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Inspector Barbarotti #2
The Root of Evil: An Inspector Barbarotti Novel 2
Godfather of Swedish Crime' (Metro), Hakan Nesser, is back with the second installment in the Inspector Barbarotti series, The Root of Evil.
July 2007. A letter arrives on Inspector Barbarotti’s doorstep detailing a murder that is about to take place in his own quiet Swedish town. By the time the police track down the subject of the letter, he is already dead.
So when a second letter arrives, then a third, and a fourth, it’s a game of cat and mouse to stop the killer before he can make good on all of his promises.
Meanwhile, an anonymous diary is unearthed depicting the incidents of a two week holiday in France five years earlier, and it doesn’t take Barbarotti long to realize the people populating the diary are the ones whose lives are now in the balance . . .
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
106 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
About the author
Håkan Nesser
134 books1,112 followersHåkan Nesser is a Swedish author and teacher who has written a number of successful crime fiction novels. He has won Best Swedish Crime Novel Award three times, and his novel Carambole won the Glass Key award in 2000. His books have been translated from Swedish into numerous languages.
Håkan Nesser was born and grew up in Kumla, and has lived most of his adult life in Uppsala. His first novel was published in 1988, but he worked as a teacher until 1998 when he became a full-time author. In August, 2006, Håkan Nesser and his wife Elke moved to Greenwich Village in New York.
Series:
* Inspector Van Veeteren
* Inspector Barbarotti
Håkan Nesser was born and grew up in Kumla, and has lived most of his adult life in Uppsala. His first novel was published in 1988, but he worked as a teacher until 1998 when he became a full-time author. In August, 2006, Håkan Nesser and his wife Elke moved to Greenwich Village in New York.
Series:
* Inspector Van Veeteren
* Inspector Barbarotti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
December 23, 2021
“The sense of it in actual fact being this self-willed, cold-blooded perpetrator who was choreographing the whole investigation began to seem inescapable.”Ahhh, a Swedish crime novel… Scandi noir.
In Swedish, this book is titled “A Completely Different Story”, and it’s a perfect title for many reasons (but alas, the translation went with the more sinister-sounding “The Root of Evil” which really doesn’t hit the right note). It *is* a different story, with its own quirks and peculiarities that lend it its slightly awkward yet clever charm.
You see the puppet strings directing the events throughout the book, but who’s the puppeteer? That’s the question, and the one that’s not so easy to answer. And what does a holiday in France a few years ago have to do with a string of murders in Sweden? And can the detectives in Kymlinge, Sweden EVER have an uninterrupted vacation?
“Well, the way I see it, even if ten cops slave away for a hundred days and interview a thousand people, it doesn’t always help.”
(From thomaskinkade.com - “The Beach at Nice”)
Let me spoil one thing for you here — our protagonist Gunnar Barbarotti does not actually solve the crime. Oh, it gets solved, but Barbarotti is just one of the cogs in the machine, made special not by his talents or wits or anything else besides being our eyes into this story — and a person full of seemingly banal and yet interesting oddities. (Yes, he’s still awarding God points to allow God to prove his existence*). And Gunnar’s personal struggles to me were no less interesting than the murder investigation itself.
* “He had a so-called deal with Our Lord, in which Our Lord had to show his existence by heeding at least a reasonable proportion of the prayers his humble servant, Detective Inspector Barbarotti, sent up to him. Then points were awarded: plus points for Our Lord if Barbarotti’s prayers were answered, minus if they were not.”
Life is not always kind to Gunnar Barbarotti, and he really needs a break. Let’s just say, he’s struggling juuuust a bit, and loneliness plays a part in it all.
“So if I can just summarize for a moment,’ she said, stretching a little in her seat, ‘a variety of things have exercised a negative influence on your life in recent months. Your daughter’s left home. You feel lonely and aren’t happy with your job. You’ve found a new woman, but you’re not sure whether she really wants to live with you. You’re receiving strange letters from a murderer. You’ve been reported to the police for hitting a reporter and you’ve been suspended from work. Have I got that more or less right?”
It’s a slow-paced book, full of detours and police not knowing how to make head or tails of the murder investigations, and persistent feeling by all that the murderer is pulling all the strings, and a lot of figurative bumbling around in the dark. Honestly, that’s probably much closer to how real investigations go rather than the string of brilliant insights by the infallible geniuses. And Barbarotti is lucky to be surrounded by good friends and colleagues - his friendship with Eva Backman is a pleasure to witness.
“Why? Why the hell write a letter giving the name of your intended victim?
And why send it to him? Detective Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti? At his home address?
Was it just to tease them? Did it have any real significance at all? Did this person actually know Barbarotti?
And – last but not least – did Barbarotti know the murderer?”
Well, the answers are not immediately obvious, and red herrings abound, and sometimes it ends up, well, “a completely different story”.
(Oh, and have I mentioned that this book is translated by Sarah Death? What a fitting name for a murder mystery novel translator.)
4 stars.
————
Thanks to my buddy readers - William, Mark, Nat K and Neale.
December 24, 2021
Gunnar Barbarotti locks his door grabs his suitcase and is heading off for his holiday in Gotland with Marianne when he is interrupted by the postman. In his haste he just collects the three letters and is on his way. Later when he is at Marianne’s house, he notices the letters that he stuffed in the outside pocket of his suitcase. Two of them are just bills, but one of them has his name and address scrawled on the front of the envelope and is handwritten. He opens the letter to find a disturbing message,
GOING TO KILL ERIK BERGMAN LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN STOP ME.
Barbarotti is baffled, he cannot seem to remember an Erik Bergman. Perhaps the letter is just a hoax or fake, it would not be the first. Marianne insists that Barbarotti takes the letter seriously, and if he is honest, just wanting to enjoy his holiday, he wishes he had never opened it.
He calls the station and notifies them about the letter and thinks that that will be the last of it.
However, the next day, Eva Backman, his partner, returns his call notifying him that an Erick Bergman has indeed been murdered. And just like that Barbarotti knows his holiday is over.
Upon returning to his house, another letter awaits him. Same handwriting. The letter addresses him again, but the victim will now be Anna Eriksson.
This letter is followed by a third and fourth. It seems the police have a serial killer on their hands yet there is absolutely no connection between the victims to be found. The killer continues dispatching the people who are on the letters, taunting the baffled inspectors, particularly Barbarotti. Why are the letters being addressed to him, and to his home address?
The novel is broken into seven parts and parts one to six start with the killer writing his thoughts and musings, similar to diary entries. This structure works extremely well, revealing the killers motive but not his identity, and leaves the reader knowing much more than the police.
This is the second Barbarotti novel, and just as with the first we are treated to the “earthy”, realistic side of police investigating. The reader is privy to just how difficult an investigation of this sort must be with the inspectors struggling to find the killer before he gets to the next person on the letter.
Also, with this second novel, Barbarotti wants to settle down and leave the force to marry Marianne. This should lead to interesting dynamics in the third book.
And again, the reader is treated to Nesser’s wonderful dry, subtle humor. And again, Barbarrotti continues his eccentric point system to prove God’s existence.
Nesser is a highly skilled crime writer, and I am willing to bet that he will have you guessing the identity of the killer right until the end.
This novel was again translated by Sarah Death, and again she has done a superb job.
Thanks to my fellow buddy readers who I read this with and their wonderful insightful comments.
GOING TO KILL ERIK BERGMAN LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN STOP ME.
Barbarotti is baffled, he cannot seem to remember an Erik Bergman. Perhaps the letter is just a hoax or fake, it would not be the first. Marianne insists that Barbarotti takes the letter seriously, and if he is honest, just wanting to enjoy his holiday, he wishes he had never opened it.
He calls the station and notifies them about the letter and thinks that that will be the last of it.
However, the next day, Eva Backman, his partner, returns his call notifying him that an Erick Bergman has indeed been murdered. And just like that Barbarotti knows his holiday is over.
Upon returning to his house, another letter awaits him. Same handwriting. The letter addresses him again, but the victim will now be Anna Eriksson.
This letter is followed by a third and fourth. It seems the police have a serial killer on their hands yet there is absolutely no connection between the victims to be found. The killer continues dispatching the people who are on the letters, taunting the baffled inspectors, particularly Barbarotti. Why are the letters being addressed to him, and to his home address?
The novel is broken into seven parts and parts one to six start with the killer writing his thoughts and musings, similar to diary entries. This structure works extremely well, revealing the killers motive but not his identity, and leaves the reader knowing much more than the police.
This is the second Barbarotti novel, and just as with the first we are treated to the “earthy”, realistic side of police investigating. The reader is privy to just how difficult an investigation of this sort must be with the inspectors struggling to find the killer before he gets to the next person on the letter.
Also, with this second novel, Barbarotti wants to settle down and leave the force to marry Marianne. This should lead to interesting dynamics in the third book.
And again, the reader is treated to Nesser’s wonderful dry, subtle humor. And again, Barbarrotti continues his eccentric point system to prove God’s existence.
Nesser is a highly skilled crime writer, and I am willing to bet that he will have you guessing the identity of the killer right until the end.
This novel was again translated by Sarah Death, and again she has done a superb job.
Thanks to my fellow buddy readers who I read this with and their wonderful insightful comments.
December 20, 2021
One of my favourite things about #2 in the Inspector Barbarotti series, The Root of Evil by Hakan Nesser is, we didn’t have to wait until the last third of the book to see our hero. He enters in Chapter 1 – Happy Days!! He’s still the same odd, special, clever, and funny, Gunnar Barbarotti. He is still searching for meaning by slavishly following his self-imposed algorithm of awarding points to God if a prayer of his is answered and debiting God points if his cry for help is wilfully ignored. The Christians amongst us would be relieved to know, God is very much in credit throughout this book.
Sometimes I think it must be the Devil who invented religion, so it can put itself between human beings and God
The story starts with the Inspector receiving a letter detailing an upcoming murder. This is the first of numerous letters he receives, each one baffling, the link between the victims and Barbarotti, is also a mystery.
Each chapter commences with diary notes from an unknown person on holiday with five Swedes in a French holiday spot in 2007. These notes are written in a place called Mouserlin five years earlier (2002). The dynamics between the six holidaymakers is interesting, the characters aren’t particularly likeable, and the identity of the diary’s author remains unknown. The diary notes (4-6 pages) are then followed by a brief commentary (2007) describing the crimes this mystery person has committed.
There is a big swag of mystery here – it really is all quite baffling. This author is such a good crime writer, but more importantly he creates splendid characters. Believable and often funny or odd, the interactions between them very natural, interesting, and sometimes hilarious. For example, the useless local Police Boss, Chief Inspector Asanunder, had a mouthful of poorly adhered false teeth – he therefore ‘clicked’ his way through various conversations and seemed to play with them, resulting in more clicking. Asanunder had me reaching for my incontinence pads!
Throughout these negotiations, Chief Inspector Asanunder had adopted his customary low profile and advisory role, but as no one had sought his advice, he had not been required to strain his false teeth
The relationship Barbarotti has with his closest colleague, Inspector Eve Backman, is so natural and jam-packed full of acerbic and mutual piss-taking, is magic. It’s the type of good-natured ribbing we see in most workplaces (certainly mine). Aside , when I was recently told by a specialist I needed to wear pressure stockings to combat my lower limb Lymphedema – my first thought wasn’t “Oh shit, this is going to be inconvenient in this hot weather”, it was – sadly “Oh shit, those bastards upstairs (in my lab) are going to make fun of me if I continue to wear shorts to work.” Hence, I immediately purchased a fine fleet of long pants – a rare event indeed. That type of healthy ribbing. (Bastards!).
Inspector Barbarotti also has a sweet relationship going on with a woman called Marianne – between them, they have 5 kids. So, there’s the potential of a bit of “Brady Bunch” happening sometime (fingers crossed).
Nesser skilfully takes us from crime scene to crime scene and back and forth between 2002 and 2007 and he takes us to a conclusion that makes sense, it isn’t ridiculously fabricated and importantly, it could possibly have been spotted by the expert mystery reader (not I). All of these grisly murders and police investigations are interwoven with fascinating character interplay.
So enjoyable.
4-Stars
Thanks so much to fellow buddy readers, William, Nataliya, Neale and Nattington for increasing the enjoyment levels of this terrific novel, and series.
