Thomas Enger

The detective and the celebrity blogger. Together, can they catch a serial killer?

'Death Deserved', the first collaboration between two well established authors of Nordic Noir, Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger, is a brilliantly engaging tale of a police man hunt that seeks to apprehend a flamboyant serial killer who's determined to manipulate the media and has a dramatic finale planned.

-- What's it about? --

When a former long-distance runner fails to show up to the launch of her own show more autobiography, celebrity blogger Emma Ramm decides to investigate. The front door is unlocked, there are signs of a struggle - and a bib with a #1 is pinned to the TV.

Alexander Blix, a police officer who has spent the last twenty years haunted by a hostage situation that went badly wrong, is allocated to lead the missing persons inquiry. Soon, the runner's belongings start appearing incongruously at other crime scenes, forcing Blix to concede that there's a bigger picture he's not seeing.

Between them, can Ramm and Blix pool their resources to stop a killer who's so effectively conducting the media's attention?

-- What's it like? --

Fabulous. From the opening scene, which establishes Blix as impulsive and generous, we can't help but like the main characters and feel for them. Blix's guilt and Ramm's anxiety are established swiftly, though the reasons for these heavy feelings come clear gradually. I was genuinely interested in reading about these characters - and finding out more about the killer's motivations!

Equally, the plotting is compelling. I loved the way the crime scenes linked together and the developing sense of the serial killer as puppet master or conductor, orchestrating his crimes with forethought and controlling their presentation. I was reminded of celebrity chefs who may serve particular dishes with carefully curated music or specially adapted lighting. Increasingly, Blix is forced to operate under time pressure and without sufficient rest, as the killer's schedule intensifies, forcing the reader to wonder whether there will be a repeat of the Teisen Tragedy.

The relationship between Blix and Ramm is an interesting one and I like that the possibility of romance is excluded - this is a more father / daughter relationship. As Ramm moves (apparently seamlessly!) from celebrity blogger to crime reporter, Blix is under pressure from his boss to withhold any new case developments from the press. Ramm, of course, perceives equal pressure from her boss to be the first to publish new information!

-- Final thoughts --

This is a thoroughly modern and enjoyable police procedural with sympathetic characters and a cracking pace. I liked the uncertainty around who the killer actually was, though I did spend a third of the book wishing the otherwise very perceptive Blix would realise that a certain other character's current choices would make them a perfect potential target for the killer!

Enger's background in journalism and Horst's background in investigative policing has created the perfect team for writing highly engaging crime fiction and I am already looking forward to finding out what Blix and Ramm are tasked with investigating next.

Many thanks to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and a spot on the blog tour. show less

This is book #4 in a series featuring crime reporter Henning Juul & if you’re jumping in here, no worries. Plenty of back story is provided. Just to recap: two years ago, the biggest problem Henning & wife Nora Klemetsen had was trying to juggle their busy schedules while raising son Jonas. Then the unthinkable happened. Late one night as they slept, an arsonist came calling. Jonas did not survive.

Present day finds the couple divorced & living separate lives. But Henning can’t forget. He show more decides it’s time to find those responsible for setting the fire & takes a leave of absence. He believes it’s connected to a story he was working on at the time & begins by reconnecting with some unsavoury characters who were part of his original investigation.

Nora has tried to move on. She still works as an investigative journalist but struggles to put one foot in front of the other, despite beginning a new relationship. She’s approached by the husband of her old school pal Hedda Hellberg who has disappeared. He wants her to write a story in the hope it will generate some tips but as soon as Nora starts digging, it becomes clear Hedda was keeping secrets from her spouse.

Nora’s biggest challenge is breaching the united front presented by Hedda’s strangely uncooperative family. They’re a wealthy bunch used to all the privacy & deference money can buy & the last thing they want is some reporter asking sticky questions. In Henning’s case, some of the potential sources have died & those that remain tend to speak with their fists.

It’s a fast paced, engaging read as we follow each investigation in alternate chapters. Both are full of intricate twists & feature powerful people with more money than morals when it comes to keeping their secrets under wraps. There is no shortage of suspects but it’s hard to pick up a cold trail when few are willing to talk.

It ticks all the boxes in terms of action & intrigue but never at the expense of the characters. The author has chosen to make them the heart & soul of the story & I really enjoyed watching the subtle changes in Henning & Nora as they face increasing risks. He’s spent the last 2 years consumed by guilt & needs to know who killed his son if he’s ever going to find a little peace. Nora, too, has been going through the motions but the search for Hedda seems to light a spark that helps her remember who she used to be.

A literal race to the finish provides most of the answers & helps Henning & Nora come to terms with their shared past. But….Mr. Enger, if I can have a word with you regarding the last page….WHAT?!

All I can say is book #5 better be coming out PDQ. show less

This is the third in the Henning Juul series, and is just as compelling as the other three that are currently available in English. Each of these novels is a stand-alone thriller, but each also moves forward Henning Juul's search for an answer to who killed his young son. In this novel, the stand-alone story has two threads -- the murder of an old lady in a nursing home, and the scandal enveloping Juul's estranged sister, who holds high political office. If it sounds as if there is a lot show more going on, there is, but it is expertly managed. All three threads generate lots of suspense and involve interesting and believable characters. The style is brisk, keeping the momentum going, and the plot, if complex, is satisfyingly coherent. show less

Henning Juul is returning to work as a journalist after a fire in his flat which killed his son. Mentally and physically scarred Juul has to cope with changes at his online newspaper, his boss is a former mentee of his and he is working in partnership with the man his ex-wife is seeing. Quickly Juul becomes involved in a murder story, a young woman is found in a tent, stoned to death, flogged and with her hand chopped off. The police immediately think that this is a ritual crime linked to show more Sharia law and committed by her Pakistani boyfriend. Juul is not so sure...

I am embarrassed to say that this book had been sitting unread for several years which is a real pity. The translation is excellent in the fact that it keeps a real lyricism to the writing but seems to flow incredibly smoothly. The plot is very tight, there are numerous twists and turns and a nicely unresolved resolution. By looking at what seems a ritualistic crime Enger highlights the tensions between immigrants and the local populace in Norway, the crude approach of the police exemplifies this. Juul is sympathetic character with an excellent backstory and this has the makings of a really gripping series of novels show less