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Children's House #3
R.I.P.
Er mordet kalt und brutal: Zwei Jugendliche sind seine Opfer. Über Social Media müssen Freunde deren letzte qualvolle Minuten mitansehen. Und dieser Mörder ist noch nicht fertig: Ein weiterer Junge wird vermisst. Was verbindet die Jugendlichen? Wer glaubt, sie verdienten den Tod? Und kann der Junge noch gerettet werden?
Huldar und sein Team ermitteln. Auch Psychologin Freyja wird wieder in die Untersuchungen einbezogen, trotz anfänglichen Widerwillens. Gemeinsam müssen sie den gnadenlosen Mörder finden, bevor er wieder zuschlägt...
Huldar und sein Team ermitteln. Auch Psychologin Freyja wird wieder in die Untersuchungen einbezogen, trotz anfänglichen Widerwillens. Gemeinsam müssen sie den gnadenlosen Mörder finden, bevor er wieder zuschlägt...
450 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
380 people are currently reading
4488 people want to read
About the author
Yrsa Sigurdardottir
43 books2,861 followersAKA: Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic writer, of both crime-novels and children's fiction. She has been writing since 1998.
Her début crime-novel "Last Rituals" published in the US in 2007, and the UK in January 2008 was translated into English by Bernard Scudder, and is book 1 of the Thóra Gudmundsdóttir series.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir graduated from high-school in 1983, finished a B.Sc. in civil engineering from the University of Iceland in 1988 and M.Sc in the same field from Concordia University in Montreal in 1997.
Yrsa now works as a civil engineer for the company Fjarhitun, as well as being a writer.
In 2000 the Icelandic department of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) awarded Yrsa for her book Við viljum jólin í júlí (We Want Christmas in July).
Yrsa lives in the Reykjavík suburb of Seltjarnarnes. She is married with two children.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic writer, of both crime-novels and children's fiction. She has been writing since 1998.
Her début crime-novel "Last Rituals" published in the US in 2007, and the UK in January 2008 was translated into English by Bernard Scudder, and is book 1 of the Thóra Gudmundsdóttir series.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir graduated from high-school in 1983, finished a B.Sc. in civil engineering from the University of Iceland in 1988 and M.Sc in the same field from Concordia University in Montreal in 1997.
Yrsa now works as a civil engineer for the company Fjarhitun, as well as being a writer.
In 2000 the Icelandic department of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) awarded Yrsa for her book Við viljum jólin í júlí (We Want Christmas in July).
Yrsa lives in the Reykjavík suburb of Seltjarnarnes. She is married with two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 605 reviews
February 7, 2020
Content/Trigger warnings: bullying, cyberbullying, suicide attempts.
This is my first book witten by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, but it won't be the last. The topic of this well-plotted and well-written police procedural was dark and painful, but we still need to talk about it.
Sixteen-year-old Stella has just finished her shift working in the cinema. She lets her workmates know her boyfriend is coming to drive her home and they happily leave her in their hurry to catch their bus home. While Stella is waiting and refreshing herself in the bathroom, she receives a snapchat image of herself from a stranger, and then she hears footsteps... A tall broad-shouldered man in a Darth Vader mask makes a video of Stella repeatedly saying 'Sorry, sorry, sorry' and sends it to all her contacts.
When the police hear from Stella's frantic boyfriend who was late by ten minutes and aslo received the terrifying videos, they start looking for Stella without much hope she'll be found alive. Among other witnesses, the police hear from Stella's close friends and it becomes clear that the girls are hiding something.
The series has two protagonists: Detective Huldar, smart, good-looking, messed-up, and a child psychologist Freyia who works in Children's Home and is used to dealing with traumatised children and adolescents. Freyja notices a girl, Stellas' classmate, who seems to have a different reaction to the news of Stella's murder. It turns out the girl was severely bullied by the angelic Stella and her clique. When Freyja suggests checking out this angle, the police are not convinced. Stella's body is found lying in a car park and there is a piece of paper with number 2 underneath. Does it mean there is Victim Number 1 whose body is lying somewhere? and where is Egill, another teenager whose abduction was accompanied by harrowing Snapchat videos?
One of my favourite books of all time is 'Cat's eye' by Margaret Atwood. Among other brilliantly explored topics, it deals with the psychology of a bully and possible reasons for becoming one. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir focuses on a different aspect: the effect bullying has on the victims' parents and this is why I got goosebumps on my skin. In her attempts to help the investigation, Freyja reaches to her own childhood and adolescence experience of being bullied and the effort it took to pull through that period of her life. She knows getting help is vital, but how often schools do not look too closely into suspicious incidents, knowing they'd be opening a can of worms, hoping the children will 'work this out'? how often tired and overworked teachers miss the signals until the situation becomes desperate? We live in the world where technology has given bullies more ways to harass and abuse their victims. It is important to be aware of cyberbullying and do everything possible to report and stop it.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir rightly (and necessarily) points out, nobody (even the worst kind of bully) deserves to become a victim of horrific violence and murder descibed in the book, and the perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but it isn't easy to break the vicious circle which changes and scars everybody involved. A bully may become bullied and vice versa, as the brilliant ending to this gripping novel shows. There is also help and understanding you can reach for in people like Freyja who know how to listen and care to act.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Minotaur for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
4.5 stars
This is my first book witten by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, but it won't be the last. The topic of this well-plotted and well-written police procedural was dark and painful, but we still need to talk about it.
Sixteen-year-old Stella has just finished her shift working in the cinema. She lets her workmates know her boyfriend is coming to drive her home and they happily leave her in their hurry to catch their bus home. While Stella is waiting and refreshing herself in the bathroom, she receives a snapchat image of herself from a stranger, and then she hears footsteps... A tall broad-shouldered man in a Darth Vader mask makes a video of Stella repeatedly saying 'Sorry, sorry, sorry' and sends it to all her contacts.
When the police hear from Stella's frantic boyfriend who was late by ten minutes and aslo received the terrifying videos, they start looking for Stella without much hope she'll be found alive. Among other witnesses, the police hear from Stella's close friends and it becomes clear that the girls are hiding something.
The series has two protagonists: Detective Huldar, smart, good-looking, messed-up, and a child psychologist Freyia who works in Children's Home and is used to dealing with traumatised children and adolescents. Freyja notices a girl, Stellas' classmate, who seems to have a different reaction to the news of Stella's murder. It turns out the girl was severely bullied by the angelic Stella and her clique. When Freyja suggests checking out this angle, the police are not convinced. Stella's body is found lying in a car park and there is a piece of paper with number 2 underneath. Does it mean there is Victim Number 1 whose body is lying somewhere? and where is Egill, another teenager whose abduction was accompanied by harrowing Snapchat videos?
One of my favourite books of all time is 'Cat's eye' by Margaret Atwood. Among other brilliantly explored topics, it deals with the psychology of a bully and possible reasons for becoming one. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir focuses on a different aspect: the effect bullying has on the victims' parents and this is why I got goosebumps on my skin. In her attempts to help the investigation, Freyja reaches to her own childhood and adolescence experience of being bullied and the effort it took to pull through that period of her life. She knows getting help is vital, but how often schools do not look too closely into suspicious incidents, knowing they'd be opening a can of worms, hoping the children will 'work this out'? how often tired and overworked teachers miss the signals until the situation becomes desperate? We live in the world where technology has given bullies more ways to harass and abuse their victims. It is important to be aware of cyberbullying and do everything possible to report and stop it.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir rightly (and necessarily) points out, nobody (even the worst kind of bully) deserves to become a victim of horrific violence and murder descibed in the book, and the perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but it isn't easy to break the vicious circle which changes and scars everybody involved. A bully may become bullied and vice versa, as the brilliant ending to this gripping novel shows. There is also help and understanding you can reach for in people like Freyja who know how to listen and care to act.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Minotaur for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
4.5 stars
March 31, 2020
Shelter in place and social distancing has at times left me unable to concentrate. I think we are all turning to different, comfort read. Mine seem to be mysteries. Seems strange I know, since there are deaths, but in a strange way I find it comforting that by books end the case is solved. No open ended dates, or waiting to see what comes next, unless of course there is a sequel.
Anyway, this mystery is set in Iceland and I love these Nordic settings. It also ties together nicely done current themes of our times, social media is one. The others I won't say as it will give to much away. I like these author, have read other books by her, and she does a very good job balancing interesting characters with a very good plot. Though there is dome graphic violence, it is not overdone. She is a very able storyteller.
ARC from Netgalley.
Anyway, this mystery is set in Iceland and I love these Nordic settings. It also ties together nicely done current themes of our times, social media is one. The others I won't say as it will give to much away. I like these author, have read other books by her, and she does a very good job balancing interesting characters with a very good plot. Though there is dome graphic violence, it is not overdone. She is a very able storyteller.
ARC from Netgalley.
May 24, 2020
Η Λύτρωση τελείωσε,και παρόλο που το θέμα του bullying στα σχολεία δεν είναι καθόλου πρωτότυπο πια στα αστυνομικά νέας γενιάς,εδώ δόθηκε από μια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα σκοπιά,την οποία και φυσικά δεν πρόκειται να σας αποκαλύψω😉.Ο ψυχολογικός πόλεμος που ασκούν οι νταήδες,η ψυχολογική καταρράκωση του θύματος,η αντιμετώπιση από το στενό περιβάλλον αλλά και την κοινωνία ευρύτερα,θίχτηκαν με ρεαλισμό και αξιοπρέπεια,αφήνοντας εύστοχα να αντιληφθεί ο αναγνώστης μόνος του πόσο πολύ απέχουμε όλοι μας από το να δώσουμε την πραγματική διάσταση σε αυτό το φριχτό φαινόμενο και να το αντιμετωπίσουμε ορθά για κάθε εμπλεκόμενο.Η αυξημένη χρήση των μέσων κοινωνικής δικτύωσης και η ασφάλεια των θυτών πίσω από την ανωνυμία της οθόνης,έβαλαν τα τελευταία χρόνια σε νέα,ακόμα πιο φρικιαστική βάση το φαινόμενο,με συνέπεια τα θύματα να αισθάνονται-δικαίως-ακόμα πιο εκτεθειμένα.
Εξαιρετικός ο λεπτός χειρισμός του θέματος από την συγγραφέα,η οποία έδωσε τα ρέστα της για άλλη μια φορά.
10/10
Εξαιρετικός ο λεπτός χειρισμός του θέματος από την συγγραφέα,η οποία έδωσε τα ρέστα της για άλλη μια φορά.
10/10
June 27, 2019
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The Absolution by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. (2019 in English, 2016 in Icelandic).
(Children's House/Freyja & Huldar, #3).
The police find out about the crime the same way everyone does: the horrific videos of the victim sent on Snapchat. When her body is found, it is marked with the number 2...
Detective Huldar and child psychologist Freyja are part of the investigation and question the murdered teenager's friends. Soon it is clear that Stella was not an angel but even so, who hated her enough to kill her. Then another teenager goes missing and more Snapchats are sent. It is clear the truth is far from simple, and the killer is not done yet.
Finally, the third of this series is in English and I can read it! I have eagerly been awaiting this translation. This book is another great addition to the series with yet another fascinating unique crime occurring. I really enjoy both Huldar and Freyja in their own right, but they do shine together and their dynamic works really well. This book is perhaps not as gruesome in details as the last couple in the series - readers can decide if that's a good or bad thing as per their own tastes. Without revealing spoilers, it's safe for me to say that bullying plays a big part in this narrative and the widespread effects it can have, as well as how modern technology plays into that. A riveting suspense filled read!
At this stage there is two more in the series to be translated and I really look forward to them!
**I do think you could read this book without reading the others, and still enjoy it. You will just perhaps miss some little references to events and not quite appreciate/understand relationships between some characters.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Absolution by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. (2019 in English, 2016 in Icelandic).
(Children's House/Freyja & Huldar, #3).
The police find out about the crime the same way everyone does: the horrific videos of the victim sent on Snapchat. When her body is found, it is marked with the number 2...
