Buried Angels

If you see it one way, the new book of the Fjallbacka series is nothing new. They have to investigate a crime originating in the past and in some chapters we will know the lifes of these past characters too. But I liked this book much more than the previous one which was full of forced mysticism and story from the past connected to nothing. In this one I enjoyed the private life stories of the characters and, unlike lots of people, I liked the ending as well.

3.75 stars

Ebba and Tobias have returned to the small town in Sweden where Ebba was born to renovate the house that was left to her. Her entire family (except only her) had disappeared from the place when she was only 1 year old. No one ever knew what had happened. It’s not long before an arsonist targets the house; luckily they were able to get out and the house wasn’t too damaged. But, is there is tie to the mystery behind Ebba’s family’s disappearance in 1974?

Some chapters go further back in time to the early 20th century and it moves forward in time through generations until we find out exactly what happened in 1974.

This book has a LOT of characters so it took a while to get them straight (even by the end, I wasn’t entirely show more sure of spouses, though I think I had the bulk of the characters figured out). It is long and it moves slowly, but it builds and is quite interesting. The backstory of Ebba’s family is woven in well, I thought. It is long (and combined with the first few days of the Olympics), it took me longer to read than I would have liked. Oh, it appears this is book 8 of a series! I hadn’t realized and (happily), it never crossed my mind while reading the book. show less

Oh, lord. It's a bad sign when a character gets into a life-threatening situation and you find yourself rolling your eyes. Again. I mean, the writing has always been formulaic, the characters can all be intensely annoying, and it's generally been clear who the killer is, but that didn't bother me as much before, because there was something good in the stories being told. Now I feel like I got suckered into reading a checkout-lane thriller in which the characters grow increasingly into stereotypes. Babies, near-death experiences, last minute escapes, and nazis, pretty much. I'm going to check out of this series before it gets any worse.

Patrik Hedstrom and his team from the Tanumshede police department are called in to investigate arson on an island off the coast of Fjallbacka. A young couple is renovating an old house on the island. The wife is the sole survivor of a family that used to live in the house. Her parents, stepbrothers and stepsister all disappeared in the middle of their Easter dinner, leaving the one-year-old behind. Could the arson have something to do with the unsolved mystery from 30 years earlier? The case piques the interest of Patrik’s wife, true crime author Erica Falck. If she works on the cold case, maybe she can turn up new information that would help the police. It seems like a good idea since the police are short-handed with both Paula and show more Martin on temporary leave. Erica will just have to work behind Patrik’s back since he doesn’t like her to put herself in danger.

This series emphasizes character development of both main and secondary characters throughout the series. This means the books are usually long, and some of the developments are tangential to the main plot. Buried Angels is the most tightly plotted book in the series so far, and the character development occurs within the context of the main plot. I think that’s why I enjoyed this one more than any of the other books in the series. show less

A very strange tale. On a small island a family runs a youth camp. On Easter 1974 the family sits down to dinner with no invited guests, while the camp children are away. When some children return they find the family missing, except for one-year-old Ebba, found wandering.

Much effort is put into finding the missing family but the case goes unsolved for many years, when Ebba returns to the island, having been adopted by a kind couple because no relations had been found. She returns with her husband to the house she now owns, and the two are working on repairing and remodeling it when a fire breaks out. The two barely escape. Soon after, a bullet pierces a window, narrowly missing Ebba.

Detective Patrik Hedstrom, aided (often without his show more knowledge) by his wife, writer Erica, seek to unravel the years to clear up the mystery.

IT's a plot that has all the twists we expect from Lackberg, and more. It also features dips into the past, explanations that gradually come together to make sense. I personally dislike the italicized technique but Lackberg clearly likes it.

I also wonder why, when Erica dips her toes into the mysteries, Patrick does not welcome it. It seems that her instincts are good, and if he were more accepting of her help she would be less likely to get into difficulty by herself. show less

Engeleneiland is het achtste deel intussen van de Fjälbacka reeks. Patrik en zijn team worden op een zaak van brandstichting gezet en de oorzaak kan wel eens liggen in het verleden van de eigenares van het huis, Ebba. Jaren eerder verdween iedereen van haar familie spoorloos en werden deze gezinsleden nooit meer gezien. Engeleneiland geeft een inkijk in het leven van weleer en hoe het eraan toe ging ten tijde van de verdwijning van het gezin. Maar er is nog een diepere link die in het boek besproken wordt en van belang kan zijn. Ook mooi om steeds verder te lezen over de levens van Erika en Patrik, maar ook zeker Anna, de zus van Erika, vind ik een zeer aangenaam personage om te volgen. Misschien vind ik haar zelfs nog het leukste van show more de bende. Door haar moeilijke verleden en de huidige problemen die ze meemaakt, is het interessant om te lezen hoe ze daarmee omgaat en laat Läckberg zien dat we bovenal alles mensen blijven. Engeleneiland is weer een zeer mooie toevoeging aan de reeks en kan rekenen op 4 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/engeleneiland-van-camilla-lackberg-4.... show less

This is the 8th instalment in this author's series featuring Patrik Hedstrom & Erica Falck. It's the story of a woman who lost everything as a child & the five boys who knew her then. They're adults now & on a collision course to meet again as old secrets threaten to surface.
Common themes include nazism, antisemitism, the loss of a child & fire...what it destroys & what it leaves behind. Each of the 6 characters has been shaped by these events & whether they like it or not the past is rearing its' ugly head.
Ebba was abandoned as a toddler after her family disappeared from the island of Valo. Their fate remains a mystery. After losing their son, she & her husband Tobias return to the old house with dreams of turning it into a B&B. It's a show more bit of a wreck & needs a lot of work, mirroring the state of their marriage.
In subsequent chapters we are introduced to 5 men. They are all wealthy & successful but have little else in common. Yet they are bound by the events of one night on the island more than 20 years ago. For the first time, they are all in Fjallbacka & learning Ebba is just across the water is stirring up old memories.
Meanwhile, main protagonists Patrik & Erica have their hands full with everyday life. Patrik is a local cop & Erica tries to carve out time to write while caring for their 3 children.
In alternating chapters beginning in 1908, we are told of another little girl who lost her family. As the story progresses, we learn the fate of 4 generations of women. Each of their lives is full of heartbreak & disappointment, spanning both world wars to the present. Eventually it becomes clear who these women are & I found myself more wrapped up in their stories than those of the present.
It all begins with strange events at the house on Valo. First, someone tries to burn it down as Ebba & Tobias sleep. Then sinister evidence is found beneath the floorboards. This brings Patrik to the island & the old case file of Ebba's missing family is quickly exhumed. One of Patrik's colleagues was part of the original investigation & has closer ties than anyone knows.
As usual, Erica senses the makings of a book & insinuates herself into the investigation. Before it's all over, she & Patrik will encounter betrayal, dirty politicians & personal danger.
This is not for someone looking for a realistic police procedural. Yes, there are shootouts & murders but oddly enough, it's more in the "cozy" vein of the genre. It's a clean read (no sex, swearing, etc) and Patrik & Erica come across as a modern day Nick & Nora. Also, her inclusion in police affairs stretches credibility & the investigation itself is lax & full of holes. The author frequently uses Erica's tendency to rush off half cocked as a plot device to move things along but in the end, it's just irritating.
It's difficult to give examples without spilling the beans but the plot has some issues as well. No reason is given for some events & the explanation for a major development is quickly glossed over & dropped.
I have read the other books & enjoyed them but I'm afraid this one missed the mark for me. The writing is simplistic & some of the phraseology was odd though this may be due to blips in translation. Although each book is centred around our intrepid couple, I found them the least interesting characters & enjoyed the historical aspect of the book much more. Erica's inner Nancy Drew is allowed to run amok, leaving the reader shaking their head at her implausible actions & just plain dumb decisions. That no one in the police force, even Patrik, reins her in is completely unbelievable.
Maybe it's me. Maybe my tastes have changed. Maybe I've read too many books where the female lead portrayed as an amateur sleuth who out thinks the cops is used as a plot device. Either way, I doubt I'll continue with this series.
If you're an über- fan of Hedstrom & Falck, by all means grab it. If you haven't read this author, please ignore the comparisons with Larsson & Nesbo trumpeted in the promotional blurb. Scandinavia is all they have in common. show less