On the floor of a church in northern Sweden, the body of a man lies mutilated and defiled–and in the night sky, the aurora borealis dances as...
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Sep 08, 2010
Laura
rated it: 
I've been on a Scandinavian writers' kick since I read and fell hard for 'Out Stealing Horses,' by Per Petterson last August. After reading all three of Petterson's books, (reviewing so far only the first,) I turned to the genre which Nordic writers seem to dominate these days---the suspense novel. A recent trip to Iceland prompted me to pick up first 'Voices,' by Arnaldur Indridason, which I intend later to write about, but will just say for now that it is a subject on which I am emphatically
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Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
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A charismatic religious leader is found brutally murdered and mutilated inside the modern church of a thriving fundamentalist congregation in a town in northern Sweden. The sister of the murdered man calls her former close friend, Rebecka Martinsson, in Stockholm, pleading for help. Reluctantly, Rebecka takes time off from the law firm for which she works to head north, just for a few days, to help out her distraught friend. Unwittingly she is drawn into the investigation for the killer.[retu
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May 18, 2011
Vicent
rated it: 
[copio el comentario que hice en books.livingsocial.com]
Lo añadí a mi lista de lecturas, aunque los comentarios no son muy alentadores; pero me gustó la reseña. Me lo regalaron (primer libro que me regalan gracias a mi "wishlist"), y me lo he leído en unas semanas (porque leo en pequeños ratos, cuando puedo).
Le pongo un 8,5 al libro, pero un 6 a la traducción. Hay expresiones que, en mi opinión, podrían haberse traducido mejor: "Hizo una PREGUNTA MÚLTIPLE s More...
Lo añadí a mi lista de lecturas, aunque los comentarios no son muy alentadores; pero me gustó la reseña. Me lo regalaron (primer libro que me regalan gracias a mi "wishlist"), y me lo he leído en unas semanas (porque leo en pequeños ratos, cuando puedo).
Le pongo un 8,5 al libro, pero un 6 a la traducción. Hay expresiones que, en mi opinión, podrían haberse traducido mejor: "Hizo una PREGUNTA MÚLTIPLE s More...
Feb 27, 2011
Black Dog
rated it: 
Reading Swedish crime fiction makes me wonder: is Sweden really so full of murder and evilness? Or do the dark, cold winter days and nights encourage sinister novels focused on the dark area of the human psyche?
Sun Storm, winner of Sweden’s Best First Crime Novel Award, deals with religion, hypocrisy, abuse, mental illness, and perhaps redemption over the course of the story. It’s setting of Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, is important. Its remoteness and isolation are integra More...
Sun Storm, winner of Sweden’s Best First Crime Novel Award, deals with religion, hypocrisy, abuse, mental illness, and perhaps redemption over the course of the story. It’s setting of Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, is important. Its remoteness and isolation are integra More...
Jul 13, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
I had to return this to the library once because I had checked it out for so long. I got laid off and suddenly found myself with more time... and thought a Fourth of July holiday at the beach was the most appropriate time to start a murder mystery set in the north of Sweden in the darkest, coldest parts of winter.
Really liked the two main characters of this mystery. Rebecca Martinson is a likable lawyer who works too hard and tries too diligently to distance herself from her small tow More...
Really liked the two main characters of this mystery. Rebecca Martinson is a likable lawyer who works too hard and tries too diligently to distance herself from her small tow More...
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Oct 25, 2009
Nms
rated it:
The first of three books by Asa Larsson, a Swedish lawyer who also writes mysteries.
Rebecka Martinsson is a tax attorney (now how boring is that?) in Stockholm, but travels back to her childhood home in Kiruna (in the far north of Sweden) at the request of the sister of a man who was murdered.
From the first pages of the book:
-When Victor Strandgard dies it is not, in fact, for the first time. He lies on his back in the church called The Source of All Our Strength and looks up More...
Rebecka Martinsson is a tax attorney (now how boring is that?) in Stockholm, but travels back to her childhood home in Kiruna (in the far north of Sweden) at the request of the sister of a man who was murdered.
From the first pages of the book:
-When Victor Strandgard dies it is not, in fact, for the first time. He lies on his back in the church called The Source of All Our Strength and looks up More...
Feb 15, 2011
Biaksla
rated it:
Me encantan las historias en las que hay que investigar asesinatos, en las que no sabemos que pasará hasta el final. Sin embargo, Aurora Boreal es algo predecible... Aunque mantiene la intriga hasta el final, durante los días que van pasando la hipotesis correcta se formula facilmente. A mi entender falta un poco de chicha en el proceso de investigación del asesinato pero es muy entretenido y no cabe duda de que buscaré el resto de sus libros,... aunque el hecho de que la protagonista salga inve
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May 24, 2011
In a small Swedish village, inside a church, and under the eerie glow of wintry northern lights, the dark storms of deceit, conspiracy, and disgrace risk coming to light with news of the brutal murder of well-known religious leader Viktor Strandgard. A dedicated Stockholm attorney Rebecka Martinson, and former member of the revivalist church, returns to her hometown Kiruna to help the accused Sanna, an old friend, and Viktor's sister. Gripped in the icy fingers of family secrets, and an ambitiou
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Dec 02, 2010
Maria
rated it:
Depois de ler Aurora Boreal não fiquei surpreendida pelo próprio Stieg Larson ter confessado ser seu admirador incondicional. De facto, este foi dos melhores policiais que li nos últimos tempos.
Adorei a escrita da autora que nos transporta de uma forma sublime para uma pequena localidade sueca e nos faz viver a própria estória. Envolve-nos nos meandros de uma comunidade espiritual que via em Viktor Strandgard um exemplo a seguir, colocando-o quase no mesmo prisma de Deus. Seguiam todos os s More...
Adorei a escrita da autora que nos transporta de uma forma sublime para uma pequena localidade sueca e nos faz viver a própria estória. Envolve-nos nos meandros de uma comunidade espiritual que via em Viktor Strandgard um exemplo a seguir, colocando-o quase no mesmo prisma de Deus. Seguiam todos os s More...
Sep 06, 2010
Jerry
rated it:
Sun Storm's is a Well written Scandinavian murder mystery. The title references the magnetic storms responsible for the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). I love the way Larsson captures the feel of winter in the far north. I've traveled to Bodo, Norway, which is quite near the setting of the novel in Kiruna, Sweden.
This book won Sweden's Best First Crime Novel Award. Whenever I read a novel that has been translated, I wonder how closely the original text has been foll More...
This book won Sweden's Best First Crime Novel Award. Whenever I read a novel that has been translated, I wonder how closely the original text has been foll More...
Apr 26, 2010
PJ
rated it:
Well, I just finished Asa Larsson's "Sun Storm" and have very mixed feelings. I really enjoy the feel of Nordic crime thrillers like Steig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy, but "Sun Storm" wasn't as strong, although I liked the lead character, tax-attorney turned sleuth Rebecka Martinsson very much. One problem I had was some confusion with character names; there's Inspector Anna Maria, and then two other minor characters named Anna and Maria. It's a small detail but I don't under
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Jan 23, 2010
Alber
rated it:
De puta madre, me ha gustado. El libro ha empezado flojo, pero ha ido cogiendo impulso a medida que la historia avanzaba. Lo que menos me gusta: esos flashbacks que, como recurso narrativo, son una mierda: si tienes que explicar cosas que le pasaron a un personaje, móntatelo como puedas, pero no escribas flashbacks porque apestan. Lo que más me gusta: Åsa Larsson carece de ese sentimiento de culpa tan propio de los escritores negros escandinavos. Cuando escribe, le importa tres cojones el hambre
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Dec 23, 2011
Susan
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This is a first novel which according to its cover received rave reviews and winner of Sweden's best first crime novel award. I wasn't that impressed with the novel. It took quite awhile to actually get into the story. The main Character,Rebecka Martinsson is a likeable tax attorney who goes north to help out a friend in distress. Problem is Sanna is not really her friend. She comes across as a lying, woman who plays the "litle girl" In fact, I'm not sure why Rebecka goes to her
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Dec 05, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Dark, Swedish, Thriller
This was recommended as it is a dark mystery thriller along the same vein of Steig Larsson. In the dark freezing north, a horrendous murder has occured in a church. The police investigators have no idea why anyone would kill the godly and almost saintly Viktor. Viktor's only friend is God and he has dedicated his life to prayer, fasting and the bible. His death is brutal and bloody but the church leaders close ranks and dismiss the police.
Viktor's sist More...
This was recommended as it is a dark mystery thriller along the same vein of Steig Larsson. In the dark freezing north, a horrendous murder has occured in a church. The police investigators have no idea why anyone would kill the godly and almost saintly Viktor. Viktor's only friend is God and he has dedicated his life to prayer, fasting and the bible. His death is brutal and bloody but the church leaders close ranks and dismiss the police.
Viktor's sist More...
Jan 01, 2012
Susan
rated it:
A Swedish mystery. This one a woman. There's a lot of cultural/local stuff that's unfamiliar, but basically a good book. Focuses on a really bizarre (and almost cult-like) fundamentalist Christian church in the Swedish far north (Lapp country). The main character is a tax lawyer, Rebecka Martinsson, who lives in Stockholm and works for a prestigious firm. She hears (it's in the news all over Sweden) of a bizarre murder of a churchman she knows and is requested by his ditzy sister to come up and
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Jun 19, 2011
harryknuckles
rated it:
The Savage Altar introduces Rebecka Martinsson, a young city lawyer who is dragged back to confront the ghosts of her emotional past in her rural home town when Viktor, an ex- (friend? boyfriend?) is brutally murdered. Rebecka is a guarded, fragile achiever; clever and driven, compelled to work far too hard to make up for her insecurity. She over-reacts to a friendly approach from her boss with spiky ferocity, and many of her relationships feature awkward conversations and painful silences, wher
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Dec 15, 2010
Kato
rated it:
Huh? Wat? ... Hoe? Huh? Ma huh?
Ligt het aan mij of niet, ik weet het niet, maar veel begreep ik er niet van. Onduidelijke structuur, onduidelijke verhaallijn, onduidelijke flashbacks. Soms werd er midden in een alinea gebruik gemaakt van een flashback, zonder een regel tussen te laten. Hierdoor duurde het - mij bij althans - soms tot 2 of 3 zinnen vooraleer ik doorhad dat ze weer in het verleden bezig was.
En wat is dat toch met wolven? Om de zoveel hoofdstukken verscheen een More...
Ligt het aan mij of niet, ik weet het niet, maar veel begreep ik er niet van. Onduidelijke structuur, onduidelijke verhaallijn, onduidelijke flashbacks. Soms werd er midden in een alinea gebruik gemaakt van een flashback, zonder een regel tussen te laten. Hierdoor duurde het - mij bij althans - soms tot 2 of 3 zinnen vooraleer ik doorhad dat ze weer in het verleden bezig was.
En wat is dat toch met wolven? Om de zoveel hoofdstukken verscheen een More...
Jan 30, 2012
Tim
rated it:
I'm trying to find Scandinavian crime fiction authors that a fellow book club reader hasn't found yet. I forget where I picked this one up, but it lay fallow for a bit until I finally started it a few nights ago. I have to admit I was not impressed at first, I think partially it is the nordic style and maybe some translation loss, it did build some as the book progressed and it did pull me in after a time. It was an interesting twist to have a tale spun from a female point of view, having mainly
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Jul 07, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I loved this book! It was such a good read with believeable characters.
Rebecka sees on the news that a man has been murdered. The victim is the brother of someone who used to be very good friends with Rebecka. Sanna, his sister, calls Rebecka and asks her to represent her when she speaks to the police. Despite Rebecka not being a criminal lawyer she does and we are given a glimpse of the somewhat strained relationship that has emerged between them. As the book goes on we learn m More...
Rebecka sees on the news that a man has been murdered. The victim is the brother of someone who used to be very good friends with Rebecka. Sanna, his sister, calls Rebecka and asks her to represent her when she speaks to the police. Despite Rebecka not being a criminal lawyer she does and we are given a glimpse of the somewhat strained relationship that has emerged between them. As the book goes on we learn m More...
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Aug 01, 2010
Petr
rated it: 
Současná skandinávská detektivka je pojem - hlavně marketingový, ale ten Stieg Larsson koneckonců ujde. Jeho jmenovkyně Åsa ale bohužel... když dva dělají totéž, a tak dále, znáte to. Na Sluneční bouři najdeme pár působivých aspektů: je to čtivě, hladce napsané; odehrává se v atraktivním prostředí hornického města Kiruna; a většina hlavních postav jsou ženy, což je u detektivky netypické a otevírá to nezvyklé situační možnosti. Jenže tím to končí. Příběh je přímočarý a od jistého bodu dál člověk
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Jul 04, 2011
Jacqui
rated it:
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who knows how much I love dark Scandinavian mysteries. This did not disappoint. Rebbeka, the protagonist, is a harried, lonely tax associate in a major law firm (love that detail!) who is called upon to assist a former friend whose brother has been murdered. The book manages to weave religious cults, possible incest, lost friendships, and very touching family relationships into a hell of a story. On to book #2! While not as bleak as the Wallan
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Nov 03, 2010
Arwen
rated it:
Como ya se sabe, no me gustan las heroinas intrépidas y valientes que se creen más listas que los policias. Pero Rebeka es un poco diferente y no me enfadé tanto con ella. Sanna sí, fácilmente le podría dar una patada fuerte al trasero. Qué personaje más antipática y estúpida.
Me gustó bastante este libro, es fácil de leer, y se mantiene el suspense hasta el final.
Sin duda buscaré el siguiente en el serie, aunque que haya otro asesinato repugnante en el mismo sitio con la misma prot More...
Me gustó bastante este libro, es fácil de leer, y se mantiene el suspense hasta el final.
Sin duda buscaré el siguiente en el serie, aunque que haya otro asesinato repugnante en el mismo sitio con la misma prot More...
May 22, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I love crime fiction, and have been enjoying books set in Sweden, so I was pleased to find a new author and series that would fulfill my addiction. This is the "other" Larsson, as my sister-in-law said, not the dragon tattoo one. There is nothing extraordinary about the characters or the crime, but I liked immersing myself in the backdrop of Swedish Lapland (brrrr...) and getting to know the pregnant police detective and tax-lawyer-turned-criminal-advocate who are the primary character
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Jan 01, 2012
Ellen
rated it:
I started to read the second book in this series first and I had trouble getting into it because I didn't know the main character's background. This is one series where I think it's best to start at the beginning.
I particularly liked the depiction of small town life in this book. The main character, Rebekah Martinsson, reluctantly goes back to the town she comes from to help out an old friend. The author skillfully weaves several mysteries together in this tale of one woman coming to More...
I particularly liked the depiction of small town life in this book. The main character, Rebekah Martinsson, reluctantly goes back to the town she comes from to help out an old friend. The author skillfully weaves several mysteries together in this tale of one woman coming to More...
Jan 28, 2012
Heather
rated it:
It's been hot as blazes here in Georgia so I was attracted to a few Scandinavian stories because it's nice to dream about colder weather right now. I'm glad I grabbed this one. Nice details, some great characters and interesting relationships and histories. I love the matter-of-fact way she describes them dealing with the harsh winter but not complaining about the cold. For instance when they go to a cabin that has been unused for a while they roll up the mattresses to press the cold air out
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Nov 16, 2008
jook
rated it:
A Stockholm City tax lawyer involved in a murder at a religious cult. I think she writes better than that famous writer from Ole Miss. I must say that his books are on some of my Swedish family bookshelves. And they did have a view of the Mississippi court system that was partly truth and partly fiction, to use Kris Kristofferson's words. I know a little about Mississippi, law practice, And while I know very little about Swedish law practice, It doesn't matter. She could have been in any busin
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Jul 10, 2008
Bernadette
rated it:
I can’t be certain (I don’t have a list of everything I’ve ever read) but I don’t recall reading any Swedish crime fiction before. Which, if this book is anything to judge by is my loss.
Savage Altar features a young tax lawyer, Rebecka Martinsson, who returns to her home town when a man she knew there is murdered and his sister, her old friend, seeks Rebecka’s help. The story features a particularly gruesome killing, cult-like religious folk, tenacious detectives and a fascinating a More...
Savage Altar features a young tax lawyer, Rebecka Martinsson, who returns to her home town when a man she knew there is murdered and his sister, her old friend, seeks Rebecka’s help. The story features a particularly gruesome killing, cult-like religious folk, tenacious detectives and a fascinating a More...
Jun 02, 2008
Larissa
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Åsa Larsson's debut novel, Sun Storm won Sweden's prize for best first crime novel--quite a distinction, if you consider how many excellent specimens come out of that country every year. It was perhaps this fact, and not the macabre plot description (or the fact that the heroine is a tax lawyer) that initially interested me in the novel. And I'm happy to say that all hyperbolic, hysteric plot devolutions aside (we'll get to these), this was a very enjoyable read.
Sun Storm has a lot g More...
Sun Storm has a lot g More...
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Aug 11, 2007
LJ
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SUN STORM (Thriller-Stockholm, Sweden-Cont) – VG
Larsson, Asa – 1st book
Delacorte Press, 2003 – US Hardcover – ISBN 038533981X
First Sentence: When Viktor Strandgård dies it is not, in fact, for the first time.
***Attorney Rebecka Martinsson left her hometown in disgrace but is now returning to help her friend Sanna whose brother, Viktor has been murdered. Viktor had been revived from death and became the center of a revivalist following from which cam e the building of More...
Larsson, Asa – 1st book
Delacorte Press, 2003 – US Hardcover – ISBN 038533981X
First Sentence: When Viktor Strandgård dies it is not, in fact, for the first time.
***Attorney Rebecka Martinsson left her hometown in disgrace but is now returning to help her friend Sanna whose brother, Viktor has been murdered. Viktor had been revived from death and became the center of a revivalist following from which cam e the building of More...
Jul 30, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
Lately I'm on a kick reading Scandavian mysteries. This book does not disappoint. A gruesome murder and mutilation of living church icon in northern Sweden has Inspector Mella off maternity leave and onto the case. Rebecka Martinsson, a tax attorney, and old friend of the victim's sister and chief suspect in the murder is compelled to leave Stockholm and help her old friend in her hometown of Kiruna. I found this story quite compelling, well told and translated.
