Le Corbeau de Nuit

Månvind & Hoff #1

by Johan Rundberg

Stockholm, 1880. Mika, onze ans, vit dans un orphelinat depuis toujours. Sa vive intelligence et ses capacités d'observation hors du commun sont repérées par un inspecteur de police qui lui propose de s'associer à lui. Leur mission ? Mettre la main sur un dangereux meurtrier, le Corbeau de Nuit, avant qu'il ne fasse de nouvelles victimes.
Le premier tome d'une série d'enquêtes captivantes, au succès international.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2021

About the author

Johan Rundberg föddes 1973 i Knislinge i Skåne, men bosatte sig som vuxen i Stockholm. Han upptäckte glädjen i att skriva och läsa under tidiga skolår, och var en flitig biblioteksbesökare. Så småningom läste han litteraturvetenskap och tv-produktion på universitetet. Det ledde honom till jobb på SVT och MTG. Från sin utbildningstid hade han även erfarenhet av att jobba med bildsatta manus. Därifrån hämtade han inspiration till att också prova att göra bilderböcker.

Reviews

[♡ Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein wunderbarer erster Band! Ich liebe ja gute Kinderkrimis, und dieser gehört für mich definitiv dazu! Die Geschichte spielt in Schweden im Jahr 1880. Es ist ein kalter Winter, als eines Nachts im Waisenhaus ein kleines Baby abgegeben wird. Wenig später geschieht ein Mord.
Die Geschichte war für mich sehr spannend, dunkel und rätselhaft. Ich mochte die Atmosphäre und freue mich sehr auf den zweiten Band!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew very little about the Night Raven when I started reading, but I decided to check it out because it was about orphans in Sweden in the late 1800s, written by a Swedish author. Having an ancestor who we think was an orphan in Sweden approximately 20 years before this book's setting, I was intrigued see a peek of his life (even if it was wrapped up in a mystery). I am happy to say, I don't regret the decision, as I ended up not only seeing a bit of what life in Sweden was like at the time, I enjoyed the book and the mystery.

Mika was an endearing character, and she seemed relatable to any middle-grade reader who feels stuck between wanting the responsibility that comes with being an adult and still sometimes needing to be taken care of. I enjoyed her skill for detail, and the fact that she has a good reason to notice details - her survival. Post-Sherlock Holmes, I appreciate authors who justify their detectives' skills.

Generally, the book seemed appropriate for teens and tweens, though some readers might find some of the gore to be a little much for them. Parents should also be ready for some conversations with their kids about the hard lives children had in the past, but might use it as a good opportunity to discuss the hardships children, especially in the foster care system, still face and how we can help.

[katayoun Masoodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was beautifully done. great story and story telling, most likeable characters, a good mystery. simply enjoyable, one of my favorite reads this year and wish all the rest of the series were translated.
be warned that while the mystery of this book ends, the story of mika continues.

[willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a spine-chilling middle grade murder mystery originally written in Swedish. I would definitely say this one is upper middle grade with the content... it's about a serial killer set in 1800s Sweden, so I think that's already a naturally darker topic for middle grade! There are also some darker images, like blood and gore, but overall I think this is a well-written mystery that older middle grade readers will love.

Along with the murder mystery plot, we have Mika, a spunky and detail-oriented orphan child. She assists the detective with solving the case and their dynamic was super sweet!

I feel like the ending came together rather fast and was a bit less climactic than I was expecting, but the build up to everything was so enjoyable. I think this was a solid first book that establishes Mika's world but leaves room for so much more!!

arc received from netgalley
(swedish version has been out for a while, but this English translation will be published in later 2023)

[Anna Sjösvärd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ojojoj! SÅ impad av denna serien hittills. Fantastisk berättelse, så fin huvudkaraktär och en miljö som man vill veta mer om!

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good mystery with developed characters and a story to match. The type of book I would have adored when I was younger and something I would/will pass on to my children eventually.

[Wal.li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mika Christie

Die zwölfjährige Mika lebt schon im Waisenhaus solange sie sich erinnern kann. Im Jahr 1880 ist das kein leichtes Leben. Und sie hätte so gerne einen Nachnamen. Als ein neugeborenes kleines Mädchen an der Pforte abgegeben wird, darf Mika ihr einen Namen geben und es werden sogar zwei Namen, ein Vorname und ein Nachname wie bei jedem anderen auch. Eine Wendung nimmt Mikas Leben als Kommissar Waldemar Hoff sie zunächst zu einer Befragung holt und sie nach ihren klugen Antworten zu weiterer Zusammenarbeit auffordert. Ein rätselhafter Todesfall ist aufzuklären und Hoff scheint nicht allzu viel Unterstützung zu haben.

Ein erster Fall für das Waisenmädchen Mika und Kommissar Waldemar Hoff. Mika ist eine hervorragende Beobachterin und geschickte Ermittlerin. Durch ihr Leben und ihre unbekannte Herkunft geprägt wirkt sie älter und weiter als es ihre zwölf Jahre vermuten lassen. Eine unbeschwerte Kindheit gab es nicht und schon muss sie Arbeiten übernehmen, um zu ihrem Lebensunterhalt beizutragen. Kommissar Hoff schient bei der Polizei keine gehobene Stellung zu haben. Mehr oder weniger alleine soll er den neuersten Mord aufklären. Überraschend gut ergänzen er und Mika sich.

Ab zehn Jahren wird dieser Roman empfohlen. Doch auch für ältere Leser ist es sehr spannend, die Worte zu genießen. Ob die Altersempfehlung etwas jung ist, können Kinder und Eltern vielleicht besser beurteilen. Bei Mika handelt es sich um ein wirklich tolles Mädchen, dass einem sofort sympathisch wird. Sie hat die Energie, um den Versuch zu starten, etwas zu ändern. Dabei spürt sie einigen Geheimnissen nach, die in diesem ersten Band nicht alle gelöst werden. Der Täter in dieser Untersuchung könnte auch als tragische Figur gesehen werden. Kommissar Hoff wirkt manchmal wie ein Brummbär, was ihm auch einen gewissen Charme verleiht. Angesiedelt im winterlichen Schweden kann man einen Eindruck gewinnen, wieso Mikas Leben und das der anderen Waisenkinder eher schwer ist. Es mangelt an Essen und nur selten kann ordentlich eingeheizt werden. Es eindringliche Erinnerung, dass es nicht jedem gleich gut geht. Ein ansprechender Reihenstart, bei dem man sich schon auf den nächsten Band freuen kann.

Fast schon als Abkühlung eignet sich diese winterliche Lektüre für einen heißen Sommertag, wobei das hinreißend gestaltete Cover einen kühlen Hauch verbreitet. Das Hörbuch wird stimmungsvoll vorgetragen von Julia Nachtmann.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short middle-grade mystery started off quite gripping and the wintry, frigid atmosphere really took centre-stage. The premise was also intriguing: a 12-year old orphan girl partnering with a police officer to hunt a serial killer on the loose. Unfortunately, I found the book to be too short for any real depth in the plot and good character development. I also think this was too gruesome and morbid for most middle-grade readers in my opinion. Perhaps some of the story's depth was lost in translation as it's originally in Swedish. I probably would have DNF'd if it was a longer read as I grew more indifferent as the story progressed.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a magnificent, harsh, scary [borderline horror at times], well-written, NOT your typical US children's - middle grade, read [and it is a lesson that we here in the US could learn in how and why and what kids are reading, no matter their age]. I loved every second of this book and not once did I want to do anything else but read/listen to this fantastic story [that sucks you in from the first sentence and leaves you wishing that book 2 was available now, and not in March!] and wasn't distracted once, which given my recent record of not-so-great-reads for me, is saying something huge.

Mika is an orphan and her life is harsh. She is 12, lives in a "corrective" orphanage and works in a bar [that is weirdly called The Chapel] serving drinks and tries to stay alive the best way she knows how. A baby is delivered to the orphanage and a man is found dead and Mika finds herself wrapped in a mystery that will bring her to Inspector Valdemar [I will say, the narrator, with her accent, made this sound like Voldemort and I had to keep reminding myself that was NOT really his name LOL] Hoff and a life of solving crime that she never knew she had the capacity for and what they do and what they find, will forever change Mika's life.

Brilliantly written, filled with amazing imagery and world-building, this will make you laugh, cry, and think. I cannot wait until the next one. I highly recommend this one to anyone. Just fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Johan Rundberg, A.A. Prime - Translator, AmazonCrossing/AmazonCrossing Kids for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linn J · Rating 5 out of 5]

En otroligt bladvändare! Med varje kapitel får man en större förståelse av 1880 talets Stockholm. Mika som bor på Allmänna barnhemet har filat på sin observations förmåga till maximum, för överlevnadens skull. Med sin vits, observationsförmåga och sitt gatsmarta sinne, hjälper hon konstapeln Hoff att lösa ett brott som skett.

En härlig sherlock holmes, eller snarare Enola Holms liknande bok och serie, med en stark och kvick ung flicka som kan lösa mysterium.

[Lucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also dafür, dass dieses Werk ein Kinderbuch ist, ist es wirklich spannend geschrieben. Ich hab mich zwar nicht gefürchtet oder Ähnliches, allerdings habe ich mit Freude Mika dabei verfolgt, wie sie diesen Fall nach und nach löst. Aber auch generell wurden das Setting und die Charaktere wahnsinnig toll ausgearbeitet, sodass ich beim Hören total in die Geschichte eintauchen konnte. Zudem fand ich es sehr erfrischend mal eine Geschichte zu verfolgen, in welcher Liebe und Sex gar keine Rolle gespielt haben, wobei die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen und Emotionen auch hier nicht zu kurz gekommen sind. Hätte ich nicht erwartet, aber nun freue ich mich darauf, mir noch die weiteren Bände anzuschauen. (Vielen Dank an NetGalley für das Bereitstellen des Hörbuchs zum Rezensieren!)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Scandinavian historical fiction. Set in Sweden in 1880, we have a young 12 year old girl named Mika who lives in an orphanage with other children. Outside of the orphanage, these kids are treated like absolute garbage. Poor Mika has a job at a bar and grown men feel the need to try and intimidate a little girl and threaten her. Her boss even slaps her across the face. This was an interesting mystery about a killer and how she helps take him down. The whole book was just sad.

[bokhyllaniskuggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

❥ Recension

Del 1 i serien om Månvind & Hoff.

Läsålder 9-12 år.

Till att börja med så tänker jag att om jag som vuxen blir såhär uppslukad i en bok för barn kan jag bara föreställa mig hur pass spännande den måste vara för målgruppen.

Detta är en välskriven, nervkittlande historia skriven med otroligt bra språk och driv. Rundberg beskriver allt så skickligt - det iskalla Stockholm en vinter i slutet av 1800-talet, levnandsvillkoren, detaljerna. Det blir otroligt levande och under läsningen känner jag stanken, rädslan, hungern.

Jag sögs snabbt in i berättelsen och det är omöjligt att inte älska Mika. Den här boken har verkligen allt en riktigt bra barndeckare ska ha. En riktig fullpoängare och jag ser verkligen fram emot att läsa nästa bok i serien! Absolut en av de bästa barnböckerna jag har läst.

Boken får 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 av 5.

[Il confine dei libri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...

[˚ʚ♡ɞ˚Adriana˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. It wasn't too bad, but not anything huge either. It's a just a nice little quick read.

[Taylor G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did.
It was such a fun book!
It was well paced and even though some of the translations was a bit off, it still made sense and the plot was really good and I Loved the setting.
Great murder mystery!

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual though good story - age range a bit questionable

The story is pretty good but also grim & dark - I was surprised that it's intended for middle schoolers.

Maybe I've been reading too much paranormal, but with the blood draining, I kept waiting for a vampire to pop out, lol. (No, no vampires - it's just an unusual serial killer mystery)

*Parents: It's not super graphic, but the tension & mental images suggested are not for the sensitive or easily disturbed.

*Language: 1 d-mn, 2 h-lls

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really dark for a middle grade book. Like REALLY DARK. Mika was a bit too precocious for my tastes...I hate when every adult and person in charge takes orders from a child. It's so eyeroll-inducing.

[Sarah Heilweil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was shocked that this is considered middle grade -- starving orphans, a corrupt police force, and a serial killer seems a little dark for that age group. Still, it was an easy, quick, read and a good mystery!

[Oskar Edberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jävlar. Så här ska en spännande mellanåldersbok skrivas! Hatten av.

Ps. Lyssnade på boken, inläst av Olof Wretling, och det rekommenderas varmt.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Så väldigt bra.

[☆İpek☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu kelimeden hiç mi hiç hoşlanmasamda.. arkadaşlar cidden, OHAA! yani bildiğin O..H..AAAAA!!!!!!!! Bu ne! Ben ne okudum! Hani çocuk kitabıydı buuu???? Ağzım açık kaldı. Sanırım hayatımda okuduğum en kısa-çarpıcı-etkileyici kitap. Tokat attı bana resmen. Başta yayınevinin sitesinde ilk gördüğümde çok sevdim ve çıktığı anı dört gözle bekledim. Amazonda müthiş bir indirim yakalayınca da iki kitabı da aldım. Ben normal roman tarzında olan, yetişkinlerinde okuyabileceği türden middle gradeleri okumaya BAYILIYORUM! Bu sene okuduğum tüm middle gradeler 10/10 çıktı. Yani kesinlikle fav türlerim arasında. Kitap elime ulaşınca baya şaşırdım ve bir tık hayal kırıklığına uğradım açıkçası. Hatta dedim 'İpek sanırım bu sefer cidden çocuk kitabı aldın..' Çünkü kitap hem kısa 180-190 sayfa, hem boyut olarak bir tık küçük ve puntosu bır tık büyük. Sonra dedim 'Amaan zaten zor okumalar sonrası ya da rs için kısa kitap almak istiyordun. Al sana kısa, minik bir kitap!' Dün gece de doğruyu söyleyeyim 0 beklenti ile başladım kitaba. Konu 1880 karlı Stockholm'de geçtiği için şu 1 saatlik karlı fırtına sesleri açıp okumaya başladım. Lakin.. arkadaşlar. ilk bölümü bitirdim ve 'ne?' oldum. O kadar daldım ki kitaba. Sanki yazar tüm o soğuk, karlı anları yaşattı ve ASLA AMA ASLA! puntonun büyüklüğüne kanarak, sayfanın azlığına bakarak bu kitabı yargılamamak ve sadece bir çocuk kitabı dememek gerekiyormuş. Yani ben bu kitabı tüm kalbimle, tüüüüüüm gizem, gerilim, polisiye okurlarına tavsiye ederim. Kısa oluşundan kaynaklı hikaye bam bam bam diye her bölümde bir başka şok edici yeni levela atlıyor. Hızdan, sürüklenmekten tahmine vaktiniz kalmıyor. Mika ve tüm yetimhane için eliniz kalbinizde okuyorsunuz ve yazarın çarpıcı, gerçekçi, o anki ve hala bu durumda olan çocukların durumlarını tokat niteliğinde açıklayışı sizi sersemletip AMAN TANRIM! durumuna getiriyor. Ne kadar anlatsam hislerimi cidden az. Kesinlikle BAYILDIM! BA-YIL-DIM! Herkese net tavsiye. Şimdi düşünüyorum ikinci kitaba hemen geçeyim mi? (Ki okumak deli gibi istiyorum) Yoksa kitapları hemen bitirmeyeyim mi? Umarım yazarın tüüüüüüüm kitapları çıkar. Puanım 10/10.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mika is an orphan living in 1880 Stockholm. She's no stranger to death, as children have died at the orphanage she lives and works at, but she and others in the city are terrified of the serial killer the Night Raven.

After a boy leaves a baby girl at the orphanage late one night and mentions a "Dark Angel", Mika is both intrigued and concerned. Later, when a shabby looking police detective shows up, Mika thinks something more serious is going on.

The detective, Valdemar Hoff, notices quite quickly that Mika is highly observant and analytical, and decides to rope her into his investigation. Despite her misgivings, and the worries of the orphanage manager Amelia, Mika begins helping him, and discovers what really happened to a girl missing for several years, and who the Night Raven really is, as well as the motive for his killings.

Mika is a tough cookie, and is much more mature than her age. There is a fantastic moment when she explains why she's so observant to Hoff: “I’m an orphanage kid,” she says. “And a girl besides. Anyone can do whatever they like with me—like you, right now. I work at a bar full of drunks who threaten to cut off my ears. You talked about corpses packed top-to-toe in the paupers’ cemetery at Skanstull. Where do you think I’d end up if anything happened to me? There would be no investigation. I’d be tossed into an unmarked grave like a dog. I have to pay attention to detail all the time because my life depends on it.”

It also illustrates how realistic Mika is about the dangers that surround her and other orphans, in a time when to be an orphan was seen as a personal failing.

Mika's also bold and willing to take risks based on her conclusions, sneaking about the city to verify details, and to speak with contacts, such as Tekla, the leader of a gang of strong, independent and dangerous girls (loved this!)

Though the author concludes the Night Raven mystery here, he lays seeds for a mystery about Mika's parentage, which will likely take several more stories to resolve. In the meantime, I'm happy to keep reading more Mika stories.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mika lives in an orphanage in Stockholm, Sweden and helps care for the younger children. The winter of 1880 is especially cold. But when a newborn child is mysteriously dropped off at the orphanage, she ends up involved with a detective searching for a notorious serial killer.

