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Evert Bäckström #2
Uccidete il drago
Book by Leif G. W. Persson
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
160 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Leif G.W. Persson
30 books337 followersLeif Gustav Willy Persson - better known as Leif GW Persson - is a Swedish criminologist and novelist. He was a professor in criminology at the Swedish National Police Board from 1992 to 2008.
He is known for his crime fiction novels and for his regular appearances as an expert commentator on notable crime cases in television and newspapers. Between 1999 and 2009 he participated as an expert commentator on the television show Efterlyst (Swedish TV program, equivalent of America's Most Wanted) on TV3. Since 2010, he is the expert commentator of Veckans Brott - roughly translated into Weekly Crimes or Crimes of the Week - on SVT.
He is known for his crime fiction novels and for his regular appearances as an expert commentator on notable crime cases in television and newspapers. Between 1999 and 2009 he participated as an expert commentator on the television show Efterlyst (Swedish TV program, equivalent of America's Most Wanted) on TV3. Since 2010, he is the expert commentator of Veckans Brott - roughly translated into Weekly Crimes or Crimes of the Week - on SVT.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 21, 2022
θα ήθελα να γράψω πολλά (κακά) για αυτό το βιβλίο, όμως δεν θα το κάνω γιατί ακόμα και η αρνητική κριτική είναι,για κάποιους,διαφήμιση. Βασική μου απορία είναι το πώς κάποια βιβλία αξιολογούνται, βραβεύονται, έχουν απήχηση στους εκδοτικούς κλπ. Με ποιο σκεπτικό,ένας συγγραφέας που χρησιμοποιεί λεξιλόγιο τύπου"λεσβόγκα αλόγα" ή "ντιντήδες" και "την έχει πάρει κι αυτήν;" , "μαυρογκάγκανοι", "το πολύ πολύ να σε αφήσω να μου πάρεις μια π*πα" και άλλες παρόμοιες πανεξυπνάδες,προωθούνται,αφήνοντας πίσω ανέκδοτους συγγραφείς που γράφουν αριστουργήματα. Ήταν πολύ ωραίο το τρικ του συγγραφέα να βάλει μερικούς μετανάστες και κάμποσες γυναίκες στη σουηδική αστυνομία μπας και ισορροπήσουν τον άθλιο κεντρικό χαρακτήρα, θα μπορούσε ίσως και να έχει πιάσει το κόλπο της αντιπαράθεσης τύπου "μισογύνηδες και ρατσιστές υπάρχουν σε όλα τα επαγγέλματα-είναι κοινωνικό φαινόμενο " vs "ψηλές γυμνασμένες αστυνομικίνες είναι ΚΑΙ όμορφες ΚΑΙ καπάτσες παρόλο που είναι τζιβιτζιλούδες",αν στο τέλος δεν τις "έστελνε " με μια συγγραφική αλλά ουδόλως ποιητική α(η)δ(ε)ία να επιδιώξουν λίγο αμαρτωλό (ξερνάω) σεξ με τον ήρωα που τις στόλιζε (από μέσα του βεβαίως) σε όλο το βιβλίο.
Δηλαδή, απλά,όχι.
Και ρωτάω ξεκάθαρα, αυτές οι γελοιότητες πουλάνε περισσότερο από τα βιβλία του Μαντσίνι ή του Καρίζι;
Σοβαρά;
1/5
Και αυτό το ένα δεν είναι ⭐️ ,είναι 🖐.
Δηλαδή, απλά,όχι.
Και ρωτάω ξεκάθαρα, αυτές οι γελοιότητες πουλάνε περισσότερο από τα βιβλία του Μαντσίνι ή του Καρίζι;
Σοβαρά;
1/5
Και αυτό το ένα δεν είναι ⭐️ ,είναι 🖐.
June 14, 2014
Well thank goodness that's over! I have never in my life read any book which such an unlikeable protagonist. A bigger bigot never walked the pages of a book. Evert Bäckström, detective something or other, has something against absolutely everyone who is not a white, Swedish male in his forties. At first I found it somewhat amusing because it's so unusual, but it got old quickly. There isn't anything funny about such ingrained sexism and racism. I thought Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole was loathsome, but he is an innocent lamb in comparison to the unremorseful asshole that Evert Bäckström is.
Because the main character is so deeply unsavoury, I had a hard time concentrating on the murder story itself. It is long winded and boring and the conclusion is farfetched to say the least.
Not recommended unless you are nationalist Swede in your mid-forties who hates everyone (particularly minorities) except yourself, in which case this is just the book for you. *blech* Don't think I'm going to read anything more of this author, EVER.
Because the main character is so deeply unsavoury, I had a hard time concentrating on the murder story itself. It is long winded and boring and the conclusion is farfetched to say the least.
Not recommended unless you are nationalist Swede in your mid-forties who hates everyone (particularly minorities) except yourself, in which case this is just the book for you. *blech* Don't think I'm going to read anything more of this author, EVER.
August 19, 2014
Evert Bäckström, The title character in the second (of so far) three installments of this Swedish detective series is back to drink and blunder his way through another set of murders. Since I read the first book, the T.V. show on foX has been relocated from this fall (2014) to 2015.
http://www.fox.com/backstrom/
The show from creator/executive producer Hart Hanson (BONES), BACKSTROM is a subversive and comic crime procedural about an unhealthy, offensive, irascible -- albeit brilliant -- detective who is brought back from exile to run the Portland Police Bureau's Special Crimes Unit (S.C.U.).
Detective Lieutenant EVERETT BACKSTROM (Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson, "The Office") is a man with no filter. After a five-year banishment to the traffic division for offensive behavior, he has returned from disgrace to lead Portland's (not Sweden's) newly minted S.C.U. Tasked with navigating the city's most sensitive and serious cases, he must solve each crime as he tries, and fails, to change his own self-destructive behavior.
To no one's surprise, Backstrom's return is far from well-received, especially by his commanding officer, Police Chief ANNA CERVANTES guest star Inga Cadranel, "Orphan Black"). Backstrom's second-in-command and the person who actually supervises the day-to-day operations of the S.C.U. is Detective NICOLE GRAVELY (Genevieve Angelson, "House of Lies").
The ambitious and optimistic yin to Backstrom's yang, she extends herself to the limit to counterbalance his erratic and controversial behavior. By her side is Detective Sergeant JOHN ALMOND (Dennis Haysbert, "24," "The Unit"), a tested veteran of the Bureau who doesn't approve of Backstrom's xenophobic antics; although he tries to find the light in people, when it comes to Backstrom, he sees only darkness.
