Bogman

by R.I. Olufsen

When a mummified foot, a pile of bones and a split skull are discovered in a Danish bog, is it a case for the police or archaeologists? It becomes a case for Chief Inspector Tobias Lange when it is confirmed the remains are those of a young male, early twenties, beaten to death with a blunt instrument about two decades earlier. Tobias finds himself on the trail of eco-warriors, Sami protesters safeguarding reindeer rights in Lapland and a disaffected young woman estranged from her family. Then another incomplete set of human bones turns up, and then another. When the trail takes a turn into a murky world of sex trafficking and illegal immigrants, Tobias starts to fear for his eco-warrior daughter Agnes…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Denmark

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

Pseudonym for author Roisin McAuley.

Reviews

[Ms.pegasus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant addition to the Scandinavian crime novel genre (even though the author is Irish). The main character, Tobias Lange, is completely likeable. He's divorced, but remains close to his daughter Agnes. He's a classical music lover. There is a scene of charming colloquy where Tobias and Agnes conclude an evening playing duets on his electronic keyboard. Tobias' life is unobtrusively intertwined in this police procedural set in Denmark.

A skeleton is uncovered in a Danish bog. Chief Inspector Tobias Lange of the Aarhus Criminal Investigation Unit is called in. Obviously (to the reader), this will not turn out to be some archaeological find. The examination of the bones, fragments of polyester, and bits of metal reveals details about the age of the remains. Even with these clues, the investigators are unable to identify the remains.

Tobias is first introduced to the reader on a private golf course, where he is appraising his mother's new fiancé Norbert Fisker. Norbert isn't stupid. Of course he knows he is being “checked out.” Tobias had even run Norbert's name through a police computer. A suggestive theme is being laid out here: the varying dynamic between stepparents and their spouses' children. However, Olufsen uses the occasion to inject bits of humor into the story. Through Norbert, Lange is introduced to the owner of the golf course, a wealthy developer named Kurt Malling. Malling is the sort of ostentatious hob nobber who is unabashed to be attired in plus fours. An image of Goldfinger pops into Tobias' mind. Later, Tobias is roped into a charity event by Malling. A chance to hang out with the Commissioner; a formal black tie dinner; making small-talk with the rich and well-connected — the horror of it! Tobias can only smile through clenched teeth and thank 'Goldfinger' for inviting him.

Tobias has other worries as well. His daughter Agnes' current boyfriend is an environmental activist. He has no job. He travels from protest to protest. He rides a motorcycle. He has no fewer than five body piercings. One of the studs is on his tongue. In Tobias' mind, he's the future son-in-law from hell, if Agnes is actually serious about him. With my own children grown up, I could afford to enjoy Tobias' discomfiture.

Other characters on the investigative team include Katrine Skaarup, a smart new recruit and Eddie Hoxen, a randy but street-wise veteran. The narrative is in third-person, but there are glimpses of Skaarup's mind as she struggles between instinct and uncertainty. The investigation is truly a team effort. Several other cases run parallel to the “Bogman” investigation. One of them involves illegal immigrants being lured to Denmark and then trapped into a prostitution ring. Because of their illegal status, these prostitutes are then vulnerable to violence. It all ties neatly together at the very end.

This was an enjoyable read. A balance between procedural and character kept me immersed in the book. Connections between the several cases gave the plot a welcome complexity.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still recovering from the discovery that this is not a translated work (See the About the author below). My suspicions were first aroused by not being able to find the name of the translator.

Most readers will recognise the story of the find of Tollund Man, but it quickly becomes obvious that this body in the bog is that of a much more recent murder. The name of the person, an eco-warrior, is discovered and then the focus shifts to his girlfriend who also disappeared at the same time. Well, she appears to have disappeared, but sends her mother an annual email. So is she still alive, and just in hiding?

History is repeating itself. Young people are protesting against environmental desecration again but this time Tobias Lange's own daughter is involved in the protest. Apart from that the same developer is the cause of the protest.

Quite a satisfying read, a police procedural with a good feeling of authenticity. Other issues surface too:
illegal immigrants lured to work in Denmark's sex trade; limited police resources; arms of government that work in isolation and pursue their own agendas.

About the author

R.I. Olufsen has a background in investigative journalism and broadcasting. She enjoys travel, good food, golf and literary puzzles. BOGMAN is her first crime novel.

