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Daniel Trokic #5
Ondt Vand
Ondt Vand af Inger Wolf er 5. krimi i serien om Politikommissær Daniel Trokic. I Ondt Vand bliver to myrdede kvinder fundet i hver sin kuffert i udkanten af Aarhus. Det ligner et mystisk ritual: Der er anbragt stearinlys på stedet, den ene kvindes hud er fyldt med bogstavet Y, og den anden har en sjælden prærieblomst i håret. Daniel Trokic kommer på sagen, der hurtigt viser sig at lede i flere retninger, bl.a. mod Afrika. Trokic må holde hovedet koldt, da endnu en kvinde forsvinder og nøglen er at finde frem til morderens skjulte budskab og symbolik.
315 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2012
37 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Inger Wolf
25 books153 followersInspired by the Darkness
Inger Wolf is an International Bestselling Danish mystery and thriller writer.
Her first mystery novel, Dark September, for which she was awarded the Danish Crime Academy's debut prize, was published in 2006. Since then, her bestselling books have been translated into several languages.
She loves to travel and get inspiration to her books from all over the world, but lives in the outskirts of the town of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, close to the forest and the sea. In this beautiful place, she got a degree in English and worked as a translator for many years.
Today, Inger Wolf works as a full-time author. The household also includes a dog called Harry Hole, named after one of her favorite detectives, and a cat called Mis (Kitty).
Books to date:
On the Side (Danish)
Dark September (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, French, Spanish)
Frost and Ashes (Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, Spanish)
The Song Bird (Danish, Dutch)
The Wasp Nest (Danish, French)
Evil Water (Danish, French)
Under a Black Sky (Danish, English)
The Perfect Place to Die (Danish)
Burned Souls (Danish)
The Crow Man (Danish)
Inger Wolf is an International Bestselling Danish mystery and thriller writer.
Her first mystery novel, Dark September, for which she was awarded the Danish Crime Academy's debut prize, was published in 2006. Since then, her bestselling books have been translated into several languages.
She loves to travel and get inspiration to her books from all over the world, but lives in the outskirts of the town of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, close to the forest and the sea. In this beautiful place, she got a degree in English and worked as a translator for many years.
Today, Inger Wolf works as a full-time author. The household also includes a dog called Harry Hole, named after one of her favorite detectives, and a cat called Mis (Kitty).
Books to date:
On the Side (Danish)
Dark September (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, French, Spanish)
Frost and Ashes (Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, Spanish)
The Song Bird (Danish, Dutch)
The Wasp Nest (Danish, French)
Evil Water (Danish, French)
Under a Black Sky (Danish, English)
The Perfect Place to Die (Danish)
Burned Souls (Danish)
The Crow Man (Danish)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 15, 2013
This story was far darker than most of my usual reads, and to be honest, it still has me jumping at unusual sounds. With a tone that is similar to many Scandinavian authors I have read, Inger Wolf has managed to maintain that fine line between captivating a reader’s interest, setting a scene, and developing characters with pointed description highlighted by information provided in a need-to-know basis that heightened the tension.
The psychopathic treatment of victims, combined with the graphic and often gruesome depictions of crime scenes, liberally peppered with dialog about and around the scenes that was very real in feel, kept the impressions about Trokic in constant flux, impressed with his dedication one moment, finding him rather over-wrought and overwhelmed when personal concerns leaked into his professional moments.
With multiple potential suspects, the “who did it” seemed to change with each murder, each revelation. All of those twists and turns make this a page turner to the end, and the final guilty party was so well hidden and revealed that I sat silent for several moments trying to figure out how they were unearthed.
I thoroughly enjoyed every spine tingling moment of this story, and will gladly suffer the moments of fright again to read another of this author’s books. Fans of Crime Thrillers will love this book and author.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.
The psychopathic treatment of victims, combined with the graphic and often gruesome depictions of crime scenes, liberally peppered with dialog about and around the scenes that was very real in feel, kept the impressions about Trokic in constant flux, impressed with his dedication one moment, finding him rather over-wrought and overwhelmed when personal concerns leaked into his professional moments.
With multiple potential suspects, the “who did it” seemed to change with each murder, each revelation. All of those twists and turns make this a page turner to the end, and the final guilty party was so well hidden and revealed that I sat silent for several moments trying to figure out how they were unearthed.
I thoroughly enjoyed every spine tingling moment of this story, and will gladly suffer the moments of fright again to read another of this author’s books. Fans of Crime Thrillers will love this book and author.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.
June 27, 2013
Evil Water by Inger Wolf is a crime thriller about a serial killer who uses leeches to kill his victims and stuffs their bodies into suitcases. I watch a lot of TV shows on crime but I don't read a lot of books in this genre. Actually, this may be the first one I've ever read. I thought it was written well
- except for the occasional copyediting issues - and formatted well for kindle. I enjoyed the foreign setting of Denmark and am glad the translators didn't change it to an American setting. I also liked the methodology of the killer. I found it to be very clever and understandable once you find out why he kills in this manner. The novel is structured well and follows a well structured path that works. I wish more of the novel was from the killer's point of view and the victims point of view. The procedures of the police seemed realistic as well, not that I'm an expert, far from it.
There were a few things that bothered me. Much of the novel, especially the beginnings of almost all the chapters, are written in past perfect and past perfect progressive, which gets annoying to read after a while. Here's an example in case you don't know what those tenses are: "In the meantime, she had gone back to her own apartment, which was located only a few minutes' walk from the police station. She had made her family dinner...Then she had read Winnie the Pooh...Now , Jacob had gone to bed. The reader will encounter pages and pages of it. In my opinion, if the info is important and it takes more than a sentence or two to say, write it as the current scene instead of flashbacking on the information. You'll get more emotional impact that way anyway, which brings me to another problem with this novel. There is not a lot of character emotion in this novel. There is plenty of action and dialog, but nothing about how what is happening is emotionally effecting the characters. The novel lacks intimacy which made it hard for me to keep reading, everything came across dry and factual. When I read, I want to feel what the character feels. You won't get that from this novel.
Many of the other reviews say they found the book horrifying. I found it interesting but it didn't horrify me. Perhaps I'm desensitized, but without the emotional element, I just didn't care what happened to anyone in this novel. I developed no attachments to any of the characters.
Should you read this book? If you're looking for an emotional charge, no. If you're looking for a clever plot with a clever serial killer, yes. I would say this book may appeal more to men than women.
- except for the occasional copyediting issues - and formatted well for kindle. I enjoyed the foreign setting of Denmark and am glad the translators didn't change it to an American setting. I also liked the methodology of the killer. I found it to be very clever and understandable once you find out why he kills in this manner. The novel is structured well and follows a well structured path that works. I wish more of the novel was from the killer's point of view and the victims point of view. The procedures of the police seemed realistic as well, not that I'm an expert, far from it.
There were a few things that bothered me. Much of the novel, especially the beginnings of almost all the chapters, are written in past perfect and past perfect progressive, which gets annoying to read after a while. Here's an example in case you don't know what those tenses are: "In the meantime, she had gone back to her own apartment, which was located only a few minutes' walk from the police station. She had made her family dinner...Then she had read Winnie the Pooh...Now , Jacob had gone to bed. The reader will encounter pages and pages of it. In my opinion, if the info is important and it takes more than a sentence or two to say, write it as the current scene instead of flashbacking on the information. You'll get more emotional impact that way anyway, which brings me to another problem with this novel. There is not a lot of character emotion in this novel. There is plenty of action and dialog, but nothing about how what is happening is emotionally effecting the characters. The novel lacks intimacy which made it hard for me to keep reading, everything came across dry and factual. When I read, I want to feel what the character feels. You won't get that from this novel.
Many of the other reviews say they found the book horrifying. I found it interesting but it didn't horrify me. Perhaps I'm desensitized, but without the emotional element, I just didn't care what happened to anyone in this novel. I developed no attachments to any of the characters.
Should you read this book? If you're looking for an emotional charge, no. If you're looking for a clever plot with a clever serial killer, yes. I would say this book may appeal more to men than women.
April 26, 2013
The opening scene of this book is dark, disturbing, and sucked me right in. The killer here has the most unique method of murder I've ever read about and the concept fascinated me. I immediately thought I'd found one of those books I wouldn't be able to put down. What I wound up with instead was a book that alternately held me engrossed and had me frowning with irritation.
The positives for me:
The plot is indeed fascinating and original. The story is intricate and well-crafted. Inger Wolf tosses out tidbits like a trail of breadcrumbs for readers to follow.
The setting is very well done. Inger Wolf was able to put me in a place I've never visited and knew next to nothing about. I felt like I'd traveled to another country and was accompanying the police as they worked the case.
Now the negatives:
For me, there is only one negative with this book, but it's a big one. Character development is severely lacking. By the end of the book I didn't feel I knew the characters much better than I had when I began, which is to say I didn't know them at all. First, there are far too many POV characters. Consequently, we didn't stick with one character long enough to get to know him or her. We rarely get a glimpse inside any one character's mind to know what he or she is thinking. The characters all felt too wooden to me.
Furthermore, some of the characters were extraneous and simply unnecessary. For instance, Trokic's girlfriend Christiane, who is supposedly almost living with him, is mentioned constantly. She is a source of consternation for him, and pretty much the only thing we learn about his personal life is that he's conflicted about his relationship. People constantly ask him about her. Yet, Christiane never once makes an actual appearance in the story. The constant mentions and mulling over of her made her character feel significant, and I kept waiting for her to show up. When she didn't, I felt a bit cheated.
Overall, this is an enjoyable plot-driven story. If you don't need to feel attached to the characters, this might be the kind of book to keep you up all night reading.
** I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
The positives for me:
The plot is indeed fascinating and original. The story is intricate and well-crafted. Inger Wolf tosses out tidbits like a trail of breadcrumbs for readers to follow.
The setting is very well done. Inger Wolf was able to put me in a place I've never visited and knew next to nothing about. I felt like I'd traveled to another country and was accompanying the police as they worked the case.
Now the negatives:
For me, there is only one negative with this book, but it's a big one. Character development is severely lacking. By the end of the book I didn't feel I knew the characters much better than I had when I began, which is to say I didn't know them at all. First, there are far too many POV characters. Consequently, we didn't stick with one character long enough to get to know him or her. We rarely get a glimpse inside any one character's mind to know what he or she is thinking. The characters all felt too wooden to me.
Furthermore, some of the characters were extraneous and simply unnecessary. For instance, Trokic's girlfriend Christiane, who is supposedly almost living with him, is mentioned constantly. She is a source of consternation for him, and pretty much the only thing we learn about his personal life is that he's conflicted about his relationship. People constantly ask him about her. Yet, Christiane never once makes an actual appearance in the story. The constant mentions and mulling over of her made her character feel significant, and I kept waiting for her to show up. When she didn't, I felt a bit cheated.
Overall, this is an enjoyable plot-driven story. If you don't need to feel attached to the characters, this might be the kind of book to keep you up all night reading.
** I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
January 10, 2013
I enjoyed this 76 chapter book. I loved how the opening scene was pretty intense–it was written from the victim’s perspective right before she took her final breath. This upped the creepy factor. When the cops figured out she died by a massive leech attack, then I felt sorry for her. That sounds like a disgusting, slow, painful way to go.
The author was great with the mystery aspect of the story. The little bit of clues revealed throughout the book (during the victims and killer point-of-view) was appreciated. I tried to guess who the killer was and motive until the very end (I had five guesses, none were right LOL). So Inger Wolf definitely had the right mixture of red herrings. Plus, the case was interesting. I liked the interaction between the cops Trokic, Jane, Sia, and Jasper.
