Final Curtain

by Kjersti Scheen, Louis Muinzer (Translator)

This mystery novel from acclaimed Norwegian crime writer Kjersti Scheen features private investigator Margaret Moss. A former actress living in Oslo with her punk daughter, Moss is conducting routine investigations when a fellow actress and friend goes missing. Her efforts to find her friend are filled with intrigue and dangers that include neo-Nazis, deceptive lovers, a mountain resort, and theatrical subterfuge.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Scandinavian Literature

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Kjersti Scheen was a Norwegian journalist, illustrator, novelist, crime writer and children's writer. She made her literary debut in 1976 with the children's book 'Fie og mørket'. Her novel 'Teppefall' dated 1994 introduced a series of crime novels with ex actress Margaret Moss as the main character. Scheen was awarded the Gyldendal's Endowment in 1994 (shared with Bjørn Aamodt).

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, I really did. But I see I agree with many reviewers - at the end, I still can't figure out why those who died died! Convoluted story with little coherence.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

FINAL CURTAIN is the first of Kjersti Scheen's books to be translated into English and is also the first in a series of books featuring ex-actress turned private investigator Margaret Moss.

Margaret's had a go at quite a few things in her life and hasn't really been able to settle to anything much - being a PI at least means she is her own boss, and can quite comfortably do everything "Her Way". Living with her daughter Karen (she of the bright green hair and teenage passions), in an apartment in the same house as Margaret's elderly aunt, Margaret drives a beat old Renault and scrapes by financially doing the odd bit of surveillance.

Whilst she's gainfully employed following the wife of a banker, who is sure she's having an affair; an old friend from Margaret's acting days, and well known theatre actress Rakel disappears. Her family is worried and they ask Margaret to dig around and see if Rakel just has a new boyfriend or where she has gone.

It takes a while for anything much to happen in this book, during which time a fair amount of how Margaret thinks and reacts to everything is laid out. In the early parts of the book Margaret runs a real danger of just being plain annoying - she's a bit inclined to talk to herself and she's rushing around head long into all sorts of situations. After numerous bone jarring encounters with a group of young Neo-Nazi's; a fair amount of sneaking around on rail lines, in ditches and through overgrown gardens; Margaret does get to the bottom of what happened to Rakel.

Interesting book - Margaret's a bit of an energiser bunny, a disaster area on legs. There's a couple of serious oddities with the plot and it's a big messy, lot's of things happening type plot, but, despite all of the slight nagging doubts left at the end of the book, I'll be keeping an eye out for the second in the series.

[Gretel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very intriguing at times. I liked the narrative and found Margaret Moss, the narrator, to be very interesting. She has quite an odd background when compared to other lead characters in Nordic crime novels. The storyline jumps at times and it makes for quite awkward reading, and some of the story's 'baddies' were as stereotypical as they come. It is a shame that this is the only book of Scheen's to be published into English, as I would like to see Margaret's character develop further.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked her concept of men. A woman's world, the interplay with acting was good. Would like to see a second book, to find out if she's kept in contact with Roland. Kjersti has a good thing going.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy it more. An actor turned private eye set in Norway. But whether it was the translation or the original writing, there was something about the style that was irritating. And the heroine made too many strange choices to believe the strory line.

[Cynthia Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it - want to read others in this series...