What do you think?
Rate this book
Annika Bengtzon (Chronological Order) #10
Without a Trace
A family torn apart. Another trying to find a way to be as one.
Ingemar Lerberg had it all: successful businessman, politician, husband, father. Until he is found, brutally beaten and left for dead, in his mansion in a fashionable district of Stockholm. His wife, Nora, is missing. With no alternative, his children are taken into care. In one night, a family has been ripped apart.
Journalist Annika Bengtzon is assigned to the case. As she delves into the horrifying details of this family's fate, she grapples too with the change in her own. With her new boyfriend she must patch together a family from their respective children and stepchildren, and find a way for them all to live harmoniously.
Family matters above all else, but all is never as it seems. Behind the scenes, darkness lies.
Ingemar Lerberg had it all: successful businessman, politician, husband, father. Until he is found, brutally beaten and left for dead, in his mansion in a fashionable district of Stockholm. His wife, Nora, is missing. With no alternative, his children are taken into care. In one night, a family has been ripped apart.
Journalist Annika Bengtzon is assigned to the case. As she delves into the horrifying details of this family's fate, she grapples too with the change in her own. With her new boyfriend she must patch together a family from their respective children and stepchildren, and find a way for them all to live harmoniously.
Family matters above all else, but all is never as it seems. Behind the scenes, darkness lies.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
61 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Liza Marklund
120 books545 followersScandinavia’s undisputed queen of crime fiction, Liza Marklund is the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Annika Bengtzon series.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 4, 2014
I don't think that any of Marklund's newer books quite reaches the old ones like Studio Sex for example. This was okay but it was sort of forgettable and the ending came quite abruptly and felt rushed and a bit wishy-washy, like; was that all?
June 30, 2017
It's always a pleasure to read Liza Marklund's books featuring her main heroine, journalist Annika Bengtzon. As in the previous novels, Annika's private life is chaotic and traumatic, yet she always seems able to detach herself and deal with her professional life in a cool and efficient manner.
The main story revolves around the near-fatal torturing of a controversial right-wing politician and the disappearance of his wife. Later a homeless man is found killed by similar torture methods. There is also a secondary story revolving around the persecution of Annika's boss Anders Schyman for allegedly fabricating a story about a woman's disappearance 20 years before. Police officer Nina Hoffman, first encountered in Lifetime,now working in National Crime, also make a welcome return in this novel. Her boss here is another recurring character in the series, Commissioner Q.
The ending of the novel is somewhat unresolved. Normally, I'm no big fan of cliff-hangers, but, as I enjoy the series and Annika so much, I'm prepeared to be lenient on this occasion. I'm hoping that all will be revealed in the following novel The Final Word.
The main story revolves around the near-fatal torturing of a controversial right-wing politician and the disappearance of his wife. Later a homeless man is found killed by similar torture methods. There is also a secondary story revolving around the persecution of Annika's boss Anders Schyman for allegedly fabricating a story about a woman's disappearance 20 years before. Police officer Nina Hoffman, first encountered in Lifetime,now working in National Crime, also make a welcome return in this novel. Her boss here is another recurring character in the series, Commissioner Q.
The ending of the novel is somewhat unresolved. Normally, I'm no big fan of cliff-hangers, but, as I enjoy the series and Annika so much, I'm prepeared to be lenient on this occasion. I'm hoping that all will be revealed in the following novel The Final Word.
January 30, 2022
Mi sono rallegrata per due giorni con questo thriller ben scritto e con un ritmo dark metal. Ahimè, il decimo della serie di Liza Marklund e della sua giornalista Annika Bengtzon. Il primo che io abbia mai letto di questa serie.
Non il miglior thriller che io abbia mai letto, a circa metà libro mi ero immaginata (giustamente) tante cose.
