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Inspector Huss #8
The Treacherous Net
It’s May and the snow has hardly melted in Göteborg, Sweden, but things are heating up quickly for Detective Inspector Irene Huss in the Violent Crimes Unit. The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then there’s the mummified body that is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site, not to mention the city’s ongoing problem with gang violence. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimidated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal and smooth talking to bend the predominately male staff to her will.
Then a second young girl is found, wearing what appears to be the other half of the sexy lingerie set recovered near the first body. Fearing the two cases are linked and that the killer may strike again, Irene and her colleagues embark on a desperate hunt that takes them deep into a shadowy world of anonymous online predators and insecure teenage girls on a deadly quest for affirmation.
From the Hardcover edition.
Then a second young girl is found, wearing what appears to be the other half of the sexy lingerie set recovered near the first body. Fearing the two cases are linked and that the killer may strike again, Irene and her colleagues embark on a desperate hunt that takes them deep into a shadowy world of anonymous online predators and insecure teenage girls on a deadly quest for affirmation.
From the Hardcover edition.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
85 people are currently reading
898 people want to read
About the author
Helene Tursten
53 books942 followersHelene Tursten (born in Gothenburg in 1954) is a Swedish writer of crime fiction. The main character in her stories is Detective Inspector Irene Huss. Before becoming an author, Tursten worked as a nurse and then a dentist, but was forced to leave due to illness. During her illness she worked as a translator of medical articles.
Series:
* Irene Huss
Series:
* Irene Huss
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
November 27, 2015
As an avid readers of mysteries you become tangled up in a lot of different series by a lot of different authors. Some time ago, I went beyond avid to obsessed. I normally read between eighty to a hundred mystery books a year and I currently have a back log of over a thousand books in my e-library. As a result, I can no longer afford the luxury of pondering what my next read will be, there are simply too many choices and as a consequence, I rely on a random selection tool to determine my next read. Now there are times when I silently groan when my random selector falls on a series I've grown tired of or don't really know why I started in the first place. However, there are other times, when my random selector brings a smile to my face by falling on a book in a first rate solid series, with first rate solid characters and story lines.
When my random selector fell on this book it brought a smile to my face. Helene Tursten's books have never failed to entertain me and this was no exception. If you have not read a book in this series, you owe yourself a favor. If, on the other hand, you have read a book by Helene Tursten, you know what I'm talking about and there is no need to say anything further.
When my random selector fell on this book it brought a smile to my face. Helene Tursten's books have never failed to entertain me and this was no exception. If you have not read a book in this series, you owe yourself a favor. If, on the other hand, you have read a book by Helene Tursten, you know what I'm talking about and there is no need to say anything further.
December 23, 2015
Helene Tursten developed two different stories that were quite different. The first was Elof Persson's death, it was in 1941 and it was thought that he was killed by a spy. The second case was about two girls that were raped and killed by a sick person through the internet. Each of these cases was solved through following up on several leads. Irene Huss was under a lot of pressure with her girls moving away and her mother dying. Her old boss, Andersson was in the cold case unit and helped solve the old case from 1941. Many other people helped with these cases but you should read this story for yourself. You might be surprised by the meaning of the Net.
November 18, 2019
Not up to the level of the previous books. Let's see if the last book of the series is better.
January 10, 2016
The Treacherous Net. Inspector Huss. #8. 2015 December iBook. Helene Tursten, Sweden.
This good read combined Irene and her team chasing a serial murderer who groomed teenage girls via the Internet. Quite a current crime, well explored.
Irene's family always a pleasant aspect of this series, even without the delightful Sammie!
And an exceptional case with her old boss Andersen and his Cold Case unit tracking down crimes from WWII, connecting to a murdered body found a couple of decades later that had been walled up in a building being demolished in present day.
Fascinating always the details of war time and society outside of my base view growing up in NA.
This good read combined Irene and her team chasing a serial murderer who groomed teenage girls via the Internet. Quite a current crime, well explored.
Irene's family always a pleasant aspect of this series, even without the delightful Sammie!
And an exceptional case with her old boss Andersen and his Cold Case unit tracking down crimes from WWII, connecting to a murdered body found a couple of decades later that had been walled up in a building being demolished in present day.
Fascinating always the details of war time and society outside of my base view growing up in NA.
January 15, 2016
Helen Tursten great as usual :)
This is a great series ... I love the character of Irene Huss. In this story we catch up with Irene's personal and professional life. I won;t give away the details though
There are two story lines - the one Irene is involved in (teen age girls being lured by a predator on the internet) and the story is about her ex-boss who is counting the days until his retirement working on a cold case - one in which "the net" was mentioned - way before the internet was invented.
This is a great series ... I love the character of Irene Huss. In this story we catch up with Irene's personal and professional life. I won;t give away the details though
There are two story lines - the one Irene is involved in (teen age girls being lured by a predator on the internet) and the story is about her ex-boss who is counting the days until his retirement working on a cold case - one in which "the net" was mentioned - way before the internet was invented.
January 2, 2016
I love Helene Tursten's books--wonderful protagonist and storylines.
November 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this Irene Huss mystery. It is one which I missed previously. There are two separate crimes being investigated; the serial rape and murder of at least two women, and a cold case where a father and son were murdered by the same person 28 years apart. I found the book a fast and engaging read and look forward to reading more in this series.
July 26, 2018
I really wonder how this translation is. The mysteries themselves -- and there are two, and they have nothing to do with each other, and that is weird -- are pretty good, but the writing itself didn't wow me. It's incredibly telly, almost pedantic, and I didn't connect with any of the characters. Why cannot I not learn all languages so I never have to read things in translation?? Alas.
December 19, 2016
From the publisher: It’s May and the snow has hardly melted in Goteborg, Sweden, but things are heating up quickly for Detective Inspector Irene Huss in the Violent Crimes Unit. The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then there’s the mummified body that is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site, not to mention the city’s ongoing problem with gang violence. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal and smooth talking to bend the predominantly male staff to her will. Then a 2nd young girl is found. Irene and her colleagues embark on a desperate hunt that takes them deep into a shadowy world of anonymous online predators and insecure teenage girls on a deadly quest for affirmation.
The eye-catching first sentence of the newest book in Inspector Irene Huss series is: “Elof Persson had to die.” And the engrossing plot doesn’t really let up from there. The first dead body turns up on page nine, that of 14-year-old Alexandra Hallwiin, who had been missing for five days after having gone missing on Walpurgis Night, April 30th, when she went out for an evening with friends. The 2nd young girl’s body is found shortly thereafter, the manner of death being eerily similar, hinting of a serial killer on the loose. Irene Huss, who had worked 19 years in Homicide, 6’ tall and the only female inspector in the department, is on the team investigating the murders. The “treacherous net” of the title refers, as some might guess, to the internet As Irene muses, “the police were fighting an unfair battle against new technology, and they were always light years behind.” The cops have to delve into “the methods used by men who exploit the Internet to try to establish sexual contact with children,” most of whom are under 17 years of age.
The mummified body turns out to be that of a man who had gone many yearss ago. The murder weapon, found near the body, turns out to be a 1937 Russian gun. That aspect of the novel I found out to be somewhat plodding. Even one of the cops “didn’t even attempt to suppress a sigh. Moscow. The war. Spies. Murder. Sixty-seven years ago. He sighed again.” I knew just how he felt.
That said, the other aspects of the cases, and the current murders, are tightly knit, and the suspense level heightens considerably as the book nears its conclusion. This is the eighth book in the series by this author, and it is definitely as good as the previous novels, which is high praise indeed. Recommended.
The eye-catching first sentence of the newest book in Inspector Irene Huss series is: “Elof Persson had to die.” And the engrossing plot doesn’t really let up from there. The first dead body turns up on page nine, that of 14-year-old Alexandra Hallwiin, who had been missing for five days after having gone missing on Walpurgis Night, April 30th, when she went out for an evening with friends. The 2nd young girl’s body is found shortly thereafter, the manner of death being eerily similar, hinting of a serial killer on the loose. Irene Huss, who had worked 19 years in Homicide, 6’ tall and the only female inspector in the department, is on the team investigating the murders. The “treacherous net” of the title refers, as some might guess, to the internet As Irene muses, “the police were fighting an unfair battle against new technology, and they were always light years behind.” The cops have to delve into “the methods used by men who exploit the Internet to try to establish sexual contact with children,” most of whom are under 17 years of age.
The mummified body turns out to be that of a man who had gone many yearss ago. The murder weapon, found near the body, turns out to be a 1937 Russian gun. That aspect of the novel I found out to be somewhat plodding. Even one of the cops “didn’t even attempt to suppress a sigh. Moscow. The war. Spies. Murder. Sixty-seven years ago. He sighed again.” I knew just how he felt.
That said, the other aspects of the cases, and the current murders, are tightly knit, and the suspense level heightens considerably as the book nears its conclusion. This is the eighth book in the series by this author, and it is definitely as good as the previous novels, which is high praise indeed. Recommended.
January 13, 2016
Reading Scandinavian fiction is nearly always an interesting change from American/British mysteries and police procedurals. For one thing, there is very little gun play. When a police officer shoots and/or kills a suspect, it is a big deal. Irene Huss is a complex character. A woman who comes from a working class family has been a police officer since she was a young woman. Her husband is a talented chef. They have two grown daughters. Irene is devoted to her family, but also to her job.
If the author is to be believed (and I have no doubt that she did her research), Sweden is something of a microcosm of crime throughout the western world: gangs, the usual day to day crime and internet sex crimes. Someone is targeting vulnerable young girls, chatting them up, telling them they love them, encouraging them to send pictures with their breasts exposed.
Two girls have been murdered. When the older sister of a young girl who has been targeted brings her to the police, the girl finally realizes that she has just barely escaped being raped and murdered. This is a long term investigation. As the year goes on the team takes their vacations and continues to investigate.
At the same time there is a cold case team investigating a body found walled up in the basement of a building that was being torn down. There is also a "treacherous net" involved in this murder as it turns out. It was a net of spies and counter spies from WWII.
These books are not for the reader who is looking for a lot of action. There are slow areas when the author wanders into personal territory. Personally I don't think the author is as good when she goes into more personal territory. There seems to be a disconnect in the writing except when the personal information concerns her job. Still, this is an excellent series. I've missed a few and am working to fix that. This has become one of my favorite series.
If the author is to be believed (and I have no doubt that she did her research), Sweden is something of a microcosm of crime throughout the western world: gangs, the usual day to day crime and internet sex crimes. Someone is targeting vulnerable young girls, chatting them up, telling them they love them, encouraging them to send pictures with their breasts exposed.
Two girls have been murdered. When the older sister of a young girl who has been targeted brings her to the police, the girl finally realizes that she has just barely escaped being raped and murdered. This is a long term investigation. As the year goes on the team takes their vacations and continues to investigate.
At the same time there is a cold case team investigating a body found walled up in the basement of a building that was being torn down. There is also a "treacherous net" involved in this murder as it turns out. It was a net of spies and counter spies from WWII.
These books are not for the reader who is looking for a lot of action. There are slow areas when the author wanders into personal territory. Personally I don't think the author is as good when she goes into more personal territory. There seems to be a disconnect in the writing except when the personal information concerns her job. Still, this is an excellent series. I've missed a few and am working to fix that. This has become one of my favorite series.
January 8, 2016
This is really two mysteries in one. The first is a case involving a young man luring teenage girls into an assignation over the internet. The second a cold case involving the deaths of a father and son some years apart but committed by the same individual. As usual with Scandinavian mysteries social issues play a prominent role and Tursten does a good job of integrating the parts into a seamless whole.
December 19, 2015
Never disappointed
Am never disappointed by the Inspector Huss series - the family life of Irene fills out her character and takes the reader on her life journey outside of work.
Am never disappointed by the Inspector Huss series - the family life of Irene fills out her character and takes the reader on her life journey outside of work.
May 9, 2017
An other homerun!
Helene Tursten created an interesting series. The characters are well developed and tend to draw you into trying to solve the cases.
Helene Tursten created an interesting series. The characters are well developed and tend to draw you into trying to solve the cases.
April 22, 2025
Irene sat there for a long time, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. Alexandra had walked straight into a trap. She had allowed herself to be drawn into the treacherous net. Easy prey for the skillful "Adam", who had so successfully played the unhappy fourteen-year-old longing for love and friendship. He had realized how naïve she was, and had exploited her loneliness. she had been carefully selected. Groomed...he had gently nudged her along until she was exactly where he wanted her, preparing her for his ultimate goal: a face-to-face meeting. "Adam" had intended to kill her all along.
~~Goteborg (or Gothenburg as it's known in English), is the second largest city in Sweden, and the setting for Tursten's thrilling mystery.
First two sentences: Elof Persson had to die. The only possible course of action was to get rid of him.
Vital statistics: Author's home: A nurse and a dentist, Helene Tursten is a native of Goteborg, Sweden.
