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Tödliche Hoffnung
In seinem letzten Telefongespräch hatte Patrick gesagt, dass er einer entsetzlich grausamen Story auf der Spur sei. Danach hat Ally nichts mehr von ihrem Ehemann gehört. Als ein Paket mit Patricks Notizbuch bei ihr eintrifft, ahnt sie, dass etwas Schreckliches passiert sein muss. Ally hebt all ihre Ersparnisse ab und fährt nach Paris, um nach ihrem Mann zu suchen. Sie folgt seiner Spur und deckt ein Netzwerk von skrupellosen Menschenhändlern auf. Haben sie auch Patrick auf dem Gewissen?
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
77 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Tove Alsterdal
17 books294 followersTove Alsterdal was born in Malmö, Sweden, and has worked as a journalist for over 20 years before she had her debut novel published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 31, 2017
This stunning novel is a dark, disturbing, immersive experience of the dangerous and ruthless world of human trafficking and the exploitation and expendable lives of undocumented immigrants. Tove Alsterdal is a Swedish writer who writes in the vein of Swedish-Noir but with American central characters in Ally and Patrick Cornwall. Patrick is a freelance Pulitizer nominated journalist who has travelled to France to write an exclusive story of the below the radar precarious lives of trafficked people in Europe. Ally is his wife, a set designer, who has just discovered she is pregnant. Whilst being used to Patrick not being in touch when he is on assignment, his absence without communication is longer than normal. A concerned Ally goes to visit the editor, and becomes aware that Patrick has used their baby money to finance his exclusive. She receives a letter, notebook and photographs from Patrick, and takes them with her to find out what has happened to him in Paris. We only see Patrick through the eyes of others and Ally.
Ally arrives in France and chips away until she begins to slowly piece together Patrick's actions and movements prior to his disappearance. In Tarifa, Spain, a young Swedish girl, Terese Wallner, has sex with Alex on the beach, and awakens in the morning to find her passport, money and shoes stolen. She is traumatised to discover the dead body of a black man in the sea water, the assumption is that this is a migrant from a boatload coming from Africa, other bodies are found nearby. Migrants making the trip from Africa find themselves on a boat where they are treated with merciless inhumanity. Ally is Alena Sarkanova, from the Czech Republic, with a father she knows little about. As Ally meets Sarah Rachid, and her brother, Arnaud, she learns of arson in which 17 migrants die, amidst whom were men that Arnaud and Patrick had hidden away. The body count rises around Ally as she comes ever closer to the truth. Ally's attempts to find a path towards justice are thwarted at every turn by ruthless powerful elite forces. As Ally hits rock bottom, she embarks on a personal route to gain some measure of illicit justice.
Tove Alsterdal has written a powerful, emotionally shattering novel that makes you question the humanity of an Europe that provides succour to such malignant forces in society. Alsterdal has done her research on this macabre topic superbly, she has utilised what is happening in our contemporary world with the incoming migrants to create a compelling narrative that never lets you go. It travels unsparingly into its heart of darkness, where lives are treated as disposable commodities, where the most disturbing abuses take place, such as rape, in a world there is no recourse to justice or any acknowledgement that migrants are actual human beings. Ally finds herself in places she never expected to be, whilst having to pave a path for her survival and for the hope that is her unborn baby. A brilliant and heartbreaking read that I highly recommend. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Ally arrives in France and chips away until she begins to slowly piece together Patrick's actions and movements prior to his disappearance. In Tarifa, Spain, a young Swedish girl, Terese Wallner, has sex with Alex on the beach, and awakens in the morning to find her passport, money and shoes stolen. She is traumatised to discover the dead body of a black man in the sea water, the assumption is that this is a migrant from a boatload coming from Africa, other bodies are found nearby. Migrants making the trip from Africa find themselves on a boat where they are treated with merciless inhumanity. Ally is Alena Sarkanova, from the Czech Republic, with a father she knows little about. As Ally meets Sarah Rachid, and her brother, Arnaud, she learns of arson in which 17 migrants die, amidst whom were men that Arnaud and Patrick had hidden away. The body count rises around Ally as she comes ever closer to the truth. Ally's attempts to find a path towards justice are thwarted at every turn by ruthless powerful elite forces. As Ally hits rock bottom, she embarks on a personal route to gain some measure of illicit justice.
Tove Alsterdal has written a powerful, emotionally shattering novel that makes you question the humanity of an Europe that provides succour to such malignant forces in society. Alsterdal has done her research on this macabre topic superbly, she has utilised what is happening in our contemporary world with the incoming migrants to create a compelling narrative that never lets you go. It travels unsparingly into its heart of darkness, where lives are treated as disposable commodities, where the most disturbing abuses take place, such as rape, in a world there is no recourse to justice or any acknowledgement that migrants are actual human beings. Ally finds herself in places she never expected to be, whilst having to pave a path for her survival and for the hope that is her unborn baby. A brilliant and heartbreaking read that I highly recommend. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
August 11, 2017
Ally Cornwall sits at home in New York wondering why her husband Patrick has failed to keep in contact with her. He is an investigative journalist and his passion for his work, in particular those who are exploited, sees him travelling to distant and far places. A worried Ally decides to board a transatlantic flight, heading for Paris where she hopes to find answers as to the plight of her beloved Patrick.
Tove Alsterdal, is a Swedish author, who in The Forgotten Dead has written a novel preferring to rely on American lead characters. This does not work for me and I found the whole experience somewhat disappointing with a plot more akin to a B movie or a made for television series. I find it difficult to comprehend that within a very short time of arriving in Paris, she was able to establish the work that her husband was involved in before he disappeared. Equally preposterous was the speed at which she easily identified and interviewed those bad men involved in the notorious imprisonment and exploitation of illegal immigrants. It's not a badly written story and to its credit it tackles and confronts some very unsettling social issues that affect us all. Of course you the reader really want to know what befell Patrick and I certainly will not disclose that to you, suffice to say this was neatly accomplished making me feel that the reading of this novel had not been a waste of my valuable reading time. I received a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written
Tove Alsterdal, is a Swedish author, who in The Forgotten Dead has written a novel preferring to rely on American lead characters. This does not work for me and I found the whole experience somewhat disappointing with a plot more akin to a B movie or a made for television series. I find it difficult to comprehend that within a very short time of arriving in Paris, she was able to establish the work that her husband was involved in before he disappeared. Equally preposterous was the speed at which she easily identified and interviewed those bad men involved in the notorious imprisonment and exploitation of illegal immigrants. It's not a badly written story and to its credit it tackles and confronts some very unsettling social issues that affect us all. Of course you the reader really want to know what befell Patrick and I certainly will not disclose that to you, suffice to say this was neatly accomplished making me feel that the reading of this novel had not been a waste of my valuable reading time. I received a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written
October 30, 2020
Ο τίτλος που επέλεξαν από τον εκδοτικό οίκο είναι μάλλον ατυχής μπρος στον κανονικό "Ο ξεχασμένος νεκρός". Γιατί ουσιαστικά οι ιστορίες των τριών γυναικών, οι 2 μικρότερες, η μία μεγαλύτερη και κύρια στην εξέλιξη της πλοκής, συγκλίνουν στο τέλος στην αποκάλυψη της ταυτότητας του νεκρού. Όλα ξεκινούν με την τυχαία ανακάλυψη ενός πτώματος σε μια παραλία ενός θέρετρου της Μεσογείου.
