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Malin Fors #3
Autumn Killing
Police superintendent Malin Fors returns in this chilling third novel from the critically acclaimed author of Midwinter Blood, the first in the series and “a splendid representative of the Swedish crime novel, in all its elegance and eeriness” (Booklist, starred review).
Autumn rains are pouring down on the Swedish countryside, but it’s the discovery of a brutally stabbed body floating facedown in the moat of Skogså Castle that chills one town to the bone. Jerry Petersson, the castle’s new owner and a notoriously ruthless lawyer and entrepreneur, is now, shall we say, permanently out of business. Meanwhile, Malin Fors, the brilliant but flawed star of the local police force, is already struggling to keep her life together following the recent murder attempt on her teenage daughter, Tove. Now, as the Petersson case forces Malin to delve deep into her town’s history and her own family’s past, the secrets she uncovers threaten to drown her, too.
Autumn rains are pouring down on the Swedish countryside, but it’s the discovery of a brutally stabbed body floating facedown in the moat of Skogså Castle that chills one town to the bone. Jerry Petersson, the castle’s new owner and a notoriously ruthless lawyer and entrepreneur, is now, shall we say, permanently out of business. Meanwhile, Malin Fors, the brilliant but flawed star of the local police force, is already struggling to keep her life together following the recent murder attempt on her teenage daughter, Tove. Now, as the Petersson case forces Malin to delve deep into her town’s history and her own family’s past, the secrets she uncovers threaten to drown her, too.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
50 people are currently reading
1423 people want to read
About the author
Mons Kallentoft
53 books409 followersAfter being awarded the Swedish equivalent to the Whitbread Award for his debut novel Pesetas, Mons Kallentoft chose to give his own unique take on the classic Scandinavian crime novel. His success was immediate. The first book in the series about superintendent Malin Fors received unanimous praise from the national critics; it also conquered the bestseller charts and has today sold more than 300,000 copies in Sweden alone.
Was Mons Kallentoft born to be a storyteller? Yes, perhaps. Because, considering his upbringing, literature was not the obvious path in life. Mons grew up in a working-class home in the provincial town of Linköping, Sweden. Books were a rare phenomenon in his house; instead the young author spent his time playing football and ice hockey.
He discovered literature when he was about fourteen, and bedridden following a severe sports injury. Kafka, Hemingway and George Orwell introduced the young man to a whole new world.
The path to his own authorship led him through the advertising business, journalism and the shady side of Madrid. His debut, Pesetas, which was awarded the Swedish equivalent to the Whitbread Award, takes place among cocaine dealers and bankrobbers in the Spanish capital.
Following another couple of critically acclaimed novels (Marbella Club and Attractive, Healthy & Spontaneous), as well as an well-regarded travelogue/food essay (Food Noir), Mons Kallentoft chose to give his own unique take on the classic Scandinavian crime novel. His success was immediate.
The first book in the series about Superintendent Malin Fors received unanimous praise from the national critics; it also conquered the bestseller charts and has today sold more than 220 000 copies in Sweden alone. The novel recently appeared on the Norwegian bestseller charts and the series about Malin Fors will soon be published by leading publishing houses in nine countries.
Through the series about Malin Fors, Mons Kallentoft re-establishes his connection to his childhood home – a place that the truly cosmopolitan Kallentoft has spent all his life running from. The result is an innovative series of crime novels that are both poignant and packed full of suspense.
Critics and readers agree: Mons Kallentoft was born to tell the story about Malin Fors.
Series:
* Malin Fors
Was Mons Kallentoft born to be a storyteller? Yes, perhaps. Because, considering his upbringing, literature was not the obvious path in life. Mons grew up in a working-class home in the provincial town of Linköping, Sweden. Books were a rare phenomenon in his house; instead the young author spent his time playing football and ice hockey.
He discovered literature when he was about fourteen, and bedridden following a severe sports injury. Kafka, Hemingway and George Orwell introduced the young man to a whole new world.
The path to his own authorship led him through the advertising business, journalism and the shady side of Madrid. His debut, Pesetas, which was awarded the Swedish equivalent to the Whitbread Award, takes place among cocaine dealers and bankrobbers in the Spanish capital.
Following another couple of critically acclaimed novels (Marbella Club and Attractive, Healthy & Spontaneous), as well as an well-regarded travelogue/food essay (Food Noir), Mons Kallentoft chose to give his own unique take on the classic Scandinavian crime novel. His success was immediate.
The first book in the series about Superintendent Malin Fors received unanimous praise from the national critics; it also conquered the bestseller charts and has today sold more than 220 000 copies in Sweden alone. The novel recently appeared on the Norwegian bestseller charts and the series about Malin Fors will soon be published by leading publishing houses in nine countries.
Through the series about Malin Fors, Mons Kallentoft re-establishes his connection to his childhood home – a place that the truly cosmopolitan Kallentoft has spent all his life running from. The result is an innovative series of crime novels that are both poignant and packed full of suspense.
Critics and readers agree: Mons Kallentoft was born to tell the story about Malin Fors.
Series:
* Malin Fors
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
May 1, 2022
Mi-am dat seama cat de zapacita sunt cand am realizat ca desi autorul are cate o carte pentru fiecare anotimp al anului, eu am ales sa citesc "Toamna" in plina primavara. Dar este atat de tipic pentru mine...
Autorul a debutat in 2000 cu romanul "Pesetas" iar urmatoarea carte, "Marbella Club", l-a facut foarte celebru printre prozatorii suedezi. Asa cum am zis, "Toamna" este al 3-lea roman dintr-o serie politista dedicata celor 4 anotimpuri ale anului.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, ne gasim in plina toamna in Linkoping, este ceata peste tot, ploua marunt, pe jos sunt presarate frunze vestede, mirosul de putrefactie si de umezeala cuprinde totul, iar atmosfera e mohorata prevestind ceva rau.
O cunoastem pe Malin Fors, comisar de politie la Departamentul de Criminasitica din Linkoping cu o viata de familie destul de haotica, cu probleme legate de alcool si cu un caz aparte de elucidat. Este vorba despre moartea avocatului Jerry Petersson, proprietarul castelului gotic Skogsa. Acesta este gasit ucis, cu trupul aruncat in santul de aparare din jurul cetatii. Jerry fusese un personaj controversat cu o copilarie traumatizata si care nu a fost indragit de nimeni.
Malin alaturi de echipa ei va trebui sa desluseasca trecutul tumultuos al victimei si sa-si invinga si proprii sai demoni.
Foarte interesant, naratiunea se face la persoana intai de catre victima, iar alaturi de acesta avem si un narator la persoana a 3-a omnisicient. Avem asadar o dubla viziune narativa asupra evenimentelor, ceea ce confera cititorului o mai buna si ampla intelegere a sentimentelor si intamplarilor. Se pare ca nu este primul roman al autorului in care se foloseste aceasta tehnica narativa.
Atmosfera cartii este dark, mohorata, depresiva chiar, foarte potrivita pentru anotimpul ales. Se induce o stare de sfarseala, neputinta, descompunere, tristete si melancolie. Lucru foarte interesant si prea putin intalnit la un roman politist sa aiba atmosfera si caracter deoarece in mod clasic acest gen de roman se concentreaza pe actiune si nu pe descrierea de stari, sentimente etc.
Avem asadar un roman politist interesant despre care am putea spune, daca ne-am concentra pe partea negativa, ca adopta cliseul clasic al cartilor nordice - si anume politistii au o viata personala absolut dezastruoasa si se dedau la tot felul de vicii, insa ne vom concentra mai mult pe partile bune si interesante. Pana la urma cand vezi soarele cam o ora pe zi cum sa nu o iei razna.
In incheiere am selectat mai multe citate despre relatii si dragoste vrednice de retinut:
"Numai ca lucrul de care mi-a fost intotdeauna cel mai frica este singuratatea. Care e mai rea si decat loviturile, si decat bataia de joc. Dar, cu toate acestea, am fost singur aproape toata viata. De parca as fi ramas in mijlocul unui camp gol, in ploaie, asteptand ca fiinta care-mi lipseste sa vina la mine."
"Dragostea trebuie sa fie legata de blandetea celuilalt. Da, asa trebuie sa fie."
"Inutila speranta ca totul se va ameliora odata cu trecerea anilor. Sufletul atacat cu bomfaierul, durerea ascutita, dulcele, dar crudul dispret al iubirii."
"Veniti la mine, tenebre malefice, iesiti din gropile pline de apa si aratati-ne la ce e buna o lume lipsita de dragoste."
"Durerile. Aflasesi tot ce se poate despre durere si ziceai ca nu devii nicidecum mai intelept dupa astfel de lectii."
"Nu poti simti lipsa unui lucru a carei experienta n-o ai."
"Nu cunoasteti regula de aur a relatiilor? Daca te vezi cu cineva de mai mult de 5 ori, risti sa-ti inchipui ca este vorba despre dragoste."
"E cel mai usor sa te complaci in intuneric, spre deosebire de a face fata propriei lumini."
"Cei mai multi dintre barbatii care platesc pentru sex fac parte din aceia care oricum pot avea mai toate femeile pe care le vor. Insa exact barbatii acestia prefera relatii fara obligatii, fara complicatii, fara iubire."
Autorul a debutat in 2000 cu romanul "Pesetas" iar urmatoarea carte, "Marbella Club", l-a facut foarte celebru printre prozatorii suedezi. Asa cum am zis, "Toamna" este al 3-lea roman dintr-o serie politista dedicata celor 4 anotimpuri ale anului.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, ne gasim in plina toamna in Linkoping, este ceata peste tot, ploua marunt, pe jos sunt presarate frunze vestede, mirosul de putrefactie si de umezeala cuprinde totul, iar atmosfera e mohorata prevestind ceva rau.
O cunoastem pe Malin Fors, comisar de politie la Departamentul de Criminasitica din Linkoping cu o viata de familie destul de haotica, cu probleme legate de alcool si cu un caz aparte de elucidat. Este vorba despre moartea avocatului Jerry Petersson, proprietarul castelului gotic Skogsa. Acesta este gasit ucis, cu trupul aruncat in santul de aparare din jurul cetatii. Jerry fusese un personaj controversat cu o copilarie traumatizata si care nu a fost indragit de nimeni.
Malin alaturi de echipa ei va trebui sa desluseasca trecutul tumultuos al victimei si sa-si invinga si proprii sai demoni.
Foarte interesant, naratiunea se face la persoana intai de catre victima, iar alaturi de acesta avem si un narator la persoana a 3-a omnisicient. Avem asadar o dubla viziune narativa asupra evenimentelor, ceea ce confera cititorului o mai buna si ampla intelegere a sentimentelor si intamplarilor. Se pare ca nu este primul roman al autorului in care se foloseste aceasta tehnica narativa.
Atmosfera cartii este dark, mohorata, depresiva chiar, foarte potrivita pentru anotimpul ales. Se induce o stare de sfarseala, neputinta, descompunere, tristete si melancolie. Lucru foarte interesant si prea putin intalnit la un roman politist sa aiba atmosfera si caracter deoarece in mod clasic acest gen de roman se concentreaza pe actiune si nu pe descrierea de stari, sentimente etc.
Avem asadar un roman politist interesant despre care am putea spune, daca ne-am concentra pe partea negativa, ca adopta cliseul clasic al cartilor nordice - si anume politistii au o viata personala absolut dezastruoasa si se dedau la tot felul de vicii, insa ne vom concentra mai mult pe partile bune si interesante. Pana la urma cand vezi soarele cam o ora pe zi cum sa nu o iei razna.
In incheiere am selectat mai multe citate despre relatii si dragoste vrednice de retinut:
"Numai ca lucrul de care mi-a fost intotdeauna cel mai frica este singuratatea. Care e mai rea si decat loviturile, si decat bataia de joc. Dar, cu toate acestea, am fost singur aproape toata viata. De parca as fi ramas in mijlocul unui camp gol, in ploaie, asteptand ca fiinta care-mi lipseste sa vina la mine."
"Dragostea trebuie sa fie legata de blandetea celuilalt. Da, asa trebuie sa fie."
"Inutila speranta ca totul se va ameliora odata cu trecerea anilor. Sufletul atacat cu bomfaierul, durerea ascutita, dulcele, dar crudul dispret al iubirii."
"Veniti la mine, tenebre malefice, iesiti din gropile pline de apa si aratati-ne la ce e buna o lume lipsita de dragoste."
"Durerile. Aflasesi tot ce se poate despre durere si ziceai ca nu devii nicidecum mai intelept dupa astfel de lectii."
"Nu poti simti lipsa unui lucru a carei experienta n-o ai."
"Nu cunoasteti regula de aur a relatiilor? Daca te vezi cu cineva de mai mult de 5 ori, risti sa-ti inchipui ca este vorba despre dragoste."
"E cel mai usor sa te complaci in intuneric, spre deosebire de a face fata propriei lumini."
"Cei mai multi dintre barbatii care platesc pentru sex fac parte din aceia care oricum pot avea mai toate femeile pe care le vor. Insa exact barbatii acestia prefera relatii fara obligatii, fara complicatii, fara iubire."
June 9, 2025
Abused children, by their parents or/and schoolmates.
Three murders, at least two of them coming too late.
Rain, mud, dirty water, cold, rain again and so on.
Half a dozen characters, policemen included, none of them happy.
A she-detective, drunkard, naughty and scandalous.
And the little creature who authored these HATES Tenerife, because is warm, sunny and cheap. Poor guy...
Three murders, at least two of them coming too late.
Rain, mud, dirty water, cold, rain again and so on.
Half a dozen characters, policemen included, none of them happy.
A she-detective, drunkard, naughty and scandalous.
And the little creature who authored these HATES Tenerife, because is warm, sunny and cheap. Poor guy...
November 12, 2011
It has started to annoy me that in every thriller the main police character has an alcohol problem or has messed up his/her personal relationships etc. Why can't the police be normal?! I do get it that it's easier to make them more interesting with all sorts of flaws, but non-problematic people can be interesting too. It just requires more writing skills from the writer...
Otherwise Mons Kallentoft was a good new acquiantance to me, and I'll very likely read more of his books if I come across them.
Otherwise Mons Kallentoft was a good new acquiantance to me, and I'll very likely read more of his books if I come across them.
February 26, 2017
Tried hard, read almost 50% but couldn't finnish it. Let's move on.
February 5, 2021
Interesanta cartea, dar prea complicata pe alocuri
September 17, 2024
3.5/5⭐️
Mult mai puțin incitantă pe final decât mă așteptam. S-a dus într-o direcție puțin către câmpii.
E mai bună decât SACRIFICIUL DIN MIEZUL IERNII și parcă aș mai citi ceva de la autor. Are o scriitură foarte frumoasă, dar care nu se prea potrivește cu genul pe care îl scrie. Tot Kallentoft are obiceiul să intre inclusiv în mintea victimei pentru un insight atât din timpul investigaței, cât și înainte de comiterea crimei. Uneori pasajele astea sunt interesante (de cele mai multe ori), dar uneori puteau fi omise (de, nu le poți avea pe toate).
Nu mă interesează viața personală a lui Malin! (A detectivului în general). Cel puțin jumătate din carte e doar despre ea și despre relațiile sale disfuncționale, fără să comenteze asupra unor probleme precum alcoolismul, înstrăinarea de familie, sprijinul emoțional, workaholic-cismul (??? Is that a word?? Tocmai l-am inventat) ș.a.m.d.
Per total nu mi-a displăcut, dar puteam tăia câteva (mai multe) pasaje și chiar ar fi fost o carte foarte bună.
Am menționat că nu e atât de incitantă pe cât mă așteptam?? Serios, sinopsisul promite foarte mult.
Mult mai puțin incitantă pe final decât mă așteptam. S-a dus într-o direcție puțin către câmpii.
E mai bună decât SACRIFICIUL DIN MIEZUL IERNII și parcă aș mai citi ceva de la autor. Are o scriitură foarte frumoasă, dar care nu se prea potrivește cu genul pe care îl scrie. Tot Kallentoft are obiceiul să intre inclusiv în mintea victimei pentru un insight atât din timpul investigaței, cât și înainte de comiterea crimei. Uneori pasajele astea sunt interesante (de cele mai multe ori), dar uneori puteau fi omise (de, nu le poți avea pe toate).
Nu mă interesează viața personală a lui Malin! (A detectivului în general). Cel puțin jumătate din carte e doar despre ea și despre relațiile sale disfuncționale, fără să comenteze asupra unor probleme precum alcoolismul, înstrăinarea de familie, sprijinul emoțional, workaholic-cismul (??? Is that a word?? Tocmai l-am inventat) ș.a.m.d.
Per total nu mi-a displăcut, dar puteam tăia câteva (mai multe) pasaje și chiar ar fi fost o carte foarte bună.
Am menționat că nu e atât de incitantă pe cât mă așteptam?? Serios, sinopsisul promite foarte mult.
November 10, 2021
Ok, så min åsikt om den här boken kommer grumlas av det faktum att jag inte gillar Malin överhuvudtaget, inte heller hur poliskåren smeker henne medhårs. Jag ogillar Zeke av den enda anledningen att han är ett otroget as, det behövdes liksom inte mycket mer, eftersom alla bikaraktärer dyker upp som endimensionella statister. Även om jag känner med Tove, så används hon typ bara som rekvisita till Malin, så hon blir inte en egen person.
Jag gillar dock att det utspelar sig i "min" stad, och i mina hemtrakter, men det väger inte upp faktumet att jag egentligen inte riktigt fattar motivet till, ja.... nånting, egentligen.
Jag gillar dock att det utspelar sig i "min" stad, och i mina hemtrakter, men det väger inte upp faktumet att jag egentligen inte riktigt fattar motivet till, ja.... nånting, egentligen.
October 16, 2014
Finally finished Autumn Killing. Everybody gets to say something in this book. Keeping track of all the people wasn't a problem, but you wonder how Malin holds up under all the pressure.
November 10, 2014
While the previous book ended on an optimistic note (on a personal level), this book is pretty much all darkness - both for Fors personally, most of her co-workers, and the killers victims. It was painful to see Malin make such bad choices in her personal life, and I really felt for her in this book.
The mystery part is pretty strong. There were a few red herrings, and I thought that Katarina and Jerry's romance could have been developed a little more (I kept thinking that something was going to come up about Katarina not having kids. . . but that didn't go anywhere). There were a few places that the novel could have been stronger, and sometimes it's confusing who is speaking. I think that confusion is intentional, but when that technique is over-used, it gets a little Mary Higgins Clark-ish, which isn't a good thing in my opinion.
A strong entry in a strong series. Malin kind of reminds me of a female Harry Hole, which is probably why I like this series so much.
The mystery part is pretty strong. There were a few red herrings, and I thought that Katarina and Jerry's romance could have been developed a little more (I kept thinking that something was going to come up about Katarina not having kids. . . but that didn't go anywhere). There were a few places that the novel could have been stronger, and sometimes it's confusing who is speaking. I think that confusion is intentional, but when that technique is over-used, it gets a little Mary Higgins Clark-ish, which isn't a good thing in my opinion.
A strong entry in a strong series. Malin kind of reminds me of a female Harry Hole, which is probably why I like this series so much.
September 13, 2024
DNF after 1/3. Malin's drinking problem totally hid the plot from me.
October 28, 2020
Why do I always start series in the middle? This 3rd book eludes heavily to things that happened in the books prior. And that had me a little lost. They probably explained why Malin turned into a raving lunatic alcoholic. They probably explained more the strained relationships between her, Tove and Janne. Either way, it took forever to get to the murderer. At least it seemed like forever. However, the last 50 pages were a whirlwind and a page turner which made me not regret reading this one after all.
July 12, 2017
Jo, han får en chans till, den där Kallentoft. Gillade den här betydligt bättre än den förra :)
October 27, 2022
Precis allt det jag ogillar med (svenska) kriminalromaner. Hur klyschiga kan vi göra våra karaktärer (som är ungefär alla som nämns någon gång)? Och vad är det med fixeringen av mackor och dess pålägg?
November 12, 2012
Why did I read it? I had read the first two books in the Malin Fors series, Midwinter Sacrifice and "Summertime Death". I had enjoyed the former far more than the latter, and I had hoped "Autumn Killing" was a return to form for Mons Kallentoft.
What's it about? Jerry Petersson's body is found in the moat of Skogså Castle, his home. A self-made man, he obtained the castle from a family that had owned it for generations upon his return to his hometown of Linköping. Malin Fors struggles with the case, and the rest of the investigating team come to the for, as Malin's life is near to collapsing from her inability to deal with the kidnap of her teenage daughter Tove by a serial killer the year before.
What did I like? The narration by Jane Collingwood was up to speed, and I still enjoyed the male narrator of the victim's voices, and the sound effects for telephone conversations, etc. that are employed in the audio versions of these books. When parts of the storytelling began to weary me, Ms Collingwood did exceptionally well to keep me listening. The audio version was clear, without mistakes, and the pace felt even and steady, even if the actual storyline didn't.
The characterisation of Malin has felt more realistic in these last two books, and I'm pleased to find I feel comfortable with her now.
There is still an unsolved matter from the first book still lurking in the background that has kept me tempted to read this series, and mention was made of it several times within "Autumn Killing". I should like to see it resolved - eventually.
What didn't I like? For me, there was an extraordinary amount of focus on Malin's personal life, and this gave the impression of overwhelming all other aspects of the book. The murder, and solving it was secondary, if not tertiary to the inner life of the main detective, Malin. I really didn't understand this at all. There was some insight into the home and/or personal lives of the other investigators in "Autumn Killing", but there was no real surprise much of them seemed stereotypical cop characters, and because of this, I lost interest in them, too. It really felt like no effort had been made at all to draw intriguing characters other than Malin, and I was so tired of hearing her voice/thoughts, that I almost did not make it to the end of the reading.
The murders also lacked lustre, the reason for them feeling a somewhat overused (or maybe I've read too many crime fiction novels), and I feel it the whole mystery could have been far more prominent within the book overall. It was almost a cliché, like the other characters in the investigation team.
Oh, how I wish that either the author, or translator (whoever is responsible), would learn another word, or two, or three for "says". When conversations run for a while, "says" really began to grate my nerves. Here are some options to consider: responds; posits; replies; queries; thinks aloud; states; affirms; and swears. There are any number of other words which can be found in a thesaurus which can be used as an alternative to "says". Use them. Please!
I don't know. "Midwinter Sacrifice" held so much promise for me, but any originality seems to have been depleted by "Autumn Killing", as has my enthusiasm for the series. It feels so tired already.
Would I recommend it? No, I'm afraid not. Enjoy "Midwinter Sacrifice", but I wouldn't take it any further than that with the Malin Fors series, and avoid the audiobook altogether. See my review of "Midwinter Sacrifice" for reasons why you should steer clear of the audio.]
What's it about? Jerry Petersson's body is found in the moat of Skogså Castle, his home. A self-made man, he obtained the castle from a family that had owned it for generations upon his return to his hometown of Linköping. Malin Fors struggles with the case, and the rest of the investigating team come to the for, as Malin's life is near to collapsing from her inability to deal with the kidnap of her teenage daughter Tove by a serial killer the year before.
What did I like? The narration by Jane Collingwood was up to speed, and I still enjoyed the male narrator of the victim's voices, and the sound effects for telephone conversations, etc. that are employed in the audio versions of these books. When parts of the storytelling began to weary me, Ms Collingwood did exceptionally well to keep me listening. The audio version was clear, without mistakes, and the pace felt even and steady, even if the actual storyline didn't.
The characterisation of Malin has felt more realistic in these last two books, and I'm pleased to find I feel comfortable with her now.
There is still an unsolved matter from the first book still lurking in the background that has kept me tempted to read this series, and mention was made of it several times within "Autumn Killing". I should like to see it resolved - eventually.
What didn't I like? For me, there was an extraordinary amount of focus on Malin's personal life, and this gave the impression of overwhelming all other aspects of the book. The murder, and solving it was secondary, if not tertiary to the inner life of the main detective, Malin. I really didn't understand this at all. There was some insight into the home and/or personal lives of the other investigators in "Autumn Killing", but there was no real surprise much of them seemed stereotypical cop characters, and because of this, I lost interest in them, too. It really felt like no effort had been made at all to draw intriguing characters other than Malin, and I was so tired of hearing her voice/thoughts, that I almost did not make it to the end of the reading.
The murders also lacked lustre, the reason for them feeling a somewhat overused (or maybe I've read too many crime fiction novels), and I feel it the whole mystery could have been far more prominent within the book overall. It was almost a cliché, like the other characters in the investigation team.
Oh, how I wish that either the author, or translator (whoever is responsible), would learn another word, or two, or three for "says". When conversations run for a while, "says" really began to grate my nerves. Here are some options to consider: responds; posits; replies; queries; thinks aloud; states; affirms; and swears. There are any number of other words which can be found in a thesaurus which can be used as an alternative to "says". Use them. Please!
I don't know. "Midwinter Sacrifice" held so much promise for me, but any originality seems to have been depleted by "Autumn Killing", as has my enthusiasm for the series. It feels so tired already.
Would I recommend it? No, I'm afraid not. Enjoy "Midwinter Sacrifice", but I wouldn't take it any further than that with the Malin Fors series, and avoid the audiobook altogether. See my review of "Midwinter Sacrifice" for reasons why you should steer clear of the audio.]
Read
August 16, 2024Dnf
December 7, 2014
This book was at first difficult to get into. The rhythm was chaotic and the syntax kept changing making it even more so. In addition, italicized lengthy paragraphs appearing to be the thoughts of the corpse were disconcerting. Still, something drew me into the story. Maybe the unusual presentation, which I though might have to do with the fact that it was translated from the Swedish. Though it was slow going in the beginning, the story started to unfold and move more rapidly and smoothly. The characters, for the most part, were highly developed, though as in many of the Scandinavian books a bit difficult, as first, to keep straight--their names being unusual to me.
There was one section in the book that I particularly enjoyed. Each of the characters and their activities were described in one paragraph after another during the same time period. It was one of the most clever way of revealing the differences in their lifestyles and circumstances.
The alcoholism of the main character, Malin Fors, and its affects on her family, particularly her teenage daughter, and her relationship to them and on her work and her co-workers was harrowing.
The continued use of the italics to start additional comments from the murder victims and the murderer did become confusing and at times irritating, as did the dreams Fors continued to have throughout the book. At one point she tells her supervisor, Sven, that she has been listening to the voices, as he'd taught her, to solve the case. At that point, it became clear to me that reading the third book in the series without having read the first two, may have been part of the problem. Not only because this aspect of Malin's approach to a crime was unknown to me, but also that her daughter, Tove, had apparently been a victim of one of Malin's earlier perpetrators.
Nevertheless, the book was engrossing with its red herrings, dead ends and lack of clues for most of the investigation. Lots of disjointed pieces until at almost the very end a new piece clicked and everything fell into place. Sort of like trying hundreds of keys in a lock to no avail and then one day in a forgotten drawer another key appears and opens the lock without a bit of trouble. Interesting and different enough to make me seek out the earlier chapters in Malin Fors life.
There was one section in the book that I particularly enjoyed. Each of the characters and their activities were described in one paragraph after another during the same time period. It was one of the most clever way of revealing the differences in their lifestyles and circumstances.
The alcoholism of the main character, Malin Fors, and its affects on her family, particularly her teenage daughter, and her relationship to them and on her work and her co-workers was harrowing.
The continued use of the italics to start additional comments from the murder victims and the murderer did become confusing and at times irritating, as did the dreams Fors continued to have throughout the book. At one point she tells her supervisor, Sven, that she has been listening to the voices, as he'd taught her, to solve the case. At that point, it became clear to me that reading the third book in the series without having read the first two, may have been part of the problem. Not only because this aspect of Malin's approach to a crime was unknown to me, but also that her daughter, Tove, had apparently been a victim of one of Malin's earlier perpetrators.
Nevertheless, the book was engrossing with its red herrings, dead ends and lack of clues for most of the investigation. Lots of disjointed pieces until at almost the very end a new piece clicked and everything fell into place. Sort of like trying hundreds of keys in a lock to no avail and then one day in a forgotten drawer another key appears and opens the lock without a bit of trouble. Interesting and different enough to make me seek out the earlier chapters in Malin Fors life.
March 20, 2017
Custou a ler!!!
Não foi livro que me prendesse, achei confuso...
Não foi livro que me prendesse, achei confuso...
January 8, 2013
I struggled with this book and at times felt I was back at school, trying to get through reading an assigned novel, that was good but just not great, but I kept going to the end. It's a style of writing that takes a bit of getting used to. Maybe a tad high-brow for a crime/murder thriller, which is actually more police procedural. It was slow through the middle, you started to wonder if the police would ever get anywhere with it. Not Kallentofts best work, "Midwinter Sacrifice" was a much better book. Malin Fors is not at her best here either. She is an alcoholic to has hit the bottom and even her daughter, Tove, has deserted her. When a very wealthy man is found murdered and floating in the moat of his castle, suspicion falls on the former owners, who were forced to sell their home which had been in their family for generations. The author also follows a similar thread he used in the previous book, "Summertime Death", where the murder victim narrates parts of the story. I think do it once and leave it at that, twice seems lazy. Also, if I were to count the amount of times I read "Tove", I'd be there all day. It's Malin's mantra. Tove, are you sad, sick, gone to the cinema, all this is going on her head by the way. Still, it was good enough to stick with to the end, although, I was relieved to be finished.
April 11, 2015
This long and tedious novel in the Malin Fors series starts off slowly as the detective inspector continues to recoil from the near murder of her daughter in a previous installment. She can’t meet the terms of her relationship with the girl or her ex-husband, with whom has rejoined. So she begins to drink heavily, jeopardizing the love of both as well as her job. At the same time, Malin and her team of detectives are mired down in a murder case involving a rich attorney/businessman who has bought a castle from a titled family in need.
The plot really does not get started until about three-quarters of the way through the nearly 500 pages, and is hindered by endless repetition as the police meetings rehash almost no clues day after day, and the constant look into the lives and relationships of the detectives, their wives and children are regurgitated countless times. The conclusion seems contrived and seems plucked from the air. This is a shame, and disappointing, because the author can really write and the previous entries in the series were more than rewarding.
The plot really does not get started until about three-quarters of the way through the nearly 500 pages, and is hindered by endless repetition as the police meetings rehash almost no clues day after day, and the constant look into the lives and relationships of the detectives, their wives and children are regurgitated countless times. The conclusion seems contrived and seems plucked from the air. This is a shame, and disappointing, because the author can really write and the previous entries in the series were more than rewarding.
November 7, 2015
Maybe because I have read all the mysteries by this author, I figured out who the perp was early on. But as ever, the characters and the psychology are interesting.
Kallentoft is an unusual mystery writer in that he always shows how "evil" is created, usually from extreme childhood abuse. The technique of having the victims "talk" to detective Malin Fors after their death sort of softens the gruesomeness -- they seem still alive.
This novel starts with the murder of a very wealthy man who rose from nothing to be able to buy a castle that some aristocrats were upset about selling. While Malin is working with her colleagues to unravel what happened, she is trying to avoid facing her own problems: her alcoholism, the near death of her daughter in a previous investigation, her troubled relationship with her parents and her daughter's father.
What happens to the perp on the last page -- and the meaning Malin takes from that event -- didn't work for me. But I like that Kallentoft always offers something positive to keep the stories from being too dark.
Kallentoft is an unusual mystery writer in that he always shows how "evil" is created, usually from extreme childhood abuse. The technique of having the victims "talk" to detective Malin Fors after their death sort of softens the gruesomeness -- they seem still alive.
This novel starts with the murder of a very wealthy man who rose from nothing to be able to buy a castle that some aristocrats were upset about selling. While Malin is working with her colleagues to unravel what happened, she is trying to avoid facing her own problems: her alcoholism, the near death of her daughter in a previous investigation, her troubled relationship with her parents and her daughter's father.
What happens to the perp on the last page -- and the meaning Malin takes from that event -- didn't work for me. But I like that Kallentoft always offers something positive to keep the stories from being too dark.
May 16, 2013
Third in series. Liked: the setting,especially the evocation of the dripping wet autumn (each book in the series belongs to a season). Not so sure about: the frequent mentions of IKEA and H&M (not sure if this is product placement or just an attempt to remind us about Swedish businesses!). All the books in this series use the voices of the recently murdered as new, confused, ghosts - not sure about that either but it certainly contributes to the atmosphere! As in the previous books in the series, the story has its roots in events in the past, and abusive parent-child relations are a part of that. Malin Fors, the detective, has an alcohol problem which is beyond heavy drinking, and coming from a country which (still) doesn't expect its police, on the whole, to be armed, I find that a bit uncomfortable to read. Not yet clear what exactly it is in Malin's own past that is an unspoken problem - perhaps the next book holds the answer? (there's only one season left, after all!)
June 23, 2016
Bom... confirma-se que os livros do Mons K são um bocado dificeis de ler, um bocado lentos. Este livro se tivesse menos 100 pag seria bem mais interessante :)
Mais uma vez o autor voltou a usar as personagens mortas como narradores da historia e, ao longo desta, vao mandando uns bitaites ao que a detetive Malin deve fazer :)
A espiral de decadência em que Malin Fors entra, refugiando-se na bebida e afastando-se cada vez mais da familia, torna o livro um bocado triste.
Estes autores nordicos gostam de por os protagonistas a beber copos... já o Harry Hole do Jo Nesbo tb é um bebedolas...
Gostei bem mais da 2a parte do livro do que da 1a. Se nao fosse a 2a parte se calhar teria dado as 3*.
Mais uma vez o autor voltou a usar as personagens mortas como narradores da historia e, ao longo desta, vao mandando uns bitaites ao que a detetive Malin deve fazer :)
A espiral de decadência em que Malin Fors entra, refugiando-se na bebida e afastando-se cada vez mais da familia, torna o livro um bocado triste.
Estes autores nordicos gostam de por os protagonistas a beber copos... já o Harry Hole do Jo Nesbo tb é um bebedolas...
Gostei bem mais da 2a parte do livro do que da 1a. Se nao fosse a 2a parte se calhar teria dado as 3*.
November 4, 2016
I wanted to like this book because generally I am a fan of Swedish crime novels. Without sounding like a psychopath, I found the murder unengaging and I struggled at times with the writing style of the author. There is so much stream of consciousness writing with a plethora of rhetorical questions and minor sentences. That coupled with a mountain of difficult Swedish names and dead bodies that get their own voice, left me wanting to hurry up and finish it.
December 15, 2015
Foi um bocado mais fraco que os 2 anteriores; Malin então esteve completamente descontrolada no que toca à bebida, chegando a afastar-se da família - e levando-a a afastar-se. Foi triste.
Quando o caso policial começou num castelo, achei o máximo, fiquei com as expectativas altas, mas o castelo foi só mesmo um enfeite e revelou-se um caso menos empolgante.
Quando o caso policial começou num castelo, achei o máximo, fiquei com as expectativas altas, mas o castelo foi só mesmo um enfeite e revelou-se um caso menos empolgante.
August 27, 2016
A dark book with Malin fighting her inner demons throughout and continually failing. The murder of Jerry and investigation is interesting but Malin struggle is the real story.
October 9, 2016
Dear writers, please stop it with the drunk people. You are ruining everything!
June 25, 2019
Mons Kallentoft does in this book what he has done before: he outlines detective police superintendent Malin Fors’ life and interrupts the continuity with a murder or two that Fors must investigate. She is a dedicated officer but she is also a drunk so her job and her life often collide with life being the loser. The murder this time is of a playboy prominent in Linköping life and history, Jerry Petersson. He has been living “the Castle,” formerly owned by the family Fägelsjö, several members of which are still alive and active the town. All of them immediately become suspects because of the anger some of them felt when the castle was sold. The two angriest are old Axel, the father, and young Axel, his son. But they seem to have airtight alibis for the night of the killing. As usual with a Fors thriller, part of the story—a major part—occurs away from the crime. This time possible connections with the crime send Malin to Tenerife where her parents are ensconced in a Miami Beach-style condo. Though the heat and sun are a temporary respite, Malin feels guilty about her estranged situation with Janne, her husband, and most particularly, Tove, her college-age daughter. Tove has taken to live with Janne because she is angered, frustrated and embarrassed by her mother’s drinking. Malin resolves to remedy the situation as soon as the case is over, but it lasts a long time and Malin gets very drunk on a number of alcoholic substances. That she is quite good looking adds to her problems since men tend to size her up quickly, which she somewhat resents. The only outside interest she has is a journalist with whom she has an irregular and impromptu session from time to time. One suspects that, if Zeke, her partner, was not happily married, there might be something to happen there. Malin’s intuition and the rest of the department’s doggedness combine to solve the crime and we see Malin off to rehab, hoping she’ll be better next novel. On the other hand, a Fors thriller without an impaired heroine might not be as enjoyable.
April 5, 2020
A murder or two in the fall, in Linkoping, Sweden. A body is found in the moat of a castle, stabbed many times. The body is that of the owner of the castle, newly acquired from a family that has held it for generations. Is that family responsible for the murder?
The victim was the lawyer for a scumbag millionaire who has escaped prosecution for years. Is there betrayal there? Anger?
These are not all of the possible motives unearthed by Malin Fors and her fellow detectives. There are layers and layers until I, for one, had a little trouble sorting out who was who.
Fors is fresh off a case that involved her daughter, Tove. The danger to her daughter haunts her and causes Malin to doubt her ability to be a fit parent. It leads her to drink. Because she is a brilliant detective, even when curbed by her own bad habits, her supervisor, Sven, keeps her on the case. And she continues to drink.
Her drinking and defensive posture bring on major rifts in her relationship with her husband and daughter. Throughout the book she cannot make herself do what she needs to do to fix this.
Working on the murder gives her an excuse to stay at work every day, all day. And often at night. Certainly there are enough twists to keep several people busy.
Malin is also visited by ghosts, for want of a better term. The victim speaks beyond the grave, follows her and her team, reveals a little here and there about himself. It appears that she hears these voices. I am left wondering if this is some kind of paranormal experience or simply her own mind working through the case. Listening to the victim. I found it irritating.
I also had difficulty with her drinking. My experience with alcoholics has made me a little hard. I can say her actions do appear to be those of an alcoholic, and I couldn't accept this flaw. There is always hope, of course, for the future. Nobody, me least of all, expects my heroes to be perfect. I just want the drinking to stop.
The victim was the lawyer for a scumbag millionaire who has escaped prosecution for years. Is there betrayal there? Anger?
These are not all of the possible motives unearthed by Malin Fors and her fellow detectives. There are layers and layers until I, for one, had a little trouble sorting out who was who.
Fors is fresh off a case that involved her daughter, Tove. The danger to her daughter haunts her and causes Malin to doubt her ability to be a fit parent. It leads her to drink. Because she is a brilliant detective, even when curbed by her own bad habits, her supervisor, Sven, keeps her on the case. And she continues to drink.
Her drinking and defensive posture bring on major rifts in her relationship with her husband and daughter. Throughout the book she cannot make herself do what she needs to do to fix this.
Working on the murder gives her an excuse to stay at work every day, all day. And often at night. Certainly there are enough twists to keep several people busy.
Malin is also visited by ghosts, for want of a better term. The victim speaks beyond the grave, follows her and her team, reveals a little here and there about himself. It appears that she hears these voices. I am left wondering if this is some kind of paranormal experience or simply her own mind working through the case. Listening to the victim. I found it irritating.
I also had difficulty with her drinking. My experience with alcoholics has made me a little hard. I can say her actions do appear to be those of an alcoholic, and I couldn't accept this flaw. There is always hope, of course, for the future. Nobody, me least of all, expects my heroes to be perfect. I just want the drinking to stop.
November 20, 2025
Il n’est jamais simple de prendre une série en cours de route. C’est quelque chose que je n’aime pas faire habituellement, mais je ne connaissais pas l’auteur, et c’est la masse critique mauvais genre qui l’a placé sur mon chemin. Merci Points pour l’envoi !
Dans Automne j’ai donc fait la rencontre de cette grosse équipe de policiers de Lynköping, enquêtant sur le meurtre d’un avocat de Jerry Petersson, un avocat millionnaire arriviste et arrogant. Il est retrouvé flottant dans l’eau des douves de son château où il vivait seul. Peu d’amis, probablement quelques ennemis, qui peut lui en vouloir au point de se déchaîner sur lui à coups de couteau ?
De nombreux personnages à appréhender (entre les flics, les coupables potentiels etc), beaucoup de noms à retenir, clairement ce n’était pas simple. J’avoue m’être mélangé les pinceaux à plusieurs reprises. D’autant plus quand on à affaire à un roman chorale. Mais quand-même, au milieu de tout ce chaos, une héroïne principale, Malin Fors. Malin est commissaire, noyée dans un alcoolisme profond, psychologiquement fragile et a tendance à l’auto-destruction. Malgré toutes ces failles, elle est l’élément central de cette brigade, la tête pensante. Elle a une certaine sensibilité et entend les voix des morts. Un personnage clairement intéressant !
L’enquête policière est classique, mais le style est plutôt original. Un roman chorale, donc, où tout le monde a la parole, les vivants comme les morts ! J’ai beaucoup apprécié cet aspect, qui m’a permis de considérer les choses sous un autre angle par moments. J’ai bien envie de revoir cette héroïne en proie à ses démons (l'alcoolisme féminin reste peu représenté): va-t-elle faire enfin la lumière sur l’élément de son passé qui serait peut-être une des clés de son mal-être ?
Dans Automne j’ai donc fait la rencontre de cette grosse équipe de policiers de Lynköping, enquêtant sur le meurtre d’un avocat de Jerry Petersson, un avocat millionnaire arriviste et arrogant. Il est retrouvé flottant dans l’eau des douves de son château où il vivait seul. Peu d’amis, probablement quelques ennemis, qui peut lui en vouloir au point de se déchaîner sur lui à coups de couteau ?
De nombreux personnages à appréhender (entre les flics, les coupables potentiels etc), beaucoup de noms à retenir, clairement ce n’était pas simple. J’avoue m’être mélangé les pinceaux à plusieurs reprises. D’autant plus quand on à affaire à un roman chorale. Mais quand-même, au milieu de tout ce chaos, une héroïne principale, Malin Fors. Malin est commissaire, noyée dans un alcoolisme profond, psychologiquement fragile et a tendance à l’auto-destruction. Malgré toutes ces failles, elle est l’élément central de cette brigade, la tête pensante. Elle a une certaine sensibilité et entend les voix des morts. Un personnage clairement intéressant !
L’enquête policière est classique, mais le style est plutôt original. Un roman chorale, donc, où tout le monde a la parole, les vivants comme les morts ! J’ai beaucoup apprécié cet aspect, qui m’a permis de considérer les choses sous un autre angle par moments. J’ai bien envie de revoir cette héroïne en proie à ses démons (l'alcoolisme féminin reste peu représenté): va-t-elle faire enfin la lumière sur l’élément de son passé qui serait peut-être une des clés de son mal-être ?
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