The Hand That Trembles

Book 4 of the Anne Lindell series that have been translated. A talented local politician suddenly disappears. There are no clues whatsoever. 12 years later, someone recognizes him in a restaurant in Bangalore. Meanwhile, Ann Lindell is investigating the discovery of a woman's foot on an somewhat isolated peninsula with few residents. It is also in the vicinity of her last great love, father of her only child.

Eriksson wouldn't make my A-list of crime writers, but he is certainly a solid "B". I like the cast of characters he has created and certainly enjoyed another visit with them; however, that said, I thought the crime story part of this book to be less than satisfying this time around. I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly why, show more but perhaps the storyline around the disappearance of the local politician just didn't seem credible.

Most crimes in crime novel require some suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader to make the whole thing work, but within that bit of fantasy it is made credible by the story around the crime or mystery. This one didn't quite do it for me. Also, I had a bit of impatience with the police detective, who has been hung up on this guy, Edward, for five years now. Pick yourself up and MOVE ON! (maybe I should be telling this to the author, eh?). So, to sum, better than average but not as good as the previous; nice visit with 'old friends'. show less

When Sven-Arne Persson—a leader in Uppsala, Sweden’s city politics—walked out of a council meeting and disappeared twelve years ago, people generally believed he had committed suicide even though no body was ever found. But twelve years later Jan Svensk, on a business trip to India from Uppsala, has no doubt whatsoever that the man he passed in the street and saw later at a restaurant is, indeed, the “the county commissioner who went up in smoke.” And, when Sven-Arne recognizes his former Uppsala neighbor, he knows that his simple, peaceful life as an illegal alien in India has ended. Meanwhile, back in Uppsala, Detective Ann Lindell announces to a hospitalized Detective Berglund, “A foot has washed ashore outside show more Öregrund.” Just a foot in a boot—no body.

As the fourth title in the Ann Lindell series, Kjell Eriksson’s The Hand That Trembles does not begin as a mystery. Rather, Eriksson begins his complex plot in 1956 by describing how as a boy Sven-Arne came to identify with his Uncle Ante, a man changed forever by his experience fighting the fascists in Spain. The narrative then jumps briefly to 1993, then 2005 with Sven-Arne living a laborer’s life in Bangalore, India. When Detective Lindell enters the narrative, however, the past and present begin to coalesce into the familiar rhythms of the police procedural. Lindell, a single mother, reluctantly agrees to investigate the severed foot found in Öregrund, even though the location is painfully close to where her former lover still resides. The investigation leads her to the small, isolated community on Bultudden Point where three bachelors, each living alone, appear the most likely suspects. At the same time, Lindell is drawn into the investigation of another murder in Uppsala, a cold case from 1993 that still haunts Berglund, Lindell's colleague and mentor. These multiple stories, skillfully woven together, keep the narrative moving and the reader engaged.

The Hand That Trembles is one of those mysteries that allow the reader to vicariously experience another country and culture from the inside and to view history from a different mindset than our own. Kjell Eriksson’s Ann Lindell will definitely find a home with those who love Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallender or Arnaldur Indriđason’s Erlendur Sveinsson. It’s a lonely job but somebody’s got to do it.

The previous three books in this series, in order, are The Princess of Barundi, The Cruel Stars of Night, and The Demon from Dakar. show less

THE HAND THAT TREMBLES is three stories that merge into one statement about society and the ties that hold people to a communal past as well as a personal one.

Sven-Arne Persson is a married man, a county commissioner, an active member of the Socialist party. One day, he leaves a high level meeting and disappears. Twelve years later, he is recognized by another Swede who sees him in the streets of Bangalore, India.

Detective Ann Lindell is given the responsibility of investigating the circumstances of a foot, in a sandal, that washed up on the beach.

Ann’s superior, Berglund is recuperating from the successful removal of a brain tumor. He eagerly devotes his recuperation time to review all the evidence and interviews that were conducted show more when Nils Gottfied Dufva, an elderly man in a wheelchair, was found beaten to death in 1993. Berglund was a patrol constable at the time but he feels a responsibility to the victim in this cold case.

From these points, the story winds back and forth through decades and continents. Arne Persson, Sven-Arne’s uncle, is a mighty force in his nephew’s life and in the life of the community. Sven-Arne is a committed member of the Socialist party; Arne is red to the soul, a Communist who went to Spain to defeat the emerging Fascist government led by Francisco Franco. Arne is an old man but in full control of his intelligence and his memories. As his time on earth is drawing to a close, Arne is haunted by some of those moments.

As Ann Lindell tries to discover the identity of the woman who was dismembered, she finds herself interviewing the residents of a small community, the people who live on the “avenue” in the section of town called Bultudden. This neighborhood remembers too well the suicide of one long time resident of their community, another act that reaches out to cloud the lives of those living in the present.

From the act that drove Sven-Arne from Sweden, to the murder and dismemberment of the woman , to the suicide of one who sees no alternative, to the bludgeoning of an old man, THE HAND THAT TREMBLES hands the strands to Ann Lindell and leave it to her untangle the knots. This is a complicated story that moves from one time period to another without much notice. It is not an easy story to summarize. It requires the reader to accept the notion of generational guilt. Europe is roiled today by the influx of immigrants coupled with the resurgence of the Nazi party. There is nothing “neo” about the groups whose philosophy spurs hate.

As seen through the eyes of the brilliant Nordic writers publishing in the twenty-first century, the culture and the people of Scandinavia are still facing the political reality of the domination of most of western Europe by Nazi politics and culture. The Swedish flirtation with communism during the 1930′s was a reaction to the Spanish Civil War. Germany and Italy supported Franco and the Soviet Union supported the republican faction. The International Brigades were made up of volunteers from across Europe and the United States. Arne’s life spirals out from his experience, including the death of a friend. The face of the enemy is Swedish and the passage of years does not change the desire for revenge.

Eriksson doesn’t forget that most crimes don’t have deep roots. Some are motivated by greed, lust, and envy in the moment. Small communities, like Bultudden, pass secrets through the generations in the same manner as they pass on property. As usual, books by Kjell Eriksson are character driven and the characters who fare best are those who serve in the police. Old crimes never die and, for men like Berglund, the past is present. show less

This is the first novel I have read in this series. I guess I'm drawn to Nordic mysteries because I enjoy winter.
At first I thought that the support characters were not a flesh out as I felt they should of been. I wanted more information on the other detectives. Then it hit me, this is the eight book of a series, did I really want the author to waste a couple of chapters filling me in on the supporting characters. So many authors spend chapters letting the reader know what they missed in previous books, that it distracts from the novel. I feel it is the readers responsiblity to read the prior books in the series.
This novel had many plots and sub-plots and characters. Also some incidents take place in the past, then the present, even show more in other countries.The reader has to pay attention while reading, and not let their mind wander.I don't mean this is a bad thing. I feel the Eriksson handle this amazingly well. show less

So this is a Swedish detective novel. Slow start but it picked up and ended well. Great use of the stark Swedish gestalt of land, sea, and outlook. Didn't expect at least part of the ending. I am back and forth about the use of India but it was a good contrast to sweden. Will definitely read another KE book and will put Uppsala on the list.

A first rate addition to a very strong vein of brooding Swedish thrillers. The characters, particularly the central character, Ann Lindell, are well drawn. For me, the most compelling thing about the Swedish thriller is the complexity of the characters as they try to sift through their own circumstances and unravel the mystery of life and what it means to be human. This element is present and as intricately presented as that of the cornerstone, Mankell's. I found the actual story lines to be mixed in effect. Although I found the motivations, and the interlude in India, compelling; I thought some of the plot lines, such as the Nazis theme, a return to overused ground. I found myself interested in the characters involved in that aspect show more interesting, but the Nazis theme, in the Swedish thriller, seems worn to the point of being threadbare. Overall, the writing, characters and atmosphere are all solid. I have not read the preceding novels ( though I own The Princess of Burundi). I will pick up the rest of the series. It also bears noting that the translation is first rate, as the writing comes through lyrical and unstilted. show less

Giving this guy a try. Not sure why I went ahead and got this; why not start at the beginning of the series, but, ah well. Here we go ... .
A little slow going (and too, too wide-ranging complications story-wise and geographically) for only a little bit, but then pulled together and I was completely engrossed soon into it. The story(s) altogether become quite moving. It all wraps up a little too quickly; but highly recommended.