Mental illness seen from the inside ( )

I've read all of Fossum's books that are available in English. I enjoyed most of them, finding them generally intelligent and psychologically interesting, and this one was no exception. What I found most interesting was the way this story unfolds. Fossum has carried off a neat trick: it opens with Ragna, the main character, talking about her narrow, cautious life. We discover she is actually telling her story to our old friend Konrad Sejer and his dog Frank, who is snoring in the corner. Why? Well, it appears she is being questioned about a crime. What crime? What has happened? Who is the victim? Why is Ragna being asked about it? Does it have to do with the threatening notes this mousy, isolated, rather odd but harmless middle-aged woman has been finding in her mailbox? Bit by bit, chapter by chapter, Fossum builds our curiosity and tension as we try to figure out what is even being investigated... completely backwards from the usual structure of Crime First. Some readers found this boring; I didn't. Fossum does an impressive job of bringing to life one of those insignificant people riding the bus every day to their minimum wage job at the dollar store, unattached, in scuffed shoes and ill-fitting coats, schlepping sloppy shopping bags, perhaps with adult children off somewhere in the distance who don't keep in touch. There is an internal life and history there, more than we might imagine. Nicely done. ( )

The Whisperer by Karin Fossum reminds of novels by Elizabeth George. But Karin Fossum story pivots on the mental stability of Ragna Riegel. The reader enters the mind of Ragna as she struggles with an unknown man leaving messages in her mailbox and seemingly stalking her. Not long after the story begins, Inspector Konrad Sejer begins questioning Ragna, as we learn that Ragna has been arrested, but the details of the arrest are not disclosed. Ragna leads an uncomplicated life working and living alone. Through Ragna’s story we learn that she had an affair with an older man and had a son. Both Ragna and her son, Rikard Josef, lived with Ragna’s parents. After the death of her parents, Ragna and Rikard lived in the house until he moved to Germany at the age of 17. What causes the arrest of Ragna? Will Rikard Josef return home? The story moves quickly with little dialogue and action. Many of the feelings of Ragna bear feelings of women today. What does society see as normal reactions? A chilling look at mental health. ( )

It starts with a quote by Georges Simenon and it continues that way. If you love Georges Simenon you'll love this book too ( )

The structure of this book is interesting--each chapter alternates between the past and present to tell the story of a random and horrible crime--but the plot, pacing, and characters are uninspired. Not recommended. ( )