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Invisible Murder (Nina Borg #2)

by Lene Kaaberbøl, Agnete Friis (Goodreads Author)

3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 · rating details · 390 ratings · 96 reviews

The second installment in the bestselling Danish crime series starring Red Cross nurse Nina Borg, following Fall 2011's New York Times–bestselling The Boy in the Suitcase

In the ruins of an abandoned Soviet military hospital in northern Hungary, two impoverished Roma boys are scavenging for old supplies or weapons to sell on the black market when they stumble upon something...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published October 2nd 2012 by Soho Crime (first published February 17th 2010)

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Sep 02, 2012 Anna Janelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advanced-reader-copy, first-reads

Caution: This book with infect you with the need for more Nina Borg!

Invisible Murder is an intense look into the treatment of illegal immigrants, mainly Hungarian gypsies, and PET's counter-terrorism officials struggle to keep black market weapon traders from successfully selling items that threaten the Danish national security. Of course, large-hearted nurse Nina Borg is back, getting herself involved in life-threatening situations while treating the illegals denied medical access elsewhere. Kaaberbol and Friis introduce the reader to a very empathetic victim-of-circumstance, Sandor Horvath, a law-student discriminated against because of his gypsy heritage and association with his renegade half-brother Tamas. When Tamas discovers a valuable weapon that can be sold on the back market, he initiates a strings of events that leave all of the characters at risk of imminent danger. To read through Invisible murder is to be transported to the challenges of a nation divided by racism and nationalism.

I was not an immediate fan of the Nina Borg series, but after reading Invisible Murder, I will now recommend it whole-heartedly. The tension was almost unbearable, and it ran like an electric (or radio-active) current throughout the book. It continued seamlessly from the problematic scenario presented at the end of this first in this series, drawing readers back into the troubled lives of refugees Natasha and her daughter Rina. There wasn't a "getting-to-know you" period in this book; it took off like a bullet from the very beginning and didn't stop until the reader was hit with the entirety of the disturbing plot.

No spoilers here. Mark the calender with the date of release for Invisible Murder: October 12, 2012. In the meantime, if you haven't read The Boy in the Suitcase, grab it up now and read it before you dive into Invisible Murder. The back-story isn't necessarily essential but it will certainly provide a more psychologically-full reading of the characters in this book. I would recommend starting with The Boy in the Suitcase, but most certainly follow up your reading with Invisible Murder - as I thought this sequel was better than the first.

Thank you again to authors Lene Kaaberbol and Agnes Friis as well as Soho Crime publishers for this GoodRead First Reads win. I am thankful that I was introduced to Nina Borg, and I'll be certain to follow up on her exploits in the future.
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Aug 02, 2011 Lind0463 added it · review of another edition

Hmmm - jeg er bare ikke så imponeret over "Danmarks nye krimi-duo" som de fleste anmeldere. Jeg kan ikke sætte en finger på hvad det er, der mangler - eller om de gør noget forkert. Jeg bliver simpelthen bare ikke ordentlig fanget. Historien er ellers relevant nok - romaerne der indtager store dele af Danmarks forstads- og byliv, sidder på gadehjørnerne og spiller på harmonika eller tigger - sover i store grupper i forladte huse, og i nogle tilfælde stjæler for at have til dagen og vejen. Måske...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Gloria Feit rated it 2 of 5 stars

This novel, the second in the Nina Borg series, reminds me of an old MGM epic: A big cast. Broad geographical setting (in this case from Hungary to Germany to Denmark). A tale of Biblical proportions. And yet, despite all this complexity, the plot is pretty simple.

It all begins when two young gypsy boys break into an abandoned Russian clinic in Hungary looking for some loot to sell. Instead they find a canister of cesium salt, a dangerous radioactive material which can be used to make a dirty bo...more

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Feb 17, 2013 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. This novel, co-authored by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis, was a genuine thriller and captured my attention right from the first chapter. The action rocketed back and forth from Hungary to Denmark, and I found the suspense so intense that I finished reading this story in two nights.

The book covers a variety of present day issues set against the unfolding story of a possible radioactive "dirty bomb" being detonated in Denmark. Topics includ...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Lukasz Pruski rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Invisible Murder" by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis is a good thriller. I actually liked it more than the well-known "The Boy in the Suitcase" by the same pair of Danish authors because it reaches deeper into the layer of acute social issues. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say it involves Hungarian Roma (Gypsy) refugees in Denmark. Nina Borg is one of the main characters as is her teenage daughter Ida (a very well drawn portrait of a mixture of natural teenage stupidity and strength of...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Luanne Ollivier rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lene Kaaberol and Agnete Friss's first Nina Borg book - The Boy in the Suitcase - was a New York Times bestseller. I've been eagerly waiting for the second book - Invisible Murder - from this Danish writing duo.

Nina Borg is a Red Cross nurse living and working in Denmark. She works with the marginalized, the desperate and those who can't help themselves. Her official home base is the Red Cross's Coal House Camp. But Nina also works under the radar, helping out those who have no official status -...more Lene Kaaberol and Agnete Friss's first Nina Borg book - The Boy in the Suitcase - was a New York Times bestseller. I've been eagerly waiting for the second book - Invisible Murder - from this Danish writing duo.

Nina Borg is a Red Cross nurse living and working in Denmark. She works with the marginalized, the desperate and those who can't help themselves. Her official home base is the Red Cross's Coal House Camp. But Nina also works under the radar, helping out those who have no official status - and her heart is with the children in these situations. When her cohort tells her of sick Roma children living in an old garage, she hesitates. She has promised her husband she wouldn't put herself in danger after her last outing. But her compassion wins out - she finds the group - and much more than she bargained for....

Inspector Soren of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service is also looking for this group of Roma - there are whispers of terrorism and more.....

Kaaberol and Friis have created a wonderfully different protagonist in Nina. I like that she's not a law enforcement officer, but follows her own sense of justice, working within but bending the rules as need be. She's a caring individual with an iron will, but her need to go forward with her ideals is costing her her marriage and children. The exploration of her relationship with her daughter especially has the ring of truth.

The supporting characters are just as interesting. Soren is the walking wounded, dedicated cop in the series - I like him and hope to see him again. I'm not 100% sure how I felt about Sandor - the half Gypsy law student who becomes embroiled in a nightmare he had no part in starting. Did he redeem himself or not? His ending was left with some unanswered possiblities.

The plot of Invisible Murder is just as compelling and socially relevant as the first book. Although a work of fiction, I can see reading of something like it in the headlines.

"The hatred that flowed in wide, black rivers across the Internet venting itself at Danes, Muslims Gypsies, gays, Jews, liberals, conservatives, women - at every conceivable and inconceivable minority in Denmark and the rest of the world....it was more than just stupidity. It was evil."

The story moves along quickly, with lots of action and bite your nails moments.The ending is tied up but leaves the door open for the next in the series - one I will be picking up for sure.

Some English translations of books feel awkward or wooden - not so in this case - Tara Chace did an excellent job. Definitely recommended.
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Feb 17, 2013 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Supplied by Random House New Zealand for review

Two Hungarian Roma boys investigate a hospital abandoned by the Russians after the collapse of communism. They find something and take it to sell on the black market. Tamar then steals the passport of Sandor, hi s half Roma brother and travels to Denmark to sell it. Sandor is then questioned by authorities about his terrorist connections and his Roma roots exposed. Sandor then travels to Denmark to find him after being told he’s sick.

Nina Borg is a...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Kathleen Hagen added it

Shelves: 2012-audio-books

Invisible Murder, by Lene Kaaberb?l, and Agnete Friis,, translated by authors, a-minus, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren, Produced by audiogo, downloaded from audible.com.

In the ruins of an abandoned Soviet military hospital in northern Hungary, two impoverished Roma boys are scavenging for old supplies or weapons they could
sell on the black market when they find more than they ever anticipated. The resulting chain of events threatens to blow the lives of a frightening number
of people into bits an...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Hpnyknits rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really like the Boy in the Suitcase, so I was looking forward to this second book, but unfortunately this book is more like a cliche of the first book. the bad guys have no element to explain them, Nina has gone further away from believable.
plus- I have trouble with the notion of the book, that Nina is the good guy.
what's the point of trying to save the world if you sacrifice your own family?
I did like the "surprise" ending, although I saw it coming in some form.

