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The Chestnut Man

Søren Sveistrup,

Caroline Waight (Translator)

4.23 · Rating details · 13,537 ratings · 2,334 reviews

The heart-pounding debut from the creator of the hit Scandinavian television show The Killing.

If you find one, he’s already found you.

A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.

His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene.

Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a ...more

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Hardcover, 528 pages

Published September 3rd 2019 by Harper (first published June 6th 2018)

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· 13,537 ratings · 2,334 reviews

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Oct 20, 2019 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was sooooo ready to give five Danish, thrilling, chilling, darkest, mind numbing stars to this book as a die-hard fan of Danish series “Forbrydelsen” (American version is “Killing” but in my opinion Danish version beats the hell of US version because of the atmosphere, sensational, smart, darker crime thriller elements and far better casting performances: I always prefer Sarah Lund over Sarah Linden!)

But now I’m barely rounding up 3.5 to 4 stars just because of the impressive, riveting, I was sooooo ready to give five Danish, thrilling, chilling, darkest, mind numbing stars to this book as a die-hard fan of Danish series “Forbrydelsen” (American version is “Killing” but in my opinion Danish version beats the hell of US version because of the atmosphere, sensational, smart, darker crime thriller elements and far better casting performances: I always prefer Sarah Lund over Sarah Linden!)

But now I’m barely rounding up 3.5 to 4 stars just because of the impressive, riveting, exciting beginning. The reasons to cut the points:

- Longevity: There were too many detailed, long, never ending descriptions slow the pace and you wanted to skip the details and try to find the real action hid in the long sentences. If the author may reduce at least 100 pages and cut some extra details about all the characters’ background stories, it could be helpful for us to get the juicy, thrilling and witty parts of the story that hooked me up at the first chapters.

- RESEMBLANCE with “Forbrydelsen”: Thulin is between Girl in the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth with her technological skills, high intelligence and Killing’s Sarah Lund with her independent, work-oriented, serious, detailed, tough manners (she tries to raise her child by herself. As a difference from Sarah, she has a girl who forms a quick relationship with her new troubled colleague)

Unlike Stephen Holder( thanks to US version series introduced us Joel Kinnaman, now he is in every show including Hanna, For All Mankind, Altered Carbon) / or Lennart Brix (Danish character), Hess, stronger and more complex, introvert hero, has troubled past, his new position is a test and last chance for him to prove his ability to work on a case, being a part of a team. He is not a drug addict or divorced like Lennart/Stephen but his past demons and a heart wrenching tragedy he’d endured justifies his changing moods and antisocial manners.

A SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTWRITER ALWAYS GIVES HIMSELF AWAY: I felt like I didn’t read chapters of book, I read 130 scenes of a screenplay. Some character descriptions, detailed background stories and their motives were written like character analysis. It was good to imagine each chapter as fast pacing, moving scenes of an action/ crime thriller movie. It worked for me as I start to read like that and I imagined Rosamund Pike and Tom Hardy as my casting choices! (Sorry no American actors came to my mind. I think British talents already invaded Hollywood!)

But I still liked the writing, dark, stunning, captivating atmosphere, gruesome, stomach lurching, violent murders that we used to from the other Scandinavian novels. The main reason connects the murders is child abuse/neglect/abandonment. The killer acts like a savior of those harmed, wounded little children!

I wish I could see more parts of Thulin and Hess come together, getting rid of the hostility and disconnection weaken their performances to organize as colleagues and friends, taking out their boxing gloves and settling their differences. I wanted to see them work as a real team, more love-hate relationship. But they didn’t team up till the end and they continue their own personal investigations, they didn’t share much about their findings which put them more dangerous situations. But I think a sequel is coming and at the next book we’re gonna see more connection and bounding relationship between them.

As a result, after omitting few pages, this is still a great story with remarkable characterization and dark, stunning, heart throbbing, agitating, horrifying but also creatively dark and scary themes make this one of the good examples of the genre. So if the author decides to write a sequel or adapt it to the TV, I happily read and watch it! I’m a big fan of his previous works and I am enthusiastic and excited to read more crime stories he will create in near future. ...more

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Dec 08, 2018 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hardback, own, mystery-thriller-etc

Omg! I had to get this because I loved the show "The Killing" (need to read those books) LOOK AT THE STAINED EDGES & it's signed and numbered!

This book was pretty awesome and freaky!!

Happy Reading!

