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Lars Winkler #1
Øjesten
Under Besættelsen plejer en ung pige en engelsk pilots sår i en hemmelig kælder. Hun forelsker sig, men forholdet får fatale konsekvenser, der kommer til at række helt op i nutiden. Her ryster en makaber mordsag København. På Amager Fælled bliver en kvinde fundet myrdet. Liget er præserveret, og hendes øjne fjernet med kirurgisk præcision. Lars Winkler fra Københavns Politi er på sagen, og snart dukker endnu et lig op - pressen døber den spektakulære sag "Ole Lukøje-mordene".
ØJESTEN er en krimi fra Københavns gader om familien og om ondskab gennem generationer.
ØJESTEN er første del i trilogien om Lars Winkler: Enspænder, far, tidligere punker - og én af Københavns Politis bedste efterforskere.
ØJESTEN er en krimi fra Københavns gader om familien og om ondskab gennem generationer.
ØJESTEN er første del i trilogien om Lars Winkler: Enspænder, far, tidligere punker - og én af Københavns Politis bedste efterforskere.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
18 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 17, 2016
“All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.”
----Sophocles
Jakob Melander, a Danish author, has penned a gripping and nail-biting pot-boiler in his new Scandinavian thriller, The House That Jack Built that introduces yet another new complex, tough and dedicated detective, Lars Winkler, and this is the first book in the Lars Winkler series. The city of Copenhagen is left by a dangerous killer who is choosing innocent prostitutes as his victims, and Lars is assigned on this case, but the professional life scene is not that good for Lars, as his wife has left him for his boss.
Synopsis:
The first book in the crime series featuring Lars Winkler: loner, dad, former squatter, and drug addict — and the most dedicated detective in Copenhagen.
A young prostitute is found murdered at the common in Copenhagen. The woman's body has been preserved and her eyes removed with surgical precision. Not long after, another body is discovered treated in the exact same manner. The press quickly names the spectacular case the Sandman Killings.
Detective Inspector Lars Winkler is put on the case. With an addiction to classical rock music and the odd line of speed, Lars is struggling to get his life back together, mostly with his sixteen-year-old daughter, Maria, who lives with him in his rundown apartment. His wife has left him for his old friend and former boss. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Homicide and Serious Crime Department is tense. Despite support from his new young partner, Sanne Bissen, Lars feels edged out. While tracking Copenhagen's most sadistic serial killer to date, his past — which has long been kept secret — is slowly catching up to him.
Lars Winkler has just returned back from his long trip to the Homicide and Violent Crime Unit in Copenhagen, but the atmosphere in the office is bit tense and uneasy, as Lars' wife has left him for his boss, Ulrik. Soon a dead body of a prostitute named, Mira, is found dead with a bullet into her heart and her eyes are surgically removed, and Lars is immediately assigned to his case along with his newbie partner, Sanne Bissen. But due to the personal life struggle between the two men, Lars is reassigned on a different precinct's ongoing case of a serial rapist. Once Lars gets involved in his new case, he becomes sure that both the cases are connected. But in an attempt to catch the serial rapist, things get terribly wrong, that costs his job, but the killer is lurking in the dark shadows and Lars need to stop him/her before he/she strikes again, and makes anymore victim.
Hats off to the author for penning such a highly addictive, powerful and intriguing thriller, that will keep the readers guessing till the very last page. For me, this book turned out to be a page-turning read that challenged me as well as entertained me. The author presents his readers with another complex hero in the Scandinavian thriller genre, and I must say, this hero glorifies the book with full colors.
The author's writing is really impressive and articulate, laced properly with enough tension, suspense and emotions, that will keep the readers rooted till the very end. The narrative is highly engaging and interesting, and not to mention, even though, this is the translation version of the original book, the dialogues are somewhat inspired from local dialect. The pacing is really swift as the story moves forward by unraveling one layer after another.
The mystery is really well concocted by the author with deep, impenetrable layers, twists and turns, action and lots of raw violence. Each and every scene in the book is penned out vividly, thereby allowing the readers to visualize the whole story right before their own eyes. The author peels away each layer of mystery gently with the course of the story, not revealing too much or revealing enough to give the readers a taste of this dark, puzzling mystery. The unpredictable twists make the story even more spellbinding, and with some added adrenaline action moments and some bone-chilling violent scenes, it turns out to be a perfect read for all the mystery/crime fiction readers.
The characters in this book are really well carved out with enough realism, flaws and complexity, who will easily charm the hearts of the readers. The main character, Lars Winkler, is so well developed with his broken past story as well as with his broodiness mainly due to his separation with his wife. Although his fatherly and overprotective demeanor towards his sixteen year old daughter is really striking enough to make the readers feel a connection with this man. His wit, strength, fearlessness and his weirdness makes him a flawed yet fantastic role model, whose complex mind set and thought process will throw the readers into a twisted maze of both professional and personal life drama and agenda to capture a killer.
The story is also backed by a World War II story, narrated from the perspective of a little girl, who are brutally murdered and this part is properly synced into the current story line and the ongoing investigation by Lars and his colleagues right before few sections of the current story. Reading which will make the readers curious and hungry for more knowledge about what happens next, thereby forcing them to turn the pages of this book frantically till the very unforeseeable climax.
The city of Copenhagen is strikingly portrayed with its isolated suburbs, warm people, chilly weather, lakes and streams and the evocative landscape that will instantly transport the readers to this picturesque yet cold destination. The author has captured the dark alleyways to the streets to the architecture of Denmark vividly into his story line, thereby providing a dramatic background to this captivating, dark thriller.
In a nutshell, this masterfully crafted story is a must read and if you are huge fan of Scandinavian or of any international thrillers, then don't forget to gran a copy of this book.
Verdict: A gripping, riveting yet poignant thriller!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
----Sophocles
Jakob Melander, a Danish author, has penned a gripping and nail-biting pot-boiler in his new Scandinavian thriller, The House That Jack Built that introduces yet another new complex, tough and dedicated detective, Lars Winkler, and this is the first book in the Lars Winkler series. The city of Copenhagen is left by a dangerous killer who is choosing innocent prostitutes as his victims, and Lars is assigned on this case, but the professional life scene is not that good for Lars, as his wife has left him for his boss.
Synopsis:
The first book in the crime series featuring Lars Winkler: loner, dad, former squatter, and drug addict — and the most dedicated detective in Copenhagen.
A young prostitute is found murdered at the common in Copenhagen. The woman's body has been preserved and her eyes removed with surgical precision. Not long after, another body is discovered treated in the exact same manner. The press quickly names the spectacular case the Sandman Killings.
Detective Inspector Lars Winkler is put on the case. With an addiction to classical rock music and the odd line of speed, Lars is struggling to get his life back together, mostly with his sixteen-year-old daughter, Maria, who lives with him in his rundown apartment. His wife has left him for his old friend and former boss. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Homicide and Serious Crime Department is tense. Despite support from his new young partner, Sanne Bissen, Lars feels edged out. While tracking Copenhagen's most sadistic serial killer to date, his past — which has long been kept secret — is slowly catching up to him.
Lars Winkler has just returned back from his long trip to the Homicide and Violent Crime Unit in Copenhagen, but the atmosphere in the office is bit tense and uneasy, as Lars' wife has left him for his boss, Ulrik. Soon a dead body of a prostitute named, Mira, is found dead with a bullet into her heart and her eyes are surgically removed, and Lars is immediately assigned to his case along with his newbie partner, Sanne Bissen. But due to the personal life struggle between the two men, Lars is reassigned on a different precinct's ongoing case of a serial rapist. Once Lars gets involved in his new case, he becomes sure that both the cases are connected. But in an attempt to catch the serial rapist, things get terribly wrong, that costs his job, but the killer is lurking in the dark shadows and Lars need to stop him/her before he/she strikes again, and makes anymore victim.
Hats off to the author for penning such a highly addictive, powerful and intriguing thriller, that will keep the readers guessing till the very last page. For me, this book turned out to be a page-turning read that challenged me as well as entertained me. The author presents his readers with another complex hero in the Scandinavian thriller genre, and I must say, this hero glorifies the book with full colors.
The author's writing is really impressive and articulate, laced properly with enough tension, suspense and emotions, that will keep the readers rooted till the very end. The narrative is highly engaging and interesting, and not to mention, even though, this is the translation version of the original book, the dialogues are somewhat inspired from local dialect. The pacing is really swift as the story moves forward by unraveling one layer after another.
The mystery is really well concocted by the author with deep, impenetrable layers, twists and turns, action and lots of raw violence. Each and every scene in the book is penned out vividly, thereby allowing the readers to visualize the whole story right before their own eyes. The author peels away each layer of mystery gently with the course of the story, not revealing too much or revealing enough to give the readers a taste of this dark, puzzling mystery. The unpredictable twists make the story even more spellbinding, and with some added adrenaline action moments and some bone-chilling violent scenes, it turns out to be a perfect read for all the mystery/crime fiction readers.
The characters in this book are really well carved out with enough realism, flaws and complexity, who will easily charm the hearts of the readers. The main character, Lars Winkler, is so well developed with his broken past story as well as with his broodiness mainly due to his separation with his wife. Although his fatherly and overprotective demeanor towards his sixteen year old daughter is really striking enough to make the readers feel a connection with this man. His wit, strength, fearlessness and his weirdness makes him a flawed yet fantastic role model, whose complex mind set and thought process will throw the readers into a twisted maze of both professional and personal life drama and agenda to capture a killer.
The story is also backed by a World War II story, narrated from the perspective of a little girl, who are brutally murdered and this part is properly synced into the current story line and the ongoing investigation by Lars and his colleagues right before few sections of the current story. Reading which will make the readers curious and hungry for more knowledge about what happens next, thereby forcing them to turn the pages of this book frantically till the very unforeseeable climax.
The city of Copenhagen is strikingly portrayed with its isolated suburbs, warm people, chilly weather, lakes and streams and the evocative landscape that will instantly transport the readers to this picturesque yet cold destination. The author has captured the dark alleyways to the streets to the architecture of Denmark vividly into his story line, thereby providing a dramatic background to this captivating, dark thriller.
In a nutshell, this masterfully crafted story is a must read and if you are huge fan of Scandinavian or of any international thrillers, then don't forget to gran a copy of this book.
Verdict: A gripping, riveting yet poignant thriller!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 17, 2017
Copenhagen detective Lars Winkler returns from a two month absence where he tried to sort out his life after his wife left him for his boss Ulrik. Lars is called to the scene of a murder of a prostitute floating to the shore of a lake. The body has been preserved and her eyes have been surgically removed. As soon as Ulrik learns that Lars has requested a transfer, he takes him off the murder case and assigns him to find a serial rapist.
Lars is a tragic mess but he's still a great detective. I admired his dedication to the job despite his personal problems and the tension he deals with at work.
The book has short chapters interspersed with current day that describe scenes from a family who harbors ill WWII soldiers in their cellar. For much of the book, I couldn't figure out who this family was, although the author tied everything up in the end. Nasty patriarch.
The book contains graphic violence and rape descriptions so if you are squeamish, this is not the book for you.
Lars is a tragic mess but he's still a great detective. I admired his dedication to the job despite his personal problems and the tension he deals with at work.
The book has short chapters interspersed with current day that describe scenes from a family who harbors ill WWII soldiers in their cellar. For much of the book, I couldn't figure out who this family was, although the author tied everything up in the end. Nasty patriarch.
The book contains graphic violence and rape descriptions so if you are squeamish, this is not the book for you.
January 18, 2016
3.5 stars
This well written thriller is not for the faint of heart. It introduces Lars Winkler, a Copenhagen cop whose life is in freefall.
Just back from vacation, he's trying to deal with the fact his wife left him for a colleague who happens to be his boss & a challenging relationship with 16 year old daughter Maria. Lars copes by putting in for a transfer & numbing reality with amphetamines & classic rock & roll.
Initially he's running the search for a sick killer who collects the eyes of his victims. When a sting goes wrong he's replaced & given the case of a serial rapist.
Alternate chapters tell the story of a family hiding an allied pilot in their basement during the final days of WWII. We spy on them in vignettes that grow more disturbing as years pass & the tie to present day becomes apparent.
This is not an author who spoon feeds his readers. Much is left unsaid so you have to pay attention & ferret through the clues & red herrings right along with the cops. The characters are clearly defined, some likeable, some you'll want to see get what they so karmically deserve.
But the centre around which everything revolves is Lars. A cop portrayed as a train wreck is hardly new ground. But there's something compelling about Lars that puts you firmly in his corner. His fractured personal life leaves him feeling like he's wading through quick sand as he struggles to adapt. And there's no solace to be found at work where several of his team are quietly sabotaging his career. But none of this distracts him from tracking down the rapist. He's intelligent, intuitive & relentless as he slowly puts the pieces together.
This is a smart, thinking man's thriller. As the bodies pile up, tension builds & is heightened by dark, atmospheric settings around the city. The crimes are graphic but not gratuitous. And although the cases are resolved, questions remain about Lars' future in the department. It's the first in a series & I'm definitely interested to see where he ends up in the next instalment.
As an aside, this is one of the best translations I've read with none of the stilted dialogue or awkward phrasing sometimes found in books translated for the North American market. Well done, Mr. Garrett.
This well written thriller is not for the faint of heart. It introduces Lars Winkler, a Copenhagen cop whose life is in freefall.
Just back from vacation, he's trying to deal with the fact his wife left him for a colleague who happens to be his boss & a challenging relationship with 16 year old daughter Maria. Lars copes by putting in for a transfer & numbing reality with amphetamines & classic rock & roll.
Initially he's running the search for a sick killer who collects the eyes of his victims. When a sting goes wrong he's replaced & given the case of a serial rapist.
Alternate chapters tell the story of a family hiding an allied pilot in their basement during the final days of WWII. We spy on them in vignettes that grow more disturbing as years pass & the tie to present day becomes apparent.
This is not an author who spoon feeds his readers. Much is left unsaid so you have to pay attention & ferret through the clues & red herrings right along with the cops. The characters are clearly defined, some likeable, some you'll want to see get what they so karmically deserve.
But the centre around which everything revolves is Lars. A cop portrayed as a train wreck is hardly new ground. But there's something compelling about Lars that puts you firmly in his corner. His fractured personal life leaves him feeling like he's wading through quick sand as he struggles to adapt. And there's no solace to be found at work where several of his team are quietly sabotaging his career. But none of this distracts him from tracking down the rapist. He's intelligent, intuitive & relentless as he slowly puts the pieces together.
This is a smart, thinking man's thriller. As the bodies pile up, tension builds & is heightened by dark, atmospheric settings around the city. The crimes are graphic but not gratuitous. And although the cases are resolved, questions remain about Lars' future in the department. It's the first in a series & I'm definitely interested to see where he ends up in the next instalment.
As an aside, this is one of the best translations I've read with none of the stilted dialogue or awkward phrasing sometimes found in books translated for the North American market. Well done, Mr. Garrett.
January 11, 2025
So with your audiobooks.com credit, you get a free "vip credit" that has a selection of audiobooks they let you chose from, (as you saw before I "had"🙄 to chose romance book because everything else sounded terrible) the selection of these usually isn't good. I try and pick a book I can't get through my 20+ library cards so I'm not wasting the "vip credit" as a throwaway.
With that being said, I chose this book as it wasn't anywhere on any of my library cards and wouldn't you freaking know it's good, despite having mid reviews AND it's a whole ass series.
So guess who has to somehow get my hands on the rest of the series.. (not even available on audible)
Me. It's me 🫠🫣
With that being said, I chose this book as it wasn't anywhere on any of my library cards and wouldn't you freaking know it's good, despite having mid reviews AND it's a whole ass series.
So guess who has to somehow get my hands on the rest of the series.. (not even available on audible)
Me. It's me 🫠🫣
Read
May 3, 2015Vlastně mě na těch detektivkách možná víc, než ten samotný detektivní příběh, baví to okolo. Jak žije vyšetřovatel/é, co se děje v jejich rodinách, životech ... A tady toho bylo víc než dost. Napínavé, propletené v čase i prostoru.
March 14, 2015
Ta byla! :)
Moje recenze: http://wolfdraven.eu/krvavy-vitr-jako...
Moje recenze: http://wolfdraven.eu/krvavy-vitr-jako...
February 5, 2021
This first book in the series introduces us to Lars Winkler. Lars isn’t perfect. He’s a loner… a father… a former squatter… and a drug addict. In spite of this he is the most dedicated detective in Copenhagen. At first I wondered if this was the “most dedicated” in the police force…what in the name of everything holy was the rest of them??? Lars wants to get his life back together. He’s not totally drug free but he’s working on it hoping to be a better father for his 16 year old daughter, Maria. His chief thinks that the less time Lars has on his hands the less likely he is to not go back to the way his life was…so he puts Lars on the case and lets him run with it. The story line is solid and easy to follow. The murder case is complex and really not predictable as some are. In whole this masterfully crafted story that makes the reader want more of.
August 5, 2014
I really wanted to like this book. The premiser is one that I usually enjoy. However, I found that it ws very disjointed. The story didn't flow together well. SOme portions were very well written and perhaps well edited, but others would have benefited from reworking. I would like to try more from this author because he has some great characters, and some good character development. There is potential, but this just doesn't hit the mark.
December 18, 2015
Hints of Harry Hole and John Rebus are clear in this book. Sometimes a little disjointed but that could be the translation rather than the original.
Having been to Copenhagen a few times, some of the places mentioned were old and some new. Interesting mix of the new and the old; mixing present, the near and not so near past.
Enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series when translated.
Having been to Copenhagen a few times, some of the places mentioned were old and some new. Interesting mix of the new and the old; mixing present, the near and not so near past.
Enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series when translated.
February 5, 2013
Super bog. En page-turner dyrt var svær at ligge fra sig. Velskrevet og spændende samtidig med at handlingen var fængende. Jeg glæder mig allerede til forfatterens næste bog, for det kan kun blive godt.
December 30, 2015
Yuck. This is NOT worth the time I spent reading it. The characters have no appeal and the lack of exposition concerning how it is all figured out left me wondering how the author thought people were going to accept the ending?
Skip this one. I won't be reading any more by this author.
Skip this one. I won't be reading any more by this author.
November 24, 2013
Snel verhaal. Paar verhaallijnen, waarvan de flashbacks over de oorlog toch wel ver gezocht zijn. Doet een beetje denken aan de silence of the lamb.
July 30, 2014
It was a good book and hard to put down at times. Everything in it. Some parts were a but gruesome so if you are prone to nightmares with books you read you may want to steer clear
April 10, 2015
Skvělá kniha! Našla jsem náhradu za Harryho Holea. :-)
http://kniznidenicek.blogspot.com/201...
http://kniznidenicek.blogspot.com/201...
September 11, 2015
I really liked the character of Lars Winkler - some early punk bands for me to listen to!!! Looking forward to reading more in this series
September 1, 2023
Tuto knihu mám v knihovně už nějakou dobu a upřímně jsem od ní nic moc nečekala. Nakonec to až na pár nesrovnalostí nebylo vůbec špatné.
Jedná se o dánskou detektivku, konkrétně první díl ze série. Příběh sice nepřináší nic moc originálního ani převratného, ale četl se moc dobře. Ačkoli některé popisy nebyly úplně nejpříjemnější, dokonce jsem si u knihy i odpočinula.
