The Corpse Flower

Anna’s got an unsavory secret. Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer has just received a new tip on an old murder case. And Heloise has recently published a piece of libelous journalism. These three characters are quickly introduced in the first three chapters of The Corpse Flower, and things continue to move briskly along. These three characters’ paths will, of course, eventually cross, but there are many twists and turns before we discover what really connects them.

We soon find out that Anna is the prime suspect in Detective Schäfer’s cold case, and Heloise gets an enigmatic letter from Anna, despite Heloise not having covered the case or apparently having anything to do with it. There are several fresh corpses that also don’t show more appear at first to have any connection to the original case.

The short, fast-paced chapters kept introducing new surprises, so I was soon hooked and kept sneaking in just one more chapter, so this was one of my quickest reads this year. The fast-moving plot kept me guessing, and I certainly didn’t see the end coming, though maybe if I’d read more slowly I would have paid more attention to the clues that were planted. I had one small quibble: I felt that I was outright misled about one plot development, but it was not a major point. I also wish Sergeant Lisa Augustin had a bigger role—she seemed like a potentially interesting character that deserved more play time. Can I hope to see more of her in future sequels?

I’m a fan of Scandinavian noir, but although this was originally published in Denmark and includes some very dark deeds (so dark that I’d mention a trigger warning if it wouldn’t also be a spoiler), it seemed too sun-drenched to be noir. But it was still altogether a very satisfying thriller. show less

In "The Corpse Flower," Heloise Kaldan's career in journalism is in danger of imploding. A source fed her a false story that she submitted to the Danish newspaper where she works. Despite her experience as a reporter, Heloise did not check her facts carefully enough, and her boss is furious at her. In the aftermath of this fiasco, she is eager to redeem herself, and an unexpected series of events may provide her with a way to salvage her reputation. Three years after slaughtering an attorney in his home, Anna Kiel is still at large. She sends Heloise a series of letters that, at first, make little sense. Kaldan contacts the police, and Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer hopes that, with Heloise's assistance, he will find and arrest the show more fugitive. Anna implies that she and Kaldan have a hidden connection, but Heloise cannot imagine what it could be.

"The Corpse Flower," by Anne Mette Hancock, is a humdinger of a psychological thriller that grabs our attention from the opening chapter and, as it proceeds, grows ever more suspenseful and harrowing. Although the author provides a few subtle clues about what is going on, we are initially as puzzled as Heloise. This complex tale, like so many others from Scandinavia, is a disturbing exploration of some of the worst aspects of humanity. Hancock shows the damage that dysfunctional adults inflict on vulnerable youngsters. In addition, she depicts the smugness of entitled people who believe that they can break the law with impunity.

Although there are passages that are awkwardly phrased, they do not detract markedly from Hancock's well-constructed, hard-hitting, and suspenseful plot. Heloise is a fascinating character—intelligent, ambitious, and in love with a man she is reluctant to trust. Anna is a bitter and damaged individual whose desire for revenge is unrelenting. Readers who pick up "The Corpse Flower" should brace themselves for distressing scenes in which sadistic people commit deplorable acts. Anne Mette Hancock's impressive debut demonstrates that she is a talented author who is unafraid to tackle emotionally charged subjects. show less

Fuck yeah! Ahem, excuse me but I love the way this book ended.

I'm currently ignoring the pleading eyes of my dogs who are clearly starving so I can write this quick review. It took me a few starts to get into the story but once I did, I couldn't put it away.

I love a mystery that has me clueless more than halfway through. And the predictions I did come up with were way off. That doesn't happen very often, unfortunately. Along with some nice twists and turns, The Corpse Flower is also very dark. Which I didn't expect. I don't remember what the blurb said when I requested it on NetGalley, but I'm pretty sure it didn't give away anything of substance because I might not have given it a shot if I'd known what brought the killer and the show more journalist together.

To be honest, I see myself giving this one a reread at some point. I'm sure there are bits here and there that I missed. As well as keeping an eye open for the next in the series.

Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook. Oh! The narrator was very good, too. Bonus! show less

Review of eBook

Copenhagen journalist Heloise Kaldan stands in danger of losing her position with the newspaper “Demokratisk Dagblad” when the truth reveals that inaccurate information was the source of her story regarding a fashion mogul. She’d trusted her source, the man who provided the information, but now that the newspaper published the story, it seems as if he’d lied.

Then Anna Kiel, wanted by the authorities in connection with the high-profile murder of Christoffer Mossing some three years earlier, begins sending enigmatic letters to Heloise. Although the journalist has no connection to the woman, her letters seem to suggest that she knows personal details of Heloise’s life. Intrigued, Heloise begins investigating, show more ultimately tracking down Ulrich Andersson, the reporter who’d originally covered the story of the young lawyer's brutal murder. She arranges a meeting and he warns her to stay away from the story.

At the same time, Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer and his partner, Sergeant Lisa Augustin, are working on the same murder case, seeking to bring in Anna Kiel. Ultimately, their investigation will cross with Heloise’s involvement in searching for answers in the case.

And then another person dies . . . .

Well-defined, nuanced characters populate this thriller/police procedural while an atmospheric sense of place anchors the narrative. Short chapters keep the suspense building and the narrative keeps moving along at a brisk pace. The tangled, tension-filled plot twists and turns with unexpected revelations keeping the reader invested in the telling of the tale.

Although told primarily from two perspectives . . . those of Heloise and Erik . . . Anna occasionally steps in with her point of view; ultimately, the unfolding story chronicles a horrific revelation that promises to change everything readers thought they knew about the accused murderess.

This riveting tale, sure to keep the pages turning and the readers on the edge of their seats, is dark and, at times, extremely disturbing. But the astonishing denouement is perfect for this gritty, compulsive tale of connections and murder and revenge.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program show less

If you like Scandinavian noir, this one might be for you. It has all the elements: tight plotting, suspense, plot twists, dark themes, rainy Northern European city setting (Copenhagen), complex protagonists, truly evil bad guys, gritty events, and lots of fun details about police procedures and Danish culture.

At first blush, there seem to be two plot lines—a case of investigative journalistic malpractice and a senseless murder where everyone already knows who did it but the killer has disappeared. The former quickly fades into the background however and the latter becomes the focus of the story.

Heloise Kaldan has been getting cryptic letters from accused killer Anna Kiel. Anna seems to know a lot about Heloise despite never having met show more her. She seems to want a meeting, possibly to tell her side of the story. Detective Sargent Erik Schäfer has been stuck on the Christoffer Mossing murder case ever since his prime suspect flew the coop. The two threads come together when Ulrich Andersson, an ex-reporter who covered the murder, turns up dead. Eric and Heloise join forces (sort of) to solve the mysteries of the strange letters and the missing murderer. Hancock’s intricate plot is too delicious to reveal much here, but suffice it to say, she manages it with assurance and skill. She deals her cards ever so slowly and with just enough detail to keep most readers engaged until the bitter end, and indeed bitter it is. show less

The Corpse Flower, the English translation of a classic Danish thriller, Kaldan og Schäfer #1, is a dark, compelling thriller that starts with a fascinating premise and blooms into a full-blown den of secrets.

A corpse flower is also known as the penis plant. It smells like rotten flesh. Its nickname refers to the shape of the bloom. The same week that The Corpse Flower was released, a penis plant bloomed in the Netherlands, marking only the third time that species has bloomed in Europe since 1997. It is ugly and smells like rotting flesh.

So why are people fascinated with the flower? As a character in the book points out, it’s because the corpse flower has evolved to survive.

The flower is a fitting symbol for this excellent crime show more story. I knew it was going to get uglier, but I couldn’t look away. I didn’t want to look away.

A lawyer from a powerful and wealthy family was murdered, and security footage showed Anna Kiel covered in blood and walking away from the building. Anna was to undergo trial for the murder, but she vanished without a trace. Three years later, Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan suddenly receives cryptic letters signed by Anna. Those letters prompt an investigation to revisit the cold case and figure out how it triggers later events.

Throughout the novel, Anne Mette Hancock introduces new characters with seemingly different secrets and deftly connects each to the story. All of the characters were connected to the plot in some way, and their thoughts and actions made sense. We see how these characters have evolved to survive. The tight story starts dark and gets even darker as Kaldan and Detective Erik Schäfer work to uncover the mystery of the letters and ultimately the truth behind the lawyer’s murder.

Hancock set the right mood as she dragged me deeper and deeper into the plot. The story grows more horrifying as it progresses toward the explosive climax. The resolution reasonably ties up the major plot issues. While the reader is aware of the characters’ secrets, there are still plenty that are hidden from other characters. Those secrets could impact future books in the series. At least I hope they do.

The Corpse Flower is smelly and ugly and fascinating, just like the actual flower. It is also well-written and enthralling and a wonderful choice for thriller seekers.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Publishers and NetGalley, for an advance review copy. show less

I am fairly new to Nordic noir and I’m already hooked on the genre after reading gems like The Golden Cage by Camilla Läckberg and The Tenant by Katrine Engberg. This one impressed me so much, and I'm so eager to read the next books in the series (not yet translated to English, hopefully soon). Very, very high stakes here that are slowly, artfully revealed; the atmosphere and pacing are outstanding. I really like (and empathize with) protagonist Heloise, an independent journalist who won't back down from a story, especially one that exposes the criminal behavior of powerful men. Personally, I am an ardent fan of thrillers that involve a takedown of toxic masculinity. Fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish and Dervla McTiernan's gritty show more mysteries would probably enjoy this, which brings in elements of both. show less