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Oct 10, 2012 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-in-a-series, mystery-thriller, translated-fiction

This follow up to The Boy in the Suitcase presents an even wider scope of crime and an almost entirely new cast of characters. Nina Borg still plays a large role in the events, but the real shining star is a new, Hungarian Roma character, Sandor. He becomes heartbreakingly entrenched in the plot, through no real fault of his own. Like in their first book, the conclusion doesn’t feel quite complete with most of the main characters’ personal storylines left open to interpretation (or perhaps open...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, fav-thrillers, kindle, eagerly-awaiting-sequel, scandinavian, favourites-2012

Nina Borg, the Red Cross nurse protagonist from The Boy in the Suitcase is back in this latest thriller from the Danish author duo Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis. After the series of events endangering her life in The Boy in the Suitcase, Nina has promised her husband Morten not to get involved in any more projects to do with the “Network” (an organisation providing medical aid for illegal immigrants who are in trouble) whilst he is away working on an oil rig in the North Sea for two weeks. In...more Nina Borg, the Red Cross nurse protagonist from The Boy in the Suitcase is back in this latest thriller from the Danish author duo Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis. After the series of events endangering her life in The Boy in the Suitcase, Nina has promised her husband Morten not to get involved in any more projects to do with the “Network” (an organisation providing medical aid for illegal immigrants who are in trouble) whilst he is away working on an oil rig in the North Sea for two weeks. In the past her marriage has suffered because Nina has put the needs of others before those of her own family, even abandoning her two young children in her quest to help the underprivileged. But her resolve is soon tested when Nina is asked for help by one of her colleagues from the “Network”.

A group of Roma (gypsies) hiding out in an abandoned mechanics’ workshop have become mysteriously ill with what appears to be a serious stomach virus, and Nina’s colleague Peter has also succumbed to the disease. Knowing that there are young children involved, Nina consents to visit the group, despite her better judgment and promise to her husband. After administering some fluids and medications to one of the seriously ill Roma children, Nina is being approached by an injured young man and finds herself fleeing the scene from a group of angry Roma men, with the fugitive in tow. This encounter unleashes a series of events which see Nina critically ill in hospital and being pursued by dangerous men who will even threaten the safety of her own family to get what they want.

After reading both The Boy in the Suitcase and Invisible Murder within the space of a few days, I am finding myself seriously addicted to the Nina Borg series. True to the genre, the Scandinavian authors provide an atmospheric thriller that not only explores the darker sides of Danish society and current political events, but also knits these into a cleverly crafted storyline which captivated me from start to finish. I really enjoy the authors’ style of providing the reader with several parallel storylines in the beginning of the novel, which later converge to solve the mystery. Partially set in Denmark and Hungary, the novel again explores the implications of open borders to the Eastern block countries and the fates of refugees streaming into the country in an atmosphere of growing racial division and hatred. The character of Sandor embodies the fate of a hard-working, clever young person caught up in events out of his control purely due to his ethnicity and family circumstances. It is impossible not to feel empathy for Sandor as he slides further and further down the path to destruction through his efforts to save his brother’s life.

With Nina Borg the authors have created a believable, empathetic character who advocates for the oppressed and underprivileged, which will ultimately cost her dearly. Nina is constantly being torn between the loyalties to her husband and children, and her need to help those more unfortunate than herself. In this book the high price she has to pay for her efforts is even more evident than in The Boy in the Suitcase, and I wondered how people like Nina keep up the energy to keep fighting, when so much is at stake for them personally.

With events unfolding mercilessly, the ending was sudden and somewhat unsatisfactory – especially since the next book in the series has not been translated yet! I will now have to wait to read more about Nina’s fate in the next book as soon as it comes out.

Again, I highly recommend this thriller to any fans of Scandinavian fiction, or to anyone who is looking for a believable woman protagonist. To anyone who is tempted to read Invisible Murder, I would advise to first pick up The Boy in the Suitcase. Whilst the book can be read as a stand-alone novel, knowing some of Nina’s background added to the enjoyment of reading Invisible murder. 4.5 stars.

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Feb 27, 2013 Marla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, mystery-thriller

Invisible Murder is the second installment in the Nina Borg series and I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the first.

In this installment, Nina isn't as "bleeding heart" or annoying (I was a little tired of her by the end of the first book - so many irritatingly irresponsible decisions)! She definitely felt more "real" this time and not as over-the-top with her actions and she garnered more sympathy from me as the reader.

This story, like its predecessor, had many characters and the chapters bounce...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Bookphile rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2012, mystery-and-thriller

If you're a fan of Stieg Larsson, or if you enjoyed The Killing, I think this book would appeal to you. It has that same dark, realistic, and gritty feel to it. Along with the murder, there is a lot of human drama surrounding the characters, and it was one of those books that I just didn't want to put down. More complete review to come.

