L'uomo della sabbia

Joona Linna #4

by Lars Kepler, Carmen Giorgetti Cima (Translator)

Nel cuore di una notte d’inverno in cui la neve ricopre interamente Stoccolma, un ragazzo cammina lungo i binari di un ponte ferroviario sospeso sul ghiaccio, in direzione del centro. Perde sangue da una mano ed è in gravissimo stato di shock: nel suo delirio febbricitante, parla di un misterioso uomo della sabbia. Il ragazzo si chiama Mikael e risulta scomparso da dodici anni. Da sette è stato ufficialmente dichiarato morto.
All’epoca dei fatti, dopo lunghe ricerche, tutti hanno preferito credere che Mikael fosse annegato insieme alla sorellina, Felicia, scomparsa lo stesso giorno, sebbene i corpi non siano mai stati trovati. Tutti tranne il commissario Joona Linna. Lui ha sempre saputo che i due fratelli sono tra le numerose vittime del più spietato serial killer svedese, Jurek Walter, l’uomo che lui stesso ha catturato anni prima. Da allora Jurek Walter è detenuto in regime di isolamento nell’unità di massima sicurezza dell’ospedale psichiatrico Löwenströmska. Non può parlare con nessuno ed è costantemente sedato, ma niente riesce a domarlo. Il male che abita in lui è animato da una furia incontrollabile. Con il ritorno di Mikael, però, tutto cambia. Nessun caso può considerarsi chiuso. E Felicia potrebbe essere ancora viva...
L’unico a sapere la verità è Walter, l’unico uomo forse in grado di essere più pericoloso dietro le sbarre che da libero. Qualcuno deve introdursi nell’ospedale e conquistarsi la fiducia del serial killer, sperando di indurlo a parlare. E, soprattutto, sperando di sopravvivergli...

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Nordic Noir

528 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Lars Kepler is the pseudonym of critically acclaimed husband and wife team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril, authors of the No. 1 internationally bestselling Joona Linna series. With seven installments to date, the series has sold 13 million copies in 40 languages. The Ahndorils were both established writers before they adopted the pen name Lars Kepler, and have each published several acclaimed novels.

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unless you've been living in a bunker for the past few months, you've likely seen the hype surrounding Lars Kepler's novel The Sandman. While this is technically the fourth book in the Joona Linna series, it's easily read as a standalone, and if you are going to break out of order I can't think of a better one to do so with than this. The novel was released while I was in the middle of a major reading slump, so I was nervous to pick it up in the midst of my disappointment of many 2018 hyped books, which is why I waited so long to pick this up. I've also become EXTREMELY weary of the majorly marketed novels of late; it seems my expectations are never in the right place and I always end up feeling underwhelmed, but that was not the case here. While my expectations were high, there was not even the tiniest tinge of disappointment upon finishing this one-yes, it's THAT good.

"Mikael stands up in the darkness when the Sandman blows his terrible dust into the room. He's learned that there's no point holding your breath; when the Sandman wants the children to sleep, they fall asleep."

This book was terrifying. I know what you're thinking about, how I read dark fiction almost exclusively, but out of all the gory, violent, and disturbing things I've read, this one is very near the top. There are some violent scenes, and those primarily take place in the portions where Saga Bauer (seriously, coolest name and character ever???) is undercover in the high security psychiatric ward, but the descriptions of what some of the victims have gone through are what really unnerves the reader. As a parent, this novel brought all my worst fears to the forefront of my mind and forced me to deal with thoughts I've never allowed myself to entertain. The fact that the author duo paints such a realistic picture made it all the more horrifying.

If you've read anything in the scandi noir genre, you realize what sets the good ones apart from the less desirables are the characters. This is a tough genre to succeed in, as the writer has to develop just the right amount of atmosphere, characterization, and plot, usually pertaining to a criminal case of sorts. If the writer focuses too heavily on the atmosphere, it can seem too slow for the reader to maintain momentum. Too much plot and the reader doesn't feel connected to the characters, resulting in a lack of continuing the series. I think husband and wife duo Lars Kepler have found that perfect balance, and mainly because they have rotated around some reoccurring characters to not only keep things fresh, but also to give us a chance to focus on one or two characters a bit more in each book. I also appreciate that, while past plot devices are referenced in this book, there are no outright spoilers to keep me from reading the previous novels, which also heightened my interest in reading all things Joona Linna as quickly as I can.