Mel ...more

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May 14, 2019 Debra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss

A grizzly debut that will NOT having you dreaming of chestnuts roasting on an open fire anytime soon. I'd rather have Jack frost nipping at my nose instead thank you very much! This debut novel details a police investigation into the murders of mothers who have had various allegations of neglect and abuse filed against them. The murders are violent and gruesome. He likes to take a hand here, a foot there...but he is a giver also - his gift or calling card, if you will, is a chestnut man made out ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Meredith rated it liked it

Shelves: overdrive

3.5 stars

A promising start, but a ways to go!

The Chestnut Man is a psychological thriller about a serial killer out for revenge.

Little chestnut men are discovered at the crime scenes of gruesome murders. A 12-year-old girl who has been missing for a year, and presumed dead, has a link to the little dolls. Two detectives are brought in to find "The Chestnut Man," a serial killer who has been eluding the police for years. Putting the puzzle together proves dangerous, as the killer is one step ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Sumit RK rated it really liked it

As the leaves fall, He's coming for you. . .

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup is a dark & gritty thriller and an excellent debut from the creator of the hit television show The Killing. With a brilliant storyline, tense atmosphere and some great characters, this is one of the best crime novels I have read in a long time.

Set in Denmark, a psychotic serial killer is terrorizing Copenhagen. His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which As the leaves fall, He's coming for you. . .

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup is a dark & gritty thriller and an excellent debut from the creator of the hit television show The Killing. With a brilliant storyline, tense atmosphere and some great characters, this is one of the best crime novels I have read in a long time.

Set in Denmark, a psychotic serial killer is terrorizing Copenhagen. His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene. To save innocent lives, an unlikely pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. As the investigation goes further, we realize that nothing is what it seems to be on surface.

Reading the book is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. None of the individual pieces look in place till the big pictures start emerging and the picture becomes suddenly clearer. Right from the novel’s first scene, THE CHESTNUT MAN gives a hint of the thrill ride that’s about to follow. Our story begins on Halloween in 1989, when a local Danish policeman is called to a remote farmhouse for a routine visit. Readers will be instantly transported to rural Denmark and the beauty of the autumn season…. till they encounter what’s waiting for them.

The story is a part of police procedural and part psychological thriller. A ‘Nordic-Noir’; with the bleak, dark setting and the complex characters, and is vastly different from the English country house murder mystery. The plot becomes increasingly, complex and the author cleverly interweaves the investigations, the politics and the individual lives of detectives Thulin and Hess and others. The story unfolds through numerous twists, turns, and cliff-hangers to an explosive climax. Even though 500 pages long it is the sort of book that never feels long.

Among the characters, Detectives Thulin and Hess make an unlikely pair. Thulin is a single mother and a rising star in her police force. Hess is an outsider—from Europol, sent to Copenhagen as punishment for one of his many blunders on the job. A dark brooding Hess is a perfect foil to Thulin’s cool and collected personality. I wish the story had more interactions between the two but hopefully, their story will be continued in future installments. The book has many instances of graphic violence. However, this violence is not at the expense of the story and only advances the story further. Having said that, some of the scenes may be upsetting for some.

Overall, The Chestnut Man is powerful, gritty police procedural with a brilliant storyline and some great characters. Sveistrup has succeeded in creating a gripping story, full of suspense and thrills. This is the one story you don’t want to miss.

Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Søren Sveistrup and Edelweiss for the ARC. ...more

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Dec 19, 2018 Paromjit rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-fiction, thriller, netgalley, mystery

Soren Sveistrup is the man behind the runaway successful Danish TV series, The Killing, he has now turned his attention to writing his first Scandi-Noir novel set in Copenhagen. The Chestnut Man carries trademark elements of The Killing, it is part police procedural, part psychological thriller, incorporating politicians whilst giving us social realism in its portrayals and insights into the lives of its diverse range of characters that inhabit the story. It is dark, bleak, and brutal with a Soren Sveistrup is the man behind the runaway successful Danish TV series, The Killing, he has now turned his attention to writing his first Scandi-Noir novel set in Copenhagen. The Chestnut Man carries trademark elements of The Killing, it is part police procedural, part psychological thriller, incorporating politicians whilst giving us social realism in its portrayals and insights into the lives of its diverse range of characters that inhabit the story. It is dark, bleak, and brutal with a serial killer running rampant in the present day. Naia Thulin is a detective in Homicide's Murder Squad led by Nylander, feeling that her workload has barely challenged her abilities, she wants more and has plans to transfer to NC3 (National Cyber Crime Centre). She is a single mother, with a daughter Le. Mark Hess has been pushed out of Europol after issues, and lands in the Murder Squad, not wanting to be there, with every intention of being reinstated in Europol as soon as possible. He is partnered with Thulin, who quickly judges him to be a man that will be of little use, with a reputation for not being much of a detective.

