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Inspector Anita Sundström #4.5
A Malmö Midwinter
Inspector Anita Sundström is called away from Christmas with her mother to help investigate a domestic death. Her initial relief at escaping a dull festive season soon fades when she and sidekick, Hakim Mirza, find themselves dealing with a difficult case involving the murder of an unloved father and disliked neighbour. Though suspects and motives abound, they are having difficulty identifying the murder weapon. Has the killing something to do with the victim’s past, or is the reason closer to home? It’s not the Christmas Anita was anticipating, nor the conclusion she was expecting.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2015
230 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Torquil MacLeod
25 books152 followersTorquil MacLeod was born in Edinburgh and brought up in the north east of England. After a brief spell as a teacher in Worcestershire, he worked in advertising agencies in Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle; since 2000 he has been a freelance writer.
See also: Torquil R. MacLeod
See also: Torquil R. MacLeod
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 1, 2020
Had to read this book because it was about Christmas. Haven't read the other Torquil MacLeod books but this one was a pretty good read. Hakim Mirza and Anita Sundstrom solved the murder of a man with a tomten suit and also solved the case of three apartments that were burglarize.
June 1, 2020. This was wonderful if you read all the books in order. This is the first time we figure out how Hakim fell in love with Liv Fogelström. Hakim Mirza actually solved this case since he had another case that went along with it.
June 1, 2020. This was wonderful if you read all the books in order. This is the first time we figure out how Hakim fell in love with Liv Fogelström. Hakim Mirza actually solved this case since he had another case that went along with it.
November 12, 2015
3.5 stars. This is a novella. I am not a fan of this format as I think an author should write a full length book or nothing at all. That said it was well done.
April 27, 2019
Confusing, complicated, character-driven short story, makes me not so interested in reading the other books.
January 9, 2021
A Christmas tale of family and murder..
Hakim takes the Christmas shift to allow his colleagues family time for the festive season. Caseloads are low with just a series of robberies for him to look into until a call comes in Christmas Eve.
Tord Sundin, father of four, has been murdered. His body found by his eldest son, Mårten, dressed in a tomten costume ready to surprise his youngest son, Gorges. Wife Barbara and teenage daughters Elvira and Susanne are seemingly shocked by the discovery, as are neighbours, staid Arne and flirty Felicia, who were spending the day with the Sundin's.
Anita checks in and takes the opportunity to escape her from her family duties at her mother's.. can the pair cut through the complicated interplay between those present and solve the case?
Hakim takes the Christmas shift to allow his colleagues family time for the festive season. Caseloads are low with just a series of robberies for him to look into until a call comes in Christmas Eve.
Tord Sundin, father of four, has been murdered. His body found by his eldest son, Mårten, dressed in a tomten costume ready to surprise his youngest son, Gorges. Wife Barbara and teenage daughters Elvira and Susanne are seemingly shocked by the discovery, as are neighbours, staid Arne and flirty Felicia, who were spending the day with the Sundin's.
Anita checks in and takes the opportunity to escape her from her family duties at her mother's.. can the pair cut through the complicated interplay between those present and solve the case?
February 19, 2020
For what I chose it as - a 'palate cleanser' - it did alright. However, it was just lacking in something. Character depth? Suspension? Subtlety? I'm not sure. I am sure, though, that it wasn't the crime fix I was looking for. Not dark enough for 'real' Scandi-crime, not brassy enough for Northern British, it wasn't a bad book, but I worry the author was stuck between two worlds, and didn't quite have the balls to choose one or the other.
It gets one extra star for the inclusion of Muslim characters, and the discussion around inclusion (particularly at a 'traditional' time of year). Too easy to forget how much Muslims and those of other minority [for the region] faiths are overlooked in the far north.
It gets one extra star for the inclusion of Muslim characters, and the discussion around inclusion (particularly at a 'traditional' time of year). Too easy to forget how much Muslims and those of other minority [for the region] faiths are overlooked in the far north.
October 2, 2017
Always find these Inspector Anita to be a pleasure to read!
When she gets called out to homicide on Christmas eve, she finds a family whose plans for the holidays have been changed and not for better even before the murder. A lot to sort out and lots of lying among the family...but why?
When she gets called out to homicide on Christmas eve, she finds a family whose plans for the holidays have been changed and not for better even before the murder. A lot to sort out and lots of lying among the family...but why?
October 21, 2017
Although short enough to be classified as a novella, this book captured my interest at the first page, developed two plot strands, and followed through with the same familiar characteristics of two characters from previous MacLeod books of this wearied. It was just right to take along on my short trip to New Mexico.
September 8, 2021
This is book 4.5 in the Anita Sundstrom Mystery series by Torquil MacLeod. It's noted as a 'novella', but I think it was more developed and perhaps longer than I'm used to. It was a one gulp read. Started earlier in the afternoon and just kept on reading. Really enjoy the characters and I love the setting. Very much enjoyed it.
March 10, 2022
This was a short story but packed with some excitement and some everyday police work. A bad father gets killed, the whole family is suspected and the neighbours, are also on the list of suspects, for good reasons. Anita Sundstrom is a good policewoman and a mentor to the young Swedish Muslim policeman. That character is developing nicely.