Full review:

The description of this book made me a bit wary, because I'm not a big fan of spy novels or big books about terrorism. I'm more interested in novels t...more If you're a fan of Stieg Larsson, or if you enjoyed The Killing, I think this book would appeal to you. It has that same dark, realistic, and gritty feel to it. Along with the murder, there is a lot of human drama surrounding the characters, and it was one of those books that I just didn't want to put down. More complete review to come.

Full review:

The description of this book made me a bit wary, because I'm not a big fan of spy novels or big books about terrorism. I'm more interested in novels that explore the psyche of crime, and I was glad to find that this was ultimately what I got out of this novel. I haven't read The Boy in the Suitcase--yet--so this was my first experience with these authors, and it just left me eager to read more of their work. Minor spoilers to follow.

The blurb makes this book sound like it's about Nina Borg and it is, but she's only one of a cast of very intriguing and compelling characters. The action of the story unfolds in the telling of the stories of various characters, and culminates when their stories intersect. I thought that all of the characters were compelling, but for very different reasons, and so I enjoyed the multiple narrative threads. Each character has a distinctive voice, and all of them are very well done, so I was invested in what happened to them.

I think my favorite character was Sandor, and I thought his story was probably the most tragic--though, let's be clear, this book is not short on tragedy. Sandor is forced to straddle two worlds and, as a consequence, he never really belongs to either of them. Though I found him a moral character, there's no real reward for his morality, and it was pretty devastating to watch the world for which he fought so hard slowly begin to crumble beneath his feet. Sandor is the very definition of a victim of circumstances, and it was a frustrating, authentic point to the novel.

Nina is also a very well-done character, and I couldn't help but think of the excellent show The Killing as I read. Both of stories involve women who are drawn into an obsession to right a wrong. Both of them are incapable of noticing that their world is imploding around them as they sink deeper and deeper into their obsessions. Really, the worst thing about this is that Nina is doing the right thing, but in doing the right thing, she risks her own happiness and peace of mind.

This is really the striking thing about this novel, the way it explores the gritty reality of how, in trying to do what's right, people can ultimately end up with shattered lives. It's a very gritty reality that makes for a read that's compelling but not always very uplifting. I enjoy this kind of writing, though, because it shows just how wide-reaching and devastating the effects of a crime can be, in some of the most unexpected ways.

The only downside to the book is that I figured out pretty early one what was going on with the mysterious retrieval from the former Soviet hospital. Because it was pretty obvious, I didn't think it was really necessary for the authors to obfuscate what was going on. In some ways, it was a little detrimental to the narrative flow to try to maintain this cloak of secrecy over something that seemed pretty obvious to me.

Another possible downside is the way the story is structured. Because it's obvious how all but one of the characters is tied to the story, it's obvious that there must be a way that character will ultimately tie into the story. I didn't mind this all that much, as it did add an extra layer to the mystery and it was a twist that ultimately surprised me.

Ultimately, I found this an excellent page-turner, but one that had compelling characters, which is exactly what I look for when I'm in the mood for a good crime novel.(less)

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Nov 02, 2012 TC rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

Invisible Murder is the second book in the series, coming on the heels of New York Times bestseller The Boy in the Suitcase. I missed the first book but the blurb for this one had me drawn in.

In Hungary two young Roma gypsy boys are scavenging in an old Soviet military hospital when they are able to access a formerly sealed up area and find something that could make them a lot of money. Their actions could threaten the lives of many others though. In Denmark nurse Nina is used to being in close...more Invisible Murder is the second book in the series, coming on the heels of New York Times bestseller The Boy in the Suitcase. I missed the first book but the blurb for this one had me drawn in.

In Hungary two young Roma gypsy boys are scavenging in an old Soviet military hospital when they are able to access a formerly sealed up area and find something that could make them a lot of money. Their actions could threaten the lives of many others though. In Denmark nurse Nina is used to being in close contact with the poor and dispossessed but this time her work is about to damage everything she holds dear. Elsewhere Sandor is trying to escape his roots and make a good life for himself, but his new world is about to come crumbling down around him.

The story is told from a number of perspective and draws together several strands to an unlikely climax. In addition to the above we also see events unfold from the perspective of a Security detective, trying to head off terrorist threats, and an elderly man who thinks his wife is frittering away their life savings. It is clear how some of the threads dovetail but it takes right until the end to neatly tie them all together. Although there is a lot going on and plenty of characters to keep in mind I didn't find it hard to keep the strands clear or keep up with what was happening. The themes are very topical and I love that the ending wasn't what I had been expecting.

