Du gamla, du fria

Annika Bengtzon (Chronological Order) #9

by Liza Marklund

Annika Bengtzon är tillbaka på Kvällspressens redaktion i Stockholm efter tre år som tidningens korrespondent i Washington. Hon har återförenats med sin make, Thomas, som arbetar på justitiedepartementet med internationella säkerhetsanalyser. En eftermiddag hittas en ung småbarnsmamma död och översnöad bakom ett daghem i förorten Axelsberg i södra Stockholm. Hon är det fjärde offret på kort tid under liknande omstä kvinna, ung, mamma, knivhuggen bakifrån. På Kvällspressen anar man en seriemördare, något Annika avfärdar som vilda fantasier. Thomas befinner sig på en konferens i Nairobi. Under en rekognoseringsresa vid somaliska gränsen kidnappas hela delegationen - sju personer från olika delar av Europa. // Allt eftersom kvinnomorden i Stockholms förorter blir allt fler, och misstankarna om en seriemördare börjar ta form även hos polisen, dras Annika in i ett våldsamt kidnappningsdrama som skakar både Europa och Östafrika. Kraven från kidnapparna är omöjliga och orimliga. När kraven avvisas avrättas gisslan i delegationen, en efter en. // Du gamla, du fria är en roman om hur den gamla, fria världen bygger järnridåer mot den nya, ofria. Om hur relationer mellan människor rämnar och andra byggs upp. Om hur medierna utnyttjar den nya tekniken till att vrida verkligheten så att den passar deras deadlines. Och om hur ondskan i Stockholms förorter egentligen ser ut... // Du gamla du fria är den nionde kriminalromanen om journalisten Annika Bengtzon.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Swedish Literature, Scandinavian Literature, Sweden

450 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Scandinavia’s undisputed queen of crime fiction, Liza Marklund is the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Annika Bengtzon series.

Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.

Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.

Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of "Borderline" by Lisa Marklund though Random House UK, Transworld Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was intrigued with the cover, and went to investigate further. This is a Swedish crime thriller that started off slowly but soon took off with rapid speed. Once I got into it, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

A young mother with small feet and high heels drops her son off at nursery school in Axelsberg, Sweden and dies on the pathway home during a snowstorm. Her name hadn't been released yet. Cause of death is unknown yet. This is the fourth murder victim found recently, all women from Stockholm. All stabbed. A Serial Killer on the loose?

The main protagonist, Annika Bengtzon, a news reporter, had worked as a Washington correspondent, and her husband, Thomas, was given a research post at the Swedish Embassy while she was there. They have two children, a boy and a girl.

Thomas had volunteered to attend a EU Delegation in Nairobi, about co-operation concerning European borders. But Thomas was an unfaithful husband who had other plans in mind for this trip chasing after a sexy young British delegate.

But then Annika is told that her husband, one of seven delegates, had been kidnapped in Kenya... and soon after came the exorbitant ransom requests!

The POV switches between the emotions and torment that Annika and her family are faced against, and the kidnap negotiations versus Thomas and the other hostages, their captivity in a hut and unbearable living conditions, with possible execution in the front of their minds.

And during all this dilemma, Annika is still investigating the women murder victims in Stockholm. She has more on her plate to handle, than most could look after.

But Annika's time is running out...and she is scrambling to come up with ransom money. A race to the finish as I quickly clicked the pages to find out how it would end. This was a fast-paced crime-thriller, that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Check it out...you won't be disappointed!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book in this series of Crime Reporter Annika Bengtzon, set in Stockholm. I was on a mission to try new female "detective" books, though this does not fit that criteria precisely. This particular book features a kidnap of her husband Thomas who ventured into Africa on a UN-style mission with a group, all of whom were treated to brutality, kidnapping for ransom, murder , etc. It was something different, but I don't think I will try another Annika book. I did download another book where this author collaborated with James Patterson, so I will try it and dump it quickly if it is not to my liking.
I do believe Marklund's books could appeal to young women who deal with family/career balance challenges. It is also of interest with regard to present-day media practices.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annika is a reporter whose husband has been kidnapped while on a diplomatic mission in Africa. Borderline is the story of what happens during Annika's and her husband's, Thomas, lives while Thomas is held captive.

The story is complex. While Annika is facing the death of her husband, she is also chasing down a serial killer plaguing Stockholm.

Thomas is a serial cheater. He is constantly searching for new women to conquer; taking assignments from the UN that give him more opportunities to find new conquests. For this reason, Annika doesn't realize Thomas was kidnapped until she is contacted by Thomas's boss Jimmy Halenius (Under Secretary).

