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Joona Linna #8
Spoguļvīrs
Gaišā dienas laikā ceļā no skolas uz mājām tiek nolaupīta sešpadsmit gadus vecā Jennija Linda. Piecus gadus vēlāk viņa tiek atrasta nogalināta kādā no Stokholmas rotaļlaukumiem. Policijas darbiniekiem cenšoties uziet kaut cik noderīgu pavedienu starp trūcīgajiem pierādījumiem, komisārs Jona Linna atklāj Jennijas slepkavības saistību ar senāku nāves gadījumu, kas ticis uzskatīts par pašnāvību. Kad pazūd vēl viena pusaugu meitene, Jona ir pārliecināts, ka viņiem ir jāmeklē sērijveida slepkava.
510 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2020
852 people are currently reading
13882 people want to read
About the author
Lars Kepler
59 books5,749 followersLars 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,666 reviews
December 6, 2021
Lars Kepler brings action, suspense, and heart-wrenching moments to
The Mirror Man
, the eighth novel in the Joona Linna Killer Instinct series. This is an unforgettable police procedural and crime thriller set in Sweden. Lars Kepler is the pseudonym for the husband and wife writing team of Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. While this novel is the eighth in the series, it worked as a standalone novel for me. However, I believe reading the previous novels would reveal additional background and insights into Joona’s character growth as well as his family and work relationships.
Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school and taken to a remote location where she and other girls face many horrors. Five years later her body is found in a playground with few clues as to where she’s been and who her killer is. Detective Joona Linna gets involved and when another girl goes missing, he fears a killer is escalating his activities.
Joona is a likeable character who feels strongly that everything should be done to find the killer and rescue Mia Andersson. This doesn’t always sit well with his immediate superior who want the quick solution and often leads to some intense situations. His character is well-developed by this eighth novel. Of the secondary characters, Pamela and Martin Nordstrom as well as Dr. Erik Maria Bark have the most depth with believable flaws and are unique in their own ways.
The conflicts and sense of urgency move the story forward and through some unexpected twists. The internal dialogues and the narrative pulls readers into the inner world of the characters making us unsettled, distressed, and thankful that Joona has the tenacity to keep investigating.
A memorable beginning sets the stage for what is to come. Reading on, the suspense was high through-out most of the novel. The plot is complex and has twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. The high stakes kept me engaged throughout the story. The well-written story and the incredible characters, combined with unnerving action, culminates in an astounding conclusion.
What a novel! Will you guess the identity of the killer? This novel contains several graphic and disturbing scenes and the antagonist’s deranged actions have a terrifying realism that is memorable. However, it is well-written, with a brilliant plot, and extraordinary characters. This reader was transported to the dark and horrifying world of the investigator and the victims. Themes include abduction, murder, family, child abuse, grief, severe trauma, physical abuse, mental health disorders, and much more.
Overall, this was an intense, dark, and gritty story with complex characters that kept me turning the pages. I am looking forward to reading the prior books as I wait on the next one in the series. Crime enthusiasts and thriller fans may want to check out this series if they can handle the triggers.
Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group – Knopf and the writing team of Lars Kepler for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-------------------------------
My 5 star review of this crime drama will be posted 3-4 days after it appears in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school and taken to a remote location where she and other girls face many horrors. Five years later her body is found in a playground with few clues as to where she’s been and who her killer is. Detective Joona Linna gets involved and when another girl goes missing, he fears a killer is escalating his activities.
Joona is a likeable character who feels strongly that everything should be done to find the killer and rescue Mia Andersson. This doesn’t always sit well with his immediate superior who want the quick solution and often leads to some intense situations. His character is well-developed by this eighth novel. Of the secondary characters, Pamela and Martin Nordstrom as well as Dr. Erik Maria Bark have the most depth with believable flaws and are unique in their own ways.
The conflicts and sense of urgency move the story forward and through some unexpected twists. The internal dialogues and the narrative pulls readers into the inner world of the characters making us unsettled, distressed, and thankful that Joona has the tenacity to keep investigating.
A memorable beginning sets the stage for what is to come. Reading on, the suspense was high through-out most of the novel. The plot is complex and has twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. The high stakes kept me engaged throughout the story. The well-written story and the incredible characters, combined with unnerving action, culminates in an astounding conclusion.
What a novel! Will you guess the identity of the killer? This novel contains several graphic and disturbing scenes and the antagonist’s deranged actions have a terrifying realism that is memorable. However, it is well-written, with a brilliant plot, and extraordinary characters. This reader was transported to the dark and horrifying world of the investigator and the victims. Themes include abduction, murder, family, child abuse, grief, severe trauma, physical abuse, mental health disorders, and much more.
Overall, this was an intense, dark, and gritty story with complex characters that kept me turning the pages. I am looking forward to reading the prior books as I wait on the next one in the series. Crime enthusiasts and thriller fans may want to check out this series if they can handle the triggers.
Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group – Knopf and the writing team of Lars Kepler for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-------------------------------
My 5 star review of this crime drama will be posted 3-4 days after it appears in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
April 8, 2022
For some unfathomable reason, I’ve read the entire Joona Linna series out of order. The Mirror Man is the most recent, and potentially the darkest out of the eight books currently released in the series. This probably would’ve been a five star read, if not for the grotesque dog fight scene that nearly made me give up on the book. Like whyyyy? Why couldn’t he search for the bad guy at a chocolate factory, or a circus, or the beaches of Tulum? But no, the book just HAD to take us into the deep dark world of dog-fighting. Big ick.
November 20, 2023
Consider me a new big fan! My first Lars Kepler novel but it was the 8th in the series. It is a stand alone and there is some good background info but I would have liked to have started at the beginning. Yet it was so good I did order the first in line and will be delving into the series in its entirety.
I just loved the way this book read. The start was so cool because there are a couple of things going on at once. There is a bit of pov style too as we get to know the characters and the story is basically outlined. The story is a bit complicated in a way yet the authors (Kepler is in fact a husband and wife team) keep it flowing in a natural smooth order. Our main hero Joona Linna the lead detective does not even appear for a while as the table is being set so to speak.
Now I hope I don't scare anyone off but the beginning 80 pages or so read to me like a Catriona Ward novel but nowhere near the degree of difficulty she engages her readers with. Like I said these authors keep things smooth but the setting of the table took some time and hopped around a bit. Like I said though it was pretty easy to follow imo.
Jenny Lind is a young 16 year old girl when she is kidnapped while going home from school. Quickly the book moves away from that theme and introduces us to Pamela, her husband Martin and their daughter Alicia. They are on vacation and Pamela has a spa day while Martin and Alicia (also 16) go ice fishing. A tragedy occurs while ice fishing and Martin almost drowns and Alicia does. Martin already has issues with PTSD due to a car accident where his two brothers and father were killed. He has a serious case of survivors guilt prior to this nightmare occurring.
So the novel did not deal with the kidnapping investigation in any way. No Joona Linna as of yet either. The book then moves on five years forward where we find out that Martin has basically lost his mind due to the guilt of having Alicia his step daughter die on his watch. He is institutionalized and things are extremely rough for him and Pamela. The novel then gets back to the kidnapping and that Jenny has been kidnapped and basically caged by some psycho (Caesar) and his mother (simply known as Granny). Jenny is not alone as Caesar and his mother have a harem of kidnapped girls. An old story for sure but sadly so very true as well.
So you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that these two different storylines will come together. The unfolding story is full of twists and turns and surprises galore. I so enjoyed it. Yet I have to admit that I did have a lot of questions forming in my brain. I kind of was figuring things out yet if what I was figuring out was to make sense I wanted to know how the authors were going to sell it because I really doubted a lot of my inklings so to speak and I had strong doubts that this novel would make any sense in the end. That the authors would not be able to sell me so to speak.
So I did not really figure everything out and to me that was a very good thing. And when the story wrapped up there were still about 30 pages of reading - 2/3 chapters. I really commend the authors here with the ending. It was not boring, it was not trivial. It so needed to be done because all those nagging doubts and questions were in fact answered in a very credible way.
This was one well written novel with an interesting take on many things including mental illness as well as hypnosis and psychiatry and its patients in general. It doesn't obsess with these aspects but does bring out relevant and important points.
This book really stayed in my mind. Like I said I questioned quite a bit about it. Things along the line of how are they going to explain this. How are they going to explain that. This really doesn't make sense and either does that. Yet it never ever came close to losing me as a reader and actually pushed me forward wanting to know those answers and as I said everything is delivered in a very convincing way.
An easy five stars and so looking forward to more of this series 😊
I just loved the way this book read. The start was so cool because there are a couple of things going on at once. There is a bit of pov style too as we get to know the characters and the story is basically outlined. The story is a bit complicated in a way yet the authors (Kepler is in fact a husband and wife team) keep it flowing in a natural smooth order. Our main hero Joona Linna the lead detective does not even appear for a while as the table is being set so to speak.
Now I hope I don't scare anyone off but the beginning 80 pages or so read to me like a Catriona Ward novel but nowhere near the degree of difficulty she engages her readers with. Like I said these authors keep things smooth but the setting of the table took some time and hopped around a bit. Like I said though it was pretty easy to follow imo.
Jenny Lind is a young 16 year old girl when she is kidnapped while going home from school. Quickly the book moves away from that theme and introduces us to Pamela, her husband Martin and their daughter Alicia. They are on vacation and Pamela has a spa day while Martin and Alicia (also 16) go ice fishing. A tragedy occurs while ice fishing and Martin almost drowns and Alicia does. Martin already has issues with PTSD due to a car accident where his two brothers and father were killed. He has a serious case of survivors guilt prior to this nightmare occurring.
So the novel did not deal with the kidnapping investigation in any way. No Joona Linna as of yet either. The book then moves on five years forward where we find out that Martin has basically lost his mind due to the guilt of having Alicia his step daughter die on his watch. He is institutionalized and things are extremely rough for him and Pamela. The novel then gets back to the kidnapping and that Jenny has been kidnapped and basically caged by some psycho (Caesar) and his mother (simply known as Granny). Jenny is not alone as Caesar and his mother have a harem of kidnapped girls. An old story for sure but sadly so very true as well.
So you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that these two different storylines will come together. The unfolding story is full of twists and turns and surprises galore. I so enjoyed it. Yet I have to admit that I did have a lot of questions forming in my brain. I kind of was figuring things out yet if what I was figuring out was to make sense I wanted to know how the authors were going to sell it because I really doubted a lot of my inklings so to speak and I had strong doubts that this novel would make any sense in the end. That the authors would not be able to sell me so to speak.
So I did not really figure everything out and to me that was a very good thing. And when the story wrapped up there were still about 30 pages of reading - 2/3 chapters. I really commend the authors here with the ending. It was not boring, it was not trivial. It so needed to be done because all those nagging doubts and questions were in fact answered in a very credible way.
This was one well written novel with an interesting take on many things including mental illness as well as hypnosis and psychiatry and its patients in general. It doesn't obsess with these aspects but does bring out relevant and important points.
This book really stayed in my mind. Like I said I questioned quite a bit about it. Things along the line of how are they going to explain this. How are they going to explain that. This really doesn't make sense and either does that. Yet it never ever came close to losing me as a reader and actually pushed me forward wanting to know those answers and as I said everything is delivered in a very convincing way.
An easy five stars and so looking forward to more of this series 😊
March 2, 2022
Long a fan of Lars Kepler and the Joona Linna series, I was eager to get my hands on this latest publication. In a novel that is as intense as it is dark, the story pulls the reader into levels of depravity never thought imaginable. A young girl is kidnapped in plain sight and taken into custody, where she is locked away with a number of others. Years later, she’s found hanging in a playground, her past a great mystery. Now, a new girl has gone missing and Joona Linna is brought in to investigate. While Loona tries to piece it all together, a number of girls are being held captive by a man who is has elusive as he is cruel. Linna will have to work quickly to save these girls, though nothing is making much sense. Lars Kepler does it again with a novel that sends chills up the spine.
It was a sunny day when Jenny was abducted in plain sight, leaving her family wondering what had happened. As Jenny is taken to a nondescript house, she is locked away with other girls, all of whom are cowering in fear. Those who try escaping are met with severe punishment, at times far worse than they could ever imagine. Their captor is ruthless and will stop at nothing to keep order and fear.
When Jenny’s body is found hanging in a playground five years later, questions emerge as to where she has been and how she make it to the playground. Local CCTV offers some answers, though it is not nearly enough. It’s time for police detective Joona Linna to begin investigating, though his unorthodox style leaves some wondering how effective it can be. Linna finds an obscure parallel to a death that was deemed to be a suicide years before. Now, when a new girl, Mia, goes missing, Linna is sure that there is a serial kidnapper/murderer who has been targeting young girls and hopes to make a mockery of it all.
While Linna and the Swedish police begin trying to piece things together, Mia and her fellow captives are thrust into a world of torture and pain at the hands of a heinous woman. However, their greatest fears is bot her, but a man running the show, with a long history of psychiatric issues and who presents with a highly complex condition. As Linna follows all the leads available to him, he finds a clue that could help, but time is short and the lives of these girls seem readily expendable. Lars Kepler at their best again with another bone chilling tale that is sure to keep the reader flipping pages well into the night.
I have long come to enjoy the work of Lars Kepler, especially with the detailed narrative and strong storyline. There is something ‘unputdownable’ about the books, perhaps related to the depravity the antagonist presents throughout. The story flows well, even though it is translated, and the action continues throughout, keeping the reader on their toes during this dark journey.
Joona Linna is a protagonist like few others, with many of her personal struggles front and centre in the novel. While he is highly unorthodox, using illegal drugs to get through the day, his ability to investigate is like no other. Linna finds ways to get inside the heads of the most heinous killers and gets to the root of the crime. That being said, he cannot shake some of his personal issues, which shape all that he has become, making the stories all the more engrossing.
When I look for a strong police procedural with psychologistal thriller aspects, I need look no further than Lars Kepler. Each of the eight books have kept me hooked and I cannot say enough about them. The narrative is strong and keeps me connected throughout, with mid-length chapters to leave me demanding more. The plot is quite strong and the characters compelement it well. Sick and depraved antagonists round out the story well and keep me wondering just how far things will go until Joona Linna finds a way to solve the case. The fact that the story is translated always baffles me, as the writing flows with such ease. There is no hint of translation and I would swear it was penned in English from the beginning. Hats off the translator and Kepler’s ability to write so seamlessly. I would highly recommend these novels to anyone with time and a penchant for the darker psychologist thriller, alongside a police detective who will stop at nothing to get answers.
Kudos, Lars Kepler, for another sensational book in the series. What will you come up with next?
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
It was a sunny day when Jenny was abducted in plain sight, leaving her family wondering what had happened. As Jenny is taken to a nondescript house, she is locked away with other girls, all of whom are cowering in fear. Those who try escaping are met with severe punishment, at times far worse than they could ever imagine. Their captor is ruthless and will stop at nothing to keep order and fear.
When Jenny’s body is found hanging in a playground five years later, questions emerge as to where she has been and how she make it to the playground. Local CCTV offers some answers, though it is not nearly enough. It’s time for police detective Joona Linna to begin investigating, though his unorthodox style leaves some wondering how effective it can be. Linna finds an obscure parallel to a death that was deemed to be a suicide years before. Now, when a new girl, Mia, goes missing, Linna is sure that there is a serial kidnapper/murderer who has been targeting young girls and hopes to make a mockery of it all.
While Linna and the Swedish police begin trying to piece things together, Mia and her fellow captives are thrust into a world of torture and pain at the hands of a heinous woman. However, their greatest fears is bot her, but a man running the show, with a long history of psychiatric issues and who presents with a highly complex condition. As Linna follows all the leads available to him, he finds a clue that could help, but time is short and the lives of these girls seem readily expendable. Lars Kepler at their best again with another bone chilling tale that is sure to keep the reader flipping pages well into the night.
I have long come to enjoy the work of Lars Kepler, especially with the detailed narrative and strong storyline. There is something ‘unputdownable’ about the books, perhaps related to the depravity the antagonist presents throughout. The story flows well, even though it is translated, and the action continues throughout, keeping the reader on their toes during this dark journey.
Joona Linna is a protagonist like few others, with many of her personal struggles front and centre in the novel. While he is highly unorthodox, using illegal drugs to get through the day, his ability to investigate is like no other. Linna finds ways to get inside the heads of the most heinous killers and gets to the root of the crime. That being said, he cannot shake some of his personal issues, which shape all that he has become, making the stories all the more engrossing.
When I look for a strong police procedural with psychologistal thriller aspects, I need look no further than Lars Kepler. Each of the eight books have kept me hooked and I cannot say enough about them. The narrative is strong and keeps me connected throughout, with mid-length chapters to leave me demanding more. The plot is quite strong and the characters compelement it well. Sick and depraved antagonists round out the story well and keep me wondering just how far things will go until Joona Linna finds a way to solve the case. The fact that the story is translated always baffles me, as the writing flows with such ease. There is no hint of translation and I would swear it was penned in English from the beginning. Hats off the translator and Kepler’s ability to write so seamlessly. I would highly recommend these novels to anyone with time and a penchant for the darker psychologist thriller, alongside a police detective who will stop at nothing to get answers.
Kudos, Lars Kepler, for another sensational book in the series. What will you come up with next?
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 3, 2021
October 2020
I wasn’t going to write a review, and this still won’t be a proper one. When you’re eight books into a series (even though the books are are more or less counted as “stand-alones") it gets difficult to discuss a book without bringing up spoilers. But there is one thing I do want to discuss. And that is dissociative identity disorder. It is under spoiler territory so I will hide it in a spoiler tag. In a spoiler free context, the representation of this disorder isn’t in a good light.
This could have been a 4 star, but I’m that person who knocks off stars due to bad representation of minorities. This was why I was torn about rating it 4 or 3 stars but settled on 3. Apart from the bad representation the book was really good. I enjoyed the new characters, Pamela and Martin. They had tons of emotional backstory and Kepler did a great job at making you really feel for them. Joona is doing his usual superhuman shenanigans.
The writing is on point this far into the series, and despite Malmsjö not being my favuorite narrator (it's mostly how he "voices" some characters that are my main issue), he manages, to me, delivers a certain feeling that makes me enjoy the books so much more listening to them, than if I read them myself (as ebook or physical book)
The book ends with a slight cliff hanger. Not a big one, mostly a promise for a new villain. Or is it a new one? Honestly it took me TOO LONG to figure out the message. And as much as I loved that murderer/villain I’m not sure I want them to come back for another book. Still excited for it because parts of me do enjoy the way that character just creeps me out.
I’m not completely mad that Kepler wrote the murderer this way because they written all kinds of murderers, some of them really scary (like abovementioned murderer but not going to say who because spoilers). If you think me petty for knocking of a star for this, that’s on you.
---
September 2020
I just found out we gonna get a new Joona Linna book in less than two months
I'm excite and i don't even like crime books that much
I wasn’t going to write a review, and this still won’t be a proper one. When you’re eight books into a series (even though the books are are more or less counted as “stand-alones") it gets difficult to discuss a book without bringing up spoilers. But there is one thing I do want to discuss. And that is dissociative identity disorder. It is under spoiler territory so I will hide it in a spoiler tag. In a spoiler free context, the representation of this disorder isn’t in a good light.
This could have been a 4 star, but I’m that person who knocks off stars due to bad representation of minorities. This was why I was torn about rating it 4 or 3 stars but settled on 3. Apart from the bad representation the book was really good. I enjoyed the new characters, Pamela and Martin. They had tons of emotional backstory and Kepler did a great job at making you really feel for them. Joona is doing his usual superhuman shenanigans.
The writing is on point this far into the series, and despite Malmsjö not being my favuorite narrator (it's mostly how he "voices" some characters that are my main issue), he manages, to me, delivers a certain feeling that makes me enjoy the books so much more listening to them, than if I read them myself (as ebook or physical book)
The book ends with a slight cliff hanger. Not a big one, mostly a promise for a new villain. Or is it a new one? Honestly it took me TOO LONG to figure out the message. And as much as I loved that murderer/villain I’m not sure I want them to come back for another book. Still excited for it because parts of me do enjoy the way that character just creeps me out.
I’m not completely mad that Kepler wrote the murderer this way because they written all kinds of murderers, some of them really scary (like abovementioned murderer but not going to say who because spoilers). If you think me petty for knocking of a star for this, that’s on you.
---
September 2020
I just found out we gonna get a new Joona Linna book in less than two months
I'm excite and i don't even like crime books that much
January 22, 2024
3,5⭐
Un thriller entretenido, que se me cayó en parte por el final.
Dice la sinopsis:
Jenny Lind tiene dieciséis años cuando la secuestran al volver del instituto a casa. Durante su encierro junto a otras chicas, en una granja de visones abandonada, hace todo lo posible por sobrevivir en un lugar rodeado de trampas para lobos y bajo la estricta vigilancia de «la abuela», que no duda en usar la sierra para evitar que se alejen. El mundo acaba dando por muerta a Jenny... hasta que cinco años después, una joven aparece ahorcada en un parque infantil de Estocolmo. Las cámaras de seguridad muestran un único testigo, un hombre que mira atentamente la escena. Sin embargo, su cerebro, destrozado por una serie de traumas, ha decidido dejar de registrar el horror y no puede recordar nada. El detective Joona Linna, que vuelve a hacer gala de métodos poco ortodoxos, contacta con el doctor Erik Maria Bark, el hipnotista que años antes ya le había dado la clave para una investigación. En su intento de comprender la compleja y depravada psicología del asesino, Linna emprende una casi imposible carrera contrarreloj.
Mis impresiones:
Nueva entrega de la serie protagonizada por Joona Linna. Es autoconclusiva. Aparece de nuevo el doctor Erik Maria Bark, protagonista de "El hipnotista", la primera de la saga, pero no se requiere haber leído ninguna de las anteriores ni se echa en falta ningún dato.
La trama es de las que atrapan rápido al lector. Ritmo ágil, muchos interrogantes y un detective en tonos de gris. Como es habitual en estos autores incluyen escenas de acción, así como otras bastante truculentas (abstenerse estómagos delicados). Me tuvo muy enganchada hasta sobrepasado el 80%, momento en el que algunas de las soluciones que plantea me empezaron a chirriar.
Joona Linna, el protagonista, ya es un viejo conocido para los que hemos seguido las novelas de Lars Kepler. Inteligente, arriesgado, con luces y sombras y de personalidad compleja. Una combinación que a estos autores les funciona bien.
Como ya he comentado, la novela se me cayó en parte por el final. Creo que, en esta ocasión, a la pareja escritora se les ha ido la mano, han rizado demasiado el rizo y, aunque justifican buena parte de lo que plantean, se dejan fisuras que no quedan bien resueltas por mucho que hayan intentado explicarlas. Valga como ejemplo sin ser el único, las circunstancias que conducen a la joven ahorcada en el parque infantil a acudir a dicho parque. Esta es la razón por la que no me decido a darle las cuatro estrellas.
En conclusión. Una novela con el inconfundible sello de Lars Kepler, intriga, acción y escenas truculentas. No aburre y se lee bien, eso desde luego, a pesar de los reparos que le pongo al desenlace.
Un thriller entretenido, que se me cayó en parte por el final.
Dice la sinopsis:
Jenny Lind tiene dieciséis años cuando la secuestran al volver del instituto a casa. Durante su encierro junto a otras chicas, en una granja de visones abandonada, hace todo lo posible por sobrevivir en un lugar rodeado de trampas para lobos y bajo la estricta vigilancia de «la abuela», que no duda en usar la sierra para evitar que se alejen. El mundo acaba dando por muerta a Jenny... hasta que cinco años después, una joven aparece ahorcada en un parque infantil de Estocolmo. Las cámaras de seguridad muestran un único testigo, un hombre que mira atentamente la escena. Sin embargo, su cerebro, destrozado por una serie de traumas, ha decidido dejar de registrar el horror y no puede recordar nada. El detective Joona Linna, que vuelve a hacer gala de métodos poco ortodoxos, contacta con el doctor Erik Maria Bark, el hipnotista que años antes ya le había dado la clave para una investigación. En su intento de comprender la compleja y depravada psicología del asesino, Linna emprende una casi imposible carrera contrarreloj.
Mis impresiones:
Nueva entrega de la serie protagonizada por Joona Linna. Es autoconclusiva. Aparece de nuevo el doctor Erik Maria Bark, protagonista de "El hipnotista", la primera de la saga, pero no se requiere haber leído ninguna de las anteriores ni se echa en falta ningún dato.
La trama es de las que atrapan rápido al lector. Ritmo ágil, muchos interrogantes y un detective en tonos de gris. Como es habitual en estos autores incluyen escenas de acción, así como otras bastante truculentas (abstenerse estómagos delicados). Me tuvo muy enganchada hasta sobrepasado el 80%, momento en el que algunas de las soluciones que plantea me empezaron a chirriar.
Joona Linna, el protagonista, ya es un viejo conocido para los que hemos seguido las novelas de Lars Kepler. Inteligente, arriesgado, con luces y sombras y de personalidad compleja. Una combinación que a estos autores les funciona bien.
Como ya he comentado, la novela se me cayó en parte por el final. Creo que, en esta ocasión, a la pareja escritora se les ha ido la mano, han rizado demasiado el rizo y, aunque justifican buena parte de lo que plantean, se dejan fisuras que no quedan bien resueltas por mucho que hayan intentado explicarlas. Valga como ejemplo sin ser el único, las circunstancias que conducen a la joven ahorcada en el parque infantil a acudir a dicho parque. Esta es la razón por la que no me decido a darle las cuatro estrellas.
En conclusión. Una novela con el inconfundible sello de Lars Kepler, intriga, acción y escenas truculentas. No aburre y se lee bien, eso desde luego, a pesar de los reparos que le pongo al desenlace.
October 16, 2024
3* su uodega
Muzikoje yra toks išsireiškimas "stacatto",būtent tokiu tempu ir sakinių skambesiu ir vystėsi istorija...
"+" už pradžią, sukėlusią šiurpuliukus, už neatspėtą pabaigą (nors buvau per plauko storį netoli:)
"-" seniai skaitytos kitos dalys trukdė prisiminti įtrauktą Linos praeitį ir suprasti vidinę kovą;
O tiek bereikalingų detalių ir sakinių galėjo sutrumpinti knygą visus 200 puslapių😃
************************************
In music, there is such an expression "stacatto", precisely at this pace and the sound of the sentences, the story is developed...
"+" for the start that gave me shivers, for the unexpected ending (although I was a hair's breadth away :)
"-" other series I have read a long time ago that gave me difficulties to remember Lina's past and understanding his inner struggle;
And so many unnecessary details and sentences could shorten the book by all 200 pages:)
Muzikoje yra toks išsireiškimas "stacatto",būtent tokiu tempu ir sakinių skambesiu ir vystėsi istorija...
"+" už pradžią, sukėlusią šiurpuliukus, už neatspėtą pabaigą (nors buvau per plauko storį netoli:)
"-" seniai skaitytos kitos dalys trukdė prisiminti įtrauktą Linos praeitį ir suprasti vidinę kovą;
O tiek bereikalingų detalių ir sakinių galėjo sutrumpinti knygą visus 200 puslapių😃
************************************
In music, there is such an expression "stacatto", precisely at this pace and the sound of the sentences, the story is developed...
"+" for the start that gave me shivers, for the unexpected ending (although I was a hair's breadth away :)
"-" other series I have read a long time ago that gave me difficulties to remember Lina's past and understanding his inner struggle;
And so many unnecessary details and sentences could shorten the book by all 200 pages:)
May 13, 2022
In fact, it's a great book, four stars just because giving a five to a detective about a maniac (if it's not "The Silence of the Lambs") is nonsense. But it's great within the genre. A married couple of beautiful Swedish writers with the same name for two, writing under the pseudonym Lars Kepler, managed to change the first negative opinion that I had with Lazarus.
There is enough cruelty in the "Mirror Man", but it does not give the impression of unjustifiably exaggerated, and the terrible story under the motto: "Children play - mothers look at them" really scares, causes sympathy, makes you worry.
The eighth part of the adventures of a detective with the biblical name of Jonah, plunges the hero into the womb of another whale, with a full set of accompanying associations: a captive victim in a confined space, water, sharp teeth of guarding monsters, religious dogmatism.
And all this is perfectly organically integrated into the difficult plot of a detective thriller. with one caveat - there is no figure of the crucified Jesus on the mink skull, I have been looking at them on the Internet.
As for the audiobook, the version of the novel performed by Igor Knyazev is beautiful as always. I can't help but mention the Godfather of the local scale Stefano and the range of female images, from absolutely charming to frightening.
Держитесь подальше от психов
Дети играют - мамы смотрят на них
На самом деле, отличная книга, четыре звезды только потому, что ставить пятерку детективу про маньяка (если это не "Молчание ягнят") - нонсенс. Но в рамках жанра великолепно. Супружеская пара красивых шведских писателей с одним на двоих именем, пишущая под псевдонимом Ларс Кеплер сумела изменить первое негативное мнение, которое сложилось у меня с "Лазарем".
В "Зеркальном человеке" жестокости хватает, но она не производит впечатления неоправданно утрированной, а жуткая история под девизом: "Дети играют - мамы смотрят на них" по-настоящему пугает, вызывает сочувствие, заставляет переживать.
Восьмая часть приключений детектива с библейским именем Йона, ввергает героя в чрево очередного кита, с полным набором сопутствующих ассоциаций: плененная жертва в замкнутом пространстве, вода, острые зубы стерегущих чудовищ, религиозный догматизм.
И все это замечательно органично вписано в непростой сюжет детективного триллера. с одной оговоркой - нифига на норковом черепе нет фигурки распятого Иисуса, я в интернете их стопицот рассматривала.
Что до аудиокниги, то вариант романа в исполнении Игоря Князева прекрасен как всегда. Не могу не отметить Крестного отца местного масштаба Стефано и диапазона женских образов, от совершенно очаровательных до пугающих.
There is enough cruelty in the "Mirror Man", but it does not give the impression of unjustifiably exaggerated, and the terrible story under the motto: "Children play - mothers look at them" really scares, causes sympathy, makes you worry.
The eighth part of the adventures of a detective with the biblical name of Jonah, plunges the hero into the womb of another whale, with a full set of accompanying associations: a captive victim in a confined space, water, sharp teeth of guarding monsters, religious dogmatism.
And all this is perfectly organically integrated into the difficult plot of a detective thriller. with one caveat - there is no figure of the crucified Jesus on the mink skull, I have been looking at them on the Internet.
As for the audiobook, the version of the novel performed by Igor Knyazev is beautiful as always. I can't help but mention the Godfather of the local scale Stefano and the range of female images, from absolutely charming to frightening.
Держитесь подальше от психов
Дети играют - мамы смотрят на них
На самом деле, отличная книга, четыре звезды только потому, что ставить пятерку детективу про маньяка (если это не "Молчание ягнят") - нонсенс. Но в рамках жанра великолепно. Супружеская пара красивых шведских писателей с одним на двоих именем, пишущая под псевдонимом Ларс Кеплер сумела изменить первое негативное мнение, которое сложилось у меня с "Лазарем".
В "Зеркальном человеке" жестокости хватает, но она не производит впечатления неоправданно утрированной, а жуткая история под девизом: "Дети играют - мамы смотрят на них" по-настоящему пугает, вызывает сочувствие, заставляет переживать.
Восьмая часть приключений детектива с библейским именем Йона, ввергает героя в чрево очередного кита, с полным набором сопутствующих ассоциаций: плененная жертва в замкнутом пространстве, вода, острые зубы стерегущих чудовищ, религиозный догматизм.
И все это замечательно органично вписано в непростой сюжет детективного триллера. с одной оговоркой - нифига на норковом черепе нет фигурки распятого Иисуса, я в интернете их стопицот рассматривала.
Что до аудиокниги, то вариант романа в исполнении Игоря Князева прекрасен как всегда. Не могу не отметить Крестного отца местного масштаба Стефано и диапазона женских образов, от совершенно очаровательных до пугающих.
December 9, 2022
This was my first Lars Kepler Novel and while I found it entertaining and very readable I wasn't convinced by the plotline or the character's actions.
The Mirror Man is Joona Linna Series 8 but can be read as a stand alone novel. I haven't read any of the author's other books and didn't feel I needed to in order to read this one.
Five years ago, Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school.
Now her lifeless body is found hanging in a playground. But there is no evidence and only one witness - a man who cannot remember what he saw.
With Detective Joona Linna and the police scrambling to find a lead, another girl goes missing. And as they close in on the killer, they discover that the Mirror Man's crimes are more shocking than they ever could have imagined.
I was hooked on this one from the very first chapter, I liked the dark and chilling aspect of this thriller at the beginning, but as the novel wore on I became a bit disillusioned with the plotline and the character's actions. The novel is very graphic and while I have come to expect that from Scandinavian thrillers, I felt the author was trying too hard to shock the reader as opposed to keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. There is a scene at the "Hanger fight/bet club" that was my point of no return for me in the book. The conclusion was farfetched and I felt a little disappointed on finishing the novel.
An entertaining read but not one for my favourites shelf.
The Mirror Man is Joona Linna Series 8 but can be read as a stand alone novel. I haven't read any of the author's other books and didn't feel I needed to in order to read this one.
Five years ago, Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school.
Now her lifeless body is found hanging in a playground. But there is no evidence and only one witness - a man who cannot remember what he saw.
With Detective Joona Linna and the police scrambling to find a lead, another girl goes missing. And as they close in on the killer, they discover that the Mirror Man's crimes are more shocking than they ever could have imagined.
I was hooked on this one from the very first chapter, I liked the dark and chilling aspect of this thriller at the beginning, but as the novel wore on I became a bit disillusioned with the plotline and the character's actions. The novel is very graphic and while I have come to expect that from Scandinavian thrillers, I felt the author was trying too hard to shock the reader as opposed to keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. There is a scene at the "Hanger fight/bet club" that was my point of no return for me in the book. The conclusion was farfetched and I felt a little disappointed on finishing the novel.
An entertaining read but not one for my favourites shelf.
Read
April 30, 2022After giving 5 stars to the previous book in this series I am bummed to give so few stars to this one here, but it's just the way it has to be as Mirror Man was uneven at best and needlessly crude and uninspired at its worst. This was Kepler's first book to actually read like it was written by two different people. At times the writing was crisp and suspenseful while at others clunky and shockingly dull: aka when it worked it worked and when it didn't it suuure didn't. Bummer.
Cheers to the next one!!
2 1/2 Unbalanced Stars
Cheers to the next one!!
2 1/2 Unbalanced Stars
September 28, 2021
This is the 8th book in the Joona Linna series by the husband and wife authors who go by the pseudonym of Lars Kepler.
Not sure how I got into this series but hard to believe I have read all 8 books and enjoyed most of them.
Detective Joona Linna is on the trail of a kidnapper who targets teenage girls and makes their worst nightmares a reality. Seventeen-year-old Jenny is abducted in broad daylight and taken to run down, isolated house where she is chained and caged along with several other girls. Their captor is unpredictable and extremely brutal in the punishment he gives out.
Five years later, Jenny is found dead in a public park, and the police are hitting dead ends in their efforts to find her killer. When Detective Joona Linna realises that this murder appears to have a connection to a death that was declared a suicide years before they may have their first break. Another seventeen year old goes missing and it confirms that there is a serial killer on the loose. With the police getting closer to the killer the girls being held captive are put in greater danger. It becomes a race against time to catch the killer before more lives are lost.
The book is quite graphic and brutal in parts and maybe too much for some readers but I certainly thought that it added to the atmospheric setting. Although I have read all 8 books in order I feel that they could quite easily be read as standalones.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Knopf for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Not sure how I got into this series but hard to believe I have read all 8 books and enjoyed most of them.
Detective Joona Linna is on the trail of a kidnapper who targets teenage girls and makes their worst nightmares a reality. Seventeen-year-old Jenny is abducted in broad daylight and taken to run down, isolated house where she is chained and caged along with several other girls. Their captor is unpredictable and extremely brutal in the punishment he gives out.
Five years later, Jenny is found dead in a public park, and the police are hitting dead ends in their efforts to find her killer. When Detective Joona Linna realises that this murder appears to have a connection to a death that was declared a suicide years before they may have their first break. Another seventeen year old goes missing and it confirms that there is a serial killer on the loose. With the police getting closer to the killer the girls being held captive are put in greater danger. It becomes a race against time to catch the killer before more lives are lost.
The book is quite graphic and brutal in parts and maybe too much for some readers but I certainly thought that it added to the atmospheric setting. Although I have read all 8 books in order I feel that they could quite easily be read as standalones.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Knopf for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2024
This is a dark and gripping thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. The story begins with the chilling disappearance of Jenny, a young girl snatched in broad daylight, which sets the stage for a disturbing and tense mystery. Years later, her body is found, and Detective Joona Linna is called in to solve the case.
The book takes readers through a whirlwind of twists and turns, with some truly creepy and intense moments. The writing is fast-paced, and the suspense never lets up. Kepler does a great job creating an eerie atmosphere, making you feel the fear and confusion the characters are going through.
However, the story is also quite violent and disturbing, so it's not for the faint of heart. The plot can be complicated at times, but the mystery keeps you hooked as more pieces of the puzzle come together. Joona Linna is a compelling character, and his determination to solve the case is what drives the story forward.
Overall, Mirror Man is a dark and intense read with a lot of suspense. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and don't mind some disturbing content, it's definitely worth picking up.
The book takes readers through a whirlwind of twists and turns, with some truly creepy and intense moments. The writing is fast-paced, and the suspense never lets up. Kepler does a great job creating an eerie atmosphere, making you feel the fear and confusion the characters are going through.
However, the story is also quite violent and disturbing, so it's not for the faint of heart. The plot can be complicated at times, but the mystery keeps you hooked as more pieces of the puzzle come together. Joona Linna is a compelling character, and his determination to solve the case is what drives the story forward.
Overall, Mirror Man is a dark and intense read with a lot of suspense. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and don't mind some disturbing content, it's definitely worth picking up.
November 24, 2020
I really hope this is the last book in series.
Or...I really hope I will find some dignity and self-control and stop reading things like this just because I've started.
Or...I really hope I will find some dignity and self-control and stop reading things like this just because I've started.
December 23, 2020
5 ⭐
🔸️ Lars Kepler, uma dupla que me fascinou desde o primeiro livro que li deles "Stalker" desde aí não parei. Eis que chegou o mais recente e, como é lógico, tinha de o ler!
.
🔶️ Com uma premissa assustadora e pouco reveladora dos detalhes mais grotescos que li na saga, apenas aviso: preparem-se porque é intenso do início ao fim!! Assim sendo, Jenny Lind, uma jovem adolescente, é raptada quando ia a caminho de casa, passado 5 anos é encontrada morta num parque infantil num cenário grotesco. A única testemunha é Martin, um homem com problemas mentais aquando a perda da sua filha Alice. O único que o consegue ajudar Martin a lembrar-se do sucedido é a personagem tão conhecida da saga, o hipnotista Erik Bark
.
🔸️O livro lê-se mesmo muito bem, isto por ter capítulos curtos e uma narrativa bem construída que, simplesmente, flui. Os próprios autores referiram que tiveram de se afastar nos momentos da escrita desta história, pela mesma ser tão aterrorizante... a verdade é que senti o mesmo!! (E atenção, eu já estou habituada com os detalhes mais tenebrosos que possam imaginar)
.
🔶️ Em relação à historia em si, achei-a inteligentemente bem construída, em que nos envolve até às últimas páginas sem sabermos quem é o misterioso homem-espelho. A revelação é incrível!! As personagens são interessantes, as mulheres presas e abusadas são as que mais dão sumo à história, Martin e Pamela são as mais elaboradas e densas, dando a coesão a toda a narrativa. Por outro lado, temos a personagem mais chata, mas que entendo o porquê de estar presente na história, o psiquiatra Dennis.
.
🔸️Em relação a toda a conclusão do crime, os Lars prezam sempre por uma solução pacífica e que acabe tudo bem... mas neste caso, acho que muita coisa ficou em aberto, o que adoro! Agora fica a questão que ainda me rói o pensamento: alguém que leu o livro possa discutir comigo o anagrama final?
.
Este livro será perfeito para quem aprecia:
🔸️narrativas com detalhes tensos
🔸️temáticas como abusos sexuais, violação e abuso de menores
🔸️distúrbio de identidade dissociativa
🔸️thrillers que fazem vibrar
🔸️ Lars Kepler, uma dupla que me fascinou desde o primeiro livro que li deles "Stalker" desde aí não parei. Eis que chegou o mais recente e, como é lógico, tinha de o ler!
.
🔶️ Com uma premissa assustadora e pouco reveladora dos detalhes mais grotescos que li na saga, apenas aviso: preparem-se porque é intenso do início ao fim!! Assim sendo, Jenny Lind, uma jovem adolescente, é raptada quando ia a caminho de casa, passado 5 anos é encontrada morta num parque infantil num cenário grotesco. A única testemunha é Martin, um homem com problemas mentais aquando a perda da sua filha Alice. O único que o consegue ajudar Martin a lembrar-se do sucedido é a personagem tão conhecida da saga, o hipnotista Erik Bark
.
🔸️O livro lê-se mesmo muito bem, isto por ter capítulos curtos e uma narrativa bem construída que, simplesmente, flui. Os próprios autores referiram que tiveram de se afastar nos momentos da escrita desta história, pela mesma ser tão aterrorizante... a verdade é que senti o mesmo!! (E atenção, eu já estou habituada com os detalhes mais tenebrosos que possam imaginar)
.
🔶️ Em relação à historia em si, achei-a inteligentemente bem construída, em que nos envolve até às últimas páginas sem sabermos quem é o misterioso homem-espelho. A revelação é incrível!! As personagens são interessantes, as mulheres presas e abusadas são as que mais dão sumo à história, Martin e Pamela são as mais elaboradas e densas, dando a coesão a toda a narrativa. Por outro lado, temos a personagem mais chata, mas que entendo o porquê de estar presente na história, o psiquiatra Dennis.
.
🔸️Em relação a toda a conclusão do crime, os Lars prezam sempre por uma solução pacífica e que acabe tudo bem... mas neste caso, acho que muita coisa ficou em aberto, o que adoro! Agora fica a questão que ainda me rói o pensamento: alguém que leu o livro possa discutir comigo o anagrama final?
.
Este livro será perfeito para quem aprecia:
🔸️narrativas com detalhes tensos
🔸️temáticas como abusos sexuais, violação e abuso de menores
🔸️distúrbio de identidade dissociativa
🔸️thrillers que fazem vibrar
May 6, 2023
Patinka man Lars Kepler👍🙂 gaila liko jau tik paskutinė dalis.
September 9, 2023
Another good entry in an always dependable series. Dark and gruesome, plenty of twists, fast-paced and an easy read. Everything you would want in a ScandiNoir genre book.
December 18, 2020
Opinião completa: https://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com...
January 22, 2021
Ich fand die Reihe rund um Joona Linna bisher wirklich gut. Aber in diesem Teil war alles irgendwie etwas wirr. Der Anfang war noch gut und spannend. Aber irgendwann war ich einfach nur noch irritiert. Die ganze Zeit fragte ich mich, was das, und das und das denn mit der Handlung zu tun hat. Am Ende wird zwar alles aufgelöst, aber ich fand es einfach zu viel, zu unrealistisch und unlogisch. Die Idee dahinter hätte wirklich interessant sein können, aber bei der Umsetzung hat es meiner Ansicht nach gehapert. Schade, ich hatte mich sehr auf diesen weiteren Band gefreut. Vielleicht kann mich ja der 9. Teil wieder überzeugen.
November 23, 2021
This is a mammoth crime novel and not a quick read, but it manage to maintain pace and tension well given its length. It's a book with a really dark heart but there are characters you can really invest in. It reads like a crime saga really, and you need to let yourself get immersed in it, but it's well worth the effort. It's a gripping read, quite overwhelming, with some truly amazing writing. Parts of it were really very unsettling, which I loved. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2022
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON. TOO MUCH GOING ON. I AM TOO DUMB TO KEEP UP WITH THIS BOOK.
THE END.
THE END.
January 17, 2022
Thank you so much to Knopf Publishing, Penguin Audio, and Lars Kelper for my copy of The Mirror Man. This book was so dark and creepy and I loved it. It’s about a serial killer who puts girls through unspeakable horror. When one of his victims is found five years after her abduction hung up in a park, the police realize there is a creepy connection to a death that was declared a suicide. Then another girl goes missing, and Joona Linna is on the case. The police start to track the killer, and this only puts pressure on the killer who will stop at nothing.
Thoughts: This book was truly horrifying. There were so many unspeakable horrors that went on, so be aware there are trigger warnings for rape, abuse, and violence. This was the quintessential nordic noir and really had dark and eerie vibes. Lars Kepler always does an amazing job and this is no exception. The story builds in such a perfect way that you can’t help but be sucked in to the story.
I switched between reading and the audio, and I have to say the narrator did an amazing job. His voices fit the characters so well and really helped me get the feel of the story. AND THE TWIST. I thought I knew what was going on. I laughed to myself about how transparent the twist was going to be. BUT NO. It wasn’t what I thought at all and I loved that. This book was wonderful and perfect for anyone who likes a dark and terrifying thriller. 5-stars!
Thoughts: This book was truly horrifying. There were so many unspeakable horrors that went on, so be aware there are trigger warnings for rape, abuse, and violence. This was the quintessential nordic noir and really had dark and eerie vibes. Lars Kepler always does an amazing job and this is no exception. The story builds in such a perfect way that you can’t help but be sucked in to the story.
I switched between reading and the audio, and I have to say the narrator did an amazing job. His voices fit the characters so well and really helped me get the feel of the story. AND THE TWIST. I thought I knew what was going on. I laughed to myself about how transparent the twist was going to be. BUT NO. It wasn’t what I thought at all and I loved that. This book was wonderful and perfect for anyone who likes a dark and terrifying thriller. 5-stars!
September 22, 2021
The Mirror Man is the eighth novel in Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna Swedish crime fiction series. Here, this husband and wife writing team tackle a frightening scenario so dreadfully evil that it is sobering to realize it is a scenario that has played out in reality. There is often a fine line between insanity and evil and the psychiatry profession tries to do their best to fix these twisted people, but as this novel teaches us, that profession somehow cannot fathom how treacherous evil can be and how the analytical tools of the profession are simply insufficient to deal with those too clever to be cured. There are milk boxes that have been dotted with the faces of missing children, but none ever do more than touch the tip of the grieving pain the families left behind feel, wondering, praying. Set in Sweden, originally written in Swedish, Mirror Man is a fast-paced trip down serial killer highway, well-written, tough.
August 23, 2024
Starts out with a brutal kidnapping of a young girl who is found hung in a playground five years later. Intense serial killer story with some nice twists. At one point I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong, really enjoyed that for once.
The novel is a little disjointed at times though. For example, at one-point Joona participates in a raid on a house where several people die and then in the very next chapter, he’s talking with a lady (Pamela), who has stake in what’s going on and he never mentions anything. Just talking away at her nonchalantly. It was weird, made me feel like there were missing chapters in between. There were a couple other instances like that which was a bit odd.
I must say though that this book is so much better than the previous one, Lazaras. It's the eight book in the series and I don't think you need to read any of the others first before you read this. I for one intend to start reading the entire series from the beginning.
The novel is a little disjointed at times though. For example, at one-point Joona participates in a raid on a house where several people die and then in the very next chapter, he’s talking with a lady (Pamela), who has stake in what’s going on and he never mentions anything. Just talking away at her nonchalantly. It was weird, made me feel like there were missing chapters in between. There were a couple other instances like that which was a bit odd.
I must say though that this book is so much better than the previous one, Lazaras. It's the eight book in the series and I don't think you need to read any of the others first before you read this. I for one intend to start reading the entire series from the beginning.
August 6, 2022
TOO MUCH
Everything in this book is too much:
-too much blood
-too much cruelty
-too much madness
-too much stupid police
-too much unnecessary explanation
-too many deaths
I used to like these 2 authors and read all their books. But after Lazarus my opinion about them started to change. After last 2 books I decided never to visit Sweden in my life if there streets are full of bodies and police doesn't care about it.
If you like horror books, give the book a try. I was hoping that it is a mystery crime book, but was very much disappointed.
Everything in this book is too much:
-too much blood
-too much cruelty
-too much madness
-too much stupid police
-too much unnecessary explanation
-too many deaths
I used to like these 2 authors and read all their books. But after Lazarus my opinion about them started to change. After last 2 books I decided never to visit Sweden in my life if there streets are full of bodies and police doesn't care about it.
If you like horror books, give the book a try. I was hoping that it is a mystery crime book, but was very much disappointed.
January 21, 2021
Que livro!!! Já tinha saudades de um policial assim.. a dupla Lars Kepler nunca desilude!!
March 11, 2022
Another incredible book from Kepler 👏🏼 Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted copy!
I’m sure no one is surprised that I absolutely adored this. I love this series so so much and it remains my favorite crime series of all time. Kepler’s writing is beyond incredible in this book in particular and the pacing was top notch. Some of their books read quicker than others, and this one definitely aligns more with the pacing of a psychological thriller.
This book was DARKKK. Kepler never holds back when it comes to the gore, but this book especially was 😳😳😳 Definitely not for the faint of heart but we love to see it !!! Although it isn’t one of my top favorites in the series, I definitely think it would be a great one to start off with if you’re looking for your first Lars Kepler read! Perfectly read as a stand-alone and the pacing will keep you fully entertained 🙌🏼
CW: rape, torture, suicide, + more (please look up all CW before reading)
I’m sure no one is surprised that I absolutely adored this. I love this series so so much and it remains my favorite crime series of all time. Kepler’s writing is beyond incredible in this book in particular and the pacing was top notch. Some of their books read quicker than others, and this one definitely aligns more with the pacing of a psychological thriller.
This book was DARKKK. Kepler never holds back when it comes to the gore, but this book especially was 😳😳😳 Definitely not for the faint of heart but we love to see it !!! Although it isn’t one of my top favorites in the series, I definitely think it would be a great one to start off with if you’re looking for your first Lars Kepler read! Perfectly read as a stand-alone and the pacing will keep you fully entertained 🙌🏼
CW: rape, torture, suicide, + more (please look up all CW before reading)
September 3, 2021
Definitely one of the most addictive novels I've read in my 2022 advanced reading- I'm a fan of Lars Kepler anyway and I think this might be my favourite yet.
A huge page turner with a haunting and creepy plot, an ending that I actually didn't work out in advance (very unusual for me these days) and some superbly engaging characters The Mirror Man is one of those novels you devour because every time you go to put it aside something happens that pulls you back in.
Just one more chapter. That's what you'll be saying to yourself throughout this read. Going to be a hit next year I think.
Highly Recommend.
A huge page turner with a haunting and creepy plot, an ending that I actually didn't work out in advance (very unusual for me these days) and some superbly engaging characters The Mirror Man is one of those novels you devour because every time you go to put it aside something happens that pulls you back in.
Just one more chapter. That's what you'll be saying to yourself throughout this read. Going to be a hit next year I think.
Highly Recommend.
April 25, 2023
Vijf jaar na haar verdwijning wordt het levenloze lichaam gevonden van een jonge vrouw. De enige ooggetuige van de moord is een warrige man, die niet zeker weet wat hij gezien heeft. Joona Linna roept de hulp in van hypnotiseur Erik Maria Bark, zodat de man onder hypnose zijn herinneringen weer kan oproepen.
Yes, @thebooksofwonder en ik lazen afgelopen week al het achtste deel van de serie met Joona Linna in de hoofdrol en het was me er weer eentje hoor!
Ook dit deel begint weer ontzettend spannend. Er zijn meerdere verhaallijnen en eentje daarvan is de verdwijning van Jenny, een meisje dat vijf jaar later dood wordt gevonden. Waar is ze al die tijd geweest? En wat is er precies met haar gebeurd? Er blijven meisjes verdwijnen, maar niemand weet waar ze zijn...
Je leest ook over Joona Linna zelf natuurlijk en over de man die getuige was van de moord. Hij is in de war en ze proberen, door middel van hypnose, hem weer terug naar het bewuste moment te brengen. Af en toe kreeg ik ook een beetje een 'spooky vibe'.
Er zitten weer behoorlijk wat gruwelijke en harde stukken in (onder andere over de verdwenen meisjes). Ik persoonlijk hou daar van, want anders is dit boek misschien niet het juiste voor je om te lezen.
Uiteindelijk komen alle verhaallijnen weer mooi bij elkaar en valt alles op z'n plek. Dat vind ik altijd zo knap van dit duo! De spanning is weer volop aanwezig en de dader kwam voor mij uit onverwachte hoek.
Misschien dat ik 'Spiegelman' niet het beste deel vind van de serie, maar ik heb wel weer volop genoten en kijk uit naar volgende maand. Dan zullen @thebooksofwonder en ik namelijk 'Spin' gaan lezen!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Yes, @thebooksofwonder en ik lazen afgelopen week al het achtste deel van de serie met Joona Linna in de hoofdrol en het was me er weer eentje hoor!
Ook dit deel begint weer ontzettend spannend. Er zijn meerdere verhaallijnen en eentje daarvan is de verdwijning van Jenny, een meisje dat vijf jaar later dood wordt gevonden. Waar is ze al die tijd geweest? En wat is er precies met haar gebeurd? Er blijven meisjes verdwijnen, maar niemand weet waar ze zijn...
Je leest ook over Joona Linna zelf natuurlijk en over de man die getuige was van de moord. Hij is in de war en ze proberen, door middel van hypnose, hem weer terug naar het bewuste moment te brengen. Af en toe kreeg ik ook een beetje een 'spooky vibe'.
Er zitten weer behoorlijk wat gruwelijke en harde stukken in (onder andere over de verdwenen meisjes). Ik persoonlijk hou daar van, want anders is dit boek misschien niet het juiste voor je om te lezen.
Uiteindelijk komen alle verhaallijnen weer mooi bij elkaar en valt alles op z'n plek. Dat vind ik altijd zo knap van dit duo! De spanning is weer volop aanwezig en de dader kwam voor mij uit onverwachte hoek.
Misschien dat ik 'Spiegelman' niet het beste deel vind van de serie, maar ik heb wel weer volop genoten en kijk uit naar volgende maand. Dan zullen @thebooksofwonder en ik namelijk 'Spin' gaan lezen!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
January 30, 2022
I’m not going to lie. I enjoyed this series in the past, although I still need to read books 6 & 7 (both are sitting on my shelves, unopened, but this one is a copy from the library and I couldn’t resist), but I was very disappointed with this one, especially the way they presented a case of mental health. If this was written in the 70’s (or even in the 90’s) perhaps it would be acceptable, but not nowadays, when there are so many updated studies and more understanding around the topic.
Also, there are some gruesome and sex scenes that added nothing special to the storyline. I particularly disliked the dog fighting scenes with the cheering crowd.
Some parts I found absurd. And I dislike “convenient” coincidences. There is also a tip as how to use crack cocaine. How enlightening.
The writing was very repetitive, as if the authors thought that the reader would be oblivious to details.
Regardless of the number of pages, it is a fast read, but I didn’t find it that thrilling.
This book is divided into 100 chapters.
Also, there are some gruesome and sex scenes that added nothing special to the storyline. I particularly disliked the dog fighting scenes with the cheering crowd.
Some parts I found absurd. And I dislike “convenient” coincidences. There is also a tip as how to use crack cocaine. How enlightening.
The writing was very repetitive, as if the authors thought that the reader would be oblivious to details.
Regardless of the number of pages, it is a fast read, but I didn’t find it that thrilling.
This book is divided into 100 chapters.
December 9, 2020
Mit "Der Spiegelmann" geht die Reihe um den finnischstämmigen Stockholmer Ermittler Joona Linna mittlerweile bereits in die achte Runde und in gewisser Weise geht das schwedische Autorenpaar Alexandra und Alexander Ahndoril (die tatsächlichen Namen hinter dem Pseudonym "Lars Kepler") hier zurück zu seinen Anfängen – dazu aber später mehr.
Linnas neuester Fall ist eine Mischung aus "Cold Case" und aktueller Mordermittlung: Die Schülerin Jenny Lind wurde vor fünf Jahren auf ihrem Heimweg von der Schule verschleppt und galt seitdem als vermisst, nun taucht die Leiche des Mädchens mitten in der Nacht auf einem Spielplatz in Stockholm auf. Jenny Lind wurde an einem Klettergerüst erhängt, letzte Rettungsversuche einer zufällig vorbeigehenden Zeugin waren erfolglos. Für Joona Linna wird der Fall zu einer großen Herausforderung, denn viele der Spuren in dem Entführungs- bzw. nun Mordfall sind mittlerweile erkaltet, zudem erweist sich die vielversprechendste Fährte vermeintlich als Sackgasse: ein Spaziergänger hat vermutlich den Mörder auf frischer Tat beobachtet, aufgrund eines schweren Traumas kann sich der mutmaßliche Zeuge aber nicht der Polizei mitteilen.
An diesem Punkt schließt sich nun der Kreis zu den Anfängen der Reihe, denn "Der Spiegelmann" beschert Leser:innen ein Wiedersehen mit Erik Maria Bark, dem Therapeuten aus dem Auftaktband "Der Hypnotiseur". Zwar ist dessen Rolle in diesem Roman deutlich geringer, als es der Klappentext vermuten lässt, trotzdem ist die Rückkehr der Figur für Fans der Reihe sicherlich ein netter Einfall.
Mit über 600 Seiten ist "Der Spiegelmann" für einen Thriller eher lang, trotzdem gelingt es dem Autorenduo, über die komplette Länge des Buches ein gutes Spannungsniveau zu halten. Das liegt auch an vielen Perspektivwechseln, die den Fall abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Ermittlern, Opfern, Zeugen und anderen Beteiligten schildern. So ergibt sich ein komplexes, aber gut verständliches Gesamtbild über die Zusammenhänge.
Man muss allerdings darauf hinweisen, dass dieser achte Band mitunter äußerst brutal ausfällt. So werden munter menschliche Gliedmaßen abgetrennt, Polizeieinsätze erinnern an Szenen aus Kriegsgebieten, es kommt zu Vergewaltigungen und tödlichen Hundekämpfen. Vieles davon geht deutlich über ein für das Handlungsverständnis nötiges Maß hinaus und wirkt dadurch eher wie reiner Schockeffekt, zudem ist die Story auch ohne diese Gewaltorgien eigentlich spannend genug.
Etwas störend ist auch, dass die Ahndorils zwar immer wieder auf Ereignisse aus den Vorgängern anspielen oder auch bekannte Figuren in die Geschichte einbinden, dabei aber wenig Erklärungen für Leser:innen liefern, die entweder neu in die Reihe einsteigen oder nicht mehr alle Zusammenhänge parat haben. Das zeigt sich hier vor allem in der Figur von Saga Bauer, die in den Vorgängern teilweise eine große Rolle einnahm und hier nur zweimal kurz ohne Erläuterung in erschütternder Verfassung auftaucht, was im Gesamtzusammenhang ziemlich willkürlich wirkt. Eine kleine Hilfestellung wäre daher manchmal wünschenswert gewesen.
Zum Ende hin wird es richtig dramatisch und das Autorenpaar zaubert eine überraschende Auflösung aus dem Hut, die inhaltlich zwar überzeugt, in gewisser Hinsicht aber etwas problematisch erscheint (Stichwort: psychische Erkrankungen) und dadurch einen störenden Beigeschmack bekommt. Damit sind die Ahndorils aber im Krimi- und Thrillergenre nicht alleine, vielmehr handelt es sich um ein häufig auftretendes Problem.
Davon abgesehen ist "Der Spiegelmann" jedoch ein durchweg spannender und packender Thriller, der sicher zu den besseren Bänden der Reihe gehört. Zwar sind für das Verständnis des Falls keine großen Vorkenntnisse nötig, komplette Neueinsteiger dürften an vielen Punkten aber einige kleine bis mittelgroße Fragezeichen vor den Augen haben. Fall 8 ist aber keine direkte Fortsetzung von "Der Hypnotiseur", sondern greift lediglich die Figur von Erik Maria Bark nochmal auf.
Linnas neuester Fall ist eine Mischung aus "Cold Case" und aktueller Mordermittlung: Die Schülerin Jenny Lind wurde vor fünf Jahren auf ihrem Heimweg von der Schule verschleppt und galt seitdem als vermisst, nun taucht die Leiche des Mädchens mitten in der Nacht auf einem Spielplatz in Stockholm auf. Jenny Lind wurde an einem Klettergerüst erhängt, letzte Rettungsversuche einer zufällig vorbeigehenden Zeugin waren erfolglos. Für Joona Linna wird der Fall zu einer großen Herausforderung, denn viele der Spuren in dem Entführungs- bzw. nun Mordfall sind mittlerweile erkaltet, zudem erweist sich die vielversprechendste Fährte vermeintlich als Sackgasse: ein Spaziergänger hat vermutlich den Mörder auf frischer Tat beobachtet, aufgrund eines schweren Traumas kann sich der mutmaßliche Zeuge aber nicht der Polizei mitteilen.
An diesem Punkt schließt sich nun der Kreis zu den Anfängen der Reihe, denn "Der Spiegelmann" beschert Leser:innen ein Wiedersehen mit Erik Maria Bark, dem Therapeuten aus dem Auftaktband "Der Hypnotiseur". Zwar ist dessen Rolle in diesem Roman deutlich geringer, als es der Klappentext vermuten lässt, trotzdem ist die Rückkehr der Figur für Fans der Reihe sicherlich ein netter Einfall.
Mit über 600 Seiten ist "Der Spiegelmann" für einen Thriller eher lang, trotzdem gelingt es dem Autorenduo, über die komplette Länge des Buches ein gutes Spannungsniveau zu halten. Das liegt auch an vielen Perspektivwechseln, die den Fall abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Ermittlern, Opfern, Zeugen und anderen Beteiligten schildern. So ergibt sich ein komplexes, aber gut verständliches Gesamtbild über die Zusammenhänge.
Man muss allerdings darauf hinweisen, dass dieser achte Band mitunter äußerst brutal ausfällt. So werden munter menschliche Gliedmaßen abgetrennt, Polizeieinsätze erinnern an Szenen aus Kriegsgebieten, es kommt zu Vergewaltigungen und tödlichen Hundekämpfen. Vieles davon geht deutlich über ein für das Handlungsverständnis nötiges Maß hinaus und wirkt dadurch eher wie reiner Schockeffekt, zudem ist die Story auch ohne diese Gewaltorgien eigentlich spannend genug.
Etwas störend ist auch, dass die Ahndorils zwar immer wieder auf Ereignisse aus den Vorgängern anspielen oder auch bekannte Figuren in die Geschichte einbinden, dabei aber wenig Erklärungen für Leser:innen liefern, die entweder neu in die Reihe einsteigen oder nicht mehr alle Zusammenhänge parat haben. Das zeigt sich hier vor allem in der Figur von Saga Bauer, die in den Vorgängern teilweise eine große Rolle einnahm und hier nur zweimal kurz ohne Erläuterung in erschütternder Verfassung auftaucht, was im Gesamtzusammenhang ziemlich willkürlich wirkt. Eine kleine Hilfestellung wäre daher manchmal wünschenswert gewesen.
Zum Ende hin wird es richtig dramatisch und das Autorenpaar zaubert eine überraschende Auflösung aus dem Hut, die inhaltlich zwar überzeugt, in gewisser Hinsicht aber etwas problematisch erscheint (Stichwort: psychische Erkrankungen) und dadurch einen störenden Beigeschmack bekommt. Damit sind die Ahndorils aber im Krimi- und Thrillergenre nicht alleine, vielmehr handelt es sich um ein häufig auftretendes Problem.
Davon abgesehen ist "Der Spiegelmann" jedoch ein durchweg spannender und packender Thriller, der sicher zu den besseren Bänden der Reihe gehört. Zwar sind für das Verständnis des Falls keine großen Vorkenntnisse nötig, komplette Neueinsteiger dürften an vielen Punkten aber einige kleine bis mittelgroße Fragezeichen vor den Augen haben. Fall 8 ist aber keine direkte Fortsetzung von "Der Hypnotiseur", sondern greift lediglich die Figur von Erik Maria Bark nochmal auf.
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