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Den kinesiske tvilling
Når alting viser sig at være noget andet, end man troede?
Et lig graves op og forsvinder. Et barn bliver kidnappet. En kvinde er pludselig væk. Eneste spor af den skyldige er de kinesiske tegn, der efterlades på gerningsstederne i en lille jysk provinsby, der gang på gang rystes af voldsomme hændelser.
I orkanens øje står Eva, som efter en stor personlig tragedie kæmper for at få en hverdag op at stå sammen med sin mand, der helt uforklarligt er blevet lam og dermed ude af stand til at klare sig selv. Eva indleder sin egen efterforskning i forsøget på at finde ud af, hvem der står bag forbrydelserne i den lille by. Og hvorfor. Det viser sig, at fortiden spiller en uhyggelig og fuldstændig overrumplende rolle?
Et lig graves op og forsvinder. Et barn bliver kidnappet. En kvinde er pludselig væk. Eneste spor af den skyldige er de kinesiske tegn, der efterlades på gerningsstederne i en lille jysk provinsby, der gang på gang rystes af voldsomme hændelser.
I orkanens øje står Eva, som efter en stor personlig tragedie kæmper for at få en hverdag op at stå sammen med sin mand, der helt uforklarligt er blevet lam og dermed ude af stand til at klare sig selv. Eva indleder sin egen efterforskning i forsøget på at finde ud af, hvem der står bag forbrydelserne i den lille by. Og hvorfor. Det viser sig, at fortiden spiller en uhyggelig og fuldstændig overrumplende rolle?
292 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2021
8 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Engell
32 books59 followersSarah Engell er født og opvokset i Tårnby, hvor barndommen gik med at læse og skrive. Allerede i børnehaven var hun optaget af at tegne og skrive små bøger, og i folkeskolen lavede og udgav hun sammen med en veninde et hjemmelavet magasin. Og så skrev hun selvfølgelig dagbog. ”Jeg skrev dagbog og fyldte tonsvis af notesbøger med historier om alt fra voldelige havmåger til dødsangst og svimlende ungdomsforelskelser. Jeg tror, det var min måde at forsøge at forstå verden og mig selv på. Det er det nok i virkeligheden stadig.” (Maria Roslev: Interview Forfatterweb, april 2015).
Drømmen om at blive forfatter har derfor på en måde altid ligget i Engell, men den blev først rigtig bevidstgjort, da hun som 15-årig kom på efterskole og af sin dansklærer blev spået et liv som dekadent forfatter, der med cigaretrør sad på københavnske værtshuse og skrev bøger.
Men det tager tid at nå sine drømme, og Sarah Engell har da også flere andre uddannelser bag sig. Hun er både uddannet pædagog, danser og drømmetyder, og alle uddannelserne og de efterfølgende jobs har haft betydning for hende som forfatter. Hun fortæller: ”Jeg har altid interesseret mig for menneskelige relationer, den menneskelige psyke og de situationer der opstår mennesker imellem. Det er på mange måder stadig det jeg arbejder med i dag, nu er det bare på fiktionsniveau.” (Maria Roslev: Interview Forfatterweb, april 2015).
I 2009 lykkedes det Engell at komme igennem til Forlaget Carlsen, der udgav hendes første ungdomsroman ”Hvis bare…”, og siden har hun udgivet yderligere tre ungdomsromaner, nemlig ”Forbandede mødom” i 2011, ”Forpulede kærlighed” i 2012 og ”21 måder at dø” i 2014. Sidstnævnte var nomineret til Berlingske og Danmarks Biblioteksforenings litteraturpris ”Læsernes Litteraturpris” i 2015. Hun har desuden udgivet tre bøger for voksne og arbejder også som tekstforfatter.
I 2014 blev hun optaget på Forfatterskolen for Børnelitteratur. Om uddannelsens betydning for hende som forfatter, siger hun: ”Jeg har erfaret, at som med alle andre områder, hvor man har ambitioner, kræver det at skrive et bagvedliggende håndværk, som løbende skal vedligeholdes, raffineres og nytænkes. For mig som forfatter kræver det, at jeg erkender min egen magelighed og forsøger at bryde mine skrivevaner. Hele tiden. Forfatterskolen for Børnelitteratur giver mig to års fordybelse i dét jeg holder allermest af og en god udviklingsmulighed, både fagligt og personligt.” (Maria Roslev: Interview Forfatterweb, april 2015).
I dag er Sarah Engell gift og mor til to drenge, og hun bor med sin familie på Amager.
Drømmen om at blive forfatter har derfor på en måde altid ligget i Engell, men den blev først rigtig bevidstgjort, da hun som 15-årig kom på efterskole og af sin dansklærer blev spået et liv som dekadent forfatter, der med cigaretrør sad på københavnske værtshuse og skrev bøger.
Men det tager tid at nå sine drømme, og Sarah Engell har da også flere andre uddannelser bag sig. Hun er både uddannet pædagog, danser og drømmetyder, og alle uddannelserne og de efterfølgende jobs har haft betydning for hende som forfatter. Hun fortæller: ”Jeg har altid interesseret mig for menneskelige relationer, den menneskelige psyke og de situationer der opstår mennesker imellem. Det er på mange måder stadig det jeg arbejder med i dag, nu er det bare på fiktionsniveau.” (Maria Roslev: Interview Forfatterweb, april 2015).
I 2009 lykkedes det Engell at komme igennem til Forlaget Carlsen, der udgav hendes første ungdomsroman ”Hvis bare…”, og siden har hun udgivet yderligere tre ungdomsromaner, nemlig ”Forbandede mødom” i 2011, ”Forpulede kærlighed” i 2012 og ”21 måder at dø” i 2014. Sidstnævnte var nomineret til Berlingske og Danmarks Biblioteksforenings litteraturpris ”Læsernes Litteraturpris” i 2015. Hun har desuden udgivet tre bøger for voksne og arbejder også som tekstforfatter.
I 2014 blev hun optaget på Forfatterskolen for Børnelitteratur. Om uddannelsens betydning for hende som forfatter, siger hun: ”Jeg har erfaret, at som med alle andre områder, hvor man har ambitioner, kræver det at skrive et bagvedliggende håndværk, som løbende skal vedligeholdes, raffineres og nytænkes. For mig som forfatter kræver det, at jeg erkender min egen magelighed og forsøger at bryde mine skrivevaner. Hele tiden. Forfatterskolen for Børnelitteratur giver mig to års fordybelse i dét jeg holder allermest af og en god udviklingsmulighed, både fagligt og personligt.” (Maria Roslev: Interview Forfatterweb, april 2015).
I dag er Sarah Engell gift og mor til to drenge, og hun bor med sin familie på Amager.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 4, 2021
In a nutshell: An interesting combination of literary fiction plus psychological thriller.
Story:
Where the book clicked for me:
• Though literary fiction, the writing goes by very fast. The book is picturesque in its descriptions and at the same time, in taking the plot ahead.
• The ambience of the story is quite atmospheric, giving you the creeps in all the right places.
• The main characters are well-sketched, especially for Eva’s husband’s family (Wish I could write out their names but I couldn’t figure out a single spelling except that of Eva! Danish author, Indian audiobook listener, and a mix of Danish and Chinese character names… this had to happen!) You will find yourself emotionally invested in their troubled lives, though you won’t identify with many of their decisions.
• I liked the way the author built up her plot to the climax. While extreme, it sprung logically from the plot and was built up wonderfully from the preceding events and the flashbacks.
• The interspersing of fairy tales in the narrative and peeking into their darker side was a nice touch.