Annika and Jimmy are working together to free Thomas, while Thomas is battling to survive as a prisoner in the wilds of Africa.

I enjoyed how Marklund gives us both Annika's and Thomas's viewpoints. The kidnapping and desperation to raise the ransom was the primary plot with the serial killer being secondary. I personally found the serial killer aspect somewhat of a distraction that stunted the stories flow.

Overall, the story was quite intense. You where given more of the plot, then the characters, by Marklund's choice to give us both viewpoints; while she still manages to make us feel the stress of each of the character's journey. This is a dark, suspense filled mystery, Borderline leaves us wondering with the the question of what is to come next and making us want more.

I received this ARC copy of Borderline From Atria/Emily Bestler Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 14, 2015.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one just slipped through the net of last years reading material, and I am so sorry it did, because this story has kept my grip taking my mind away from everyday problems and focusing on this plot.

Its slow at start and although a Swedish based thriller it really does pull you in enough to keep you focused from one page to another.

Liza Marklund is a great thriller author and this is the 3rd book I have read by her.

It's got death, murder and kidnap, great combination.

*I was happy to receive this from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers via Net Galley*

[Paula K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced crime thriller by Liza Marklund. This in # 9 is Annika Bengtzon's newspaper correspondent series. Set in Stockholm and Kenya, a hostage situation develops which is a bit gruesome, but enjoyable. The first of her series that I have had the opportunity of reading. Will try some of her earlier work.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC; Via Netgalley

Nordic crime fiction does tend to be rather dark and have depressing characters. It is successful in part because of its mood. It is difficult for an American to image a Nordic version of Poirot or Miss Marple. Nordic fiction goes good with hard liquor.

But Liza Marklund doesn’t quite flow this pattern in her Annika Bengzton series. In fact, of the female Nordic mystery writers I have read (which I will admit is few), the books on a whole tend to be a little less dark, a little more bright.

Not that it’s all sunshine and roses. Not that’s roses.

In this installment of the Annika Bengzton series, Annika finds herself as the news instead of reporting the news when her husband Thomas is taken hostage in Africa. While Annika with the help of Thomas’ boss Jimmy tries to get her husband back, her co-workers at her newspaper deal with what could be a serial killer murdering house wives in Stockholm.

What stops the book for simply becoming a run of the mile Nordic crime book are Annika’s relationships with her children and those around her. Annika may not be the most socially apt personal in the universe. She’s a bit too blunt, a bit too pessimist, a bit too judgmental, a bit too driven – yet for all those flaws she comes across as far more believable than many other detectives. She’s isn’t as far off “normalcy” (whatever that is) than Lisbeth Salander, from a far more famous Swedish series (which gets a mention in this book btw). While her relationship with her husband, Thomas, is not the best, her relationship with her children is a loving and close one. Considering how many Nordic mysteries have fathers suffering the guilt or effects of a bad relationship with children, this makes for a nice change. Also is the fact that despite Annika’s societal clumsiness she does have friends, and in fact, is able to seemingly add to that, adeptly, small list in this installment. Annika’s relationship is so refreshingly every day that it is a wonder.

The use of the two plots- the kidnapping and the possible serial murder is rather interesting. Another different aspect is the inclusion of Thomas’ voice every so often as Marklund illustrates how he is dealing with his captivity. And it isn’t a Hollywood version of a kidnapping, things are messy and unpleasant. Thomas, who has never been the most sympathetic character in the series, actually comes across as sympathetic, even if you think he is a douche. What is interesting in the kidnapping plot is not only Annika’s reaction to being the news and how she uses it, but also the amount of effort and detail that goes into her resolution. Furthermore, the plot is more timely and terrifying because it is so based in reality. Marklund also includes some political debate – in particular about race and kidnapping - that make the plot more fleshed out and more realistic.

The serial killer plot concerns mostly the other workers at Annika’s paper, though she does make a secondary appearance in this plot as well. What makes this interesting is the close up view of the newspaper in the modern world as it struggles along with blogs, webcams, and whatnot. There is a debate about news versus sensationalism that plays out over the course of the story. If you loved the last season of HBO’s The Wire, the secondary plot in this book is right up your alley. The emphasis on and the theme of journalistic ethics also appears in the kidnapping plot but more in relation to Annika and her status as a reporter.

There is not a wasted word or scene in this book and it is what it says it is - a thriller. It’s a shame that Annika is not as popular or as famous as her Nordic compatriots, for she is far more interesting.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skulle den här boken handla om mördade mammor? Man kunde tro det, om man läser baksidan av boken, men det är bara en bisak. Boken handlar till 99% om journalisten Annika Bengtzons man Thomas som blir kidnappad i Afrika tillsammans med en internationell delegation. Det här kunde ha varit bra. Det borde ha känts viktigt. Kidnappningsdramat är fullständigt ointressant. Till trots för alla äckliga och blodiga detaljer så berörde det ingenstans.

