Babylon

Christian Tell #2

by Camilla Ceder

'A woman's take on Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander' THE TIMES. The rising star of Scandicrime returns with a stunning tale of jealousy and greed, starring Inspector Christian Tell.Inspector Christian Tell and his team are called to the scene of a double murder. University lecturer Anne-Marie Karpov lies dead in her home, alongside her student and lover, Henrik. The crime appears Henrik's girlfriend Rebecca, a woman in therapy for her violent jealousy, had been spotted outside Karpov's flat, and her fingerprints are found on the door. But shortly afterwards, when Rebecca's flat is burgled in a seemingly unconnected attack, Tell begins to wonder whether she might be the victim in a larger game. It emerges that items on the Red List - artefacts raided from Iraqi museums - were found among Henrik's possessions. As the truth behind Anne-Marie and Henrik's past begins to emerge, the dead woman's ex-husband, Danish gangsters and Turkish black marketeers all come into the frame. Tell must unravel a web of hidden motives that spans continents, all the while trying to salvage his stormy relationship with Seja.

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

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Camilla Ceder is a Swedish social worker and author.

Reviews

[Marina Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, but nothing to get really excited about. This is not the next big Scandinavian crime sensation, or at least not yet. There is a lot more here about the background and personal relationships of the detectives, which are extraneous to the plot. Some of it is interesting (a comment perhaps on Sweden's social welfare system), but a good deal of it is misleading. I kept expecting something bad to happen to Seja, the main detective's girlfriend, because there was so much insistence on the remote woodland location of her home.
Otherwise, a fairly standard police procedural with a few red herrings and plenty of suspects.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hailed as a new Swedish author. Granted I did read these two books out of order. Now that I am reading her other one, I am aware they should be read in order.
The problem I had with this book that I have not had with other Swedish authors was the names. Or maybe the story was a little loose and allowed the names to confuse me, until I almost did not care.
After the murders were solved, they then went back and looked at the Babylon connection. It felt a little like a patchwork quilt - the pieces are all there but the flow did not quite work.
I have to admit she really is not the new "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" author, but a fair attempt as relative new authors go. I will read the first book, but do not expect better.
Overall, a little disappointed.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man and woman are murdered and the police investigate.

I found this book hard work – there was so much detail that had nothing to do with the plot that I couldn’t engage with this book. There are better crime books around.

My real rating is 2.5

[Vicky Unwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing follow-up to Frozen Moment, which introduced us to the new Nordic Noir Inspector Christian Tell and his journalist girlfriend, Seja. Not as claimed 'the new Jo Nesbo'.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star read. The front cover proclaims Ceder as "the new Jo Nesbo". She has also been compared to Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson. She writes character driver thrillers/police procedurals based in Sweden with her main character Inspector Christian Tell. This is the second in the series and starts off with the murder of an academic Ann-Marie Karpov and her younger boyfriend/student Henrik. In searching for answers, Tell and his team contend with Rebecca, Henrik's partner who has a history, Karpov's ex husband, and several other contenders. I like the way Ceder develops her characters...they seem to be the main part of the story, rather than the story itself. But the story is good enough to keep readers turning pages. A good read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swedish Inspector Tell and his team are back investigating a double murder. I liked this more than the first book, but they should probably be read in order. The story has a nice balance between the investigation and the personal lives of the police and I was always interested in what was next. However, this isn’t the kind of mystery that the reader can try to solve along with the investigators, there is too much information which is only revealed as the investigation proceeds. I also object to the cover which depicts a woman far too young to represent any of the characters in the story and makes this look like a YA book.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Inspector Christian Tell is called to a murder scene, the case appears to be clear: cheated woman shoots cheating boyfriend and his older mistress.

However, as the investigation progresses and the suspect's home is broken into and searched in her absence, initial certainties need to be abandoned and new leads followed...

A fast-paced and well-written story, with lots of plots and twists. In the end, everyone is a suspect! Loved it.

[Camilla Obel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and main character development, psychological insights and twists, and although somewhat predictable end left more to be discovered about characters. Would recommend to readers keen on crime, drama and police work.

Good story and character development, psychological insights and political-cultural intrigue. Would recommend to readers keen on crime, police work and Scandinavian drama.

[Graham Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might be the translation but the mystery wasn't much of a mystery at all!

[Kari-Anne Fygi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Helaas een boek zonder spanning.

[bokmal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ganska tråkig

[Garry]

shelved

[Maureen Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.

[Ania · Rating 2 out of 5]

Słabo, gdy od samego początku wie się, kto może być zabójcą. Ale dla relaksu da się przeczytać.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

As already stated many times, this is NOT the new Jo Nesbo; why the authors publishers thought it desirable to claim she is I really cannot imagine. A truly great writer can create a literary masterpiece in any genre; this book appears to want to be a literary novel but is disguised as a police procedural because, frankly, that is what sells.
Not a bad book but far too much about the private lives of the police personnel, the crime gets 'lost' in a morass of meaningless plot developments and the perpetrator is completely obvious practically from the start.
I think the author might benefit from considering whether crime novels are really her genre; the germ of a good novel is there but it has few of the elements that make good crime fiction - not exciting or intriguing in any way. I read it for my crime based reading group and although it generated some interesting discussion, it got a thumbs down from people who read a LOT of crime fiction of every type.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book said that Ceder was the new Jo Nesbo. Camilla Ceder is very much her own person. Babylon proceeds at a pace with murders but also is peopled with individuals with feelings, regrets and the ability to change. The murders are solved slowly and in the process we learn about the team and the people affected by the murders.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book and it was a complex detective novel. I had a few issues with the relationship between the main character Christian Tell and his girlfriend ( frankly they just didn't seem to get on with one another...) but other than that it was a good read. Lots of interesting detail on the treasures and some well developed characters involved in the plot.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the balance of personal story lines with the crime investigation. I had started Frozen Moment some time ago and did not read all of - but this was either translated more effectively or she has n=matured as a writer.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action from the whole squad of detectives. Everything falls into line in the end. Seja's and Christian's love affair ends up taking off. Can't remember "Frozen Moment" know I read it, but this book really stands out.

[Angela Dunlop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the 1st two books in this series and loved them. For some reason this one just didn't grab me as much as they did. Can't explain why.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great range of characters all trying to find out were they sit in the world of relationships....while at the same time a traditional murder mystery. A good read.