The author's name is an alias for Irish broadcaster and author Roisin McAuley who has taken the suitably Scandinavian-sounding pen name RI Olufsen for her new thriller Bogman (2015). It's the first in a series featuring Danish detective Tobias Lange.

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get an early review copy of this book because I probably wouldn't have tried to read it otherwise. That would have been a big loss, as this book is one of the best police procedurals that I've read in a long, long time. That is saying something because police procedurals are my absolute favourite mystery genre. The book is set in Denmark and the main character is Chief Inspector Tobias Lange. A mummified body of a young male is found buried in a bog in Tobias' region, and they have no idea whether it's an archeological find, or an investigateable find as peat bogs serve as wonderful preservatives for dead bodies. As Tobias and his team investigate further, they do find out that the body has been in the bog for about 12 years so they are on the trail of a killer on a very old cold case. Trying to patch together the identity of the body, the bodies past life, the family and friends he may have left behind takes considerable investigating skill, and as they do start to assemble the puzzle, they find a murky, dark trail of sex trafficking, prostitution, green activism and eco-demonstrations, brutal assaults and murder. The book moves along at a very quick pace and doesn't leave a lot of unrelated storylines dangling. Everything is made clear by the end of the book when Tobias nabs his killer, who, by the way, was a bit of a surprise to me, as I had someone else pegged. I truly enjoyed the book and recommend it highly. Thanks to the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review it.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about murders in Denmark. R.I. Olufsen has taken a Inspector and made him into a wise detective with a good crew to back him up. She does this with ease and makes several mistakes with the characters involved with doing their jobs as would be the case today with new recruits. However, they do make up for it with a man who was diving for golf balls. This story makes several turns and changes the way you would want it to. I give it 4 stars for a first book. I hope she continues writing I will be following her.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5/5

A haunting conundrum follows the discovery of a body in a Nordic bog. Is it a current criminal mystery, or will an anonymous Bogman take his place in history? These questions and more will confound our investigative team and lead them into some very choppy waters indeed.

So, how do you begin to investigate an antiquated murder with no evidence on hand to identify the victim? By combining classic, old-school storytelling our investigating team chip away at following the only vague lead they have under these unusual circumstances.

Tobias Lange is the lead detective. A divorced, amateur golfer with a string of relationships behind him, while being a fairly mild-mannered he’s most certainly a fiercely determined workaholic.

Tobias is soon aware that our unfortunate Bogman is not all that he seems, unless human sacrifices were presented with a wristwatch before being offered into the mire…

This leads him to instruct his team to revive all relevant abandoned missing persons cases, as Bogman is a murder victim and the date of his death may mean the culprit could still be at large. Following a process of elimination they follow up their suspicions, which introduces them to the more sordid territory of trafficking and the turbulent world of prostitution.

Touching on these grim and violent modern-day realities keeps the tension simmering. Even peaceful green activists fall under suspicion as age old secrets rise to the surface, which is a worry as Tobias’s daughter is wrapped up with the group’s next, big demonstration and his fears for her safety grow throughout. In addition to the unsavoury sides of life there’s an elusive spy to track down, the murky world of politics, and more skeletal remains make a timely, if random, appearance.

Despite not making the best of his personal life, Tobias makes a good leader. His dedicated team are continually getting their backsides chewed off for failing to solve the case quicker, or for making errors of judgement where they flip a coin who will tell the boss. There’s a great camaraderie there.

But (and this is a little ‘but’), the storytelling technique fell into two camps. First it had a quiet, ‘almost ‘classic mystery voice’ where there’s a sense of calm and it’s plodding along in a methodical way, politely overseeing the evidence gathered so far – all good there then. THEN BAM, followed by WHOAH. A violent struggle would erupt into graphic / violent episodes involving the prostitutes who made a brief appearance. To be fair, I’m used to consistent shocks and a certain amount of vileness in crime fiction, but events did escalate rather rapidly. From the initial style of the writing I would have expected a gentle whodunit to unravel, which is why the darker elements, whilst not the most horrific I’ve ever read, felt like a bolt from the blue at times.

That aside, I enjoyed this brooding mystery. I particularly liked how the chapters were headed with each day of the week over the three week investigation. It offered a sense of being able to follow the clues with the team as they arose until the case arrived at its ‘revelation’ moment, which wasn’t obvious either. More importantly I just loved the moody setting where Tobias and his minor personal failings settled into perfectly, and I’d be interested to see if the author has more in store for this likeable chap.

(My thanks to the publisher for providing a paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Joseph - Relax And Read Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book waiting to be read in my kindle for ages and so first off I would like to sincerely apologise with the author and the publisher for taking so much to get to it. Set mostly in Denmark, I honestly thought that this book was written by a Nordic author - I had never heard of R.I. Olufsen - but then I realised that the name is in reality a pseudonym adopted by a novelist from Northern Ireland - Roisin McAuley.

A partly mummified skeleton, at first suspected to go back to the Iron Ages, is discovered in a Danish bog (another Tollund Man?). Further analysis and the discovery of a watch and other items next to the remains, confirm that this isn't an archaeological discovery, but the body of an unknown young man who died in the 90s - he was murdered. Chief Inspector Tobias Lange and his team from the Criminal Investigations Unit in Aarhus are handed the case. Their aim is to try and identify the victim... and his killer.

"Who are you Bogman?" "Who killed you?" "Why?"

At the same time someone is viciously raping and beating prostitutes black and blue using a very distinctive MO. Tobias and his team soon realise that the trail of battered women left in the wake of this sadistic individual is much more widespread than they thought. Who is doing this? Will they be able to catch this monster before another victim is claimed?

Well I was pleasantly surprised by this book as I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The plot's pace is never sluggish and keeps the reader focused on the case. Tobias is a great character, one that I really would like to meet again in other books. Suffering from an ordering and arranging compulsion, he is a determined, bold police officer who leaves no stone unturned to get the answers he seeks. He is a divorcee who apart from gruesome cases has to deal with his tenacious green activist daughter Agnes who goes about protesting to save the planet. Katrine and Eddy are also capable police officers and interesting characters whom I really liked, however I wished to know a bit more about them and their backgrounds.

Though never confusing, at times I thought there were a lot of unrelated things going on simultaneously in the plot, but when all loose ends started to be tied together and the whole puzzle started to form a clear picture, I thought the plot was actually a very ingenious one.

With a great team of police and forensic officers and an intriguing plot that picks up pace quickly (with golf balls, bones and environmental protests playing an integral part) I really enjoyed reading this book. I hope the author will write more books featuring Tobias and his team as this could very well be developed into another exciting crime series loved by many readers. Would I recommend this book? Well, yes I would!

With thanks to Crux Publishing for sending me a review copy of this book.

[Sushicat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A promising new voice.

A body is found in the bog and the archaeologist called to consult is excited about the potential for an iron age find. Also at the scene just in case is Chief Inspector Tobias Lange of Aarhus, Denmark. Neither alcoholic nor depressed, but an interesting character who reflects on his life and cares about others. As it becomes clear that the bones are more recent, he follows the trail of circumstantial evidence and slowly identifies the body and pieces together the motivations of the people who have ties to the dead man. What first looks like a crime of passion turns more sinister as further bones are found and draws closer to home as he finds suspects among his own acquaintances.

The way the story unfolds has a quite authentic feel, without much of the angst that is so often part of the Scandinavian crime fiction. Hope we meet again!

This review is for a free copy in exchange of a honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the third detective novel that opens with the discovery of a body in a bog - it may be centuries old or it may be modern. So the idea isn't new but from that beginning Olufsen develops a good, if at times convoluted plot.

This was good, escapist detective fiction - I liked the characters and I thought that there was a nice balance in some of the themes that Olufsen introduced. Not exactly a page turner, but a novel that was easily read in a day and kept my interest throughout.

After reading a friend's review though, I picked up that Olufsen is not actually Scandinavian so her use of a Danish setting and her pen-name is a bit of a con, I think. Never mind, I enjoyed the book, which is, after all, what it's about.

[Daniel Weir · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

Although the plot was engaging there were obvious and distracting mistakes in the narrative, places where the author seemed not to pay attention to what she had written in the previous paragraph. The central character was the only one with any depth. This is not a book or an author that I would recommend.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, found it engrossing and read it in a day. I do feel slightly miffed on finding out the author is a non-Scandinavian using a Scandinavian pseudonym, as I was attempting to read and compare a range of Scandinavian crime fiction.

It was, nevertheless, a well-constructed story, with some interesting, reasonably rounded characters set in a complex and changing society. The police were intelligent, hard-working, persistent and flawed. Their families, friends and suspects were equally complex, conflicted and human. I guessed the outcome, but the procedure and reasoning was convincing and guessing did not spoil the narrative.

A satisfying read

[Phyllis Gauker · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to learn about the science of the bog! I'd just read a book about a body having been found, perfectly preserved in a bog for 50 years. But it could have been for millenia! This time, however, the water content of this particular wetland in Denmark can dissolve body parts in one area and preserve them in another. Not so many characters that you can't follow it, and enough suspicious people that you may think you've solved the mystery of "who done it," but as with all good writers, you cannot be positive until the author himself reveals the answer. The human mind is in one way so accepting of life as we meet it each day, and in another way, so suspicious when something doesn't really fit into our preconceived notions of how things should be. Therefore, those who think A is the killer will be prejudiced about him/her because of social traits or education or lack there of etc. revealing our human suspicious side, or our prejudices. Then there will be those who think the killer is B who has so well hidden the crime BECAUSE he is so well thought of and so well to do that he was able to hide it more easily than someone with fewer monetary resources. Plus "it will serve him right" to be caught, because we kind of resent the wealthy. ha But the worst is C and we almost dare not think it is he because he is a relative! Oh my!

[Sarah Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and half stars rather than a straight four.

When a mummified body is found in a bog, Danish Chief Inspector Lange must determine who the victim is , and how this twenty-year old crime relates to past and present eco-warrier activity. "Bogman" is an easy to read and well-paced mystery story in the Nordic Noir style. The characters are believable and well developed. It doesn't have the sophistication and intensity of similar style mysteries (the Bridge, Wallander series etc) but comes close. An author to watch perhaps.

Two complaints - 1. There were a couple of jarring typos/errors, but I was issued a "pre-release copy and I image that these have been amended since. 2. This may be a cultural/Australian thing but I really hate the use of the word "panties" to describe women's underwear. It is a bit of a pervy joke here, and the constant (almost overuse of the word - appears up to five times on some pages) detracted from the story. If the word "underpants" was used instead I would have given the book a higher star rating.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Courts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Within a few dull chapters of this book, I knew I was in trouble. Because this was an ARC provided in return for an honest review, I felt like I had to finish it. Otherwise there would have been no reason to torture myself by reading further.

To start with, unfortunately, Olafsun is a clumsy writer, at best. Each sentence is short. It describes exactly what the character is doing. Each and every boring detail. Almost no emotion is ever presented. The characters have absolutely no personality. Each sentence is short. I've read more interesting accounting textbooks.

I genuinely struggled to differentiate between the characters because there was very little to distinguish them from each other beyond their rough murder mystery archetypes. The cases felt pasted together and basic case details were repeated at several intervals, simply regurgitating information lest the reader forget.

3.6/10

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. A quick read, pedestrian writing, strange continuity errors. The plot has its intriguing threads, yet the pacing doesn't quite work, especially what felt like a slapdash ending. Only the primary detective is developed much as a character, others are flat or stereotypes.
It occupied my time but was nothing special.
As I said, meh.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Julie Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A body is found in the bogs of Denmark. We follow the long and painstaking progress of identifying the body, which is made harder by the fact that its been in the bog long enough to be mummified and the identifying clothing or ID have disintegrated. A few fibers are found and the body is traced, leading back to some environmental protests over ten years before. As the police work on this case, bones are discovered in the public waste bins. In a different precinct, another officer is searching for a man who attacks sex workers, usually migrants in the country illegally who have no power to report him. During the investigation, a woman is pushed off a balcony to her death, and all the cases are finally linked up.
This is an assured and evenly paced debut novel, and I enjoyed the characters enough to hope it becomes a series. I did wish for less focus on women's breasts by the male detective, but I suppose the female author was presenting reality as she had seen it.
Beyond the case, the main detective is sympathetic, and we see the parallels between his situation with a potential step father (his widowed mother met a man on a cruise in her sixties) and one of the characters from the 1990s; he also fears for his college-age daughter, Agnes, who may or may not be following in the dangerous footsteps of the idealistic young protesters that appear to have come to a bad end twelve years ago.
I was touched by the comparisons to the Tollund Man, and googled a bit. I always enjoy books that expand my knowledge and engrossed me in both the story and the characters, which this one did. I hope to see more.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a police procedural par-excellence! The reader follows the systematic investigation of seemingly unrelated murders that eventually intersect. The characters are each well-developed. None of them are stereotypes. The flow of the book is very methodical, providing interesting insights into the Danish criminal justice system. While the author focuses on the primary protagonist, the other team members are also featured and contribute to the plot. As a law enforcement officer, I found the story very realistic, w/o the usual sensationalism that often creeps into this genre. As a result, this book is not an exciting thriller per se, but rather a fascinating, well-written mystery. The reader tags along w/ the main character and his effective, diverse team, looking over their shoulder as they investigate the crimes, collect the clues and evidence, and solve the case. I highly recommend this book and hope to read more of this series.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this book in my e-library for a while and every so often I would read a chapter of this book. I enjoyed the story but didn't feel the urgent need to know what happened.

Set in Denmark, Inspector Lange is called in to investigate the mummified remains of a man found in a bog. The story quickly turns to trying to find the victim's girlfriend. It's a great detective story with many twists and turns but also sub-plots which seemed to be fillers.

As i like Scandinavian crime novels I am sonewhat disappointed to discover the author is actually Irish but when all is said and done I did enjoy the setting and the detective work. I found the story easy to read but not terribly captivating.

[Pat Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize until I read some of the reviews that the author is not actually Scandinavian. Apparently an Irish female writer. This is immaterial because the book is very good and certainly within the Scandinavian genre, Denmark in this case.
At first I found to be a little to much just police procedural without the people being fleshed out but after a bit their personalities emerged along with many of the side characters. The plot was well developed and came to an interesting conclusion, one that I did suspect part way through but ignored as I am seldom correct.
A recommended read by an author I intend to read again.

[Ed Mestre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly straight forward police procedural with the added twist of being Danish. Not nearly as dark & cynical as some other Scandinavian crime novels, like Harry Hole & The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Just dark enough, one might say. I liked how several cases & plot lines eventually merge. The main detectives, Tobias, Eddy, & Katrine, are not perfect human beings, but definitely good cops. Tobias Lange seems to be always looking out for a new sexual tryst, but his dedication to the crimes at hand always pull him away as a higher priority. Overall, a not great, but a quite enjoyable entertainment. I will keep my eyes open for more work by Olufsen.

[Tania Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Tobias, Eddy and Katrinne. The comradery was there and they were partners until the very end. I didn't like the remark made about the strong Nigerian woman when it was said, in around about fashion, that she was so dark you would't see her. I found that totally unnecessaryI but overall the book was a likeable read. I look forward to reading more books by R. I. Olufsen.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danish light, definitely not Scandinavian noir. It is ok if that is what you are looking for. Competent enough crime story but not a page turner. The book is set in Denmark, the home of a lot of “bog men.” Unfortunately the potential mystery of an Iron Age bog man is finished 1/10th of the way into the book.

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book.I am not sure why an American narrator was chosen.I think a English accent would have worked better.Andre B Wehrlen is a wonderful narrator,though he spoke too fast in most places.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

[David Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story

Started slowly, then chugged along to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were people you didn't mind spending time with. A good read to pass an evening. I hope there are more.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this on bookbub thinking it was another Scandinavian mystery only to find that R.I Olafson is the pen name of an Irish writer. No matter, it felt authentically Scandinavian and I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a body is found in a Danish peat bog, detectives must determine if it is the corpse of an ancient bogman, and thus, a great scientific find, or the corpse of some more recent victim. Learn a bit about Danish culture as you gradually learn who died and why.

[Matt Vincelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of characters to keep track of, and their interconnectedness was too convenient. Good characters, enjoyable writing even though I figured out whodunit the moment the person whodunit entered the book.

[Andrew Kirkhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Probably a 3.5 mark, quite a good story , intriguing but not quite gripping .Easy read will look for more from this author

[Pauline Doran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

[Mary Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked the Denmark procedural. Some editing issues. Plan to look for more from this author, if there is anymore.