Häxhammaren

Homan #4

by Jan Mårtenson

Häxhammaren

"Du tillhör oss, du är en invigd," viskade hon. "Du tillhör oss."

Drömmer Johan Kristian Homan, eller är han vaken? Men han upptäcker snart att ockultism och djävulsdyrkan inte är någon oskyldig sällskapslek och att forska i de invigdas hemligheter under fullmånen är farligt, mycket farligt.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Sweden

224 pages, Pocket

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early scandi-noir, well, sort of. The story is set in and around Stockholm where Johan Kristian Homan, antique dealer and something of a cross between private detective and nosey-parker, is called on by the wealthy parents of an equally wealthy daughter to investigate how she is spending her money on what seems to be a bogus spiritualism scam.

Homan is drawn into the world of mediums, mystics and black magic through the Transphilosophical Institute, apparently run by Elizabeth Wolfe, and a reclusive book collector and scholar called Michael Groh. At first Homan is quietly amused at how easily gullible people are parted with their money, then he gets to know them and the death threats and murders start. For a long time he plays the part of the amateur detective, coming up with whodunnit theories, dismissing his own experiences of a black mass as a drug induced dream, following red herrings through ancient crossroads, mystical springs and a decaying old country mansion. He can never convince the police that crimes are being committed.

It's an entertaining little romp, a bit didactic when it comes to explanations of the occult and a couple of recipes are thrown in by Mr Homan: cold bouillon served with “a dollop of sour cream on top, and on top of that a little Danish black caviar, then add some chopped chives,” the bouillon comes out of a tin; and southern fried chicken – the recipe's quite thorough.

But who did it? All I'm saying is that it was someone with a score to settle, a very old score really, and not a very nice person at all. Oh, and treat bee swarms with respect, you never know what they might do and who's behind them.

[Cristofer Enroth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helt OK pusseldeckare med vår favoritantikhandlare, Homan.

[Victoria Lassander-Sandin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jobbigt när ett dåligt slut förstör en hel bok. Temat i boken var ganska intressant, men det blev lite långrandigt. Och som sagt, blev riktigt missnöjd över slutet, för det kändes lite som att inte blev något slut. Plötsligt var boken klar och jag kände mig inte klar med historien. Så denna får nog endast en tvåa.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scandinavian crime fiction has come a long way since this 1970s. I think the best way I can describe this book is quaint. Our hero is an unlikely detective - he's an antiques dealer who, the blurb states, is a gourmet although I am not sure I would class someone who sees fried chicken and salad as the height of sophistication as a gourmet (much may have been lost in translation and in the fact it was written 40 years ago). Holman is approached to discover why a young woman seems to be giving all of her money to a spiritualist cult. He gets drawn in and discovers murder and blackmail. But is it really, or are there more otherworldly forces involved. Sadly, I am not sure I cared that much. Ah well, it was a light read.

[Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming trifle, with some magic realism and a dash of spiritualism, this little mystery from the 70s is long out of print. The "detective" is a bachelor antiques dealer in Stockholm, who has a vast store of cultural knowledge, plenty of money (apparently) and time on his hands, which allows him to get involved in solving puzzles and crimes. This one has him doubting himself, as he tangles with a spiritualist who may be channeling a 17th century witch--or is she a faker. It gets more uncanny when he realizes that the clergyman who long ago drove that witch to the stake was his own ancestor. Fun, not too deep, and in the end more charming than convincing.

[Åke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easily read detective story, nice for times when you don't want to work your brain too hard.

[Piisa]

Ohhoijaa, näin sekavaa juonta en ole ikinä lukenut. En kuuna kullan valkeana.