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The Woman Inside
A wealthy couple ends up murdered in the nicest part of town in this compulsively readable, page-turning thriller from M. T. Edvardsson, The Woman Inside.
Bill Olsson, recently widowed, is desperate to provide for his daughter, Sally. Struggling to pay rent, he welcomes a lodger into their home: Karla, a law student and aspiring judge, who works as a housekeeper to make ends meet. Her clients are the Rytters, an incredibly wealthy couple who hide behind closed doors. The wife is ill and hasn’t left the house in months. The husband is controlling and obsessive. Is he just a worried husband, concerned for his wife’s health? Or is there something more sinister at play?
As Bill’s situation becomes more dire, Karla is forced to make a difficult choice. And when the Rytters wind up dead, and Karla is pulled in for questioning, she’s made to defend some parts of her past she’d rather not revisit.
Every person in The Woman Inside is hiding something, but could any of them really have been driven to kill?
Bill Olsson, recently widowed, is desperate to provide for his daughter, Sally. Struggling to pay rent, he welcomes a lodger into their home: Karla, a law student and aspiring judge, who works as a housekeeper to make ends meet. Her clients are the Rytters, an incredibly wealthy couple who hide behind closed doors. The wife is ill and hasn’t left the house in months. The husband is controlling and obsessive. Is he just a worried husband, concerned for his wife’s health? Or is there something more sinister at play?
As Bill’s situation becomes more dire, Karla is forced to make a difficult choice. And when the Rytters wind up dead, and Karla is pulled in for questioning, she’s made to defend some parts of her past she’d rather not revisit.
Every person in The Woman Inside is hiding something, but could any of them really have been driven to kill?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
107 people are currently reading
17930 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 717 reviews
March 20, 2023
3.5 STARS
I enjoyed, but it was a bit drawn out and could have been shorter (384 pgs).
I was pulled in early with the cleaning lady and the mysterious wife upstairs! Sound familiar? I have read quite a few books featuring a nosy maid character recently.
I liked the different pov's from all the players and the chapters that alternated between excerpts of interrogations, newspaper postings, and even a peek at the crime scene in the beginning.
There is a lot of delving into the personal lives of the main characters and it became a bit slow in parts which affected the pace. If you love character driven, you'll enjoy discovering the secrets that unravel. You'll get some good story telling if you can hang with the characters and their questionable behavior.
The ending was a little nuts, but I will say it surprised me!
Thanks to Celedon from my arc. OUT June 13, 2023
I enjoyed, but it was a bit drawn out and could have been shorter (384 pgs).
I was pulled in early with the cleaning lady and the mysterious wife upstairs! Sound familiar? I have read quite a few books featuring a nosy maid character recently.
I liked the different pov's from all the players and the chapters that alternated between excerpts of interrogations, newspaper postings, and even a peek at the crime scene in the beginning.
There is a lot of delving into the personal lives of the main characters and it became a bit slow in parts which affected the pace. If you love character driven, you'll enjoy discovering the secrets that unravel. You'll get some good story telling if you can hang with the characters and their questionable behavior.
The ending was a little nuts, but I will say it surprised me!
Thanks to Celedon from my arc. OUT June 13, 2023
May 29, 2023
4.5🌟
What does 'family tragedy' mean to you?
Bill - Alone since his partner died, now raising their daughter alone. Money is tight and the jobs are few. Maybe he needs to take in a lodger to help pay his rent?
Karla - Balancing school with her job cleaning homes. Her latest job is maintaining the home of a wealthy couple who appear to have a lot of secrets that she finds hard to ignore. Oh, and she just moved in with Bill and his daughter as their new tenant. (Small world, huh?)
Jennica - Lives alone with her cat named Dog! She recently met yet another new man on Tinder who seems sooo different! Come on Jennica! Really!?
I love the way the author wove these stories together. The only thing you know for certain is it was all going to end badly. But how were we going to get there, and why? Well you’ll have all your answers by the end.
I came so close to missing out on this book. I’d read the previous book by this author and honestly was hesitant to pick up another. But after my buddy Susanne read it, she encouraged me to give this author another try. I came away loving this book!
I listened to the audio and enjoyed all the narrators equally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
What does 'family tragedy' mean to you?
Bill - Alone since his partner died, now raising their daughter alone. Money is tight and the jobs are few. Maybe he needs to take in a lodger to help pay his rent?
Karla - Balancing school with her job cleaning homes. Her latest job is maintaining the home of a wealthy couple who appear to have a lot of secrets that she finds hard to ignore. Oh, and she just moved in with Bill and his daughter as their new tenant. (Small world, huh?)
Jennica - Lives alone with her cat named Dog! She recently met yet another new man on Tinder who seems sooo different! Come on Jennica! Really!?
I love the way the author wove these stories together. The only thing you know for certain is it was all going to end badly. But how were we going to get there, and why? Well you’ll have all your answers by the end.
I came so close to missing out on this book. I’d read the previous book by this author and honestly was hesitant to pick up another. But after my buddy Susanne read it, she encouraged me to give this author another try. I came away loving this book!
I listened to the audio and enjoyed all the narrators equally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
May 1, 2023
Thank you Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
Writing: 2.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: ok then/5
SYNOPSIS
Bill, Karla, and Jennica all have a motive to kill the Rytters, a wealthy couple with a couple of dark secrets. So who did it!?
MY OPINION
Respectfully, the writing was nowhere close to same calibre for A Nearly Normal Family. I think this was M.T. Edvardsson's first english book, and (again, with all due respect), you can tell. Writing in English as a native speaker is challenging enough (lord knows I barely manage), but writing in English as a non-native speaker is a whole different beast. I applaud Edvardsson for his first English work, but readers, don't expect this to be on the same level as ANNF.
This book is the epitome of a popcorn thriller. The plot and characters are about as a deep as a puddle. It could've been bangerlicious if, in true Nordic Noir style, we got a lil deeper with each (fucked up) character's psyche, but the author kept this group pretty Flat Stanley (one dimensional).
I have no idea if we were supposed to like Jennica, but I most certainly did not. Selfish, vapid, and holding onto her childhood "trauma" as an excuse for faffing about in her professional life. Yes, your dad cheated a lot, and your mom didn't bat an eyelash, but can you PLEASE get a job? I'm begging you.
Karla was the only character I felt sorry for. Her backstory with her addict mom was truly sad, and you could empathize with her struggle. She, by far, was the most nuanced character: an aspiring Judge with slippery fingers and a questionable moral compass. I think her scenario could create a many good book club discussions. If you steal bread to feed your children, are you still a bad person? Debate amongst yourself bookstahoes!
