Tre minuter

Ewert Grens #7

by Anders Roslund, Börge Hellström

BÅDA SIDOR FÖRVÄNTAR SIG HANS LOJALITET.
BÅDA SIDOR DÖMER HONOM TILL DÖDEN.
Han infiltrerade grov organiserad brottslighet hela vägen in i fängelse. Han avslöjades innanför murarna, lämnades att dö. Han behövde TRE SEKUNDER för att överleva.
TRE ÅR senare är Piet Hoffmann fortfarande på flykt med sin familj – hans älskade fru Zofia som han inte längre kan ljuga för, och sönerna Hugo och Rasmus.
Långt ifrån Sverige har han nu – på amerikanska polismyndighetens uppdrag – infiltrerat sig djupt in i kokainmaffians hjärta. Han ska, igen, möta kriminalkommissarie Ewert Grens. Men den här gången kämpar de på samma sida. Och skillnaden mellan liv och död är TRE MINUTER.
Piet Hoffmann är tillbaka i en thriller i världsklass som rör sig mellan Sverige, USA och Colombia. Det är en fristående fortsättning på Tre sekunder och Roslund & Hellströms sjunde bok.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Swedish Literature, Sweden, Scandinavian Literature

570 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

Anders Roslund is a Swedish author and journalist. He is the founder and former head of Kulturnyheterna (Culture News) on SVT, Sweden's national television broadcaster. For many years he worked as a news reporter – specializing in criminal and social issues – and as an Editor-in-chief at Rapport and Aktuellt, the two major News programmes on SVT.

Roslund regularly collaborates with Börge Hellström, and together they make up the writing duo of Roslund & Hellström.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 Minutes – A Fantastic Thriller

3 Minutes is the sequel to the bestselling 3 Seconds but this book can be read as a standalone thriller, you certainly do not need to know what went before. The Swedish writing duo of Roslund and Hellstrom really know how to grip the read and keep them all the way to the end on tenterhooks. This is a rollercoaster of a ride, well written, and shows what many of us already know, the United States ability of taking a sledgehammer to a Brazil nut and when its smash to bits, then ask why that happened, too much strength and not enough thinking.

Piet Hoffmann is on the run from Swedish justice, the one-time Swedish government agent, is thought to have been shot in prison, but not everything is as it seems. His handler managed to help him escape from Sweden and helped him gain a new identity for him and his family and a new country on a new continent.

Hoffmann in order to survive in Columbia is working as a bodyguard to a senior member of a Columbian cocaine mafia, while at the same time aiding the US DEA, with some high- profile drug seizures. He has learnt to live with the threat to his life and that of his family if the Columbians ever find out about his snitching on them.

Thomas D. Cruise is the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is also leading the war against drugs, when he witnesses the murder of a Columbian Army captain and his men, by a Columbian and his European looking bodyguard. He aims to hunt down this pair and bring them to justice and that means going to Columbia.

When Cruise is kidnapped, and Hoffmann is placed on the American kill list their lives depend on DCI Ewert Grens, a former enemy who ordered the shooting of Hoffmann, then he really is in trouble. With avenues of safety being slowly eroded Hoffmann comes to rely on Grens as he is the only person that can keep him and his family a live in a country where life is cheap.

Will Cruise be found safe, will Hoffmann survive being on the American kill list and will Grens, who has never been out of Europe be able to save them all without compromising the law? These are the questions that spring to mind as you read through, gripped by hope and fear.

This is an excellent thriller that will keep you hooked from beginning to end where you do not know what will happen in a country where life is cheap. Will Grens really become the only ally that Hoffmann can trust, there is only one way to find out.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent thriller, 4.5 stars. Piet Hoffman fled Sweden after faking his death in prison to become an undercover agent for the DEA, insinuating himself with cartel enforcer, El Mestizo. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives is on a personal crusade to stop the import of drugs from Colombia, after the related death of his daughter. A bad decision to tour a drug kitchen site leads to the slaughter of his protective detail, and his kidnapping. The U.S. puts the entire cartel leadership on a kill list, including Hoffman, and politics preclude his removal. Circumstances compel Swedish detective Ewert Grens to help, in part because of his prior contact with Hoffman. Things get very dicey as Hoffman has to avoid getting killed by both sides and rescue his wife and two boys.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

An undercover agent is targeted when war is declared on “drugs barons”.

This was definitely a roller coaster ride of a story, very well written, entertaining and with a cast of morally ambiguous characters. But it was simply too far –fetched and about three quarters of the way I started to really struggle to suspend my disbelief, plus I found this book a bit on the long side.

Overall rating 3.5

[Annabee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zes sterren!

[Opmerking: Drie minuten is het vervolg op Drie seconden, dat in 2010 verschenen is. Het is niet noodzakelijk eerst deel 1 te lezen, maar wel een pre. In omgekeerde volgorde lezen is niet aan te raden, daar de clou van deel 1 in de loop van deel 2 uiteengezet wordt.]

Piet Hoffmann, ex-crimineel tevens ex-informant van de Zweedse politie, is door de Verenigde Staten gerekruteerd om te infiltreren in Colombia. Hij beweegt zich als Peter Haraldsson, El Sueco, in de kringen van de PRC-guerrilla en is de persoonlijke lijfwacht van Johnny Sánchez, El Mestizo. El Sueco is de beste infiltrant ooit. De PRC houdt zich o.a. bezig met de productie van en handel in cocaïne, mensenlevens zijn ondergeschikt aan business. De Amerikanen willen deze drugskartels oprollen en hebben daartoe de Crouse-troepen geformeerd, onder leiding van Timothy D. Crouse. Een soort Crouse-war, want Crouse is persoonlijk betrokken. Totdat Crouse ontvoerd wordt door de PRC, dan wordt het een zaak van heel Amerika: "America declares The next war on terror." Door de CIA en de FBI wordt gezamenlijk een dodenlijst opgesteld, met daarop de namen van de guerrilleros die voor de terreurdaad moeten boeten. Op die lijst staat ook El Sueco, 'onze' Piet, die prompt aan zijn lot overgelaten wordt door zijn opdrachtgever. Weet hij zich op de een of andere manier uit zijn netelige situatie te redden en kan hij zijn gezin beschermen?

