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Maria Wern #7
Strange Bird
“Outstanding! The ending of this suspenseful blend of scientific thriller and whodunit packs a real wallop.”—Publishers Weekly
As the bird flu pandemic reaches Gotland Island, panic spreads among the inhabitants who are frantic for an elusive cure. In the desperation that rises, the hunt for scapegoats begins, and extremist and anti-immigrant groups gain ground. Meanwhile, nurse Sandra Hägg makes a gruesome discovery at the health clinic where she works—a discovery that will cost her life. Soon Detective Inspector Maria Wern is assigned to solve the murder. Strange Bird, the first novel in the Maria Wern series in English, showcases Anna Jansson's mastery of both hair-raising crimes and the inner lives of her beloved characters.
Ruben Nilsson stepped outside into the dusk of a summer's evening, knocked his pipe against the veranda railing and looked around the garden. Had he known how short was the time he would be allowed to live, he might have been less leisurely.
Anna Jansson has established herself as one of Sweden's most popular crime writers, selling over two million copies in more than ten countries. Her titles have been adapted into movies, which were broadcast in the United States in 2012. Jansson lives in Örebro, Sweden.
“One of the best [Swedish] mystery novels of all time… Well-written, well-reasoned and credible in a very scary way.” —Dagens Nyheter (Sweden)
“Thrilling! Maria Wern is so much more than a regular police inspector.”—Le Nouvel Observateur (France)
As the bird flu pandemic reaches Gotland Island, panic spreads among the inhabitants who are frantic for an elusive cure. In the desperation that rises, the hunt for scapegoats begins, and extremist and anti-immigrant groups gain ground. Meanwhile, nurse Sandra Hägg makes a gruesome discovery at the health clinic where she works—a discovery that will cost her life. Soon Detective Inspector Maria Wern is assigned to solve the murder. Strange Bird, the first novel in the Maria Wern series in English, showcases Anna Jansson's mastery of both hair-raising crimes and the inner lives of her beloved characters.
Ruben Nilsson stepped outside into the dusk of a summer's evening, knocked his pipe against the veranda railing and looked around the garden. Had he known how short was the time he would be allowed to live, he might have been less leisurely.
Anna Jansson has established herself as one of Sweden's most popular crime writers, selling over two million copies in more than ten countries. Her titles have been adapted into movies, which were broadcast in the United States in 2012. Jansson lives in Örebro, Sweden.
“One of the best [Swedish] mystery novels of all time… Well-written, well-reasoned and credible in a very scary way.” —Dagens Nyheter (Sweden)
“Thrilling! Maria Wern is so much more than a regular police inspector.”—Le Nouvel Observateur (France)
332 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
15 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
About the author
Anna Jansson
151 books164 followersAnna Maria Angelika Jansson is a Swedish crime writer and nurse from Visby, Gotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 23, 2021
Att läsa en bok om fågelinfluensan, en annan sorts pandemi under pågående pandemi vet jag inte om det var smart eller läskigt/obehagligt. Men det föll sig att det var dags för denna del i serien att läsa.
Ämnet kändes ju klart aktuellt nu i dessa coronatider, det är ett skrämmande scenario som målas upp iom att vi just nu lever i denna någon verklighet.
Men det finns men, jag hade i vanlig ordning svårt att komma in i boken och jag kan inte påstå att jag gillade boken, hyfsat spännande men det var något som skavde. Det skavde så pass mycket att jag faktiskt tror att jag kommer lägga ner denna serie. Jag kommer liksom inte in i den alls.
Ämnet kändes ju klart aktuellt nu i dessa coronatider, det är ett skrämmande scenario som målas upp iom att vi just nu lever i denna någon verklighet.
Men det finns men, jag hade i vanlig ordning svårt att komma in i boken och jag kan inte påstå att jag gillade boken, hyfsat spännande men det var något som skavde. Det skavde så pass mycket att jag faktiskt tror att jag kommer lägga ner denna serie. Jag kommer liksom inte in i den alls.
January 13, 2020
I wrote this original review in 2013, but picked up the book again not knowing I'd read it! A fact I didn't realize until I got quite a ways in and began to think...this is so familiar. However, liked it so much just kept reading...
So update: This mystery is about bird flu. And the ins and outs of a somewhat tricky pharmaceutical company trying to use it for nefarious reasons. It's complex, with shady characters galore. No spoilers here, but Jansson has a way with characters in that those who look innocent - often are! And those who are venal, well they're often innocent, too. You've got children in peril here; murder victims who die in a couple of ghastly ways; a possible burgeoning romance; people in search of their better selves; plus commentary on what it's like living in a usually benevolent socialist state. (Yeah, it's got its drawbacks, so has every political system IMO.) But then there's the crazy mob who'll tear anything and everything down by screaming: we pay taxes? Well, sit down for a moment and catch your breath...
Maria Wren, police detective, has a lot on her hands: a sick son, stupid ex-husband, a couple of weird deaths, and a quarantine on her little home island involving medical personnel with too much to do and too little support. There's also dove-keepers, nasty murders and characters of every age moving in and out of Maria's complicated life. Also a few neat twists and turns into who did what to whom and why.
So here's a more intense book review, not so much the boring, general one I wrote seven years ago.
Still four stars.
OLD, and BORING review:
Very good mystery, set in an interesting locale, from my POV, that is. (I'm American from New England; this story is set in Gotland, an island in Sweden.) The characters are diverse and interesting, easy to tell apart, with few 'stock' characters to be seen. The story had me engrossed and intrigued from the very start and the ending - didn't see it coming.
Enjoyed the book very much and was interested to see a TV series has been made from this series, which I will definitely have to look for.
So update: This mystery is about bird flu. And the ins and outs of a somewhat tricky pharmaceutical company trying to use it for nefarious reasons. It's complex, with shady characters galore. No spoilers here, but Jansson has a way with characters in that those who look innocent - often are! And those who are venal, well they're often innocent, too. You've got children in peril here; murder victims who die in a couple of ghastly ways; a possible burgeoning romance; people in search of their better selves; plus commentary on what it's like living in a usually benevolent socialist state. (Yeah, it's got its drawbacks, so has every political system IMO.) But then there's the crazy mob who'll tear anything and everything down by screaming: we pay taxes? Well, sit down for a moment and catch your breath...
Maria Wren, police detective, has a lot on her hands: a sick son, stupid ex-husband, a couple of weird deaths, and a quarantine on her little home island involving medical personnel with too much to do and too little support. There's also dove-keepers, nasty murders and characters of every age moving in and out of Maria's complicated life. Also a few neat twists and turns into who did what to whom and why.
So here's a more intense book review, not so much the boring, general one I wrote seven years ago.
Still four stars.
OLD, and BORING review:
Very good mystery, set in an interesting locale, from my POV, that is. (I'm American from New England; this story is set in Gotland, an island in Sweden.) The characters are diverse and interesting, easy to tell apart, with few 'stock' characters to be seen. The story had me engrossed and intrigued from the very start and the ending - didn't see it coming.
Enjoyed the book very much and was interested to see a TV series has been made from this series, which I will definitely have to look for.
February 14, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Thank you very much! =))
My rating: 2.5
The horrible situation of a contagious virus is absolutely the most terrifying thought ever. Even more terrifying that this could happen and does but in small instances.
Think of it. Everyone is dying. Everyone is vulnerable. No one is safe.
This terrifying situation makes a great idea for a book, but this one missed the mark.
There were too many characters to keep track.
There is a contagious virus spreading, people are still going to restaurants.
Say what? You wouldn't even find me outside my HOUSE in this situation. I'm staying home.
There were other things I didn't like but you get the picture.
I had high hopes. I wouldn't recommend this one.
May 24, 2015
An interesting combination of events. First a man who raises pigeons finds a "strange bird" - the strange bird has bird flu. And so begins an outbreak of bird flu in Gotland
At the same time the book is about a mystery... first, a man who was selling paintings is found murdered
The story goes back and forth between the outbreak of bird flu... the search for tamiflu, discovering that this strain is tamiflu resistant, etc. (won;t say more it would ruin the story
And at the same time, the search for the killer of one... and then more people who are murdered.
