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24th out of 195 books
—
216 voters
The Hypnotist (Joona Linna #1)
by
Lars Kepler,
Ann Long
Prepare for The Hypnotist to cast its spell
In the frigid clime of Tumba, Sweden, a gruesome triple homicide attracts the interest of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who demands to investigate the murders. The killer is still at large, and there’s only one surviving witness—the boy whose family was killed before his eyes. Whoever committed the crimes wanted this boy
Hardcover, 503 pages
Published
June 21st 2011
by Sarah Crichton Books
(first published 2009)
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I wish someone would hypnotize me and erase the memory of reading this book.
OK, it isn’t that bad from a writing standpoint and basic premise, but it had a lot of buzz that I didn’t think it came close to living up to. Slapping that “The Next Stieg Larsson!”* label on any new Swedish thriller is probably automatic at this point, but it sets up a reader up for disappointment when there’s no character anywhere near as interesting as Lisbeth Salander around. Extra disappointing when most of the cha...more
OK, it isn’t that bad from a writing standpoint and basic premise, but it had a lot of buzz that I didn’t think it came close to living up to. Slapping that “The Next Stieg Larsson!”* label on any new Swedish thriller is probably automatic at this point, but it sets up a reader up for disappointment when there’s no character anywhere near as interesting as Lisbeth Salander around. Extra disappointing when most of the cha...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Aug 26, 2011
Eric
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of the Millenium trilogy
Recommended to Eric by:
Library
Shelves:
detective-mystery
I really liked this novel, and would have given it four stars if not for three things that irked me about the way it was written.
1) The authors (this was written by a married couple) use the present tense in narration (e.g. Joona walks into the room and sits down). At first, I thought there was a compelling reason for this, but after finishing the book, I can't come up with anything, except perhaps that it was poorly translated into English -- do Swedish authors normally write in present tense?...more
1) The authors (this was written by a married couple) use the present tense in narration (e.g. Joona walks into the room and sits down). At first, I thought there was a compelling reason for this, but after finishing the book, I can't come up with anything, except perhaps that it was poorly translated into English -- do Swedish authors normally write in present tense?...more
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
During the whole bookI felt the tension. I just could not put it down! The story is about a man who breaks a promise he made a long time ago. Then his son disappears and nobody has a clue why and who did it.
Usually somewhere half way the book I am already guessing who did it, but this time for me the outcome was surprising too. I will not give away any details, because it would ruin the fun for all that want to read it, be it in Swedish, English, German....more
During the whole bookI felt the tension. I just could not put it down! The story is about a man who breaks a promise he made a long time ago. Then his son disappears and nobody has a clue why and who did it.
Usually somewhere half way the book I am already guessing who did it, but this time for me the outcome was surprising too. I will not give away any details, because it would ruin the fun for all that want to read it, be it in Swedish, English, German....more
I suppose I should say this is a spoiler alert. Read on at your own risk. I continue to be amazed by people's reviews. Many ( most) always begin by giving a summation of the plot. This is stupid and totally unnecessary. People already know what the book is about. Personal Reviews should tell what the reader thought. This is an amazingly hyped book. I would suppose that every publishing company wants to discover the next Steig Larrsen. Obviously, Its not that easy. First you need to be able to wr...more
This could have been so good, but there are way too many unresolved and unexplained tangents to this tale. The narrative jumps from one murder case to the next with no real explanation, I was expecting the connection to be explained nearer the end, but there just isn't one! It's like the writers had two plot ideas they really liked and couldn't choose between the two, so just sort of smooshed them together, resulting in something not quite as good as either idea would have been on its own. The u...more
I read it so you don't have to. You are welcome. This book is laughably and infuriatingly terrible. I only finished it because I paid for it, dammit, and wanted to see how terrible it would actually get, God help me. Almost all the characters are unlikeable. It begins with the detective as seemingly the main character with a dark event in his past, which, unless I missed it, IS NEVER EXPLAINED. But never mind, because the book is really not about him, it is about the hypnotist. Fair enough, sinc...more
PROTAGONIST: Erik Maria Bark, psychologist and hypnotist
SETTING: Sweden
RATING: 2.25
At one time, Dr. Erik Maria Bark was a renowned hypnotist who was performing what he felt was groundbreaking research into the beneficial effects of hypnosis on people with deep psychological scars. He was convinced that his work was yielding results until something happened that led him to promise to never use hypnosis again.