The detectives find themselves on a brutal murder scene where a 37 year old mother, Laura Kjaer, has been horrifically killed with her amputated hand missing, and left at the scene is a chestnut man. A still grieving Rosa Hartung is returning to her post as politician and Minister for Social Affairs in the government after the disappearance of her 12 year old daughter, Kristine, a year ago. Linus Bekker confessed to and is sectioned in a psychiatric facility for her murder, although his memory of the act was poor but evidence suggests the conviction is secure. Rosa is plunged into fresh turmoil when fingerprints on the chestnut man at the murder scene are identified as being that of Kristine. Additionally, Rosa is receiving disturbing death threats. As further murders occur with a similar MO of mothers with children with the signature chestnut men with Kristine's fingerprints, the police struggle to find any leads whilst the serial killer runs rings around them. Hess and Thulin are ordered to ignore the Hartrup connection, despite the fact it seems to be critical to the investigation.

Sveistrup gives us compelling crime fiction with a fascinating partnership between Thulin with her eyes on a future out of the murder squad, and Hess, with a traumatised past with little interest initially in the case. One of the highlights of the novel is the development of their characters and their relationship from such poor initial beginnings. Hess becomes a man obsessed to the point of falling apart, determined to get to the bottom of the heinous murders being committed. None of the Murder Squad are accepting of him and the boss has lined him up as the fall guy as the pressure intensifies on the police. It takes time for Thulin to see Hess as a dedicated and effective detective that challenges the perceptions of the case, dogged in his determination to find the killer and willing to enter forbidden territory, convinced the case is rooted in the past and that Rosa Hartung is central to it. This is a crime thriller that will appeal to fans of Scandi-Noir, a genre defined by its darkness and harrowing murders. Sveistrup has succeeded in making a brilliant chilling debut, compulsive and gripping reading, packed with suspense and tension, and with great characterisation. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC. ...more

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Aug 29, 2019 Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill rated it really liked it

Shelves: traveling-sister-read

Whoa...this book was so dark, brutal, gory...fantastic...

I have been wanting to get ahold of this book for a loooong time. I finally got lucky enough to get a copy. I must admit I was a bit intimidated when I discovered it was over 500 pages and that it was a police procedural. Trust me, none of that matters. The chapters were short and I flew through them. I found the tension building as I raced through them. I am not a fan of police procedurals but this had such a intriguing blurb that I had ...more

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Jul 20, 2019 Felicia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Serial killer fiction is one of my favorite subgenres, despite the fact that very few of these books reach a level of exceptional storytelling. But when it's done right, there's no better read for me.

Unfortunately, The Chestnut Man isn't done right.

I often feel as if there is some outline for writers of the genre entitled "How to Write the Typical Cliché Serial Killer Novel" of which they all follow and for some reason that's enough for the masses.

That's not enough for me.

The Chestnut Man ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 BernLuvsBooks (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: botm, fave-reads, adult-reads, 2019

5 Heart Pounding Stars!!! You'll never see/think of chestnuts roasting on an open fire the same way again!

It takes a lot for thrillers to impress me, even more for them to stump me. The Chestnut Man did both and is hands down my fave thriller read this year!

Combining a gripping storyline with great characters and the kind of intense atmosphere that will have you ferociously turning pages this was one of the best crime novels I have read in a while. I'm a sucker for police procedurals and this ...more

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Apr 21, 2019 Tammy rated it really liked it

Taking place in Denmark, this ominous novel positively pulses with menace. A murderer leaves at the scene of the crime a sinister and primitive fetish in the form of a man made from chestnuts and matchsticks which echoes a childhood song about the “apple man.” The beginning is jaw-droppingly violent and the murders continue along this grisly vein. Gripping, violent and gruesome this is quite an addition to the Scandi-Noir subgenre. Best of all nothing is obvious although the ending did feel a ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 marilyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm a big fan of police procedurals and this book hit the spot for me. It is very gory and graphic though so keep that in mind if you decide to read the book. It's also very atmospheric, with the dark, wet, dreary, cold climate of Copenhagen setting the stage for a serial killer. The story begins thirty years ago when a farm family is brutally slaughtered, along with a soon to retire detective, who stopped at the farm to investigate complaints of wandering farm animals.