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it had a plot that kept moving and was full of little twists and turns but that it also had some great characters with real depth to them, where some thrillers like this get carried away with plot and offer slightly flat protagonists. Nina is devoted to her work with the underground Network and determined to do what she can to look after children who need her, although husband Morten sees this as being at the expense of her own children. I also felt for Sandor while being slightly sorry for him feeling he almost had to deny where he came from. As a Roma man he is acutely aware of the discrimination his people face but wants to have a career. When his half brother comes bowling back into his life he struggles with uniting his two very different worlds. I felt for him as he became more controlled by others.

I really enjoyed this book and will try and get to the previous book at some point in the future.(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 J.R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

Nurse Nina Borg’s compassion and her difficulties making her family understand and accept what she feels she must do are at the heart of this novel which is about ordinary people caught up in situations over which they have little personal control.

The story begins in Hungary where two young gypsies scavenging an abandoned Soviet hospital facility stumble on an object promising to lift them and their families from poverty. Unfortunately, their efforts to find a buyer for this object put the life...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Kasa Cotugno rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vine, location-europe-scandinavia, genre-crime-thriller, subject-immigration-experience

This is the second in what promises to be an intriguing series of mysteries originating in Denmark, but which bear the stamp of Henning Mankell in that they bear with them plots of international influence. At the center is Nina, a nurse, working with immigrants and deportees who find themselves not always within the law, but who require medical attention. The Boy In The Suitcase, the first book in the series, was surprising and well thought out, but which lacked the encompassing originality and...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Margaret Donovan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kaaberbol and Friis have created a series with a unique protagonist, a nurse who is a "serial do-gooder." In this, the second of the Nina Borg suspense series, the action is fast-paced and the stakes are high, not just for Nina, but also for the Hungarian and Danish counterterrorism units.
Nina's well-intentioned visit to a small community of illegal Roma immigrants involves her and her daughter in an international plot to smuggle radioactive material into Denmark. By the final page we wonder...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Sam Sattler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, translation

Invisible Murder, co-written by Danish authors Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis, features Red Cross nurse Nina Borg, a character the pair introduced in their highly acclaimed 2011 debut novel. That novel, The Boy in the Suitcase, in addition to being a New York Times bestseller, was named best Danish Thriller of the Year, a New York Times Notable Crime Book, and was nominated for several other literary awards.

In addition to the work she does for the Red Cross at a large refugee camp, Nina is sti...more Invisible Murder, co-written by Danish authors Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis, features Red Cross nurse Nina Borg, a character the pair introduced in their highly acclaimed 2011 debut novel. That novel, The Boy in the Suitcase, in addition to being a New York Times bestseller, was named best Danish Thriller of the Year, a New York Times Notable Crime Book, and was nominated for several other literary awards.

In addition to the work she does for the Red Cross at a large refugee camp, Nina is still tied into “the Network,” a group of doctors, nurses, and advocates that provides off-the-grid care and help to those in the country illegally. Many of the people she sees through her “Network” are Eastern Europe gypsies forced to endure atrocious living conditions as they try to stay under the radar of Copenhagen authorities long enough to scam the city’s citizens out of some of their money.

Nina’s husband, a North Sea geologist, approves of her clandestine services, asking only that she not take that risk while he is away working on an offshore oil rig (the couple have a teen daughter and young son). Nina, however, because she finds it impossible to ignore the plight of sick children, decides to make one quick visit, despite her husband’s absence, to the neglected Copenhagen garage within which several Hungarian gypsy families have taken shelter. Bad mistake.

Not only is Nina unable to identify the illness that is causing the children to vomit and dehydrate to the point of delirium, she develops the same symptoms and is hospitalized in critical condition. In the meantime, Copenhagen security personnel are frantically searching for the young man Nina was originally called about, fearing that he has smuggled the makings of a deadly terrorist weapon into Denmark.

The plot of Invisible Murder is a complicated one in which the authors give equal weight to what is happening simultaneously in the lives of four very different sets of characters. The story alternates between Nina’s efforts to help the gypsy children; the frantic attempts of Danish Security to crack what they believe is a terrorist network; a young man’s search for his younger brother, who happens to be the same boy Danish authorities are so desperate to find; and the everyday life of an ailing old man and his younger wife.

Although Invisible Murder might require a little patience on the part of the reader, it will reward those who do not become frustrated enough to stop reading. Admittedly, because it can be difficult to keep track of some of the Scandinavian character and place names (a common problem encountered by readers of translated novels), keeping a descriptive list of characters as they are introduced will make it easier to keep up with the novel’s many interrelated plot twists. You will be happy that you stayed with Invisible Murder to the end.
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Oct 12, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-are, netgalley-reviews, provided-by-publisher

Though I didn't have the opportunity to read The Boy in the Suitcase it received such good press that I couldn't resist the opportunity to pick up the series sequel, Invisible Murder. Set in Eastern Europe, it features Nina Borg, a nurse who clandestinely supports an underground organisation that provides medical care and assistance to illegal immigrants in Denmark. When Nina is asked to assess a group of sick Roma (Gypsy) children hiding in a derelict mechanic workshop she assumes the nausea an...more
Though I didn't have the opportunity to read The Boy in the Suitcase it received such good press that I couldn't resist the opportunity to pick up the series sequel, Invisible Murder. Set in Eastern Europe, it features Nina Borg, a nurse who clandestinely supports an underground organisation that provides medical care and assistance to illegal immigrants in Denmark. When Nina is asked to assess a group of sick Roma (Gypsy) children hiding in a derelict mechanic workshop she assumes the nausea and diarrhea are a result of a virus or food poisoning. But the cause is far more sinister, tied to an abandoned Soviet hospital, a desperate Hungarian Roma teenager and a suspected terrorist threat.

I have to admit at around a third of the way into Invisible Murder I was contemplating abandoning it but decided to give it just a little more time. The turning point came not long after, as the established threads of the story began to merge and two hours later I turned the last page, replete. The tension in the last half of the novel had me riveted and I was intrigued by the growing twists and turns. I love that I didn't work out the the conclusion except in the most general way, the author's present an unusual yet credible twist.

The action of the plot is balanced neatly by the personal circumstances of the characters. Nina's altruistic fervour is offset by her difficult relationship with her teenage daughter and the consequences of her activities for her family. Sandor is a young man caught between loyalties whose life is turned upside down by his younger brother Tomas. I was particularly intrigued by Magnus and look forward to perhaps learning more about him in later books.

Invisible Murder is also a social commentary on the treatment of the Roma, the increase in racial intolerance within society and the ever present threat of terrorism that has law agencies straining at their limits. It's an interesting glimpse into the society of two countries that I am almost wholly unfamiliar with.

Despite the slow start, I really enjoyed Invisible Murder and hope to pick up The Boy in the Suitcase before the third translation of the Danish series is released, which will definitely be on my wishlist.
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Feb 16, 2013 Cindy Meilink rated it 4 of 5 stars

The writing style of these two Danish authors is effortless, the flow is smooth, quickly shifting from one character to another, the plot is original and well-executed throughout, and the characters have depth and believability.

In Russia, two boys discover an item in an old, abandoned hospital that they bring to the black market.

Sandor, brother to one of the boys, is a student, desperately trying to escape his impoverished roots and make something of himself.

Nina Borg, the central character in...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the second installment of what I hope will be a continuing series featuring Nina Borg, a nurse who is out to save the world. OK, so that's a bit far-reaching, but she really does go out on a limb here to take care of a group of refugees who are hiding in an old gas station. It turns out that they've been exposed to radiation and the book revolves around investigations into terrorism in both Denmark and Hungary, from which the refugees have come. Nina ignored her family in the first book...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Colby rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my first exposure to "Nordic Noir" and it was a fantastically written tale of deceit and family manipulation. The story was written in a style that is sort of Tarantino-like in that several separate story-lines converge bringing relatively normal people into extraordinary circumstances. The character development was top notch, and although it was a little slow to start, it reached a frenetic pace early and kept you on the edge of your seat till the great twist at the end. Perhaps the sl...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Kathyk21 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Invisible Murder started as a fairly depressing picture of poverty in Russia. Then the story quickly moves to Denmark where we are shown an unjust justice system at work. The reader is introduced to many of the major characters in the first five chapters. However, because there are so many tangential characters, it is hard to know which ones are major. Sandor and Nina are very likable characters. They struggle in ignorance through the unfolding events, guided by their loyalties and good intentio...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Margaret Sankey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After the events of the Boy in the Suitcase, Danish nurse Nina Borg promised her family not to be drawn into dangerous activities via the refugees she works with in her job at a Red Cross resettlement area in Copenhagen. However, no sooner than husband Morten is off on a north sea oil rig, Nina discovers that two Hungarian Roma teenagers scavenged radioactive material from an abandoned Russian base and are trying to sell it to Danish Neo-Nazis over the internet, while storing is casually. Gangst...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Sharman Egan rated it 1 of 5 stars

We meet Pitkin and Tamas in the prologue. Then in a section entitled "April", 3 new storylines are introduced, each with its own set of characters and no indication of how they related. And each one is just a few pages, not long enough for you to get the characters set in your head, or to become engaged in the story. By the time I got to the next section ("May" starting on page 29), I was so confused I just gave up. In fairness, I was under the influence of various pharmaceuticals so maybe my br...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wish I could give 3.5 stars, since that is a more accurate reflection of my level of enjoyment with this book I really engaged with the narrative and plot of the book; I just find the protagonist, Nina Borg (of this and The Boy in the Suitcase), to be annoying - behaving in the ways of horror movie heroines who always make the *worst* choice available. She is surrounded by a large number of unlikable characters, with only one really sympathetic, fleshed out character. I really like the details...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Skip rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: foreign-authors, thriller

Nina Borg has resolved to be a mother/wife, but is dragged into a nasty situation to help very sick Hungarian refugees, one of whom is harboring something very toxic. Meanwhile, the smuggler's brother is essentially disenfranchised as a Hungarian student and goes off to save his brother only to become inadvertently embroiled in tearing apart Nina's family. Nina's inner strength helps her overcome her own sickness, and stop a grave threat to Copenhagen by a most unexpected person. I would have li...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Cathy Cole rated it 4 of 5 stars

First Line: "Maybe we'll find a gun," Pitkin said, aiming his finger at the guardhouse next to the gate.

To the teenage boys living near the abandoned Soviet military base in northern Hungary, it is a potential source of hidden treasure, an opportunity to sell what they find and treat themselves and their families to things the rest of the world seems to take for granted. When Pitkin and Tamás find something in the basement of the hospital, they know it's better than drugs or guns to sell on the...more First Line: "Maybe we'll find a gun," Pitkin said, aiming his finger at the guardhouse next to the gate.

To the teenage boys living near the abandoned Soviet military base in northern Hungary, it is a potential source of hidden treasure, an opportunity to sell what they find and treat themselves and their families to things the rest of the world seems to take for granted. When Pitkin and Tamás find something in the basement of the hospital, they know it's better than drugs or guns to sell on the black market; these two impoverished Roma (Gypsy) boys have discovered an object that the right person will pay enough for to set their families up for life.

But the item they've found and carried away from the old military base is much more than they ever bargained for. As one of the boys takes the object all the way to Copenhagen in order to sell it, he is unwittingly unleashing a whirlwind that has the power to affect the lives of every single person with whom it comes in contact-- among them Red Cross nurse Nina Borg. Although the object isn't specifically named until two-thirds of the way through the book, it doesn't matter; most readers are going to know what it is and be filled with dread as the action progresses, chapter by chapter.

What ratchets up the suspense with each turn of the page is how this unnamed object affects the people along its path. Tamás's brother, Sándor, a law student in Budapest, has nothing to do with the object his younger brother has found, but his life gets blown to pieces anyway... as does the life of Nina Borg.

Through the character of Nina Borg, a Red Cross nurse who also does work for a secret immigration organization, the authors have a lot to say about the living conditions of immigrants forced to live in camps in Denmark, and it doesn't strain credulity to think that the details are very similar from country to country around the world. It's much easier to sit in the comfort of your own home watching television to feel pity for refugees in their own countries; much harder when you encounter these same people face to face on the streets where you live. Kaaberbøl and Friis put a very real face on the rise of hate groups and the ongoing struggles of groups like the Roma. Nina herself does not see these people in terms of political agendas or right and wrong. She sees people who need help, and she gives it to them-- as much as she can, regardless of the cost to herself or her family.

At first as I read Invisible Murder, I bemoaned the fact that there were several other characters taking the spotlight from Nina, a character that I grew to admire and care for in The Boy in the Suitcase. Then I fell under the spell of Sándor, the young half Roma law student who's trying so hard to rise above the poverty and the hatred that his people are forced to endure. I grew to like Søren as the inspector dealt with an understaffed police force faced with problems that mushroom daily. And what exactly does a cranky old man named Skou-Larsen have to do with what's going on?

