Menneske uden hund (original 2006; edition 2007)

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 ( )

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 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! ( )

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 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. ( )

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! ( )

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] ( )