Group Reads Discussion Post: The Chestnut Man

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

This is the discussion thread for the Fall 2025 Group Read, The Chestnut Man in the category Fiction: Nordic Noir. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

[Tammy AZ]

I've had this on my to-read list for a while and having it as one of the group reads prompted me to pick it up. If you like Nordic Noir, you will like this book, it hits all the notes - gloomy setting, grumpy detective, and grisly murders. I highly recommend it as we head into Fall and the weather starts to turn gloomy.

[Amanda]

Is there a start date for this or we just comment anytime during throughout the fall season?

[KmarieD, Moderator]

Amanda wrote: "Is there a start date for this or we just comment anytime during throughout the fall season?"

You just read and comment sometime during the Fall season.

[August]

I just finished listening to the audiobook, and I liked this one much more than I expected I would! It kept me up past my bedtime because I just had to know what was going to happen next. It looks like there's a sequel that hasn't yet been translated to English, but fingers crossed it's in the works!

[Amanda]

I just ordered mine (hard copy) on amazon so it should get here by tomorrow or Monday. I'm excited! It sounds like the perfect book for me :)

[Amanda]

I just started the other day. I'm on chapter 10. Is anyone else reading it right now?

[Amanda]

So I'm about 55% finished, and I'm like it so far, but it also drags in certain parts. I'm not sure exactly why this is. Does anyone else feel this way? I'm trying to pinpoint what's making it feel slow-moving lol

[Amanda]

^ that being said

(view spoiler)[I am dying to figure out who The Chestnut Man is and how Kristin Hartung is related. I have some theories but don't feel confident enough to say them yet (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Okay I figured it out

(view spoiler)[ it's because when anything big is about to happen, the book switches to focus on another character. I think this was meant to build suspense but often times its like 3-4 chapters before they get back to what happened and it kinda loses the excitement (for me anyways)

I'm also curious as to how the case in the very beginning of the book is going to relate to the current killer? (hide spoiler)]

[Susan A]

Thank you to the nominator of this book!

I like Nordic noir in general but, I really liked this. Dark, violent. It wasn't easy to figure out. (Although, I usually don't try to figure it out. I like to just let it unfold) I plan to watch the TV show once I can rope someone into watching with me. I am very interested in book 2, but unfortunately, I cannot read any of the languages it is available in.

[Tess]

I just finished the book. I like reading Nordic noir and it didn't disappoint.

[Rina]

I really like Scandinavian thrillers - The Bridge with Saga Norén is one of my favorite TV series - and this book didn't disappoint. I liked the case, and it had that atmosphere typical of Scandinavian thrillers: uncensored brutality, imperfect main characters and some moral questions woven into the plot.

I liked Naia Thulin and Mark Hess, even though their partnership reminded me somewhat of Saga Norén and Henrik. Naia wasn't quite as strong a character as Saga, but to be fair that's a very high bar.

Some of the shorter chapters felt overly cinematic and didn't quite work for me. After finishing the book I found out that the author is a scriptwriter, which explaines this style - but for me there were just too many of them. That's why I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5.

The final chapter seemed to set up a sequel and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.