After the third woman’s abduction, I began putting the pieces together, so I was right about one thing. It was a cool twist. The killer’s backstory was sad–I could see why the person ended up that way.
My favorite scenes: 1) Trokic questioning the farmer and his wife about two dead women buried on his property 2) Jane is scared of Jasper’s informant at night on the street so runs to the police station 3) the cops questioning the killer’s family member 4) Jane hacking into the therapist’s files 5) when the mystery was solved.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
The author was great with the mystery aspect of the story. The little bit of clues revealed throughout the book (during the victims and killer point-of-view) was appreciated. I tried to guess who the killer was and motive until the very end (I had five guesses, none were right LOL). So Inger Wolf definitely had the right mixture of red herrings. Plus, the case was interesting. I liked the interaction between the cops Trokic, Jane, Sia, and Jasper.
After the third woman’s abduction, I began putting the pieces together, so I was right about one thing. It was a cool twist. The killer’s backstory was sad–I could see why the person ended up that way.
My favorite scenes: 1) Trokic questioning the farmer and his wife about two dead women buried on his property 2) Jane is scared of Jasper’s informant at night on the street so runs to the police station 3) the cops questioning the killer’s family member 4) Jane hacking into the therapist’s files 5) when the mystery was solved.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
August 6, 2016
I loved how original the storyline was, especially the first scene, it just drew me right into the book. However, there is a serious problem with the character development, it was severely lacking.
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2025
I think Evil Water has been the most engrossing story in this series so far, and that's saying something considering the calibre of the stories included. This has got to be one of the creepiest methods of murder I have ever run across. It gave me cold chills while at the same time, spurred me on to the "just one more chapter" mindset. I had to see what was going to happen next. Ms. Wolf has created a complicated pattern out of known facts, partially known facts, and suspected facts that the team must verify or let go. All of these are woven into a pattern that the team members must decipher to prevent another killing. And so begins the hunt for a killer driven by revenge and an ego complex. Quite a combination, but there's no doubt our team can handle the challenge. And when they do, what a bone-chilling ending it is.
One fo my favorite aspects to Ms. Wolf's stories is the way she includes bits and pieces from Trochic's background along with those of his team members. Another way in which Ms. Wolf creates characters who seem to pop off the page. I highly recommend this series. I received a review copy from the author via BookiSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
One fo my favorite aspects to Ms. Wolf's stories is the way she includes bits and pieces from Trochic's background along with those of his team members. Another way in which Ms. Wolf creates characters who seem to pop off the page. I highly recommend this series. I received a review copy from the author via BookiSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.
July 18, 2025
This was quite an intense read. You can't not be hooked by the opening scenes. The discovery of two bodies in old suitcases sets Daniel and the team off in search of clues, leading them to Africa and Germany as there seems to be some religious fanaticism at play here.
This book is darker than the earlier books and there are several perspectives provided throughout. There's plenty of red herrings and twists throughout and quite a climactic scene towards the end which was quite vivid and one I hope to never encounter! The ending sets things up nicely for the next book which spells trouble for Daniel and I look forward to reading it.
This book is darker than the earlier books and there are several perspectives provided throughout. There's plenty of red herrings and twists throughout and quite a climactic scene towards the end which was quite vivid and one I hope to never encounter! The ending sets things up nicely for the next book which spells trouble for Daniel and I look forward to reading it.
March 15, 2025
I can only use one word to review this novel and that is: BRILLIANT!
I really, really loved this crime/police procedural. I loved the fact is set in Aarhus, where we've visited a few times. I loved it was soooo dark and creepy and almost scary! I loved the uniqueness of the serial killer's modus operandi. And I loved the main characters, in particular Lisa and Daniel. I am biased, but I love a dark, moody, complex individual as a police detective, and Daniel fits the mould perfectly. Lisa is a fascinating, smart woman, who complements Daniel's character and also showcase what a woman can bring to the table!
*Novel from BookSirens with many thanks for the opportunity to read it.
I really, really loved this crime/police procedural. I loved the fact is set in Aarhus, where we've visited a few times. I loved it was soooo dark and creepy and almost scary! I loved the uniqueness of the serial killer's modus operandi. And I loved the main characters, in particular Lisa and Daniel. I am biased, but I love a dark, moody, complex individual as a police detective, and Daniel fits the mould perfectly. Lisa is a fascinating, smart woman, who complements Daniel's character and also showcase what a woman can bring to the table!
*Novel from BookSirens with many thanks for the opportunity to read it.
March 26, 2025
First time reading this author and i thought it was a promising read. I really felt that the Africa snippets really led nowhere of importance and didn’t add anything to the storyline. I loved how the reason behind the killings wasn’t revealed until the end as it kept the anticipation building. A bit dry in places, but made up for it through most of the book.
July 10, 2017
Hold da op den var hårrejsende spændende👍🏻
July 25, 2025
Too many characters to keep track of & too morbid.
November 8, 2025
DNF at 70%. Just tedious. Done with this series.
February 27, 2013
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Review is originally posted in My Book Musings.
As I previously mentioned in my blog, some books can greatly affect me more than the others, that's why I tend to be quite picky about the books I read. I hesitated to read Evil Water because it sounds too thrilling for my taste, but I decided to ask the publisher for one chapter just to get the feel of it.
After one chapter, I had the whole book sent over. That one chapter of Evil Water just lured me in, making me want to read the whole book and find out the evil mastermind behind the dastardly deeds.
Inger Wolf is actually a Danish crime writer, and her book Evil Water (original title: Ondt Vand) was just recently translated to English and published last December 2012 as an e-book. I think it's great that writers are having their books translated to English because we people, who are more comfortable or don't know other languages, are able to read them books!
Warning: Only those with sturdy constitutions might be able to stomach it.
Or only those who can stop their imaginations from flying while reading.
The writing was so, so good, I enthusiastically told my friends and family as to why I'm still reading such a creepy book, and let me tell you why. It's the kind of book that creeps you out because Inger Wolf has a way of firing up your imagination instantly while you read, so you cannot help but envision the whole bloody mess and crime scenes. It's a good kind of creepy.