•
Where the book could have worked better:
• When the title promises you a “Chinese twin”, you expect something about Chinese culture. But there’s hardly anything about actual Chinese rituals or traditions. Mentioning dragons and silk garments does not make for Chinese culture. The few Chinese characters that are a part of the narrative are either stereotypical or weird. Also, the few Chinese rituals mentioned also seemed inaccurate. For instance, a Chinese traditional wedding won’t involve the use of “Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do!” (I wonder who goofed up here: the author or the translator.) So if you were looking for a genuine China-intensive encounter, you won’t find it within these pages. If you read it only as a suspenseful psychological drama, you will have a much better experience.
• Some of the situations and character decisions are farfetched, But I've come to slowly realise that this is the hallmark of the modern thriller and I will have this complaint about almost every contemporary thriller.
The audiobook experience:
Ah, this is where I am disappointed. I was happy with the length of the audio as at just over 7 hours, it was a welcome change from the lengthy offerings I’ve heard recently. However, the narrator left me dissatisfied, and I don’t know whether to point fingers at her alone or the audiobook producer too. There are three character voices in the story: one female, one male and one child (in a few flashback scenes). All of these are voiced by a woman, who uses almost the same voice for each of these characters. Plus, while the book goes back and forth across the people and the timelines, there is no warning in the form of a chapter heading. It spoiled the audio experience for me. I have no doubt would have enjoyed this even more had I read it.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want to get a rare glimpse into celebrated Danish writer Sarah Engell’s work or if you want a twisty and creepy reading experience. However, I would suggest going for the ebook or physical version than the audio.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Eva is seemingly dealing with one tragedy after another: her long-awaited baby was stillborn, her husband is in bed, inexplicably paralysed, and now her father-in-law’s corpse has been robbed from his grave with nothing but mysterious Chinese characters left behind. Her troubles don’t stop and soon she finds herself reeling in the face of her personal emotions, the familial secrets and the spiralling circumstances around her.
The book comes to us in two perspectives: Eva and the mysterious perpetrator.
Where the book clicked for me:
• Though literary fiction, the writing goes by very fast. The book is picturesque in its descriptions and at the same time, in taking the plot ahead.
• The ambience of the story is quite atmospheric, giving you the creeps in all the right places.
• The main characters are well-sketched, especially for Eva’s husband’s family (Wish I could write out their names but I couldn’t figure out a single spelling except that of Eva! Danish author, Indian audiobook listener, and a mix of Danish and Chinese character names… this had to happen!) You will find yourself emotionally invested in their troubled lives, though you won’t identify with many of their decisions.
• I liked the way the author built up her plot to the climax. While extreme, it sprung logically from the plot and was built up wonderfully from the preceding events and the flashbacks.
• The interspersing of fairy tales in the narrative and peeking into their darker side was a nice touch.
•
Where the book could have worked better:
• When the title promises you a “Chinese twin”, you expect something about Chinese culture. But there’s hardly anything about actual Chinese rituals or traditions. Mentioning dragons and silk garments does not make for Chinese culture. The few Chinese characters that are a part of the narrative are either stereotypical or weird. Also, the few Chinese rituals mentioned also seemed inaccurate. For instance, a Chinese traditional wedding won’t involve the use of “Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do!” (I wonder who goofed up here: the author or the translator.) So if you were looking for a genuine China-intensive encounter, you won’t find it within these pages. If you read it only as a suspenseful psychological drama, you will have a much better experience.
• Some of the situations and character decisions are farfetched, But I've come to slowly realise that this is the hallmark of the modern thriller and I will have this complaint about almost every contemporary thriller.
The audiobook experience:
Ah, this is where I am disappointed. I was happy with the length of the audio as at just over 7 hours, it was a welcome change from the lengthy offerings I’ve heard recently. However, the narrator left me dissatisfied, and I don’t know whether to point fingers at her alone or the audiobook producer too. There are three character voices in the story: one female, one male and one child (in a few flashback scenes). All of these are voiced by a woman, who uses almost the same voice for each of these characters. Plus, while the book goes back and forth across the people and the timelines, there is no warning in the form of a chapter heading. It spoiled the audio experience for me. I have no doubt would have enjoyed this even more had I read it.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want to get a rare glimpse into celebrated Danish writer Sarah Engell’s work or if you want a twisty and creepy reading experience. However, I would suggest going for the ebook or physical version than the audio.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
December 22, 2020
Meget spændende thriller. Til den klamme side, men også voldsomt fascinerende. Det fungerede godt at have en fortæller, der er så plaget af sorg at hun ikke gennemskuer ting klart, for det giver et lag af forvirring der gør det hele endnu mere creepy.
Kunne ikke lægge den fra mig. Sarah Engell har skrevet nogle supergode ungdomsromaner, og thrillere mestrer hun ovenikøbet også.
Kunne ikke lægge den fra mig. Sarah Engell har skrevet nogle supergode ungdomsromaner, og thrillere mestrer hun ovenikøbet også.
July 8, 2021
Thank you to Saga Egmont for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Chinese Twin by Sarah Engell is a spine-tingling thriller with twists that you will not see coming. The story revolves around Eva, a housewife in Denmark who has to take care of her husband Steen, who has recently become paralyzed from the neck down. When a young girl is kidnapped and a long-buried body disappears, Eva has to figure out the clues and find the culprit. The only clues that the police can find are short phrases written in Chinese at the scenes of the crimes. Interspersed between Eva's chapters are flashbacks to a young Chinese boy's disturbing past. But who is he? And how is he related to the recent crimes?
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2, when two police officers come to visit Eva and Steen:
"‘Wait!’
My outburst stops them.
Torben looks at me questioningly.
‘It’s just that …’ I straighten my hair again. Try to breathe normally. ‘Don’t be alarmed. But he can’t move.’
‘What?’
‘It’s because … He’s been paralysed.’
I whisper the word, but as soon as it passes my lips, it swells up and fills the living room like an oversized piece of furniture.
...
‘But a doctor has seen him?’
I nod. ‘Doctor Møller says that it’s a completely normal reaction given what we’ve been through. He says it should go away in a few days.’
‘But did you not say he’s been lying here for twelve days?’
‘Steen has always been very sensitive. Dr Møller knows that well. We have to give him time.’
They exchange a glance and I start sweating under my arms.
‘Shouldn’t he be in hospital?’ asks Dagmar.
‘Doctor Møller thinks it’s best that he’s in a safe environment.’
The more I distort the truth, the more I sweat. In reality, Dr Møller had said exactly the same thing as Dagmar. Even took out his phone to ring the hospital. But I talked him out of it. Begged him to keep it between us.
They can’t take him from me. Steen is the only one I have left."
When I first started reading this book, I was so excited to find out what happens next and how the mystery unfolds. Unfortunately, as a reader of Chinese descent, I am not satisfied with the representation of Chinese people in this book. I am not the type of reader who reads books and asks for more Chinese representation. However, since this book is titled "The Chinese Twin" and Chinese traditions make a major part of the plot, I am justified in wishing there was just one nice, normal character of Chinese descent. Instead, the Chinese characters are paralyzed from the neck down, suffering from dementia, or missing and potentially evil.
I took off 1 star because there are no Chinese characters that we as readers can be sympathetic to, and the Chinese traditions in the plot are portrayed negatively. I took another star off, because the chapters would shift between the two first-person POV's without marking whose chapter it was, which was confusing. Overall, The Chinese Twin is an exciting and gripping thriller, but I cannot fully recommend it for the reasons stated above. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, you can check out this book when it comes out in August.
The Chinese Twin by Sarah Engell is a spine-tingling thriller with twists that you will not see coming. The story revolves around Eva, a housewife in Denmark who has to take care of her husband Steen, who has recently become paralyzed from the neck down. When a young girl is kidnapped and a long-buried body disappears, Eva has to figure out the clues and find the culprit. The only clues that the police can find are short phrases written in Chinese at the scenes of the crimes. Interspersed between Eva's chapters are flashbacks to a young Chinese boy's disturbing past. But who is he? And how is he related to the recent crimes?
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2, when two police officers come to visit Eva and Steen:
"‘Wait!’
My outburst stops them.
Torben looks at me questioningly.
‘It’s just that …’ I straighten my hair again. Try to breathe normally. ‘Don’t be alarmed. But he can’t move.’
‘What?’
‘It’s because … He’s been paralysed.’
I whisper the word, but as soon as it passes my lips, it swells up and fills the living room like an oversized piece of furniture.
...
‘But a doctor has seen him?’
I nod. ‘Doctor Møller says that it’s a completely normal reaction given what we’ve been through. He says it should go away in a few days.’
‘But did you not say he’s been lying here for twelve days?’
‘Steen has always been very sensitive. Dr Møller knows that well. We have to give him time.’
They exchange a glance and I start sweating under my arms.
‘Shouldn’t he be in hospital?’ asks Dagmar.
‘Doctor Møller thinks it’s best that he’s in a safe environment.’
The more I distort the truth, the more I sweat. In reality, Dr Møller had said exactly the same thing as Dagmar. Even took out his phone to ring the hospital. But I talked him out of it. Begged him to keep it between us.
They can’t take him from me. Steen is the only one I have left."
When I first started reading this book, I was so excited to find out what happens next and how the mystery unfolds. Unfortunately, as a reader of Chinese descent, I am not satisfied with the representation of Chinese people in this book. I am not the type of reader who reads books and asks for more Chinese representation. However, since this book is titled "The Chinese Twin" and Chinese traditions make a major part of the plot, I am justified in wishing there was just one nice, normal character of Chinese descent. Instead, the Chinese characters are paralyzed from the neck down, suffering from dementia, or missing and potentially evil.
I took off 1 star because there are no Chinese characters that we as readers can be sympathetic to, and the Chinese traditions in the plot are portrayed negatively. I took another star off, because the chapters would shift between the two first-person POV's without marking whose chapter it was, which was confusing. Overall, The Chinese Twin is an exciting and gripping thriller, but I cannot fully recommend it for the reasons stated above. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, you can check out this book when it comes out in August.
March 1, 2023
I thought that Sarah Engell did an outstanding job at making you believe what was happening was not real. I thought that this story was more of a horror story than a crime story. I was convinced when the child was taken from the school it was darker than just a crime story. Things were not always happening with police the way they should have. It did work out as they planed with her family in the end. Just not the way you'd expect.
June 28, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Egmont for the review copy. Although I received this book as a review copy, are all of my words honest, and I do only give my true opinions.
"The Chinese Twin" is a wild story by Sarah Engell. Eva has just lost her daughter, her husband has become paralyzed, and her world is collapsing. Just as all this is happening, Eva's father-in-law is dug up from his grave and the body has disappeared. Also, a girl disappears and later also Eva's mother-in-law. It is full of mystery and scary episodes around Eva.
This is a psychological book that surprised me a lot. I was not at all aware that Sarah Engell could write such a catchy, scary, and not least such a sensational novel. Filled with excitement and nail-biting moments, this book is truly a great recommendation from here. I know Sarah Engell from her youth novels and they have always been an experience to read, but this was something completely different. This suspense novel is full of suspense and is something completely different from the youth novels. But it is still clear to notice Sarah Engell on the pages as the writing style matches the one we know. However, the plot is something completely different and exciting.
From the start, the whole story seemed confusing, but it was soon to turn out that there was a good meaning to the madness. Suddenly, pieces began to fall into place and the story began to make sense and to stick together. The characters are caricatured and unique and are easy to distinguish from each other. It is clear to notice that they develop through the narrative, and it is a development we as readers are allowed to follow on an equal footing with the characters themselves. Especially to follow Eva, who is starting to learn more about her husband's family and past, is incredibly exciting to follow. And at the same time extremely scary and mysterious.
"The Chinese Twin" is a wild story by Sarah Engell. Eva has just lost her daughter, her husband has become paralyzed, and her world is collapsing. Just as all this is happening, Eva's father-in-law is dug up from his grave and the body has disappeared. Also, a girl disappears and later also Eva's mother-in-law. It is full of mystery and scary episodes around Eva.
This is a psychological book that surprised me a lot. I was not at all aware that Sarah Engell could write such a catchy, scary, and not least such a sensational novel. Filled with excitement and nail-biting moments, this book is truly a great recommendation from here. I know Sarah Engell from her youth novels and they have always been an experience to read, but this was something completely different. This suspense novel is full of suspense and is something completely different from the youth novels. But it is still clear to notice Sarah Engell on the pages as the writing style matches the one we know. However, the plot is something completely different and exciting.
From the start, the whole story seemed confusing, but it was soon to turn out that there was a good meaning to the madness. Suddenly, pieces began to fall into place and the story began to make sense and to stick together. The characters are caricatured and unique and are easy to distinguish from each other. It is clear to notice that they develop through the narrative, and it is a development we as readers are allowed to follow on an equal footing with the characters themselves. Especially to follow Eva, who is starting to learn more about her husband's family and past, is incredibly exciting to follow. And at the same time extremely scary and mysterious.
July 18, 2021
**audiobook version**
Narrator 5 stars
Story 4 stars
Wow this was fantastic and had me hooked from the very beginning. I was so engrossed in this story that I couldn't stop listening and had to finish it in one sitting.
Narrator 5 stars
Story 4 stars
Wow this was fantastic and had me hooked from the very beginning. I was so engrossed in this story that I couldn't stop listening and had to finish it in one sitting.
September 1, 2022
Title: The Chinese Twin
Author(s): Sarah Engell
Read by: Olivia Vinall
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
ISBN: 9788726655209
Edition: audiobook
Publication date: 05/08/2021
Content:
"A buried corpse disappears. A child is kidnapped. A woman suddenly vanishes. The only clue - mysterious Chinese symbols; left behind at each of the crime scenes in a provincial town in Northern Denmark.
In the eye of the storm is Eva. After suffering a deeply sorrowful tragedy - where her long-awaited daughter is stillborn - Eva is fighting to get her life back on track together with her husband who recently, and inexplicably, became paralyzed and is now unable to take care of himself. In an attempt to escape her grief, Eva embarks on her own investigation to find out who is behind these violent crimes. And why. It turns out, the past will play a chilling and completely unexpected role...
'The Chinese Twin' is Sarah Engell's captivating, best-selling thriller bringing together past secrets, lies and heinous crimes in a shocking culmination."
Opinion:
First of all, I wanted to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy!
The first thing I noticed about the audiobook was the cover. I really liked the colors and the overall design.
What can I say about the content? Well, the blurb of the book really caught my attention. I'm a big thriller lover, so I was curious and, to be honest? I wasn't disappointed by the audiobook at all. It was definitely exciting from the beginning till the end. Especially, the atmosphere was very thrilling. I actually don't know how to describe it properly, but I got goose bumps all over my body because of it. What I also liked was the unexpected ending, which got me shocked.
Also, the protagonists seemed character vise pretty developed. They all had their good and bad sides and, therefore, were very authentic.
Moreover, I totally loved the readers voice. I totally enjoyed listening to here throughout the audiobook.
Conclusion:
All in all, this book is an absolute great thriller, which I would totally recommend to all fans of this genre!
