The Drowned Boy

Karin Fossum does not disappoint in the newest addition to the Inspector Konrad Sejer/ Jacob Skarre series, The Drowned Boy. Karin Fossum is my absolute favourite " Scandi Crime" writer. She writes wonderful psychological suspense in which she draws the characters with great depth and compassion. A 16 month boy with Down Syndrome is found drowned in a pond close to the home of his parents. Parents Carmen and Nicolai are just 19 and 20 respectively. Did little Tommy toddle off unnoticed and drown in the pond, or is something more unsettling afoot? When Inspector Jacob Skarre attends the drowning, he has a policeman's instinct that something seems off with the parents. karin Fossum allows us to get to know the characters well and slowly show more unspools this disturbing mystery. show less

The 11th Inspector Sejer novel from Karin Fossum, specialising again in the why of a crime. Why in this instance is a series of very big questions. Why did a young toddler end up dead in a pond near his house? Why did nobody think that secure fencing would be necessary for any child that age so close to water? Why is it particularly noteworthy that Tommy is a healthy boy, who happens to have Down's Syndrome? Why is his mother behaving so weirdly, and more to the point is she a spoilt princess or a bit odd? Why do Sejer and Skarre think there's something odd about this death and what can they do about that suspicion with very little evidence?

Fossum often tackles difficult subjects and this is not the first time she's put characters with show more Down's Syndrome in the forefront of consideration. Whilst she uses this as a way of exploring reactions and expectations it's not disrespectful, opportunistic or uninformed, but it is pointed and thought-provoking. Even more chillingly in THE DROWNED BOY as the parents of young Tommy, Carmen and Nicolai, are very young. The reader is left wondering if they are too young to be parents at all, let alone to a disabled child, or has age less to do with it than just being dysfunctional people. Certainly Carmen seems way too narcissistic to possibly care for anybody but herself. Nicolai on the other hand seems brittle, young, overwhelmed and despite trying to parent, ineffectual and ephemeral.

In contrast to this young couple, and her rather controlling, domineering father, Sejer is the epitome of calm, kind and thoughtful. Struggling with the need to address a health condition of his own, there's something about the reactions to Tommy's death that worries him from the start. In his normal manner he doesn't take those concerns up front to the possible suspects, instead gently digs away, prodding and searching for an explanation.

Readers who are passionately addicted to investigation and closure in their crime fiction may find Fossum's books tough reading. Because they look deep into the human psyche, they aren't about the how or even necessarily the who, although the truth is eventually revealed, as are some further shocks and sad outcomes. Not that the reveal is necessarily because of just good investigative techniques, but rather the way that people react to pressure and the spotlight.

Why would a young Down's Syndrome boy drown, naked in a pond near his home on a hot summer's day and how will his short life and that death affect those around him? There's no question that anybody is going to get away with anything in THE DROWNED BOY, but the why remains the focus, and all the more heart-rendering as a result.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-drowned-boy-karin-fossum show less

Fossum does not concern herself with the die hard criminals or serial killers so beloved of many crime writers. Instead she explores what happens when basically good people are tempted, or forced, by some circumstance or other, to do something…not so good. THE DROWNED BOY opens when Tommy, a 16-month old with Down syndrome, is found drowned in the pond on his family property. His parents, Carmen and Nicolai, are distraught. Police, in the form of Inspectors Sejer and Skarre, at first treat the death as a tragic accident. But little details make them wonder if perhaps something more sinister might have taken place.

If you plan to read this book and don’t want to know any more than this brief plot summary then I advise you avoid the show more book’s publicity material which gives away much more. Fortunately I didn’t look at any of that material before embarking on the book and so was able to learn its secrets in the order and manner the author intended. That’s definitely a plus with a book like this which is not replete with plot twists and turns. I don’t mean nothing happens, rather that the book has a kind of realism to it in which events take time to unfold and people’s lives have moments of drama amidst the humdrum rather than being jammed full of Dramatic Elements. For me this slow burn is more satisfying, ensuring that when important developments do happen their full impact is felt and understood.

In a lesser author’s hands such a simple story would have the potential to present as dull but Fossum is a master at exploring the inner psychology of her characters and making the reader completely invested in learning everything there is to know about them. She unpicks how Tommy’s young parents – barely more than children themselves – dealt very differently both with their son’s condition and then his death. The subject of Tommy’s condition, and how various other characters including Tommy’s grandparents, might have handled having a child with Down syndrome, is explored in some depth, ensuring that the reader does not dismiss the confronting element of that subject or rush to judgement about any character’s guilt or innocence. I liked that even as things become clearer about who might have played a role in Tommy’s death Fossum makes it difficult to hate the one responsible. A situation in which a good person ‘goes bad’ is infinitely more complex – and interesting – than one in which some madman is making suits out of human skin or whatever it is fictional serial killers are up to these days.

As always Sejer takes time to build his case, working through all the possibilities, looking for evidence to support his theories. I always enjoy seeing his methodical approach in action, especially when it is contrasted by the way he addresses personal issues. Here he is concerned about his own health but is happy enough to put his worries on the back burner and concentrate on his work. Perhaps due to the subject matter of this story he and Skarre, who is openly religious, discuss God and faith in a way I don’t remember from earlier novels. I like the way Fossum weaves this into the main story, leaving the question of whether or not there is a God and what role s/he may or may not have played in the life of Tommy completely unresolved.

I finished THE DROWNED BOY in a couple of sittings, ably assisted by David Rintoul’s excellent narration of the audio book, and recommend it to anyone interested in books which explore what particular circumstances might make a good person do something rotten and how that might present to the world. show less

I’ve enjoyed most of the Inspector Sejer mysteries, but this book frustrated me no end. The case concerned the drowning of a toddler with Down Syndrome. Sejer’s sidekick, Jakob Skarre, was first on the scene and after interviewing the parents, had his doubts about the circumstances of the boy’s death. The investigation focused on the parents, especially Carmen, the boy’s mother. But there was no suspense, the pace was dreadfully slow, and the character development weak. I’ve gone easy on some of the previous novels where I felt the translation was a little clunky, which may have been the case here, but this novel was weak on multiple levels. The only reason I finished it -- and I was skimming -- was because of a plot thread show more involving the inspector. I want to complete this series just because I’ve come so far, but I need to get over my disappointment in this novel first. show less

The Drowned Boy by Karin Fossum is a highly recommended eleventh book in the Norwegian police procedural featuring Inspectors Konrad Sejer and Jakob Skarre. Be forewarned that the novel opens with a very graphic description of what happens when someone drowns.

Tommy Brandt, a healthy 16-month-old boy with Down syndrome, is found drowned in the pond behind his parent's house. Carmen Zita, Tommy's mother, claims he wandered outside when she was cleaning, or in the bathroom washing out some clothes. She had left the back door open because it was so hot and Tommy must have walked down to the pond and fell in. His father, Nicolai Brandt, was in the basement fixing a bicycle. He rushed outside when he heard Carmen yelling, after she found show more Tommy, but it was too late.

The problem is that something is not quite right about Carmen's behavior. She's crying, but it also appears to be an act rather than true mourning. The boy's father is seriously grieving and never considered a suspect. The two present a stark contrast in their different behavior. The drowning may be an accident, as Carmen claims, but she seems to be having a hard time remembering exactly what she was doing when Tommy would have wandered down to the pond and drowned. She also seems very eager to pack up and move out all of Tommy's things.

Carmen's story changes after the autopsy. The inspectors are even more suspicious, but have nothing to definitively prove Carmen is lying. Complicating the interpersonal dynamics is Papa Zita, Carmen's father. Carmen's a daddy's girl, and her father is right there, supporting her every statement as fact and trying to help. Papa Zita owns a fast food restaurant where Nicolai and Carmen both work.

The writing in this series is very much to the point and concise. There is not a lot of extra verbiage and descriptions beyond just what is needed to propel the story forward. It should also be noted that The Drowned Boy is more psychological study than a police procedural. Carmen's odd behavior will stand out in stark contrast to Nicolai's grief. She is determined to move on, maybe have another child, while Nicolai is completely overwhelmed with grief. The incongruity between the two is startling. When the question is raised if it would have been better for Carmen to have aborted Tommy, she thinks it would have been better while Nicolai most decidedly says no. (Those following the series will also be concerned about Sejer's recent dizzy spells and his reluctance to go to the doctor.)

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for review purposes. show less

The Drowned Boy – Stylish Nordic Noir

Karin Fossum is back with her 11th book in the Inspector Sejer Novel and it is once again easy to see why she is regarded as the Norwegian ‘Queen of Crime’. The Drowned Boy is another vintage Fossum creation; this book is a really compelling read, where nothing is lost in translation. Once again Karin Fossum gives us a tightly written, very compelling carefully crafted plot.

For those who have never read the Inspector Sejer series need to understand that this is not a blood and gore crime story. This is a well thought-out intellectual detective who works the evidence and to solve the crime requires an element of luck. This is an old fashioned styled whodunit, it may seem pedestrian to some but show more this is an engaging and engrossing read.

Sejer reminds me of Poirot in that he is very calm, a hypochondriac at times, intelligent, kind hearted and very thoughtful. Unlike a lot of modern detective series he does not require brawn, guns or threats; he treats everyone with respect no matter who they are. At times Frank his dog is a scene stealer and even a calming affect up on the reader.

On a hot Wednesday in August Sejer is called out to a suspected drowning in Damtjern of a young child, usually his team could handle this without him but his assistant Jacob Skarre has a feeling that something does not seem right. When he arrives the child is layout on a tarpaulin, naked and dead. The child called Tommy looks fit for his age and he could see that he had ‘Down’s syndrome’ and he begins to wonder how he has managed to get to the pond on his own.

Tommy’s parents are young, the mother Carmen is only 19 and a waif, while his father Nicolai is 20 and both seem confused. The story they tell the police is identical but their reactions are different Nicolai is heartbroken, confused and lost while Carmen seems to be crying on demand. But they are sticking to their story.

Sejer knows that something is amiss and that all he wants to do is find justice for Tommy but he also realises that sometimes justice does not happen for the victim. He recognises that people handle grief in many different ways but Nicolai and Carmen are chalk and cheese especially in the way that they are handling Tommy’s death.

Karin Fossum has once again dug deep in to the human psyche and gives us some very interesting characters. We also seem an examination of a dominant personality on to someone who is not as strong and this dominance screams at you throughout the book and at times comes across as arrogant.

Does Tommy get justice? You will have to read to find out. One thing that does strike you is that Sejer and Frank really are the mirror image of each other! show less

A 16th month old boy is found drowned. Everyone presumes it is an accident - nothing points to anything else. Except that Inspector Skarre has a gut feeling that something is wrong.

By all accounts the boy Tommy had been a healthy little boy, well cared for by his parents. His Down syndrome had slowed down some of his development but none of the parents seemed to mind that. And yet, the boy drowned. And Skarre really does not like it.

And when he shares his misgivings with Inspector Sejer, the older detective agrees and they both start pulling the threads of the case. And slowly, methodically, the story that everyone believes start to shatter - a lie is replaced by another, a half-truth start to emerge.

When the actual story emerges it show more is both awful and heart breaking. Old lies and misgivings prove to be the key to the case - and finding what really happened to Tommy.

The book is a later addition to a long running series and the two inspectors back story had become involved and complicated by now. As I had not read most of the previous ones, I had to guess about some of it. But the relevant pieces were mentioned and explained - unobtrusively but well enough to make the book readable on its own.

What I really dislike was the ending - the way in which Sejer finally found his proof and found the way to cut through the lies and reach the truth. Too coincidental, too staged. I almost wish that it was never added at the end - even a bad end is better than this one. And sometimes, even when you have the best detectives in the world and they know what happened, proving it may be impossible. But that probably does not fit into Fossum's plans for her series. show less