The plot was incredibly fast paced, which I found unique and surprising for crime fiction set in Sweden. This was a pleasant surprise, and I could not believe my luck in picking up a novel of almost 500 pages that I read in less than 48 hours. The chapters are short, brief snippets that make it impossible to stop turning the pages. Just one more chapter, then I'll stop... Right? Riiight. I also adored that we receive multiple POV's that give us different scenes, but also different views from the same scene. This was done without feeling repetitive and only ramped up the compulsive nature of the story. The suspense was purely taut tension; it began immediately and I found myself holding my breath more than once while waiting for the other shoe to drop. Everything about this novel was perfection, and I can't emphasize enough how thoroughly I enjoyed every aspect of this story!

If you're not a fan of unsettling stories on multiple levels, this one won't be for you and I would suggest a hard pass. If you do, however, enjoy gritty, dark, hard-boiled crime fiction, this is a must read. Seriously, clear your reading schedule and move this to the forefront, because it's worthy of cutting in line for. <--- I am a rule follower so it is very rare that I will suggest this. ;) Highly recommended, and I'm really excited to go back to the beginning and read the new and updated translation of The Hypnotist that's being published July 31!

Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to review. I just don’t. All in all The Sandman was freaking awesome! This book must have the shortest chapters EVER. If you follow my reviews, I’m known to comment that short chapters are the best chapters. I’m talking 1-2 pages in a chapter people, like, hell yes!!!

I have not read anything by Lars Kepler but after reading The Sandman I will definitely look into the Joona Linna series. I would like to point out that each book can be read as a standalone. I had no problem at anytime while reading this story!

The Sandman is dark, creepy as hell, and just down right disturbing. So, of course I loved every minute of it! I have this problem, you see... if I can’t finish a book with in a day or two I lose patience. However, The Sandman did not disappoint and it took me 4 days. FOUR days reading the same book?! A miracle!

Joona and his team race around the clock for a girl who has been missing for thirteen years. Her brother was found walking along train tracks and was brought to the hospital. He tells them his name is Mikael Frost... who was declared dead, along with his sister, when they went missing all those years ago. He claims The Sandman is responsible and his sister is still alive. The police have to find her in time.

The ending?!?!?! How are you going to do me like that Lars?!

You need The Sandman in your life! Out March 6th! Highly recommended. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to AA Knopf for sending me a final copy for my honest review.

[Luca Ambrosino · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH (The Sandman) / ITALIANO

«It's late at night, gusts of snow come from the sea. A boy is moving on a high railroad bridge, in the direction of Stockholm. He has a colourless face, like a glass darkly. his jeans are tough, with frozen blood... His name is Mikael Kohler-Frost. He's been missing for 12 years, and he was pronounced dead 7 years ago»

It starts like a self-respecting thriller should start: with a bang! The first time I encountered Lars Kepler's words was undoubtedly nice. It is highly probable that the Nordic location positively affected my judgment. This novel missed something to enter into the inner circle of my favorite thrillers, however it is a good thriller, which gives a wink to the charming creature created by Thomas Harris: Hannibal Lecter.

Vote: 7,5

«E' notte fonda, dal mare arrivano folate di neve. Un ragazzo avanza sopra un alto ponte ferroviario in direzione di Stoccolma. Ha il volto incolore, come vetro appannato. I suoi jeans sono duri di sangue congelato... Il suo nome è Mikael Kohler-Frost. Risulta scomparso da dodici anni e da sette è stato dichiarato morto»

Inizia come un thriller che si rispetti deve iniziare: col botto! Il mio primo approccio con Lars Kepler è indubbiamente positivo. E' probabile che l'ambientazione nordica ha influito in modo favorevole sul mio giudizio. E' mancato qualcosa per entrare di diritto nella cerchia dei miei thriller preferiti di sempre, però rimane certamente un buon thriller, che strizza decisamente l'occhio all'affascinante creatura di Thomas Harris: Hannibal Lecter.

Voto: 7,5

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm starting to think my interest in serial killers and books about them aren't really my thing anymore.

This book was okay. So many characters. Maybe had I read previous books in this series I'd of understood who all these people were. I'll be honest and say I stopped trying to figure out who was who because 1.) I didn't care about anyone and 2.) I just wanted to get to the end with out continually backtracking.

This book started off strong and I was intrigued but by the half way point I nearly gave up. I decided to continue to the end but thought the ending was just ... meh.

People said this book was terrifying. People said this book was creepy. Terrifying? No. Creepy? A couple of scenes are and thank goodness for that or as I said before this was nearly a DNF. Surprisingly the Doctor was creepier to me than the serial killer.

Something about the writing style was off to me but that could be due to the translation.

Well, I can at least say I've read a Lars Kepler book. Will I read more? I'm not so sure but stranger things have happened. 2.5 stars!

[LENA TRAK · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SANDMAN (Joona Linna 4)

Probably the scariest book I've ever read. Dark and twisted as the mind of the Sandman. I looooooved it! I was told The Hypnotist is the best book in Joona Linna series but they were wrong. This is the best one! Can't wait to read the 5th book of the series!

Don't miss this! It's probably one of the best crime novels I've ever read. Scandinavians are truly the masters of psychological thrillers!

[Joey R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 Stars— This is my first Lars Kepler book, but I wanted to read him after I heard he compared favorably to Jo Nesbo. I will say that Kepler knows how to write in a style that keeps the plot moving. The book is told from multiple narrative perspectives and tells the story of a very dangerous and diabolical serial killer named Jurek, who is in custody in a lockdown psychiatric facility after being sentenced for his role in a kidnapping/ torture case. The officers responsible for his capture, Joona and Sam, are threatened by Jurek at his sentencing and told that their families will be killed and they will commit suicide as revenge for their role in his capture. The book takes a while to build its foundation but takes off after one of Jurek’s (or unknown accomplice’s )victims reappears after several years in captivity. The police then craft one of the worst plans in history in an effort to get more information from Jurek about the whereabouts of the victim’s sister — they send an undercover officer into the psychiatric facility to try and pump Jurek for information— the results ... as disastrous as you can imagine. The fast pace and interesting plot cannot overcome the huge problems of credibility found throughout the book. Jurek is an insane, evil killer yet inexplicably chooses not to kill a particular character 2 separate times when everyone else he comes into contact he viciously murders without thinking. Also, Jurek is given superhero-like powers that are so ridiculous it made me think of a b movie Terminator with mind control abilities. And on top of everything else, I am still trying to make sense of the weird ending. I would read Kepler again but he is no Nesbo.

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year, I’ve been revisiting series that I somehow lost track of— the Joona Lina series was a great detective series set in Sweden (I couldn’t read this book out loud if you paid me— this American has no idea what to do with all those consonants! But it seems like a cool — quite literally— place to see). I remember reading the first few books pretty rapidly... and somehow I forgot it.

Fast forward a few years and I was thrilled to reconnect with this series. I jumped right into an excellently written mystery featuring one of the meanest and creepiest bad guys.

Lots of characters, lots of suspense, and lots of violence that usually comes with the territory. Meanwhile the bad guy—aka The Sandman— is playing a very strategic long game.

Great story arc and a hellacious ending. Wait for me Joona, it won’t be years before I visit you and the starkly cold Swedish landscape again!!

(Reviewed 4/23/21)

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kepler has waited until the fourth book to pen what many Joona Linna fans have long waited for; a case that flashes back into his past. Linna stumbled across Jurek Walter one night, standing over a recently opened grave and staring down at a woman. All this is summarised in THE FIRE WITNESS and its closing chapters. When one of Walter's supposed victim's is found wandering along a train track, the hopes that others can be found raises hope. With Walter incarcerated in a psychiatric prison, Linna must find a way to crack open and case and determine who is working with Walter, the accomplish named The Sandman. Linna is already in Walter's crosshairs, so Saga Bauer, of the Security Police, is sent into the prison as an undercover officer, in hopes of helping Linna and the National Police find out where others might be kept. Bauer's time in jail gives her a sadistic and up close look at Walter and his power of persuasion. Even if she is able to slip inside his walled facade, whether she can do so in time is still in question. Eerie and highly suspenseful, Kepler has saved the best for this novel, with an epilogue that will leave readers rushing out to get the next novel in the series.

Kepler's mastering of the Linna character continues. For those who have followed the series to this point, discovering what Linna has sacrificed comes to bear great importance on this novel. Jurek Walter is Linna's ultimate foe and his crimes echo deeply within Linna's soul, even into this novel. Dark and highly precise, the Walter character is pensive and acts in complete dichotomy to Linna's rushing and fast-paced detective inspector role. Fans of the series will love this novel, but newbies should STOP and read from the beginning, as much is revealed in here, creating AHA! moments are would ruin earlier novels, had they not been previously digested.

Kudos, Lars Kepler for this. If only I did not have to wait until July 2015 for the English translation of your next novel.

[MeMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh sandman was so freaking good I highly recommend this book. The SandMAn omg let me start off by saying I have never ever read a book with short chapters I mean one to two pages a chapter. I think that’s the reason I flew through this one my gosh I swear short chapters books is dope. This is one dark creepy book that’s so disturbing. I love disturbing though I am a Forensic Psychology major and disturbing is my cup of tea lol. Basically, when your child goes missing for thirteen years what would you do how far would you go to bring the child home. Even being a detective how far would you go to bring someone home that been missing for thirteen years. Her brother was found walking alone train tracks where he was brought to a hospital saying the sandman is responsible for his sister’s disappearance. Just creepy the sandman is so freaking creepy and the things he does omg. It’s like watching a serious of True Crime. But instead of reading it. Just the place where the stories take place it takes place in a psychiatric institution. Being the first book I read of Lars Kepler I was so anxious to get to the end this book did not disappoint at all. It was everything I expected.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Jurek will do anything he can to escape,” Joona says in a somber voice. “You cannot let that happen. You’re like a sister to me, Saga, but it would be better if you died than if he got out.”

I usually cannot stand to read a book in the middle of a series without reading the prior novels first. However, I made an exception with The Sandman and I'm very happy with my choice. Although this is the fourth in Kepler's series, in the US it is being released first. I decided to go with it after reading reviews that said I'd have no problem. I am pleased to report they were right. The Sandman can be read as a standalone. Good luck, though. Because I now need to read all of Kepler's other novels. I'll be reading The Hypnotist in July.

This book was dark and twisted and quite possibly, dare I say it, fucked up! Damn, is it a great read! There are some scenes that get graphic and violent. I did find myself cringing at times, but that kind of thing doesn't bother me. The chapters are short and keep the plot moving rather quickly. Each chapter something happens to make it impossible not to read the next. Trust me when I say this is a very fast-paced book. There are multiple perspectives giving us extra insight to everything. I think I enjoyed Saga the most!

When Mikael Kohler-Frost is found wandering on a railroad bridge, Inspector Joona Linna is called in. The thing is..Mikael went missing thirteen years earlier with his sister. There were officially declared dead seven years ago. Where has Mikael been all this time?! And where is his sister?

The killer, Jurek Walter, has been locked up in a secure criminal psychology unit at a hospital. But Mikael says his sister is still alive and being held captive by "The Sandman." This was Joona Linna's case. And it's a personal one for him. No one scares him, or anyone, more than Jurek Walter. But they have to send someone in to get answers out of him if they want to find Mikael's sister. The plan is to send in Inspector Saga Bauer undercover as a psychiatric patient, but she'll have to work quickly.

I was glued to the pages. My only complaints involved the couple of loose ends that I'm sure are resolved in the sequel. Oh and at one point, one character was just plain stupid out of nowhere. It's surprising this has two authors with how it reads. I am very excited to read more from the husband/wife writing team known as Lars Kepler.

[james · Rating 5 out of 5]

why is it always nordic authors who write the best thrillers. is it the cold that gets to them. makes them think of those engrossing twisty plots. all the cold does to me is make me depressed.


finally. a thriller that kept me awake past my bedtime. it was disgusting and awful. 4.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow me to introduce you to my first MUST read book of 2018. If you’re a crime fiction fan you absolutely cannot miss this book, it’s extremely fast paced and exciting, the twists and turns are executed flawlessly and the serial killer is one of the most terrifying I’ve ever read about. If you’re at all hesitant please share your concerns with me because I promise you, if you start this one I don’t think you’ll regret it for one second.

This is the fourth book in a series following Joona Linnea but you can definitely read it as a standalone as I did as each book in the series seems to follow new cases with reoccurring characters. Speaking of characters, this book had some of the most complex, interesting characters I’ve ever encountered. They’re all multilayered and have fascinating histories, I fell a little bit in love with Joona and Saga. Jurek scared the daylights out of me, I probably shouldn’t have finished this at one am when my entire family was asleep but no way was I about to put this one down before I finished!

Much of the story takes place inside a high security psychiatric institution, talk about a creepy atmosphere! There were so many intense, heart pounding scenes that took place inside those walls and they were so well written that I was scared myself. Between the extraordinarily crafted setting and the crisp, precise writing style, I just could not get enough of this one. I’ll close by urging you once again not to miss this one, it’s outstanding!

The Sandman in three words: Gripping, Transfixing and Petrifying.

[Ann Marie (Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read this and all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine.

Despite never having read Lars Kepler’s previous novels, I had high hopes for The Sandman. In the end, it simply didn’t live up to my expectations. That’s not say it was all bad but the issues I had, which I hope I can articulate, were pretty weighty ones and really impacted my overall experience with the book.

Perhaps one of the reasons that I was so disappointed is because this book had such potential. I love a good serial killer thriller as much as anyone can. Add a man found wandering in the freezing, snowy Swedish landscape who turns out to be a young boy kidnapped thirteen years ago and I’m hooked! Lars Kepler even takes it to the next level with a fair amount of gore and depravation. The chapters are kept short and sweet. It’s definitely one of those just-one-more chapter books. The characters are straightforward with just the right amount of depth for Nordic Noir.

So where did it all go wrong?

I found there to be a great deal of unrealistic/unbelievable events. Unfortunately, I can’t come up with any direct examples that wouldn’t include spoilers. Some had to do with interactions (or lack thereof) between Jurek Walter and prison staff. Others involved things ranging from improbable coincidences to highly unlikely medical scenarios. I know some or even many of these things wouldn’t bother many readers but I had a difficult time seeing past their cumulative effect .

The most difficulty I had with The Sandman was the ending. Until the ending, I had anticipated rating this book 3.5 to 4 stars. In addition to generally not liking the ending in terms of plot and plausibility, I found that it dragged on. I’m not a fan of books or movies in which your left thinking it’s over three or four times before it’s actually over. Fans of action adventure books and movies, however, may love this ending.

Though I am unlikely to return to the Joona Linna series, most of the book was enjoyable enough that I would consider, while proceeding with caution, reading Lars Kepler again in the future.



**I think it bears mentioning that there’s a fair amount of violence, both physical (what I would call one notch above normal thriller violence) and sexual in this book.**

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Sandman” works scarifyingly well as a stand-alone novel. I wasn't aware it was a series until after, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Detective Inspector Joona Linna an international sensation. Joona is blond and dimpled, with Special Ops training and eyes a granite shade of blue. There’s nothing ghoulish about him except the cases toward which his conscience is always dragging him. Serial killers, broken families and heartbreaking lost or tortured children are among his specialties, and “The Sandman” is an adroitly nerve-racking book full of all those things.

With its tight, staccato chapters and cast of dangerous wraiths lurking everywhere, “The Sandman” is a nonstop fright. It’s able to shift its focus frequently with no loss of tension. It begins about as harmlessly as it can, with a nice new doctor doing his first day’s work at a high-security hospital ward for the criminally insane.

(When you finish the book, take another look at that sentence.) This doctor’s biggest challenge is having to deal with Jurek

Walter, a frail old man who is this story’s version of Hannibal Lecter.
A prominent, hugely suspenseful part of the book involves embedding Saga Bauer, a brave, smart, beautiful cop whose role many actresses would covet, in the same tiny ward where Jurek is housed. She is to risk her life in hopes of finding out what he’s thinking. “You’re like a sister to me, Saga, but it would be better if you died than if he got out,” Joona tells her, and the frankness of that somehow makes the detective more lovable than cruel. He himself has already made huge sacrifices to this case, as we find out. He’s being an honest cop by telling Saga the truth, and she doesn’t flinch at it. She’s his peer when it comes to meeting this challenge.

By this point the book’s greatest tension comes from wondering whether either Joona or Saga is any match for this near-supernatural monster, who can implant thoughts in his victims’ heads or turn up as an apparition just staring into their windows. Scared yet? You will be.

Joona Linna is a character that you want to know as much about as you can.

[Abby • Crime by the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find my top 3 reasons why this book belongs on your 2018 TBR here: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2017/1...

LOVED. THIS. BOOK. Full review to come in 2018 - but the above blog post will give you a great sense of why this book is so darn outstanding!!!

[Luís · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good thriller with a panting rhythm; the chapters are concise, and the writing is dynamic, correctly rendering the icy atmosphere in which the characters evolve.
The story is wholly original. However, the end leaves some shadows.
It's a good reading time!

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is something between a thriller and horror story. I haven’t read the previous books but definitely want to read them all now. This was dark and twisted and I could not tear my eyes away from the pages. 13 years ago two children were kidnapped and the notorious killer assumed to be responsible was found and held in a secure psychiatric facility. Present day one of those children was found emancipated and sick and the only way to find out where his sister is being kept is to try to get Jurek to give up his plans and beat him at his own game. The only one who believed he had a partner the whole time is detective Joona Linna who is determined to finally close this case.

[Natasha Niezgoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

THERE'S A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY FOR THIS BOOK IF YOU WANNA ENTER

MR SANDMAN, BRING ME A DREAM



Well, kids, I did it! I read my first Lars Kepler book. And boiiii did it deliver!

Okay, The Sandman. It’s EFFING sinister - like burying people alive sinister and once you find out why, OOPH GIRL, chills. 😳 Like talk about deep rooted resentment issues. This killer would probably need hourly therapy to get over his shit!



And then the cliffhanger! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!

Oh before I go, the tea here is that it gets a little “emotional” like more “emotional” than I usually peg for a Scandinavian noir crime novel. And by emotional, I mean it borrowed on domestic drama for about 100 pages. Not bad, just wasn’t fitting the whole “serial killer mental patient” vibes. So, alas, I give this 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[Sèra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this a joke? Does the Joona Liana series really ends like this?? HOW CAN YOU END A BOOK SERIES WITH AN OPEN END????

Update: yay on the extra books.

[João Sampaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro que é uma verdadeira caldeirada, repleto de tensão, sombrio, envolto em suspense e aterrador. Uma atmosfera de constante mistério, composto por pequenos capítulos e, cada um dos quais, nos deixa pendurados e compelidos a iniciar o próximo. A tensão não diminui mesmo na última página. Um fim… estranho!
Um thriller sangrento, escrito por Kepler - que na verdade são uma equipa de marido e mulher, Alexandra e Alexander Ahndoril.

Com capítulos curtos, personagens habilmente desenhadas, uma escrita dinâmica e original, em que a ação nos agita.
O protagonista, detetive superintendente Linna é uma personagem forte, severa, mas com princípios e simpática. Uma jovem detetive, Saga Bauer, que é lançada para a toda dos leões para tentar descobrir informações sobre suas vítimas e cúmplices e o principal vilão, Jurek Walter, um perigoso, diabólico e manipulador serial Killer, que se apresenta como uma personagem muito credível.
Os trailers suecos estão em alta!

Encontrei, no entanto, alguns “contratempos”, algumas “inconsistências” no enredo, incompreensíveis, que não me parecem nada características deste casal de autores (já li o livro deles A Vidente).
Um enredo com imenso potencial para 5 estrelas, mas esses “pequenos” detalhes determinaram a downgrade na minha classificação.

[Tracey Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond excited when I won this in a Goodreads giveaway! So, thank you Goodreads and Knopf Publishing.

This book was so creepy good! I mean so fantastically disturbing, spine-chilling, hair raising good! I was white-knuckling the book the whole time.

This is the 4th in the series, but at no time did I feel lost or confused. As soon as I was finished, I started looking to see where I could buy, even though I’m on a book buying band, the others in the series.

And that ending.. Oh My Goodness! WTH! That was the BEST of all endings! Bravo Lars Keplar! And for those who didn’t know, the author Lars Kepler is a pseudonym used by Swedish writer couple Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril.

Highly Recommend!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Now that book was intense! I literally could not put it down (I read all 496 pages in two days)... this one would make a great movie. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next, how were all the disappearances connected, how were people seeing this maniac out and about while he was locked up in the most secure facility in Sweden, were the authorities going to find the victims, where had the boy been kept all these years, was his sister still alive as well? Lots of mysteries in the story and lots of twisty turns and unexpected developments. If you are wanting a thriller/ suspense/ mystery I would highly recommend this one! I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!

[João Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

“O Homem da Areia” é o quarto livro escrito por Lars Kepler, pseudónimo de uma dupla de escritores suecos (marido e mulher) Alexander Ahndoril e Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril (de origem portuguesa, por parte da mãe que nasceu na Cabeça das Mós, uma pequena aldeia situada perto do Sardoal, a cerca de 10 km a norte de Abrantes).
Os dois primeiros livros, “O Hipnotista” (4*) e “O Executor” (3*), eram policiais bem escritos, com uma estrutura narrativa e um suspense de muita qualidade e que se enquadravam na típica história policial oriunda da Escandinávia.
O terceiro livro “A Vidente” (1*) foi uma desilusão, sem nenhum suspense ou emoção; logo nas primeiras páginas era evidente a identidade do assassino, numa escrita desinteressante e previsível, com vários erros de continuidade e inúmeras “impossibilidades”.
Ao iniciar a leitura de “O Homem da Areia”, o quarto livro da série protagonizada pelo comissário Joona Linna, tinha uma enorme expectativa e alguma desconfiança; se a dupla sueca voltaria à qualidade narrativa dos dois primeiros livros ou se iria “assistir” a mais uma penosa história sem brilhantismo ou suspense, idêntica ao terceiro livro “A Vidente”.
E foi uma surpresa total.
A cena e o pressuposto inicial de "O Homem da Areia" é demolidor: o jovem Mikael Kohler-Frost “ressuscita”, é encontrado a vaguear numa ponte ferroviária, sob uma tempestade de neve, num estado hipotérmico, após estar desaparecido há mais de 13 anos, juntamente com a sua irmã, e ser dado como oficialmente morto há 7 anos, pelo seu pai Reidar Frost.
Para o comissário Joona Linna é a reabertura de um processo e de recordações dolorosas, onde a ameaça e a vingança revelam uma crueldade e uma violência sem limites ou constrangimentos moralistas.
“O Homem da Areia” é sem sombra de dúvida o melhor livro de Lars Kepler, dos editados em Portugal, uma história de ficção policial brilhante, fascinante no conteúdo e na complexidade, com uma personagem principal, o inspector Joona Linna que domina a narrativa, enigmática e ambígua; mas, igualmente, com um conjunto inesquecível de personagens secundárias, com destaque para Saga Bauer, uma loira e bonita inspectora da polícia, Anders Ronn, o médico da secção de psiquiatria forense do hospital, Reidar Frost, de sessenta e dois anos, em tempos um escritor de sucesso, agora uma “sombra”, dominada pela angústia do desaparecimento dos seus dois filhos, Mikael e Felicia, e Jurek Walter, um sinistro e superinteligente psicopata, um serial killer, preso numa ala psiquiátrica de um hospital de alta segurança, nos arredores de Estocolmo.
A descrição que Lars Kepler faz das cenas que decorrem quase sempre em cenários sombrios e escuros, as sequências claustrofóbicas no espaço exíguo dos quartos e da sala no hospital psiquiátrico e as que decorrem nas paisagens naturais são verdadeiramente espectaculares, numa palavra, cinematográficas.
“O Homem da Areia” possui um ritmo frenético, com capítulos curtos, 2 ou 3 páginas, muito suspense, com inúmeras tramas e subtramas, de leitura alucinante e com um final completamente em aberto…
“Compreendemos sempre os nossos erros tarde de mais, e alguns deles são tão penosos de encarar que acabamos por não nos suportar a nós próprios.” (Pág. 125)

[Laura/Mystery in Minutes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit https://www.mysteryinminutes.com/revi... to read the complete Mystery in Minutes review!
A breath-holding, heart-stopping thriller, The Sandman is the fourth in the internationally acclaimed Joona Linna series, written by new-to-Mystery in Minutes husband and wife duo "Lars Kepler". With a mysterious and complex plot, iconic and compelling characters, and content that should appeal equally to men and to women, this highly immersive novel can be read as a standalone. 

The Sandman takes place during Swedish winter: a time of blustery snow, subzero wind, water beneath the ice that is dangerously cold, and darkness. Dripping with atmosphere, the story includes a maximum security psychiatric unit, and the potential for all that could go terribly, horribly wrong in that setting. There are also a number of old, spooky, sometimes abandoned and derelict houses, complete with concealed doors and creaky staircases and floorboards, where the power sometimes goes out at the most inopportune times, requiring the use of a flashlight, or candlelight. Is that Joona Linna's shadow on the wall, or is it someone creeping up behind him?

The pace really picks up in the second half of the book, as the reader continues to be confounded by a cunning, manipulative, brutal predator with an M.O. that is like no case that the law-enforcement protagonists - Joona Linna and Saga Bauer - have previously encountered. Make sure to have uninterrupted reading time for the sustained action and suspense of the final 20 percent of this Swedish thriller. You simply will not be able to stop turning the pages!

[Justina Neliubšienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaip džiaugiuosi susipažinusi su Lars Kepler. Tai jau 4 serijos dalis, kuri man žiauriai patiko. Labai įtraukiantis, intriguojantis detektyvas, kai pradedi skaityti sunku atsitraukti nuo knygos. 😉👍

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description: He's Sweden's most prolific serial killer.

Jurek Walter is serving a life sentence. Kept in solitary confinement, he is still considered extremely dangerous by psychiatric staff.

He'll lull you into a sense of calm.

Mikael knows him as “the sandman”. Seven years ago, he was taken from his bed along with his sister. They are both presumed dead.

He has one target left.

When Mikael is discovered on a railway line, close to death, the hunt begins for his sister. To get to the truth, Detective Inspector Joona Linna will need to get closer than ever to the man who stripped him of a family; the man who wants Linna dead.

Opening: It's the middle of the night and snow is blowing in from the sea. A young man is walking across a high railway bridge towards Stockholm. His face is as pale as misted glass. His jeans are stiff with frozen blood.

Princess Stenglasunderlägg Saga Bauer cuts her hair and goes into the evil troll's den to find a long lost young woman.

Over-stretched, baggy and totally implausible on so many levels, yet once you realise those points there is little Reidar Love but a whole lot of eye-scorching, eye-rolling, preposterous OTT gory fun to be had.

Maybe I shall cut my loses and leave this series here.

4* The Hypnotist (Joona Linna, #1)
4* The Nightmare (Joona Linna, #2)
4* The Fire Witness
3* The Sandman (Joona Linna #4)

[Kyriaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Με μαύρους κύκλους από την αϋπνία και δαγκωμένα χείλια από την αγωνία κλείνω αυτό το βιβλίο και αναρωτιέμαι: ΓΙΑΤΙ;; γιατί αυτό το τέλος;; γιατί αυτές οι τελευταίες τέσσερις γραμμές;;

Καταιγιστική δράση από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος, απίθανη πλοκή, και ένας πολύ ανατριχιαστικός ψυχοπαθής δολοφόνος. Τι άλλο να ζητήσει κανείς από ένα αστυνομικό;
Το καλύτερο κατ' εμέ βιβλίο της σειράς μέχρι στιγμής! Ελπίζω μόνο να μην αργήσουν να εκδώσουν το επόμενο στα ελληνικά!

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and wickedly delicious. A must read for any thriller lover!

The synopsis alone drew me in right away. Undercover in a psychiatric ward? Yes please! This book is just flat out fantastic. With multiple perspectives, the authors bring you right into the middle of this fiendish operation. Thirteen years and going strong, somehow Jurek still manages to terrorize his victims and their families. Uff, my beating heart and my soft spot for a truly villainous antagonist.

While the hardcover looks like a monster, do not let the size intimidate you. These are all 2-3 page chapters and it reads FAST. These types of chapters are always a hit for me.. and ingenious. Ok - just a couple more pages... a couple more... a couple more... next thing you know I'm an hour late to my friend's birthday dinner. Oops! 😈

This storyline just sinks its teeth right into you, growls and dares you to try and get away. Addicting and consuming, you will NOT want to put this down. My favorite character? Saga. This woman. BAD ASS. Prodigy or not, going undercover to go face to face with a known serial killer takes a lot of ... well it just takes a lot OF!

This is the fourth book in the Joona Linna series. If you're like me and like to read series books in order, do NOT let this deter you.... it reads like a standalone and you won't feel lost in any way.

I could go on and on about this book but what I'll do instead is just tell you to buy it, borrow it, pick it up. Set aside a few hours and strap yourself in (safety first!). This is a ride you're going to want to be on.

Thank you to Knopf Publicity for this amazing book in return for my honest review.

[Laura Noggle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flew through this delicious page-turning thriller.

A Scandinavian noir by Lars Kepler, who is actually the husband-and-wife team of Alexandra and Alexander Ahndoril. Their method works, and the novel is well rounded, scoring all the points.

Creepy, well drawn characters with interesting back stories help carry the fast-paced plot.

This book literally had me holding my breath, increased my heart rate, and gave me chills. Not all books can physically affect me, this one certainly did.

Grisly, and translated from Swedish, comparisons are bound to be made to Stieg Larsson's Millennium series.

I first saw this book on @CrimeByTheBook's Instagram account - worth a follow if you enjoy crime fiction from around the world.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After around 13 years since his kidnapping a young man is found wandering cold and sick, but his sister is still stuck. Saga Bauer has to go undercover and try to get information from serial killer Jurek Walter to save the sister before it's to late.
This was a reread as I have a little project rereading Lars Keplers books. I didn't think I would enjoy this as much the second time around but geez what a book. Still gets under my skin and get me on the edge of my seat!