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Jessica Niemi #1
Мисливець на відьом
За сюжетами трилерів відомого письменника Роґера Копонена відбувається серія містичних убивств. Знайдено мертвою дружину письменника в розкішній чорній сукні, на її обличчі застигла моторошна посмішка. Дівчина-потопельниця під льодом, чоловік, забитий до смерті камінням, та інші жертви: хтось загрався в кривавого інквізитора, головного героя роману Роґера «Полювання на відьом». За розслідування береться слідча Єссіка Ніємі. І що глибше вона занурюється у справу, то більше розуміє: вбивця не один, тут діє ціла зграя оскаженілих демонів у людській подобі. Вони завжди на крок попереду від Єссіки. Та коли світло проллється на темні закутки життя самої слідчої, жінка усвідомить: вона полює не лише на злочинців. А й на демонів із власного минулого...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
686 people are currently reading
11682 people want to read
About the author
Max Seeck
17 books523 followersMax Seeck - New York Times Bestselling Author of THE WITCH HUNTER.
“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. Four years and four books later, Max Seeck’s novels have been sold to more than 40 countries, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries and as far as Korea!
His debut trilogy following protagonist Daniel Kuisma sold over 50,000 copies in Finland. His new Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! In Faithful Reader, AKA The Witch Hunter (US title), book 1 of the Jessica Niemi series, Helsinki Police Detective Jessica Niemi hunts an occultist serial killer. In Evil’s Net, AKA Ice Coven, Jessica and her team follow clues hidden on Instagram to solve the disappearance of a young influencer and a manga artist. He is currently writing the 3rd book of Jessica Niemi series.
Max Seeck has a background in sales and marketing, and has lately been able to dedicate his time to his lifelong love of writing. His interests include well-conducted research, reading Nordic Noir and listening to movie soundtracks as he writes.
“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. Four years and four books later, Max Seeck’s novels have been sold to more than 40 countries, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries and as far as Korea!
His debut trilogy following protagonist Daniel Kuisma sold over 50,000 copies in Finland. His new Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! In Faithful Reader, AKA The Witch Hunter (US title), book 1 of the Jessica Niemi series, Helsinki Police Detective Jessica Niemi hunts an occultist serial killer. In Evil’s Net, AKA Ice Coven, Jessica and her team follow clues hidden on Instagram to solve the disappearance of a young influencer and a manga artist. He is currently writing the 3rd book of Jessica Niemi series.
Max Seeck has a background in sales and marketing, and has lately been able to dedicate his time to his lifelong love of writing. His interests include well-conducted research, reading Nordic Noir and listening to movie soundtracks as he writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,282 reviews
July 12, 2020
This had all the ingredients to be a good suspense novel, but somehow managed to feel like a homework assignment that I had to mentally trudge my way through.
The wife of a novelist is found murdered in their home, and the details of her death seemed plucked from her husband’s series of fictional books about witches and the occult. But investigator Jessica Niemi and her team soon suspect that this is not the work of a single person.
There are more dead bodies and thus more leads need to be sifted through.
This was a challenging novel in part because I think something was lost in translation in terms of helping the reader figure out what time and place we were reading about. Right now, I’m pretty sure I didn’t fully understand everything that happened.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 29, 2020.
The wife of a novelist is found murdered in their home, and the details of her death seemed plucked from her husband’s series of fictional books about witches and the occult. But investigator Jessica Niemi and her team soon suspect that this is not the work of a single person.
There are more dead bodies and thus more leads need to be sifted through.
This was a challenging novel in part because I think something was lost in translation in terms of helping the reader figure out what time and place we were reading about. Right now, I’m pretty sure I didn’t fully understand everything that happened.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 29, 2020.
February 21, 2024
The story takes place in the icey, frigid areas of Helsinki which give the reader an atmospheric and creepy feeling of continuous foreboding as a young detective Jessica Niemi takes on a horrific murder of the wife of a best selling author who wrote an international selling "Witch Hunter" trilogy. The wife was home alone with no sign of a break-in and hours later another body is found in the lake behind their property drowned and frozen in the water.
The husband and author was three hours away at a book signing so the detectives know he is not a suspect at the moment until.they find clues to the murders resembling the vicious crimes that take place in his book series. As the detectives follow the clues they realize that if the murders follow along the book trilogy then there will be more murders before the night is over and many more to follow and they will have more suspects than they could ever have imagined plus Jessica feels that the murders are tied to her somehow when it is revealed that she could be a mirror image for the first two bodies that were found on her watch.
I really enjoyed this suspense filled creepy, crime thriller. The story hinges on the verge of the supernatural and teases the reader with subtle hints of the possibility of the case being caught up in an area that is not just standard police work. There is another story taking place within the book again teasing that this history of Jessica will help solve the mysteries of the macabre murders and crimes that are taking place.
I also appreciated the double story and background of Jessica since it will play into a shocking climax at the conclusion of the book. This novel was extremely creepy and intriguing and I would love to read more books along this line not knowing if the supernatural is really taking place or it is just your imagination.
I want to thank the publisher "Berkley Publishing" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, creepy novel and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this captivating book a rating of 4 Sinister And Macabre 🌠🌠🌠🌠 Stars!!
The husband and author was three hours away at a book signing so the detectives know he is not a suspect at the moment until.they find clues to the murders resembling the vicious crimes that take place in his book series. As the detectives follow the clues they realize that if the murders follow along the book trilogy then there will be more murders before the night is over and many more to follow and they will have more suspects than they could ever have imagined plus Jessica feels that the murders are tied to her somehow when it is revealed that she could be a mirror image for the first two bodies that were found on her watch.
I really enjoyed this suspense filled creepy, crime thriller. The story hinges on the verge of the supernatural and teases the reader with subtle hints of the possibility of the case being caught up in an area that is not just standard police work. There is another story taking place within the book again teasing that this history of Jessica will help solve the mysteries of the macabre murders and crimes that are taking place.
I also appreciated the double story and background of Jessica since it will play into a shocking climax at the conclusion of the book. This novel was extremely creepy and intriguing and I would love to read more books along this line not knowing if the supernatural is really taking place or it is just your imagination.
I want to thank the publisher "Berkley Publishing" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, creepy novel and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this captivating book a rating of 4 Sinister And Macabre 🌠🌠🌠🌠 Stars!!
February 6, 2022
You have to hand it to the authors from Scandinavia - they know their thriller / horror, and Max Seeck doesn’t disappoint. Good character development, thrilling story, kind of creepy, a lot to like. And, even though the ending was a little predictable, it did not ruin the overall experience, and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 21, 2020
Here's the image that came to mind when, after fourteen hours, I reached the end of 'The Witch Hunter' audiobook:
It started well, plodded in the middle, picked up again towards the end and then… disappeared into an ending so anticlimactic and so self-consciously literary that it made the previous thirteen and half hours seem like a wasted investment.