Detective Huldar and child psychologist Freyja are part of the investigation and question the murdered teenager's friends. Soon it is clear that Stella was not an angel but even so, who hated her enough to kill her. Then another teenager goes missing and more Snapchats are sent. It is clear the truth is far from simple, and the killer is not done yet.
Finally, the third of this series is in English and I can read it! I have eagerly been awaiting this translation. This book is another great addition to the series with yet another fascinating unique crime occurring. I really enjoy both Huldar and Freyja in their own right, but they do shine together and their dynamic works really well. This book is perhaps not as gruesome in details as the last couple in the series - readers can decide if that's a good or bad thing as per their own tastes. Without revealing spoilers, it's safe for me to say that bullying plays a big part in this narrative and the widespread effects it can have, as well as how modern technology plays into that. A riveting suspense filled read!
At this stage there is two more in the series to be translated and I really look forward to them!
**I do think you could read this book without reading the others, and still enjoy it. You will just perhaps miss some little references to events and not quite appreciate/understand relationships between some characters.
April 19, 2019
Yrsa Sigurdardottir, the queen of Icelandic crime, is back with a spectacular bang in the third thriller in the superb Children's House series. This palpably tense page-turner can be read as a standalone as the plot of each instalment is self-contained, however, after picking up this one there's a good chance you'll feel the irresistible pull of the preceding books. Sigurdardottir knows how to craft a well written, chilling and suspenseful novel with a cast of beautifully drawn, intriguing characters. As in her other stories the characters are not merely black or white, good or evil, there are some with a mixture of traits and who could be described as morally grey.
It's difficult not to resort to spoilers, but I prefer not to lessen the suspense potential readers are bound to feel if they decide to read it. What I can say is that it is based around a teenager's harrowing experience of bullying, a burning and ubiquitous social issue. The storyline provides much food for thought, although I did think that, at times, it came across as a little sanctimonious. There are a few twists in the tale and as always the beautiful, isolated setting becomes a character in its own right. As a huge fan of techno-thrillers, I found the use of Snapchat in the plot a work of genius adding further to the oppressive atmosphere. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
It's difficult not to resort to spoilers, but I prefer not to lessen the suspense potential readers are bound to feel if they decide to read it. What I can say is that it is based around a teenager's harrowing experience of bullying, a burning and ubiquitous social issue. The storyline provides much food for thought, although I did think that, at times, it came across as a little sanctimonious. There are a few twists in the tale and as always the beautiful, isolated setting becomes a character in its own right. As a huge fan of techno-thrillers, I found the use of Snapchat in the plot a work of genius adding further to the oppressive atmosphere. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
March 8, 2020
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is on the top-3 of my all time best favorite Nordic Noir authors and I firmly believe that the Þóra Guðmundsdóttir book series is one of the finest exports of the genre in the last ten years or even more. Sadly, I find the new ''Children's House'' series to be weaker than the Thora novels and ''The Absolution'' confirmed my opinion for the third time. Personally, I think that the best book in this new series by the Yrsa Sigurðardóttir was the first one, titled ''Legacy'', while the second,''The Reckoning'', was definitely the worst both in terms of the reader's engagement with the plot and the actual narration style/flow. ''The Absolution'' is a crime novel that stands somewhere in the middle of the above two and while it is a rather enjoyable and entertaining read, it has some major flaws that cannot be overlooked even by the most hardcore fans of the denominated''Queen of Icelandic Noir''.
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-ab...
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-ab...
March 5, 2023
Ehhh
This wasn't as well done as well as book #1 and book #2. I just found myself getting very very bored.
Sad to say this one was a letdown in the Children's House series. I think the biggest issue is that Freyja has very little to do in this one. She's the first to think that perhaps the teens in this story know more than they know, and she points Huldar to something that is key. But in the end, she's just sidelined throughout the book.
"The Absolution" follows Detective Huldar as he is still dealing with the issues that got him in hot water in the last book. He's sidelined again and bored. But when a teen girl is filmed via Snapchat being assaulted and in the end murdered, he gets pulled back into the case. When another teen is possibly abducted the police are racing against a killer that may be demanding more than the victims can give. Freyja is at a crossroads, after her demotion (see end of book #1 and book #2) she's ready for something new. She's part-time at Children's House and determined to become a businesswoman. Of course things are not looking that good at that front. Freyja is also looking for something else besides her brother's terrible place. When she is asked to assist the police on the newest investigation it intrigues her and she starts to wonder if bullying can be central to the case.
We have the usual characters in this one. I won't go through them all. We also have Huldar still trying to get Freyja to go out with him. FYI, this isn't even cute anymore. I am sick of the whole thing. Either get together or don't, but having him doing the whole I will ignore what the woman keeps saying thing is starting to turn me off of Huldar big time. Also spending about 60-70 percent of the book with him was way too much.
The writing was fine but the book dragged incessantly. How things got tied up in the end was so convoluted. I don't really believe it and I just kind of went well okay then. Plus there's a big plot hole that is not addressed but we are supposed to think that the police wouldn't have twinged onto it at all. I just kind of went well okay.
The book just sort of ends.
This wasn't as well done as well as book #1 and book #2. I just found myself getting very very bored.
Sad to say this one was a letdown in the Children's House series. I think the biggest issue is that Freyja has very little to do in this one. She's the first to think that perhaps the teens in this story know more than they know, and she points Huldar to something that is key. But in the end, she's just sidelined throughout the book.
"The Absolution" follows Detective Huldar as he is still dealing with the issues that got him in hot water in the last book. He's sidelined again and bored. But when a teen girl is filmed via Snapchat being assaulted and in the end murdered, he gets pulled back into the case. When another teen is possibly abducted the police are racing against a killer that may be demanding more than the victims can give. Freyja is at a crossroads, after her demotion (see end of book #1 and book #2) she's ready for something new. She's part-time at Children's House and determined to become a businesswoman. Of course things are not looking that good at that front. Freyja is also looking for something else besides her brother's terrible place. When she is asked to assist the police on the newest investigation it intrigues her and she starts to wonder if bullying can be central to the case.
We have the usual characters in this one. I won't go through them all. We also have Huldar still trying to get Freyja to go out with him. FYI, this isn't even cute anymore. I am sick of the whole thing. Either get together or don't, but having him doing the whole I will ignore what the woman keeps saying thing is starting to turn me off of Huldar big time. Also spending about 60-70 percent of the book with him was way too much.
The writing was fine but the book dragged incessantly. How things got tied up in the end was so convoluted. I don't really believe it and I just kind of went well okay then. Plus there's a big plot hole that is not addressed but we are supposed to think that the police wouldn't have twinged onto it at all. I just kind of went well okay.
The book just sort of ends.
March 5, 2019
I was a little surprised to see this series is supposed to revolve around Freya and Huldar and is part of a series. Although there were some references to things that happened 'before', the story didn't struck me as being part of a series. Now, however, I'm curious as to the first two books.
Huldar and Freya play a role in this book, but for me, not the biggest role. Strange as it may sound, I think the biggest role is this book is being played by the team as a whole, as they try and find the killer of a teenage girl.
The plot of this story has many layers, and being a victim of bullying myself, I could relate to many of the feelings that are expressed during the developments. Let me say this: I'm happy social media didn't exist 50 years ago...
As I said, it feels as if the whole team plays one role together, and sadly not a happy one. Seldom have I read about a group of people that have so much problems working together. Not one of them is happy being there, not one of them sounds like they really want to do this job. Strange, very strange... and rather depressing at times.
The book earns the whole five stars because of the intricate and interesting plot and the fabulous writing of the author.
Thank you Netgalley for sending me a digital copy.
Huldar and Freya play a role in this book, but for me, not the biggest role. Strange as it may sound, I think the biggest role is this book is being played by the team as a whole, as they try and find the killer of a teenage girl.
The plot of this story has many layers, and being a victim of bullying myself, I could relate to many of the feelings that are expressed during the developments. Let me say this: I'm happy social media didn't exist 50 years ago...
As I said, it feels as if the whole team plays one role together, and sadly not a happy one. Seldom have I read about a group of people that have so much problems working together. Not one of them is happy being there, not one of them sounds like they really want to do this job. Strange, very strange... and rather depressing at times.
The book earns the whole five stars because of the intricate and interesting plot and the fabulous writing of the author.
Thank you Netgalley for sending me a digital copy.
July 16, 2019
This is the third novel in the series featuring child psychologist, Freya and police officer, Hulda. It begins with the abduction and murder of a teenage girl by someone wearing a Darth Vader mask – the whole incident being videoed and posted on a website called Snapchat.
The whole novel centres around cyber-bullying and the more corrosive aspects of social media. Freya and Hulda are in a race against time to discover the identity of the killer before they strike again.
Although occasionally showing flashes of the author’s narrative qualities, this was easily the most disappointing novel in the series so far. The plot dragged on for many chapters and, at times, appeared to be going round in circles. The fact that the initial victim was hardly a sympathetic character didn’t help matters and the final outcome was somewhat predictable too.
The relationship between Freya and Hulda is an interesting one so I may still read the next novel in the series, although I hope it’s an improvement on this one.
The whole novel centres around cyber-bullying and the more corrosive aspects of social media. Freya and Hulda are in a race against time to discover the identity of the killer before they strike again.
Although occasionally showing flashes of the author’s narrative qualities, this was easily the most disappointing novel in the series so far. The plot dragged on for many chapters and, at times, appeared to be going round in circles. The fact that the initial victim was hardly a sympathetic character didn’t help matters and the final outcome was somewhat predictable too.
The relationship between Freya and Hulda is an interesting one so I may still read the next novel in the series, although I hope it’s an improvement on this one.
September 21, 2020
Δυνατό αστυνομικό βιβλίο.Καπου κάπου ίσως λίγο παραπάνω πολυλογαδικο αλλά οκ..
January 28, 2019
Another page turner from Ysra Sigurdardottir here, part of the “Children’s House” series but easily read as a standalone. This title is due in April though so plenty of time to catch up- all of these are utterly compelling.
This time the children in danger are not particularly loveable – the author takes on the bullying issue in this novel, with thought provoking layers to an incredibly immersive mystery.
As well as that we have more on the tangled interpersonal relationships of the main protagonists, an intriguing lot they are too which only adds to the overall addictive nature of the story.
Beautifully written, unexpectedly plotted and ever fascinating in character and setting, The Absolution is another pure joy to read from the pen of Ysra Sigurdardottir.
Recommended.
This time the children in danger are not particularly loveable – the author takes on the bullying issue in this novel, with thought provoking layers to an incredibly immersive mystery.
As well as that we have more on the tangled interpersonal relationships of the main protagonists, an intriguing lot they are too which only adds to the overall addictive nature of the story.
Beautifully written, unexpectedly plotted and ever fascinating in character and setting, The Absolution is another pure joy to read from the pen of Ysra Sigurdardottir.
Recommended.
March 1, 2021
3.5*
Yrsa Sigurdardottir, ca mai toți autorii genului noir, este cunoscută datorită subiectelor delicate pe care le dezvoltă în cărțile sale și a crimelor brutale, macabre, care au menirea de a înfiora cititorul, făcându-l părtaș la acte de violență greu de imaginat.
Principala temă a cărții de față este bullyingul – un fenomen cunoscut de foarte mulți ani, practicat la scară largă și, de cele mai multe ori, nepedepsit, urmărit cu crasă indiferență de martori, de multe ori chiar încurajat. Se știe mult prea bine că, atunci când este vorba de bullying, martorii devin într-o proporție covârșitoare, rușinoasă, complici. De ce? Răspunsul este simplu: pentru a nu deveni victime. Iar aici intervin mai multe probleme de etică. Este în regulă să permitem și să încurajăm astfel de practici, doar de dragul de a ne distra sau din teama de a nu deveni următoarea victimă? Este etic să închidem ochii în fața suferinței celor din jur, doar pentru a trece în rândul celor populari?
Fenomenul bullyingului a căpătat dimensiuni înspăimântătoare și, odată cu evoluția tehnlogică, s-a transformat în ceva cu adevărat odios, abject – cyber-bullyingul. Mult mai brutal, mult mai greu de identificat, mult mai necruțător. Victimele acestor două forme de violență – fizică și psihică, sunt, de cele mai multe ori, tineri și adolescenți care intră în vizorul atacatorilor deoarece se deosebesc prin mai multe moduri de aceștia. Sunt persoane mai tăcute, rezervate, percepute de cei din jur labile psihic. Acești tineri își poartă nefericirea ca pe o mantie nevăzută. O cară în spate în tăcere, căci, chiar dacă ar împărtăși-o altcuiva, cum ar fi un adult, aceștia nu sunt siguri că violențele îndreptate spre ei s-ar opri. Din contră, acestea capătă proporții uriașe, pentru simplu fapt că toți ceilalți – colegi, părinți, profesori -, aleg să tacă și să nu ia atitudine, iar acest lucru aduce după sine efecte care, de multe ori, pot fi devastatoare, deoarece victima, tânără și fără pic de ajutor, trăiește constant un stres atât de mare încât, de multe ori, acesta duce la sinucidere.
Romanul este unul bun, captivant prin stilul alert și dramele expuse, curajos datorită subiectului și dur atunci când ne raportăm la crimele dezvăluite în detaliu.
Finalul este unul...neașteptat și care te duce cu gândul la nenumărate posibilități referitoare la volumul patru și care ridică o mulțime de întrebări. Sper să avem parte cât mai curând de următorul capitol reprezentativ acestei aventuri literare marca Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Și la ceva mai mult Freyja și Huldar, bineînțeles.
Recenzia completa: https://twistinmysobriety-alexa.blogs...
Yrsa Sigurdardottir, ca mai toți autorii genului noir, este cunoscută datorită subiectelor delicate pe care le dezvoltă în cărțile sale și a crimelor brutale, macabre, care au menirea de a înfiora cititorul, făcându-l părtaș la acte de violență greu de imaginat.
Principala temă a cărții de față este bullyingul – un fenomen cunoscut de foarte mulți ani, practicat la scară largă și, de cele mai multe ori, nepedepsit, urmărit cu crasă indiferență de martori, de multe ori chiar încurajat. Se știe mult prea bine că, atunci când este vorba de bullying, martorii devin într-o proporție covârșitoare, rușinoasă, complici. De ce? Răspunsul este simplu: pentru a nu deveni victime. Iar aici intervin mai multe probleme de etică. Este în regulă să permitem și să încurajăm astfel de practici, doar de dragul de a ne distra sau din teama de a nu deveni următoarea victimă? Este etic să închidem ochii în fața suferinței celor din jur, doar pentru a trece în rândul celor populari?
Fenomenul bullyingului a căpătat dimensiuni înspăimântătoare și, odată cu evoluția tehnlogică, s-a transformat în ceva cu adevărat odios, abject – cyber-bullyingul. Mult mai brutal, mult mai greu de identificat, mult mai necruțător. Victimele acestor două forme de violență – fizică și psihică, sunt, de cele mai multe ori, tineri și adolescenți care intră în vizorul atacatorilor deoarece se deosebesc prin mai multe moduri de aceștia. Sunt persoane mai tăcute, rezervate, percepute de cei din jur labile psihic. Acești tineri își poartă nefericirea ca pe o mantie nevăzută. O cară în spate în tăcere, căci, chiar dacă ar împărtăși-o altcuiva, cum ar fi un adult, aceștia nu sunt siguri că violențele îndreptate spre ei s-ar opri. Din contră, acestea capătă proporții uriașe, pentru simplu fapt că toți ceilalți – colegi, părinți, profesori -, aleg să tacă și să nu ia atitudine, iar acest lucru aduce după sine efecte care, de multe ori, pot fi devastatoare, deoarece victima, tânără și fără pic de ajutor, trăiește constant un stres atât de mare încât, de multe ori, acesta duce la sinucidere.
Romanul este unul bun, captivant prin stilul alert și dramele expuse, curajos datorită subiectului și dur atunci când ne raportăm la crimele dezvăluite în detaliu.
Finalul este unul...neașteptat și care te duce cu gândul la nenumărate posibilități referitoare la volumul patru și care ridică o mulțime de întrebări. Sper să avem parte cât mai curând de următorul capitol reprezentativ acestei aventuri literare marca Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Și la ceva mai mult Freyja și Huldar, bineînțeles.
Recenzia completa: https://twistinmysobriety-alexa.blogs...
August 24, 2025
While just back from a trip to Iceland, I wanted to keep the feeling alive with yet another great thriller series (see some of my reviews for two other authors I read during the prep time for this trip, as well as the early novels in this series). Yrsa Sigurðardóttir pens a great third novel in this collection, which balances a police procedural with the banter of an odd protagonist pairing. A teenage girl is found on a video begging for her life. When the body is discovered, a note with '2' is found closeby. The police are confused and wonder if this is a killer hinting that there is a previous victim. The case explores the world of online bullying and it would seem someone is targeting those who bully the most vulnerable child, though the world of social media is an additional angle that proves troubling. Huldar and Freyja find themselves trying to wade into this and find a killer whose ability to hide behind a screen makes them even more powerful. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir puts the reader on edge with this piece.
A girl goes missing and parents are concerned. When the police are informed, they begin looking into it, but it was only when a video is posted on Snapchat that they realise how troubling this case might become. On it, the missing girl is begging for forgiveness and her life. Could this be a kidnapping for reasons unknown? It's worse, when her body is found and a '2' lays on a sheet of paper next to her.
The girl's murder is surely important, but there is an underlying tone to the crime. The victim was a known online bully to a younger and vulnerable girl at school. Many wonder if this could be connected to the ruthless taunting that took place. The bullying victim could not have done it, based on the brutality of the murder, though her family is also shown to be innocent. Detective Huldar calls on child psychologist, Freyja, to help explore the world of bullying, as well as try to determine who might be the kind of person seeking vengeance. The murder victim's past proves to be more troubling than they first thought, but it does not explain the murder.
Another teenager goes missing, a known bully. A video is posted with the same begging, but the victim is murdered and a '3' left next to him. Huldar and Freyja know that they have a killer out there, targeting bullies, but there is no clear understanding for whom they might be looking. Worse still, who is '1' in this giant mess? Yrsa Sigurðardóttir delivers an impactful story that keeps the reader hooked.
As I mentioned above, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is the third Icelandic thriller writer who adds a flavouring to this wonderful country. I have loved Scandinavian noir thrillers and this series fits the bill. The narrative builds from the opening pages, keeping the reader wondering what's going on and how they can make sense of it. Clear themes related to online bullying are poignant and help steer things into the present situation amongst youths. Characters work well to keep the story relevant, as Sigurðardóttir depicts them in a way to be impactul throughout. There is also some great development of the protagonists, which helps balance the intense crime being explored. Plot points help pave the way towards an amazing story that keeps the surprises plentiful and ensures twists keep things from being too predictable. I am eager to see where Yrsa Sigurðardóttir takes things and how impactful future crimes can be.
Kudos, Madam Sigurðardóttir, for keeping the tension high.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A girl goes missing and parents are concerned. When the police are informed, they begin looking into it, but it was only when a video is posted on Snapchat that they realise how troubling this case might become. On it, the missing girl is begging for forgiveness and her life. Could this be a kidnapping for reasons unknown? It's worse, when her body is found and a '2' lays on a sheet of paper next to her.
The girl's murder is surely important, but there is an underlying tone to the crime. The victim was a known online bully to a younger and vulnerable girl at school. Many wonder if this could be connected to the ruthless taunting that took place. The bullying victim could not have done it, based on the brutality of the murder, though her family is also shown to be innocent. Detective Huldar calls on child psychologist, Freyja, to help explore the world of bullying, as well as try to determine who might be the kind of person seeking vengeance. The murder victim's past proves to be more troubling than they first thought, but it does not explain the murder.
Another teenager goes missing, a known bully. A video is posted with the same begging, but the victim is murdered and a '3' left next to him. Huldar and Freyja know that they have a killer out there, targeting bullies, but there is no clear understanding for whom they might be looking. Worse still, who is '1' in this giant mess? Yrsa Sigurðardóttir delivers an impactful story that keeps the reader hooked.
As I mentioned above, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is the third Icelandic thriller writer who adds a flavouring to this wonderful country. I have loved Scandinavian noir thrillers and this series fits the bill. The narrative builds from the opening pages, keeping the reader wondering what's going on and how they can make sense of it. Clear themes related to online bullying are poignant and help steer things into the present situation amongst youths. Characters work well to keep the story relevant, as Sigurðardóttir depicts them in a way to be impactul throughout. There is also some great development of the protagonists, which helps balance the intense crime being explored. Plot points help pave the way towards an amazing story that keeps the surprises plentiful and ensures twists keep things from being too predictable. I am eager to see where Yrsa Sigurðardóttir takes things and how impactful future crimes can be.
Kudos, Madam Sigurðardóttir, for keeping the tension high.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 21, 2025
IMAM NEKOLIKO STVARI DA KAŽEM:
1. ASDKLHAKSJFGAFSGASFIUKAGFSAISUFASF NISAM POGODILA KO JE UBICA, BILA SAM TOLIKO SIGURNA DA SAM NA PRAVOM TRAGU, ALI IPAK JE IRSA BOGINJA ŽANRA.
2. Nisam ovoliko čekala da se neko smuva još od Moldera i Skali, znači HULDAR JE IŠAO SA FREJOM NA GODIŠNJICU MATURE ISUSE MOJ OMILJEN FAN FICTION TROP umalo nisam vrisnula kad ga je pozvala, to bi bilo vrlo neugodno jer sam čitala u pozorištu ahhahahah
3. Da, desila mi se Rori Gilmor situacija, išla sam sa kumom i drugaricom da gledam nešto što se zove Žene kučke (igra Zourana Pavić), znači toliko sam prevrnula očima u drugoj rečenici programa, malo posle toga je žena pored mene glasno podrignula, i pošto mi je bilo neprijatno da izlazim, ja sam izvukla slušalice i kindl i bila srećna mala cvrčkica. Bar dok Zourana nije prvi put zapevala, a gospa pored mene zaigrala.
Toliko za ovo javljanje, sad prelazimo na drugi Irsin roman. Studio?
1. ASDKLHAKSJFGAFSGASFIUKAGFSAISUFASF NISAM POGODILA KO JE UBICA, BILA SAM TOLIKO SIGURNA DA SAM NA PRAVOM TRAGU, ALI IPAK JE IRSA BOGINJA ŽANRA.
2. Nisam ovoliko čekala da se neko smuva još od Moldera i Skali, znači HULDAR JE IŠAO SA FREJOM NA GODIŠNJICU MATURE ISUSE MOJ OMILJEN FAN FICTION TROP umalo nisam vrisnula kad ga je pozvala, to bi bilo vrlo neugodno jer sam čitala u pozorištu ahhahahah
3. Da, desila mi se Rori Gilmor situacija, išla sam sa kumom i drugaricom da gledam nešto što se zove Žene kučke (igra Zourana Pavić), znači toliko sam prevrnula očima u drugoj rečenici programa, malo posle toga je žena pored mene glasno podrignula, i pošto mi je bilo neprijatno da izlazim, ja sam izvukla slušalice i kindl i bila srećna mala cvrčkica. Bar dok Zourana nije prvi put zapevala, a gospa pored mene zaigrala.
Toliko za ovo javljanje, sad prelazimo na drugi Irsin roman. Studio?
January 1, 2024
4 αστέρια μόνο επειδή είσαι η Υρσα της καρδιάς μας...
Και για το θέμα του βιβλίου βεβαίως.
Το οποίο καίει. Τσουρουφλαει. Έχει καταστροφικες συνέπειες. Γκρεμίζει ζωές, διαλύει ψυχές, σε κάνει κάποιον αλλον.
Εκφοβισμός και bullying. Κατα συρροή δολοφονίες με σχεδόν το ίδιο μοτίβο.
Παρανοϊκός δολοφόνος ή απλά τιμωρός;
Ζωές στα άκρα...
Όλοι ένοχοι. Όλοι θύματα.
Όμως κυρία Υρσα μας, απο δω το φέρες, απο κει το πήγες, το πιλάτεψες, το τράβηξες λίγο, ανακατεύτηκε το μισό Ρέικιαβικ. Χάσαμε τα αυγά και τα πασχάλια και ίσως λίγο από την ουσία.
Υποθέσεις, εικασίες, ατέρμονες συζητήσεις, λίγο φλυαρία, λίγο υποτονικό, λιγο έλλειψε να γυρίζω τις σελίδες 5-5 ή να το διαβάσω διαγώνια.
Φύσηξα, ξεφυσηξα και κάποια στιγμή τελείωσε. Και όλα κουμπώσαν. Μπήκαν στη θέση τους όπως μόνο εσύ ξέρεις να τα βάζεις.
Και όλες οι απορίες μου λύθηκαν. Και ένα WTF άρχισε να αναβοσβηνει μπροστά στα μάτια μου στις τελευταίες γραμμες!
Και για το θέμα του βιβλίου βεβαίως.
Το οποίο καίει. Τσουρουφλαει. Έχει καταστροφικες συνέπειες. Γκρεμίζει ζωές, διαλύει ψυχές, σε κάνει κάποιον αλλον.
Εκφοβισμός και bullying. Κατα συρροή δολοφονίες με σχεδόν το ίδιο μοτίβο.
Παρανοϊκός δολοφόνος ή απλά τιμωρός;
Ζωές στα άκρα...
Όλοι ένοχοι. Όλοι θύματα.
Όμως κυρία Υρσα μας, απο δω το φέρες, απο κει το πήγες, το πιλάτεψες, το τράβηξες λίγο, ανακατεύτηκε το μισό Ρέικιαβικ. Χάσαμε τα αυγά και τα πασχάλια και ίσως λίγο από την ουσία.
Υποθέσεις, εικασίες, ατέρμονες συζητήσεις, λίγο φλυαρία, λίγο υποτονικό, λιγο έλλειψε να γυρίζω τις σελίδες 5-5 ή να το διαβάσω διαγώνια.
Φύσηξα, ξεφυσηξα και κάποια στιγμή τελείωσε. Και όλα κουμπώσαν. Μπήκαν στη θέση τους όπως μόνο εσύ ξέρεις να τα βάζεις.
Και όλες οι απορίες μου λύθηκαν. Και ένα WTF άρχισε να αναβοσβηνει μπροστά στα μάτια μου στις τελευταίες γραμμες!
January 3, 2021
This book is translated from Icelandic and I read it in Dutch, it’s been translated into English as ‘The Absolution’. If you use Google Translate, you’ll get a reasonable translation from my Dutch review into English.
Stella, 16 jaar oud, werkt in het winkeltje van een bioscoop. Op een avond wordt ze brutaal vermoord door iemand met een Darth Vader masker op. Voor ze sterft worden er Snapchat foto’s verstuurd naar al haar vrienden. Als haar lichaam een paar dagen later wordt gevonden, ligt er een A4tje onder haar met het cijfer 2 erop. Omdat het een tiener betreft en al haar vrienden ook minderjarig zijn roept Huldar opnieuw de hulp in van psychologe Freya Styrmysdottir. Niet veel later wordt een jongen gewelddadig ontvoerd in gelijkaardige omstandigheden; snapchatberichten en het cijfer 3. Als blijkt dat beide slachtoffers pestkoppen waren, denkt Freya dat het motief en de dader in die richting gezocht moet worden, maar de politie en vooral Erla (Huldar’s baas) wil daar niet van weten.
Ik las de vorige verhalen in deze reeks ook en dit boek is een mooi vervolg. Je kunt het probleemloos als een stand alone lezen, maar het is leuker als je het achtergrondverhaal kent en de veranderingen in de karakters volgt.
Dit is een spannend en origineel verhaal. Er zijn weer een hoop zijwegen en valse sporen die je op het verkeerde been zetten. De ontknoping zat er wel een beetje aan te komen maar is niet helemaal onrealistisch. Je weet nooit hoe ver de pestkoppen zullen gaan en waartoe ze hun slachtoffers kunnen drijven.
In dit derde verhaal in deze reeks wordt er meer aandacht gegeven aan Huldar’s partner Gudlaugur en de onderlinge relatie van de twee speurders. Een verpleegster die bij de zaak betrokken is, herkent hem maar weet niet van waar en de man reageert nogal eigenaardig. Pas later leren we waarom. Tussen Huldar en Freya wringt het nog altijd, hij is nog steeds verliefd op Freya en zou maar al te graag een relatie met haar willen maar zij ontloopt hem zo veel mogelijk. Op het werk heeft Huldar ook de nodige problemen met zijn bazin Erla die hem niet echt rechtvaardig behandelt, ook zijn andere collega’s zijn niet altijd sympathiek.
Dit verhaal bewijst nog maar eens dat sociale media het leven vaak moeilijker maken dan vroeger. Waar voorheen het pesten stopte aan de schoolpoort, gaat het nu eindeloos en geniepiger door. Alles wat op het scherm binnenkomt in de eenzaamheid van iemands slaapkamer kan veel wreder en anoniemer zijn. Pesten is een reëel probleem voor veel jongeren en eentje waarvan de ouders soms helemaal geen idee hebben. Yrsa maakt wel duidelijk dat degene die de pesters aanpakt in het boek ook ver buiten z’n boekje gaat en even erg is als zijn slachtoffers. De hele problematiek is tragisch. Elk jaar opnieuw hoor je weer van kinderen die zelfmoord plegen omdat ze zwaar gepest worden.
Stella, 16 jaar oud, werkt in het winkeltje van een bioscoop. Op een avond wordt ze brutaal vermoord door iemand met een Darth Vader masker op. Voor ze sterft worden er Snapchat foto’s verstuurd naar al haar vrienden. Als haar lichaam een paar dagen later wordt gevonden, ligt er een A4tje onder haar met het cijfer 2 erop. Omdat het een tiener betreft en al haar vrienden ook minderjarig zijn roept Huldar opnieuw de hulp in van psychologe Freya Styrmysdottir. Niet veel later wordt een jongen gewelddadig ontvoerd in gelijkaardige omstandigheden; snapchatberichten en het cijfer 3. Als blijkt dat beide slachtoffers pestkoppen waren, denkt Freya dat het motief en de dader in die richting gezocht moet worden, maar de politie en vooral Erla (Huldar’s baas) wil daar niet van weten.
Ik las de vorige verhalen in deze reeks ook en dit boek is een mooi vervolg. Je kunt het probleemloos als een stand alone lezen, maar het is leuker als je het achtergrondverhaal kent en de veranderingen in de karakters volgt.
Dit is een spannend en origineel verhaal. Er zijn weer een hoop zijwegen en valse sporen die je op het verkeerde been zetten. De ontknoping zat er wel een beetje aan te komen maar is niet helemaal onrealistisch. Je weet nooit hoe ver de pestkoppen zullen gaan en waartoe ze hun slachtoffers kunnen drijven.
In dit derde verhaal in deze reeks wordt er meer aandacht gegeven aan Huldar’s partner Gudlaugur en de onderlinge relatie van de twee speurders. Een verpleegster die bij de zaak betrokken is, herkent hem maar weet niet van waar en de man reageert nogal eigenaardig. Pas later leren we waarom. Tussen Huldar en Freya wringt het nog altijd, hij is nog steeds verliefd op Freya en zou maar al te graag een relatie met haar willen maar zij ontloopt hem zo veel mogelijk. Op het werk heeft Huldar ook de nodige problemen met zijn bazin Erla die hem niet echt rechtvaardig behandelt, ook zijn andere collega’s zijn niet altijd sympathiek.
Dit verhaal bewijst nog maar eens dat sociale media het leven vaak moeilijker maken dan vroeger. Waar voorheen het pesten stopte aan de schoolpoort, gaat het nu eindeloos en geniepiger door. Alles wat op het scherm binnenkomt in de eenzaamheid van iemands slaapkamer kan veel wreder en anoniemer zijn. Pesten is een reëel probleem voor veel jongeren en eentje waarvan de ouders soms helemaal geen idee hebben. Yrsa maakt wel duidelijk dat degene die de pesters aanpakt in het boek ook ver buiten z’n boekje gaat en even erg is als zijn slachtoffers. De hele problematiek is tragisch. Elk jaar opnieuw hoor je weer van kinderen die zelfmoord plegen omdat ze zwaar gepest worden.
January 12, 2020
5 STARS.
Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC of The Absolution! WOW was this book good 🙌🏼 There is truly nothing like an incredible Scandinavian crime novel and this one was everything I hoped it would be! This one is by far the best book in the Children’s House series and now I’m even more excited for the next book 🤓
What I really loved about this book was that it starts off crazy right from the beginning. Yrsa definitely doesn’t hold back when it comes to the gore, which I personally love 😝🔪 I also found myself really loving the main characters, Huldar and Freyja, a LOT more in this book compared to the previous two. Along with the two main characters, I felt way more invested in this story than I was with the other books. The crimes in this book were just so intriguing to me and the pacing was fantastic, which made for the perfect read 👌🏼 Another thing I really liked about this book was the ending. While the ending isn’t completely shocking or crazy, it’s very satisfying and ties everything together so well 🙌🏼
As for whether or not you guys can read this book as a stand-alone, I’d say you definitely can. My personal advice would be to at least read the first book beforehand just so you get as much character background as possible, but it’s not necessary to understand or enjoy this book whatsoever! Even if you’re not looking to commit to a series, I still think this would be a fantastic stand-alone novel 🕵🏼♀️🖤
TRIGGERS: Self Harm (brief mention), Suicide (graphic)
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to you guys! Whether you want to read the series or just read this book by itself, you guys should definitely check it out 🙌🏼 The Absolution is out February 11th so keep an eye out! 🤓
Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC of The Absolution! WOW was this book good 🙌🏼 There is truly nothing like an incredible Scandinavian crime novel and this one was everything I hoped it would be! This one is by far the best book in the Children’s House series and now I’m even more excited for the next book 🤓
What I really loved about this book was that it starts off crazy right from the beginning. Yrsa definitely doesn’t hold back when it comes to the gore, which I personally love 😝🔪 I also found myself really loving the main characters, Huldar and Freyja, a LOT more in this book compared to the previous two. Along with the two main characters, I felt way more invested in this story than I was with the other books. The crimes in this book were just so intriguing to me and the pacing was fantastic, which made for the perfect read 👌🏼 Another thing I really liked about this book was the ending. While the ending isn’t completely shocking or crazy, it’s very satisfying and ties everything together so well 🙌🏼
As for whether or not you guys can read this book as a stand-alone, I’d say you definitely can. My personal advice would be to at least read the first book beforehand just so you get as much character background as possible, but it’s not necessary to understand or enjoy this book whatsoever! Even if you’re not looking to commit to a series, I still think this would be a fantastic stand-alone novel 🕵🏼♀️🖤
TRIGGERS: Self Harm (brief mention), Suicide (graphic)
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to you guys! Whether you want to read the series or just read this book by itself, you guys should definitely check it out 🙌🏼 The Absolution is out February 11th so keep an eye out! 🤓
January 10, 2020
Πρόσφατα κυκλοφόρησε από τις εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο το τρίτο βιβλίο της πολύ επιτυχημένης σειράς "Children's house", με τον τίτλο "Λύτρωση", που μόνο λυτρωτικό δεν είναι, αλλά που επιβεβαιώνει περίτρανα τους λόγους για τους οποίους η Yrsa Sigurdardottir είναι πλέον δυνατή "φωνή" του ισλανδικού νουάρ, έχοντας καταφέρει να κατακτήσει το αναγνωστικό κοινό σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο. Μια ιστορία στην οποία συναντάμε για μια ακόμα φορά το δίδυμο του επιθεωρητή Χούλνταρ και της παιδοψυχολόγου Φρέιγια, και το οποίο πραγματεύεται ένα από τα πλέον δυσάρεστα και επίκαιρα θέματα της εποχής, με τρόπο άκρως ρεαλιστικό και σκληρό, που δεν είναι άλλο από τον σχολικό εκφοβισμό, μία απ' τις μεγαλύτερες ανησυχίες και φοβίες παράλληλα, όχι μόνο των εφήβων, αλλά και των ανθρώπων που μεγαλώνουν παιδιά.
Ένα σοκαριστικό έγκλημα, που δεν έχει προηγούμενο, έρχεται να ταράξει όχι μόνο την αστυνομία, αλλά και μια ολόκληρη κοινωνία. Ένα έγκλημα που διαπράττεται με αφορμή της είσπραξη μιας "συγνώμη" που, όμως, άργησε να έρθει. Η νεαρή Στέλλα βρίσκεται νεκρή, με τον αριθμό 2 να σημαδεύει το κορμί της. Τόσο οι αστυνομικές αρχές όσο και οι φίλοι της, ενημερώνονται για την άγρια δολοφονία της μέσω ενός βίντεο που ανέβηκε στο Snapchat, στο οποίο απεικονίζεται, εκτός από τον φόνο, η απελπισμένη προσπάθεια του θύματος να σώζει τη ζωή του, ζητώντας απελπισμένα μια συγχώρεση που όμως δεν ήρθε. Οι ανακρίσεις ξεκινούν, με την Φρέιγια να καλείται να έρθει σε επαφή με τους φίλους της Στέλλας προκειμένου να συλλέξει πληροφορίες που ίσως να την οδηγήσουν στις πολυπόθητες απαντήσεις που με τη σειρά τους θα οδηγήσουν στη σύλληψη του δράστη, την ίδια ώρα που ο Χούλνταρ, μαζί με τον συνεργάτη του Γκούντλογκουρ, προσπαθεί να συμβάλλει με τον δικό του τρόπο στις έρευνες, παρά τα εμπόδια που του βάζει η προϊσταμένη του με την οποία οι σχέσεις τους έχουν διαταραχθεί.
Αν και η Στέλλα έδειχνε προς τα έξω ένα σχεδόν αγγελικό πρόσωπο, η Φρέιγια δεν αργεί να ανακαλύψει πως η πραγματικότητα είναι αρκετά διαφορετική, με την Στέλλα να είναι η αρχηγός μιας σχολικής συμμορίας που εκφόβιζε μια άλλη νεαρή κοπέλα, την Ανταλχάιντουρ. Όμως το στοιχείο αυτό δεν είναι αρκετό, ούτε μπορεί να εξηγήσει τι πραγματικά συνέβη και γιατί. Τα πράγματα θα περιπλακούν ακόμα περισσότερο όταν ένα έφηβο αγόρι εξαφανιστεί μυστηριωδώς, ενώ λίγο αργότερα, παρόμοια βίντεο με αυτά από την δολοφονία της Στέλλας θα αρχίσουν να κυκλοφορούν. Το πτώμα του αγοριού εντοπίζεται λίγες μέρες αργότερα, και όπως και στην προηγούμενη περίπτωση, είναι σημαδεμένο, μόνο με τον αριθμό 3 αυτή τη φορά. Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο, όλη αυτή η ιστορία έχει αναστατώσει τον κόσμο, τα Μέσα υπερθεματίζουν όσο μπορούν τα όσα έχουν συμβεί προκειμένου να εκμεταλλευτούν την κατάσταση, ενώ υπάρχουν έντονες πιέσεις να βρεθεί ο δολοφόνος πριν να συνεχίσει το τρομακτικό του έργο που, όπως πιστεύουν ο Χούλνταρ και η Φρέιγια, δεν έχει ολοκληρωθεί ακόμα.
Η αλήθεια είναι πως η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία με τάραξε σε πολλαπλά επίπεδα, όχι μόνο ως άνθρωπο, αλλά και ως μητέρα, αφού κάθε παιδί που μεγαλώνει μέσα σε μια σάπια κοινωνία από την οποία δεν μπορεί να προστατευτεί ποτέ απόλυτα, είναι εν δυνάμει θύμα και θύτης, πόσο μάλλον μέσα σε ένα σχολικό περιβάλλον. Γιατί όπως όλοι γνωρίζουμε, τα παιδιά μπορούν πολύ εύκολα να ξεφύγουν από τα όρια, να χάσουν το μέτρο, μα και να γίνουν εξαιρετικά σκληρά αν οι συνθήκες είναι κατάλληλες. Με αυτές ακριβώς τις ιδέες "παίζει" η Sigurdardottir στο βιβλίο της αυτό, σε συνδυασμό με τη δύναμη του διαδικτύου και των τρομακτικών προεκτάσεων που μπορεί να έχει η ανωνυμία που αυτό προσφέρει, επιτρέποντας στον καθένα να εκδηλώσει ανεξέλεγκτα και με βία ακόμα και τα πιο σκοτεινά και ζωώδη του ένστικτα, που πολλές φορές λειτουργούν σαν μια ανάγκη που δεν μπορείς να εγκλωβίσεις ή να περιορίσεις, πόσο μάλλον όταν στα χέρια σου έχεις την απόλυτη ελευθερία του να τα εξωτερικεύσεις. Και καμιά φορά, όχι μόνο με τρόπο λεκτικό!
Και μπορεί το δίδυμο Χούλνταρ και Φρέιγια να επιστρέφει, με την σχέση τους να δοκιμάζεται για πολλοστή φορά, όσο αυτοί προσπαθούν να βρουν τις ισορροπίες που θα την κρατήσουν εκεί που πρέπει, όμως αυτή τη φορά δίνεται μεγαλύτερο έδαφος και περιθώριο δράσης στους Έρλα και Γκούντλογκουρ. Μια προοπτική που αν και δεν την περίμενα, αποδείχτηκε εξαιρετικά ευχάριστη έκπληξη, και που προσέδωσε στο μυθιστόρημα μια περισσότερο αστυνομική νότα, παρά εκείνη του θρίλερ, πράγμα που επιτρέπει και στην ίδια τη συγγραφέα να χειριστεί τις επόμενες ιστορίες της όπως επιθυμεί κατά συνθήκη, και όχι περιορισμένη σε στεγανά που η ίδια θα μπορούσε να έχει βάλει τον εαυτό της. Μια νότα που εκτός όλων των άλλων μας δίνει τον απαραίτητο χρόνο να επεξεργαστούμε τα στοιχεία που σταδιακά έρχονται στο φως, να τα αναλύσουμε και να προσπαθήσουμε να τα τοποθετήσουμε στη σειρά εκείνη που θα μας δώσουν τη λύση του παζλ.
Στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της, η αφήγηση, είναι τριτοπρόσωπη, αλλά υπάρχουν ορισμένα σημεία που αυτή εναλλάσσεται με την πρωτοπρόσωπη, μια τεχνική που μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως μειονέκτημα, αν ξεφύγεις από τα όρια και εισέλθεις σε λεπτομέρειες που θα έπρεπε να κρατήσεις κρυφές για περισσότερο χρόνο, αλλά η Sigurdardottir δε γίνεται θύμα της. Αντίθετα, την αξιοποιεί στον μέγιστο βαθμό, εντείνοντας την αγωνία του αναγνώστη, ισορροπώντας άριστα ανάμεσα στην δολοφονική αγριότητα, κρατώντας την στα σωστά όρια περιγραφικότητας και έκτασης, μα και σε σωστούς χρόνους, στη αστυνομική δράση και στις έρευνες που έχουν ως στόχο την ανεύρεση του δράστη, αλλά και στις κοινωνικές προεκτάσεις που δεν μπορούν ν' απουσιάζουν από ένα μυθιστόρημα όπως το συγκεκριμένο. Συνοψίζοντας, λοιπόν, η "Λύτρωση" είναι ένα βιβλίο που στοιχειώνει τον αναγνώστη, γροθιά στο στομάχι απέναντι στις σύγχρονες κοινωνίες που γίνονται θύματα του Διαδικτύου, μα και απέναντι σε κάθε γονιό.
Ένα σοκαριστικό έγκλημα, που δεν έχει προηγούμενο, έρχεται να ταράξει όχι μόνο την αστυνομία, αλλά και μια ολόκληρη κοινωνία. Ένα έγκλημα που διαπράττεται με αφορμή της είσπραξη μιας "συγνώμη" που, όμως, άργησε να έρθει. Η νεαρή Στέλλα βρίσκεται νεκρή, με τον αριθμό 2 να σημαδεύει το κορμί της. Τόσο οι αστυνομικές αρχές όσο και οι φίλοι της, ενημερώνονται για την άγρια δολοφονία της μέσω ενός βίντεο που ανέβηκε στο Snapchat, στο οποίο απεικονίζεται, εκτός από τον φόνο, η απελπισμένη προσπάθεια του θύματος να σώζει τη ζωή του, ζητώντας απελπισμένα μια συγχώρεση που όμως δεν ήρθε. Οι ανακρίσεις ξεκινούν, με την Φρέιγια να καλείται να έρθει σε επαφή με τους φίλους της Στέλλας προκειμένου να συλλέξει πληροφορίες που ίσως να την οδηγήσουν στις πολυπόθητες απαντήσεις που με τη σειρά τους θα οδηγήσουν στη σύλληψη του δράστη, την ίδια ώρα που ο Χούλνταρ, μαζί με τον συνεργάτη του Γκούντλογκουρ, προσπαθεί να συμβάλλει με τον δικό του τρόπο στις έρευνες, παρά τα εμπόδια που του βάζει η προϊσταμένη του με την οποία οι σχέσεις τους έχουν διαταραχθεί.
Αν και η Στέλλα έδειχνε προς τα έξω ένα σχεδόν αγγελικό πρόσωπο, η Φρέιγια δεν αργεί να ανακαλύψει πως η πραγματικότητα είναι αρκετά διαφορετική, με την Στέλλα να είναι η αρχηγός μιας σχολικής συμμορίας που εκφόβιζε μια άλλη νεαρή κοπέλα, την Ανταλχάιντουρ. Όμως το στοιχείο αυτό δεν είναι αρκετό, ούτε μπορεί να εξηγήσει τι πραγματικά συνέβη και γιατί. Τα πράγματα θα περιπλακούν ακόμα περισσότερο όταν ένα έφηβο αγόρι εξαφανιστεί μυστηριωδώς, ενώ λίγο αργότερα, παρόμοια βίντεο με αυτά από την δολοφονία της Στέλλας θα αρχίσουν να κυκλοφορούν. Το πτώμα του αγοριού εντοπίζεται λίγες μέρες αργότερα, και όπως και στην προηγούμενη περίπτωση, είναι σημαδεμένο, μόνο με τον αριθμό 3 αυτή τη φορά. Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο, όλη αυτή η ιστορία έχει αναστατώσει τον κόσμο, τα Μέσα υπερθεματίζουν όσο μπορούν τα όσα έχουν συμβεί προκειμένου να εκμεταλλευτούν την κατάσταση, ενώ υπάρχουν έντονες πιέσεις να βρεθεί ο δολοφόνος πριν να συνεχίσει το τρομακτικό του έργο που, όπως πιστεύουν ο Χούλνταρ και η Φρέιγια, δεν έχει ολοκληρωθεί ακόμα.
Η αλήθεια είναι πως η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία με τάραξε σε πολλαπλά επίπεδα, όχι μόνο ως άνθρωπο, αλλά και ως μητέρα, αφού κάθε παιδί που μεγαλώνει μέσα σε μια σάπια κοινωνία από την οποία δεν μπορεί να προστατευτεί ποτέ απόλυτα, είναι εν δυνάμει θύμα και θύτης, πόσο μάλλον μέσα σε ένα σχολικό περιβάλλον. Γιατί όπως όλοι γνωρίζουμε, τα παιδιά μπορούν πολύ εύκολα να ξεφύγουν από τα όρια, να χάσουν το μέτρο, μα και να γίνουν εξαιρετικά σκληρά αν οι συνθήκες είναι κατάλληλες. Με αυτές ακριβώς τις ιδέες "παίζει" η Sigurdardottir στο βιβλίο της αυτό, σε συνδυασμό με τη δύναμη του διαδικτύου και των τρομακτικών προεκτάσεων που μπορεί να έχει η ανωνυμία που αυτό προσφέρει, επιτρέποντας στον καθένα να εκδηλώσει ανεξέλεγκτα και με βία ακόμα και τα πιο σκοτεινά και ζωώδη του ένστικτα, που πολλές φορές λειτουργούν σαν μια ανάγκη που δεν μπορείς να εγκλωβίσεις ή να περιορίσεις, πόσο μάλλον όταν στα χέρια σου έχεις την απόλυτη ελευθερία του να τα εξωτερικεύσεις. Και καμιά φορά, όχι μόνο με τρόπο λεκτικό!
Και μπορεί το δίδυμο Χούλνταρ και Φρέιγια να επιστρέφει, με την σχέση τους να δοκιμάζεται για πολλοστή φορά, όσο αυτοί προσπαθούν να βρουν τις ισορροπίες που θα την κρατήσουν εκεί που πρέπει, όμως αυτή τη φορά δίνεται μεγαλύτερο έδαφος και περιθώριο δράσης στους Έρλα και Γκούντλογκουρ. Μια προοπτική που αν και δεν την περίμενα, αποδείχτηκε εξαιρετικά ευχάριστη έκπληξη, και που προσέδωσε στο μυθιστόρημα μια περισσότερο αστυνομική νότα, παρά εκείνη του θρίλερ, πράγμα που επιτρέπει και στην ίδια τη συγγραφέα να χειριστεί τις επόμενες ιστορίες της όπως επιθυμεί κατά συνθήκη, και όχι περιορισμένη σε στεγανά που η ίδια θα μπορούσε να έχει βάλει τον εαυτό της. Μια νότα που εκτός όλων των άλλων μας δίνει τον απαραίτητο χρόνο να επεξεργαστούμε τα στοιχεία που σταδιακά έρχονται στο φως, να τα αναλύσουμε και να προσπαθήσουμε να τα τοποθετήσουμε στη σειρά εκείνη που θα μας δώσουν τη λύση του παζλ.
Στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της, η αφήγηση, είναι τριτοπρόσωπη, αλλά υπάρχουν ορισμένα σημεία που αυτή εναλλάσσεται με την πρωτοπρόσωπη, μια τεχνική που μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως μειονέκτημα, αν ξεφύγεις από τα όρια και εισέλθεις σε λεπτομέρειες που θα έπρεπε να κρατήσεις κρυφές για περισσότερο χρόνο, αλλά η Sigurdardottir δε γίνεται θύμα της. Αντίθετα, την αξιοποιεί στον μέγιστο βαθμό, εντείνοντας την αγωνία του αναγνώστη, ισορροπώντας άριστα ανάμεσα στην δολοφονική αγριότητα, κρατώντας την στα σωστά όρια περιγραφικότητας και έκτασης, μα και σε σωστούς χρόνους, στη αστυνομική δράση και στις έρευνες που έχουν ως στόχο την ανεύρεση του δράστη, αλλά και στις κοινωνικές προεκτάσεις που δεν μπορούν ν' απουσιάζουν από ένα μυθιστόρημα όπως το συγκεκριμένο. Συνοψίζοντας, λοιπόν, η "Λύτρωση" είναι ένα βιβλίο που στοιχειώνει τον αναγνώστη, γροθιά στο στομάχι απέναντι στις σύγχρονες κοινωνίες που γίνονται θύματα του Διαδικτύου, μα και απέναντι σε κάθε γονιό.
September 15, 2020
S-a terminat cartea și tot nu-mi vine să cred cine e criminalul, deși îi înțeleg perfect ideile și motivele care l-au mânat să comită ce-a comis. Parcă am mai zis chestia asta în legătură cu romanele Yrsei Sigurdardottir: ori mă prind destul de repede cine e criminalul, ori habar n-am până spre final, când începe să curgă cu revelații, când se leagă ițele, când ies la iveală cele mai întunecate, cele mai crunte, cele mai morbide secrete ale oamenilor și criminalul ni se dă pe tavă.
Romanul de față face, evident, parte din a doua categorie. Cei doi protagoniști, Huldar și Freyja, se întâlnesc încă o dată pentru a da de urma unui criminal care a răpit și lăsat să moară o adolescentă, Stella. Se pare că la mijloc ar fi bullyingul, o problemă majoră la copii și, se pare, deși povestea e veche de când s-au inventat locurile de muncă, și la serviciu, privindu-i pe oameni în toată firea.
Din păcate, indiciile sunt extrem de puține și polițiștii par să se învârtă în jurul cozii cale de jumătate de carte, abordând problema din toate unghiurile și neaflând de fapt nimic.
Tema principală: bullyingul și consecințele devastatoare ale acestuia mai ales în rândul copiilor, cei mai expuși și cei mai vulnerabili.
Cam puțin e prezentă Freyja, deși ea le oferă o pistă generoasă polițiștilor.
Nu la fel de întunecată ca precedentul volum al seriei, „Răfuiala”, însă nici foarte departe.
Romanul de față face, evident, parte din a doua categorie. Cei doi protagoniști, Huldar și Freyja, se întâlnesc încă o dată pentru a da de urma unui criminal care a răpit și lăsat să moară o adolescentă, Stella. Se pare că la mijloc ar fi bullyingul, o problemă majoră la copii și, se pare, deși povestea e veche de când s-au inventat locurile de muncă, și la serviciu, privindu-i pe oameni în toată firea.
Din păcate, indiciile sunt extrem de puține și polițiștii par să se învârtă în jurul cozii cale de jumătate de carte, abordând problema din toate unghiurile și neaflând de fapt nimic.
Tema principală: bullyingul și consecințele devastatoare ale acestuia mai ales în rândul copiilor, cei mai expuși și cei mai vulnerabili.
Cam puțin e prezentă Freyja, deși ea le oferă o pistă generoasă polițiștilor.
Nu la fel de întunecată ca precedentul volum al seriei, „Răfuiala”, însă nici foarte departe.
April 10, 2020
Smaga tēma – mobings. Un īstenībā tikpat smaga dilemma – vai vardarbībai jāatdara ar vardarbību.
Labi uzturēta intriga, saprātīga izmeklēšana.
Policija atšķetināja shēmu, atrada vainīgo. Vai tas palīdzēja mobinga upuriem? Baidos, ka ne īpaši. Īstenībā jau uz to grāmatā nemaz nebija atbildes.
Un, lai pēdējo lappusi nevarētu pāršķirt ar atvieglojuma sajūtu, autore ir atstājusi nedaudz atvērtas beigas. Lai kāds var turpināt baidīties.
Nedaudz vairāk šeit: https://lililasa.wordpress.com/2020/0...
Labi uzturēta intriga, saprātīga izmeklēšana.
Policija atšķetināja shēmu, atrada vainīgo. Vai tas palīdzēja mobinga upuriem? Baidos, ka ne īpaši. Īstenībā jau uz to grāmatā nemaz nebija atbildes.
Un, lai pēdējo lappusi nevarētu pāršķirt ar atvieglojuma sajūtu, autore ir atstājusi nedaudz atvērtas beigas. Lai kāds var turpināt baidīties.
Nedaudz vairāk šeit: https://lililasa.wordpress.com/2020/0...
March 8, 2020
Nach DNA und SOG liegt nun mit R.I.P. bereits der dritte Thriller der isländischen Thrillerautorin Yrsa Sigurdadottir aus der Reihe um den Kommissar Huldar vor.
Die junge Schülerin Stella, die aushilfsweise in einem Kino arbeitet, wird nach den letzten Filmvorstellungen auf der Damentoilette brutal überfallen und offenbar getötet. Per Snapchat verbreitet der Täter an alle ihre Kontakte Videos von diesem Verbrechen an Stella, in denen Stella das Wort Entschuldigung sagen soll. Kurze Zeit später verschwindet ein Junge, und dessen Schicksal ist bislang ungeklärt.
Erneut stehen hier der Kommissar Huldar sowie seine Vorgesetzte Erla und auch die Kinderpsychologin Freyja im Mittelpunkt dieses äußerst interessanten Thrillers. Die dargestellte Brutalität zu Beginn ist erschreckend. Warum musste Stella sterben? Stella war offenbar eine allseits beliebte Schülerin. Unklar ist auch, weshalb der Junge verschwand. Das aufgefundene Blut in der Wohnung lässt auch hier nichts Gutes vermuten. Doch der Schein trügt. In diesem dritten Teil stellt die Autorin das Thema Mobbing in den Mittelpunkt. Nach und nach wird aufgedeckt, dass die Opfer offenbar auch Täter gewesen sind, Mobbingtäter. In allen Einzelheiten schildert Sigurdadottir das traurige Leben von gemobbten Schülern. Die Palette reicht vom einfachen Nichtbeachten von Personen über Anfeindungen und Beschimpfungen in der Schule bis hin zu perfiden Äußerungen in Internet. Mobbing ist somit nicht singulär auf die Schule beschränkt, sondern stellt sich omnipräsent auch außerhalb der Schulräume dar. Die Mobbingopfer können den Attacken nicht ausweichen. Es ist erschreckend, wie Schüler andere Schüler mobben. Das reicht sogar bis zum Freitod gemobbter Schüler. Es gibt zwar Hilfen in Form der Schule und auch Psychiater. Das scheint aber nicht ausreichend. Es handelt sich um erhebliches gesellschaftliches Problem. Denn das Thema Mobbing endet hier nicht mit dem Ende der Schulzeit. Auch im Erwachsenenleben kann es immer noch großen Einfluss haben wie im Fall Freyja, die zu einem Klassentreffen eingeladen wird und schlechte Erinnerungen aus ihrer Schulzeit hochkommen. All das wird sehr eindringlich in diesem Thriller geschildert. Das Buch regt nachdrücklich zum Nachdenken auf.
Weiterer Schwerpunkt sind die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen der beteiligten Personen, insbesondere das angespannte Verhältnis zwischen Huldar und Erla einerseits, die Huldar bei den sehr intensiven und wichtigen Ermittlungen einfach nicht beachtet und keine Aufträge zuteilt, auch eine Form des Mobbings, und andererseits das Verhältnis zwischen Huldar zu Freyja. Hier gibt es immer wieder kurze Rückblenden zu den Geschehnissen aus den ersten beiden Bänden. Das ist wohl dosiert. Nicht zu viel für diejenigen, die bereits Bücher von der Autorin gelesen haben und nicht zu wenig für Neueinsteiger. Diese Beziehungen werden sehr gut und nachvollziehbar beschrieben. Insgesamt hat die Autorin einen überaus guten und fesselnden Schreibstil. Zwischendurch gibt es einen im Internet verfassten Brief über die Erfahrungen einer gemobbten Person. Das Ende und die Auflösung waren für mich sehr überraschend. Mit diesem Ergebnis hätte ich nicht gerechnet.
Diesen Thriller kann ich uneingeschränkt empfehlen und gebe somit 5 von 5 Sternen.
Die junge Schülerin Stella, die aushilfsweise in einem Kino arbeitet, wird nach den letzten Filmvorstellungen auf der Damentoilette brutal überfallen und offenbar getötet. Per Snapchat verbreitet der Täter an alle ihre Kontakte Videos von diesem Verbrechen an Stella, in denen Stella das Wort Entschuldigung sagen soll. Kurze Zeit später verschwindet ein Junge, und dessen Schicksal ist bislang ungeklärt.
Erneut stehen hier der Kommissar Huldar sowie seine Vorgesetzte Erla und auch die Kinderpsychologin Freyja im Mittelpunkt dieses äußerst interessanten Thrillers. Die dargestellte Brutalität zu Beginn ist erschreckend. Warum musste Stella sterben? Stella war offenbar eine allseits beliebte Schülerin. Unklar ist auch, weshalb der Junge verschwand. Das aufgefundene Blut in der Wohnung lässt auch hier nichts Gutes vermuten. Doch der Schein trügt. In diesem dritten Teil stellt die Autorin das Thema Mobbing in den Mittelpunkt. Nach und nach wird aufgedeckt, dass die Opfer offenbar auch Täter gewesen sind, Mobbingtäter. In allen Einzelheiten schildert Sigurdadottir das traurige Leben von gemobbten Schülern. Die Palette reicht vom einfachen Nichtbeachten von Personen über Anfeindungen und Beschimpfungen in der Schule bis hin zu perfiden Äußerungen in Internet. Mobbing ist somit nicht singulär auf die Schule beschränkt, sondern stellt sich omnipräsent auch außerhalb der Schulräume dar. Die Mobbingopfer können den Attacken nicht ausweichen. Es ist erschreckend, wie Schüler andere Schüler mobben. Das reicht sogar bis zum Freitod gemobbter Schüler. Es gibt zwar Hilfen in Form der Schule und auch Psychiater. Das scheint aber nicht ausreichend. Es handelt sich um erhebliches gesellschaftliches Problem. Denn das Thema Mobbing endet hier nicht mit dem Ende der Schulzeit. Auch im Erwachsenenleben kann es immer noch großen Einfluss haben wie im Fall Freyja, die zu einem Klassentreffen eingeladen wird und schlechte Erinnerungen aus ihrer Schulzeit hochkommen. All das wird sehr eindringlich in diesem Thriller geschildert. Das Buch regt nachdrücklich zum Nachdenken auf.
Weiterer Schwerpunkt sind die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen der beteiligten Personen, insbesondere das angespannte Verhältnis zwischen Huldar und Erla einerseits, die Huldar bei den sehr intensiven und wichtigen Ermittlungen einfach nicht beachtet und keine Aufträge zuteilt, auch eine Form des Mobbings, und andererseits das Verhältnis zwischen Huldar zu Freyja. Hier gibt es immer wieder kurze Rückblenden zu den Geschehnissen aus den ersten beiden Bänden. Das ist wohl dosiert. Nicht zu viel für diejenigen, die bereits Bücher von der Autorin gelesen haben und nicht zu wenig für Neueinsteiger. Diese Beziehungen werden sehr gut und nachvollziehbar beschrieben. Insgesamt hat die Autorin einen überaus guten und fesselnden Schreibstil. Zwischendurch gibt es einen im Internet verfassten Brief über die Erfahrungen einer gemobbten Person. Das Ende und die Auflösung waren für mich sehr überraschend. Mit diesem Ergebnis hätte ich nicht gerechnet.
Diesen Thriller kann ich uneingeschränkt empfehlen und gebe somit 5 von 5 Sternen.
September 8, 2021
Още една потресаваща история от любимката ми Ирса. Този път фокусът е върху темата "мобинг" и върху чудовищните последствия, които има върху психиката на потърпевшите и на близките им. Мобингът сред тийнейджърите- един проблем, който прави всички жертви - и оказващите го, и потърпевшите.
Има и реверанс към ЛГБТ движението, което явно е задължителен напоследък пункт, който трябва да се отметне, за да бъде издадена някоя книга.
Има и реверанс към ЛГБТ движението, което явно е задължителен напоследък пункт, който трябва да се отметне, за да бъде издадена някоя книга.
May 8, 2021
Why do these books take so long being translated to Swedish? Publishers better be faster with the fourth book
Read
July 13, 2022Yrsa no seu melhor! Um livro extremamente bem conseguido , um thriller espectacular com um tema bastante pertinente e actual! Adorei ⭐️
August 22, 2020
Another 4 star read for me. Possibly slightly on the lower end of a four than the previous two books, but still really really good!
I enjoyed this third instalment in the Huldar and Freyja, Children's house series. It focused around bullying and the social media platform Snapchat. I've never had anything to do with Snapchat, I think it is for the cool kids!? :) But what I gather, from this book, and the dudes in my family, is that you can send pictures to people you know, that disappear once they have been seen. This plays in well for a serial killer who wants to torment his victims friends and family by showcasing their brutal deaths.
Huldar is having trouble with the boss, Erla, in an arc that has been rumbling on since book one. (If I had to find a fault with this book, this would be one - it feels like it is just dragging on a bit and that the tension between the two should be over really). After a Snap is sent showing the death of a young girl in a cinema he pleads to be able to help on the case. He is blocked and sent packing.
He's not catching any good cases and is being sent to do menial tasks that a lower rank officer could do in his sleep. When Huldar and his partner are sent to a routine domestic disturbance involving a locked-out cleaner, they stumble across blood- a lot of blood, and the case blows wide open, finally giving Huldar his entry into the investigation.
What follows is the chase to find this killer before he can harm any more young people. Will Huldar be able to stop him in time?
I liked this one, the premise was unusual - using Snapchat as a major plot tool. I've not seen it before. I liked getting to see more of Huldar's partner and their dynamic as a team, now that he is out of his shell a little more. I was disappointed that Freyja and Huldar weren't in more scenes together - they seemed to each do their own investigations and never really join up, which is kind of the point of the series?!
The Icelandic atmosphere - cold, desolate, eerie - it was there, and it was paramount to this story, 100%. I could not imagine this story being set anywhere else.
If you enjoy slow burning thrillers, Scandinavian crime fiction, slightly rough edged cops with a damaged soul, this one is for you. It's gruesome and graphic and you will want to keep turning the pages. Definitely a recommendation, but I would also read the first two in the series so that you know where you are with the characters.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
I enjoyed this third instalment in the Huldar and Freyja, Children's house series. It focused around bullying and the social media platform Snapchat. I've never had anything to do with Snapchat, I think it is for the cool kids!? :) But what I gather, from this book, and the dudes in my family, is that you can send pictures to people you know, that disappear once they have been seen. This plays in well for a serial killer who wants to torment his victims friends and family by showcasing their brutal deaths.
Huldar is having trouble with the boss, Erla, in an arc that has been rumbling on since book one. (If I had to find a fault with this book, this would be one - it feels like it is just dragging on a bit and that the tension between the two should be over really). After a Snap is sent showing the death of a young girl in a cinema he pleads to be able to help on the case. He is blocked and sent packing.
He's not catching any good cases and is being sent to do menial tasks that a lower rank officer could do in his sleep. When Huldar and his partner are sent to a routine domestic disturbance involving a locked-out cleaner, they stumble across blood- a lot of blood, and the case blows wide open, finally giving Huldar his entry into the investigation.
What follows is the chase to find this killer before he can harm any more young people. Will Huldar be able to stop him in time?
I liked this one, the premise was unusual - using Snapchat as a major plot tool. I've not seen it before. I liked getting to see more of Huldar's partner and their dynamic as a team, now that he is out of his shell a little more. I was disappointed that Freyja and Huldar weren't in more scenes together - they seemed to each do their own investigations and never really join up, which is kind of the point of the series?!
The Icelandic atmosphere - cold, desolate, eerie - it was there, and it was paramount to this story, 100%. I could not imagine this story being set anywhere else.
If you enjoy slow burning thrillers, Scandinavian crime fiction, slightly rough edged cops with a damaged soul, this one is for you. It's gruesome and graphic and you will want to keep turning the pages. Definitely a recommendation, but I would also read the first two in the series so that you know where you are with the characters.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
March 22, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Absolution, the third novel to feature Icelandic detective Huldar and child psychologist Freyja.
When a video appears of teenager Stella being assaulted and abducted Huldar recruits Freyja to help interview her teenage friends. Initially there is no reason for the attack as Stella is portrayed as a lovely young woman but gradually a darker picture emerges. When a second teenager goes missing the team starts to feel the pressure.
I must admit that I found The Absolution a bit of a slog. There is no doubt that the plot is quite clever and contains several twists but the journey to the resolution is hard going. The first three quarters of the novel are slow and bogged down in unnecessary detail, so only the last quarter is fast moving and compelling. I like the idea of using Snapchat as a plot device as it suits the teenage environment and its disappearing messages make the investigation more complicated. On the other hand the theme of bullying is rather rammed down the reader’s throat. I fully understand that it is an important social issue and difficult to curb but it’s not a subject that holds my attention, being so far removed from where I am in my life. Thank goodness I’m no longer a teenager, the descriptions of bullying in this novel are harrowing but I have no trouble in believing they are based in fact. The trouble is there are so many they obscure the hunt for the killer.
I also found it difficult to feel for the characters as they don’t really stand out. Huldar has trouble at work, being frozen out by his boss but keeps investigating and lusting after Freyja. Freyja is examining her life to find happiness. She has gone part time at work to pursue a business studies course and is looking for love, anywhere but Huldar (but what’s the betting on that?), but comes to the conclusion that she has to change herself. A bit self evident for a psychologist.
The Absolution didn’t really appeal to me but it is a solid read.
When a video appears of teenager Stella being assaulted and abducted Huldar recruits Freyja to help interview her teenage friends. Initially there is no reason for the attack as Stella is portrayed as a lovely young woman but gradually a darker picture emerges. When a second teenager goes missing the team starts to feel the pressure.
I must admit that I found The Absolution a bit of a slog. There is no doubt that the plot is quite clever and contains several twists but the journey to the resolution is hard going. The first three quarters of the novel are slow and bogged down in unnecessary detail, so only the last quarter is fast moving and compelling. I like the idea of using Snapchat as a plot device as it suits the teenage environment and its disappearing messages make the investigation more complicated. On the other hand the theme of bullying is rather rammed down the reader’s throat. I fully understand that it is an important social issue and difficult to curb but it’s not a subject that holds my attention, being so far removed from where I am in my life. Thank goodness I’m no longer a teenager, the descriptions of bullying in this novel are harrowing but I have no trouble in believing they are based in fact. The trouble is there are so many they obscure the hunt for the killer.
I also found it difficult to feel for the characters as they don’t really stand out. Huldar has trouble at work, being frozen out by his boss but keeps investigating and lusting after Freyja. Freyja is examining her life to find happiness. She has gone part time at work to pursue a business studies course and is looking for love, anywhere but Huldar (but what’s the betting on that?), but comes to the conclusion that she has to change herself. A bit self evident for a psychologist.
The Absolution didn’t really appeal to me but it is a solid read.
July 7, 2019
Being an aficionado of Icelandic Noir, I’ve been keen to get my hands on this third installment of the Freya and Huldar series. I’ve read a fair few of Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s books and really enjoy her fast paced and edgy style. The theme of this book is teenage bullying, intermingled with the cyber space and the relentless nature of social media in perpetuating a 24/7 platform for bullies.
Sigurdardottir does a reasonable job in this regard and while her intent was not to write a book about bullying as such, I would have liked to see a little more in regards to the mindset of the parents of those who had been bullied. Minor detail in the scheme of the story.
Huldar is a fairly likeable character as is Freya although their evolving relationship is very slightly cheesy as are some of the other characters. I would like to see more of Gudlaugars character develop and not just in a lip service way.
The book ends with real clarity around the crime which helps to tie up loose ends. The last page had a clincher which was quite chilling. A great ending actually!
I’ll definitely read more of these!
Sigurdardottir does a reasonable job in this regard and while her intent was not to write a book about bullying as such, I would have liked to see a little more in regards to the mindset of the parents of those who had been bullied. Minor detail in the scheme of the story.
Huldar is a fairly likeable character as is Freya although their evolving relationship is very slightly cheesy as are some of the other characters. I would like to see more of Gudlaugars character develop and not just in a lip service way.
The book ends with real clarity around the crime which helps to tie up loose ends. The last page had a clincher which was quite chilling. A great ending actually!
I’ll definitely read more of these!
August 29, 2019
I've read all in this series so far but I was particularly intrigued this time with the murders centering around Snapchat. I don't have Snapchat. I don't want it. I was put off ever downloading it by a colleague who showed me how they can check up on what their friends and re doing and where they are just by looking up their app avatars. That terrifies me. In this book, the murders are 'announced' via Snapchat when the killer sends photos of the crime to everyone on the victims contact list. Yeah I am never downloading this app....
The characters themselves build on the previous books and I'm starting to really enjoy them now. Not sure if it's something lost in translation or intentional but sometimes they seem a little cold. I still like them though.
The twist of the whodunnit at the end confused me a bit and even after reading it all the way through I still only think I've under stood part of it. Hard to explain without spoilers. It is intriguing and reminded me of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Slight confusion aside I did like the thinking behind it.
The bullying angle is horrific. Nothing really stands out as a memory of being bullied. I was more the kid on the middle that's neither bullied or popular; just plodding through school til it was over however I have a few family members who were bullied. Most recently a younger one who suffered the most horrific online abuse I've personally witnessed and some of the bullies online actions have been true for this young person I know. So easy these days to sit behind a keyboard and forget these are human beings that are being attacked. Bullying past and present is the subject behind the killings. As with a few things, the scarier because it's based on reality. So I applaud the relevance of the storyline.
Overall really good read and I look forward to the next.
The characters themselves build on the previous books and I'm starting to really enjoy them now. Not sure if it's something lost in translation or intentional but sometimes they seem a little cold. I still like them though.
The twist of the whodunnit at the end confused me a bit and even after reading it all the way through I still only think I've under stood part of it. Hard to explain without spoilers. It is intriguing and reminded me of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Slight confusion aside I did like the thinking behind it.
The bullying angle is horrific. Nothing really stands out as a memory of being bullied. I was more the kid on the middle that's neither bullied or popular; just plodding through school til it was over however I have a few family members who were bullied. Most recently a younger one who suffered the most horrific online abuse I've personally witnessed and some of the bullies online actions have been true for this young person I know. So easy these days to sit behind a keyboard and forget these are human beings that are being attacked. Bullying past and present is the subject behind the killings. As with a few things, the scarier because it's based on reality. So I applaud the relevance of the storyline.
Overall really good read and I look forward to the next.
May 16, 2020
I enjoy Ms Sigurdadottir's books, have read several of them. This one, though gets only a three-star rating, or C+ from me. It moved right along, the characters were interesting, but the MC of the series, Freyja, a psychologist, was relegated to second tier, IMO. We seldom saw much of her.
A teenage girl is murdered, then a boy. What do they have in common, and the usual: who, why, how? The police involved in the investigation have complex back stories in the way they are inter-related, and here's a spoiler, for those interested:
There's a major element involving bullying - inc. cyber-bullying - and the usual 'those in charge', for example teachers, society, the police and so on, aren't doing much about it. Gets a bit tiresome. (Not that bullying doesn't continue to be a significant societal problem.) Anyhow, it all gets sorted out, sort of...
Too many 'sorts,' but the explanation of what's going on and by whom is so confusing! OMG, I needed an interpreter (Icelandic?) to figure out who did what and why. Yes, it was the WHY which got to me, and so...
Three stars. (But I'll keeping reading her books!)
A teenage girl is murdered, then a boy. What do they have in common, and the usual: who, why, how? The police involved in the investigation have complex back stories in the way they are inter-related, and here's a spoiler, for those interested:
There's a major element involving bullying - inc. cyber-bullying - and the usual 'those in charge', for example teachers, society, the police and so on, aren't doing much about it. Gets a bit tiresome. (Not that bullying doesn't continue to be a significant societal problem.) Anyhow, it all gets sorted out, sort of...
Too many 'sorts,' but the explanation of what's going on and by whom is so confusing! OMG, I needed an interpreter (Icelandic?) to figure out who did what and why. Yes, it was the WHY which got to me, and so...
Three stars. (But I'll keeping reading her books!)
August 12, 2019
Yrsa Sigurdardóttir hat sich vor Jahren schon in mein Herz geschrieben, erst mit dem ersten Teil der Huldar und Freyja Reihe, „DNA“, habe ich sie wiederentdeckt. Mir gefiel die unaufgeregte Erzählweise und das ungleiche Duo, das eine gemeinsame Vergangenheit hat, die etwas Spannung in die Geschichte bringt. Den zweiten Teil, „SOG“, habe ich ausgelassen, auch wenn ich recht schnell gemerkt habe, dass das vielleicht nicht die beste Idee war. „R.I.P.“ ist der dritte Teil und um es kurz zu sagen: Ich war überrascht.
Huldar würde in „R.I.P.“ gerne mehr tun, als nur herumzusitzen und in die Luft zu schauen, aber er wird von seiner Chefin Erla konstant übergangen. Früher waren sie befreundet – dann schliefen sie miteinander, und seitdem herrscht Eiszeit. Das dürfte ein gängiges Muster des Bad Boys sein, denn bei Freyja ist es ähnlich. Immerhin hat er Guðlaugur, den er unter seine Fittiche genommen hat. Der ist nicht nur blutjung, sondern auch schüchtern. Doch Huldar erkennt sein Potential, denn er ist ziemlich clever.
Freyja hingegen haust immer noch in der schäbigen Wohnung ihres Bruders, der im Gefängnis sitzt, aber bald rauskommen soll. Bis dahin darf sie seinen Hund hüten und zeitweise auch die kleine Saga. Um sich weiterzubilden, studiert sie BWL, dafür arbeitet sie nur halbtags im Kinderhaus – spätestens da merkte ich, dass die Lektüre von „SOG“ vielleicht nicht schlecht gewesen wäre. Auch mit dem Namen Guðlaugur konnte ich nichts anfangen – na ja, nichts, was man nicht nachholen könnte.
„R.I.P.“ besticht durch einen flotten und abwechslungsreichen Schreibstil – anders als „DNA“, wo es weitgehend ruhig zuging, aber dennoch nicht uninteressant. Sigurdardóttir thematisiert das Thema Mobbing sehr tiefgehend. Diesen Part übernimmt Freyja, die dazu sehr investigativ recherchiert. Auch wenn Sigurdardóttir hiermit auch Systemkritik betreibt, kommt mir dieses Thema etwas hineingequetscht vor. Gut finde ich in dem Kontext, dass die Autorin auch digital denkt und Cybermobbing thematisiert. Das hatten wir ja bei Linwood Barclays „Kenne deine Feinde“ ebenfalls, und ich finde gut, dass das immer wieder Thema für Autoren ist, denn Hass im Internet ist etwas, das man nicht unterschätzen darf und soll. Zwischendurch begegnen uns immer wieder kurze Kapitel in kursiver Schrift. Diese werden von Kapitel zu Kapitel immer heftiger.
Snapchat spielt eine der Hauptrollen in „R.I.P.“. Ich kenne die App nur vage, weiß, dass man damit kurze Videos machen kann, die nach einem Tag wieder verschwinden – also ähnlich wie Insta-Storys. Warum Sigurdardóttir ausgerechnet dieses Medium gewählt hat, war mir schleierhaft, denn bei ihrer Zielgruppe ist die App quasi tot – für die Protagonisten im Buch aber vermutlich nicht. Die sind 15 oder minimal älter. Dennoch halte ich die Wahl für unglücklich – neben Instagram wäre auch Tik Tok eine – vermeintlich bessere – Option gewesen. Aber ihr könnt ja in die Kommentare schreiben, ob ihr Snapchat nutzt, würde mich tatsächlich interessieren.
Das Ende fand ich ziemlich enttäuschend, es gibt – zumindest für mich – lose Enden, die bestimmt im nächsten Teil seine Fortsetzung finden, aber dennoch ließen sie mich ein bisschen unbefriedigt zurück . Auch ein Showdown findet nicht statt, aber das finde ich nicht so schlimm, der Fall wird gut abgeschlossen – zumindest weitestgehend.
„R.I.P.“ von Yrsa Sigurdardóttir ist der dritte Teil der Huldar und Freyja Reihe, in dem die Autorin interessante Themen wie Mobbing und Cybermobbing tiefergehend behandelt und aufzeigt, wozu dies führen kann. Sie scheut dabei auch nicht vor Systemkritik zurück. So gut ich den Großteil des Buches fand – für mich stilistisch eine Steigerung zu „DNA“ –, so schwach fand ich das Ende. Dennoch, Teil Nummer vier ist bei mir vorprogrammiert.
Huldar würde in „R.I.P.“ gerne mehr tun, als nur herumzusitzen und in die Luft zu schauen, aber er wird von seiner Chefin Erla konstant übergangen. Früher waren sie befreundet – dann schliefen sie miteinander, und seitdem herrscht Eiszeit. Das dürfte ein gängiges Muster des Bad Boys sein, denn bei Freyja ist es ähnlich. Immerhin hat er Guðlaugur, den er unter seine Fittiche genommen hat. Der ist nicht nur blutjung, sondern auch schüchtern. Doch Huldar erkennt sein Potential, denn er ist ziemlich clever.
Freyja hingegen haust immer noch in der schäbigen Wohnung ihres Bruders, der im Gefängnis sitzt, aber bald rauskommen soll. Bis dahin darf sie seinen Hund hüten und zeitweise auch die kleine Saga. Um sich weiterzubilden, studiert sie BWL, dafür arbeitet sie nur halbtags im Kinderhaus – spätestens da merkte ich, dass die Lektüre von „SOG“ vielleicht nicht schlecht gewesen wäre. Auch mit dem Namen Guðlaugur konnte ich nichts anfangen – na ja, nichts, was man nicht nachholen könnte.
„R.I.P.“ besticht durch einen flotten und abwechslungsreichen Schreibstil – anders als „DNA“, wo es weitgehend ruhig zuging, aber dennoch nicht uninteressant. Sigurdardóttir thematisiert das Thema Mobbing sehr tiefgehend. Diesen Part übernimmt Freyja, die dazu sehr investigativ recherchiert. Auch wenn Sigurdardóttir hiermit auch Systemkritik betreibt, kommt mir dieses Thema etwas hineingequetscht vor. Gut finde ich in dem Kontext, dass die Autorin auch digital denkt und Cybermobbing thematisiert. Das hatten wir ja bei Linwood Barclays „Kenne deine Feinde“ ebenfalls, und ich finde gut, dass das immer wieder Thema für Autoren ist, denn Hass im Internet ist etwas, das man nicht unterschätzen darf und soll. Zwischendurch begegnen uns immer wieder kurze Kapitel in kursiver Schrift. Diese werden von Kapitel zu Kapitel immer heftiger.
Snapchat spielt eine der Hauptrollen in „R.I.P.“. Ich kenne die App nur vage, weiß, dass man damit kurze Videos machen kann, die nach einem Tag wieder verschwinden – also ähnlich wie Insta-Storys. Warum Sigurdardóttir ausgerechnet dieses Medium gewählt hat, war mir schleierhaft, denn bei ihrer Zielgruppe ist die App quasi tot – für die Protagonisten im Buch aber vermutlich nicht. Die sind 15 oder minimal älter. Dennoch halte ich die Wahl für unglücklich – neben Instagram wäre auch Tik Tok eine – vermeintlich bessere – Option gewesen. Aber ihr könnt ja in die Kommentare schreiben, ob ihr Snapchat nutzt, würde mich tatsächlich interessieren.
Das Ende fand ich ziemlich enttäuschend, es gibt – zumindest für mich – lose Enden, die bestimmt im nächsten Teil seine Fortsetzung finden, aber dennoch ließen sie mich ein bisschen unbefriedigt zurück . Auch ein Showdown findet nicht statt, aber das finde ich nicht so schlimm, der Fall wird gut abgeschlossen – zumindest weitestgehend.
„R.I.P.“ von Yrsa Sigurdardóttir ist der dritte Teil der Huldar und Freyja Reihe, in dem die Autorin interessante Themen wie Mobbing und Cybermobbing tiefergehend behandelt und aufzeigt, wozu dies führen kann. Sie scheut dabei auch nicht vor Systemkritik zurück. So gut ich den Großteil des Buches fand – für mich stilistisch eine Steigerung zu „DNA“ –, so schwach fand ich das Ende. Dennoch, Teil Nummer vier ist bei mir vorprogrammiert.
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