When I grew a bit unhappy when Nina's character seemed subdued compared with her behavior in the first book, I realized that the authors were being true to the danger presented in the book as well as to Nina's life. No one with a family can behave as Nina does-- giving her all for what she passionately believes in-- without consequences.

Nina is faced with very real, very painful, consequences in this book, and once that unnamed object is dealt with, once all the other characters are sorted out, we're left to wonder just how Nina is going to react to the turn her life has taken. Now I can't wait for the next book in the series. Nina Borg is climbing higher and higher on my list of favorite crime fiction characters.(less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: work

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 23, 2012 Florence rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book has a great element of suspense and danger. The setting is in abandoned Soviet military hospital. Two male characters find something there that unravels a series of events. The mystery of the story and anticipation will occupy you throughout the story. This is a follow-up to "The Boy in the Suitcase." Another main character in the story is a Red Cross nurse named Nina Borg. She is unexpectedly thrown into the desperate conflict at the center of this novel. This book is a must-read and...more

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About Lene Kaaberbøl

Jeg kom til verden på Rigshospitalet i København d. 24.3.1960. Overlægen var i kjole og hvidt - han var blevet afbrudt midt i en gallamiddag - men min søster siger, at det er da ikke noget, hendes fødselslæge var i islandsk nationaldragt. Nogen vil mene at det således allerede fra starten var klart at jeg var et ganske særligt barn. Andre vil sikkert påstå at min mor bare var god til at skabe plud...more Jeg kom til verden på Rigshospitalet i København d. 24.3.1960. Overlægen var i kjole og hvidt - han var blevet afbrudt midt i en gallamiddag - men min søster siger, at det er da ikke noget, hendes fødselslæge var i islandsk nationaldragt. Nogen vil mene at det således allerede fra starten var klart at jeg var et ganske særligt barn. Andre vil sikkert påstå at min mor bare var god til at skabe pludselige gynækologiske kriser.

Jeg blev altså født i København, men det må nok betragtes som en fejl, for min forældre er jyske, min opvækst foregik i Jylland (mestendels i Malling ved Århus), og jeg betragter mig i dag som eksil-jyde på Frederiksberg, på det mine jyske venner omtaler som Djævleøen (Sjælland).

Jeg har skrevet altid, eller i hvert fald lige siden jeg nåede ud over »Ole så en so«-stadiet. Som hestetosset teenager skrev jeg bøgerne om Tina og hestene (de to første udkom da jeg var femten, den fjerde og sidste da jeg var sytten). Som 18-årig opdagede jeg Tolkien og Ringenes herre, og derefter Ursula K. LeGuins trilogi om Jordhavet, og lige siden har mit bog-hjerte banket for eventyr og drageblod og verdener, der ligger mindst tre skridt til højre for regnbuen eller Mælkevejen, og under alle omstændigheder et pænt stykke fra den asfalterede danske virkelighed.

I dag, cirka 30 bøger senere, er jeg stadig lige så håbløst vild med at skrive som jeg altid har været. Og selv om jeg har været en lille smuttur i krimi-land og skrevet en kriminalroman for voksne - læs mere på ninaborg.dk hvis du har lyst - så er jeg bestemt stadig børnebogsforfatter og har stadig hang til magiske momenter!

Personal
Name Lene Kaaberbøl
Born 1960, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Education: Århus University, degree (English, drama). Hobbies and other interests: Playing pentanque.

Addresses
Office—Phabel & Plott ApS, Laksegade 12, St.th, DK-1063 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

Career
Novelist. Formerly worked as a high school teacher, copy writer, publishing company editor, cleaning assistant, and riding teacher. Phabel & Plott ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark, owner and writer.

Honors Awards
Best Disney Novel Writer of the Year award, Disney Worldwide Artist Convention, 2001, for five "W.I.T.C.H." series novels. (less)

More about Lene Kaaberbøl...

Books by Lene Kaaberbøl

The Shamer's Daughter (The Shamer Chronicles, #1)

The Serpent Gift (The Shamer Chronicles, #3)

The Shamer's Signet (The Shamer Chronicles, #2)

The Shamer's War (The Shamer Chronicles, #4)

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Invisible Murder (Nina Borg #2)

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