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Burned (Henning Juul #1)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 347 ratings · 66 reviews

Uncovering class divisions, racial conflicts, and tangled emotions, this gritty, shocking

novel of suspense heralds the arrival of a major new talent.

Henning Juul is a veteran investigative crime reporter in Oslo, Norway. A horrific fire killed his six-year-old son, cut scars across his face, and ended his marriage, and on his first day back at the job after the terrible tr...more

Hardcover, 399 pages

Published July 1st 2011 by Faber & Faber (first published 2010)

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Mar 11, 2011 Dorthe Pedersen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To eller tre stjerner... bum-bum... men jeg fortsætter med at være lidt nærig med stjernerne :-) I dette tilfælde er det sådan set OK læsning, men det hele er på en eller anden måde for "konstrueret". Der er lagt op til endnu en Den Store Nordiske Krimiserie, og allerede dét er lettere irriterende. På den anden side fejler plottet ikke noget, og jeg kan godt lide det lidt poetiske sprog. Måske er der potentiale? På den allersidste side kommer der en vinkel på, som måske gør, at man er NØDT til a...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Lukasz Pruski rated it 3 of 5 stars

Thomas Enger’s “Burned” is an interesting procedural taking place in Oslo, Norway. A female student of a communication and arts college has been stoned to death, and a Muslim boyfriend of her arrested. The main character is a crime journalist in a web-based news outfit, Henning Juul, who is just coming back to work after having suffered an unimaginable tragedy. His investigation of the case and the police investigation are portrayed in the two complementary and intertwined threads in the novel.

M...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Hana Howard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Burned
By Thomas Enger

Thomas Enger has developed a character in Henning Juul that is both endearing and frustrating to the reader. His quiet demeanor covers up a rebellious and tenacious nature.A gap in the solution of any problem brings out his determinism and professional standards. It also gets him into trouble with his boss, co-workers and those who want to hide what they have done.

In Burned, Henning is returning to his old job on 123news, an Internet only newspaper, after spending two years...more Burned
By Thomas Enger

Thomas Enger has developed a character in Henning Juul that is both endearing and frustrating to the reader. His quiet demeanor covers up a rebellious and tenacious nature.A gap in the solution of any problem brings out his determinism and professional standards. It also gets him into trouble with his boss, co-workers and those who want to hide what they have done.

In Burned, Henning is returning to his old job on 123news, an Internet only newspaper, after spending two years recuperating from a horrible apartment fire that killed his six-year-old son and left him with scars. The scars on the outside of his face are nothing compared to the ones on the inside, guilt and fear.

In his absence there have been changes that Juul’s nature finds annoying to deal with and subconsciously thwarts the rules. His immediate supervisor is now Heidi Kjus, a temp he had hired years a go as an assistant. She developed sharp elbows and made demands even as a temp. Before he can find a pen that works, he is assigned to cover the Murder at Ekeberg Common with Iver Gundersen a deliver of big stories, hired in Henning’s absence.

Henning has the skill to get people to talk to him. He establishes good contact and is able to get information from those who at first are weary of him. He is curious by nature and doesn’t allow himself to be taken in with the first thing people tell him.

The murder of the young women suggests that this will be a story involving Muslims and Shari in Norway. This is just Enger starting to befuddle the reader with some great twists and turns. Although the authorities consider that this might have been a ritual killing and bring in her boyfriend, a Pakistani, for questioning, Henning thinks that the boyfriend is innocent.

Juuls begins his investigation from his own perspective of the crime scene and those who might be involved. As Juul is drawn deeper and deeper into the case, some interesting subplots and characters are revealed. Along the way he encounters a very vicious Muslim gang who seeks his life, because he has witnessed one of their assassinations.

Henning is a collector of information sources and contacts. Most of his old contacts and sources are gone. One of the new police officers he encounters on the case is DI Bjarne Brogeland, an old school acquaintance who doesn’t quite trust Henning’s information in the beginning. Despite his reluctance DI Brogeland is an important source of data and more so after the attempted murder of Henning. These men so different in their investigating approaches brings conflict and two perspectives to the plot.