Annika har försonats med Thomas, men vet att han fortfarande är otrogen när tillfälle erbjuds. Hon vill självklart ha honom tillbaka levande iallafall. Thomas chef Jimmy Halenius förhandlar med kidnapparna för att få ner kravet på 40 miljoner dollar i lösensumma till något Annika kan betala. Det är synd om Annika. Hon har inga vänner kvar efter senaste konfrontationen med Anne Snapphane Blodsugare. Hennes man är en notorisk vänsterprasslare, hennes chef uppskattar henne inte och hon är inte fin nog för svärmor.

Jag försöker fortfarande att förstå vitsen med att ha skrivit den här romanen. Är det nåt jag missade? Det känns så. Det skulle vara en kommentar om internationell flyktingpolitik och kvinnomisshandling, men skotten bommar fullständigt. "Du gamla, du fria" är en lättläst och oerhört medelmåttig "thriller". Eller vad man nu ska säga. Att den är lättläst så att jag inte behövde slösa mer tid än en eftermiddag på den är bokens enda goda kvalitet. Jag förväntar mig bättre av Liza Marklund.

[Johan Tornroos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite disappointing story, not much mystery at all.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thriller by Liza Marklund, part of a series that I haven’t read previously. Nevertheless I enjoyed this one.

Annika is a reporter who stumbles across the body of a young mum who had just dropped her child at a nursery school. This turns out to be the 4th victim of a serial killer and will she manage to investigate when she hears that her husband has been taken hostage in Africa. His captors are demanding a ransom and will be be able to raise that before they kill him?

He has previously cheated on her- but she raises the ransom and travels to negotiate his release.
Will there be a happy ever after?

With many thanks to the publisher Random House Uk and Net Galley for a copy of this book to review.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this novel by Lisa Marklund by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book had a relatively slow start but by halfway I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
The lead character is Annika Bengtzon who is a news reporter and her world is turned upside down when she is told her husband has been kidnapped in Kenya. The book deals with the kidnap negotiations and the emotions of Annika and her family. I have read a couple of books by the author before and have always found her books entertaining.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full of gratuitous violence and two strands running through, a kidnapping in Somalia and a serial killer in Sweden. By the end not sure what the serial killer was all about, seemed irrelevant to it all.....

[Gill's likes reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, I feel I should have read all of others in the series to have appreciated this book as I was unable to build a relationship with most of the characters. In my personal opinion it is not a stand alone book.

The crime told from a reporters point of view is interesting. Annika, the protagonist starts off painting her husband, Thomas's picture as a womanising, faithless partner who has previously set up home with another woman, has frequent affairs, but she remains with him in some kind of numb stasis. She is later shown to be not above infidelity herself but in a much more shocking way whilst her husband has been tortured and imprisoned by rebels soldiers. I felt uncomfortable reading how Annika almost seduces Jimmy Halenius, Thomas's boss (Under Secretary) taking comfort from him as they sleep together whilst not knowing whether her husband is dead or alive. Even though I know that people behave differently when they are under extreme duress I am not sure I could understand her apparent indifference.

It does not follow the normal crime thriller and mixes local, and international crimes both brutal, both going on for a long time but largely ignored in the world.

What did I like about this book?

I love the way Marklund writes, the phrases she uses and the way she casually throws in Annika's thoughts.
I enjoyed the hostage part of the novel and liked how Annika did not always follow protocol.

It was great the way that Thomas’s tale is in first person and that the violence of the hostage story is brutally told. Marklund has cleverly depicted the kidnappers through the eyes of the hostages. The 'voice' of the kidnappers is given only by text, phone, and transcripts, changing the the power of their voice but not making them any less brutal. The enormity of the fact of small plane ransome drops are common place with as much as two a week, highlights the amount of hidden violence in the novel.

What I found disappointing?

It took me a while to get into the story, but was grateful for the background on Annika because this is the first book I have read in this series and feel I have missed out on not reading the others.

I wanted to like Annika but found I just couldn’t, she was strong and sensible one minute and reckless and weak the next. She seemed to randomly act recklessly.
I feel the serial murders at home detracted from the main plot of the novel not adding anything new. I think I would have like to have read more about the newspaper and Annika's role there because I believe it was probably more important than it seemed.

I so wanted to give this book a better rating but it has left me feeling confused because I found there to be more than one main focus in the story. Two stories in one: local serial murders, and an international kidnapping of UN Delegates - I think I would like to read about each in a seperate book.

However, Liza Markland certainly has a great imagination and I know that many will love this book.

Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley for my honest review

[Elan Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This writer is way underrated and relatively unexplored, as far as I know. In 'Borderline' (my first read of hers), Marklund divides the narrative between Somali and Stockholm, where the narrator Annika Bengtzom a reporter for a major daily lives with her two children. The fact that her husband is a serial philanderer who runs off to Africa in a fact-finding mission, to be with his latest fling complicates the situation, as he is kidnapped by terrorists ... The disgusting kind, similar to ISIS fundamentalists, who spout moral rhetoric while torturing and murdering their captives. None of this goes well for the captives, and even Thomas, Annika's pampered husband suffers a kind of road to Damascus, as he witnesses heinous atrocities most of us are familiar with through the press. As a result, the ending hangs by a thread.

Well done, Marklund.

I like Annika as a major crime fiction character. She's a modern woman with complicated emotions, and a sense of freedom she does not compromise easily. Liza Marklund is not an exquisite crafts-person as it concerns prose writing; you will not find sentences crafted like fine filigree as you would in the books of John le Carré. But she can write the hell out of a good plot and plant tons of emotional bombs along the way ...

Highly recommended for those people looking for a solid read, those who enjoy Scandi Noir, and those particular readers/writers who look for strong female characters.

[Lauren of Ngaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I've only just discovered Liza Marklund. I found a copy of 'Borderline' on the sales rack in my local bookshop. Flicking through it at the bookshop I found myself drawn into the story. So it came home with me! After reading it I then discovered it is #9 book, so I'm perhaps out of sinc with the main character - Annika Bengtzon.
This book is an easy read, following the stories of two and then three characters - all linked of course.
Our main character Annika, is an investigative journalist. She is smart and in love with her husband, who is a bit of a Lothario.....which leads him into trouble - he gets kidnapped and held for ransom while in Nairobi on a day trip from his conference (not a spoiler as this is on the cover of the book). The chapters of the book flick between Annika & Thomas (her husband), so you get to simultaneously follow their journeys dealing with the kidnap - her in Sweden & him in ?? There are children & family & annoying friends in this story. Plus support where you may not expect it. While I wasn't enamored with the last few chapters, overall this is good escapism reading and I found myself thinking of the characters during the day when I should have been working! Enjoy!

[Ásta Melitta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Þetta er önnur bókin sem ég les eftir Lizu Marklund um Anniku Bengtzon blaðamann, en þessi mun vera nr. 9 í röðinni. Hin var nr. 4. Persónuleg saga Anniku hefur því hoppað fram um mörg ár frá því að ég las fyrri bókina en það kemur ekki að sök.
Aðalsagan í þessari bók fjallar um að eiginmanni Anniku er rænt í Afríku, og krafist er lausnargjalds fyrir hann. Hliðarsaga er um kvennamorðingja í Stokkhólmi, sem Kvöldblaðið er að skrifa um. Viðbrögð Anniku við mannráninu og það sem tekur við er bróðurpartur sögunnar, og er of langur, að mínu mati. Margt í sögunni var ekki trúverðugt, og sumt sem Annika gerir var ég ósátt við. Sagan var samt spennandi og höfundur gagnrýnin á æsifréttamennsku og stefnu Vesturlanda í málum flóttamanna.

[Ulla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inte speciellt intressant! Och faktiskt ganska tråkig med allt irrande runt Afrika.
Tråkigt på tidningen också med dumma Patrik!
Men Annika Bengtzon älskar jag och därför läser jag serien om och om igen!

[Elina Mäkitalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehkä sisällöllisesti köyhin tämän sarjan kirja, eli ehkä 2 1/2 olisi parempi mutta ei mielestäni ole myöskään kahden tähden niin nousee sitten kolmeen tähteen. Hyvää oli panttivankijuttu mutta toisaalta kun odotti jälleen rikoksen ratkaisua niin siihen kuitenkin keskityttiin liikaa ja itse rikos jäi taka-alalle. Sarjan paras asia on ollut juuri rikosten tutkimiseen liittyvät asiat ja tässä ei niitä ollut oikeastaan yhtään. Panttivankitilanne olisi voinut toimia sivuroolissa mutta toisaalta kyllä ymmärtää että päähenkilö keskittyy nimenomaan siihen eikä niinkään rikoksiin. Mutta panttivankeus sekä rikokset olisivat voineet kietoutua jotenkin toisiinsa niin se olisi ollut kiehtovaa. Ihan mielenkiintoista tästäkin oli kyllä lukea. Jälleen hyvää oli se, että tapahtumien paikka vaihtui muualle tai ainakin osa niistä. Suurin osa henkilöhahmoista edelleen ärsyttää minua.

[Axel Nydén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Du gamla, du fria är en knepig bok att förhålla sig till.

Av oklar anledning har Annika Bengtzon tagit tillbaka sin otrogne skitstövel till karl. Thomas blir kidnappad men lustar efter en kollega medan Annika kämpar för att rädda honom. Baksidetexten utlovar en serie mördade kvinnor - favorit i repris från Studio sex? - något som är så förpassat till sidospår att Marklund lika gärna kunde ha strukit det helt.

Bokens förtjänst är idel och genomgående spänning. Den korsning mellan klarsynt samhällskritik, cynisk mediaskildring och klockren diskbänksrealism som visat sig vara Marklunds paradgren räddar hela boken - för crescendot gör att klimax lämnar en del att önska. Epilogen slutar med ett klokt val från Annikas sida och det återstår att se hur det faller ut i uppföljaren Lyckliga gatan.

[Bella Grewal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Du gamla, Du fria och är den 9:onde i ordningen om journalisten Annika Bengtzon. Jag tycker att böckerna av Liza är behagliga att lyssna på. Men tyvärr blev jag väldigt besviken på den här boken. Ämnena som tas upp är både högaktuella och viktiga. Boken handlar om kvinnomisshandel, kvinnomord och om ett gisslandrama som till en början utspelar sig i Nairobi.


En seriemördare misstänks gå lös och samtidigt följer man dramat där ett gäng EU-delegater blivit kidnappade. Lösensummorna är orimligt höga och när kidnapparna inte får det de kräver avrättas och stympas de kidnappade en efter en. Det låter ju spännande, men tyvärr infinner sig aldrig den rätta känslan.

[Judi Mckay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting reading the bits that happened In African, but overall it felt like a book that couldn't make its mind up about what the main story was. At the end I wasn't sure what point had been made. That said, it was a different read from the usual crime/thriller novels I read, so it gets stars for that.

[Sanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pettymys! Sarjan aikaisemmat kirjat ovat olleet nautittavia, mutta tässä on jälkilämmittelyn makua. Harmi.

[Ola Leijon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nä. Det här var inget vidare. Med en sån story bör det kanske finnas trovärdiga känslor med i bilden.

[Pia Freundlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

En helt anderledes Annika Bengtson bog. Spænding i højsæde på et nyt og højere plan. Værd at læse

[Mike Cuthbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annika Bengtzon is mostly home-bound for this thriller that is mostly about her wayward husband, Thomas. Thomas is known by regular Marklund readers, as the father of Bengtzon’s two children but is also known for his departure from his marriage for a number of years to live with the luscious Sophia. She even plays a part in this adventure which is all about Thomas’s capture in Africa and his status as hostage to terrorists. For much of the story, we hear what’s going on in Thomas’s hostage tent and the ferocity with which his captors act against their hostages. Much of what happens is truly gruesome and acts as a stimulus to worry about Thomas’s future. Annika is concerned, naturally, but also distracted by the presence in her house of a government official, Jimmy Halenius. Halenius is put in charge of hostage negotiations and in that role establishes a presence in Annika’s bedroom with all his equipment and computers. He also contributes to the tension of the plot since there is an obvious sexual attraction going on between the two. Annika is not sure about the status of her marriage even before Thomas is taken and Halenius is similarly unsure about his position in his marriage. Along the way, Schyman, the editor-in-chief of the paper Annika writes for, considers retirement and a long-term strategy for getting rid of Patrik, the “truth doesn’t really matter” reporter who is angling for an editing position on the tabloid. The whole situation at the Evening Press leads to a discussion of Swedish tabloids in general, the threat to newspapers from digital media and who writes the truth. There are also, of necessity, long discussions about African politics and culture, none of them very flattering. Oh, yes, there is a possible serial killer of women loose in Stockholm though Annika suspects it’s a series of dissatisfied husbands who are copy-catting each other, but that mystery goes largely ignored because of the concern about Thomas. Thomas, to say the least, does not emerge unscarred by his isolation and, to say the least again, his marriage is even shakier when he returns. As for Annika and Jimmy? You have to read to find out the answer to that question. Marklund is one of my favorite Nordic Noir writers and she does not disappoint with this effort.

[Annaluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most of the Annika Bengtson books that came before this one, and I have found most of them REALLY good and entertaining (Yes, amazingly I haven't begun to read Liza Marklund novels till about half a year ago) ~~

~~ but THIS ONE I found totally absorbing and brilliant. Wow!!