The book is dressed-up to look like a Nordic Noir police procedural with some occult twists. The central conceit is interesting - the wife of a Finnish author, whose sensational trilogy about the hunting of witches by the inquisition has become a global best-seller, is murdered in a way that matches a killing in one of his books. The set-up is spectacular and creepy, the author is easy to dislike, and the body-count keeps rising as other spectacular and unpleasant scenes are copied by the killers.
There's loads of potential here: lots of murders in a very short time period, killings that are so complicated and so closely choreographed that they seem like an opera staged for the police, an expert team of talented but quirky Helsinki police officers tirelessly working through the clues that they know the bad guys are using to lead them by the nose. It's all good stuff but it turns out that tracking down serial killers with an obsession with the occult and a flair for the dramatic is not really what not to be what Max Seeck really wants to write about.
His heart is set on telling the story of the lead investigator, Jessica Niemi, a woman with a dark past who hides her wealth and even her real name from all of her colleagues except her immediate superior.
Again, this approach had lots of promise. It was clear that somehow Jessica and her dark past are key to understanding the motivation behind the murders so the two narratives, catch the killers/ share Jessica's backstory, should have reinforced one another.
Except they didn't. The backstory, describing nineteen-year-old Jessica's ultimately traumatic time in Venice, was clumsily shoved into the catch the killer narrative in a way that felt like an interruption rather than an elucidation. The back story plods along, fed to us at apparently random intervals, and is at first a little flat and then more than a little unpleasant but never really found traction.
I found that there was very little about Jessica Niemi to make me care about her. The slow reveal of her tragic past didn't build the empathy that it could have because there was very little about her actions in the present that made her interesting.
The book picked up pace about three-quarters of the way through and I thought we were on track to a big finish. We had found out who the bad guys were. We knew why they'd done what they'd done and how they did it and we had multiple good guys in mortal danger. We even knew how Jessica's time in Venice ended.
Then it all fizzled out. The ending went somewhere unexpected and only partially explained. The final chapters were a return to the author's real interest: the complicated past and disturbed present of Jessica Niemi.
There is a second Jessica Niemi book that has yet to be translated into English. It won't be finding its way onto my TBR pile.
July 4, 2025
Unsettling
I’m honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one—it was a complete rollercoaster of emotions. The ending, in particular, was chaotic and a bit too wild, leaving me more confused than satisfied. It certainly went beyond what I expected, but not necessarily in the best way.
The writing itself was solid, and the central idea had real potential. But the side stories? They veered off into bizarre, often disturbing territory. Not only did they feel out of place, but they also didn’t seem necessary to the main plot. For a book that was supposed to be murder and mystery, it took too many strange and unexpected detours.
I can see the effort and creativity poured into it, but in the end, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. The sudden shift in tone and the unrealistic twist at the end really threw me off.
I’m honestly not quite sure how to feel about this one—it was a complete rollercoaster of emotions. The ending, in particular, was chaotic and a bit too wild, leaving me more confused than satisfied. It certainly went beyond what I expected, but not necessarily in the best way.
The writing itself was solid, and the central idea had real potential. But the side stories? They veered off into bizarre, often disturbing territory. Not only did they feel out of place, but they also didn’t seem necessary to the main plot. For a book that was supposed to be murder and mystery, it took too many strange and unexpected detours.
I can see the effort and creativity poured into it, but in the end, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. The sudden shift in tone and the unrealistic twist at the end really threw me off.
December 22, 2020
رواية بوليسية خيالية، بالرغم من أنها كانت جميلة ومشوّقة في البداية إلا أن النهاية كانت مخيبة للآمال، إذ جعل الكاتب النهاية في جزء آخر لم يُترجم بعد! حقيقةً شعرت بالامتعاض، لو كنت أعلم لما قرأتها وضيعت وقتي.
September 17, 2020
I was really looking forward to this one after reading a sample - the first chapter has a lot of promise, with evocative descriptions of the Finnish setting and a nicely intriguing setup. But unfortunately, a strong start is offset by a mystery that quickly turns murky, too many characters, and an ending that felt rushed and uncertain of what it wanted to achieve.
This isn't the author's first book, but it suffers from some of the problems that usually plague them - too many ideas, emphasis and focus changes halfway through that feel like the author changed their mind on the direction they wanted to go, and that uncertainty with the ending. There's some great original ideas here, and I did love the author's ability to really evoke a setting - that side of the writing was strong throughout. It made it more of a shame that it didn't stick the landing, but it also means I'm much more likely to try the next.
This isn't the author's first book, but it suffers from some of the problems that usually plague them - too many ideas, emphasis and focus changes halfway through that feel like the author changed their mind on the direction they wanted to go, and that uncertainty with the ending. There's some great original ideas here, and I did love the author's ability to really evoke a setting - that side of the writing was strong throughout. It made it more of a shame that it didn't stick the landing, but it also means I'm much more likely to try the next.
August 4, 2023
I liked this first book in a series, got introduced to the characters and they were interesting. The crime plot had some interesting points, murder influenced by a crime writers book. Witch trials and the breadcrumbs leading up to the conclusion. I wasn't a huge fan of the the ending but was still a good story. Might continue with the series sooner rather than later (hopefully)
October 1, 2020
One of the joys of getting my hands on books prior to their release - besides the fact that they're free, which is hardly insignificant - is finding gems that otherwise would have remained hidden to me. And if in the process my reviews can bring them to the attention of other readers who are of the same mindset, well, that's also a plus.
This one, which dabbles in the occult, falls a titch outside of my comfort zone. Add to it that it's set in Finland, where all the towns and character surnames might as well be Greek to me, and I honestly can't call it an easy book to plow through. But it sure does qualify as one of those above-mentioned gems that I'm happy to have had the privilege of reading. And because it's the first in a new series, I also have the privilege of looking forward to the next one.
Featured here is Jessica Niemi, a sergeant with the Helsinki police. She's called in after the discovery of a dead body - the wife of a prominent author. It's not your run-of-the-mill murder, though; no, this beautiful lady is dressed in a knockout black evening gown, placed at the head of a formal dining table and "decorated" with an exaggerated Joker-like smile.
Not long thereafter, another woman's body turns up - this one buried under the ice near the other dead woman's mansion. It doesn't take long for Jessica and her team to come up with a theory: Someone is copying the gruesome murders from the best-selling "Witch Hunter" series penned by the first dead woman's husband. Visions of the occult begin to appear following the discovery of a Latin phrase on the first victim's rooftop - a reference to a book on torturing and punishing women who are suspected of being witches.