Hlavní hrdina Lars, policajt, který vyšetřuje případ, je typickým hrdinou z detektivek s temnou minulostí, která ho ovlivňuje i během případu. Bylo ale snadné si k němu vytvořit určité pouto a prožívat s ním příběh. Přesto mi ale postavy připadaly poměrně ploché a mohly dostat mnohem více prostoru. Třeba v dalších dílech se k nim dostaneme blíž, ovšem v překladu nevyšly a já ani nevím, zda bych se do nich pustila.
Kniha se moc dobře a rychle četla. Prolíná se zde současná rovina s minulostí, takže můžeme nahlédnout i k samému jádru případu.
Samotný děj mě nezaujal tak, jak bych v případě detektivek běžně očekávala. Mnohé bylo jasné předem, spousta věcí by na druhou stranu potřebovala dovysvětlit a rozvinout.
Přestože to nebylo nejhorší čtení, jsou určitě mnohem lepší a propracovanější detektivky, na které bych si při doporučování vzpomněla.
Jedná se o dánskou detektivku, konkrétně první díl ze série. Příběh sice nepřináší nic moc originálního ani převratného, ale četl se moc dobře. Ačkoli některé popisy nebyly úplně nejpříjemnější, dokonce jsem si u knihy i odpočinula.
Hlavní hrdina Lars, policajt, který vyšetřuje případ, je typickým hrdinou z detektivek s temnou minulostí, která ho ovlivňuje i během případu. Bylo ale snadné si k němu vytvořit určité pouto a prožívat s ním příběh. Přesto mi ale postavy připadaly poměrně ploché a mohly dostat mnohem více prostoru. Třeba v dalších dílech se k nim dostaneme blíž, ovšem v překladu nevyšly a já ani nevím, zda bych se do nich pustila.
Kniha se moc dobře a rychle četla. Prolíná se zde současná rovina s minulostí, takže můžeme nahlédnout i k samému jádru případu.
Samotný děj mě nezaujal tak, jak bych v případě detektivek běžně očekávala. Mnohé bylo jasné předem, spousta věcí by na druhou stranu potřebovala dovysvětlit a rozvinout.
Přestože to nebylo nejhorší čtení, jsou určitě mnohem lepší a propracovanější detektivky, na které bych si při doporučování vzpomněla.
August 9, 2017
Øjesten er første bind i Jakob Melanders serie om den københavnske betjent Lars Winkler. Og når man starter en ny serie op, er der selvfølgelig en del rammer og karakterer vi skal lære at kende, hvilket fylder meget.
En prostitueret findes myrdet - og hendes øjne fjernet. Samtidigt finder en række voldtægter sted i Københavns gader. Lars er præget af et bristet ægteskab (det er ikke det nemmeste, når konen vælger at flytte ind til chefen), og sit lettere anstrengte forhold til datteren Maria. Med en, for en betjent vel noget atypisk, fortid i punktmiljøet, med at anstrengt forhold til autoriteter og kommandoveje og med en tendens til at søge hjælp hos speed, er Lars ikke ligefrem den oplagte helt.
Jakob Melander forstår at skrue en god krimi sammen, og nutidens handlinger kobles finurligt sammen med skræmmende beslutninger under 2. verdenskrig. Sproget er flydende og letlæseligt, og med hovedpersonens store interesse for musik, kobles fiktionen sammen med forfatterens egne erfaringer. En ganske god krimidebut.
En prostitueret findes myrdet - og hendes øjne fjernet. Samtidigt finder en række voldtægter sted i Københavns gader. Lars er præget af et bristet ægteskab (det er ikke det nemmeste, når konen vælger at flytte ind til chefen), og sit lettere anstrengte forhold til datteren Maria. Med en, for en betjent vel noget atypisk, fortid i punktmiljøet, med at anstrengt forhold til autoriteter og kommandoveje og med en tendens til at søge hjælp hos speed, er Lars ikke ligefrem den oplagte helt.
Jakob Melander forstår at skrue en god krimi sammen, og nutidens handlinger kobles finurligt sammen med skræmmende beslutninger under 2. verdenskrig. Sproget er flydende og letlæseligt, og med hovedpersonens store interesse for musik, kobles fiktionen sammen med forfatterens egne erfaringer. En ganske god krimidebut.
October 14, 2025
Read the 2nd book and was a bit confused. I had to reread the ending to see what really went on. I think there is a missing meaning of what really went on. Not too much detail into the explanation and you were left to wonder...in a bad way?
Lars and wife are divorces, Lar's boss/friend is with his wife now. Daughter was sleeping with, who you thought was the killer...there were two killers at the same time. Christopher the rapist's father man-handled Lar's daughter and she did not go back to him. Someone is stealing eyes from protitutes and killing them and leaving them in the woods. Back story about a German solder that is hidden away and then get the daughter of owner pregnant and this guy is the eye ball killer. Confused about Allan (cop)who I think turns out to be the killer in the 2nd book....another cop that puts in a complaint against Lars quits but he is in the next book and looks like he is going to be a killer...like I said, confusing.
Lars and wife are divorces, Lar's boss/friend is with his wife now. Daughter was sleeping with, who you thought was the killer...there were two killers at the same time. Christopher the rapist's father man-handled Lar's daughter and she did not go back to him. Someone is stealing eyes from protitutes and killing them and leaving them in the woods. Back story about a German solder that is hidden away and then get the daughter of owner pregnant and this guy is the eye ball killer. Confused about Allan (cop)who I think turns out to be the killer in the 2nd book....another cop that puts in a complaint against Lars quits but he is in the next book and looks like he is going to be a killer...like I said, confusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2023
Bogen er så elendigt skrevet, at den i lydbogsform er uudholdelig at lytte til. Det er noget af en bedrift. Jakob Melander bør overveje at starte i folkeskolen igen, og lære helt basal dansk grammatik på tredjeklassesniveau. Eller blive lyriker. Her fungerer sætninger fint uden bindeled og punktummer.
Et lille tip: hvis du ikke kan konstruere sætninger længere end en håndfuld ord, så acceptér det og sæt et punktum. Lad være med at lime dem sammen med kommaer. Det er rædselsfuldt at læse og frustrerende at lytte til.
Eller måske skulle jeg skrive det på Melandersk: Hvis du ikke kan konstruere sætninger længere end en håndfuld ord, acceptere det, sætte punktum, ikke lime sammen, kommaer, rædselsfuldt at læse, frustrerende at lytte til.
Et lille tip: hvis du ikke kan konstruere sætninger længere end en håndfuld ord, så acceptér det og sæt et punktum. Lad være med at lime dem sammen med kommaer. Det er rædselsfuldt at læse og frustrerende at lytte til.
Eller måske skulle jeg skrive det på Melandersk: Hvis du ikke kan konstruere sætninger længere end en håndfuld ord, acceptere det, sætte punktum, ikke lime sammen, kommaer, rædselsfuldt at læse, frustrerende at lytte til.
February 12, 2025
Ever since I saw someone request book recommendations where the plot doesn't jump from one timeline to another, I have been annoyed whenever I come across it. This book is a shining example. There's a very good story about a young girl during World War II whose father is willing to hide a soldier from the Germans and nurse the man to health. Only you're not allowed a whole book about that, go read All the Light We Cannot See if that's what you're here for. Here's an almost entirely unrelated police procedural about the best little detective in Copenhagen, working under the man who stole his wife and with the man who wants his job and with a daughter whose boyfriend is pretty much cool but the guy she's seeing on the side? Real piece of work that one.
December 30, 2020
I enjoyed this fast-paced Nordic crime novel - it’s a page turner and characters are well-defined and descriptions of Copenhagen is great. I believe the translator did a very good job here.
There are mixed reviews about the different time lapses - some sections refer to 1944 and then current but it works in my opinion and was not confusing to read or understand.
This was a good book to end off my 2020 reading year!
Disclaimer: there are graphic descriptions of rape & violence in the book so give it a miss if this is a trigger for you.
There are mixed reviews about the different time lapses - some sections refer to 1944 and then current but it works in my opinion and was not confusing to read or understand.
This was a good book to end off my 2020 reading year!
Disclaimer: there are graphic descriptions of rape & violence in the book so give it a miss if this is a trigger for you.
December 11, 2018
Not for the faint of heart. I liked this book from the beginning and, even though I figured out one of the bad guys early on, I could not let the book sit for too long, I was too curious and needed to read the proverbial « just one more page ». Can’t wait to get my hand on the next books in the series.
April 25, 2018
3.5 Stars
June 12, 2019
This flashback-infused mystery kept my interest, but got a bit weird and convoluted and difficult to believe toward the end.
March 3, 2020
I liked this book as it reminded me of all the other Scandanivan noir that I like to read. It was maybe not as good as Nesbo but it could be a good series.
Read
February 6, 2021Very interesting took a while to suss out about the war part
May 31, 2023
I Think it had a great and very scary ending. A really good “start” from Melander
May 13, 2015
Originally posted in Crime Fiction Lover
Copenhagen detective Lars Winkler can’t seem to get much respect lately. His wife has left him for his boss Ulrik, and when we catch up with him in the book’s opening he has just returned to the Homicide and Violent Crime Unit after taking some time off. The mood in the office upon his return is awkward to say the least. Alliances have been drawn, mostly on the other side of the squad room, which is where we meet the rest of the team: Frank, Lisa and Kim A, who has a beef with Lars dating back to their academy days. His only friends right now are his new partner Sanne Bissen, his old friend Toke Hansen, and a personal cache of amphetamines.
As Lars struggles to get back on track he unpacks things in his new apartment, but not in time to adequately host his 16-year old daughter Maria, who is not talking to him anyway. She is mostly busy with her new boyfriend, who intrigues Lars. In one rewarding scene, he bonds with the boy over some vintage Rolling Stones LPs while discussing the Boston Strangler.