Enger is a subtle storyteller. The action here is not demonstrative but creeps up on the reader. Enger creates action and interest with little surprises when least expected and keeps the reader guessing all the way to the unforeseen conclusion.

I look forward to reading more about Henning against the background of the characters Enger has created.
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Nov 30, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

BURNED
Thomas Enger

This is the first of the Henning Juul series to be published in English by Atria Books. Even so, it feels a bit like there was a prequel to Burned, as references are made to other stories Juul has covered, and the terrible tragedy that befell him.

Henning Juul is a reporter for an online newspaper in Oslo, Norway. His most notable feature is the burn scars that cover his face and hands. At the beginning of Burned, he is returning to work for the first time in two years. Repeated...more BURNED
Thomas Enger

This is the first of the Henning Juul series to be published in English by Atria Books. Even so, it feels a bit like there was a prequel to Burned, as references are made to other stories Juul has covered, and the terrible tragedy that befell him.

Henning Juul is a reporter for an online newspaper in Oslo, Norway. His most notable feature is the burn scars that cover his face and hands. At the beginning of Burned, he is returning to work for the first time in two years. Repeatedly throughout the book, we are reminded that Juul is damaged, physically and emotionally, by the fire that scarred him and killed his small son. He is barely able to function, and feels self-conscience and blank, both at work and when he interacts with his co-workers.

Luckily for Juul (and for the reader, as the self-pity and self-flagellation gets tiresome), the first day at work an interesting and shocking case of a woman found in a city park, buried to her neck and stoned to death, occurs. Juul is drawn into the case as he follows leads that take him into the city college and the life of the murdered woman. She was dating a Muslim man from Pakistan, whom the police immediately arrest. He refuses to talk other than denying that he killed her.

Juul thinks the incident does not ring true as a religious action, and tracks down the brother of the arrested man. While Juul is interviewing the brother at his apartment, the young man answers a knock at the door and is shot point-blank. Juul climbs out of the window and runs for his life, but he is sure the shooter saw him, and would recognize him from the scars on his face.

One of the police officers on the case, Bjarne Brogeland, was a school friend of Juul’s, and Juul visits him at the police station to report the murder of the Pakistani brother and the attempted murder of himself. (an aside here – Brogeland gives the series a much-needed sub-plot of a man who cannot keep his mind off his desires for practically any woman within shouting distance, but at the moment is centered on his partner, Ella Sandland. It is a wonder that he functions as a half-way decent policeman while in this constant state of thinking he is “God’s gift and why can’t she see it?” Then we remember all the guys we have known just like this….!)

Enger is a competent writer and keeps his story moving, if at times being a bit too distracting with Juul’s guilt in the death of his son and the subsequent failure of his marriage. He adds different and unusual characters, like Brogeland the Romeo, and his boss at the paper that has Tourette’s Syndrome. The plots are good, somewhat unusual, and have surprising endings as well. Using both Juul and Brogeland in almost even measures, gives the story two perspectives.

With all the very good Scandinavian authors being translated, Thomas Enger is in the top category for a good murder mystery novel. Barbara
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Oct 28, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Burned by Thomas Enger, Henning Juul is a veteran investigative reporter, returning to work after a series of personal tragedies left him changed and fragile. An apartment fire killed his son, ended his marriage and left him physically disfigured. He is struggling to deal with his fears and a case of PTSD that has left him unable to work for more than two years. A lot has changed in the world of internet news, he feels shaky, his sources and contacts may have moved on, but he needs to prove h...more In Burned by Thomas Enger, Henning Juul is a veteran investigative reporter, returning to work after a series of personal tragedies left him changed and fragile. An apartment fire killed his son, ended his marriage and left him physically disfigured. He is struggling to deal with his fears and a case of PTSD that has left him unable to work for more than two years. A lot has changed in the world of internet news, he feels shaky, his sources and contacts may have moved on, but he needs to prove himself, prove that he can still do the work — even if his new partner is dating his ex-wife. He’ll have the perfect opportunity: a gruesome murder committed in one of the city’s public parks. As Juul is drawn deeper and deeper into the case, both the danger — and the potential payoff — increase.