The group's forensics liaison is Sergeant PETER NIEDERMAYER (Kristoffer Polaha, "Ringer," "Life Unexpected"), a handsome, free-spirited, philosophical man whose open approach to the universe pushes all of Backstrom's buttons.
Managing the chain of evidence at S.C.U. headquarters is civilian support NADIA PAQUET (Beatrice Rosen, "The Dark Knight"), a beautiful French immigrant with a profound ability to navigate both cyberspace and legal bureaucracy. She also takes a liking to Backstrom and, at least technically, fills Backstrom's doctor's prescription to "make a friend."
On the street, uniformed officer FRANK MOTO (Page Kennedy, "Blue Mountain State," "Weeds") proves his value by suppressing the perpetrators and swiftly maneuvering around hostile conditions.
Meanwhile, GREGORY VALENTINE (Thomas Dekker, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), who serves as Backstrom's tenant, decorator and underworld connection, has a genuine fondness for the abrasive cop.
Using his dark instincts and peculiar abilities, Backstrom always manages to outsmart his foes, manipulate his peers and, with the help of his eccentric team, solve the case, even as he less ably adjusts to the progressive sensibilities of 21st century Portland.
BACKSTROM is from Far Field Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is created and written by Hart Hanson, and based on Swedish criminologist and novelist Leif G.W. Persson's hit series of books of the same name. The series is executive-produced by Hanson, Kevin Hooks ("Last Resort," "Detroit 1-8-7"), Persson, Niclas Salomonsson and Mark Mylod ("Shameless," "Once Upon a Time"), who directed the pilot.
http://www.fox.com/backstrom/
The show from creator/executive producer Hart Hanson (BONES), BACKSTROM is a subversive and comic crime procedural about an unhealthy, offensive, irascible -- albeit brilliant -- detective who is brought back from exile to run the Portland Police Bureau's Special Crimes Unit (S.C.U.).
Detective Lieutenant EVERETT BACKSTROM (Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson, "The Office") is a man with no filter. After a five-year banishment to the traffic division for offensive behavior, he has returned from disgrace to lead Portland's (not Sweden's) newly minted S.C.U. Tasked with navigating the city's most sensitive and serious cases, he must solve each crime as he tries, and fails, to change his own self-destructive behavior.
To no one's surprise, Backstrom's return is far from well-received, especially by his commanding officer, Police Chief ANNA CERVANTES guest star Inga Cadranel, "Orphan Black"). Backstrom's second-in-command and the person who actually supervises the day-to-day operations of the S.C.U. is Detective NICOLE GRAVELY (Genevieve Angelson, "House of Lies").
The ambitious and optimistic yin to Backstrom's yang, she extends herself to the limit to counterbalance his erratic and controversial behavior. By her side is Detective Sergeant JOHN ALMOND (Dennis Haysbert, "24," "The Unit"), a tested veteran of the Bureau who doesn't approve of Backstrom's xenophobic antics; although he tries to find the light in people, when it comes to Backstrom, he sees only darkness.
The group's forensics liaison is Sergeant PETER NIEDERMAYER (Kristoffer Polaha, "Ringer," "Life Unexpected"), a handsome, free-spirited, philosophical man whose open approach to the universe pushes all of Backstrom's buttons.
Managing the chain of evidence at S.C.U. headquarters is civilian support NADIA PAQUET (Beatrice Rosen, "The Dark Knight"), a beautiful French immigrant with a profound ability to navigate both cyberspace and legal bureaucracy. She also takes a liking to Backstrom and, at least technically, fills Backstrom's doctor's prescription to "make a friend."
On the street, uniformed officer FRANK MOTO (Page Kennedy, "Blue Mountain State," "Weeds") proves his value by suppressing the perpetrators and swiftly maneuvering around hostile conditions.
Meanwhile, GREGORY VALENTINE (Thomas Dekker, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), who serves as Backstrom's tenant, decorator and underworld connection, has a genuine fondness for the abrasive cop.
Using his dark instincts and peculiar abilities, Backstrom always manages to outsmart his foes, manipulate his peers and, with the help of his eccentric team, solve the case, even as he less ably adjusts to the progressive sensibilities of 21st century Portland.
BACKSTROM is from Far Field Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is created and written by Hart Hanson, and based on Swedish criminologist and novelist Leif G.W. Persson's hit series of books of the same name. The series is executive-produced by Hanson, Kevin Hooks ("Last Resort," "Detroit 1-8-7"), Persson, Niclas Salomonsson and Mark Mylod ("Shameless," "Once Upon a Time"), who directed the pilot.
June 19, 2019
Detective Superintendent Evert Backstrom is just about the antithesis of what a good policeman -- and human being -- ought to be, but like it or not, he solves his cases.
An intricately-woven and complex plot that is character-driven and with sufficient details to bring the reader right into the story. This story requires the reader's full concentration to stay abreast of the details and activities.
There were also some laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout the book, provided almost exclusively by Backstrom himself, although inadvertently. His bigotry and chauvinism are so over the top that it boggles the mind.
A thoroughly enjoyable reading journey.
An intricately-woven and complex plot that is character-driven and with sufficient details to bring the reader right into the story. This story requires the reader's full concentration to stay abreast of the details and activities.
There were also some laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout the book, provided almost exclusively by Backstrom himself, although inadvertently. His bigotry and chauvinism are so over the top that it boggles the mind.
A thoroughly enjoyable reading journey.
February 27, 2018
Policijski inspektor Evert Bäckström nije baš sav svoj.
Rano dolazi na posao, ide pješke, zdravo se hrani, izbjegava alkohol. Malo mu fali da još postane i ljubazan prema kolegama. Nešto tu sasvim sigurno ne štima, jer ovaj Bäckström nije uopće nalik Bäckströmu kakvog svi poznamo i - pa, ne baš volimo, ali svakako volimo o njemu čitati. :)
Novi Bäckströmov slučaj slučaj je umorstva jednog postarijeg alkoholičara, kojeg je, kako se čini, netko isprebijao poklopcem za tavu i za svaki ga slučaj još potom zadavio. Najvjerojatnije neki kolega alkoholičar. Po svemu sudeći, izgleda da će riješiti ovaj slučaj biti čas posla. Ili?
Naravno, stvari nikada nisu onako jednostavne kako na prvi pogled izgledaju, pogotovo u slučajevima kakvima se bavi Bäckström. A Bäckström, svima omiljeni kolega, ubrzo će se vratiti na staro i sa sobom povesti sve svoje poroke. Ponovno na pravom putu, Bäckström istražuje dodijeljeni mu slučaj na način kako on to najbolje radi: tako da prohuja kroz njega poput tornada, ne mareći što će pritom uništiti. A opet, ne može se reći da njegov modus operandi ne funkcionira i ne daje rezultate, jer Bäckströmu nekako uvijek uspije i da iz najzapetljanije situacije izađe kao pobjednik. Ili, ovoga puta, čak heroj.
Netipični protagonist jednog kriminalističkog serijala, Bäckström nas i u ovom romanu vodi kroz vrlo zamršen slučaj, zabavljajući nas pritom svojom naprasitom naravi i, općenito, samom svojom pojavom. Da, on je šovinist, rasist, seksist, lijenčina i alkoholičar koji ponekad voli zaviriti i s one strane zakona, ali na svoj vrlo poseban način, on zna biti i genijalan i ponekad nas zadiviti. Bäckström je anti-heroj koji predstavlja suštu suprotnost uobičajenim detektivima i herojima kriminalističkih serijala. On je nesnosan i ponekad baš posve grozan, ali ipak ti se nekako zavuče pod kožu i navijaš za njega da uspije u tome što radi, baš za inat svima koji bi ga (s pravom) htjeli smijeniti ili mu jednostavno žele neuspjeh.
Sam slučaj umorstva koji Bäckström u ovom romanu istražuje izložen je vrlo detaljno, a sama se radnja odvija dosta sporo, što mi se svidjelo. Bäckström i njegovi kolege prate svaki trag, istražuju svaku mogućnost, ispituju sve moguće sumnjivce povezane sa slučajem, omogućujući nam da pratimo tijek istrage gotovo u realnom vremenu, kao da iz prikrajka promatramo cijelu policijsku proceduru kakva ona stvarno jest.
Autorovo iskustvo kriminologa ovdje još jednom dolazi do izražaja i ovaj roman sjajno nadopunjuje, što cijeli doživljaj čitanja čini vrlo zanimljivim. Sam autor dodijelio si je i malu cameo ulogu u ovom romanu, pa provjerite hoćete li ju tijekom čitanja primijetiti (ili već jeste).
Za razliku od Bäckströmovog prvog slučaja, ovaj je slučaj nešto zamršeniji i isprepliće se s još nekim tekućim istragama s kojima možda ima, a možda i nema neke dublje veze. Puno je toga što se u ovom zamršenom klupku slučajeva mora razmrsiti, ali, srećom, Bäckström u svojoj ruci drži onu pravu nit koju treba povući da bi sve to skupa raspetljao. Naravno, kao što je svakom normalnom čovjeku poznato, razmrsiti slučaj ne može se samo tako, na prazan želudac. A želudac valja potom i nečim pristojnim zaliti. Tek je onda moguće krenuti. Bäckström to vrlo dobro zna. A kada Bäckström jednom krene, nitko ga ne može zaustaviti.
Rano dolazi na posao, ide pješke, zdravo se hrani, izbjegava alkohol. Malo mu fali da još postane i ljubazan prema kolegama. Nešto tu sasvim sigurno ne štima, jer ovaj Bäckström nije uopće nalik Bäckströmu kakvog svi poznamo i - pa, ne baš volimo, ali svakako volimo o njemu čitati. :)
Novi Bäckströmov slučaj slučaj je umorstva jednog postarijeg alkoholičara, kojeg je, kako se čini, netko isprebijao poklopcem za tavu i za svaki ga slučaj još potom zadavio. Najvjerojatnije neki kolega alkoholičar. Po svemu sudeći, izgleda da će riješiti ovaj slučaj biti čas posla. Ili?
Naravno, stvari nikada nisu onako jednostavne kako na prvi pogled izgledaju, pogotovo u slučajevima kakvima se bavi Bäckström. A Bäckström, svima omiljeni kolega, ubrzo će se vratiti na staro i sa sobom povesti sve svoje poroke. Ponovno na pravom putu, Bäckström istražuje dodijeljeni mu slučaj na način kako on to najbolje radi: tako da prohuja kroz njega poput tornada, ne mareći što će pritom uništiti. A opet, ne može se reći da njegov modus operandi ne funkcionira i ne daje rezultate, jer Bäckströmu nekako uvijek uspije i da iz najzapetljanije situacije izađe kao pobjednik. Ili, ovoga puta, čak heroj.
Netipični protagonist jednog kriminalističkog serijala, Bäckström nas i u ovom romanu vodi kroz vrlo zamršen slučaj, zabavljajući nas pritom svojom naprasitom naravi i, općenito, samom svojom pojavom. Da, on je šovinist, rasist, seksist, lijenčina i alkoholičar koji ponekad voli zaviriti i s one strane zakona, ali na svoj vrlo poseban način, on zna biti i genijalan i ponekad nas zadiviti. Bäckström je anti-heroj koji predstavlja suštu suprotnost uobičajenim detektivima i herojima kriminalističkih serijala. On je nesnosan i ponekad baš posve grozan, ali ipak ti se nekako zavuče pod kožu i navijaš za njega da uspije u tome što radi, baš za inat svima koji bi ga (s pravom) htjeli smijeniti ili mu jednostavno žele neuspjeh.
Sam slučaj umorstva koji Bäckström u ovom romanu istražuje izložen je vrlo detaljno, a sama se radnja odvija dosta sporo, što mi se svidjelo. Bäckström i njegovi kolege prate svaki trag, istražuju svaku mogućnost, ispituju sve moguće sumnjivce povezane sa slučajem, omogućujući nam da pratimo tijek istrage gotovo u realnom vremenu, kao da iz prikrajka promatramo cijelu policijsku proceduru kakva ona stvarno jest.
Autorovo iskustvo kriminologa ovdje još jednom dolazi do izražaja i ovaj roman sjajno nadopunjuje, što cijeli doživljaj čitanja čini vrlo zanimljivim. Sam autor dodijelio si je i malu cameo ulogu u ovom romanu, pa provjerite hoćete li ju tijekom čitanja primijetiti (ili već jeste).
Za razliku od Bäckströmovog prvog slučaja, ovaj je slučaj nešto zamršeniji i isprepliće se s još nekim tekućim istragama s kojima možda ima, a možda i nema neke dublje veze. Puno je toga što se u ovom zamršenom klupku slučajeva mora razmrsiti, ali, srećom, Bäckström u svojoj ruci drži onu pravu nit koju treba povući da bi sve to skupa raspetljao. Naravno, kao što je svakom normalnom čovjeku poznato, razmrsiti slučaj ne može se samo tako, na prazan želudac. A želudac valja potom i nečim pristojnim zaliti. Tek je onda moguće krenuti. Bäckström to vrlo dobro zna. A kada Bäckström jednom krene, nitko ga ne može zaustaviti.
October 15, 2013
Not Your Average Scandi Crime buster
Well you may have read many Scandinavian crime novels, dark, moody and compelling, with bodies dropping like flies all over the place, but may not read one quite like this! This is the second in the Evert Backstrom trilogy by Leif G. W. Persson, but was my introduction to the different type of hero of the hour. He is so much different if it was ever filmed I could audition for the role, as he is sometimes referred to by the author in the text as similar to the US series of NYPD Blues’ Andy Sipowicz. This brings a different style to the usual dark stuff from our northern European cousins, this has humour and the best description of Backstrom is by the publisher as repulsive, small, fat and primitive which makes it a great novel to read.
Superintendant Evert Backstrom is under instructions to start leading a healthier life style and is on this kick at the opening of the novel when a car is sent to pick him up and take him to a murder in an non descript apartment block. When he gets to the crime scene his first thought is that it is yet another pisshead murder, but first looks can be so deceptive. He is found by the Somali paperboy Septimus Akofeli who in turn later turns up dead, with no real connection to the original murder.
Evert Backstrom who starts to not only ignore his doctor’s advice and unleash himself headlong in to the investigation and at the same time consumes enough food and drink to drown a battleship. At the same time he is not liked by his superiors, but the new chief of the Western District needs Backstrom somehow to clear these murders up, even though she doubts he will.
During the course of his investigations he manages to tread all over his former mentees airport heist and murder investigation. At the same time he thinks some very un-PC about all over his colleagues and witnesses and is not afraid to sleep with a barmaid or a prostitute. At the same time he manages to get his 15 minutes of fame while annoying many of his colleagues while actually solving the murders and taking out some heavy criminal leaders. There is a wonderful twist at the end of the novel for the reveal of who the murderer was, very clever and also dotted with humour.
This is a great crime novel different from what you normally expect from the Scandinavian crime genre. It has the murders it has plenty of humour and a few twists during this procedural aspects of the book. I would highly recommend the book as it is well written, plenty of imagery and plenty to get your teeth in to. Really you should not like anything about Backstrom as he is repulsive and completely unlovable character, but you do end up liking him, somehow!
Well you may have read many Scandinavian crime novels, dark, moody and compelling, with bodies dropping like flies all over the place, but may not read one quite like this! This is the second in the Evert Backstrom trilogy by Leif G. W. Persson, but was my introduction to the different type of hero of the hour. He is so much different if it was ever filmed I could audition for the role, as he is sometimes referred to by the author in the text as similar to the US series of NYPD Blues’ Andy Sipowicz. This brings a different style to the usual dark stuff from our northern European cousins, this has humour and the best description of Backstrom is by the publisher as repulsive, small, fat and primitive which makes it a great novel to read.
Superintendant Evert Backstrom is under instructions to start leading a healthier life style and is on this kick at the opening of the novel when a car is sent to pick him up and take him to a murder in an non descript apartment block. When he gets to the crime scene his first thought is that it is yet another pisshead murder, but first looks can be so deceptive. He is found by the Somali paperboy Septimus Akofeli who in turn later turns up dead, with no real connection to the original murder.
Evert Backstrom who starts to not only ignore his doctor’s advice and unleash himself headlong in to the investigation and at the same time consumes enough food and drink to drown a battleship. At the same time he is not liked by his superiors, but the new chief of the Western District needs Backstrom somehow to clear these murders up, even though she doubts he will.
During the course of his investigations he manages to tread all over his former mentees airport heist and murder investigation. At the same time he thinks some very un-PC about all over his colleagues and witnesses and is not afraid to sleep with a barmaid or a prostitute. At the same time he manages to get his 15 minutes of fame while annoying many of his colleagues while actually solving the murders and taking out some heavy criminal leaders. There is a wonderful twist at the end of the novel for the reveal of who the murderer was, very clever and also dotted with humour.
This is a great crime novel different from what you normally expect from the Scandinavian crime genre. It has the murders it has plenty of humour and a few twists during this procedural aspects of the book. I would highly recommend the book as it is well written, plenty of imagery and plenty to get your teeth in to. Really you should not like anything about Backstrom as he is repulsive and completely unlovable character, but you do end up liking him, somehow!
October 30, 2018
Unexpectedly funny!
This is no book report , this is no synopsis of the plot. You can read the publisher's blurb . In my opinion this was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Like any really funny joke or story, it's because I didn't expect any of this. I thought I was going to read a bleak, noir, Northern European murder-mystery. Then I thought I was going to have to listen to another misogynist-loner male middle-aged police detective. Instead I got to be a fly on the wall (or a listening device inside the heads) to the private, politically incorrect opinions and machinations of police officers, detectives and higher ups who are as much interested in their egos and office politics as in solving the crime. Anyone who's ever nodded along with their boss's lecture while inside their own head saying "why do I have to put up with this idiot? What did I ever do in a past life to deserve to work with this person?" will enjoy this book. And besides, a good plot that left me guessing to the end. Skal!
This is no book report , this is no synopsis of the plot. You can read the publisher's blurb . In my opinion this was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Like any really funny joke or story, it's because I didn't expect any of this. I thought I was going to read a bleak, noir, Northern European murder-mystery. Then I thought I was going to have to listen to another misogynist-loner male middle-aged police detective. Instead I got to be a fly on the wall (or a listening device inside the heads) to the private, politically incorrect opinions and machinations of police officers, detectives and higher ups who are as much interested in their egos and office politics as in solving the crime. Anyone who's ever nodded along with their boss's lecture while inside their own head saying "why do I have to put up with this idiot? What did I ever do in a past life to deserve to work with this person?" will enjoy this book. And besides, a good plot that left me guessing to the end. Skal!
February 2, 2018
U moru inspektora o kojima čitamo u raznim krimi serijalima, Persson je morao "svoga" Backstroma po nečemu istaknuti; pa makar po tome da mu je lik šovinist, homofob i sl. Al' uz sve to, opet je nakako, što bi rekao Balašević "pozitivno negativan lik".. ;) Sama priča je jako dobro osmišljena. Definitivno ga pratim dalje.
April 5, 2014
Second in series featuring Evert Bäckström, problem detective with some unpleasant habits. He is fat, prejudiced, drinks heavily and has dubious moral standards - and yet, somehow, you end up liking him in a way, and even more surprisingly he actually solves the crime (albeit with some chaotic episodes on the way). There is a lot of humour in this - it's not the brooding dark Scandinavia, although it certainly addresses some of modern Swedish society's aspects, not all of them good. Bäckström has some pretty awful attitudes and opinions (about sex, women, homosexuality and other races) but he is challenged and outmanoeuvred in a very funny way by a colleague towards the end of the book). Some surprising twists and turns to the plot, too. Recommend!
August 19, 2014
How amusing can a crime/murder thriller be--one that deals with serious subjects? This one certainly takes the cake, that's for sure. The main character Backstrom, a Stockholm cop, is a seriously off-putting, overweight misanthrope who over-eats & -drinks. Yet Persson's sardonic omniscient narrative redeems the unlikeability of many characters, including Mr Backstrom, so that one reads on till the end to find out what the author will say next.
Much better than the 1st book in the series. "He Who Kills the Dragon" is laugh-aloud funny while making sharp points about Swedish society & those who police it.
Much better than the 1st book in the series. "He Who Kills the Dragon" is laugh-aloud funny while making sharp points about Swedish society & those who police it.
October 24, 2017
If the reader picks up this book expecting a Scandinavian noir read in which a morose, laconic , and troubled detective fights his demons as he solves a crime through great detection and force of personality then I would suggest that they put the book down. Evert Backstrom is a cartoonlike monster of a police detective sexist, racist and homophobic he feels like he stepped out of 1970's sitcom or police drama such as The Sweeney. Thus the reader has to see him as the anachronism that he is and wait for him to meet his comeuppance which as this is a trilogy I suspect will occur in the third book.
The book centres on the murder of a man in a block of flats, a young Somalian immigrant on his paper round finds the body. On investigation the plot widens to include areas that are entirely out Backstroms league yet through fortune he survives.
A little over long I was eventually glad to see the finish line but overall not a bad read if you can accept Backstrom for a comic character ( although I suspect his prejudices may be more true to life than the traditional picture of a police detective) . I will read book 3 and definitely hope for a sticky end for the lead .
The book centres on the murder of a man in a block of flats, a young Somalian immigrant on his paper round finds the body. On investigation the plot widens to include areas that are entirely out Backstroms league yet through fortune he survives.
A little over long I was eventually glad to see the finish line but overall not a bad read if you can accept Backstrom for a comic character ( although I suspect his prejudices may be more true to life than the traditional picture of a police detective) . I will read book 3 and definitely hope for a sticky end for the lead .
April 19, 2020
Evert Backström geri döndü. Polisiye kitaplar içinde en sorunlu karakter olabilir Backström. Alkolik, cinsiyetçi ve kaba saba bir herif. Karşısına çıkan bu cinayeti ise titizlikle inceliyor. Kafası en başından beri farklı çalışıyor. Bir ayrıntıya takılıyor ve olay genelde oradan çözülüyor.
Bu yazarın kitaplarında genelde göze sokma oluyor. Mesela bu böyle değil dediği, ısrar ettiği ne varsa o öyle çıkıyor. Spoiler olmasın diye bahsedemiyorum ama kitabın yarısında bu aldatmacayı tahmin ettim. Haklı da çıktım. Sonunda çok şaşırmadım. Ha kötü mü bitti? Gayet güzeldi. Backström’ün kendini toparlamaya çalışması ama toparlayamaması yine şaşırtmadı. Adam kesinlikle değişmiyor. Başa bela ve şişkonun teki. Egosu ondan önde yürüyor. Ortalama diyebiliriz. Belki biraz daha iyi.
Bu yazarın kitaplarında genelde göze sokma oluyor. Mesela bu böyle değil dediği, ısrar ettiği ne varsa o öyle çıkıyor. Spoiler olmasın diye bahsedemiyorum ama kitabın yarısında bu aldatmacayı tahmin ettim. Haklı da çıktım. Sonunda çok şaşırmadım. Ha kötü mü bitti? Gayet güzeldi. Backström’ün kendini toparlamaya çalışması ama toparlayamaması yine şaşırtmadı. Adam kesinlikle değişmiyor. Başa bela ve şişkonun teki. Egosu ondan önde yürüyor. Ortalama diyebiliriz. Belki biraz daha iyi.
August 22, 2015
I'm still not sure whether this is just Inspector Rebus Goes To Stockholm.
Maybe Backstrom is Rebus crossed with Columbo, with a dash of Pratchett's Foul Ole Ron.
The author claims to be Sweden's foremost expert on crime. I have no reason to doubt it.
I got the feeling that Backstrom represents a part of the author, maybe the part he'd like to let loose but daren't.
There's a nice reference early on to the police choosing not to hire the country's foremost expert for this case. That would, of course, be our author ...
As in many mysteries and Hollywood movies, our hero is a fat schlub who smells of alcohol and has no manners, but somehow has no trouble attracting women to his, er, "super-salami." I suppose no writer or publisher would dare be the first whose hero/heroine doesn't get lucky every few chapters. Eventually someone will give us a syphilitic Bathless Groggins (bonus for old-timers who know who that is!) living in the city dump but *still* getting a leg over with Gloria Vavoom in an unnecessary scene.
Or maybe there'll be a story in which the fat, aging, heavy-drinking, unpopular detective is NOT the smart one who solves the case.
But until the genre changes, this one will do fine. Persson's procedural expertise is clear, and he lays out a story that very smoothly gets more and more complicated without slipping into implausibility.
Backstrom has a couple of good moments where he knows something's amiss but accepts that it will take time for his brain to process what it is.
I'm not sure Persson's a polished writer yet, although it's hard to tell in a translation.
In the end, though, it rips along nicely and I was forced to stay up too late to see how it ended.
Will I read more of the series? Probably not. Maybe next year.
Maybe Backstrom is Rebus crossed with Columbo, with a dash of Pratchett's Foul Ole Ron.
The author claims to be Sweden's foremost expert on crime. I have no reason to doubt it.
I got the feeling that Backstrom represents a part of the author, maybe the part he'd like to let loose but daren't.
There's a nice reference early on to the police choosing not to hire the country's foremost expert for this case. That would, of course, be our author ...
As in many mysteries and Hollywood movies, our hero is a fat schlub who smells of alcohol and has no manners, but somehow has no trouble attracting women to his, er, "super-salami." I suppose no writer or publisher would dare be the first whose hero/heroine doesn't get lucky every few chapters. Eventually someone will give us a syphilitic Bathless Groggins (bonus for old-timers who know who that is!) living in the city dump but *still* getting a leg over with Gloria Vavoom in an unnecessary scene.
Or maybe there'll be a story in which the fat, aging, heavy-drinking, unpopular detective is NOT the smart one who solves the case.
But until the genre changes, this one will do fine. Persson's procedural expertise is clear, and he lays out a story that very smoothly gets more and more complicated without slipping into implausibility.
Backstrom has a couple of good moments where he knows something's amiss but accepts that it will take time for his brain to process what it is.
I'm not sure Persson's a polished writer yet, although it's hard to tell in a translation.
In the end, though, it rips along nicely and I was forced to stay up too late to see how it ended.
Will I read more of the series? Probably not. Maybe next year.
February 14, 2019
Σκέτη απογοήτευση! Ένας ακόμη αλκοολικός Σουηδός ντετέκτιβ, που είναι επίσης ρατσιστής, σεξιστής, ξενοφοβικός και δεν χωνεύει κανέναν. Ένα βιβλίο γεμάτο ονόματα, που κάθε φορά πρέπει να κάνεις προσπάθεια να θυμηθείς ποιός είναι ποιός, γεμάτο με όλες τις σουηδικές αστυνομικές υπηρεσίες, γεμάτο ρατσιστικά και ξενοφοβικά σχόλια που επαναλαμβάνονται ξανά και ξανά, με αποτέλεσμα η αστυνομική υπόθεση να χάνεται ανάμεσα σε όλα αυτά.
Δεν νομίζω να διασταυρωθούν οι δρόμοι μας ξανά με τον ντετέκτιβ Μπέκστρεμ!
Δεν νομίζω να διασταυρωθούν οι δρόμοι μας ξανά με τον ντετέκτιβ Μπέκστρεμ!
July 20, 2015
The hero was profoundly unlikeable, his demeanour bigoted, misogynistic and racist. The translator used 'circus' instead of 'circa' which took a bit of working out and called black people sooties which made me think of Sooty and Sweep the cartoon duo.
The only good bit was the end 5 pages that drew together the wanderings of the author's mind into a credible conclusion.
2 stars from me, Persson is not on the same planet as Larsson.
The only good bit was the end 5 pages that drew together the wanderings of the author's mind into a credible conclusion.
2 stars from me, Persson is not on the same planet as Larsson.
January 23, 2016
This one almost hit the wall before I finished it. Bäckström is racist, misogynistic, corrupt. The worst is I don't even believe he cracked the case. It was the persistence and hard work of Annika Carlsson and Felicia Pettersson that I think really cracked the case. What a lazy bum he is! The author even managed to insert a reference to himself in the novel Sly devil! Even so I won't be reading another by this author.
December 20, 2021
i loved it 5 stars
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March 8, 2019Ένα καθαρά αστυνομικό βιβλίο, με έναν όχι και τόσο συμπαθητικό πρωταγωνιστή, που σίγουρα, όμως, θα κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον σας μέχρι το τέλος του.
Το βιβλίο ξεκινά κατευθείαν με το θέμα του, χωρίς άσκοπες περιγραφές και αφηγήσεις. Ένας άντρας βρίσκεται δολοφονημένος μέσα στο σπίτι του και η αστυνομία ξεκινά τις έρευνες. Ωστόσο, ο επικεφαλής της έρευνας και η ομάδα του έχουν ως δεδομένο πως έχουν να κάνουν με μια απλή υπόθεση, "κλασσικός φόνος μπεκρομουτρου" όπως αναφέρεται και στο βιβλίο. Το θύμα, 68 χρόνων, βρέθηκε από το διανομέα εφημερίδων, χτυπημένο από ένα καπάκι κατσαρόλας, από ένα σφυρί και, τέλος, στραγγαλισμενο.
Τι γίνεται, όμως, όταν εξαφανίζεται και ο διανομέας; Υπάρχει κάποια σχέση ανάμεσα στο φόνο και στην εξαφάνιση; Ποιος θα ήθελε να σκοτώσει τον 68χρονο και για ποιο λόγο; Τελικά η υπόθεση είναι όντως απλή όπως φαίνεται;
Τελειώνοντας το βιβλίο, μπορώ να πω πως μου άρεσε. Και αυτό γιατί δεν έχει άσκοπα στοιχεία και περιγραφές. Από την αρχή ως το τέλος αναφέρεται στις έρευνες για τη δολοφονία του 68χρονου, τα στοιχεία που σιγά σιγά μαζεύονται ώστε να καταλήξουν στη λύση της υπόθεσης. Φυσικά μέσα από τα γεγονότα θα γνωρίσουμε και τον επιθεωρητή Μπεκστρεμ, που εμένα στην αρχή με εκνεύρισε. Σχεδόν σε όλο το βιβλίο έχει άποψη για όλα, βγάζει συμπεράσματα για τους συναδέλφους του από την εμφάνιση και την καταγωγή τους και αυτό στην αρχή δεν μου άρεσε. Μετά κατάφερα να μη δίνω σημασία και αυτό γιατί τελικά βλέπουμε και μια άλλη πλευρά του. Εκείνη του έξυπνου και τολμηρού επιθεωρητή. Πιστεύω πως αν ο συγγραφέας είχε αλλάξει τα στοιχεία του πρωταγωνιστή του, τότε το βιβλίο θα ήταν πραγματικά από τα καλύτερα αστυνομικά βιβλία.
Το βιβλίο ξεκινά κατευθείαν με το θέμα του, χωρίς άσκοπες περιγραφές και αφηγήσεις. Ένας άντρας βρίσκεται δολοφονημένος μέσα στο σπίτι του και η αστυνομία ξεκινά τις έρευνες. Ωστόσο, ο επικεφαλής της έρευνας και η ομάδα του έχουν ως δεδομένο πως έχουν να κάνουν με μια απλή υπόθεση, "κλασσικός φόνος μπεκρομουτρου" όπως αναφέρεται και στο βιβλίο. Το θύμα, 68 χρόνων, βρέθηκε από το διανομέα εφημερίδων, χτυπημένο από ένα καπάκι κατσαρόλας, από ένα σφυρί και, τέλος, στραγγαλισμενο.
Τι γίνεται, όμως, όταν εξαφανίζεται και ο διανομέας; Υπάρχει κάποια σχέση ανάμεσα στο φόνο και στην εξαφάνιση; Ποιος θα ήθελε να σκοτώσει τον 68χρονο και για ποιο λόγο; Τελικά η υπόθεση είναι όντως απλή όπως φαίνεται;
Τελειώνοντας το βιβλίο, μπορώ να πω πως μου άρεσε. Και αυτό γιατί δεν έχει άσκοπα στοιχεία και περιγραφές. Από την αρχή ως το τέλος αναφέρεται στις έρευνες για τη δολοφονία του 68χρονου, τα στοιχεία που σιγά σιγά μαζεύονται ώστε να καταλήξουν στη λύση της υπόθεσης. Φυσικά μέσα από τα γεγονότα θα γνωρίσουμε και τον επιθεωρητή Μπεκστρεμ, που εμένα στην αρχή με εκνεύρισε. Σχεδόν σε όλο το βιβλίο έχει άποψη για όλα, βγάζει συμπεράσματα για τους συναδέλφους του από την εμφάνιση και την καταγωγή τους και αυτό στην αρχή δεν μου άρεσε. Μετά κατάφερα να μη δίνω σημασία και αυτό γιατί τελικά βλέπουμε και μια άλλη πλευρά του. Εκείνη του έξυπνου και τολμηρού επιθεωρητή. Πιστεύω πως αν ο συγγραφέας είχε αλλάξει τα στοιχεία του πρωταγωνιστή του, τότε το βιβλίο θα ήταν πραγματικά από τα καλύτερα αστυνομικά βιβλία.
July 25, 2025
När Septimus Akofeli ska dela ut morgontidningen är dörren till Karl Danielssons lägenhet öppen. Och där ligger Karl Danielsson mördad. Med sin egen slips och ett grytlock i järn.
Polisen inklusive Evert Bäckström tror först det är fyllemord. Ska gå fort att lösa.
Vid undersökningen av brottsplatsen och en titt i Karl Danielssons kalender visar på att det nog ligger annat bakom.
Polisens arbete att ta sig an mordutredningen är intressant att följa. Även konkurrensen inom poliskåren ger krydda till utredningen. Till slut är det Bäckström som visar sig vara den som löser mordgåtan.
Det är en spännande att se hur mordet får sin lösning. GW är duktig med att beskriva polisens miljöer, hur olika poliser arbetar och att det inte alltid fungerar så bra med samarbetet.
Tyvärr använder GW Persson många nedvärderande ord om andra, när huvudpersonerna tänker om möten med kollegor och andra människor. Det stör mig. Och drar ned hur jag tycker om boken.
Jag funderar på är det så GW tänker om folk eller är han provocerande?
Polisen inklusive Evert Bäckström tror först det är fyllemord. Ska gå fort att lösa.
Vid undersökningen av brottsplatsen och en titt i Karl Danielssons kalender visar på att det nog ligger annat bakom.
Polisens arbete att ta sig an mordutredningen är intressant att följa. Även konkurrensen inom poliskåren ger krydda till utredningen. Till slut är det Bäckström som visar sig vara den som löser mordgåtan.
Det är en spännande att se hur mordet får sin lösning. GW är duktig med att beskriva polisens miljöer, hur olika poliser arbetar och att det inte alltid fungerar så bra med samarbetet.
Tyvärr använder GW Persson många nedvärderande ord om andra, när huvudpersonerna tänker om möten med kollegor och andra människor. Det stör mig. Och drar ned hur jag tycker om boken.
Jag funderar på är det så GW tänker om folk eller är han provocerande?
November 16, 2020
I’m always up for a Scandinavian crime novel for the peculiarly dark sense of humor that often infuses them. I have mixed feelings about this one: It kept me interested because of the “don’t want to look, but can’t look away” nature of the protagonist, but at the same time, I squirmed under his internal reproaches and assessments of others that were blatantly offensive at times. That was the point, but hard to root for a character who seems so foul. Still, though I also didn’t care much about the murdered characters, the plot twist was unexpected and it was fun to read overall.
October 21, 2025
Α! απόλαυση, οπως και το πρωτο της σειράς! Χιούμορ, σαρκασμοί, ειρωνίες, κοινωνική κριτική διανθισμένη σε αστυνομικό υπόβαθρο!
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August 22, 2017Drugi roman iz serijala švedskog kriminologa i romanopisca Lejfa G. V. Pešona „Ubiti zmaja“ nastavlja tamo gde je prvi stao, a to je Evert Bekstrom. Zato što je, kada je razotkrio skandal u policijskom vrhu, bio prinuđen da napusti Državnu policijsku upravu u kojoj je radio Pešon je, očito svestan svih mana svojih kolega, kreirao Everta Bekstroma u kome je otelotvorio sve ono što ne valja u policiji i protiv čega, očito, nema leka.
Bekstorm je mali, debeo, aljkav, pohotan, kukavica, površan, lenj, hedonista sklon dobrom i nezdravom zalogaju, a još više piću. On je takođe i šovinista, homofob, rasista koji ne može da smisli žene (osim kao seksualne objekte), lezbijke, homoseksualce, obojene, imigrante, Arape, siromašne, bogate, uspešne, neuspešne… Ukratko, svakog ko nije on. Uprkos svemu Bekstrom o sebi i svojim detektivskim (i svim drugim) sposobnostima ima izuzetno dobro mišljenje. Ako njega pitate on je Supermen koji je obdaren najboljim kvalitetima jednog Rokoa Sifredija i Šerloka Holmsa. Njegove kolege, koji imaju tu nesreću da im Bekstrom bude nadređeni rukovodilac istrage, moraju da uprkos slonovskim delovanjem u staklarskoj radnji svog šefa spasu šta se spasti može i otkriti ubicu.
Snažan u upečatljiv lik koga je Pešon stvorio dovoljni su da se banalni i sto puta viđeni zaplet i istraga čitaju sa velikim žarom. Svako poglavlje u kome nema Bekstroma dovodi do razmišljanja zašto, zaboga, čitamo ovaj roman. Na sreću, Bekstromov povratak u narednom poglavlju nas podseti zašto smo to uradili. Bekstromovo odsustvo sa pojedinih strana romana primetno dovodi do pada pažnje, kako u prvom romanu „Linda“ tako i u drugom „Ubiti zmaja“. Autor je, očito, i sam svestan toga tako da je broj stranica na kojima nema Bekstroma daleko manji u drugom romanu nego u prvom.
Evert Bekstrom je toliko upečatljiv da je i američki Foks (Fox) svojevremeno snimio seriju inspirisanu ovim likom.
Bekstorm je mali, debeo, aljkav, pohotan, kukavica, površan, lenj, hedonista sklon dobrom i nezdravom zalogaju, a još više piću. On je takođe i šovinista, homofob, rasista koji ne može da smisli žene (osim kao seksualne objekte), lezbijke, homoseksualce, obojene, imigrante, Arape, siromašne, bogate, uspešne, neuspešne… Ukratko, svakog ko nije on. Uprkos svemu Bekstrom o sebi i svojim detektivskim (i svim drugim) sposobnostima ima izuzetno dobro mišljenje. Ako njega pitate on je Supermen koji je obdaren najboljim kvalitetima jednog Rokoa Sifredija i Šerloka Holmsa. Njegove kolege, koji imaju tu nesreću da im Bekstrom bude nadređeni rukovodilac istrage, moraju da uprkos slonovskim delovanjem u staklarskoj radnji svog šefa spasu šta se spasti može i otkriti ubicu.
Snažan u upečatljiv lik koga je Pešon stvorio dovoljni su da se banalni i sto puta viđeni zaplet i istraga čitaju sa velikim žarom. Svako poglavlje u kome nema Bekstroma dovodi do razmišljanja zašto, zaboga, čitamo ovaj roman. Na sreću, Bekstromov povratak u narednom poglavlju nas podseti zašto smo to uradili. Bekstromovo odsustvo sa pojedinih strana romana primetno dovodi do pada pažnje, kako u prvom romanu „Linda“ tako i u drugom „Ubiti zmaja“. Autor je, očito, i sam svestan toga tako da je broj stranica na kojima nema Bekstroma daleko manji u drugom romanu nego u prvom.
Evert Bekstrom je toliko upečatljiv da je i američki Foks (Fox) svojevremeno snimio seriju inspirisanu ovim likom.
December 4, 2021
Evert Backstrom is back. Making a half hearted attempt at a healthy lifestyle, under doctor’s orders, he soon, thankfully, resumes his old ways. Persson has dialled up his sleuthing talents a notch, which I think improves matters from his first outing. What he initially dismissed as a typical ‘piss-heads’ murder soon takes on greater ramifications. Money laundering, gang wars, gambling, race and sex for sale are amongst the areas that Backstrom leaves his bootprints upon, causing even more headaches for his superiors. Backstrom’s bull-in-a-china-shop technique does yield some interesting developments, and a fair amount of hilarity. There’s something of the Bunter about the fat detective; he’s hardly loveable but oddly beguiling. He thinks thoughts that should never be thunked; in this best of all possible worlds. Still, reality can be a challenge for us all. There’s a race and society back theme here, which Backstrom’s internal asides somehow reconciles with the narrative and renders it less clunky than is often the case with more well meaning points of view. Backstrom can surprise you at times. While there is a problem with too many characters, particularly approaching the denouement, this is overall an excellent read. A page turning mystery, highly entertaining, and very different from its more pc rivals. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2018
This was the first GW I've read. Unless I read Grisfesten long, long ago... in any case it was an enjoyable journey. Bäckström was the reason I chose this one. I stumbled across the TV series Backstrom a while back and enjoyed the premise. I didn't realize that Bäckström internalized so much of his unflappable egoistic racist misogynist - misanthropist - rant. Highly entertaining. And you'd think you'g get tired of it but you don't. I didn't. I laughed out loud several times. He is so wonderfully politically incorrect. And even though he uses sexist and racist slurs, he is as quick to slur people from other parts of the country, other social groups, and other professions as well as his own. We're all idiots as far as Bäckström is concerned.
This is a true police procedural following the doings of a team of, mostly, detectives as they unravel what at first seems simple manslaughter caused by two drunks falling out. I enjoyed the fact that luck played no small part in solving this, that Bäckström - playing at Dirty Harry - got a chance to make his day. I liked the fact that GW fooled me completely.
I didn't like the second victim. His death made me sad. And I would like a woman's opinion on the Bäckström "super salami".
This is a true police procedural following the doings of a team of, mostly, detectives as they unravel what at first seems simple manslaughter caused by two drunks falling out. I enjoyed the fact that luck played no small part in solving this, that Bäckström - playing at Dirty Harry - got a chance to make his day. I liked the fact that GW fooled me completely.
I didn't like the second victim. His death made me sad. And I would like a woman's opinion on the Bäckström "super salami".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2014
Голямото качество на този роман не е в интригата, въпреки че тя е впечатляваща. Почитателите на криминални истории с вихрено действие и супер интелигентни детективи вероятно няма да харесат стила на Першон и неговия комисар Бекстрьом. "Онзи, който убие дракона" прилича много повече на социален роман за особеностите и проблемите на шведите и тяхната полиция, отколкото на класическа кримка. Но предлага и много повече от нея, включително заплетен сюжет и неочаквана развръзка.
Изчитането му е сравнително бавно, като "убиването на дракона", както една от героините на романа определя разкриването на случая. Онзи, който "убие дракона" обаче, научава неочаквани и много интересни неща за Швеция - познание, което определено е много по-голямата част от удоволствието от чисто криминалната страна на книгата.
Изчитането му е сравнително бавно, като "убиването на дракона", както една от героините на романа определя разкриването на случая. Онзи, който "убие дракона" обаче, научава неочаквани и много интересни неща за Швеция - познание, което определено е много по-голямата част от удоволствието от чисто криминалната страна на книгата.
October 18, 2013
If I was pushed right now I'd probably name Leif Persson as my favourite Scandinavian crime writer. This is the second in his series about Evert Backstrom, an overtly disreputable cop who nevertheless shows tenacity and, sometimes, perspicacious insight. I was already a fan after reading parts 1 and 2 of his trilogy starring Lars Martin Johansson. Both these books attracted criticism for being difficult to follow and rather long winded. I loved them, and my view is that the confusion created by the text reflects well the confusion of the characters. The Evert Backstrom series which began with 'Linda, as in the Linda murder', is much more straightforward but retains the humour of the Johansson
series. These series are linked, which is a bonus for avid readers of Persson.
series. These series are linked, which is a bonus for avid readers of Persson.
January 29, 2015
not bad
It kept my interest, the book may have lost something in translation. On the plus side the plot was intricate, and the author uses an uncommon timeline technique to tell the story. The characters were entertaining and a lot of effort went into establishing unique personalities. On the minus side, not a lot of drama or much new. I bought the book for a plane ride, it served its purpose.
It kept my interest, the book may have lost something in translation. On the plus side the plot was intricate, and the author uses an uncommon timeline technique to tell the story. The characters were entertaining and a lot of effort went into establishing unique personalities. On the minus side, not a lot of drama or much new. I bought the book for a plane ride, it served its purpose.
January 12, 2019
Swedish police procedural about the investigation of the murder of a 68-year-old alcoholic who was hit over the head with a saucepan lid. Though I've enjoyed many other crime novels and TV shows that featured anti-hero detectives, I found Detective Superintendent Evert Bäckström to be too repulsive. His racism, misogyny, and homophobia made this book unpleasant for me. For my complete review, see https://bit.ly/2RjcmHb.
February 11, 2015
Nothing like the new show, despite similar character elements.
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November 12, 2016Racism, homophobia, sexism, and xenophobia are not endearing traits and shouldn't be praised. Not a good book. Not in the slightest.
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