Σταδιακά η ιστορία εμπλέκει ένα κύκλωμα παράνομης διακίνησης και δουλεμπορίας, έναν φιλόδοξο Αμερικανό δημοσιογράφο ο οποίος εξαφανίζεται μυστηριωδώς κατά τη διάρκεια ενός ρεπορτάζ, τη γυναίκα του που τον αναζητά και δευτερεύοντα πρόσωπα που έχουν να κάνουν με τα παρακλάδια της ιστορίας.
Στην αρχή το βιβλίο είναι αδιάφορο και κουραστικό. Κόντεψα να το παρατήσω, μέχρι να προχωρήσει λίγο και να αρχίσει να αιτιολογεί πρόσωπα, ενέργειες και καταστάσεις. Θα έλεγα ότι μετά το μισό γίνεται ενδιαφέρον (όταν υπάρχει μία σημαντική αποκάλυψη στην εξέλιξη) αλλά και πάλι του λείπουν πολλά για να αφήσει ικανοποιημένο έναν αναγνώστη.
Το θέμα του είναι ενδιαφέρον, μια κοινωνική καταγγελία για τη διακίνηση και εκμετάλλευση ανθρώπων από ανθρώπους οι οποίοι γίνονται έτσι πάμπλουτοι ... Ωστόσο, είναι ένα θέμα εξαιρετικά πολύπλοκο για να το αναλύσεις, πόσω μάλλον να δώσεις λύσεις. Ο αγώνας της συζύγου του δημοσιογράφου για να εξαρθρώσει το κύκλωμα φαντάζει παιδικός και αδυνατεί να πείσει. Ειδικά το τέλος, μόνο συγκαταβατικό χαμόγελο μπορεί να αποσπάσει ... και εννοώ την απρόσκοπτη είσοδο της συζύγου στο κότερο ενός μεγιστάνα στο Πόρτο Μπανούς της Νότιας Ισπανίας.
Ωστόσο, παρά τις αδυναμίες και τις ευκολίες, η συγγραφέας καταφέρνει στο τέλος να ενώσει τις ιστορίες των 3 διαφορετικών γυναικών και να αιτιολογήσει την ύπαρξη τους στην κεντρική ιστορία.
Σταδιακά η ιστορία εμπλέκει ένα κύκλωμα παράνομης διακίνησης και δουλεμπορίας, έναν φιλόδοξο Αμερικανό δημοσιογράφο ο οποίος εξαφανίζεται μυστηριωδώς κατά τη διάρκεια ενός ρεπορτάζ, τη γυναίκα του που τον αναζητά και δευτερεύοντα πρόσωπα που έχουν να κάνουν με τα παρακλάδια της ιστορίας.
Στην αρχή το βιβλίο είναι αδιάφορο και κουραστικό. Κόντεψα να το παρατήσω, μέχρι να προχωρήσει λίγο και να αρχίσει να αιτιολογεί πρόσωπα, ενέργειες και καταστάσεις. Θα έλεγα ότι μετά το μισό γίνεται ενδιαφέρον (όταν υπάρχει μία σημαντική αποκάλυψη στην εξέλιξη) αλλά και πάλι του λείπουν πολλά για να αφήσει ικανοποιημένο έναν αναγνώστη.
Το θέμα του είναι ενδιαφέρον, μια κοινωνική καταγγελία για τη διακίνηση και εκμετάλλευση ανθρώπων από ανθρώπους οι οποίοι γίνονται έτσι πάμπλουτοι ... Ωστόσο, είναι ένα θέμα εξαιρετικά πολύπλοκο για να το αναλύσεις, πόσω μάλλον να δώσεις λύσεις. Ο αγώνας της συζύγου του δημοσιογράφου για να εξαρθρώσει το κύκλωμα φαντάζει παιδικός και αδυνατεί να πείσει. Ειδικά το τέλος, μόνο συγκαταβατικό χαμόγελο μπορεί να αποσπάσει ... και εννοώ την απρόσκοπτη είσοδο της συζύγου στο κότερο ενός μεγιστάνα στο Πόρτο Μπανούς της Νότιας Ισπανίας.
Ωστόσο, παρά τις αδυναμίες και τις ευκολίες, η συγγραφέας καταφέρνει στο τέλος να ενώσει τις ιστορίες των 3 διαφορετικών γυναικών και να αιτιολογήσει την ύπαρξη τους στην κεντρική ιστορία.
August 16, 2017
The Forgotten Dead – Brilliant, Reflective of Europe Today
Tove Alsterdal’s The Forgotten Dead, has been translated in to English, and it is easy to see why this thriller won Swedish Crime Novel of the Year. Alsterdal has broken away from the Swedish, Scandi backdrop and scenery, even though a Swedish female does appear and Sweden does appear, to America, France, Spain and Portugal. While the setting is in more sunnier climes the thriller is just as dark as you would expect and want, and is a highly addictive thriller set in the dark underbelly of Europe’s dark secret, people smuggling, and ‘illegal’ immigrants.
Patrick Cornwall almost won the Pulitzer Prize, but that put his name out there as one of America’s top investigative reporters. He has set himself to garner the big prize in American journalism and knows he will really have to dig deep. His latest project is to investigate the plight of migrants trying to start a new life in Europe, some of whom never reach the shores of Europe. His desire is to expose the people smuggling, the corruption that runs at the highest levels of society.
Ally Cornwall, Patrick’s wife, is a set designer for theatres across New York, and she has just discovered she is pregnant. She wants to get in touch with Patrick and let him know the good news, but he is incommunicado and even his editor does not know where he is. Her last phone call was a rushed affair as he had to dash off to a fire.
A package arrives for Ally at the theatre she is working at and it is from Patrick telling her to keep it hidden, and she slowly becomes concerned about the welfare of her husband. She raids their savings and flies out to Paris, the last known place she knew her husband was. The more she delves into Europe’s dark underbelly the more she realises how much of an evil web he has been trying to expose. The more she realises that the criminals running this web will go to any extent to keep their secrets and profits hidden, and human life is considered cheap.
As Ally heads from Paris to Lisburn and then on to Spain, she seems to be chasing shadows, while at the same time as putting herself and her unborn child in danger. Ally as she discovers what is happening, is worried that she will not be believed in spite of the evidence that has been found, more importantly will she be able to find Patrick?
This is an excellent crime thriller, which Tove Alsterdal, has managed to condense a complex subject into a captivating story and asks all us Europeans to look a little closer at what is happening. This shows that trafficking people is highly profitable especially when their lives are so cheap. The Forgotten Dead will keep you engrossed from beginning to end, take a step in to the darkness, will you be able to escape?
Tove Alsterdal’s The Forgotten Dead, has been translated in to English, and it is easy to see why this thriller won Swedish Crime Novel of the Year. Alsterdal has broken away from the Swedish, Scandi backdrop and scenery, even though a Swedish female does appear and Sweden does appear, to America, France, Spain and Portugal. While the setting is in more sunnier climes the thriller is just as dark as you would expect and want, and is a highly addictive thriller set in the dark underbelly of Europe’s dark secret, people smuggling, and ‘illegal’ immigrants.
Patrick Cornwall almost won the Pulitzer Prize, but that put his name out there as one of America’s top investigative reporters. He has set himself to garner the big prize in American journalism and knows he will really have to dig deep. His latest project is to investigate the plight of migrants trying to start a new life in Europe, some of whom never reach the shores of Europe. His desire is to expose the people smuggling, the corruption that runs at the highest levels of society.
Ally Cornwall, Patrick’s wife, is a set designer for theatres across New York, and she has just discovered she is pregnant. She wants to get in touch with Patrick and let him know the good news, but he is incommunicado and even his editor does not know where he is. Her last phone call was a rushed affair as he had to dash off to a fire.
A package arrives for Ally at the theatre she is working at and it is from Patrick telling her to keep it hidden, and she slowly becomes concerned about the welfare of her husband. She raids their savings and flies out to Paris, the last known place she knew her husband was. The more she delves into Europe’s dark underbelly the more she realises how much of an evil web he has been trying to expose. The more she realises that the criminals running this web will go to any extent to keep their secrets and profits hidden, and human life is considered cheap.
As Ally heads from Paris to Lisburn and then on to Spain, she seems to be chasing shadows, while at the same time as putting herself and her unborn child in danger. Ally as she discovers what is happening, is worried that she will not be believed in spite of the evidence that has been found, more importantly will she be able to find Patrick?
This is an excellent crime thriller, which Tove Alsterdal, has managed to condense a complex subject into a captivating story and asks all us Europeans to look a little closer at what is happening. This shows that trafficking people is highly profitable especially when their lives are so cheap. The Forgotten Dead will keep you engrossed from beginning to end, take a step in to the darkness, will you be able to escape?
July 22, 2016
"...δίνει μια σκληρή αλλά αληθινή εικόνα της ζοφερής πλευράς της Ευρώπης", όπως πολύ σωστά γράφει στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου. Δυστυχώς, παρά τη μυθοπλασία όλα όσα εξιστορεί συμβαίνουν στην πραγματικότητα, το ζούμε και στη χώρα μας και το ξέρουμε ότι πάντα συνέβαινε σε όλη την υφήλιο, όπως επίσης δε νομίζω ότι γίνεται και τίποτα για να σταματήσει. Είτε πρόκειται για πρόσφυγες, είτε για εμπορεία γυναικών/παιδιών υπάρχει πάντα η επίσημη "κατακραυγή" από τις χώρες αλλά ανεπίσημα η διαφθορά καλά κρατεί. Ψυχοπλακωτικό το θέμα, ωστόσο καλογραμμένο και με αγωνία, χωρίς φανφάρες, η συγγραφέας σε κερδίζει με τη γραφή της. Με στεναχώρησε το τέλος αλλά η αλήθεια είναι ότι το καλό δε θριαμβεύει συνήθως σε τέτοια θέματα.
July 27, 2018
Εξαιρετική αποτύπωση της σκληρής πραγματικότητας για τους μετανάστες που ταξιδεύουν στις Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες με όνειρα για μια ευκαιρία στη ζωή. Είναι εξοργιστικό να σκέφτεσαι πόσο λίγο μετράει η ανθρώπινη ζωή για κάποιους ανθρώπους. Πόσο εύκολο είναι για κάποιους να αφαιρούν τις ανθρώπινες ζωές όταν δεν εξυπηρετούν πια τους σκοπούς τους. Η πλοκή κυλάει τόσο γρήγορα κ οι εξελίξεις είναι τόσο καταιγιστικές που δε σε αφήνουν να πάρεις ανάσα. Πολύ καλογραμμένο κ προσεγμένο βιβλίο.
February 20, 2013
Þetta er ágætisbók. Þéttur krimmi sem gerist beggja vegna Atlantshafsins. Ég nagaði ekkert á mér neglurnar í eftirvæntingu en það kom ekki að sök því textinn er góður, ekki hroðvirknislegur og lélegur stíll eins og vill verða hjá sumum krimmahöfundum, og það þótt þetta sé fyrsta bók Tove Alsterdal.
Aðalpersónan fór örlítið í taugarnar á mér, hún var alveg suddalega sjálfhverf og ég var ekki alveg viss hvort ætlunin hafi verið að maður fyndi samkennd með henni eða yrði pirraður út í hana fyrir það. Allir áttu öllu að fórna fyrir hana, það gat enginn hugsað um hana, aumingja hún. En miðað við aðstæðurnar sem hún var í er kannski ekkert óeðlilegt að hún væri sjálfhverf.
Lausnin fannst mér heldur ekki nógu góð, ég vil engu spilla en við skulum segja að ég hefði farið aðra leið, bæði sem höfundur að skrifa þessa bók og sem manneskja sem væri í aðstæðum aðalpersónunnar.
En að útgáfu Skynjunar. Þvílíkur munur á þessu og hljóðbókinni frá Hljóðbók.is sem ég hlustaði á um daginn! Þetta er eins og svart og hvítt. Ég fékk á tilfinninguna að miklu meira væri lagt í gæðin hjá Skynjun, að þar snerist þetta um að koma bókinni til hlustenda á máta sem þeir gætu notið að hlusta á. Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir sem las, virðist líka hafa lagt metnað í góðan lestur; sem dæmi má nefna að þegar lesa átti texta með drafandi röddu gerði hún einmitt það. Hvort þetta sé út af persónulegum metnaði Sólveigar eða hvort Skynjun leggi meiri áherslu á gæði lesturs en Hljóðbók.is veit ég ekki. Hér er ég aðeins að bera saman þessar tvær bækur sem ég hef hlustað á nýlega.
Það skiptir mjög miklu máli þegar hlustað er á hljóðbækur að þær séu vel lesnar. Við erum að tala um átta til tólf klukkustundir í hlustun og ef lesturinn er ekki fagmannlegur og góður gefst maður hreinlega upp. Þannig verða þeir útgefendur sem ætla á hljóðbókamarkað að vera metnaðarfullir, þeirra viðskipti munu ekki dafna ef viðskiptavinirnir eru ósáttir við lesturinn. Leiðinleg bók er eitt, það er ekki útgefandanum að kenna að viðkomandi viðskiptavinur sé ósáttur við textann, það sem skiptir öllu máli er að miðla honum vel. Slæmur lestur getur gjörsamlega eyðilagt fyrir manni bók - og þá skiptir litlu hvort bókin sé frábær eða ekki, maður gefst hreinlega upp.
Aðalpersónan fór örlítið í taugarnar á mér, hún var alveg suddalega sjálfhverf og ég var ekki alveg viss hvort ætlunin hafi verið að maður fyndi samkennd með henni eða yrði pirraður út í hana fyrir það. Allir áttu öllu að fórna fyrir hana, það gat enginn hugsað um hana, aumingja hún. En miðað við aðstæðurnar sem hún var í er kannski ekkert óeðlilegt að hún væri sjálfhverf.
Lausnin fannst mér heldur ekki nógu góð, ég vil engu spilla en við skulum segja að ég hefði farið aðra leið, bæði sem höfundur að skrifa þessa bók og sem manneskja sem væri í aðstæðum aðalpersónunnar.
En að útgáfu Skynjunar. Þvílíkur munur á þessu og hljóðbókinni frá Hljóðbók.is sem ég hlustaði á um daginn! Þetta er eins og svart og hvítt. Ég fékk á tilfinninguna að miklu meira væri lagt í gæðin hjá Skynjun, að þar snerist þetta um að koma bókinni til hlustenda á máta sem þeir gætu notið að hlusta á. Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir sem las, virðist líka hafa lagt metnað í góðan lestur; sem dæmi má nefna að þegar lesa átti texta með drafandi röddu gerði hún einmitt það. Hvort þetta sé út af persónulegum metnaði Sólveigar eða hvort Skynjun leggi meiri áherslu á gæði lesturs en Hljóðbók.is veit ég ekki. Hér er ég aðeins að bera saman þessar tvær bækur sem ég hef hlustað á nýlega.
Það skiptir mjög miklu máli þegar hlustað er á hljóðbækur að þær séu vel lesnar. Við erum að tala um átta til tólf klukkustundir í hlustun og ef lesturinn er ekki fagmannlegur og góður gefst maður hreinlega upp. Þannig verða þeir útgefendur sem ætla á hljóðbókamarkað að vera metnaðarfullir, þeirra viðskipti munu ekki dafna ef viðskiptavinirnir eru ósáttir við lesturinn. Leiðinleg bók er eitt, það er ekki útgefandanum að kenna að viðkomandi viðskiptavinur sé ósáttur við textann, það sem skiptir öllu máli er að miðla honum vel. Slæmur lestur getur gjörsamlega eyðilagt fyrir manni bók - og þá skiptir litlu hvort bókin sé frábær eða ekki, maður gefst hreinlega upp.
December 27, 2013
I actually think this was a very good thriller until the very end. Then I felt the biggest anti-climax, the ending did not suit me at all. I didn't think it went well together with the rest of the book or the main character, it just felt...wrong. Which lowers the grade since it left like a bad taste in my mouth.
March 28, 2025
A thriller, with a bite. I enjoyed this - came to it with no expectations, and was pleasantly surprised. The subject matter is difficult (displaced immigrants / modern slavery), but the novel itself was well written and interesting. The translation from the Swedish was good, and there were no awkward tones to the English.
Blurb:
Tarifa, Spain. A man's body washes up on the beach. No-one seems to care.
Patrick Cornwall is a highly acclaimed investigative journalist. His latest project: to uncover the plight of migrants trying to start new lives in Europe, and expose the corruption that runs to the highest levels of society.
Patrick's wife, Ally, is used to Patrick being out of contact. But she's just discovered she's pregnant, and she must track him down. Unable to reach him and starting to worry, she flies across the ocean to get answers.
Still unable to find him, Ally delves into the secrets Patrick was determined to expose, and is drawn into an ever-deadlier web. Because in the dark underbelly of Europe, where lives are cheap, the perpetrators will stop at nothing to keep their sins hidden and their victims forgotten...
So, this is an interesting novel - it conveys nicely the sense of helplessness when you don't know what's happened, is happening, but Ally is a superstar when it comes to finding out the truth. OK, some of it might be a bit unrealistic, but it's a very good read, and the underlying theme of the cost of slavery is enlightening. Covering the world from the United States to Spain and everywhere else in between, this gives a global scale to the issue of modern slavery. Fascinating, and a cracking thriller to boot.
Blurb:
Tarifa, Spain. A man's body washes up on the beach. No-one seems to care.
Patrick Cornwall is a highly acclaimed investigative journalist. His latest project: to uncover the plight of migrants trying to start new lives in Europe, and expose the corruption that runs to the highest levels of society.
Patrick's wife, Ally, is used to Patrick being out of contact. But she's just discovered she's pregnant, and she must track him down. Unable to reach him and starting to worry, she flies across the ocean to get answers.
Still unable to find him, Ally delves into the secrets Patrick was determined to expose, and is drawn into an ever-deadlier web. Because in the dark underbelly of Europe, where lives are cheap, the perpetrators will stop at nothing to keep their sins hidden and their victims forgotten...
So, this is an interesting novel - it conveys nicely the sense of helplessness when you don't know what's happened, is happening, but Ally is a superstar when it comes to finding out the truth. OK, some of it might be a bit unrealistic, but it's a very good read, and the underlying theme of the cost of slavery is enlightening. Covering the world from the United States to Spain and everywhere else in between, this gives a global scale to the issue of modern slavery. Fascinating, and a cracking thriller to boot.
August 10, 2019
Φοβερή ιστορία. Κυριολεκτικά. Το θέμα της σύγχρονης δουλείας. Ανατριχιαστικό να καταπιάνεσαι με αυτό και να εκτυλίσσεις μια περιπέτεια σαν αυτή της Άλι. Η Άλι είναι μια θεατρική σκηνογράφος της Νέας Υόρκης που θα τα παρατήσει όλα - κι ενώ μόλις έχει μάθει ότι είναι έγκυος - για να βρεθεί σε Γαλλία, Ισπανία και Πορτογαλία πρθκειμένου να βρει τα ίχνη του εξαφανισμένου της συζύγου Πάτρικ, δημοσιογράφου... Την Άλι την αγαπάς, όπως αγαπάς και τον Πάτρικ και τη σχέση τους. Αυτό το καταφέρνει η συγγραφέας με το εξαιρετικό της ταλέντο γραφής και τη καταιγιστική διήγηση...
April 15, 2024
Spänningsroman, som behagligt nog inte följer nåhon polis, utan frun till en journalist som försvunnit ute på uppdrag. Det gör måhända hennes "skills" på området lite svåra att tro på, men ger en större mänsklig dimension. Människohandel och rasism handlar det om, och det uppskattas också från denna läsare, att det samhällskritiska ämnet får en större plats än spänningen. Dock är det verkligen en spänningsroman, en deckare, och det är som det är: inte min kopp te.
Välskriven, noterade flera metaforer för framför allt Alenas saknad, som var mycket poetiska (och namnet - ensam, också betydelsebärande).
Läst för jobbet, skrivarlinjen har Alsterdal på författarbesök 27 april, och jag har läst alla i Ådalen-serien så jag ville bekanta mig med hennes författarskap från start.
Välskriven, noterade flera metaforer för framför allt Alenas saknad, som var mycket poetiska (och namnet - ensam, också betydelsebärande).
Läst för jobbet, skrivarlinjen har Alsterdal på författarbesök 27 april, och jag har läst alla i Ådalen-serien så jag ville bekanta mig med hennes författarskap från start.
June 30, 2019
Lyssnat på ljudboken (första tredjedelen med Lo Kauppi, resten med Gunilla Leining i en nyinläsning). Ingen deckare utan mer än thriller. Först blev jag förvånad att den inte utspelar sig i Sverige mer än i periferin, det gör att den känns mer som en översatt amerikansk roman. Bra skrivet, spännande och överraskande på flera sätt, men kombinationen av konspirationer tillsammans med flera välmenande föreläsande partier gör att du får den bestämda känslan av det här inte kommer att sluta väl (precis som den verklighet som journalisten i boken skriver om). Ändå är slutet nästan Hollywood-artat ...
September 25, 2023
Η γραφή της Alsterdal σε αυτό το βιβλίο είναι πολύ δυνατή. Η αφήγηση σε πρώτο πρόσωπο σε οδηγεί στο μυαλό, τις σκέψεις και τα συναισθήματα της ηρωίδας και σε παρασύρει στην περιπέτεια που βιώνει, καθώς αναζητά τον σύζυγό της.
Οι πληροφορίες σχετικά με το φαινόμενο της μετανάστευσης υποστηρίζουν τη μυθοπλασία, δίχως υπερβολές και παραπάνω στοιχεία που ενδεχομένως να κούραζαν τον αναγνώστη.
Η εξέλιξη της ιστορίας είναι άκρως συγκινητική και η δεξιοτεχνία της συγγραφέως να συνδέσει τις ιστορίες των 3 γυναικών με έκαναν να ξεχωρίσω το βιβλίο και να το συγκαταλέξω στα αγαπημένα μου.
Οι πληροφορίες σχετικά με το φαινόμενο της μετανάστευσης υποστηρίζουν τη μυθοπλασία, δίχως υπερβολές και παραπάνω στοιχεία που ενδεχομένως να κούραζαν τον αναγνώστη.
Η εξέλιξη της ιστορίας είναι άκρως συγκινητική και η δεξιοτεχνία της συγγραφέως να συνδέσει τις ιστορίες των 3 γυναικών με έκαναν να ξεχωρίσω το βιβλίο και να το συγκαταλέξω στα αγαπημένα μου.
May 28, 2025
Så spännande och man vill hela tiden veta; få svar. Älskade upplösningen och den sista scenen i boken är så klockren.
Read
May 26, 2018Spännande och bra deckare skriven om människohandel och slaveri av flyktingar som vill in i Europa. För en gångs skull en deckare som håller ända in till sista sidan!
May 23, 2020
Ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία πολύ σύγχρονη... Σε πολλά σημεία είναι απλοϊκή και στο τέλος είναι σχεδόν παιδική.... Καλός ρυθμος μέτρια η βασική ηρωίδα και σε σημεία χάνεις τη σύνδεση της ιστορίας... Γενικά ένα αστυνομικό χωρίς πολλές απαιτήσεις
December 24, 2014
Den här boken har stått och väntat på att bli läst i 2,5 år och lustigt nog så gick Tove Alsterdal och vann pris för årets bästa svenska deckare (för en annan bok dock) bara en vecka innan jag började läsa denna. Det gjorde ju att jag blev än mer nyfiken och började läsningen med gott hopp. Läs mer på http://bokslut.blogspot.se/2014/12/kv...
March 1, 2015
Wasn't sure if I should give this 3 or 4 stars, think I'm putting 4 because it's so different from a lot of other nordic crime thrillers. It's main character is not a grumpy middle aged detective (with a lot of personal problems) in Sweden or Denmark. That in itself makes it stand out. It was also exciting. Not a fantastic book but good for what it is.
June 16, 2015
En helt okej bok om en kvinnas förtvivlade sökande efter sin man. Han var frilans journalist och försvann under ett uppdrag för att avslöja modernt slavarbete baserat på illegala invandrare. Bättre än förväntat på många sätt och med ett oförutsägbart slut. Intressant och läsvärt, om än inte fantastiskt.
June 22, 2015
Recension på bloggen: http://elilaserochskriver.se/svart-va...
July 28, 2022
3.5 Stars
I recently read We Know You Remember by this Swedish author and I quite enjoyed it (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...)
so decided to read The Forgotten Dead, a standalone novel she wrote a few years ago.
Patrick Cornwall, a freelance investigative journalist, goes missing while working on a story in Paris. His wife Ally flies to Europe to find him after she has not heard from him in a while. She learns that he has been investigating illegal migrants being used for slave labour. As Ally retraces her husband’s movements, she realizes that he has learned that people at the highest levels of government and society are involved in human trafficking and exploitation and that they will do anything to protect their interests. Interspersed with Ally’s search for Patrick are sections set in Tarifa, Spain, where a Swedish tourist discovers the body of a black man presumed to be an African migrant.
What most interested me is the author’s tackling of an important social issue: “The figure 30 million was an estimate of the number of slaves in the world today . . . compared . . . to the 12 million slaves transported across the Atlantic – and that was over a period of 300 years.” “There were more slaves in the world than ever, in spite of the fact that all nations had passed laws to ban slave labour. Actually, the price had never been as low as it was now, just $90 on average. It was even possible to get a good slave from Mali for only $40. . . . In the 1880s, during the transatlantic slave trade to America, a slave cost $1,000. In today’s currency, that was equal to $38,000, which meant that now 4,000 slaves could be bought for the price of only one back then.”
I had some issues with the plot. Ally discovers the nature of Patrick’s investigation and easily identifies the main villains, though she is a set designer, not a detective or investigative journalist. Ally’s language comprehension is confusing: she claims not to understand much French and when she tries to “conjure up some words in French,” she can’t. But then her knowledge of French “resurfaced like a repressed memory”? She can speak Spanish but not read it? I also take exception to the ending which would be more appropriate in an action movie.
I preferred Alsterdal’s police procedural to this standalone, though the latter has motivated me to research further into the plight of migrants in Europe.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
I recently read We Know You Remember by this Swedish author and I quite enjoyed it (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...)
so decided to read The Forgotten Dead, a standalone novel she wrote a few years ago.
Patrick Cornwall, a freelance investigative journalist, goes missing while working on a story in Paris. His wife Ally flies to Europe to find him after she has not heard from him in a while. She learns that he has been investigating illegal migrants being used for slave labour. As Ally retraces her husband’s movements, she realizes that he has learned that people at the highest levels of government and society are involved in human trafficking and exploitation and that they will do anything to protect their interests. Interspersed with Ally’s search for Patrick are sections set in Tarifa, Spain, where a Swedish tourist discovers the body of a black man presumed to be an African migrant.
What most interested me is the author’s tackling of an important social issue: “The figure 30 million was an estimate of the number of slaves in the world today . . . compared . . . to the 12 million slaves transported across the Atlantic – and that was over a period of 300 years.” “There were more slaves in the world than ever, in spite of the fact that all nations had passed laws to ban slave labour. Actually, the price had never been as low as it was now, just $90 on average. It was even possible to get a good slave from Mali for only $40. . . . In the 1880s, during the transatlantic slave trade to America, a slave cost $1,000. In today’s currency, that was equal to $38,000, which meant that now 4,000 slaves could be bought for the price of only one back then.”
I had some issues with the plot. Ally discovers the nature of Patrick’s investigation and easily identifies the main villains, though she is a set designer, not a detective or investigative journalist. Ally’s language comprehension is confusing: she claims not to understand much French and when she tries to “conjure up some words in French,” she can’t. But then her knowledge of French “resurfaced like a repressed memory”? She can speak Spanish but not read it? I also take exception to the ending which would be more appropriate in an action movie.
I preferred Alsterdal’s police procedural to this standalone, though the latter has motivated me to research further into the plight of migrants in Europe.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
November 8, 2017
A quite interesting although somewhat disturbing book about people trafficking in Europe. Tove Alsterdal has written a captivating story that opens our eyes as to what is happening in the world of people smuggling. Patrick Cornwall an American journalist is determined to win the big prize in the world of journalism. He takes himself off to Europe to explore the plight of illegal immigrants who are trying to escape from Africa to countries like Spain and Portugal. His persistence in trying to expose the people behind the trafficking puts his life in extreme danger. When he doesn't contact his wife Ally for over a week, she is concerned for his welfare especially as his last phone call was rather rushed as he told her he had to dash off to a fire.
After receiving a parcel from Patrick which he asks her to keep hidden, Ally is determined to find him as she has just discovered she is pregnant and wants to share the news with him. Her journey takes her to Paris, Spain and Lisbon and Ally finds herself uncovering the ring leaders and the truth behind the people trafficking. Despite the danger she puts herself and her unborn baby in, Ally is determined to find out the whereabouts of her husband.
This thriller is a real eye opener. Tinged with disbelief and sadness but one which will give the reader a greater understanding of the corruption going on in the people trafficking world.
After receiving a parcel from Patrick which he asks her to keep hidden, Ally is determined to find him as she has just discovered she is pregnant and wants to share the news with him. Her journey takes her to Paris, Spain and Lisbon and Ally finds herself uncovering the ring leaders and the truth behind the people trafficking. Despite the danger she puts herself and her unborn baby in, Ally is determined to find out the whereabouts of her husband.
This thriller is a real eye opener. Tinged with disbelief and sadness but one which will give the reader a greater understanding of the corruption going on in the people trafficking world.
November 12, 2022
תרז ואלנר, תיירת שוודית בת עשרים מתעוררת על החוף בספרד. כספה, דרכונה ונעליה נעלמו ותוך שיטוט חסרת אונים היא נתקלת מבועתת בגופת גבר שחור.
מארי קווארה חומקת מסירת דייגים לחוף בחסות האפלה.
אלנה קורנוול (המספרת בגוף ראשון), רעייתו ההרה של העיתונאי החוקר האמריקאי פטריק קורנוול המתגוררת ועובדת בניו יורק מקבלת בדואר מעטפה עבה ששלח לה מפריז. תוכן המעטפה, כשלונה ליצור קשר עימו וכספים שנעלמו מחשבונם מדרבנים אותה לטוס לאירופה לאתר אותו.
פטריק חוקר את הנושא הקשה של סחר בבני אדם, עבדות מודרנית. מהגרים לא חוקיים ומסתננים מוברחים מאפריקה לאירופה בתקווה לחיים טובים יותר כשמאחורי הקלעים פועלים בעלי אינטרסים רבי כוח, חסרי מצפון ומעצורים שהדבר היחיד שמעניין אותם הוא כסף. האפריקנים המשלמים ממון רב למבריחים מגיעים ליבשת בסירות עמוסות פליטים וחלקם טובעים בדרך. הם מוצאים עצמם נידונים לעבודה קשה, זנות וחיים בדירות צפופות. תעשייה משגשגת ורווחית של דרכונים גנובים ומזוייפים.
אלנה מגיעה לבניין דירות בפריז המאוכלס מהגרים לא חוקיים שעלה באש וכעשרים איש ניספו. בחיפושיה אחר האמת גם מחוץ לגבולות צרפת נחושה למצוא את בעלה מתבררים לה בהדרגה מימדי התופעה. היא נפגשת עם מי שמנסים להילחם בסחר בבני אדם ואחרים המעבירים לה איום גלוי או מרומז אך חד משמעי- לטובתך, תפסיקי לחטט ותחזרי הביתה.
סיפוריהן של השלוש משתלבים.
הספר מעביר את הנושא בצד סיפור תלאותיה של אלנה שהוא הדומיננטי בין שלושתן. לא התחברתי כל כך לסגנונו. גם בהתעלם משגיאות הגהה ('משגך כאבים', 'יונים מקוננות') הוא משמים לעתים, מאריך בפרטים טפלים כמו התיק שאלנה רכשה חצי שנה קודם ליד 'גראונד זירו'. דמויות רבות מדי ופירוט מיותר פוגמים.
מארי קווארה חומקת מסירת דייגים לחוף בחסות האפלה.
אלנה קורנוול (המספרת בגוף ראשון), רעייתו ההרה של העיתונאי החוקר האמריקאי פטריק קורנוול המתגוררת ועובדת בניו יורק מקבלת בדואר מעטפה עבה ששלח לה מפריז. תוכן המעטפה, כשלונה ליצור קשר עימו וכספים שנעלמו מחשבונם מדרבנים אותה לטוס לאירופה לאתר אותו.
פטריק חוקר את הנושא הקשה של סחר בבני אדם, עבדות מודרנית. מהגרים לא חוקיים ומסתננים מוברחים מאפריקה לאירופה בתקווה לחיים טובים יותר כשמאחורי הקלעים פועלים בעלי אינטרסים רבי כוח, חסרי מצפון ומעצורים שהדבר היחיד שמעניין אותם הוא כסף. האפריקנים המשלמים ממון רב למבריחים מגיעים ליבשת בסירות עמוסות פליטים וחלקם טובעים בדרך. הם מוצאים עצמם נידונים לעבודה קשה, זנות וחיים בדירות צפופות. תעשייה משגשגת ורווחית של דרכונים גנובים ומזוייפים.
אלנה מגיעה לבניין דירות בפריז המאוכלס מהגרים לא חוקיים שעלה באש וכעשרים איש ניספו. בחיפושיה אחר האמת גם מחוץ לגבולות צרפת נחושה למצוא את בעלה מתבררים לה בהדרגה מימדי התופעה. היא נפגשת עם מי שמנסים להילחם בסחר בבני אדם ואחרים המעבירים לה איום גלוי או מרומז אך חד משמעי- לטובתך, תפסיקי לחטט ותחזרי הביתה.
סיפוריהן של השלוש משתלבים.
הספר מעביר את הנושא בצד סיפור תלאותיה של אלנה שהוא הדומיננטי בין שלושתן. לא התחברתי כל כך לסגנונו. גם בהתעלם משגיאות הגהה ('משגך כאבים', 'יונים מקוננות') הוא משמים לעתים, מאריך בפרטים טפלים כמו התיק שאלנה רכשה חצי שנה קודם ליד 'גראונד זירו'. דמויות רבות מדי ופירוט מיותר פוגמים.
April 20, 2018
Tänk att jag var nära att missa den här boken, för att jag inte tyckte om omslaget. Du vet väl att jag alltid utgår från omslaget för att fångas av en bok, jag läser aldrig baksidestexten. Har ett omslag fångat mig, då läser/lyssnar jag på boken.
Den här boken har legat länge i min "bokhylla" på Storytel, jag har hoppat över den varje gång, på grund av det, i mitt tycke, tråkiga omslaget. Jag hade inte ens sett att det var en hand på omslaget. Men när jag började lyssna på boken insåg jag att det inte var några små stenar som jag först hade trott...
Redan med första raden har författaren gripit tag i mig och håller mig fången. En bit in i boken tappar jag dock intresset, men författaren griper snabbt tag i mig igen och jag sträcklyssnar på boken. Tur att det har varit mycket bilkörning och det har blivit extra långa promenader.
Nu har jag hittat en ny författare och har laddat ner samtliga böcker Tove Alsterdal har skrivit. Ser fram emot att lyssna på dem också.
Det här är berättelsen om tre kvinnor, vars trådar knyts ihop. Men framför allt är det berättelsen om Allys man Patrik Cornwall, en känd frilandsjournalist som försvinner. En riktigt otäck, skrämmande bok, utan att innehålla alltför mycket våld. Bara tanken på vad som skulle kunna hända håller mig i ett gastkramande grepp. Läs boken! Lyssna på den! Helt fantastisk!
Den här boken har legat länge i min "bokhylla" på Storytel, jag har hoppat över den varje gång, på grund av det, i mitt tycke, tråkiga omslaget. Jag hade inte ens sett att det var en hand på omslaget. Men när jag började lyssna på boken insåg jag att det inte var några små stenar som jag först hade trott...
Redan med första raden har författaren gripit tag i mig och håller mig fången. En bit in i boken tappar jag dock intresset, men författaren griper snabbt tag i mig igen och jag sträcklyssnar på boken. Tur att det har varit mycket bilkörning och det har blivit extra långa promenader.
Nu har jag hittat en ny författare och har laddat ner samtliga böcker Tove Alsterdal har skrivit. Ser fram emot att lyssna på dem också.
Det här är berättelsen om tre kvinnor, vars trådar knyts ihop. Men framför allt är det berättelsen om Allys man Patrik Cornwall, en känd frilandsjournalist som försvinner. En riktigt otäck, skrämmande bok, utan att innehålla alltför mycket våld. Bara tanken på vad som skulle kunna hända håller mig i ett gastkramande grepp. Läs boken! Lyssna på den! Helt fantastisk!
March 8, 2024
Nota bene : pour moi trois étoiles, c’est mon meilleur attribution pour mes préférés des romans policiers, mystères, thriller. Je réserve les quatre et cinq étoiles pour les meilleurs exemples de la littérature sérieuse.
Fan des romans noirs de scandanavie , j’ai beaucoup aimé la première traduction anglaise des romans de Tove Alsterdal, “We Know You Remember,” et cherchait en vain d’autres en anglais. Faute de les trouver, j’ai acheté les antécédants publiés en français. Son début (en anglais “The Forgotten Dead”) mais pas encore traduit en anglais, était disponible comme “Femmes Sur la Plage” en français.
C’est un tour de force, bien imaginé comme une histoire de trois femmes. La protagoniste, c’est une femme qui recherche ce qui est devenu de son mari apparemment disparu en train de poursuivre une tâche journalistique en France. La seconde, une jeune scandinave en vacances avec son père, qui a vu de toute évidence quelque chose étrange et troublante a la côte sud en Espagne, mais qui était ivre et récupérante d’une aventure d’un soir et ne voulait rien dire. La troisième, une survivante d’un transport de cauchemar de l’Afrique Nord à la côte sud de l’Espagne, qui aussi ne voulait rien dire de ce qu’elle avait subi.
Fan des romans noirs de scandanavie , j’ai beaucoup aimé la première traduction anglaise des romans de Tove Alsterdal, “We Know You Remember,” et cherchait en vain d’autres en anglais. Faute de les trouver, j’ai acheté les antécédants publiés en français. Son début (en anglais “The Forgotten Dead”) mais pas encore traduit en anglais, était disponible comme “Femmes Sur la Plage” en français.
C’est un tour de force, bien imaginé comme une histoire de trois femmes. La protagoniste, c’est une femme qui recherche ce qui est devenu de son mari apparemment disparu en train de poursuivre une tâche journalistique en France. La seconde, une jeune scandinave en vacances avec son père, qui a vu de toute évidence quelque chose étrange et troublante a la côte sud en Espagne, mais qui était ivre et récupérante d’une aventure d’un soir et ne voulait rien dire. La troisième, une survivante d’un transport de cauchemar de l’Afrique Nord à la côte sud de l’Espagne, qui aussi ne voulait rien dire de ce qu’elle avait subi.
August 16, 2017
Εντελώς κινηματογραφικό, κάλλιστα θα μπορούσε να γίνει ταινία. Ευκολοδιάβαστο, οι σελίδες γυρνούν γρήγορα, αλλά το πιο σημαντικό είναι ότι ταυτόχρονα περιέχει πληροφορίες για το εμπόριο ανθρώπων, τη σύγχρονη δουλεία με τρόπο που δεν κουράζει καθόλου μα καθόλου. Συμπαθητική η κεντρική φιγούρα και χωρίς να ταλανίζεται από ψυχολογικά προβλήματα και χωρίς να είναι ντεντέκτιβ. Η πλοκή είναι ενδιαφέρουσα, κάποιες υπερβολές βέβεια δεν λείπουν, αλλά ας μην ξεχνάμε ότι πρόκειται για ψυχαγωγική μυθοπλασία. Το μόνο σημείο που κάνει μια ελαφριά κοιλίτσα είναι αρκετά μετά τη μέση του βιβλίου αλλά για πολύ λίγο, για καμιά 50άρα σελίδες. Από κει κι έπειτα ξαναβρίσκει το ρυθμό του και απλώς "καταπίνεται" από τον αναγνώστη, για να μην πω "καταβροχθίζεται". Ο τρόπος με τον οποίο εξελίσσονται τα πράγματα για τον Πάτρικ ίσως πολλούς να τους απογοητεύσει αλλά είναι το πιο ρεαλιστικό σενάριο. Η σκληρότητα του θέματος δεν επιτρέπει κάτι άλλο.
July 20, 2018
This book is my rare experience with an English translation of the original novel in Swedish. I purchased the book online last week and finished the book in two days after receiving the book. I found myself haunted, even scared. The dark side of the American Dream, the dark side of the glamorous Paris, the blindness for truth from media when we need them the most.. The ending shocked. So brutal, but acceptable. I highly recommend this novel for any reader who has a favor for policy and current situations of the illegal African immigrants when they are dying in Europe nursing their hopeless dream of living a life so different, so beautiful that they only can see in tv. Justice has its time, and to get this time, we have to pay a terrified price.
The author is a journalist so I strongly believe in the news providing and attaining procedure that was detailed and clear in the book.
I love the book, its setting and the main character. A woman I now hold a lot of respect for.
Wonder if there any more book from this author translated into English is coming?
The author is a journalist so I strongly believe in the news providing and attaining procedure that was detailed and clear in the book.
I love the book, its setting and the main character. A woman I now hold a lot of respect for.
Wonder if there any more book from this author translated into English is coming?
November 13, 2018
Emotional and realistic. I really liked and identified with the main character and her reasons for doing all that she did. There were a couple of side plots running that I didn't really understand what they were there for, but they both tied in in a really cool understated way that was very impactful to the story. I think the topics covered are very relevant to the world today and it wouldn't surprise me if this was at least partially based on true events. The only plot point that I did not care for was the main character suddenly being able/not being able to understand/speak/read other languages. At one point, she states very explicitly that she does not know any French, but later on she is able to perfectly understand others speaking the language, and then again towards the end she cannot speak or understand it at all. This happens with multiple languages and just seems bizarre to me.
April 7, 2022
I just didn’t buy the storyline in this book. Some parts are well written, others, like the ending, feels about as realistic as any action movie with Bruce Willis in it. I didn’t care for the rape scene, I get that it’s meant to serve the purpose to motivate Alena to get angry enough to commit murder, but it’s poorly written and I think the book would have been better without it. I listened to this book in Swedish and if I hadn’t known that the writer is Swedish I’d think the book was in English originally and translated to Swedish due to the main characters being Americans. To sum it up: the book was interesting enough that I kept listening but had a fair few things in it that annoyed me along the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
Það eru atburðir í þessari bók sem setja hana á svolítið annan stað en ýmsar aðrar glæpasögur en ég get svo sem ekki farið mjög náið út í það án þess að kjafta of mikið frá. Ég get þó nefnt að langflestar glæpasögur snúast um lögreglumenn, lögfræðinga, blaðamenn eða einkaspæjara en sjaldnast er það maki sem reynir að leysa gátuna, þótt það sé auðvitað ekki óþekkt. Það eitt setur bókina á svolítið annan stað. Mér fannst líka ágætt að höfundur passaði sig á að gera aðalpersónuna ekki að neinum snillingi þó svo hún hafi greinilega gott hugmyndaflug og ágæta ályktunargáfu. Sennilega mætti því segja að henni takist betur til en okkur flestum myndi takast (held ég) án þess að það verði óraunverulegt. Hressandi tilbreyting og ég get vel hugsað mér að lesa meira eftir þennan höfund.
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