I know I have a fidget spinner where I should have a heart so take this with a grain of salt, but Bill was annoying af. We get it, you have no personality outside of your wife, and now that she'd dead, you're as lost as a baby beaver in a tsunami. I felt bad for Sally for having a gambling addict with the spine of a wet noodle as a dad, but I didn't feel bad for his plight. Also... did Miranda cheat or nah??? I never got my answer and for it being such a point of contention between Bill and Jennica, it was weird that it was brushed to the side at the end.
Ultimately, if you're looking for mindless entertainment with low stakes, this is it. Very much meh and surface level. Also in the lowest of keys, it was a mash up of other popular books.......... just sayin.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: quick read, doesn't evoke a lot of strong feelings
Cons: one-dimensional characters, predictable, seems like a totally different author wrote this compared to his debut
_____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Writing: 2.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: ok then/5
SYNOPSIS
Bill, Karla, and Jennica all have a motive to kill the Rytters, a wealthy couple with a couple of dark secrets. So who did it!?
MY OPINION
Respectfully, the writing was nowhere close to same calibre for A Nearly Normal Family. I think this was M.T. Edvardsson's first english book, and (again, with all due respect), you can tell. Writing in English as a native speaker is challenging enough (lord knows I barely manage), but writing in English as a non-native speaker is a whole different beast. I applaud Edvardsson for his first English work, but readers, don't expect this to be on the same level as ANNF.
This book is the epitome of a popcorn thriller. The plot and characters are about as a deep as a puddle. It could've been bangerlicious if, in true Nordic Noir style, we got a lil deeper with each (fucked up) character's psyche, but the author kept this group pretty Flat Stanley (one dimensional).
I have no idea if we were supposed to like Jennica, but I most certainly did not. Selfish, vapid, and holding onto her childhood "trauma" as an excuse for faffing about in her professional life. Yes, your dad cheated a lot, and your mom didn't bat an eyelash, but can you PLEASE get a job? I'm begging you.
Karla was the only character I felt sorry for. Her backstory with her addict mom was truly sad, and you could empathize with her struggle. She, by far, was the most nuanced character: an aspiring Judge with slippery fingers and a questionable moral compass. I think her scenario could create a many good book club discussions. If you steal bread to feed your children, are you still a bad person? Debate amongst yourself bookstahoes!
I know I have a fidget spinner where I should have a heart so take this with a grain of salt, but Bill was annoying af. We get it, you have no personality outside of your wife, and now that she'd dead, you're as lost as a baby beaver in a tsunami. I felt bad for Sally for having a gambling addict with the spine of a wet noodle as a dad, but I didn't feel bad for his plight. Also... did Miranda cheat or nah??? I never got my answer and for it being such a point of contention between Bill and Jennica, it was weird that it was brushed to the side at the end.
Ultimately, if you're looking for mindless entertainment with low stakes, this is it. Very much meh and surface level. Also in the lowest of keys, it was a mash up of other popular books.......... just sayin.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: quick read, doesn't evoke a lot of strong feelings
Cons: one-dimensional characters, predictable, seems like a totally different author wrote this compared to his debut
_____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
May 21, 2023
I truly enjoyed the author’s previous novel, "Nearly Normal Family." When I saw the author's name and an interesting plotline promising a dark psychological thriller, I jumped at the chance to read the author's new book! I didn't regret my decision; this book is an absolutely engaging thriller that keeps you guessing until the end, making your blood run cold. It allows you to connect with different flawed characters and their misdemeanors, struggles, and shortcomings. The book also entertains with smart dialogues. The witty exchanges between the least likable character and her cat, whom she named the dog, made me guffaw several times.
The story opens with the murder investigation of a couple: Regina Rytter, a bedridden wife and daughter of a highly accomplished best-selling author, suffering from a mysterious disease that has forced her to be trapped in her own house, and Steven Rytter, a charismatic, good-looking doctor who seems a little intense, obsessed, and controlling about the cleaning of his house and the medical condition of his wife. Regina is found bludgeoned to death, while Steven has overdosed.
The prime suspect is Bill Olsson, a man barely making ends meet after his wife's sudden death, suffering from a gambling addiction and trying to take care of his little daughter Sally, who is definitely a sweet pie. Bill reluctantly rents a room in his house to Karla, a 22-year-old law student who is running from her past and overbearing responsibilities to take care of her drug-addict mother. Karla works with a cleaning agency to pay her school tuition and is hired to clean the Rytter's house twice a week. She finds herself drawn into their marriage drama and begins to suspect that Regina's illness may be related to something sinister.
The last point of view belongs to Jennica, a black sheep coming from a wealthy family who hates the guts of her cheating father. She becomes an estranged friend of Bill's late wife, but she has no idea that the man she falls hard for is also married.
Throughout the book, you constantly ask yourself what happened to the Rytters. You read the interrogations of Karla, Bill, Jennica, and other people related to the Rytters, wondering if one of the three POVs may be the killer. Both of them hide big secrets, and their desperate measures may push them to make desperate moves.
Overall, even though the book was a slow burn, it kept my attention alert with its amazing character-driven execution. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up, and I cannot wait to read another book by the author soon. My love for Swedish thrillers/Nordic noir escalates with each brilliant book I devour.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this brilliant digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story opens with the murder investigation of a couple: Regina Rytter, a bedridden wife and daughter of a highly accomplished best-selling author, suffering from a mysterious disease that has forced her to be trapped in her own house, and Steven Rytter, a charismatic, good-looking doctor who seems a little intense, obsessed, and controlling about the cleaning of his house and the medical condition of his wife. Regina is found bludgeoned to death, while Steven has overdosed.
The prime suspect is Bill Olsson, a man barely making ends meet after his wife's sudden death, suffering from a gambling addiction and trying to take care of his little daughter Sally, who is definitely a sweet pie. Bill reluctantly rents a room in his house to Karla, a 22-year-old law student who is running from her past and overbearing responsibilities to take care of her drug-addict mother. Karla works with a cleaning agency to pay her school tuition and is hired to clean the Rytter's house twice a week. She finds herself drawn into their marriage drama and begins to suspect that Regina's illness may be related to something sinister.
The last point of view belongs to Jennica, a black sheep coming from a wealthy family who hates the guts of her cheating father. She becomes an estranged friend of Bill's late wife, but she has no idea that the man she falls hard for is also married.
Throughout the book, you constantly ask yourself what happened to the Rytters. You read the interrogations of Karla, Bill, Jennica, and other people related to the Rytters, wondering if one of the three POVs may be the killer. Both of them hide big secrets, and their desperate measures may push them to make desperate moves.
Overall, even though the book was a slow burn, it kept my attention alert with its amazing character-driven execution. I enjoyed how everything wrapped up, and I cannot wait to read another book by the author soon. My love for Swedish thrillers/Nordic noir escalates with each brilliant book I devour.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this brilliant digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
July 6, 2023
**Many thanks to NetGalley, @CeladonBooks, and M.T. Edvardsson for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 6.13!!**
The posh town of Lund is buzzing...Steve and Regina Rytter are dead. But who would take down this wealthy and powerful couple...and WHY were BOTH of them targets?
Bill is feeling lost and desperate, clinging on to hope and trying to make ends meet after losing both his wife Miranda and his job as a ticket-taker at the movie theater. Struggling to pay bills and to keep a roof over his young daughter Sally's head, he decides taking in a lodger will be a quick source of upfront income. The lodger, Karla, is a student aspiring to become a judge, and she is thrilled to live off-campus and have somewhere quiet to rest in the evenings.
Karla also takes a job working as a cleaner...for a VERY wealthy client: Steve Rytter. Karla tries to talk to Steve's wife Regina, but Steve warns her that Regina is very ill and disoriented often, and needs to stay upstairs in bed often due to heavy doses of her medication....but is his warning just a cover to shield Karla from what REALLY goes on in this marriage?
Meanwhile, Jennica has started dating a rich, charming, and older man. He is a far cry from her usual round of Tinder suspects AND a welcome reprieve to spending lackluster nights at home with her cat named Dog. As their feelings blossom, Jennica starts to wonder if she has finally met the one, and why all of this seems too good to be true...and what this man could be hiding. Is he ACTUALLY single...and could this debonair stranger have a dark--and DANGEROUS--side?
It's been a while since we've heard from Edvardsson, but after the way I FLEW through A Nearly Normal Family, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Edvardsson has a way of writing characters that are so morally grey that it is hard for the reader to determine who to root for...or who is telling the truth! This was even more intriguing in his last book, with all of the characters being part of one very strange family. Luckily, ties are present here too, and though the narrative jumps from Bill to Karla to Jennica, each character was fully formed and had unique struggles, so it was never a struggle to keep track of the plot threads as we moved around.
Although I wouldn't call any of these characters LIKABLE, listening to them was enjoyable enough...but at the same time, this plot felt both a bit slow and a bit contrived. This book doesn't tread on any sort of new territory, but rather mixes aspects of a few tropes and leaves you to piece them together to reach a conclusion. The chapters were a bit long, but Edvardsson at least had the sense to add in some interstitial news article clips and police interviews between chapters to keep things chugging along, and this device was VERY needed.
Since Edvardsson truly seems to thrive in this space, I almost think he'd be better off writing a legal or crime thriller rather than this sort of 'character driven mystery with a crime center'. Edvardsson's bio says he is a teacher in Sweden, and I'm curious if his subject is philosophy. His background could very well inform many of the choices he makes in writing especially in terms of the moral/philosophical bent his stories seem to sneak into the pages.
Although the writing is far from flawless, this is a very enjoyable novel and one that's easy enough to read on a sunny afternoon, especially if you love a good chewy candy...with a CRIME-Y nougat center. 🍬
😉
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
#TheWomanInside #partner
The posh town of Lund is buzzing...Steve and Regina Rytter are dead. But who would take down this wealthy and powerful couple...and WHY were BOTH of them targets?
Bill is feeling lost and desperate, clinging on to hope and trying to make ends meet after losing both his wife Miranda and his job as a ticket-taker at the movie theater. Struggling to pay bills and to keep a roof over his young daughter Sally's head, he decides taking in a lodger will be a quick source of upfront income. The lodger, Karla, is a student aspiring to become a judge, and she is thrilled to live off-campus and have somewhere quiet to rest in the evenings.
Karla also takes a job working as a cleaner...for a VERY wealthy client: Steve Rytter. Karla tries to talk to Steve's wife Regina, but Steve warns her that Regina is very ill and disoriented often, and needs to stay upstairs in bed often due to heavy doses of her medication....but is his warning just a cover to shield Karla from what REALLY goes on in this marriage?
Meanwhile, Jennica has started dating a rich, charming, and older man. He is a far cry from her usual round of Tinder suspects AND a welcome reprieve to spending lackluster nights at home with her cat named Dog. As their feelings blossom, Jennica starts to wonder if she has finally met the one, and why all of this seems too good to be true...and what this man could be hiding. Is he ACTUALLY single...and could this debonair stranger have a dark--and DANGEROUS--side?
It's been a while since we've heard from Edvardsson, but after the way I FLEW through A Nearly Normal Family, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Edvardsson has a way of writing characters that are so morally grey that it is hard for the reader to determine who to root for...or who is telling the truth! This was even more intriguing in his last book, with all of the characters being part of one very strange family. Luckily, ties are present here too, and though the narrative jumps from Bill to Karla to Jennica, each character was fully formed and had unique struggles, so it was never a struggle to keep track of the plot threads as we moved around.
Although I wouldn't call any of these characters LIKABLE, listening to them was enjoyable enough...but at the same time, this plot felt both a bit slow and a bit contrived. This book doesn't tread on any sort of new territory, but rather mixes aspects of a few tropes and leaves you to piece them together to reach a conclusion. The chapters were a bit long, but Edvardsson at least had the sense to add in some interstitial news article clips and police interviews between chapters to keep things chugging along, and this device was VERY needed.
Since Edvardsson truly seems to thrive in this space, I almost think he'd be better off writing a legal or crime thriller rather than this sort of 'character driven mystery with a crime center'. Edvardsson's bio says he is a teacher in Sweden, and I'm curious if his subject is philosophy. His background could very well inform many of the choices he makes in writing especially in terms of the moral/philosophical bent his stories seem to sneak into the pages.
Although the writing is far from flawless, this is a very enjoyable novel and one that's easy enough to read on a sunny afternoon, especially if you love a good chewy candy...with a CRIME-Y nougat center. 🍬
😉
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
#TheWomanInside #partner
April 26, 2023
I was super excited to have won this book! Thank you Bookishfirst, Celadon and Macmillian Publishers for the hard copy of this book and Netgalley for the ARC digital copy.
This is a first for me from this author and have been recommended to read his novel A Nearly Normal Family. Excited about the cover and how this Nordic mystery was designed into interrogations, newspaper articles and how with each new evidence proposed a new direction to solve the crime scene.
The crime scene consisted of a wealthy couple found murdered in their expansive and immaculate mansion. Investigated was their newly hired maid Karla. She is a struggling law student with high hopes of being a judge one day. She raised herself while looking after her drug addict mom. The dorm rooms are considered a party scene so she decided to look for a place off campus. What she finds is single father struggling to raise his daughter Sally and make ends meet. Under the circumstances, I pitied him for his difficulties and sympathized for Sally, but his ignorance and choices impedes his growth. He makes some bad decisions after Karla rents a room in his place to help him financially and her economically. Karla pities him, so while working for the wealthy Rytters' couple she takes jewelry from them and gives it to Bill to sell. Bill is also investigated for this crime as well as a character Jennica, who also finds herself wrapped up into the Rytters' situation.
The Rytter family has their own secrets. Before their death, Karla observes Regina Rytters in a desperate situation and drugged by her husband. She is unable to leave her house due to his controlling and obsessive behavior. There is so much more to his demeanor than meets the eye. He is not a likeable character and Regina fears she will one day be killed by him.
A great mystery to solve and the typical page-turning thriller consists of another maid that knows all their secrets.
This is a first for me from this author and have been recommended to read his novel A Nearly Normal Family. Excited about the cover and how this Nordic mystery was designed into interrogations, newspaper articles and how with each new evidence proposed a new direction to solve the crime scene.
The crime scene consisted of a wealthy couple found murdered in their expansive and immaculate mansion. Investigated was their newly hired maid Karla. She is a struggling law student with high hopes of being a judge one day. She raised herself while looking after her drug addict mom. The dorm rooms are considered a party scene so she decided to look for a place off campus. What she finds is single father struggling to raise his daughter Sally and make ends meet. Under the circumstances, I pitied him for his difficulties and sympathized for Sally, but his ignorance and choices impedes his growth. He makes some bad decisions after Karla rents a room in his place to help him financially and her economically. Karla pities him, so while working for the wealthy Rytters' couple she takes jewelry from them and gives it to Bill to sell. Bill is also investigated for this crime as well as a character Jennica, who also finds herself wrapped up into the Rytters' situation.
The Rytter family has their own secrets. Before their death, Karla observes Regina Rytters in a desperate situation and drugged by her husband. She is unable to leave her house due to his controlling and obsessive behavior. There is so much more to his demeanor than meets the eye. He is not a likeable character and Regina fears she will one day be killed by him.
A great mystery to solve and the typical page-turning thriller consists of another maid that knows all their secrets.
June 14, 2023
3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ June 13, 2023
Page Count ~ 384
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ Josh Dylan, Nathalie Buscombe, Sofia Engstrand ~ all enjoyable
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ infidelity, controlling spouse, drugs
We have a few main characters, so hallelujah for multiple narrators.
Steven ~ husband of Regina, who is home bound.
Karla ~ rents from Bill and cleans Steven & Regina's house.
Jennica ~ is dating Steven (yup, the same one that's married)
Who killed Steven & Regina is slowly revealed as we go through the multiple pov's, with some interrogation transcripts thrown in. There's a whole cast of unlikable characters that'll keep you wondering. Overall, this wasn't a perfect thriller, but I was invested. I'd give this author a go again.
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ June 13, 2023
Page Count ~ 384
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ Josh Dylan, Nathalie Buscombe, Sofia Engstrand ~ all enjoyable
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ infidelity, controlling spouse, drugs
We have a few main characters, so hallelujah for multiple narrators.
Steven ~ husband of Regina, who is home bound.
Karla ~ rents from Bill and cleans Steven & Regina's house.
Jennica ~ is dating Steven (yup, the same one that's married)
Who killed Steven & Regina is slowly revealed as we go through the multiple pov's, with some interrogation transcripts thrown in. There's a whole cast of unlikable characters that'll keep you wondering. Overall, this wasn't a perfect thriller, but I was invested. I'd give this author a go again.
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
June 5, 2023
Entertaining read, the audiobook was well done. Not quite as good as the first book I read by this author, but a decent book.
We alternate between three points of view: Bill, a recently widowed man with a young daughter Sally. He has lost his job and needs to take in a lodger to make ends meet. That lodger is Karla, a university student who wants to become a judge. To earn money she is working as a cleaner for a wealthy couple, and the wife is ill and housebound. Jennica is young and just starting to date an older man.
At the beginning of the book, we know that two people are discovered dead in a home. Which of the players in the story are dead? Police interviews fill in the blanks as the story unfolds.
Overall I thought this was a well told story. I was curious about what was going to happen and I liked the way the mystery played out. What I didn't love was Bill's character. There was nothing I liked about him at all. I felt sorry for him at first, but as more is revealed about his character and actions, the more I disliked him. Then in the end he just turns into this simpering whiny wimp. I did like Karla and I was neutral about Jennica. There was some sort of backstory with her and Bill's dead wife Miranda, but if it was ever really explored I must have missed it because despite a bunch of accusations flying, that storyline seemed to go nowhere.
Like I said, this is a fine read, but in the end it was pretty predictable and really didn't need almost 400 pages to tell the story. The audiobook did help me to enjoy it more, because it's narrated by multiple narrators and it made me more invested in the tale. I will definitely read more books by this author in the future because I do think his writing is decent.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
We alternate between three points of view: Bill, a recently widowed man with a young daughter Sally. He has lost his job and needs to take in a lodger to make ends meet. That lodger is Karla, a university student who wants to become a judge. To earn money she is working as a cleaner for a wealthy couple, and the wife is ill and housebound. Jennica is young and just starting to date an older man.
At the beginning of the book, we know that two people are discovered dead in a home. Which of the players in the story are dead? Police interviews fill in the blanks as the story unfolds.
Overall I thought this was a well told story. I was curious about what was going to happen and I liked the way the mystery played out. What I didn't love was Bill's character. There was nothing I liked about him at all. I felt sorry for him at first, but as more is revealed about his character and actions, the more I disliked him. Then in the end he just turns into this simpering whiny wimp. I did like Karla and I was neutral about Jennica. There was some sort of backstory with her and Bill's dead wife Miranda, but if it was ever really explored I must have missed it because despite a bunch of accusations flying, that storyline seemed to go nowhere.
Like I said, this is a fine read, but in the end it was pretty predictable and really didn't need almost 400 pages to tell the story. The audiobook did help me to enjoy it more, because it's narrated by multiple narrators and it made me more invested in the tale. I will definitely read more books by this author in the future because I do think his writing is decent.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 17, 2023
Steven and Regina Rytter are found dead in a wealthy part of Lund.
Widower Bill Olsson is struggling financially and is desperate to provide for his much loved daughter Sally. He’s forced to advertise for a lodger and Karla, a student, answers the ad. Karla cleans for the Rytters to earn much needed cash to pay for her studies. Karla discovers that Regina is very ill and has been unable to leave the house in a long time. Steven seems to be a very controlling husband and his motives seem unclear. Bills situation spirals down, Karla wants to help and the scene is set. The story is told in alternating points of view and interspersed with police interviews so the truth emerges snippet by snippet.
I loved A Nearly Normal Family and so am delighted to get the opportunity to read this book. It’s a slow burner, character driven mystery thriller with the author doing a good job in conveying distinctive personalities with each of the main protagonists. There’s a lot going on with each of them including grief, financial issues and family difficulties and the ties of those. Initially, you can’t see how each of them and their problems can connect but it is cleverly done.
The novel is well written with some good dialogue. I especially like the funny interactions between one character and their pet which makes me smile and breaks the tension I hardly realise is there!