Snoeihard verhaal, waarvan niet duidelijk is hoe de werkelijkheid zich verhoudt tot het aandeel fictie. Locaties: Colombia, Washington en Stockholm. De hoofdrol is voor Piet Hoffmann, daarnaast is een cruciale rol weggelegd voor Ewert Grens, die ook in de voorgaande thrillers van Anders Roslund & Börge Hellström van de partij was.
Drie minuten is een goed uitgewerkte, zeer spannende thriller. Zo'n boek om in één ruk uit te lezen om vervolgens spijtig te constateren dat het al uit is. Gewelddadige passages komen veelvuldig voor: moord, doodslag, uitbuiting, martelingen. De auteurs schromen niet de lezer te confronteren met wreedheden, die horen er kennelijk bij in de cocaïnebranche. Door politici in het Witte Huis en in Zweden worden - althans in dit boek - besluiten genomen die discutabel zijn of op zijn minst tot nadenken stemmen. Mensen die zich met hart en ziel inzetten voor de goede zaak als een baksteen laten vallen, schijnt de normaalste zaak van de wereld te zijn.

Mini-minpunt van Drie minuten is de verkorte schrijfstijl die Roslund - want hij schrijft - soms hanteert. Veruit het grootste deel van de tekst is in vloeiende bewoordingen geschreven, maar dan opeens staan er zinnen waaraan woorden ontbreken. Ze suggereren haast, gedachtesprongen en agressie, ze dienen een doel, maar zijn o zo lelijk.
Aan flauwiteiten, humor of soft (rechercheurs)gedoe doen Roslund & Hellström niet, in tegenstelling tot menig collega-auteur uit Scandinavië. Het gaat er scherp en hard aan toe, er is geen ruimte voor sociale gesprekjes of wat dies meer zij. El Sueco sleurt je mee de Colombiaanse jungle in, het verhaal raast voort. Bevredigend slot, maar is het ook het einde?

Drie minuten is met afstand de beste thriller die ik tot nu toe in 2016 gelezen heb. Zes sterren, als dat zou kunnen!

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally read international thrillers, so wasn't initially aware that this was the 7th book in a continuing series. However, I found it worked well enough on its own as any relevant backstory on the central characters is given in the opening chapters.
This story centres around ex-convict Piet Hoffmann who now works as a double agent in Colombia; ostensibly as a bodyguard to a major drug-runner, although in reality in the employ of both U.S. and Swedish security services.
When a bumbling, high-ranking U.S. politician, fighting his own personal "War On Drugs", gets himself kidnapped by Colombian guerillas, Hoffmann finds his position compromised with both Americans and Colombians wishing to see him dead. Ironically, the only person willing or capable of saving him is his former arch-nemesis, Detective Superintendant Ewart Grens.
The second half of the novel sees them undertaking plans to rescue the American and return Hoffmann and his family back to safety in Sweden.
The central characters were very interesting the plot quite unusual, however I felt some of the later action scenes strained credibility somewhat.

[Jay Dwight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read any of the other works by Roslund & Hellstrom so didn't know the back story of the recurring characters, but that had no impact on my level of enagagement with the story.

I also didn't read any of the jacket blurb before launching in, and was thinking this would be a typical Scandi police procedural, so quite a surprise. Although Swedish police are at the heart of the novel, most of the action takes place in Columbia, with a focus on the drug trade. The plot was totally engrossing, as the US Speaker of the House gets kidnapped and the US goes to war with the drug trade. It names 13 targets on a kill list, but one of these is a Swedish undercover informant, who only three people are aware he is acting in this role. Politics comes in to play, and it's up to the Swedes to try and get their man out safely.

Highly recommended.

[Христо Блажев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Кокаинът убива по твърде много начини: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/3...

Буквално трима души знаят истината за самоличността на Ел Суеко – Шведа. И точно това, което му осигурява така нужното прикритие, се превръща и в присъда. Защото висш американски политик, обявил своя лична война на наркотиците и ефективно работещ за разбиването на наркопроизводсвото и търговията, е пленен от колумбийските бунтовници, които закрилят кокаина като най-важен експортен продукт на държавата. И САЩ реагират по обичайния начин – обявяват нова война на терора, набелязват публично топ целите си под формата на карти за игра, и започват да ги елиминират по високотехнологични начини. И проблемът е, че в списъка им е не само шефът на Ел Суеко, но и самият той. И никой от висшите ешелони на властта не желае да се посрами, като признае, че са сгрешили – и присъдата остава в сила независимо от усилията на вербовчиците му.

Izdatelstvo ERA
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/3...

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Three Seconds which I also loved, this book was almost impossible for me to put down. I love the absolute authority that these books carry on the knowledge of the underpinnings of crime. Börge Helström himself was an ex-con (I say was as he has since died), so his firsthand knowledge absolutely lends itself to the credibility of the authors.

Three Seconds was also turned into a movie which I'm pretty excited to see. Good story. Good characters. Good suspense.

I'd rate this book an R for violence and gore, torture, swearing, drugs and alcohol, and other adult content.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piet Hoffmann faked his death in a prison and is now on the run. He has been given a new name and along with his family been relocated to Columbia. Piet now works for a cocaine boss called El Sueco but is also a DEA informant. To make his role look believable he was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list. But then an American Chairman of the House of Representatives, Thomas D. Cruise, goes on a war against drugs after the death of his daughter. But when Thomas gets to Columbia he gets himself kidnapped. Back home everyone decides to go to war with the cartels and starts using the FBI’s Most Wanted as a hit list. Piet knows that he is on his own and does what he needs to in order to keep his family and himself alive. He is going to have to rely on DCI Ewert Grens to help him try and rescue Cruise.