Author(s): Sarah Engell
Read by: Olivia Vinall
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
ISBN: 9788726655209
Edition: audiobook
Publication date: 05/08/2021
Content:
"A buried corpse disappears. A child is kidnapped. A woman suddenly vanishes. The only clue - mysterious Chinese symbols; left behind at each of the crime scenes in a provincial town in Northern Denmark.
In the eye of the storm is Eva. After suffering a deeply sorrowful tragedy - where her long-awaited daughter is stillborn - Eva is fighting to get her life back on track together with her husband who recently, and inexplicably, became paralyzed and is now unable to take care of himself. In an attempt to escape her grief, Eva embarks on her own investigation to find out who is behind these violent crimes. And why. It turns out, the past will play a chilling and completely unexpected role...
'The Chinese Twin' is Sarah Engell's captivating, best-selling thriller bringing together past secrets, lies and heinous crimes in a shocking culmination."
Opinion:
First of all, I wanted to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy!
The first thing I noticed about the audiobook was the cover. I really liked the colors and the overall design.
What can I say about the content? Well, the blurb of the book really caught my attention. I'm a big thriller lover, so I was curious and, to be honest? I wasn't disappointed by the audiobook at all. It was definitely exciting from the beginning till the end. Especially, the atmosphere was very thrilling. I actually don't know how to describe it properly, but I got goose bumps all over my body because of it. What I also liked was the unexpected ending, which got me shocked.
Also, the protagonists seemed character vise pretty developed. They all had their good and bad sides and, therefore, were very authentic.
Moreover, I totally loved the readers voice. I totally enjoyed listening to here throughout the audiobook.
Conclusion:
All in all, this book is an absolute great thriller, which I would totally recommend to all fans of this genre!
February 19, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Egmont for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. It gripped me and I listened to it within a day, but it definitely had some issues.
This book is about Eva, a woman who recently miscarried and who's husband mysteriously becomes paralyzed. As living people and corpses go missing in town, Eva finds herself in the middle of it all. To help avoid her grief, she begins to play citizen detective and begins piecing together the pieces of the puzzle, finding that some things aren't always what they seem.
Things I liked:
I enjoyed the story. I liked the protagonist, Eva. I loved the mystery that played out throughout. I liked hearing about old Chinese traditions.
Things I didn't like:
The Chinese characters were written a little stereotypically, which made them bland characters. The POV switched back and forth from two different first person perspectives and it got confusing. I saw the twist coming, so I wasn't surprised by it.
All in all this was a middle of the road, enjoyable story. Not the worst; not the best. The first half of the book was a little slow, but it picked up from there. Three stars.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. It gripped me and I listened to it within a day, but it definitely had some issues.
This book is about Eva, a woman who recently miscarried and who's husband mysteriously becomes paralyzed. As living people and corpses go missing in town, Eva finds herself in the middle of it all. To help avoid her grief, she begins to play citizen detective and begins piecing together the pieces of the puzzle, finding that some things aren't always what they seem.
Things I liked:
I enjoyed the story. I liked the protagonist, Eva. I loved the mystery that played out throughout. I liked hearing about old Chinese traditions.
Things I didn't like:
The Chinese characters were written a little stereotypically, which made them bland characters. The POV switched back and forth from two different first person perspectives and it got confusing. I saw the twist coming, so I wasn't surprised by it.
All in all this was a middle of the road, enjoyable story. Not the worst; not the best. The first half of the book was a little slow, but it picked up from there. Three stars.
June 13, 2023
Ideen var god.
Konceptet var god.
Men hvad var behov for den sulten trænge til inddrage det asiatiske og kinesisk kultur på det niveau, at det blev en afhængighed, og hvordan brug af tillægsord styrke brugen af kulturelle elementer, som på mange var i relevant, en ske er en ske, hvorfor sige den var lavet bamboo? var det vigtig at vise hvordan en ældre kvinder bor med snakke så meget kinesisk objekter?
Efter min mening kører bogen på den stereotypis opstilling af asiatiske og særlige kinesiske mennesker og deres kultur. Og at det er den hvides kvinde fortælling og hvad hun ser.
Ideen var stadig god, men slut produkter var ikke lige mig.
Konceptet var god.
Men hvad var behov for den sulten trænge til inddrage det asiatiske og kinesisk kultur på det niveau, at det blev en afhængighed, og hvordan brug af tillægsord styrke brugen af kulturelle elementer, som på mange var i relevant, en ske er en ske, hvorfor sige den var lavet bamboo? var det vigtig at vise hvordan en ældre kvinder bor med snakke så meget kinesisk objekter?
Efter min mening kører bogen på den stereotypis opstilling af asiatiske og særlige kinesiske mennesker og deres kultur. Og at det er den hvides kvinde fortælling og hvad hun ser.
Ideen var stadig god, men slut produkter var ikke lige mig.
April 16, 2022
Hallo ihr Lieben,
das ist definitiv nichts für schwache Nerven. Es beginnt zwar etwas schleppend und auch für meinen Geschmack, etwas sehr verwirrend aber die Geschichte, entwickelt sich dahingehend auch weiter und alles macht Sinn. Es geht viel um den Verlust eines Kindes und was es mit einem Menschen kann. Alles in allem hat mich dieses Buch aber doch sehr gut unterhalten 👍
das ist definitiv nichts für schwache Nerven. Es beginnt zwar etwas schleppend und auch für meinen Geschmack, etwas sehr verwirrend aber die Geschichte, entwickelt sich dahingehend auch weiter und alles macht Sinn. Es geht viel um den Verlust eines Kindes und was es mit einem Menschen kann. Alles in allem hat mich dieses Buch aber doch sehr gut unterhalten 👍
August 17, 2021
Audio version of this book 📚 I really struggled with this book, I just didn’t ‘get’ it ! Why did the main character not seek medical attention when her husband suddenly became paralysed?? It could have been a good storyline if it wasn’t so far fetched and unbelievable
The narrator was good however she did tend to lower her voice at the end of sentences which sometimes made it quite difficult to hear
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Egmont for the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review
The narrator was good however she did tend to lower her voice at the end of sentences which sometimes made it quite difficult to hear
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Egmont for the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review
Read
December 20, 2020Spændende psykologisk thriller. Til tider klam, men på den gode måde
June 22, 2022
Zu Beginn war ich diesem Thriller gegenüber noch eher kritisch eingestellt. Vor allem, weil ich Angst hatte, dass mir auch dieses Buch nicht gefällt. "Tod im Trödelladen" hat mir ja gar nicht zugesagt und ich fühle mich immer sehr unwohl, wenn ich mehrere negative Rezensionen nacheinander einreichen muss. Und der Beginn dieses Buchs war auch wieder nicht stark. Eher in Richtung mittelmäßig. Dann hat sich dieser Thriller aber ordentlich ins Zeug gelegt und die letzten 150 Seiten habe ich in einem Rutsch durchgelesen. Insgesamt brauchte ich für diesen Thriller nur drei Tage, was während der Prüfungsphase dann doch nicht schlecht ist.
Dieses Buch beginnt mit einer Hochzeit zwischen einem kleinen Jungen und einem kleinen Mädchen. Er ist so um die acht Jahre alt, sie ist sechs. Und an dieser Hochzeit ist irgendwas total schräg. Also abgesehen davon, dass es eine Hochzeit zwischen zwei Kindern ist natürlich. Da stimmt noch etwas nicht. Was genau das ist, erfahren wir erst am Ende der Hochzeitsfeierlichkeiten und es ist absolut verstörend.