It builds slowly but surely as you catch little frissons of something deep bubbling underneath the surface. It didn’t ought to be as fascinating as it is because it’s a very low-key book but it is! You keep asking what game are each of them up to??? They kid themselves, self justifying that they’re doing the right thing but basically we have some liars and cheats here! I like the ending which is well connected to what comes before it but maybe it’s a bit too pat???
Overall, though this is another well observed and thought provoking read from M T Edvardsson.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Widower Bill Olsson is struggling financially and is desperate to provide for his much loved daughter Sally. He’s forced to advertise for a lodger and Karla, a student, answers the ad. Karla cleans for the Rytters to earn much needed cash to pay for her studies. Karla discovers that Regina is very ill and has been unable to leave the house in a long time. Steven seems to be a very controlling husband and his motives seem unclear. Bills situation spirals down, Karla wants to help and the scene is set. The story is told in alternating points of view and interspersed with police interviews so the truth emerges snippet by snippet.
I loved A Nearly Normal Family and so am delighted to get the opportunity to read this book. It’s a slow burner, character driven mystery thriller with the author doing a good job in conveying distinctive personalities with each of the main protagonists. There’s a lot going on with each of them including grief, financial issues and family difficulties and the ties of those. Initially, you can’t see how each of them and their problems can connect but it is cleverly done.
The novel is well written with some good dialogue. I especially like the funny interactions between one character and their pet which makes me smile and breaks the tension I hardly realise is there!
It builds slowly but surely as you catch little frissons of something deep bubbling underneath the surface. It didn’t ought to be as fascinating as it is because it’s a very low-key book but it is! You keep asking what game are each of them up to??? They kid themselves, self justifying that they’re doing the right thing but basically we have some liars and cheats here! I like the ending which is well connected to what comes before it but maybe it’s a bit too pat???
Overall, though this is another well observed and thought provoking read from M T Edvardsson.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 3, 2023
The book begins with the discovery of the dead bodies of the Rytters, a wealthy married couple. The story of how they died is then told from a few police interviews and the alternating points of view of three characters. Bill is an unemployed widower raising his nine year old daughter Sally. To pay his mounting expenses, Bill takes in a boarder, Karla, a student who works part time as a cleaner for the Rytters. She begins to learn their secrets. Jennica was a school friend of Bill’s wife and also has a connection to the Rytters. Both Bill and Karla have a lot of financial and family problems. I would have thought that Sweden has more of a social safety net for such things, but I guess I was wrong. Jennica was an unlikeable character, especially at the end of the book.
This book held my interest, but dragged a bit and took too long to get to its conclusion. The characters seemed to have the same encounters over and over again. There was an author’s introduction that gave a huge hint about the deaths. Do not read it. At least the author could have had the sense to put that at the end of the book rather than the beginning. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This book held my interest, but dragged a bit and took too long to get to its conclusion. The characters seemed to have the same encounters over and over again. There was an author’s introduction that gave a huge hint about the deaths. Do not read it. At least the author could have had the sense to put that at the end of the book rather than the beginning. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 5, 2025
3.5 stars
The "MacGuffin" at the center of this story - which is set in Lund, Sweden - is the death of a wealthy couple called Regina and Steven Rytter. The Rytters are found dead in their luxurious house near the Botanical Gardens, Regina with her head caved in and Steven from an overdose.
In the course of the narrative, we find out that Regina - who suffered from the aftermath of a viral infection - was more or less bedridden; and Steven was adamant about Regina resting and taking her medicine.
It's not clear what happened to the Rytters, and various people in the couple's orbit are repeatedly questioned by the police. The three main persons of interest are Bill, Karla, and Jennica, and the story is told from their rotating points of view, along with excerpts of interviews by the police.
✱✱ Bill is a thirtyish, recently bereaved movie theatre worker who's raising his cherished 8-year-old daughter Sally. Bill went to pieces when his fiancée Miranda died from cancer, and he consequently lost his job.
Bill has been unable to find new employment, and is having trouble paying for rent and electricity. To help with finances, Bill takes in a boarder - an aspiring law student named Karla. Bill is an amiable fellow, but seems like an overgrown child in that he can't see the consequences of his actions.
✱✱ Karla recently arrived in Lund, having purposely left the drug addict mother who'd constrained her life for years. In Lund, Karla is taking a preliminary class for law school, and to make money, cleans the Rytters' sumptuous house twice a week.
Karla rents a room in Bill's apartment, and soon grows close to Bill and his daughter Sally. Karla would like to help Bill get out of his financial hole to insure that Sally has stability in her life.
Much of the conflict in Karla's life revolves around her mother, who can't seem to beat her drug addiction. Karla is torn between going back to help her mom and pursuing her own dreams.
✱✱ Jennica is contemporary of Bill's, and was close friends with Bill and his fiancée Miranda until they had a falling out. Jennica works from home as a phone 'psychic advisor', and - because Jennica resents her father, who was constantly unfaithful - Jennica strongly advises middle-aged women to leave their cheating husbands.
Jennica has been looking for love via Tinder, and has met an older, pediatric surgeon named Steven, to whom she's very attracted. At home, Jennica shares her apartment with a cat she named "Dog", and in order to make some kind of statement, Jennica lets her apartment fill up with empty pizza boxes and stinky trash.
As the story unfolds we learn about the interactions among the characters, and what drives them to behave as they do. I don't want to say more because of spoilers.
I enjoyed this interesting character story as well as the setting in Lund, Sweden, which sounds like a picturesque city where many residents get around on bicycles.
Botanical Gardens in Lund, Sweden
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Josh Dylan, Nathalie Buscombe, and Sofia Engstrand, who do an excellent job. I especially appreciated hearing the correct pronunciation of the Swedish names for the characters and locations.
Thanks to Netgalley, M. T. Edvardsson, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
June 22, 2023
Fascinating read! Really enjoyed this murder mystery set in Lund, Sweden!
January 4, 2023
Well, I sure picked a great read to sit down with over the holiday weekend! I'm always game for a Nordic mystery and this one had me hooked from the start. The three lead characters made the book for me as they each brought something different to the table.
Karla is a law student with a goal of becoming a judge. She rents a room from widower Bill Olsson who lives in an apartment with his young daughter. Bill is struggling to pay the bills which is why he takes on a boarder. When she isn't studying, Karla is a housekeeper for the Rytters, a wealthy couple. One day the Rytters are found dead in their home and police bring in people for questioning. So what happened?
I liked getting these tidbits of backstory on the characters along the way. The mystery was executed fairly well in that I didn't come up with an accurate prediction. Now I will say, I wasn't initially satisfied with the ending. The good news is I have come around some on that opinion and now view it in a more positive light. It wasn't exactly a jaw-dropping ending but it was fairly clever.
Recommend reading especially if you enjoyed A Nearly Normal Family written by this author.