At the same time the book is about a mystery... first, a man who was selling paintings is found murdered
The story goes back and forth between the outbreak of bird flu... the search for tamiflu, discovering that this strain is tamiflu resistant, etc. (won;t say more it would ruin the story
And at the same time, the search for the killer of one... and then more people who are murdered.
December 31, 2018
Kirja oli hyvin mielenkiintoinen, jännittävä ja samalla myös aika kammottava. Se antoi ajattelemisen aihetta liittyen helposti leviäviin tarttuviin tauteihin ja siihen mitä kaikkia ongelmia se yhteiskunnassa aiheuttaisi.
January 2, 2023
Det var lite svårt att komma in i boken. Lite spretig till att börja med. Hyfsat spännande trots allt. Att den dessutom handlade om fågelinfluensan i samband med covidtider känns ändå aktuellt fastän boken har några år på nacken.
June 8, 2013
Strange Bird is an ARC sent by Meryl Zegarek. The book is the first in Jansson's series featuring detective Maria Wern to be translated to English. (Translation by Paul Norlen.)
I'm already a great fan of Scandinavian crime novels, and more than happy to add a new author to my list.
Opening lines:
"Ruben Nilsson stepped into the summer twilight to tap his pipe out against the railing of the porch. If he had known how few hours he had left to live, perhaps his priorities would have been different."
Gotland, Sweden's largest island, is about to feel the effects of a pandemic. Ruben Nilsson raises homing pigeons and has been preparing for an upcoming race, but when he discovers a strange pigeon, Ruben includes it in his flock.
Bird flu has found its way onto the island and the deaths will begin to mount. Ruben's neighbor is a cook at a soccer camp, soon the children and their coach will be at risk. A friend of Ruben's is a taxi driver--and a busy one. The threat expands.
In addition to the panic inspired by the flu, Maria has a murder case to pursue. Both the effects of bird flu on the island and the murder investigation are riveting. The book is certainly a suspenseful page turner.
The characters are well-rounded and believable. The plot has implications for both national and local governments concerning the possibility of a flu pandemic of any kind. The Spanish flu of 1918 infected 500 million people world wide and killed 50-100 million of them; it is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. In a world where travel is so easy and so frequent, a flu virus would have easy access to world populations. And flu viruses mutate so vaccines present a problem.
I found this quote one a crime website:
"It is well written, well thought out and unpleasantly believable. One of my favorite Swedish crime novels." Dagens Nyheter
That pretty much sums up my feelings. Highly recommended!
Scandinavian Crime. Sept. 10, 2013. 334 pages.
ISBN-10: 9187173956
I'm already a great fan of Scandinavian crime novels, and more than happy to add a new author to my list.
Opening lines:
"Ruben Nilsson stepped into the summer twilight to tap his pipe out against the railing of the porch. If he had known how few hours he had left to live, perhaps his priorities would have been different."
Gotland, Sweden's largest island, is about to feel the effects of a pandemic. Ruben Nilsson raises homing pigeons and has been preparing for an upcoming race, but when he discovers a strange pigeon, Ruben includes it in his flock.
Bird flu has found its way onto the island and the deaths will begin to mount. Ruben's neighbor is a cook at a soccer camp, soon the children and their coach will be at risk. A friend of Ruben's is a taxi driver--and a busy one. The threat expands.
In addition to the panic inspired by the flu, Maria has a murder case to pursue. Both the effects of bird flu on the island and the murder investigation are riveting. The book is certainly a suspenseful page turner.
The characters are well-rounded and believable. The plot has implications for both national and local governments concerning the possibility of a flu pandemic of any kind. The Spanish flu of 1918 infected 500 million people world wide and killed 50-100 million of them; it is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. In a world where travel is so easy and so frequent, a flu virus would have easy access to world populations. And flu viruses mutate so vaccines present a problem.
I found this quote one a crime website:
"It is well written, well thought out and unpleasantly believable. One of my favorite Swedish crime novels." Dagens Nyheter
That pretty much sums up my feelings. Highly recommended!
Scandinavian Crime. Sept. 10, 2013. 334 pages.
