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The Devil's Wedding Ring
On Midsummer Eve in 1985, a young folklore researcher disappears from the village of Eidsborg in the Telemark region of Norway. Exactly thirty years later, the student Cecilie Wiborg goes missing. She too had been researching the old, pagan rituals associated with the 13th-century Eidsborg stave church. And then Knut Abrahamsen, a former police officer from the area, is found drowned in the nearby Tokke River, a presumed suicide since his pockets were filled with stones.
Hearing of the death of his former colleague and friend, private investigator Max Fjellanger feels compelled to leave his long-time home in Florida and return to his native Norway to attend Knut's funeral. Even though they haven't spoken in more than three decades, Max is not convinced that Knut killed himself. There are details about the circumstances of his death that just don't add up. And there seems to be a link to the case of the missing researcher in Telemark, which the two of them had worked together--until threats from a corrupt sheriff put an end to the investigation and to Max's career on the police force.
This time Max is determined to find out the truth. Reluctantly he finds himself drawn into a dark universe in which ancient superstitions, religious cults, and sinister forces are still very much alive. And the stave church, with its famed wooden statue of Saint Nikuls, is at the center of it all.
Finding an unlikely partner in Tirill Vesterli--a university librarian and single mother who is obsessed with crime novels--Max is plunged into a menacing world of ghostly monks, severed pigs' heads, and mythic rites, all somehow connected to Midsummer Eve, which is fast approaching. As Max and Tirill quickly learn, it's a misconception that the past is past--the truth is that it's never over.
This is award-winning crime novelist Vidar Sundstol at his best, spinning a tale that is taut with suspense and steeped in Norwegian culture, past and present.
Hearing of the death of his former colleague and friend, private investigator Max Fjellanger feels compelled to leave his long-time home in Florida and return to his native Norway to attend Knut's funeral. Even though they haven't spoken in more than three decades, Max is not convinced that Knut killed himself. There are details about the circumstances of his death that just don't add up. And there seems to be a link to the case of the missing researcher in Telemark, which the two of them had worked together--until threats from a corrupt sheriff put an end to the investigation and to Max's career on the police force.
This time Max is determined to find out the truth. Reluctantly he finds himself drawn into a dark universe in which ancient superstitions, religious cults, and sinister forces are still very much alive. And the stave church, with its famed wooden statue of Saint Nikuls, is at the center of it all.
Finding an unlikely partner in Tirill Vesterli--a university librarian and single mother who is obsessed with crime novels--Max is plunged into a menacing world of ghostly monks, severed pigs' heads, and mythic rites, all somehow connected to Midsummer Eve, which is fast approaching. As Max and Tirill quickly learn, it's a misconception that the past is past--the truth is that it's never over.
This is award-winning crime novelist Vidar Sundstol at his best, spinning a tale that is taut with suspense and steeped in Norwegian culture, past and present.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
15 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Vidar Sundstøl
23 books62 followersNorwegian author, born in 1963. Lives in Telemark, Southern Norway. Married to Shea Sundstøl (California, US).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 11, 2017
Read my full review here: http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2017/8...
A fantastic Nordic Noir read that blends a modern investigation with ancient folklore. A brooding atmosphere, quirky and engaging characters, ghosts and legends - this book has it all!
A fantastic Nordic Noir read that blends a modern investigation with ancient folklore. A brooding atmosphere, quirky and engaging characters, ghosts and legends - this book has it all!
May 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this skandi novel. Norwegian expat now living in Florida Max has a cosy PI business where he is so successful he pretty much just does the admin. Tirill is a librarian that reads a lot of crime books and is desperate for her own detective adventure. Together they start to look into the suspicious death of Max's former colleague and several disappearances over the last 30 years.
There are a lot of twists and turns in here and a few red herrings. You never quite know who is going to be the bad guys, everyone comes off as suspicious. I loved that as sometimes it's so easy to guess the whodunnit. It's a crime book, it's a history of pre-Christian religion. I found it fascinating.
I thought the ending was a bit rushed and could have been a bit longer but overall I loved this.
Free arc from netgalley
There are a lot of twists and turns in here and a few red herrings. You never quite know who is going to be the bad guys, everyone comes off as suspicious. I loved that as sometimes it's so easy to guess the whodunnit. It's a crime book, it's a history of pre-Christian religion. I found it fascinating.
I thought the ending was a bit rushed and could have been a bit longer but overall I loved this.
Free arc from netgalley
August 31, 2024
A new author for me & a book Ive been looking to pick up for a while, one in the end I purchased as it was never going to make it to the library system.
Sounds very dark, very Nordic, very Noir!!
But it starts of very gentile I must say before elements of a recent death become murkier in the detail when an old colleague returns from America to attend the funeral of the recently deceased, and curiosity gets the better of him as he begins his own “enquiries” which lead to other unexplained missing persons or deaths in the past, all occurring on midsommer eve!!
Engaging characters, a real feel for the landscape & region of telemark where this is set from the start which helps to place it in your mind (I have been in the wilds of Norway, so perhaps it’s easier for me to picture it, think Scotland if you’ve not)
A slow burn but very engrossing start to the story which opens up with each chapter told although in truth it did go downhill (rapidly so near the conclusion) with quite a few cringe moments for me (around the MC and his flirtations or not with (jus about all of) the women in the story) as it developed. Guess I’m not really the target audience….
The style isn’t dark or noir as I hoped, even bordering (Addendum: no actually it is) on a cosy mystery as they are titled, by virtue of having a co-star who is a book reading mystery sleuth of a librarian as the investigator’s sidekick. And a very irritating one at that….. who puts herself in the path of danger at every turn, incredibly so at times! There again casting him as a former policeman turned private detective is laughable too considering his investigative technique…..
It does branch out into some folklore & history of the region wrt the pre-Christian era including Stave churches which gives it all some relevance & some passing interest.
But it doesn’t save it……
My original score/review gave it as an amiable enough read at 3 stars although must admit I near did throw it in at a coupla cringe paragraphs where it hit “cosy” overload…..
Addendum: Actually, the more I read the worse it seemed to get, defo won’t be back for anymore from this author. 2 Stars at best on reflection over the whole read. (bare in mind i was expecting a darker more atmospheric read in a true Nordic Noir style)
Sounds very dark, very Nordic, very Noir!!
But it starts of very gentile I must say before elements of a recent death become murkier in the detail when an old colleague returns from America to attend the funeral of the recently deceased, and curiosity gets the better of him as he begins his own “enquiries” which lead to other unexplained missing persons or deaths in the past, all occurring on midsommer eve!!
Engaging characters, a real feel for the landscape & region of telemark where this is set from the start which helps to place it in your mind (I have been in the wilds of Norway, so perhaps it’s easier for me to picture it, think Scotland if you’ve not)
A slow burn but very engrossing start to the story which opens up with each chapter told although in truth it did go downhill (rapidly so near the conclusion) with quite a few cringe moments for me (around the MC and his flirtations or not with (jus about all of) the women in the story) as it developed. Guess I’m not really the target audience….
The style isn’t dark or noir as I hoped, even bordering (Addendum: no actually it is) on a cosy mystery as they are titled, by virtue of having a co-star who is a book reading mystery sleuth of a librarian as the investigator’s sidekick. And a very irritating one at that….. who puts herself in the path of danger at every turn, incredibly so at times! There again casting him as a former policeman turned private detective is laughable too considering his investigative technique…..
It does branch out into some folklore & history of the region wrt the pre-Christian era including Stave churches which gives it all some relevance & some passing interest.
But it doesn’t save it……
My original score/review gave it as an amiable enough read at 3 stars although must admit I near did throw it in at a coupla cringe paragraphs where it hit “cosy” overload…..
Addendum: Actually, the more I read the worse it seemed to get, defo won’t be back for anymore from this author. 2 Stars at best on reflection over the whole read. (bare in mind i was expecting a darker more atmospheric read in a true Nordic Noir style)
July 13, 2017
Scandinavian crime fiction has been all the rage lately and frankly the bandwagon is much too appealing not to jump on. There's something inherently moody and brooding about the atmosphere and the writing has a very precise (not laconic per se, but certainly economic, strategically so, all you need nothing you don't) sort of quality. This is a fine example of it, a murder mystery set in Norway around an old stave church. The main protagonist is a visiting detective, who returns to Norway from US after decades away for a funeral of an old friend, that may or may not have been a suicide. Probably not, though, otherwise there'd be no story. So he sets off on an investigation assisted by a local librarian with an amateur sleuth mind. It's a fun ride, it definitely succeeds at drawing you in and the ancient mythology aspect along with a local cult angle are certainly nice bonuses. Mystery suspense thriller fans should really check this one out. Very enjoyable read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
October 3, 2017
3 stars--I liked the book. (Warning for some mild sexual violence.)
This is a Scandinavian mystery novel that not only includes a modern crime, but an ancient cult and its practices as well. This combination of traditional folk practices and modern who-dun-it is right up my alley, and I enjoyed the plot quite a bit.
I probably would have given this 4 stars, but the translation seemed a bit dry to me. (Or maybe the original writing? It's hard to tell.)
Still, if you like Scandinavian crime--or books about pre-Christian religion--give this a read.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
This is a Scandinavian mystery novel that not only includes a modern crime, but an ancient cult and its practices as well. This combination of traditional folk practices and modern who-dun-it is right up my alley, and I enjoyed the plot quite a bit.
I probably would have given this 4 stars, but the translation seemed a bit dry to me. (Or maybe the original writing? It's hard to tell.)
Still, if you like Scandinavian crime--or books about pre-Christian religion--give this a read.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
September 9, 2017
Even though I lived in northern Minnesota I liked this story the best of all . It was a faster paced book, everything happened much quicker, their were many characters choose from. Max Fjellanger and Tirill Vesterli were the main characters in the story with many other characters being red herrings. Each character had reasons to be caught up in the mystery of Knut Abrahamsen's supposed suicide. It took both main characters to work out the final outcome. Vidar kept it noir in that the main characters were not known to be together in the end. He can follow this up with another book. As for giving this book a rating I gave it 5 stars, it flowed well, had a history, and a mystery. I read it in one day which is not normal for me. I recommend this book highly.
October 27, 2017
When I saw this title and cover on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. It just has that creepy vibe I dig but sadly for me the cover is the best part of this novel. This was just an okay mystery. Kind of boring and definitely not suspenseful. I guess I was hoping that this was going to be a little darker and a little more atmospheric than it was. Not poorly written but I did think it was confusing in some spots but that could be due to the translation too.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 14, 2017
When I saw this title and cover on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. It just has that creepy vibe I dig but sadly for me the cover is the best part of this novel. This was just an okay mystery. Kind of boring and definitely not suspenseful. I guess I was hoping that this was going to be a little darker and a little more atmospheric than it was. Not poorly written but I did think it was confusing in some spots but that could be due to the translation too.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 15, 2018
3.5 stars. I'm enjoying the current popularity of Scandinavian literature. This one is a detective story set in Norway. The main character is a former Norwegian police officer who has been living in the US for years, but goes back to Norway for a colleague's funeral. The deceased apparently committed suicide, but Max realizes there is something off about it and begins investigating. We get some current Norwegian culture and atmosphere and some older culture as well. The mystery is sufficiently complex and there are some well-done secondary characters. The biggest drawback for me was that some things seemed rather implausible to me, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.
October 6, 2015
Vidar Sundstøl er en av våre skarpeste og mest elegante krimforfattere. "Djevelens giftering" er enda en fulltreffer fra mannen som ga oss Minnesota-trilogien og den underholdende eventyrromanen "Besettelsen". Med utgangspunkt i historikken til Eidsborg stavkirke maner han fram en drivende god historie med drap, overtro, hedenske ritualer og det som verre er som ingredienser. Den USA-emigrerte etterforskeren Max Fjellanger vender tilbake til hjembygda for å delta i begravelsen til en tidligere politikollega. Fjellanger får raskt mistanke om at det påståtte selvmordet skjuler en hel del makabre gamle hemmeligheter. Han får god assistanse fra den lokale bibliotekaren Tirill (bokens beste karakter), og sammen graver de seg ned i den blodige bygdehistorien.
Så gjenstår det å se om turistnæringen i Telemark kan se fram til en slags Dan Brown-effekt når denne romanen tar av. Det kan nok tenkes at lokalbefolkningen ikke er overvettes begeistret for denne beskrivelsen:
"Han likte seg ikke i Bø. Stedet var lite og klaustrofobisk, og lignet noe som hadde falt ut av Guds lomme ved et uhell".
Så gjenstår det å se om turistnæringen i Telemark kan se fram til en slags Dan Brown-effekt når denne romanen tar av. Det kan nok tenkes at lokalbefolkningen ikke er overvettes begeistret for denne beskrivelsen:
"Han likte seg ikke i Bø. Stedet var lite og klaustrofobisk, og lignet noe som hadde falt ut av Guds lomme ved et uhell".
July 17, 2015
Fra en potensiell 4'er havnet jeg på en gjennomsnittlig tre'er. Nærmere omtale kommer.
August 29, 2015
Godt og mørkt konsept, men dessverre kjedelig og litt platt gjennomført. Litt synd for jeg ville så gjerne like denne boka. Men det er ikke alle bøker som blir som man håper på.
October 24, 2017
When I came across this book, I really did not have any expectations. Once I knew the book was considered Nordic Noir, I did not need more convincing to give it a try. Happily my optimism was rewarded and I discovered a great book and a new author to add to my list of favorites. The Devils Wedding Ring is a character rich twisty tale filled with myths, folklore, and long kept secrets.
The story takes place in the Telemark region of Norway. I had never heard of this region so I checked to see if Telemark was a real place in Norway and it is indeed a real place. The real names of the towns within the region are mentioned frequently throughout the book. I looked at images of the region and it looks to be just what I pictured, rolling hills, mountains, old barns, isolated roads, and lakes that mirror its surroundings. Along with the descriptions in the book, these images allowed me to fully picture myself in Telemark as I was reading.
The book is filled with tales of the past residents of this region; tales of love, death, and betrayal. These stories allowed me to get a full picture of the people and the culture of this region. These are people who acknowledge and respect their past; many still paid tribute to the characters in the legends.
Max Fjellanger returns to the Telemark region of Norway for the funeral of a former colleague and friend, Knut Abrahamsen. The cause of death is ruled a suicide but Max is not convinced. Instead of returning to the U.S. and his private investigation firm; Max stays in Norway to conduct his own investigation into the death of his friend. During his investigation he meets Tirill Vesterli, a librarian and single mother. Max and Tirill discover they have shared interests and both set off to investigate Knut’s death.
I enjoyed getting to know the main characters. Upon his return to Norway Max is filled with feelings of guilt and regret. When he was a young police officer in Telemark, a young man disappeared while hiking. Max was assigned to the search for the young man, but he knows he should have done more to find the lost hiker. He is ashamed of his lack of courage. Max believes the death of his former colleague and the missing hiker are connected. Max is now determined to find resolution to his friend’s death and the disappearance of the young man he believed he failed years ago.
Tirill Vesterli, Max’s right hand lady, was my favorite character. I loved her role as Max’s voice of reason. She basically forces herself into Max’s life and the investigation; I found her determination admirable. As a child she often felt out of place among her peers. She mimicked their behavior in an attempt to fit in. Now as a mother she is determined to be her true self, she wants to be someone her son can respect. Tirill is also an avid reader of detective stories; in her mind she calls herself Detective Vesterli. When she first meets Max she quickly figures out where he is from, where he lives, and his marital status through deductive reasoning. She immediately became my favorite character.
The author provides more character development by giving the reader insight into the characters dreams. While conducting their investigation Max and Tirill talk to relatives of victims and witnesses. Upon meeting some of these people, they sometimes recall a dream they once had. The dream is conjured up by a look on the person’s face or the feeling they got when the stepped in the room. The descriptions of these dreams made the pair seem more authentic.
The mystery at the core of the book surrounds a cult, religious rituals, and folklore. In the past I have found books with this type of central mystery difficult to follow and typically after finishing the book I would feel let down with the ending. Thankfully this was not the case with this book. The plot was not weighed down with religious customs and superstitions. The Devil’s Wedding Ring was a wonderful atmospheric read. I was completely caught up in the region and the characters. If you are looking for a Nordic Noir read for the Halloween season make sure to pick up The Devil’s Wedding Ring.
Murder and Moore Rating:
4 ½ out of 5 Stars
January 15, 2019
Vidar Sundstøl takes readers on a wild ride with The Devil's Wedding Ring. That's the simplest way to put it. And the best. This novel, one of the first Nordic noirs I've read - and I plan to read more after this, is a ride.
Sundstøl's novel centers on ancient, pre-Christian folklore in the Telemark region of Norway, a place I now very much want to go - despite the cultish murders described in this work of fiction. The Telemark, as the author describes it, is very rural. Tiny villages, old superstitions, families with centuries of bad blood between them... it's all the setting for a very rich narrative that picks a reader up and carries her onward into the heart of Telemark.
The cast of characters is led by Max Fjellanger, a newly widowed former cop from the area who has spent nearly twenty-five years as a private detective in Florida, and Tirill Vesterli, a young single mother and university librarian obsessed with crime stories (who is honestly one of the best female leads in a murder mystery I've read in a very long time... I really do adore Tirill!). They are an unlikely duo but they work together with incredible chemistry. I would absolutely read more books about them solving cases together, in part because romance seems unlikely.
The supporting cast is a strong circle of candidates who might be behind one of the murders (there are three in the span of the story) that Max and Tirill set out to solve. Motive abounds, questions hang in the air, personalities click and clash with rapid changes.
The only flaws in the novel might be down to the translation, maybe some deeper meaning got lost in a few places when the story went from Norwegian to English, and in a few key scenes that were awkward (for example - the only time anyone uses a swear word, f***, is in the single sex scene, where it's used four times in a row) and threw off the flow of things. That's all forgivable because it's the plot of an ancient, murderous cult being uncovered by a pair of unlikely allies that makes the story.
*A full, more detailed review can be found on my blog.
I received a copy of The Devil's Wedding Ring from University of Minnesota Press through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. Apologies for the late review.
Sundstøl's novel centers on ancient, pre-Christian folklore in the Telemark region of Norway, a place I now very much want to go - despite the cultish murders described in this work of fiction. The Telemark, as the author describes it, is very rural. Tiny villages, old superstitions, families with centuries of bad blood between them... it's all the setting for a very rich narrative that picks a reader up and carries her onward into the heart of Telemark.
The cast of characters is led by Max Fjellanger, a newly widowed former cop from the area who has spent nearly twenty-five years as a private detective in Florida, and Tirill Vesterli, a young single mother and university librarian obsessed with crime stories (who is honestly one of the best female leads in a murder mystery I've read in a very long time... I really do adore Tirill!). They are an unlikely duo but they work together with incredible chemistry. I would absolutely read more books about them solving cases together, in part because romance seems unlikely.
The supporting cast is a strong circle of candidates who might be behind one of the murders (there are three in the span of the story) that Max and Tirill set out to solve. Motive abounds, questions hang in the air, personalities click and clash with rapid changes.
The only flaws in the novel might be down to the translation, maybe some deeper meaning got lost in a few places when the story went from Norwegian to English, and in a few key scenes that were awkward (for example - the only time anyone uses a swear word, f***, is in the single sex scene, where it's used four times in a row) and threw off the flow of things. That's all forgivable because it's the plot of an ancient, murderous cult being uncovered by a pair of unlikely allies that makes the story.
*A full, more detailed review can be found on my blog.
I received a copy of The Devil's Wedding Ring from University of Minnesota Press through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. Apologies for the late review.
September 29, 2017
I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love mystery stories that revolve around folklore. I was excited to read this one, as I had not read any Norwegian fiction prior to this.
I must say, I was surprised at the release price for the Kindle book - $18.45 is a steep price for a book that will probably not see a lot of demand nor approach bestseller status.
I'm sorry to say, I found the plot and story merely adequate, and in places, less than plausible. The reasons for the "cult" - an ancient wooden statue with a prominent erection and the ritualistic sex - are hardly worth killing three people over. The most interesting bit of folklore concerned the supposed devil's wedding ring and a local family.
I liked the main characters well enough, until the weak romance aspect played out with a badly written obligatory sex scene. I don't mind sex in books, but as it played out here, it came off (no pun intended) as a bizarre excuse for triple homicide.
Oh, and I forgot the sleazy informant with the porno walls. Now that I think about it, a lot of this book is concerned with weird sex at strange moments.
Witches have danced naked under moonlight forever, and pagan fertility gods are present in most cultures. It's just hard too picture it as a motive for three murders spanning thirty years, as well as the careers of two law enforcement officials.
The picture of the stave church included in the ARC is really the most interesting and creepy aspect of this novel, and it appears to be missing in the sample of the finished book I downloaded out of curiosity on publication day.
All in all, disappointed in this one. If you are from the Telemark region in Norway, this might be more interesting. I wish foreign translations could include a pronunciation guide so those of us who are clueless to foreign dialects could at least attempt to approximate names we otherwise butcher in our hapless ignorance.
Otherwise, I can't see anyone paying $18.45 for this novel.
I love mystery stories that revolve around folklore. I was excited to read this one, as I had not read any Norwegian fiction prior to this.
I must say, I was surprised at the release price for the Kindle book - $18.45 is a steep price for a book that will probably not see a lot of demand nor approach bestseller status.
I'm sorry to say, I found the plot and story merely adequate, and in places, less than plausible. The reasons for the "cult" - an ancient wooden statue with a prominent erection and the ritualistic sex - are hardly worth killing three people over. The most interesting bit of folklore concerned the supposed devil's wedding ring and a local family.
I liked the main characters well enough, until the weak romance aspect played out with a badly written obligatory sex scene. I don't mind sex in books, but as it played out here, it came off (no pun intended) as a bizarre excuse for triple homicide.
Oh, and I forgot the sleazy informant with the porno walls. Now that I think about it, a lot of this book is concerned with weird sex at strange moments.
Witches have danced naked under moonlight forever, and pagan fertility gods are present in most cultures. It's just hard too picture it as a motive for three murders spanning thirty years, as well as the careers of two law enforcement officials.
The picture of the stave church included in the ARC is really the most interesting and creepy aspect of this novel, and it appears to be missing in the sample of the finished book I downloaded out of curiosity on publication day.
All in all, disappointed in this one. If you are from the Telemark region in Norway, this might be more interesting. I wish foreign translations could include a pronunciation guide so those of us who are clueless to foreign dialects could at least attempt to approximate names we otherwise butcher in our hapless ignorance.
Otherwise, I can't see anyone paying $18.45 for this novel.
August 23, 2017
I received an eARC from the publisher (Univ. of Minessotta Press) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It had been a long time since I had read some Nordic Noir novel, and "The devil's wedding ring" made me wonder why.
On Midsummer Eve in 1985, a young folklore researcher disappears from the village of Eidsborg in the Telemark region of Norway. Exactly thirty years later, the student Cecilie Wiborg goes missing. She too had been researching the old, pagan rituals associated with the 13th-century Eidsborg stave church. And then Knut Abrahamsen, a former police officer from the area, is found drowned in the nearby Tokke River, a presumed suicide since his pockets were filled with stones.
Hearing of the death of his former colleague and friend, private investigator Max Fjellanger feels compelled to leave his long-time home in Florida and return to his native Norway to attend Knut’s funeral. Even though they haven’t spoken in more than three decades, Max is not convinced that Knut killed himself.
This novel has everything you need in a crime investigation story. The writing is precise, and the story feeds you the exact bits of information needed to make you want to solve the puzzle. Everything is there for a reason and it makes you doubt everything and everyone at some point.
The characters are compelling and flawed, all of them, which makes them more relatable. Max has been long widowed, and he still wears the weight of his cowardice when he allowed himself to be threatened by the police chief 30 years ago. Tirill is a young mother and crime lover, scorned by the police whenever she tries to give her input about what could have happened. As they join efforts to investigate the events regarding the three disappearances, they meet the locals while they try to navigate through their lies and threats to solve the cases.
One of the fortes of this story is the use of real places and real Nordic myths that root into ancient medieval pagan rites. Gods and goddesses of fertility and the sacrifices people made to gain their favours.
If you want to read a good Nordic crime fiction, you should pick this one. You won't be disappointed.
It had been a long time since I had read some Nordic Noir novel, and "The devil's wedding ring" made me wonder why.
On Midsummer Eve in 1985, a young folklore researcher disappears from the village of Eidsborg in the Telemark region of Norway. Exactly thirty years later, the student Cecilie Wiborg goes missing. She too had been researching the old, pagan rituals associated with the 13th-century Eidsborg stave church. And then Knut Abrahamsen, a former police officer from the area, is found drowned in the nearby Tokke River, a presumed suicide since his pockets were filled with stones.
Hearing of the death of his former colleague and friend, private investigator Max Fjellanger feels compelled to leave his long-time home in Florida and return to his native Norway to attend Knut’s funeral. Even though they haven’t spoken in more than three decades, Max is not convinced that Knut killed himself.
This novel has everything you need in a crime investigation story. The writing is precise, and the story feeds you the exact bits of information needed to make you want to solve the puzzle. Everything is there for a reason and it makes you doubt everything and everyone at some point.
The characters are compelling and flawed, all of them, which makes them more relatable. Max has been long widowed, and he still wears the weight of his cowardice when he allowed himself to be threatened by the police chief 30 years ago. Tirill is a young mother and crime lover, scorned by the police whenever she tries to give her input about what could have happened. As they join efforts to investigate the events regarding the three disappearances, they meet the locals while they try to navigate through their lies and threats to solve the cases.
One of the fortes of this story is the use of real places and real Nordic myths that root into ancient medieval pagan rites. Gods and goddesses of fertility and the sacrifices people made to gain their favours.
If you want to read a good Nordic crime fiction, you should pick this one. You won't be disappointed.
February 14, 2018
The Devil’s Wedding Ring is from a new to me author, Vidar Sundstol. I saw this book mentioned on a discussion of cult themed stories in the Nordic Noir genre, books like Sun Storm, The Hanging Girl, etc. Max is the sleuth here, a man who in his youth was a police officer in Norway. He left abruptly upon deciding he was not cut out for the type of police work being done and spent the rest of his life, some 30 years, in the US working as a private investigator. He returns to Norway for the funeral of an old friend and finds himself questioning everything about his friend’s death and connections to old crimes, including the one that drove him off the force and out of Norway.
Max is a well drawn character, a man who has lived a good life but now is returning to face the regrets of his youth. Themes of religion, ritual, sacrifice, fertility, and regret wrapped in solid investigation. Nicely paced Nordic Noir read.
Max is a well drawn character, a man who has lived a good life but now is returning to face the regrets of his youth. Themes of religion, ritual, sacrifice, fertility, and regret wrapped in solid investigation. Nicely paced Nordic Noir read.
January 24, 2021
A very Scandinavian thriller that accurately describes a society still largely tied to the myths of the past, for which modernity is just a smokescreen that allows it to appear homologous to the rest of the world while preserving its secrets. It is in this claustrophobic environment that, years apart, strange disappearances occur, and finally a suicide that soon shows itself to be a crime. Immersed in a suffocating atmosphere, well represented by the obscure interior of the stave church where the mysterious statue of St Nikuls is kept, Max Fjellanger, at the time of the first disappearance a police colleague of the last victim, and Tirill Vesterli, whose job as a librarian is not enough, investigate. A really enjoyable read, even if with a little too much haste in the ending.
April 27, 2019
Vidar Sundstøl skriver godt og lett. Selv om det er mange mennesker med her og endel å holde styr på så fører Sundstøl deg lett gjennom boken. Det var godt å lese en krim uten blodsøl og grove detaljer. Men det betyr ikke at boken ikke er skummel nok. Den er kanskje litt forutsigbar, men ikke så mye at det gjør noe.
Hele min omtale finner du på bloggen min Betraktninger
Hele min omtale finner du på bloggen min Betraktninger
July 5, 2017
I loved this author's Minnesota trilogy and likewise this stand alone set in Norway and having to do with missing persons, folklore, ghosts, suspicions and murder. The truth is what Max Fjellanger is after and with the help of a mystery loving librarian (yea!), he begins his quest for it.
The story did lag in some places but still a thrilling, engrossing read.
Enjoy!
The story did lag in some places but still a thrilling, engrossing read.
Enjoy!
June 17, 2018
I just loved it! I enjoyed the writing, the themes, the slow-moving plot...
August 6, 2017
A terrific read, I really enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley and Minnesota University Press for the eARC.
Max Fjellanger, owner of a Detective Agency in Florida, is a native Norwegian who has not been back to Norway for 30 years. Since the death of his wife and after the suspicious death of his former friend and coworker in Norway, he decided to attend his friend's funeral, planning to spend just a few days before returning to Florida. But he has his suspicions: his friend's death was ruled a suicide, but Max doesn't believe it. He teams up with the local librarian, Tirill Vesterli, a mystery junky, to find the truth. Tirill is a great character, a single mum who's hairstyle is described as a perfect one that's exploded...made me laugh. They make an excellent team, even though at times they come very close to being killed.
The story is a modern one, with tentacles into Norway's religious past, making it an exciting read full of pagan gods, myths and hints of a shadowy religious group who will stop at nothing to keep hidden. Plus , there is a bit of romance even as Max still pines for his wife.
It would be great if there will be more books with Max and Tirill, I'd love to follow them to see how life is treating them.
Max Fjellanger, owner of a Detective Agency in Florida, is a native Norwegian who has not been back to Norway for 30 years. Since the death of his wife and after the suspicious death of his former friend and coworker in Norway, he decided to attend his friend's funeral, planning to spend just a few days before returning to Florida. But he has his suspicions: his friend's death was ruled a suicide, but Max doesn't believe it. He teams up with the local librarian, Tirill Vesterli, a mystery junky, to find the truth. Tirill is a great character, a single mum who's hairstyle is described as a perfect one that's exploded...made me laugh. They make an excellent team, even though at times they come very close to being killed.
The story is a modern one, with tentacles into Norway's religious past, making it an exciting read full of pagan gods, myths and hints of a shadowy religious group who will stop at nothing to keep hidden. Plus , there is a bit of romance even as Max still pines for his wife.
It would be great if there will be more books with Max and Tirill, I'd love to follow them to see how life is treating them.
October 6, 2017
I wasn't too sure about this one at first... it sounded like a creepy Fall read that dealt with some strange, cultish sort of stuff. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, it really picked up toward the end.
Thanks so much to the University of Minnesota Press for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
The story follows the death of Knut Abrahamsen, old friend and colleague of policeman turned private investigator Max Fjellanger. Max is sure that Knut didn't commit suicide, and if he did, why did he do it the way he did? Things aren't adding up in Max's investigation and he is soon drawn into the investigation of a man who disappeared years ago when Max was still on the force and more recently the disappearance of a local college girl. Both were interested in the ancient worship of a wooden statue of a saint used in folklore. Together with the help of the local librarian, Max begins to realize that this ancient worship may not be as ancient and unpracticed as they once thought.
The writing style of the book was a little tricky to get into at first. I usually have issues getting used to translated books but once I got used to Sundstøl's bare-bones writing style, I was able to get into the story quite quickly. At first, the writing style felt a little choppy and disjointed but it really just made for a no-nonsense storyline. There were few frills and flowery writing that made for a gritty, real crime novel.
Plot-wise, I found the story quite interesting. Everything and everyone seemed to be related somehow, we just didn't find out how until the end. I really enjoyed the additions of folklore and ancient stories, even though I am not really familiar with these ones from Norway, I still found them interesting. Sundstøl does a great job of explaining them to the reader who is likely unfamiliar with the story and I found that I was wanting to do some research to see if this sort of thing really exists.
I liked how Sundstøl wove everything together, I think it was quite well done. There were a lot of loose ends and I wasn't sure if he could pull it off. Luckily, they were tied up quite nicely, if perhaps a little too nicely. Sometimes I like my crime thrillers with a bit more ambiguity but I can appreciate a succinct ending.
There were some things that I saw as a little less realistic, some of the rituals they performed seemed a little exaggerated and some background details about a few of the characters seemed to be a little to carefully placed to be more than just a plot point. Without knowing much about the full history of the folklore, it's hard for me to say what is and isn't realistic, but I suppose I could say that some elements seemed a bit unnecessary. There were a few times when the story got a bit too sex-obsessed, and things felt like they were mainly added for shock value.
I appreciate that this story is a standalone and doesn't drag on for multiple books but I wonder if maybe it should have been a little longer? The ending seemed a little bit rushed and I think it could have stood a bit more.
Overall, a solid story dealing with some ancient folklore and a decent crime novel.
Thanks so much to the University of Minnesota Press for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
The story follows the death of Knut Abrahamsen, old friend and colleague of policeman turned private investigator Max Fjellanger. Max is sure that Knut didn't commit suicide, and if he did, why did he do it the way he did? Things aren't adding up in Max's investigation and he is soon drawn into the investigation of a man who disappeared years ago when Max was still on the force and more recently the disappearance of a local college girl. Both were interested in the ancient worship of a wooden statue of a saint used in folklore. Together with the help of the local librarian, Max begins to realize that this ancient worship may not be as ancient and unpracticed as they once thought.
The writing style of the book was a little tricky to get into at first. I usually have issues getting used to translated books but once I got used to Sundstøl's bare-bones writing style, I was able to get into the story quite quickly. At first, the writing style felt a little choppy and disjointed but it really just made for a no-nonsense storyline. There were few frills and flowery writing that made for a gritty, real crime novel.
Plot-wise, I found the story quite interesting. Everything and everyone seemed to be related somehow, we just didn't find out how until the end. I really enjoyed the additions of folklore and ancient stories, even though I am not really familiar with these ones from Norway, I still found them interesting. Sundstøl does a great job of explaining them to the reader who is likely unfamiliar with the story and I found that I was wanting to do some research to see if this sort of thing really exists.
I liked how Sundstøl wove everything together, I think it was quite well done. There were a lot of loose ends and I wasn't sure if he could pull it off. Luckily, they were tied up quite nicely, if perhaps a little too nicely. Sometimes I like my crime thrillers with a bit more ambiguity but I can appreciate a succinct ending.
There were some things that I saw as a little less realistic, some of the rituals they performed seemed a little exaggerated and some background details about a few of the characters seemed to be a little to carefully placed to be more than just a plot point. Without knowing much about the full history of the folklore, it's hard for me to say what is and isn't realistic, but I suppose I could say that some elements seemed a bit unnecessary. There were a few times when the story got a bit too sex-obsessed, and things felt like they were mainly added for shock value.
I appreciate that this story is a standalone and doesn't drag on for multiple books but I wonder if maybe it should have been a little longer? The ending seemed a little bit rushed and I think it could have stood a bit more.
Overall, a solid story dealing with some ancient folklore and a decent crime novel.
November 17, 2017
This is not your usual Nordic Noir with an urban setting and damaged detectives pursuing crazed killers pretty much alone because the police administrators are clueless. Instead the setting is rural (Telemark) and the theme involves Nordic folklore (Pagan rituals surrounding the Summer Solstice). Max Fjellanger is only mildly damaged, having emigrated from Eidsborg, Norway to Florida 30 years earlier following a disagreement with the local sheriff about an unsolved missing person case. Max’s sidekick also is not the usual doe-eyed junior detective so prevalent in this genre, but a librarian obsessed with crime novels. Tirill Vesterli is a single mother who is a quick study when it comes to criminal investigation. She serves as a delightful counterpoint to the methodical Max.
The plot involves three deaths, all of which occur around the Summer Solstice. Peter Schram was a scholar studying the 13th century pagan legends associated with the local stave church and its wooden statue of Saint Nikuls. Before he split for Florida, Max was investigating Schram’s disappearance. More recently, Cecilie Wiborg, a graduate student also interested in Eidsborg’s stave church disappears. Max is drawn back for the funeral of his former partner, Knut Abrahamsen. This death was thought to be a suicide by drowning but Max doesn’t buy it and sticks around to solve the murder. It should be clear to anyone paying attention that these three deaths are linked and have something to do with the stave church. Sundstøl includes some clues to point the detectives toward that conclusion, including a ghostly monk messing with the Saint Nikuls statue in the middle of the night and a severed pigs head.
What seems like an interesting marriage of the detective and horror genres ultimately never really develops a head of steam. The plot has few surprises and seems to develop too slowly. Moreover, the characters are not well drawn. The relationship between Max and Tirill seems promising but is never fully explored. The concept of Christianity’s tense relationship with Paganism also is intriguing, but was not developed well enough to provide the reader with an understanding of the motivations that might drive people to commit murder or to engage in strange rituals in the woods at night.
The plot involves three deaths, all of which occur around the Summer Solstice. Peter Schram was a scholar studying the 13th century pagan legends associated with the local stave church and its wooden statue of Saint Nikuls. Before he split for Florida, Max was investigating Schram’s disappearance. More recently, Cecilie Wiborg, a graduate student also interested in Eidsborg’s stave church disappears. Max is drawn back for the funeral of his former partner, Knut Abrahamsen. This death was thought to be a suicide by drowning but Max doesn’t buy it and sticks around to solve the murder. It should be clear to anyone paying attention that these three deaths are linked and have something to do with the stave church. Sundstøl includes some clues to point the detectives toward that conclusion, including a ghostly monk messing with the Saint Nikuls statue in the middle of the night and a severed pigs head.
What seems like an interesting marriage of the detective and horror genres ultimately never really develops a head of steam. The plot has few surprises and seems to develop too slowly. Moreover, the characters are not well drawn. The relationship between Max and Tirill seems promising but is never fully explored. The concept of Christianity’s tense relationship with Paganism also is intriguing, but was not developed well enough to provide the reader with an understanding of the motivations that might drive people to commit murder or to engage in strange rituals in the woods at night.
October 24, 2017
This book was such a pleasant surprise! I requested it from NetGalley on a whim, i was intrigued by the title and i liked the cover and the summary promised a good story, which was exactly what i got.
A 13th century stave church in a village in Norway. A sacred ritual continued for hundred of years. Mysterieous disappearances 30 years apart happening on Mid summer Eve. A suspicious suicide. A librarian in love with crime stories. And a detecive from California with a 30 years old burden.
What can possibly be the link between all these elements?! Well the answer is quite simple in fact, it's the Devil's Wedding Ring of course!
As i already said, i was not expecting to enjoy this book so much. I found myself caught in the story from the beginning, with Max Fjellanger, a private detective, coming all the way from California to attend the funeral of his old partner, whom he did not see or talk to for almost 30 years. Max wanted answers about his friend's death, and these answers were surprinsigly linked to what happened 30 years ago when he was working with the Sheriff of Telemark on a disappearance case. The same case that made him abandon his career in Norway and go all the way to the states.
I loved the setting of this story. The village, with this stave church, full of old traditions, supersitions, legends, ghost stories, cults and people devoted to all of these. I think it was this particular setting that made me really enjoy the story more than anything else.
The characters were interesting, some of them intriguing and i couldn't tell for sure where to stand with each of them, if they really were what they pretended to be.
The end did not come as a surprise, as we already prepared for it, more the implication it brought, and the way it affected the lives of many characters.
Overall i enjoyed this book a lot and i would recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and Authors for this copy in exchange of an honest review.
A 13th century stave church in a village in Norway. A sacred ritual continued for hundred of years. Mysterieous disappearances 30 years apart happening on Mid summer Eve. A suspicious suicide. A librarian in love with crime stories. And a detecive from California with a 30 years old burden.
What can possibly be the link between all these elements?! Well the answer is quite simple in fact, it's the Devil's Wedding Ring of course!
As i already said, i was not expecting to enjoy this book so much. I found myself caught in the story from the beginning, with Max Fjellanger, a private detective, coming all the way from California to attend the funeral of his old partner, whom he did not see or talk to for almost 30 years. Max wanted answers about his friend's death, and these answers were surprinsigly linked to what happened 30 years ago when he was working with the Sheriff of Telemark on a disappearance case. The same case that made him abandon his career in Norway and go all the way to the states.
I loved the setting of this story. The village, with this stave church, full of old traditions, supersitions, legends, ghost stories, cults and people devoted to all of these. I think it was this particular setting that made me really enjoy the story more than anything else.
The characters were interesting, some of them intriguing and i couldn't tell for sure where to stand with each of them, if they really were what they pretended to be.
The end did not come as a surprise, as we already prepared for it, more the implication it brought, and the way it affected the lives of many characters.
Overall i enjoyed this book a lot and i would recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and Authors for this copy in exchange of an honest review.
May 27, 2018
Combine Nordic noir, ancient folklore, and a dark, atmospheric setting and you get the must-read that is The Devil's Wedding Ring. Masterfully plotted and woven with intricacies, this novel pushes the envelope of crime fiction in a way that is truly refreshing. When I first picked it up, I was stuck in the middle of a long reading slump and this turned out to be just what I needed to get me out of it!
From the get-go, Sundstøl creates a dark atmosphere that is the perfect backdrop for a story centered around the rituals of ancient cults and the folklore that has been passed down through generations regarding them. Rather than setting the novel in a large town, as is typical of many pieces of Scandinavian crime fiction that I've read, readers are transported to the Telemark region, an area which consists of idyllic views, an ancient stave church, and small farming communities. The setting is described so vividly that readers will have no issue being transported directly into the heart of the story, something which always adds to my experience as a reader.
Along with the incredible setting, Sundstøl manages to create a set of characters in this novel that further add to the full sense of immersion that this book offers. Exploring a small town dynamic, each character is revealed in layers, rather than the author simply showing what is absolutely necessary for the plot. For me, this element served to bring the characters to life, as it echoed the real life sentiment that there is more to people than what initially meets the eye, that everyone has their own version of the truth in regards to any event, and that people are not always who or what they claim to be, regardless of how well they fit the narrative that we create for them.
While all the characters added so much to the story, special focus needs to be given to our two main characters: Max Fjellanger and Tirill Vesterli. Max, a widowed private detective who has never fully been able to forgive himself for his lack of action in a case from thirty years ago and Tirill, a librarian who reads crime fiction in her spare time and finally gets to put her sleuthing skills to the test (a dream come true for most crime readers!) may form an unlikely duo, but it's exactly that that makes their pairing so perfect. Their personalities offset each other perfectly and the dynamic that exists between their characters felt incredibly real and allowed the strengths of each character to shine in the investigation, something that is often not the case when a team has one member more experienced than the other. While each also had their weaknesses, the two characters were just inexplicably charming and I found myself rooting for both of them, both in the case and in their own personal dilemmas. While they may not be your standard pair, this team definitely fits right in in the crime fiction world.
If I have one critique of this book, it would have to be the final pages. While they may sound discouraging to those thinking about giving The Devil's Wedding Ring a try, it really didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. My main problem can be simply described by saying that certain elements of the final reveal seemed unnecessary and, in my opinion, like a bit of a reach. That being said, the end did still tie the story together. It was just an odd combination of being incredibly close and yet so far away from the ending that I had imagined that it left me feeling a little thrown.
Overall, The Devil's Wedding Ring is a release that should be added to your TBR if you're at all a fan of Nordic noir, dynamic teams, and brooding storylines.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is no way affects my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions are my own.
From the get-go, Sundstøl creates a dark atmosphere that is the perfect backdrop for a story centered around the rituals of ancient cults and the folklore that has been passed down through generations regarding them. Rather than setting the novel in a large town, as is typical of many pieces of Scandinavian crime fiction that I've read, readers are transported to the Telemark region, an area which consists of idyllic views, an ancient stave church, and small farming communities. The setting is described so vividly that readers will have no issue being transported directly into the heart of the story, something which always adds to my experience as a reader.
Along with the incredible setting, Sundstøl manages to create a set of characters in this novel that further add to the full sense of immersion that this book offers. Exploring a small town dynamic, each character is revealed in layers, rather than the author simply showing what is absolutely necessary for the plot. For me, this element served to bring the characters to life, as it echoed the real life sentiment that there is more to people than what initially meets the eye, that everyone has their own version of the truth in regards to any event, and that people are not always who or what they claim to be, regardless of how well they fit the narrative that we create for them.
While all the characters added so much to the story, special focus needs to be given to our two main characters: Max Fjellanger and Tirill Vesterli. Max, a widowed private detective who has never fully been able to forgive himself for his lack of action in a case from thirty years ago and Tirill, a librarian who reads crime fiction in her spare time and finally gets to put her sleuthing skills to the test (a dream come true for most crime readers!) may form an unlikely duo, but it's exactly that that makes their pairing so perfect. Their personalities offset each other perfectly and the dynamic that exists between their characters felt incredibly real and allowed the strengths of each character to shine in the investigation, something that is often not the case when a team has one member more experienced than the other. While each also had their weaknesses, the two characters were just inexplicably charming and I found myself rooting for both of them, both in the case and in their own personal dilemmas. While they may not be your standard pair, this team definitely fits right in in the crime fiction world.
If I have one critique of this book, it would have to be the final pages. While they may sound discouraging to those thinking about giving The Devil's Wedding Ring a try, it really didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. My main problem can be simply described by saying that certain elements of the final reveal seemed unnecessary and, in my opinion, like a bit of a reach. That being said, the end did still tie the story together. It was just an odd combination of being incredibly close and yet so far away from the ending that I had imagined that it left me feeling a little thrown.
Overall, The Devil's Wedding Ring is a release that should be added to your TBR if you're at all a fan of Nordic noir, dynamic teams, and brooding storylines.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is no way affects my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2017
The Devil's Wedding Ring is a stand-alone novel that takes place in the Telemark region of Norway. From the author of the Minnesota Trilogy, Wedding Ring is Nordic Noir --combining the present and the legendary past, revealing an intricate darker side to a beautiful region.
Max Fjelllanger left Norway almost thirty years ago after an unsettling incident in his early career with the police. When he hears about the death of his former partner, Max feels compelled to return for the funeral. Knut Abrahamsen supposedly filled his pockets with rocks and walked into the water, but Max is uneasy about the verdict of suicide, partly because of where Knut drowned.
In 1985, both Max and Knut had been involved in the search for Peter Schram, a folklore researcher who disappeared on Midsummer Eve, and Max's own burden concerning that investigation revives his questions and guilt--especially about the corrupt sheriff who threatened him at the time. The case was never solved; the young man was never found. Max feels he bears some responsibility...and wonders if Knut, too, found the case haunting.
When Max discovers that Cecilie Weiborg, who had also been researching pagan traditions and the Stave Church in Eidsborg, disappeared on the previous Midsummer Eve, he finds the coincidence too close for comfort. Instinct tell him that the disappearances of the two folklorists and Knut's death might be connected.
In the meantime, Tirill Vesterli, a librarian who loves mystery novels and wants to be a detective, is concerned when a man who has been stalking her returns after an absence. She has her own theories about what happened to Cecilie Wieborg--she believes Cecilie's research into pagan folklore associated with the Stave Church in Eidsborg put the young woman in danger.
Tirill is the highlight in this novel that is full of dark and atmospheric landscapes. She is whip-smart, intuitive, and an intriguing mixture of quirky and practical. Max eventually (reluctantly) teams up with Tirill, and the two make an excellent duo, playing to each other's strengths.
Tales of the ghostly monk and pagan rites may be more than embellished folklore, and Max and Tirill find that secrets of the past are still being protected, regardless of the human cost.
images Eidsborg Stave Church; source
More images of Stave Churches.
NetGalley/University of Minnesota Press
Mystery/Suspense. Sept. 26, 2017. Print length: 280 pages.
Max Fjelllanger left Norway almost thirty years ago after an unsettling incident in his early career with the police. When he hears about the death of his former partner, Max feels compelled to return for the funeral. Knut Abrahamsen supposedly filled his pockets with rocks and walked into the water, but Max is uneasy about the verdict of suicide, partly because of where Knut drowned.
In 1985, both Max and Knut had been involved in the search for Peter Schram, a folklore researcher who disappeared on Midsummer Eve, and Max's own burden concerning that investigation revives his questions and guilt--especially about the corrupt sheriff who threatened him at the time. The case was never solved; the young man was never found. Max feels he bears some responsibility...and wonders if Knut, too, found the case haunting.
When Max discovers that Cecilie Weiborg, who had also been researching pagan traditions and the Stave Church in Eidsborg, disappeared on the previous Midsummer Eve, he finds the coincidence too close for comfort. Instinct tell him that the disappearances of the two folklorists and Knut's death might be connected.
In the meantime, Tirill Vesterli, a librarian who loves mystery novels and wants to be a detective, is concerned when a man who has been stalking her returns after an absence. She has her own theories about what happened to Cecilie Wieborg--she believes Cecilie's research into pagan folklore associated with the Stave Church in Eidsborg put the young woman in danger.
Tirill is the highlight in this novel that is full of dark and atmospheric landscapes. She is whip-smart, intuitive, and an intriguing mixture of quirky and practical. Max eventually (reluctantly) teams up with Tirill, and the two make an excellent duo, playing to each other's strengths.
Tales of the ghostly monk and pagan rites may be more than embellished folklore, and Max and Tirill find that secrets of the past are still being protected, regardless of the human cost.
images Eidsborg Stave Church; source
More images of Stave Churches.
NetGalley/University of Minnesota Press
Mystery/Suspense. Sept. 26, 2017. Print length: 280 pages.
December 8, 2022
Na początku chciałam wyłożyć krok po kroku, co myślę o tej książce, wyjaśnić analitycznie dlaczego mi się nie podoba, ale ostatecznie stwierdziłam, że nie jest tego warta. Najzwyczajniej w świecie jest to kryminalny gniot.
Max Fjellanger - były policjant, teraz prywatny detektyw - powraca do Norwegii po blisko 30. latach, by wciąć udział w pogrzebie przyjaciela. Lokalna policja utrzymuje, że to samobójstwo, ale tak naprawdę nic na to nie wskazuje. Max rozpoczyna prywatne śledztwo, w które przy okazji zostaje wplątana i wprowadzona samotna matka. Dlaczego, (nie) zapytacie? Bo Tirill lubi kryminały, co czyni ją niemal mentalistką. W grę zaczynają wchodzić kościoły słupkowe, pradawny kult figurki świętego i dwa dodatkowe zaginięcia. Teoretycznie mogłoby być fajnie, ale zdecydowanie nie było.
Jest w tej książce bardzo wiele rzeczy, które mi nie pasowały. Całkowity brak klimatu, oczywiste rozwiązania, emocje bohaterów, o których wiemy tylko dlatego, że o nich powiedzieli na głos, a nie bo się tak zachowali. Dodatkowo kiepsko wpleciona erotyka, która nie ma sensu. Max przez cała narrację tęskni za zmarła żoną, po czym wbija do laski na rozmowę (laski przynajmniej 15 lat od niego młodszej) i widzi tylko cycki. Na kolejnym spotkaniu już się sekszą. Mimo że jest na liście podejrzanych o kłamstwo i matactwa. Aha, typiara ma męża. Tirill natomiast jest głównie matką, dla której syn jest najważniejszy. W związku z tym przez całą książkę zamieniła z nim 3 zdania, dzieciak praktycznie nie funkcjonuje. Jest tylko po to, by odegrać pewną kwestię dramatyczną. Ogólnie nie mam pojęcia, jakimi motywacjami kierują się bohaterowie i dlaczego robią to, co robią.
Całość jest mocno uproszczona, momentami infantylna, w wielu fragmentach krindżowa. Nie polecam. Przeczytałam ją tylko dlatego, żebyście Wy nie musieli.
Max Fjellanger - były policjant, teraz prywatny detektyw - powraca do Norwegii po blisko 30. latach, by wciąć udział w pogrzebie przyjaciela. Lokalna policja utrzymuje, że to samobójstwo, ale tak naprawdę nic na to nie wskazuje. Max rozpoczyna prywatne śledztwo, w które przy okazji zostaje wplątana i wprowadzona samotna matka. Dlaczego, (nie) zapytacie? Bo Tirill lubi kryminały, co czyni ją niemal mentalistką. W grę zaczynają wchodzić kościoły słupkowe, pradawny kult figurki świętego i dwa dodatkowe zaginięcia. Teoretycznie mogłoby być fajnie, ale zdecydowanie nie było.
Jest w tej książce bardzo wiele rzeczy, które mi nie pasowały. Całkowity brak klimatu, oczywiste rozwiązania, emocje bohaterów, o których wiemy tylko dlatego, że o nich powiedzieli na głos, a nie bo się tak zachowali. Dodatkowo kiepsko wpleciona erotyka, która nie ma sensu. Max przez cała narrację tęskni za zmarła żoną, po czym wbija do laski na rozmowę (laski przynajmniej 15 lat od niego młodszej) i widzi tylko cycki. Na kolejnym spotkaniu już się sekszą. Mimo że jest na liście podejrzanych o kłamstwo i matactwa. Aha, typiara ma męża. Tirill natomiast jest głównie matką, dla której syn jest najważniejszy. W związku z tym przez całą książkę zamieniła z nim 3 zdania, dzieciak praktycznie nie funkcjonuje. Jest tylko po to, by odegrać pewną kwestię dramatyczną. Ogólnie nie mam pojęcia, jakimi motywacjami kierują się bohaterowie i dlaczego robią to, co robią.
Całość jest mocno uproszczona, momentami infantylna, w wielu fragmentach krindżowa. Nie polecam. Przeczytałam ją tylko dlatego, żebyście Wy nie musieli.
September 18, 2017
via www.BelindaWitzenhausen.com & www.IgniteYourCreativity.net
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Devil’s Wedding Ring from NetGalley & University of Minnesota Press in order to read and give an honest review.
I’m a huge fan of Nordic Noir and The Devil’s Wedding Ring by Vidar Sundstøl is a perfect example. Dark, edgy and brilliantly plotted, this novel captures your attention and holds it through to its very satisfying conclusion.
When Knut Abrahamson, a Police Officer is found a victim of apparent suicide, his former partner Max Fjellanger returns from the US to pay his respects but finds that all is not what it seems. Max, now a private investigator in Florida, doesn’t believe Knut would choose to end his life especially when the pieces surrounding his death don’t seem to fit. Thirty years ago the last case Knut and Max investigated, the mysterious disappearance of Peter Schram, a case that would drive Max from the force and still seems to still weigh heavily on Max’s soul. In 1985, Schram a folklore researcher writing about Pagan rituals and the Stave Church in Eidsborg disappears without a trace on Midsummer Eve, an important date in Pagan culture. The Stave Church is a tourist stop, although a Christian Church today was notorious for its Pagan history and rumours of a ghostly Monk who walks the grounds. The case of Schram’s disappearance remained unsolved but when Knut’s death looks like it is possibly related to the disappearance of a young grad student, Cecilie Weiborg as well as Schram, a shocking mystery begins to unravel. With the help of a quirky young librarian and mystery buff, Tirill Vesterli, Max sets out to solve the mystery but not before putting his and Tirill’s life in danger.
This story has it all, mystery, murder, Norse myths and the mysterious ghostly Monk. Vidar Sundstøl ( Translated by Tiina Nunnally) has written a story that is fast paced, well written and contains multi faceted characters. It has that great atmosphere that is indicative of Nordic Noir. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone looking for an exciting Nordic Noir thriller that perfectly blends murder and mythology.
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Devil’s Wedding Ring from NetGalley & University of Minnesota Press in order to read and give an honest review.
I’m a huge fan of Nordic Noir and The Devil’s Wedding Ring by Vidar Sundstøl is a perfect example. Dark, edgy and brilliantly plotted, this novel captures your attention and holds it through to its very satisfying conclusion.
When Knut Abrahamson, a Police Officer is found a victim of apparent suicide, his former partner Max Fjellanger returns from the US to pay his respects but finds that all is not what it seems. Max, now a private investigator in Florida, doesn’t believe Knut would choose to end his life especially when the pieces surrounding his death don’t seem to fit. Thirty years ago the last case Knut and Max investigated, the mysterious disappearance of Peter Schram, a case that would drive Max from the force and still seems to still weigh heavily on Max’s soul. In 1985, Schram a folklore researcher writing about Pagan rituals and the Stave Church in Eidsborg disappears without a trace on Midsummer Eve, an important date in Pagan culture. The Stave Church is a tourist stop, although a Christian Church today was notorious for its Pagan history and rumours of a ghostly Monk who walks the grounds. The case of Schram’s disappearance remained unsolved but when Knut’s death looks like it is possibly related to the disappearance of a young grad student, Cecilie Weiborg as well as Schram, a shocking mystery begins to unravel. With the help of a quirky young librarian and mystery buff, Tirill Vesterli, Max sets out to solve the mystery but not before putting his and Tirill’s life in danger.
This story has it all, mystery, murder, Norse myths and the mysterious ghostly Monk. Vidar Sundstøl ( Translated by Tiina Nunnally) has written a story that is fast paced, well written and contains multi faceted characters. It has that great atmosphere that is indicative of Nordic Noir. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone looking for an exciting Nordic Noir thriller that perfectly blends murder and mythology.
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