The plot was fast-paced without missing the pertinent details. Inger did not dally too long in some paragraphs, and you just keep getting caught up as you move along. I was so surprised to find out that I was already in chapter 16 a few hours after I started reading. You'll go through a lot of theories and suspects, but thankfully Inger does not dwell too long on those. At the end of the book, I didn't feel like she led me on a goose chase just so I won't figure out the killer instantly. The murder of the women had so many factors such as why the bathtub, why the Y leech, why does one have a flower? But don't worry, at the end of the book the story is nicely finished, with no loose ends. Nicely done.
I wasn't able to relate to any of the characters, but I actually liked them. Inspector Daniel Trokic is like this perennial bachelor who is afraid of further commitment, seems a little brash, but is actually a bit sweet and protective on the inside. I think he is also the type of cop who likes the action more than the paperwork, and thus when he is promoted (and he is), he feels constrained and burdened by the administrative tasks. A bit of research on the internet showed that he is actually the protagonist in several other books of Inger Wolf (Sort Sensommer/Black Indian Summer and Frost og Aske/Frost and Ashes). I want to read them.
Another notable character is James Taurup, a man under Trokic, who has this photographic memory. He seems to be a good guy and just like his boss, he's more into action than the paperwork. You'll understand this tidbit when you get to the end of the book. Another character that I liked is Lisa Kornelius, their IT expert who seems to end up as their profiler, at least for this case. She perseveres despite the hard tasks and finds ways to solve the mysteries in front of her. In fact, this attitude and her eventual discovery helps to fully solve the crime.
It's a great mystery book and you'll never guess whodunit, and why, until before end, and I appreciate that. Although there was a time when I finally figured out who it is, but this was only confirmed by the next chapter, which made me have a kinda delayed reaction.
Evil Water moved me through several different emotions: fear, excitement, and sadness. It was actually very sad in the end, at least for me, because you realize how much your actions could affect other people. And in this case, the perp used to be a jolly, cheerful sort but then that happened and crime was the answer for the perp. I could not say more without spoiling it for you, and I think it's an ending that deserves to be read.
Fans of mystery/crime books just might enjoy Inger Wolf's Evil Water. I know the plot sounds so creepy, and it is, but the book is so much more than that and is a fantastic book that makes you pause and think in the end. The English version of Evil Water is currently available via Amazon as an e-book. If you're looking for a little break from all the usual genres we've been reading, this is one way to break the monotony.
Ciao, and happy musings :)
Review is originally posted in My Book Musings.
As I previously mentioned in my blog, some books can greatly affect me more than the others, that's why I tend to be quite picky about the books I read. I hesitated to read Evil Water because it sounds too thrilling for my taste, but I decided to ask the publisher for one chapter just to get the feel of it.
After one chapter, I had the whole book sent over. That one chapter of Evil Water just lured me in, making me want to read the whole book and find out the evil mastermind behind the dastardly deeds.
Inger Wolf is actually a Danish crime writer, and her book Evil Water (original title: Ondt Vand) was just recently translated to English and published last December 2012 as an e-book. I think it's great that writers are having their books translated to English because we people, who are more comfortable or don't know other languages, are able to read them books!
Warning: Only those with sturdy constitutions might be able to stomach it.
Or only those who can stop their imaginations from flying while reading.
The writing was so, so good, I enthusiastically told my friends and family as to why I'm still reading such a creepy book, and let me tell you why. It's the kind of book that creeps you out because Inger Wolf has a way of firing up your imagination instantly while you read, so you cannot help but envision the whole bloody mess and crime scenes. It's a good kind of creepy.
The plot was fast-paced without missing the pertinent details. Inger did not dally too long in some paragraphs, and you just keep getting caught up as you move along. I was so surprised to find out that I was already in chapter 16 a few hours after I started reading. You'll go through a lot of theories and suspects, but thankfully Inger does not dwell too long on those. At the end of the book, I didn't feel like she led me on a goose chase just so I won't figure out the killer instantly. The murder of the women had so many factors such as why the bathtub, why the Y leech, why does one have a flower? But don't worry, at the end of the book the story is nicely finished, with no loose ends. Nicely done.
I wasn't able to relate to any of the characters, but I actually liked them. Inspector Daniel Trokic is like this perennial bachelor who is afraid of further commitment, seems a little brash, but is actually a bit sweet and protective on the inside. I think he is also the type of cop who likes the action more than the paperwork, and thus when he is promoted (and he is), he feels constrained and burdened by the administrative tasks. A bit of research on the internet showed that he is actually the protagonist in several other books of Inger Wolf (Sort Sensommer/Black Indian Summer and Frost og Aske/Frost and Ashes). I want to read them.
Another notable character is James Taurup, a man under Trokic, who has this photographic memory. He seems to be a good guy and just like his boss, he's more into action than the paperwork. You'll understand this tidbit when you get to the end of the book. Another character that I liked is Lisa Kornelius, their IT expert who seems to end up as their profiler, at least for this case. She perseveres despite the hard tasks and finds ways to solve the mysteries in front of her. In fact, this attitude and her eventual discovery helps to fully solve the crime.
It's a great mystery book and you'll never guess whodunit, and why, until before end, and I appreciate that. Although there was a time when I finally figured out who it is, but this was only confirmed by the next chapter, which made me have a kinda delayed reaction.
Evil Water moved me through several different emotions: fear, excitement, and sadness. It was actually very sad in the end, at least for me, because you realize how much your actions could affect other people. And in this case, the perp used to be a jolly, cheerful sort but then that happened and crime was the answer for the perp. I could not say more without spoiling it for you, and I think it's an ending that deserves to be read.
Fans of mystery/crime books just might enjoy Inger Wolf's Evil Water. I know the plot sounds so creepy, and it is, but the book is so much more than that and is a fantastic book that makes you pause and think in the end. The English version of Evil Water is currently available via Amazon as an e-book. If you're looking for a little break from all the usual genres we've been reading, this is one way to break the monotony.
