The Darkest Day buddy read discussion

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The Root of Evil
The Root Of Evil - Chapters 1-4
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Nataliya
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Nov 18, 2021 07:38PM

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Thanks for organising the buddy read discussion again Bill! 🏆
Will hope to finish Book 1 (don't laugh) soon. I realise I'm the last one. I'm built for marathons, not for speed ;-)



Too kind Nataliya - but honestly I dont want to be the one to hold things up, I can catch up and we can read the 3rd together if you guys like. I certainly, wouldn't take any offence at all if you rattled on with this one!!! :))


I'm ok to start in a few weeks too 🤗
I still have to finish Book 1!!! I'm definitely showing my reading speed (turtle 🐢).
So early December to start??? How does that sound?
Mark & Neale are super fast readers anyway. I could start the book today and they'd still beat me 🐢🐢🐢

No rush Marko! Would love you to stick with the Barbarotti fan club.

Neale-ski, hallo 🤗 Like I was saying above, you & Mark are such quick readers anyway. So if we wait a little bit, that's a-ok with me.
Gives me a chance to finish the first book 😃




Hahahaha

Yep just downloaded it William and good to go - can't wait for this!


The irony Marko. Or should that be synchronicity? Kind of like Mr. Baker being a baker.
Sarah Death did the translation for Book 1, so that means this'll be more of the same I'm sure, as I felt Book 1 flowed really well, and lost none of the nuances or (dark) humour.
I'll start reading early next week. Looking forward to it. And lots more interesting discussions.





Howdy peeps,
I surprised myself by managing to "keep up" with the reading schedule. I picked the book up last night, and with Nesser and his magic, it was easy to read...and keep reading.
Prologue
For some reason, I thought this was written/being told by a lady. I don't know why. There was just something about the perspective.
That is til I got to the line "It is five years since I had a wife. I miss her sometimes, mostly not." That's when I realised it was a bloke telling the story. Though of course it could be a woman, but I'll leave that train of thought there.
The prologue was heavy. I wasn't particularly enjoying it. Though I did very much like the writing about the sea, and the sounds and feel of being near the water. Not keen on the character and his (her?) thoughts...something is off there.
Chapters 1-4
Barbarotti in Chapter 1. Page 1 in fact! Yayyyyy. I love that he went on hols with the lovely Marianne. I love that he's so happy. I love that he continues his bargaining with God (I note that God remains firmly on 11 points, which he was also in Book 1). I love his comfortable relationship with Marianne, and that they both shared their thoughts on faith and God, how they viewed "him".
And I love that the plot is open to what would have happened if he'd chosen not to read the letter before returning to home and "real life". Undoubtedly Erik Bergstramm would still be for the chopping block. So the fact of his opening/not opening the letter in a specific time would not have changed that. But it just added that bit of an edge to an otherwise idyllic holiday. And it showed that Marianne could go with the flow and accept his life as a policeman (whereas I got the sense that his ex-wife Helena perhaps couldn't, which possibly was one of the reasons they divorced). Although Marianne and Barbarotti are at different stages of their lives now, they're more settled in themselves, so that's perhaps why his police work isn't bothering Marianne (at least at this point).
So...how does the mysterious letter writer tie in with the mysterious person narrating the prologue? The moral of the story is: skinny dipping (when drunk) will always have consequences...
Which reminds me! There's a line "Actions must have consequences, otherwise creation goes off the rails." which really stood out to me. Not just because it's intriguing, but also Nesser seems to have a thing about "consequences" as he mentioned it in Book 1 too: ”Action and consequence...Cause and effect.”
I wonder if Nesser studied theology of philosophy at some point, to keep pondering about actions and consequences? 🤔
Anyhoo, I've rabbited on enough. Hope you're all enjoying it. Sounds like you are.

Prologue and Chapters 1-4
Howdy peeps,
I surprised myself by managing to "keep up" with the reading schedule. I picked the book up last night, and with Nesser and his magic, it was easy to re..."
Love all of that Nattington, it's so good isn't it? I agree Barbarotti's relationship with Marianne is a wonderful thing - they seem so well matched. I loved the fact she kept banging on about the letter and Gunnar just wanted to forget it. Goes to show, you never answer work mail, emails, phone calls when on leave hey?
The whole God methodology he uses I love. I'm thinking of adopting it myself!!
It's great - I'll have to get cracking on 5, 6, 7, and 8 - dont want to fall behind you lot :))

Did anyone else notice that Erik/Robert was from a dysfunctional family where the "wh..."
Mmmmm......I assumed (perhaps I shouldn't) the letter writer and the prologue writer are the same. See, I dont read much crime fiction William - so I'm a bit of a dullard when it comes to questioning things!! I thought the same as you - some similarities, the Spain thing hit me straight away - with #1. Loving it and so glad Gunnar came into the story in Ch1!!

Love the structure of the story how each part starts with the "killer" writing. He/she keeps mentioning DR L so I am assuming they have some mental issues, sounds like a psychopath with no empathy. Loving it so far! :-)

Yes, I'm with you Neale - I reckon they are one and the same, but......who knows?? Yes - it's great already!!

Did anyone else notice that Erik/Robert was from a dysfunctional family where the "wh..."
Yes, I believe we are Bill. But is it a trick??? Time will tell.

Did anyone else notice that Erik/Robert was from a dysfunctional fami..."
Spain...hmmmm. S/he might bump in Karl-Erik (the "Pedagogical Pine") and Rosemarie. Imagine! That would be beyond clever if Nesser somehow links the characters from Book 1 in Book 2.

Definitely it seems that mental health is a running theme with Nesser's writing Neale-ski. I don't recall him doing that with his previous series (with Insp. Van Veteeren). Of course some of the characters were unwell to unhinged, but the actual mention of doctors and characters knowing they were having issues, I don't recall that at all.
Having said that, he does it so well.

Prologue and Chapters 1-4
Howdy peeps,
I surprised myself by managing to "keep up" with the reading schedule. I picked the book up last night, and with Nesser and his magic, it was..."
That was a pure fluke me reading four chapters back-to-back last night Marko.
I'll aim to read 5-8 this week. Fingers crossed. At least a few chapters by mid-week, which is...tomorrow! Hmmm, that's a bit optimistic on my part. See how it goes ;-)

Neale, you think the Gunnar on the beach with the group is Gunnar Barbarotti?

That particular Gunnar (on the beach) was with Anna. Could well be...Gunnar & Anna were the unmarried couple on the beach. Maybe whatever happened...well, I'm pre-empting as I have no idea.

Yep Mark, I think it is too strong of a coincidence. However, you never know. But if it is the same Gunnar that would be a major reason the killer is sending the letters to him and that he is indeed on that list himself. I am trying to work out the dates in my head. Would he have forgotten about Anna?

My gut tells me things will not end well for her.
Which brings me to the people on the narrator/letter writer's list were all at the beach whenever what happened (that I haven't read yet) happened. 100% that "Gunnar" is our Insp. Barbarotti. Ok, at least 99.9% sure of that.
Really enjoying the writing again. Kind of ominous without being overly so. More like a sense of foreboding.
Loving the banter and working relationship between Barbarotti and Backman. It's brilliant and completely life like.