Year written: 2008; translated to English in 2015 by Marlaine Delargy
Length: 306 pages
Setting: The southern west coast of Sweden in contemporary 2008. It's interesting to read a novel focused on the dangers of the internet, written right at the cusp of the explosion of social media and smart phones.
Genre: Thrilling mystery with mild horrific elements.
Read if: You enjoy reading novels by foreign authors, set in diverse locations. Also read if you enjoy unusual protagonists. I especially enjoyed the view point of Irene--an aging female detective who is a very competent sleuth, but who at the same time must come to terms with her new physical limitations as she enters her sixties.
My two cents: The mystery sputtered its wheels at times, and the twin story lines detracted from the tension of the thriller somewhat. Despite those small gripes, I *loved* Irene as a protagonist. She is a complex, well-drawn character, and I loved rooting for her. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very-good." Full review to come.
Favorite quotes: His round, shaven skull looked shrunken, perched on top of his huge body, and his cherubic cheeks gave him the appearance of a giant baby. Perhaps that was why he had acquired several substantial tattoos on his arms and around his neck. White crystals sparkled in both ears, and his lower lip was pierced by a silver ring. None of which made a great deal of difference, he still looked like a grotesque baby. Perhaps the expressionless pale-blue eyes contributed to the overall impression.
~~"Yes. No. Maybe not. But there's something we're not looking at in the right way. It's one of those pieces of the puzzle you were talking about--it doesn't fit!"
"Or we're trying to force it into the wrong place."
"Exactly," Andersson nodded, his expression gloomy.
"In other words, business as usual," Fryxender said, breaking into a grin.
~~Goteborg (or Gothenburg as it's known in English), is the second largest city in Sweden, and the setting for Tursten's thrilling mystery.
First two sentences: Elof Persson had to die. The only possible course of action was to get rid of him.
Vital statistics: Author's home: A nurse and a dentist, Helene Tursten is a native of Goteborg, Sweden.
Year written: 2008; translated to English in 2015 by Marlaine Delargy
Length: 306 pages
Setting: The southern west coast of Sweden in contemporary 2008. It's interesting to read a novel focused on the dangers of the internet, written right at the cusp of the explosion of social media and smart phones.
Genre: Thrilling mystery with mild horrific elements.
Read if: You enjoy reading novels by foreign authors, set in diverse locations. Also read if you enjoy unusual protagonists. I especially enjoyed the view point of Irene--an aging female detective who is a very competent sleuth, but who at the same time must come to terms with her new physical limitations as she enters her sixties.
My two cents: The mystery sputtered its wheels at times, and the twin story lines detracted from the tension of the thriller somewhat. Despite those small gripes, I *loved* Irene as a protagonist. She is a complex, well-drawn character, and I loved rooting for her. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very-good." Full review to come.
Favorite quotes: His round, shaven skull looked shrunken, perched on top of his huge body, and his cherubic cheeks gave him the appearance of a giant baby. Perhaps that was why he had acquired several substantial tattoos on his arms and around his neck. White crystals sparkled in both ears, and his lower lip was pierced by a silver ring. None of which made a great deal of difference, he still looked like a grotesque baby. Perhaps the expressionless pale-blue eyes contributed to the overall impression.
~~"Yes. No. Maybe not. But there's something we're not looking at in the right way. It's one of those pieces of the puzzle you were talking about--it doesn't fit!"
"Or we're trying to force it into the wrong place."
"Exactly," Andersson nodded, his expression gloomy.
"In other words, business as usual," Fryxender said, breaking into a grin.
May 6, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
It's May and the snow has hardly melted in Göteborg, Sweden, but things are heating up quickly for Detective Inspector Irene Huss in the Violent Crimes Unit. The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then there's the mummified body that is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site, not to mention the city's ongoing problem with gang violence. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimidated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal and smooth talking to bend the predominately male staff to her will.
Then a second young girl is found, wearing what appears to be the other half of the sexy lingerie set recovered near the first body. Fearing the two cases are linked and that the killer may strike again, Irene and her colleagues embark on a desperate hunt that takes them deep into a shadowy world of anonymous online predators and insecure teenage girls on a deadly quest for affirmation.
It is always nice to get into a book that is deep into a series - sometimes it feels like visiting old friends and we let some of the negatives slide cos, you know, it's a great series. And that was almost going to happen here - I was thinking 4 stars even before I started reading cos I enjoy this series a lot.
The main plot of this story - the internet serial killer - was interesting. I was well invested in that story...until the cold case reared its head. And it did that numerous times. Each time more frustrating than the last. And it is a shame as it really did feel like a strong plot that didn't really need anything else.
It is also an interesting book from the point of view of it being transitional in the series. The retirement of Superintendent Sven Andersson (which has been coming for a while, truth be told) has opened up new possibilities for the cast, and the addition of new characters have helped freshen up the series a little bit.
Overall, this was a decent novel but could have been a more fluid read without the cold case. Still, worth reading!
Paul
ARH
It's May and the snow has hardly melted in Göteborg, Sweden, but things are heating up quickly for Detective Inspector Irene Huss in the Violent Crimes Unit. The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then there's the mummified body that is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site, not to mention the city's ongoing problem with gang violence. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimidated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal and smooth talking to bend the predominately male staff to her will.
Then a second young girl is found, wearing what appears to be the other half of the sexy lingerie set recovered near the first body. Fearing the two cases are linked and that the killer may strike again, Irene and her colleagues embark on a desperate hunt that takes them deep into a shadowy world of anonymous online predators and insecure teenage girls on a deadly quest for affirmation.
It is always nice to get into a book that is deep into a series - sometimes it feels like visiting old friends and we let some of the negatives slide cos, you know, it's a great series. And that was almost going to happen here - I was thinking 4 stars even before I started reading cos I enjoy this series a lot.
The main plot of this story - the internet serial killer - was interesting. I was well invested in that story...until the cold case reared its head. And it did that numerous times. Each time more frustrating than the last. And it is a shame as it really did feel like a strong plot that didn't really need anything else.
It is also an interesting book from the point of view of it being transitional in the series. The retirement of Superintendent Sven Andersson (which has been coming for a while, truth be told) has opened up new possibilities for the cast, and the addition of new characters have helped freshen up the series a little bit.
Overall, this was a decent novel but could have been a more fluid read without the cold case. Still, worth reading!
Paul
ARH
May 12, 2022
The publishers of this series have been pushing the book since the English translation was released. It’s pretty good but doesn’t break any new ground that I can see. What I found most interesting were the historical references to the losses of territory to the Soviet Union that took place before, during and after WW1 and WW2. This isn’t the main part of the plot but it’s significant and interesting in a way that the paedophilia case isn’t. Somewhere near the core of this book is politically correct attempt to call Sweden to account for what the author sees as the racism Sweden’s past. That’s fine and to be expected but it doesn’t make for the underpinnings of a good novel. It isn’t awful but it’s not great.
It begins in a typical small town police station with the news that DI Huss has to deal with the body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then the mummified body is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimidated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal to bend the predominately male staff to her will. Internal politics is central to the tension in the book, rather than anything related to the crimes -- and this is a big flaw In what might have otherwise been a good book .
Another body is found and the team is on the hunt for anonymous online predators and insecure, vulnerable teenage girls. DI Irene Huss is pretty likeable and certainly competent but the story never seems to lift itself above the mediocre level. The overworked police team is standard fare. The conflict between work and family/home life is too. The story line dealing with underaged girls is a bit prurient. Really, the most interesting part of the book is a 25 year old case and the connection with happenings in the distant past: 1941.
The fact that the book established a connection between present time and 1941 is laudable but not enough to elevate the book beyond run of the mill ‘police/politics and procedures’ novels which are a dime a dozen. I’d certainly read another one but I don’t think it offers anything new.
It begins in a typical small town police station with the news that DI Huss has to deal with the body of a teenage girl is found in the woods, naked and horrifically scarred. Then the mummified body is discovered bricked up in a chimney on a demolition site. With the sudden influx of cases and one detective out on maternity leave, everyone is stretched thin. To make matters worse, Irene feels more than a little intimidated by the new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses her sex appeal to bend the predominately male staff to her will. Internal politics is central to the tension in the book, rather than anything related to the crimes -- and this is a big flaw In what might have otherwise been a good book .
Another body is found and the team is on the hunt for anonymous online predators and insecure, vulnerable teenage girls. DI Irene Huss is pretty likeable and certainly competent but the story never seems to lift itself above the mediocre level. The overworked police team is standard fare. The conflict between work and family/home life is too. The story line dealing with underaged girls is a bit prurient. Really, the most interesting part of the book is a 25 year old case and the connection with happenings in the distant past: 1941.
The fact that the book established a connection between present time and 1941 is laudable but not enough to elevate the book beyond run of the mill ‘police/politics and procedures’ novels which are a dime a dozen. I’d certainly read another one but I don’t think it offers anything new.
March 21, 2020
I have read several of the Helen Tursten "Inspector Huss" detective (police procedural) novels. They are uncomplicated examples of Scandanavian fiction of this type that had a surge in popularity a few years ago and thus is often translated into English (albeit with some delay).
This book was published in Swedish in 2009. It was published in English in 2015 and then I'm only getting around to reading it in 2020 - what is significant about all this is that the "net" is referencing the internet and some of what is described has already changed significantly, which makes a few aspects seem odd since I at least almost immediately forget the internet reality of a few years ago having acclimated to whatever my situation is with it now, so to speak.
Following the police procedural approach of the Swedish Martin Beck series of the 1960s (and others) there are two main crime story lines plus the usual story line of the relationships of the detectives to one another and the main character Huss with her family. It probably makes sense to read these in order but as is usually the case when getting copies from the public library, it hasn't been a problem to read them out of order.
The author and her main character are women. In this novel, she introduces a new boss who is also a woman, which is an interesting change.
If you like police procedurals, this is good. I didn't give it a higher score because I thought one of the two main story lines was presented in a somewhat clumsy fashion.
This book was published in Swedish in 2009. It was published in English in 2015 and then I'm only getting around to reading it in 2020 - what is significant about all this is that the "net" is referencing the internet and some of what is described has already changed significantly, which makes a few aspects seem odd since I at least almost immediately forget the internet reality of a few years ago having acclimated to whatever my situation is with it now, so to speak.
Following the police procedural approach of the Swedish Martin Beck series of the 1960s (and others) there are two main crime story lines plus the usual story line of the relationships of the detectives to one another and the main character Huss with her family. It probably makes sense to read these in order but as is usually the case when getting copies from the public library, it hasn't been a problem to read them out of order.
The author and her main character are women. In this novel, she introduces a new boss who is also a woman, which is an interesting change.
If you like police procedurals, this is good. I didn't give it a higher score because I thought one of the two main story lines was presented in a somewhat clumsy fashion.
November 13, 2017
With “Net” having a double meaning in this thriller from Tursten, we move first and most prominently into the world of the Internet and chat rooms. A single killer is apparently targeting teenage girls and Inspector Huss is on the case. Complicating Irene Huss’s duties is a new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist who barely regards Irene and other female members of the Violent Crimes Unit, so enamored is she of men in general. The sexy Thylqvist cannot get in the way of the investigation but complications soon arise as a body is discovered in a chimney in a demolition site. This is clearly not a contemporary case, but the Cold Crime unit, headed by a soon-to-retire Sven Andersson is quick to respond and start tracking the victim. Progress on both cases is parallel but so different in nature that there is no confusion reading about them. The second definition of “net” is involved in this case. Huss is an interesting character. Married, she nevertheless has an active imagination and clearly an active libido. The fact that men are attracted to her makes her life even more interesting but nothing gets in the way of the investigation. Thylqvist soon becomes a side issue and is not yet developed. Look for more of her in later novels. This one is set in Göteborg so the setting is different from the usual Stockholm settings for Swedish noir. This is a good example of Norse Noir and one that demands more reading of Tursten.
Read
April 3, 2025Vibes - classic Nordic Noir with several mysteries pursued at the same time, social/political issues woven into the plot, and strong female lead character. Readers should also know that a neat ending with the "good guys" winning is not always part of Nordic mysteries.
The two cases in this Irene Huss mystery are the murders of several young teen girls, groomed by a predator over the internet and a cold case from 1941 connected to another murder from 25 years ago. As with most mystery series, there are several primary detectives as well as a cast of supporting characters. Irene Huss and her old partner Tommy are present. Their relationship is strained by the presence of a new new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses sex appeal to manipulate the male officers while trying to sideline Irene. Andersson, her old superintendent, is working the end of his career in cold cases.
Scandinavian mysteries have little of the gun play that American mysteries have. The plot is more of a slow burn with the suspense building as pieces of the plot fall into place. Readers who have enjoyed other Scandinavian mysteries by authors like Camilla Läckberg and Sara Blædel will enjoy this series. Irene is a complicated character who is flawed and makes mistakes. While it is possible to jump into any book in the series, it is more rewarding to read the series in order.
Those who seek a more action driven mystery with more on page violence should try the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo.
The two cases in this Irene Huss mystery are the murders of several young teen girls, groomed by a predator over the internet and a cold case from 1941 connected to another murder from 25 years ago. As with most mystery series, there are several primary detectives as well as a cast of supporting characters. Irene Huss and her old partner Tommy are present. Their relationship is strained by the presence of a new new superintendent, Efva Thylqvist, who uses sex appeal to manipulate the male officers while trying to sideline Irene. Andersson, her old superintendent, is working the end of his career in cold cases.
Scandinavian mysteries have little of the gun play that American mysteries have. The plot is more of a slow burn with the suspense building as pieces of the plot fall into place. Readers who have enjoyed other Scandinavian mysteries by authors like Camilla Läckberg and Sara Blædel will enjoy this series. Irene is a complicated character who is flawed and makes mistakes. While it is possible to jump into any book in the series, it is more rewarding to read the series in order.
Those who seek a more action driven mystery with more on page violence should try the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo.
April 15, 2024
Things are changing at the Göteborg Violent Crimes Unit. Irene Huss' longtime office-mate and close friend Tommy Persson has been promoted to assistant department chief, their old boss has been shifted over to cold cases and the new boss is a flashy, ambitious woman, who has eyes only for the men on the team. It's left Irene feeling testy.
First a young woman's body is found, and it is clear she was the victim of a very violent sex crime. A body is found walled up in the basement of an old apartment building that had burned down. And then another young woman.
Two young women for Irene and her team, and the murder of a man whose father had been murdered with the same weapon years before.
The weather is changing from spring to summer and now fall in Sweden. The department is overworked, Sven Andersson and his younger partner are expecting new people soon - hopefully in enough time for a little training by Sven before his November retirement. Irene and her group are in dire need but the new superintendent is calculating, in more ways than one. Budget fudging by timing new hires, and so on.
And in the middle of everything, Irene and her family suffer the loss of a loved one.
Many balls in the air, but as usual Ms. Tursten juggles them adeptly and the threads of the investigations start getting drawn up into perfect bows.
First a young woman's body is found, and it is clear she was the victim of a very violent sex crime. A body is found walled up in the basement of an old apartment building that had burned down. And then another young woman.
Two young women for Irene and her team, and the murder of a man whose father had been murdered with the same weapon years before.
The weather is changing from spring to summer and now fall in Sweden. The department is overworked, Sven Andersson and his younger partner are expecting new people soon - hopefully in enough time for a little training by Sven before his November retirement. Irene and her group are in dire need but the new superintendent is calculating, in more ways than one. Budget fudging by timing new hires, and so on.
And in the middle of everything, Irene and her family suffer the loss of a loved one.
Many balls in the air, but as usual Ms. Tursten juggles them adeptly and the threads of the investigations start getting drawn up into perfect bows.
May 27, 2022
Swedish Detective Mystery!
This is the eight book in this series. It features Detective Irene Huss. In this case she is dealing with her new boss, Efva Thylqvist. Who does not like to share the credit for any good outcome. And is quick to shove the blame for any bad ones. She also uses her femininity to sway any of the males she works with. To make matters worse they are down a detective who is in law classes to be a better detective. Then they get the case of a murdered teenage girl. And quickly another body appears. And to make matters worse a cold case heats up. But the boss shunts that to the cold case squad. And the gang war is heating up for the summer. And for some reason the boss still hasn’t found a replacement for their missing detective. As usual Helene Tursten kept me guessing. Just when I think I know where it is heading she twists the plot again.
The audiobook is narrated by Suzanne Toren. And she does an excellent job giving each character an individual voice.
This is the eight book in this series. It features Detective Irene Huss. In this case she is dealing with her new boss, Efva Thylqvist. Who does not like to share the credit for any good outcome. And is quick to shove the blame for any bad ones. She also uses her femininity to sway any of the males she works with. To make matters worse they are down a detective who is in law classes to be a better detective. Then they get the case of a murdered teenage girl. And quickly another body appears. And to make matters worse a cold case heats up. But the boss shunts that to the cold case squad. And the gang war is heating up for the summer. And for some reason the boss still hasn’t found a replacement for their missing detective. As usual Helene Tursten kept me guessing. Just when I think I know where it is heading she twists the plot again.
The audiobook is narrated by Suzanne Toren. And she does an excellent job giving each character an individual voice.
April 2, 2025
I listened to The Treacherous Net for my book club, and I’ll admit—it was a struggle to get through. The story didn’t really grab me until the last two hours, and by then, it felt like too little, too late.
This was my first Inspector Huss book, and maybe that’s why I had a hard time connecting with it. The plotlines felt disjointed, and instead of feeling engaged, I was mostly left with unanswered questions. I kept waiting for a deeper, more compelling mystery to unfold, but it never quite got there.
That said, the writing itself wasn’t bad, and I can see why fans of the series might enjoy it. Maybe if I had started earlier in the series, I would have been more invested. But as a standalone read? Just okay.
This was my first Inspector Huss book, and maybe that’s why I had a hard time connecting with it. The plotlines felt disjointed, and instead of feeling engaged, I was mostly left with unanswered questions. I kept waiting for a deeper, more compelling mystery to unfold, but it never quite got there.
That said, the writing itself wasn’t bad, and I can see why fans of the series might enjoy it. Maybe if I had started earlier in the series, I would have been more invested. But as a standalone read? Just okay.
July 15, 2022
Helene Tursten is a fine writer but sometimes, when she has a cause to expose, the police procedural becomes an after thought that seems overlaid on the exposition of the cause. Two young women have been brutaly murdered and it is evident that the team must find him or her before they strike again. Then the book becomes an internet chase with an emergence of Jens as the police department's computer genius. All novels now have a computer genius these days and so where lies the mystery. Perhaps it's on the train? A cold-case is also solved but I had a hard time wondering why it was there. I enjoyed this book but not nearly as much as others in the series.
May 28, 2018
This is a very well written book with two main mysteries, two very different 'treacherous nets'. The balance between Irene's home life and work is better here than in the previous book, though her personal life takes a sad turn towards the end of the book. I like the way the author follows the two different teams of detectives - it's almost like two books in one - and the way she's grouped the detectives at work. There were a few unresolved issues, and in the modern day mystery I kept waiting for a twist that didn't happen. If you like crime stories, this is a good book to check out.
April 9, 2018
I almost stopped reading this book several times within the first 2/3rds of the book - my impression is that it was poorly translated into English. It felt immature-ish, choppy but the "wanting to know" pushed me over the hump and into a much more robust and exciting read. Tursten must be worth reading to have such a following but I am not anxious to read her next book as I have been with other authors in this genre.
July 3, 2018
Another strong book in the Irene Huss series. I hope this author keeps writing as I only have one book remaining to read in this set. What I love about this series is the character development along with interesting plots. In this current book, Irene and colleagues are faced with solving the murders of 2 young girls who are found murdered after being lured online by a serial murderer. Using good teamwork, they track the killer down. A very good read.
November 29, 2018
Swedish homicide officers on the track of the killer of two young teen girls have discovered that they are caught by the killer by being friended and "groomed" via the internet. Meanwhile to older members of the cold case squad are delving into the the murder of a body found bricked up in the basement by the furnace chimney which leads them to another murder years earlier. Good writing and the only difficulty is getting my head around the Swedish names.
June 5, 2019
The best Irene Huss I have read to date...and I am reading the series in order. As always, current crime trends are the topics, with 2 parallel but different investigations taking place. I was on the edge of my seat for the latter part of this book, not knowing which direction things would go. We see Irene at a very low point as her family is emptying itself slowly... but the introduction of a new colleague sparks life back into her work family- can't wait to read the next in the series!
July 12, 2019
Irene Huss has a new boss and work has changed. As well as gang warfare a couple of young girls are found dead. Irene and the team investigate. Meanwhile Anderson has moved into the cold case unit for the last few weeks of his career. A body is found when a building is knocked down and it is the son of a man murdered 50 years earlier. He received the case file on the old a newer murder.
In her home life Irene experiences great changes whilst so busy solving these horrific crimes.
In her home life Irene experiences great changes whilst so busy solving these horrific crimes.
July 28, 2020
The plot moves along at a good pace and the characters are well-rounded and believable. There is a parallel story going back many years that the Cold Case squad is trying to solve; once brought to light it shows how the past is never forgotten so long as there is someone still alive who remembers.
It brings in the personal lives of the detectives and the cost to families police work sometimes causes.
It brings in the personal lives of the detectives and the cost to families police work sometimes causes.
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