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"In a foster home outside Oslo, a twelve-year-old boy is causing havoc. The institution's steely director, Agnes Vestavik, sees something chilling in Olav's eyes: sheer hatred. When Vestavik is found murdered at her desk, stabbed in the back with an Ikea kitchen knife--with Olav nowhere to be found--the case goes to maverick investigator Hanne Wilhelmsen, recently promoted to chief inspector in the Oslo Police. Could the child be a murderer? As police canvass the city for Olav, Hanne, show more working alongside the foulmouthed detective Billy T., orders an investigation of the home's employees. But despite her supreme deductive skills, she is hopeless at delegating, hopeless at pooling information, hopeless at sharing responsibilities. Can Hanne learn to trust others before her bullheaded instincts lead her astray--in the workplace and on the home front? Meanwhile, Olav makes his way through the city, looking for the mother who was forced to consign him to the state's care."--P. [4] of cover. show lessTags
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Er sieht aus wie ein Kobold. Eher noch: wie ein Dämon. Ein großer dicker Dämon. Und aus seinen Augen spricht tiefer Haß. Dabei ist Olav erst zwölf Jahre alt. Aber seine Mutter wird schon lange nicht mehr mit ihm fertig, und deshalb ist er nun im Kinderheim »Frühlingssonne« wahrscheinlich besser aufgehoben als in einer engen Sozialwohnung. In der »Frühlingssonne« hat Agnes Vestavik die Leitung und sie kennt auch Olav gegenüber keine Nachsicht. Jetzt aber ist Agnes tot und Olav verschwunden... Mit großem psychologischen Einfühlungsvermögen erzählt Anne Holt die Geschichte eines zutiefst verunsicherten Kindes. Zugleich aber gelingt ihr ein ebenso fesselnder wie einzigartiger Roman um ihre sympathische Osloer show more Kriminalkommissarin Hanne Wilhelmsen. show less
The first I have read by this author.
A foster home for difficult children is a bit shaken by its latest arrival. Twelve-year-old Olav is huge, awkward, and lacking normal social skills. He can be friendly and even helpful but can also be cruel and resistant. The head of the foster home, Agnes Vestavik, sees hatred in his eyes after she forces him to comply with the home's rules. On the other hand, Maren, one of the workers, is sympathetic and helpful to Olav, winning his approval.
When Agnes is found at her desk with a knife in her back and Olav is missing, the police have their hands full. Heading up the investigation is chief inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen, with detective Billy T. lead investigator.
The murder and the missing boy are show more treated as separate cases. Billy T. questions everyone at the home and beyond to find a motive for the murder. Meanwhile, bulletins announce the missing boy and his description. As he is easy to spot, the police expect him to be found soon. But he isn't.
The team finds more than one motive. They also interview Olav's mother, who appears to have some deficiencies in relating to others. Her thoughts are presented in the book from time to time, filling in information about the boy's birth and early years and how she managed.
Hanne's worst problem appears to be her inability to delegate. She is only recenty promoted and wants to do well, but she loves the chase. Sitting at her desk and directing is rather more difficult. She also has difficulty trusting others to do the job well. As the case progresses, she comes to grips with these issues within herself.
An interesting case with interesting characters. It is not without charm and sensitivity as well. I felt like my exposure to Hanne was limited. I would have liked more from her. And Billy T. seems such a caricature that I didn't warm up to him. Nevertheless, I was drawn in and expect to read more of them both. show less
A foster home for difficult children is a bit shaken by its latest arrival. Twelve-year-old Olav is huge, awkward, and lacking normal social skills. He can be friendly and even helpful but can also be cruel and resistant. The head of the foster home, Agnes Vestavik, sees hatred in his eyes after she forces him to comply with the home's rules. On the other hand, Maren, one of the workers, is sympathetic and helpful to Olav, winning his approval.
When Agnes is found at her desk with a knife in her back and Olav is missing, the police have their hands full. Heading up the investigation is chief inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen, with detective Billy T. lead investigator.
The murder and the missing boy are show more treated as separate cases. Billy T. questions everyone at the home and beyond to find a motive for the murder. Meanwhile, bulletins announce the missing boy and his description. As he is easy to spot, the police expect him to be found soon. But he isn't.
