Svinen

Danny Katz #2

by Carl-Johan Vallgren, Lucifer (Pseudonym)

Jorma Hedlund har egentligen dragit sig tillbaka, det är slut på det kriminella livet. Men tipset om värdetransporten är för bra för att passa. En sista stöt, sedan får det vara nog. Till en början löper allt enligt planerna. Men rånet går fruktansvärt fel, och Jorma blir en jagad man. Samtidigt försöker Danny Katz ta reda på vad som har hänt hans förra knarklangare Ramón och hans flickvän Jenny. Katz gamla sug efter droger har dragit in honom i en härva som bara växer. Hur gick det till när Ramón plötsligt kom över en massa knark? Och vem är egentligen Jenny? Spåret leder till en början in i Stockholms porrbransch och därefter i en riktning Katz aldrig hade kunnat ana. Bara en sak är säker: någon vill hindra honom från att hitta sanningen.

Carl-Johan Vallgren skriver som Lucifer. Svinen är en fristående fortsättning på Skuggpojken (2013), den andra boken i en serie noir-thrillers om Danny Katz.

Genres: Crime, Swedish Literature, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Sweden, Noir

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

He is the author of eight novels, of which The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-reading Monster Hercules Barefoot is the first novel to be translated into English. His novels have been translated into twenty-five languages. He lives in Stockholm.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time there were 3 homeless teenagers who became best friends as they struggled to survive the mean streets of Stockholm. At first all Eva, Jorma & Katz had in common was the daily hunt for their next hit of heroin. But eventually the trio found something even more addictive to sustain them….trust.

But all “good” things must end & they went their separate ways. Years later, all 3 are still in Stockholm but living very different lives. They don’t know it yet but a series of seemingly random events are about to bring them back together.

Eva is now a prosecutor investigating cross-border financial crimes. She’s working with colleagues in the Balkans who believe mafia money is flowing to Sweden to be laundered. The big question is: who’s on the receiving end?

Jorma is in a bit of a tight spot. He’s tried walking the straight & narrow but the truth is, it’s boring. So when a buddy asks for help pulling off an armed robbery, he jumps. To say it doesn’t go well is an understatement.

Katz (following events in the last book) has all the work he wants as an independent translator & IT security expert. He’s been clean for 10 years but when an old friend dies in mysterious circumstances, he finds himself drawn back into the life he left behind.

Initially the book alternates between the 3 separate POV’s so we get pulled into the lives of these characters. Each has a compelling story & as they pick away at their individual investigations, a subtle tension begins to build as they start attracting the wrong kind of attention. The connections are not immediately clear. Peripheral characters slip in & out of story lines, making you wonder who can be trusted & who’s hiding behind a clever facade.

As the story lines converge, the horrific scope of the criminal network begins to emerge. These people play for keeps & the game turns deadly as they get closer to the truth. The MC’s run into some dicey situations & this is where some suspension of disbelief will be required. They catch some lucky breaks to be sure but 2 things save the story: how much you want them to succeed & how badly you want some of these despicable people to pay.

This is definitely Scandi noir. The backdrop of Stockholm’s seedier streets is enhanced by descriptions of the addicts’ lives & the powerful opportunists who abuse them. It’s a disturbing read at times. But the author’s depictions are not gratuitous, rather it’s just that he doesn’t shy away from reality. The atmosphere becomes darker as things go from bad to worse, a descent that is mirrored by the changes in Katz.

This is a guy who shouldn’t be alive. He’s a lapsed Jew who lost his parents too young & never really recovered. There’s a suppressed anger buried inside him & when Jorma & Eva are threatened, it’s almost a relief to let it out.

Although this can be a stand alone, I recommend starting with The Boy in the Shadows . There are references to events in that book & knowing the characters’ backgrounds makes for a richer reading experience with this one. The ending made my jaw drop & now I’m wondering where the author will take us in book #3.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

What begins as a seemingly ordinary crime heist novel, The Tunnel quickly evolves into a multi-layered and very enjoyable Sweden set thriller, driven by the archetypal social analysis, and strong characterisation that defines Scandinavian crime fiction. As the individual stories of its three main protagonists and friends, Jorma, a  career criminal, Katz, a reformed drug addict, and Eva, an emotionally troubled woman who works for the police, play out, Vallgren draws us into a sordid world of sex trafficking and violence.
For me, Vallgren’s portrayal of these three contrary, but nonetheless totally appealing characters, is the lynchpin for the enjoyment of the book, and I found myself utterly engaged with them throughout. There is a nice sense of balance in their characterisation as they are not all paragons of virtues, finding themselves susceptible to their own singular vices and desires, and with Katz in particular Vallgren is given the opportunity to explore Swedish society, and to draw on the Jewish roots of his character to spin the story off in another direction. The central plot is unsettling, bleak and exposes the seedy underbelly of drug addiction and the sex industry, and the manipulation of those who find themselves caught up in, or profiting from this nefarious trades. I also liked the ending that is not neatly tied up with a bow, but instead is quite bleak and uncertain. Vallgren is the closest writer I have found to Cilla and Rolf Bjorland (Spring Tide, Third Voice) who also specialise in social realism, and troubled-but-empathetic characters, and will now be hastily backtracking to read the first book by him, The Boy In The Shadows. A top Scandi-noir recommendation from me.

[Dārta Medne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,4⭐
Šī bija otrā iespēja Valgrēnam. Salīdzinot ar pirmo grāmatu, "Ēnu vīrs", bija labāk. Grāmatas vidū pieķēru sevi pie domas, ka sižets pat ir ieinteresējis.
Tēlu vārdi šoreiz nebija tik līdzīgi, taču vienalga brīžiem bija grūti izsekot, kurš ir kurš.
Pēc Valgrēna darbu izlasīšanas jāsecina, ka viņa grāmatas man šķita pārāk sarežģītas, lai no pirmās līdz pēdējai lappusei būtu interesantas. Un narkotiku tēma arī īsti nav mans.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impressions: I have never read any Scandinavian Thriller fiction before so this book was my gateway into that branch of books. Just from The Tunnel I can say that I am both impressed and a little of scared of the genre. This is a pretty decent noir thriller piece, what takes it to the next level is the fact that the author goes all out with the detail and it creates an intense and stomach turning experience. This book is not for the faint hearted, but if you are still with me then onto the review!

Book Synopsis: Private investigator Danny Katz is trying to track down his former drug dealer. Ramon and his girlfriend Jenny have both vanished, leaving behind a lot of unanswered questions. How come Ramon suddenly found himself in possession of the mother-load of drugs? And is Jenny really who she claims to be?

Katz's investigation leads him to the darkest corners of Stockholm's porn industry and once again his old addiction threatens to control him. Ultimately only one thing deems certain - someone is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Katz from discovering the brutal truth.

The Tunnel is the sensational new noir thriller from one of Sweden's most loved writers.

BOOK REVIEW

Carl-Johan Vallgren is ruthless mastermind. With huge, multi-layered plot lines and graphic and heart-wrenching imagery, The Tunnel is a fast paced, traumatic run through Stockholm's gruesome underworld.

Jorma, an ex criminal, is contacted by an old friend with a opportunity to make some quick cash via a robbery of a transit van. Putting his 'too good to be true' gut instinct aside to help Zohan, Jorma agrees to participate. After the cops show up in time to catch the team mid-robbery, Jorma manages to escape with his life and is left injured and wanted by the police.

Katz is ten years sober and working as a security consultant, he is constantly cornered by his own addiction. Seeking out an old friend and indirectly obtaining the drugs he desires, he never gets the chance to indulge as he is pulled into the search for his dead friend's missing partner Jennifer. His search takes him into the darkest depths of Stockholm's criminal underworld and Katz finds him in the middle of a scenario that he can't even start to comprehend on his own.

Eva is a workaholic, troubled mother who struggles with sex addiction. Katz comes to her looking for help with a missing persons case and she offers to help him with the information she can obtain via her job as a city prosecutor. With a knowledge of gang/criminal behaviour, she is a valuable asset to the search, but as the case unravels so does she.

The Tunnel is a non-stop, heart racing story. The pacing is so swift that you barely get a breather all the way through! As I said before I have not read any Scandinavian Thriller fiction so I don't have much to compare this book to, but if this is a trend then I will most certainly return to the genre. CJV kept my attention all the way through his 300+ novel and not always in a good way.

The imagery and themes in this book are truly haunting and CJV does not pull any punches, everything is on display here and it does get too much at times (for me anyway). If you are looking for fiction that is one or two shades of dark too many then this book is for you! I am not saying that the intensity is a negative point, it is there to create an atmosphere and potency that definitely works, but I am just a weakling.

There are strong themes throughout this book. From sex/violence, torture, drug addiction, antisemitism and more. This book is tough, but it all adds to overall experience when reading this book, CJV only uses what he needs to, just enough to fuel the characters and shock the readers. All the characters within these pages are troubled, Jorma wants to get out of the criminal circuit and sustain his life legitimately. Katz is forever battling addiction, even 10 years down the line. He is also searching for answers about his father and his Jewish heritage. Eva is desperate to be a great mother but one addiction after another stands in her way. These characters are by no means pushovers, they are willing to fight for their lives and each other.

I loved the pacing and plot structure. Breaking up the chapters into characters and keeping the momentum consistent between episodes was impressive and kept me reading. I was not a fan of the darker themes in this book but that is a personal choice and does not reflect badly on the author. I was minutely frustrated with the last act of this book, CJV builds so much tension up to a certain point and then when you are desperate for answers he skips ahead and lets those answers trickle out to the reader through each characters final moments in the book. Grrrrrr.

CJV is a craftsman of darkness and I very much look forward to reading more of his work. This book did shake me quite a bit, I experienced, fear, adrenaline, admiration and frustration, but overall I finished the book impressed and ready to read more of Carl-Johan Vallgren's work. Check out the book! Enjoy! Thank you for reading, please leave a comment telling me what you thought of the review.

[Petra Miocic Mandic · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://procitajto.com/2016/05/21/svi...

Pišući kriminalističke romane, posebice serijale kriminalističkih romana, autori često ne mogu izbjeći prerastanje svojih romana u romane lika. Jer postoji, naravno, samo određen broj žanrovski prihvatljivih zapleta, samo određen broj priča dovoljno napetih da održe čitateljevu pažnju od prve do posljednje stranice. Intrigantan će, pak, glavni junak serijalu osigurati razmjeran uspjeh jer, kako se nastavci gomilaju, i njegov će karakter bivati sve razrađenijim što će povećati čitateljevu sposobnost da sraste s njegovom pričom, da je uvijek iznova proživi i da taj glavni lik u njegovim očima nadraste literarnu formu iz koje je potekao, prestane biti samo tvorevina piščeve mašte sačinjena od slova na papiru i postane nešto oživotvoreno. Netko životan, poput prijatelja u čijim će pustolovinama, makar i samo čitajući, sudjelovati.


S druge strane, naravno, bitna je i priča. Priča čija napetost ima učinak jači od najdeblje crne kave, priča zbog koje se stranice okreću same od sebe, a napetost raste do usijanja. Priča toliko surovo stvarna da se čitatelj zapita ima li smisla u nju povjerovati. U takvu je priču, u drugom dijelu serijala o Dannyju Katzu simboličkog naziva Svinje, svoje protagoniste upleo švedski Lucifer Carl Johan Vallgren. Za razliku od prethodnog, magijskim elementima prožetog Dječaka iz sjene, u Svinjama, kako to sa svinjama i biva, nema ništa čarobno. Svinje otkrivaju sav jad i očaj, svu ljudsku bijedu i sav njen lažni, prividni sjaj. One razotkrivaju crne rupe čak i onih najuređenijih svjetskih društava, otkrivaju mračne zakutke korumpiranih švedskih elita, zakutke iz kojih vrebaju prikaze čudovišnije i nakaznije od junaka nekih ranijh Vallgrenovih, nežanrovskih djela.

Danny Katz je, kao i u svoj prošli slučaj, uvučen posve slučajno pronašavši u jednom narkomanskom stocholmskom stanu tijelo svog mrtvog prijatelja. Njegova je kućna ljubimica zmija nasmrt pregažena, a djevojka Jenny nestala te se Katz daje u potragu za njom kako bi pronašao odgovor na pitanje što se te večeri zaista dogodilo. Jer u priču o zlatnom šutu koji se omaknuo njegovu prijatelju, ovisniku s višegodišnjim iskustvom, ne vjeruje. Istodobno, njegov prijatelj i nekadašnji suučesnik u maloljetničkim prijestupima, Jorma biva uvučen u nešto što se na prvi pogled čini kao pljačka koja je pošla po zlu no vrlo skoro postaje jasno kako je zapravo riječ o namještaljci, paravanu za pomno planirano smaknuće nekadašnjeg kriminalca čiji se osjećaj za ispravno ispriječio na putu velikoj koruptivnoj hobotnici i potrebi za zadovoljavanjem najnižih ljudskih pobuda.

Dok je u Dječaku iz sjene istraživao dubine pakla što se nalaze u mraku čovječje nutrine, Vallgren se u Svinjama bavi jednom posve novom razinom pakla. Dok su u prvom romanu njegovi negativci prijestupe počinili iz straha pred nadnaravnim, pred osvetom, prokletstvom i vječnom patnjom, u ovom slučaju patnja se i prokletstvo drugih iskorištava kako bi se zadovoljile vlastite gnusne potrebe. Kao društvo smo mnogo napredovali, posebno u posljednjih stotinu godina, razvili smo društvene mehanizme za pomoć najugroženijima, za zbrinjavanje onih što si ne mogu sami pomoći, za zaštitu osnovnih ljudskih prava… Na koncu, i uveli smo ta ljudska prava. Kao društvo smo napredovali, postali smo ljudskiji. Ili bar u to želimo vjerovati. A pisci poput Vallgrena samo odmahuju glavom i u lice nam bacaju dokaze naše nazadnosti, izvlače ono najprimitivnije iz korpusa tog ljudskog i pokazuju nam kako, zapravo, uopće nismo odmakli od onih prijašnjih društvenih uređenja u kojima je vladao zakon jačega o čijoj su milosti ovisili oni slabiji. Ništa se, osim arene u kojoj se borba za prevlast odigrava, nije promijenilo. Ta spoznaja plaši i više od prethodne jer sada se ti jači infiltriraju u sustav, u one mehanizme za kojima slabiji posežu tražeći pomoć.

Odavno je poznato kako pravo i pravda nikad ne idu ruku pod ruku. Ni Svinje nisu iznimka pa tako one s dna od onih s vrha, onih što su trebali služiti i pomoći, spašava onaj što se našao na pola tog puta, antijunak na više načina odmetnut od društva i gluh za društvena pravila. pravila ionako nedostojna provođenja, smatra Katz. I to je ono što ga čini tako bliskim čitatelju. Umjesto da slijedi tuđa, on stvara vlastita pravila i po njima živi, a u svojoj je nedosljednosti životu itekako dosljedan. Jedva držeći glavu iznad vode neprestano tone natrag u ponore, kako ovisnosti tako i pogubnih međuljudskih odnosa. A Vallgren mu, kao i čitatelj, neprestano pruža ruku kako bi ga iz tih ponora izvukao i vratio na scenu. Katz je jedan od likova čiju ćete priču voljeti čak i ako ne odobravate njegov životni stil jer se, svim ograničenjima unatoč, uspio popeti nekoliko koraka iznad dna, ostajući pritom uznemirujuće nesavršen, progonjen i s mnogim lošim odlukama što čekaju na svoju realizaciju. Odlukama za koje će mu, možemo se nadati, Vallgren dati prostora i vremena.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out with a robbery and escalates into a sex cult mess. Katz's got out of more scrapes than he should have. Jorma and Eva also got out of tough situations and ended up with tough but livable scenarios. It is a disturbing read but you want to know what happens in the end. I would recommend it to people,,,

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jag har bara väldigt svaga minnen av den första boken, men det behövs inte mer än så för att kunna ta till sig handligen i den här.

Det jag gillar här är att tempot i boken stampar på bra, karaktärerna känns olika (kanske är det bara jag som inbillar mig att meningsstrukturen är kortare när man följer Jorma t.ex) och även om fokus ibland enbart känns riktat mot droger och trafficking, så förstår jag att dom ämnena tar mycket plats, men det finns ändå lite utymme för personliga relationer.

Det jag inte är lika förtjust i är mer svårbestämt. Kanske är det att Danny, som ändå är huvudkaraktär, känns minst närvarande. Men nu när jag skriver det här så inser jag nog att det allra mest beror på hur boken slutar. Om tanken var att det här skulle vara sista boken, så kunde det skett på ett aningens bättre sätt.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poorly organised heist on a security truck goes disastrously wrong and only one of the would-be robbers manages to escape. This exciting, almost cinematic episode forms the first part of this somewhat unusual novel.
It is told in alternating parts centred around three former friends, who were once homeless heroin-addicts. Much of the novel focuses on the lives of people forced to live on the outermost fringes of Swedish society and touches on issues such as people-smuggling and extreme pornography.
In many ways this novel is a classic Swedish Noir in the style of the late Stieg Larsson; intricately plotted, at times action packed, at others unbearably bleak, and with a strong social conscience.

[Simon Gosden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The darkest of dark Scandi-noir crime thrillers stars private investigator Danny Kats trying to track down his former drug dealer. His investigations take him way down into Stockholm's underworld and a frightening conspiracy that involves people trafficking and the sadism.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny Katz is an odd sort of protagonist: an ex-junkie, once a highly skilled military intelligence officer, with a penchant for languages and a flair for computers, he has a strange affinity for getting involved in odd situations. In his first appearance in the debut novel in this series, he was targeted to be killed by the person he ultimately shot and killed.

In this follow-up thriller, beautifully translated, he undertakes to find his former drug supplier, Ramon, and Ramon’s girlfriend, both of whom have disappeared, a journey that takes Danny through the undersides of Stockholm, including the porn industry and trafficking in women for the sex trade. As his investigation proceeds, Danny faces numerous obstacles, many of which are placed in his way by powerful persons who are hiding the truth, especially of their own roles.

The author’s style is not easy for the reader to grasp, but it is an interesting mixture of Scandinavian mystery genre and noir. His description of the grip drugs have on users is powerful and what makes Danny Katz stand out is his Jewishness, somewhat unusual for a Swedish character.

Recommended.

[Vanessa Aizenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read!! Please go to my blog for full review and thanks to Amanda at Quercus publishers for the review copy

[Vana Persen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odlična knjiga. Radnja jednostavna, realna, pitka.

[Učitaj se! | Martina Štivičić · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drugi roman o Dannyu Katzu bavi se zločinima organizirane skupine seksualnih predatora, koji otimaju, muče i zlostavljaju žene za koje misle da ih nitko neće tražiti i da nikome neće nedostajati - poput prostitutki, beskućnica i ovisnica o drogama. Katz, njegov prijatelj Jorma i njegova stara ljubav Eva, na različite se načine upletu u ovu zločinačku mrežu i onima koji su je ispleli itekako pomrse račune.

Katz istražuje navodno samoubojstvo svog starog prijatelja Ramona, koji je navodno umro od predoziranja vlastitom mješavinom droge. To istraživanje odvede ga u sasvim neočekivanom smjeru, a kada Evu, svoju bivšu ljubav za koju još uvijek nije siguran što zapravo osjeća, zamoli za pomoć, i ona bude uvučena u cijeli taj kaos, iako ne na način na koji biste očekivali da će se to dogoditi.

Jorma, pak, drži određenu distancu od Katza, i sprema se obaviti jedan poslić, za koji mu kažu da bi trebao biti 'piece of cake' (ali vrlo unosan 'piece of cake'). Iako ga čitavo vrijeme prati neki čudan osjećaj o ovom poslu, Jorma ipak ne posustane kada dođe vrijeme da ga izvedu, a, nakon što se ispostavi da ga osjećaj nije varao i sve pođe ukrivo, Jorma se nađe na meti nepoznate skupine kriminalaca koji iz nekog razloga ubijaju svakoga tko je za ovaj poslić znao. No, kako svejedno ne može odustati od toga da sazna koji se vrag tu zapravo zbiva, Jorma će svoj put neočekivano ukrstiti s Katzovim i naći se u još gorim problemima.

Unatoč tome što je ovaj serijal imenovan kao serijal o Dannyu Katzu, Katz nije jedini glavni lik, niti je najbitniji - i Jorma i Eva jednako su zastupljeni u ovom romanu, a priču pratimo naizmjence iz perspektive svo troje likova. Radnja je zanimljiva i odvija se brzo, priča se jako brzo zapliće i još brže potom raspliće, čineći ovaj roman jednim od onih trilera koje bez problema pročitate u jednom danu.

Likove koje smo upoznali prvi put u 'Dječaku iz sjene' ovdje upoznajemo malo bolje, pogotovo Jormu, koji mi se, usput, i najviše svidio, unatoč tome što je u biti kriminalac. Katz je standardno dobar, dok se Eva u ovom romanu iskristalizirala kao izrazito odbojan lik (barem meni), prvenstveno zbog toga što ona neprestano zaboravlja na vlastitu djecu, i to ni iz kojeg bitnog razloga, osim da se napije i ode u krevet s nekim. Eva, doduše shvaća da ima problem i da to što radi nije u redu, ali iz onog što sam pročitala, ne vidim da joj to pretjerano smeta: ona svjesno odabire alkohol, posao ili usputan seks umjesto svoje djece, dok je jedini način na koji izražava krivnju zbog toga to što povremeno sama sebi kaže 'grozna sam, opet sam to napravila'.

Tema o kojoj roman govori nije ugodna, i nije za svakoga. Ima tu dosta eksplicitnih i morbidnih stvari koje zločinačka organizacija izvodi, a koje je nemoguće promatrati ikako drugačije no s gnušanjem. Nažalost, okrutna je istina da se ono što se otetim ženama u ovom romanu događa, zapravo događa i u stvarnosti, stvarnim ženama za koje netko smatra da su nebitne i da nikome neće nedostajati ako nestanu. Ovaj roman te u neku ruku natjera da se zapitaš koliko je takvih žena - nebitnih, nestalih, onih koje žive na rubu društva i od kojih obični ljudi okreću poglede na drugu stranu. Ova priča barem djelomice podiže svijest o tome, tjera nas da ih vidimo.

Sama priča vrlo je dobra, iako mi je na nekim dijelovima možda falilo malo dubine i malo više razrađenosti, ali to se uvelike nadomješta postupnim povećavanjem napetosti i brzinom odvijanja radnje. Sve u svemu, solidan skandinavski triler.

[Wal.li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dämonen

Die Sucht, die er seit zehn Jahren in Schach hält, treibt Danny Katz zu seinem Kumpel Ramón. Nachdem er den Stoff der Erleichterung in Empfang genommen hat, gibt es einen kurzen Moment der Umkehr. Katz findet Ramón mit einer Nadel im Arm tot und Ramóns Freundin Jenny ist wie vom Erdboden verschluckt. Beinahe gleichzeitig geht ein vermeintlich leichter Überfall auf einen Geldtransporter fürchterlich schief. Drei Räuber werden gefasst, einer erschossen und nur einer kann fliehen. Jorma, der Katz aus der Zeit im Heim kennt, hegt den Verdacht, die Sache könne verraten worden sein. Und Eva Westin, die einzige der drei, die es irgendwie geschafft hat, bekommt es in ihrer Eigenschaft als Staatsanwältin mit einem Fall von Geldwäsche zu tun.

Bei dem vorliegenden Band handelt es sich bereits um den zweiten Roman um Danny Katz und seine Freunde aus alten Tagen. Die Kenntnis des ersten Bandes ist zum Verständnis des vorliegenden Bandes nicht unbedingt notwendig. Allerdings macht der zweite Band auch neugierig auf den ersten. Was wird aus Jungendlichen, die einen nicht gerade herausragenden Start ins Leben hatten. Danny, Jorma und Eva haben jeder eine eigene Art entwickelt, mit ihrer Vergangenheit umzugehen. Beim ersten Hinsehen könnte man meinen, Eva als Staatsanwältin habe es geschafft in der Gesellschaft anzukommen. Doch ihr Streben nach Wahrheit und Aufklärung steht im Gegensatz zu ihren privaten Unzulänglichkeiten. Auch der sprachbegabte Danny scheint die Drogensucht in Schach halten zu können, doch er lebt sehr zurückgezogen und hadert mit dem Unwissen über die Vergangenheit seiner Eltern und Großeltern. Jorma dagegen, ist der Unterwelt nicht entkommen, und doch wirkt er emotional gesünder. Auf verschiedenen Wegen kommen diese drei geradezu unaussprechlichen Verbrechen auf die Spur. Verbrechen, die kaum zu ertragen sind.

Mit harten, klaren und deutlichen Worten beschreibt des Autor seine Protagonisten. Und beinahe schon eiskalt schildert er die Verbrechen, denen seine Drei auf die Spur kommen. Obwohl die Handlung im September einsetzt überläuft einen beim Lesen mehr als ein Frösteln. Die Schlechtigkeit und Grausamkeit der Menschen scheint keine Grenzen zu kennen. Um Geld zu generieren ist wohl jedes Mittel recht und wenn etwas droht an die Öffentlichkeit zu kommen, wird aufgeräumt. Sehr ausgeklügelt beschreibt der Autor, wie seine Schnüffler sich dem Zentrum langsam nähern, wie zusammenhanglose Hinweise sich doch zu einem schlüssigen Ganzen fügen. Dieser Roman ist teilweise schwer zu ertragen, aber dennoch kaum aus der Hand zu legen.

4,5 Sterne

[Cricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il libro mi è piaciuto, è interessante osservare come le vite dei tre conoscenti che all'inizio del romanzo partono da lavori completamente distanti tra loro s'intersechino tra loro fino ad incontrarsi.
La scrittura non è male.
Non è tra i miei romanzi di Giallosvezia preferiti ma è comunque piacevole leggerlo.

[John Carlsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danny Katz är på väg att börja med heroinet igen, men de tankarna avbryts när hans f d langare hittas död och en kompis råkar illa ut. Han blir indragen i en spiral av mord, prostitution och korruption.

Detta är definitivt bättre än första boken som jag var grymt besviken på - kan ju i och för sig bero på att jag vant mig vid stilen. Plus att en del bekanta Vallgrenska karaktärsdrag kommer fram i texten, speciellt i epilogen. Men generellt är det ganska klyschigt (vilket det tydligen ska vara i noir-litteratur), våldsamt och brutalt. Jag förväntar mig fortfarande något annat av Vallgren, som bjudit mig på omvälvande läsupplevelser tidigare.

[Kaspars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samērā labs detektīvs/trilleris, tomēr ieliku tikai trīs zvaigznes vairāku iemeslu. Pirmkārt, lai gan grāmata ir interesanta, tā tomēr nav nekas tāds pārsteidzošs, kuras dēļ nevarētu gulēt, kamēr nav izlasīta. Otrkārt, man personiski īsti nebija saprotama Jorma daļas nozīme kopējā bildē.

[Jonas Toftefors · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inte lika bra som den första Katz-boken, bitvis lite rörig att hålla koll på men den tog sig på slutet. Troligen en bok jag glömt bort helt om något år eller så...

[Míša Končelová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tak tohle není nic pro mě. Ne, že by autor neuměl psát, ale mě neoslovil.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katz, Jorma, and Eva have known each other since they were homeless teenagers living on the streets of Stockholm. But time moves on and they have all grown. Katz is now a private investigator and is on the hunt for his old drug dealer. But the investigation leads him to the porn industry.

Eva has become a prosecutor and is now looking into how the mafia is laundering their money in Stockholm. And then there is Jorma, not liking the clean path, when he is approached about a robbery he jumps at the opportunity, but the robbery goes wrong and he is left injured and on the hunt by the police.

This book has a little bit of everything in it: drugs, sex, violence, and so much more. Katz is still fighting his drug addiction 10 years later. He is also trying to learn more about his Jewish father. Eva is trying to be a good mother but suffers from sex addiction. And although everything is separate, the more Katz digs the more it really all links together. I loved the dark, gritty world we find ourselves in. It’s not pretty by any means. But this is what you expect from Scandinavian noir. It dirty, ugly, and horrible but it rings true.

This is a great story and my first book of Carl-Johan Vallgren’s. It was not hard to read it as a standalone book but I do have the feeling that if you read The Boy in the Shadows first some of the small background would have made more sense.

Over all this is a great book and one I recommend for anyone that likes Scandinavian noir or dark and gritty thrillers.

I received The Tunnel from Quercus for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowsa is this Scandinavian noir! Danny Katz and his friend Eva both have tortured pasts which they just can't shake. Katz' efforts to untangle the mystery of Ramon's murder and the disappearance of Ramon's girlfriend Jenny are the impetus for a wild ride through the unrestrained dark side of Stockholm. Some of this we've seen before but Vallgren has a way of presenting a puzzle knot that made it fresh (if rotten.). This is not for the faint of heart- it's very grim in spots- but it's well written. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I read Boy in the Shadows when it came out and I think it made these characters more special for me but I also think you'd be fine reading this as a standalone.

[Craig Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those times I have visited Stockholm has shown me a city that has tastes of both the modern plus the traditions of the old. Vallgren has added another insight in Stockholm -- darkness. Scandinavian countries can be cold, oppressive and dark during the winter time. Danny Katz as a reformed drug addict takes us to an underworld that is even more oppressive and dark. Can he save himself plus those few friends that he has? Yes and no. Perhaps it is not the view of the world that you want to see, but unfortunately it is a part of the word that exists and needs to be exposed.

[Riitta Perttunen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uusi pirullisen koukuttava trilleri Varjopojan tekijältä! Tutkiessaan huumediilerin kuolemaa Danny Katz joutuu vedetyksi pornoteollisuuden ja ihmiskaupan armottomaan maailmaan.

Kun huumediileri Ramón tekee itsemurhan, Dannyn epäilykset heräävät. Mitä Ramónille ja tämän tyttöystävälle Jennylle todellisuudessa tapahtui? Dannyn ystävä Jorma Hedlund aikoo puolestaan päättää rikollisen uransa – mutta vasta viimeisen arvokuljetusryöstön jälkeen. Kun ryöstö menee hirvittävällä tavalla pieleen ja rikosten vyyhti alkaa paljastua, Danny ja Jorma huomaavat tutkivansa samaa kammottavaa juttua.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the fast-pacing of this novel, and the dark grim setting. The mystery was really fascinating, and I was never sure where it would twist to next. Also, I liked both Danny's and Jorma's character perspective, even if I thought the other narrators were unnecessary. Saying that, there's a lot of bad language and weird sexual information I just didn't care to read about. Also, the title I felt like gives a bit too much away of the ending. It was a fun thriller, but not good enough that I can see myself reading more in this series.

[Garth Pettersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written. Strong characters. Some unresolved or unsatisfactorily resolved lines, e.g. "the tunnel" is never found--unless it's a metaphor and I missed it. The main character is so flawed he needs a hero or heroine to save him. Nordic noir gone graphically violent. Not sure I'd read another in this series as I like other Scandinavian writers better.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Varjopojan päiväkirjamerkinnässä olen käyttänyt sanoja 'maskuliininen' ja 'testosteroni', vähän samaan suuntaan ajatukseni polveilivat tämänkin kirjan kohdalla. Olisikohan dekkarimakuni ajautumassa pehmeämpään ja enemmänkin psykologisen trillerin suuntaan, kun nämä huume-, ihmiskauppa- ja pornoteollisuusaiheet tai väkivalta eivät nykyisin oikein iske?

[Vineta Puce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ļoti smaga grāmata. Brīžiem ļoti pretīgi, ka bija jāliek nost.
Stokholmā esmu bijusi vairākkārt, bet vienīgais, kas apstiprinājās, bija šīs tautas nedraudzīgums pret svešajiem. Pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas radās sajūta, ka Stokholma ir narkomānu galvaspilsēta. Seksa tirdzniecības meka.
To, kas ir tunelis, tā arī neuzzināju.

[Gary Cupitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The back drop to the protagonists stories are so sad that you're prepared to forgive whatever they do. They are immersed into a plot that is so bleak and brutal, with villains that are at best abhorrent, that all you want is them to right the wrongs and get through to the other side. And they do, well almost.

Great story, beautifully written.

[Ivana Sakic · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Brutalno, napeto i neizvjesno. Skandinavski triler o kojem ce se pricati godinama. " Tako kaze naslovnica. Roman predvidiv i ni po cemu drugaciji od drugih osim mozda po gluposti koju sam procitala: zeni je jutro nakon seksualnog odnosa sa šefom bilo muka pa je pomislila da je trudna!

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend the audiobook narrated by Peter Noble. Peter Noble has become one of my favorite speakers since he took over Tom Wood's 'Victor' novels from Daniel Philpott. - Who would have thought it?