When the Devil Holds the Candle (Konrad Sejer, #4) in Nordic Noir

Apr 02, 2012 Anna added it

Shelves: bookcrossing, 2012

Third book in the Sejer series but the first one I read.
Fossum's style (at least in this book) reminds me of some of the other Scandinavian a generation ago crime authors like Sjöwall-Wahlöö and Joensuu.
(Or perhaps it was also influenced by such things as Columbo series in the TV, or vice versa?)
First we follow two young thugs who snatch a purse, and at some point of the thugs disappears. Sejer and Skarre end up turning the town upside down to find out where the thug is and what happened. Less ...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Rick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-scandinavia

I would really like to give it 4.5 stars. Yes, it is rather "dark," but aren't most murder mysteries? Some reviews complain that Konrad Sejer doesn't show up enough, and that there is no mystery to the story since we know "who done it," but that didn't spoil the novel for me. I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone. I look forward to another in the series. ...more

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Nov 02, 2013 Carol rated it really liked it

Really absorbing book. Not so much a detective stoyy but a story of humans in need, in distress, in dire straits and in extraordinary circumstances. It is a story that grips you with it's levels of needs, fears, desires, loves, hates, and above all loneliness and isolation. Great read ...more

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