The book than moves to ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 JanB rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, book-of-the-month

Fans of the hit show, The Killing, will find some common elements in the Chestnut Man, the debut from Danish screenwriter Soren Sveistrup. As a fan of the TV show, I appreciated the similarities, from the gloomy atmosphere to the flawed detective duo of Hess and Thulin.

The two are paired up when the murder of a young woman has links to the disappearance of a young girl a year earlier. When the cases are linked to other grisly murders, it’s clear there is a serial murderer on the loose in ...more

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Oct 09, 2019 Beata rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This novel is very much in the style of Nordic Noir. Terrific intrigue at its best, descritptions of places that create the background for the plot and characters, and even the two main protagonists are hardly ever referred to by their first names, usually they are simply Thulin and Hess, which are the surnames. Yes, this is one of the thrillers that engaged me, despite graphic presentations of brutal murders of young women. I admit however, that these presentations are for the sake of a craftly ...more

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Aug 03, 2019 Matt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Scandinavian police procedurals are surely some of my favourite foreign books, as they bring the story to life and do not lose impact when translated into English. Søren Sveistrup does a masterful job at bringing this eerie story to life and leaving just enough out there for the reader to feel a definite chill up the spine. When the body of a woman is discovered outside her home, the Copenhagen Police send their Major Case Team out to investigate. Naia Thulin takes point and has been assigned to Scandinavian police procedurals are surely some of my favourite foreign books, as they bring the story to life and do not lose impact when translated into English. Søren Sveistrup does a masterful job at bringing this eerie story to life and leaving just enough out there for the reader to feel a definite chill up the spine. When the body of a woman is discovered outside her home, the Copenhagen Police send their Major Case Team out to investigate. Naia Thulin takes point and has been assigned to work with Mark Hess, a liaison officer who is biding his time before returning to Europol. When Thulin and Hess survey the scene, it is as grizzly as they could imagine, with the woman brutally murdered and her severed hand missing. Not only that, her young son was inside and came upon the body before the authorities were called. A small chestnut man—sold at many roadside kiosks around Denmark—is found at the scene, though it is hard to determine if there is any significance. As Thulin works with a less than enthralled partner, another body appears, this time with both hands removed. Hess seeks to shed some light on the investigation and notices a second chestnut man at the scene. Hess posits about whether the victims are mutilated for a particular reason, deducing that the killer may have more than just a sadistic need to bring about pain. After forensic testing, new evidence on an old case comes to light, one in which the daughter of the Minister of Social Affairs plays a central role. A year ago, young Kristine Hartung went missing and was never found. A man full of perverse tendencies admitted to kidnapping and dismembering her body before scattering the parts all over rural Denmark. However, both chestnut men from the recent crime scenes have Hartung’s fingerprints on them. Could it be that Kristine Hartung is still alive, perhaps being held captive by this sadistic killer? As the bodies pile up, Thulin and Hess are no closer to finding the killer, but may have a lead on how the victims are being chosen. While young children sing of a chestnut man in their primary classrooms, another Chestnut Man lurks out of view, ready to strike and commit horrible crimes for reasons not yet clear. Sveistrup does an amazing job in this drawn-out piece that will keep readers up late into the night to find answers and wonder what lurks in the dark. Highly recommended to those who love psychological thrillers and the reader with an enjoyment for well-crafted Scandinavian thrillers.

It is such a pleasure to discover new authors that sweep you off your feet from their debuts. I have come across a few these past months and cannot speak enough about the wonders of those who have the knack to write with such confidence. Sveistrup does so well in pacing out his thriller with wonderful characters and a plot that cannot be matched. Naia Thulin is an interesting member of Copenhagen’s Major Crime Team, though she is wrestling with many issues in her personal life. A single mother with a less than committed boyfriend, she uses her work to replace much of the loss she has seen. Thulin is dedicated to her job and has a passion for finding the clues that will bring a killer to justice, but cannot help showing her vulnerabilities when she least expects it. The reader can enjoy much of her personality, which evolves with the book, though her grit and determination makes it hard not to like her on some level. Other characters find themselves complementing Thulin, as well as making the most of their place within the larger narrative. The variety of characters boasts numerous sub-plots that the reader must follow to better understand the overall narrative and successfully determine where the killer can be found. With a powerful narrative that is not diluted in translation, Sveistrup pulls the reader in during the opening pages and will not let go throughout the entire piece. Mixing short chapters that tease with longer and move developed ones, Sveistrup takes no prisoners as he sets about to present one of the most chilling novels I have read in a long while. I can only hope there are more to come.

Kudos, Mr. Sveistrup, for making the transition from television to book writing. I can only hope others will find this book as stunning and create a buzz.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... ...more

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May 04, 2019 Lisa rated it really liked it

My thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book. All for the price of a measly review!
So, my thoughts? This book will make it to my top 5 books published in 2019. Seriously good writing!
I pride myself in being able to figure out whodunit, This one had my mind churning. Did I figure it out? Yes. But then, no. Then yes. Crap! I had changed my thinking so many times that I blew it! This was one hell of a story, and just downright creepy. I love chestnuts, but I ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 NZLisaM rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, favourites, crime, action, 2019, suspense, buddy-read, halloween-2019

IF YOU FIND ONE
HE'S ALREADY FOUND YOU!

I own the Australian edition, but the tagline for the US one, gives me chills, so I just had to include it.

In Copenhagen, police are called to an appalling crime scene. Laura Kjaer, thirty-seven years old, has been mutilated and murdered in the play area bordering her home, while her nine-year old slept inside. Next to the body, hanging from the playhouse, is a crude doll, made from two chestnuts, with twigs for arms and legs.

Things get even more disturbing ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 Jayme rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, mystery-suspense, traveling-sisters-read

"Chestnut Man, do come in. Chestnut Man, do come in. Have you any chestnuts that you've brought for me today? Thank You kindly...Won't you stay?"

An innocent children's song, being used as a threat.

A Chestnut Man-a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts-left at each bloody crime scene.

A story that begins on Halloween, 1989 and spans the years till October-present day...

I WAS expecting a creepy mystery.

What I got was a 528 page methodical police procedural.

Perhaps I should've known ...more

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Sep 01, 2019 Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader rated it really liked it

My thoughts: There’s a psychopath on the loose in Copenhagen. You know how serial killers like to leave a calling card? This one leaves behind a doll made out of matchsticks and two chestnuts, a “chestnut man.” Dolls are extra creepy, you know?

The Chestnut Man is super crhilling and dark, like Scandinavian Noir DARK. It’s gruesome and bloody and horrific, showing just how sick the killer is. I didn’t guess the twists, nor the ending, and I was enthralled from beginning to end. This was a little ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Mandy White rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, read-in-2019, favorites, buddy-reads

The Chestnut Man is a book that is going gangbusters at the moment. Everywhere I turn I see more people reading and loving it. I had to know what all the fuss was about. This was a buddy read this week with my friend Lisa in NZ. There is so much to talk about with this book, theories to throw around and characters to dissect. The author Soren Sveistrup is the writer behind the TV series The Killing and this is his first novel. Please tell me there will be more, especially with these characters. ...more

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Oct 13, 2019 Amy Imogene Reads rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller, read-in-2019

3.5 stars

Someone is killing mothers in Denmark and leaving little chestnut figurines at the scene. At times twisted, The Chestnut Man delivers on the suspense and gore but ultimately lacks in engaging pacing.

Characters:
Pacing:
Villain/Reveals:

So first off, let's address the graphic warnings. I went into The Chestnut Man expecting some shocking levels of twisted psyche...plot twist, I didn't think this novel was any gorier than other serial killer stories, and certainly not gorier than any ...more

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Jun 09, 2019 Sandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-from-publisher, atmospheric, scandinavian-authors, serial-killer, translation, gritty, crime, police-procedural, thriller

I was a big fan of “The Killing” so when I heard about this book, onto the wish list it went. Did it live up to my expectations? You betcha. This Scandi crime/police procedural comes loaded with all the elements that will keep you reading into the wee hours. Two compelling MC’s, an intricate plot & a sinister bad guy…it ticks all the boxes. Set in Copenhagen, it’s the story of a current investigation with deep ties to the past delivered with a stealthy & rising sense of menace.

The first I was a big fan of “The Killing” so when I heard about this book, onto the wish list it went. Did it live up to my expectations? You betcha. This Scandi crime/police procedural comes loaded with all the elements that will keep you reading into the wee hours. Two compelling MC’s, an intricate plot & a sinister bad guy…it ticks all the boxes. Set in Copenhagen, it’s the story of a current investigation with deep ties to the past delivered with a stealthy & rising sense of menace.