It’s many years later, and Bark is asked to break that promise by Detective Inspector Jo...more
SETTING: Sweden
RATING: 2.25
At one time, Dr. Erik Maria Bark was a renowned hypnotist who was performing what he felt was groundbreaking research into the beneficial effects of hypnosis on people with deep psychological scars. He was convinced that his work was yielding results until something happened that led him to promise to never use hypnosis again.
It’s many years later, and Bark is asked to break that promise by Detective Inspector Jo...more
Sweden is a scary-ass place. This book was like, "One of these suspects has committed a crime. All of the suspects are currently involved in murdering people in gruesome ways. Which of these murderers has committed the crime?"
If my only knowledge of Sweden were gained through the reading of its bestselling translated novels, I would think that every other Swedish person has a decomposing body in his basement. And, incidentally, my only knowledge of Sweden IS gained through the reading of its bes...more
If my only knowledge of Sweden were gained through the reading of its bestselling translated novels, I would think that every other Swedish person has a decomposing body in his basement. And, incidentally, my only knowledge of Sweden IS gained through the reading of its bes...more
This is equally as good as Stieg Larsson's series, if not better. It's set in Sweden, with a character drowning in scandal a la the Wennerstrom Affair, and features mentally ill sociopaths that don't offer the charm of Lisbeth but still create a horror scene that is nothing short of thrilling. It's brilliant and has me excited to read the next in the Joona Linna series.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Fantabulantanticous!!! First book in a new Swedish detective crime series has all the ingredients for a major high stakes serial killer thriller mystery story. There are so many related storylines and plots in this horrifying crime that one never knows where the next thing will come from. At first the book seems to be going in the ordinary way of any ordinary mystery and a perp. has been found but... what? only 1/4 of the way into the book... what could possibly happen next? Keple...more
Mi è morto fra le mani, questo libro, letteralmente... ho provato a rianimarlo, ci ho creduto, ho tentato tutto il possibile, ma non c'è stato nulla da fare...
Inizialmente l'ho apprezzato, l'idea di partenza era buona dopotutto, anche se ho trovato irritante da subito l'uso del verbo al presente, però mi piaceva, mi piaceva la storia fuori dagli schemi del giallo classico, il fatto che l'assassino fosse noto già quasi dall'inizio... così credevo, almeno. Poi c'è il flashback, la ricostruzione d...more
Inizialmente l'ho apprezzato, l'idea di partenza era buona dopotutto, anche se ho trovato irritante da subito l'uso del verbo al presente, però mi piaceva, mi piaceva la storia fuori dagli schemi del giallo classico, il fatto che l'assassino fosse noto già quasi dall'inizio... così credevo, almeno. Poi c'è il flashback, la ricostruzione d...more
Swedish crime! The Hypnotist is a crime novel with a subplot that deals heavily in Pokémon lore, and it is impressive for that alone. Beyond that, however, we're presented with an "always right" police investigator whose own personality has to take a backseat to that of the titular hypnotist, whose life is disrupted in multiple ways when he is asked to hypnotise the apparent survivor of an attack that had left three other people did.
The Hypnotist suffers from the outset due to its complete incon...more
The Hypnotist suffers from the outset due to its complete incon...more
There are many things I like about this book. First, it's not limited to what the reader knows. You're not the detective, you're lucky to be along for the ride. The story keeps changing, evolving into something else, none of them expected. Some reviewers criticize the book for being overly complicated or having too many red herrings. I sick of formalistic mysteries, even when I don't have all the facts there is a rhythm to them, a pace, that is unmistakable. This book is full of surprises. Secon...more
The hypnotist is a very well written Danish crime-noir novel. Good twists and turns. Love the science and research bits of it. The character you consider to be dangerous is a red herring who has hidden the real criminal. A bit like Agatha Christie, you have the info on the real killer but the presentation is clever and you are led away in the twists of the story skillfully.
Only problem I have is: Same old flawed and slightly neurotic hero (why are all Scandinavian novels populated by a main cha...more
Only problem I have is: Same old flawed and slightly neurotic hero (why are all Scandinavian novels populated by a main cha...more
This is the kind of book that needs two ratings. I'd assign a 2 for the first part and a 4 for the climax, as the main character moves closer to the suspects who kidnapped his son.
The book started off slow and it was difficult to respect two characters - both parents - so adrift from one another, their son and a sense of purpose in their lives. The characters are selfish, withdrawn, arrogant and unlikeable.
The book's title led me to expect ample exploration and analysis of hypnotism - and yet...more
The book started off slow and it was difficult to respect two characters - both parents - so adrift from one another, their son and a sense of purpose in their lives. The characters are selfish, withdrawn, arrogant and unlikeable.
The book's title led me to expect ample exploration and analysis of hypnotism - and yet...more
‘The Hypnotist’ by Lars Kepler
Published by Blue Door, April 2011. ISBN: 978-0-00-735910-3
Erik Maria Bark, is a retired hypnotist, who is called on by Detective Inspector Joona Linna to hypnotise a traumatised witness to the killing of a whole family murdered in Stockholm, to help him find and protect someone he suspects is in great danger.
It has been 10 years since Erik performed hypnotism, following accusations from his patients he said he would never hypnotist anyone again, and he is reluctan...more
Published by Blue Door, April 2011. ISBN: 978-0-00-735910-3
Erik Maria Bark, is a retired hypnotist, who is called on by Detective Inspector Joona Linna to hypnotise a traumatised witness to the killing of a whole family murdered in Stockholm, to help him find and protect someone he suspects is in great danger.
It has been 10 years since Erik performed hypnotism, following accusations from his patients he said he would never hypnotist anyone again, and he is reluctan...more
I read this book based on a recommendation from a friend, and was very disappointed with it, particularly the writing style. The chapters are very short, which led me to think that events in the novel were going to be action-packed and punchy, with the idea of leaving you wanting more. This is not the case, as I felt there were many unnecessary scenes (possibly to add depth and create sympathy for the characters?) which just frustrated me because by the time I finished the book, I realised the n...more
I started this book on a Friday and finished it on the Saturday. I wouldn't recommend reading it and then having to take the dog out in the dark! Enjoyed seems the wrong word but enthralled may be better. As soon as you start reading you can't stop until the end. The tragic murder of a family with a single survivor starts the book, then there is just twist after twist and although everything is linked what you actually though the book was going to be about changes. Every parent's nightmare is de...more
Interesting crime story, with a very likeable detective. Overall, I found the book eminently worth reading, and thrilling throughout. If I had to mention a few caveats, I'd say that:
1) The authors (Lars Kepler is a pseudonym for a husband-and-wife team) hide their cards for too long. Waiting until about 250-300 pages into the book to reveal critical information the reader needs to have even a vague chance at guessing the culprit, is waiting too long. A crime mystery reader wants to have a fair c...more
1) The authors (Lars Kepler is a pseudonym for a husband-and-wife team) hide their cards for too long. Waiting until about 250-300 pages into the book to reveal critical information the reader needs to have even a vague chance at guessing the culprit, is waiting too long. A crime mystery reader wants to have a fair c...more
I read an interesting article about this book and the authors, and it sounded interesting, especially since I've been reading some of the various Scandinavian crime novels recently. The Hypnotist starts well. The first third of the book really grabbed my interest, but the next section began to get a little dicey. It strained credulity and I felt the authors pushing the story rather than the story simply unfolding.
But about halfway through the book goes completely off the rails and things just st...more
But about halfway through the book goes completely off the rails and things just st...more
A family of four has been foully attacked in Sweden. The father at the soccer centre and the others at their home, all stabbed numerous times and their bodies dismembered. Only the son survives, covered with multiple cuts. Detective Joona Linna wants to hypnotise the young lad to find the perpetrator and save his older sister from the same thing happening to her.
Linna wants to investigate the case. He feels that it is much more than just a local case, but his superiors disagree. It is only when...more
Linna wants to investigate the case. He feels that it is much more than just a local case, but his superiors disagree. It is only when...more
A boy is comatose in hospital after apparently witnessing the brutal murder of his mother and sister. His father has also been killed. The only other surviving member of his family is an older sister but nobody can find her in order to make sure she is safe. It is suggested to Detective Inspector Linna that one of the specialist at the hospital might be able to help the boy remember what has happened through hypnotisim and provide clues that would help find the girl.
This is the hook the rest of...more
This is the hook the rest of...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
In the frigid clime of Tumba, Sweden, a gruesome triple homicide attracts the interest of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who demands to investigate the murders. The killer is still at large, and there’s only one surviving witness—the boy whose family was killed before his eyes. Whoever committed the crimes wanted this boy to die: he’s suffered more than one hundred knife wounds and lapsed into a state of shock. Desperate for information, Linna sees only one option: hypnotism. He enlists Dr. Er...more
Recommended by friend who told me "you would not be able to put it down" and she was absolutely right.
Another "nordic noir" with sadistic twist, strange when one consider these countries are not known for violence (except some isolated outbursts that shock the typically well-behaved nations) and certainly following the footsteps of celebrated Larsson's "Millenium trilogy" - in fact, if not for Larsson who started the ball rolling, I wonder would we ever know about so many talented thriller write...more
Another "nordic noir" with sadistic twist, strange when one consider these countries are not known for violence (except some isolated outbursts that shock the typically well-behaved nations) and certainly following the footsteps of celebrated Larsson's "Millenium trilogy" - in fact, if not for Larsson who started the ball rolling, I wonder would we ever know about so many talented thriller write...more
I have never read anything darker, more forboding, more utterly tormented than Swedish thrillers...and continue to come back for more. When they are done well, as this is, there is nothing more insistently suspenseful and satisfyingly terrifying.
Erik Maria Bark is a highly regarded psychotherapist specializing in acute trauma. He is also a disgraced hypnotist. Ten years ago, he swore a solemn, public oath never to perform hypnosis again. And yet, dragged from his bed early in the morning by a d...more
Erik Maria Bark is a highly regarded psychotherapist specializing in acute trauma. He is also a disgraced hypnotist. Ten years ago, he swore a solemn, public oath never to perform hypnosis again. And yet, dragged from his bed early in the morning by a d...more
I was really disappointed by this book. It started out with a big bang and had a really good premise, but then it all just fell to hell, becoming a clown car of horrible sadists who just kept parading out of the story in a never-ending line, doing the most awful things imaginable. I'm no horror novice and it takes a lot to shock or offend me, but it was just the multitude of sadists in this book which was so off-turning. Like there are all these terrible murderers and torturers around every corn...more
What is good about the writing here is that Kepler (which I will call the couple) always seem to have some form of trick up their sleeve in terms of plot, what is bad about the writing is how immoral and shameless the writers are when discussing their subject matter. Let me elaborate. Kepler establishes a suspenseful sense of plot and keeps us guessing until the end. They always seem to pull in something new whenever the old suspense tricks seem to render ineffective. On the other hand, the film...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Has anyone finished this book? | 56 | 309 | May 14, 2013 02:22pm | |
| THE LISTS: The hypnotist (update 6) | 2 | 5 | May 12, 2013 06:47am | |
| Anyone know how to get the details changed? | 1 | 13 | Apr 15, 2013 02:47pm | |
| please help answer this question | 8 | 123 | Mar 05, 2013 09:14am | |
| Such a difference of opinion on this book | 7 | 42 | Mar 03, 2013 11:31pm | |
| THE LISTS: The hypnotist (update 9) (Final) | 1 | 11 | Mar 02, 2013 10:10am | |
| THE LISTS: The hypnotist (update 8) | 1 | 5 | Mar 02, 2013 09:42am |
Lars Kepler is a pseudonym used by Swedish writer couple Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. Both previously published authors, together they have written three crime novels, all concerning the investigations of police inspector Joona Linna.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larske...
More about Lars Kepler...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larske...
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“Mortui vivis docent - the dead teach the living.”
—
6 people liked it
“«Porque o passado não está morto. O passado nem sequer passou» - William Faulkner.
Referia-me a que cada pequena coisa que acontece a um ser humano o acompanha até ao presente. Todas as suas vivências influenciam cada uma das suas opções e, tratando-se de experiências traumaticas, o passado passa a ocupar todo o espaço do presente.”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
Referia-me a que cada pequena coisa que acontece a um ser humano o acompanha até ao presente. Todas as suas vivências influenciam cada uma das suas opções e, tratando-se de experiências traumaticas, o passado passa a ocupar todo o espaço do presente.”
Mar 22, 2013 01:15pm
4 hours, 22 min ago