Sometimes I think it must be the Devil who invented religion, so it can put itself between human beings and God
The story starts with the Inspector receiving a letter detailing an upcoming murder. This is the first of numerous letters he receives, each one baffling, the link between the victims and Barbarotti, is also a mystery.
Each chapter commences with diary notes from an unknown person on holiday with five Swedes in a French holiday spot in 2007. These notes are written in a place called Mouserlin five years earlier (2002). The dynamics between the six holidaymakers is interesting, the characters aren’t particularly likeable, and the identity of the diary’s author remains unknown. The diary notes (4-6 pages) are then followed by a brief commentary (2007) describing the crimes this mystery person has committed.
There is a big swag of mystery here – it really is all quite baffling. This author is such a good crime writer, but more importantly he creates splendid characters. Believable and often funny or odd, the interactions between them very natural, interesting, and sometimes hilarious. For example, the useless local Police Boss, Chief Inspector Asanunder, had a mouthful of poorly adhered false teeth – he therefore ‘clicked’ his way through various conversations and seemed to play with them, resulting in more clicking. Asanunder had me reaching for my incontinence pads!
Throughout these negotiations, Chief Inspector Asanunder had adopted his customary low profile and advisory role, but as no one had sought his advice, he had not been required to strain his false teeth
The relationship Barbarotti has with his closest colleague, Inspector Eve Backman, is so natural and jam-packed full of acerbic and mutual piss-taking, is magic. It’s the type of good-natured ribbing we see in most workplaces (certainly mine). Aside , when I was recently told by a specialist I needed to wear pressure stockings to combat my lower limb Lymphedema – my first thought wasn’t “Oh shit, this is going to be inconvenient in this hot weather”, it was – sadly “Oh shit, those bastards upstairs (in my lab) are going to make fun of me if I continue to wear shorts to work.” Hence, I immediately purchased a fine fleet of long pants – a rare event indeed. That type of healthy ribbing. (Bastards!).
Inspector Barbarotti also has a sweet relationship going on with a woman called Marianne – between them, they have 5 kids. So, there’s the potential of a bit of “Brady Bunch” happening sometime (fingers crossed).
Nesser skilfully takes us from crime scene to crime scene and back and forth between 2002 and 2007 and he takes us to a conclusion that makes sense, it isn’t ridiculously fabricated and importantly, it could possibly have been spotted by the expert mystery reader (not I). All of these grisly murders and police investigations are interwoven with fascinating character interplay.
So enjoyable.
4-Stars
Thanks so much to fellow buddy readers, William, Nataliya, Neale and Nattington for increasing the enjoyment levels of this terrific novel, and series.
December 23, 2021
”I am not like other people. And I do not want to be.”
Chapter 1, page 1. Enter one Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti. Could it be??? Admittedly he is off on hols with his lady love Marianne. But it was such a pleasant surprise to see him so early in the piece, as in the first book of this series (The Darkest Day) he didn’t turn up til Chapter 16. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
The moral of this story is: sun, sand, strangers and booze do not mix.
”…moral guilt…” Make that collective guilt…
As Inspector Barbarotti is rushing out the door for his well earned break, the postman arrives and hands him three letters. Including one in unfamiliar handwriting.
”GOING TO KILL ERIK BERGMAN.
LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN STOP ME”
Hardly the kind of letter you’re expecting to open while you’re on leave, and one which cuts his holiday short. The mysterious letter sets off an intriguing chain of events and a new mystery to be solved by the intrepid team at Kymlinge Police HQ.
The story is told through the eyes of an un-named narrator. S/he tells of the events of a holiday five years previously in Brittany, France, where things went horribly wrong. Six Swedes, strangers, meet in a marketplace. Is it kismet, or just plain bad luck that their paths crossed? As people do when they’re on holiday and hear a familiar accent, they get together. Two couples, our mysterious narrator and Erik Bergman (whose name appears in the letter to Inspector Barbarotti) make up this ragtag group of six.
More letters continue to be sent to Inspector Barbarotti’s home, advising of an upcoming murder. But why?
The narrator’s journal writing is quite beautiful and eloquent considering the appalling events described. The police can't help but think they were dealing with someone who is well educated. I couldn’t help but ponder on what drives people to breaking point. Where they feel vengeance is required.
”But my thoughts never show from the outside, I let no devil cross my bridge. I curse inwardly but merely smile, and smile. That is how I have learnt to make my way through existence.”
Barbarotti and his team battle against the clock to try to prevent the next murder being committed, which they eventually discover all links back to that fateful holiday in France. Which our narrator has faithfully put in writing. But is all as it seems? Or are they on a wild goose chase?
”Christ Almighty, thought Gunnar Barbarotti, what puppets we are.”
Several chapters had a wonderfully atmospheric vibe, very reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith. The writing is so spot on, you could be right there, on that sandy beach. The sharpness of the sun in a bright blue sky, seagulls careening in the sky. The heat. Feeling sleepy from it, along with the too much booze consumed over a long lunch. The start of a headache. You just know that something bad will happen. That it would not end well.
Again, there are heavy themes in the book, particularly around mental health, which is alternated with humour. From the Chief Inspector clickety-clacking his way through the pages ”Jonnerblad clicked his biro and Asunader his false teeth.” to Barbarotti continuing his conversations with our Good Lord, continuing his algorithm of a points system depending on prayers being heard ”Three points, God!” , while pondering the meaning of his life ”Here I am on a park bench for my Saturday night dinner, he thought. Frankfurters and mash from a kiosk. That’s what I’ve achieved in my forty-seven-year-old life.”
I have to admit the ending came left of centre. Talk about a red herring or two! Make that an entire school of red herrings. I did not see that coming. Or figure it out. It had me perplexed (note to self: do not read crime books to the end at 2.00am). Luckily I had Bill on hand to explain the intricacies to me. It’s very clever, but I’d suggest you have your thinking cap on for the last few chapters.
Speaking of which, I’m very much looking forward to continuing this series. To see if Inspector Barbarotti will again – inadvertently – not solve a crime himself. And if his romance with Marianne continues to flourish. I love that this series is as much, if not more, about the human side of police officers, as the procedural side of things.
Another great translation by Sarah Death (aptly named).
*** Shout out to my fellow buddy readers who re-joined me in Sweden for this. Many thanks again to Amigo Bill, for creating and running the discussion board. And also for the Peter Sellers (and other amusing) visual aides. Book fiend Marko, the wonderful, talented Mr. Neale-ski, and insightful Nataliya, it was enjoyable as ever to chat and wonder “who” it could be. And why. Be seeing you for Book 3.***
Chapter 1, page 1. Enter one Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti. Could it be??? Admittedly he is off on hols with his lady love Marianne. But it was such a pleasant surprise to see him so early in the piece, as in the first book of this series (The Darkest Day) he didn’t turn up til Chapter 16. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
The moral of this story is: sun, sand, strangers and booze do not mix.
”…moral guilt…” Make that collective guilt…
As Inspector Barbarotti is rushing out the door for his well earned break, the postman arrives and hands him three letters. Including one in unfamiliar handwriting.
”GOING TO KILL ERIK BERGMAN.
LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN STOP ME”
Hardly the kind of letter you’re expecting to open while you’re on leave, and one which cuts his holiday short. The mysterious letter sets off an intriguing chain of events and a new mystery to be solved by the intrepid team at Kymlinge Police HQ.
The story is told through the eyes of an un-named narrator. S/he tells of the events of a holiday five years previously in Brittany, France, where things went horribly wrong. Six Swedes, strangers, meet in a marketplace. Is it kismet, or just plain bad luck that their paths crossed? As people do when they’re on holiday and hear a familiar accent, they get together. Two couples, our mysterious narrator and Erik Bergman (whose name appears in the letter to Inspector Barbarotti) make up this ragtag group of six.
More letters continue to be sent to Inspector Barbarotti’s home, advising of an upcoming murder. But why?
The narrator’s journal writing is quite beautiful and eloquent considering the appalling events described. The police can't help but think they were dealing with someone who is well educated. I couldn’t help but ponder on what drives people to breaking point. Where they feel vengeance is required.
”But my thoughts never show from the outside, I let no devil cross my bridge. I curse inwardly but merely smile, and smile. That is how I have learnt to make my way through existence.”
Barbarotti and his team battle against the clock to try to prevent the next murder being committed, which they eventually discover all links back to that fateful holiday in France. Which our narrator has faithfully put in writing. But is all as it seems? Or are they on a wild goose chase?
”Christ Almighty, thought Gunnar Barbarotti, what puppets we are.”
Several chapters had a wonderfully atmospheric vibe, very reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith. The writing is so spot on, you could be right there, on that sandy beach. The sharpness of the sun in a bright blue sky, seagulls careening in the sky. The heat. Feeling sleepy from it, along with the too much booze consumed over a long lunch. The start of a headache. You just know that something bad will happen. That it would not end well.
Again, there are heavy themes in the book, particularly around mental health, which is alternated with humour. From the Chief Inspector clickety-clacking his way through the pages ”Jonnerblad clicked his biro and Asunader his false teeth.” to Barbarotti continuing his conversations with our Good Lord, continuing his algorithm of a points system depending on prayers being heard ”Three points, God!” , while pondering the meaning of his life ”Here I am on a park bench for my Saturday night dinner, he thought. Frankfurters and mash from a kiosk. That’s what I’ve achieved in my forty-seven-year-old life.”
I have to admit the ending came left of centre. Talk about a red herring or two! Make that an entire school of red herrings. I did not see that coming. Or figure it out. It had me perplexed (note to self: do not read crime books to the end at 2.00am). Luckily I had Bill on hand to explain the intricacies to me. It’s very clever, but I’d suggest you have your thinking cap on for the last few chapters.
Speaking of which, I’m very much looking forward to continuing this series. To see if Inspector Barbarotti will again – inadvertently – not solve a crime himself. And if his romance with Marianne continues to flourish. I love that this series is as much, if not more, about the human side of police officers, as the procedural side of things.
Another great translation by Sarah Death (aptly named).
*** Shout out to my fellow buddy readers who re-joined me in Sweden for this. Many thanks again to Amigo Bill, for creating and running the discussion board. And also for the Peter Sellers (and other amusing) visual aides. Book fiend Marko, the wonderful, talented Mr. Neale-ski, and insightful Nataliya, it was enjoyable as ever to chat and wonder “who” it could be. And why. Be seeing you for Book 3.***
April 23, 2021
I don't like crime novels. It's just not my thing, they're usually too shallowly focused on solving a half-witted crime and the characters - aw geez, don't get me started on the characters.
But this one is different. This one is a crime novel for people like me, the crime is of course ever present - but there's MORE to the novel than just that. And that makes Barbarotti a more whole crime-novel protagonist than I've ever read before.
Plus of course I'm having loads of fun with the way Nesser handles his language, the quirks of his storytelling and not least Barbarottis relationship with God.
I commented on someone elses review of this book here on GoodReads yesterday, a person who found the ending of this book to be a desperate way out of a corner. At that point I hadn't finished the novel and couldn't comment on the ending, but now I have - and I have to say I find it elegant, and well in par with the rest of the book...!
(The only trouble right now is the last, VERY LAST cliffhanger - and I don't have the next book at hand...! #gasp!)
So - if you don't like crime novels, but still want some easy, entertaining reading, do try Håkan Nesser, and do by all means try this one.
But this one is different. This one is a crime novel for people like me, the crime is of course ever present - but there's MORE to the novel than just that. And that makes Barbarotti a more whole crime-novel protagonist than I've ever read before.
Plus of course I'm having loads of fun with the way Nesser handles his language, the quirks of his storytelling and not least Barbarottis relationship with God.
I commented on someone elses review of this book here on GoodReads yesterday, a person who found the ending of this book to be a desperate way out of a corner. At that point I hadn't finished the novel and couldn't comment on the ending, but now I have - and I have to say I find it elegant, and well in par with the rest of the book...!
(The only trouble right now is the last, VERY LAST cliffhanger - and I don't have the next book at hand...! #gasp!)
So - if you don't like crime novels, but still want some easy, entertaining reading, do try Håkan Nesser, and do by all means try this one.
May 2, 2021
nice writing, very human, sensitive but...and there are quite a lot of but. a weak ending. all this tension to discover in few pages that the so smart killer killed his wife and her lover in a short vacation just because she betrayed him. well betrayal is a great force when it is rightly described but it seems Nesser was tired and wanted to finish the book. beside too many repetition of the plot between the investigators, and felt like chewing it. a tough editing was needed and shorten the book in a 100 pages or so. it is a shame because the beginning is so suprising but this will be a spoiler. for the idea still 4 stars.
March 19, 2016
Тази книга ми хареса повече в сравнение с първата част - "Човек без куче".
Това е вторият случай на шведския инспектор Барбароти (Хари-Хулето на Х.Несер )
И тук го имаше станалото явно модно напоследък претупване на развръзката, в смисъл , не точно на " претупване", а че всичко се разреши буквално от нищото в последните 20-30 страници и е изненадващо кой е всъщност убиецът... Абсолютно нищо не водеше към него. Може би и така трябва да е.
Книгата си има специфичната атмосфера, изградени образи, интрига. Дано издадат скоро и третата част .
И , слава Богу, нямаше го това усещане, което имах докато четях "Човек без куче", а именно, че втората половина на книгата е писана от друг човек :)
Това е вторият случай на шведския инспектор Барбароти (Хари-Хулето на Х.Несер )
И тук го имаше станалото явно модно напоследък претупване на развръзката, в смисъл , не точно на " претупване", а че всичко се разреши буквално от нищото в последните 20-30 страници и е изненадващо кой е всъщност убиецът... Абсолютно нищо не водеше към него. Може би и така трябва да е.
Книгата си има специфичната атмосфера, изградени образи, интрига. Дано издадат скоро и третата част .
И , слава Богу, нямаше го това усещане, което имах докато четях "Човек без куче", а именно, че втората половина на книгата е писана от друг човек :)
October 1, 2020
Patika tīri labi. Labāk nekā pirmā grāmata. Tikai es nesaprotu, kāpēc šī sērija ir par izmeklētāju Barbadoti. Ne pirmajā, ne šajā grāmatā viņš neko tā arī neizmeklēja un neatklāja. Vienīgi lasot neatstāj tāda mālainas zemes sajūta - it kā mīcies pa kaut kādu staignu pamatu un ik pa laikam pazaudē savas kurpes. Vai nu tas ir tulkojums, vai autors, bet sajūtas līdzīgas par abām grāmatām. Ja būs trešā, to vēl izlasīšu, bet tad gan pietiks. Kaut kas īsti nav.
November 23, 2018
The Root of Evil, Barbarotti #2. Håkan Nesser. iBook pre ordered. November 15, 2018. 5/5
True to the VV series, we have a fantasy town Kymlinge....right from the start. Rather interesting format with the storyline telling of the circumstances before in 2002 during a vacation in France as cause of the crimes taking place in 2007 preceding most chapters then the current private and work musings of Barbarotti and his colleagues as they unravel the strange letters announcing murder and attempt to get ahead of the killer..... The mysterious letters arrive at Gunnar’s home address each time, announcing a death! As the murders happen, Gunnar becomes more and more frustrated trying to piece the puzzle together and depressed.
Gunnar Barbarotti and his chats with God got tedious in book one but seem less peculiar in book two. Colleagues at the police station are well drawn in subtle ways.
A theme I have a great deal of issues with TABLOID press mentality sure plays a part in this storyline and the enormous difference between the tabloid press and proper news, indeed also the sad fact that today the general mass of humanity prefers tabloid! Well explored here and the damage it creates.
Many twist in attempts to stop or solve the murders and they are well described along side the personal lives and changes of Barbarotti and his colleagues.
Very long but good read. More Barbarotti books please.
True to the VV series, we have a fantasy town Kymlinge....right from the start. Rather interesting format with the storyline telling of the circumstances before in 2002 during a vacation in France as cause of the crimes taking place in 2007 preceding most chapters then the current private and work musings of Barbarotti and his colleagues as they unravel the strange letters announcing murder and attempt to get ahead of the killer..... The mysterious letters arrive at Gunnar’s home address each time, announcing a death! As the murders happen, Gunnar becomes more and more frustrated trying to piece the puzzle together and depressed.
Gunnar Barbarotti and his chats with God got tedious in book one but seem less peculiar in book two. Colleagues at the police station are well drawn in subtle ways.
A theme I have a great deal of issues with TABLOID press mentality sure plays a part in this storyline and the enormous difference between the tabloid press and proper news, indeed also the sad fact that today the general mass of humanity prefers tabloid! Well explored here and the damage it creates.
Many twist in attempts to stop or solve the murders and they are well described along side the personal lives and changes of Barbarotti and his colleagues.
Very long but good read. More Barbarotti books please.
October 29, 2014
I'm sorry to say, because I really like this author, that this was promising but way too long and never cleared up why the letters were sent to the Inspector Barborotti!
December 22, 2018
If only I had learned to read Swedish! As good a writer as Nesser is, fewer than half of his books have been translated into English - and fewer than half of those have been published in the US.
The Root of Evil is the second of five books in the Detective Barbarotti series. For fans of the Van Veeteren series, you get the same engaging storytelling, the same superb writing skills, but a very different detective and feel. The atmospherics of the Van Veeteren series are here replaced with a more philosophical approach, stories that resolve themselves at a slower pace, and a lot of insight in to Barbarotti's personal life. And his bargains with God.
This is a mystery. I hate spoilers and refuse to put any in my reviews. This is a well-told and interesting crime, as always from Nesser. Well worth reading.
The Root of Evil is the second of five books in the Detective Barbarotti series. For fans of the Van Veeteren series, you get the same engaging storytelling, the same superb writing skills, but a very different detective and feel. The atmospherics of the Van Veeteren series are here replaced with a more philosophical approach, stories that resolve themselves at a slower pace, and a lot of insight in to Barbarotti's personal life. And his bargains with God.
This is a mystery. I hate spoilers and refuse to put any in my reviews. This is a well-told and interesting crime, as always from Nesser. Well worth reading.
February 28, 2019
I have long been a fan of Hakan Nesser. He is the first of several Scandinavian mystery writers that I began reading several years ago. I read his works avidly along. He is different, though comparable to Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, Arnuldur Indridasson, and Jussi Adler-Olson. This book and his new detective Barbarotti does not disappoint. The mystery is well crafted and the end, as far as I was concerned was a complete shocker.
I strongly recommend this book to any fan of mysteries and police procedurals and especially to those who are fans of the Scandinavian mystery genre.