Creepy starts to get creepier as we learn that Jessica, too, has a few secrets (as does her good friend and supervisor, Erne Mikson. And not long after that, speculation grows that somehow Jessica herself may have a target on her back as well.
Will she be next? Well, I'll never say a word, except that finding out kept me turning pages (well, okay, Kindle screen swiping) right to the very end. Kudos to the author, and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the advance copy to read and review.
This one, which dabbles in the occult, falls a titch outside of my comfort zone. Add to it that it's set in Finland, where all the towns and character surnames might as well be Greek to me, and I honestly can't call it an easy book to plow through. But it sure does qualify as one of those above-mentioned gems that I'm happy to have had the privilege of reading. And because it's the first in a new series, I also have the privilege of looking forward to the next one.
Featured here is Jessica Niemi, a sergeant with the Helsinki police. She's called in after the discovery of a dead body - the wife of a prominent author. It's not your run-of-the-mill murder, though; no, this beautiful lady is dressed in a knockout black evening gown, placed at the head of a formal dining table and "decorated" with an exaggerated Joker-like smile.
Not long thereafter, another woman's body turns up - this one buried under the ice near the other dead woman's mansion. It doesn't take long for Jessica and her team to come up with a theory: Someone is copying the gruesome murders from the best-selling "Witch Hunter" series penned by the first dead woman's husband. Visions of the occult begin to appear following the discovery of a Latin phrase on the first victim's rooftop - a reference to a book on torturing and punishing women who are suspected of being witches.
Creepy starts to get creepier as we learn that Jessica, too, has a few secrets (as does her good friend and supervisor, Erne Mikson. And not long after that, speculation grows that somehow Jessica herself may have a target on her back as well.
Will she be next? Well, I'll never say a word, except that finding out kept me turning pages (well, okay, Kindle screen swiping) right to the very end. Kudos to the author, and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the advance copy to read and review.
August 4, 2024
Am devorat efectiv cartea! Dacă v-a plăcut seria Fabian Risk sau "Omul de castane" și vă mai plac și poveștile despre culte, secte, ocultism, cartea asta este cu siguranță pentru voi.
Este ca un roller coaster. În permanență apar elemente noi absolut neașteptate. Nu ai vreme să digeri bine o informație că autorul îți mai aruncă o bombă.
Crimă după crimă, persoane care au murit, dar de fapt sunt în viață... Nebunie absolută!
Chiar acum încep volumul 2. 😍
Este ca un roller coaster. În permanență apar elemente noi absolut neașteptate. Nu ai vreme să digeri bine o informație că autorul îți mai aruncă o bombă.
Crimă după crimă, persoane care au murit, dar de fapt sunt în viață... Nebunie absolută!
Chiar acum încep volumul 2. 😍
February 8, 2021
1/5
Raganų medžioklė, bet nei apie raganas, nei jas kas nors medžioja. O tie keli su jomis susiję simboliai išmelžiami iki paskutinio lašo. Nes jei sugūglini kokius du su raganomis susijusius dalykus, nėra reikalo gūglint dar kartą, ane? Nužudymai pagal rašytojo knygas, bet rašytojas tik šmėsteli, o jo knygoms autorius skyrė lygiai tiek pat dėmesio, kiek tam pagūglinimui. Pagrindinė detektyvė, kuri tariamai turėtų vežti istoriją ir intriguoti (ypač kai iš šitos beveidės žmogystos bus bandoma visą SERIJĄ išmelžti), bet jos istorija ir sugrįžimai laiku atgal į nenusisekusį smurtinį kurortinį romaną niekuo nesiskiria nuo visų tipinių pamokančių meilės istorijų ir nei su byla, nei su veikėja tai niekaip ne(su)sisieja. O veikėjai? Jų daug. DAUG. Per daug. Visi keisčiausiais įmanomais suomiškais vardais. Po keliasdešimties puslapių nusprendžiu, kad įsiminsiu lygiai tris. Maždaug tiek galiausiai ir prireikia. Jeigu nuspręsit naudotis šita strategija, išduosiu paslaptį: visiškai JOKIO skirtumo, kuriuos tris veikėjus pasiruošit įsiminti. Visi vienodai blankūs, beveidžiai, plokšti, neįdomūs ir neturintys absoliučiai jokių pašalinių savybių, apart tų, kurios reikalingos pagrindinei istorijai. Tai kam reikia veltis į paralelines istorijas galiausiai lieka neaišku. Ir viskas taip apie nieką, jau taip apie nieką, kad net skaitai tiesiog todėl, kad netiki, jog gali būti TAIP LABAI apie nieką. Gali.
Anotacijoje gausu skambių žodžių, kaip čia prasideda žaidimas, kaip viskas kruopščiai, kaip paslaptingai, kokia dėlionė sudėtinga. Nu gal ir sudėtinga, jei nesat matę jokio filmo apie žmogžudystę ir neskaitę jokios kitos knygos. Kodėl šitą prisiruošiau pabaigti? Vis kvailai, naiviai laukiau: nu kaip čia taip, nu gal bus bent kažkas, kažkas??? Buvo. Su pirmais 380 puslapių siejosi maždaug tiek, kiek baletas siejasi su auksaspalviais retriveriais. Pabaiga tokia pragariškai tingi ir greitai sumalta, tokia girdėta, tokia apie nieką, kad jau knygos pradžioje keletą jos nuspėtų detalių atmečiau kaip neįmanomas: šiti ėjimai veikia pirmus du kartus, kai yra panaudojami visų ėjimų istorijoje. Kitaip tariant, jei filme pagrindinis veikėjas aplink mato vien mirusius, įspūdį padarys lygiai vieną kartą. Pirmąjį. Taigi, taip. „Raganų medžioklėje“ esantys siužeto posūkiai jau yra kažką kada nors nustebinę. Kokiais 1990-aisiais.
Raganų medžioklė, bet nei apie raganas, nei jas kas nors medžioja. O tie keli su jomis susiję simboliai išmelžiami iki paskutinio lašo. Nes jei sugūglini kokius du su raganomis susijusius dalykus, nėra reikalo gūglint dar kartą, ane? Nužudymai pagal rašytojo knygas, bet rašytojas tik šmėsteli, o jo knygoms autorius skyrė lygiai tiek pat dėmesio, kiek tam pagūglinimui. Pagrindinė detektyvė, kuri tariamai turėtų vežti istoriją ir intriguoti (ypač kai iš šitos beveidės žmogystos bus bandoma visą SERIJĄ išmelžti), bet jos istorija ir sugrįžimai laiku atgal į nenusisekusį smurtinį kurortinį romaną niekuo nesiskiria nuo visų tipinių pamokančių meilės istorijų ir nei su byla, nei su veikėja tai niekaip ne(su)sisieja. O veikėjai? Jų daug. DAUG. Per daug. Visi keisčiausiais įmanomais suomiškais vardais. Po keliasdešimties puslapių nusprendžiu, kad įsiminsiu lygiai tris. Maždaug tiek galiausiai ir prireikia. Jeigu nuspręsit naudotis šita strategija, išduosiu paslaptį: visiškai JOKIO skirtumo, kuriuos tris veikėjus pasiruošit įsiminti. Visi vienodai blankūs, beveidžiai, plokšti, neįdomūs ir neturintys absoliučiai jokių pašalinių savybių, apart tų, kurios reikalingos pagrindinei istorijai. Tai kam reikia veltis į paralelines istorijas galiausiai lieka neaišku. Ir viskas taip apie nieką, jau taip apie nieką, kad net skaitai tiesiog todėl, kad netiki, jog gali būti TAIP LABAI apie nieką. Gali.
Anotacijoje gausu skambių žodžių, kaip čia prasideda žaidimas, kaip viskas kruopščiai, kaip paslaptingai, kokia dėlionė sudėtinga. Nu gal ir sudėtinga, jei nesat matę jokio filmo apie žmogžudystę ir neskaitę jokios kitos knygos. Kodėl šitą prisiruošiau pabaigti? Vis kvailai, naiviai laukiau: nu kaip čia taip, nu gal bus bent kažkas, kažkas??? Buvo. Su pirmais 380 puslapių siejosi maždaug tiek, kiek baletas siejasi su auksaspalviais retriveriais. Pabaiga tokia pragariškai tingi ir greitai sumalta, tokia girdėta, tokia apie nieką, kad jau knygos pradžioje keletą jos nuspėtų detalių atmečiau kaip neįmanomas: šiti ėjimai veikia pirmus du kartus, kai yra panaudojami visų ėjimų istorijoje. Kitaip tariant, jei filme pagrindinis veikėjas aplink mato vien mirusius, įspūdį padarys lygiai vieną kartą. Pirmąjį. Taigi, taip. „Raganų medžioklėje“ esantys siužeto posūkiai jau yra kažką kada nors nustebinę. Kokiais 1990-aisiais.
August 20, 2020
One weird and creepy book!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who’da thunk we would read about witches today. But this author took a very interesting theory and created a book that is very creepy and extremely in-depth.
Set in Finland, this book is completely unique in its plot. An intense suspense mystery that winds you up with every page turn.
The special twist is that this book follows the police investigative team as they try to solve a series of murders that follow a plot from a book, a very twisted and detailed book.
The imagination of this author is quite remarkable and he surprised me many times with intricate detail and introduction of new evidence and crimes that keep you guessing all the way to the end.
I just love the bits, drips, and minute pieces of detail that you don’t really register until it all comes together. This is a work of art that really speaks volumes for the talents of the author.
For those that love cop thrillers and mysteries, this one is a creepy, twisted story that you probably want to read during the day. Just in case.
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-witch-hu...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who’da thunk we would read about witches today. But this author took a very interesting theory and created a book that is very creepy and extremely in-depth.
Set in Finland, this book is completely unique in its plot. An intense suspense mystery that winds you up with every page turn.
The special twist is that this book follows the police investigative team as they try to solve a series of murders that follow a plot from a book, a very twisted and detailed book.
The imagination of this author is quite remarkable and he surprised me many times with intricate detail and introduction of new evidence and crimes that keep you guessing all the way to the end.
I just love the bits, drips, and minute pieces of detail that you don’t really register until it all comes together. This is a work of art that really speaks volumes for the talents of the author.
For those that love cop thrillers and mysteries, this one is a creepy, twisted story that you probably want to read during the day. Just in case.
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-witch-hu...
March 24, 2021
I thought this was going to be different. It started out eerie and suspenseful. However, the elements just didn't come together for me. There were 2 concurrent storylines. The primary storyline was focused on the protagonist Jessica Niemi, in her role as an investigator, and the secondary one, featured her affair with someone in Venice. It was this secondary storyline that really didn't add much except as the backstory for her relationship with her current boss, Erne. If you are expecting a creepy supernatural horror novel, this probably isn't for you. It was more of a police procedural and a psychological thriller. The eeriness at the beginning just didn't follow the story through. The ending, for me, kind of fell flat.
November 6, 2020
A serial killer mirroring crimes to the crimes in a book? And their gruesome? AND based on historical methods? Um, all the YES... please! 😏 Book one in the Jessica Niemi series, Seeck gets us warm and comfortable in getting to know our main protagonist while still feeding us the gory goodness that nordic noir (in my experience) has a fantastic reputation for. ❤
Sometimes I feel that first-in-a-series books tend to focus on the plot with a little bit of character development to really engage the reader into wanting to read further. I sometimes feel a bit wanting to know more about the main character(s).. so I guess, good job? 🤷🤣 Seeck provides BOTH. A solid look into Niemi AND an engaging premise with crimes to solve.
There's a bit of a parallel story line that we get and we bounce between them during our journey. While I do believe this gets us a good look at Niemi and her character as a detective and woman, I did find my eyes glazing a bit at these and wanting to sprint back to the other storyline. Sometimes I felt that there was just *too* much going on to really focus my attention at times. I know, I know... not enough or too much? WHY AM I SO HARD TO SATISFY?
What I love the best is the atmosphere most nordic noir brings that no other genre can really compare to. The movie that plays in my head when I read these are SO VIVID and I love every minute of it. While I had some small issues with this read, it is a solid first entry into a series that I think will satiate any nordic noir/gory crime lover.
★★★☆
Sometimes I feel that first-in-a-series books tend to focus on the plot with a little bit of character development to really engage the reader into wanting to read further. I sometimes feel a bit wanting to know more about the main character(s).. so I guess, good job? 🤷🤣 Seeck provides BOTH. A solid look into Niemi AND an engaging premise with crimes to solve.
There's a bit of a parallel story line that we get and we bounce between them during our journey. While I do believe this gets us a good look at Niemi and her character as a detective and woman, I did find my eyes glazing a bit at these and wanting to sprint back to the other storyline. Sometimes I felt that there was just *too* much going on to really focus my attention at times. I know, I know... not enough or too much? WHY AM I SO HARD TO SATISFY?
What I love the best is the atmosphere most nordic noir brings that no other genre can really compare to. The movie that plays in my head when I read these are SO VIVID and I love every minute of it. While I had some small issues with this read, it is a solid first entry into a series that I think will satiate any nordic noir/gory crime lover.
★★★☆
March 18, 2021
This book started off so promising. I was hooked. Towards the end with not many pages left to go, I started to wonder how the author was going to tie it all together. Well I guess the author didn’t want too because none of that made sense. Was my book missing pages? These witches motivation was to brainwash people into doing what? Thinking for themselves?? That’s your big evil agenda?? We’re supposed to care about Jessica, yet its casually mentioned she’s banging her friends boyfriend with little to no remorse and then it’s never brought up again. Are Yusuf and Ninna dead? Because I honestly have zero clue what happened during that last scene. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to understand what was happening during that ending, but I can’t sleep now because I’m so angry. My actual review is 1/10 of 1 star, but the system won’t late me rate that low. Having said that, I would definitely read another book by this author, not gunna lie he had me marathon reading and loving it for 90% of this book, but I can’t pretend like that last 10% didn’t happen and sour the entire thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2021
It built up real good but sadly then it just flattened out to a "meh".
March 25, 2024
Parasti detektīvus nelasu, bet Makss Sēks vilināja ar Somiju, īpaši pēdējā grāmata, uz kuras vāka sala ezerā izskatās līdzīga mūsējai, lai gan nav Ālandu salās.
2/3 lasīju ar patiesu interesi, atrisinājumu nekā nevarēja paredzēt, viss labi, teksti nav banāli, var just, ka autoram ir pieredze televīzijā, jo ar vienu teikumu prot uzburt ainu un parādīt tēla emocionālo stāvokli.
Beigas gan likās izčākstējušas. Vai vainīgo noķēra? Vai tas atklāsies nākošajā grāmatā? Es nezinu, bet es lasīšu.
Lasīšanā diezgan palīdzēja Netflixā pieejamā somu krimiseriāla Deadwind skatīšanās. Sofija Karpi nav Džesika Niemi, bet traumētas detektīvsievietes viņiem nav nekas jauns.
2/3 lasīju ar patiesu interesi, atrisinājumu nekā nevarēja paredzēt, viss labi, teksti nav banāli, var just, ka autoram ir pieredze televīzijā, jo ar vienu teikumu prot uzburt ainu un parādīt tēla emocionālo stāvokli.
Beigas gan likās izčākstējušas. Vai vainīgo noķēra? Vai tas atklāsies nākošajā grāmatā? Es nezinu, bet es lasīšu.
Lasīšanā diezgan palīdzēja Netflixā pieejamā somu krimiseriāla Deadwind skatīšanās. Sofija Karpi nav Džesika Niemi, bet traumētas detektīvsievietes viņiem nav nekas jauns.
August 25, 2024
This is very much a fast-paced thriller. I’m sure to read more by this author.
January 7, 2021
First, I loved the narration, and from the opening scene we were pulled into the tale we see the moments before the first murder. The author’s writing style is smooth and delivered in thrilling 3D, giving the listener all the grisly details and emotions of the characters.
We meet detective Jessica Niemi as she first examines the body and throughout the story, Seeck fleshes her out, sharing details of past events that have forever shaped her into the investigator she is today. The scenes from Venice gave substance to who Jessica is, but sometimes it took me a minute to realize what was happening.
The story that unfolds is atmospheric, wonderfully detailed horror and true crime detective work as Jessica, along with her superior officer Chief Inspector Erne Mickson, worked the case and consulted each other. I felt like I had slipped into an old black and white film and it was addictive.
The concept of a killer mimicking an author’s work isn’t new, but the trilogy and Seeck added a fresh take with twists and brilliant detail that kept me listening.
Cady McClain brought Jessica to life with her narration, giving her voice and additional depth. We could sense tension, fear and frustration as the suspense increased. She added another level of enjoyment to this Nordic Noir. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
We meet detective Jessica Niemi as she first examines the body and throughout the story, Seeck fleshes her out, sharing details of past events that have forever shaped her into the investigator she is today. The scenes from Venice gave substance to who Jessica is, but sometimes it took me a minute to realize what was happening.
The story that unfolds is atmospheric, wonderfully detailed horror and true crime detective work as Jessica, along with her superior officer Chief Inspector Erne Mickson, worked the case and consulted each other. I felt like I had slipped into an old black and white film and it was addictive.
The concept of a killer mimicking an author’s work isn’t new, but the trilogy and Seeck added a fresh take with twists and brilliant detail that kept me listening.
Cady McClain brought Jessica to life with her narration, giving her voice and additional depth. We could sense tension, fear and frustration as the suspense increased. She added another level of enjoyment to this Nordic Noir. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 18, 2020
With Seeck’s background in screenwriting it is little wonder that he has produced one of the most visual thrillers that I have read for some time. From the opening scene with a woman pacing the housing equivalent of a goldfish bowl with the dark night surrounding her, you know from the outset that something evil is set to do some serious mischief, and this motif of darkness and the supernatural carries through the book with a creeping sense of unease on the part of the reader. As the book also carries the theme of life mirroring art, as the crimes perpetrated seem to be replicating the fictional crimes of a renowned crime author’s work, the murders are particularly gruesome, and have their base in historical methods of punishments. With Seeck’s finesse in depicting these murders in technicolour detail with the pace and visuality of cinema, I felt for most of the book that I was immersed in a cracking good horror film, and was flinching on more than one occasion. I really enjoyed the to and fro of the detectives trying to link the crimes with their fictional counterparts, identifying potential victims, and the little diversions throughout of the interactions between the suspects. There are a whole host of bizarre ritualistic killings linked to the folkloric methods of despatching witches which are both fascinating and terrifying. A clever and slick premise that works superbly throughout, with more than one murderous surprise in store along the way…
The central police protagonist detective Jessica Niemi charts an interesting course during the book, being both investigator and suspect at various points in the story. She is cleverly used as a filter for the more malevolent aspects of the murders, and under increasing pressure to disassociate herself from the otherworldly forces at work, that increasingly use her as a conduit. At times she seems to channel both open eyed belief and then a scorching cynicism as these strange events unfold. leading to some deep self-questioning on her behalf. I really liked her professional relationship with her superior officer Chief Inspector Erne Mickson, himself a stand-out character with an interesting part to play in the book. There is an almost paternal concern that he shows for her, tempered by his respect for her as a superb, if slightly renegade, investigator, and their working relationship goes through a good amount of doubt and recrimination.
Slightly disconcertingly there is a parallel storyline in the book, which alternates in and out of the main investigation, recounting an ill-fated sojourn by Jessica in Venice some time previously. This sees her get involved with a troubled and increasingly coercive man, and although for fear of spoilers I cannot reveal how this plays out, Venice proves to be a time of intense emotional experience for Jessica. Admittedly, this particular arc of the story does go some way to defining Jessica, giving us an insight to how she has evolved into the woman and detective she is, but I did find it a bit distracting, and found myself at times, itching to get back to the main plot of murder and mayhem.