Ciao, and happy musings :)
April 9, 2025
After ages have I read a truly dark and twisted tale. Evil water by author Inger Wolf is a bone chilling read.
Plot Summary:
Two women disappear without a trace, and the same autumn a farmer on the outskirts of Århus finds them murdered in suitcases under a heap of stone. The skin of one woman is filled with the letter Y and the other has a rare flower in her hair. Inspector Daniel Trokic is leading the case which goes in several directions: to a tribal population in Africa, religious insanity and a horrifying meeting with leeches. When a third woman disappears, Trokic is under pressure to find out what the killer wants to say with his macabre scenery and rituals.
Evil Water doubtlessly kept me on the edge. This was my first book by Inger Wolf and I am going to definitely read more of her work at the earliest. A creepy, un-put-downable whodunit is how I would describe this book.
Plot Summary:
Two women disappear without a trace, and the same autumn a farmer on the outskirts of Århus finds them murdered in suitcases under a heap of stone. The skin of one woman is filled with the letter Y and the other has a rare flower in her hair. Inspector Daniel Trokic is leading the case which goes in several directions: to a tribal population in Africa, religious insanity and a horrifying meeting with leeches. When a third woman disappears, Trokic is under pressure to find out what the killer wants to say with his macabre scenery and rituals.
Evil Water doubtlessly kept me on the edge. This was my first book by Inger Wolf and I am going to definitely read more of her work at the earliest. A creepy, un-put-downable whodunit is how I would describe this book.
March 15, 2013
Inger Wolf’s EVIL WATER is a tense, gripping crime novel about a macabre serial killer and the Danish detective determined to find him. Daniel Trokic works for the police force in Arhus, Denmark. When the bodies of two young women are discovered crammed into suitcases, it quickly becomes evident that someone is doing the unthinkable. But something is very strange about these two bodies – their skin is covered with small markings that look very much like the letter “Y.” When a third body is found – and then a fourth woman goes missing – they realize that time is running out to solve the crimes. Trokic and his deputy, Jasper Taurup, pursue an interconnected series of leads that gradually reveals the truth about what is really happening in this small Danish town. This is a tight, believable, and thoroughly exciting novel. Fans of Thomas Harris’s THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS will find EVIL WATER right up their ally.
Wolf does a particularly good job with the setting of EVIL WATER. She spent many years in Arhus, and her knowledge of the place allows her to create a truly mesmerizing environment for her killer and the crimes. She also has a clear knack for slowly unraveling the strands of her plot so that the reader is totally engaged. There are the expected false leads (those moments when you say to yourself, “HE’s the one!), but none of it feels contrived. The mistakes along the way make sense, as do the new developments that come as a result. I did not suspect how this story would turn out, and I did not guess the identity of the killer until very late in the game. I will say that there is one particular lead that is mentioned very early in the story that is not followed up on until close to the end – but like Trokic and his team, I forgot about it! When it finally does come to light, I felt my own excitement growing along with Trokic’s. There are enough twists and surprises here to satisfy any mystery fan, and the ultimate resolution was both satisfying and believable.
One warning – this is a fairly graphic novel; horrible things happen to people, and it’s not always easy to read about them. The comparison with SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is apt – if you are familiar with Harris’s novel, you can anticipate the kinds of situations you’ll find here. This is probably not a good choice for squeamish, delicate readers!
Inger Wolf is a Danish crime writer, and EVIL WATER is the first of her novels to be translated into English. I suspect that Wolf translated the novel herself, since she has worked as a translator (and no translator’s name is listed). But the translation is the novel’s only real weakness. Wolf’s prose often seems stilted or awkward, and it is obvious that the writer isn’t totally comfortable with the English language. This isn’t an insurmountable problem, and I was still able to read and enjoy the story. But I often found myself wondering about the wording of some of Wolf’s sentences, or scratching my head over a particular line of dialogue. For example, one character says, “I really don’t hope so” (instead of “I really hope not”). Since Wolf plans to release other books in English, I suggest she employ a good editor to help smooth things out for English readers.
Overall, EVIL WATER is a great story. I really liked the character Daniel Trokic, and I was pleased to see that a future novel involving him may be in the works (the final pages of EVIL WATER hint at a new challenge in store for the detective – a series of books involving Trokic and his team would be very welcome). I recommend this to anyone who enjoys gripping police procedurals with a macabre twist.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
Wolf does a particularly good job with the setting of EVIL WATER. She spent many years in Arhus, and her knowledge of the place allows her to create a truly mesmerizing environment for her killer and the crimes. She also has a clear knack for slowly unraveling the strands of her plot so that the reader is totally engaged. There are the expected false leads (those moments when you say to yourself, “HE’s the one!), but none of it feels contrived. The mistakes along the way make sense, as do the new developments that come as a result. I did not suspect how this story would turn out, and I did not guess the identity of the killer until very late in the game. I will say that there is one particular lead that is mentioned very early in the story that is not followed up on until close to the end – but like Trokic and his team, I forgot about it! When it finally does come to light, I felt my own excitement growing along with Trokic’s. There are enough twists and surprises here to satisfy any mystery fan, and the ultimate resolution was both satisfying and believable.
One warning – this is a fairly graphic novel; horrible things happen to people, and it’s not always easy to read about them. The comparison with SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is apt – if you are familiar with Harris’s novel, you can anticipate the kinds of situations you’ll find here. This is probably not a good choice for squeamish, delicate readers!