I have to admit that about 50 pages in, I almost set this aside. Early on, Juul is almost too fragile and too pathetic. It was painful to read. Here is a man who lost everything — his wife, his son, his career — and he feels responsible. He’s having a hard time adjusting to the regular rhythms of life. But I wanted to see what would happen to him and in the end, I’m glad I stuck with it.

The story is set in Oslo, Norway, which meant that the geographic references, and a lot of the cultural ones, were tough for me. There was some unfamiliar slang, but for the most part, it was easy reading. It was certainly an interesting look at the changes in the news business that have happened in just a few short years! Juul has to relearn his job while he is rushing to cover a major news story. His methods are very different from his showier colleague, but in the end, you know he’s going to be more successful.

Juul’s story is heartbreaking and you can’t help but root for him. Once I got past my frustration with Juul, it was easy to get sucked into the mystery. A young college student has been murdered — buried up to her neck and stoned to death in a tent set up in the park. The most obvious suspect, her Pakistani boyfriend, has some shady acquaintances. Her college friends, her colleagues in the film school and even her instructor all look a little suspicious. There are rumors that the murder was an honor killing, which has the potential to stir up a great deal of racial unrest. Juul is not going to have much time to get his sea legs back on this case, because he may be the next target.

I have been reading a lot of Scandinavian authors recently. Burned is Enger’s first novel, but I definitely look forward to reading the follow-up. With the cliffhanger that dangles at the end of Burned, how could I miss it!(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 ♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Thomas Enger is another author set to fill the Scandanavian crime/thiller/mystery genre which have been popping up in abundance much like spring daisies in May! Whilst I felt this story was more lightweight compared to say, Larsson or Nesbo, I do believe there is a lot of potential for the development of Enger's writing and his main character, Henning Juul.

I did read an 'uncorrected proof' version so accomodated for the sometimes odd tenses, spelling mistakes and strange translation of text. The...more

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Jan 15, 2012 David Peters rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Burned is a brand new (hopefully a future series) Nordic Noir book coming out of Norway. Our intrepid investigator is a reporter who is coming back from a devastating home fire that injured him and claimed the life of his son. While digging into the case it becomes clear the scars he bears are nothing to the scars that are hidden within his mind. The case itself is quite interesting as a Norwegian girl is found murdered in a horrific Sharia manner, buried to the chest and then stoned to death, a...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 3 of 5 stars

Henning Juul hasn't worked in two years. Recovering from traumatic burns on his face, the loss of his son from the fire and the imminent divorce from his wife Nora has left him empty. He finally returns to work at 123News, an internet newspaper. He's an investigative crime reporter and he's partnered up with Iver Gundersen, Nora's new boyfriend.

Their first crime to cover is a supposed honor killing. Found within a tent, a woman is found buried up to her neck, stoned to death. There are Taser mar...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-relationships, free-book-for-honest-review, mystery, read-in-2011, reviewed, thriller

Henning Juul is a crime reporter in Oslo, Norway. He returns to work after a leave of absence due to a fire in his flat that killed his six-year-old son and left him scarred. It also ended his marriage.

Henning is in the image of financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist from Steig Larrson's The Millenium Series. Both men are quiet, determined and total professionals.

On his first day back,a young woman's body is found at a local park. She had marks from a stun gun, was buried up to her head, and ston...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Nancy Oakes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-series-first-novel, scandinavian-crime-fiction-and-myst, translated-fiction

A solid 3.5 of a series opener.

A new Nordic author has come my way -- Norwegian writer Thomas Enger, who also has a new series to watch out for. Even if I didn't know that there are already more in the works, the end of Burned literally paves the way for a sequel. Hopefully the new entries will be translated and made available to readers as soon as possible, because if this first foray is any indication, the series is going to be a good one.

A young woman is found half buried and stoned to death...more A solid 3.5 of a series opener.

A new Nordic author has come my way -- Norwegian writer Thomas Enger, who also has a new series to watch out for. Even if I didn't know that there are already more in the works, the end of Burned literally paves the way for a sequel. Hopefully the new entries will be translated and made available to readers as soon as possible, because if this first foray is any indication, the series is going to be a good one.

A young woman is found half buried and stoned to death in a tent with one of her hands cut off. It is not long until the police suspect that the details of her death relate to an "honor killing," a draconian form of punishment under Sharia law, implying a connection to Islam. It just so happens that her boyfriend is a Muslim, and it doesn't help that the a) young woman has left two messages for him about another man meaning nothing, asking for forgiveness and b) he is found trying to destroy his computer when the police come to question him. The boyfriend is quickly arrested. The murder coincides with the return of Henning Juul, an investigative journalist for the online news site, 1-2-3 News, "as easy as 1-2-3!" Juul has been away for two years as a result of a tragedy that left him physically scarred on the outside and emotionally scarred within. He's not too excited about returning to work after what's happened, but his feelings begin to change as he becomes involved in covering the case. Sent to cover the press conference on his first day back, Juul hears what the police have to say, and isn't quite sure they've got it right. After he goes to visit the university where the young girl was a student, he is even more convinced that there's much more to this story than meets the eye. Helped by an informant from the police whose identity he does not know, as they converse only via instant messaging, Juul sets out to discover the truth, and as he does so, he puts his own life in danger.

There are several reasons to like this novel. First, there's Juul himself, who makes his way back into the world of journalism only to find that it's become more dependent on titillation, sensationalism and celebrities rather than on old-fashioned reporting, and that now it's the sex and gossip columnist that is the "paper's most important news desk", and that the number of website hits is what really determines success. It's interesting to watch Juul slowly changing as the thrill of chasing after the truth starts to help him back to his feet emotionally, but he also carries around a lot of baggage. There's his mother, lost in an alcohol and cigarette haze; his estranged sister, who just happens to be a minister of justice, and his ex-wife, who is now involved with one of Juul's colleagues; all of this on top of dealing with past tragedy, or "That Which He Doesn't Think About," which is unfolded as the novel progresses. The plotting is tight and very well paced, and there's a good, solid mystery at the core. But there's something else as well -- although the plot involves elements of Islam, it never devolves into anything stereotypical or demeaning.

On the other side of the fence, I got really tired of the character of Inspector Bjarne Brogeland, a schoolmate of Juul's, and a "Romeo whose ambition was to sleep with as many girls as posssible." He might be a decent cop, but the continuing sleazebaggy, interior monologues about another female officer that run throughout the story got really old after a while. The first of these was just an eyebrow raiser, as in "this guy's such a jerk", but became tedious very quickly. I can only hope that in the next novel the author either develops this bit or shelves it all together. It's pointless, really, adding nothing to the story but contempt for a cop. While a great many of the characters are flawed, as credible characters most often are, Brogeland was just a bit too much to take. And as another issue, I sort of figured out the who before anyone else in the story did -- to me it was a bit obvious.

Overall, Burned is intelligent, believable (down to Juul's obsessions with matches and batteries), and at times humorous, while remaining somewhat understated in tone. These same traits also mirror those of the main character. I like the fact that Henning Juul is not just another detective or another cop, but a journalist, who is much better than the police at putting people at ease while he's getting valuable information out of them. I'd definitely recommend this one to readers of Scandinavian crime fiction.(less)

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Oct 12, 2011 Gina Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, debut, mystery, series, thriller

I would actually score this a 3.5.

A woman, brutally murdered, becomes the first story covered by crime-reporter Henning Juul upon his return to 123news following a two year hiatus. What first appears as a possible honor killing involving the murdered woman's boyfriend Mahmoud Marhoni eventually becomes a much more bizarre tale of revenge.

Henning Juul is too complex of a character to discover in one book. Enger paints a brief picture of his protagonist throughout the story, yet there is another d...more I would actually score this a 3.5.

A woman, brutally murdered, becomes the first story covered by crime-reporter Henning Juul upon his return to 123news following a two year hiatus. What first appears as a possible honor killing involving the murdered woman's boyfriend Mahmoud Marhoni eventually becomes a much more bizarre tale of revenge.

Henning Juul is too complex of a character to discover in one book. Enger paints a brief picture of his protagonist throughout the story, yet there is another depth he only touches upon.

We learn he's recovering from both emotional and physical scarring after losing his son in an apartment fire, his mother's an alcoholic and emotionally cold, his sister wants nothing to do with him, and he's partnered with his ex-wife's new boyfriend. From a recurring obsession with replacing the batteries in his smoke alarms daily, to observing extinguishers and exits in unfamiliar locations, we are given some insight into a man who is attempting to control his environment while fighting the fear demon.

One inconsistency I noted, at the beginning he's very reluctant to meet individuals he works with, but is very outgoing when contacting complete strangers. There are glimpses into his past, which tend to leave more unanswered questions. For instance, who is this all-knowing informant that is Juul's source, and why does a former acquaintance suddenly become his ally on the police force, when their previous encounters show mild antagonism?

The story is methodical, with a few extra twists near the end and enough threads left dangling for a sequel, even after the truth becomes known. It was nice not having everything wrapped up in a tight package. And the author does a good job of touching on the religious aspects without drowning the audience in stereo-typical opinions and lectures.

I did find the narrative somewhat abrupt, as if I was reading over someone's shoulder as the story unfolded, rather than being immersed in it. I'm also baffled about a decision made near the end of the book, but perhaps this will be addressed in the sequel?

It's a promising start to a series, and what should become a very multi-layered protagonist in Henning Juul. I look forward to the next title and the subsequent growth in the characters and writing of Mr. Enger. (less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Esoldra rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an excellent read. I read a lot of crime/mystery and I must admit that I am one of the few who did not get the Millennium trilogy. This to me exceeds "The Girl With" series, as the characters are real, the protagonist flawed yet endearing, the murder mystery itself has enough turns and twists to keep you guessing to the end. I am a former journalist, the Millennium trilogy to me very much was a view of what the author wished he had been as a journalist with little reality but more a dre...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Kitty Bullard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book Title: "Burned"
Author: Thomas Enger
Published By: Atria Books
Age Recommended: 18 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5

Review: A mystery of horrific intensity, “Burned” grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. When a young woman is found buried in the earth from her waist down and has been the victim of a ritualistic stoning, Henning Juul is called in to investigate. The plot continues to thicken as he uncovers what is suspected to be a religious act only to find out it goes...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Mandy Matz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ich glaube, ich werde mit diesem Autor nicht warm.
Nach dem 2. Buch um Henning Juul habe ich nun also auch das 1. gelesen, und komme wieder zu dem gleichen Schluss: gute Geschichte, aber nicht gut erzählt.

Ein Mädchen wird tot aufgefunden, grausam ermordert, die erste Theorie, Ehrenmord, liegt nahe. Doch natürlich ist alles anders als gedacht und Juul, ein Journalist, der 2 Jahre nach einem Brand in seiner Wohnung und dem damit einhergehenden Tod seines kleinen Sohnes wieder beginnt zu arbeiten, l...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/10/...

Two years after a fire took the life of his young son,Henning Juul is back on the job as an investigative journalist. To his chagrin,he’s thrust into the murder of a beautiful young college student. Immediately,her Muslin boyfriend is suspected and jailed,but Henning is not so sure of the young man’s guilt. Suspecting more may be in play,he begins questioning friends and fellow students of the victim,and soon discovers the...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Stephanie D. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As soon as I read the first unforgettable pages of Burned by Thomas Enger, I knew I was in great hands. The two chapters which open Burned masterfully set up the interlocking themes and moods of the rest of the novel. The dream-like quality of the first and very brief chapter, without any graphic images or any gore whatsoever, knocked me over with its tragic implications. If I had read anymore, I think I would have probably started sobbing. The second chapter is quite the opposite, harsh and jar...more As soon as I read the first unforgettable pages of Burned by Thomas Enger, I knew I was in great hands. The two chapters which open Burned masterfully set up the interlocking themes and moods of the rest of the novel. The dream-like quality of the first and very brief chapter, without any graphic images or any gore whatsoever, knocked me over with its tragic implications. If I had read anymore, I think I would have probably started sobbing. The second chapter is quite the opposite, harsh and jarring, shocking me with horrific description absent from the painful beginning. The images seared into my brain are ones I will not soon forget, if ever. This alternating technique, employed throughout Burned hooked me in multiple levels – emotionally, psychologically, while being a compelling story.

There are two stories here, the first being that of Henning, still reeling from the fiery death of his son from two years ago. He’s taking pills every day and changes the batteries of his eight fire alarms daily. One of the goals set by his psychologist, just the ability to light one match, is one he’s tried but failed to accomplish every day for the past two years. Is he scarred? You bet he is. His scars run so deep, they go from his disfigured face down to his broken soul. The pain he feels over his son’s death is hinted in the narrative, no unnecessary telling on Enger’s part. It is so painful, Henning refers to it as “That which he must not talk about.” By the end, through bits and broken pieces, the reader forms a partial picture of what happened. And it is bad.

The second story involves Henning’s return to his old job as a journalist for an Oslo paper. His first day back is gentle: he is assigned a sickening murder of a young college student that appears to be an honor killing by her Pakistani boyfriend. Of course, things are not what they seem, and as Henning digs more and more into the hydra-headed story, he uncovers unsavory and unexpected things about everyone involved, not the least of which is the racial tension and prejudices in modern-day Norway.

I am hesitant to even mention it, but as it’s bound to come up, please disregard any comparison to Steig Larsson. Though I adore Lisbeth Salander, I found Enger’s writing superior. For one thing, no tedious chapters on finance to wade through to get to the meat. The chapters are concise, direct, and packed with story – perhaps a result of the author’s journalistic background. I was fascinated with the insights into Norwegian culture and modern-day journalism, plus the interweaving stories were simply engrossing. A masterful debut thriller from an author who happens to be Scandinavian.
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Jun 11, 2011 CuteBadger rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Norwegian-set novel in which reporter Henning Juul gets involved in an unusual murder case, his first story after a long absence from work due to a devastating event in his private life.

I love this genre of novel and read lots of this type, both UK and non-UK-based. I thought that the idea of having a reporter as a protagonist made a refreshing change – although it has been done before, and better, most notably by Scottish crime writer Denise Mina. However I struggled with this book, which I f...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Henning Juul is a journalist, returning to work after a leave of absence. He took the leave of absence due to a fire which resulted in the death of his son and serious injuries to himself. Naturally, his first day back he is drawn into a murder investigation. A woman has been murdered, and it looks like it may have been done by her Muslim boyfriend. As the case progresses, Juul finds that there are really two different stories and that the murdered girl is the only thing the two stories have in...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Hubert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enger carefully builds Henning Juul as the main character in this novel, revealing his background, history and behaviors one part at a time. These characteristics are cunningly woven into the story, making for a detective novel where tweaks and twists in the plot come unexpected and naturally at the same time. The plot has enough twists to keep the book interesting until the very last page, even when the culprit has been unveiled. No artificial moves or jumps in the plot, the story logic is corr...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Büchermonster rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hörbücher

Für Henning Juul ist es ein wichtiger Schritt zurück ins Leben: Nach langer Pause kehrt der Journalist endlich wieder zurück an seinen Arbeitsplatz, die Redaktion der Onlinezeitung 123nyheter. Zwei Jahre zuvor wurde er bei einem Wohnungsbrand schwer verletzt und ist seitdem im Gesicht von Brandwunden gezeichnet. Viel schlimmer ist jedoch, dass sein kleiner Sohn damals in den Flammen ums Leben kam, was bei Henning ein schweres Trauma hervorgerufen hat. Auch seine Ehe ist aufgrund dieser Tragödie...more

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Jun 14, 2013 Stacia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction, nordic, 2012

I picked up this book because it bore the inevitable sticker proclaiming Enger to be “the next Steig Larssen.” Now, I enjoyed the Larssen’s Millennium trilogy, but to be honest, while I love Lisbeth Salander, I don’t think those books represent the best of Nordic crime fiction. Burned, on the other hand, does.

Henning Juul is a truly scarred man, both inside and out. He is tormented by nightmares about the fire that killed his son and he holds to the belief that the fire was intentional—to believ...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Jetty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, proefdruk, recensieboek

Henning Juul is journalist bij een internetkrant. Twee jaar geleden is hij na een brand in zijn woning zijn zoon verloren. Zelf is hij bij deze brand ook gewond geraakt waardoor er verschillende littekens van brandwonden in zijn gezicht zitten. Dit maakt hem wat onzeker over zijn uiterlijk.

Na deze brand is Henning Juul twee jaar uit de roulatie geweest, maar nu gaat hij dan toch weer aan het werk. Hij hoopt op een rustige start zodat hij alles weer op kan bouwen, maar al op zijn eerste werkdag n...more

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May 28, 2012 Marco rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Un ottimo giallo. Come tutti i buoni gialli ti prende e ti fa fare le ore piccole.
In una Oslo a me, come a molti, sconosciuta (grazie a internet me ne sono avvicinato) si svolge il racconto in pochi giorni anche se ci sono radici nel passato. Un po' di islamismo (pro e contro) condisce la storia.
La trama �� assai ben curata e la storia diventa chiara solo dopo aver letto la fine. Buoni i personaggi ben descritti.
Consigliatomi dal mio libraio sono contento di avergli dato retta.

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Jan 20, 2013 Krista rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novel partly because it is based in Norway, where I have spent some time, and it brings me back to those times. The plot itself is very diverting, with some intriguing twists, and a slightly different tone than your average crime novel. Though I must admit there were some gaps for me in how the two main storylines were interwoven; I won't go into detail here to prevent any spoilers. Overall, however, I definitely enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading the sequel, Pier...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Adriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-reads

This book was very hard to put down!! I got this book from the library but I am adding it to my cart! Great from beginning to end. First time I ever heard about Thomas Enger and I he is my favorite International author!

Henning Juul is a veteran investigative crime reporter in Olso, Norway. Henning goes through a terrible tragedy to going back to work to a shocking and brutal crime he has to investigate. This book has it all, brutal crimes, religion issues, murder investigation and personal trage...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Metagion rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book wasn't BAD, per se; it's just when you translate a book from the author's native language (in this case, Norwegian)to English, it loses something in said translation that the story is meant to convey. The author writes a lot like Hemingway, with dry, no nonsense writing that is not very descriptive (which *I* like...gives "atmosphere" to the story) and it makes it 'plod' along...almost turning you off to what he's trying to say. The story itself is curious: what an earlier fire that to...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Kristin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-mystery-suspense, read-and-reviewed

Burned is a multi-faceted mystery, taking readers on an investigative journey that travels from college campuses to press conferences, coming into contact with shady businessmen, competitive young filmmakers, and some shadowy sources. As in real life, the answers aren’t simple—and the deeper you get into the mystery, the more complex it becomes.

Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/arti...

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Oct 27, 2011 Diane S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the very beginning I related to and liked the main character Juul Henning, his back story was a horrible tragedy in his near past. He works for an investigative online newspaper, which was expremely interesting as well. The story line follows him around Norway and we learn of his personal life and that which haunts him. Well written, easy to follow as he investigates a crime to its conclusion among many twists and turns and incorrect assumptions.

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Feb 11, 2013 Morag rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hemming Juul returned to work after a fire seriously disfigured him & kills his 6 year old son, he is immediately reporting on the murder of a young woman discovered in a tent in a local park. Can he hold onto his sanity whilst investigating the murder. Very enjoyable read, perfect introduction to a new disfunctional detective/Journalist can't wait to read the next one.

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Dec 27, 2011 Dorian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Better than average Scandinavian crime fiction. The reporter as ersatz detective is prone to implausibilities. But the lead character is compelling, esp his horrifying back story, which, happily, is underplayed. I will certainly read the next installment of the series.

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About Thomas Enger

Thomas Enger was born in Oslo in 1973, but grew up in Jessheim. He has an education in journalism, and has also studied sports and history. He worked at the Norwegian online newspaper Nettavisen for nine years.

He has composed music and written books since the age of 18. He is also working on a musical.

Enger's first book, Skinndød, was published in 2010. It is the first book in a series of at least...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9738515-burned?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347875979l/9738515.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9738515-burned?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Burned by Thomas Enger[/url]

Burned (Henning Juul #1)

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