Un campista aparece asesinado a balazos en una playa de la isla de Fårö. Se trata del constructor Peter Bovide, que acaba de iniciar sus vacaciones de verano junto a su familia. La única pista fehaciente que posee la subcomisaria Karin Jacobsson, quien está a cargo del caso mientras su jefe, Anders Knutas, sigue de vacaciones, es el arma con la que se perpetró el crimen: una pistola antigua utilizada por el Ejército soviético durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Las averiguaciones llevarán a la policía a desentrañar algunas irregularidades cometidas en la empresa de Bovide que empleaba a inmigrantes ilegales. Karin pronto intuirá que el asesinato podría estar relacionado con el caso nunca resuelto de la desaparición de una turista alemana muchos años atrás.
Mari Jungstedt is a Swedish journalist and popular crime fiction author.
Jungstedt worked as a reporter on Swedish national public radio and television, and was an occasional presenter on TV4's daily talk show Förkväll.
Her first three novels are set on the island of Gotland and feature Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas and the journalist Johan Berg. Two of her novels were filmed for Swedish TV, and her work has been translated into English by Tiina Nunnally.
Mari Jungstedt lives in Stockholm. Her husband comes from Visby, Gotland, and they spend their summers on Gotland.
Como siempre, tan adictiva como toda esta serie. Me ha gustado que, por esta vez, la novela se centrase más en Karin, la subcomisaria, y en lugar de Knutas, el protagonista habitual, y en la vida de ésta. Mari Jungstedt, como siempre, no decepciona.
100% recomendable a amantes de suspense y thriller policial, y en particular a los aficionados a la literatura escandinava de intriga y crimen.
A typical Scandinavian crime novel. Imaginative settings on the island Gotland that lays in the Baltic sea outside of Sweden. This is a book I would recommend. Fast paced, original in its genre and with unexpected twists. I also think the translator did a good job with this one and that is very important to me. There are so many bad translations out there, honestly I almost stopped reading books in translation for this reason and that is a true shame. I think that the Scandinavian crime novels are worth reading and that they add something new to a rather traditional genre. For example I would recommend Mari Jungstedt for those who have read and appreciate Norwegian Karin Fossum.
Imagine the scene: You’re on the most isolated island in the Baltic Sea, Gotska Sandön, which is north of Gotland, Sweden. The perfect place for a holiday. The ideal beach for a morning jog. Until a body is found, a man murdered in cold blood. Why on earth would a family man be killed in this way? Assistant commissioner Karin Jacobsson is assigned to the case and as boss Anders Knutas is away on holiday, she has her work cut out. TV reporter Johan Berg is also on the story but he has personal issues he’s trying to work through.
Just what or who has come to this peaceful island and why?
The island of Gotland is remote but the island of Gotska Sandön is remoter still. A small island to the north of Gotland, it’s captive to the elements from every angle. The Baltic Sea surrounds it on all of its jagged sides and it’s a long way from the mainland. A long way from life itself…For some, this should be a nice place to relax, get away from it all and spend time in the real life camping site of sudersand
D.S. Anders Knutas, head of the criminal division of the Visby police force has both the age and the experience to match. As well as Karin in his team, there’s a few other characters such as Wittberg known as the Casanova of the force.
On such a small island, the community is alive and well – what with the police and the local media both recounting events of one dreadful summer. The island is awash with death and someone is watching. People have the feeling that they are being watched.
This is Swedish crime novel with a difference – the sense of isolation, the unique island mentality and the relationships between locals, outsiders and foreigners is examined. The role and methodology of the island police is also revealed to be more complex that first thought.
The murders and the dual time period reveal an historical time line that reveals a culture and an interesting take on events which happened long ago.
This was an excellent read. It is the first book I have read by this author, but I will more of her books. The book opens with murder of a man in a seemingly random, motiveless killing. The police seem to be getting nowhere with their investigation and though there are many false leads it is not till much later that the loose ends are tied up. Alongside the main story we are allowed glimpses into the past. One of the qualities I liked about Mari's writing is her feminine insight into a brutal world. As said earlier I will be looking for more by this author. If you like Scandinavian crime, this is an author to look out for and invest a few hours in her company.
ME ENCANTÓ!! Hace unos meses leí el sexto libro de la saga del inspector Knutas y no me gustó mucho, pero me apetecía darle otra oportunidad a esta autora, así que fui hacia atrás y seguí por el quinto: "Un inquietante amanecer". He disfrutado infinitamente más este, quizás porque ya conocía a los personajes y sus historias personales.
Para mí lo mejor es que Mari Jungstedt sabe cuál es el momento perfecto para terminar cada capítulo y dejarte con una intriga feroz. Al ir mezclando las historias actuales de varios protagonistas con lo acontecido en el verano de 1985, no puedes dejar de leer hasta averiguar TODO.
Murder comes to a peaceful campsite, a body is discovered in the sea, the Summer is tainted and Knutas cancels his holiday to resume control of the investigation.
This is now the 5th episode of crimes on and around Gotland that are available in the UK. We meet familiar characters, their stories are advanced but the crime fails to be solved.
The mystery seems to be linked to events some 20 years before, it is one of the oldest motives for murder, revenge, but what horrors occurred in the past and why have they now erupted with such violence in the present?
I keep seeing Scandinavian etc novels on the shelves. The blurbs keep telling me in breathless prose how wonderful and arresting and glorious these books are. I keep falling for it.
No more.
I think it's the translations, not the books themselves, but they are just so clumsy. Look, the quality of writing means a lot to me. I appreciate that other people don't think it's that big a deal, but I can't enjoy a book if the writing doesn't appeal to me.
The way these books are written/translated robs them of flow, poetry, beauty and anything else I might look for. It even heads out of dull and workmanlike prose, which I can ignore. Instead it's clumsy and overly-formal.
It's such a shame. I love crime novels, especially moody and atmospheric ones. But if you;re going for moody and atmospheric the writing really sells it.
I think more publishers need to invest in translators who are also writers.
Bizpahiru liburu exkaxago eduki osten, bueltan dugu Mari Jungstedt gorenena, bere thriller ilun, gorexka eta azkarrekin eta, aspalditik, hain ondo suertatzen diren denbora-lerro puskatu(bikoitz)ekin.
Aipagarria, halere, kasuaren resoluzioaren amaierarantz dagoen eyeroll nabaria, ozta-ozta bada ere plothole bezala har daitekeena.
I love Swedish mysteries and this one by Mari Jungstedt does not disappoint. I loved reading it and hated to put it down.
Karin Jacobsson is the acting deputy superintendent of the Gotland Police department because her boss, Anders Knutas, is on vacation in Denmark. While she is in charge, a murder takes place on Faro Island. A man by the name of Peter Bovide is shot once in the head and several times in the abdomen while out for an early morning jog. Interestingly, the weapon used is an old Russian army pistol from the 1920's. For a few weeks prior to the murder, he had the feeling that he was being followed and had also received anonymous phone calls and threats. The murder is very vicious and appears personal. However, the police have no leads and don't know where to turn for answers. Will the killer strike again?
Johan Berg is a regional journalist who is struggling with his personal life as he tries to report on the murder. He and his ex-fiancee have been estranged for a few years and Johan wants nothing more than to get back with Emma. They have a child together but Emma blames him for a situation that occurred in a previous novel when she felt that he put their daughter, Elin, at too much risk. The back story about Johan is very interesting.
Shortly after the murder, Anders Knutas cuts short his vacation and returns to work. Karin more than a little upset about this because she wanted to handle this investigation on her own. Anders' return makes her feel like he doesn't trust her not to mess up. However, they try to resolve things. Anders confides a lot in Karin but Karin keeps her personal life close to her chest and does not share anything with others.
Is the murder a result of something to do with Peter's work, his hiring of illegal workers, or is their more to his life that the police just are not privy to yet. The book professes very well in short chapters that follow different characters as it leads to a riveting denouement.
The book provides a wonderful peak at a country that I hope to visit one day, especially the rural areas of Faro Island and Gotska Sandon.
A man, Peter Bovide, is viciously shot from close range on a remote beach on a remote island in Sweden. The new assistant superintendent, Karin Jacobsson, is in charge because the superintendent, Anders Knutas is on vacation. Karin calls in help from Stockholm; a news reporter finds some information; the ferry captain describes the three cars on the ferry early the morning of the killer, but the occupants appear to check out. Bovide is found to have hired some illegal Russians in his construction business, and they are chased down, but similar murder takes place while they are in jail. Knutas returns from his vacation. The story chapters move between the participants, and time, giving a lot of background information. The plot weaves together nicely with a few exciting moments. I'm not totally happy with the end which to me is a little distracting from the main story, but probably explains the final action.
Jag gillar verkligen den här serien, det är en lättläst deckare varje gång varvat med en del kärleksdravel men det är precis det jag behöver ibland.
Det känns liksom tryggt att komma tillbaka till en bok av Mari Jungstedt. Även om jag vet hur det kommer att utveckla sig och jag lyckades ganska snabbt lista ut vem som var mördaren håller hon spänningen uppe.
Korta kapitel som snabbt för handlingen framåt, tillbakablickar som förklarar allt till slut.
Det som jag börjar tröttna på är allt tjafs mellan journalisten Johan och hans fästmö Emma. All deras tjafs känns nästan lite fånigt och nästintill löjligt, det tillför inte historien så mycket känner jag.
Couldn't stop reading it. So thrilling, a real page turner. I enjoyed the more feminine focus that is kind of rare in other crime novels. I'm not a hard core crime lover so this book was really something for me since it had both the thrilling crime plot as well as the relational drama. This was the first book I read by Mari Jungstedt and I will definitely read her other books.
Viides osa Knutas-sarjaa. Ensin ihan kiinnostava, mm. koska päätutkija on hetken aikaa Karin Jacobsson, mutta sitten Knutas keskeyttää lomansa. Päästään taas tutulle uralle: Johan Berg sotkeutuu tutkintaan ja yrittää saada Emman takaisin, menneisyys kummittelee murhan taustalla, lopussa taas joudutaan yllättäen hengenvaaraan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is an excellent mystery in the Anders Knutas series! A murder takes place at a beach resort area. The second-in-charge takes over, as Knutas is on vacation. Some emotional loose ends are tied up!
“The jogger ran north along the water’s edge, the sand heavy underfoot after the night’s rain. At the promontory he turned and headed back down the beach. In the distance he saw a figure walking towards him. Suddenly the person stumbled and fell, then just lay there not moving. Feeling uneasy, he ran forward.
‘Are you all right?’
The face that turned towards him was expressionless, the eyes cold.
For the jogger, time seemed to stand still. Deep down inside him something came alive, something he had tried to bury for years.
Then he saw the muzzle of the gun. It was pointed straight at him. He sank to his knees; everything in his mind went still.”
When I read this paragraph from the The Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt, I immediately began to picture myself on the Swedish island of Gotska Sandön, the most isolated island in the Baltic sea. It is impossible not to be immediately drawn in to the story and while it is not fast-paced, it is alive with suspense and mystery. Jungstedt takes time to develop the relationships between the characters and is descriptive without being too wordy. This is important to those who may be reading this book out of sequence as it is easy to catch up on the previous back-stories of each of the characters so the story makes more sense.
The story starts off with carpenter, Peter Bovide, who is camping with his wife and two young children, taking a run along the beach in the early morning fog. In the distance, he sees a stranger who appears to be in need of help, but when Peter approaches, he is shot in the head and several times in the stomach. Anders Knutas, the Detective Superintendent of the local police department is on vacation so the crime scene is secured by his deputy, Karin Jacobsson. Jacobsson is new to the position and is excited to lead such an important investigation but her joy is short-lived as Knutas abruptly cuts short his vacation and returns to the island.
The investigators, along with news reporter, Johan Berg, slowly begin to work their way through interview after interview of the victims family, friends and co-workers and it isn't until another murder takes place that the motives begin to become clear.
While the book is well-written, some of the clues to solving the crime were a bit too obvious, however the plot was tight, flowed well and was logical. Sometimes, the characters behaved a bit unprofessionally and maybe a bit unbelievable. For example, I cannot imagine a detective going to confront a murder suspect without a weapon AND turning his cell phone off (or alone, for that matter). I've noticed the lack of carrying a service weapon quite often in Scandinavian crime novels and I'm not certain if this is, in fact, the case or if the writers haven't researched the actual police procedures. It just comes across as a bit strange to readers in countries where the police are well-trained, well-armed and have strict investigation techniques.
There was an interesting (but timely) side story that touch lightly on the issue of foreign workers in Sweden. Some of the attitudes sounded familiar and I found it interesting how many similarities there are between two seemingly very different cultures. It also paints a very different side of Sweden, one that might be shocking to people who have not visited or are not knowledgeable about the Swedish culture.
The translation from Swedish to English was very good, though a lot of British-English phrases were used despite the translator being American. Translated books often have a special charm and sometimes the sentences may come across as child-like and the sentence structure a bit awkward at times. This doesn't deter from the story itself, but is something to be aware of if the reader does not often read books translated from another language.
Swedish crime thriller author Mari Junstedt is is the author of the exciting & suspenseful crime series featuring police detective Anders Knutas. Since the 2003 release of Unseen (Den du inte ser), the first novel in the series, she has been recognized as part of the elite group of Swedish crime writers. The Dead of Summer is the fifth book in Jungstedt's Gotland crime series.
In die heerlijke zomertijd is het vijfde deel uit de serie rond commissaris Knutas, rechercheur Karin Jacobsson en journalist Johan Berg. Ik had Bittere vrucht al eerder gelezen, maar dat bleek het zesde deel te zijn. Toen ben ik bij deel een begonnen. Je kunt dan de privélevens beter volgen.
Het eiland Fårö, ten noorden van Gotland, is de locatie waar de eerste moord plaatsvindt. Peter Bovide, een aannemer, houdt er vakantie met zijn gezin. Tijdens het joggen over het strand ’s morgens vroeg wordt hij doodgeschoten. Zijn lichaam wordt in zee gevonden. Het blijkt, dat hij een kogel door zijn hoofd en zeven schoten in zijn buik heeft gekregen. Het pistool is van Russische makelij en al behoorlijk oud. Karin heeft de leiding gekregen over het onderzoek. Knutas is op vakantie in Denemarken, maar als hij het verhaal hoort van de moord, breekt hij zijn vakantie onmiddellijk af en neemt de leiding van Karin weer over. Karin had eindelijk de gelegenheid te laten zien wat ze waard is en is er dan ook niet blij mee. Ze vernemen, dat Bovide depressief was. Hij dacht al weken, dat hij werd achtervolgd. Journalist Johan Berg begint een reportage over de moord op Fårö. Zijn privéleven loopt niet van een leien dakje. Emma en Johan zijn uit elkaar en zijn dochtertje mag hij maar heel weinig zien, waar hij van baalt. Hij maakt het alleen maar erger als hij het bed induikt met een collega. De recherche denkt, dat de moord een afrekening is van zwartwerkers uit de Baltische staten bij het bouwbedrijf van Bovide, waar hij mede- eigenaar van is. Dan wordt er weer iemand vermoord, een springmeester van een kalksteengroeven op Gotland. De m.o. is hetzelfde als de eerste moord. Wat hebben ze gemeen? Een andere verhaallijn is van twee zussen, die in 1985 met hun ouders op vakantie gaan naar het natuurreservaat Gotska Sandön. Het ligt 40 kilometer ten noorden van het eiland Fårö. Wat is er in het verleden gebeurd en wat heeft dat te maken met de beide moorden? Als Karin dit gaat onderzoeken en in haar eentje afreist naar het natuurreservaat, wordt ze zelf vastgebonden, omdat ze achter het motief is gekomen. Zal die kennis met haar verdwijnen?
Mari Jungstedt schrijft het verhaal in korte hoofdstukken, waardoor het vlot leest. Ze heeft een prettige schrijfstijl. Ze wisselt steeds van perspectief. Het verhaal wordt afgewisseld met de verhaallijn over de twee zussen. Je leert de mensen steeds een beetje beter kennen. Dit boek verhaalt hoe de relatie tussen Johan en Emma zich evalueert. Johan heeft niet zo’n grote rol in het onderzoek. We komen ook achter een geheim van Karin. De plot is goed uitgewerkt. Mari Jungstedt woont met haar man en twee kinderen dichtbij Stockholm. 's Zomers verblijft ze vooral op het eiland Gotland, zodat ze goed weet waarover ze schrijft. Ze beschrijft de sfeer van het eiland op zo’n manier, dat je zelf het gevoel hebt daar rond te rijden. Alle locaties die ze in haar boeken beschrijft, bezoekt ze eerst zelf. Gotland is interessant als plaats delict. Het eiland heeft een boeiende geschiedenis. De stadsmuur rond Visby dateert bijvoorbeeld uit 13de eeuw. Het eiland heeft lange zandstranden en de natuur is prachtig. Ook door haar werk weet ze Johan als journalist goed te gebruiken. De politie heeft procedures, die Johan en zijn collega’s kunnen omzeilen om een reportage tot stand te brengen. Ook laat ze hem allerlei ethische en morele dilemma ’s aankaarten. Mari Jungstedt vindt de opsporingstechnieken erg fascinerend en beschrijft ze gedetailleerd. Maar wat ze vooral belangrijk vindt is het psychologische aspect. Ze doet voor elk nieuw boek uitvoerig onderzoek, maar discussieert ook met experts. Ze probeert haar boeken zo geloofwaardig mogelijk te maken. Daar is ze volgens mij in geslaagd. Het boek bleef mij tot het eind toe boeien, vier sterren waard.
De boeken van Mari Jungstedt worden verfilmd voor de Duitse televisie. Nu is er ook een serie DVD ’s verschenen bij Lumière: Der Kommissar und das Meer. De cast bestaat uit een mix van Duitse en Scandinavische acteurs. De beelden van Gotland met zijn natuurschoon en de historische stad Visby maken de serie boeiend om naar te kijken. Wat ik echter heel jammer vind, is dat het is nagesynchroniseerd in het Duits.
Me ha gustado mucho. Ganas de poder visitar la isla de Gotska Sandon, si realmente es así... Describe el paisaje como si realmente estuvieras allí, como si fuera un documental. La trama bastante buena, y también me ha gustado que se le diera protagonismo a Karin.
Poslední dobou patří švédská spisovatelka Mari Jungstedtová mezi moje nejoblíbenější autorky detektivek. Její příběhy jsou promyšlené do nejmenších podrobností, nikde nezůstávají nepříjemně plandat nezodpovězené otázky ani situace, které otevřeně křičí do světa, že jsou do příběhu naroubované jenom proto, aby nepřestal fungovat. Navíc mi maličko připomíná Agathu Christie. Nejen již výše zmiňovaným, ale i tím, že k rozvinutí dramatického příběhu jí stačí ostrov Gotland, ať už hlavní město Visby nebo jeho okolí. Nepotřebuje své detektivy – v první řadě Anderse Knutase a Karin Jacobsonovou – poslat na cestu kolem světa, aby předvedli, že jsou schopni vyřešit případ. Ostatně slečna Marplová to také nějak neměla zapotřebí... Síla příběhů, které svým čtenářům předkládá Mari Jungstedtová, tkví především v síle hlavních postav, v přesvědčivosti jejich motivací, v jasnosti či naopak liknavosti jejich rozhodnutí. A je jedno, jestli jde o policisty nebo pachatele. S tím rozdílem, že příběhy jednotlivých detektivů sledujeme knihu za knihou, zatímco osudy pachatelů se v každém novém románu definitivně uzavírají... I když možná i v tom se dočkáme výjimky. Vražedné léto, poslední román Mari Jungstedtové, který zatím vyšel v češtině, začíná vraždou v kempu. Mrtvým je majitel menší stavební firmy Peter Bovide... Všechno naznačuje tomu, že pachatel musel mít na dotyčného obrovský vztek. Kola vyšetřování se pomalu rozjíždějí, objevují se první stopy, aby se nakonec ukázalo, jak falešné jsou a kriminalisté se tak znovu ocitli na samém začátku vyšetřování... a pomalu zjišťovali, jak hluboko sahají kořeny zločinu, který znovu rozvíří život na ostrově. Až doposud byl ve všech knihách Mari Jungstedtové hlavní postavou Anders Knutas. Tentokrát v centru dění stojí Karin Jacobsonová. Ale – obzvlášť v poslední části knihy – nejen v centru vyšetřování, ale i pokud jde o soukromé životy vyšetřovatelů. Čtenář se o poněkud tajuplné Karin poprvé dozvídá víc... a to, co se dozví, je právě tak překvapivé jako rozhodnutí, které Karin v závěru knihy udělá... Minulost se zase jednou setkává s přítomností a otevírá další možnosti budoucnosti... a nepochybně i další knize Mari Jungstedtové...
It's been a while since I read Nordic noir - I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it.
'The Dead Of Summer' returns to Gotland, and the folks who reside there (specifically police chief Anders Knutas, his deputy and friend Karin Jacobsssen, and reporter Johann Berg. Along for the ride are Johann's fiesty photographer Pia and his ex-lover Emma.
As the book opens, we meet the kind, anxious and slightly obsessive, Peter Bovide. He's leaving his loving wife, Vendela, in bed while he goes for an early morning jog. He never returns. Hours later, his bullet-riddled corpse is found on the beach.
The Gotland police - temporarily led by Karin Jacobbsen - quickly learn that Peter might not have been all that he seemed. His professional life was far from straight-forward, or straight-and-narrow. Eventually, the evidence leads them to another, even more brutal, murder decades earlier.
Meanwhile, Johann and Pia are working on a story that could tie in with the Bovide investigation. It's big, but Johann is distracted by his infant daughter Elin, and his tortured relationship with Elin's mother Emma. Pia, meanwhile, dispenses wisdom and advice as necessary. Like a slap upside the head.
So - as usual - the good first. I really enjoyed this book. Jungstedt does an excellent job of weaving her characters' personal and professional lives, which lends texture to the plot and veracity to the small town in which they live. I enjoy the teasing-mentoring-slightly-anticipatory relationship between Anders and Karin. I also love Pia, the tough, take-no-prisoners tenderness of her. Jungstedt creates some truely charming people.
Unfortunately - and this brings me to the bad - I can't stand Emma. She's whine-y and self-absorbed and I don't understand what Johann sees in her. This is a problem, since their love affair is a pretty significant sub-plot. I was also a little bored with the flashback trope - overdone. I mean, it was the obvious way to lay the foundation, but it's been done to death. Was there really no other option?
That said, I'd still recommend this book, and highly. A wonderful, light (but not frothy) summer read. Well done!
This is the fifth in this series from Swedish author Mari Jungstedt and the second novel to be published in the US, which begins with the murder of Peter Bovide in the early morning hours as he jogged along the beach on Faro Island. Bovide was married and the father of two, and there are no clues other than the fact that apparently the murder weapon was a very old Russian gun.
The case is assigned to D.S. Anders Knutas, 52 years old and head of the criminal division of the Visby police force, and D.I. Karin Jacobsson, as well as the other members of the squad: Thomas Wittberg, 28, with his “surfer looks and the Casanova of police headquarters; technician Erik Sohlman; and Lars Norby, the police spokesman, as well as the Swedish TV journalist Johan Berg and his cameraperson, Pia Lilja, as well as Johan’s significant other (and the mother of his adored one-year old daughter Ellin), whose relationship reaches a critical point during the course of the novel.
The setting is primarily the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, the Swedish equivalent of the US Martha’s Vineyard, as well as the nearby island of Faro. Whereas the last entry in the series, “Killer’s Art,” took place in the heart of winter, as the title suggests this one takes place in the middle of July. It isn’t difficult, though, to think that the title “The Dead of Summer” is also meant in more literal terms, as indeed it is. For the most part, p.o.v. alternates between the cops and the tv people, and their very different perspectives.
Karin, 39 years old and single, has a bilingual cockatoo named Vincent. A dedicated cop, she shares the lead in the investigation, and does a very creditable job of it, not easy in a case with no apparent motive that they can discern, no clues, and no suspects. The plotting is very clever and kept this reader guessing until very near the end, when unpredictable events ramp up the suspense by a large quotient. The book is a very fast and entertaining read, highly recommended.