A bit conveluted in the middle but cute although predictable ending. ( )

Actual rating: 2.5/5

I love Jonas Jonasson's books, and [b:The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared|36578942|The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (The Hundred-Year-Old Man, #1)|Jonas Jonasson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510447566l/36578942._SY75_.jpg|10365993] remains one of my all-time favourite books. When I heard we were getting a new Jonasson book, I was beyond excited and more than ready for another wild ride filled with his trademark witty humour, sharp social commentary and surreal situations. Unfortunately, Sweet Sweet Revenge Ltd didn't quite deliver for me.

For starters, I had major issues with the pacing. The entire first half of the book moved way too slowly as we got a detailed backstory for every character. I would have appreciated this if it served to deliver fuller, more well-rounded characters (even if they were still Jonasson's usual eccentric brand), but sadly most of them remained quite flat throughout. Victor, the villain, his ex-wife Jenny and his son Kevin were prime examples of this: despite very detailed backstories, I still felt like there wasn't much to these characters. This was particularly disappointing in Victor's case, who had huge potential for further exploration and the sharp satire that Jonasson usually handles so well.

The book picked up considerably in the second half, and especially when Ole Mbatian, a Massai medicine man who has never left his small village whose chief still refuses to use electricity, travels to Stockholm to find his adopted son Kevin. Ole stole all the scenes he was in and his exchanges with the police inspector were hilarious - pretty much what I expected from the whole novel. I also enjoyed learning something about Irma Stern, an artist I knew nothing about but whose work I'll definitely be checking out more after reading this book.

Overall, this was an entertaining read despite its issues, and my disappointment in it might have stemmed more from my high expectations than anything else. A comedy of errors that missed the mark for me, but still good enough to pass a few hours.

For this and more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way. ( )

Another unusual story set across two continents and two countries. If you like Jonas Jonasson's other novels you will like this one too. He skillfully brings together a few divergent story lines into a funny and entertaining novel. ( )

Another amusing book by Jonas Jonasson. His books always follow the same formula which includes a lot of disbelief, people who don’t know what they are doing and most of all, humor. I think I’ve read all his books and they do not get old. ( )

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Sweet Sweet Revenge, Ltd. By Jonas Jonasson (translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles) is a thought-provoking comedy from this Swedish author. Mr. Jonasson is a native Swede who worked as a journalist and owned his own media company.

Victor Alderheim is a heartless SOB, a bigot, a fascist, and Nazi sympathizer (if only it wouldn’t be frowned upon). He worked hard to marry Jenny, 18 years his junior, trick her out of her inheritance, and art gallery (even though he hates art), and dumped, Kevin, a son he had with a black prostitute, in Africa.

Instead of being eaten by a lion, however, Kevin had the nerve to survive, and even thrive as a Masai warrior. After several years Kevin made it back to Stockholm, where his and Jenny’s paths cross.

The young couple, without a krone to their name, stumbled into Sweet Sweet Revenge, Ltd. A new business started by Hugo. But Kevin’s foster father, a Masai medicine man comes to look for his son, with paintings worth millions… maybe.

I have always enjoyed books by Jonas Jonasson, so I was excited about reading this new work of his. Much like his other books, Sweet Sweet Revenge, Ltd is quirky but with a heart. A bunch of lovable, bumbling characters, with seemingly nothing in common, come together for a grand story.

I enjoyed reading about Ole Mbastian, a Masai Medicine Man, as a fish out of water in Stockholm. Seems like no one knew what to do with him, but he managed to get his way and endear himself both to the characters, as well as the reader.

Jonas Jonasson certainly seem to take pleasure in writing farces, comedy of errors that happen to somehow work out. Kevin and Jenny get their revenge on the cynical, opportunist Victor – who has no redeeming character at all. I enjoyed the fact that the young couple was assisted by the owner of Sweet Sweet Revenge, Ltd. A man who, like Victor, has little redeeming qualities except that his not a fascist.

I thought the contrast the author made between Sweden and Kenya was very interesting, especially from his perspective. Denmark is depicted as a cold and dark place, full of bureaucracy and bureaucrats who try to play within the system but break it often. A place where contracts rule, and dishonesty is both frowned upon, but rewarded as well. Kenya, on the other hand, is bright, and sunny. Bureaucrats get their jobs done, but if it’s within the rules it’s only by accident, and deals are made with one’s honor at stake.

I enjoyed this book, an easy read, funny, and in these trying times, a sort of escapism we all need. I also, out of curiosity, checked out if painter Irma Stern is real. She is, and her paintings are fantastic. ( )