The first MC is Naia Thulin. She’s a young cop who is slowly dying of boredom as the newest member of the Major Crimes Division. Despite her intelligence & tech skills, she’s being wasted on the small stuff. Naia decides to ask for a transfer to Cyber Crimes but her boss has one last job for her. It seems they’ve been saddled with a Europol agent who was demoted back to Copenhagen. Her job is to babysit for a few days until he’s up to speed.

Mark Hess spent the last 5 years living a nomadic life with Europol. But a disagreement with higher-ups resulted in him being sent back to his old stomping grounds. He’s been paired with Thulin, a rather intense young woman, but making new friends is not a priority. Copenhagen holds too many bad memories & his sole focus is getting his job back. Then a body is found.

In alternate chapters we meet Rosa Hartung. She’s the government minister for social services who is returning to work after compassionate leave. A year ago her daughter Kristine disappeared & has never been found. The tragedy left it’s mark on her family & she needs to get back to some kind of normal.

Thulin & Hess take the call about a body & arrive to find a young nurse who’s been murdered. The area is carefully picked over but no leads are forthcoming. Until they get an odd call from the forensic crew. One of the items taken from the scene was a funny little doll made from chestnuts & matchsticks. A fingerprint was found on it & they have a match…..Kristina Hartung.

I’ll leave it at that for the plot. Suffice to say there are more bodies, each accompanied by a chestnut man. The book opens with a ominous prologue from 1989 so you know there’s more going on here than just the crimes in the present.

This is a great read for several reasons but two things stood out for me. First, don’t expect to be spoon fed. We learn things right along with the MC’s & I enjoyed being a third partner in the investigation. Some clever misdirection means you have more than one candidate for the killer & it keeps you guessing as a good thriller should.

Second, I really liked Thulin & Hess. These 2 characters are the heart & soul of the story. They have very different styles & it was interesting to watch them go from barely speaking to appreciating what the other brought to the table. Both are smart & capable of the intuitive thinking that puts it all together. The author purposely gives only sparse details about their pasts & you get the feeling there is so much more to learn about them. Maybe in book 2? (hint, hint)

So many procedurals rely on a character’s dumb decision to move the story along & it was a pleasure to read one that didn’t stoop to using this device. With a clever plot & intelligent characters, there was no need. As for the ending, just when you think you’ve made it safely to the other side….well, that would be telling. My reaction? “Oh, crap”.

A big bowl of shiny chestnuts to translator Caroline Waight. She does a stellar job of providing a seamless translation while maintaining a Scandinavian vibe that gives the book a real sense of place.

4.5 stars ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 preoccupiedbybooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A dark, gripping and fast paced thriller which had me hooked right up until the end!

“Chestnut man, do come in,
Chestnut man, do come in,
Have you any chestnuts you’ve brought for me today?
Thank you kindly, won’t you stay….."

A murderer is terrorising Copenhagen. They have brutally killed a woman and leave a chestnut man (a small doll made with chestnuts and matchsticks) behind as a calling card. Not only that, but a fingerprint is found on the chestnut doll, which belongs to a girl who was A dark, gripping and fast paced thriller which had me hooked right up until the end!

“Chestnut man, do come in,
Chestnut man, do come in,
Have you any chestnuts you’ve brought for me today?
Thank you kindly, won’t you stay….."

A murderer is terrorising Copenhagen. They have brutally killed a woman and leave a chestnut man (a small doll made with chestnuts and matchsticks) behind as a calling card. Not only that, but a fingerprint is found on the chestnut doll, which belongs to a girl who was murdered a year ago!
Two vastly different detectives must work together to solve the clues because this psychopathic killer is only just getting started…

This is the first book written by Søren Sveistrup, but I loved the TV series ‘The Killing,’ so I was really excited to read this! For a debut book, I was seriously impressed! I was completely engrossed, staying up beyond midnight to finish it, (which is unheard of for me, since the cat and kids wake me up about 6.30am most days!) and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it! I even read it at night, which I am usually too chicken to do!
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I loved the setting! The dark, wintery, rain, and the woods, contrasted amazingly with the city. Reading about a dark creepy killer in the rain, whilst sat in the dark, listening to the rain here was a creepy experience for me. I did get quite scared, because this book did not shy away from violence, gore and graphic scenes. It was so tense and chilling, with many twists and turns, but I just couldn’t look away! For me it was the perfect mix of police work, politics and a psychological thriller. I can’t say that I didn’t guess who the killer was, but it didn’t bother me. The backstory was so worth it!