ISBN-10: 9187173956
February 26, 2020
I had some difficulty following the real thread of the story. I think that may have actually been a matter of the translation. There are odd and abrupt breaks, at least to me.
A bird flu begins with the arrival of a "strange bird" in a pigeon-fancier's yard. The owner copies the information on the leg band and discovers that it came from Belarus. How did it get to the island of Gotland, in Sweden?
The bird dies. Then the rest of the birds die. It is the beginning of a pandemic of bird flu. Early on, however, Detective Inspector Maria Wern is called in for the murder of an unidentified man. She is shortly pulled between that investigation and the health of her son, who has contracted the virus.
The story weaves among a wide cast of characters, whose presence in the book makes sense toward the end. And thus we get to know DI Wern a bit in this first English translation of this series.
A bird flu begins with the arrival of a "strange bird" in a pigeon-fancier's yard. The owner copies the information on the leg band and discovers that it came from Belarus. How did it get to the island of Gotland, in Sweden?
The bird dies. Then the rest of the birds die. It is the beginning of a pandemic of bird flu. Early on, however, Detective Inspector Maria Wern is called in for the murder of an unidentified man. She is shortly pulled between that investigation and the health of her son, who has contracted the virus.
The story weaves among a wide cast of characters, whose presence in the book makes sense toward the end. And thus we get to know DI Wern a bit in this first English translation of this series.
September 13, 2017
This was my second book I read for class this semester and it was really enjoyable. It was intriguing and a read that I couldn't put down ( mainly because it was really addicting and also because I had a deadline for it to be read.) It dragged a little with one of the storylines though and it was hard to see how the two main storylines connected before the last 10-15 pages which was slightly frustrating to be honest. Otherwise not a bad book and I liked the main character so maybe I'll pick up some of the companion novels to this book.
August 8, 2015
Den här boken, eller egentligen filmatiseringen av den, är anledningen till att jag började läsa serien om Maria Wern. Det kan låta konstigt, men epidemier (och pandemier) har alltid fascinerat mig; hur lätt det skulle vara att ta kål på större delen av mänskligheten bara för att människor alltid beter sig korkat i dessa situationer. I alla fall i böcker och film. Läs mer på http://bokslut.blogspot.se/2015/08/fr...
May 16, 2017
Really liked this interesting introduction to Maria Wern, a Swedish policewoman. An excellent book that makes you think. I have already ordered no. 2 in the series, which seems to be the last one to have been translated into English. Come on, publishers, we need more! The books were popular enough to have been made into a television series! Highly recommended, especially for Scandi lovers.
January 1, 2023
Spännande stundvis men kändes inte som att man riktigt kom in i boken någon gång.
August 29, 2021
Kirjanik Jansson oleks kui pandeemiat ette näinud - tõsi, väiksemas mahus, ainult Gotlandi puudutava epideemiaga. Kõik meie aktuaalses maailmas paari aasta jooksul juhtunu ja juhtuv on üsna üks-ühele raamatus kirjas. Haiglad ägavad, arstid piinlevad varustuse, maskide, ravimite nappuses ja patsientide ülekülluses. Lisanduvad kahtlased mõrvad, mingi totaka kahtlusaluse armuintriigid, amorfne masskäitumine, massimeedia tõmblused. Täpiks i-l ja kirsiks tordil vaktsiinisüstlasse (süsti hinnaks 25000 krooni) peidetud nanokiip. Ei noh!:)
Ühe viisnurga tõmbasin maha ka - lõpp läks nagu lappama. Et kõige taga on raha, see oli selge, aga mõnede tegelaste tõmbemotiivid jäid minu jaoks pisut lahtikirjutamata.
Ühe viisnurga tõmbasin maha ka - lõpp läks nagu lappama. Et kõige taga on raha, see oli selge, aga mõnede tegelaste tõmbemotiivid jäid minu jaoks pisut lahtikirjutamata.