I think it is extraordinarily well-written , deeply thrilling and profound.
Yes, I admit that the serial-homicides of females near Stockholm, which are referred to as a major part of the novel when you read on the back of the book, turn out to be nothing more than an unimportant side story that, in my opinion, could just as easily have been omitted since it's drowning entirely in the huge, deep shadow of the main story of kidnapping and love.

Yes ~ The overwhelming plot of the book revolves around Annika's husband, Thomas, who has been kidnapped in Africa, and the struggle of Annika and Thomas' boss, Jimmy Halenius, to get Thomas released -- not to mention the growing romantic love between Annika and Halenius.

Maybe I'm just primitively naive, but I was engrossed in the action of this book on every level, and I thought it was all so fantastically beautifully, atmospherically written.
It was also an incredible facet that in the middle of the wild action in Africa, Annika and Halenius landed in Karen Blixen's footsteps for a while.. and thus their burgeoning love and desire for each other got a glimmer of grandeur from Karen Blixen's own fantastic stories from Africa .. without it becoming kitschy or banal.
Oh GodS, and the ending of the book is really so sad and devastating... in all its subtlety .

I don't think that any other book of the ever-great author, Liza Marklund, will reach the height of this one. I am going to start the next novel in the series tonight, but already now I can predict that it will resemble the other books in the Annika Bengtzon-series --whereas this one stands out as a one of a kind . A South Sea pearl in a string of freshwater cultured pearls .

[Timo Pietilä · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annika Bengtzonin puoliso, Thomas, on Afrikassa EU:n projektiin liittyvällä matkalla kun hänet ja hänen seurueensa kaapataan. Kaappaajat vaativat lunnaina miljoonia dollareita ja tappavat ja paloittelevat ainakin yhden seurueen jäsenistä. Annikalla on pankkitilillään talonsa tulipalosta saatu vakuutuskorvaus, mutta ei lähellekään vaadittua summaa. Ministeriön tutun virkamiehen, vanhan ystävän, avustuksella Thomaksen vapauttamisesta neuvotellaan. Samaan aikaan iltapäivälehden, jossa Annika työskentelee, toimittajat yrittävät yhdistää kaupungissa tapahtuneet naisten surmat sarjamurhaajan tekemiksi - se myy lehtiä paremmin kuin se tavallinen tarina, jossa mustasukkainen aviomies on tappanut vaimonsa.

Selvästi sarjassaan huonomman pään kirja, etenkin alkupuolella jännite ei oikein toiminut. Kirja kirjalta ihan jokainen henkilöhahmo sarjassa tuntuu muuttuvan karikatyyrimäiseksi, enemmän tai vähemmän musta-valkoiseksi hahmoksi, joka ei vaikuta oikealta ihmiseltä vaan on enemmän kirjailijan ajatuksien ja ideologioiden (jotka sinällään ovat hyviä, sukupuolten tasa-arvoa ja kehitysmaiden tukemista kannattavia sekä lehdistön ja journalistiikan etiikan tärkeyttä korostavia) tukijana tai sitten täysin mustavalkoisena olkiukkona, joka osoittaa kuinka typerää on halveksia näitä ihanteita. Aika isossa osassa kirjaa tuntui, että taottiin lekalla päähän. Hiukan suurempi hienovaraisuus ja harmaan sävyt olisivat tehneet kirjan huomattavasti paremmaksi. Annika itse myös tuntuu muuttuvan kirja kirjalta ärsyttävämmäksi. Taitaa tätä sarjaa olla enää kaksi jäljellä, joten kaipa nekin tulevat jossain vaiheessa luettua, vaikka ärsytyskynnys kyllä alkaa lähestyä.

[Susan Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that, after a few pages, you were ready to give up? That was me with this book. Then I promised myself I would read the first fifty pages and make a decision. It had gotten a little more interesting so I kept reading. About two-thirds of the way, I was ready to give up again. But by now I wanted to know what was going to happen to these people. And then, in the last five pages, the ending was so unclear that I found myself shaking my head. I still don't know how it ended.

All of that to say that this book was unevenly written. The author brings something kind of interesting and then drops it. You think you're finally on the journey only to find out you've taken a wrong turn.

This story takes place in Sweden where a mother of two is frantically trying to get her kidnapped husband out of Somalia. The story is told from the wife's and husband's viewpoint. At the end when she gets him out, the last two pages he says something like "I look up and see my wife's face in the plane window on her way back to Sweden." Wait! What?? Why are you not on the plane with her? No explanation is given. You end up being dragged along by a thread just like you were at the beginning of the book. Read "The Naturalist" by Andrew Mayne or "Twisted" by Andrew E. Kaufman. Both are so much better.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

A mother is found dead along a snowy pathway after dropping her son off at nursery school. She is the fourth murder victim to be found in a short time displaying the same characteristics.
News reporter Annika Bengtzon is trying to start a story on it when she is told that her husband has been kidnapped in Kenya.
As the murder spree continues, the police begin to think they have a serial killer on their hands. Meanwhile Annika is faced with impossible demands from her husband’s kidnappers.
Two mysteries to be solved before the body count rises further...

I really didn't get into this novel at all, which is disappointing as I really did enjoy the first few books of this series. I missed a few in the middle - I don't know if that was part of the problem but, honestly, it shouldn't be.

The biggest issue I had with it - and this book isn't alone in suffering this lately - is that it doesn't really know what it is supposed to be. It has two different plotlines going on (one in Somalia?) and part of the story is told from Annika's husbands' POV. Just weird. Didn't work for me at all...


Paul
ARH

[Terese]

Har läst boken en gång förut och den var bättre då.

Jag gillade att man fick läsa om saken ut Thomas perspektiv. Att den delen var skriven i jag-form för det gör det mer "verkligt" eller vad man ska säga.

Annars retar jag mig som vanligt på Annika. Hon skriver gärna om andra när de har det svårt och gör allt för att få till en artikel men när det är hon själv som har hamnat i en svår situation är det tydligen jättesynd om henne. Visst, hon inser väl på nåt ställe i boken att det är lite dubbelmoral av henne men i övrigt verkar hon mest tycka synd om sig själv. Och sen förstår jag inte det här med att hon dokumenterar hela kidnappningshistorien för det känns som att det är viktigare för henne att få till en bra story är att Thomas blir fri. Och hon är så dum i huvudet och filmar när de är i Afrika trots att hon blir tillsagd att inte göra det. Helknäpp människa!

Det var väl hennes chef som lovade att hjälpa till att betala lösensumman om hon gjorde en story om hela grejen, men det är också konstigt. Det är som att tidningen också bara bryr sig om att få en bra story och inte bryr sig om att människor faktiskt är kidnappade.

Nej, nu måste jag läsa lite andra böcker för nu har jag blivit rätt trött på Annika och hennes konstiga sätt.

[Karschtl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dies ist bereits mein 4. Marklund-Roman. Und obwohl er mir recht gut gefallen hat, und spätestens in der 2. Hälfte auch sehr spannend wurde, war er von diesen 4 doch der Schwächste. Ganz einfach aus dem Grund, weil Annika ihre journalistische Stärke und ihre gute Spürnase hier so gut wie gar nicht entfalten konnte. Sie ist voll und ganz mit der Entführung ihres Mannes beschäftigt - die Krimigeschichte in Stockholm um die erstochenen Frauen ist wirklich nur eine Randgeschichte, die mich als Leser leider auch kaum berührt + interessiert hat. Dafür war einfach zu wenig Raum, die Opfer blieben vollkommen gesichtslos, die 'Aufklärung' erfolgte ohne dass man das wirklich nachvollziehen konnte weil die Ermittlungsschritte einfach fehlten.

ACHTUNG, es folgen ein paar leichte, versteckte Spoiler!
Die Entführungsgeschichte allein war aber auch raumfüllend genug. Interessanterweise wurde ja die Geschichte, sofern der Leser Annika verfolgte, in der 3. Person Singl. geschrieben. Thomas Sicht der Dinge hingegen aus der 1. Person. Diese Technik erlaubte dem Leser einen Informationsvorsprung vor Annika, wir wussten vor ihr was passiert war und ob er noch lebte. Im letzten Drittel des Buches hören die Passagen um Thomas einfach auf, was natürlich die Spannung erhöht weil sich der Leser fragt wieso nun keine Erlebnisse mehr von Thomas geschildert werden.

Annikas und Thomas Beziehung war ja bereits in den vorangegangenen Büchern oft Thema, hier nimmt es im Grunde den ganzen Roman ein. Wobei Annika bei all ihren Überlegungen, wie das Drama wohl ausgehen mag, nie etwas in der Richtung erwähnt ob sie ihn liebt oder nicht. Und dann ist da ja noch Jimmy Halenius, der tagelang in ihrem Schlafzimmer arbeitet und dem sie unweigerlich näher kommt. Wobei ich diesen Teil doch recht komisch fand. Selbst wenn ich Probleme in der Beziehung mit meinem Mann hätte, könnte ich in einer solchen Situation wohl kaum irgendwelche Gedanken an einen potentiellen anderen Mann verschwenden. Aber andererseits: ich war auch noch nie in einer solchen Ausnahmesituation, und jeder reagiert wohl auch anders. Und ich stecke ja auch nicht drin in der Beziehung zwischen Thomas und Annika. Der Teil mit ihrer Versöhnung und die Zeit in den USA, wie sich ihre Beziehung mittlerweile entwickelt hat, all das spricht Marklund nur am Rande an, aber es gibt keinen Roman, der diesen Teil behandelt. Dabei wäre gerade das USA-Jahr sicher ein interessanter Stoff für einen weiteren Roman um Annika Bengtzon gewesen. Vielleicht war es zu kompliziert zu recherchieren, wie die journalistische Arbeitsweise dort normalerweise aussieht? Oder er wird noch nachgeschoben? Die ersten Romane um Annika kamen ja auch nicht in der chronologischen Reihenfolge heraus.

Was mir inhaltlich stark aufgefallen ist: Annika ist bei der Entführung weitesgehend allein gestellt. Die Verhandlungen mit den Erpressern übernimmt zwar ein Chef von Thomas, aber wohl eher aus persönlichen Gründen als aus beruflichen. Da gibt es anscheinend keinerlei Unterstütung von der Regierung (besonders hinsichtlich Lösegeld und den logistischen Dingen wie Flug etc.), für die Thomas ja arbeitet - und schließlich ist er auch nicht während eines Privaturlaubs entführt worden sondern während einer Dienstreise. Da hätte ich mir deutlich mehr erwartet.
Allerdings schreibt Marklund in ihrer Danksagung auch recht deutlich, dass sie keine Ahnung hat wie die Regierung Schwedens in solch einem Entführungsfall reagieren würde und sie dies absichtlich nicht recherchiert hat. Denn hätte sie geschrieben, dass es da volle Unterstützung gäbe - selbst wenn es nur Fiktion wäre - könnte sich dies bei einem potentiellen Entführungsfall womöglich negativ auswirken und das Lösegeld nur noch weiter in die Höhe treiben. Nach dieser Erklärung war ich dann auch wieder besänftigt.

Eine andere Sache wird oft deutlich: Annika ist im sozialen Umfeld eher ein Einzelkämpfer, ohne Familie und Freunde, auf die sie sich in Notsituationen verlassen könnte - mit wenigen Ausnahmen. Sehr negativ fällt hier ihre Schwiegermutter auf, deren Kind ja immerhin vermisst wird aber die anscheinend dennoch lieber Dinnerparties gibt statt sich in dieser Zeit mal um ihre Enkelkinder zu kümmern. Das ist für mich komplett unfassbar. Annikas eigene Familie ist aber auch keine wesentlichere Unterstützung, und ihre älteste Freundin Anne enttäuscht mich in diesem Buch ebenfalls sehr. Allein Berit (und sogar Sophia!) erweisen sich als Retter in der Not.

Dass Marklund in ihren Romanen sehr gesellschaftskritisch ist, ist nicht neu. Diesmal fokussiert sie sich besonders auf die Lage in Ostafrika. Der Völkermord in Ruanda wird mehrmals angesprochen, und auch die heutige Situation der Leute bzw. wie die EU auf die Lage dort reagiert. Marklund selbst ist Unicef-Botschafterin und ihr liegt dieses Thema offensichtlich auch sehr am Herzen. Zumindest möchte sie das Bewusstsein ihrer Leser wecken. Ob sich diese dann weiter damit beschäftigen sei einmal dahin gestellt.

Das Ende bleibt zwar offen, aber im Grunde kann man sich schon vorstellen, wie es im nächsten Roman weitergehen wird. Hoffentlich dann auch wieder mit einem Fall, an dem sich Annika so richtig die Zähne ausbeißen kann und wir wieder mitfiebern.

Noch eine kurze Anmerkung zum Titel: nach den ersten paar Seiten dachte ich, er würde sich eindeutig auf die ermordete Frau beziehen und der Fall, der sich daraus entwickelt. Nachdem dies aber so einen kleinen Teil des Buches einnimmt wurde hier entweder a) ein völlig falscher Titel gewählt, und der Titel-Entscheider hat auch nur die ersten 20 Seiten gelesen oder b) er bezieht sich vielleicht doch noch auf etwas anderes. Kann es sein, dass mit 'weiß' eher die Hautfarbe der Geiseln gemeint ist, bzw. die der Europäer (und Amis?), die die Entführer ja wohl nicht besonders leiden können und am liebsten tot sehen würden? Ich weiß es nicht, aber es macht Spaß über so einen Buchtitel auch mal ein bißchen nachdenken zu können und ihn für sich zu interpretieren.