Currently Reading - 2013 version

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

i'm getting ready to start Unseen

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I am working on a new author to me. I am reading Mons Kallentoft's Summertime Deathfor review. I am grabbing Midwinter Blood from the library.

[Diane S ☔]

Have Summertime Death as well and hope to get to it soon.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Diane wrote: "Have Summertime Death as well and hope to get to it soon."

Diane, did you read Midwinter Blood? If so, how character driven is this author?

[Diane S ☔]

Naomi wrote: "Diane wrote: "Have Summertime Death as well and hope to get to it soon."

Diane, did you read Midwinter Blood? If so, how character driven is this author?"

The writing style was very different, took some getting used to. Yes it is pretty character driven, but everyone had thoughts in that one, even the dead body. It was different but I liked it. It was the first part of what will be a four part series. The main characters life is a mess.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Diane wrote: "Naomi wrote: "Diane wrote: "Have Summertime Death as well and hope to get to it soon."

Diane, did you read Midwinter Blood? If so, how character driven is this author?"

The writing style was very..."

I was going to say that re: the writing style. Very different from most NN authors. There is almost an abruptness to it.

[Diane S ☔]

In my review I wrote that it was almost like a stream of consciousness novel.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Wow...can I use that line? I feel the same way in this one. I love the way you say that!

[Bobbi]

I have both on my shelf...anxious to see what you think.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Bobbi wrote: "I have both on my shelf...anxious to see what you think."

I am really enjoying it. Very sexual though, so if you are offended by that kind of thing, it might not be for you. It did take a bit to get into the author's style of writing, but once I did, the book took off. The stream of consciousness writing that Diane talked about was different, particularly because it would be just thrown in and you weren't sure who was saying it...so it was basically a mystery in a mystery. Was it the victim or was it Malin, who had a pretty screwed up childhood too? I have about 100 pages left to do. I am waiting for the other one from my library and it should be here w/i the next couple of days.

[Diane S ☔]

Naomi wrote: "Wow...can I use that line? I feel the same way in this one. I love the way you say that!"

Sure use away.

[Bobbi]

My book is titled Midwinter Sacrifice....purchased in Canada this pst summer...but I do believe it is the same book as Midwinter Blood. Am going to start it today.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Yes, it is. I ended up giving Summertime Death 4 stars and will focus on the writing including the CoS writing we were discussing earlier. The author's ability to methodically "release" the story and the twist at the end. Really nice twist.

[Lili]

My copy of Helsinki Blood by James Thompson arrived this morning, already read two chapters and guess I am not going to be able to put it down

[Lili]

Read straight through, its a tough violent thriller great Nordic Noir. Helsinki Blood

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

WHAT....WHERE'S MINE????

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Lili wrote: "Read straight through, its a tough violent thriller great Nordic Noir. Helsinki Blood"

That's our Jim!!!

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Lili wrote: "My copy of Helsinki Blood by James Thompson arrived this morning, already read two chapters and guess I am not going to be able to put it down "

How did you get yours? It doesn't come out til the 21st?????

[Anna, the Enabler]

Must have been an ARC from somewhere?

While I'm waiting to locate a copy somewhere.... I'm laughing my ass off reading Pronto by Elmore Leonard. As in Raylan Givens the cowboy marshall doing some criminal chasing in Rapallo, a small touristy village close to Genoa. Hah. I like the book Raylan too, but he's not as awesome as Justified's Raylan...

[Sharon]

http://files.flipsnack.net/iframehtml...

Nordic Noir addicts enjoy....

[Diane S ☔]

Reading
and then . I fell behind on these somehow.

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

i'm behind on jim's stuff too - planning on start HW this weekend (I wanted to wait until book 4 was out), and then i'll hold off on Book 4, until 5 is nearly out...yes, i'm that nuts

[Pamela]

Sharon wrote: "http://files.flipsnack.net/iframehtml...

Nordic Noir addicts enjoy...."
I certainly will. I have seen all the TV series discussed and it is a treat to read more about the actors. I appreciate the link!

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I have 4 NN books going right now...

The Black Path
House of Evidence
More Bitter Than Death
Midwinter Blood

I think I should be caught up with authors of the month then.

It is killing me...Helsinki Blood keeps staring at me, but I need to get to some other books first! I am donating it to my library after I get done though so it should be next week!

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Dee wrote: "i'm behind on jim's stuff too - planning on start HW this weekend (I wanted to wait until book 4 was out), and then i'll hold off on Book 4, until 5 is nearly out...yes, i'm that nuts"

Dee...there are SO many reasons for that...how you read is the least of those reasons!!! Big Kisses!!!

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

ahh but you see, with my methodology, I don't get stuck in the waiting game for the next installment ;)

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Wait a minute...you haven't read 3 yet?

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

nope and I won't read 4 until next year probably - its been torture having it staring at me

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

Wow...you must really have some willpower. I keep looking at HB saying I can fit one more in!!!

[Anna, the Enabler]

I just finished The Black Box - Michael Connelly isn't exactly a Nordic author or Harry Bosch isn't exactly a Nordic detective, but this one had a bunch of Nordic in it. Like the victim, a Danish journalist, and it was interesting to see Harry's dealing with everything Danish in it. I also noticed Sara Blaedel was mentioned for helping with the Danish details.

[Helen]

I just ordered by copy of Helsinki Blood. Been meaning to for a few weeks now and eventually got around to it!
Hopefully it will be here for the weekend.
Cannot wait to read it!

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Lifetime and generally liked it though I think her personal life is becoming a bit pervasive.

[Diane S ☔]

Just finished a book, it is not noir but is an Icelandic fable and was very different but I liked it. The Blue Fox.

[Diane S ☔]

I am reading an apocalyptic nordic noir. Don't know if that really if a genre but I am reading The Healer: A Novel. Anyone else read this?

[Anna, the Enabler]

Ooh, I've heard about that book recently, haven't found or tried it yet, but it sounds like something I'll want to try when a copy finds me... :)

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

ok, that sounds really good...adds to the list

[Diane S ☔]

Have just started Death of the Demon: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel

[Helen]

Just finished Linda as in the Linda murder. by G W
Persson. Really loved it. Persson has become my favourite Nordic writer. Evert Backstrom the main character is unlike any detective you have ever meant. I was shocked by his behaviour. A great story and quite intricate. It is a slow burn type of book.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I read The Hanging and gotta say I did not like that book AT ALL. There was something off in the way it translated or something.

[Art Levine]

How do I determine what book the group is reading now -- like a book club?-- and commenting on? or do people just post comments on nordic noir books they've already read.

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

we have the author of the month thread, other than that, just the currently reading thread - we are fairly downlow and chill

[Ancestral]

I have just made a start on Jussi Adler-Olsen's Redemption. A different narrator, Stephen Pacey, who has made Assad sound a bit of a fool, whereas in the first book, The Keeper of Lost Causes, Erik Davies provided Assad with a deep, more confident voice providing Assad with a air of quiet authority, who questioned everything.

I'm more than disappointed with this narration already, and I'm having difficulty warming to it, and I think these is impeding on my ability to stay engaged with the story.

[Helen]

Ancestral wrote: "I have just made a start on Jussi Adler-Olsen's Redemption. A different narrator, Stephen Pacey, who has made Assad sound a bit of a fool, whereas in the first book, The Keeper of Lost Causes, Eri..."
Thank you for your insights Ancestral. Just about to start on this book. I agree, Assad was a sensitive wise character. I would feel the same way. He was the conscience of the previous book. His asides were priceless.

[Helen]

Tell me. Why do we love these Nordic books? Sometimes the writing is clunky, often repetitive. Very gory. Yet nothing gives me more reading pleasure than curling up with a good Scandi novel!

[Dee, the Insanity Check]

I think its because they are so different to the standard mystery fare in the US (at least from my perspective) - the policemen/detectives seem more realistic - they fail; cases go cold...whereas in most mysterys in the US its like wham, bam, case solved ma'am

[Helen]

Dee wrote: "I think its because they are so different to the standard mystery fare in the US (at least from my perspective) - the policemen/detectives seem more realistic - they fail; cases go cold...whereas i..."
Yes Dee, you are right. However, in Evert Backstrom (A character from the Persson novels) We have the worst type of cop imaginable. Corrupt, crude, lazy, greedy and stupid.. A total anti-hero no redeeming features at all. And yet I'm fascinated. In Australia, this type of cop would have been shunted out years ago. Or maybe not. I am a bit naive.

[Richard]

Dee wrote: "I think its because they are so different to the standard mystery fare in the US (at least from my perspective) - the policemen/detectives seem more realistic - they fail; cases go cold...whereas i..."

Yes. Too many of today's "Mystery" titles are really written for the "Romance" category readers. These books (I can't really call them 'novels', they are so poorly constructed) substitute romantic involvement for plot and think that makes them "character-driven".

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I agree with Dee and Richard. The majority of American mystery writers are too mellow/restrained. Even books that can go a bit darker are wrapped up with nice red ribbons. It drives me nuts. I don't know if I should blame the author or the American publisher.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I take the chunkiness from translation. I think so books translate better than others. I would love to learn some of the NN languages so that I could read the original books.

[Naomi, the Sanity Check]

I am trying to read Arne Dahl's Bad Blood. Work keeps distracting me though!