This is clearly a middle-grade level book, but it's a pretty dark and violent tale. It's also a rather compelling story, and while I would probably have read it to my own children when they were young, other parents might want to do their own evaluation. (There's also a couple of minor profanities.) Mika is a great character, as well as the detective Valdemar. We probably get a realistic view of what it was like for Swedish orphans in 1880. (It kind of reminds me of books by Matthew J. Kirby like A Taste for Monsters or Icefall, although not as richly written.) My only complaint is that it feels like Mika goes a little out of character at the end, but it was still an enjoyable read.

[Shaynning - Libraire Jeunesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incontournable Octobre 2023


Ce premier tome d'une série d'origine suédoise propose un univers policier sombre et froid se déroulant à la fin du 19e siècle, à Stockholm.


C'est l'hiver. Un froid de canard couvre la capitale et ce n'est rien pour aider les orphelins de l'Orphelinat central, dont fait parti Mika, 11 ans. La jeune fille n'a pas été adoptée et travaille maintenant dans une taverne autant que dans l'orphelinat. Une nuit, on frappe aux portes de l'orphelinat. Mika se fait alors confié par un mystérieux jeune homme une enfant fraichement née. Mais ce n'est pas le seul mystère qui entre soudain dans la vie de Mika. Alors qu'un meurtre est commis dans la capitale suédoise, le spectre d'un meurtrier en série hante les esprits, même si ce dernier a été exécuté il y a peu de temps. Quand un agent de police vient prendre la déposition de Mika sur l'étrange homme venu porter l'enfant, la déposition de celui-ci attire l'attention d'un enquêteur, Valdemar Hoff. Hoff va impliquer une première fois la jeune orpheline dans son enquête en lui demandant d'identifier le corps de la victime, qui aurait pu être son mystérieux visiteur nocturne. Ce n'est cependant pas le cas. Néanmoins, l'enquêteur est intéressé par le sens d'observation de Mika, qui explique d'ailleurs ce talent par l'impératif de sa survie passant par sa capacité à percevoir les dangers. Parce qu'elle est orpheline et parce qu'elle est "fille". Il va naître de leur frileuse collaboration un réel travail d'équipe, afin de mettre la main sur le meurtrier. Un meurtrier qui, après quelques pistes, pourrait bien être le "Corbeau de nuit" qui a déjà sévit.


On a pas souvent la chance de parcourir les routes glacées et les nuits polaires des pays scandinaves ou de savourer les plumes jeunesse des auteurs et autrices de ces pays. Une ironie quand même, quand on voit avec quel succès les scandinaves ont conquis le polar noir de la littérature adulte.


Le style de narration laisse place à beaucoup de suspense, avec des révélations muettes, des phrases titillantes en fin de chapitre et plusieurs associations pas très intuitives habilement déroulées. Mika m'a juste un peu agacé avec sa façon de faire suivre Hoff sans lui dire pourquoi, simplement parce que le travail d'équipe se fonde sur la confiance, surtout entre un adulte et une enfant, il me semble.


Mika est une jeune fille qui a de grosses responsabilités sur les épaules. Aînée des enfants de l'orphelinat, elle leur sert de grande sœur, en quelque sorte. Elle a des tâches à effectuer et travaille dans une taverne, un lieu plutôt incongru pour une fille de son âge. En même temps, on comprendra assez rapidement que les enfants sans parents n'ont pas le statu d'enfants, mais plus souvent celui de main d’œuvre bon marché et de vermine, au même titre que les rats. Mika peut compter sur son sens de l'observation, mais aussi sa sensibilité et son intuition. Son partenaire, le massif et bourru Hoff, possède l'expérience, le sens de la justice et son esprit pratique. S'ils forment un duo hétéroclite, ils ont de belles forces complémentaires.


Je dirais que d'ordre général, j'ai trouvé ce récit réaliste. Bon, bien sur, des personnages enfants à ce point doué en enquête, ce n'est pas vraiment ce que je veux dire par "réaliste", mais contrairement à certains polars jeunesse, il y a de la vraisemblance. Déjà, il y a de bons délais de temps, tout ne se résout pas en deux jours. Ensuite, les réactions des personnages sont généralement crédibles. Enfin, le crime reste relativement "simple". Je veux dire par là que ce n'est pas un énorme complot explosif et inutilement compliqué. Même le meurtrier n'est pas le gros Méchant moche qu'on croise trop souvent en polar jeunesse, mais plutôt le personnage blessé et cynique qui n'a rien à perdre, mais rien à gagner non plus. Un profil plutôt rare, je trouve.


Ce n'est jamais simple de faire du polar jeunesse sans tomber dans les indigestes clichés et les personnages stéréotypés, mais je pense que ce roman ne tombe ni dans l'un ni dans l'autre. Le décor est circonscrit dans une ville qu'on connait peu, avec assez de détails pour la "sentir" et le monde en présence, froid et sombre, sait rester sobre et juste ce qu'il faut de sensible.
Mika, dans le rôle très connu de l'orpheline, réussi quand même à me surprendre et les personnages secondaires qui gravitent autours d'elle sont tout aussi nuancés. Si je devais le comparer à un aliment, je dirais que le livre m'évoque la fois où j'ai osé comparer un strudel aux pommes avec un chausson aux pommes. C'est pas mal les même ingrédients, mais le résultat est suffisamment différent pour trouver le tour de nous surprendre. C'est un peu ce que je vis ici: des éléments connus, mais un traitement suffisamment différent et bien exécuté pour faire passer un bon moment de lecture.


Dernier petit point: L’œuvre met en relief assez bien la disparité de traitement des enfants des orphelins. L'univers de Mika me rappelle celui de madame Tetzner avec son roman "Les frères noirs", paru pour la première fois dans les années 1940 et mettant en scène les réseaux de trafic d'enfants pour l'industrie des ramoneurs en Italie du 18e. Un univers sombre, socialement inégal, dans lequel les droits des enfants n'existent carrément pas. J'aime que ce thème soit traité de paire avec l'état social de son héroïne, cela ajoute à la pertinence et surtout, à la vraisemblance.


C'est donc une série policière qui promet et qui interpelle. Vivement la suite!


Pour un lectorat du troisième cycle primaire, 10-12 ans


Catégorie: Roman policier suédois, littérature jeunesse intermédiaire, 3e cycle primaire, 10-12 ans
Note: 8/10

[papilionna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mika Mysteries ist nichts für schwache (Kinder-)Nerven. Dieser erste Band, Der Ruf des Nachtraben, nimmt seine Leser*innen mit ins eisig kalte Stockholm des Jahres 1880, wo Hunger, Kälte und Tod an der Tagesordnung sind. Die zwölfjährige Mika lebt zu dieser Zeit in einem Waisenhaus und als es heißt, dass ein tot geglaubter Serienmörder wieder sein Unwesen treibt, wird sie selbst in die Ermittlungen verstrickt.

Ich habe das Buch als Hörbuch gehört und konnte der Handlung dank Julia Nachtmanns fabelhafter Darbietung sehr gut folgen.

Die aufgeweckte, scharfsinnige Mika ist eine tolle Protagonistin. Mit ihren cleveren Beobachtungen und ihrer Kombinationsgabe bringt sie die Erwachsenen um sich herum zum Staunen, gleichzeitig wird sie als empathisches Mädchen dargestellt, das authentisch auf die schrecklichen Dinge reagiert, die es mitbekommt.

Ich persönlich finde die Altersangabe ab 10 Jahren allerdings etwas gewagt. Im Buch kommen wirklich viele Leichen und Elend vor und ich kenne einige Kinder in dem Alter, die das nicht (unbegleitet) lesen sollten.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and compelling middle grade mystery, that the target age kinda throws me because it talks about some pretty heavy topics in a pretty dry cut way. But I loved the orphanage, the mystery, the girl detective, the coziness of a bitter swedish winter. I definitely hope to read more of this series, it has all the elements I look for in a story like this. Very intrigued to learn the back story of our main girl and her relationship with Amelia and the orphanage.

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery set in a cruel historical time period. The treatment of children orphaned is hard for me to understand. It was an intricate part of the story. I would have liked just a little history on this.

I liked the characters and loved the final pay day, it literally choked me up.

I rarely read middle grade, am glad this came to me, and I look forward to more from the author.

[Kaleb Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of an orphan helping a detective solve the case of a serial killer and conspiracy, utilizing her unique knowledge of the streets, while having an adult actually look out for her for once.

It's a fun little mystery, and a short listen. The twist and reveal of the serial killer felt a bit flat towards the end though.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely on the gory side of middle grade, but my kids will like it. Definitely feel the bitter cold atmospheric setting and appreciate the observant (but not perfectly smart) orphan heroine. The mystery of the murderer is pretty easy to follow, but the kids will want to read on in the series to find out more details of Mika's backstory as well as what happens next to her and her policeman friend.