Kuollut jokeri

Hanne Wilhelmsen #5

by Anne Holt

Sigurd Halvorsrudsin vaimo löytyy kaula samuraimiekalla katkaistuna olohuoneen takan edestä. Vaimonsa vieressä lamaantuneena ja yltä päällä veressä oleva Halvorsruds käyttää koko valtionsyyttäjän arvovaltansa ja hälyttää poliisin paikalle, mutta joutuu itse syytetyksi vaimonsa murhasta. Pian eräs Oslon merkittävimmän päivälehden toimittaja löytyy kaula katkaistuna vaatimattoman vuokra-asuntonsa lattialta. Sotkuinen rikosvyyhti odottaa paljastumistaan.

Rikoskomisario Hanne Wilhelmsen johtaa etsintöjä yhdessä vanhan työtoverinsa Billy T.:n kanssa. Hannen työuran vaativin tehtävä osuu hänen kohdalleen samaan aikaan, kun hänen elämänkumppaninsa sairastuu. Hanne on voimaton kahdella rintamalla: mieli muualla ja tehtävät toisaalla hän koittaa vakuuttaa syytetyn viattomuutta.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Nordic Noir, Scandinavian Literature, Audiobook, Thriller

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Anne Holt was born in Larvik, grew up in Lillestrøm and Tromsø, and moved to Oslo in 1978. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Bergen in 1986, and went on to work for The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and then the Oslo Police Department, earning her right to practice as a lawyer in Norway. In 1990 she returned to NRK, where she worked one year as a journalist and anchor woman for the news program Dagsrevyen.

Holt started her own law practice in 1994, and served as Minister of Justice in Cabinet Jagland for a short period from November 25, 1996 to February 4, 1997.

In 1993 Holt made her debut as a novelist with the crime novel Blind gudinne, featuring the lesbian police officer Hanne Wilhelmsen. The two novels Løvens gap (1997) and Uten ekko (2000) are co-authored with former state secretary Berit Reiss-Andersen.

Holt is one of the most successful crime novelists in Norway. She has been published in 25 countries.




Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I am starting in the middle of a series and wondering how I never ran across this series since it was first published in the 90s. This is Norwegian crime fiction, starring Hanne Wilhelmsen, Detective Inspector.

Chief Public Prosecutor Sigurd Halvorsrud's found covered in blood and his wife decapitated in the next room. He is obvious the primary suspect and he comes up with a fantastic story claiming a man he's never met killed his wife. Yet he knows the man's name and address.

Things get real interesting when someone reports that this man committed suicide days before Halvorsrud's wife is murdered ... yet his body cannot be found. And then there is another beheading.

Hanne and her colleague, Billy T, are called in to investigate ... quietly.

This has a very complicated plot with a lot of complex characters. It's slow moving, but very thorough. Being a translation, some things seem a little off, but if you have patience, the story is quite good.

Hanne is not a nice person, at least what she presents to the outside world. Inside, there is some softness, but she's more dedicated to her job than to anything else. The woman she has lived with for many years is critically ill ... yet Hanne misses all the signs. Her best friend, Billy T, is just about to reach the end of his rope dealing with her.

I would like to read the beginning of this series, if only to see how these characters have grown and changed over the years.

My thanks to the author / Scribner / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-written book with an intriguing and unusual storyline. However, I felt the frequent forays into the personal lives of the protagonists did disrupt the momentum. When the investigation into a couple of decapitations gets into full swing it is very thrilling, but, alas, the ending was somewhat unresolved and very downbeat.

[Pippa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the series that I've read. The fact that I've started with book #5 rather than #1 is perhaps not so problematic, as Holt clearly has a good handle on the characters and on narrative.

There are a lot of characters to come to grips with. Starting with book #1 no doubt would have been easier. I've just started reading book #6, and I gather the broad range of characters is a stylistic device used by the author to allow us to see various points of view, and to give us a broader perspective on all the people involved in the crime, and the solving of it.

The main character, Hanne Wilhelmsen, is a wonderful creation. Smart, sharp and grumpy as hell, Hanne is the Chief Inspector with the Oslo Police. Her best friend and second in charge is Billy T., who is 6'6" and almost as grumpy as his boss. They are a great pair.

It was nice to read about a character who was a lesbian without it being a major part of the story. Her partner was a woman, and that was just how it was. I found this refreshing after reading so many American and Australian novels recently, in which this is either a major part of the plotline or is simply ignored by the author.

