Nordic Nights

An Alix Thorssen Mystery #3

by Lise McClendon

When her stepfather is accused of the murder of Norwegian artist Glasius Dokken, art dealer Alix Thorssen takes it upon herself to clear his name, only to find her own life in danger from a killer who will do anything to stop her investigation. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

Lise McClendon is a fiction writer living in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. She has been a film reviewer, a film maker, a journalism professor, and a PR flack. Since her first novel, The Bluejay Shaman, in 1994, she has served on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers/North America, as well as on faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference where each year she critiques, speaks, and learns from writers new and old.

Check out the Lise McClendon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiseMcClendon

Lise McClendon also writes as Rory Tate in the 2011 thriller, JUMP CUT. Her new novel by Rory Tate is PLAN X, available now. Read her latest novel, Château des Corbeaux, 17th in the Bennett Sisters mystery series that began with Blackbird Fly.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nordic Nights by Lise McClendon

As always, these Alix Thorssen Myteries are amazing. I seriously have trouble unwinding them. In this one, it is pretty clear from the beginning who is responsible for the murder, the problem for Alix is proving it without getting anyone else killed. Well worth the read.

*I dropped a star for editing. I bought these in a boxed set, so maybe the other editions would have less issues. I don't care for the errors, but I won't stop reading Lise McClencon.

[CC. Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alix Thorssen is an art gallery owner. How that translates into being a detective is lost to me but is perhaps described in an early book. Her mother and stepfather are visiting for a town festival called 'Nordic Nights' that celebrates the town's Nordic heritage. Alix's gallery is hosting a showing for a famous Norwegian artist and her stepfather is rebuilding some type of sailboat for the festival. When the Norwegian artist turns up dead, Alix has to clear her stepfather's name, if only for her mother's sake.

This one is not the first in the series and I felt very lost for quite some time. Obviously I had missed something very important about the main character in the first book and the second never really fully explains her character or motivations.

I didn't really enjoy the book. The main character is, well, boring. If Alix Thorssen were to ever call me for a lunch date, I would lie and make up some excuse. She has absolutely no personality at all. The author seems to blame her lack of spirit on her Norwegian ancestry but I hate to think of an entire culture as being so boring. However, almost every motivation and decision in the book is attributed to the 'Norwegian' in Alix. I just can't believe it, though. Weren't the Vikings Norwegian? They certainly don't seem so cold and colorless.

I did enjoy the scene with Bjarne, though, and the mystery was engaging. Overall, just too cold for my tastes.

[R.Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a captivating mystery, and I liked it. It moved quickly through the snow and ice surrounding the festival of Nordic Nights and although the characters were topical, they were interesting and likable.

What I didn't like was the really bad copy editing that was done, or maybe wasn't done at all, on this novel. There were misspelled words, punctuation errors, words that needed capitalization, and sentences that didn't make sense. There were so many that I began underlining them, but then there were so many more, that I stopped bothering.

If you don't care a wit about such minor things as English usage, I'd recommend the book. I read it on the Kindle. Maybe the print versions are less annoying.

[Marissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't find the plot line believable and kept getting frustrated with choices the author had the main character make. Perhaps it was the author trying to use the Norweigian detachment and toughness oft mentioned in the book, but connecting the characters to the audience is paramount to writing a successful book. I wasn't thrilled, nor remotely attuned to how the characters were feeling. I didn't care when they were in danger and that's just not a good thing for a mystery.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but found it slow going in some places. Of course, I was trying to read it during the Christmas season so I had a hard time concentrating. I know the Jackson Hole area quite well. What beautiful scenery.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fun read. I like to read books from authors I have not heard of before and this was a fun snag. Kind of a typical formula but with a slight twist. I enjoyed it an d would read another.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Alix Thorssen mystery as she invites a famous Norwegian artist to display his work at her gallery during a winter festival. Unfortuneately he is murdered and her stepfather is arrested as the primary suspect. Recommended.

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so silly. Of course I wrote this book, not read it! :-) Somehow I couldn't stop myself!!!! Argh!!!!!

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining murder mystery set in wintry Wyoming featuring Alix Thorssen and an assortment of visiting and american-born Norwegians.

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, nothing complicated at all. I did, however, like the descriptions of Jackson and The tetons, where the mystery takes place.

[Leslie]

My first book by this author. A quick read, somewhat humorous.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fortune runes, Viking parade ship & runestone in Grand Tetons