Doch dann kommt auch schon der Cut und wir befinden uns plötzlich an einem ganz anderen Ort und einer ganz anderen Zeit bei Eva. Eva hatte gerade eine Fehlgeburt und ist deswegen am Boden zerstört. Was alles noch schlimmer macht? Ihr Mann Steen, den dieser Verlust ebenfalls schwer belastet, hat sich nach der Fehlgeburt ins Bett gelegt und ist gelähmt wieder aufgewacht. Und dann steht da plötzlich auch noch die Polizei vor der Tür, weil die Leiche von Steens Vater gestorben wurde. Wie ihr also seht: Totales Desaster. Grauenhafte Ausgangssituation. Einfach nur schrecklich. Und von hier spinnt sich dann die Geschichte weiter und die Situation wird immer noch schlimmer für Eva und ihr Umfeld, bis Eva sich gezwungen sieht, selbst auf Spurensuche zu gehen...
Mir gefiel an diesem Thriller genau das, was in einigen Rezensionen von anderen Leser:innen kritisiert wurde: Die psychologischen Aspekte und die Tatsache, dass einige Abschnitte des Buches fast schon ins Horror-Genre passen könnten. Ich wusste lange nicht, wem ich trauen soll und ob ich irgendjemanden als Verdächtigen ausschließen kann und habe auch der Protagonistin Eva nicht wirklich getraut. Ihre Sicht der Dinge wirkte auf mich nicht immer zuverlässig, unter anderem auch weil sie sich manchmal selbst nicht sicher zu sein scheint, was sie tut und warum sie es tut. Das hat mich fasziniert und hat die Ermittlerin in mir geweckt. Wenn mir die Protagonistin nicht sagt, was passiert, muss ich es eben selbst herausfinden!
Mein Fazit: Der Beginn ist noch eher mittelmäßig, aber im Verlauf des Thrillers wurde das Buch immer stärker und spannender!
Dieses Buch beginnt mit einer Hochzeit zwischen einem kleinen Jungen und einem kleinen Mädchen. Er ist so um die acht Jahre alt, sie ist sechs. Und an dieser Hochzeit ist irgendwas total schräg. Also abgesehen davon, dass es eine Hochzeit zwischen zwei Kindern ist natürlich. Da stimmt noch etwas nicht. Was genau das ist, erfahren wir erst am Ende der Hochzeitsfeierlichkeiten und es ist absolut verstörend.
Doch dann kommt auch schon der Cut und wir befinden uns plötzlich an einem ganz anderen Ort und einer ganz anderen Zeit bei Eva. Eva hatte gerade eine Fehlgeburt und ist deswegen am Boden zerstört. Was alles noch schlimmer macht? Ihr Mann Steen, den dieser Verlust ebenfalls schwer belastet, hat sich nach der Fehlgeburt ins Bett gelegt und ist gelähmt wieder aufgewacht. Und dann steht da plötzlich auch noch die Polizei vor der Tür, weil die Leiche von Steens Vater gestorben wurde. Wie ihr also seht: Totales Desaster. Grauenhafte Ausgangssituation. Einfach nur schrecklich. Und von hier spinnt sich dann die Geschichte weiter und die Situation wird immer noch schlimmer für Eva und ihr Umfeld, bis Eva sich gezwungen sieht, selbst auf Spurensuche zu gehen...
Mir gefiel an diesem Thriller genau das, was in einigen Rezensionen von anderen Leser:innen kritisiert wurde: Die psychologischen Aspekte und die Tatsache, dass einige Abschnitte des Buches fast schon ins Horror-Genre passen könnten. Ich wusste lange nicht, wem ich trauen soll und ob ich irgendjemanden als Verdächtigen ausschließen kann und habe auch der Protagonistin Eva nicht wirklich getraut. Ihre Sicht der Dinge wirkte auf mich nicht immer zuverlässig, unter anderem auch weil sie sich manchmal selbst nicht sicher zu sein scheint, was sie tut und warum sie es tut. Das hat mich fasziniert und hat die Ermittlerin in mir geweckt. Wenn mir die Protagonistin nicht sagt, was passiert, muss ich es eben selbst herausfinden!
Mein Fazit: Der Beginn ist noch eher mittelmäßig, aber im Verlauf des Thrillers wurde das Buch immer stärker und spannender!
July 27, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Saga Egmont for an advance copy of The Chinese Twin, a stand-alone psychological thriller set XXXXX
Eva is on bereavement leave after her daughter is still born. Her husband, Steen, has become inexplicably paralysed. Then a series of strange events, her father in law’s remains stolen from his grave, a young girl kidnapped from the nursery where she works and more, leave her thinking it has something to do with her missing brother in law, a man she didn’t know existed before these happenings.
I must admit that I didn’t really enjoy The Chinese Twin as it’s not really my kind of novel. I like something I can grab hold of and speculate on. This novel feels like a study in madness, so I had no idea throughout the novel if any of it was true and the rather dreamlike tone reinforces this. Add to this, there are two first person narrators and no indication, only context, of which one is speaking. One narrator is Eva, the other is more of a mystery.
To be fair, the novel is very atmospheric with a sense of creepiness, dread and unease. It is well done with the reader having no idea where the narrators fit in, what they are going to do or even if what they are saying is true. This tension ramps up as the novel progresses. The conclusion to the novel puts much of the preceding events into context, but still leaves a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
The Chinese Twin is not for me, but readers who prefer a psychological approach will lap it up.
Eva is on bereavement leave after her daughter is still born. Her husband, Steen, has become inexplicably paralysed. Then a series of strange events, her father in law’s remains stolen from his grave, a young girl kidnapped from the nursery where she works and more, leave her thinking it has something to do with her missing brother in law, a man she didn’t know existed before these happenings.
I must admit that I didn’t really enjoy The Chinese Twin as it’s not really my kind of novel. I like something I can grab hold of and speculate on. This novel feels like a study in madness, so I had no idea throughout the novel if any of it was true and the rather dreamlike tone reinforces this. Add to this, there are two first person narrators and no indication, only context, of which one is speaking. One narrator is Eva, the other is more of a mystery.
To be fair, the novel is very atmospheric with a sense of creepiness, dread and unease. It is well done with the reader having no idea where the narrators fit in, what they are going to do or even if what they are saying is true. This tension ramps up as the novel progresses. The conclusion to the novel puts much of the preceding events into context, but still leaves a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
The Chinese Twin is not for me, but readers who prefer a psychological approach will lap it up.
July 4, 2021
Thank you so much, Netgalley and Saga Egmont for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a Spell-binding, creepy, haunting read. I have never read anything by this author before, but this book had me hooked from the first page. As soon as i started it gripped me, before i had reached chapter 5 my jaw had dropped. Even though it starts off a little confusing, it is fast paced and soon makes you really think and try to decipher where this story is going. There is a lot of tragic things happening to the main character, hence the trigger warnings, but it just adds to making this book stand out and definitely makes it memorable. With its quick short chapters, which almost always ends with the reader questioning and wanting more and the multiple pov’s, i highly recommend this Mystery, Suspense Thriller, especially if you enjoy endings you dont see coming, i thought i had it figured out but the ending was way more perfect then i could have thought.
January 21, 2021
En gribende fortælling om sorg - den fuldstændig altoverskyggende sorg, som opsluger alt omkring sig. Samtidig er det en seriøst uhyggelig gyser!
April 7, 2022
Schwerer Verlust & Konsequenz?
"Der Chinesische Zwilling" wurde am 04.04.2022 in verschiedenen Formaten auf dem deutschen Markt veröffentlicht.
