What do you think?
Rate this book
Walther Ekman #1
Grendel's Game
Southwestern Sweden is the site of an increasingly frantic hunt for Grendel, a psychopathic murderer the media will dub "the cannibal killer."
Thirty-year veteran, quirky, overweight Chief Superintendent Walther Ekman, has a difficult choice when he gets a boastful letter from the self-proclaimed cannibal: he can ignore it as a hoax or set about finding him. His intuition tells him there have been multiple murders, even though no bodies have been found.
His friend, psychiatrist Jarl Karlsson, helps his build a profile of a brilliant, homicidal sociopath, and warns Ekman that the killer is focused on him. The investigation pursues a twisting path, in the process uncovering Stina Lindstrom, a seductive black widow, her first husband and ex-con accomplice, and a ruthless, adulterous official.
Grendel's taunts have become increasingly personal and so dangerously close to home that Ekman sends his wife, Ingbritt, out of harm's ways. As the push to find the killer accelerates, headline-seeking newspaperman Bruno Haeggman launches a public vendetta against Ekman that can shatter his reputation. Compelled by political pressure to call on Superintendent Garth Rystrom of the National CID for help, Ekman senses the investigation is spinning out of control. As he and his team narrow the field of suspects, a sudden, wrenching confrontation with the killer threatens to destroy Ekman and his family.
In a long career of catching criminals, Ekman has somehow always felt personally invulnerable. Grendel teaches him otherwise by brutally making him a crime victim, and in the process, changes Ekman forever.
Thirty-year veteran, quirky, overweight Chief Superintendent Walther Ekman, has a difficult choice when he gets a boastful letter from the self-proclaimed cannibal: he can ignore it as a hoax or set about finding him. His intuition tells him there have been multiple murders, even though no bodies have been found.
His friend, psychiatrist Jarl Karlsson, helps his build a profile of a brilliant, homicidal sociopath, and warns Ekman that the killer is focused on him. The investigation pursues a twisting path, in the process uncovering Stina Lindstrom, a seductive black widow, her first husband and ex-con accomplice, and a ruthless, adulterous official.
Grendel's taunts have become increasingly personal and so dangerously close to home that Ekman sends his wife, Ingbritt, out of harm's ways. As the push to find the killer accelerates, headline-seeking newspaperman Bruno Haeggman launches a public vendetta against Ekman that can shatter his reputation. Compelled by political pressure to call on Superintendent Garth Rystrom of the National CID for help, Ekman senses the investigation is spinning out of control. As he and his team narrow the field of suspects, a sudden, wrenching confrontation with the killer threatens to destroy Ekman and his family.
In a long career of catching criminals, Ekman has somehow always felt personally invulnerable. Grendel teaches him otherwise by brutally making him a crime victim, and in the process, changes Ekman forever.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2015
11 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 31, 2022
What in the transphobia
May 16, 2015
Erik Mauritzson’s Grendel’s Game is a complex mystery, flavored with detail, weight and family affection. The protagonist, Walther Ekman, carries plenty of weight himself as he enjoys and savors the flavors of his favorite restaurants. People. place, route and procedure provide a level of detail mirroring the complexity of Ekman’s own beloved and iconic needlepoint. And the blend of horror, detection, home life and dedication mirrors that of any offering from Swedish noir. But, in contrast to the genre, Erik Mauritzson's protagonist is very happily married. He has a wonderful relationship with his family; parents, children and grandchildren are all lovingly portrayed on the page. Meanwhile Ekman's enemy poses an almost mythical threat to draw him and the reader in.
Imagine Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, blended with Hannibal Lecter, and seasoned with a touch of Jack Sprat. The result is a detailed investigative mystery, with a wealth of house and home, and just that hint of conviction that things will somehow have to go wrong. A Swedish sense of order pervades it all, embroidered with a meticulous understanding of the way procedures work. But these twists might turn too close to home as the story progresses, and Grendel, mythically misunderstood, could exact a very physical, unmythical price.
When the endgame is played out and the last page turned, the victor might demand the spoils, or live to fight more monsters another day. You’ll have to follow a long dark journey into the mind, and balance the weights of body and soul together, to resolve it all.
Disclosure: I was given a free preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review.
Imagine Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, blended with Hannibal Lecter, and seasoned with a touch of Jack Sprat. The result is a detailed investigative mystery, with a wealth of house and home, and just that hint of conviction that things will somehow have to go wrong. A Swedish sense of order pervades it all, embroidered with a meticulous understanding of the way procedures work. But these twists might turn too close to home as the story progresses, and Grendel, mythically misunderstood, could exact a very physical, unmythical price.
When the endgame is played out and the last page turned, the victor might demand the spoils, or live to fight more monsters another day. You’ll have to follow a long dark journey into the mind, and balance the weights of body and soul together, to resolve it all.
Disclosure: I was given a free preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review.
March 20, 2022
So far, my favorite book of this year, Grendel's Game is a complex mystery set in what for many of us, is an unfamiliar and interesting location. I was unable to find a print version, but the audio presentation is well done. with the very slight accent of the narration adding color to the stark Swedish setting. Also I should add, Mauritzson's novel may not be for avid readers of American style mystery-thrillers or British style cozies, but Grendel's Game has that unique Scandinavian flavor that I thoroughly enjoy. For me, this book belongs to my much favored category.
February 10, 2022
Not my cup of tea: the mystery was a bit flimsy, I didn't like the protagonist and the conclusion was disappointing. I might have liked it a little better if I'd read it instead of listening to it, as the narration left a lot to be desired. I liked the narrator's voice and how he narrated the narrative, but I couldn't come to grips with the dialogues: the story is set in Sweden, the characters are Swedish, they should therefore not have an accent, they should sound as English as the narrative, it makes NO SENSE that the MC sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger! It was rather comical at first, but before long it grated on my nerves.
August 15, 2021
For a 12 dollar audiobook, this was a gem. Characters that you immediately feel like you know, and they're well-rounded and likable. Solid writing style, great pacing, interesting mystery. I really enjoyed it.
I will say, and here's where the spoiler comes in, the solution should probably make me drop my rating to a 3 or 4, but I won't. I liked it enough to give it a pass.
The killer is transgender, and they fall into the evil psycho trans killer trope, and that sucks. They also misgender them.
Also, I appreciate how the author was willing to kill off a critical character. I gasped. I didn't think he'd really do it, I thought there would be a last minute save, but nope.
I will say, and here's where the spoiler comes in, the solution should probably make me drop my rating to a 3 or 4, but I won't. I liked it enough to give it a pass.
The killer is transgender, and they fall into the evil psycho trans killer trope, and that sucks. They also misgender them.
Also, I appreciate how the author was willing to kill off a critical character. I gasped. I didn't think he'd really do it, I thought there would be a last minute save, but nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
I like the audiobook narrative delivery, and the character Eckman is overall well made. However, the twist feels forced, and the great detective fails to anticipate something that was an obvious danger. Though the book is engaging, the resolution is somewhat disappointing.
July 11, 2022
The plot itself wasn't bad, until the very end were everything went down hill and the utter transpobia
February 10, 2023
...If only the endless, clumsy exposition and stiff dialogue was the cringiest part of this poorly constructed novel.
April 11, 2023
This was a good and twisted story with so many guesses, some losses and brilliant finale. Be mindful what people are around you!
September 18, 2023
It was decent up until the ending.
January 23, 2024
Transphobic for the sake of transphobia. No relevance to the story.
September 15, 2015
GRENDLES GAME BY ERIK MAURITZSON is a fast paced, mystery with characters that are as real as today's news. Finding a police detective in today's books who are " real" is getting harder to find but Mauritzson has done it. What I loved about Superintendent Ekman is he's overweight, loves to eat,has a passion for needlepoint and good food,but also he's in love with his wife and family and they love him as well. The plot of the book kept me flipping pages and even when the ending came I was still guessing as to who dun it! Great read and I hope to be able to read more of Mauritzsons work.
I received this book from good reads in exchange for a review.
I received this book from good reads in exchange for a review.
December 15, 2016
However morbid it may be, when I pick up a book about cannibalism, I expect there to be cannibalism.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, and I liked the main character's habit of embroidering when he needed to think, but the whole "the cannibalism was just a hoax" thing kind of ruined it for me. I also liked the twist about the killer being trans, but they started referring to her as "him" after that was revealed which rankled me.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, and I liked the main character's habit of embroidering when he needed to think, but the whole "the cannibalism was just a hoax" thing kind of ruined it for me. I also liked the twist about the killer being trans, but they started referring to her as "him" after that was revealed which rankled me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2016
Erik Mauritzson... Sweden's answer to James Patterson! What a story! A serial killer with a personal vendetta. Complex characters, twists and turns around every corner, and several suspects to keep you guessing. Of course, you'll figure it out... oh yeah, when you do - you got it all wrong! This is one you don't want to miss, if you like crime dramas at all!
August 25, 2015
I liked this book it sure kept me guessing . you are a great writer . i could read more like this. Had a lot of people working to catch Grendel never exspected it it to end like it did. broke my heart for walther and his family . again great job.
July 6, 2015
great read kept me guessing til the end I really enjoyed this book Erik Mauritzson knows how to write a great thriller - mystery can't wait til he has some more books for me to read
July 19, 2015
excellent read
March 23, 2016
Started well, ended just OK and the middle third or so just drags. I liked the premise and the protagonist was well developed and sympathetic so I wanted to enjoy this novel more than I did.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews