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Evert Bäckström #1
Linda, ona koju su ubili
Usred neuobičajeno toplog ljeta u Švedskoj, mlada policijska pripravnica pronađena je ubijena. Inspektor Evart Backstrom je protiv svoje volje poslan iz Stockholma da vodi istragu.
Egoističan, tašt i pun predrasuda prema svemu i svačemu, Backstrom je čovjek bez osjećaja dužnosti i odgovornosti, čovjek koji sve druge ljude smatra potpunim neznalicama, a nježne osjećaje iskazuje samo prema svojoj zlatnoj ribici i najbližoj boci pića..
Egoističan, tašt i pun predrasuda prema svemu i svačemu, Backstrom je čovjek bez osjećaja dužnosti i odgovornosti, čovjek koji sve druge ljude smatra potpunim neznalicama, a nježne osjećaje iskazuje samo prema svojoj zlatnoj ribici i najbližoj boci pića..
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
94 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Leif G.W. Persson
30 books337 followersLeif Gustav Willy Persson - better known as Leif GW Persson - is a Swedish criminologist and novelist. He was a professor in criminology at the Swedish National Police Board from 1992 to 2008.
He is known for his crime fiction novels and for his regular appearances as an expert commentator on notable crime cases in television and newspapers. Between 1999 and 2009 he participated as an expert commentator on the television show Efterlyst (Swedish TV program, equivalent of America's Most Wanted) on TV3. Since 2010, he is the expert commentator of Veckans Brott - roughly translated into Weekly Crimes or Crimes of the Week - on SVT.
He is known for his crime fiction novels and for his regular appearances as an expert commentator on notable crime cases in television and newspapers. Between 1999 and 2009 he participated as an expert commentator on the television show Efterlyst (Swedish TV program, equivalent of America's Most Wanted) on TV3. Since 2010, he is the expert commentator of Veckans Brott - roughly translated into Weekly Crimes or Crimes of the Week - on SVT.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
December 23, 2018
”It would still have made more sense to boil the bastard down to make glue, Bäckström thought. For in spite of his many failings and shortcomings, he was still a man with a strong sense of basic justice.”
Rainn Wilson is Bäckström in the new TV series. They have placed Bäckström in Oregon instead of Sweden.
Stockholm Police Detective Evert Bäckström is assigned to lead a team to investigate the murder of a young woman. She had been going to school to be a police officer in the small town of Vaxjo. She was raped before she was murdered and there is more than enough DNA evidence to make this a slam dunk case.
The perpetrator was obviously stupid to leave so many clues for a detective like Bäckström.
Bäckström hopes that criminals will be stupid, expects ignorance from his colleagues, and finds his life to be one ongoing agony of dealing with an idiotic world. Thank goodness he does not say everything that he thinks, but he says plenty. It is a form of entertainment for him to say something crass to illicit a response. Besides the amusement value of watching someone sputtering and become indignant it also frequently gets someone to say something useful to an ongoing investigation. He needles his colleagues generally to get them to leave him alone or do what he wants done. He is a walking nightmare as a co-worker. Women in particular have to suffer through his veiled harassing allusions. If they knew what he was thinking they’d punch him in the nose.
”How can a woman with such great tits be miserable?” Is one such thought he had that I can’t shake out of my head mainly because it is so ridiculous, but also because a part of him does truly believe that women with “great tits” have the world at their feet. What could they possibly be miserable about?
When he is assigned this case he scoops up a months worth of unwashed laundry from his apartment and hauls it to the hotel with him. He turns it over to be cleaned and puts it on the bill that will be paid by the state. It never crosses his mind that he has committed fraud. He is restless one night and wants to watch porn, but realizes it will show up on HIS hotel bill so he goes into a room of a colleague who has went home for the weekend and watches it on his TV. He falls asleep and leaves the groaning and moaning going all night. His rather unconventional version of white noise. When the scandal breaks that police officers were up all night watching porn at taxpayer expense Bäckström’s boss back in Stockholm doesn’t have to investigate to know that it has to be:
Bäckström!
This is a really well done police procedural. The author Leif G. W. Persson is an expert on crime. In fact he is considered Scandinavia’s most renowned criminologist and a leading psychological profiler. He is also a Professor at the National Swedish Police Board. The attention to detail is superb though some other readers find it to be too much, bordering on tedious. I loved the nuances of an ongoing investigation.
Persson does a wonderful job developing all the characters even allowing some of them to take center stage away from Bäckström for a chapter. The book is so much more than just about the 'short, fat and primitive', as Persson describes his lead detective, but it is hard not to focus on his antics because it always feels like he is getting away with something that the rest of us would be too afraid to contemplate doing ourselves.
Anybody getting an Ignatius tingling?
I did actually feel sorry for Bäckström when he is accused of sexual harassment not because there aren’t numerous points where he probably should have been drummed out of the service for his suggestive comments to female colleagues, but because in the situation that he actually gets in trouble for he was merely a victim of his own hubris.
This 42 year old attractive reporter agrees to go out to dinner with him, not for the reasons that he thinks, but because she hopes that over a few drinks she will find out something from Bäckström about the case. He asks her up to hotel for a nightcap. She agrees.
*Sigh*
It never crosses Bäckström’s mind that she might have less than zero interest in his “sausage”. He leaves her on the couch and goes into the other room. He becomes a helter skelter of flying clothes and emerges back in the room wearing only a towel.
Now imagine Apollo.
Now imagine the exact opposite of Apollo.
He does the big reveal. She flees the room.
He is left holding...well...the towel. He is absolutely dumbfounded.
Now her eyes were harassed, no doubt. Bäckström’s sausage seems to not be the grand event that he seems to think it is, but I believe this is more of a situation where the woman will inflict the most pain by laughing and pointing and leaving rather than filing an official complaint.
Bäckström is not worried. I’m more worried for him than he is. Someway, somehow he knows it will all go away as have every other minor inconvenience he has experienced with official complaints in the past. Just as his boss back in Stockholm has dispatched two more detectives to relieve Bäckström from the case miracle of miracles the murderer is caught.
”Does Dolly Parton sleep on her stomach?”
Leif G. W. Persson knows his character isn’t for everyone.
Reviewers are split on Bäckström. There are plenty of one star ratings for this book because they found him to be TOO crass TOO non-PC which makes me wonder how these readers decided to read this book in the first place given the fact that the book touts the behaviors of Bäckström as part of it’s enticement. Some reviewers have compared this to the Stieg Larsson trilogy which I think is an incorrect correlation as this book has none of the thriller elements that made the Dragon Tattoo series so compelling. This book reminded me more of Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö or Henning Mankell...well the parts of the plot that exist around the rather bowling ball obstruction of Bäckström. If you have enjoyed the invasion of Nordic Noir and can handle the the dialogue of insensitivity running like a freight train through the mind of the lead detective you will find this a humorous, and intriguing new series to fit on your shelf with Harry Hole and Kurt Wallander.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Rainn Wilson is Bäckström in the new TV series. They have placed Bäckström in Oregon instead of Sweden.
Stockholm Police Detective Evert Bäckström is assigned to lead a team to investigate the murder of a young woman. She had been going to school to be a police officer in the small town of Vaxjo. She was raped before she was murdered and there is more than enough DNA evidence to make this a slam dunk case.
The perpetrator was obviously stupid to leave so many clues for a detective like Bäckström.
Bäckström hopes that criminals will be stupid, expects ignorance from his colleagues, and finds his life to be one ongoing agony of dealing with an idiotic world. Thank goodness he does not say everything that he thinks, but he says plenty. It is a form of entertainment for him to say something crass to illicit a response. Besides the amusement value of watching someone sputtering and become indignant it also frequently gets someone to say something useful to an ongoing investigation. He needles his colleagues generally to get them to leave him alone or do what he wants done. He is a walking nightmare as a co-worker. Women in particular have to suffer through his veiled harassing allusions. If they knew what he was thinking they’d punch him in the nose.
”How can a woman with such great tits be miserable?” Is one such thought he had that I can’t shake out of my head mainly because it is so ridiculous, but also because a part of him does truly believe that women with “great tits” have the world at their feet. What could they possibly be miserable about?
When he is assigned this case he scoops up a months worth of unwashed laundry from his apartment and hauls it to the hotel with him. He turns it over to be cleaned and puts it on the bill that will be paid by the state. It never crosses his mind that he has committed fraud. He is restless one night and wants to watch porn, but realizes it will show up on HIS hotel bill so he goes into a room of a colleague who has went home for the weekend and watches it on his TV. He falls asleep and leaves the groaning and moaning going all night. His rather unconventional version of white noise. When the scandal breaks that police officers were up all night watching porn at taxpayer expense Bäckström’s boss back in Stockholm doesn’t have to investigate to know that it has to be:
Bäckström!
This is a really well done police procedural. The author Leif G. W. Persson is an expert on crime. In fact he is considered Scandinavia’s most renowned criminologist and a leading psychological profiler. He is also a Professor at the National Swedish Police Board. The attention to detail is superb though some other readers find it to be too much, bordering on tedious. I loved the nuances of an ongoing investigation.
Persson does a wonderful job developing all the characters even allowing some of them to take center stage away from Bäckström for a chapter. The book is so much more than just about the 'short, fat and primitive', as Persson describes his lead detective, but it is hard not to focus on his antics because it always feels like he is getting away with something that the rest of us would be too afraid to contemplate doing ourselves.
Anybody getting an Ignatius tingling?
I did actually feel sorry for Bäckström when he is accused of sexual harassment not because there aren’t numerous points where he probably should have been drummed out of the service for his suggestive comments to female colleagues, but because in the situation that he actually gets in trouble for he was merely a victim of his own hubris.
This 42 year old attractive reporter agrees to go out to dinner with him, not for the reasons that he thinks, but because she hopes that over a few drinks she will find out something from Bäckström about the case. He asks her up to hotel for a nightcap. She agrees.
*Sigh*
It never crosses Bäckström’s mind that she might have less than zero interest in his “sausage”. He leaves her on the couch and goes into the other room. He becomes a helter skelter of flying clothes and emerges back in the room wearing only a towel.
Now imagine Apollo.
Now imagine the exact opposite of Apollo.
He does the big reveal. She flees the room.
He is left holding...well...the towel. He is absolutely dumbfounded.
Now her eyes were harassed, no doubt. Bäckström’s sausage seems to not be the grand event that he seems to think it is, but I believe this is more of a situation where the woman will inflict the most pain by laughing and pointing and leaving rather than filing an official complaint.
Bäckström is not worried. I’m more worried for him than he is. Someway, somehow he knows it will all go away as have every other minor inconvenience he has experienced with official complaints in the past. Just as his boss back in Stockholm has dispatched two more detectives to relieve Bäckström from the case miracle of miracles the murderer is caught.
”Does Dolly Parton sleep on her stomach?”
Leif G. W. Persson knows his character isn’t for everyone.
Reviewers are split on Bäckström. There are plenty of one star ratings for this book because they found him to be TOO crass TOO non-PC which makes me wonder how these readers decided to read this book in the first place given the fact that the book touts the behaviors of Bäckström as part of it’s enticement. Some reviewers have compared this to the Stieg Larsson trilogy which I think is an incorrect correlation as this book has none of the thriller elements that made the Dragon Tattoo series so compelling. This book reminded me more of Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö or Henning Mankell...well the parts of the plot that exist around the rather bowling ball obstruction of Bäckström. If you have enjoyed the invasion of Nordic Noir and can handle the the dialogue of insensitivity running like a freight train through the mind of the lead detective you will find this a humorous, and intriguing new series to fit on your shelf with Harry Hole and Kurt Wallander.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
May 10, 2019
The first 1/3 of the book was great, I was very excited about the story and the irony of the Police Superintendent Backstrom made me laughed. But after this first third of the book, I started thinking about giving up of it, because Backstrom drinks too much alcohol, and is too sexist and misogynist. And the other 2/3 in the book began to follow on paths that didn't concern the rape and murder of Linda, a 20-year-old student at the Police Academy. The author is very wordy and included in the text many unnecessaries parallel stories that didn't add anything to the main story. The author and editor would have to reduce this book by at least 100 pages (my Brazilian version has 429 pages). When I started reading this book, I thought it would be 4 or 5 stars, but unfortunately, in the end, I rated it as 3,5 stars.
June 7, 2015
First the 2014 "Backstrom" TV show:
"Backstrom" centers on Everett Backstrom (staring Rainn Wilson), an "overweight, offensive, irascible" detective who is engaged in a constant struggle with his "self-destructive" tendencies, and is part of a team of eccentric criminologists.
Here is what I can glean so far about what has occurred so far. CBS television bought the rights to this property to introduce it as a series in July 2012. They produced the pilot, filmed in Vancouver. Then dropped it.
20th Century Fox Television shopped it around to other networks before landing a 13-episode series order at Fox to begin showing in the fall 2014 time period.
Now The book(s):
"Linda, As in the Linda Murder" is the first in a series of books staring Everett Backstrom written by Persson and was published in Sweden in 2005 and published in the UK by Doubleday in 2013.
Book 2; "He Who Kills the Dragon" was also also published in the UK in 2013 by Doubleday and was published in Sweden in 2008.
Book 3 has so far only been published in Sweden (2013) and is titled "Den sanna historien om Pinocchios näsa" with no English translation.
Leif Gustav Willy Persson (born 12 March 1945 in Stockholm) is a Swedish criminologist and novelist. He was a professor in criminology at the Swedish National Police Board from 1992 to 2012. His first book was "The Pig Party" was published in 1978.
I emphatically liked this book. It is not your normal run of the mill crime story. Yes there is a crime committed. Yes detectives are sent to investigate this event. The magic that was performed was that this book is darkly darkly funny. How can a brutal murder be funny? When the main character is Police Inspector Evert Backstrom that’s how. First Backstrom, due to so many national crime detectives being on holiday, gets ordered to go by his boss, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Backstrom is told to choose his own team of six police to go with him and solve this case quickly.
Backstrom is overweight, some would say fat, short, and hygene is not his top priority. Backstrom does not like any of his colleagues. He sees the men as incompetent, unfocused, nincompoops, and most are probably poofs. He sees the females in terms of how likely they would be to have sex with him, as long as they are not too skinny. Yes he is a total misogynist. His ego is as large as the empire state building. Yet there is something about him you can’t help but like. Backstrom has a pet fish named Eagon who, perhaps is his only friend. He sees the opportunity of investigating this case, hundreds of miles from Stockholm, as a chance to drink copious amount, perhaps sunbathe, and get all his dirty laundry (all of which he packs) done for free at his destination.
The crime is a violent, brutal and bloody murder involving a twenty year old beautiful girl. The killer leaves copious amounts of DNA, his fingerprints, his underwear and even his shoes behind as he flees the scene.
If a comparison were to be made, The 87’th precinct novels by Ed Mcbain may be apropos as the book’s story revolves around all the investigating police both from the national crime unit and the local police.
The police procedural delves into the minutia of the crime. With the ups and downs of a police investigation. The habits of some of the characters enhances the story greatly, plus we learn about the largest strawberry grown in Scandinavia, and the migration of muskrats into Sweden.
The Swedish setting is unique as the politics and behavior of the characters are colorful and idiosyncratic. The writing is compelling. I have no clue as how this will translate into an American made for T.V. series. All I can do is hope for the best.
"Backstrom" centers on Everett Backstrom (staring Rainn Wilson), an "overweight, offensive, irascible" detective who is engaged in a constant struggle with his "self-destructive" tendencies, and is part of a team of eccentric criminologists.
Here is what I can glean so far about what has occurred so far. CBS television bought the rights to this property to introduce it as a series in July 2012. They produced the pilot, filmed in Vancouver. Then dropped it.
20th Century Fox Television shopped it around to other networks before landing a 13-episode series order at Fox to begin showing in the fall 2014 time period.
Now The book(s):
"Linda, As in the Linda Murder" is the first in a series of books staring Everett Backstrom written by Persson and was published in Sweden in 2005 and published in the UK by Doubleday in 2013.
Book 2; "He Who Kills the Dragon" was also also published in the UK in 2013 by Doubleday and was published in Sweden in 2008.
Book 3 has so far only been published in Sweden (2013) and is titled "Den sanna historien om Pinocchios näsa" with no English translation.
Leif Gustav Willy Persson (born 12 March 1945 in Stockholm) is a Swedish criminologist and novelist. He was a professor in criminology at the Swedish National Police Board from 1992 to 2012. His first book was "The Pig Party" was published in 1978.
I emphatically liked this book. It is not your normal run of the mill crime story. Yes there is a crime committed. Yes detectives are sent to investigate this event. The magic that was performed was that this book is darkly darkly funny. How can a brutal murder be funny? When the main character is Police Inspector Evert Backstrom that’s how. First Backstrom, due to so many national crime detectives being on holiday, gets ordered to go by his boss, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Backstrom is told to choose his own team of six police to go with him and solve this case quickly.
Backstrom is overweight, some would say fat, short, and hygene is not his top priority. Backstrom does not like any of his colleagues. He sees the men as incompetent, unfocused, nincompoops, and most are probably poofs. He sees the females in terms of how likely they would be to have sex with him, as long as they are not too skinny. Yes he is a total misogynist. His ego is as large as the empire state building. Yet there is something about him you can’t help but like. Backstrom has a pet fish named Eagon who, perhaps is his only friend. He sees the opportunity of investigating this case, hundreds of miles from Stockholm, as a chance to drink copious amount, perhaps sunbathe, and get all his dirty laundry (all of which he packs) done for free at his destination.
The crime is a violent, brutal and bloody murder involving a twenty year old beautiful girl. The killer leaves copious amounts of DNA, his fingerprints, his underwear and even his shoes behind as he flees the scene.
If a comparison were to be made, The 87’th precinct novels by Ed Mcbain may be apropos as the book’s story revolves around all the investigating police both from the national crime unit and the local police.
The police procedural delves into the minutia of the crime. With the ups and downs of a police investigation. The habits of some of the characters enhances the story greatly, plus we learn about the largest strawberry grown in Scandinavia, and the migration of muskrats into Sweden.
The Swedish setting is unique as the politics and behavior of the characters are colorful and idiosyncratic. The writing is compelling. I have no clue as how this will translate into an American made for T.V. series. All I can do is hope for the best.
January 10, 2016
It rarely happens that I cannot finish a book. I'm not sure if it's the translation or the author. It rambles on and on and doesn't say much. The main character has 3 things on his mind .. eating, drinking, and thinking obnoxious thoughts about women .. all women. I can certainly understand why he's in his 50s and single.
I am about half way through a 480 page book and there has been nothing of substance. So I'm going to call it quits here. I feel this is waste of my time.
My apologies to the author, and especially NetGalley who furnished a digital copy for an honest, unbiased review.
I am about half way through a 480 page book and there has been nothing of substance. So I'm going to call it quits here. I feel this is waste of my time.
My apologies to the author, and especially NetGalley who furnished a digital copy for an honest, unbiased review.
January 16, 2019
θα το αναλύσω λίγο περισσότερο, ωστόσο προς το παρόν αυτό: δεν είναι για εκείνον που ψάχνει την κλασική συνταγή του σουηδικού ή οποιουδήποτε άλλου αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος. Το setup είναι εντελώς διαφορετικό. Αν ψάχνετε κάτι προς το κλασικό αστυνομικό δε θα σας ικανοποιήσει και θα βαρεθείτε. Επίσης, η περίληψη είναι μεν σωστή, αλλά κρατάει έναν άσσο για τον τυχερό αναγνώστη, που επειδή όμως δεν τον αποκαλύπτει, σχηματίζονται λανθασμένες εντυπώσεις, ενώ το βιβλίο γι' αυτό που φιλοδοξεί να είναι, είναι καλό.
February 23, 2024
If you're looking for a classical policier, you're in the wrong place, as it can be seen for the rather large number of citizens who gave up reading this one.
But if you like a more relaxed and playful story, in the style of Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Švejk or San Antonio's pseudo policiers, that's your book. Plenty of humor(dark or not), a lot of characters, many stories in story, some quotes about life, that's not a bad book at all...
But if you like a more relaxed and playful story, in the style of Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Švejk or San Antonio's pseudo policiers, that's your book. Plenty of humor(dark or not), a lot of characters, many stories in story, some quotes about life, that's not a bad book at all...
January 23, 2018
Πριν πούμε οτιδήποτε σχετικά με τη "Λίντα" πρέπει να ξεκαθαρίσουμε κάτι. Αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι για όλους. Είναι μεν ένα βιβλίο που μπορεί να διαβαστεί από τον οποιονδήποτε, αλλά δεν μπορεί να το εκτιμήσει ο καθένας, όχι γιατί δεν έχει την ικανότητα για κάτι τέτοιο, αλλά γιατί, η ιστορία, και πολύ περισσότερο το ύφος αυτής, μπορεί να μην του ταιριάξει. Για να το εκτιμήσει κάποιος θα πρέπει να χαρακτηρίζεται από έντονο κυνισμό, να εκτιμάει βαθύτατα το μαύρο χιούμορ, αλλά και ν' αγαπάει τις ιστορίες που είναι περισσότερο ανθρωποκεντρικές, που βασίζονται πάνω στους χαρακτήρες και στην ανάπτυξη αυτών παρά στην ίδια την πλοκή.
Βρισκόμαστε στη σουηδική επαρχία όπου και εντοπίζεται η σωρός μια νεαρής εκπαιδευόμενης αστυνομικού. Η νεαρή γυναίκα έχει δολοφονηθεί άγρια, και επειδή κανένας άλλος δεν είναι διαθέσιμος ν' αναλάβει την υπόθεση, αυτή περνάει στα χέρια του αστυνόμου Μπέκστρεμ, ενός κυνικού και μισογύνη άντρα που δεν έχει κανένα άλλο ενδιαφέρον από την καλοπέρασή του, το ποτό και, δευτερευόντως, για το χρυσόψαρό του που θα έλεγε κανείς πως είναι το μοναδικό ζωντανό πλάσμα για το οποίο ενδιαφέρεται, κάπως, εκτός απ' το τομάρι του. Άραγε, θα καταφέρει ν' ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια κι αν ναι, αυτό θα συμβεί χάρη στις ικανότητές του ή επειδή η μοίρα, ή και η τύχη, θα τα φέρουν έτσι;
Ο κεντρικός μας "ήρωας", που μόνο ήρωας δεν μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί, όχι τουλάχιστον με την παραδοσιακή έννοια του όρου, ο Μπέκστρεμ, είναι ο τύπος εκείνος που πολύ πιθανόν θ' απολαύσουν οι άντρες -γιατί το να τον αγαπήσουν φαντάζει κάπως υπερβολικό-, μα και ο τύπος που οι γυναίκες θα μισήσουν. Είναι κυνικός εγωκεντρικός, όλη του η καθημερινότητα περιστρέφεται γύρω από το τι θα πιει και θα φάει, μα κυρίως, αρέσκεται στο να κάνει δηλητηριώδεις σκέψεις για τις γυναίκες. Δεν είναι καθόλου περίεργο που στα πενήντα του χρόνια είναι μόνος του και κανένα ειδύλλιο δεν διαφαίνεται στον ορίζοντα, αλλά αν όλο αυτό το εξετάσουμε από μια άλλη οπτική θα δούμε πως είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρον ως προς την προσέγγισή του. Δεν έχουμε να κάνουμε με το κλασσικό προφίλ του καλού, κατά βάθος, προβληματικού αστυνομικού, αλλά μ' έναν καθολικά προβληματικό άνθρωπο που υπηρετεί ένα επάγγελμα που θα έπρεπε να νοιάζεται για τους άλλους, την ίδια ώρα που αυτός δεν νοιάζεται για κανέναν, πράγμα που φέρνει σε μια ιδιότυπη κόντρα το εγώ με το καθήκον του.
Σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με την πλοκή, αυτή θα λέγαμε πως είναι αρκετά συμβατική, όμως ο πυρήνας της δεν βασίζεται στο να εντείνει την αγωνία μας, ούτε να μας προβληματίσει με τις πολλαπλές εναλλακτικές και τα πιθανά σενάρια που θα οδηγήσουν στη λύση ενός ακόμα εγκλήματος. Ο Persson, περισσότερο απ' οτιδήποτε άλλο, βασίζεται στα ψυχογραφήματα των κεντρικών του ηρώων, και μέσα από μικρά στοιχεία και δεδομένα, επιχειρεί να μας συστήσει τη Λίντα και τη δικιά της αλήθεια, που οδήγησε στο βίαιο τέλος της. Κατά συνέπεια, δεν μας απασχολεί τόσο το έγκλημα ως πράξη βίας, αλλά ο ανθρώπινος παράγοντας πίσω απ' αυτό, σε όλα του τα επίπεδα. Όσο για την αφήγηση, αυτή διαθέτει έναν αρκετά κινηματογραφικό ρυθμό, γεγονός που δεν μας κάνει ν' απορούμε για ποιο λόγο το βιβλίο βρήκε το δρόμο του για την μικρή οθόνη.
Αν είστε fans του Steig Larsson ή των αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων της J. K. Rowling, χωρίς να υποννοώ σε καμία περίπτωση πως η "Λίντα" αγγίζει τα επίπεδα των έργων των προαναφερόμενων συγγραφέων, τότε πολύ πιθανόν το βιβλίο αυτό να είναι μια πολύ καλή επιλογή για εσάς. Ουσιαστικά βασίζεται στην ίδια φιλοσοφία ανάπτυξης πλοκής και χαρακτήρων, απλά είναι εμποτισμένο με περισσότερο μαύρο χιούμορ και κυνισμό από τα πρώτα, φτάνοντας, πολλές φορές, στα άκρα και δοκιμάζοντας την υπομονή και την αντοχή μας. Ούσα αρκετά κυνική στην προσωπική μου ζωή, αυτά τα στοιχεία τα απόλαυσα, και σε ότι έχει να κάνει με τον σεξισμό του Μπέκστρεμ, απλά αδιαφόρησα παρά ενοχλήθηκα. Άλλωστε, υπάρχουν πολλοί, και εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέροντες, χαρακτήρες να τον πλαισιώνουν, οπότε όλη η δικιά του κακία απέναντι στον κόσμο βρίσκει μια κάποια ισορροπία.
Βρισκόμαστε στη σουηδική επαρχία όπου και εντοπίζεται η σωρός μια νεαρής εκπαιδευόμενης αστυνομικού. Η νεαρή γυναίκα έχει δολοφονηθεί άγρια, και επειδή κανένας άλλος δεν είναι διαθέσιμος ν' αναλάβει την υπόθεση, αυτή περνάει στα χέρια του αστυνόμου Μπέκστρεμ, ενός κυνικού και μισογύνη άντρα που δεν έχει κανένα άλλο ενδιαφέρον από την καλοπέρασή του, το ποτό και, δευτερευόντως, για το χρυσόψαρό του που θα έλεγε κανείς πως είναι το μοναδικό ζωντανό πλάσμα για το οποίο ενδιαφέρεται, κάπως, εκτός απ' το τομάρι του. Άραγε, θα καταφέρει ν' ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια κι αν ναι, αυτό θα συμβεί χάρη στις ικανότητές του ή επειδή η μοίρα, ή και η τύχη, θα τα φέρουν έτσι;
Ο κεντρικός μας "ήρωας", που μόνο ήρωας δεν μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί, όχι τουλάχιστον με την παραδοσιακή έννοια του όρου, ο Μπέκστρεμ, είναι ο τύπος εκείνος που πολύ πιθανόν θ' απολαύσουν οι άντρες -γιατί το να τον αγαπήσουν φαντάζει κάπως υπερβολικό-, μα και ο τύπος που οι γυναίκες θα μισήσουν. Είναι κυνικός εγωκεντρικός, όλη του η καθημερινότητα περιστρέφεται γύρω από το τι θα πιει και θα φάει, μα κυρίως, αρέσκεται στο να κάνει δηλητηριώδεις σκέψεις για τις γυναίκες. Δεν είναι καθόλου περίεργο που στα πενήντα του χρόνια είναι μόνος του και κανένα ειδύλλιο δεν διαφαίνεται στον ορίζοντα, αλλά αν όλο αυτό το εξετάσουμε από μια άλλη οπτική θα δούμε πως είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρον ως προς την προσέγγισή του. Δεν έχουμε να κάνουμε με το κλασσικό προφίλ του καλού, κατά βάθος, προβληματικού αστυνομικού, αλλά μ' έναν καθολικά προβληματικό άνθρωπο που υπηρετεί ένα επάγγελμα που θα έπρεπε να νοιάζεται για τους άλλους, την ίδια ώρα που αυτός δεν νοιάζεται για κανέναν, πράγμα που φέρνει σε μια ιδιότυπη κόντρα το εγώ με το καθήκον του.
Σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με την πλοκή, αυτή θα λέγαμε πως είναι αρκετά συμβατική, όμως ο πυρήνας της δεν βασίζεται στο να εντείνει την αγωνία μας, ούτε να μας προβληματίσει με τις πολλαπλές εναλλακτικές και τα πιθανά σενάρια που θα οδηγήσουν στη λύση ενός ακόμα εγκλήματος. Ο Persson, περισσότερο απ' οτιδήποτε άλλο, βασίζεται στα ψυχογραφήματα των κεντρικών του ηρώων, και μέσα από μικρά στοιχεία και δεδομένα, επιχειρεί να μας συστήσει τη Λίντα και τη δικιά της αλήθεια, που οδήγησε στο βίαιο τέλος της. Κατά συνέπεια, δεν μας απασχολεί τόσο το έγκλημα ως πράξη βίας, αλλά ο ανθρώπινος παράγοντας πίσω απ' αυτό, σε όλα του τα επίπεδα. Όσο για την αφήγηση, αυτή διαθέτει έναν αρκετά κινηματογραφικό ρυθμό, γεγονός που δεν μας κάνει ν' απορούμε για ποιο λόγο το βιβλίο βρήκε το δρόμο του για την μικρή οθόνη.
Αν είστε fans του Steig Larsson ή των αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων της J. K. Rowling, χωρίς να υποννοώ σε καμία περίπτωση πως η "Λίντα" αγγίζει τα επίπεδα των έργων των προαναφερόμενων συγγραφέων, τότε πολύ πιθανόν το βιβλίο αυτό να είναι μια πολύ καλή επιλογή για εσάς. Ουσιαστικά βασίζεται στην ίδια φιλοσοφία ανάπτυξης πλοκής και χαρακτήρων, απλά είναι εμποτισμένο με περισσότερο μαύρο χιούμορ και κυνισμό από τα πρώτα, φτάνοντας, πολλές φορές, στα άκρα και δοκιμάζοντας την υπομονή και την αντοχή μας. Ούσα αρκετά κυνική στην προσωπική μου ζωή, αυτά τα στοιχεία τα απόλαυσα, και σε ότι έχει να κάνει με τον σεξισμό του Μπέκστρεμ, απλά αδιαφόρησα παρά ενοχλήθηκα. Άλλωστε, υπάρχουν πολλοί, και εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέροντες, χαρακτήρες να τον πλαισιώνουν, οπότε όλη η δικιά του κακία απέναντι στον κόσμο βρίσκει μια κάποια ισορροπία.
October 13, 2019
There comes a time in a girl's life when misogyny as entertainment stops being fun and that's why books like that end up being nothing but tiresome.
The main character, the detective what's his name is purposely unlikeable. He is misogynistic, lazy, racist, bigoted, incompetent. But from what I've learnt from reading other reviews we are supposed to 'love to hate him', or even worse, think we say what other people think but are afraid to say.
I do not 'love to hate him'. I find nothing entertaining in those constant inner rants and sexist comments. Another sexist, alcoholic asshole detective who somehow manages to solve the crime despite being utterly shit.
How novel.
The only difference between the criminal (because of course the crime the murder of a young, pretty woman) and the detective is that the first one acts more decisively on his misogyny.
Other than that, this book was way too long, because the author, very much like his main character, overestimated just how interesting he was.
The main character, the detective what's his name is purposely unlikeable. He is misogynistic, lazy, racist, bigoted, incompetent. But from what I've learnt from reading other reviews we are supposed to 'love to hate him', or even worse, think we say what other people think but are afraid to say.
I do not 'love to hate him'. I find nothing entertaining in those constant inner rants and sexist comments. Another sexist, alcoholic asshole detective who somehow manages to solve the crime despite being utterly shit.
How novel.
The only difference between the criminal (because of course the crime the murder of a young, pretty woman) and the detective is that the first one acts more decisively on his misogyny.
Other than that, this book was way too long, because the author, very much like his main character, overestimated just how interesting he was.
June 17, 2017
This book will not be to everyone's tastes, but should appeal to fans of Steig Larsson (though I liked this better than The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) or J.K Rowling's latest, The Cuckoo's Calling. Maybe not quite 4 stars, but not quite 3.5 either.
Short, fat, lewd and vain, Bäckström is hilariously insufferable, which makes for entertaining reading but can occasionally grate on the nerves. It becomes pretty clear after the first few chapters that if he is the one to actually solve the murder, it will very likely be by accident. Luckily for the citizens of Växjö, Detective Superintendant Jan Lewin is much more onto it.
The book is very character focused and detail oriented in the tradition of Steig Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, or J.K. Rowling’s latest The Cuckoo’s Calling, and a large cast of varyingly odd and interesting co-workers complements the two policemen. Though it’s worth mentioning that Bäckström is very likely to seriously offend both character and reader alike, Linda, as in the Linda Murder should appeal strongly to fans of either writer.
Written by award-winning Swedish Criminologist Leif G.W. Persson in 2005, Linda, as in the Linda Murder has only recently been translated into English by Neil Smith, whose translation is faultlessly readable. That said, the book isn’t perfect, for all its good points. There are places where the plot begins to drag and the dark humour wears thin, but on the whole, Linda, as in the Linda Murder is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Full review here.
*Advanced review copy received from Random House through Nz Booklovers
Short, fat, lewd and vain, Bäckström is hilariously insufferable, which makes for entertaining reading but can occasionally grate on the nerves. It becomes pretty clear after the first few chapters that if he is the one to actually solve the murder, it will very likely be by accident. Luckily for the citizens of Växjö, Detective Superintendant Jan Lewin is much more onto it.
The book is very character focused and detail oriented in the tradition of Steig Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, or J.K. Rowling’s latest The Cuckoo’s Calling, and a large cast of varyingly odd and interesting co-workers complements the two policemen. Though it’s worth mentioning that Bäckström is very likely to seriously offend both character and reader alike, Linda, as in the Linda Murder should appeal strongly to fans of either writer.
Written by award-winning Swedish Criminologist Leif G.W. Persson in 2005, Linda, as in the Linda Murder has only recently been translated into English by Neil Smith, whose translation is faultlessly readable. That said, the book isn’t perfect, for all its good points. There are places where the plot begins to drag and the dark humour wears thin, but on the whole, Linda, as in the Linda Murder is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Full review here.
*Advanced review copy received from Random House through Nz Booklovers
January 16, 2011
It doesn't happen all that often that I stop reading a book. Most of the time, I want to know what happens and as this is a murder mystery of course also know the murderer. Only problem, the book is very slow, after 200 pages hardly a thing has happened and I hate the main charachter.
Read this book in a Dutch translation
Read this book in a Dutch translation
December 30, 2019
Öncelikle kitabın ismiyle konusunun bir alakası yok. Bunu bir aradan çıkaralım.
Ve karşınızda Detektif Baş Belası Backström. Bildiğiniz bütün pis karakterleri unutun. Detektif Backström sizi bütün pislikleriyle gıcık edecek. Bu ne biçim detektif diyeceksiniz. Sürekli iç sesini dinlediğimiz baş karakterimiz son derece tembel. Herkes hakkında argo konuşup bol bol küfür eden manyağın biri. Kadınlar hakkındaki cinsiyetçi iç sesi beni hasta etti. Çoğu zaman onu tokatlamak istedim. Belki de bu yüzden gerçekçi geldi bana. Ben Backström’ü sevdim.
Polis teşkilatından biri tecavüze uğrayıp öldürülür. Backström tembelliği bırakmadan davayı nasıl çözsem diye kıvranır. Her mesai sonrası birasını alıp keyif yapar. Mesai ücretini fazla fazla almaya çalışır.
Sonunda bulduğu katil beni tatmin etmedi. Herkesin hakkında iğrenç şeyler yazdığı bu kitap ortalamaya ulaşamamış bir polisiye. Ama ben Backström’ü sevdim.
Kitabın hakkı 2 yıldız.
Ve karşınızda Detektif Baş Belası Backström. Bildiğiniz bütün pis karakterleri unutun. Detektif Backström sizi bütün pislikleriyle gıcık edecek. Bu ne biçim detektif diyeceksiniz. Sürekli iç sesini dinlediğimiz baş karakterimiz son derece tembel. Herkes hakkında argo konuşup bol bol küfür eden manyağın biri. Kadınlar hakkındaki cinsiyetçi iç sesi beni hasta etti. Çoğu zaman onu tokatlamak istedim. Belki de bu yüzden gerçekçi geldi bana. Ben Backström’ü sevdim.
Polis teşkilatından biri tecavüze uğrayıp öldürülür. Backström tembelliği bırakmadan davayı nasıl çözsem diye kıvranır. Her mesai sonrası birasını alıp keyif yapar. Mesai ücretini fazla fazla almaya çalışır.
Sonunda bulduğu katil beni tatmin etmedi. Herkesin hakkında iğrenç şeyler yazdığı bu kitap ortalamaya ulaşamamış bir polisiye. Ama ben Backström’ü sevdim.
Kitabın hakkı 2 yıldız.
April 19, 2017
Jedva! Dobro zamišljena radnja, ali previše nepotrebnih opisa.. Očekivala sam više, mislila sam da ću ju pročitati za par dana, a odužilo se na tjedne.. Ima dijelova koje vuku na čitanje i baš kad se ufuraš postane mlako, premlako..
April 17, 2021
I enjoyed it really much best of the best
February 7, 2018
Prvi roman iz serijala o policijskom inspektoru Evertu Bäckströmu kriminalistički je roman na kakav još nisam naišla. Svi elementi koji i inače čine dobar skandinavski krimić su ovdje, ali većinom zahvaljujući spomenutom policijskom inspektoru, ovaj je roman drugačiji od drugih skandinavskih kriminalističkih književnih ostvarenja.
Evo o čemu se radi:
Mlada policijska kadetkinja Linda ubijena je u svom stanu u Växjöu tijekom jednog od možda najtoplijih švedskih ljeta ikad. Lindin slučaj nekako zapadne inspektora Bäckströma, koji nije baš presretan što ga je zapao, ali odluči iz novonastale situacije izvući najbolje (za sebe). Uz podršku dodijeljenog mu tima, Bäckström se polako probija kroz slučaj Lindina umorstva koji (barem u početku) oskudijeva ikakvim tragovima, pri tome pazeći da dodijeljeni mu novac za financiranje istrage troši baš na prave stvari (prave za Bäckströma, dakako).
Radnja ovog romana odvija se postupno, sporije no što smo navikli kod kriminalističkih romana. Nekome možda ovakva brzina odvijanja radnje neće baš odgovarati, ali za mene je ona bila dodatni plus. Kriminolog po struci, Persson je u ovaj roman unio sva svoja iskustva i znanja vezana uz istraživanje jednog kriminalističkog slučaja i to se jako dobro vidi tijekom čitanja. Zahvaljujući Perssonu, dobili smo uvid u to kako teče stvaran proces policijske istrage, kako se svaki potencijalni trag otkriva postupno i uz puno uloženog truda (ponekad i uzaludnog, koji završi u slijepoj ulici) da bi do njegovog otkrića došlo.
Govoreći o uloženom trudu i naporima da se slučaj umorstva zaključi i otkrije počinitelj, Bäckström, kao glavni lik ovog serijala, uopće nije onaj koji se tu trudi najviše. Baš suprotno. Dok Bäckströmov tim poslušno izvršava zadatke, preuzima inicijativu i općenito se trudi doći do rezultata, sam Bäckström svoje vrijeme radije troši na obilne obroke, ismijavanje kolega i brigu za to da se uvijek nađe nešto hladno za popiti.
Bäckström je vrlo neobičan izbor za glavnog lika jednog kriminalističkog serijala. Za razliku od uobičajenih detektiva kakve susrećemo u ovom žanru - genijalne, nerijetko požrtvovne, hrabre i odlučne ljude spremne da daju sve od sebe kako bi riješili slučaj - Bäckström je nešto sasvim drugo. On je primjer lijenog šefa koji pušta svoje zaposlenike da odrade sav posao, nakon čega se besramno kiti njihovim perjem i preuzima njihove zasluge. Bäckström, doduše, i jest šef, i kao takav nije baš posve loš, ali ne može se reći da je u rješavanju slučaja Lindinog umorstva imao ikakav značajan doprinos.
Također, Bäckström nije tip lika kojeg ćete zavoljeti. On je lijen, bahat, često nepristojan, snishodljivo gleda na sve oko sebe i u sebi za svakoga koga sretne ima za reći nešto pogrdno. K tome, on je šovinist, seksist, pa i rasist, iako svoje neprimjerene komentare usmjerene prema ženama i strancima zna zadržati u sebi. To, ipak, ne umanjuje činjenicu da kolegice često promatra samo kao par sisa, a poštovanja nema spram nikoga osim samoga sebe. Bäckström je doista grozan lik, ali čak i s njim kao glavnim protagonistom, ovaj serijal nije uopće grozan. Ni najmanje.
Prave zvijezde ovdje prezentiranog kriminalističkog slučaja zapravo su članovi Bäckströmovog tima. Oni su ti koji pronalaze tragove, hvataju sumnjivce, te, u konačnici, rješavaju slučaj. S Bäckströmom na čelu, s njime kao šefom, te uz način na koji je ova priča ispričana, ona djeluje vrlo realistično, te je lako moguće da upravo ovako izgledaju dani pravih policijskih istražitelja: uvijek zaposleno, uvijek istražujući i ganjajući tragove (često i uzalud), dok sve zasluge za ono što se otkrije preuzme netko drugi - neki 'šef'.
Što se tiče samog slučaja, on je zanimljiv i vrlo zagonetan, te je u većem dijelu romana teško uočiti kako bi sve moglo na kraju ispasti. Slučaj je, također, iznesen vrlo detaljno, s istragom koja se odvija korak po korak, prateći svaki trag, istražujući svaku mogućnost. Bäckström je možda grozan lik, ali njegova pojava doprinosi nekoj pomalo satiričnoj atmosferi romana, koja je u nekim trenucima čak zabavna (onako, pomalo crnohumorno zabavna).
Ukoliko tražite malo drugačiji krimić, pravu policijsku proceduralnu priču, s malo neuobičajenijim likovima, ne tražite dalje. Tu je.
Evo o čemu se radi:
Mlada policijska kadetkinja Linda ubijena je u svom stanu u Växjöu tijekom jednog od možda najtoplijih švedskih ljeta ikad. Lindin slučaj nekako zapadne inspektora Bäckströma, koji nije baš presretan što ga je zapao, ali odluči iz novonastale situacije izvući najbolje (za sebe). Uz podršku dodijeljenog mu tima, Bäckström se polako probija kroz slučaj Lindina umorstva koji (barem u početku) oskudijeva ikakvim tragovima, pri tome pazeći da dodijeljeni mu novac za financiranje istrage troši baš na prave stvari (prave za Bäckströma, dakako).
Radnja ovog romana odvija se postupno, sporije no što smo navikli kod kriminalističkih romana. Nekome možda ovakva brzina odvijanja radnje neće baš odgovarati, ali za mene je ona bila dodatni plus. Kriminolog po struci, Persson je u ovaj roman unio sva svoja iskustva i znanja vezana uz istraživanje jednog kriminalističkog slučaja i to se jako dobro vidi tijekom čitanja. Zahvaljujući Perssonu, dobili smo uvid u to kako teče stvaran proces policijske istrage, kako se svaki potencijalni trag otkriva postupno i uz puno uloženog truda (ponekad i uzaludnog, koji završi u slijepoj ulici) da bi do njegovog otkrića došlo.
Govoreći o uloženom trudu i naporima da se slučaj umorstva zaključi i otkrije počinitelj, Bäckström, kao glavni lik ovog serijala, uopće nije onaj koji se tu trudi najviše. Baš suprotno. Dok Bäckströmov tim poslušno izvršava zadatke, preuzima inicijativu i općenito se trudi doći do rezultata, sam Bäckström svoje vrijeme radije troši na obilne obroke, ismijavanje kolega i brigu za to da se uvijek nađe nešto hladno za popiti.
Bäckström je vrlo neobičan izbor za glavnog lika jednog kriminalističkog serijala. Za razliku od uobičajenih detektiva kakve susrećemo u ovom žanru - genijalne, nerijetko požrtvovne, hrabre i odlučne ljude spremne da daju sve od sebe kako bi riješili slučaj - Bäckström je nešto sasvim drugo. On je primjer lijenog šefa koji pušta svoje zaposlenike da odrade sav posao, nakon čega se besramno kiti njihovim perjem i preuzima njihove zasluge. Bäckström, doduše, i jest šef, i kao takav nije baš posve loš, ali ne može se reći da je u rješavanju slučaja Lindinog umorstva imao ikakav značajan doprinos.
Također, Bäckström nije tip lika kojeg ćete zavoljeti. On je lijen, bahat, često nepristojan, snishodljivo gleda na sve oko sebe i u sebi za svakoga koga sretne ima za reći nešto pogrdno. K tome, on je šovinist, seksist, pa i rasist, iako svoje neprimjerene komentare usmjerene prema ženama i strancima zna zadržati u sebi. To, ipak, ne umanjuje činjenicu da kolegice često promatra samo kao par sisa, a poštovanja nema spram nikoga osim samoga sebe. Bäckström je doista grozan lik, ali čak i s njim kao glavnim protagonistom, ovaj serijal nije uopće grozan. Ni najmanje.
Prave zvijezde ovdje prezentiranog kriminalističkog slučaja zapravo su članovi Bäckströmovog tima. Oni su ti koji pronalaze tragove, hvataju sumnjivce, te, u konačnici, rješavaju slučaj. S Bäckströmom na čelu, s njime kao šefom, te uz način na koji je ova priča ispričana, ona djeluje vrlo realistično, te je lako moguće da upravo ovako izgledaju dani pravih policijskih istražitelja: uvijek zaposleno, uvijek istražujući i ganjajući tragove (često i uzalud), dok sve zasluge za ono što se otkrije preuzme netko drugi - neki 'šef'.
Što se tiče samog slučaja, on je zanimljiv i vrlo zagonetan, te je u većem dijelu romana teško uočiti kako bi sve moglo na kraju ispasti. Slučaj je, također, iznesen vrlo detaljno, s istragom koja se odvija korak po korak, prateći svaki trag, istražujući svaku mogućnost. Bäckström je možda grozan lik, ali njegova pojava doprinosi nekoj pomalo satiričnoj atmosferi romana, koja je u nekim trenucima čak zabavna (onako, pomalo crnohumorno zabavna).
Ukoliko tražite malo drugačiji krimić, pravu policijsku proceduralnu priču, s malo neuobičajenijim likovima, ne tražite dalje. Tu je.
March 5, 2022
There is nothing as satisfying as a Swedish noir on a cold winter’s night. I had hoped that Leif G.W. Persson’s first installment of his Evert Backstrom series, LINDA, AS IN THE LINDA MURDERS would meet that need. After reading one of Persson’s earlier works and being quite satisfied, the current instance produced nothing but disappointment. Persson, the winner of numerous crime writer’s awards begins the novel with a phone call to the Vaxjo Police Authority located in southern Sweden which would lead to a flat in town that contained a scene reflecting the rape and beating of a female victim. Immediately it became obvious that a murder had taken place and that the victim was Linda Wallin, a soon to be twenty-one year old who was due to start her third term of the police course in Vaxjo.
At issue was the fact that Wallin had been involved with another police trainee, Erik Roland Lofgren. Since Lofgren was black, the racist element in Vaxjo enjoyed writing nasty editorials in the newspapers. His race also figured in DNA testing when the perpetrator’s analysis pointed to a non-Nordic type. The question was who then was responsible for the murder?
Persson does a reasonable job developing his story line – but he draws out his work to the point that the reader can become confused by what is presented. The local police force is supplemented by members of the National Crime Force sent from Stockholm in the persons of Detective Superintendent Evert Backstrom and his investigative unit. Persson describes Backstrom as “short, fat, primitive, but when necessary he could be both sly and slow to forget things. He regarded himself as a wise man in the prime of life, an unfettered free spirit who preferred the quiet life of the city, and since a number of sufficient appetizing scantily clad ladies seemed to share the same view, he had no reason at all for complaint.”
Persson uses Backstrom as a vehicle to express his opinions about police work, journalism, and society in general. If one could imagine a cartoon character with the bubble above his head rendering expressive thoughts to himself then you have our protagonist. Backstrom’s thoughts and commentary are racist, anti-gay, and misogynistic. Despite his negative personality traits, he is an excellent investigator despite what some would describe as an unorthodox approach to crime solving.
The use of Backstrom as the lead character detracts from Persson’s writing and plot development. It is clear he is not the warm fuzzy type, but he drives his unit to solve the murder which is negatively affected by his colleague’s low opinion of him as a person. The only member of his team that he can stand to be with who he might call a friend is Deputy Inspector Jan Rogersson, an old colleague from the violent crimes division in Stockholm. Detectives like Erik Knutsson and Peter Theron are too often the victims of his nasty commentary. Other characters who play significant roles are Lilian Olsson a psychoanalyst attached to the Vaxjo Police Department, a woman Backstrom despises; Detective Superintendent Jan Lewin who is an excellent investigator; his civilian assistant Eva Svanstrom; Lars Martin Johansson, head of Operational Security who despised Backstrom; Detective Superintendent Bengt Olsson in charge of the investigation; Bengt Karlsson, a former abuser who now was a member of the Växjö Men Against Violence to Women Committee; Bengt Olsson, another Deputy Superintendent; and Bengt Mansson believed to be the killer. This leads to repeated comments that there are too many Bengt’s involved in the story by other characters!
Persson’s novel, is in part an ode to good old fashioned police work. Backstrom’s commentary about computers and other technology employed in scientific police work is not useful nor is his repeated need to drink beer. It seems that in every scene he longs for a “lager” and can’t seem to get along without one. Backstrom’s remarks about “poofs,” dykes, tits, queers etc. gets old after a while. If they had been used sparingly perhaps it would be acceptable, but it is a constant barrage. If you like this type of character then Persson has created the perfect one. It is a shame because Backstrom as a character has potential because of his quick wit and policing skills and had Persson employed him differently it would have made for a better story.
Perhaps the best part of the book involves the post-investigative dive into the murderer’s background and the events leading to the crime. The questioning of the accused by Anna Holt of the National Crime Unit of the victim is incisive and brilliant as she led the murderer down a path that reinforced his guilt even though he refused to accept that he had perpetrated the crime. Persson’s focus on cognitive interviewing is important to the structure of the culminating investigation and provide important insights into how police solve crimes gaining the cooperation of the accused.
Persson does make a number of important points concerning police work and investigative journalism throughout the novel. First, his description of the dysfunctional relationship between National and local police cooperation or “hillbilly cops” and “city police” only hurts the investigative process. Second, the tabloid approach by the press only hinders investigations, hurts the victim’s family, and makes police work that much more difficult.
As to whether I will read another of Persson’s novels – the jury is still out. Perhaps I will give him another chance, but if I do I hope Mr. Backstrom’s character has undergone a great deal of therapy. At the outset I had hoped for a novel on par with Henning Mankell, but the one I read does not measure up to the late Swedish mystery writer’s work.
At issue was the fact that Wallin had been involved with another police trainee, Erik Roland Lofgren. Since Lofgren was black, the racist element in Vaxjo enjoyed writing nasty editorials in the newspapers. His race also figured in DNA testing when the perpetrator’s analysis pointed to a non-Nordic type. The question was who then was responsible for the murder?
Persson does a reasonable job developing his story line – but he draws out his work to the point that the reader can become confused by what is presented. The local police force is supplemented by members of the National Crime Force sent from Stockholm in the persons of Detective Superintendent Evert Backstrom and his investigative unit. Persson describes Backstrom as “short, fat, primitive, but when necessary he could be both sly and slow to forget things. He regarded himself as a wise man in the prime of life, an unfettered free spirit who preferred the quiet life of the city, and since a number of sufficient appetizing scantily clad ladies seemed to share the same view, he had no reason at all for complaint.”
Persson uses Backstrom as a vehicle to express his opinions about police work, journalism, and society in general. If one could imagine a cartoon character with the bubble above his head rendering expressive thoughts to himself then you have our protagonist. Backstrom’s thoughts and commentary are racist, anti-gay, and misogynistic. Despite his negative personality traits, he is an excellent investigator despite what some would describe as an unorthodox approach to crime solving.
The use of Backstrom as the lead character detracts from Persson’s writing and plot development. It is clear he is not the warm fuzzy type, but he drives his unit to solve the murder which is negatively affected by his colleague’s low opinion of him as a person. The only member of his team that he can stand to be with who he might call a friend is Deputy Inspector Jan Rogersson, an old colleague from the violent crimes division in Stockholm. Detectives like Erik Knutsson and Peter Theron are too often the victims of his nasty commentary. Other characters who play significant roles are Lilian Olsson a psychoanalyst attached to the Vaxjo Police Department, a woman Backstrom despises; Detective Superintendent Jan Lewin who is an excellent investigator; his civilian assistant Eva Svanstrom; Lars Martin Johansson, head of Operational Security who despised Backstrom; Detective Superintendent Bengt Olsson in charge of the investigation; Bengt Karlsson, a former abuser who now was a member of the Växjö Men Against Violence to Women Committee; Bengt Olsson, another Deputy Superintendent; and Bengt Mansson believed to be the killer. This leads to repeated comments that there are too many Bengt’s involved in the story by other characters!
Persson’s novel, is in part an ode to good old fashioned police work. Backstrom’s commentary about computers and other technology employed in scientific police work is not useful nor is his repeated need to drink beer. It seems that in every scene he longs for a “lager” and can’t seem to get along without one. Backstrom’s remarks about “poofs,” dykes, tits, queers etc. gets old after a while. If they had been used sparingly perhaps it would be acceptable, but it is a constant barrage. If you like this type of character then Persson has created the perfect one. It is a shame because Backstrom as a character has potential because of his quick wit and policing skills and had Persson employed him differently it would have made for a better story.
Perhaps the best part of the book involves the post-investigative dive into the murderer’s background and the events leading to the crime. The questioning of the accused by Anna Holt of the National Crime Unit of the victim is incisive and brilliant as she led the murderer down a path that reinforced his guilt even though he refused to accept that he had perpetrated the crime. Persson’s focus on cognitive interviewing is important to the structure of the culminating investigation and provide important insights into how police solve crimes gaining the cooperation of the accused.
Persson does make a number of important points concerning police work and investigative journalism throughout the novel. First, his description of the dysfunctional relationship between National and local police cooperation or “hillbilly cops” and “city police” only hurts the investigative process. Second, the tabloid approach by the press only hinders investigations, hurts the victim’s family, and makes police work that much more difficult.
As to whether I will read another of Persson’s novels – the jury is still out. Perhaps I will give him another chance, but if I do I hope Mr. Backstrom’s character has undergone a great deal of therapy. At the outset I had hoped for a novel on par with Henning Mankell, but the one I read does not measure up to the late Swedish mystery writer’s work.
April 28, 2021
Kitabı almadan önceki yorumlarda dedektif karakteriyle ilgili pek çok olumsuz şey okumuştum, okuduklarım az bile kalmış. Irkçı, yaş ayrımcısı, seksist, tembel, yüzeysel, çıkarcı kısacası berbat bir kişilik kendisi ama bu durum kitabı okuma keyfini hiç de kaçırmıyor. Yazarın okuduğum ilk kitabı ve oldukça beğendim. Karakterin bu özellikleri güzelleme ya da olumlama şeklinde verilmemiş. Aksine yazarın da kendi dedektifinden pek de hoşlanmadığı hissi uyandı bende. Takip etmeye değer bir seri.
October 3, 2015
Pročitao sam LINDU G.V. Pešona, prvi roman o Bekstremu, njegovom signature dtektivu koji je potom dobio i nažalost kratkotrajnu televizijsku seriju. Bekstrema sam prvi put gledao naravno u američkoj seriji, potom u vedskoj seriji nastaloj po serijalu Pešonovoh elrojevskih romana o ubistvu Ulofa Palmea gde ima epizodnu ulogu, i konačno sada u prvom romanu iz njegovog serijala.
Bekstrem je u osnovi Falstaf savremenog švedskog krimića, dionizijska figura spadala, neradnika i smetala kroz kog Pešon želi da kanališe sve frustracije i čitalaca i napravi kopču u identifikaciji. U tom pogledu, Bekstrem je inovativna postavka jer donosi jedan potpuno nov sistem identifikacije čitaoca sa policajcem. Naime, Bekstrem nije tipični sposobni policajac autsajder. On je policajac autsajder koji je u konfliktu sa hijerarhijom iako esencijalno nije u pravu. Ipak, kao takav on i dalje ostaje nosilac osobina sa kojima se čitalac identifikuje, pa i u ovom romanu, iako on zapravo nema nikakvu značajniju funkciju za sam zaplet, on ostaje osnovna kopča čitaoca sa pričom.
U uobičajenim okolnostima, naravno, postojao bi američki princip u kome je detektiv autsajder najsposobniji i jednim delom ulazi u konflikt sa starešinama baš zbog svoje esencijalne superiornosti u odnosu na fundamente, da ne kažem supstancu policijskog rada, odnosno ono što je “u njemu važno” po mišljenju široke publike a to je kažnjavanje “zlikovaca” i osvarivanje subjektivnog osećaja pravde, sa zanemarivanjem procedure.
Pešon dakle donosi novinu, u entropiji policijskog rada, imamo junaka koji je prototip amričkog policajca otpadnika, sa novom osobinom - nije sposoban policajac, čak naprotiv.
Pešonov lik je u određenom smislu mutirao u svoje tri inkarnacije, dakle krenuo je iz epizodnog lika u hronici hladnoratovske Švedske u kojoj se volja velikih sila i klanovi naci-policajaca prelamaju na štokholmskim ulicama, potom je dobio svoju glavnu ulogu u romanu u istrazi u kojoj on ima sporednu ulogu - dovodeći do razdvajanja osnovnog slućaja - zapleta od detektiva, a to je zanimljiva formalna inovacija; i konačno Bekstrem dobija svoju američku televizjsku seriju, komični krimić u kome on jeste politički nekorektna lenčuga ali kada ga slučaj “uzme pod svoje” ispostavlja se kao kriminološki genije i vođa efikasnog tima.
Dakle, mogli bismo reći da je unutar ove transformacije Bekstrem komodifikovan, krenuo je od epizodiste u romanu koji fikcionalizuje istoriju, potom je na atipičan način ubačen u sopstveni serijal sa idejom da se od njega napravi nova senzacija Scandi Noira u čemu se delimično uspelo, da bi na kraju u američkoj seriji bio uključen u prilično tvrdu konvenciju te vrste programa.
Sama LINDA je neobičan roman u kome kako već rekoh glavni junak nije ključni detektiv za rešavanje slučaja, tako da se postepeno interesovanje čitaoca na nivou zapleta razdvaja od interesovanja na nivou lika i rezultira romanom koji je strukturalno krajnje dekomponovan.
Jednim delom, Pešonov rukopis je vrlo mek u pogledu karakterizacije, sa dosta blagim opisima istrage, bez mnogo žestine, ali je sam proceduralni deo dosta detaljno iznet. Posebnu specifičnost donosi i izlaganje policijske istrage koja je usledila posle identifikovanja i privođenja počinioca gde se krimići obično ako ne završavaju a ono privode kraju. Rezultat je roman koji svojom neobičnom strukturom ipak ne uspeva da nadoknadi utisak da je mnogo obimniji nego što sadžaj iziskuje i što je najvažnije opravdava.
Srećom, Pešonov stil je pitak i roman se brzo čita ali nema nikakve sumnje da je brzina čitanja srazmerna i niskoj kaloričnosti onoga što na tim stranicama piše.
Bekstrem je u osnovi Falstaf savremenog švedskog krimića, dionizijska figura spadala, neradnika i smetala kroz kog Pešon želi da kanališe sve frustracije i čitalaca i napravi kopču u identifikaciji. U tom pogledu, Bekstrem je inovativna postavka jer donosi jedan potpuno nov sistem identifikacije čitaoca sa policajcem. Naime, Bekstrem nije tipični sposobni policajac autsajder. On je policajac autsajder koji je u konfliktu sa hijerarhijom iako esencijalno nije u pravu. Ipak, kao takav on i dalje ostaje nosilac osobina sa kojima se čitalac identifikuje, pa i u ovom romanu, iako on zapravo nema nikakvu značajniju funkciju za sam zaplet, on ostaje osnovna kopča čitaoca sa pričom.
U uobičajenim okolnostima, naravno, postojao bi američki princip u kome je detektiv autsajder najsposobniji i jednim delom ulazi u konflikt sa starešinama baš zbog svoje esencijalne superiornosti u odnosu na fundamente, da ne kažem supstancu policijskog rada, odnosno ono što je “u njemu važno” po mišljenju široke publike a to je kažnjavanje “zlikovaca” i osvarivanje subjektivnog osećaja pravde, sa zanemarivanjem procedure.
Pešon dakle donosi novinu, u entropiji policijskog rada, imamo junaka koji je prototip amričkog policajca otpadnika, sa novom osobinom - nije sposoban policajac, čak naprotiv.
Pešonov lik je u određenom smislu mutirao u svoje tri inkarnacije, dakle krenuo je iz epizodnog lika u hronici hladnoratovske Švedske u kojoj se volja velikih sila i klanovi naci-policajaca prelamaju na štokholmskim ulicama, potom je dobio svoju glavnu ulogu u romanu u istrazi u kojoj on ima sporednu ulogu - dovodeći do razdvajanja osnovnog slućaja - zapleta od detektiva, a to je zanimljiva formalna inovacija; i konačno Bekstrem dobija svoju američku televizjsku seriju, komični krimić u kome on jeste politički nekorektna lenčuga ali kada ga slučaj “uzme pod svoje” ispostavlja se kao kriminološki genije i vođa efikasnog tima.
Dakle, mogli bismo reći da je unutar ove transformacije Bekstrem komodifikovan, krenuo je od epizodiste u romanu koji fikcionalizuje istoriju, potom je na atipičan način ubačen u sopstveni serijal sa idejom da se od njega napravi nova senzacija Scandi Noira u čemu se delimično uspelo, da bi na kraju u američkoj seriji bio uključen u prilično tvrdu konvenciju te vrste programa.
Sama LINDA je neobičan roman u kome kako već rekoh glavni junak nije ključni detektiv za rešavanje slučaja, tako da se postepeno interesovanje čitaoca na nivou zapleta razdvaja od interesovanja na nivou lika i rezultira romanom koji je strukturalno krajnje dekomponovan.
Jednim delom, Pešonov rukopis je vrlo mek u pogledu karakterizacije, sa dosta blagim opisima istrage, bez mnogo žestine, ali je sam proceduralni deo dosta detaljno iznet. Posebnu specifičnost donosi i izlaganje policijske istrage koja je usledila posle identifikovanja i privođenja počinioca gde se krimići obično ako ne završavaju a ono privode kraju. Rezultat je roman koji svojom neobičnom strukturom ipak ne uspeva da nadoknadi utisak da je mnogo obimniji nego što sadžaj iziskuje i što je najvažnije opravdava.
Srećom, Pešonov stil je pitak i roman se brzo čita ali nema nikakve sumnje da je brzina čitanja srazmerna i niskoj kaloričnosti onoga što na tim stranicama piše.
August 16, 2014
Reading is supposed to be fun, an easy way to distance oneself from our trivial daily lives and small problems. However, what happens when the escape becomes hard work instead of an amusing hour?
There is only one word to describe this book: Tedious. Would have only given it half a star but couldn't figure out how. As a police procedural it is a remarkably over-detailed smorsgabord of every burp, hiccup and triplicate form the far too many characters experience or deal with in a given day. The reader never learns too much about the victim even though the author is some kind of profiler as a day job. The victim is just a body and personally I couldn't care anything about her. I did care that the author is a total misognyst and his male characters sexist in the extreme.
This is dullest book I have ever tried to read for Saturday Slaughters and I cannot recommend it to anyone. I tried to speedread it but it was too dry I kept falling asleep. I do admit to skipping most of the middle and jumping right to the end after the first 129 pages.
I've done the hard work, don't read it. I hope it was better in the original Swedish than it was in the English translation. Horrible. Someone tell the author to get a new hobby, writing doesn't suit him.
There is only one word to describe this book: Tedious. Would have only given it half a star but couldn't figure out how. As a police procedural it is a remarkably over-detailed smorsgabord of every burp, hiccup and triplicate form the far too many characters experience or deal with in a given day. The reader never learns too much about the victim even though the author is some kind of profiler as a day job. The victim is just a body and personally I couldn't care anything about her. I did care that the author is a total misognyst and his male characters sexist in the extreme.
This is dullest book I have ever tried to read for Saturday Slaughters and I cannot recommend it to anyone. I tried to speedread it but it was too dry I kept falling asleep. I do admit to skipping most of the middle and jumping right to the end after the first 129 pages.
I've done the hard work, don't read it. I hope it was better in the original Swedish than it was in the English translation. Horrible. Someone tell the author to get a new hobby, writing doesn't suit him.
November 11, 2013
This is the 1st in a new series by Leif Persson. Or rather it is an offshoot of the Fall of the welfare state series, in that Evert Backstrom, a minor character from those books becomes the protagonist, and major characters (Lars Martin Johansson, Holt, and Mattei) become minor ones in Linda. Backstrom is familiar as an egotistical detective who has risen to superintendent due to being promoted as a way of getting rid of him from numerous teams. He is widely seen as lazy, devious, racist and misogynistic. Despite this, he manages to have key insights while detecting that show some skill as a detective while following his own path. I found it hard not to root for Backstrom, wanting him to succeed. Unlike the Fall of the welfare state series, Linda is easy to read, and very funny, although the message about Sweden's appalling rate of female murders is sobering. Even readers who found the Fall series bewildering should enjoy this one.
June 6, 2014
Disappointing. It won a major Scandinavian prize so I was excited to find a new author. But the main character is a misogynistic asshole. I know it is deliberate, supposedly adding humour to the book but it comes across as dated and forced.
January 28, 2018
A meticulous Scandi crime police procedural, one told with wit and intelligence and no small measure of on-the-job experience.
When a young woman is murdered during an unusual heatwave in a Swedish summer, all the competent cops are sensibly on holiday. The flaky chief of police despatches one of the National Crime Squad’s least effective detectives to head up the task force assisting the rural police.
Backstrom is a brilliant creation. Lazy, bigoted, boozy and not beyond fiddling his expenses, he’s supposed to be safely stashed away reviewing cold cases. Instead his mismanagement of the investigation forms the backbone of the story, as his team and the locals follow the inevitable dead ends, dubious suspects and dodgy information.
Throughout it all, Backstrom slyly sidesteps any real work, misleads his superiors, schmoozes psychologists, rubbishes his colleagues and denigrates female officers. Yet he’s far from stupid and isn’t always entirely wrong. Backstrom is one of those irritating creations who you love to hate but who frequently says what everyone in the room is thinking but dare not voice aloud.
Persson has crafted a resolutely solid murder mystery, in which the loose threads of the victim’s life – and the activities of those around her – knit together to reveal the killer. Persson avoids most literary contrivances and instead concentrates on the nitty gritty of the investigation. Forensics, witness statements, interviews and background; all are considered by the true detective of the story. He has his own story, too, and his haunted memories of summer biking rides with his father are particularly poignant.
As with Persson’s other books the activity in the margins is almost as important as the story itself. Some readers won’t enjoy the meandering narrative or the ambling pace. This isn’t a thriller nor is it particularly noir. It is hugely rewarding and entertaining; an ideal place to start if you’re new to the author and have a few days to dedicate to some excellent prose.
8/10
There are stacks more reviews of crime-thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
When a young woman is murdered during an unusual heatwave in a Swedish summer, all the competent cops are sensibly on holiday. The flaky chief of police despatches one of the National Crime Squad’s least effective detectives to head up the task force assisting the rural police.
Backstrom is a brilliant creation. Lazy, bigoted, boozy and not beyond fiddling his expenses, he’s supposed to be safely stashed away reviewing cold cases. Instead his mismanagement of the investigation forms the backbone of the story, as his team and the locals follow the inevitable dead ends, dubious suspects and dodgy information.
Throughout it all, Backstrom slyly sidesteps any real work, misleads his superiors, schmoozes psychologists, rubbishes his colleagues and denigrates female officers. Yet he’s far from stupid and isn’t always entirely wrong. Backstrom is one of those irritating creations who you love to hate but who frequently says what everyone in the room is thinking but dare not voice aloud.
Persson has crafted a resolutely solid murder mystery, in which the loose threads of the victim’s life – and the activities of those around her – knit together to reveal the killer. Persson avoids most literary contrivances and instead concentrates on the nitty gritty of the investigation. Forensics, witness statements, interviews and background; all are considered by the true detective of the story. He has his own story, too, and his haunted memories of summer biking rides with his father are particularly poignant.
As with Persson’s other books the activity in the margins is almost as important as the story itself. Some readers won’t enjoy the meandering narrative or the ambling pace. This isn’t a thriller nor is it particularly noir. It is hugely rewarding and entertaining; an ideal place to start if you’re new to the author and have a few days to dedicate to some excellent prose.
8/10
There are stacks more reviews of crime-thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
December 4, 2024
The First book I have read by Leif Persson. Detective Backstrom is quite a character. I will read more in this collection of Euro Crime. This Scandinavian author has it goin' on. Enjoy!
October 25, 2022
Prima parte a unei trilogii atipice, în care totul se învârte în jurul personajului central, inspectorul Evert Bäckström, ce este departe de a reprezenta un model pentru cineva. Literatura polițistă de calitate nu a propus decât foarte rar exemple de polițiști al căror comportament să fie ireproșabil, însă Evert Bäckström reușește să depășească multe granițe: este misogin, extrem de egoist și chiar meschin, fiind posesorul unei gândiri destul de rudimentare și nici nu excelează în ceea ce privește investigația polițistă, a cărei rezolvare o privește ca fiind mai degrabă de apanajul tehnologiei, a testării ADN-ului. Însă, în ciuda năravurilor sale, totuși el reușește într-un mod destul de ciudat să câștige simpatia cititorului, chiar dacă acest lucru nu este valabil odată pentru totdeauna.
Intriga romanului nu este deosebit de complexă, punctul de plecare fiind reprezentat de uciderea studentei de douăzeci de ani, Linda Wallin. Linda urma să devină polițistă, iar acest fapt, așa cum era de așteptat, suscită un interes enorm în jurul cazului. Însă, Evert Bäckström, nu dă semne că se grăbește foarte tare, mizând pe faptul că identificarea criminalului nu va fi dificilă, deoarece există probe biologice ale acestuia la locul crimei. Dar așteptările inspectorului nu vor corespunde întru totul realității. Lectură plăcută!
Intriga romanului nu este deosebit de complexă, punctul de plecare fiind reprezentat de uciderea studentei de douăzeci de ani, Linda Wallin. Linda urma să devină polițistă, iar acest fapt, așa cum era de așteptat, suscită un interes enorm în jurul cazului. Însă, Evert Bäckström, nu dă semne că se grăbește foarte tare, mizând pe faptul că identificarea criminalului nu va fi dificilă, deoarece există probe biologice ale acestuia la locul crimei. Dar așteptările inspectorului nu vor corespunde întru totul realității. Lectură plăcută!
August 17, 2015
O enredo? O que prometia ser emocionante tornou-se bastante maçador ao fim de poucas páginas, a acção é bastante lenta e pouco cativante.
As personagens? Eu bem tentei gostar do inspector Backstrom mas faltou-lhe algo que capturasse a minha atenção, a ideia de um inspector à moda antiga era encantadora mas tornou-se monótona, no pouco que li apenas mostrou gostar da bebida, de seduzir mulheres e com muito pouco interesse na resolução do crime.
A escrita? Considerei como falhadas as tentativas de humor e a ironia presentes no decorrer da leitura e uma escrita deveras entediante fazendo com que a leitura fosse bastante lenta.
Conclusão? Mais um livro sueco que me deixou insatisfeita. Como leitora esporádica destes género de leitura, achei este livro aborrecido e por isso desisti de o ler na página 112.
As personagens? Eu bem tentei gostar do inspector Backstrom mas faltou-lhe algo que capturasse a minha atenção, a ideia de um inspector à moda antiga era encantadora mas tornou-se monótona, no pouco que li apenas mostrou gostar da bebida, de seduzir mulheres e com muito pouco interesse na resolução do crime.
A escrita? Considerei como falhadas as tentativas de humor e a ironia presentes no decorrer da leitura e uma escrita deveras entediante fazendo com que a leitura fosse bastante lenta.
Conclusão? Mais um livro sueco que me deixou insatisfeita. Como leitora esporádica destes género de leitura, achei este livro aborrecido e por isso desisti de o ler na página 112.
July 26, 2021
Ο Σουηδός αστυνομικός Έβερτ Μπέκστρεμ αποστέλλεται στο Βεκσέ με μια πενταμελή ομάδα που ο ίδιος επέλεξε να εξιχνιάσει έναν "εύκολο" φόνο μιας 20χρονης εκπαιδευόμενης αστυνομικού, της Λίντας Βάλλιν. Τι το ιδαίτερο έχει αυτή η ιστορία όπως μας την προβάλει ο συγγραφέας; Ο κεντρικός ήρωας δεν είναι παρά ένας απόπατος με νοοτροπία δημοσιουπαλληλίσκου που μια μας προκαλεί αηδία, μια γέλιο, μια οίκτο. Τα προσόντα και οι ικανότητες της ομάδας αναδεικνύονται με τρόπο που όλοι οι άλλοι συγγραφείς θα τα απέδιδαν στον "κεντρικό" ήρωα. Η λύση του φόνου θα γίνει σχεδόν δυο μήνες μετά προσθέτοντας στα μισά του βιβλίου ακόμα και προς το τέλος νέα πρόσωπα στο ανακριτικό στρατόπεδο. Ακολουθούν άλλες τρεις "περιπέτειες" Μπέκστρεμ που θα τις διάβαζα από καθαρή περιέργεια.
November 18, 2010
non so perchè continuo a leggere mattoni di 600 pagine di letteratura gialla svedese. Dopo l'opera omnia di Mankell e di Nesser, ora questo qua. L'unica cosa che i giallisti svedesi mi hanno insegnato, o che almeno ricordo, dopo migliaia di pagine è che gli svedesi tra loro si danno del tu. Forse esiste un modo più comodo ed economico per scoprirlo. Alla fine, comunque, il bello è che questi gialli mi piacciono pure. Tra qualche altro migliaio di pagine forse scopro il perchè.
March 8, 2016
Makes the police sound like a bunch of morons fumbling around in the dark. Ok, perhaps a few exceptions, but the main character basically spends his time drinking, thinking about drinking, and thinking obnoxious thoughts about women and about other police.
Also, absolutely nothing happens in terms of solving the murder in the first 400 pages or so. And that's an awful lot of rambling in order to advance the story.
Also, absolutely nothing happens in terms of solving the murder in the first 400 pages or so. And that's an awful lot of rambling in order to advance the story.
March 11, 2016
I love Swedish authors and this one can now be included in my list. It's a murder mystery and each character is so well-developed, I can almost visualize them. Backstrom is one of the main detectives and is good at his job, loves beer and seems a bit sexist.
February 28, 2016
Cheguei á conclusão que este homicidio não ficou deslindado... mas pode ser só o meu mau feitio...
October 18, 2018
Не знам дали някой "детектив" ми е бил по-антипатичен от този Бекстрьом... Себастиан Бергман, от книгите на Юрт и Русенфелт ми е доста противен,но пък той не е пряко разследващ,така че може би му е простено... Но този тук... хем ми беше смешен,хем ужасно ме дразнеше безразличието му и пълна незаинтересованост на онова,което уж вършеше... Трябваше да преброя колко бирички изпи,докато симулираше разследване... Ларш Першон определено пише много добре, осмивайки мудността и мързела на част от шведската полиция... не знам дали образа на Бекстрьом се подобрява натам в поредицата. Не съм гледала и сериала,но ми се струва,че там не е представен точно такъв. Ще хвърля едно око натам и на другите две книжки.
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