a translation so perhaps that added to my confusion...not sure. But fans will love this addition to this series. I am quite certain of that...I had no idea who the murderer was until it was finally spelled out for me at the very end! And...just to add a bit of a teaser...the ending was totally shocking...and brilliant! ( )