Thank you to Celadon Books for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Karla is a law student with a goal of becoming a judge. She rents a room from widower Bill Olsson who lives in an apartment with his young daughter. Bill is struggling to pay the bills which is why he takes on a boarder. When she isn't studying, Karla is a housekeeper for the Rytters, a wealthy couple. One day the Rytters are found dead in their home and police bring in people for questioning. So what happened?
I liked getting these tidbits of backstory on the characters along the way. The mystery was executed fairly well in that I didn't come up with an accurate prediction. Now I will say, I wasn't initially satisfied with the ending. The good news is I have come around some on that opinion and now view it in a more positive light. It wasn't exactly a jaw-dropping ending but it was fairly clever.
Recommend reading especially if you enjoyed A Nearly Normal Family written by this author.
Thank you to Celadon Books for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 6, 2023
This is a very interesting mystery, definitely a good follow up to the author’s first work A Nearly Normal Family. I really liked the writing style and I loved that the story was told in chunks through three characters’ perspectives and interviews with the police. It was a little show to get going, but the ending was great and more than made up for any early slowness. The characters were all interesting, compelling, and best of all for me deeply flawed. This is a story that has no true good guys (unless you count little Sally), but all the characters are doing their best to follow their own moral compass. Bill has lost his wife and his doing his best to take care of his 8 year old daughter, but he has run out of money and is at risk of losing anything. Karla is hoping to be a law student so she can be a judge if she can stick to her plan and not be dragged back by her substance abusing mother. Jennica is floating without a clear plan. She’s in school and working as a telephone psychic to pay her bills. But when the family Karla is cleaning for appears to be harboring secrets they all head towards chaos.
July 8, 2025
Ever wonder why some books get all the hype while others barely make a ripple? And was the quiet one really worse—or just overlooked? Or is that just me?
That’s exactly how I felt reading The Woman Inside
If you've been around here a while, you’ll remember A Nearly Normal Family—it was everywhere, including lots of buzz from my reading group, The Traveling Friends. So naturally, I was curious why this follow-up didn’t make the same splash.
Was it not as strong? Not as twisty? Not as buzz-worthy? Well… maybe not as layered as A Nearly Normal Family, but honestly, when I compare it to other thrillers I’ve read recently, I’m scratching my head. Because it definitely holds its own.
And yeah, I know I overthink things, but here we go:
Deeply layered? No.
Suspenseful? Yes!
Fast-paced page-turner? Not exactly—but let’s be real, are most of the hyped ones?
Characters likable? Nope. But engaging? Definitely. And in thrillers, I’ll take compelling over cuddly any day.
Satisfying, surprising ending? Oh yes. Nailed it.
Believable? Not really—but it worked.
So where does this one fall on the thriller scale? Somewhere in that underrated-but-solid camp. The kind you think about after finishing and wonder, why this didn’t get more attention.
Will it wow the Goodreads picky crowd chasing the next big thing—or the ones who love to hate everything they read? Probably not.
Ok, I’ll admit—it was sitting on my NetGalley shelf while I was off chasing the next big read.
But for the rest of us—for readers who enjoy a twisty, underrated thriller with some bite, or who stumble on it at the library or find it long-forgotten on a shelf—it’s absolutely worth a try.
Not loud. Not flashy. Just good.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
That’s exactly how I felt reading The Woman Inside
If you've been around here a while, you’ll remember A Nearly Normal Family—it was everywhere, including lots of buzz from my reading group, The Traveling Friends. So naturally, I was curious why this follow-up didn’t make the same splash.
Was it not as strong? Not as twisty? Not as buzz-worthy? Well… maybe not as layered as A Nearly Normal Family, but honestly, when I compare it to other thrillers I’ve read recently, I’m scratching my head. Because it definitely holds its own.
And yeah, I know I overthink things, but here we go:
Deeply layered? No.
Suspenseful? Yes!
Fast-paced page-turner? Not exactly—but let’s be real, are most of the hyped ones?
Characters likable? Nope. But engaging? Definitely. And in thrillers, I’ll take compelling over cuddly any day.
Satisfying, surprising ending? Oh yes. Nailed it.
Believable? Not really—but it worked.
So where does this one fall on the thriller scale? Somewhere in that underrated-but-solid camp. The kind you think about after finishing and wonder, why this didn’t get more attention.
Will it wow the Goodreads picky crowd chasing the next big thing—or the ones who love to hate everything they read? Probably not.
Ok, I’ll admit—it was sitting on my NetGalley shelf while I was off chasing the next big read.
But for the rest of us—for readers who enjoy a twisty, underrated thriller with some bite, or who stumble on it at the library or find it long-forgotten on a shelf—it’s absolutely worth a try.
Not loud. Not flashy. Just good.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
May 7, 2023
The description of the novel doesn’t do it justice. The Woman Inside is so much more than the drama of Bill and Karla. There are the Rytters — Steven and Regina whose lives are complicated and eventually intersect with, and affect Bill, Karla, and Jennica.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view. Primarily through Bill, Karla and Jennica. And the reader is drawn into the expanding drama through the lens of each character.
The primary characters are well developed and fleshed out enough to get a feel for their respective personalities as well as moral compass. And like any other novel, there are some characters that you like and others that you don’t like. Some of the characters surprised me when their true colors immerged as the story progressed.
The plot follows a whodunit theme. But there are numerous twists that really made the novel unputdownable for me. And the big reveal toward the end was certainly unexpected.
The Woman Inside was my first novel from author Edvardsson. It certainly won’t be my last. Five stars.
I received a digital ARC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view. Primarily through Bill, Karla and Jennica. And the reader is drawn into the expanding drama through the lens of each character.
The primary characters are well developed and fleshed out enough to get a feel for their respective personalities as well as moral compass. And like any other novel, there are some characters that you like and others that you don’t like. Some of the characters surprised me when their true colors immerged as the story progressed.
The plot follows a whodunit theme. But there are numerous twists that really made the novel unputdownable for me. And the big reveal toward the end was certainly unexpected.
The Woman Inside was my first novel from author Edvardsson. It certainly won’t be my last. Five stars.
I received a digital ARC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 30, 2023
Family tragedy, justice, guilt, and betrayal combine to create an addictive character-driven thriller. My heart went out to Bill, the widowed father, and his sweet daughter Sally. I loved the way the author demonstrated their close loving relationship. I also enjoyed the connection between Sally and their lodger Karla. The tender description of their interaction was touching and added emotion. Intense, emotional, and suspenseful describe every minute as details are revealed about the murders. I was engaged from start to finish and the last sentence left me breathless. Thank you, NetGalley and Celadon Books for my copy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 26, 2023
Title: The Woman Insid
Author: M. T. Edvardsson
Genre: Psychological Thriller
On Sale: June 14, 2023
•Quick Description•
Who dunnit?
POV and police interviews
Affairs
Sick wives
Colliding lives
•Rating•
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
I recommend this read!
•Review•
I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was by 3 different points of view of the weeks/days leading up to the crime. Plus, police interviews conducted after the crime. It was an easy read. No big twists, but I still really enjoyed it!
•Similar Recommended Reads•
Look Closer
Things We Do in the Dark
Local Woman Missing
Author: M. T. Edvardsson
Genre: Psychological Thriller
On Sale: June 14, 2023
•Quick Description•
Who dunnit?
POV and police interviews
Affairs
Sick wives
Colliding lives
•Rating•
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
I recommend this read!
•Review•
I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was by 3 different points of view of the weeks/days leading up to the crime. Plus, police interviews conducted after the crime. It was an easy read. No big twists, but I still really enjoyed it!
•Similar Recommended Reads•
Look Closer
Things We Do in the Dark
Local Woman Missing
June 20, 2023
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a copy of this book for review.
For those who love their Nordic Fiction , Im sure you will love this one. Its a book about Karla, Bill , Jennica, Regina and how their lives are all entwined.
Topics in this one include
* Rape
* Gambling
* Revenge
* Extortion
* Cheating
* Blackmail
Told by multiple POV's, Steven (doctor) Regina (his wife) Jennica (the mistress) Bill ( Karlas landlord) and Karla (Steven and Reginas cleaner). All characters are unlikeable.
What I loved the most about this book is that its unpredicatable ending.Full of suspense and tension right up until the very end.
For those who love their Nordic Fiction , Im sure you will love this one. Its a book about Karla, Bill , Jennica, Regina and how their lives are all entwined.
Topics in this one include
* Rape
* Gambling
* Revenge
* Extortion
* Cheating
* Blackmail
Told by multiple POV's, Steven (doctor) Regina (his wife) Jennica (the mistress) Bill ( Karlas landlord) and Karla (Steven and Reginas cleaner). All characters are unlikeable.
What I loved the most about this book is that its unpredicatable ending.Full of suspense and tension right up until the very end.
June 23, 2023
Thank you Celadonbooks and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review!
This book started out great. I was hooked. I enjoyed the narrator's accents. I loved reading and listening at the same time. The bit of foreign language was interesting. I liked the different characters even though Bill annoyed me most of the time. Karla's character was good. There's a lesson to be learned from her. Being helpful like her is definitely not rewarding. The ending of the story was a bit disappointing to me. I was hoping for a story about "the woman inside" in her view with her personal vendetta or something but there weren't any.
This story followed Karla. She grew up with a drug addict mother. She just moved away from her mom trying to make a life for herself by going to school. She cleans wealthy people's house to support herself. She rented a room from Bill's apartment where he shared with his daughter. Bill is running low on cash and having a hard time landing a job. There's Jennica who hated men who cheats. She met Steven on tinder and they started dating. Steven is the main subject at the start of the book. In between characters' views, there are police interviews into the murder that was announced early on.
I still enjoyed the story though, not as much as the beginning.
This book started out great. I was hooked. I enjoyed the narrator's accents. I loved reading and listening at the same time. The bit of foreign language was interesting. I liked the different characters even though Bill annoyed me most of the time. Karla's character was good. There's a lesson to be learned from her. Being helpful like her is definitely not rewarding. The ending of the story was a bit disappointing to me. I was hoping for a story about "the woman inside" in her view with her personal vendetta or something but there weren't any.
This story followed Karla. She grew up with a drug addict mother. She just moved away from her mom trying to make a life for herself by going to school. She cleans wealthy people's house to support herself. She rented a room from Bill's apartment where he shared with his daughter. Bill is running low on cash and having a hard time landing a job. There's Jennica who hated men who cheats. She met Steven on tinder and they started dating. Steven is the main subject at the start of the book. In between characters' views, there are police interviews into the murder that was announced early on.
I still enjoyed the story though, not as much as the beginning.
June 15, 2023
Murder mystery with a well formed group of characters and a way of weaving the plot around and through their lives that definitely pulled me in and held my interest. One of the better books that I've read lately!
My thanks to the author, M.T. Edvardsson, and the publisher, Celadon Books, for my electronic copy of this novel, which I received through a Goodreads Giveaway.
My thanks to the author, M.T. Edvardsson, and the publisher, Celadon Books, for my electronic copy of this novel, which I received through a Goodreads Giveaway.
June 14, 2023
Needed more thrills.
I like how this was based on a true crime. However, as an avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, this was an average read. The ending was a tad predictable and the characters were one-dimensional.
If you're new to the genre, you might enjoy this.
***Thank you to NetGalley, M.T. Edvardsson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I like how this was based on a true crime. However, as an avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, this was an average read. The ending was a tad predictable and the characters were one-dimensional.
If you're new to the genre, you might enjoy this.
***Thank you to NetGalley, M.T. Edvardsson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
September 21, 2023
3.5⭐️ When a wealthy couple is murdered in an affluent neighborhood, detectives set out to find a motive among a select group of seemingly random people with connections to the couple.
When I first started this one on audio, I was a bit confused as to who was who. There are quite a few characters, and some of the names and descriptors are very similar to one other. Once I started to get a handle on the premise and the characters involved, I found myself intrigued and invested in what was happening. While this is not the twistiest of books, and I was able to accurately predict most of the plot line, there were some really fun smaller twists that I did not see coming.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•domestic suspense
•ensemble casts
•dual timelines
•mysteries
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
When I first started this one on audio, I was a bit confused as to who was who. There are quite a few characters, and some of the names and descriptors are very similar to one other. Once I started to get a handle on the premise and the characters involved, I found myself intrigued and invested in what was happening. While this is not the twistiest of books, and I was able to accurately predict most of the plot line, there were some really fun smaller twists that I did not see coming.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•domestic suspense
•ensemble casts
•dual timelines
•mysteries
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2023
MT Edvardsson's THE WOMAN INSIDE is a book that I've been excited to read for months. It was definitely in my top 5 most anticipated books for Q1/Q2 2023. Overall, I didn't hate it, but I definitely think procedural readers would like this one better than me. The story is centered around the murder of a pediatrician and his wife and the mystery behind it as their inner circle begins to unravel.
Without going into the story, we are given quite a few POVs, which worked in favor of the story, but also prolonged the development of the foundation. You won't really move too much until you make it after the halfway point. The main characters are Bill Olsson (a struggling single father who is renting a room out in their home to make extra money), Karla (a housekeeper working to pay for law school while renting the room in Bill's home), Karla's clients, The Rytters, a wealthy family with a lot of secrets, and Jennica (more to come about her while you read the novel).
The intertwined storylines were a lot of fun as everyone somehow made sense in a puzzle together. However, the synopsis is very vague and I felt that it was purposely done to keep the mystery of the characters' development so don't go in knowing to much. Let your mind explore the mystery and enjoy. I don't really know how to rate this one because I do think readers will enjoy, but I also was bored at times due to the procedural nature of the story. If you like Nordic Noir slowbuilding mysteries, then this book is for you!
Without going into the story, we are given quite a few POVs, which worked in favor of the story, but also prolonged the development of the foundation. You won't really move too much until you make it after the halfway point. The main characters are Bill Olsson (a struggling single father who is renting a room out in their home to make extra money), Karla (a housekeeper working to pay for law school while renting the room in Bill's home), Karla's clients, The Rytters, a wealthy family with a lot of secrets, and Jennica (more to come about her while you read the novel).
The intertwined storylines were a lot of fun as everyone somehow made sense in a puzzle together. However, the synopsis is very vague and I felt that it was purposely done to keep the mystery of the characters' development so don't go in knowing to much. Let your mind explore the mystery and enjoy. I don't really know how to rate this one because I do think readers will enjoy, but I also was bored at times due to the procedural nature of the story. If you like Nordic Noir slowbuilding mysteries, then this book is for you!
December 28, 2023
3.5 stars review to come.
May 24, 2023
3.5 stars
Quick and easy read
Quick and easy read
June 7, 2023
Sophisticated, riveting, and suspenseful!
The Woman Inside is an ominous, character-driven thriller that takes you into the life of a handful of people, including Bill Olsson, an unemployed widower who will do whatever it takes to keep the roof over his daughter’s head but has an unfortunate addiction to gambling, and Karla Larsson, a young law student trying to live as frugally as possible while working a part-time job as a maid for some unusual clients and by renting just a single room in a stranger’s apartment.
The writing is tight and intense. The characters are complex, secretive, and distressed. And the plot, told using a mixture of narrative, police interviews, and alternating timelines, before-and-after the murders, is a sinister tale full of twists, turns, loneliness, insecurities, lies, obsession, manipulation, violence, infidelity, troubled pasts, and murder.
Overall, The Woman Inside is a tortuous, addictive, unnerving tale by Edvardsson that kept me guessing from the very first page and was deliciously relentless, surprising, deceptive, and bursting with misdirection.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Woman Inside is an ominous, character-driven thriller that takes you into the life of a handful of people, including Bill Olsson, an unemployed widower who will do whatever it takes to keep the roof over his daughter’s head but has an unfortunate addiction to gambling, and Karla Larsson, a young law student trying to live as frugally as possible while working a part-time job as a maid for some unusual clients and by renting just a single room in a stranger’s apartment.
The writing is tight and intense. The characters are complex, secretive, and distressed. And the plot, told using a mixture of narrative, police interviews, and alternating timelines, before-and-after the murders, is a sinister tale full of twists, turns, loneliness, insecurities, lies, obsession, manipulation, violence, infidelity, troubled pasts, and murder.
Overall, The Woman Inside is a tortuous, addictive, unnerving tale by Edvardsson that kept me guessing from the very first page and was deliciously relentless, surprising, deceptive, and bursting with misdirection.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2023
MT Edvardsson debuted in America in 2019 with A Nearly Normal Family, a novel that had it’s ups and downs but I recall liking it. The Woman Inside is a super readable mystery & domestic thriller that’s perfect for a summer weekend.
I think the synopsis says it all. There are three points of view being told by Bill, Karla, and Jennika. I really liked the narrators too, Josh Dylan, Sofia Engstrand, and Nathalie Buscombe have authentic accents and it was nice to have the actual pronunciations of places and names.
I like the three points of view because they each start as sympathetic characters. Eventually you find out that they all have dark pasts and a bit of a crazy streak. Desperation leads people to do things they probably wouldn’t usually, right?
So a murder occurs and we start seeing the lives and situations of the people around the murdered couple. We get glimpses of the police investigation which sheds further light on people’s pasts. It was a little bit hard to guess who did the first murder, and the thing that I probably like the most is that even at the end we are not 100% certain what occurred, even though the case was closed.
While many of these types of books happen in cold Nordic settings, I liked Lund in the summer. People are out on bicycles and the botanical gardens are in bloom, but there’s a darkness going on in one of the gorgeous palatial houses in the rich section of town.
Overall, this audiobook is easy to consume over the course of a weekend. I would have been flying through the pages too. I like mysteries within mysteries and Edvardsson did a great job unrolling this one. I’ll definitely be looking for any more books we get from him in the future!
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Thanks for checking out my audiobook and book review of The Woman Inside by M.T Edvardsson. I received an early listening copy through netgalley courtesy of Macmillan audio and as always, all opinions are my own ❤️
I think the synopsis says it all. There are three points of view being told by Bill, Karla, and Jennika. I really liked the narrators too, Josh Dylan, Sofia Engstrand, and Nathalie Buscombe have authentic accents and it was nice to have the actual pronunciations of places and names.
I like the three points of view because they each start as sympathetic characters. Eventually you find out that they all have dark pasts and a bit of a crazy streak. Desperation leads people to do things they probably wouldn’t usually, right?
So a murder occurs and we start seeing the lives and situations of the people around the murdered couple. We get glimpses of the police investigation which sheds further light on people’s pasts. It was a little bit hard to guess who did the first murder, and the thing that I probably like the most is that even at the end we are not 100% certain what occurred, even though the case was closed.
While many of these types of books happen in cold Nordic settings, I liked Lund in the summer. People are out on bicycles and the botanical gardens are in bloom, but there’s a darkness going on in one of the gorgeous palatial houses in the rich section of town.
Overall, this audiobook is easy to consume over the course of a weekend. I would have been flying through the pages too. I like mysteries within mysteries and Edvardsson did a great job unrolling this one. I’ll definitely be looking for any more books we get from him in the future!
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Thanks for checking out my audiobook and book review of The Woman Inside by M.T Edvardsson. I received an early listening copy through netgalley courtesy of Macmillan audio and as always, all opinions are my own ❤️
May 13, 2023
I found this book to be a truly unique story told from the perspective of three different people interspersed with interviews between these characters and others with the police officers assigned to the case. The story and the characters are interwoven in a unique way that kept me interested in the story and when one chapter ended I couldn't wait to see what would happen in the following chapter.
The author really made you care about each person as he told each one's back stories, which helped explain why each person reacted the way they did in the overall event. I was constantly surprised by each twist and turn in the story and felt truly invested in the outcome. I especially cared about Bill and his daughter Sally. Bill tragically lost his wife to illness and was just trying to find a way to provide both emotional and financial support for his daughter. This was a really great reading experience.
The author really made you care about each person as he told each one's back stories, which helped explain why each person reacted the way they did in the overall event. I was constantly surprised by each twist and turn in the story and felt truly invested in the outcome. I especially cared about Bill and his daughter Sally. Bill tragically lost his wife to illness and was just trying to find a way to provide both emotional and financial support for his daughter. This was a really great reading experience.
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