A prostitute named Mira Vanin is found shot to death, her eyes surgically removed. Her body was injected with a preservative, and the remains of a glass eye are found nearby. Then Abeiuwa narrowly escapes the same fate, and both are victims of the same perpetrator, now dubbed The Sandman. Without any solid leads the Bukoshi Brothers, who pimp the local Vesterbro prostitutes, become prime suspects by default.
Lars can’t stop thinking about The Sandman, but Ulrik assigns him instead to a Violent Crime Unit case – that of a serial rapist. An attempt to lure the rapist with a decoy goes wrong and Lars shoulders the blame, facing internal complaints about his handling of the case. With his career now all but extinct, Lars thinks of quitting but first he must nab the rapist who appears to be toying with them.
Intermittent flashbacks to World War II tell the story of a mysterious family harbouring resistance fighters in the basement, only to kill them later on. The drama plays out from the point of view of a little girl who nurses them before they are brutally murdered, their eyes removed by the family’s patriarch. The House That Jack Built, like one or two other Scandinavian crime novels, toggles between WWII backstory and contemporary urban crime drama. An historical psychopath, complete with a lab, dark cellar, and dusty bottles of horrific specimens, lurks in the past while red herrings in the present promise to unite the two stories. The successfulness of this approach is mixed.
All the while, Lars doesn’t stop thinking about the Sandman case and receives updates from Sanne, who has become a love interest. After a slow start, wherein Melander develops the relationship between Lars and his daughter, you’ll have to hold on almost until the very end to see where things stand with the investigation and his personal life. The suspense ramps up as the rapist case inevitably coincides with the Sandman one. While quite explosive and gripping, the quick wrap-up in the end seems to too tidy and sudden.
With this debut novel, Meander invites comparisons with Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series. Like his Norwegian counterpart, the author is a former rocker turned crime novelist whose gruff yet endearing detective redeems himself in the 11th hour, but not without making enemies. Melander believes in his characters, but you might need more convincing. The most vibrant character in the book is probably Copenhagen itself. The city is vividly described inside and out, effectively employing the street views to establish mood and office views to reflect their occupants’ lot in life.
Copenhagen detective Lars Winkler can’t seem to get much respect lately. His wife has left him for his boss Ulrik, and when we catch up with him in the book’s opening he has just returned to the Homicide and Violent Crime Unit after taking some time off. The mood in the office upon his return is awkward to say the least. Alliances have been drawn, mostly on the other side of the squad room, which is where we meet the rest of the team: Frank, Lisa and Kim A, who has a beef with Lars dating back to their academy days. His only friends right now are his new partner Sanne Bissen, his old friend Toke Hansen, and a personal cache of amphetamines.
As Lars struggles to get back on track he unpacks things in his new apartment, but not in time to adequately host his 16-year old daughter Maria, who is not talking to him anyway. She is mostly busy with her new boyfriend, who intrigues Lars. In one rewarding scene, he bonds with the boy over some vintage Rolling Stones LPs while discussing the Boston Strangler.
A prostitute named Mira Vanin is found shot to death, her eyes surgically removed. Her body was injected with a preservative, and the remains of a glass eye are found nearby. Then Abeiuwa narrowly escapes the same fate, and both are victims of the same perpetrator, now dubbed The Sandman. Without any solid leads the Bukoshi Brothers, who pimp the local Vesterbro prostitutes, become prime suspects by default.
Lars can’t stop thinking about The Sandman, but Ulrik assigns him instead to a Violent Crime Unit case – that of a serial rapist. An attempt to lure the rapist with a decoy goes wrong and Lars shoulders the blame, facing internal complaints about his handling of the case. With his career now all but extinct, Lars thinks of quitting but first he must nab the rapist who appears to be toying with them.
Intermittent flashbacks to World War II tell the story of a mysterious family harbouring resistance fighters in the basement, only to kill them later on. The drama plays out from the point of view of a little girl who nurses them before they are brutally murdered, their eyes removed by the family’s patriarch. The House That Jack Built, like one or two other Scandinavian crime novels, toggles between WWII backstory and contemporary urban crime drama. An historical psychopath, complete with a lab, dark cellar, and dusty bottles of horrific specimens, lurks in the past while red herrings in the present promise to unite the two stories. The successfulness of this approach is mixed.
All the while, Lars doesn’t stop thinking about the Sandman case and receives updates from Sanne, who has become a love interest. After a slow start, wherein Melander develops the relationship between Lars and his daughter, you’ll have to hold on almost until the very end to see where things stand with the investigation and his personal life. The suspense ramps up as the rapist case inevitably coincides with the Sandman one. While quite explosive and gripping, the quick wrap-up in the end seems to too tidy and sudden.
With this debut novel, Meander invites comparisons with Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series. Like his Norwegian counterpart, the author is a former rocker turned crime novelist whose gruff yet endearing detective redeems himself in the 11th hour, but not without making enemies. Melander believes in his characters, but you might need more convincing. The most vibrant character in the book is probably Copenhagen itself. The city is vividly described inside and out, effectively employing the street views to establish mood and office views to reflect their occupants’ lot in life.
February 5, 2013
En krimi bygget op på en gruvækkende fortid. Vi begiver os tilbage til krigens tid, hvor vi får glimt af et unaturligt forhold, som slår rod helt op til nutiden.
Som det så ofte er, når der startes op på en mulig serie, så er der mange ting, steder, forhold og personligheder, som skal beskrives, og det gør sig også gældende i denne bog. Og at Jakob Melander har valgt at kæde fortidens rædsler sammen med morderens aktioner, samtidig med at vi følger Lars og hans kolleger, kan godt kræve ekstra fokus. Men Melander slipper rigtig godt fra det og får bygget en spændende, grusom og medrivende krimi op.
Selv om jeg ikke begår mig i København særligt ofte, højst et par gange om året, så beskriver Melander byen så billedligt, at jeg følte mig fuldstændig hensat til byens gader. Og selv om mit kendskab til byen ikke er specielt dybdegående, så kunne jeg alligevel sætte mig i personernes sted. Melanders beskrivelser giver historien dybde.
Til start tog jeg afstand fra hovedpersonen Lars, som fremstår egoistisk og meget sølle. Han kæderyger sine King’s, er ikke vellidt af kollegerne, familielivet ligger i ruiner og han virker på en måde usoigneret. Alligevel ‘faldt’ jeg for ham og vil gerne høre mere. Jeg vil gerne vide om Lars bliver forflyttet, om han får skovlen under Ulrik, om forholdet til Sanne kan udvikle sig og om Maria og Lars kan styrke deres skrøbelige far-datter forhold. Der er masser at tage fat i, men vigtigst af alt, vil jeg gerne vide, om Lars kan vise, at han er af den rette støbning, og hvad han egentligt dur til. Der er mange personligheder at forholde sig til, men de har hver sin historie, og jeg er sikker på, at Melander nok skal fortælle os mere om dem hver især gennem de næste bøger.
Flere gang faldt jeg over sætninger, som manglede ord eller var skævt formuleret, og der var også nogle stavefejl. Det er brandærgerligt for det irriterer læsningen. Måske har Forlaget i deres begejstring for bogen haft lidt for travlt med at få den i handlen. I en tid, hvor selvudgivere hastigt kommer frem, mener jeg, at det er forlagets opgave at sørge for, at kvaliteten er 100% på plads. Det må blandt andet være der, at de skiller sig ud fra selvudgivere.
Coveret er flot og tiltrækkende. På trods af det enkle, fortæller det en helt masse og gjorde mig nysgerrig og gav mig lyst til at læse bogen. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, men i dette tilfælde må du gerne.
Som det så ofte er, når der startes op på en mulig serie, så er der mange ting, steder, forhold og personligheder, som skal beskrives, og det gør sig også gældende i denne bog. Og at Jakob Melander har valgt at kæde fortidens rædsler sammen med morderens aktioner, samtidig med at vi følger Lars og hans kolleger, kan godt kræve ekstra fokus. Men Melander slipper rigtig godt fra det og får bygget en spændende, grusom og medrivende krimi op.
Selv om jeg ikke begår mig i København særligt ofte, højst et par gange om året, så beskriver Melander byen så billedligt, at jeg følte mig fuldstændig hensat til byens gader. Og selv om mit kendskab til byen ikke er specielt dybdegående, så kunne jeg alligevel sætte mig i personernes sted. Melanders beskrivelser giver historien dybde.
Til start tog jeg afstand fra hovedpersonen Lars, som fremstår egoistisk og meget sølle. Han kæderyger sine King’s, er ikke vellidt af kollegerne, familielivet ligger i ruiner og han virker på en måde usoigneret. Alligevel ‘faldt’ jeg for ham og vil gerne høre mere. Jeg vil gerne vide om Lars bliver forflyttet, om han får skovlen under Ulrik, om forholdet til Sanne kan udvikle sig og om Maria og Lars kan styrke deres skrøbelige far-datter forhold. Der er masser at tage fat i, men vigtigst af alt, vil jeg gerne vide, om Lars kan vise, at han er af den rette støbning, og hvad han egentligt dur til. Der er mange personligheder at forholde sig til, men de har hver sin historie, og jeg er sikker på, at Melander nok skal fortælle os mere om dem hver især gennem de næste bøger.
Flere gang faldt jeg over sætninger, som manglede ord eller var skævt formuleret, og der var også nogle stavefejl. Det er brandærgerligt for det irriterer læsningen. Måske har Forlaget i deres begejstring for bogen haft lidt for travlt med at få den i handlen. I en tid, hvor selvudgivere hastigt kommer frem, mener jeg, at det er forlagets opgave at sørge for, at kvaliteten er 100% på plads. Det må blandt andet være der, at de skiller sig ud fra selvudgivere.
Coveret er flot og tiltrækkende. På trods af det enkle, fortæller det en helt masse og gjorde mig nysgerrig og gav mig lyst til at læse bogen. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, men i dette tilfælde må du gerne.
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