Helgonet

Hammarbyserien #4

by Carin Gerhardsen

"Gud är god. I natt vill Gud oss väl." Det är vad den högt älskade och respekterade familjefadern Sven-Gunnar Erlandsson tänker när han segnar ner under den mäktiga augustimånen, skjuten med ett skott i nacken efter en krogkväll i glada vänners lag.

Det är semestertider, men kriminalkommissarie Conny Sjöberg kallar samman arbetslaget med Sandén, Hamad och Westman från Gerhardsens tidigare böcker. Styrkan har dessutom utökats med två nya förmågor. Den charmige rockaren Odd Andersson, känd från tv, och den oberäkneliga Hedvig Gerdin, som nyligen återvänt till Sverige efter trettio år som diplomathustru.

Vem kunde önska livet ur Erlandsson? Enligt alla källor en varm och generös människa, med religiöst patos och ett brinnande intresse för barn- och ungdomsfotboll. Dessutom med ett stort engagemang för samhällets utstötta.

Det enda man har att gå på är en uppblött papperslapp med utfluten text och en uppsättning spelkort man funnit i offrets ficka. Kan mordet ha med poker att göra? Var Erlandsson en fuskare som gått för långt och avrättades med en kula i huvudet? Eller var han ett offer för någon av de människospillror han brukade besöka i husvagnsgettot i Huddingeskogen, och så generöst dela med sig av sitt överflöd till?

Utredningen leder Hammarbypoliserna ut på en resa till skräckinjagande platser i mörkaste skogen, till ett hillbilly-Sverige de aldrig tidigare stött på, till andra sidan jordklotet och till de svartaste delarna av människans själ.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Swedish Literature, Sweden, Audiobook, Thriller

295 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

From the same publishing team that brought you Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy comes Carin Gehardsen, author of the Hammarby series, a series of crime novels that take place in the southern parts of Stockholm.
Originally a mathematician, which explains her clever plots and complex characters, Gerhardsen is the author of the Hammarby-series, crime novels that take place in the southern parts of
Stockholm, Sweden.
Many of the scenes depicted are self-experienced and based on episodes from Gerhardsen's own childhood.

Reviews

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good Swedish murder mystery. It started with the murder of a family man who was a businessman, a soccer coach, and a sympathetic ear for the homeless. A rather large group of police officers start the investigation, and the case becomes much more complicated very quickly. I will definitely look for another mystery from this author.
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[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounds really interesting, but I struggled to get through this book. The way the multiple points-of-view are handled and the writing style, the story is very disjointed. I don't know if this is the way the book was written or if it's a translation issue, but I found it very hard to follow. The subject matter is also very dark. I usually like Swedish crime novels, but this one was not for me. I appreciate the chance to read an advance review copy, courtesy of NetGalley and Mysterious Press. My review is voluntary and unbiased. (2.75/3 stars)

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really disgusted when not even half-way through the book Carin Gerhardsen shows who the killer was, but unbeknown to me we had to solve several other murders to conclude the story, plus solve the rape of Police Assistant Petra Westman. It was the women that solved all the mysteries by looking at computer programs that had something to do with the murders. But in the end, Hamad showed Petra who had been her rapist. It was a really good story and we also learned who had been the person who had her stepfather killed. It seemed to never end with so much going on all the time.
I really ended up liking the story.

[Evelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Återigen en mycket bra deckare av Gerhardsen. Vi fick också lära känna nya två poliser, som jag ser fram emot att lära känna mer. Själva mordhistorien är riktigt spännande och hade flera oväntade vändningar. Länk till recensionen: http://ewelinasbokblogg.blogspot.se/2...

[Cecilia Eklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bara MÅSTE läsa hela den här serien nu!! Utförligare recension i min blogg under morgondagen. cissigrip.blogg.se

[Anna Cabuenas · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Emilahh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so many characters and switched between them so frequently that it was hard to keep up. The plot and relationships were confusing, and the ultimate explanation was kind of random. It seems that this would have been less confusing if I had read the other books on the series before this one, maybe.
EDIT: I came back because I just thought of something that bothers me like a week later....a big plot point of this hinged around the fact that a woman kept her phone ringer on at night in case her husband called and this was determined to be insane behavior of someone who has obviously been mentally dominated by her partner and that was kinda weird.

[Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sügis suisa kisub krimkade poole. Väljas juba kõle ja vara läheb pimedaks. Igasugused õudused raamatu lehekülgedel mõjuvad eriti ehedalt ja turvaline lugeda neid soojas toas. Turvaline on muidugi suhteline mõiste kui kätte võtta skandinaavia kirjaniku kriminaalromaan. See, mis tundub lihtne ja selge, muutub aegamisi kõhedaks eelaimduseks ja siis painajalikuks väljapääsmatuseks.

„Jumal on hea. Täna öösel hoiab Jumal meie üle oma valvavat kätt.“ Nii mõtleb armastatud ja austatud pereisa Sven-Gunnar Erlandsson hetk enne seda, kui ta semudega pubis veedetud õhtu järel kuuli kuklasse saab. Lihtne algus, isegi mõnevõrra kaastunnet. Hulgaliselt versioone ja veidi silmaringi laiendamiseks mõeldud infot. Aga kuna ma pokkerit ei mängi, siis on need inforaasud pakendatud kaugemasse mälusoppi.

Mida rohkem lugeda, seda keerulisem on mõista, kuidas Erlandssoni jumal saab olla hea. Kui ta oleks hea, siis ta ei laseks sellisel kurjusel õilmitseda. Või on kurjategijatel oma jumal?

Juhtunu uurimiseks kogub kriminaalkomissar Conny Sjöberg kokku töörühma, millesse kuulub nüüd ka kaks uut kolleegi: sarmikas rokkar Odd Andersson ja ettearvamatu Hedvig Gerdin. Nimega oli mul segadus - tabasin ennast mitmeid kordi raamatust eestpoolt otsimast, kellest võiks juttu olla. Lõpuks lasin lool lihtsalt minna - oluline oli ju süžee.

Kes küll võis ihata Erlandssoni surma? Kõigi sõnul oli ta soe ja helde inimene, kes edendas laste ja noorte jalgpalli ning tegeles heategevusega. Kui kõik kiidavad, siis ilmselt keegi valetab ja veel kuidas. Ja keegi vaikib ja salgab iseenda. Kui palju on inimene valmis taluma näilise heaolu nimel? Kas materiaalne heaolu väärib oma lihast ja verest ilma jäämist? Kas me tegelikult ka märkame, mis toimub ümberringi või meie kodus või töökohas? Kas me julgeme reageerida? Mis tunne on olla jõuetu kurjuse ees?

Politsei jaoks on ainsad juhtlõngad ohvri põuetaskust leitud sedel laialivalgunud tekstiga ja neli mängukaarti. Kas mõrv on seotud pokkeriga? Või pani Erlandssonile käe külge hoopis mõni kodutu, kellele ta haagissuvilate pargis toitu jagamas käis? Liiga hea inimene tekitab alati mõningasi kahtlusi ja kõhklusi. Samas pakub autor nii palju erinevaid uurimissuundi, et lugeda on huvitav, aga kohati kerkib küsimus, et mis siis tegelikult oli. Müts maha kirjaniku eest, kes kõik võimalused realistlikena hoiab. Mõttes jõudsin lugemise käigus igasuguseid kombinatsioone ette kujutada. Kas kõik politseinikud on õigluse poolel? Kas õiglus on üldse olemas? Kas kurjust saab tasuda ainult kurjusega? Kas ma valin seaduse või õigluse? Kas õigluse saab ainult raha eest? Kui magus siis on kättemaks? Või on kättemaks lihtsalt rahu iseendaga ja hind ei loe. Ja internet ei ole süüdi, sest sinna panevad kõike inimesed ja sealt leiavad kõike ikkagi inimesed.

Aga autor pani ikkagi pika puuga ära. Avastasin ennast lugemas kuritegudest, millest ma parema meelega midagi ei teaks. Või õigemini, et maailmas puuduks võimalus millelelgi sellisel üldse eksisteerida. Ja millel ei tundu olevat lõppu. Vaatamata selle kuriteo lahendamisele jätab autor lahti tee järgmisele loole, mis ilmselt sai alguse juba eelnevates raamatutes. „Pühak“ on Hammarby sarja neljas raamat. Varem on ilmunud „Piparkoogimaja“, „Ema, isa, lapsed“ ning „Unelaul“. Võtaksin Hammarbyst väikese hingetõmbepausi ning siis loen läbi ka eelmised osad.

Autor viib Hammarby jaoskonna politseinikud metsa kõige kohutavamatesse paikadesse, maailma teise otsa ja inimese hinge kõige mustematesse soppidesse. Ja inimhinge sopid on põhjatud ja sinna surrakse nii vaimselt kui füüsiliselt palju aastaid. Suremise lõputu kestvus jääbki painajana kummitama.

[Elina Mäkitalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parempi kuin sarjan aikaisemmat osat. Tämä oli kyllä jo nähtävissä edellisessä osassa, että parani vaikka tähditys olikin sama. Tässä oli jokseenkin jo heti alusta hyvää ja mukaansa tempaavaa kirjoittamista ja hyviä juonenkäänteitä koko kirjan ajan. Onnistunut kokonaisuus siis ja piti otteessaan.

Kirja menee Helmet- lukuhaasteeseen 2024 kohtaan numero 24. Kirjan tapahtumat sijoittuvat pääkaupunkiin.

[Jenny Ekelund]

Fängslande precis som de tidigare böckerna 👍

[Triinu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minu arvamuse raamatust leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would kill such a well-liked man?

The body of banker Sven-Gunnar Erlandsson is found in the Herräng forest by Josefin Siem, one of the girls on the soccer team he coached. He was shot in the neck and back while on his way back from a meeting with his poker club. There is no doubt that this was murder, but what could have been the motive? He is known for his charitable works and willingness to volunteer within the Stockholm community where he, lives happily with his second wife. The murder squad, headed by Detective Chief Inspector Conny Sjöberg, have few clues on which to base their investigation and no apparent motive. As the team pursues different avenues of inquiry amongst Erlandsson’s friends and family they uncover secrets that suggest that the victim was not as saintly as most thought him to be. Could there be a link between him and two girls who have gone missing? The truth could be more disturbing than the investigators could have imagined.
The Saint is the latest in the Hammarby series by author Carin Gerhardsen, and is both intricately plotted and full of fascinating, complicated characters. Each member of the murder squad has his or her own backstory, including one who is caregiver to his disabled daughter, another (newer) member on the team who was a contestant on an American Idol-like show, and a third who is coping with the residual trauma from a brutal assault which she believes was perpetrated in part by someone who works at her police station. They juggle their personal issues and challenges with their work on crimes that reveal the ugly underside of their pleasant community. This is a story that requires a reader’s attention, offering neither exciting car chases nor a sugar coating on the brutal realities of the world, but it is well worth the effort. The reader weighs different possible killers and discovers new victims as the tale unfolds. Not having read the previous entries in the series, I can assure other readers that they need not have read them in order to understand and enjoy this one (but do pay attention when characters discuss events that happened previous to this installment’s timeline). If you are a reader of Nordic noir, particularly of authors like Christoffer Carlsson, Jo Nesbø and Henning Mankell, I would definitely recommend that you add this to your list of authors to read. A female author adds a different perspective to the mix, particularly when it comes to the female characters portrayed. My thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me early access to this vividly written thriller.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Saint (Hammarbyserien #4), Carin Gerhardsen. iBook 6.49 pre ordered. Nov 12/24. Read 16 December 2024. 4/5

This is indeed a ‘slow burning thriller’ which develops into quite a storyline, well constructed. As the team investigate a murder, details emerge to piece together quite an unsettling series of events in the community. The murder squad is made up of a mix of personalities but they all contribute to piecing together what truly happened in the past that is unraveling in the present and who was and is responsible….. Very much recommended as a good read.


“In this internationally bestselling Nordic noir, the investigation into the murder of a beloved soccer coach in a quiet Stockholm neighborhood reveals a dark truth.

Local girls’ soccer coach Sven-Gunnar Erlandsson is practically a saint in the community, known for his good works and volunteering. So when his body is found in Stockholm’s beautiful Herräng forest, shot at close range in the back of the neck while walking home from a late-night poker game, the police struggle to find a motive. Nothing has been taken from his pockets except his cell phone, and the only other clues left behind are a cryptic handwritten note and a handful of playing cards.

The Hammarby murder squad takes the case, splitting up the leads between their eclectic mix of officers. Led by Detective Chief Inspector Conny Sjöberb, the team also includes a veteran inspector who balances his career with caring for his disabled daughter, a widow who has returned to police work after several decades spent as a homemaker and pursuing a law degree, a new transplant who recently achieved minor celebrity status as an Idol contestant, and a young police assistant struggling with trauma she can’t share with her colleagues.

Each member of the team pursues a different lead and, as they interview Erlandsson’s friends and family, they discover a disturbing web of secrets, including a possible link to the cases of two missing girls. Could Erlandsson have been less of a saint than everyone thinks?

A dark and layered story told through multiple perspectives, The Saint is the fourth in the highly acclaimed Hammarby police series from Swedish author Carin Gerhardsen.”

[Tini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nordic Noir, not at its best.

As far as Nordic Noir thrillers go, this one was decidedly subpar for me.

The story itself - a whodunnit about a beloved soccer coach who is found shot to death in a Swedish forrest - was fairly good and unsurprisingly dark and twisted, if not extremely original.

Although it‘s not immediately obvious (this is currently only mentioned in the very last line of the blurb), „The Saint“ is actually the fourth installment in the Hammarby Police series. As someone who hadn‘t read the three previous books, I felt a little lost at times - especially in the beginning - because lots of references were made to an earlier storyline, namely the brutal rape of one of the police officers.

Furthermore, all the main characters were introduced very quickly, with only short initial descriptions, and all pretty much at the same time. As a result of that, I didn‘t really develop a relationship with most of the rather large cast of characters because I simply didn’t learn enough about them, and their portrayals in most cases seemed superficial at best. It‘s usually not a great sign if a book needs a list of characters in the beginning so readers won‘t lose sight of who is who.

But my main issue with the book may, in fact, be with its translation (since I don‘t speak Swedish and cannot confirm this by reading the original, I am giving the author the benefit of the doubt here): the language often seemed stilted, some sentences were bumpy, and other terms and phrases sounded just plain wrong.

I was hoping for a new Nordic Noir series to devour, but after „The Saint“, I won‘t be reading the earlier books in the series.

TW for rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, drug use.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers / Mysterious Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„The Saint“ is slated to be published on November 12, 2024.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saint by Carin Gerhardsen; narrated by Richard Trinder

This mystery is a dark police procedural. As a narrator Trinder lets us feel the emotions of the scenes in the story – tension, excitement and so on. He does a particularly good job of using his voice to differentiate present day and past (the molesters thought process). However, listening to the story, it is hard to keep track of who’s who as there are quite a few main characters introduced (both the police team, victim and all those involved in the story). This is where a print copy may have been a good resource for me, anyway, unfamiliar with Scandinavian (Swedish) names.

The book opens with the murder of Sven-Gunnar Erlandsson, the girls soccer coach, held in high esteem, described as generous, charitable, religious, a volunteer, by those interviewed by the police (is he “The Saint” of the title?). But, as time goes by, they learn he may not be the person his friends, family, have pictured him to be. While investigating his murder and possible motivations, an older and more recent missing children’s case comes to their attention. That, along with the possibility that his step daughter, who left for travel years ago and has had minimal contact may also have disappeared. Is there a connection?
This was a hard to put down book as I wanted to have my suspicions confirmed.
Note - trigger warning content - rape, child sexual abuse, drugs, and domestic violence.
4.5 stars (see trigger warning) rounded to 5 for the excellent narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carin Gerhardsen, Richard Trinder and HighBridge Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

[TheLisaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carin Gerhardsen’s The Saint is a tightly woven thriller that expertly intertwines multiple cases, drawing readers into a complex web of secrets, lies, and unraveling truths. With her signature narrative style, Gerhardsen crafts a story that keeps you hooked as each case unfolds, revealing the dark connections between them.

What stands out most is the book’s seamless pacing. Each subplot is carefully developed, with tantalizing hints and revelations that steadily build suspense. The interplay between the cases creates a sense of mounting tension, as the secrets behind each mystery are laid bare. Gerhardsen masterfully balances these threads, ensuring they remain distinct yet interdependent, adding layers of depth to the narrative.

The characters are equally compelling. Gerhardsen breathes life into her cast, creating flawed and multifaceted individuals whose decisions drive the story forward. The emotional stakes are high, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters add an extra layer of intrigue.

The Saint is more than just a procedural thriller; it’s a story about human vulnerability and the ripple effects of hidden truths. As each case reaches its resolution, readers are left with a profound sense of how interconnected the characters’ lives truly are.

For fans of crime fiction that challenges both the intellect and emotions, The Saint is a standout read. Carin Gerhardsen proves once again why she is a master of the genre, delivering a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping.

[Elisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a big fan of Nordic Noir, I’m always looking for new authors to add to my list and I hoped that Gerhardsen would be it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t very impressed. This volume is part of a series that I’d never read before, so maybe that made it harder for me to figure out the characters. There is clearly history there, and I felt a little lost sometimes. But I think that my problem was with the translation. The dialogues didn’t sound natural, the phrases were hard to understand and the turns of phrase were unusual. I was also not a huge fan of the plot, and the cast of suspects was not very well defined. I’m sorry to say that it was not for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press.

[Greg]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mysterious Press, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this book, ‘The Saint’ by Carin Gerhardsen.

In this series of the Swedish writer, the police are called to investigate what looks like an execution of a beloved soccer coach, who was on his way home from a gathering of his poker buddies. The police team lead by DCI Conny Sjoberg, all have their own issues, but must concentrate on the case. When it seems the case is connected to the unsolved cases of two missing girls, the investigation must follow all of the clues they have.

This Swedish mystery is fairly dark, in nature, looking at some of the worst characteristics of some men. It seemed a bit tedious while reading, but the conclusion was quite a climax.

[Dee Furey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished The Saint by Carin Gerhardsen and here are my thoughts. First, this is a decent mystery/police procedural. I loved the team work of the police in solving this crime and the individual efforts that went above and beyond. This was a clever mystery. Local girls soccer coach is murdered while walking through the woods. He has such a good reputation and coaches girls soccer - he had poker cards in his pocket and what does Wild Bill Hickok have to do with it? Who or what is the saint? Thoroughly enjoyed the investigation and how they uncovered leads and listening to their thoughts on the investigation. I rated this book 3.75 stars. Thank you to #netgalley and HighBridge Audio for my advance audio copy of #thesaint

[Candice Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This was such a deliciously dark and atmospheric piece of work, and reminds me of all the reasons I love reading Nordic Noir as a genre. With a sweeping cast of morally grey characters, and a mysterious murder at the center of the plot, I was sucked right into this story and devoured it in one sitting.

I just really enjoy plots where you don't know all the details up front, and each thread that the investigators pull, you pull right alongside them to see what might be revealed next. I was sure a few times I might have the story figured out, and I was wrong every time.

Overall, this makes for perfect winter season reading. Highly recommend.

[Cynthia Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, Carin Gerhardsen, and Penzler Publishers for the ebook. This was quite the thriller that had me up all hours of the night trying to figure out what was going on. The perfect guy on the outside is murdered and the town is shocked. Once the detectives start looking into everything, the murder victim doesn't appear to be so innocent. Although, the outcome is not at all how I'd imagined, and it goes deeper than anything you can imagine.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid read. I enjoyed reading this book, however I am very picky when it comes to any book that involves police procedures, and found myself putting this book down a lot. If you are into books that have a heavy police procedural aspect, I think you would really like this book.

Thank you, Netgalley, Carin Gerhardsen, and Penzler Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Selina Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the audiobook for this one! It was a detective-crime-mystery. I like how the situations unravel throughout & then at the end shows how they were interconnected. I can really envision the end as a flashback montage. The narrator added the feel of a TV series. Will check out more from this author & narrator.
*trigger warnings

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can fly through some audiobooks. I struggled with this one. I had a time with the POV aspect.

This is an #ARC audiobook provided by #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio. The opinions and views expressed are my own. Publication date: November 12, 2024

[Javierthearcnovice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won an arc from Goodreads giveaways..

Sometimes, some details don’t need to be defined…

[𝘪𝘷 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🧸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

me and this book didn’t mesh together but the ending??? talk about a plot twist!!!

[Mari Carmen]

Hammarbyserien #4

[Neely P · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading this author. Once I had all the characters straight, it was a very intriguing and puzzling mystery.!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. I was listening to it and the accent was too much for me.

Thank you NetGalley, HighBridge Audio, and Carin Gerhardsen for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Eydie sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very hard to keep track of who was who with the cops. Except for Wallen, whom I really liked. It's a weird writing style, but maybe I'm just too American, lol. I'd read the next one.