Questa è la storia di 4 donne che si intrecciano: due sono scomparse (Nora e Viola), le altre due indagano a loro modo sulle vicende. Annika, giornalista di successo presso la Stampa della sera , vuole a tutti i costi scoprire chi ha ridotto in fin di vita Ingemar Lerberg, marito di Nora, e dove quest’ultima si sia cacciata; Nina, poliziotta della sezione anticrimine, dal passato torbido, scoprirà invece, grazie alla giornalista, come Nora sia scomparsa lasciando i tre figlioletti amati, ma soprattutto chi, a suo modo, l’abbia aiutata.
Ritmo serrato, mi è piaciuto; 4 stelline.
Non il miglior thriller che io abbia mai letto, a circa metà libro mi ero immaginata (giustamente) tante cose.
Questa è la storia di 4 donne che si intrecciano: due sono scomparse (Nora e Viola), le altre due indagano a loro modo sulle vicende. Annika, giornalista di successo presso la Stampa della sera , vuole a tutti i costi scoprire chi ha ridotto in fin di vita Ingemar Lerberg, marito di Nora, e dove quest’ultima si sia cacciata; Nina, poliziotta della sezione anticrimine, dal passato torbido, scoprirà invece, grazie alla giornalista, come Nora sia scomparsa lasciando i tre figlioletti amati, ma soprattutto chi, a suo modo, l’abbia aiutata.
Ritmo serrato, mi è piaciuto; 4 stelline.
January 19, 2014
Tyvärr den sämsta boken hittills om annika bengtzon. Berörde mig eg. inte på någon punkt och många lösa trådar som aldrig knöts ihop. Tunna karaktärer och inget direkt slut. Synd, brukar gilla marklund.
January 5, 2016
This was quickly written, not a complete story, proper ending missing. Unfortunately.
May 22, 2020
Ennen Annika Bengtzon oli minusta tosi ärsyttävä ja vaikea ihminen. Kai sitä on sitten itsekin sitten vähän kypsynyt ja kasvanut vuosien aikana, kun ei enää tätä kirjaa lukiessa enää ärsyttänyt. Tosin sarjan ensimmäisen osan lukemisesta on jo kaksikymmentä vuotta. Eli pikku hiljaa hyvä tulee. Enää viimeinen osa lukematta tätä sarjaa.
Tarina oli hyvä ja koukuttava. Mutta jotenkin se lässähti loppua kohti. Ja loppu oli jotenkin töksähtävä. Perushyvä skandidekkari.
Tarina oli hyvä ja koukuttava. Mutta jotenkin se lässähti loppua kohti. Ja loppu oli jotenkin töksähtävä. Perushyvä skandidekkari.
October 12, 2021
Jostain syystä tämä kirja ei pitänyt niin otteessaan kuin aikaisemmat kirjat ja ehkä siitä johtuen tai toisinpäin kirja vaikutti aika sekavalta ja hyppi paikasta toiseen epäselvästi. Itse tarinakin oli hieman plaa ja loppuratkaisu jäi hyvin keskeneräiseksi ja tuli vähän juosten kustu olo. Päähenkilöt ärsyttivät edelleen. Ainesta parempaan kyllä oli ja itse katoamistapaus ajatuksena oli mielenkiintoinen mutta toteutus ei nyt toiminut. Annika itse jäi vähän sivuosaan nyt. Näissä tämän sarjan loppupään kirjoissa on ollut se huono puoli että paljon asioita on tapahtunut välissä niin kuin Annikan ero ja uusi naimisiin meno esimerkiksi. Kaikkea ei toki tarvitse kirjoittaa ja kirjojen välissä on aikaa mutta se tekee kirjasta entistä sekavamman.
January 21, 2014
Første sætning: Et menneske kan kun tåle et vist mål af smerte.
Gennem årene har jeg troligt fulgt Liza Marklunds Annika Bengtzon serie. Jeg har glædet mig til hver nye bog og slugt dem på rekordtid. Marklund har været en af de eneste krimiforfattere jeg har givet min dyrebare læsetid.
Der er gået to år siden jeg læste den forrige i serien. Med fråde om munden kastede jeg mig over den nyeste, Noras Bog, som jeg fik i julegave. Efter ca 50 sider gik det op for mig, at læsningen kedede mig. Det har altid været “Det andet” der var drivkraften for mig i serien, dvs. Annika Bengtzons privatliv. Denne gang var det det eneste, der interesserede mig. Jeg talte siderne til Annika fik fri fra arbejde og kom hjem til sin familie – det var her det interessante lå. I alt fyldte denne del måske 50 sider af den næste 400 siders lange roman. De resterende 350 sider føltes som fyld. Jeg var flintrende ligeglad med opklaringen og de andre karakterer. Især Thomas, hendes eksmand, syntes for mig karikeret og overdrevet.
Jeg har læst flere anmeldelser, der pointerer, at Noras Bog absolut ikke er den bedste i serien. Den er heller ikke lige så spændende som fx den forrige. Derudover er oversættelsen helt gal. Se bare bogens første sætning: Et menneske kan kun tåle et vist mål af smerte. What??? Et mål af smerte??? Sådan er der ingen, der siger på dansk. Eller er det bare mig?
Jeg er bange for, at denne læseoplevelse har sat endeligt punktum for krimiserien for mit vedkommende. Der er bare for mange skuffelser. Og når hverken Annika Bengtzon eller J.K. Rowling kan få mig op at ringe, bliver jeg nødt til vågne op og dufte til cappuccinoen.
Lad dette blive mit forsinkede nytårsfortsæt: ikke flere krimier – ikke engang hvis der står Liza Marklund på ryggen. At læse en bog, jeg ikke bryder mig om, kan være nærmest deprimerende. Men jeg bliver heldigvis bedre og bedre med årene til at stoppe i tide.
Liza Marklund er svensk, så Noras Bog fuldendte en lille del af min 2014 Reading Challenge: at læse mindst én skandinavisk roman, der ikke er dansk.
August 26, 2016
God, I've missed Annika and company.
Liza Marklund kind of takes her time between books, but it's always worth the wait. It's not that she's the only person writing Nordic noir - she certainly isn't. She's not even the only woman writing Nordic noir.
But she is unique.
Not everyone can create characters that are a mess, and staggeringly competent, at the same time. And that, of course, is what makes Annika so attractive. We can all relate to the messiness, and we all aspire to the competence.
Annika's personal life is always complicated but, in this book, it's positively thorny. Her ex, Thomas, is descending into madness (or at least bitter hatred); her boyfriend's daughter hates her; and she may have to move from an apartment she loves to a place she doesn't even like.
Then, there's work. Annika's boss, Anders, is facing a scandal that's reverberating throughout Swedish journalism. He enlists her help to clear him, and she embarks on the assignment with a new trainee in tow.
Meanwhile, we're reintroduced to Nina Hoffman, who's joined the National Crime unit. She plays a large role in the plot - I think we probably spend as much time with her as we do with Annika - which makes me wonder if Marklund is setting her up to become a much more significant character.
Personally, I hope so. She's a great balance to Annika's more chaotic presence.
I'm not going to discuss the plot - you can read a summary in a hundred other places. All you need to know is that, if you enjoy Scandanavian crime fiction, you'll enjoy this.
My one problem is the treatment of Thomas (Annika's ex). He's like a cartoon villain - he's petty, self-absorbed, and impotent. It's impossible to take him seriously.
Still, I loved 'Without a Trace.' It was absorbing and engaging a terrific summer read.
Liza Marklund kind of takes her time between books, but it's always worth the wait. It's not that she's the only person writing Nordic noir - she certainly isn't. She's not even the only woman writing Nordic noir.
But she is unique.
Not everyone can create characters that are a mess, and staggeringly competent, at the same time. And that, of course, is what makes Annika so attractive. We can all relate to the messiness, and we all aspire to the competence.
Annika's personal life is always complicated but, in this book, it's positively thorny. Her ex, Thomas, is descending into madness (or at least bitter hatred); her boyfriend's daughter hates her; and she may have to move from an apartment she loves to a place she doesn't even like.
Then, there's work. Annika's boss, Anders, is facing a scandal that's reverberating throughout Swedish journalism. He enlists her help to clear him, and she embarks on the assignment with a new trainee in tow.
Meanwhile, we're reintroduced to Nina Hoffman, who's joined the National Crime unit. She plays a large role in the plot - I think we probably spend as much time with her as we do with Annika - which makes me wonder if Marklund is setting her up to become a much more significant character.
Personally, I hope so. She's a great balance to Annika's more chaotic presence.
I'm not going to discuss the plot - you can read a summary in a hundred other places. All you need to know is that, if you enjoy Scandanavian crime fiction, you'll enjoy this.
My one problem is the treatment of Thomas (Annika's ex). He's like a cartoon villain - he's petty, self-absorbed, and impotent. It's impossible to take him seriously.
Still, I loved 'Without a Trace.' It was absorbing and engaging a terrific summer read.
July 15, 2014
Annan aina ruotsinkielisille kirjoille enemmn tähtiä kuin ne (ehkä) ansaitsisivat, pelkästään siitä ilosta että osaan edelleen lukea ruotsiksi. Sen verran on mennyt aikaa Marklundin edellisestä, etten enää oikein muistanut miten kirjan henkilöt kietoutuivat toisiinsa tai miksi Annika ja Thomas erosivat, mutta ihan jouhevana kesädekkarina tämän pystyi silti lukemaan. Vaikea konepti tämä dekkari muuten, kun toisaalta pitäisi jollain tapaa saada langapäät solmittua, toisaalta taas liian hyvin rakennettu loppuratkaisu vaikuttaa liian, no, hyvin rakennetulta. Vähän uskottavuuden tuolla puolen tässäkin mentiin.
September 20, 2015
Bättre än föregångaren.
Annika kämpar för att få ihop tillvaron med Jimmy (exet Thomas chef - äntligen är det slut med Thomas!) samtidigt som hon jobbar vidare på Kvällspressen med nyheten om den torterade kristdemokraten Ingemar Lerholm. Samtidigt briserar näthatet och Annikas chef, chefredaktör Schyman, får sin beskärda del därav.
Boken har en stor spänningshalt; den är en bladvändare. Annika har i och med samboskapet med Jimmy gjort en klassresa uppåt, något som familjen ser potential i. Relationen med Jimmys dotter är frostig, men tinas upp något (vilket beskrivs väldigt fint).
En kan inte annat än undra hur det kommer att gå för Annika i sista boken, Järnblod.
Annika kämpar för att få ihop tillvaron med Jimmy (exet Thomas chef - äntligen är det slut med Thomas!) samtidigt som hon jobbar vidare på Kvällspressen med nyheten om den torterade kristdemokraten Ingemar Lerholm. Samtidigt briserar näthatet och Annikas chef, chefredaktör Schyman, får sin beskärda del därav.
Boken har en stor spänningshalt; den är en bladvändare. Annika har i och med samboskapet med Jimmy gjort en klassresa uppåt, något som familjen ser potential i. Relationen med Jimmys dotter är frostig, men tinas upp något (vilket beskrivs väldigt fint).
En kan inte annat än undra hur det kommer att gå för Annika i sista boken, Järnblod.
December 20, 2013
Parempi Marklundin kirja kuin muutamat aiemmat ovat olleet. Kun Annika on vihdoin ja viimein päässyt eroon Thomaksesta, on Annikan koko hahmo huomattavasti siedettävämpi. Juonen kidutuskuvaukset eivät olleet kovin mukavaa luettavaa, mutta onneksi niitä ei ollut kovin montaa. Hormonien takia sitä kai on herkempi tällaisillekin asioille. Muuten ihan perusdekkari Marklundilta.
December 9, 2015
Recension: ZellysBokhylla
December 18, 2017
It took me awhile to get into it, but I really enjoyed this book.
May 14, 2020
Not nearly as good as the others in the series. Main problem has a WTF ending
December 20, 2022
Książeczka pożyczony od Magusi z pracy C:
Okazała się pierwszym kryminałem, który czytałam po naprawde długim czasie i był on bardzo przyjemny. Nawet pomimo tego, że był 10 tomem w serii xd
Co prawda bardziej niż sama główna bohaterka zainteresowała mnie jej policyjna koleżanka, która była zajebistą postacią. Brakowało mi co prawda tam jakiegoś romansu, a życie rodzinne Anniki
kojarzyło mi się raczej z poczuciem porażki życiowej niż szczęśliwym spełnieniem, ale końcowo dało się przeżyć xd
Zdarzało się trochę nawiązań do poprzednich tomów, których oczywiście kompletnie nie ogarniałam, ale nie było ich tak dużo, by mi obrzydzić lekturę.
Overalowo bardzo fajna pozycja.
Badaas Nina/10 + jej hiszpańskie korzenie <3
Okazała się pierwszym kryminałem, który czytałam po naprawde długim czasie i był on bardzo przyjemny. Nawet pomimo tego, że był 10 tomem w serii xd
Co prawda bardziej niż sama główna bohaterka zainteresowała mnie jej policyjna koleżanka, która była zajebistą postacią. Brakowało mi co prawda tam jakiegoś romansu, a życie rodzinne Anniki
kojarzyło mi się raczej z poczuciem porażki życiowej niż szczęśliwym spełnieniem, ale końcowo dało się przeżyć xd
Zdarzało się trochę nawiązań do poprzednich tomów, których oczywiście kompletnie nie ogarniałam, ale nie było ich tak dużo, by mi obrzydzić lekturę.
Overalowo bardzo fajna pozycja.
Badaas Nina/10 + jej hiszpańskie korzenie <3
August 24, 2017
This book has some problems. It has been 2+ years since I read the previous book and I am unclear if I have forgotten some of the details of that book or if other things (especially in Annika's personal life) happened between the books. This book is somewhat unsatisfactory to read as much of what happens isn't really concluded by the end.
May 14, 2020
Viimeinen ja kymmenes osa toimittaja Annika Bengtzonin elämästä kertovaa dekkarisarjaa. Osa henkilöhahmoista, erityisesti hänen lastensa isä Thomas ja paras ystävänsä Anne, ovat muuttuneet tunnistamattomiksi. Itse tarinakaan ei ole kovin uskottava, vaikka kerronta on yhtä laadukasta kuin aikaisemminkin. Loppukohtaus antaa ymmärtää, että jatkoa ei tule.
September 8, 2020
I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm reading these books out of order, but this one seemed rather disjointed. While it was an interesting storyline, it just seemed to stop. I guess that's to make you want to read the next book, but it wasn't so good that I'd actually make an effort to read another one.
October 14, 2018
Hmmmm... For some reason I couldn't really get into this one. Both main storylines seemed disjointed and I do feel significantly less sympathy towards Annika after her racist outburst.
It was readable, but just that.
It was readable, but just that.
March 12, 2024
Didn’t understand if Irena the cleaning lady/piano teacher was really the billionaire who also played the piano and had disappeared and possibly been murdered. Irena is very short, and there’s no way that I know where a person’s height can be shortened. I’m confused…
September 16, 2024
Another great Scandinavian crime thriller from one of the best. Straight forward but the ending left me a little mystified. But once again it is the little side notes of everyday life that fill the whole experience.
February 17, 2025
Liza skriver så bra böcker med spännande handlingar! Jag upplever slutet lite konstigt och hastigt, kanske får man fler svar i nästa bok som även är den sista i serien om Annika. Det känns lite vemodigt.
July 29, 2017
Konstigt slut. Ljudboken hade dålig uppläsare.
May 16, 2019
Täitsa ok!
February 7, 2020
Una rete criminale che usa la tortura. Il rapporto tra carta stampata e web. La gogna mediatica, i leoni da tastiera e una Annika più simpatica, meno sull'orlo di una crisi di nervi.
March 25, 2020
Märkligt slut. Nu är det dags för sista Bengtzon!
May 24, 2020
Read the English version. Which is not listed as a selection. (Without a Trace)
December 21, 2020
Schwedischer Krimi um eine verschwundene Frau und ihren schwer gefolterten Mann. Eine Journalistin und eine Krimologin decken den Fall auf.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews