The Stranger

Fjällbacka #4

by Camilla Läckberg

In the new thriller by Camilla Läckberg, a string of suspicious deaths points to a potential serial killer who has turned his eye toward Fjallbacka and her dark forests, where two children vanished decades before.

A local woman is killed in a tragic car crash, but it isn’t a clear-cut drunk driving case. The victim’s blood contains high alcohol levels, but she rarely drank a drop. Meanwhile, a reality TV show begins shooting in the town, and as cameras shadow the stars’ every move, tempers start to flare. When a drunken party ends with an unpopular contestant’s murder, all eyes turn to the cast and crew could there be a murderer among them? The ratings spike as the country tunes in to a real life murder mystery. Detective Patrik Hedstrom finds himself increasingly unable to focus on the strange circumstances of the first case, but what if that holds the key to a series of other unsolved cases across Sweden? Under the unforgiving media spotlight, Patrik tackles his toughest investigation yet.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Scandinavian Literature, Audiobook, Sweden

407 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2006

About the author

Before she became one of Sweden’s most popular crime writers, Camilla Läckberg (b. 1974) worked as a marketing director and product manager for several years. Her first two crime novels, Isprinsessan (The Ice Princess) and Predikanten (The Preacher), received rave reviews from the Swedish press and quickly found a large readership. But her big breakthrough came when Stenhuggaren (The Stonecutter) was nominated for The Crime Novel of the Year award in 2005, and also when Olycksfågeln (The Stranger) and Tyskungen (The Hidden Child) were made lead titles in Bonnier’s Book Club.

Camilla’s books have gained even more popularity after being adapted into a TV-series, produced by SVT (Swedish Television).

In April 2017 her tenth book in the Fjällbacka-series, Häxan, was released – claimed to be her best novel so far! In 2019 Camilla received a diamond book for Häxan, since it has sold in over 300 000 copies in Sweden!

And in the spring of 2019 heralds the global launch of The Golden Cage, the first of two dark and suspenseful novels by Camilla Läckberg. After ten internationally bestselling novels and over 26 million copies sold, Läckberg’s next adventure will be a psychological suspense duology.

The Golden Cage was the most sold book in Sweden 2019.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Er, this should be titled "The Stranger" in English, instead of the Swedish, but I think it's the fourth book. Anyway, this one wasn't particularly good. I guessed the murderer early on and the reveal seemed dull. Maybe it was because I was reading the British edition, but it didn't seem to pack as much of a punch as the American translations?

Also, what the hell is up with Swedish crime novels that are anti-misogyny but are weirdly misogynistic at the same time? I felt this way about the Millennium trilogy as well. The women in these books only ever want babies, pretty much, and Patrik calls the female officers in his station "girls" (RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGEEEEEE) and the book's a lot about how he doesn't understand Erica's feelings because she's so sensitive because she's a woman and he's a man. But at the same time, Lackberg is eager to mark the differences between Patrik, who is "liberated and progressive", and the characters who are women-haters (so hateful that they're like one-dimensional, comical farces). However, even Patrik succumbs to thoughts like how he wasn't sure if he could work if his wife were the boss of him. It's like Lackberg is trying, but can't quite escape the framework of the sexism she was brought up with. What am I supposed to say? Valid attempt? Try harder?

Uh, mind you, none of this will stop me from still actively reading this series. I don't know why. They're like crack. I'm just also keeping my criticisms in mind.

[Jim Fonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book from one of the best Swedish Nordic noir mystery novelists. If you like a complex plot with multiple murders and a lot of characters, this is one for you. We have four detectives and a doofus department chief, each with their own backstory.

One of the murder victims is a lesbian and another is a member of a nationally televised reality show that is being filmed in town. Is this the work of a serial killer?



The main character we follow, Patrick, is getting remarried and has a live-in sister-in-law who is psychologically rebounding from having (justifiably) killed her own husband.

There’s a lot going on in this plot! Add to it a lot of local color of modern urban Sweden and you have a good read. 3.5 rounded up. The detectives live in the small coastal city of Fjallbacka, a real place.

[Revised 5/13/23]



The author (b. 1974) is best known for the 11 books in her Patrick Hedstrom series, especially the first book, The Ice Princess. This book I reviewed, The Stranger is #4.