This is the seventh book in the Grens & Sundkvist series and although I have not read the other books I did not have a hard time figuring out what was happening. Piet is doing everything he can to stay alive yet help against the Columbian cartels. But he finds himself and his family’s lives in the balance when he is cut lose from his DEA handler and become a target in the war against drugs. You can’t forget about Thomas either. I understand why he is out to start war but he is fighting blind instead of looking at everything.

This is an action packed thrill ride. It’s easy to fall into this story and hope that Piet and his family will come out the other side of this battle in one piece. I also wanted Thomas to be saved, he had the best intentions even if he went in heavy handed. This is a great thriller and I am interested in reading the other books in this series.

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

[Tony Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom are Swedish crime writers, Roslund with a journalistic background while Hellstrom is an ex-crim. Three Minutes is their sixth book to be published in English and it's a ripper. Most of the action is based around Colombia's cocaine trade but this is a complex thriller, with a Swedish national, and a former agent, Piet Hoffman, now essentially under cover for the American DEA. He is bodyguard and second in charge to a ruthless drug trader, Metizo.

Hoffman is on the run as well, following a breakout from a Swedish jail, and there are only two people who know his secret as an informant. He is also becoming increasingly aware that he needs to break free from his present highly dangerous situation, and get his wife and two boys to safety. Easier said than done.

Life becomes even more complicated when America's Chairman of the House of Representatives, who is on a mission to avenge the drugs-death of his daughter, takes on a risky journey into Colombia's jungle in search of a cocaine factory. He is captured by the drugs cartel and is tortured by Metizo and his gang.

Hoffman sees an opportunity, also high-risk, of doing a deal with the Americans, freeing the captive, and getting himself and his family a get-out-of-jail-free card. From there the plot seesaws as his plan progresses, and his life is at stake when the White House essentially hangs him out to dry.

Three Minutes just might be the best crime thriller I read this year. It is so far.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This carefully constructed novel combines all the elements of an extraordinary tour de force: cocaine, drug cartels, political and police duplicity and sympathy for a criminal. It is the story of Piet Hoffman, known as El Sueco, a Swede who escaped from a long prison sentence while serving in a Swedish prison and now living a double life in Colombia with his wife and two sons, serving two masters: a honcho known as El Mestizo of the Colombian cocaine cartel and a DEA informer.

Add to the plot the capture of the Speaker of the House by the cartel and his torture, and you have the makings of an even more intriguing story as the war on drugs escalates and El Sueco is listed as number seven on a list to be killed by the United States. In order to survive and save his family, Piet has to maneuver delicately between all elements.

The descriptions of the drug culture and the amoral character of its various people are gripping, as are the insights into the thinking and actions of police officials and U.S. politicians from the Vice President on down to staff members. The sixth and newest in the DCI Ewert Grens series, it is written with power when necessary and delicacy when appropriate, this is a novel to be savored.

[L'atelier de Litote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vous l’aurez compris Trois minutes est la suite du best-seller Trois secondes comme nous l’indique la belle harmonie des couvertures proposées. Même si vous n’avez pas lu le premier tome, vous pouvez débuter avec celui-ci sans problème de compréhension.
A nouveau nous retrouvons l’écriture punch des deux auteurs suédois et le personnage de Piet Hoffmann toujours en grande forme pour aborder une mission dangereuse d’infiltration de la mafia colombienne. On change donc de continent pour suivre Piet et sa famille en Colombie. Toujours à surfer sur la corde raide, entre le double jeu : garde du corps d’un mafieux et coup de main à la DEA américaine dans la saisie de cocaïne. Pourtant alors que la situation se détériore, il ne reste plus que l’inspecteur Ewert Grens à qui demander de l’aide même si celui-ci est son ennemi. Un thriller à couper le souffle qui m’a gardé éveillée une partie de la nuit. Le scénario est captivant et on tremble pour la vie de cet agent infiltré en pleine guerre contre les barons de la drogue. C’est bien écrit, pourtant j’ai eu parfois du mal à y croire à 100%, mais je suis peut-être pointilleuse, j’ai eu la sensation d’un « trop ». La galerie des personnages est impressionnante, sans compter que ce sont souvent des « mauvais » à l’amoralité certaine. Si on ajoute à cela l’enlèvement du Président de la Chambre par le cartel, on franchit encore un degré de plus dans l’horreur alors que la lutte contre la drogue prend de l’ampleur. J’ai apprécié tout ce qui nous est dit sur la culture de la drogue ainsi que sur ce qu’il y a dans la tête des policiers ou des politiques américains, c’est édifiant. Impossible d’extrapoler ou de prédire quoi que ce soit. On sait que les choses ne peuvent que tourner mal en un clin d’œil et c’est parfois avec appréhension que j’ai suivi le cours du récit. Je me laisserais tenter par « 3 heures » le troisième tome à paraître en mai car j’ai encore passé un excellent moment. Bonne lecture.

[Aneliya Petrunova · Rating 5 out of 5]

(на български по-долу)

"Tre minuter" av Anders Roslund och (den nu avlidne) Börge Hellström är den självständiga fortsättningen på deras bok "Tre sekunder". Jag har inte läst "Tre sekunder" än (men tänker bättra mig så snart som möjligt), men blev ombedd att läsa och kommentera fortsättningen. Jag tycker om kriminalromaner, i synnerhet svenska kriminalthrillers, eftersom de är både välskrivna och ofta behandlar aktuella sociala frågor. Tidigare hade jag bara läst en bok av Roslund och Hellström - "Odjuret" - och fann den också ytterst spännande och tankeväckande. Den här boken, "Tre sekunder", är, om möjligt, ännu bättre - den är ingen vanlig kriminalroman eller thriller, utan så mycket mer. Den berättar om narkotikahandeln och dess enorma inflytande på hela samhället, inte bara i Sydamerika (i just den här boken utspelas det mesta av handlingen i Colombia), utan i hela världen. Vi får träffa Piet Hoffman som redan en gång har blivit sviken av staten vars medborgare han är - den svenska staten som i "Tre sekunder" rekryterar honom för att infiltrera den polska maffian, men sedan lämnar honom åt hans öde när han blir avslöjad. Trots det lyckas han alltså överleva. Nu är han bosatt med en falsk identitet i Colombia och har infiltrerat den colombianska PRC-gerillan som bedriver omfattande kokainodling, försäljning och transporter världen runt - den här gången har Hoffman blivit rekryterad av USA för att hjälpa dem i deras kamp mot narkotikahandeln. Och ännu en gång blir han sviken av sin arbetsgivare och praktiskt taget dömd till döden. Fast även den här gången får han hjälp att klara sig, bland annat av den buttre och egensinnige, men ytterst kloke och hederlige kriminalkommissarien Ewert Grens.

Ett annat ämne som belyses i boken är det om fattigdomen i Colombia som får många att bli gerillasoldater. Det är de fattiga barnen i slummen som har det svårast - några av dem är tvungna att bli sicarios (lejda mördare) för att kunna försörja sig själva och sina familjer - det vill säga, tills de själva blir offer för en sicario. Det mest absurda är att det betraktas som prestigefyllt att vara sicario och barnen drömmer om att bli "utvalda".

Efter "Tre minuter" kommer en bok till - "Tre timmar". Den ser jag fram emot. Tills vidare tänker jag läsa första delen - "Tre sekunder". Och jag verkligen rekommenderar den här andra delen, "Tre minuter".

***

"Три минути" от Андерш Руслунд и (вече покойния) Бьорие Хелстрьом е самостоятелното продължение на романа им "Три секунди" (издадена през 2011 г. от издателство "Ера"). Не съм чела "Три секунди" (но смятам да се поправя колкото се може по-скоро), но ме помолиха да прочета и коментирам продължението. Харесвам криминалните романи, особено шведските криминални трилъри, защото са не само добре написани, но и често разглеждат актуални социални въпроси. Бях чела само една книга на Руслунд и Хелстрьом - "Чудовището" (която не е издадена на български) - и я намерих за изключително увлекателна и подтикваща към размисъл. Тази книга, "Три секунди", е още по-добра, ако изобщо е възможно - това не е обикновен криминален роман или трилър, а много повече. Разказва за търговията с наркотици и огромното й влияние върху цялото общество, не само в Южна Америка (точно в този роман по-голямата част от действието се развива в Колумбия), а в целия свят. Срещаме се с Пит Хофман, който вече веднъж е бил изоставен от държавата, чийто гражданин е - шведската държава, която в "Три секунди" го наема да се внедри под прикритие в полската мафия, но след това го оставя на произвола на съдбата, когато бива разкрит. Въпреки това той успява да оцелее. Сега живее под фалшива самоличност в Колумбия и се е внедрил под прикритие в една от колумбийските "герили", която осъществява мащабно производство, продажба и транспорт на кокаин в целия свят - този път Хофман е нает от САЩ, за да им помогне във войната срещу търговията с наркотици. И отново бива изоставен от своя работодател и на практика осъден на смърт. Но и този път му помагат да оцелее, включително навъсеният и чудат, но изключително интелигентен и почтен криминален комисар Еверт Гренс.

Друга тема, която се осветлява в книгата, е темата за бедността в Колумбия, която кара много хора да се присъединяват към герилите. Най-тежко е положението на децата в бедняшките квартали - някои от тях са принудени да станат sicarios (наемни убийци), за да могат да издържат себе си и семействата си - тоест, докато самите те не станат жертва на sicario. Най-абсурдното е, че се смята за престижно да бъдеш sicario и децата си мечтаят да бъдат "избрани".

След "Три минути" ще има още една книга - "Три часа". Очаквам я с нетърпение. Междувременно смятам да прочета първата част - "Три секунди". И наистина препоръчвам втората част - "Три минути" (която би трябвало да излезе и на български след няколко месеца).

[wyczyt_ana Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

trochę mam wrażenie ze to już odgrzewany kotlet, ciężka postać, której wszystko wychodzi i zawsze ma wspaniałomyślne pomysły 3/5

[Ionuț Anastasiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Câteodată, din păcate nu foarte frecvent, se întâmplă adevărate miracole pe piața editorială din România. În general, la noi există o regulă nescrisă conform căreia, în situația în care o editură începe să publice o serie a unui autor și trec mai mulți ani în care nu mai apare niciun roman din seria în cauză, atunci ea este ca și îngropată. Cel mai adesea definitiv.
Iată însă că există și excepții, ceea ce nu poate decât să ne facă fericiți. Primul roman din seria Ewert Grens și Piet Hoffmann, Trei secunde, a apărut la editura Trei în anul 2013. Iar de atunci nu s-a mai întâmplat aproape nimic. Spun aproape nimic, deoarece s-a întâmplat totuși ceva și anume în toamna anului trecut, editura Litera a publicat al patrulea roman al seriei amintite, Trei zile, al cărui unic autor este Anders Roslund. E de presupus că acesta a fost factorul declanșator al situației actuale. Căci, ce să vezi? Editura Trei revine în forță și publică într-un singur an nu unul, ci ambele romane lipsă din serie. Felicitări! În paranteză fie spus, acum editura Trei ar trebui poate să facă un efort și să reediteze Trei secunde, pentru ca acei cititori care descoperă acum seria să o poată citi integral.
În ceea ce privește acțiunea romanului, aceasta are loc nu în Suedia așa cum ne-am fi așteptat, ci în principal în Columbia, dar și în SUA și tema principală este aceea a gherilelor columbiene a căror activitate are legătură cu traficul de droguri. O temă frecventă în literatura de astăzi, dar Trei minute merge la sursa acestui fenomen infracțional, atingând și alte fenomene specifice locale precum copiii asasini (sicario) sau prostituția.
Piet Hoffmann, 38 de ani, se află în Columbia, după ce, la finalul romanului Trei secunde, a reușit să evadeze din închisoare și să plece din Suedia alături de soție și cei doi băieți. A reușit astfel să supraviețuiască trădării celor care știau foarte bine că el nu este un infractor, ci un colaborator al poliției. În Columbia, Piet se ocupă cu organizarea transportului de oameni, însă, bineînțeles, aceasta este doar ocupația de suprafață, în realitate el fiind infiltrat în gherilele columbiene conduse de Johnny Sanchez, alias El Mestizo, un asasin urmărit de FBI. Piet este atât de priceput în a lucra sub acoperire, încât a reușit să ajungă mâna dreaptă a lui Johnny. Din păcate pentru el, foarte curând Piet va descoperi că de aici și până la a ajunge un proscris, un nume pe o listă întocmită de americani ce conține numele celor mai periculoși inamici ai SUA, nu este decât un pas.
Pe de altă parte, Timothy D. Crouse, Președintele Camerei Reprezentanților, a treia persoană în ierarhia politică a SUA după președinte și vicepreședinte, mânat fiind de o dorință cumulată atât de a face dreptate prin declanșarea unui război împotriva drogurilor, cât și de a răzbuna moartea fiicei sale a cărei cauză a fost consumul de droguri, se aventurează într-o misiune de anihilare a unei cocina (cuptor de cocaină) în jungla din Columbia, la câteva sute de kilometri de Bogota. În mod previzibil, neastâmpărul nechibzuit al lui Crouse are consecințe dramatice: toți membrii expediției lui Crouse sunt uciși, iar Crouse este luat prizonier. Pe cale de consecință, acțiunea necugetată a lui Crouse va avea implicații nu numai în SUA, ci și în Suedia.
Această situație tensionată la nivel global îl ia complet pe nepregătite pe simpaticul inspector Ewert Grens, 63 de ani și 39 de ani experiență în poliția suedeză, ce se vede implicat într-un incident în trafic și, ca urmare a implicării vechiului său dușman, procurorul Lars Agestam, ajunge pentru scurt timp la închisoare. Tocmai la timp pentru a se implica într-un conflict ce se desfășoară departe de granițele Suediei. Lectură plăcută!

[نهى · Rating 4 out of 5]

ثلاث دقائق
إيفرت جرينز وبيت هوفمان
ل أندرش روزلوند، بو هليستروم
ترجمة رضا شكر

كاميلو طفل في التاسعة تمنى أمنية يذهب بسببها إلى السوق في بلدية سان خافيير، يوميًا بعد مدرسته، واليوم تحققت اختاره الميستثيو القاتل المحترف ليصبح قاتلًا مأجورًا.. فهل سينجح متحولًا من طفل إلى مجرم؟!

وفي بوجوتا نعود إلى بيت هوفمان متسلسل رواية ثلاث ثوان، يجلس بيت وسط العديد من الأسلحة، ترى هل هو متسلل لمصلحة الحكومة السويدية ثانية؟ وهل عاد لعمله هذا بعد وعده زوجته كرارًا وتكرارًا بالتوقف؟
نعم اضطر لمواصلة وظيفته وهو الآن في كولومبيا وسط مزارع الكوكا ومافيا الكوكايين وعصابات مسلحة منذ عامين يحرس الميستثيو وربما هي خطة جديدة للتسلل إلى عالم المخدرات في كولومبيا، وكما يقول عن نفسه وعن زوجته زوفيا:
"لقد تحمل الأمر لأنها تتحمله مثله، ليس لديهما خيار آخر. إنها الطريقة الوحيدة ليعولهم. إذا عاد إلى السويد فسيُحبس، إذا لم يستمر في أداء هذا الدور، فسيصبح ميتًا"

وكالة أمريكية تدعى "الوكالة الوطنية للاستخبارات الجغرافية المكانية" تتابع العالم كله عبر أقمار التجسس الصناعية بقيادة تيموثي د. كراوس" الذي يحارب مافيا الكوكايين بسبب موت ابنته شابة ببب جرعة منه، وها هو جلس يتابع عبر الشاشات بيت أو السويدي كما أطلقوا عليه وهو يحمي الميستثيو وبينهما قتيل ورجال مربوطين بالحبال إلى جوار عرباتهم، كل هذا في إحدى الأماكن بكولومبيا والسبب هو بالطبع المخدرات..

بيت هذه المرة لن يقابل إيريك ويلسون بل لوسيا العميلة الخاصة المسؤولة عن مكتب إدارة مكافحة المخدرات في كولومبيا وتقوم بتنجيد بيت كمتسلل ومن بعدها سو..

يذهب كراوس إلى إحدى مصانع الكوكايين مع فرقة خاصة كولومبية ضاربًا بعرض الحائط نصائح حارسه الشخصي، فتهجم عليه عصابات المخدرات تأسره وتقتل الجميع وتفجر مركباتهم.. فهل سيتم إنقاذ رئيس مجلس النواب الأمريكي؟!

ينتهي الجزء الأول من الرواية لندخل على الثان لنجد أنفسنا في ستوكهولم والمحقق أيفرت جرينز وها هو إيريك ويلسون الذي همش دوره مع المتسللين، يشاهد في التلفزيون خبر اختطاف كراوس وعدة أشخاص في قائمة للاغتيال مطلوبين في أمريكا منهم السويدي أو بيت هوفمان..

ومثلما خانت الحكومة السويدية بيت في الجزء الأول، فقد تنصلت مثيلتها الأمريكية منه أيضًا، وطالبت سو إيريك أن يفعل ما يستطيعه، فهل اللجوء إلى إيفرت جرينز وسفره بدلًا من إيريك كي يضمن الأمان لوظيفة سو، قد يساعد لإنقاذ بيت ثانية؟!

تميز العمل بقدرة الكاتب على وصف الأماكن بكولومبيا وصفًا جيدًا للغاية كما لو كان كولومبي الأصل وليس سويديًا.. كما أجاد الكاتب التحدث عن الأقمار الصناعية والأسلحة والمخدرات وهو شيء مخيف للغاية وكما يقول المحقق إيفرت جرينز:
مهما يعمل لسنوات، فما زال يصادف أساليب إجرامية جديدة. ومهما يتطور عملهم الشرطي بسرعة، يبد أن المجرمين يسبقونهم بخطوة".

#نو_ها

[Pieter De vroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vervolg op 3 seconden. Het is zeker aangewezen om ze in de juiste volgorde te lezen. Ik hou wel van de stijl. Het verhaal is soms wat ongeloofwaardig maar wel spannend. Er zitten keiharde scènes in het boek die echt goed geschreven zijn. Een eerder bescheiden rating omdat ik liever thrillers lees die wat dichter bij de waarheid blijven zoals bijvoorbeeld Made in Sweden van dezelfde auteur. Op gebied van sfeer en idee van de Colombiaanse drugsmaffia kan natuurlijk niets tippen aan Narcos op netflix.

[Varrick Nunez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this title up strictly based on the author's names and I continue to enjoy Scandinavian authors like Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell & Jo Nesbo, among others. I finished it because it turned out to be quite a page-turner, a sort of "Jack Reacher" or "Mission: Impossible" -type thriller.

I realized after a bit (like a hundred pages, so I'm slow to come aware at times) that this title depends a bit on previous outings for the characters. I will have to have a look at "3 Seconds" and perhaps even earlier titles. That aside, the title stands on its own well enough.

Not to grumble, I've no idea what the cover is meant to indicate, no guns at airports throughout the book, just travel from the airports; the places don't really figure in the plot in any way. Guns come up quite a bit of course.

I won't give the plot away, but one of the climactic moments in the denouement is just too amazing to be credible, but of course, it's fiction. But, I liked the characters and how they responded to circumstances within the so-called war without end "War on Drugs."

[Britt-Marie Kullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betyg: 4,5 av 5.

Det här är författarparet Roslund & Hellströms sjunde bok tillsammans. Jag har läst alla dom sex tidigare böckerna, och tyckt väldigt mycket om dom allihopa. Här är en länk till min recension av deras senaste bok, Två soldater. Och här är en länk till min recension av boken Tre sekunder, som den här boken, Tre minuter, är en fristående fortsättning på. I dessa inlägg finns även länkar till mina recensioner av dom fyra tidigare böckerna.

Jag tycker att Roslund & Hellströms böcker är mycket speciella. Dom är så annorlunda mot andra kriminalromaner. I böckerna tas alltid stora samhällsproblem upp, samtidigt som dom är spännande. Dom känns alltid verkliga och aktuella.

Och den här boken är inget undantag. Den utspelar sig till stor del i Colombia, och handlar mycket om droghandeln där. Väldigt välskriven, mycket spännande, och jättebra var boken.

Rekommenderas absolut.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piet's death in a Swedish prison was faked, he's now undercover working for the DEA in Colombia. He has embedded himself very deeply into the organization and is trusted by El Mestizo, one of the bosses of this operation. I could not put this book down, the intrigue and back doors and cover-ups were so well done, I couldn't predict what would happen next. I was also afraid something would go wrong at the drop of a hat. And things did go wrong, which really puts you on the edge of your seat. Well done!

[Ingrid Verschelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2010 heb ik "Drie seconden" van Anders Roslund en Börge Hellström gelezen, en vond het een superspannend boek. Helaas kwam ik maar heel langzaam in dit verhaal. Ik heb er in totaal 2 maanden over gedaan. Ik weet, dat ze goed kunnen schrijven, dus toch maar doorgezet. Ik ben wel blij, dat ik door heb gelezen, want halverwege kreeg het verhaal de vaart erin.

Drie sterren voor het begin en vijf de tweede helft maakt voor mij samen vier gemiddeld.

[Anne Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent thriller. Although I have put it into my “Scandi” folder, it took place mainly in Colombia and was heavily related to the drugs trade. Very well written, totally gripping and with great characters. I will definitely read more books by this pair as the two I have read so far have been wonderful to read. Highly recommended.

[Linus · Rating 5 out of 5]

en värdig fortsättning på tre sekunder. Oerhört välskriven, fantastisk detaljrikedom och även om berättandet i sig är linjärt så sker temporala språng som ger extra krydda.

[Marti Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, duplicitous characters, double-cross followed by double-cross with another double-cross. Read like an action movie. Loved it.

[Kees van Duyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voordat Anders Roslund met schrijven begon, heeft hij vooral als verslaggever voor de televisie gewerkt. Borge Hellström had een heel andere richting gekozen en belandde in de criminaliteit. Na een gevangenschap richtte hij een organisatie op die ex-gevangenen hielp om terug te keren in de maatschappij. Roslund maakte hierover een documentaire waardoor ze elkaar ontmoetten. Dat vloeide uit tot hun gezamenlijke schrijverscarrière en schreven ze samen zeven thrillers. Drie minuten is de tweede uit een trilogie. In februari 2017 overleed Hellström als gevolg van ziekte.

Nadat ex-crimineel en politie-infiltrant Piet Hoffmann Zweden is ontvlucht, maakt hij een nieuwe start in Colombia. Hij is de lijfwacht van drugshandelaar El Mestizo, maar eigenlijk werkt hij als infiltrant voor de Amerikaanse DEA, de overheidsorganisatie die belast is met het bestrijden van drugs. Dan wordt een belangrijke Amerikaanse politicus ontvoerd en gevangengehouden door de guerrillabeweging PRC. De Amerikanen ontketenen een War on Drugs en Hoffmann belandt op een dodenlijst. Commissaris Ewert Grens wordt ingezet om Hoffmann en zijn gezin veilig in Zweden te krijgen.

Is Drie minuten zoveel anders dan zijn voorganger Drie seconden? Ja, aan de ene kant wel, maar aan de andere kant eigenlijk toch ook weer niet. Wel, omdat het zich op een geheel andere locatie afspeelt en het verhaal, dat natuurlijk anders is, een realistisch beeld geeft van de keiharde drugswereld en in iets mindere mate de productie van cocaïne. Niet, omdat de auteurs voor een concept gekozen hebben dat vrij identiek is aan dat in het eerste deel van de trilogie: Hoffmann is geïnfiltreerd in de criminele wereld, werkt voor een overheidsorganisatie, krijgt niet de steun die hij zou moeten krijgen en de machthebbers wassen hun handen in onschuld en doen of ze nergens van afweten.

Heeft het schrijversduo met dit tweede deel dan een mindere thriller geschreven. Nee, absoluut niet. Het is van een gelijkwaardig niveau, want beide heren krijgen het ook deze keer weer voor elkaar om de lezer voor zich te winnen. Dat doen ze middels een goed onderbouwd en uitgewerkt verhaal waaruit onomstotelijk valt op te maken dat ze grondig research hebben gepleegd. Voor menig lezer zullen de ogen opengaan als ze lezen dat jonge kinderen worden ingezet als huurmoordenaar, maar soms zelf ook omgebracht worden als ze niet meer nodig zijn. Schrijnend, in wezen onvoorstelbaar, maar wel waargebeurd. Deze wreedheden tonen aan dat de drugsmaffia geen enkele genade kent.

Ondanks dat Drie minuten het tweede deel van de drieluik is, is het geen enkel probleem om het los van het eerste deel te lezen, omdat de verwijzingen daarnaar erg minimaal zijn. Om toch meer over Hoffmann, maar ook over commissaris Ewert Grens, die wederom een belangrijke rol heeft, te weten te komen, is het wel verstandig om bij dat eerste deel te beginnen, maar nogmaals, een voorwaarde is dat zeker niet.

Het verhaal heeft geen voortdurende spanningsboog. Niet erg, want vanaf het begin wordt de lezer wel nieuwsgierig gemaakt. Dat gaat in feite door tot het einde van het boek. Met daartussenin diverse onverwachte plotwendingen, een flinke dosis geweld, maar ook die broodnodige spanning. Daarnaast is het de auteurs ook deze keer weer gelukt om de lezer sympathie op te laten brengen voor Hoffmann en toch ook voor de nog steeds wat nukkige Grens. Twee interessante personages die er mede voor gezorgd hebben dat Drie minuten een waardig tweede deel is van de trilogie.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Three Minutes” arrived just after I’d been in Medellín, a city that now smells more of good coffee and optimism than cordite and moral panic. That made parts of this novel oddly nostalgic, and not always in a good way. Roslund gets the coffee right. He also gets stuck reheating the same old slum-as-nightmare tropes like a leftover that should’ve been binned years ago.

Still, I’m a sucker for a global leap. Watching Nordic noir stride into Colombia is fun in itself. The brooding Scandinavian temperament survives the humidity surprisingly well. The transplant mostly takes, even if it sweats.

Piet Hoffmann remains the series’ great asset. He’s a criminal, a husband, a DEA informant and a man held together with tape and fear. Think Daniel Craig’s Bond after three bad nights’ sleep and a moral crisis. He bleeds. He panics. He’s desperate rather than heroic, which keeps him interesting long after the plot starts doing somersaults.

Technically, the pacing is ferocious. Short chapters. Multiple viewpoints. A ticking clock loud enough to rattle the windows. The book gallops. You don’t read it so much as hang on and hope it doesn’t throw you.

Then it does. About three-quarters through, credibility wanders off for a smoke and never comes back. Drug lords without guards. Easy access. Narcos-lite logistics that feel Faster & more Furious than cartel reality. As someone who’s actually walked the streets of Medellín this year, this stuff clangs hard. Real power is bureaucratic, paranoid and boring. Here it’s cinematic and obliging.

The violence is relentless and sometimes numbing. I won’t belabour it, but there’s a point where grimdark stops adding weight and just starts pressing buttons. By the end, I felt less shaken than prodded.

One smart choice is bringing Ewert Grens along for the ride. The older, knackered, permanently irritated Swedish detective dropped into Colombia is genuinely funny and grounding. His chemistry with Hoffmann gives the book a human centre, plus a bit of grumpy ballast when things threaten to go full superhero.

Geopolitically, things get silly. The inciting incident, involving senior US political figures blundering around Colombia like confused tourists, pushes the book into 1980s action-movie territory. It undercuts the serious tone the series has earned.

There’s bloat, too. Despite the breathless structure, the middle stretches. It’s a tight thriller wearing an unnecessarily long jacket, tugging at the sleeves. As a series entry, it’s competent and occasionally gripping. As a standalone, it’s an airport thriller with aspirations to something heavier. The trouble is that those two impulses never quite agree.

Two and a half stars. When it trusts character and atmosphere, it works. When it reaches for spectacle, it trips over its own boots. I’ll keep reading, but I’m hoping the next one dials back the noise and lets the intelligence breathe.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Minutes, Anders Roslund & Börge Hellström. Ewert Grens - Piet Hoffmann Trilogy #2

Anyone fascinated with the complexities and danger of international drugs cartels and those trying to bring them down will really enjoy this well written trilogy! Sequel to Three Seconds....
Piet Hoffman, is a master criminal and undercover informant who at the end of part one ran from the Swedish authorities and now lives with his wife and two young sons, under an assumed identity in Cali, Columbia. Only Hoffmann’s former handler, Erik Wilson knows that he lives and where he is and that he’s accepted dangerous jobs as a enforcer for the merciless leader, El Mestizo, of a Columbian cocaine cartel as well as an infiltrator and informer for the DEA working to bring the cartel down. When the FBI adds Hoffmann’s alias to the most wanted list just as the USA Speaker of the House is kidnapped in Columbia by the cartel, the USA, DEA handler Sue Masterson and Wilson have to join up to try and protect Hoffmann.

Meanwhile Hoffmann tries to protect his young family in a safe house and keep up his dual role as a cartel enforcer and a deniable intelligence asset for the US government. Wilson sends Grens to the USA then Columbia. Ewert Grens, is the eccentric Stockholm detective who hasn't forgotten Hoffmann since the explosive showdown in Aspsas prison years ago. Hoffmann realizes his only chance to survive is to rescue the kidnapped Speaker of the House and bring him back to the USA. While the USA attempts to eliminate all from the wanted list including him plus his boss has become suspicious......

There is no end to the criminal twists, creative drama, violence, full on action.....can well see these as films....

Film made of these first with Joel Kinnaman then another actor...

Next is Three Hours....which begins in memory of Börge Hellström.
📝. There is a series with DCI Ewert Grens....

[Quoilire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si c'est un grand dépaysement d'un point de vue géographique, autant dans la trame de l'histoire c'est quasiment identique. L'infiltré doit trouver un moyen pour sauver sa tête mise à prix. Mais la comparaison s'arrête là puisque par rapport au premier tome, les rôles sont redistribués.

Toujours autant de place aux réflexions des personnes, au positionnement du contexte, à la mise en place de la stratégie toujours aussi mystérieuse de Piet Hoffmann. Pour les amateurs de romans rythmés, quand bien même le final constitue le bouquet final, l'action est distribuée tout au long du roman rendant le livre difficile à lâcher.

Une fois encore, le livre a aussi un côté didactique. Sans lourdeur, par petites touches, nous découvrons les méthodes des cartels pour fabriquer puis transporter la drogue de l'autre côté de la planète. Je ne sais pas si la méthode de la valise (je ne vous en dis pas plus pour ne pas dévoiler la méthode), mais elle est surprenante.

Par contre, j'aurais aimé voir les défauts du premier tome gommés dans ce deuxième volet : de trop nombreuses répétitions sont présentes, et malheureusement, de nombreux rappels du premier tome sont faits. Aussi si bous décidiez de lire la série, il faudra impérativement la parcourir dans l'ordre sous peine de connaître le dénouement des tomes précédents.
(quoilire dot wordpress dot com)

[Vera VB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na 3 seconden nu 3 minuten die heel belangrijk zijn in het boek.
Hoog in de top van veiligheidsdiensten worden belangrijke beslissingen genomen die voor de persoon waarover het gaat van levensbelang zijn, maar die voor die diensten enkel dienen als opstapje naar een hogere functie omdat men daar nu eenmaal over lijken gaat voor eigenbelang.
Zo gaat het in dit boek. Piet Hoffmann is een ex-crimineel (of nog altijd een cimineel) die van Zweden naar Colombia is verhuist met gezin en kinderen. Het hele gezin heeft andere namen gekregen en Piet werkt als persoonlijk beveiliger van een belangrijke drugsbaron. Eigenlijk is hij een infiltrant van de CIA. Nadat een belangrijk congresman ontvoerd wordt door de bende van de drugsbaron, versterkt Amerika de War on Drugs en komt Piet samen met de drugbaron op een dodenlijst te staan. Vraag is hoe en of hij er nog vanaf geraakt.
Spannend want het lijkt er soms op dat Piet gedoemd is om te sterven, om nog maar te zwijgen wat er met zijn gezin kan gebeuren. Komt hij er zonder kleerscheuren vanaf en hoe gaat hij dat klaarspelen. Alleen of met hulp want is er eigenlijk nog wel iemand te vertrouwen?

[Jörgen Krüsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uppföljaren till fantastiska "Tre sekunder."

Vi får åter igen stifta bekantskap med infiltratören Hoffmann och den egensinniga polisen Ewert Grens. Den här gången har Hoffman nästlat sig längst in i en colombiansk gerilla som finansierar sin verksamhet genom drogtillverkning och försäljning. Nu är Hoffman avlönad av amerikanska DEA som på plats i Colombia försöker slå sönder droglogistiken.
Saker och ting kompliceras när Hoffman av misstag hamnar på USA:s dödslista vilket är lika med en dödsdom. Som i första boken -vem kan man lita på? Alla agerar utifrån sin agenda.
Jaha vad ska man säga? Den här håller nästan lika hög klass som första boken. Mycket tekniskt mumbo-jumbo men allt har sin plats och tyvärr även det grova våldet som inte var lika närvarande som i första boken. Drogvärldens Colombia är en brutal värld på många plan.
Slutet vet jag inte om jag gillar, beror på vad nästa bok "Tre timmar" handlar om.
Hur många fler blir det? Så länge Ewert Grens är med så kan det få fortsätta hur länge som helst.