Overall I enjoyed The Witch Hunter, particularly the most supernatural and ritualistic elements of the book and the blending of fiction with reality as the killer’s motivation for some particularly grisly and heinous murders. The core investigation of the book and those that undertake unfolds at a steady and satisfying pace with all the panache and recognisable elements of the Nordic noir genre. I will be interested to see where Seeck takes Jessica Niemi next, in what is a solid start for a potential series too. Recommended.
The central police protagonist detective Jessica Niemi charts an interesting course during the book, being both investigator and suspect at various points in the story. She is cleverly used as a filter for the more malevolent aspects of the murders, and under increasing pressure to disassociate herself from the otherworldly forces at work, that increasingly use her as a conduit. At times she seems to channel both open eyed belief and then a scorching cynicism as these strange events unfold. leading to some deep self-questioning on her behalf. I really liked her professional relationship with her superior officer Chief Inspector Erne Mickson, himself a stand-out character with an interesting part to play in the book. There is an almost paternal concern that he shows for her, tempered by his respect for her as a superb, if slightly renegade, investigator, and their working relationship goes through a good amount of doubt and recrimination.
Slightly disconcertingly there is a parallel storyline in the book, which alternates in and out of the main investigation, recounting an ill-fated sojourn by Jessica in Venice some time previously. This sees her get involved with a troubled and increasingly coercive man, and although for fear of spoilers I cannot reveal how this plays out, Venice proves to be a time of intense emotional experience for Jessica. Admittedly, this particular arc of the story does go some way to defining Jessica, giving us an insight to how she has evolved into the woman and detective she is, but I did find it a bit distracting, and found myself at times, itching to get back to the main plot of murder and mayhem.
Overall I enjoyed The Witch Hunter, particularly the most supernatural and ritualistic elements of the book and the blending of fiction with reality as the killer’s motivation for some particularly grisly and heinous murders. The core investigation of the book and those that undertake unfolds at a steady and satisfying pace with all the panache and recognisable elements of the Nordic noir genre. I will be interested to see where Seeck takes Jessica Niemi next, in what is a solid start for a potential series too. Recommended.
February 1, 2022
Le doy una estrella por poner algo y que quede reflejado.
Nunca pensé que diría algo tan tajante como esto de un libro y...disculpadme si os ofende, pero tengo que decirlo : ¡Menuda porquería!
Dejando de lado la cantidad de paja que mete, lo de los capítulos de Italia a que viene?
Y todo un sinsentido, sin cabeza, liando cada vez más y yo me olía la tostada de que no iba a salir airoso de la situación el autor... pero no me esperaba ese final...
De verdad, haceos un favor a vosotros mismos y alejaos de esto...y digo "esto" ya que no sé si se le puede llamar libro.
Nunca pensé que diría algo tan tajante como esto de un libro y...disculpadme si os ofende, pero tengo que decirlo : ¡Menuda porquería!
Dejando de lado la cantidad de paja que mete, lo de los capítulos de Italia a que viene?
Y todo un sinsentido, sin cabeza, liando cada vez más y yo me olía la tostada de que no iba a salir airoso de la situación el autor... pero no me esperaba ese final...
De verdad, haceos un favor a vosotros mismos y alejaos de esto...y digo "esto" ya que no sé si se le puede llamar libro.
December 27, 2020
Eine Mordserie geschieht nach Vorbild von Romanen eines weltbekannten Autors. Jessica, die Hauptkommissarin, verfolgt diesen Fall und dabei erscheinen immer mysteriösere und kuriosere Verbrechen. Die Geschichte war vielversprechend und sie fing auch sehr spannend an. Jessica stellte sich als eine viel interessantere Person heraus als auf dem ersten Blick, auch wenn sie mir persönlich nicht besonders gefallen hat.
Die Charaktere waren sehr interessant und auch das Setting in Finland war sehr schön. Es war als könnte man die Feuchtigkeit in der Luft schmecken und auch die Kälte des Winters in den Fingerspitzen fühlen. Leider konnte das Buch diese Atmosphäre und die Spannung nicht bis zum Ende aufrecht erhalten.
Trotz des vielversprechenden Anfangs fand ich die Auflösung des Falls etwas lasch bzw. zu sehr aus der Luft gegriffen. Auch wenn ich nicht vermutet hatte, dass die Geschichte so endet, konnte ich einen großen Teil vorhersehen. Und auch wenn das Buch an sich zwar unterhaltsam war, war das Ende doch etwas gezwungen. Daher bekommt das Buch 3,5 Sterne, aufgerundet auf 4.
** Dieses Buch wurde mir über NetGalley als E-Book zur Verfügung gestellt **
Die Charaktere waren sehr interessant und auch das Setting in Finland war sehr schön. Es war als könnte man die Feuchtigkeit in der Luft schmecken und auch die Kälte des Winters in den Fingerspitzen fühlen. Leider konnte das Buch diese Atmosphäre und die Spannung nicht bis zum Ende aufrecht erhalten.
Trotz des vielversprechenden Anfangs fand ich die Auflösung des Falls etwas lasch bzw. zu sehr aus der Luft gegriffen. Auch wenn ich nicht vermutet hatte, dass die Geschichte so endet, konnte ich einen großen Teil vorhersehen. Und auch wenn das Buch an sich zwar unterhaltsam war, war das Ende doch etwas gezwungen. Daher bekommt das Buch 3,5 Sterne, aufgerundet auf 4.
** Dieses Buch wurde mir über NetGalley als E-Book zur Verfügung gestellt **
October 31, 2020
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck is the first in the Jessica Niemi series.
First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Berkley (Penguin Publishing Group), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information:
Detective Sergeant Jessica Niemi works for the Helsinki Criminal Investigations Unit of the Police Department. Her boss is Chief Inspector Erne Mikson, and the rest of her team includes Yusuf Pepple, Rasmus Susikoski, Mikael Kaariniemi and Nina Ruska. Jessica is often in pain from the spinal damage she suffered in a car accident when she was six.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
While best-selling author Roger Koponen is promoting his newest book in The Witch Hunter series, his wife is at home being murdered. Maria is found dead at their dining room table, wearing a black evening gown, her face frozen in a terrifying smile.
Leading the investigation is Jessica Niemi, along with her team. It soon becomes evident that they are one step behind the perpetrators at all times, almost as if they are being lead. As more bodies appear, it seems like their deaths mimic the deaths found in Roger Koponen's books. Are these murders tied to the occult, and how many perpetrators are there? Something doesn't feel right.
Meanwhile, their boss is having some health issues that he is trying to keep from his staff, and Jessica is trying to keep her past where it belongs.
My Opinions:
This book was very good. You had to pay attention though, because there were a lot of characters, a lot of twists, and a lot of deaths. Because everything takes place in Finland, there are also a lot of foreign names and places (to me), which sometimes added to the confusion. But again, paying attention works.
The plot was good, and the story moved along at a fast pace, with clues dribbled along the way. The suspense built well, and the conclusion was good.
I am definitely hoping to read more books by this author.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Berkley (Penguin Publishing Group), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information:
Detective Sergeant Jessica Niemi works for the Helsinki Criminal Investigations Unit of the Police Department. Her boss is Chief Inspector Erne Mikson, and the rest of her team includes Yusuf Pepple, Rasmus Susikoski, Mikael Kaariniemi and Nina Ruska. Jessica is often in pain from the spinal damage she suffered in a car accident when she was six.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
While best-selling author Roger Koponen is promoting his newest book in The Witch Hunter series, his wife is at home being murdered. Maria is found dead at their dining room table, wearing a black evening gown, her face frozen in a terrifying smile.
Leading the investigation is Jessica Niemi, along with her team. It soon becomes evident that they are one step behind the perpetrators at all times, almost as if they are being lead. As more bodies appear, it seems like their deaths mimic the deaths found in Roger Koponen's books. Are these murders tied to the occult, and how many perpetrators are there? Something doesn't feel right.
Meanwhile, their boss is having some health issues that he is trying to keep from his staff, and Jessica is trying to keep her past where it belongs.
My Opinions:
This book was very good. You had to pay attention though, because there were a lot of characters, a lot of twists, and a lot of deaths. Because everything takes place in Finland, there are also a lot of foreign names and places (to me), which sometimes added to the confusion. But again, paying attention works.
The plot was good, and the story moved along at a fast pace, with clues dribbled along the way. The suspense built well, and the conclusion was good.
I am definitely hoping to read more books by this author.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 6, 2021
Aaaaa kaip mane šiurpina esamasis laikas!!! Sukuria toooooookį va atstumą tarp istorijos ir skaitytojo. Viskas taip nenatūralu, taip dirbtina, kad net ir pačiam redaktoriui (vertėjui? autoriui?) kartais susimaišo ir pabėga tas esamasis laikas į šimtąkart natūraliau skambantį būtąjį. Ir iškart padvelkia tokiomis banaliomis pradedančiojo autoriaus klaidelėmis. Bet dzin, koks snobas vertina knygą pagal tokias smulkmenas...?
Šiaip aš išvis prasta vertintoja šiai knygai mat vos ne iki pusės maniau, kad tie flashback‘ai pasakoja apie vieną iš aukų, o pasirodo, kad apie pagrindinę veikėją... Kažkaip sugebėjau neužfiksuoti vardo. O gal tiesiog norėjau tikėti, jog čia istorijos išplėtimas, o ne nelabai vykęs mėginimas pagilinti veikėją? O gal tarp Jesikos (kaži tikrai suomiai sako Jesika su J?) iš dabarties ir Jesikos iš praeities nėra jokio ryšio, neskaitant vardo, todėl skaitant jos ir nesusilieja į vieną veikėją? Bet čia ir vėl smulkmena – tik koks šimtas papildomų puslapių, nepridedančių istorijai jokio apčiuopiamo praturtinimo.
O štai detektyvinė linija man patiko. Žinoma tyrėjų komanda, nežinanti, kas yra Malleus Maleficarum atrodo šiek tiek neišprusus, bet gal tie suomiai ir tikrai nelabai domisi pasaulio istorija. Juk inkvizicija ir raganų teismai tikrai ne visiems žinomi Troliai Mumiai.
Bet ne, yra gerų momentų. Tokių, kur pagalvoji, oho – čia geras užsukimas, bet... Pabaiga tiesiog aaaaa!!! Turbūt šiurpesnė ir už tą esamąjį laiką. Nu tokia wtf... Nors ne, wtf yra kai kažkas nelogiško, o čia toks tiesiog neįdomus siužetinis sprendimas, kuris visas sumėtytas nuorodas paima ir suriša pačiu primityviausiu būdu. Ir visos paslaptys, visos žudiko gudrybės ima ir nupinga.
Taigi už šią knygą daug nemokėkit. Jei gausit dovanų – galima paskaityti, bet kitais atvejais nujaučiu, kad tikrai galima rasti kažką įdomesnio. O gaila, nes buvo momentų, kurie sužadino vaizduotę ir suteikė vilčių.
Šiaip aš išvis prasta vertintoja šiai knygai mat vos ne iki pusės maniau, kad tie flashback‘ai pasakoja apie vieną iš aukų, o pasirodo, kad apie pagrindinę veikėją... Kažkaip sugebėjau neužfiksuoti vardo. O gal tiesiog norėjau tikėti, jog čia istorijos išplėtimas, o ne nelabai vykęs mėginimas pagilinti veikėją? O gal tarp Jesikos (kaži tikrai suomiai sako Jesika su J?) iš dabarties ir Jesikos iš praeities nėra jokio ryšio, neskaitant vardo, todėl skaitant jos ir nesusilieja į vieną veikėją? Bet čia ir vėl smulkmena – tik koks šimtas papildomų puslapių, nepridedančių istorijai jokio apčiuopiamo praturtinimo.
O štai detektyvinė linija man patiko. Žinoma tyrėjų komanda, nežinanti, kas yra Malleus Maleficarum atrodo šiek tiek neišprusus, bet gal tie suomiai ir tikrai nelabai domisi pasaulio istorija. Juk inkvizicija ir raganų teismai tikrai ne visiems žinomi Troliai Mumiai.
Bet ne, yra gerų momentų. Tokių, kur pagalvoji, oho – čia geras užsukimas, bet... Pabaiga tiesiog aaaaa!!! Turbūt šiurpesnė ir už tą esamąjį laiką. Nu tokia wtf... Nors ne, wtf yra kai kažkas nelogiško, o čia toks tiesiog neįdomus siužetinis sprendimas, kuris visas sumėtytas nuorodas paima ir suriša pačiu primityviausiu būdu. Ir visos paslaptys, visos žudiko gudrybės ima ir nupinga.
Taigi už šią knygą daug nemokėkit. Jei gausit dovanų – galima paskaityti, bet kitais atvejais nujaučiu, kad tikrai galima rasti kažką įdomesnio. O gaila, nes buvo momentų, kurie sužadino vaizduotę ir suteikė vilčių.
September 15, 2020
It was as if the killer were copying the books he wrote about witches, witch hunts and death, mimicking every scene. As the gruesome murder tableaus mount, investigator Jessica Niemi soon finds there is more than one killer out there and her name may be on their list.
THE WITCH HUNTER by Max Seeck has all the ingredients for a dark and eerie suspense with just enough creepiness to make for the perfect Halloween read, yet something just fell a little flat for me and I found myself wandering just a bit, never fully in sync with the story after the first few chapters. I did like the heroine, she had some major pluck, but, even the little details thrown in like breadcrumbs weren’t enough to hold me glued to each page. That said, I am pretty sure it’s just me, because, come on, a witch hunt and a sinister coven of witches? Sounds like dark fun, doesn’t it?
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley/the Penguin Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date : October 27, 2020
Publisher : Berkley (October 27, 2020)
Genre: Dark Suspense | Occult
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
THE WITCH HUNTER by Max Seeck has all the ingredients for a dark and eerie suspense with just enough creepiness to make for the perfect Halloween read, yet something just fell a little flat for me and I found myself wandering just a bit, never fully in sync with the story after the first few chapters. I did like the heroine, she had some major pluck, but, even the little details thrown in like breadcrumbs weren’t enough to hold me glued to each page. That said, I am pretty sure it’s just me, because, come on, a witch hunt and a sinister coven of witches? Sounds like dark fun, doesn’t it?
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley/the Penguin Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date : October 27, 2020
Publisher : Berkley (October 27, 2020)
Genre: Dark Suspense | Occult
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 2, 2022
Buejjj, vamo' allá. Una historia que comenzó bien y terminó bien peliculera. La esposa de un autor de novelas negras muere igual que en una de sus historias y tras de ella varios muertitos más. Una historia del pasado de la protagonista del que poco a poco nos va soltando detalles, pero que realmente parecían interrupciones de mal gusto. En mi opinión, me lo pudo resumir en una o dos páginas y listo. Ocultismo, brujas y hasta cuernos se van sumando a todo un galimatías que en varias ocasiones tuve que releer porque no era claro y no entendía nada. Quería pensar que eran cuestiones de traducción, hasta que llegó el final y nuevamente sentía que quedaron cosas inconclusas, pero aún releyendo y entendiendo lo que sucedió, no quedó claro. Al leer las opiniones de otros lectores no fui la única. Una buena idea mal contada. Predecible quién era uno de los malos malotes. De investigación policiaca casi nada, pues todo les llegaba por cuenta de otros o por casualidad.
March 2, 2021
En uit. Wat een ge-wel-dig boek! Prachtig schrijven versus de boel bij elkaar vloeken. Godsamme (de nette versie hehe) wat genieten zeg. Spannend, pracht van een plot, pracht aan variatie en personages en allemachtig Jessica Niemi, wat ben jij tof en uniek. Kan me nu al verheugen op een deel 2 🤩 Alleen dit boek is me het Thrillerabonnement al wel weer voor een volgend jaar waard! 👌🏼 Vijf sterren 📚🥂
Karin Meinen - Samenlezenisleuker
Karin Meinen - Samenlezenisleuker
November 22, 2020
What a fantastic whirlwind of a book!! Loved the constant and amazing twists and turns!
March 22, 2023
Love Nordic Noir, but I wanted a lil more gore
May 8, 2022
Giallo nordico bruttino, ben lontano dai livelli di Mankell, Indriðason e altri ai quali pensavo si avvicinasse.
A dire il vero non ha nulla “che non va”, c’è una trama solida, un’indagine, una narrazione non pesante, ma sembra un romanzo che assolve al suo “compitino” senza aggiungere nulla di personale e alla fine risulta anonimo e anche piuttosto noioso.
Siamo in Finlandia, ai giorni nostri. La vicenda si apre col ritrovamento del cadavere di una donna, Maria, moglie di uno scrittore molto celebre, Roger Koponen, il quale, al momento del delitto, è impegnato nella presentazione di uno dei suoi romanzi. Al primo cadavere ne seguono altri, che paiono ricalcare quello descritti da Koponen nei suoi romanzi, aventi come tema la caccia alle streghe e le usanze, nel corso dei secoli, per punirle. Poi salta fuori che pure Koponen muore assassinato (ma è un incidente o no?), poi si scopre che forse non è vero….E poi non so. Ho perso interesse nella lettura, che si concentra quasi del tutto sui dialoghi fra i detective (prima fra tutti quelli tra Jessica Niemi, solitaria e dal passato oscuro, giusto per ricalcare un po’ i soliti stereotipi del genere e il capo Erne) e pochissimo sulla vita delle vittime e sul movente dell’assassino. Dei bei paesaggi nordici non c’è nulla, né tantomeno si indaga sulle dinamiche sociali, familiari e relazionali, che molto spesso fanno da sfondo ai thriller nordici, regalandoci romanzi di spessore, capaci di andare al di là delle scena delittuosa per svelarci altro. Ma non c’è nemmeno suspense a rendere il romanzo più godibile.
Insomma, lettura deludente. Mi sono fatta ingannare dalla trama e dalla bella copertina lucida e ho preso una cantonata. Capita. Capita ancora.
A dire il vero non ha nulla “che non va”, c’è una trama solida, un’indagine, una narrazione non pesante, ma sembra un romanzo che assolve al suo “compitino” senza aggiungere nulla di personale e alla fine risulta anonimo e anche piuttosto noioso.
Siamo in Finlandia, ai giorni nostri. La vicenda si apre col ritrovamento del cadavere di una donna, Maria, moglie di uno scrittore molto celebre, Roger Koponen, il quale, al momento del delitto, è impegnato nella presentazione di uno dei suoi romanzi. Al primo cadavere ne seguono altri, che paiono ricalcare quello descritti da Koponen nei suoi romanzi, aventi come tema la caccia alle streghe e le usanze, nel corso dei secoli, per punirle. Poi salta fuori che pure Koponen muore assassinato (ma è un incidente o no?), poi si scopre che forse non è vero….E poi non so. Ho perso interesse nella lettura, che si concentra quasi del tutto sui dialoghi fra i detective (prima fra tutti quelli tra Jessica Niemi, solitaria e dal passato oscuro, giusto per ricalcare un po’ i soliti stereotipi del genere e il capo Erne) e pochissimo sulla vita delle vittime e sul movente dell’assassino. Dei bei paesaggi nordici non c’è nulla, né tantomeno si indaga sulle dinamiche sociali, familiari e relazionali, che molto spesso fanno da sfondo ai thriller nordici, regalandoci romanzi di spessore, capaci di andare al di là delle scena delittuosa per svelarci altro. Ma non c’è nemmeno suspense a rendere il romanzo più godibile.
Insomma, lettura deludente. Mi sono fatta ingannare dalla trama e dalla bella copertina lucida e ho preso una cantonata. Capita. Capita ancora.
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