I strongly recommend this book to any fan of mysteries and police procedurals and especially to those who are fans of the Scandinavian mystery genre.
July 24, 2020
Garlaicīgi, brīžiem kaitināja rindkopām garas sarunas, kur domu varētu izteikt pāris teikumos, un allright, kas tika iesprausts teju katrā Barbaroti atbildē (iespējams Zviedrijā 2007.gadā vārds bija topā un es vienkārši to nezinu).
Bija kas labs arī - slepkavas rakstītās piezīmes no Musterlēnas. Ja visa grāmata būtu kā tās, būtu vismaz 4*
Pēc pirmās grāmatas tomēr gaidīju ko citu, tāpēc vērtējumu var uzskatīt par ļoti subjektīvu.
Bija kas labs arī - slepkavas rakstītās piezīmes no Musterlēnas. Ja visa grāmata būtu kā tās, būtu vismaz 4*
Pēc pirmās grāmatas tomēr gaidīju ko citu, tāpēc vērtējumu var uzskatīt par ļoti subjektīvu.
December 1, 2022
“Why? Why not? These two sterile and perpetual questions that resist answer and constantly plague me. There should be clearer signposts.”
I can sense Håkan Nesser fast becoming one of my favourite Scandi Noir authors. The Root of Evil is the third of his books I have read and is the second instalment in his Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti series. Håkan Nesser has a way of writing that is really grounded and earthy and balances people, place and plot in perfect proportion.
The Root of Evil is told in two voices. There is the underpinning story of a group of Swedish acquaintances who happen to be holidaying together in Brittany, France, narrated by an unnamed author. This narrative piece sets the scene for understanding the central crimes occurring and offers tantalising morsels to the reader to try to piece together as the story unfolds. Ultimately all the puzzle pieces come together in a unique and intriguing way. I still had one or two unanswered questions at the end of the book but that didn’t detract at all from the absolute satisfaction of the read.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. This was a 595 page novel that I couldn’t put down and was almost equally as satisfying as the two previous books I have read.
I can sense Håkan Nesser fast becoming one of my favourite Scandi Noir authors. The Root of Evil is the third of his books I have read and is the second instalment in his Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti series. Håkan Nesser has a way of writing that is really grounded and earthy and balances people, place and plot in perfect proportion.
The Root of Evil is told in two voices. There is the underpinning story of a group of Swedish acquaintances who happen to be holidaying together in Brittany, France, narrated by an unnamed author. This narrative piece sets the scene for understanding the central crimes occurring and offers tantalising morsels to the reader to try to piece together as the story unfolds. Ultimately all the puzzle pieces come together in a unique and intriguing way. I still had one or two unanswered questions at the end of the book but that didn’t detract at all from the absolute satisfaction of the read.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. This was a 595 page novel that I couldn’t put down and was almost equally as satisfying as the two previous books I have read.
July 5, 2024
The Root of Evil (Inspector Barbarotti #2) by Hakan Nesser.
I was sold on Hakan Nesser before starting this book. This Barbarotti novel only confirms my commitment to this author. This book/story not only held my attention ...it took control of my outside activities. My outside activities consisted of what I would be doing in order to not get in the way of my reading this book. My usual reading time is in the morning with my coffee. Soon that was just the beginning which continued throughout my day and into the night.
There is so much more of Barbarotti's life we are privy to including his new love Marianne. Their future together seems assured along with a balancing act of children from both. Although important this personal side of the Inspector was a background to his involvement in a diabolical murderers mind. That began with a letter he found waiting for him explaining the first murder and what was to follow.
This book is a must for any lovers of intense mysteries that demand and earn the readers attention. Highly recommended. file this under my favorites.
I was sold on Hakan Nesser before starting this book. This Barbarotti novel only confirms my commitment to this author. This book/story not only held my attention ...it took control of my outside activities. My outside activities consisted of what I would be doing in order to not get in the way of my reading this book. My usual reading time is in the morning with my coffee. Soon that was just the beginning which continued throughout my day and into the night.
There is so much more of Barbarotti's life we are privy to including his new love Marianne. Their future together seems assured along with a balancing act of children from both. Although important this personal side of the Inspector was a background to his involvement in a diabolical murderers mind. That began with a letter he found waiting for him explaining the first murder and what was to follow.
This book is a must for any lovers of intense mysteries that demand and earn the readers attention. Highly recommended. file this under my favorites.
April 20, 2020
After reading a couple of crime novels by Håkan Nesser, I've tended to avoid them because they are not so much whodunits as wheredunits: his locations don't seem to be able to make up their minds whether they are Dutch or Danish, and that bothers me all the time I am reading them. But this one, though it takes place in a fictional town, is identifiably Swedish, and very definitely a whodunit with a difference.
The nameless killer writes letters to a detective, naming his or her victims in advance. Some of the named victims have common names, and so the police struggle to find the killer's targets to protect them before they are killed. The killer also informs the media, which criticise the police for not putting more resources into protecting the named victims rather than catching the killer, who is always one step ahead.
Like many Scandinavian fictional detectives Gunnar Barbarotti is divorced, but unlike most he is not alcoholic, so the reader is not forever being distracted by his drunken escapades. The plot is complex, but quite believable, and no, I didn't work out who did it before the denouement.
The nameless killer writes letters to a detective, naming his or her victims in advance. Some of the named victims have common names, and so the police struggle to find the killer's targets to protect them before they are killed. The killer also informs the media, which criticise the police for not putting more resources into protecting the named victims rather than catching the killer, who is always one step ahead.
Like many Scandinavian fictional detectives Gunnar Barbarotti is divorced, but unlike most he is not alcoholic, so the reader is not forever being distracted by his drunken escapades. The plot is complex, but quite believable, and no, I didn't work out who did it before the denouement.
September 1, 2021
I haven't read novel 1 in the series but I don't think it made a lot of difference - I really enjoyed this crime story. Barbarotti did not seem to do a lot of detection and he wasn't responsible for solving the case - nevertheless he is a interesting character - full of wit and humour....and a lot of self analysis. A bit different to the usual detective fiction and maybe a bit long but definitely addictive and I will read the next one in the series. My one query - not sure I ever understood why the murderer sent the letters were sent to Barbarotti? Did I miss something?
March 31, 2019
Worth reading if you are looking for an easy read, crime/ police thriller, however I found the dialogue a little stilted and the ending was far fetched and disappointing.
Read
July 2, 2011Boka er den andre av totalt 5 bøker om politbetjent Gunnar Barbarotti, og den første boka jeg har lest av den svenske forfatteren Håkan Nesser. Det blir ikke den siste! Jeg tror jeg har funnet meg en ny krimforfatter som kan komme til å fortjene en plass blant favorittene mine!
Jeg er ikke alene om å like boka. Det viser seg at "En helt annen historie" fikk Svenska Deckarakademins pris for beste svenske kriminalroman i 2007. Jeg forstår hvorfor.
Litt om innholdet
Seks svenske turister treffer hverandre tilfeldigvis på sommerferie i Bretagne. De har leid hus ikke langt fra hverandre og finner ut at de trives sammen. De spiser sammen, bader og drar på turer sammen og flørter litt på kryss og tvers av de opprinnelige par-sammensetningene.
Noen år senere får Gunnar Barbarotti som jobber i politietaten i Kymlinge et brev sendt privat i posten. Brevet er anonymt, og det forteller i korte ordelag at en navngitt person kommer til å bli myrdet. Etterhvert blir flere myrdet, og Barbarotti får hver gang informasjon i forkant av det kommende mordet.
Frustrasjonen er stor i Kymlinge politidistrikt. Ingen ser sammenhengen. Ikke før fire personer er drept ser man hvilken relasjon disse kan ha hatt til hverandre denne sommeren for flere år siden. Saken får massiv mediedekning, og politiet med Barbarotti i spissen, blir presset både på tid og resultater. Parallellt med utviklingen i mordgåten skjer også mye i Barbarotti's privatliv. Et humoristisk forhold til Bibelen og Gud hjelper ham gjennom både mordgåten og de personlige utfordringene.
Boka er skrevet i Jeg-form, og det gjør seg her. Man føler virkelig at man kommer inn under huden på Barbarotti og klarer å følge tankegangen hans på de fleste plan. Slutten av boka er veldig overraskende, selv om man kanskje i etterpåklokskapens lys burde ha sett hvordan ting hang sammen. Morderen er intelligent og kreativ, noe som gjør at man rett og slett ikke har peiling på hvilken retning boka tar i neste avsnitt.
Dette er en noe annerledes krim-bok. Dette er virkelig En helt annen historie. Anbefales og gis en god 5'er fra meg!
Jeg er ikke alene om å like boka. Det viser seg at "En helt annen historie" fikk Svenska Deckarakademins pris for beste svenske kriminalroman i 2007. Jeg forstår hvorfor.
Litt om innholdet
Seks svenske turister treffer hverandre tilfeldigvis på sommerferie i Bretagne. De har leid hus ikke langt fra hverandre og finner ut at de trives sammen. De spiser sammen, bader og drar på turer sammen og flørter litt på kryss og tvers av de opprinnelige par-sammensetningene.
Noen år senere får Gunnar Barbarotti som jobber i politietaten i Kymlinge et brev sendt privat i posten. Brevet er anonymt, og det forteller i korte ordelag at en navngitt person kommer til å bli myrdet. Etterhvert blir flere myrdet, og Barbarotti får hver gang informasjon i forkant av det kommende mordet.
Frustrasjonen er stor i Kymlinge politidistrikt. Ingen ser sammenhengen. Ikke før fire personer er drept ser man hvilken relasjon disse kan ha hatt til hverandre denne sommeren for flere år siden. Saken får massiv mediedekning, og politiet med Barbarotti i spissen, blir presset både på tid og resultater. Parallellt med utviklingen i mordgåten skjer også mye i Barbarotti's privatliv. Et humoristisk forhold til Bibelen og Gud hjelper ham gjennom både mordgåten og de personlige utfordringene.
Boka er skrevet i Jeg-form, og det gjør seg her. Man føler virkelig at man kommer inn under huden på Barbarotti og klarer å følge tankegangen hans på de fleste plan. Slutten av boka er veldig overraskende, selv om man kanskje i etterpåklokskapens lys burde ha sett hvordan ting hang sammen. Morderen er intelligent og kreativ, noe som gjør at man rett og slett ikke har peiling på hvilken retning boka tar i neste avsnitt.
Dette er en noe annerledes krim-bok. Dette er virkelig En helt annen historie. Anbefales og gis en god 5'er fra meg!
April 24, 2013
I read this immediately after finishing Barbarotti #1 (Människa utan hund), and found it to be the weaker of the two, by a good margin.
The plot develops quite slowly. A bit too much room is given to Barbarotti's private life, which isn't all that interesting, mostly serving to disrupt the pacing of the actual detective story. Though the prose is overall well-written, so it moves along quite comfortably anyway.
The mystery plot is quite far-fetched, to say the least. That in itself wasn't a big deal to me. However, I do think it is more or less ruined by a cheap, cop-out, deus ex machina ending. Nesser quite obviously wrote himself into a corner and took the easy one out.
A passable, if disappointing, read.
The plot develops quite slowly. A bit too much room is given to Barbarotti's private life, which isn't all that interesting, mostly serving to disrupt the pacing of the actual detective story. Though the prose is overall well-written, so it moves along quite comfortably anyway.
The mystery plot is quite far-fetched, to say the least. That in itself wasn't a big deal to me. However, I do think it is more or less ruined by a cheap, cop-out, deus ex machina ending. Nesser quite obviously wrote himself into a corner and took the easy one out.
A passable, if disappointing, read.
October 18, 2021
Gunnar Barbarotti: Hakan Nesser, stop writing about any other character. I cannot get enough of Barbarotti's sense of humor and love. This is my second one and I did not want to read it fast. (I didn't even worry much about the mystery, just Gunnar and Marianne.)
I just re-read it. The mystery killings are so frustrating and Barbarotti takes us into his mind all the way through. I like Eva Backman, his colleague, as well as Marianne, his love--to become his wife. I have put the other two books in my to-buy list.
I heartily recommend this book. I did NOT like Van Veeteren series. Gunnar Barbarotti is a great character.
I just re-read it. The mystery killings are so frustrating and Barbarotti takes us into his mind all the way through. I like Eva Backman, his colleague, as well as Marianne, his love--to become his wife. I have put the other two books in my to-buy list.
I heartily recommend this book. I did NOT like Van Veeteren series. Gunnar Barbarotti is a great character.
March 23, 2021
Where shall I start.. I suppose by saying that I loved this book. When I finished the last Harry Hole/Jo Nesbo book, I felt sad and then I found Inspector Barbarotti and Hakan Nesser. Firstly this is such a clever murder enquiry. I thought I had guessed it 3/4 through. Nope. Secondly the character of Barbarotti reminds me a lot of Harry Hole, but without Harrys addictive nature. Hakan Nesser is a brilliant author. The characterisation of the people in this book it what makes it special. It actually ends on a cliff hanger not connected at all to the case. A wonderful book, hugely well written and I am off to buy the next book in the series.
March 18, 2019
Didn’t finish .. maybe one day
October 28, 2021
Arī šajā Hokans Nesers nelika vilties. Orģināls romāns, kura sižets neatsauc atmiņā nevienu citu grāmatu vai filmu. Šis romāns ir mīkla. Kurā vietā jāsāk minēt, un kas jāatmin ir noslēpums. Šajā, vairāk par citiem romāniem, likts akcents uz pašu policistu personisko dzīvi un pārdzīvojumiem. Neuzskatu, ka trīs zvaigznes būtu slikts vērtējums. Vienkārši šī gradācija man ļauj it kā salīdzināt HN romānus. Lai gan kā vienmēr arī tas ir subjektīvi.
December 21, 2021
Aanvankelijk een spannend verhaal, mooi opgebouwd. Na ca. 85 procent gelezen te hebben krijgt het boek een onverwachte wending, wordt het verhaal m.i. afgeraffeld en blijven veel vragen onbeantwoord. Jammer.
November 23, 2021
Hakan Nesser is such a clever crime writer. Five bundred and ninety five pages and I was totally absorbed for the whole lot ! Inspector Barborotti is a great character, an interesting man with unusual thought processes. The ups and downs of his love life also add a bit of romantic interest allowing Barbarotti an escape from an arduous piece of police work. What really makes Haken Nesser so good is his ability to weave a complicated plot and at the same time detailing all the police procedural work with a lightness of touch that gradually reaches a crescendo with of course the little twist at the end ! All totally satisfying.
June 24, 2020
Crime fiction fans around the world became acquainted with Håkan Nesser's work through the fabulous Inspector Van Veeteren series that won the readers' hearts and also was adapted for the television with Sven Wollter in the role of the brooding police investigator. Nevertheless, not many people are aware of the existence of another crime novel series, that of Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti. This is mainly due to the fact that, until now, only the first two books have been translated in English, the first one being The Darkest Day, a novel written by the Swedish author in 2006 and translated in English eleven years later. The same happened with the second book in the series, The Root of Evil, that was first published in Sweden in 2007 and was translated in English in 2018. In total there are five books in the Barbarotti series and I sincerely hope that we will soon be able to read the other three novels in a decent translation. Nesser is an author known for his special writing style which attributes a unique literary touch to all of his work. Apart from that, Nesser is known for the creation of the famous fictitious city of Mardaam, featuring in all Van Veeteren books, and also in his recent novel Intrigo. In the Barbarotti series though, we are introduced to another purely fictional town, that of Kymlinge, located somewhere in Sweden.
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-ro...
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-ro...
November 16, 2021
My first book with Hakan Nesser and i love the genre criminal fiction, the book started off brilliantly and held me with the opening storyline.. i followed this through the book and was totally drawn in to the scenario of the young girl and the group that seemed to have been drawn together through holiday acquaintances. What a brilliant writer and storyteller, however the twist is at the end, and a twist it is which i never expected at all. I would have loved the storyline to have continued with an outcome with the original cast but it was not to be as it was discovered that things were not as they thought it was.
Barbarotti the Detective with his love of life was a joy to be with as he tried to hold down a job and relationship only to be left wondering how it could all turn out right for him and Marianne, extra family commitments and a new life beckoning...
I enjoyed this book and well worth a read if you love crime, it is also interesting to note the differences, if any, when written in another country. although I didnt detect any real differences as such. But i did enjoy this book and will look to read book 1 of the Barbarotti series.
Barbarotti the Detective with his love of life was a joy to be with as he tried to hold down a job and relationship only to be left wondering how it could all turn out right for him and Marianne, extra family commitments and a new life beckoning...
I enjoyed this book and well worth a read if you love crime, it is also interesting to note the differences, if any, when written in another country. although I didnt detect any real differences as such. But i did enjoy this book and will look to read book 1 of the Barbarotti series.
August 13, 2023
Based on the ratings, this will be an unpopular opinion. I just didn't like it. Half of the book the main character is obviously having a midlife crisis. Considering how long this book is, that is a lot of pages full of reminiscing and depressive inner monologue. The dialogues with his colleagues were kind of funny, but in that "we only talk in sarcasm and cynicism" way, which just excelled even more how fed up with and not interested in their job they are. So most of the book is about their private lives, mystery takes the second or even third place in the plot. The mystery is a real jumble and in a way, it was left unsolved. The big reveal landed like an ice-cream on asphalt - splat! Now it is there. That's it, the end. This is my second try with this author. The first try was a bust, provoking instant revulsion. This one didn't elicit such a powerful reaction, but still. A total bust.
April 11, 2020
I read this book as part of the 2019 Dagger International Prize shortlist, which is awarded by the Mystery Writers Ass. To the best crime novel that has been translated into English. I find that books on this list are often more complex and literary than the home-grown variety!
This novel by Swedish author Nesser does a great job with this 600 page work portraying a recent murder(s) that has roots in the path. I love that it was complex enough to keep my interest through almost 600 pages and had a really unexpected ending.
Here is a link to the International Dagger winners and short lists in past years and I have several more on hand that I am anxious to try.
https://thecwa.co.uk/the-daggers/winn...
This novel by Swedish author Nesser does a great job with this 600 page work portraying a recent murder(s) that has roots in the path. I love that it was complex enough to keep my interest through almost 600 pages and had a really unexpected ending.
Here is a link to the International Dagger winners and short lists in past years and I have several more on hand that I am anxious to try.
https://thecwa.co.uk/the-daggers/winn...
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