July 6, 2022
What I liked about this book are a few things. 1) Even though the description says 200 pages, my copy wa only 112 pages. 2) A story that moves right along with no extra "fill" to take up pages 3) The characters that we all know best of all. 4) No screaming and shouting from Moberg making an idiot of himself. An interesting ending that a few folks may have figured out but I was not one of them!
August 20, 2018
Taut thriller
This novella may be better than the novels. The author uses more dialogue to move the action. Likewise, the action is about a single murder instead of multiple crimes the entire unit is trying to solve. Excellent story.
This novella may be better than the novels. The author uses more dialogue to move the action. Likewise, the action is about a single murder instead of multiple crimes the entire unit is trying to solve. Excellent story.
September 27, 2018
A Swedish Christmas mystery
An enjoyable novella with a plethora of suspects. Hakim plays detective! There are intriguing details about Swedish Christmas customs. Summer Malmo is a delight; it is a very different place in winter!
An enjoyable novella with a plethora of suspects. Hakim plays detective! There are intriguing details about Swedish Christmas customs. Summer Malmo is a delight; it is a very different place in winter!
May 30, 2019
Fun holiday mystery
It ends in an unnecessarily violent way but it was a fun read with the holiday murder of a rather unpleasant man. Hakim is at the center of this one which was nice. Anita comes in later - escaping an unpleasant family holiday - but Hakim puts it all together.
It ends in an unnecessarily violent way but it was a fun read with the holiday murder of a rather unpleasant man. Hakim is at the center of this one which was nice. Anita comes in later - escaping an unpleasant family holiday - but Hakim puts it all together.
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August 8, 2019This is labeled No. 4.5 in the Anita Sundstrom series, probably because it's a novella rather than a full novel. Still a very good and enjoyable read, expanding the characters carried over from the earlier books. Waiting for next one!
May 12, 2020
This is single-crime whodunnit novella taking place over the Christmas holiday when a merchant marine Chef shows up dead while dressing to play Santa on an unexpected home leave. Has all the elements of the series, plus brevity.
April 18, 2021
A good addition to the series
I enjoyed this short story which showed more character development. Set over the Christmas period the various standard the tale were all brought together with no loose ends.
I enjoyed this short story which showed more character development. Set over the Christmas period the various standard the tale were all brought together with no loose ends.
May 1, 2018
A decent quick read. Kind of fun, actually.
November 4, 2018
Its always nice to come back to a series after some time away...
January 2, 2020
Skip
Plot had some holes in it and was too short. Character development was lacking.
I read it to the end but not satisfied.
Plot had some holes in it and was too short. Character development was lacking.
I read it to the end but not satisfied.
March 4, 2020
A fun short mystery, showing Hakem coming into his own. Definitely want to read them in order. Only negative is the fact they sound so British instead of Swedish with the slang.
March 23, 2020
Enjoyed this novella very much . I so like murder mysteries taking place in the vast northern and cold countries.
Will be reading more from this author.
Michele Zito
Will be reading more from this author.
Michele Zito
September 5, 2021
Action
A dead body, a string of robberies with non stop action, intelligent characters, good police procedural. A great series. Can’t wait for the next.
A dead body, a string of robberies with non stop action, intelligent characters, good police procedural. A great series. Can’t wait for the next.
April 29, 2022
Like playing cluedo in a lock room. Who did it...
October 8, 2022
This was like a super cheap version of inspector poirot - except, none of the characters had any depth and the whole storyline was boring and completely pointless.
October 26, 2023
A quick read, perhaps a quick write, but I could relate to the Swedish landscape.
January 10, 2024
A very short book but good
February 13, 2024
A good little, short (98 pages) story in the middle of the series.
If you pay attention from beginning to end, you'll probably figure out the whodunit and the rationale.
On to #5
If you pay attention from beginning to end, you'll probably figure out the whodunit and the rationale.
On to #5
March 13, 2025
Good read.
April 7, 2025
An interesting story, all in all. The ending was a little disappointing, but Mr. MacLeod seems to enjoy sudden endings so that loose ends will appeal to readers to read the next book in the series.
June 26, 2016
Very good short fiction. There are a few translations into English that could be cleaned up but, frankly, it would be hard to find them. This is not my first Scandinavian mystery. I enjoy them immensely. May Toquil MacLeod keep writing.
Now, as to why I enjoyed the story so much: the pace is somewhat more leisurely than a cop Chase in North America. It takes into account the culture where the story is set while simultaneously demonstrating commonalities we could all relate, for instance the bigotry by local people against Hakim, a policeman whose family came from the middle east. I also liked the revelations that tied the evidence into the final tale of how and why and who murdered the victim.
Now, as to why I enjoyed the story so much: the pace is somewhat more leisurely than a cop Chase in North America. It takes into account the culture where the story is set while simultaneously demonstrating commonalities we could all relate, for instance the bigotry by local people against Hakim, a policeman whose family came from the middle east. I also liked the revelations that tied the evidence into the final tale of how and why and who murdered the victim.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews