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Axel Steen #1
Onrust
Het is oorlog in de Kopenhaagse wijk Nørrebro: de krakersrellen worden hard neergeslagen door de politie. Na afloop wordt een dode man gevonden; hij draagt legerkisten en een bivakmuts. Wie was deze man en hoe kan hij zijn vermoord terwijl de plaats delict op dat moment zwaar werd bewaakt door het hele politiekorps? Aan hoofdinspecteur Axel Steen om achter de waarheid te komen.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
154 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Jesper Stein
15 books154 followersJesper Stein er født i Århus i 1965. Han er uddannet journalist og har arbejdet som litteraturskribent, rets- og kriminalreporter i København. I dag er han fuldtids forfatter.
I 2008 skrev han bestselleren Man jager et bæst og fanger et menneske sammen med Bent Isager-Nielsen.
I 2012 udkom hans skønlitterære debut Uro, der indbragte ham Det Danske Kriminalakademis Debutantpris.
I 2013 udkom bind 2 i serien om Axel Steen, Bye Bye Blackbird. De udenlandske rettigheder er solgt til Italien, Tyskland, Island, Norge, Rumænien, Holland og Sverige.
I 2014 udkom 3. bind i serien om Axel steen, Akrash.
I 2015 udkom 4. bind i Axel Steen serien, Aisha som indbragte Jesper Stein De Gyldne Laurbær.
Romanerne er solgt til udgivelse i adskillige lande ligesom filmrettighederne er købt af SF Studios - Første film om Axel Steen forventes at få premiere i efteråret 2018
I 2008 skrev han bestselleren Man jager et bæst og fanger et menneske sammen med Bent Isager-Nielsen.
I 2012 udkom hans skønlitterære debut Uro, der indbragte ham Det Danske Kriminalakademis Debutantpris.
I 2013 udkom bind 2 i serien om Axel Steen, Bye Bye Blackbird. De udenlandske rettigheder er solgt til Italien, Tyskland, Island, Norge, Rumænien, Holland og Sverige.
I 2014 udkom 3. bind i serien om Axel steen, Akrash.
I 2015 udkom 4. bind i Axel Steen serien, Aisha som indbragte Jesper Stein De Gyldne Laurbær.
Romanerne er solgt til udgivelse i adskillige lande ligesom filmrettighederne er købt af SF Studios - Første film om Axel Steen forventes at få premiere i efteråret 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 5, 2018
This is the first in Jesper Stein's DCI Axel Steen series set in Copenhagen, Denmark. Axel is a disturbed, divorced man with a 5 year old daughter, Emma. He still has strong feelings for his ex-wife, Cecilie, has real problems sleeping, is fearful of death, smokes hash and has vibrant erotic dreams. It is 2007, he is the only cop who lives in the troubled mixed district of Norrebro, where the police have gone in heavy handed to close down the Youth House. Not unexpectedly, the area has not taken this provocation lying down as the place goes up in flames with riots, molotov cocktails are flying at the police, whilst the police are coming down hard and brutally on protesters. Axel has watched his home turf burn the night before when he is woken by a phone call in the early hours. A murdered man, dressed as a autonomist with a balaclava over his head, has been posed sitting against a wall at the Assistens Cemetery.
What is a completely frightening scenario is that the man has been killed in an area closed off to all but the police, raising the dynamite and horrendous possibility that the killer is a police officer. This is going to be a nightmare for the police, this will inflame local tensions even more. It is a political priority that the perpetrator is identified as soon as possible. Axel is not looked upon favourably by the police chief Corneliusson, Axel is a maverick, he will do what he thinks need to be done, he is hard to manage, but he gets results. In an incendiary climate with the media scrambling for any exclusive with their intense focus, the investigation looks at why the cops failed in their duty, given there were patrols and guards. Video footage that could help the case is taken by a young man, Piver, looking to build up his revolutionary credentials. The drugs gangs, like the BGP, led by Moussa, have to be looked at, with drugs and more being supplied from the Balkans. The murder victim's history is pored over, how did he come to be at the cemetery and why was he murdered? Axel finds himself in choppy waters, struggling to remain on the police team as slurs are cast on his reputation but he is a man determined to get to the truth, even if it shows the police in a poor light.
Jesper Stein writes a fantastic crime thriller set amidst the turbulence of riots, and gives us a mesmerising protagonist in Axel, who lives in Norrebro, knows it and the local community well. He is not going to fall for the prejudices and stereotypes that so many cops have of it's poor, colourful and political residents with their high number of migrants, especially the autonomists. The story is complex, with a wide range of characters, and a number of sub plots, and I was never less than enthralled with the narrative, finding it gripping and entertaining. I liked how there was a pertinent social and politically commentary so well and beautifully integrated in the book. Stein shows a real gift in characterisation and in his ability to adeptly handle and portray a crime investigation amidst the disturbing background of riots. A brilliant read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.
What is a completely frightening scenario is that the man has been killed in an area closed off to all but the police, raising the dynamite and horrendous possibility that the killer is a police officer. This is going to be a nightmare for the police, this will inflame local tensions even more. It is a political priority that the perpetrator is identified as soon as possible. Axel is not looked upon favourably by the police chief Corneliusson, Axel is a maverick, he will do what he thinks need to be done, he is hard to manage, but he gets results. In an incendiary climate with the media scrambling for any exclusive with their intense focus, the investigation looks at why the cops failed in their duty, given there were patrols and guards. Video footage that could help the case is taken by a young man, Piver, looking to build up his revolutionary credentials. The drugs gangs, like the BGP, led by Moussa, have to be looked at, with drugs and more being supplied from the Balkans. The murder victim's history is pored over, how did he come to be at the cemetery and why was he murdered? Axel finds himself in choppy waters, struggling to remain on the police team as slurs are cast on his reputation but he is a man determined to get to the truth, even if it shows the police in a poor light.
Jesper Stein writes a fantastic crime thriller set amidst the turbulence of riots, and gives us a mesmerising protagonist in Axel, who lives in Norrebro, knows it and the local community well. He is not going to fall for the prejudices and stereotypes that so many cops have of it's poor, colourful and political residents with their high number of migrants, especially the autonomists. The story is complex, with a wide range of characters, and a number of sub plots, and I was never less than enthralled with the narrative, finding it gripping and entertaining. I liked how there was a pertinent social and politically commentary so well and beautifully integrated in the book. Stein shows a real gift in characterisation and in his ability to adeptly handle and portray a crime investigation amidst the disturbing background of riots. A brilliant read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.
July 9, 2018
Author Jesper Stein is the third best-selling author in Denmark, with film rights already sold for his first three books and his work translated in more than ten countries. However, this is the first time his work has appeared in English and Mirror Books are planning to publish the first five in the series. I am pleased that, with translation, we get the first book in a series appearing in print (so many publishers seeming to go with the most successful novel, even if it is third, or fifth, in a series and, therefore, making those of us who like to read a series in order slightly crazy!).
The main character is homicide detective Axel Steen – aged thirty eight, in love with his ex-wife, having issues with access to his five year old daughter, depressed, lonely and fearful of death. As such, a rather typical Scandinavian detective, as we readers have come to know them; with a whole host of problems and issues. To make things worse, Axel is distrusted by his superiors and is known to be a difficult and uncompromising investigator. He gets results and that enables him to stay in a job, but you sense it would not take much for Detective Chief Inspector Darling to get rid of him.
Steen lives in a rather bad area of Copenhagen and, on the night we are introduced to him, there are full scale riots going on outside, due to the police clearance of the nearby Youth House. With over two hundred people arrested and violence and vandalism in full swing, he is called to the discovery of a hooded corpse, who is found in the cemetery. Going to investigate, it seems almost unbelievable that the murder has occurred with so many police on the streets and Axel’s interest is directed to a camera that he spots on a nearby railing, which then vanishes.
This is a gritty, dark and violent start to a series. It involves organised crime, Axel having to cope with unwelcome collaboration into the investigation and also having to juggle his fortnightly visit with his daughter, along with the case. Those readers who like Nordic Noir may well find a new series here, with a flawed hero and a novel which does not let up on the action. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
The main character is homicide detective Axel Steen – aged thirty eight, in love with his ex-wife, having issues with access to his five year old daughter, depressed, lonely and fearful of death. As such, a rather typical Scandinavian detective, as we readers have come to know them; with a whole host of problems and issues. To make things worse, Axel is distrusted by his superiors and is known to be a difficult and uncompromising investigator. He gets results and that enables him to stay in a job, but you sense it would not take much for Detective Chief Inspector Darling to get rid of him.
Steen lives in a rather bad area of Copenhagen and, on the night we are introduced to him, there are full scale riots going on outside, due to the police clearance of the nearby Youth House. With over two hundred people arrested and violence and vandalism in full swing, he is called to the discovery of a hooded corpse, who is found in the cemetery. Going to investigate, it seems almost unbelievable that the murder has occurred with so many police on the streets and Axel’s interest is directed to a camera that he spots on a nearby railing, which then vanishes.
This is a gritty, dark and violent start to a series. It involves organised crime, Axel having to cope with unwelcome collaboration into the investigation and also having to juggle his fortnightly visit with his daughter, along with the case. Those readers who like Nordic Noir may well find a new series here, with a flawed hero and a novel which does not let up on the action. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
November 11, 2021
Unrest is the first of six Axel Steen gritty Danish police novels originally published in Danish. So far, two have been expertly translated to English. Either more have to come out in English or we will just have to learn some Danish.
For those who think Copenhagen is all Tivoli Gardens and the palace, there’s a whole world exposed here where the tourists never go, at least they shouldn’t go if they know what’s good for them. Norrebro is a haven for hippies, anti-police rebels, drug dealers, immigrants, and Axel thinks he’s the only officer left who still lives in the district. It’s being torn apart by black-clad rioters -their version of the Antifa thugs who have more recently been tearing apart American cities. Police in riot gear are struggling to keep order -any way they can. And, behind police lines, in the cemetery there’s a corpse (a new one) and it looks to Axel like the police had it out with one of the rioters. This is going to. E like a lightning spark if the media ever runs with it and he’s instructed to keep it under wraps.
Axel is the prime character, a dogged pursuer of truth who doesn’t give a hoot what’s going to play well in the news or what’s going to piss off his superiors. He is half broken inside after his wife left with their toddler for a head prosecutor who Axel has to deal with on an official basis. He can’t sleep at night. He has vivid passionate dreams of his ex-wife, often during the day when he nods off. He smokes hash to get to sleep at night, and sometimes it works. Often, the only thing that keeps him going is his homicide cases.
This one -the one in the cemetery- comes close to tearing his universe apart and brings up bits of his past.
Overall, this is -even in translation – simply an awesome bit of gritty crime fiction. A great entre into a new series.
For those who think Copenhagen is all Tivoli Gardens and the palace, there’s a whole world exposed here where the tourists never go, at least they shouldn’t go if they know what’s good for them. Norrebro is a haven for hippies, anti-police rebels, drug dealers, immigrants, and Axel thinks he’s the only officer left who still lives in the district. It’s being torn apart by black-clad rioters -their version of the Antifa thugs who have more recently been tearing apart American cities. Police in riot gear are struggling to keep order -any way they can. And, behind police lines, in the cemetery there’s a corpse (a new one) and it looks to Axel like the police had it out with one of the rioters. This is going to. E like a lightning spark if the media ever runs with it and he’s instructed to keep it under wraps.
Axel is the prime character, a dogged pursuer of truth who doesn’t give a hoot what’s going to play well in the news or what’s going to piss off his superiors. He is half broken inside after his wife left with their toddler for a head prosecutor who Axel has to deal with on an official basis. He can’t sleep at night. He has vivid passionate dreams of his ex-wife, often during the day when he nods off. He smokes hash to get to sleep at night, and sometimes it works. Often, the only thing that keeps him going is his homicide cases.
This one -the one in the cemetery- comes close to tearing his universe apart and brings up bits of his past.
Overall, this is -even in translation – simply an awesome bit of gritty crime fiction. A great entre into a new series.
July 25, 2018
In the best possible way, Unrest is very much a what you see is what you get type of thriller, as it ticks every single box required of a Scandinavian crime novel, and is extremely reflective of the genre as a whole. Indeed, as I was reading, I felt echoes of Nesbo, Larsson, Staalesen and Nesser throughout the book particularly in terms of plot and characterisation, and the density and slow burning feel of the plot again fulfils perfectly the familiar characteristics of the genre, so plenty to enjoy here for the Nordic noir fan…
The reader is thrust straight into the familiar realm of police conspiracy, so beloved of the Scandinavian set, suffused with the gritty, unflinching gaze on the political and social ills of Danish society. With a riot in full flow, the discovery of a body would seem an ordinary occurrence, but Stein perfectly hinges his whole narrative on why and how this victim is of such significance on a much larger canvas, and the wider ramifications of this killing. Stein presents a broad spectrum of issues including immigration, police corruption, the drug trade, trafficking and so on, and generally this is one of the more slow burning Scandinavian thrillers I have encountered, as reasons for, and suspects of the killing are slowly addressed, investigated and discounted as the plot develops. It did take me a while to slow down to the pace of the plot, and begin to appreciate the more laborious style of investigation that the main police protagonist, Axel Steen, finds himself embroiled in, in contrast to say the more compact style of other Nordic writers. I think Unrest is extremely reminiscent of some of the fine Nordic TV dramas that we love, with chicanery, social and political division and big meaty issues at its core. Consequently, the political and social elements of the plot and the tensions between the investigative branches , engaged me more, and I very much enjoyed Stein’s warts-and-all portrayal of Copenhagen. I thought he depicted beautifully the chasm between the areas of the city, both monetarily and structurally, and I loved the way his writing had shades of the old fashioned flaneur, with the very visual and observant tone of his descriptions, as Steen traverses the different neighbourhoods.
I’m sure regular readers of my reviews know of my general aversion to too much being made of the familial and romantic upsets of the main police protagonists, and to an extent this book did irritate me slightly in terms of this. Personally I grew a little tired of Steen’s domestic woes and his sexual involvement with a key witness, and the less said about his reves humides the better, but on a more positive note I found his professional persona contained some of my favourite characteristics of an officer operating to his own agenda and with his own methods. Stein imbues his detective with the cynical and slightly hangdog air so beloved in the genre, but this pall of negativity usefully detracts other people’s perceptions of Steen, thus revealing a keen mind and nose for a conspiracy. He’s also not afraid to get his hands dirty or to take a knock or two along the way, skating the boundaries of professional behaviour, but delighting us with his aversion to following the rules.
Overall, I enjoyed this new-to-me author, and judging by the praise the author receives across Europe, I think there may be more enjoyment to come in the company of Detective Superintendent Axel Steen. A solid Scandinavian thriller, and recommended for fans of the genre…
The reader is thrust straight into the familiar realm of police conspiracy, so beloved of the Scandinavian set, suffused with the gritty, unflinching gaze on the political and social ills of Danish society. With a riot in full flow, the discovery of a body would seem an ordinary occurrence, but Stein perfectly hinges his whole narrative on why and how this victim is of such significance on a much larger canvas, and the wider ramifications of this killing. Stein presents a broad spectrum of issues including immigration, police corruption, the drug trade, trafficking and so on, and generally this is one of the more slow burning Scandinavian thrillers I have encountered, as reasons for, and suspects of the killing are slowly addressed, investigated and discounted as the plot develops. It did take me a while to slow down to the pace of the plot, and begin to appreciate the more laborious style of investigation that the main police protagonist, Axel Steen, finds himself embroiled in, in contrast to say the more compact style of other Nordic writers. I think Unrest is extremely reminiscent of some of the fine Nordic TV dramas that we love, with chicanery, social and political division and big meaty issues at its core. Consequently, the political and social elements of the plot and the tensions between the investigative branches , engaged me more, and I very much enjoyed Stein’s warts-and-all portrayal of Copenhagen. I thought he depicted beautifully the chasm between the areas of the city, both monetarily and structurally, and I loved the way his writing had shades of the old fashioned flaneur, with the very visual and observant tone of his descriptions, as Steen traverses the different neighbourhoods.
I’m sure regular readers of my reviews know of my general aversion to too much being made of the familial and romantic upsets of the main police protagonists, and to an extent this book did irritate me slightly in terms of this. Personally I grew a little tired of Steen’s domestic woes and his sexual involvement with a key witness, and the less said about his reves humides the better, but on a more positive note I found his professional persona contained some of my favourite characteristics of an officer operating to his own agenda and with his own methods. Stein imbues his detective with the cynical and slightly hangdog air so beloved in the genre, but this pall of negativity usefully detracts other people’s perceptions of Steen, thus revealing a keen mind and nose for a conspiracy. He’s also not afraid to get his hands dirty or to take a knock or two along the way, skating the boundaries of professional behaviour, but delighting us with his aversion to following the rules.
Overall, I enjoyed this new-to-me author, and judging by the praise the author receives across Europe, I think there may be more enjoyment to come in the company of Detective Superintendent Axel Steen. A solid Scandinavian thriller, and recommended for fans of the genre…
July 16, 2018
I am a huge fan of Scandinavian Noir so this was a book I knew I wanted to read immediately. Jesper Stein is a multi-award winning crime writer. "Unrest" won the Danish Crime Academy’s Debut Novel Award in 2012 and the fourth book in this series entitled "Aisha" won the Danish Booksellers' Golden Laurels. He is also the third bestselling author in Denmark. Stein has written a number of books featuring Detective Chief Inspector Axel Steen and the rights to three of them have been purchased by SF Studios (producers of "The Bridge") with the intention of making three films based on Axel's exploits. His crime novels have been sold to more than ten countries, including France, Germany, Holland and Norway. It's safe to say he is a big talent. Why didn't I know about him sooner?
The corpse of unidentified man is found bound and hooded propped up against a gravestone at the central cemetery. Axel Steen is assigned to the case and it initially looks as though the culprit could be a member of the police force when camera footage is found. There also appears to be a link to the demolition of the nearby Youth House, a notorious spot where left-wing militants meet. However, Axel soon discovers that many people, both inside and outside of the police force, seem to be hindering the investigation in what looks like an attempt at stopping the case being solved. The clues then take him to unexpected places such as the Copenhagen underworld where drugs and gangs are rife. Axel will not stop until the killer is caught, no matter the consequences. And the consequences for Axel himself may turn out to be greater than expected.
I admired Axel's tenacity but he has some real personal issues to contend with. He is divorced from his wife who is hellbent on keeping him from being able to see his daughter. Axel's character is well-developed and despite him always being at odds with his bosses, I enjoyed reading about him. The story is well written, easy to get into and fast paced. I read it within a day as I couldn't put it down, it was so good. I cannot wait to read more from Stein as I loved his writing style and the creation of a flawed character in Steen. There is a lot of circumstances and situations throughout the story where you feel sympathy for Steen. I didn't mind that the author used that old trope of a Detective with personal issues which is really overused in crime fiction. It worked here and as I liked Axel this was neither here nor there for me.
All in all, a fantastic, dark and gritty read that I had fun with. I cannot wait to pick up some of Stein's other books, I know I am late to the party but better late than never, as they say! Mirror Books have secured the first five books in this series and this is the first time Stein's crime fiction has been translated into English. I look forward to the reading the whole of the series.
Publication Date - 19th July 2018
Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The corpse of unidentified man is found bound and hooded propped up against a gravestone at the central cemetery. Axel Steen is assigned to the case and it initially looks as though the culprit could be a member of the police force when camera footage is found. There also appears to be a link to the demolition of the nearby Youth House, a notorious spot where left-wing militants meet. However, Axel soon discovers that many people, both inside and outside of the police force, seem to be hindering the investigation in what looks like an attempt at stopping the case being solved. The clues then take him to unexpected places such as the Copenhagen underworld where drugs and gangs are rife. Axel will not stop until the killer is caught, no matter the consequences. And the consequences for Axel himself may turn out to be greater than expected.
I admired Axel's tenacity but he has some real personal issues to contend with. He is divorced from his wife who is hellbent on keeping him from being able to see his daughter. Axel's character is well-developed and despite him always being at odds with his bosses, I enjoyed reading about him. The story is well written, easy to get into and fast paced. I read it within a day as I couldn't put it down, it was so good. I cannot wait to read more from Stein as I loved his writing style and the creation of a flawed character in Steen. There is a lot of circumstances and situations throughout the story where you feel sympathy for Steen. I didn't mind that the author used that old trope of a Detective with personal issues which is really overused in crime fiction. It worked here and as I liked Axel this was neither here nor there for me.
All in all, a fantastic, dark and gritty read that I had fun with. I cannot wait to pick up some of Stein's other books, I know I am late to the party but better late than never, as they say! Mirror Books have secured the first five books in this series and this is the first time Stein's crime fiction has been translated into English. I look forward to the reading the whole of the series.
Publication Date - 19th July 2018
Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 26, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Mirror Books for an advance copy of Unrest, the first novel to feature Danish detective, Axel Steen.
Copenhagen is in turmoil with the Nørrebro district in lockdown as the police battle with "autonomists" intent on violent protest. In the midst of this Steen is called out to a murder where a man in a balaclava has been killed in a locked cemetery surrounded by police officers.
I somewhat enjoyed Unrest which is a long, complicated novel with a bit of everything, not least realism. It is easy to see why it won the Danish Crime Academy's début prize in 2012 as it is quite literary in its themes and characterisation but that doesn't make it a hugely satisfying read as, in fact, some of it makes for uncomfortable reading. I don't really know where to start trying to explain it but perhaps with the atmosphere which I can admire but not really enjoy. There is a real sense of hatred and danger which permeates the novel with the autonomists (I translate that as left wing radicals and anarchists) distrusting the police and willing to engage in rioting at the least sign of heavy handedness, which is frequently as heavy handedness seems to be the only way the police conduct their business. There is no touchy-feely sensitivity in this version of the Copenhagen police, it is all hard edges and brutality and this approach is all inclusive, so covers not just social unrest but information gathering and protection of their interests and image. I found it a tough and disquieting read, especially as it has a real ring of authenticity about it. Obviously I need to man up.
Aside from the tough, brutal atmosphere the novel has a good, if convoluted plot. Axel Steen is a dedicated detective, able to see past the obvious, so he works the case doggedly, unhindered by his boss who wants rid of him and the organised crime team who insist on "helping" but are working to their own agenda. The story of their involvement borders on farce when it's finally revealed but, again, smacks of reality, involving as it does cover-up, arrogance and ambition.
There is hardly a single pleasant character in the novel and as there are plenty of them Mr Stein has a field day stripping back human nature to its corrupt venality at worst, indifference at best. Even Axel Steen is a poor specimen with his insomnia, hypochondria, hash smoking and loneliness, just a man trying to get by, making mistakes and trying to live with it. It paints a stark picture of modern mankind.
I feel that Unrest is not really sure about what it wants to be, social commentary or murder investigation so the investigation gets somewhat lost in some of the digressions and the focus is not always on it fully. As it stands it is a very interesting read but as a procedural it could do with a prune and a sharper focus. It will not be to everyone's taste but I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good, if gritty and sometimes uncomfortable read.
Copenhagen is in turmoil with the Nørrebro district in lockdown as the police battle with "autonomists" intent on violent protest. In the midst of this Steen is called out to a murder where a man in a balaclava has been killed in a locked cemetery surrounded by police officers.
I somewhat enjoyed Unrest which is a long, complicated novel with a bit of everything, not least realism. It is easy to see why it won the Danish Crime Academy's début prize in 2012 as it is quite literary in its themes and characterisation but that doesn't make it a hugely satisfying read as, in fact, some of it makes for uncomfortable reading. I don't really know where to start trying to explain it but perhaps with the atmosphere which I can admire but not really enjoy. There is a real sense of hatred and danger which permeates the novel with the autonomists (I translate that as left wing radicals and anarchists) distrusting the police and willing to engage in rioting at the least sign of heavy handedness, which is frequently as heavy handedness seems to be the only way the police conduct their business. There is no touchy-feely sensitivity in this version of the Copenhagen police, it is all hard edges and brutality and this approach is all inclusive, so covers not just social unrest but information gathering and protection of their interests and image. I found it a tough and disquieting read, especially as it has a real ring of authenticity about it. Obviously I need to man up.
Aside from the tough, brutal atmosphere the novel has a good, if convoluted plot. Axel Steen is a dedicated detective, able to see past the obvious, so he works the case doggedly, unhindered by his boss who wants rid of him and the organised crime team who insist on "helping" but are working to their own agenda. The story of their involvement borders on farce when it's finally revealed but, again, smacks of reality, involving as it does cover-up, arrogance and ambition.
There is hardly a single pleasant character in the novel and as there are plenty of them Mr Stein has a field day stripping back human nature to its corrupt venality at worst, indifference at best. Even Axel Steen is a poor specimen with his insomnia, hypochondria, hash smoking and loneliness, just a man trying to get by, making mistakes and trying to live with it. It paints a stark picture of modern mankind.
I feel that Unrest is not really sure about what it wants to be, social commentary or murder investigation so the investigation gets somewhat lost in some of the digressions and the focus is not always on it fully. As it stands it is a very interesting read but as a procedural it could do with a prune and a sharper focus. It will not be to everyone's taste but I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good, if gritty and sometimes uncomfortable read.
January 22, 2020
Jesper Stein is a crime reporter and this is obvious to the reader due to the vast amount of information about Copenhagen's underbelly and its dialect, the police procedures in a murder investigation and the clashes between the different ranks in the hierarchy, and the Danish judicial system with its -many-flaws. The protagonist, Axel Steen, is a nicely outlined character who has more or less all the trademark qualities of a contemporary Nordic detective. He is a divorced, hash-smoking, stubborn -but effective- hero who lives in Nørrebro (one of the toughest neighbors of the city) an is keen on breaking the rules in order to deliver justice. This is the first book in the series, thus I believe that the next novels will deepen our knowledge about Axel and his past, which is hinted in a few parts of ''Unrest''.
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/unrest
For my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/unrest
September 18, 2018
Unrest – A riot through Copenhagen
Being woken up in the middle of the night by headquarters, was never nice as it meant there was a fresh corpse for him to look at. Detective Axel Steen, not the most popular detective in Copenhagen, but the one that was the most terrier like when he was on a case. Fortunately for Stein the body was not far from his apartment and was in the cemetery.
The Norrebro district where he lives, is a bohemian district of Copenhagen and had been on fire for most of the day. This all due to the police raid on the Youth House and all the violence that followed. So, when Stein got to the cemetery past all the smoke-filled barriers and resting police, is a dead body that looks like another left- wing protester.
The body is eventually identified, which leads to more questions than answers, while drawing him into the heart of the Copenhagen drugs trade, the Balkans and the Security Police. With nobody seemingly trusting Steen, he is slowly side-lined and ends up working the investigation his own way, but on his own.
The investigation seems to be going off in different tangents, but Steen is not afraid to step back and look at all the information available. Like a jigsaw puzzle without a picture, Steen is the one who slowly pieces everything together. Even if it does mean going out on a limb.
Like any defective detective Axel Steen is not only the problem child of the Police Service, but the problem child with his ex-wife and his daughter. He has relationship problems that get him into trouble, before you count his dependency on hash. He is in the middle of a personal crisis, a career crisis, but he does not care he wants to solve the case and he will.
Jesper Stein has created a wonderfully defective character in Axel Steen, that even when things are going wrong around him he carries on. Set with a background of the bohemian district, you get a flavour of part of Copenhagen not often seen by the tourist.
This is an engrossing read, showing that even the countries that are seen as sensible Europeans have an underbelly which is always willing to fight back. An excellent thriller that shows you not everything in Denmark is nice and shiny, but dark and gritty.
An excellent addition to the Scandi Noir Oeuvre.
Being woken up in the middle of the night by headquarters, was never nice as it meant there was a fresh corpse for him to look at. Detective Axel Steen, not the most popular detective in Copenhagen, but the one that was the most terrier like when he was on a case. Fortunately for Stein the body was not far from his apartment and was in the cemetery.
The Norrebro district where he lives, is a bohemian district of Copenhagen and had been on fire for most of the day. This all due to the police raid on the Youth House and all the violence that followed. So, when Stein got to the cemetery past all the smoke-filled barriers and resting police, is a dead body that looks like another left- wing protester.
The body is eventually identified, which leads to more questions than answers, while drawing him into the heart of the Copenhagen drugs trade, the Balkans and the Security Police. With nobody seemingly trusting Steen, he is slowly side-lined and ends up working the investigation his own way, but on his own.
The investigation seems to be going off in different tangents, but Steen is not afraid to step back and look at all the information available. Like a jigsaw puzzle without a picture, Steen is the one who slowly pieces everything together. Even if it does mean going out on a limb.
Like any defective detective Axel Steen is not only the problem child of the Police Service, but the problem child with his ex-wife and his daughter. He has relationship problems that get him into trouble, before you count his dependency on hash. He is in the middle of a personal crisis, a career crisis, but he does not care he wants to solve the case and he will.
Jesper Stein has created a wonderfully defective character in Axel Steen, that even when things are going wrong around him he carries on. Set with a background of the bohemian district, you get a flavour of part of Copenhagen not often seen by the tourist.
This is an engrossing read, showing that even the countries that are seen as sensible Europeans have an underbelly which is always willing to fight back. An excellent thriller that shows you not everything in Denmark is nice and shiny, but dark and gritty.
An excellent addition to the Scandi Noir Oeuvre.
June 23, 2018
Nordic noir is one of my favorite genres, so I was pleased to learn that a popular author from Denmark had recently been translated. Unfortunately this novel, with not even one likable character and a convoluted plot, really disappointed me.
September 25, 2022
To be fair, Unrest is written quite well. Yet most of the times I wasn't thrilled to pick this up and continue reading.
November 7, 2020
This book is the first in a series featuring DCI Axel Steen in Copenhagen. He smokes hash and reefer. He has insomnia and is tortured by his divorce. He is not constrained by following protocol. He is reckless in his personal relationships and choices. He is also highly intelligent and has an unerring instinct for pulling disparate strands of an investigation together no matter how many false trails he pursues. He is reminiscent of Jo Nesbo’s detective Harry Hole without Harry’s wit and repartee.
The story is set in 2007.At the outset, a man is discovered murdered in the seedy Norrebro district. The man is killed in the midst of a contentious demonstration in an area that is seemingly impenetrable because it is heavily and closely guarded by the police. Questions immediately arise. Did the police kill the victim? Was the killing related to the group of demonstrators known as autonomists? Axel is thrown into the investigation and must sift through conflicting jurisdictional and political agendas that do not seem to share the same priorities.
The pace of the book is initially slow.During the exposition, the author introduces a number of political and social elements that ultimately cohere at the conclusion. My understanding of the story got better once I realized that the demonstrations and backstory events were linked to the Maastricht Treaty ratifying the European Union and to the subsequent riots in Denmark protesting this treaty in 1993, leading to the autonomist movement. There are fourteen year links to the present investigation and Axel plods along to discover these links.
The description of the political and social milieu of Denmark and Copenhagen at the time is very vividly drawn and certainly is not reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen. Once the exposition is in place, the pace of the book picks up. The mystery itself is fairly complex and the solution is unanticipated. This book is not the quickest read but is worth the effort.
The story is set in 2007.At the outset, a man is discovered murdered in the seedy Norrebro district. The man is killed in the midst of a contentious demonstration in an area that is seemingly impenetrable because it is heavily and closely guarded by the police. Questions immediately arise. Did the police kill the victim? Was the killing related to the group of demonstrators known as autonomists? Axel is thrown into the investigation and must sift through conflicting jurisdictional and political agendas that do not seem to share the same priorities.
The pace of the book is initially slow.During the exposition, the author introduces a number of political and social elements that ultimately cohere at the conclusion. My understanding of the story got better once I realized that the demonstrations and backstory events were linked to the Maastricht Treaty ratifying the European Union and to the subsequent riots in Denmark protesting this treaty in 1993, leading to the autonomist movement. There are fourteen year links to the present investigation and Axel plods along to discover these links.
The description of the political and social milieu of Denmark and Copenhagen at the time is very vividly drawn and certainly is not reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen. Once the exposition is in place, the pace of the book picks up. The mystery itself is fairly complex and the solution is unanticipated. This book is not the quickest read but is worth the effort.
December 19, 2021
Trigger warnings: death, murder, cheating, fire, drug use, violence.
2.5 stars.
I picked this up for $2 last year because I tend to really enjoy Scandinavian crime books and I try as much as possible to read books set outside the US and the UK so this definitely fit the bill. And then I put off reading it for over a year. Whoops?
Anyway. The mystery itself was pretty decent, but I feel like a lot of the story got bogged down in Axel's personal life in ways I didn't really care for. The descriptions of women were...not good. Exhibit A: "He looked at her naked body in the semi-darkness: her pussy, freshly shaved around the dark brown labia, the greasy pubic hair above it, her white skin, her hip sockets framing the skin on her stomach with the two stretch marks like barcodes on either side of her navel, which had turned outwards since Emma was born. Up and down went her breast in a calm rhythm; her nipples had crawled in on themselves."
Now, I don't know how most people describe the mother of their child, but I'm guessing it's not greasy pubes and inverted nipples. And sometime later, we get the following: "her tongue was hard and greedy, she tasted slightly sweet, of bolognese or ketchup". BOLOGNESE OR KETCHUP?!?!?! Ma'am. Brush your teeth please.
So while the mystery was fine, the rest was a big ol' nope. Especially once you add in my absolute least favourite description: "Corneliussen's mouth resembled a stitched-up chicken's anus".
I'm honestly not sure if this was a Book Problem or a Translation Problem but it was definitely a Problem For My Brain.
2.5 stars.
I picked this up for $2 last year because I tend to really enjoy Scandinavian crime books and I try as much as possible to read books set outside the US and the UK so this definitely fit the bill. And then I put off reading it for over a year. Whoops?
Anyway. The mystery itself was pretty decent, but I feel like a lot of the story got bogged down in Axel's personal life in ways I didn't really care for. The descriptions of women were...not good. Exhibit A: "He looked at her naked body in the semi-darkness: her pussy, freshly shaved around the dark brown labia, the greasy pubic hair above it, her white skin, her hip sockets framing the skin on her stomach with the two stretch marks like barcodes on either side of her navel, which had turned outwards since Emma was born. Up and down went her breast in a calm rhythm; her nipples had crawled in on themselves."
Now, I don't know how most people describe the mother of their child, but I'm guessing it's not greasy pubes and inverted nipples. And sometime later, we get the following: "her tongue was hard and greedy, she tasted slightly sweet, of bolognese or ketchup". BOLOGNESE OR KETCHUP?!?!?! Ma'am. Brush your teeth please.
So while the mystery was fine, the rest was a big ol' nope. Especially once you add in my absolute least favourite description: "Corneliussen's mouth resembled a stitched-up chicken's anus".
I'm honestly not sure if this was a Book Problem or a Translation Problem but it was definitely a Problem For My Brain.
June 14, 2025
Quite nice to read a crime thriller based in Copenhagen. Definitely knew some locations. But the plot isn‘t too crazy, i‘ve read some more exciting thrillers.
August 23, 2019
Veel gedetailleerde feiten over heden en geschiedenis, saai, langdradig en afwezigheid van spanning.
April 29, 2019
Anche quando ispettori e danesi - come in questo libraccio - sempre Commissari Svedesi sono, la forma più irritante di vita sulla terra dopo il chihuahua del vostro vicino.
January 13, 2021
Slow,boring.
dnf
January 19, 2020DNF @ 20%. Not my cup of tea. Every female character seemed to be either someone the MC had slept with or wanted to sleep with. I found it annoying.
May 22, 2024
Great characters, and love that it takes place in my old neighbourhood of Nørrebro <3
August 31, 2018
Et brag af en åbning til Axel Steen universet! Jeg er vild med Jesper Steins fortælling og universets detaljerigdom som stemmer nøje overens med virkeligheden. Her ti år efter at historien er skrevet, så kan man stadigvæk gå rundt på Nørrebro og visualisere hele historien med selv meget specifikke detaljer. Jeg er fan af Jesper og Axel og skal have læst noget mere af den serie!
June 14, 2014
'Onrust', de debuutthriller van de Deense auteur Jesper Stein (Jesper Stein Larsen, 1965), is een bestseller in zowel Denemarken als Duitsland, wat nieuwsgierig maakt en verwachtingen wekt. Mijn nieuwsgierigheid is bevredigd. In mijn verwachtingen ben ik enigszins teleurgesteld, maar de drie sterren die ik 'Onrust' toebedeel zijn dik en vet. Stein laat zien dat hij de potentie heeft een zeer goede thriller te schrijven, het komt er in deel 1 van de driedelige Axel Steen-reeks echter nog net niet helemaal uit. Alsof hij te veel wil, bang is om 'stiltes' te laten vallen, zijn lezers tekort te doen als hij te weinig gedetailleerd is. In Denemarken is deel 2 inmiddels verschenen, getiteld 'Bye buy blackbird', deel 3 staat op punt van verschijnen en heet 'Akrash', een begrip dat ook in deel 1 voorkomt. Nu hopen dat 'Onrust' voldoende verkocht wordt om het voor uitgever De Geus interessant te maken de volgende delen in vertaling uit te brengen.
Rechercheur van politie Axel Steen speelt de hoofdrol in 'Onrust'. Hij is niet bijster sympathiek, worstelt met de naweeën van een echtscheiding, botst door zijn eigengereidheid met collega's en meerderen, lijdt aan hypochondrie (in het bijzonder vreest hij hartfalen), rookt hasj en gaat op de fiets naar een plaats delict. Locatie: de wijk Nørrebro in Kopenhagen, Denemarken. In Nørrebro is het oorlog tussen krakers en politie, het gaat er hard aan toe. Na de rellen wordt een dode aangetroffen, vermoord, terwijl de politie in groten getale aanwezig was. Aan Axel Steen de taak uit te zoeken wie de dode is, hoe dit kon gebeuren en wie de moordenaar is. Steen heeft zijn eigen werkmethodes, die hem niet in dank worden afgenomen, en wordt van het onderzoek gehaald, op een zijspoor gerangeerd. Dat is voor hem geen beletsel om verder te wroeten tot de onderste steen boven is. Zijn er wellicht politiemensen bij de moord betrokken?
Het is lastig op gang komen in 'Onrust'. Bladzijdenlang weidt Stein uit over de onlusten, de oorzaken en gevolgen ervan, de diversiteit aan bewoners van de wijk, enzovoort. Uiteindelijk blijkt dat alles niet van cruciaal belang voor het verhaal, kennelijk had de auteur de onbedwingbare behoefte zijn kennis te etaleren. Niet meer doen. Het 'echte' verhaal, de speurtocht naar de dode en diens vermeende contacten, het zoeken naar een verband tussen gebeurtenissen in Macedonië in 2001 en het heden, de rol van de geheime dienst, staat als een huis. De hoofdpersonages worden prima gekarakteriseerd, je kunt je moeiteloos een beeld vormen van hun uiterlijk en hun gedrag. Wie goed is en wie slecht blijft lange tijd in raadselen gehuld, al rijzen er tijdens het lezen vermoedens, de spanning stijgt gaandeweg. Tussendoor heeft Axel Steen de nodige privéproblemen, met name met zijn ex Cecilie, die van mening is dat hij onvoldoende tijd en aandacht heeft voor vijfjarige dochter Emma. (Steen neemt Emma mee naar zijn werk als het zo uitkomt, waar ze o.a. gesprekken voert met 'koude mannen in laden' ...) Steen privé is een tikkeltje over de top, Steens werkhouding eveneens, het mag allemaal iets 'gewoner'. De schrijfstijl daarentegen kan een oppepper gebruiken. Over het algemeen zijn de zinnen kort en gebruikt Stein eenvoudige woorden; bij een verhaal van dit niveau zou de auteur qua taalgebruik een tandje bij mogen zetten.
Een strakkere insteek zou 'Onrust' ten goede zijn gekomen en het boek minimaal honderd pagina's dunner maken. Het inbouwen van rustmomenten zou ook niet verkeerd zijn, maar dat is een kwestie van smaak. Het is nogal vermoeiend om van de eerste tot de laatste bladzijde met Axel Steen mee te hollen, maar wél een uitdaging en tevens uitnodiging om deel 2 te lezen.
Rechercheur van politie Axel Steen speelt de hoofdrol in 'Onrust'. Hij is niet bijster sympathiek, worstelt met de naweeën van een echtscheiding, botst door zijn eigengereidheid met collega's en meerderen, lijdt aan hypochondrie (in het bijzonder vreest hij hartfalen), rookt hasj en gaat op de fiets naar een plaats delict. Locatie: de wijk Nørrebro in Kopenhagen, Denemarken. In Nørrebro is het oorlog tussen krakers en politie, het gaat er hard aan toe. Na de rellen wordt een dode aangetroffen, vermoord, terwijl de politie in groten getale aanwezig was. Aan Axel Steen de taak uit te zoeken wie de dode is, hoe dit kon gebeuren en wie de moordenaar is. Steen heeft zijn eigen werkmethodes, die hem niet in dank worden afgenomen, en wordt van het onderzoek gehaald, op een zijspoor gerangeerd. Dat is voor hem geen beletsel om verder te wroeten tot de onderste steen boven is. Zijn er wellicht politiemensen bij de moord betrokken?
Het is lastig op gang komen in 'Onrust'. Bladzijdenlang weidt Stein uit over de onlusten, de oorzaken en gevolgen ervan, de diversiteit aan bewoners van de wijk, enzovoort. Uiteindelijk blijkt dat alles niet van cruciaal belang voor het verhaal, kennelijk had de auteur de onbedwingbare behoefte zijn kennis te etaleren. Niet meer doen. Het 'echte' verhaal, de speurtocht naar de dode en diens vermeende contacten, het zoeken naar een verband tussen gebeurtenissen in Macedonië in 2001 en het heden, de rol van de geheime dienst, staat als een huis. De hoofdpersonages worden prima gekarakteriseerd, je kunt je moeiteloos een beeld vormen van hun uiterlijk en hun gedrag. Wie goed is en wie slecht blijft lange tijd in raadselen gehuld, al rijzen er tijdens het lezen vermoedens, de spanning stijgt gaandeweg. Tussendoor heeft Axel Steen de nodige privéproblemen, met name met zijn ex Cecilie, die van mening is dat hij onvoldoende tijd en aandacht heeft voor vijfjarige dochter Emma. (Steen neemt Emma mee naar zijn werk als het zo uitkomt, waar ze o.a. gesprekken voert met 'koude mannen in laden' ...) Steen privé is een tikkeltje over de top, Steens werkhouding eveneens, het mag allemaal iets 'gewoner'. De schrijfstijl daarentegen kan een oppepper gebruiken. Over het algemeen zijn de zinnen kort en gebruikt Stein eenvoudige woorden; bij een verhaal van dit niveau zou de auteur qua taalgebruik een tandje bij mogen zetten.
Een strakkere insteek zou 'Onrust' ten goede zijn gekomen en het boek minimaal honderd pagina's dunner maken. Het inbouwen van rustmomenten zou ook niet verkeerd zijn, maar dat is een kwestie van smaak. Het is nogal vermoeiend om van de eerste tot de laatste bladzijde met Axel Steen mee te hollen, maar wél een uitdaging en tevens uitnodiging om deel 2 te lezen.
January 30, 2016
Denne roman er første bind i serien om Axel Steen. Han er 38 år, fraskilt, og har ikke helt vænnet sig til at det er sådan det er.
Han har en lille datter, Emma med sin ex-kone. Pigen er 5 år gammel som han er far for hv. 2 weekend. Hvor hun oveni købet er i weekend-børnehave, fordi far altid er på arbejde.
Der bliver fundet et lig der sidder op af muren indtil Assistens kirkegård i midten af København. Dagen før fundet har politiet ryddet Ungdomshuset. Dette medfører naturligvis en del Uro fra de autonome. Derfor er området omkring Ungdomshuset spærret af og bliver bevogtet af politiet.
De to betjente der har tjeneste nær kirkegårdens mure, har intet set.
Offeret har fået tæv, er klædt som autonom. Han er kvalt og har hænderne bundet bagpå ryggen med en strip som kun politiet bruger. Han har ingen id-kort på sig. Det eneste der fastslår hans identitet er to tatoveringer. En af en ørn med to hoveder og en anden med en dato på der ikke umiddelbart giver mening.
Piver er autonom i mild grad, han ser et overvågningskamera, får den indskydelse at det kunne være godt at snuppe det - og det var nok ikke en god ide!
Da det viser sig at offeret er en albansk narkokurere som er udvist af Danmark for bestandig. bliver sagen temmelig speget for Axel og resten af efterforsknings-holdet. Sagen bliver ikke nemmere da PET melder sin ankomst.
Dette er den første bind i serien om Axel Steen. Han er en kompleks og spændende person som man kun har lyst til at tilbringe mere tid sammen med.
Han er enspænder på en helt speciel måde, han kører et elegant sololøb, lige indtil han har nok "guld" til at kunne imponere sin chef og de andre på holdet. Dette gør så at han ind imellem bliver meget upopulær og bringer sig selv i unødig fare.
Historien holder 100 procent og der er spænding til den sidste side. Uro bærer meget præg af at forfatteren selv er "københavner" med indgående kendskab til beboere og kultur i den tunge bydel, hvor alle folkeslag skal enes om pladsen.
Det bliver spændende at læse de næste bøger i serien.
Giver bogen 4 stjerner
Han har en lille datter, Emma med sin ex-kone. Pigen er 5 år gammel som han er far for hv. 2 weekend. Hvor hun oveni købet er i weekend-børnehave, fordi far altid er på arbejde.
Der bliver fundet et lig der sidder op af muren indtil Assistens kirkegård i midten af København. Dagen før fundet har politiet ryddet Ungdomshuset. Dette medfører naturligvis en del Uro fra de autonome. Derfor er området omkring Ungdomshuset spærret af og bliver bevogtet af politiet.
De to betjente der har tjeneste nær kirkegårdens mure, har intet set.
Offeret har fået tæv, er klædt som autonom. Han er kvalt og har hænderne bundet bagpå ryggen med en strip som kun politiet bruger. Han har ingen id-kort på sig. Det eneste der fastslår hans identitet er to tatoveringer. En af en ørn med to hoveder og en anden med en dato på der ikke umiddelbart giver mening.
Piver er autonom i mild grad, han ser et overvågningskamera, får den indskydelse at det kunne være godt at snuppe det - og det var nok ikke en god ide!
Da det viser sig at offeret er en albansk narkokurere som er udvist af Danmark for bestandig. bliver sagen temmelig speget for Axel og resten af efterforsknings-holdet. Sagen bliver ikke nemmere da PET melder sin ankomst.
Dette er den første bind i serien om Axel Steen. Han er en kompleks og spændende person som man kun har lyst til at tilbringe mere tid sammen med.
Han er enspænder på en helt speciel måde, han kører et elegant sololøb, lige indtil han har nok "guld" til at kunne imponere sin chef og de andre på holdet. Dette gør så at han ind imellem bliver meget upopulær og bringer sig selv i unødig fare.
Historien holder 100 procent og der er spænding til den sidste side. Uro bærer meget præg af at forfatteren selv er "københavner" med indgående kendskab til beboere og kultur i den tunge bydel, hvor alle folkeslag skal enes om pladsen.
Det bliver spændende at læse de næste bøger i serien.
Giver bogen 4 stjerner
February 14, 2019
There just is an unmistakable difference between American, British and Danish crime novels. After reading Jo Nesbo and Inger Wolf I have developed a taste for the Danish novels. Through the eyes of cynical and troubled policemen, you see a different side of the country and what the life of fighting crime does to a person.
The Danish authors are straight forward and do not sugar coat anything. They call it as they see it and write brutal honest stories.
In this Jesper Stein Novel, we meet Axel Steen, a very troubled investigator whose supervisor sorely wants him gone but also knows that he closes cases. Steen is divorced with a five-year-old daughter whom he loves very much. He lives in Norrebro, a mixed district that is rife with violence. During violent riots, Steen is called out to a murder that took place amidst heavy police presence.
Steen has to solve the crime and prove the police were not involved. This takes Steen into a hostile area of playing cat and mouse with the press and determining what the government's part in the whole mess was. He has to do all this while keeping his daughter from trying to wake the corpses in the morgue. His wife did not see the humor in this and restricted his visiting right, making life for Steen just so much harder.
It is a good but taxing read, if you are used to the American crime novels this would take you up a notch and introduce you to a new way of reading crime.
The Danish authors are straight forward and do not sugar coat anything. They call it as they see it and write brutal honest stories.
In this Jesper Stein Novel, we meet Axel Steen, a very troubled investigator whose supervisor sorely wants him gone but also knows that he closes cases. Steen is divorced with a five-year-old daughter whom he loves very much. He lives in Norrebro, a mixed district that is rife with violence. During violent riots, Steen is called out to a murder that took place amidst heavy police presence.
Steen has to solve the crime and prove the police were not involved. This takes Steen into a hostile area of playing cat and mouse with the press and determining what the government's part in the whole mess was. He has to do all this while keeping his daughter from trying to wake the corpses in the morgue. His wife did not see the humor in this and restricted his visiting right, making life for Steen just so much harder.
It is a good but taxing read, if you are used to the American crime novels this would take you up a notch and introduce you to a new way of reading crime.
December 2, 2017
Il tempo dell’inquietudine
Un nuovo giallo nordico, un nuovo ispettore inquieto e problematico, meno fascinoso di Harry Hole. Interessante l’ambientazione a Copenhagen e la descrizione delle proteste dei centri sociali del 2007 che mettono a luce i conflitti che infiammano le periferie multietniche e degradate della città.
Meno convincente invece la storia, quasi che lo scrittore non sapesse bene dove volesse andare a parare. Alla fine non vedi l’ora che finisca.
Un nuovo giallo nordico, un nuovo ispettore inquieto e problematico, meno fascinoso di Harry Hole. Interessante l’ambientazione a Copenhagen e la descrizione delle proteste dei centri sociali del 2007 che mettono a luce i conflitti che infiammano le periferie multietniche e degradate della città.
Meno convincente invece la storia, quasi che lo scrittore non sapesse bene dove volesse andare a parare. Alla fine non vedi l’ora che finisca.
November 6, 2012
A great thriller that for once does not revolve around the molesting and killing of children and women. The police dialogue is spot on!
March 24, 2014
Bloedstollend spannende thriller! Heb vanaf de eerste pagina's op het puntje van mijn stoel gezeten.
June 6, 2020
Onrust is me erg goed bevallen. Goed verhaal, mooie dosis spanning en het verhaal leest lekker. De opbouw is ook dik voor elkaar.
February 27, 2018
Wiele razy miałam styczność z kryminałami skandynawskimi, lecz jeszcze ani razu z duńskim. I powiem Wam szczerze, że nie wiem, z czego to wynika. Gdy czytałam "Niepokój. Detektywistyczną serię o Axelu Steenie" Jespera Steina, miałam dosyć mieszane uczucia względem niej i zaraz Wam powiem dlaczego.
Pierwszego marca 2007 roku, na jednej z kopenhaskich ulic - Jagtvej, policja rozpoczęła eksmisję Ungdomshuset, miejsca kultowego dla wielu młodych ludzi. Wokół wydarzenia wybuchają zamieszki oraz demonstracje w całej dzielnicy Nørrebro, lecz nie jest to jedyne, z czym musi uporać się policja. Pod cmentarnym murem, pilnowanym przez mundurowych, zostaje bowiem znalezione ciało. Dochodzeniem zajmuje się wicekomisarz Axel Steen. "Jak nazwać to uczucie, kiedy to, że się obudziłeś, jest najgorszym, co cię spotkało? Kiedy tak cudownie jest być sobą samym we śnie, nawet jeśli przez cały czas w tyle głowy czujesz, że coś się nie zgadza, ale dopiero po przebudzeniu to uczucie staje się nie do zniesienia? Czy to koszmar, czy senne marzenie?" Główną postacią jest Axel Steen - outsider, nielubiany przez współpracowników, mający obsesję na punkcie wyjaśniania zabójstw, wicekomisarz. Jest on standardowym przykładem bohatera powieści kryminalnych, właśnie ze względu na swoje usposobienie. I choć większość cech, które posiada, i które są typowe dla książek z danego gatunku, to wyróżnia go zamierzone lub nie - poczucie humoru. Sarkastyczne, lecz odznaczające się w niewielu momentach tej ponad 450 stronicowej powieści. Z jednej strony rozumiem fakt, iż policjant lub śledczy musi posiadać zestaw pewnych określonych cech, lecz według mnie można również pokusić się o "podkręcenie" osobowości głównego bohatera również w aspekcie pozytywnym, a nie wyłącznie poważnym, surowym, jak i nieomylnym. "Wszyscy kłamią. Na ten czy inny temat. W sprawach małych i wielkich. A kiedy już zaczną kłamać, zwykle trudno jest ich zmusić, aby wrócili do prawdy." Powodem, który sprawił, że z początku ciężko było mi się "wkręcić" w fabułę, była spora ilość wątków erotycznych, za którymi ja nie przepadam. Na szczęście im więcej stron za nami, tym mniej tego typu opisów. Akcja powieści jest dynamiczna, a książka sama w sobie zaskakująca. Mam jednak wrażenie, iż utwór napisany jest na wzór powieści amerykańskich. Możemy tutaj bowiem zauważyć, iż autor pokusił się o mniejszą ilość niepotrzebnych opisów, które zazwyczaj towarzyszą nam przy czytaniu literatury skandynawskiej, a skupił się w większym stopniu na dynamice oraz rozwoju wydarzeń. Ma to swoje plusy, jak i minusy. Z jednej strony, dla czytelnika, który kocha akcję, który uwielbia, kiedy naprawdę coś się dzieje, może być to aspekt zdecydowanie pozytywny. Z drugiej strony, książka nie posiada już tego skandynawskiego klimatu - możemy go zauważyć głównie, czytając nazwy ulic, nazwisk, czy mając świadomość, iż wydarzenia rozgrywają się na jednej z kopenhaskich dzielnic miasta. Dla mnie, czyli osoby, która woli dynamikę od "zapychaczy fabuły", jest to rzecz przemawiająca na plus. Nie ukrywam, iż jako fan skandynawskiej literatury kryminalnej, niekiedy nużą mnie zbędne opisy, jak i rozwlekanie akcji. Jest to, chociażby powód, dlaczego wciąż nie skończyłam czytać sagi "Millenium" Stiega Larssona. Tutaj jednak mogę od tego odetchnąć i cieszyć się dobrą książką, zaskakującą oraz taką, którą pomimo dosyć małego fontu - szybko się czyta. Myślę, że jest to zasługa dobrego pióra autora, oraz lekkiego stylu.
Pierwszego marca 2007 roku, na jednej z kopenhaskich ulic - Jagtvej, policja rozpoczęła eksmisję Ungdomshuset, miejsca kultowego dla wielu młodych ludzi. Wokół wydarzenia wybuchają zamieszki oraz demonstracje w całej dzielnicy Nørrebro, lecz nie jest to jedyne, z czym musi uporać się policja. Pod cmentarnym murem, pilnowanym przez mundurowych, zostaje bowiem znalezione ciało. Dochodzeniem zajmuje się wicekomisarz Axel Steen. "Jak nazwać to uczucie, kiedy to, że się obudziłeś, jest najgorszym, co cię spotkało? Kiedy tak cudownie jest być sobą samym we śnie, nawet jeśli przez cały czas w tyle głowy czujesz, że coś się nie zgadza, ale dopiero po przebudzeniu to uczucie staje się nie do zniesienia? Czy to koszmar, czy senne marzenie?" Główną postacią jest Axel Steen - outsider, nielubiany przez współpracowników, mający obsesję na punkcie wyjaśniania zabójstw, wicekomisarz. Jest on standardowym przykładem bohatera powieści kryminalnych, właśnie ze względu na swoje usposobienie. I choć większość cech, które posiada, i które są typowe dla książek z danego gatunku, to wyróżnia go zamierzone lub nie - poczucie humoru. Sarkastyczne, lecz odznaczające się w niewielu momentach tej ponad 450 stronicowej powieści. Z jednej strony rozumiem fakt, iż policjant lub śledczy musi posiadać zestaw pewnych określonych cech, lecz według mnie można również pokusić się o "podkręcenie" osobowości głównego bohatera również w aspekcie pozytywnym, a nie wyłącznie poważnym, surowym, jak i nieomylnym. "Wszyscy kłamią. Na ten czy inny temat. W sprawach małych i wielkich. A kiedy już zaczną kłamać, zwykle trudno jest ich zmusić, aby wrócili do prawdy." Powodem, który sprawił, że z początku ciężko było mi się "wkręcić" w fabułę, była spora ilość wątków erotycznych, za którymi ja nie przepadam. Na szczęście im więcej stron za nami, tym mniej tego typu opisów. Akcja powieści jest dynamiczna, a książka sama w sobie zaskakująca. Mam jednak wrażenie, iż utwór napisany jest na wzór powieści amerykańskich. Możemy tutaj bowiem zauważyć, iż autor pokusił się o mniejszą ilość niepotrzebnych opisów, które zazwyczaj towarzyszą nam przy czytaniu literatury skandynawskiej, a skupił się w większym stopniu na dynamice oraz rozwoju wydarzeń. Ma to swoje plusy, jak i minusy. Z jednej strony, dla czytelnika, który kocha akcję, który uwielbia, kiedy naprawdę coś się dzieje, może być to aspekt zdecydowanie pozytywny. Z drugiej strony, książka nie posiada już tego skandynawskiego klimatu - możemy go zauważyć głównie, czytając nazwy ulic, nazwisk, czy mając świadomość, iż wydarzenia rozgrywają się na jednej z kopenhaskich dzielnic miasta. Dla mnie, czyli osoby, która woli dynamikę od "zapychaczy fabuły", jest to rzecz przemawiająca na plus. Nie ukrywam, iż jako fan skandynawskiej literatury kryminalnej, niekiedy nużą mnie zbędne opisy, jak i rozwlekanie akcji. Jest to, chociażby powód, dlaczego wciąż nie skończyłam czytać sagi "Millenium" Stiega Larssona. Tutaj jednak mogę od tego odetchnąć i cieszyć się dobrą książką, zaskakującą oraz taką, którą pomimo dosyć małego fontu - szybko się czyta. Myślę, że jest to zasługa dobrego pióra autora, oraz lekkiego stylu.
July 28, 2018
Although I have been reading crime fiction for more years than I care to count I will confess to being a newcomer to what has become dubbed “Scandi Crime”. I am something of a convert to these Northern crime stories though and I enjoy that the have a very different feel to the UK or American crime fiction tales I have been reading for years.
I cannot recall reading any Danish police procedurals prior to picking up Unrest so this was virgin territory – by the time I reached the climax (as it were) I was more than satisfied and would certainly like to repeat the experience.
Our main focus is Detective Superintendent Axel Steen. He is in the majority of scenes throughout the book so we get a good look at the lead character and the author spends time building up his background to good effect. He has a troubling medical condition, an ex-wife he misses terribly and a young daughter who he sees quite frequently but takes into crime scenes and the mortuary so perhaps fathering is not a strength. I liked Steen and his rogue/unorthodox investigative approach so spending much of the book in his company was no chore.
Steen is investigating a murder. The body of a man, bound and hooded, has been found in a public location – left virtually under the noses of the police. There is a suggestion there has been police involvement as the murder appears to have been secretly caught on film, though the evidence has vanished so cannot be easily validated. Tensions in Copenhagen are running high as militant factions are protesting and attacking police near where the body was found – was this a police retaliation?
The investigation the reader follows is methodical and, as the author is developing a life for Steen away from his job, this means the pacing of the story is not relentless and action packed. This is not to be taken as a criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed the detail and the thoroughness which the author brought to Unrest. For readers hoping for fist fights or car chases every second chapter, there are other books out there for you. Unrest is for the reader looking for a good story, well told, and with a nasty murder waiting to be solved.
I enjoyed Unrest and I hope Axel Steen returns soon.
I cannot recall reading any Danish police procedurals prior to picking up Unrest so this was virgin territory – by the time I reached the climax (as it were) I was more than satisfied and would certainly like to repeat the experience.
Our main focus is Detective Superintendent Axel Steen. He is in the majority of scenes throughout the book so we get a good look at the lead character and the author spends time building up his background to good effect. He has a troubling medical condition, an ex-wife he misses terribly and a young daughter who he sees quite frequently but takes into crime scenes and the mortuary so perhaps fathering is not a strength. I liked Steen and his rogue/unorthodox investigative approach so spending much of the book in his company was no chore.
Steen is investigating a murder. The body of a man, bound and hooded, has been found in a public location – left virtually under the noses of the police. There is a suggestion there has been police involvement as the murder appears to have been secretly caught on film, though the evidence has vanished so cannot be easily validated. Tensions in Copenhagen are running high as militant factions are protesting and attacking police near where the body was found – was this a police retaliation?
The investigation the reader follows is methodical and, as the author is developing a life for Steen away from his job, this means the pacing of the story is not relentless and action packed. This is not to be taken as a criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed the detail and the thoroughness which the author brought to Unrest. For readers hoping for fist fights or car chases every second chapter, there are other books out there for you. Unrest is for the reader looking for a good story, well told, and with a nasty murder waiting to be solved.
I enjoyed Unrest and I hope Axel Steen returns soon.
August 8, 2018
Jesper Stein emerges as an exciting new voice in Nordic Noir. When the novel opens, the city of Copenhagen in Denmark is on lockdown as riots break out. For me it did bring back memories of the London riots which took place in 2011 and I thought the scenes were very well written and very vivid. Detective Superintendent Axel Steen enters the picture and as the situation comes under control, a body is discovered in a nearby cemetery. And what’s more a young man who was involved in the riots has disappeared with vital CCTV footage that could be pivotal to the investigation as it could show the face of the killer(s).
What immediately intrigued me was how the body had been left in the cemetery. It was clear that the victim had suffered horrific abuse before being killed and I wanted to know who he was and what he had done to deserve the fate inflicted upon him, or if indeed there was any reason at all. We immediately get a sense that the police face huge levels of mistrust in the city and you can see how it is going to be difficult for Axel to understand what has happened. Journalists are also keen to paint the police in a bad light after their response to the riots which doesn’t make things easy for them.
Axel is an intriguing character. The opening scene allows you a glimpse into the workings of his mind, and it does make you think about what has gone wrong in his life. I was interested to see how his character would develop further as the novel progressed, particularly his relationship with his ex-wife. He still has strong feelings from her and at times I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as it seems he is struggling to move on from their split. He certainly isn’t a character who always plays by the rules and this is what made him exciting to follow, even though some of the decisions he makes doesn’t make him particularly likeable.
Jesper Stein is a writer who I will be keeping an eye out for. Unrest is an exciting debut novel and I would definitely recommended it for Nordic Noir fans. Thank you to Melaine Sambells at Mirror Books for inviting me to take part in the tour and for providing me with a copy of the book to review.
What immediately intrigued me was how the body had been left in the cemetery. It was clear that the victim had suffered horrific abuse before being killed and I wanted to know who he was and what he had done to deserve the fate inflicted upon him, or if indeed there was any reason at all. We immediately get a sense that the police face huge levels of mistrust in the city and you can see how it is going to be difficult for Axel to understand what has happened. Journalists are also keen to paint the police in a bad light after their response to the riots which doesn’t make things easy for them.
Axel is an intriguing character. The opening scene allows you a glimpse into the workings of his mind, and it does make you think about what has gone wrong in his life. I was interested to see how his character would develop further as the novel progressed, particularly his relationship with his ex-wife. He still has strong feelings from her and at times I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as it seems he is struggling to move on from their split. He certainly isn’t a character who always plays by the rules and this is what made him exciting to follow, even though some of the decisions he makes doesn’t make him particularly likeable.
Jesper Stein is a writer who I will be keeping an eye out for. Unrest is an exciting debut novel and I would definitely recommended it for Nordic Noir fans. Thank you to Melaine Sambells at Mirror Books for inviting me to take part in the tour and for providing me with a copy of the book to review.
December 7, 2023
Il tempo dell'inquietudine - Jesper Stein
Primo libro della serie di Alex Steen e buon giallo nordico.
Si lascia leggere bene anche se a volte diventa un po' troppo lento.
Trama:
Axel Steen, ispettore della sezione omicidi noto tra colleghi e criminali per la sua durezza e il carattere inquieto, vive a Nørrebro, il quartiere alternativo e multiculturale di Copenaghen, un posto dove artisti e spacciatori sono di casa e l’odore della benzina si mescola al profumo della cannella e del cumino. È da lì che, nel marzo del 2007, parte una delle rivolte di piazza più devastanti della storia moderna della Danimarca. Dopo lo sgombero della storica Ungdomshuset, il centro sociale punto di raccolta per attivisti militanti e autonomi, violenti disordini infiammano l’intera città. Ma la tensione, già insostenibile, è destinata a salire quando nel cimitero di Assistens, il cuore verde di Nørrebro, viene ritrovato il corpo di un uomo: è stato picchiato e ucciso, e tutto fa pensare che la polizia sia coinvolta nell'omicidio. Mentre la stampa soffi a sul fuoco, Axel cerca di far luce su un caso dalle mille piste che sembra stare molto a cuore ai servizi segreti e che i suoi capi vogliono coprire. L’agitazione che scuote le strade avvolte dalla nebbia di roghi e lacrimogeni diventa così lo specchio dell’inquietudine di un poliziotto di trentotto anni, divorziato con una figlia, che fuma hashish per combattere l’insonnia e deve fare i conti ogni giorno con la sua folle paura di morire. Un poliziotto che, più di ogni altra cosa, vuole giustizia
Primo libro della serie di Alex Steen e buon giallo nordico.
Si lascia leggere bene anche se a volte diventa un po' troppo lento.
Trama:
Axel Steen, ispettore della sezione omicidi noto tra colleghi e criminali per la sua durezza e il carattere inquieto, vive a Nørrebro, il quartiere alternativo e multiculturale di Copenaghen, un posto dove artisti e spacciatori sono di casa e l’odore della benzina si mescola al profumo della cannella e del cumino. È da lì che, nel marzo del 2007, parte una delle rivolte di piazza più devastanti della storia moderna della Danimarca. Dopo lo sgombero della storica Ungdomshuset, il centro sociale punto di raccolta per attivisti militanti e autonomi, violenti disordini infiammano l’intera città. Ma la tensione, già insostenibile, è destinata a salire quando nel cimitero di Assistens, il cuore verde di Nørrebro, viene ritrovato il corpo di un uomo: è stato picchiato e ucciso, e tutto fa pensare che la polizia sia coinvolta nell'omicidio. Mentre la stampa soffi a sul fuoco, Axel cerca di far luce su un caso dalle mille piste che sembra stare molto a cuore ai servizi segreti e che i suoi capi vogliono coprire. L’agitazione che scuote le strade avvolte dalla nebbia di roghi e lacrimogeni diventa così lo specchio dell’inquietudine di un poliziotto di trentotto anni, divorziato con una figlia, che fuma hashish per combattere l’insonnia e deve fare i conti ogni giorno con la sua folle paura di morire. Un poliziotto che, più di ogni altra cosa, vuole giustizia
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