The crimes are complex and dark, and there are tones of the bleakness often seen in Scandi Noir without it dissolving into the gruesome, or wallowing in sadism which can imbue crime thrillers with the sticky voyeurism of so many dark crime thrillers. I also found it refreshing to spend most of the book following the detectives rather than the sickos they are hunting.

The translation into English is well done by Anne Bruce, whom I suspect has managed to keep much of the flavour of the original without it losing too much of the flow in English.

This was a well crafted crime novel, with a delicious sense of foreboding throughout, great main characters, interesting bit players, and a clever plot.

I have bolted to the local library today and picked up another 5 in the series. I can't wait to get sucked back into Hanne and Billy T's world.

[Åse Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denne gikk megaraskt å lese; var full men angst og beskymring for ikke bare drapene, men også fordi GirlBoss hovedkarakter mister det snart helt🙃

[L'amaca di Euterpe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mettiamo in chiaro una cosa: se leggo "thriller" (o quel che è, siate elastici) mi aspetto un morto, un indagato e un indagatore come minimo. Mi aspetto mistero, difficoltà, alti e bassi, guardia e ladri.
Se invece leggo un libro in cui i poliziotti hanno atteggiamenti infantili e borderline; dove nel bel mezzo dell'investigazione parlano di tutt'altro e si rimbeccano come bambini della prima elementare o ragazzini in preda a crisi ormonali; dove i personaggi coinvolti nella vicenda sono mere figurine, ombre cinesi; e molta attenzione è rivolta alla vita personale dell'investigatrice, beh allora non ci siamo.

E' il secondo libro di Hanne Holt e spero vivamente anche l'ultimo.
Ha buttato alle ortiche un assassinio denso di possibilità.
Ha speso inutilmente pagine per raccontare cose che non c'entrano.
Ha banalizzato una storia umana (quella dell'investigatrice e della sua compagna) come l'ultimo dei romanzetti rosa, senza neanche un perché.

Davvero. Mai più, finché sarò in possesso delle mie capacità mentali.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was one of the single most depressing books I ever read. I liked it, but not a single good thing happens in this story.

It was a very quick read - I absolutely love her style. Her language is very clear cut and really gets to me. Which is kind of the problem, I suppose. It wasn't just the case, although it was extraordinarily gloomy. At the beginning it just looked as if Hanne Wilhelmsen, the leading detective of the book, just had problems in the relationship department - she and her lover seem to have grown apart, hardly ever talk, etc. I could have handled that. But then the lover is diagnosed with cancer and deteriorates throughout the course of the book until she dies in the end. I am not kidding when I say that not a single good thing happens in this book. There are moments of odd peace, but they are weaved with melancholy at best. It was a beautiful book, and I enjoyed it, but it was very depressing.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy Hanne Wilhelmsen books. I’ve read most of the others. If this had been my first I would not read another. The personal drama overtook the book. It turned her into a character unrecognizable from the earlier works; a character I could not stand. The last 50 pages were the best, but it was a chore getting that far.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, smart, gritty - terrific detective and partner. This was an emotional harrowing read, aside from the incredibly complex murder investigation (as usual), main character, Hanne Wilhelmsen's partner, Cecilie, is critically ill with cancer.

The well written evolution of Hanne's character going from a hard-bitten, capable investigator to a ghost of herself is worth the read.

Recommendation: There is a lot of character development within the series, start at the beginning!

[Alessandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In questo romanzo, Hanne è sempre più cupa e disperata, quasi fuori controllo. Un'indagine difficile, con poche certezze e tanti dubbi, la paura di perdere Cecilie, la difficoltà di comunicare con gli amici: tutto questo e altro ancora. Bellissimo e triste. Consigliatissimo

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurrah !!! Anne Holt reverts to form after the mess that was The Lion's Mouth. If this one had been as bad I'd have given up on this series but she'd had her dud and this one was a terrific read. There were also no mistakes which would merit 5* alone since that rarely happens in e-books as a rule and IF it does it tends to be the Nordic stories that get the job of editing done properly.
There are some lifechanging occurrences for Hanne in this story. Some her own fault, some not. There were some big twists in this one, too. It was a very interesting story. The synopsis mentions a second murder and I kept wondering if it was wrong but it happened at last 70% in !!
I did wonder why, almost every time Cecilie is mentioned, that her surname is also added. We know who's being referred to !! I loved Eivind's character and it would be great if we see more of him in ensuing stories. I did struggle a little again with names and places since none are familiar or roll off the tongue for me, of course. Stale Salvesen and then Skarselva for instance !! Then Birge Bugge...
It was frustrating reading of clues that were discovered and of course those finding them had no idea and binned them and fascinating to read how little "out on bail" is used over there, too. If we kept someone in jail for 2 weeks while we investigated their transgressions, can you imagine the outcry ??
I have book 6 downloaded and look forward to it.

[Nina Rmn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Holt has a very creative way of linking all the suspects and the victims together. I do applaud that. However, the whole police investigation is too slow for me. Because it's too slow and we only find out in the last few chapters how the suspects are connected, the suspense has died, all the way till the end. It starts with a gruesome murder where the wife of the Chief Public Prosecutor is decapitated and the CPP is the main suspect. Then, too many talking, not enough actions to my liking, and so, it gets really boring. I put the book down many times cause I'm bored, and pick it up again the next day and the next until today. By the time I've found out all the connections, I'm all ready to put this book down for good. I'd give it a 2 cause I judge crime fictions based on how fast paced it is and how suspenseful it is but I give it a 3 🌟 only because the book makes a great point about how the bad culprits (in this context, pedophiles) are usually the ones that are supposed to keep us safe or guide us, ie: the police, teachers, etc.

[Seregnani · Rating 4 out of 5]

« Adesso è pronta a parlare del caso?».
« No, ma sono pronta ad acconsentire che lei faccia una lunga chiacchierata con il suo avvocato. Io me ne torno a casa e mi metto a letto.».
Con l'interfono si fece mandare due guardie.
« Adesso ve ne potete stare qui belli tranquilli. Noi due possiamo parlare domani, sempre che abbia ancora qualcosa da dirmi. Okay?».
« Lei mi tratta come se fossi un bambino».
« Io la tratto cosí com'è mio dovere. Sto cercando di scoprire la verità. Il mio lavoro non è farla confessare. Il mio compito è ottenere una confessione che sia autentica.».
« Lei mi crede». disse l'uomo con voce inespressiva. « Lei sa che sono innocente.».

4 ⭐️ Un bellissimo giallo, so che di questa serie ce ne sono altri per cui li leggerò sicuramente.

[Hunter Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first half of this book had some pacing issues for me, however the back half was exactly what you’d look for in a crime drama. even though this book is part of a larger series, i thought Holt did a good job of making it known who and what these characters are (specifically Hanne), with an incredible twist at the end.

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, frustrating, heartbreaking entry in this series.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanne is usually in control of every detail. Not this time. Her partner is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She is investigating the décapitation of a prosecutor’s wife and has little in the way of clues. And yet she solves that case snd several others by the end.

[Ice Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

We make our lives complicated and overlay too much information, the resultant clues and opportunities are missed and for once we let our assailant go.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the weaker installments. I still enjoyed it, but it took two days to read, and the case seemed a bit... weird. They seemed to have the solution close at hand, but willfully closed their eyes to it in order to facilitate some interpersonal drama. Still interesting, still enjoyable, but slightly less so than most Hanne Wilhelmsen books.

But in general these are fun, qick-to-consume books. They don't reinvent crime, but they give you solid cases with more than average inspectors.

[Roz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a strange opinion of this book. I will have to discuss it in three parts.

To start with, let's look at the crime aspect. That was pretty good. I enjoyed the uncertainty, the red herrings, the confusion. If I had to get another Anne Holt book, it would be solely for this reason. As far as a crime story went, it was done well.

But... Somethings weren't so great. Take for instance the instant labour and birth. Here is a lady, preggers with her first child, having dinner with friends. Suddenly her water breaks. They toss her on the floor and whip off her tights and knickers. At this point, I am confused. Why on earth would they want to do that? Get the poor woman off to the maternity ward. Then, it just got better. They had to boil water to sterilise shears. But wait! They wouldn't have time for the water to boil! Pop, the baby was there! Hmmm... if labour lasted less than 5 minutes, it wouldn't have the stigma it has. I also found the dialogue forced and unnatural. In places some things read like a scene from an over-cliched American teen TV show.

Then I have to pick out the translator - or at least I assume it is the translator. Multiple pronouns for the same gender but different characters, in the same sentence, leave one horribly confused. I detest wasting time, trying to clarify what the blazes is trying to be said. Then there was my favourite line, the one where the kid had snot and tears dripping from his eyelashes. Perhaps it is that I am from a third world country that my thoughts immediately went to police brutality and not poor grammar. But there I was trying to visualise how on earth someone would have snot dripping from their eyelashes, only to realise that it was just the tears, and the kid was not being dangled upside down while being questioned.

So... the crime side of it was good. I enjoyed that part. As to the rest, I was disappointed.

[Eva • All Books Considered · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted at All Books Considered: 3 STARS

Well if you are familiar with this series (which you don't necessarily have to be to read this -- it can be read as a standalone but I would recommend starting from the beginning), then there will definitely be more than a few surprises for the characters in this book! Hanne is her usual compulsive, introspective and a bit selfish/dense self but she does surprise a bit with doing a few things out of character. They mystery was interesting but I did feel a bit deflated in how it was figured out because I was expecting a bit more of a cover-up. Still, this is a great example of the genre and you will love it if you like a Scandinavian setting and police procedural murder mysteries!

I will definitely continue this series -- I like this genre and Hanne Wilhelmsen is such an interesting character. You can read my review of book 4 in this series, HERE.

Lawyers were a waste of space. He had always known that. Usually he laughed at them, these gowned, snotty-nosed, self-important and omniscient knights at the court of Lady Justice. They could never control themselves. As soon as they got a whiff of something resembling a setback, they pounced. Rather than lose face. Whatever the cost. Get even. Fire away. Show off.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Joker. #5. 2015/2016 iBook. Excellent cases and storyline plus character development of main recurring group. Starts with a cruesome murder. There are a couple, are they related? Who is responsible or are people being set up. Is there a body? The interpersonal relationships are well explored in this book of the suspects, witnesses and the police plus their friends. Hanna is only just coping with her mate's serious illness and stress. Colleagues and friends try to help.... A very good read indeed!

[Mk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aka "Dead Joker". How can one give a poor rating? I got it (i.e. picked it out - somehow), I read it. There is something good in just about any book. No? Place names of places never heard of, descriptions of Oslo & other locations in Norway, Norwegian expressions, all these things interested me. But, too much "Deus ex machina", too much niff naff, too extraneous, too extremely wild, and way too broad, but then this perhaps could be, to some, pleasing, to me - NOT. Not a re-read and not a recommendation from me. Not a keeper.

[Doug Dosdall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars Another dark and quirky thriller in the series where the personal lives of the detectives takes on an even bigger role in the narrative. And why do all Scandinavian writers seem to go for excessive detail? Do we really need to know whenever a character drinks water that it's "Ferris mineral water" (many instances). The audiobook reader was excellent but the translation of this one left something to be desired, for example characters often say something "in an undertone". Huh?

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love Anne Holt’s books. This one ,I liked but not loved. Some things were just too unreal. As a labor and delivery nurse, I have to agree with another reviewer that the birth scene was completely unbelievable!
Then there was such a plethora of characters and details , my poor brain had to struggle to keep track. I will certainly read more of her books though!

[Mario Giachino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Può sembrare lento ma non lo è: non è mai noioso e la voglia di leggere non diminuisce. Il "giallo" non è la cosa più importante del libro, il quale parla soprattutto di rapporti interpersonali. Comunque bello.

[Sharyn Simcox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't care much for this book.Too much personal stuff for my taste. I also found the characters confusing.I listened rather than read so the strange names were hard to follow. The gay angle was well handled.I think others may like this writer more than I do

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't really tell this story without spoilers. It was worth the read and it continually changed from one moment to the next. If you want a good read Anne Holt really gives a good story.

[Mike Cuthbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most energetic of Holt’s many mysteries featuring Hanne Wilhelmsen. Events move at a fast pace, paralleled with Hanne’s partner’s decline and death from cancer. Cecilie has been an important part of Hanne’s life for several novels and, oddly enough, I read the sequel to this novel in the past and remembered Hanne’s slow recovery from Cecilie’s demise. This mystery also more strongly features the massive Billy T., Hanne’s work partner and devoted friend. In fact, the smoldering love he has for Hanne breaks out even though he decides to get married after having a baby with Tone-Marie. (#5!! Though with different mothers!) In the meantime, Hanne works on an involved case that seems to turn on a murder committed by a dead man (the “Dead Joker” of the title.) A “joker” in the novel is loosely defined as something floating in water, much as we might use the term “dead head.” The accused perp is the Chief Public Prosecutor, Sigurd Halvosrud. The victim is his wife, Doris, whose headless body is found in their home with Sigurd’s prints all over the body, a convenient sword and other signs that make it 98% sure that he’s guilty. Hanne, as usual, has reservations; something does not add up. She and Billy T. go on as if Halvorsrud is NOT the guilty party and in the process they get into a web of intrigue that involves pedophilic behavior and worse. Then there is another beheading and things get even murkier as Halvorsrud was just released before the killing and it looks like he has struck again. Hanne again refuses to go with conventional wisdom and keeps at it. All this time, Cecilie has been dying from cancer, though the process is so fast that Hanne can hardly keep up. Both she and Billy T. spend many sleepless hours pursuing the case and Cecilie’s deterioration. Hanne is at her most feminine in this novel. Nearing forty, she is more concerned with her appearance than in other Wilhelmsen mysteries and her relationship with Billy T. deepens and turns in unexpected directions. Oddly enough, as is the custom in Nordic Noir, characters are seldom referred to by their first names alone: Hanne is always “Hanne Wilhelmsen” yet we never learn T’s last name! Hanne continues throughout to momentarily consider retiring, but there are other novels featuring her so she stays on the job for the nonce, at least ! Another solid performance from Holt and a fine Nordic Noir entry.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Norwegian Mystery & Police Procedural

The synopsis for this stand-alone novel is very good, so a recap is unnecessary. The main plot line and side stories are intricate but well-thought-out. It wasn’t difficult to follow the various twists and interwoven plot threads, because the overall pace is slower than most American police procedurals. I usually don’t mind the slower pace of foreign mysteries, especially if the character names are difficult to pronounce and/or hard to remember.

There are a lot of characters, but they are well-drawn, and the MCs are especially complex as are their personal lives. The detective inspector protagonist comes across as prickly, brusque and introverted at the start, but as the story proceeds, the author reveals more, and I was able to relate to and empathize with the MC. There is some drama in the MC’s life but it’s not excessive and doesn’t overwhelm the storyline.

The final plot twist was a surprising one, and I couldn’t identify the mastermind. The plot thread(s) wasn’t/weren’t tied up as neatly as I’d hoped, but I’ll go the author’s choice.

If you like reading complex mystery/police procedurals without a lot of sexual situations and maudlin drama, I highly recommend “Dead Joker.”

PS
Those who are sensitive about “bad language,” this IS a hardcore mystery and police procedural. OTOH, the profanity isn’t as bad as that in many American mysteries/police procedurals.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange murder. And how can the victim´s husband say that he saw the killer - a dead man? And then - another murder. Any connection?
Hanne Wilhelmsen is solving the hardest case in her life - as her loved one is dying.

Trigger warning - this book contains the mentions of sexual violence on children.

3.5 stars.

Much more interesting than the previous installment! Much more personal, much more conflicted - which I like. Yet... the story is too much wordy, too many unnecessary details and too abrupt a solution. Especially the abrupt solution is my reason for nitpicking here - I like the old school, where I can turn back and see the possible motifs in retrospective. Here, not that much.

But I very much how well-described is the personal, honest struggle Hanne is going through. Truly heart-wrenching. And this struggle is opening many other hidden places in her heart. Very relatable.

But, to be honest, I would read the next installment only in hopes for something happening between Hanne and Billy T., not in hopes for the kind of mystery I like. So I will not read the next installments. But I leave as a friend, with thanks for heart-tugging human story.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A most bizarre murder.

The wife of Sigord Halvorsrud is found dead, her husband nearby, covered in blood. Halvorsrud is a prosecutor who had sent many men to prison. He says he watched while Stale Salvesen, a business man he'd sent away for insider dealing, attacked his wife brutally. He says Salvesen held a gun on him and he was afraid to move, to help his wife.

The story does sound fishy, yet Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen tends to believe him. That hard police part of her, naturally, pursues Halvorsrud with as much diligence as she can.

The investigation involves Wilhelmsen's buddy, Billy T., an oversize detective with little hair and much macho. Before it's over they have uncovered more than an answer to the murder. We find ourselves deep within Hanne's personal life and discover that she is far from the tough cop she presents to the world.

I have mixed feelings about Hanne and Billy T. Billy seems like too much a caricature and I don't feel what I think I am supposed to feel about their friendship. Yes, they care about each other, but to me it is mostly words on a page. I'm not totally on board with this series because I don't particularly like anyone in it.