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The Father
Hardcover
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About the author
Anton Svensson
4 books48 followers"Anton Svensson" is a pseudonym for Stefan Thunberg and Anders Roslund.
Stefan Thunberg is one of Scandinavia's most celebrated screenwriters. His body of work spans popular TV series such as Henning Mankell's Wallander and Håkan Nesser's Van Veeteren as well as two of Sweden's biggest box office successes in recent years: Hamilton and Jägarna 2. While Thunberg achieved fame as a screenwriter, the rest of his family became infamous in an entirely different way: his father and brothers were Sweden's most notorious bank robbers, dubbed Militärligan (The Military Gang) by the media. The Father is Stefan Thunberg's debut novel.
Anders Roslund is an award-winning investigative journalist and one of the most successful and critically acclaimed Scandinavian crime writers of our time. Roslund is part of the New York Times bestselling author duo Roslund & Hellström, who are recipients of many prestigious awards, including the CWA International Dagger, the Glass Key and the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award, and who boast sales exceeding five million copies. Films and TV series based on Roslund & Hellström's novels are in the works, both in Hollywood and Europe. The Father is Anders Roslund's seventh novel and the first he has co-authored with Stefan Thunberg.
Stefan Thunberg is one of Scandinavia's most celebrated screenwriters. His body of work spans popular TV series such as Henning Mankell's Wallander and Håkan Nesser's Van Veeteren as well as two of Sweden's biggest box office successes in recent years: Hamilton and Jägarna 2. While Thunberg achieved fame as a screenwriter, the rest of his family became infamous in an entirely different way: his father and brothers were Sweden's most notorious bank robbers, dubbed Militärligan (The Military Gang) by the media. The Father is Stefan Thunberg's debut novel.
Anders Roslund is an award-winning investigative journalist and one of the most successful and critically acclaimed Scandinavian crime writers of our time. Roslund is part of the New York Times bestselling author duo Roslund & Hellström, who are recipients of many prestigious awards, including the CWA International Dagger, the Glass Key and the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award, and who boast sales exceeding five million copies. Films and TV series based on Roslund & Hellström's novels are in the works, both in Hollywood and Europe. The Father is Anders Roslund's seventh novel and the first he has co-authored with Stefan Thunberg.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 4, 2024
The fictional rendering of the infamous case in Sweden of three brothers known as The Military Gang who robbed a series of small banks around Stockholm in the early 1990s, and even planted a bomb (that did go off) in the Stockholm train station to keep police busy while they carried out two simultaneous heists.
The "father" in this case being the violent Croatian who taught his eldest son how to make Molotov cocktails and then throw one at the house where his estranged wife (whom he had repeatedly abused) was staying with her parents. Also a man who told his second son that when his mother arrived to try and take the boys away to safety, he was to spit in her face. Which he also did.
Not only is this book a page-turner, but the story behind the story is stranger than fiction. Because "Anton Svensson" is the pseudonym of Anders Roslund, and Stefan Thunberg, the fourth (non-violent, celebrated screenwriter) son who captured his brothers' and father's story in this debut novel.
Although the Audible edition I actually listened to is not included on Goodreads, I want to give a shout out to the narrator, Richard Coyle, who did a superb job with a huge cast of characters. Even though it was often amusing (to me, as a Brit) to hear Swedes talk with Brummie, Scouse, Cockney, Scottish and many other UK accents. One of the minor characters even sounded like Sean Connery - but none of this detracts, imo, from this astounding book.
The "father" in this case being the violent Croatian who taught his eldest son how to make Molotov cocktails and then throw one at the house where his estranged wife (whom he had repeatedly abused) was staying with her parents. Also a man who told his second son that when his mother arrived to try and take the boys away to safety, he was to spit in her face. Which he also did.
Not only is this book a page-turner, but the story behind the story is stranger than fiction. Because "Anton Svensson" is the pseudonym of Anders Roslund, and Stefan Thunberg, the fourth (non-violent, celebrated screenwriter) son who captured his brothers' and father's story in this debut novel.
Although the Audible edition I actually listened to is not included on Goodreads, I want to give a shout out to the narrator, Richard Coyle, who did a superb job with a huge cast of characters. Even though it was often amusing (to me, as a Brit) to hear Swedes talk with Brummie, Scouse, Cockney, Scottish and many other UK accents. One of the minor characters even sounded like Sean Connery - but none of this detracts, imo, from this astounding book.
November 15, 2024
Excellent portrayal of a true crime story. It shows the effect of violence and tyranny in children's upbringing on them even in adult life. It is the story of three brothers, a childhood friend, and a girlfriend who all turn burglars. However, it is also the story of a very violent man and his wife the mother of the brothers.
Often, in the story, which goes from adulthood to childhood between the chapters, you feel sorry for the brothers and mother, sometimes even for the father. However, what is also so well portrayed in this book is the effects violent burglaries have on the victims and even the police. This is where you then realize that even if you have had a bad childhood, you have no right to end up terrorizing people and stealing.
The real question is, how does society help these violent men change?
I highly recommend this story, which is really well written.
Often, in the story, which goes from adulthood to childhood between the chapters, you feel sorry for the brothers and mother, sometimes even for the father. However, what is also so well portrayed in this book is the effects violent burglaries have on the victims and even the police. This is where you then realize that even if you have had a bad childhood, you have no right to end up terrorizing people and stealing.
The real question is, how does society help these violent men change?
I highly recommend this story, which is really well written.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews