Jørn Lier Horst

Another excellent police procedural from Horst, who has experience as a police officer and also head of investigations. It shows. A killer of young women has been in imprisoned for five years when he decides he will show the police where he buried the last victim. Despite elaborate and careful planning the man escapes. Now, the law enforcement teams involved, including senior detective William Wisting, must find the man before he kills again.

Nothing else got done while I read this book. I show more love a crime novel that is high on a detailed, intriguing investigation in all it’s delightful detail, and low on the chase scenes and gun-waving. Horst’s series is right up there with Mankell in my estimation. There is a thriller ending, of course, but it is blessedly short. There are four of his books currently available in translation, I have now read three of the four.

Note: There is a relatively new television series out..”Wisting”…on Acorn.tv, based on the books. Its very good as crime/mystery shows go, but, do yourself a favor and read the books first. And yes, it bugs me that the book sports an advertisement for the show... show less

Due to the long hot summer, the water level in Lake Farris has fallen to an all-time low uncovering many hidden secrets. The body of a young man is discovered, missing after raping his neighbours daughter, and so is a mysterious safe. On the other side of the lake a holidaymaker is suspicious when he finds a necklace that might have belonged to a missing Swedish teenager. Wisting finds himself trying to link or solve a series of crimes.
Wisting is probably my favourite Scandi-detective show more because Horst and his translator do such a good job of writing calm and measured prose about crime, avoiding sensationalism and 'heroism' and just focusing on a good story and interesting characters. This is no exception, the interlinked stories are about horrible crimes but nothing is overdramatised. Wisting is consistent in his approaches and thinking and there is enough to make the reader fill in the gaps. A masterpiece of its genre. show less

This is now the 3rd volume in the William Wisting series that I've read and I'm enjoying it more and more. The protagonists are so familiar to me that I actually sympathise with them.
In this book, Wisting is suspended, but not because he messed something up years ago, but because he was the person in charge of the case. It was the newspaper, where his daughter Line works, that made this public. Cecilia Linde disappeared 17 years ago. A perpetrator was found, but after his release he claims show more that he was imprisoned on false pretences, that evidence had been tampered with. After Wisting's suspension, he sets about going through the old files. He receives support from his friend, the former forensic scientist, and from his daughter. The latter was at a crime scene for a report where a man was beaten to death. Over time, it becomes increasingly clear that this death is connected to Wisting's case. It also became clear that the falsified evidence was made by a police officer. Then another young woman disappears. It's a race against time.
It is written in an incredibly exciting way and kept me guessing until the very end who the culprit was. show less

When you read the synopsis for this book, you get a pretty good idea of how it all kicks off. Convicted killer Tom Kerr escapes custody & does so in spectacular fashion. Poor Chief Inspector William Wisting…instead of wrapping up an old case, he’s organizing a massive manhunt.

I was initially a bit worried as I thought the blurb sort of gave the game away. Even as you’re reading about events leading up to Kerr’s escape, you already know what happens. Boy, was I wrong. Several show more elements combine to make this a story that pulls you in & keeps you squirming in your seat.

First, there’s Kerr’s character. Congratulations are due as I formally nominate him for my annual COTY Award (Creep of the Year). Seriously, this guy made my skin crawl from the get-go. Sociopathic & intelligent…..it’s a deadly combination.

Then there’s the author ability to tell a story. As with all these books, the plot is layered & smart. It ticks along at a good pace with several scenes that will test your fight-or-flight response. But it’s Wisting who makes it such a pleasure to tag along. No flash or OTT drama here. Just a quiet, decent man who also happens to be a good cop.

Among the returning characters is Wisting’s daughter Line. As usual, she’s a bit too smart for her own good & watching her story line develop was the cause of at least one of the knots in my stomach. Also back is the shifty Adrian Stiller. He may be handy in a crisis but I wouldn’t trust him with my lunch money.

Kerr’s impressive bid for freedom marks the onset of a low lying tension that slowly builds as the story progresses. We know what Kerr is capable of & the thought he may be back in business is chilling. But the real question is who’s helping him? Chapters alternate between Wisting & Line & their very different POV’s compliment each other as the story unfolds.

This is a straight up police procedural with several twists that may make you second guess how it all pans out. And if you arrive at the final few chapters just before bedtime, good luck getting to sleep anytime soon. Your reading tool kit for this book should include: a bowl of snacks, night vision glasses, water wings, & Tums. show less