Die Autorin: Sarah Engell eine dänische Schriftstellerin wurde 1979 geboren. Seit 2005 schreibt sie Bücher. Ihr bevorzugtes Leserklientel sind Jugendliche und Erwachsene. Im Jahre 2014 hatte sie ihren großen Durchbruch mit dem Bestseller: " 21 Arten zu sterben".
Danach durfte sie sich über weitere Anerkennung freuen.
2017 erhielt sie den Carls-Preis, den Blixen-Preis (2018) und den Claus Deleuran Preis (2018).
Deutsche Übersetzung: Roland Hoffmann
Ich durfte aufgrund einer LovelyBook-Leserunde das elektr. Buchexemplar lesen und bewerten. Vielen Dank an den Verlag.
Das Cover ist ein wahrer "Eyecatcher". Das Farbspektrum verläuft über beige-gold-grau und Titel als auch Autorenname & Verlag, sind in goldenen Buchstaben kenntlich gemacht.
Inmitten dieser Optik ist ein blauer Schmetterling plaziert.
Von einer Nadel durchbohrt an einer Art Leinwand festgepinnt.
Das lässt schon darauf schließen, dass es sich nicht um einen "Friede-Freude-Eierkuchen-Roman" handelt.
ACHTUNG: TRIGGER: Die Geschichte ist sicher für Menschen, die einen ähnlichen Verlust in der Schwangerschaft hinter sich gebracht haben, ein möglicher, starker Trigger.
Zum Inhalt: Jütland/Dänemark
Ein Ehepaar verliert ihr Kind, während der Schwangerschaft.
Beide Elternteile gehen mit dem Verlust in ungewohnter Art und Weise um. Eva kann sich nicht mehr auf die Schulmedizin einlassen. Ihr asiatisch- stämmige Ehemann Steen leidet nach dem Unglück, unter unerklärlichen Lähmungserscheinungen. Zeitgleich wird ihr Leben in einer dänischen Kleinstadt von Ereignissen & unerklärlichen Taten erschüttert.
Obwohl Eva schwer an ihrem persönlichem Schicksal trägt & zudem ihren Mann täglich aufopernd pflegt, will sie Licht in die unheimlichen Geschehen bringen. Sie gefährdet nicht nur sich und ihr Umfeld...
Mein persönlicher Leseeindruck:
Erzählstil, Übersetzung, Spannung, Horror,
Auf dem Klappentext wurde ein "Skandi-Crime-Thriller angekündigt. Mit dieser Info starte ich mein Leseerlebnis. Der gewählte Schreibstil nutzt großteils klare, kanppe Satzstrukturen. Das erleichtert den Lesefluss.
Die deutsche Übersetzung ist sehr gut gelungen.
Zum Großteil gliedert sich die Geschichte in zwei Erzählstränge. Diese werden in der "Ich-Form" erzählt.
Da leider keine weitere Einteilungen, zu den Erzählfäden getroffen wurde, war ich anfangs verwirrt und konnte die Ereignisse weder den Personen noch den Örtlichkeiten, klar zuordnen.
Diese Unklarheiten zwangen mich die Klappentext-Informationen mehrmals nachzuschlagen.
Erst im weiteren Verlauf, wurden Personen und Zugehörigkeiten, dann klarer.
Die Schriftstellerin hat die Emotionen, Gedankengänge aber auch den emotionalen Zwang aufgrund der ethnischen Zugehörigkeit, zumeist detailliert & sehr emotional berührend vorgetragen.
So wird das Leseerlebnis in manchen Abschnitten zu einer emotionalen Achterbahnfahrt.
Zusammenfassung:
Ein als "Skandi-Thriller,angepriesener Roman, der einen geringen örtlichen Bezug aufweist. Ein Thriller, der besser als Horror-Erzählung klassifiziert wäre.
Eine ungewöhnliche Geschichte, die durchaus interessant und spannend, manches Mal beklemmend, vorgetragen wird. Das Finale bindet alle Erzählstränge folgerichtig zusammen und überrascht.
Fazit: Ein Spannungsroman, gespickt mit tiefgreifenden, menschlichen Schicksalen und außerordentlichen & spannenden Entwicklungen.
Ich vergebe eine gute 3* Sterne Bewertung.
ISBN: 9783869749501
Format: elektr. Formate, Taschenbuch & Hörbuch
Verlag: Saga Egmont Bücher
Seitenzahl: 190
"Der Chinesische Zwilling" wurde am 04.04.2022 in verschiedenen Formaten auf dem deutschen Markt veröffentlicht.
Die Autorin: Sarah Engell eine dänische Schriftstellerin wurde 1979 geboren. Seit 2005 schreibt sie Bücher. Ihr bevorzugtes Leserklientel sind Jugendliche und Erwachsene. Im Jahre 2014 hatte sie ihren großen Durchbruch mit dem Bestseller: " 21 Arten zu sterben".
Danach durfte sie sich über weitere Anerkennung freuen.
2017 erhielt sie den Carls-Preis, den Blixen-Preis (2018) und den Claus Deleuran Preis (2018).
Deutsche Übersetzung: Roland Hoffmann
Ich durfte aufgrund einer LovelyBook-Leserunde das elektr. Buchexemplar lesen und bewerten. Vielen Dank an den Verlag.
Das Cover ist ein wahrer "Eyecatcher". Das Farbspektrum verläuft über beige-gold-grau und Titel als auch Autorenname & Verlag, sind in goldenen Buchstaben kenntlich gemacht.
Inmitten dieser Optik ist ein blauer Schmetterling plaziert.
Von einer Nadel durchbohrt an einer Art Leinwand festgepinnt.
Das lässt schon darauf schließen, dass es sich nicht um einen "Friede-Freude-Eierkuchen-Roman" handelt.
ACHTUNG: TRIGGER: Die Geschichte ist sicher für Menschen, die einen ähnlichen Verlust in der Schwangerschaft hinter sich gebracht haben, ein möglicher, starker Trigger.
Zum Inhalt: Jütland/Dänemark
Ein Ehepaar verliert ihr Kind, während der Schwangerschaft.
Beide Elternteile gehen mit dem Verlust in ungewohnter Art und Weise um. Eva kann sich nicht mehr auf die Schulmedizin einlassen. Ihr asiatisch- stämmige Ehemann Steen leidet nach dem Unglück, unter unerklärlichen Lähmungserscheinungen. Zeitgleich wird ihr Leben in einer dänischen Kleinstadt von Ereignissen & unerklärlichen Taten erschüttert.
Obwohl Eva schwer an ihrem persönlichem Schicksal trägt & zudem ihren Mann täglich aufopernd pflegt, will sie Licht in die unheimlichen Geschehen bringen. Sie gefährdet nicht nur sich und ihr Umfeld...
Mein persönlicher Leseeindruck:
Erzählstil, Übersetzung, Spannung, Horror,
Auf dem Klappentext wurde ein "Skandi-Crime-Thriller angekündigt. Mit dieser Info starte ich mein Leseerlebnis. Der gewählte Schreibstil nutzt großteils klare, kanppe Satzstrukturen. Das erleichtert den Lesefluss.
Die deutsche Übersetzung ist sehr gut gelungen.
Zum Großteil gliedert sich die Geschichte in zwei Erzählstränge. Diese werden in der "Ich-Form" erzählt.
Da leider keine weitere Einteilungen, zu den Erzählfäden getroffen wurde, war ich anfangs verwirrt und konnte die Ereignisse weder den Personen noch den Örtlichkeiten, klar zuordnen.
Diese Unklarheiten zwangen mich die Klappentext-Informationen mehrmals nachzuschlagen.
Erst im weiteren Verlauf, wurden Personen und Zugehörigkeiten, dann klarer.