The team finds more than one motive. They also interview Olav's mother, who appears to have some deficiencies in relating to others. Her thoughts are presented in the book from time to time, filling in information about the boy's birth and early years and how she managed.
Hanne's worst problem appears to be her inability to delegate. She is only recenty promoted and wants to do well, but she loves the chase. Sitting at her desk and directing is rather more difficult. She also has difficulty trusting others to do the job well. As the case progresses, she comes to grips with these issues within herself.
An interesting case with interesting characters. It is not without charm and sensitivity as well. I felt like my exposure to Hanne was limited. I would have liked more from her. And Billy T. seems such a caricature that I didn't warm up to him. Nevertheless, I was drawn in and expect to read more of them both. show less
3.5/5 I've gone backwards with Norwegian author Anne Holt. I read the last book featuring Detective Hanne Wilhelmsen first. And then going against my usual inclination, I did decide to read her back list, as I quite enjoyed the character.
Death of the Demon is the third in the series and newly released by Scribner.
Agnes Vestavik runs a group foster home just outside of Oslo. A new boy named Olav has just moved in. He's a difficult case, hard to like and hard to get along with. He's large and strong and mercurial........and he doesn't want to be there.
When Agnes is found stabbed to death at her desk, newly promoted Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmson is called to the case along with lead investigator Billy T. Olav has gone missing. But show more is he the killer? Has he run away? Or been taken? There are a number of other children at the home also capable of violence. There are a large number of staff as well, each with their own secrets. And what about her husband?
Interspersed between Hanne's investigative chapters are the thoughts of Olav's mother. These are quite sad and provide a telling social commentary. Olav's thoughts also trigger an emotional response from the reader.
Holt continues to grow the character of Hanne with more details about her private life being revealed and explored. She is struggling in both her personal and professional lives. Hanne is not always likable, but she is a fascinating protagonist. Billy T remains a favourite character with this reader - he's larger than life both in stature and personality.
I enjoyed the investigative process, but found one of the crucial deciding clues not as strong as Hanne believed it to be. I could see an alternative explanation. As the investigation marches to the endgame, I was able to suss out the whodunit, but Holt still managed to catch me off guard with an unexpected ending - one I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with.
Death of the Demon isn't my favourite Hanne book, (1222 still is) but was still a darn good read. show less
Death of the Demon is the third in the series and newly released by Scribner.
Agnes Vestavik runs a group foster home just outside of Oslo. A new boy named Olav has just moved in. He's a difficult case, hard to like and hard to get along with. He's large and strong and mercurial........and he doesn't want to be there.
When Agnes is found stabbed to death at her desk, newly promoted Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmson is called to the case along with lead investigator Billy T. Olav has gone missing. But show more is he the killer? Has he run away? Or been taken? There are a number of other children at the home also capable of violence. There are a large number of staff as well, each with their own secrets. And what about her husband?
Interspersed between Hanne's investigative chapters are the thoughts of Olav's mother. These are quite sad and provide a telling social commentary. Olav's thoughts also trigger an emotional response from the reader.
Holt continues to grow the character of Hanne with more details about her private life being revealed and explored. She is struggling in both her personal and professional lives. Hanne is not always likable, but she is a fascinating protagonist. Billy T remains a favourite character with this reader - he's larger than life both in stature and personality.
I enjoyed the investigative process, but found one of the crucial deciding clues not as strong as Hanne believed it to be. I could see an alternative explanation. As the investigation marches to the endgame, I was able to suss out the whodunit, but Holt still managed to catch me off guard with an unexpected ending - one I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with.
Death of the Demon isn't my favourite Hanne book, (1222 still is) but was still a darn good read. show less
Another Scandinavian author I had been meaning to explore for quite sometime, this first experience of Anne Holt's writing was not extraordinarily good. One reason for that may be that I have read far more complex and absorbing Nordic crime fiction by the likes of Nesbo, Larsson and Kepler. That doesn't mean to say this one was not good; it's just that the expectations from such a novel are so high that it inevitably falls short.
This novel is a nice thriller with an interesting set of lead characters and a taut plot that holds the reader's attention. Though it is the third one in a series, it works pretty well as a standalone. It could've been a bit longer, with enough space for development of some characters and some detailed detective show more work, is what I feel. show less
This novel is a nice thriller with an interesting set of lead characters and a taut plot that holds the reader's attention. Though it is the third one in a series, it works pretty well as a standalone. It could've been a bit longer, with enough space for development of some characters and some detailed detective show more work, is what I feel. show less
I enjoy the character of Hanne, who has recently been promoted, but is still not in the mindset of managing instead of getting involved in the crimes. This plot revolves around a home for unmanageable children, the home of last resort when all else has failed. One of the children is a very large 12 yrs, old whose mother loves him but is afraid of him. The children provide an interesting and welcome counterpoint in this novel.
For me this was not as gritty as the usual Nordic noir, I am not really sure if this should even be classified as noir because not only does the atmosphere not feel right but there is much more about the characters personal lives than usual. That said I also realized I missed reading [book:Blessed Are Those Who show more Thirst|13547124], which is the book that actually comes before this one. So I must do a bit of backtracking. show less
For me this was not as gritty as the usual Nordic noir, I am not really sure if this should even be classified as noir because not only does the atmosphere not feel right but there is much more about the characters personal lives than usual. That said I also realized I missed reading [book:Blessed Are Those Who show more Thirst|13547124], which is the book that actually comes before this one. So I must do a bit of backtracking. show less
Reviewed for Reviewing the Evidence. Not her best by any means, but thought-provoking in its exploration of what we should do for deeply troubled and quite literally unloveable children.
This mystery is set in a childrens' group foster home near Oslo. The director has been killed and the focus seems to be on a troubled child who has disappeared. Those Norwegians are a caring and kind bunch of folks, so this is hardly a gritty crime novel, but is an enjoyable read.
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40+ Works 6,940 Members
Anne Holt was born on November 16, 1958 in Larvik, Norway. She graduated from the University of Bergen with a law degree in 1986 and worked for the Oslo Police Department for two years. She has also had careers as a lawyer, journalist, and anchor woman. In 1993, Holt published her first crime novel. She has since become a bestselling thriller show more writer and resides in Norway and France. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Awards and Honors
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Serie Piper (6020)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Death of the Demon
- Original title
- Demonens død
- Original publication date
- 1995 (original Norwegian) (original Norwegian); 2013 (English: Bruce) (English: Bruce)
- People/Characters
- Hanne Wilhelmsen; Billy T.; Erik Henriksen; Agnes Vestavik; Maren Kalsvik; Terje Welby (show all 11); Olav HÃ¥konsen; Birgitte HÃ¥konsen; Cecilie Vibe; Eirik Vassbunn; Tone-Marit Steen
- Important places
- Oslo, Norway
- Epigraph
- Alone
From childhood’s hour I have not beenÂ
As others were—I have not seenÂ
As others saw—I could not bringÂ
My passions from a common spring—Â
From the same source I have not takenÂ
My sorrowâ... (show all)€”I could not awakenÂ
My heart to joy at the same tone—Â
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—Â
Then—in my childhood—in the dawnÂ
Of a most stormy life—was drawnÂ
From ev’ry depth of good and illÂ
The mystery which binds me still—Â
From the torrent, or the fountain—Â
From the red cliff of the mountain—Â
From the sun that ’round me roll’dÂ
In its autumn tint of gold—Â
From the lightning in the skyÂ
As it pass’d me flying by—Â
From the thunder, and the storm—Â
And the cloud that took the formÂ
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)Â
Of a demon in my view—
Edgar Allan Poe - Dedication
- To Erik Langbråten,
who has taught me so much about The Important Things - First words
- "I'm the new boy!"
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I'm guilty!"
- Original language
- Norwegian
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Mystery
- DDC/MDS
- 839.82 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures Other Germanic literatures Danish and Norwegian literatures Norwegian literature
- LCC
- PT8952.18 .O386 .D4613 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures Norwegian literature Individual authors or works 2001-
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 417
- Popularity
- 74,410
- Reviews
- 12
- Rating
- (3.23)
- Languages
- 13 — Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 62
- ASINs
- 6