Photos of Fjallbacka, Sweden and the author from Wikipedia

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in this interesting and entertaining series.

I enjoy the people who live in the little town of Fjallbacka, especially Patrik and Erica who seem to have achieved a personal balance in their lives, for the moment at least. Anna too seems to be getting her life together and everyone is generally happy and comfortable.

Against this is set the appearance of an apparent serial killer who is taking the lives of seemingly random people in a particularly nasty way. Patrik and his team give this case and another apparently unrelated murder all they have got, and I can only say I had no idea of the murderer until the very end and the actual identity was truly amazing!

An excellent book - I am giving it five stars.

[Kenchiin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a fun read, but there are several flaws that cannot be overlooked The mystery was dragged for too long and some of the side stories vary in quality.

And I hope I'm not the only one who detects the misogyny.

[Dana-Adriana B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prima mea carte scrisa de Camilla Lackberg, un still aparte. Per ansamblu mi-a placut, personajele sunt interesante, actiunea (desi nu se poate numi actiune propriu zisa) este si nu este. Patrick, un politist cu experienta unui orasel mic se confrunta cu o crima disimultata in accident de masina. Daca nu ar fi avut flerul de politist....nu ar fi existat cartea, bravo Patrick.

[Nikoleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Λίγο πιο φλύαρο απο τα υπόλοιπα αλλά αρκετά ευχάριστο.
3,5/5

[LENA TRAK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, obviously not one of her best thrillers, but I enjoyed it all the same! She definitely has a way with words and I simply adore the way she writes. The first 100 pages were a bit dull. That's when the plot starts to thicken... By the time I had finished reading the 4th flashback chapter I had already figured out who the killer is, which was a bit annoying, because I never guess correctly. It kind of took all the fun away! Anyway it's Lackberg people! I have a soft spot for her!!!!

I have already ordered The Hidden Child!!! Can't wait!

[Patricia Ayuste · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔴 Fjallbacka, el cadáver mutilado de una turista alemana y los esqueletos destrozados de dos jóvenes desaparecidas en 1979.

🗨️ ""Perdón", repitió con calma el padre Silvio. Es lo que todos buscamos, la mayoría de nosotros sin siquiera saberlo. Perdón por nuestros pecados, por nuestros fracasos, por nuestras carencias y errores. Perdón por las cosas que hemos hecho...Y por las cosas que no hicimos".

📚 A saltos entre la investigación del pasado (1979) y del presente (2003), el policía Patrick Hedström y su mujer, la escritora Erica Falk, buscan la conexión entre dos sucesos tan alejados en el tiempo y que, sin embargo, parecen guardar una clara relación. En el centro de la atención la familia Hult, cuyo principal sospechoso en 1979 se suicidó después de ser acusado.

✒️ Segunda entrega de la conocida "Serie Fjallbacka". Camilla Läckberg teje una nueva historia de suspense que envuelve a los mismos protagonistas de la primera ("La princesa de hielo"), junto a los que evolucionamos y vivimos la intriga propia de la investigación, de la acertada ambientación de la novela y del desarrollo personal de los personajes.

🔝 Puntos fuertes:
- La intriga sostenida a lo largo de toda la obra.
- La alternancia de personajes-narradores que ofrece distintos ángulos de la historia.
- La reflexión implícita acerca de temas como la familia, la violencia de género y la religión.
- Personajes muy bien definidos.
- Lectura sencilla de entender y seguir.
- Continuación de una serie.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a the fourth book I've read in this series and honestly, I feel like I live in Fjallbacca and Patrik and Erica, Anna, Martin, Dan, Gosta, Annika, etc. are my friends and neighbors. This book wasn't nearly as good as the last one, but it was still great. I promised myself I would take a break from this amazing Swedish series - but it is going to be difficult! I want to start the next one right now...hmmmm...maybe just a couple of chapters and I'll pick something else up. I have so many great books waiting, but I'm just stuck in this world I can't even pronounce. It's actually wonderful when you find a "binge" series. Highly recommend, but know if you get sucked in, you might not escape!

[Skorofido Skorofido · Rating 3 out of 5]

Σε «συσκευασία πόκετ», ό,τι πρέπει για την παραλία… χωρίς άγχος μην γεμίσουν οι σελίδες άμμο ή το χειρότερο μου ever μήπως πιτσιλιστούν οι σελίδες με το αρμυρό νερό και μπάσουν οι ιδέες νερό…
Λάκμπεργκ πόκετ αυτή τη φορά, «Σε ζωντανή μετάδοση». Καινούριο αίμα στο αστυνομικό τμήμα της Φιελμπάκα, ένας έρωτας για το διευθυντή του αστυνομικού τμήματος, η Ερίκα και ο Πάτρικ (το γνωστό ζεύγος) στις ετοιμασίες για τον επικείμενο γάμο τους κι ένα ριάλιτι με γαμώ τα ονόματα (Γαμημένο Τάνουμ!)
… α! και δυο φόνους, έτσι από το πουθενά να γυρεύουν τη λύση τους, και ο Πάτρικ αντί να δοκιμάζει το γαμπριάτικο φράκο να κυνηγάει δολοφόνους…
Ομολογώ πως μου άρεσε περισσότερο από το προηγούμενο της Λάκμπεργκ (τα Οικογενειακά μυστικά)… όχι τόσο για το αστυνομικόν αλλά κυρίως για το κοινωνικόν της υπόθεσης όπου η συγγραφέας καυτηριάζει και σφάζει με το γάντι τα τεκταινόμενα στα ριάλιτι…
Δεν μου αρέσει να επαναλαμβάνομαι… το μοτίβο είναι γνωστό… σε όποιους αρέσει η Λάκμπεργκ είναι μια καλή προσπάθεια… όποιοι πάλι βρίσκουν το ζεύγος νερόβραστο και μουρόχαυλο, το ζεύγος συνεχίζει να ζει τη μουροχαυλίαση του, μόνο που τώρα η Μάγια τους έχει ολίγον μεγαλώσει…
Αυτό που ομολογώ πως μου αρέσει σε αυτή τη σειρά είναι πως ανακαλύπτω κάθε φορά ότι η απελευθερωμένη σουηδική κοινωνία, τελικά υποφέρει από τις ίδιες ασθένειες με την ελληνική… πεθερές που χώνονται, θειάδες που πρέπει να καλέσεις οπωσδήποτε στο γάμο σου, κιλά που πρέπει να χάσεις για να χωρέσεις στο νυφικό…
Ως προς το αστυνομικόν κομμάτι της υπόθεσης, αυτή τη φορά πέτυχα διάνα!!! Για να περιαυτολογήσω (γιατί η μαύρη αλήθεια είναι πως δεν είμαι καθόλου σκορόφιδον ταπεινόν) βρήκα το δολοφόνο και την περίεργη σχέση (sic) από τη μέση περίπου του αναγνώσματος.
Ανάλαφρο, ό,τι πρέπει για παραλία… 7/10

http://skorofido.blogspot.gr/2016/06/...

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a matter of taste, like (almost...) everything in life, as some of my friends gave 5 stars to this story. For me, it was an ordeal to find the third one. Let's count:
- the novel is far too long
- Patrick and Erica used to be nice and warm characters. In this one Patrick is ok, but Erica is grumpy and mischievous, with no reason at all
- I'm less interested in Erica's bad relationship with her mother in law
-there is something artificial regarding the characters, not to mention that there is not any pleasant character in this story
- the final scene of the hut seems to me to be out of place
- there is no need to punish Mellberg so hard. Even the author looked to see that, as he's a much nicer person in the following novels.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

#leiturasemtemposdeférias

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great. Tedious and wordy and long-winded, and none too believable. Disappointing. Even the translation irritated me, but perhaps it's the fault of the original. The dialogue was stilted, and often boring, with way too much exposition that sounded unnatural. And I know it's picky, but I figure if both author and editor miss repetitions like this, ".. but Erica saw it all too well. She knew all too well ..." then the book is carelessly written. I think fellow Scandinavian Karin Fossum is head and shoulders above this writer.

[Elif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Önce neden baskı kalitesinin yerlerde süründüğünü söyleyeyim. Yağlı kağıt. İncecik. Sayfaları çevirirken korktum yırtılacak diye. Bir süredir böyle kitaplarına denk geliyorum @dogan_kitap’ın. Hatta @dexpub da basıyor aynı formatta. Ama basmayın arkadaşlar. Biz sevmiyoruz.
Gelelim kitabımıza. @lackberg benim çok sonradan keşfettiğim bir yazar oldu. Ama iyi ki keşfetmişim. Çok güzel İsveç polisiyesi yazıyor. Başrol Patrik Hedström’ü daha okuduğum ilk kitapta sevmiştim. Bu kitapta da çok sevdim. Sadece ben yine seriyi sırasına göre okumuyorum. Aklım karıştı biraz o yüzden. Patrik’in hayatında olup bitenler karman çorman oldu ama çok önemli değil. Klasik ben 😌
Bir araba kazasını araştırmaya giden Patrik küçücük bir detaya takılır ve konunun üstüne gitmeye karar verir. Öte yandan kasabanın adının duyulması için canlı bir eğlence programı yapılmaya başlanır. Tanum Eğleniyor adlı programda da biri öldürülünce Patrik iki ayrı davayı aynı anda yürütmeye çalışır. Bir yandan nişanlısı Erica ile düğün hazırlıkları yapmaktadır. Uykusuz ve yorgun geçirdiği geceler arttıkça Patrik’in morali bozulur. Ama bu iki davayı da çözmeye kararlıdır. Ele geçirdiği yeni kanıtlar ışığında araba kazasının bir cinayet olabileceğine dair bir fikir oluşur. Patrik’in avı başlar.
Gerçekten okumaktan zevk aldığım bir polisiye oldu. Hatta bazen kendimi yavaşlattım, hemen bitmesin diye. Çünkü güzeldi.
Tavsiye ederim 👍🏻

[Elke Eelbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi vervolg op de voorgaznde delen, goed opgebouwd verhaal, voldoende spannend om te lezen.

[Anto M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
"Si chiedeva come sarebbe stato il mondo là fuori. Ma se avesse saputo quanto era freddo e cattivo, non avrebbe mai insistito tanto per farsi portare al di là del bosco".

Stavolta la storia, almeno per me, ci ha messo un po' a carburare. L'inizio mi sembrava un pochino confuso con tanti elementi slegati, ma poi, pian piano la Lackberg riesce a operare la sua magia, trasmettendo un'inquietudine crescente.


" «Non fermerete il reality, adesso vero? Non potete, non potete farlo!» La voce era disperata e Patrick sentì montare il disprezzo nei confronti di tutto quel baraccone. Come era possibile che un programma televisivo fosse più importante della morte di un essere umano?"[...] «Una ragazza è stata uccisa e loro la usano come intrattenimento nella fascia di maggiore ascolto. E il paese se ne sta lì seduto a guardare! Io lo trovo spaventosamente...» cercò la parola giusta «... irrispettoso!»

E le debolezze dell'essere umano? Riesce a metterle in luce senza fronzoli, senza ammorbidirle. Nude e crude.

"Durante il tragitto in barca verso la terraferma restarono in silenzio, come all'andata, ma questa volta era un silenzio carico di dolore e sbigottimento. Dolore per la fragilità e la piccolezza dell'essere umano, sbigottimento per la portata degli errori che era capace di commettere."

A metà romanzo avevo già individuato il colpevole, ma il movente è rimasto un punto interrogativo fino al finale chiarificatore. Come sempre l'autrice getta le basi per la prossima storia che si preannuncia intrigante soprattutto per il ritorno in scena di Erica, rimasta in ombra negli ultimi due volumi.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ περισσότερο αληθοφανής ιστορία από τις προηγούμενες της σειράς. Πολύ έξυπνη και δυνατή ιστορία, πραγματικά!

[Leo C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Próximamente reseña 😊

[Elisa Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow

Começo assim, só para dizer que fantástica leitura que esta foi! Demorei a "encarar" com o policial nórdico, mas valeu a pena! Fiquei viciada e já nem quero outra coisa.

Pois então, a historia começa com um suposto acidente de viação, que mata uma pessoa,m,as que afinal não é bem acidente. Segue-se a morte de uma concorrente de um reality-show, que está a ser filmado na área em que Patrik Hedstrom e Érica Berger vivem. Tudo aparentemente sem ligação certo? Mistério, é só o que vos digo.... E lancemos ainda á mistura o casamento que Érica e Patrik estão a tentar planear. E ainda Anna, a irmã de Erica, que está a viver em casa da irmã, com os filhos, após um incidente trágico na sua vida. Tudo isto com muitos temas, que podem ser considerados tabu a serem abordados.

As personagens estão muito bem delineadas, as várias linhas de história bem feitas e "entrançadas"; uma coisa que ela faz que eu adoro - todas as personagens começam por não ter nada de comum entre si, como ilhas isoladas, que, aos poucos a autora vai atando e juntando, até todas estarem no centro da trama e com papeis definidos.

A autora fala também da vida familiar das 2 personagens principais, o que me agrada sobremaneira, porque um policial não tem que ser só investigação pura e dura - a vida é feita de todos os bocadinhos que a compõe e se Erica e Patrik são um casal, a narrativa deve, também, focar um pouco isso, com conta peso e medida, que foi exactamente o que achei - nem demais, nem de menos.

A Sô Dona Camilla (como lhe passei a chamar) faz uma trama tão intensa e deixa algumas pontas de fora, só para nos manter alerta, mas sem revelar demasiado, e isso, para mim, foi o elemento que me viciou. Gosto de autores que não me facilitam a vida e que me façam "esgatanhar" para tentar chegar á conclusão.

Portanto, adorei e quero mais.

[Eline Van Der Meulen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zusje van Camilla Läckberg is het vierde deel van de reeks en die verveelt echt geen moment. Ook hier gaat het om een zeer vlot lezend boek waar we weer wat meer te weten komen over Patrik, zijn gezin en zijn team. Telkens worden er komische passages afgewisseld met de bittere realiteit en ook in dit deel komen er hel wat zaken op de schouders te liggen van Patrik. De realityshow die landt in het dorp veroorzaakt een hele hoop ophef en wat een gloriemoment moest worden, draait uit op een ramp als iemand dood wordt aangetroffen. Tegelijk wordt een vrouw met een enorm hoog promillegehalte aangetroffen in haar wagen. Ze dronk echter nooit en de verklaring waarom ze nu een toevlucht zocht tot de fles, daar kan niemand iets zinnigs op antwoorden. Tijdens het onderzoek komen er echter andere zaken uit het verleden bovendrijven die heel gelijkaardig zijn aan het verhaal van de dronken vrouw. Zaken die nooit opgelost werden wegens gebrek aan verdachten. Een sprookjesboek zou hier echter wel voor een doorbraak kunnen zorgen. Zusje was weer een uiterst spannend deel van de serie en ik krijg maar geen genoeg van deze personages. De volgende delen zullen dus wel heel snel volgen. Voor zusje geef ik graag 4 mooie sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...

[Dimitris Passas (TapTheLine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ένα αξιόλογο βιβλίο μυστηρίου από την πασίγνωστη και πολυδιαβασμένη Camilla Lackberg. Το μεγαλύτερο πρόβλημα του βιβλίου είναι ότι από πολύ νωρίς γνωρίζεις τον δολοφόνο, από την στιγμή που δεν υπάρχουν και πολλοί ύποπτοι. Παρόλα αυτά, διαβάζεται πολύ ευχάριστα και είναι ιδανικό για μεταμεσονύκτια ανάγνωση τις χειμερινές, κρύες νύχτες. Ακόμα ένα μειονέκτημα που αφορά όχι μόνο το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο αλλά όλη τη σειρά ''Fjallbacka'', είναι το γεγονός ότι είναι πολύ δύσκολο να πιστέψεις ότι σε ένα τόσο μικρό χωριό της Σουηδικής επαρχίας μπορούν να συμβαίνουν τόσο πολλά και αποτρόπαια εγκλήματα. Το περίφημο ''suspension of disbelief'', καθίσταται σχεδόν αδύνατο στην συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση. Ακόμα, θεωρώ ότι η Lackberg είναι μια συγγραφέας που προσπαθεί να πλησιάσει τον τρόπο γραφής και την δημιουργία σασπένς του Jo Nesbo με αποτέλεσμα, κάποιες στιγμές ,να νομίζω ότι διαβάζω ένα κακέκτυπο κείμενο του Νορβηγού σουπερ-σταρ συγγραφέα. Με όλα τα παραπάνω υπόψιν, δεν μπορώ παρά να το συστήσω στους φανατικούς του Scandi-Noir και των whodunnit μυθιστορημάτων γενικότερα.

[Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta es de esas pocas veces en las que me veo venir al culpable desde el primer momento (los motivos me ha costado algo más) y aún y así me he gustado la historia.
Las historias de Camilla me atrapan cada vez más rápido (a la vista está que este me ha durado menos de una semana) y en mi opinión se nota una clara mejora en cuanto al primer libro, aunque las casualidades siguen estando a la orden del día (aunque en este caso es algo que también me ha gustado).
Lo que también me está gustando mucho son las historias de fondo que se van incorporando y que parecen tener menos importancia pero que no me extrañaría que en algún momento alguna pasara a ocupar la trama principal... ya sea la historia de Anna o la de la madre de ambas.
Me resistí a empezar esta serie durante años y ahora parece que leeré todo lo que pueda en el menor tiempo posible xD

[Viajando entre páginas · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Es el que menos me ha gustado hasta ahora de la serie, pero no ha estado mal. Todo lo referente al Reality Show me sobraba. La resolución del caso sí me ha sorprendido, aunque en cada novela veo más secundario el papel de Erica y eso no me gusta nada.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gallows Bird is the fourth of Camilla Läckberg’s series of crime novels, set in and around in the small town of Fjällbacka on the Swedish Coast.

It’s a series that I have grown to love, without understanding quite why, and while thinking that, maybe, I shouldn’t love it as much as I did.

Now though I have sorted things out in my head.

I had sometimes thought that the dialogue was stilted and that the characters were too straightforward. But when I read back the dialogue I couldn’t fault it. The characters spoke simply and naturally and with correct grammar. And though I could find no quirk, no eccentricity, in any of the recurring characters, I believed in them completely and really wanted to know what their futures held.

What I am trying to say is that Camilla Läckberg’s writing is completely focused on her characters and their stories. On their lives, their situations and their emotions. And that she does it very well.

She also varies her mysteries very nicely. This time around there are two very distinctive storylines.

A woman argues bitterly with her partner, storms out, and some time later is found dead in a car reeking of alcohol. Her partner is devastated, her daughter is shattered, and her ex husband is still bitter that his wife left him .

I reacted to all four characters, and I was particularly touched by the relationship between the dead woman’s daughter and her lover, as they mourned.

Real people and real emotions.

It is soon established that the death was no accident, and eventually links are made to a series of apparently accidental deaths across the country.

Meanwhile reality television has come to town. A coach load of those who have found fame in on other reality shows has arrived, to be filmed working in local businesses and interacting with the townsfolk.

This side of the story could have easily veered towards parody or cliché, but the author’s clear presentation of facts and characters meant that it was perfectly pitched. I felt concern, where I had expected to feel distaste that I had expected.

The powers that be had hoped that the programme would bring good publicity to the town, but the participants are fractious and eventually a party gets out of hand and a body was found.

The investigation of both death falls, of course, to Patrik Hedström of the Tanumshede Police, and I was pleased to be allowed to watch Patrik and his colleagues at work again.

Eventually, of course, they linked the two, seemingly disparate deaths, in a very clever piece of plotting.

But before that there was routine policework, there were flashes of inspiration, and there were some lovely human details that revealed just a little more of the recurring characters.

And it was lovely to follow Patrik home, and to watch as he and his fiance Erika supported her sister in the aftermath of the events at the end of the previous book in the series, care for their infant daughter and, in between times, plan their wedding.

There were mundane day-to-day details, the sorts of scenes that are played out in so many families, and some wonderful moments. The moment when Erika, who was stressed and horribly aware that she hadn’t quite lost the extra weight she gained during her pregnancy, finally found the right wedding dress was absolutely perfect.

The Gallows Bird wraps the mysteries, the investigations, and the home lives together beautifully, and I was eager to follow all the storylines.

But it isn’t perfect. The police are still a little too reliant on Patrik’s seemingly infallible intuition, and one or two loose ends are tied up a little too neatly. I was disappointed the cliffhanger at the end of the previous book was resolved too quickly, and potentially interesting events passed over.

And, not for the first time, I worked out who the killer was very early on. That was a little disappointing, but I was happy to spend time with the people, to see what was happening in their lives, to see how the investigation panned out.

There was high drama, and another cliffhanger at the end, so reading the next book in the series is a high priority.

[Giuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ormai ho capito perché tutti quelli che conosco mi avessero parlato di questa serie esaltandola: la Lackberg è in grado con i suoi libri di catturarti e di tenerti incollata alle pagine fino all’ultima, creando dei gialli davvero godibili.
E questo quarto volume decisamente non è un’eccezione.

La trama è molto particolare ed intricata, con più casi tutti contemporaneamente che devono essere risolti. Alcune cose, in realtà, le ho trovate un po’ prevedibili, più che altro immaginavo che alla fine il tutto si sarebbe risolto così com’è successo, mentre altre le ho trovate un po’ troppo forzate: l’autrice ha infatti cercato di incastrare tra loro molti dettagli molto diversi fra loro, per cui a volte questi intrecci sono risultati un po’ troppo forzati e molto irrealistici. Però nel complesso si è trattato comunque di un giallo godibile in grado di tenere con il fiato sospeso.

Come sempre, il punto forte di questa serie restano comunque i personaggi: ormai li adoro. Oltre ai protagonisti Patrik ed Erica, che mi piacciono molto sia come singoli che come coppia, in questo libro mi sono piaciuti moltissimo anche i personaggi secondari. In particolare mi è piaciuta molto la crescita di Anna, sorella di Erica, che finalmente riesce ad aprire gli occhi e decide di ricominciare. L’ho trovata un personaggio complesso, a causa di tutte le difficoltà che ha dovuto affrontare, ma che finalmente è riuscita ad alzare la testa e a camminare fiera, il tutto emanando in chi le sta intorno una giusta dose di serenità e felicità.
Mi è poi piaciuto molto il personaggio di Mellberg, che invece nei romanzi precedenti avevo sempre considerato come nullo. In questo romanzo è uscito il suo vero carattere: un dolce romanticone senza speranze. Un po’ mi ha fatto pena, ma allo stesso tempo non ho potuto che fare il tifo per lui.

[Colleen Cad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoiler alert!

I've read several of Lackberg's books now, and getting more and more irritated. I won't give you a synopsis of this book as it's available above. I think she uses shortcuts to build false mystery.

For the most part she writes from multiple character's point of view. For the reader, this is easy to accept. You have 100% access to that character. However, when her fake mystery building happens, she cuts the reader off, removes access to the character, and leaves the reader hanging. It is just so contrived!

A character finds an interesting news article, but it isn't until 10 chapters later that the reader finds out what the article said. Patrick, the main character/ detective finds a paper in bottom of backpack that is significant; however the reader is left hanging for pages and pages to find out about the clue! Also the italics scenes set at the beginning of chapters is a tired and cliche way to build mystery.

The jaw dropping moment for me in this book: Patrick goes to the local librarian to find out about the four pages from a fairy tale. He asks her can she identify the book AND put them in order. After awhile, she shuffles them into order, "and the story makes sense" according to Peter. Oh, by the way, she tells him, there is a page missing. You can tell by the page numbers!!! A detective can't compute page numbers and order?

Won't be reading Lackberg any more...

[Léa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encore un très bon Camilla Läckberg ! L'histoire est prenante, les indices arrivent au fur et à mesure de l'intrigue pour nous permettre de nous faire notre propre idée du tueur, et les personnages sont toujours aussi intéressants. Ce n'est pas mon préféré de la série (cf Le Prédicateur) mais L'Oiseau de mauvais augure est néanmoins très bien. J'ai hâte de découvrir L'Enfant allemand !

[Cátia Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apesar de, pela primeira vez nos livros de Camilla, ter tido um tiro certeiro logo nas primeiras páginas, não deixa de ser um enredo bem conseguido.

Apenas o pobre do Mellberg... enfim! :)

No fim, fica um interlúdio interessante ao próximo livro "De onde viria aquela minúscula peça de roupa? Porque estaria salpicada de sangue? E porque a teria a mãe conservado num baú no sótão, junto de uma medalha da Segunda Guerra Mundial?" MISTÉRIO... :) Camilla a aguçar-nos o apetite!

Bem, até ao próximo!

[Nuria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5🌟

Me ha gustado mucho sobre todo como enlazan los asesinatos pareciendo al principio dos casos totalmente distintos. Sin duda me ha engancho y hubo partes que me sorprendieron aunque otras no tmya que se podían intuir a lo largo del libro. Aun así se disfruta mucho. Sin duda me están encantando tanto Erica como Patrik a lo largo de esta serie.

[Mery_B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5 ★