Inger Wolf is a Danish crime writer, and EVIL WATER is the first of her novels to be translated into English. I suspect that Wolf translated the novel herself, since she has worked as a translator (and no translator’s name is listed). But the translation is the novel’s only real weakness. Wolf’s prose often seems stilted or awkward, and it is obvious that the writer isn’t totally comfortable with the English language. This isn’t an insurmountable problem, and I was still able to read and enjoy the story. But I often found myself wondering about the wording of some of Wolf’s sentences, or scratching my head over a particular line of dialogue. For example, one character says, “I really don’t hope so” (instead of “I really hope not”). Since Wolf plans to release other books in English, I suggest she employ a good editor to help smooth things out for English readers.
Overall, EVIL WATER is a great story. I really liked the character Daniel Trokic, and I was pleased to see that a future novel involving him may be in the works (the final pages of EVIL WATER hint at a new challenge in store for the detective – a series of books involving Trokic and his team would be very welcome). I recommend this to anyone who enjoys gripping police procedurals with a macabre twist.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
March 4, 2013
Danish writer Inger Wolf's "Evil Water" is a taut, suspenseful thriller with unexpected twists and several wrong turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, you, and quite often the police, are wrong.
Wolf has published several books in Denmark, but "Evil Water" is her first English translation. Her debut novel, "Sort Sensommer," was sold in several countries and was named "Most Exciting Crime Novel Debut" by the Danish Crime Academy in 2006. Live "Evil Water," it features inspector Daniel Trokic, who is also the central character in several of her other novels.
The story focuses on the disappearance to two women with similar colored hair. When their bodies are found packed into two separate suitcases and buried in a farmer's field, Trokic and his team try to find out who is responsible and why. Adding to the mystery is the letter "Y" which appears on them, and the rare, American flower growing out of their hair.
The tension quickly builds when they realize they are looking for a serial killer with an unknown motive. The crime element almost takes a back seat to the horror element, but this is no supernatural horror. Wolf is delving into darkest corners of the human psyche, and creates a death ritual which will likely keep you awake at night (and away from your bathtub). As other victims appear, Trokic and the others race to find another person before she becomes a victim. And just when they close in on the killer, Wolf throws you for another curve.
Wolf creates so many threads and offshoots, that at times she seems to forget about them. But then, they suddenly reappear and fit neatly into place. She avoids the obvious, artificial solutions and patiently keeps piecing elements together, only to show that when put together, another piece is missing.
Trokic is a classic, hard-boiled detective, with an intense, quiet air about him. His character could use more depth, but since this is her fifth novel about him, perhaps the earlier novels introduce him more (but as of yet, these are not available in English). He has moved up in his career, but regrets needing to spend more time with budgets than investigations. And we see him balancing the need for a personal life with his on the case obsessive qualities.
Of the other characters, police officer and computer expert Lisa Kornelius is one of most interesting. A woman in an all male domain, she refuses to be beaten by another computer expert's encryption techniques. And when she does break in, she also pushes the moral code for both personal and professional reasons. She questions whether what she does is illegal or immoral, and she has to balance that with whether what she learns could save a life. Her struggles with ethical dilemmas show a struggle few of us will face, but it is good to see a character asking questions for which there are not always answers.
While the Danish names make take some getting used to, you are quickly transported along in the investigation. Wolf intersperses police chapters with those from the killer's and victim's points of view, but without revealing any of the mystery. As such, you have an extra step on the police, but the information is not likely to help you solve it any sooner.
In true crime thriller fashion, Wolf keeps you guessing right to the end. And you will guess wrong. But that makes the book only more interesting.
Wolf has published several books in Denmark, but "Evil Water" is her first English translation. Her debut novel, "Sort Sensommer," was sold in several countries and was named "Most Exciting Crime Novel Debut" by the Danish Crime Academy in 2006. Live "Evil Water," it features inspector Daniel Trokic, who is also the central character in several of her other novels.
The story focuses on the disappearance to two women with similar colored hair. When their bodies are found packed into two separate suitcases and buried in a farmer's field, Trokic and his team try to find out who is responsible and why. Adding to the mystery is the letter "Y" which appears on them, and the rare, American flower growing out of their hair.
The tension quickly builds when they realize they are looking for a serial killer with an unknown motive. The crime element almost takes a back seat to the horror element, but this is no supernatural horror. Wolf is delving into darkest corners of the human psyche, and creates a death ritual which will likely keep you awake at night (and away from your bathtub). As other victims appear, Trokic and the others race to find another person before she becomes a victim. And just when they close in on the killer, Wolf throws you for another curve.
Wolf creates so many threads and offshoots, that at times she seems to forget about them. But then, they suddenly reappear and fit neatly into place. She avoids the obvious, artificial solutions and patiently keeps piecing elements together, only to show that when put together, another piece is missing.
Trokic is a classic, hard-boiled detective, with an intense, quiet air about him. His character could use more depth, but since this is her fifth novel about him, perhaps the earlier novels introduce him more (but as of yet, these are not available in English). He has moved up in his career, but regrets needing to spend more time with budgets than investigations. And we see him balancing the need for a personal life with his on the case obsessive qualities.
Of the other characters, police officer and computer expert Lisa Kornelius is one of most interesting. A woman in an all male domain, she refuses to be beaten by another computer expert's encryption techniques. And when she does break in, she also pushes the moral code for both personal and professional reasons. She questions whether what she does is illegal or immoral, and she has to balance that with whether what she learns could save a life. Her struggles with ethical dilemmas show a struggle few of us will face, but it is good to see a character asking questions for which there are not always answers.
While the Danish names make take some getting used to, you are quickly transported along in the investigation. Wolf intersperses police chapters with those from the killer's and victim's points of view, but without revealing any of the mystery. As such, you have an extra step on the police, but the information is not likely to help you solve it any sooner.
In true crime thriller fashion, Wolf keeps you guessing right to the end. And you will guess wrong. But that makes the book only more interesting.
March 2, 2013
Daniel Trokic isn't your typical police inspector. He's currently in a position of authority, supervising a team of officers and desires to be on the streets in the midst of investigations. When not one, but two bodies are discovered in suitcases hidden by stones on the edge of a farmer's property, Daniel is immediately intrigued. The case becomes even more intriguing when "Y" shaped marks are found on the skin of one victim and a rare North American flower is found in the hair of the other. Further investigation reveals that the Y-shaped marks are those left by leeches and the autopsy reveals that both victims are missing bones. The missing bones lead the investigation toward possible African tribal religious practices. The more Trokic learns, the more the case makes no sense. Both women were obviously abducted and other than having chestnut hair, there aren't any other apparent similarities. To make things even more bizarre, Trokic is contacted by an inmate with possible information on the case. How could someone that's been locked up for more than eighteen months know anything about women missing for less than six months? More importantly will Trokic be able to piece together all of the details in order to save a third victim?
Evil Water was a strangely-addictive read filled with numerous plot twists and turns. Ms. Wolf has provided a chilling read that is equal parts psychological thriller, crime and mystery-suspense. I found Daniel Trokic an interesting and quirky character that brought to mind shades of the television police detective Columbo mixed with television private investigator Monk. Trokic works best alone and will worry over some seemingly small detail until the answer becomes readily apparent. The only potential drawback to this story was the lack of good editing. I found numerous errors related to either translation or editing and these adversely impacted my overall reading pleasure (mainly because it slowed down my reading progress just to make note of the errors). Once I made a conscious decision to ignore the errors, my pleasure increased as did my reading pace. If you enjoy dark mystery-suspense reads, then you definitely want to add Evil Water to your reading list.
Evil Water was a strangely-addictive read filled with numerous plot twists and turns. Ms. Wolf has provided a chilling read that is equal parts psychological thriller, crime and mystery-suspense. I found Daniel Trokic an interesting and quirky character that brought to mind shades of the television police detective Columbo mixed with television private investigator Monk. Trokic works best alone and will worry over some seemingly small detail until the answer becomes readily apparent. The only potential drawback to this story was the lack of good editing. I found numerous errors related to either translation or editing and these adversely impacted my overall reading pleasure (mainly because it slowed down my reading progress just to make note of the errors). Once I made a conscious decision to ignore the errors, my pleasure increased as did my reading pace. If you enjoy dark mystery-suspense reads, then you definitely want to add Evil Water to your reading list.
March 7, 2013
Review of Evil Water by Inger Wolf
5 stars
“Evil Water” is an exciting, intricately-plotted entry into the world of Danish crime fiction. This is deeper than an ordinary mystery, and the depths and breadths of characterizations will satisfy readers who seek character-driven novels, while the edge-of-the-seat heart-dropping plot twists and turns will appeal to lovers of thriller suspense. Readers who are unfamiliar with Scandinavia will find that author Inger Wolf presents vivid descriptions (for example, the brown coal mine scenes, which are effectively heart-in-mouth) that we feel we are at home in the various settings. Interwoven are the personal lives of some of the police detectives, and an enormously powerful psychological mystery involving several of the characters, and demonstrating how the ugly past really can impact the present.
The serendipitous discovery of the corpses of two young women, who in life bore a close resemblance, catapults Inspector Daniel Trokic of the Arhus police department into an investigation which will leave him and his colleagues forever changed. For these are not two women from different cases, but only two of the victims of a serial killer operation which Trokic must race to end, before more women are murdered, for reasons known only to the killer.
5 stars
“Evil Water” is an exciting, intricately-plotted entry into the world of Danish crime fiction. This is deeper than an ordinary mystery, and the depths and breadths of characterizations will satisfy readers who seek character-driven novels, while the edge-of-the-seat heart-dropping plot twists and turns will appeal to lovers of thriller suspense. Readers who are unfamiliar with Scandinavia will find that author Inger Wolf presents vivid descriptions (for example, the brown coal mine scenes, which are effectively heart-in-mouth) that we feel we are at home in the various settings. Interwoven are the personal lives of some of the police detectives, and an enormously powerful psychological mystery involving several of the characters, and demonstrating how the ugly past really can impact the present.
The serendipitous discovery of the corpses of two young women, who in life bore a close resemblance, catapults Inspector Daniel Trokic of the Arhus police department into an investigation which will leave him and his colleagues forever changed. For these are not two women from different cases, but only two of the victims of a serial killer operation which Trokic must race to end, before more women are murdered, for reasons known only to the killer.
September 11, 2013
A crime thriller review for you all this week. I have had this to read for some time and possibly I put it off through the summer months as I had read it was quite graphic in places and I normally want something more happy to read when it's sunny. Now that the sunshine has faded away fast it was time to get reading this.
I love a good crime/mystery story, whether in a book or on TV and this will go on my list for one of the best crime stories I've read. I really liked how much detail the author had gone into for the story, she knew so much about Arhus and her time there was very well spent. I loved the way the sotry unravelled piece by piece, even when the leads were not going to take you to the right culprit, it all felt real. It's great to be able to come up with your own 'I know who it is' and then have that completely change by the next piece of information the book gives you. Gripping writing at its best.
The book sadly should have been translated better and next time getting an English translator would be recommended. It wasn't too bad but some sentences sounded the wrong way round and it took away from the exciting plot. But I enjoyed it and would be happy to read more from the author.
I love a good crime/mystery story, whether in a book or on TV and this will go on my list for one of the best crime stories I've read. I really liked how much detail the author had gone into for the story, she knew so much about Arhus and her time there was very well spent. I loved the way the sotry unravelled piece by piece, even when the leads were not going to take you to the right culprit, it all felt real. It's great to be able to come up with your own 'I know who it is' and then have that completely change by the next piece of information the book gives you. Gripping writing at its best.
The book sadly should have been translated better and next time getting an English translator would be recommended. It wasn't too bad but some sentences sounded the wrong way round and it took away from the exciting plot. But I enjoyed it and would be happy to read more from the author.
July 28, 2013
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
A slow starter, this book was filled with detailed scenes that kept you guessing and begins with another chapter in the life of Inspector Daniel Trokic.
The author did a brilliant work developing the plot in great detail so that you could experience the tension and frustration of the police team that worked the case. Each police officer supported the Inspector in their unique fields to draw out the killer, their characters well developed and believable as the story unfolds. Each supporting character played their part and kept you glued as the story unruffled. And at times you thought you knew whom the killer was just to learn there was more to the story, another body appearing.
I loved the way that the author brought in all the elements of the murders and victims, the gruesome detail, the killer's past, the rush around the country and India. The creepiness of the water and the significance it had for him, a fitting name for the book. The killers thoughts keeping you interest. Like puzzle pieces it started to fit and you became anxious as you learned the end results.
Well written this book is highly recommended.
A slow starter, this book was filled with detailed scenes that kept you guessing and begins with another chapter in the life of Inspector Daniel Trokic.
The author did a brilliant work developing the plot in great detail so that you could experience the tension and frustration of the police team that worked the case. Each police officer supported the Inspector in their unique fields to draw out the killer, their characters well developed and believable as the story unfolds. Each supporting character played their part and kept you glued as the story unruffled. And at times you thought you knew whom the killer was just to learn there was more to the story, another body appearing.
I loved the way that the author brought in all the elements of the murders and victims, the gruesome detail, the killer's past, the rush around the country and India. The creepiness of the water and the significance it had for him, a fitting name for the book. The killers thoughts keeping you interest. Like puzzle pieces it started to fit and you became anxious as you learned the end results.
Well written this book is highly recommended.
May 28, 2013
Two bodies are found by a farmer outside Århus, Denmark crammed into suitcases and hidden under his rock wall/perimeter. When their identities are determined, the police are startled to see how much the women resemble each other. In life, they looked enough alike to be sisters and had the most beautiful chestnut brown hair. Yet they had nothing else in common – not friends, family, work, shopping habits, etc. So how did the killer find these girls and what do they mean to the killer?
‘Evil Water’ is a cleverly twisted story of a serial killer told in multiple viewpoints. This was a very action and plot driven story, rather than character driven. By the end of the story you’ve learned more about the killer than any of the other characters, but I liked that overall. A little leeway must also be given for some of the dialogue and sentence structure as this is an English translation of the original novel. ‘Evil Water is a creepy, very original, and dark tale which will keep you up late!
‘Evil Water’ is a cleverly twisted story of a serial killer told in multiple viewpoints. This was a very action and plot driven story, rather than character driven. By the end of the story you’ve learned more about the killer than any of the other characters, but I liked that overall. A little leeway must also be given for some of the dialogue and sentence structure as this is an English translation of the original novel. ‘Evil Water is a creepy, very original, and dark tale which will keep you up late!
April 20, 2013
Just by the cover and the description, I knew that Evil Water was going to be a spine-tingler. But, I wasn't sure if it that was just to grab my attention, or if it would be carried out through-out the book. I was surprised at how many times I had goosebumps, chills running up my spine and how many times I jumped at the shadows.
Evil Water doesn't hold anything back. Wolf is very blatant about the details of the horror these victims went through. It gives the investigation a grave and urgent air that really grounded me and had me invested in just a few pages. Of course, I tried to figure out who the killer was, but just when I thought I had it all figured out, Wolf would toss another clue or suspect in that had me questioning my choices.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that twists, turns and will chill your bones, pick up Evil Water! The characters are intriguing but the plot is riveting!
Evil Water doesn't hold anything back. Wolf is very blatant about the details of the horror these victims went through. It gives the investigation a grave and urgent air that really grounded me and had me invested in just a few pages. Of course, I tried to figure out who the killer was, but just when I thought I had it all figured out, Wolf would toss another clue or suspect in that had me questioning my choices.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that twists, turns and will chill your bones, pick up Evil Water! The characters are intriguing but the plot is riveting!
April 23, 2013
http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
I really liked this a lot and thought it a highly competent European crime thriller with lots of nice twists and turns in the plot. I found the writing style a little rough in places but this was no doubt due more to the fact that it has been translated from the Dutch language for a wider audience than in the actual writing itself. I liked the way that nothing is really properly resolved until the last pages and though there might be a few out there who might be able to piece all the clues together quicker than me, still I was pleased that I personally wasn’t able to guess the true culprit before they were revealed!
I really liked this a lot and thought it a highly competent European crime thriller with lots of nice twists and turns in the plot. I found the writing style a little rough in places but this was no doubt due more to the fact that it has been translated from the Dutch language for a wider audience than in the actual writing itself. I liked the way that nothing is really properly resolved until the last pages and though there might be a few out there who might be able to piece all the clues together quicker than me, still I was pleased that I personally wasn’t able to guess the true culprit before they were revealed!
July 17, 2013
Two women who share the same chestnut-coloured tresses have disappeared. Later their heavily decomposed corpses - what’s left of them anyway - are found stuffed into suitcases and sporting odd ‘Y’ shaped wounds; one of the women has a rare flower in her hair. When a third chestnut-haired woman is reported missing, the pressure is on for Daniel Trokic and his investigative team to crack the case and apprehend the culprit before she meets her grisly fate.
Read the full review on my blog: http://yellowhairedreviewer.blogspot....
Read the full review on my blog: http://yellowhairedreviewer.blogspot....
March 31, 2013
A fast-paced, twisted mystery. Kept me hooked from the very beginning! The English translation leaves a lot to be desired though, and the clue-drops are a little clunky at times. Even so, an enjoyable read.
http://www.thewellreadredhead.com/201... (link active 3/31/13)
http://www.thewellreadredhead.com/201... (link active 3/31/13)
April 8, 2014
Mage til opstyltet plot. Kedelig tendens i genren
September 2, 2013
... Intricately-plotted… Intense… Page Turner…
http://ujvalslounge.com/2013/05/12/bo...
http://ujvalslounge.com/2013/05/12/bo...
April 26, 2014
17/20
un thriller savamment orchestré qui donne froid dans le dos
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
un thriller savamment orchestré qui donne froid dans le dos
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews