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L'incidente svedese
Dan Hendricks è un ex agente della CIA, ora al soldo di varie agenzie straniere. Dà la caccia a pericolosi latitanti, li cattura, li consegna e si intasca il compenso. Non fa mai troppe domande e la sua migliore referenza è l’abilità con cui porta a termine ogni incarico. Quello di Dan è un lavoro delicato, dove si rischia la vita e dove può accadere che diverse persone possano volerti morto.
La nuova missione di Dan inizia nel profondo Nord della Svezia dove accetta di recarsi per indagare su un misterioso incidente stradale: un autobus ribaltato, diversi passeggeri morti, tra cui un certo Jacques Fillon, che in un gesto eroico ha deciso di dare la propria vita per salvare un’altra passeggera.
Ma chi è Jacques Fillon? Nessuno lo sa, nessuno in paese lo conosceva davvero. Sarà Dan a dover risolvere questo mistero, in un’avventura che richiederà tutte le sue abilità da cacciatore, per non diventare preda.
La nuova missione di Dan inizia nel profondo Nord della Svezia dove accetta di recarsi per indagare su un misterioso incidente stradale: un autobus ribaltato, diversi passeggeri morti, tra cui un certo Jacques Fillon, che in un gesto eroico ha deciso di dare la propria vita per salvare un’altra passeggera.
Ma chi è Jacques Fillon? Nessuno lo sa, nessuno in paese lo conosceva davvero. Sarà Dan a dover risolvere questo mistero, in un’avventura che richiederà tutte le sue abilità da cacciatore, per non diventare preda.
278 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
2126 people are currently reading
5306 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Wignall
41 books560 followersArmy Child till age nine.
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
Settled back in a small town in the west of England.
Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.
Writer.
Also writes as K.J. Wignall
Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 875 reviews
January 10, 2016
Thank you Netgalley and the author for my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
3.5 stars
This book was fast moving and an easy read. I felt like I was in the midst of an action- packed movie starring Matt Damon. While I liked this book overall and enjoyed reading it, it seemed to be lacking something for me. Maybe it was the fact that it wasn't anything memorable for me and there weren't really any characters who were morally worth rooting for as even our main character isn't really a "good guy". I would recommend this as a beach read. While it was violent in some parts it was a lighter read in the thriller category. If you are a die hard military thriller fan, you'll want to check this one out. I will likely still check out something else from this author as he definitely caught my attention.
3.5 stars
This book was fast moving and an easy read. I felt like I was in the midst of an action- packed movie starring Matt Damon. While I liked this book overall and enjoyed reading it, it seemed to be lacking something for me. Maybe it was the fact that it wasn't anything memorable for me and there weren't really any characters who were morally worth rooting for as even our main character isn't really a "good guy". I would recommend this as a beach read. While it was violent in some parts it was a lighter read in the thriller category. If you are a die hard military thriller fan, you'll want to check this one out. I will likely still check out something else from this author as he definitely caught my attention.
September 10, 2016
Dan Hendricks is one of the good guys. That is assuming you don't count the multitudinous notches on his gun. Well, and the numerous men he has kidnapped and handed over to other governments. A former CIA agent, Dan is now a contract operative for hire by shadowy players who want results without getting their own hands dirty. It's referred to as "working the dark side" and Dan is very good at what he does. Covering all the angles, he is resourceful, cunning, and ruthless. When the paradigm shifts, he becomes the target of someone who wants him dead. Someone with access to plenty of men who do exactly what he has been doing for a living. It's not so funny now, is it, Dan?
To be fair, in this line of work there is always a good chance someone is trying to kill you. Full of intrigue, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. This was a Kindle First selection from last December. Sorry I took so long to get around to it, it was darn good.
To be fair, in this line of work there is always a good chance someone is trying to kill you. Full of intrigue, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. This was a Kindle First selection from last December. Sorry I took so long to get around to it, it was darn good.
January 30, 2016
The premise of the story was good but the writing was awful. There are many cliche's, repetitive sentence structures (the author says "it's as if," wayyyy too many times), and a lot of fluff sentences that don't really make any sense or contribute to the story. Plus, the main character is unlikeable; cocky, condescending, and one dimensional.
December 24, 2018
A Death in Sweden is a very engaging book, on a par with recent works by Baldacci and Berry. I was surprised that it isn't rated more highly until I checked the reading lists of other reviewers and discovered that they generally don't read a great deal of thriller. So I guess the rankings make sense from the perspective of people reading time-travel novels.
Wignall's writing is clear and concise. He must've had a great editor because the tempo is crisp. The book doesn't lag anywhere, and the author ties everything together at the end.
The characters are believable, although I'm tired of male thriller protagonists bedding every woman they encounter—and all of those women being beautiful. But until traditional publishing contacts with more female thriller writers I'll just have to live with the chauvanistic stereotypes. That being written, I'm becoming more selective about what I purchase because horn-dog protagonists are boring me.
A couple of reviewers mentioned the immorality of the crimes committed in this book, but I've yet to read a thriller that doesn't contain murder and mayhem. The ending of A Death in Sweden is uplifting, a pleasant and unexected twist.
I've ordered Wignall's other books and look forward to reading them. Highly recommended.
Wignall's writing is clear and concise. He must've had a great editor because the tempo is crisp. The book doesn't lag anywhere, and the author ties everything together at the end.
The characters are believable, although I'm tired of male thriller protagonists bedding every woman they encounter—and all of those women being beautiful. But until traditional publishing contacts with more female thriller writers I'll just have to live with the chauvanistic stereotypes. That being written, I'm becoming more selective about what I purchase because horn-dog protagonists are boring me.
A couple of reviewers mentioned the immorality of the crimes committed in this book, but I've yet to read a thriller that doesn't contain murder and mayhem. The ending of A Death in Sweden is uplifting, a pleasant and unexected twist.
I've ordered Wignall's other books and look forward to reading them. Highly recommended.
December 2, 2015
This is not a typical thriller, it is so much more. It is about spies, politics, contract killers and so much more.
It is a nicely paced book, giving credence to the story without running away from itself.
Dan Hendricks is a great character. He contracts to Governments or Agencies to help track down people they are interested in and then hands them over, and then walks away and on to the next job.
I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers, but this is a great book, full of twists and turns.
It is a nicely paced book, giving credence to the story without running away from itself.
Dan Hendricks is a great character. He contracts to Governments or Agencies to help track down people they are interested in and then hands them over, and then walks away and on to the next job.
I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers, but this is a great book, full of twists and turns.
March 5, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was fantastic! I greatly enjoyed the excellent plotting, the twists, and the action.
In addition to receiving this through Netgalley, I also purchased it through the Amazon Kindle First program, assuming it was an effort to plug a rising author. I was stunned at the quality of the writing and the tightness of the plot in this story. The author has a pretty long track record, and this is the kind of work that you should expect from a well-established author.
You won't be disappointed. While Swedish mysteries are all the rage right now, and this book is marketed as such, it really has a much wider European travelogue sweep than that; it just happens that the death in Sweden kicks off the story.
Overall, a very quick, and very satisfying read. It was reminiscent of early Ludlum, with some obvious nods to The Bourne Identity, I'll be looking for more of Kevin Wignall's work from here on.
This was fantastic! I greatly enjoyed the excellent plotting, the twists, and the action.
In addition to receiving this through Netgalley, I also purchased it through the Amazon Kindle First program, assuming it was an effort to plug a rising author. I was stunned at the quality of the writing and the tightness of the plot in this story. The author has a pretty long track record, and this is the kind of work that you should expect from a well-established author.
You won't be disappointed. While Swedish mysteries are all the rage right now, and this book is marketed as such, it really has a much wider European travelogue sweep than that; it just happens that the death in Sweden kicks off the story.
Overall, a very quick, and very satisfying read. It was reminiscent of early Ludlum, with some obvious nods to The Bourne Identity, I'll be looking for more of Kevin Wignall's work from here on.
December 28, 2015
Not a very "thrilling" Thriller.
It's a fairly boring book. The concept had potential; a seemingly random accident involving an act of altruism and kindness in the city of Nowhere, Sweden, tied to a globe-encompassing web of intrigue.
The accident and the altruism occur in the prologue. Then the sleepwalking begins, as Good Guy 1 (actually sort of a Bad Guy) runs afoul of Bad Guy 1 (possibly a good guy), and Good Guy 1 (bad?) survives, Bad Guy 1 (good?) dies.
Repeat this scenario over and over and over (etc., etc., etc.) in venue after venue across much of western Europe, add in a little titillation, bring it all home to Sweden and the book ends with the Good Guy (still pretty much a bad guy) surviving, having committed seven or eight, or nineteen or twenty senseless and vicious murders, none of which relate to anything other than the apparently capricious whims of numerous self-centered, self-important and dysfunctional government agents. Given those descriptors, of course, the bad guys (both good bad guys and bad bad guys) are all cast as CIA operatives.
Hardly innovative in these days of international "Death to the USA" sentiment. The Great Satan? HAH! Remember the Marshall Plan?
All in all, the book was WAY too long, the characters WAY too ambiguous (author even painted one character as having an alternative sexual preference... before changing that), and WAY too predictable. There was not so much as one valid "twist" in the entire novel. The "Big Twist" at the end I predicted about half way through the book.
I have no idea why I kept reading it, other than the fact that a few pages per night resulted in a pretty good night's sleep.
It's a fairly boring book. The concept had potential; a seemingly random accident involving an act of altruism and kindness in the city of Nowhere, Sweden, tied to a globe-encompassing web of intrigue.
The accident and the altruism occur in the prologue. Then the sleepwalking begins, as Good Guy 1 (actually sort of a Bad Guy) runs afoul of Bad Guy 1 (possibly a good guy), and Good Guy 1 (bad?) survives, Bad Guy 1 (good?) dies.
Repeat this scenario over and over and over (etc., etc., etc.) in venue after venue across much of western Europe, add in a little titillation, bring it all home to Sweden and the book ends with the Good Guy (still pretty much a bad guy) surviving, having committed seven or eight, or nineteen or twenty senseless and vicious murders, none of which relate to anything other than the apparently capricious whims of numerous self-centered, self-important and dysfunctional government agents. Given those descriptors, of course, the bad guys (both good bad guys and bad bad guys) are all cast as CIA operatives.
Hardly innovative in these days of international "Death to the USA" sentiment. The Great Satan? HAH! Remember the Marshall Plan?
All in all, the book was WAY too long, the characters WAY too ambiguous (author even painted one character as having an alternative sexual preference... before changing that), and WAY too predictable. There was not so much as one valid "twist" in the entire novel. The "Big Twist" at the end I predicted about half way through the book.
I have no idea why I kept reading it, other than the fact that a few pages per night resulted in a pretty good night's sleep.
May 9, 2021
An excellent book about an offbeat, free-lance espionage agent. I have easily have rated it five stars but I didn't want Wignall to get a big head.
A freak accident involving a bus in rural Sweden results in the death of a man who, apparently, doesn't exist. The plot was very engaging, several of the more prominent characters were drawn in great depth and the pace was nicely variable.
The two Wignall books that I have read were stand alones and he is now one of my favored authors. I can strongly recommend this book to espionage lovers who do not insist on wall-to-wall action.
Over and Out
A freak accident involving a bus in rural Sweden results in the death of a man who, apparently, doesn't exist. The plot was very engaging, several of the more prominent characters were drawn in great depth and the pace was nicely variable.
The two Wignall books that I have read were stand alones and he is now one of my favored authors. I can strongly recommend this book to espionage lovers who do not insist on wall-to-wall action.
Over and Out
January 5, 2016
One of my reading joys of 2015 was to find the author Kevin Wignall. I have read a few of his short stories that always enhance my reading pleasure beyond mere entertainment; I find his work stimulates my own thought processes and values.
So prior to the release of A Death in Sweden I was delighted to have an opportunity to read his latest book especially as it has some 278 pages. I is no hardship either to review this powerful novel and post it via https://www.netgalley.com.
A Death in Sweden might get all the Scandinavian Noir fans excited or make Camilla Läckberg feel she has a new interloper crashing her turf. It isn't the case, but all fans of crime/thrillers will enjoy this story although having met Kevin Wignall is as ice cool as some of the people he writes about and I wouldn't mess with him personally.
Dan Henricks is a contract killer, expert in tracing people and assisting them to disappear, often permanently. He is one of an elite group that has worked for the CIA especially when the Americans wanted to distance themselves from any incident. One day he learns that some of his fellow hit men are meeting with accidents and through contects he learns that someone in the Agency has their on hit list cleaning up the past and removing dirty laundary along the way. Dan realises he is on that list and starts to question who he can trust.
Never one to make plans to disappear himself he finds he now needs to lie low; but speaking with an old handler he learns there may be another way out of the mess. In needs to go on the offensive and investigate a recent death in Sweden.
Apart from the excellent Keller series Hit List Hit Man no-one writes so well about this area of proffessional guns for hire than Kevin Wignall. He weaves his story so well that you accept the killing to survive and root for a cold bolded killer that Hendricks clearly is even when he isn't trying.
The premise of the book is the mystery of the unknown man who died in his adoptive country; the Swedes insist that their staff are involved in the investigation. This in turn could inhibit Dan and so seemingly unable to keep a low profile and working with people who do not condone his methods he has a struggle to solve the secrets of Jacques Fillon who seems to have gone off radar for 12 years before his own life is extinguished.
The stakes get higher; alot of innocent people are also involved and the body count rises. All the time Dan dreams of hiding away in the northern forests of Sweden but reality keeps bringing him back his senses and the focused efforts to end his life.
That you can find hunanity in most of the characters; often in the concept of thinking of children, lost, dead or as a reason to live makes this an incredible read and moves you beyond the danger, fears and excitement of any usual action thriller. It also makes Wignall a standout author in this field. This book will only enhance that reputation further.
So prior to the release of A Death in Sweden I was delighted to have an opportunity to read his latest book especially as it has some 278 pages. I is no hardship either to review this powerful novel and post it via https://www.netgalley.com.
A Death in Sweden might get all the Scandinavian Noir fans excited or make Camilla Läckberg feel she has a new interloper crashing her turf. It isn't the case, but all fans of crime/thrillers will enjoy this story although having met Kevin Wignall is as ice cool as some of the people he writes about and I wouldn't mess with him personally.
Dan Henricks is a contract killer, expert in tracing people and assisting them to disappear, often permanently. He is one of an elite group that has worked for the CIA especially when the Americans wanted to distance themselves from any incident. One day he learns that some of his fellow hit men are meeting with accidents and through contects he learns that someone in the Agency has their on hit list cleaning up the past and removing dirty laundary along the way. Dan realises he is on that list and starts to question who he can trust.
Never one to make plans to disappear himself he finds he now needs to lie low; but speaking with an old handler he learns there may be another way out of the mess. In needs to go on the offensive and investigate a recent death in Sweden.
Apart from the excellent Keller series Hit List Hit Man no-one writes so well about this area of proffessional guns for hire than Kevin Wignall. He weaves his story so well that you accept the killing to survive and root for a cold bolded killer that Hendricks clearly is even when he isn't trying.
The premise of the book is the mystery of the unknown man who died in his adoptive country; the Swedes insist that their staff are involved in the investigation. This in turn could inhibit Dan and so seemingly unable to keep a low profile and working with people who do not condone his methods he has a struggle to solve the secrets of Jacques Fillon who seems to have gone off radar for 12 years before his own life is extinguished.
The stakes get higher; alot of innocent people are also involved and the body count rises. All the time Dan dreams of hiding away in the northern forests of Sweden but reality keeps bringing him back his senses and the focused efforts to end his life.
That you can find hunanity in most of the characters; often in the concept of thinking of children, lost, dead or as a reason to live makes this an incredible read and moves you beyond the danger, fears and excitement of any usual action thriller. It also makes Wignall a standout author in this field. This book will only enhance that reputation further.
January 9, 2016
With its intriguing opening centring on a bus crash in Sweden, Wignall then envelops us in a tale of a deniable CIA operative on the run, with a truly international feel as the story effortlessly pivots across different locations, and many moments of betrayal and mortal peril. There is a tightness and simplicity to the writing that will utterly suck you in, the evidence of this being that I pretty much read this in one sitting, completely hooked on the pace and plot twists that come at you with an alarming rate. Wignall always demonstrates a heightened sense of the visual in his books, and there is a real screenwriter’s feel to the book throughout, which proves priceless to engaging the reader’s attention. I also liked the host of contradictions that lay within the character of Dan Hendricks himself, a man shaped by the less savoury activities of his professional life as a CIA operative with particularly dark abilities, but who when seeing former associates systematically eliminated to protect some dangerous secrets, exhibits a degree of nobility seemingly at odds with his dispassionate attitude to life and death. This raises some interesting questions on the issue of morality, and thus enables Wignall to raise the book above the normal narrative of a conspiracy thriller. The dialogue is sharp and punchy throughout (again adding to the overall pace of the book) and there’s a more than satisfying quotient of violence as the plot progresses, and the extent of the conspiracy against Hendricks unveils itself.
I quite liked it. Think you will too.
I quite liked it. Think you will too.
May 27, 2017
So it's a spy novel kind of thing, right? So the spy guy gets his assignment, and he's in Sweden and there is a hot lady spy he is teamed up with. So I think, oh okay, they're totally going to get it on. BUT THEN.
Spy Guy: So do you have a boyfriend?
Swedish Lady: It's none of your business, but I'm gay.
Me: HELL. YES. Gay lady spy and they're going to be BFFS and take down all the bad guys and save the day! HELL YES. FIVE STARS.
SG: *Keeps talking about how hot Swedish Lady is*
Me: Dude what? Wait, I s2g if they bone and she just was saying she was gay so he wouldn't come on to her but she does it anyway I am going to scream.
Spoiler: I screamed. Two stars.
Spy Guy: So do you have a boyfriend?
Swedish Lady: It's none of your business, but I'm gay.
Me: HELL. YES. Gay lady spy and they're going to be BFFS and take down all the bad guys and save the day! HELL YES. FIVE STARS.
SG: *Keeps talking about how hot Swedish Lady is*
Me: Dude what? Wait, I s2g if they bone and she just was saying she was gay so he wouldn't come on to her but she does it anyway I am going to scream.
Spoiler: I screamed. Two stars.
January 8, 2021
Typical of Wignall's thrillers, the antagonists are part of the CIA while the protagonist is an independent contractor hunting people and answers. This action thriller also involves trying to solve a 14 year old murder that took place in Paris. As Dan works through the clues to solve the murder he is also dodging CIA hired assassins out to eliminate him. Also common in Wignall's stories is an over abundance of leaps of faith. But they can be dealt with by the reader.
Nice twist at the end.
Kindle Unlimited.
Nice twist at the end.
Kindle Unlimited.
August 30, 2017
Well, it was good. Felt like a cookie-cutter story. You know, ex-operative on the run. Big guys trying trying to get rid of him, permanently. He meets another, female, operative who is extremely reserved but due to some unforseen accident, her compassion surfaces. She is just another female who is susceptible to the charms of the ex-operative. They fall in love......only this time they didn't stay together at the end. Unusual in that respect.
It did make me keep wanting to know what was going to happen next. Around the corner.
It did make me keep wanting to know what was going to happen next. Around the corner.
January 21, 2016
I want to say thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
If I could sum this book up in one word, I would say it was "fair". The main characters kept me interested enough to finish it, but it took a long time to get through the first half. The story line was good, but the suspense wasn't there. I don't normally read "spy" thrillers as some have labeled this book. There weren't any twists or surprises for me, as the story seemed predictable. If you are into military/govt. novels with light suspense, then this book is for you.
If I could sum this book up in one word, I would say it was "fair". The main characters kept me interested enough to finish it, but it took a long time to get through the first half. The story line was good, but the suspense wasn't there. I don't normally read "spy" thrillers as some have labeled this book. There weren't any twists or surprises for me, as the story seemed predictable. If you are into military/govt. novels with light suspense, then this book is for you.
March 19, 2017
When a bus crashes in Northern Sweden, a stranger and fellow passenger risks his life to save a teenaged girl before disappearing from the scene. The act of heroism puts him on the radar of CIA operative Dan Hendrick, whose job is to hunt down and assassinate a man who went off the radar years before. A fascinating character study, unexpectedly poignant.
February 22, 2016
I read this book for one of my challenges and it was an easy read but this is just not the type of book I usually read. CIA, murder, spy, a couple of twists. I knew from the first there was something about the young girl but didn't guess. I liked it but it was not memorable for me.
March 20, 2019
Audiobook. Interesting novel. Dan is a trouble-shooter for the CIA and learns that his colleagues are being eliminated one by one with him and his friend Charlie on the list. Enlisting the aid of Patrick, a former boss at the CIA who is now operating a super-secret agency trying to track down some rogue elements within the agency, Dan flies to Sweden where a man had just saved the life of a girl during a bus crash. He did not survive and the peculiar thing is he theoretically didn't exist. Working with a Swedish intelligence officer, they discover his identity but also that he had a very sophisticated, hidden office in a cabin in the Swedish woods from where he was investigating precisely the man being looked at by Patrick who has been eliminating CIA operatives.
While I found the rationale behind the cover-up to be on the thin side and the romance between Dan and the Swedish operative tenuous, it's a good story and an enjoyable listen.
While I found the rationale behind the cover-up to be on the thin side and the romance between Dan and the Swedish operative tenuous, it's a good story and an enjoyable listen.
July 11, 2018
A good fast action thriller with an interesting twist at the end that brought the story full circle.
September 17, 2016
4.5
*Book source ~ Kindle First
A former MI6 agent and CIA contractor, Dan Hendricks is now a free agent, doing jobs for whoever has the money to pay him. His specialty is finding and acquiring fugitives, but when former agents, his friends, start turning up dead he realizes his time is running out. With a lifeline thrown his way by a former boss he sets out on his most important mission yet - find out who Jacques Fillon truly was and why he was hiding in Sweden. If Dan can do that maybe he’ll have the leverage he needs to erase the target off his back.
For a thriller this was more suspenseful than thrilling. There is plenty of intrigue and lots of gore and killing, but there are also some really slow parts that tend to distract from the main story. Especially the romance which had me rolling my eyes. Is Dan Hendricks supposed to be James Bond? *snorts* But the plot did keep me interested from beginning to end. Who was this Jacques Fillon? Why did he save a random stranger on a bus? Why is the CIA interested in him and why are they killing off former agents or those who did their dirty work even though they weren’t a security risk? So many questions and the answers will eventually be revealed. All-in-all a decent read.
*Book source ~ Kindle First
A former MI6 agent and CIA contractor, Dan Hendricks is now a free agent, doing jobs for whoever has the money to pay him. His specialty is finding and acquiring fugitives, but when former agents, his friends, start turning up dead he realizes his time is running out. With a lifeline thrown his way by a former boss he sets out on his most important mission yet - find out who Jacques Fillon truly was and why he was hiding in Sweden. If Dan can do that maybe he’ll have the leverage he needs to erase the target off his back.
For a thriller this was more suspenseful than thrilling. There is plenty of intrigue and lots of gore and killing, but there are also some really slow parts that tend to distract from the main story. Especially the romance which had me rolling my eyes. Is Dan Hendricks supposed to be James Bond? *snorts* But the plot did keep me interested from beginning to end. Who was this Jacques Fillon? Why did he save a random stranger on a bus? Why is the CIA interested in him and why are they killing off former agents or those who did their dirty work even though they weren’t a security risk? So many questions and the answers will eventually be revealed. All-in-all a decent read.
March 4, 2018
A man saves a girl from a bus crash in Sweden, igniting a deadly chase across Europe as readers are treated to a full-throttle spy thriller with some extra layers in this highly enjoyable read.
Don't be fooled by the title. Kevin Wignall hasn't joined others jumping aboard the Scandi-crimewave with his latest thriller. Nay, although a key death, and some of the action, takes place in Sweden, this exciting and well-crafted tale sits much, much nearer to Bourne than Bergen.
Wignall crafts a very fine thriller that has plenty of swirling intrigue, betrayals, and violence as it races smoothly along. There's a zest to his writing, a freshness when handling the expected 'spy novel' tropes. He's a very visual writer - it's easy to imagine this tale up on the big screen - and textures a cracking page-turner with some great characterisation. He also displays a fine touch for evoking various European settings, from rural Sweden to the bustling metropolises of the big cities. This is a high-octane spy thriller, with more.
Read full, extensive review on Crime Watch here: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.co.uk/2016/...
Don't be fooled by the title. Kevin Wignall hasn't joined others jumping aboard the Scandi-crimewave with his latest thriller. Nay, although a key death, and some of the action, takes place in Sweden, this exciting and well-crafted tale sits much, much nearer to Bourne than Bergen.
Wignall crafts a very fine thriller that has plenty of swirling intrigue, betrayals, and violence as it races smoothly along. There's a zest to his writing, a freshness when handling the expected 'spy novel' tropes. He's a very visual writer - it's easy to imagine this tale up on the big screen - and textures a cracking page-turner with some great characterisation. He also displays a fine touch for evoking various European settings, from rural Sweden to the bustling metropolises of the big cities. This is a high-octane spy thriller, with more.
Read full, extensive review on Crime Watch here: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.co.uk/2016/...
February 11, 2016
Picked this book up from kindle's free to read selection and quite pleased with it. I am bemused at the other reviews scolding the lack of morals and "senseless" killing. I am a huge fan of thrillers and Dan's character is clearly a nomadic mercenary, the novel is written entirely from his perspective and that shades the readers view of the world. To me, this is normal and expected. I was a bit sadden at Adam's death but the rest all made sense to me, even heightened the thriller part of, well, the thriller.
Inger was a bit cliche for me but it's such a classic element to any spy thriller I didn't mind. I loved the adventuring all over Europe and the description of the environments, I felt I could envision many of the locales. The ending mystery to the beginning prologue was very satisfying to me.
Overall a fun and quick read. I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a classically built thriller.
Inger was a bit cliche for me but it's such a classic element to any spy thriller I didn't mind. I loved the adventuring all over Europe and the description of the environments, I felt I could envision many of the locales. The ending mystery to the beginning prologue was very satisfying to me.
Overall a fun and quick read. I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a classically built thriller.
December 28, 2015
Really enjoyed this and was sad when it was over. It was not the ending that I wanted for it, but that's what makes a good book. You always want more. I really like espionage, thrillers and this didn't disappoint.
February 9, 2020
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Dopo un inizio promettente, ho avuto seri problemi a proseguire nella lettura, tanto da averla centellinata solamente perché speravo che qualcosa cambiasse. Invece… Il libro si apre con un incidente stradale in Svezia, che apparentemente non ha nulla a che vedere con ciò che accade nel capitolo successivo, quando facciamo la conoscenza di Dan Hendricks, ex agente CIA ora freelance. Dan sta sorvegliando un uomo che deve catturare, ma quando riceve la visita di Charlie, amico e collega, scopre che molte delle loro conoscenze sono già morte, perché alla CIA hanno deciso di fare pulizia dei vecchi agenti. Un giallo alla Jason Bourne, tanto per intenderci, se non fosse che qui mancano lo charme, la psicologia, la spietatezza e l’intero progetto narrativo che rende Jason Bourne indimenticabile. Per risalire a colui che avrebbe dato l’ordine di ammazzarli tutti, Dan inizia un lungo viaggio che lo porterà in giro per l’Europa e quindi anche in Svezia, dove conoscerà Inger, dei servizi segreti svedesi. Insieme alla bellissima agente indagherà per scoprire la verità e provare a salvarsi la vita.
Come vedete, ci sono tutte le premesse per un thriller di alto livello. Peccato che, dopo l’inizio, vada tutto a rotoli. Innanzitutto i personaggi: mosci, scontati, monodimensionali. Si fa fatica a immedesimarsi in loro, io non ci sono riuscita. Dan, in particolare, è veramente troppo tenero per essere un sicario. La sua mente va costantemente alla vita che avrebbe potuto avere, a quella che ancora potrebbe concedersi il lusso di sognare, persino a Inger. Non ha la fredda attitudine mentale del killer, anzi, è sempre molto partecipe del dolore altrui, delle sofferenze che la perdita di un caro comporta, avendo egli stesso subìto un lutto terribile. Non mi ha convinta e neppure l’ho mai trovato così intrigante come avrei sperato.
L’ambientazione è più precisa, ma onestamente poco emozionante. Elencare strade e alberghi oppure descrivere la boscaglia è quanto di più scialbo si possa leggere.
Quanto alla trama, è piatta e prevedibile, tra l’altro anche ripetitiva. Il protagonista non fa che spostarsi da un luogo all’altro, guardarsi le spalle e ogni tanto sparare. Non c’è nessun evento imprevisto, nessuna tragedia sconvolgente. Il finale è veramente scontato e non lascia desiderosi di leggere altro di questo autore.
Mi dispiace essere così dura, ma non ho provato la minima emozione durante la lettura.
https://emmablackauthor.wordpress.com...
Dopo un inizio promettente, ho avuto seri problemi a proseguire nella lettura, tanto da averla centellinata solamente perché speravo che qualcosa cambiasse. Invece… Il libro si apre con un incidente stradale in Svezia, che apparentemente non ha nulla a che vedere con ciò che accade nel capitolo successivo, quando facciamo la conoscenza di Dan Hendricks, ex agente CIA ora freelance. Dan sta sorvegliando un uomo che deve catturare, ma quando riceve la visita di Charlie, amico e collega, scopre che molte delle loro conoscenze sono già morte, perché alla CIA hanno deciso di fare pulizia dei vecchi agenti. Un giallo alla Jason Bourne, tanto per intenderci, se non fosse che qui mancano lo charme, la psicologia, la spietatezza e l’intero progetto narrativo che rende Jason Bourne indimenticabile. Per risalire a colui che avrebbe dato l’ordine di ammazzarli tutti, Dan inizia un lungo viaggio che lo porterà in giro per l’Europa e quindi anche in Svezia, dove conoscerà Inger, dei servizi segreti svedesi. Insieme alla bellissima agente indagherà per scoprire la verità e provare a salvarsi la vita.
Come vedete, ci sono tutte le premesse per un thriller di alto livello. Peccato che, dopo l’inizio, vada tutto a rotoli. Innanzitutto i personaggi: mosci, scontati, monodimensionali. Si fa fatica a immedesimarsi in loro, io non ci sono riuscita. Dan, in particolare, è veramente troppo tenero per essere un sicario. La sua mente va costantemente alla vita che avrebbe potuto avere, a quella che ancora potrebbe concedersi il lusso di sognare, persino a Inger. Non ha la fredda attitudine mentale del killer, anzi, è sempre molto partecipe del dolore altrui, delle sofferenze che la perdita di un caro comporta, avendo egli stesso subìto un lutto terribile. Non mi ha convinta e neppure l’ho mai trovato così intrigante come avrei sperato.
L’ambientazione è più precisa, ma onestamente poco emozionante. Elencare strade e alberghi oppure descrivere la boscaglia è quanto di più scialbo si possa leggere.
Quanto alla trama, è piatta e prevedibile, tra l’altro anche ripetitiva. Il protagonista non fa che spostarsi da un luogo all’altro, guardarsi le spalle e ogni tanto sparare. Non c’è nessun evento imprevisto, nessuna tragedia sconvolgente. Il finale è veramente scontato e non lascia desiderosi di leggere altro di questo autore.
Mi dispiace essere così dura, ma non ho provato la minima emozione durante la lettura.
October 2, 2022
Mai visto un libro meno originale. Ma almeno è scritto più che bene...
February 1, 2016
3.5- 4
The story begins with an accident in Northern Sweden. A man, Jacques Fillon, is dead after heroically saving a local girl. Thing is, this guy doesn't exist. Dan Hendricks is a former MI6 agent who now works more of a freelancer with the CIA, or whoever pays for his services. He's not a hitman. He is more of a tracker. He is hired to discover who Jacques Fillion was in the midst of a crisis in the organization. His life is at risk, and this job may either save him, or get him killed.
I liked Dan. He's a good character. Efficient, confident, loyal. He is faced with many difficult situations and circumstances that make him gain perspective of his own life, and what the future may bring in his line of work. He's experienced many losses in his life, and he's not sure if he's cut for anything more than what he has. Some of his peers decided to settle down and find love. Is that something he could do? Would it be safe? He'll have to ask himself those questions as Inger, the lovely Swedish agent in charge of helping him piece some of the puzzle together manages to touch his lonely heart.
The story moves quickly and efficiently. It's not the traditional espionage story, but it does involve many elements of it. I found the storyline compelling and the characters likable. I somehow suspected how things would play out at the end (didn't get them all right), but I still found it satisfying.
I saw this book on NetGalley and requested it (being the big fan of all Scandinavian thrillers that I am), but I must not have looked too appealing to the publishers even though I have a nice 90% on my ratio. Pffff! Whatever... A couple of days later, the book was available to me via Kindle Unlimited. Amazon said yes to me.
The story begins with an accident in Northern Sweden. A man, Jacques Fillon, is dead after heroically saving a local girl. Thing is, this guy doesn't exist. Dan Hendricks is a former MI6 agent who now works more of a freelancer with the CIA, or whoever pays for his services. He's not a hitman. He is more of a tracker. He is hired to discover who Jacques Fillion was in the midst of a crisis in the organization. His life is at risk, and this job may either save him, or get him killed.
I liked Dan. He's a good character. Efficient, confident, loyal. He is faced with many difficult situations and circumstances that make him gain perspective of his own life, and what the future may bring in his line of work. He's experienced many losses in his life, and he's not sure if he's cut for anything more than what he has. Some of his peers decided to settle down and find love. Is that something he could do? Would it be safe? He'll have to ask himself those questions as Inger, the lovely Swedish agent in charge of helping him piece some of the puzzle together manages to touch his lonely heart.
The story moves quickly and efficiently. It's not the traditional espionage story, but it does involve many elements of it. I found the storyline compelling and the characters likable. I somehow suspected how things would play out at the end (didn't get them all right), but I still found it satisfying.
I saw this book on NetGalley and requested it (being the big fan of all Scandinavian thrillers that I am), but I must not have looked too appealing to the publishers even though I have a nice 90% on my ratio. Pffff! Whatever... A couple of days later, the book was available to me via Kindle Unlimited. Amazon said yes to me.
May 24, 2020
Northern Sweden, a bus has an accident with a truck load of logs, all the passengers but one girl die, miraculously saved by another passenger, who literally throws her out of the bus the instant before theimpact, losing his life to save hers.
From all points of view, an act of heroism, but in all this there is something strange, because the man's death sets in motion strange events that have to do with him not being who he said. A few hundred pages and several deaths later, the story returns in northern Sweden, giving a precise meaning to that act of heroism.
Although some characters are stereotyped, and the very high number of dead, moreover killed with some ease, this is a great work of entertainment, very well written.
Thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nord della Svezia, un bus ha un incidente con un camion carico di tronchi, tutti i passeggeri muoiono, tranne una ragazza, salvata miracolosamente da un altro passeggero, che la getta letteralmente dal bus un attimo prima dell'impatto, perdendo la sua vita per salvare quella di lei.
Sotto tutti i punti di vista un atto di eroismo, eppure in tutto questo c'è qualcosa di strano, perché la morte dell'uomo mette in moto strani avvenimenti che hanno a che fare col non essere lui chi diceva di essere. Qualche centinaio di pagine e diversi morti dopo, la storia torna nel nord della Svezia, dando un senso preciso a quell'atto di eroismo.
Nonostante alcuni caratteri siano stereotipati, e il numero di morti, ammazzati oltretutto con una certa facilità, decisamente alto, si tratta di un'ottima opera di intrattenimento, decisamente ben scritta.
Ringrazio Thomas & Mercer e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
From all points of view, an act of heroism, but in all this there is something strange, because the man's death sets in motion strange events that have to do with him not being who he said. A few hundred pages and several deaths later, the story returns in northern Sweden, giving a precise meaning to that act of heroism.
Although some characters are stereotyped, and the very high number of dead, moreover killed with some ease, this is a great work of entertainment, very well written.
Thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nord della Svezia, un bus ha un incidente con un camion carico di tronchi, tutti i passeggeri muoiono, tranne una ragazza, salvata miracolosamente da un altro passeggero, che la getta letteralmente dal bus un attimo prima dell'impatto, perdendo la sua vita per salvare quella di lei.
Sotto tutti i punti di vista un atto di eroismo, eppure in tutto questo c'è qualcosa di strano, perché la morte dell'uomo mette in moto strani avvenimenti che hanno a che fare col non essere lui chi diceva di essere. Qualche centinaio di pagine e diversi morti dopo, la storia torna nel nord della Svezia, dando un senso preciso a quell'atto di eroismo.
Nonostante alcuni caratteri siano stereotipati, e il numero di morti, ammazzati oltretutto con una certa facilità, decisamente alto, si tratta di un'ottima opera di intrattenimento, decisamente ben scritta.
Ringrazio Thomas & Mercer e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
December 18, 2015
A Thrilling Mystery
A Death in Sweden isn’t so much a James Bond thriller as it is a thrilling mystery. I loved it.
I thought it was a refreshing take on the whole spy, revenge killer thing. There’s a bit of humanity lost in our main character, and he not only recognizes this with the aid of a beautiful Swedish agent, and dead college, he dares to overcome that legacy but not before revenge of course. I thought Kevin Wignall did a great job. His writing is certainly excellent and I’ve got to say I thought it was much better than the bestselling thriller currently running, Girl on the Train.
A Death in Sweden isn’t so much a James Bond thriller as it is a thrilling mystery. I loved it.
I thought it was a refreshing take on the whole spy, revenge killer thing. There’s a bit of humanity lost in our main character, and he not only recognizes this with the aid of a beautiful Swedish agent, and dead college, he dares to overcome that legacy but not before revenge of course. I thought Kevin Wignall did a great job. His writing is certainly excellent and I’ve got to say I thought it was much better than the bestselling thriller currently running, Girl on the Train.
January 7, 2016
American "spy" gore fest
Too much violence, not enough plot, predictable ending, Two stars because it does move along, but from one violent shoot-em up to the next. It becomes unbelievable.
And really, must the hard bitten main character always sleep with the beautiful side kick. And why, if she is a member of the Swedish Secret Service, is she always afraid, showing fear and doubt and our man Dan is such an implacable stalwart? Sigh. And, another thing, when sitting waiting for the hired assassins, would you be kicking back some single malt whisky ? But if you did, wouldn't the laws of physics and biology demand an impact on your reaction times? Unbelievable.
Too much violence, not enough plot, predictable ending, Two stars because it does move along, but from one violent shoot-em up to the next. It becomes unbelievable.
And really, must the hard bitten main character always sleep with the beautiful side kick. And why, if she is a member of the Swedish Secret Service, is she always afraid, showing fear and doubt and our man Dan is such an implacable stalwart? Sigh. And, another thing, when sitting waiting for the hired assassins, would you be kicking back some single malt whisky ? But if you did, wouldn't the laws of physics and biology demand an impact on your reaction times? Unbelievable.
January 15, 2016
An artfully-constructed thriller with plenty of plot twists and surprises. A Death in Sweden is my first Kevin Wignall book, and I will now be reading his backlist. His characters are well-drawn and believable and the action kept me turning the pages. I love behind the scenes CIA conspiracy stories and this is one of the best I've read.
August 6, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this Kindle book each night before bed. It really helped put me to sleep. Maybe it was the Swedish into English translation, maybe it was a tired me....Dan could really use some help from Jack Reacher.
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