The Darkest Day

Gruselig, und das nicht im guten Sinne. Ganz fürchterlich, was Handlung, Erzählweise und Sprache betrifft. Ein GR-Stern ist pure Schmeichelei.

Aber der Reihe nach: Das einzig gute - und gleichzeitig das Schlimme an der Sache - ist der Anfang. Der ist nämlich ganz gut gelungen, ein paar Leute werden vorgestellt, man ist sofort drin und erwartet eine spannende Geschichte mit einem passablen Personal. Melancholische und mäßig durchgeknallte Schweden (so, wie man sich nach Ibsen, Bergmann und Mankell eben Skandinavier so vorstellt. Und das schlimme an dem guten Anfang ist, dass er einen verleitet, sich durch sömtliche 540 Seiten durchzuquälen.

Aber dann passiert nicht mehr viel. D.h., es passiert schon was, aber genau das wird nicht show more erzählt. Vielmehr spielt sich alles in den Köpfen der handelnden Personen ab, und zwar in Zeitlupe und mit Unendlichschleifen. Sämtliche Gedanken werden zigmal durchgekaut, wieder verworfen und dann noch mal aufgeschoben, und am Schluss des Absatzes heißt es damm: "Aber dieser Gedanke führte ihn auch nicht weiter."

Noch schlimmer, aber zumindest passend dazu, sind Erzählstil und Sprache. Redundant und geschwätzig wären Euphemismen, besonders bei den Dialogen. Die Personen sprechen, als wären sie Zeugen bei Gericht. Keine Frage wird mit "ja" oder "nein" beantwortet, sondern dann heißt es: "Wenn du es so siehst, ist es eine unbestreitbare Tatsache, dass wir uns in diesem Punkt einig sind" (oder so ähnlich.) Authentisch Kostprobe gefällig?

"Aber was Walter betraf, so hatte man sich doch sicher bedeckt gehalten?, wollte Gunnar Barbarotti wissen. Ja, räumte Frau Hermannson ein, was Walter betraf, so hatte man sich bedeckt gehalten." (S. 252)

Fast noch nerviger ist, dass fast alle Personen ständig mit Vor- und Zunamen benannt werden, so heißt Rosemarie nicht kurz "Rose", sondern stets Rosemarie Wunderlich Hermannson. Als ging's um die Anzahl der Zeichen. Das ganze fließt so bräsig und langsam einem völlig spannungsfreien Ende entgegen, dass man auf jeder Seite den Personen, dem Autor, oder dem Übersetzer in den Hintern treten und sagen möchte: "Nu komm doch mal zur Sache." Aber sie kommen nicht. show less

I have read a great deal of Scandinavian crime fiction, and this book surprised me as it didn't match up to any of my expectations.
About a very dysfunctional Swedish family who get-together on the Winter Solstice in December- ie the darkest day of the year- to celebrate the joint birthday of the head of the family and his favorite daughter. A major party had been planned but one of the sons had been a contestant on a Swedish TV Reality Show ,and in the penultimate episode was filmed masturbating - causing a massive media scandal and horrifying his parents, so the party was reduced to family members only. Over three days two members of the family go missing. The son who was in the Reality Show, and the oldest son of the favourite show more daughter. Despite the best efforts of the family and of the police, specifically a very dedicated detective - Gunnar Barbarotti - neither of them are found. Time marches on, and after many months the case comes back to life. One of the missing men is found. But what happened to the other one is a mystery which unravels extremely slowly - too slowly for me I confess...I found myself muttering 'hurry up, get on with it'.

i enjoyed it in parts, the early descriptions of the grandfather (whose birthday triggered the events) and his attitude to and relationship with his wife and family are both amusing and infuriating...but there must be many men like him! show less

The Darkest Day – Another Classic from the Swedish Master

The Darkest Day, is the latest twisted thriller from the Swedish Noir Master, Håkan Nesser and once again he proves to at the top of his genre. This is a multi-layered thriller that touches subjects of mental health and close family relationships and things are not often what they seem.

Karl-Erik and his wife Rosemarie Hermansson have recently retired from teaching and Karl-Erik, a dominant and overbearing husband has decided that in the spring they are moving to Spain. Rosemarie like the good wife with no choice is shocked and annoyed at the decision. But, for the time being the annual get together of the family to celebrate Karl-Erik’s birthday and that of his daughter show more Ebba.

All the family are coming, Robert the only son, who has become infamous after appearing on reality-tv show, Ebba, her husband and two sons, Kristina her husband and child. Most of those gathered do not particularly wish to be there, as they have all escaped from Kymlinge to live better lives. There parents soon to join them in that escape, as they leave this northern Swedish, one-eyed town.

The night before the big family dinner Robert goes missing, and they think it is arrogance on his behalf ignoring his family. Even when Rosemarie becomes concerned about her only son and wants to involve the police, Karl-Eric forbids it. When their eldest grandchild, Henrik goes missing in the middle of the night after the dinner again Karl-Erik forbids anyone to contact the police, until he is finally pressured into doing so.

When the police are called in, things are not straightforward, and as the family unit falls to pieces of the next twelve months. The twists and turns take their time to appear in front of the investigating officer. It is only when he thinks things are going nowhere do things take a turn for the strange but true facts and they are able to crack the case.

This is a case where the police are engaged in a game of twister with the family Hermansson and what is discovered will be the ultimate twist. Håkan Nesser knows how to keep the reader on edge through out the story and it is one you will not regret getting involved with.

Highly recommended, get it, enjoy it and enter the dark world of Håkan Nesser mind. show less

I loved the van veteren books and now Nesser has a new detective, Barbarotti, who more than lives up to van veteren. A great story of family secrets with some great characters. For a long time the mystery eludes our detective but ultimately he solves the riddle. Can’t wait for the next in the series

This book seemed to be endless. The story is good, but it could easily loose 200 pages. It's not moving forward. You read about each character's thoughts and feelings in such great detail, I found it horrible.

In the end (70 pages to go from 540), something happens -finally!- and you are not even told what exactly. A very disappointing book for me, 1/2 star out of five for the story that's hidden in there.

[I read the book in German]

Page turner. Let’s you guess for a long time. Satisfying ending.

This was a great book. Did not want to put it down, but had to at times, to perform necessary tasks like cooking dinner.

Despite the cause for the 2nd missing person was quite clear, I kept readi g and reading, for the way this book was written it caused serious adfiction. I wanted to know if all would come put and/or if Barbarotti would crack the case with so little to go on.

Not giving away any clues, just that it's highly recommended!