I thought the characters were brilliantly written. Every character was flawed, human, and relatable. Thulin, a single mum working her way up in the police force, and Hess, an ex-policeman, sent back to Copenhagen from Europol as a punishment for not doing his job properly, had very different personalities, but they worked. I have a feeling that this isn’t the only book to be written with these detectives in, or at least I hope it is not! It just feels like the beginning of a series to me, and now that I have seen the exciting news that Netflix is adapting it into a TV series, I really hope that means it isn’t the last we shall see of Hess and Thulin!

The book also spoke about grief, for the families who had lost someone. ”Grief is love made homeless.” is such a resonating quote for me. It is true, as just because a person you love has gone, it doesn’t mean your love for them has, but where is it meant to go? Rosa Hartung and her husbands grief for their murdered daughter was so raw.

If you are looking for a dark, gritty thriller, then look no further! Just a word of warning though, you may never look at chestnuts the same way again….

Oh and it's only 99p on Kindle at the moment! 🙌 ...more

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Jan 05, 2019 Irena BookDustMagic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It seems to me that everyone already knows about Soren Sveistrup because of The Killing, but since I’ve never watched it, this was my first time encountering his work.
It will definitely not be the last, because my Soren Sveinstrup journey just began!

In case you didn’t have a chance to see The Chestnut Man in person, let me tell you: it is a massive book. It has more than 500 pages and bigger format than usual novels. You could easily use it as a weapon!

But despite this novel looking intimidating It seems to me that everyone already knows about Soren Sveistrup because of The Killing, but since I’ve never watched it, this was my first time encountering his work.
It will definitely not be the last, because my Soren Sveinstrup journey just began!

In case you didn’t have a chance to see The Chestnut Man in person, let me tell you: it is a massive book. It has more than 500 pages and bigger format than usual novels. You could easily use it as a weapon!

But despite this novel looking intimidating at first, it reads really easily because of the short chapters, intense story and great translation.

The story follows two main characters, detective Naia Thulin and investigator Mark Hess who work on the case together. The murders they have to deal with are not easy on the stomach because the killer likes to do amputations while the victims are still alive. On the crime scenes, there is always one little chestnut man, as a mark of a killer.

There is so much more to the story, because we follow so many characters who’s stories intertwine.

At first it was bit hard for me to follow and connect everything and everyone, because of so many different characters with to me unusual names, but after some time (around 80 pages into the story), it became pretty easy to follow.

This crime novel is the first one that reminded me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Even if their stories are totally different, I recognized the similar dark atmosphere.
If you like Stieg Larsson, don’t miss out on this one!

This book really pulled me in. I was so invested in this gripping story, wanted to know everything and solve the crime myself, but also it made me want to know why characters acted the way they did, and what is under everyone’s surface.

The Chestnut Man is a brutal, chilling story that made me question are psychopaths really born that way, or do they become what they are because of others?
I think it’s both, and I think the second plays the main part what will become of a person.

Overall, I recommend The Chestnut Man to every single crime novels fan.
This book is the one that should be on everyone’s tbr-s and I predict that by the end of 2019 it will be on many people’s favorites lists. ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Julie (JuJu) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reads, br-2019, books-i-have, 2019-top-reads, 52-books, ng-2019, wom-read-2019

“Chestnut man, do come in. Chestnut man, do come in. Have you any chestnuts that you’ve brought for me today? Thank you kindly, won’t you stay …”

This debut is so dark and creepy, it’s perfect for October! Brutal murders, dismembered bodies and a sadistic killer, what more can you ask for?

It hooked me from the dynamic beginning and it was hard to put down after that! If you like evil killers, this book has one of the most twisted ones I’ve read about. His murders are violent and gruesome.

Thulin ...more

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Nov 07, 2018 Ova - Excuse My Reading rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, netgalley-2018, netgalley, crime

I must say it was difficult to read from time to time, as there is a lot of upsetting content in it, but it's not done in a vulgar way and put together very powerfully.

I loved Hess, and Thurin, both strong characters with their flaws. Hess specifically fits quickly into the very likeable anti-hero space in the eyes of the reader. I wish there wasn't the classic 'encounter with the villain and action' section in the end, this book really didn't needed it. But the ending was beautiful. I can't ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dec-2019-reads, my-favorites, best-of-2019

Easy 5 Stars. This will definitely be one of my top books of 2019.

Trying to find the next one like this will be hard. This book casts a very big shadow...

Guys, I feel really bad for the next book in line because I'm in a major book coma. Due to life circumstances, it has taken me FOREVER to get through this book, but it wasn't because I didn't like it. It was just very long and there wasn't a lot of time to read in one sitting.

I've seen a lot of reviews from very trusted friends who mentioned ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 Aga Durka rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Chestnut Man is a dark, chilling, character-driven suspense read with lots of police procedural descriptions, which I absolutely love. This book gave me nightmares, I am not kidding, I actually had to quit reading it at night because I was not getting enough rest due to all the disturbing dreams I had. This said, I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves gripping storyline, strong characters, gory and unnerving descriptions of crime scenes, and just a well-written story with many ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 Marialyce rated it really liked it

Shelves: jan-mar, library, books-of-2019

A psychopath is running amuck in Copenhagen and two detectives, a female homicide detective Thulin, and seasoned detective Hess, a man who has gotten his wrists slapped by being thrown back into the lowly homicide division, are seeking a killer. This serial killer likes to take trophies, some hands, a foot just to make life interesting. He preys on women those who have the aura of abusive behavior to their children hanging over their heads. The victims have been tortured and of course this adds A psychopath is running amuck in Copenhagen and two detectives, a female homicide detective Thulin, and seasoned detective Hess, a man who has gotten his wrists slapped by being thrown back into the lowly homicide division, are seeking a killer. This serial killer likes to take trophies, some hands, a foot just to make life interesting. He preys on women those who have the aura of abusive behavior to their children hanging over their heads. The victims have been tortured and of course this adds to the gruesomeness of the telling.

There's a whole lot of atmosphere to this book, the dark and eerie telling adds so much and just when you feel you have it all figured out bam, you're wrong, and led down a pathway that is twisted a devious.

To make things even creepier at each murder site, there is a doll left made out of chestnuts and matchstick bearing the smudged fingerprint of a young girl believed to have been abducted, raped and killed by a man who confessed to the crime. Could this young daughter of one of the ministers in government still be alive? What about the man who confessed to the crime?

How this all comes together results in a gripping page turning book that makes the reader fully immersed in the stoy and its characters. You don't know where you are going so you stand at the sidelines wondering, frightened, and griped in the tension of this story.

The one issue I had with the story was its length. Granted the chapters are short but the book is long. However, the story is shocking and the elements come together in the end to give the reader that jaw dropping moment we all hope for in reading a mystery thriller.

I definitely recommend this book for all its spine tingling moments and the ability to keep you in suspense throughout all of those moments.
Jan and I can surely say, we will never look at chestnuts in the same way we once did after reading this book. If you are looking for a wonderful thriller with the right amount of twists and turns then do go out and find a copy of this story. It will keep you engrossed in its mystery and turn of events.
To see our dual reviews and an interview with the author you can go here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress... ...more

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Dec 24, 2019 Chris Berko rated it it was amazing

This book punched me in the face, kicked me in the stomach then brought unexpected tears to my eyes because of its beauty. The Chestnut Man was a rough read but the reward at the end was so very worth it. I was reminded of the Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag, not in plot or storyline because it is totally different, but because of the unrelenting viciousness and severity of its subject matter. This is a true thriller in every sense of the word and while I thought I had an idea of ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Ceecee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I can no longer look at the children excitedly gathering chestnuts on the village green without a little shudder! This is one of the creepiest books I have read this year and some of it is horrific and I found myself gasping or holding my breathe in shock. I really like the central characters of Thulin and Hess and really hope this investigative duo feature again. Their boss Nylander is very unlikeable and his refusal to listen to Hess made me furious as they try desperately to track down the ...more

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Play Book Tag: The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup / 5 stars	3	17	Jan 24, 2020 10:54AM
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About Søren Sveistrup

Søren Sveistrup

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Søren Sveistrup is an internationally acclaimed scriptwriter of the Danish television phenomenon The Killing which won various international awards and sold in more than a hundred countries. More recently, Sveistrup wrote the screenplay for Jo Nesbø's The Snowman.

Sveistrup obtained a Master in Literature and in History from the University of Copenhagen and studied at the Danish Film School. He has ...more