December 1, 2020
Het hoofdthema, volgelgriep, heeft een eiland in Zweden in de greep. Daar bovenop hebben nog enkele moorden. Problemen genoeg. Deze twee verhaallijnen lopen mooi door elkaar en komen samen op het einde. De reacties en vragen in de samenleving zijn te vergelijken met onze problemen met de coronacrisis. Alhoewel het boek geschreven is in 2006, is het dus zeer actueel.
Vragen die we vandaag ook horen: Hebben een vaccin? Is er voldoende vaccin? Wie eerst vaccineren?
Ook plexiglas werd gebruikt om mensen af te schermen.
Besluit: Zeker nu lezen omdat het zo actueel is.
Vragen die we vandaag ook horen: Hebben een vaccin? Is er voldoende vaccin? Wie eerst vaccineren?
Ook plexiglas werd gebruikt om mensen af te schermen.
Besluit: Zeker nu lezen omdat het zo actueel is.
October 22, 2017
I actually read 2 books in bundle. What I found little weird was the books chosen for this bundle; they were numbers 5 and 7 in the series. And even though you can read these books individually there are some things in the protagonist´s life that do change and go on. So I did feel that I missed little bit. And also the translation of the name (from Swedish to Finnish) was not so good. In the swedish version there is one bird, in Finnish plural birds and it doesn´t fit the story.
October 14, 2025
fremmed fugl handler om fugleinfluenza og hvordan mennesker handler under sådan en presset situation.
Maria Wern er flyttet til Gotland.. og samtlige personer i serien er tydeligvis flyttet med, hvilket undrer mig en del. Men hyggeligt er det da.
Udover fugleinfluenzaen som I sig selv er skræmmende nok, så finder hele tre mord sted.. Har de forbindelse til influenzaen? Og hvordan passer Hviderusland ind i det hele?
Særdeles spændende!
Maria Wern er flyttet til Gotland.. og samtlige personer i serien er tydeligvis flyttet med, hvilket undrer mig en del. Men hyggeligt er det da.
Udover fugleinfluenzaen som I sig selv er skræmmende nok, så finder hele tre mord sted.. Har de forbindelse til influenzaen? Og hvordan passer Hviderusland ind i det hele?
Særdeles spændende!
February 5, 2020
Eipä ollut häävi Wern tämä. Tuntui, että kirjassa oli jengiä vilisemällä ja siksi kuvio tuntui sekavalta. Loppuratkaisussakin yllätykselliset osuudet olisi ehkä ollut arvattavissa, jos olisin muistanut, kuka oli kenenkin eksä ja nyksä ja sukulainen. Epidemia-teemakin tuntui melko epäuskottavalta, vaikka mistä sitä tietää, mitä se oikeasti olisi.
January 24, 2019
I am a fan of Scandinavian noir. But, when the detecting doesn’t begin until page 260 and the female detective does more mooning over a love interest than actual detection, I’m pretty positive I won’t be continuing this series.
November 22, 2022
Smittsom fugleinfluensa på Gotland, aktuelt nå som vi har opplevd omtrent det samme men i alle land. Mye om legemiddelindustri, vaksiner og informasjon. Mange personer å holde orden på, middels spennende.
April 28, 2023
Given that this was written before covid......it's pretty interesting. And brings back memories of nobody knowing what the hell was the right way to deal with the pandemic. It's the first of Jansson's books I've read.
May 22, 2019
Too much going on with too many characters to make it the page-turner I'd hoped for.
March 12, 2020
Very timely topic, influenza epidemia.
March 29, 2020
Jeg leste om igjen denne Maria Wern krimmen om fugleinfluensa på Gotland nå når vi sitter i corona kantine.
June 6, 2020
I read it in the German translation. Kind of eerie to read it during our current pandemic!
June 8, 2020
Interesting read during 2020 pandemic.
June 19, 2020
Vaikutti mielestäni lintuinfluenssaan liittyvältä tilaustyöltä, ei liukunut eteenpäin totutulla sulavuudella.
May 1, 2021
Fick ont i halsen av denna 😂 recension som vanligt numera På bloggen.
May 10, 2021
Extra läskig att läsa så här i Corona tider. 😎
May 15, 2021
All things Pandemic, including chips being implanted when vaccines are given. We should have read this before COVID-19.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews