Vales seltskonnas

Sandhamn Murders #9

by Viveca Sten, Maiu Elken (Translator)

Sandhamni prokuröri kõige raskem juhtum

Nora Linde seisab silmitsi oma kõige keerulisema juhtumiga: Stockholmi ühe suurima narkojõugu juhti süüdistatakse majanduskuriteos, kuna teda pole võimalik narkokaubanduses süüdi mõista. Olukord eskaleerub kiirelt ohtlikuks.

Noor naine Mina põgeneb oma abikaasa eest pärast seda, kui too oleks ta peaaegu tapnud. Mina tahab üksnes oma poega kaitsta, aga ta on eelseisval kohtuprotsessil võtmeisik – kui Nora suudab ta tunnistusi andma saada.

Andreis Kovač kannab endas süngeid mälestusi sõjaaegsest Bosniast, kust ta lapsena lahkus. Ta on valmis tegema ükskõik mida, et hävitada vaenlased ja oma naine Mina tagasi saada, ja ei vali vahendeid, et oma tahtmist saada.

Andreisi ohvriteks saavad Minale lähedased inimesed ning juhtumi uurimisse kaasatakse ka Thomas Andreasson. Oma laguneva abieluga maadeldes peab Thomas pealt vaatama, kuidas Nora võtab üha suuremaid riske, et Mina hävingust päästa.

„Vales seltskonnas“ on Viveca Steni üheksas raamat Sandhamni-sarjast, kus tegutsevad prokurör Nora Linde ja politseinik Thomas Andreasson. Haarav põnevik inimeste kurjusest ja nõrkusest ning lapsepõlvest pärit haavadest.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Sweden, Scandinavian Literature

464 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2018

About the author

Viveca Sten made her author debut with crime novel Still Waters. It soon became a huge hit with both critics and readers and today the author has sold almost 3 million copies of her books worldwide.

In May 2014, her seventh novel, The Price of Power, was published in Sweden. It was hugely successful and Viveca cemented her place as one of the country’s most popular authors. Her Sandhamn Murder Series continues to top the best seller charts, not to mention the whopping success of the TV mini-series that is based on Viveca’s novels. An estimated 30 million people around the globe have been watching the adventures of Nora and Thomas unfold on the TV screen.

Today, Viveca lives in Stockholm with her husband and three children. During the summer months she leaves for Sandhamn to write and spend the holidays with her family. This year she has also been working on a cookbook that features stories from the Stockholm archipelago
.

Reviews

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

After nine books in the “Sandhamn Murders” series, the author could have made herself comfortable and kept writing the same story again and again, so it is much appreciated to see that she keeps reinventing the series with new characters and new approaches to the mystery genre.

Some instalments ago there was a temporal jump in the main characters’ lives and now, after several books in this new timeline, there’s a veer from the more traditional police procedural mystery to a suspense/thriller with a touch of legal.

In this case, the main focus of the plot is violence against women. Although both Nora and Thomas are involved in the case, it is Nora the one who takes the weight of the story, being Thomas being more of a secondary character and more worried with his personal problems. You can’t help to empathize with Mina although some of her actions are difficult to understand. Andreis, her husband, is such a hateful and terrifying character, and responsible of some pretty upsetting scenes. The sense of menace was conveyed every time he came around.

But the character I found the most disgusting of all was Andreis’ lawyer. I can understand he’s her client and she must protect his interests but, seriously? To that point? How could you put your job above someone’s life?

The short chapters kept up the tension quite high the whole story making it almost impossible to stop turning the pages. The Bosnia flashbacks made an interesting backstory, making you feel the fear and the hopelessness of the war.

Thanks to Netgalley and AmazonCrossing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Bad Company is the ninth instalment in the Sandhamn Murders series, featuring prosecuting lawyer Nora Linde and set on Sweden’s idyllic vacation island of Sandhamn. Chief Prosecutor of the Office against White Collar Crime Nora Linde is facing perhaps the most complicated case of her career: getting one of Stockholm's biggest drug lords, Andreis Kovač, convicted of financial crime - tax evasion, to be exact - as they simply can't convict him for his drug trafficking or money laundering offences as there's not enough evidence. When Andreis' wife, Mina, is hospitalised with serious injuries, it turns out that she is being subjected to systematic violence by her husband. It has gone on for a long time but this time he beat her so viciously he nearly killed her. Mina and her little son are brought into hiding in a residence in the Stockholm archipelago with the help of her friend, the investigator Thomas Andreasson. She is the key person in the upcoming legal process, provided Nora can convince her to testify. Nora has been trying for years to arrest Andreis and a statement from Mina would help a lot. But Mina is absolutely terrified of her husband. Andreis Kovač carries gloomy secrets that trace back to the war in Bosnia and was emotionally scarred as a child by the Serbs’ ethnic cleansing; he will go all the way to get his wife and son back. He feels he has nothing to lose which makes him extremely volatile and dangerous.

People close to Mina are sacrificed in Andreis’ war and Thomas Andreasson is drawn into the case. As he struggles with his crumbling marriage, he must watch as Nora takes increasing risks to save Mina from doom. Nora is playing with fire as the situation is on a knife-edge; can she successfully achieve her aim of getting Kovac imprisoned for something even if it's not what she’d like it to be? Can Mina overcome her anxiety and stand up to the man she fears most? And are Nora and Thomas even able to protect her? This is a riveting and compulsive legal thriller and from the first page Sten draws you in and immerses you in the stunning setting of rural, isolated Sweden. It's impeccably plotted, as ever, and has enough action, intrigue, mystery, twists and misdirection to keep you enthralled right through to the last page. I must admit, that I haven't been managing to read as many books in a single sitting lately but that all changed with In Bad Company; I was scintillated and raced through it. Nora is a strong, independent female and a highly engaging protagonist who is resourceful and seeks justice in whatever way she can. This is a quick-paced and well-written piece of Scandi noir and there is no effort spared with regards to the characterisation. It's propulsive and the precarious balance between going after kingpin Andreis and keeping his wife, Mina, safe was heart-poundingly tense. Highly recommended.

[Kirsten · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too Dark, too depressing, and to be honest, too realistic for my taste. I know this type of men exists, controlling, manipulative and very dangerous to the women they proclaim to love, but in a backward sort of way I don’t want to “know”, I don’t want to hear about it, it is too gruesome.

[Linden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Swedish attorney Nora is trying to get a depraved Bosnian-born criminal convicted, but first she must get his frightened young wife to testify that he beats her up. Alternate chapters flash back to his childhood in war-torn Bosnia, but if they were supposed to make me feel sympathetic, it didn’t work. I found this novel extremely disturbing; violent abusers are one of my off limits subjects, and the threat at the end was very unsettling. If all this isn’t a problem for you, this is a well written and suspenseful mystery by one of my favorite Nordic Noir authors, ably translated by Marlaine Delargy. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora's newest case focuses on a money laundering scheme. The defense attorney for the primary suspect Andreis is sharp so she knows she needs solid evidence to put him away. Andreis physically abuses his wife Mina. She knows leaving him will put her life and her child's life at risk if he finds her. Even her parents are in danger. Nora helps Mina move to Freya's Haven, a safe house. Thomas, of course, warns Nora of the danger she might be in and investigates tips she finds which help solidify the case. Every so often, a few pages focusing on a story of Andreis' family's past before they came to Sweden appears. These pages felt completely unnecessary, and I found them uninteresting. They seemed to lengthen the story without adding to it. As in previous installments, the author creates too many chapters which interrupt the flow. I think having Thomas, a police detective, and Nora, an economic crimes attorney, both as the principal characters weakens the series. The series becomes less believable with each installment. Both characters carry a lot of baggage.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for the 2021 Popsugar Challenge prompt "a book published in 2021". The book was published in Swedish before, but the English edition just came out January 2021. I have been following this series for years so I had pre-ordered it several months ago. Followers of the series know that it features a pair of long time friends, a police officer and a lawyer. In this one, the lawyer is the main protagonist with her policeman friend coming in and out with information and a last minute save. This one is centered in violence against women, so if that is a trigger for you, you might want to give it a pass. In addition, there is a parallel story set during the war in Bosnia which is also quite violent. Despite all that, it's a good suspenseful story. And now I've pre-ordered the next one for next January!

[Ellen Church · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just never got into this book. The others in the series were strong in a sense of place, and I felt like I was on or near Sandhamn. I enjoyed that. This book's action bounced between war-torn Bosnia, not a pleasant to be and the trials and tribulations of a battered woman who was always in danger, which is also not pleasant. The body count was quite high in this novel, and we got quite graphic descriptions of bones breaking, knives cutting and death. None of this is why I read the previous eight novels. I did read it to the end, even though some days I could read only 20 pages before it got too depressing.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

En besvikelse eftersom det inte hände så mycket de fasta personerna i serien. Istället rör sig det mesta runt Mina, vars man varit nära att slå ihjäl henne. Nora har haft mannen häktad för skattebrott, men medan målet sätts samman så är han på fri fot. Situationen runt Mina är mycket hotfull. Det är inget tvivel om vem syndaren är. Boken är spännande och relevant, men känns som ett udda inslag i serien.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

forgot how upsetting this is to read...it was easier to watch on MHz some time ago. (wife abuse with baby at risk)
On sale for 99 cents from Amazon for Kindle

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Bad Company is set in March 2016, about three years after the events described in the previous book in the series, In the Name of Truth. Nora Linde, a prosecutor with the Economic Crimes Authority in Stockholm, is working with her colleague Leila Kacim on a tax fraud case against a shady businessman, Andreis Kovač. Although Kovač is a major drug dealer, the authorities have struggled to put together sufficient evidence of his narcotics crimes, so Nora and Leila are “doing an Al Capone” on him instead. (Mobster Al Capone, of course, was sent to prison for tax evasion after avoiding prosecution for his many other crimes.)

Meanwhile, Nora and Leila receive word that Kovač’s wife, Mina, has been admitted to the hospital with multiple injuries consistent with domestic abuse. Andreis has been arrested, but it appears unlikely that Mina will cooperate in bringing charges against him. Even though domestic abuse is not within Nora’s purview as a prosecutor, she arranges to have the matter transferred to her. She decides to do her best to protect Mina from further abuse by getting her into a shelter and trying to convince her to press charges.

With this decision, Nora turns most of her efforts to Mina’s abuse case, and that becomes the central focus of the book, with the financial fraud case fading into the background.

A story about domestic abuse provides more compelling human interest, of course, than a story about a tax evasion prosecution. But I have to confess to some disappointment. Nora is, after all, supposed to be an economic crimes prosecutor, and I’m sure Sten could have crafted an interesting story about the prosecution of a wily and arrogant drug kingpin. But it shouldn’t have surprised me that she would give precedence to the domestic abuse story, as her books have always included threads about her characters’ personal lives, including their marriages and families.

Unfortunately, Nora is an amateur in prosecuting domestic abuse cases, and although her heart is clearly in the right place, she makes several mistakes along the way that contribute to Mina’s jeopardy. Mina herself makes many more, but her mistakes can be justified by the severe trauma from which she’s suffering. I guess, though, that if Mina acted more logically and Nora acted more professionally, the book would be less suspenseful.

And the book is, in fact, very suspenseful. Andreis Kovač is portrayed as a pathological monster who is capable of doing anything to get what he wants—and in this case, what he wants is to get Mina and their young son Lukas back. Sten ratchets up the tension in the book with lots of action, presented in short chapters that propel the reader from one scene to the next.

Although I thought the book was quite good, there are a few aspects of it that I didn’t particularly like. First, the main plot line is interrupted by a dozen or so flashback chapters to Andreis’ childhood in war-torn Bosnia in 1992 and 1993. My guess is that these scenes are intended to explain why Andreis acts the way he does, but they didn’t engender sympathy for him from me. (And I have to question Sten’s decision to make the abuser a refugee/immigrant. I’m sure there are plenty of native-born Swedes who abuse their wives too.) Second, very little of the book is set on Sandamn Island. For me, Sten’s evocation of Sandamn has been one of the strengths of the series, so I missed that here.

Nonetheless, In Bad Company tells a good story and succeeds in bringing attention to a very troubling issue. If it promotes more awareness of the trauma caused by domestic abuse, it is successful for that reason alone.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first started reading the Sandhamn Murders series a few years ago and have really enjoyed each of the books I have read. I like the characters of prosecutor Nora Linde and her best friend DI Thomas Andreasson both individually and when they’re spending time together as friends or discussing a case. I also like learning about life in Sweden through the descriptions included in these books.

Unfortunately, “In Bad Company” is my least favorite of the books in this series. I was disappointed in how dark this book is compared to earlier books in the series. It is more of a domestic thriller than a mystery which would be okay if it wasn’t so depressing. Domestic violence is the focus of the book and there is so much tension and foreboding that I had to keep putting the book aside. Tension and suspense are a good thing in a thriller, but drug dealer and abuser Andreis Kovac is such a vile character, my feelings kept turning to dread. We are given every reason to despise the character, even before some of his worst acts have occurred, before the author starts to reveal his backstory. Andreis witnessed terrible things as a child in war-torn Bosnia, but it didn’t make me feel sympathetic towards the adult Andreis.

Andreis’s wife Mina makes some questionable decisions, but I liked her and kept reading because I wanted things to work out for her. Nora and Thomas are able to team up and get a resolution of a sort to the case, but the book ends on a very creepy note. I look forward to reading these books by Viveca Sten whenever they are released in English, but would only rate this one as 3.5 stars. Even though this one wasn’t my favorite, I will still continue to follow the series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Amazon Crossing. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora Linde with the Economic Crimes Authority is looking into a case involving drug trafficking, tax evasion, and possibly domestic abuse. A Serb named Andreis Kovač has been under investigation by the Narcotics Division.

Andreis’s wife Mina whom he hits constantly has been approached by Nora who’s trying to persuade her to cooperate with the police and have her husband arrested. But Mina insists she tripped on her vacuum cleaner and fell. An engaging read. Would recommend.
Thank you to Viveca Sten, NetGalley, and Amazon Crossing for the ARC of this book.

[cloudyskye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich hatte so meine Bedenken, denn Gewalt gegen Frauen ist hier ein sehr zentrales Thema, und das ist so gar nicht mein Ding. Bin trotzdem froh, dass ich es gelesen habe, denn die Serienhelden sind mir inzwischen ziemlich ans Herz gewachsen. Viveca Sten rechnet mit einigen Missständen ab - gefährliche Kriminelle, die frei herumlaufen dürfen, Anwälte, die aus Ehrgeiz über Leichen gehen und einiges mehr - aber sie schreibt doch nicht so düster und deprimierend wie einige ihrer Landsleute, bei denen ich mir wünsche, ich hätte die Finger von den Büchern gelassen. Ihre Hauptfiguren Nora und Thomas haben ein normales Privatleben, nicht immer problemfrei, aber mit Menschen, die sie lieben.
Es gibt auch im Rückblick einige recht heftige Szenen aus dem Bosnienkrieg, was einem an die Nieren gehen kann. Damals in den 90ern war mir das gar nicht so bewusst.
Alles in allem eine sehr spannende und gut geschriebene Geschichte.

[Kine Albrigtsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fengslende krimbok (pun intended)! Jeg slukte over 500 sider på to dager, noe som er helt ulikt meg når det kommer til denne sjangeren.

I boken følger vi Mina, hennes voldelige ektemann Andreis og deres sønn. Samtidig følger vi politietterforskningen.

Den ubeskrivelige, konstante frykten av å leve i skjul, på jakt bort fra den du elsker mest fordi du vet han vil drepe deg hvis han finner deg.

[Binchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine würdige Folge der Reihe -

gefallen hat mir, dass Nora so eine große Rolle gespielt hat - Die persönlichen Entwicklungen sind gut gestaltet - allerdings ist Pernilla, so wie Lynleys Helen eine Nervensäge ... - da können noch so viele sagen menschlich - nee -

Der Fall ist überraschend und spannend - manche Wendung vorhersehbar - ich freue mich auf einen neuen Band mit Thomas und Nora

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been enjoying all the Sandhamm Murders Books, so when this came out, I just bought it (usually I'll borrow, then buy, but I've been enjoying all her books). Well, this is my least favorite :( It is not the writing, the suspense, but I just can't enjoy books about DV. Nora is the lead in this story because, well, there isn't a murder to get Thomas involved (or will there be a murder??). The focus is on Mina a battered woman with a young baby. Nora is trying to get Mina to help get Mina's husband, Andreis, for a white collar crime. I understand the frustration with Mina's character because it seems like she's not helping herself, but she is a victim who almost cannot see real life because of her fear and the violence that has been done to her. In previous books, I have found it very interesting to get the flashbacks of the "bad guy." However, in this case, I don't know if it helps because I don't know if I'm supposed to feel sympathy to Andreis or what. But it does highlight the the tragedies in Bosnia. I found some characters to be ones I liked, but, c'mon Nora... too much! And poor Thomas with his trouble with Pernilla.

[Gabis Laberladen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne

Darum geht's:

Die Polizei kann dem raffinierten Drogenboss Andreis Kovač nicht beikommen. Nora Linde versucht wenigstens, ihn wegen Steuerverbrechen anzuklagen. Als seine junge Frau Mina schwer verprügelt ins Krankenhaus kommt, scheint die Chance gegeben, dass sie mehr über die illegalen Geschäfte ihres Mannes weiß und gegen ihn aussagt. Mina weiß, wie gefährlich es ist, sich gegen Andreis zu stellen und hat sowohl große Angst, gegen ihn auszusagen, als auch davor, mit ihrem kleinen Sohn Lukas wieder zu ihm zurückzukehren. Ein Mord in Kovačs Umfeld bringt auch Polizist Thomas mit auf den Plan.

So fand ich's:

In diesem Band werden sowohl Thomas als auch Nora in die Ermittlungen einbezogen und nutzen den privaten Informationsaustausch. Nora bestimmt allerdings gefühlt den größeren Teil der Handlung und Thomas agiert eher am Rand. Auch das Privatleben von Nora und Thomas spielt wie immer eine Rolle, doch unterm Strich ist da nicht viel Positives zu finden. Thomas und seine Frau Pernilla leben getrennt und können nicht wirklich miteinander reden. Nora hat ständig ein schlechtes Gewissen ihrer Tochter Julia gegenüber, weil sie zu wenig für sie da ist, die fast schon erwachsenen Söhne und Ehemann Jonas werden immer mal am Rande erwähnt.

Eingestreut sind bedrückende Sequenzen aus Andreis und Bruder Emirs Kindheit im Krieg in Bosnien und auch das Verhältnis von Andreis Stiefvater und Mutter zueinander erklären vielleicht einiges, rechtfertigen aber nichts.

Andreis verbreitet eine Aura von Gewalt und durchgeknallter Skrupellosigkeit um sich herum und das, was er als Kind in Bosnien erlebt hat, ist ebenfalls nicht ohne. Diese Schneise der Gewalt zieht sich durch das ganze Buch und ergänzt die beruflichen und privaten Verschlechterungen in Thomas' Leben und das ständig schlechte Gewissen Noras zu einem düsteren Gesamtbild. Für diese Schilderung von Minas Situation genauso wie für Noras und Thomas privaten und beruflichen Frust hat sich das Buch für meinen Geschmack zu viel Zeit gelassen. Es dauerte lange, bis die Handlung in Schwung kam und eine angstbesetzte Spannung einsetzte. Die fröhliche, sommerliche Urlaubsatmosphäre, die diese Reihe sonst immer auflockert, kam mir hier ebenfalls zu kurz. Allerdings hat mich die Spannung im letzten Drittel atemlos an den Seiten kleben lassen.

Was man sehr gut nachvollziehen kann ist Minas Sicht. Sie ist jung, zum ersten Mal verliebt und Andreis zieht alle Register. Er ist vermögend und trägt Mina auf Händen. Wie die beiden in eine Spirale aus Gewalt und Reue, Liebe und Angst hineinrutschen, und auch wieso Mina das so lange hinnimmt, wird überhaupt nicht entschuldigt, aber so nachvollziehbar erzählt, dass einem durchaus klar wird, wie es so weit kommen konnte und wieso Mina so viel Angst vor dem Absprung hat.

Dazu kommen einige interessante Nebenfiguren wie die Anwältin von Andreis, ein abgebrühtes Verteidiger-As, ein eiskalter Fisch, die alle Winkelzüge nutzt und bei der man sich - wie Minas Vater auch - fragt, wie sie das mit ihrem Gewissen vereinbaren kann. Minas Anwalt, ein korrekter und freundlicher älterer Herr, tut sich schwer, sich dagegen zu behaupten.

Die vielen kurzen Kapitel, Viveca Stens Art des Schreibens und die Erzählung aus der Sicht verschiedener Personen ließen mich das Buch nach anfänglich etwas zähem Einstieg dann doch flott und flüssig lesen. Mir fehlte ein fröhlicher Ausgleich zu den vielen tragischen und negativen Aspekten, den ich von dieser Serie eigentlich erwartet und erhofft habe. Doch die Spannung zum Schluss hin hat vieles wieder wett gemacht.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

And back to 5* in this instalment for me. Only her last book was a 4* for me-the remainder of this set have all been easy 5*. A tremendous series and always terrific translations done as well.
This was another intriguing tale and held my interest all the way through. I do look forward to each and every one of her stories. This also left us with a little cliffhanger as well, which she doesn't usually do, so we may well be hearing more from this particular set of bit-players in her story. I've no issue with that as it will be interesting to see what happens to these characters in the future, and I'm also concerned about the lovely Thomas and his relationship and hope they get themselves sorted out. It would be good to meet Anna-Maria again, too, as she's a smashing lady.
I did spot the odd error, like ecstasy not being capitalised (which many authors get wrong), prescribed was written and not proscribed, gibes not jibes, garrote not garotte and I'd stick a hyphen in the phrase 'sounding out.' At one point we learned that Nora's Adam is now 20, though later on he was referred to as a teenager. They got the apostrophe wrong a couple of times referring to visitor's chairs, too.
As usual she got her bit of product-placement in with the mention of IKEA and Volvo. This always makes me smile with the Nordic writers as they all do it.
I was staggered to read the waiting list for a rental apartment in Stockholm is 27 years !! No wonder the nationals there are also getting tired of immigration ! I thought it was bad here......
I liked the cover on this one as well, I'm not usually a big fan of her covers but this one is a good one. Can't wait to get book 10 when it's finally released here.

[Britt-Marie Kullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betyg: 4,5 av 5.

Och Viveca Sten levererar för nionde gången.

Jag har läst alla dom tidigare böckerna i serien Morden i Sandhamn, och jag har tyckt mycket om dom allihopa. Det är snart tio år sedan som jag läste den första boken, och sen dess har jag följt Vivecas utgivning med glädje. Här är en länk till min recension av bok nummer åtta, I sanningens namn, och där finns det även länkar till dom tidigare böckerna.

Jag tycker alltid att Viveca lyckas ha en perfekt blandning av själva kriminalfallet och huvudpersonernas privatliv. Tycker också mycket om huvudpersonerna, med Nora och Thomas i spetsen.

Viveca har ett mycket bra språk i sina böcker, som alltid är lika välskrivna. Dom känns också alltid aktuella, och är mycket lättlästa.

Böckerna utspelar sig ju alltid på Sandhamn, och på öarna i närheten. Och även till en del i Stockholm. Och jag tycker mycket om miljöskildringarna.

Och handlingen i just den här boken, var lika intressant och spännande som i tidigare titlar. Om inte till och med lite extra spännande faktiskt.

Rekommenderar varmt boken, som säkerligen kan läsas fristående. Men för störst behållning så tycker jag att man ska läsa hela serien ifrån början.

(Här är även en länk till min recension av boken Iskalla ögonblick, en novellsamling med tio skärgårdsberättelser i genren deckare. Personerna i novellerna är karaktärer från böckerna i serien Morden i Sandhamn.)

[Rosee Macdonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of this series, but the books seem to have been getting darker and 'In Bad Company' just seemed a black and miserable story. I read the 1st third, then just skimmed to the end, as I was finding it both tedious and upsetting. I agree with other reviewers that the Bosnian chapters did not help the flow, understanding of the character or plot at all. Just padding, and it was long enough. I just received book 10 today, so I'll see what that is like. I can only hope it is a bit lighter or I will be giving up on this series.

[Elina Mäkitalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tässä osassa henkilöhahmot edelleen ärsyttivät mutta ehkä en niin välittänyt siitä ärsytyksestä. Pidin kuitenkin kirjasta ja ilman niitä pikkuvikoja ja tuota ärsytystä olisi ehkä saanut jopa viisi tähteä. Jännittävyys pysyi loppuun asti ja aikaisemmissa osissa loppu ei tuonut mitään yllättävää tai mitään ei jäänyt selvittämättä mutta tässä osassa oli selvä cliffhanger lopussa. Jotain tuollaista olisin kaivannut muihinkin osiin että lukija jätetään haluamaan lisää, odottamaan seuraavaa osaa.

[Inga Rudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skulle ønske det var mulig å markere halve stjerner her, for denne var 3,5. Spennende, og en av de bedre i serien. Opprørende også om kvinnemishandling. Skjønte ikke helt poenget med noen tilbakeblikk til krigen i Bosnia. De forklarte ikke mye. Rykker den opp til 4 i stedet for ned til 3, siden den var litt ekstra thriller-spennende denne gangen. God som lydbok.

[LeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tightly woven thriller

Excellent weaving of past and present with page-turning results. Possibly my favorite so far! Nora is solid with more realistic self doubts than previous books. Mina is a beautiful believable victim and the story of her abusive husband is spot on, with a back story that sheds light on his own personal trauma, without excusing his behavior. We'll done!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to the Sandhamn Murders series!
Viveca Sten never disappoints and this solid mystery kept me guessing.
Great characters and tightly knitted plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Ninna Kristiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Måste säga att den här boken slog an en speciell sträng hos mig vilket gjorde att jag sträckläste den.

[Jan Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy

I,always enjoy this series,however this one was different. Tough subject matter, the aging of the main characters and the parallel lives of the main characters,didn't seem as engaging as previous works by this author . I can't say I didn't t like it,it just felt like everybody was in a tough place in life.

[sennikaani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vähän ahdistava, mutta otteessaan pitävä kuten aina.

[Bexar Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Slow to start but good gripping story.

[Vera Holm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Den var bra men hemsk

[pyrmir · Rating 1 out of 5]

Den här boken armbågade sig in på topp-3 listan över de sämsta böcker jag läst av Svenska författare (i gott sällskap av Lars Keplers Playground och det mesta Sofie Sarenbrant har skrivit).

Karaktärerna har blivit mer och mer endimensionella efter hand som serien har utspelat sig och är nere på Sarenbrantska nivåer i bok nummer nio. De tar uppenbart vansinniga beslut för att den rätt tunna handlingen ska gå ihop sig någorlunda och jag kommer på mig själv med att ha ont i huvudet efter att ha himlat så ofta med ögonen. Ungefär en tredjedel av dialogen i boken är "sa hon medan tårarna vällde fram" eller "snyftade hon fram".
Att antagonisten är 130% ond och BARA har dåliga/onda egenskaper gör inte honom trovärdig utan snarare till en pajas. I kombination med nedan nämnda språkbruk så blir han bara löjeväckande.

Språket han degraderat under seriens gång och har även här nått Sarenbrantska nivåer där man ständigt upprepar andemeningen. Alltså innehållet i meningen. För att ingen ska missa vad man menar. Förtydligar för att undvika missförstånd.
Detta är en egenskap som jag inte har störts av tidigare i serien men som orsakade delar av ovan nämnda huvudvärk. Mängden floskler står som spön i backen. De kommer som ett brev på posten. Det jag menar är att de är vanligt förekommande. I nästan varje stycke kommer det en floskel. Det går tretton på dussinet.
När vi ändå är inne på språkbruk så lärde jag mig av boken att de mest hårdkokta av gangsters använder samma moderniserade söderkistugg som typ Joker i Rederiet gjorde på 1990-talet.

Det är ganska sällan man blir arg av att läsa en bok. Jag var arg hela andra halvan av det här missfostret.

Du måste verkligen inte läsa det här.