Die Schriftstellerin hat die Emotionen, Gedankengänge aber auch den emotionalen Zwang aufgrund der ethnischen Zugehörigkeit, zumeist detailliert & sehr emotional berührend vorgetragen.
So wird das Leseerlebnis in manchen Abschnitten zu einer emotionalen Achterbahnfahrt.
Zusammenfassung:
Ein als "Skandi-Thriller,angepriesener Roman, der einen geringen örtlichen Bezug aufweist. Ein Thriller, der besser als Horror-Erzählung klassifiziert wäre.
Eine ungewöhnliche Geschichte, die durchaus interessant und spannend, manches Mal beklemmend, vorgetragen wird. Das Finale bindet alle Erzählstränge folgerichtig zusammen und überrascht.
Fazit: Ein Spannungsroman, gespickt mit tiefgreifenden, menschlichen Schicksalen und außerordentlichen & spannenden Entwicklungen.
Ich vergebe eine gute 3* Sterne Bewertung.
ISBN: 9783869749501
Format: elektr. Formate, Taschenbuch & Hörbuch
Verlag: Saga Egmont Bücher
Seitenzahl: 190
Read
November 23, 2021Go read Leighton's 3 star review, which explains the problems of representation in this book much better than I can.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, I was entertained and I could never quite figure out what was going on. On the other hand, I am not a fan of unreliable narrator stories, and it was obvious from the first that this narrator was thoroughly unreliable. Also, it was maybe a little... culturally insensitive? I'm not sure how to put it. The use of one of the weirder old Chinese cultural practices as a major plot point was interesting, but the way it was written didn't feel quite right, like, "ooh, look at these crazy foreigners, aren't they backwards?" I don't know. Maybe I'm being oversensitive.
I had to binge it because I couldn't wait to find out what was actually happening. Everyone was a suspect. I lazily thought it must be the main character. There was a throwaway line about how she was estranged from her family after some unspecified incident or incidents. Between that, her unnerving, violent thoughts at the daycare and her intense, almost symbiotic relationship with her husband, I thought maybe she broke from reality and adopted the identity of her husband's twin.
But the husband with hysterical paralysis was a close second. I mean, that's the perfect alibi, right? It obvious wasn't the twin. The rotting food on his kitchen table nixed that possibility pretty much as soon as it was introduced.
So yeah. It was the husband. And it was creepy. When his daughter was stillborn, it brought back his traumatic childhood. Inspired by his ghost marriage to his dead little sister, he became fixated on the blurred lines between life and death. He disinterested his father, his stillborn child, kidnapping his mother and killing and taxidermying his twin and then staging them in a tableau in the basement. He abducted a little girl so he could restage the ghost wedding and then basically commit murder suicide by fire.
The protagonist shoots him and she, her mother-in-law and the little girl escape. So yeah, she survives, but she's hugely messed up.
It ends with the reader discovering that she's pregnant again, presumably with her dead, psychotic husband's child.
Yeah. I'm not sure about it. 4 stars because the premise was interesting and the story kept me engaged, but there were definitely parts I thought could have been better. Like the fact that there was no positive Chinese representation, and the playing fast and loose with Chinese culture. Or Japanese, by mistake. Kimonos are referenced a few times, and I thought, was it the author who screwed up, or the translator? Or one of the editors? It bugged me.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, I was entertained and I could never quite figure out what was going on. On the other hand, I am not a fan of unreliable narrator stories, and it was obvious from the first that this narrator was thoroughly unreliable. Also, it was maybe a little... culturally insensitive? I'm not sure how to put it. The use of one of the weirder old Chinese cultural practices as a major plot point was interesting, but the way it was written didn't feel quite right, like, "ooh, look at these crazy foreigners, aren't they backwards?" I don't know. Maybe I'm being oversensitive.
I had to binge it because I couldn't wait to find out what was actually happening. Everyone was a suspect. I lazily thought it must be the main character. There was a throwaway line about how she was estranged from her family after some unspecified incident or incidents. Between that, her unnerving, violent thoughts at the daycare and her intense, almost symbiotic relationship with her husband, I thought maybe she broke from reality and adopted the identity of her husband's twin.
But the husband with hysterical paralysis was a close second. I mean, that's the perfect alibi, right? It obvious wasn't the twin. The rotting food on his kitchen table nixed that possibility pretty much as soon as it was introduced.
So yeah. It was the husband. And it was creepy. When his daughter was stillborn, it brought back his traumatic childhood. Inspired by his ghost marriage to his dead little sister, he became fixated on the blurred lines between life and death. He disinterested his father, his stillborn child, kidnapping his mother and killing and taxidermying his twin and then staging them in a tableau in the basement. He abducted a little girl so he could restage the ghost wedding and then basically commit murder suicide by fire.
The protagonist shoots him and she, her mother-in-law and the little girl escape. So yeah, she survives, but she's hugely messed up.
It ends with the reader discovering that she's pregnant again, presumably with her dead, psychotic husband's child.
Yeah. I'm not sure about it. 4 stars because the premise was interesting and the story kept me engaged, but there were definitely parts I thought could have been better. Like the fact that there was no positive Chinese representation, and the playing fast and loose with Chinese culture. Or Japanese, by mistake. Kimonos are referenced a few times, and I thought, was it the author who screwed up, or the translator? Or one of the editors? It bugged me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
Buckle up for a rollercoaster of suspense and mystery as you dive into Sarah Engell's "The Chinese Twin." I listened to the audiobook version, and the experience unfolded like an enthralling auditory journey through the dark and chilling corners of a provincial town in Northern Denmark.
At the heart of the narrative is Eva, a resilient woman grappling with the aftermath of a profound personal tragedy. Engell masterfully weaves Eva's grief into the fabric of the story, infusing it with emotional depth. The disappearance of a buried corpse, a kidnapped child, and a vanishing woman set the stage for a mystery that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of crime fiction.
The strength of Engell's storytelling lies in her ability to create an atmosphere thick with tension and intrigue. The mysterious Chinese symbols left at each crime scene inject an enigmatic quality, driving the narrative forward with an air of suspense. The audiobook's pacing is well-crafted, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats as the plot unravels.
The characters in "The Chinese Twin" are a mix of shadows and complexities. Eva's determination to unravel the truth is palpable, and the supporting cast adds layers of intrigue to the storyline. The author delves into the past, intertwining secrets, lies, and heinous crimes, creating a narrative mosaic that demands attention.
As with any mystery thriller, the success lies in the resolution. Engell manages to tie up loose ends in a manner that is both shocking and unexpected. The revelations unfold like a series of well-placed jigsaw pieces, creating a satisfying and chilling culmination. The audiobook format accentuates the suspense, with the narrator skillfully navigating through the twists and turns of the narrative.
However, no journey is without its bumps. While the mystery is captivating, some elements of the plot felt a bit convoluted. The complexity of the narrative, especially when delving into past secrets, might require a listener's careful attention to fully grasp the connections.
This is a riveting mystery thriller that takes readers on a compelling ride through shadows, secrets, and unexpected revelations. Sarah Engell's storytelling prowess shines, creating an atmospheric tale that seizes the imagination. Whether you're a seasoned mystery enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this book offers a gripping experience, replete with surprises and spine-tingling moments.
At the heart of the narrative is Eva, a resilient woman grappling with the aftermath of a profound personal tragedy. Engell masterfully weaves Eva's grief into the fabric of the story, infusing it with emotional depth. The disappearance of a buried corpse, a kidnapped child, and a vanishing woman set the stage for a mystery that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of crime fiction.
The strength of Engell's storytelling lies in her ability to create an atmosphere thick with tension and intrigue. The mysterious Chinese symbols left at each crime scene inject an enigmatic quality, driving the narrative forward with an air of suspense. The audiobook's pacing is well-crafted, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats as the plot unravels.
The characters in "The Chinese Twin" are a mix of shadows and complexities. Eva's determination to unravel the truth is palpable, and the supporting cast adds layers of intrigue to the storyline. The author delves into the past, intertwining secrets, lies, and heinous crimes, creating a narrative mosaic that demands attention.
As with any mystery thriller, the success lies in the resolution. Engell manages to tie up loose ends in a manner that is both shocking and unexpected. The revelations unfold like a series of well-placed jigsaw pieces, creating a satisfying and chilling culmination. The audiobook format accentuates the suspense, with the narrator skillfully navigating through the twists and turns of the narrative.
However, no journey is without its bumps. While the mystery is captivating, some elements of the plot felt a bit convoluted. The complexity of the narrative, especially when delving into past secrets, might require a listener's careful attention to fully grasp the connections.
This is a riveting mystery thriller that takes readers on a compelling ride through shadows, secrets, and unexpected revelations. Sarah Engell's storytelling prowess shines, creating an atmospheric tale that seizes the imagination. Whether you're a seasoned mystery enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this book offers a gripping experience, replete with surprises and spine-tingling moments.
July 1, 2022
This is my first experience with this Danish author's writing - and I must say that I found this to be a riveting mystery, tinged with horror. Eva, the main narrator, is dealing with her own grief after the child that she and her husband had tried for years to conceive is born still. On top of that, her husband becomes oddly paralyzed in his grief but won't go to a hospital. When the police arrive to inform Eva that her father-in-law's corpse has been stolen from his grave, Eva begins to question what her husband told her about his family - and soon goes in search of her own answers.
It's vividly written and smoothly translated into English. I really couldn't stop listening to the audio version! The audio performance is quite solid and the plot's pacing makes it easy to just keep listening!
The Danish setting means that Eva's husband, who is Chinese, seems to be on the receiving end of unaddressed racism from Eva's own family - as well as from strangers who assume that all Asian people know one another in Denmark. I couldn't stop listening to this one and am curious to check out more from Engell in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont.
It's vividly written and smoothly translated into English. I really couldn't stop listening to the audio version! The audio performance is quite solid and the plot's pacing makes it easy to just keep listening!
The Danish setting means that Eva's husband, who is Chinese, seems to be on the receiving end of unaddressed racism from Eva's own family - as well as from strangers who assume that all Asian people know one another in Denmark. I couldn't stop listening to this one and am curious to check out more from Engell in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont.
February 1, 2022
*spoilers*
Det er en interessant historie med potentiale. Men jeg synes den vil alt for meget og at der er noget helt galt med tidsperspektiverne.
Bogen bliver desværre ødelagt for mig, af tidsperspektiverne.
Først og fremmest er der selve sørgetiden over at miste et barn, som reelt kun er 14 dage men bliver beskrevet som om det er meget længe siden (og nu må man også se at komme videre). Min erfaring med sorgprocesser rækker altså laaaangt ud over 14 dage.
Derudover er der perspektivet med Steen som ligger lammet i 12 dage, og som så i løbet af ca. 2-4 dage skulle have nået både:
- at slå sin bror ihjel og udstoppe ham
- grave sin fars lig op og udstoppe det
- grave sin datters lig op
- kidnappe et barn
- kidnappe sin mor fra et psykiatrisk plejehjem
- lave en pokkers masse origami at fylde kælderen med
Det blev alt sammen en tand for utroværdigt til at være en god læseoplevelse.
Det er en interessant historie med potentiale. Men jeg synes den vil alt for meget og at der er noget helt galt med tidsperspektiverne.
Bogen bliver desværre ødelagt for mig, af tidsperspektiverne.
Først og fremmest er der selve sørgetiden over at miste et barn, som reelt kun er 14 dage men bliver beskrevet som om det er meget længe siden (og nu må man også se at komme videre). Min erfaring med sorgprocesser rækker altså laaaangt ud over 14 dage.
Derudover er der perspektivet med Steen som ligger lammet i 12 dage, og som så i løbet af ca. 2-4 dage skulle have nået både:
- at slå sin bror ihjel og udstoppe ham
- grave sin fars lig op og udstoppe det
- grave sin datters lig op
- kidnappe et barn
- kidnappe sin mor fra et psykiatrisk plejehjem
- lave en pokkers masse origami at fylde kælderen med
Det blev alt sammen en tand for utroværdigt til at være en god læseoplevelse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
The Chinese Twin left me shocked and bewildered. It needed more - more backstop, more character development, more context - yet it was hauntingly beautiful. The main character, Ava, is grieving the recent loss of her first child to stillbirth. The hormones, the grief, and the exhaustion press on the walls of her mind. To make matters worse, her husband is struck with a mysterious bout of paralysis. Just as the reader becomes familiar with Ava's inner turmoil, things begin to take a wild, disturbingly dark, and unexpected turn.
Trigger warnings: stillbirth, child loss, kidnapping, desecration of human remains, mental illness, suicidal ideation
Trigger warnings: stillbirth, child loss, kidnapping, desecration of human remains, mental illness, suicidal ideation
September 21, 2021
The Chinese Twin follow a couple in the days that follow the loss of their daughter and the husband, Staten, becoming paralyzed. This story is pretty insane and I won't dive much deeper to save you from spoilers.
This was an extremely cinematic book. I really enjoyed how easy it was to see everything in your mind and the twists were so well planned. I felt so bad for the main character and could really feel her pain. It was heartbreaking to experience and the reason for the twists was so heartbreaking as well. This was a very easy read and a solid 4 star. Good action, well executed twists, shock factor, and sadness.
This was an extremely cinematic book. I really enjoyed how easy it was to see everything in your mind and the twists were so well planned. I felt so bad for the main character and could really feel her pain. It was heartbreaking to experience and the reason for the twists was so heartbreaking as well. This was a very easy read and a solid 4 star. Good action, well executed twists, shock factor, and sadness.
August 2, 2022
The Chinese Twin grabbed me from the start, with alternating perspectives and left me with a couple of major questions unanswered right until the final few chapters. I love the interaction between the perspective of Eva and that of the killer. Though the final reveal was not much of a shocker and some chapters were slightly slow, I loved the writingstyle.
I have listened to this audiobook as told by Olivia Vinall and I absolutely adore the way she narrated it. Her tone of voice, the way she portraits different characters and how she follows the intensity of the story with her speach volume are just great to listen to.
I have listened to this audiobook as told by Olivia Vinall and I absolutely adore the way she narrated it. Her tone of voice, the way she portraits different characters and how she follows the intensity of the story with her speach volume are just great to listen to.
January 15, 2023
Meget spændende thriller. Hovedpersonen var meget dyster og dysfunktionel. Hele opstillingen omkring hendes mand og barn var forvredet og virkede bare helt forkert, men overraskede brat og gav rigtig god mening til sidst.
En god pointe har jeg taget med herfra: Det bliver godt igen, bare anderledes end forventet.
En god pointe har jeg taget med herfra: Det bliver godt igen, bare anderledes end forventet.
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January 8, 2021Nemt læst. Forfatteren skriver godt og forstår at sætte en stemming. Spændende kulturelt islæt, ligesom sorg er drysset godt ud over bogen
February 7, 2021
Desværre lidt for lineær.
February 7, 2021
En spændingsroman med en uventet slutning. Lidt speciel.
April 7, 2021
Virkelig uhyggelig bog
April 14, 2021
En virkelig god bog. Kan helt klart anbefales, et must read. Så læs den. 📖👍
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