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Annika Bengtzon (Chronological Order) #7
Lebenslänglich: Ein Fall für Annika Bengtzon
David Lindholm war ein angesehener Polizist. Nun liegt er erschossen in seinem Bett. Alle Indizien deuten auf seine Frau Julia, der Fall scheint klar. Aber ist wirklich alles so klar? War Lindholm tatsächlich der, für den ihn alle hielten? Annika Bengtzon hat ihre Zweifel. Stück für Stück kommt sie der Wahrheit näher. So nahe, dass es lebensgefährlich wird...
496 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
47 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Liza Marklund
122 books546 followersScandinavia’s undisputed queen of crime fiction, Liza Marklund is the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Annika Bengtzon series.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 3, 2018
Imagine someone visits your home at night and shoots your police officer husband dead in the darkness of your bedroom. They also make off with your young son while you are in shock at the horror surrounding you. To make matters even worse no one believes your story and they lock you up and throw away the key.
A newspaper reporter covering the story believes that something doesn't quite add up and tries to find out more but is she putting her own life on the line.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed the story. So many twists and turns that kept me listening into the early hours of the morning. I guessed entirely wrong as to what had really transpired on that horrific night. This is the very first time I have listened to anything by this author and it won't be the last.
A newspaper reporter covering the story believes that something doesn't quite add up and tries to find out more but is she putting her own life on the line.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed the story. So many twists and turns that kept me listening into the early hours of the morning. I guessed entirely wrong as to what had really transpired on that horrific night. This is the very first time I have listened to anything by this author and it won't be the last.
April 17, 2024
Deși e un thriller bun, nu a reușit să mă prindă. Finalul a fost destul de sec, nu prea a avut explicații pentru unele evenimente, dacă nu era epilogul i-aș fi dat mai puțin.
September 27, 2024
Three stars for this one, as there are a lot of mixed feelings here.
The plot is good, the style is fluent, and despite the darkness and sadness of the story, it is unexpectedly easy to read. On the other hand, Annika, the main character, is far from being a nice person.
Slutty, frigid, irascible, bad tempered, searching for trouble, no wonder that her husband left her and her mother barely speaks to her...
The plot is good, the style is fluent, and despite the darkness and sadness of the story, it is unexpectedly easy to read. On the other hand, Annika, the main character, is far from being a nice person.
Slutty, frigid, irascible, bad tempered, searching for trouble, no wonder that her husband left her and her mother barely speaks to her...
August 26, 2010
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A MAJOR SPOILER ABOUT THE PLOT OF SPRÄNGAREN/THE BOMBER, AN EARLIER BOOK IN THE SAME SERIES.
It often happens that the author who scoops the jackpot isn't the one who came up with the original idea. Douglas Adams was as surprised as anyone when Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy became a household name; he was just following in the footsteps of Robert Sheckley, but somehow Sheckley never hit the big time. Also in SF, Neuromancer is rather like Logan's Run stylistically, but Gibson is regarded as the founder of cyberpunk while Nolan is half-forgotten. And, moving to highbrow novels, I was amazed to discover last month that many of the themes generally ascribed to Proust were already present in Huysmans's A Rebours, which Proust certainly read. Life isn't always fair.
Right now, Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and its sequels are still topping the worldwide bestseller lists. As most people probably know, the original title means "Men Who Hate Women", and that could easily have been the generic title for Liza Marklund's series, in which Livstid is number seven. Marklund has done quite well - several of the books have been hits in Scandinavia - but the megasuccess Larsson achieved has eluded her. If you like Larsson, though, it's by no means impossible that you'll also enjoy Marklund's feminist thrillers.
She established the formula in the first one, Sprängaren ("The Bomber"), and, as formulas go, it's not bad. Annika Bengtzon is a journalist at a Swedish newspaper. The Olympic Games are going to be held in Stockholm and an explosion has wrecked the new stadium, also killing the woman who was in charge of building it. The police soon determine that she has been murdered in a particularly horrible way. Annika ends up covering the story, and gets more and more involved in it. Simultaneously, she is having trouble at her job. She's just been promoted to a position of some responsibility, and the people on her team refuse to acknowledge her authority. They make it clear that they don't like her, and want her out: the fact that she's a woman is a large part of it. Annika becomes increasingly desperate, and doesn't know whether her own superiors will help her. She feels she's close to breaking down altogether.
In the end, both threads are resolved simultaneously. The newspaper's editor-in-chief finally comes down on Annika's side, and tells the troublemakers that their choice is between accepting her and getting fired. At the same time, she cracks the mystery. The murderer was the victim's subordinate; she has been systematically bullied until she snapped and killed her boss. The ending is very effective. The murderer has taken Annika hostage, but the police arrive at the last minute and rescue her. Annika doesn't hate the woman who came within a few minutes of killing her too. She suddenly understands that it could just as easily have been her: there, but for the grace of God, goes Annika Bengtzon. She attends the trial, and shows in every way she can that she is on her side.
In Livstid, it was clear from an early stage how things were going to work out. Annika's husband has just abandoned her for another woman, leaving Annika alone and heartbroken with their two small children. The very same night, someone firebombs her house. She barely manages to get out alive with the kids. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, police lieutenant Nina Hoffman somehow ends up being the first person at the scene when her best friend's neighbor makes an emergency call at 3 am. Nina arrives and finds Julia lying on the bathroom floor in a state of shock; her husband has been shot dead, and their son is nowhere to be found. She mutters something about "the other woman", and passes out. Since it's a Liza Marklund novel, you know there are only two possibilities: either Julia is innocent, or the guy had it coming. But Marklund moves the cards around skillfully enough that I wasn't sure which one it was until I was nearly at the end.
Okay... it's feminism-by-numbers, but it's good feminism-by-numbers. Marklund's strength is her ability to give a voice to women's pain and frustration, and she does a fine job here. By chapter 2 I was already an outraged woman. Julia's been taken to the hospital in a catatonic state. "What's wrong with the murdering bitch?" asks Nina's appalling, sexist partner. "PMS?" I almost forgot for a moment that I have never actually suffered from PMS. It's a great read even if you don't happen to be female.
It often happens that the author who scoops the jackpot isn't the one who came up with the original idea. Douglas Adams was as surprised as anyone when Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy became a household name; he was just following in the footsteps of Robert Sheckley, but somehow Sheckley never hit the big time. Also in SF, Neuromancer is rather like Logan's Run stylistically, but Gibson is regarded as the founder of cyberpunk while Nolan is half-forgotten. And, moving to highbrow novels, I was amazed to discover last month that many of the themes generally ascribed to Proust were already present in Huysmans's A Rebours, which Proust certainly read. Life isn't always fair.
Right now, Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and its sequels are still topping the worldwide bestseller lists. As most people probably know, the original title means "Men Who Hate Women", and that could easily have been the generic title for Liza Marklund's series, in which Livstid is number seven. Marklund has done quite well - several of the books have been hits in Scandinavia - but the megasuccess Larsson achieved has eluded her. If you like Larsson, though, it's by no means impossible that you'll also enjoy Marklund's feminist thrillers.
She established the formula in the first one, Sprängaren ("The Bomber"), and, as formulas go, it's not bad. Annika Bengtzon is a journalist at a Swedish newspaper. The Olympic Games are going to be held in Stockholm and an explosion has wrecked the new stadium, also killing the woman who was in charge of building it. The police soon determine that she has been murdered in a particularly horrible way. Annika ends up covering the story, and gets more and more involved in it. Simultaneously, she is having trouble at her job. She's just been promoted to a position of some responsibility, and the people on her team refuse to acknowledge her authority. They make it clear that they don't like her, and want her out: the fact that she's a woman is a large part of it. Annika becomes increasingly desperate, and doesn't know whether her own superiors will help her. She feels she's close to breaking down altogether.
In the end, both threads are resolved simultaneously. The newspaper's editor-in-chief finally comes down on Annika's side, and tells the troublemakers that their choice is between accepting her and getting fired. At the same time, she cracks the mystery. The murderer was the victim's subordinate; she has been systematically bullied until she snapped and killed her boss. The ending is very effective. The murderer has taken Annika hostage, but the police arrive at the last minute and rescue her. Annika doesn't hate the woman who came within a few minutes of killing her too. She suddenly understands that it could just as easily have been her: there, but for the grace of God, goes Annika Bengtzon. She attends the trial, and shows in every way she can that she is on her side.
In Livstid, it was clear from an early stage how things were going to work out. Annika's husband has just abandoned her for another woman, leaving Annika alone and heartbroken with their two small children. The very same night, someone firebombs her house. She barely manages to get out alive with the kids. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, police lieutenant Nina Hoffman somehow ends up being the first person at the scene when her best friend's neighbor makes an emergency call at 3 am. Nina arrives and finds Julia lying on the bathroom floor in a state of shock; her husband has been shot dead, and their son is nowhere to be found. She mutters something about "the other woman", and passes out. Since it's a Liza Marklund novel, you know there are only two possibilities: either Julia is innocent, or the guy had it coming. But Marklund moves the cards around skillfully enough that I wasn't sure which one it was until I was nearly at the end.
Okay... it's feminism-by-numbers, but it's good feminism-by-numbers. Marklund's strength is her ability to give a voice to women's pain and frustration, and she does a fine job here. By chapter 2 I was already an outraged woman. Julia's been taken to the hospital in a catatonic state. "What's wrong with the murdering bitch?" asks Nina's appalling, sexist partner. "PMS?" I almost forgot for a moment that I have never actually suffered from PMS. It's a great read even if you don't happen to be female.
April 18, 2013
I finished Liza Marklund's book Lifetime. It was s book you couldn't put down. What can I say and not give away what happened. She's basically got something against men, they do not fair well at all. It may play out in her next book which I'll put in for 2 months ahead again at the library.
September 21, 2020
De-abia așteptam să citesc o carte de Liza Marklund, după cele cinci sau șase filme pe care le-am văzut, ecranizările primelor romane din seria ei cu Annika Bengtzon. Nu numai pentru personajul care-mi devenise apropiat din filme, nu numai pentru o poveste polițistă, ci și pentru o nouă întîlnire cu Stockholmul.
Odată ajunsă în piața Mosebacke a mărit pasul, a dat ocol clădirii Södra Teatern și s-a oprit să privească portul. Era unul dintre locurile care-i plăceau cel mai mult în lume. Dacă ar fi fost să tr[iască într-un loc după pofta inimii, și-ar fi cumpărat un apartament pe Fjällgatan sau în apropiere de spitalul Ersta. Priveliștea era incredibilă, apa și luminile, clădirile medievale, muzeul, Djurgården și parcul de distracții în dreapta, în depărtare muzeul Waldemarsudde, oglindindu-se în apă. Un vapor care venea din Vaxholm se apropia de chei, cu luminițele sclipind în apă. Acolo locuiau oameni de mai bine de o mie de ani, înainte ca Birger Jarl să construiască, pe insulele de la gura lacului Mälaren, capitala Suediei.
Cartea e OK, e bine scrisă, povestea se desfășoară cum e firesc în cazul cărților de gen, suspans, lipici pe pagini, nu te dai dus pînă nu mai termini încă un capitol și încă unul… și tot așa.
Marea surpriză au constituit-o însă pasajele – destul de numeroase – în care Annika Bengzton apare ca personaj de roman (nu de roman polițist), cu problemele unei femei în plin divorț, cu doi copii după ea, cu un sac de necazuri în spinare, cu prietenii pe care a știut (sau nu) să le cultive, cu percepții ale vieții din punctele de vedere al ziaristei, mamei și soției (înșelate, părăsite), un personaj care mi-a devenit și mai apropiat la lectură, după ce-mi plăcuse sub înfățișarea lui Malin Crépin.
- Du-te dracului, i-a strigat. Sper să mori, căpușă egoistă!
A reușit cumva să descuie ușa, a trîntit-o în urma ei, apoi a luat-o pe scări, fără să aprindă lumina. S-a oprit în fașa ușii ei și a ascultat dacă venea vreun sunet de jos, dar totul era liniște și umbre prăfoase.
A descuiat și a intrat în sufragerie fără să aprindă lumina, după cum își făcuse obiceiul. A stat nemișcată în mijlocul încăperii și a așteptat pînă ce toate grijile zilei s-au făcut mici și au dispărut. Întunericul și liniștea îi dădeau un sentiment de calm. Întunericul n-o speria, niciodată nu o speriase. Dimpotrivă, o lăsa să se ascundă și să exploreze cărări noi.
A sunat telefonul și a rupt liniștea.
Annika Bengtzon, ziarista puternică, femeia fragilă… care s-a mutat unde? Tocmai pe Västerlånggatan, o stradă pe care am umblat zi de zi, două luni din viața mea. Cum să nu-mi placă?
Despre cartea pe care am citit-o (adică traducerea Dinei Litzica) ce să zic? Nu mă așteptam ca o editură cum e Trei să ne ofere o carte suedeză tradusă din limba engleză. Deși tocmai citisem cartea finlandezului Tuomainen tradusă din germană. Dar am văzut și „Prințesa ghețurilor”, de Camilla Läckberg, tradusă din suedeză, „Furtună solară”, de Åsa Larsson, tot din suedeză… E drept că am în colecția lor și volume de Håkan Nesser și, din nou, Liza Marklund, doar traduse (fără a se specifica din ce limbă – nu știu dacă Laurențiu Dulman și Constantin Dumitru-Palcus traduc din suedeză sau nu)…
Adică avem aici, în „Pe viață”, ce a înțeles traducătoarea română din ce a înțeles traducătorul englez. Iar redactorul… a avut și el grijă să avem o variantă fidelă a romanului pe care l-au citit englezii, că de-asta a fost angajat (în rest e destul de bună redactarea).
Că doar e carte polițistă, nu? Ce sufletul mării! Dacă aflăm cine omoară pe cine e foarte bine, n-am dat banii degeaba. (Aici am fost ironic)
Să vă dau cîteva exemple care n-ar fi existat la o traducere a originalului.
De pildă, pe Västerlånggatan nu sînt blocuri. Annika nu s-ar fi putut îndrepta spre blocul în care locuia, cum se spune în versiunea românească. Pe Västerlånggatan sînt doar case. Cu două, trei etaje, e drept, dar case. Multe din secolul XVII. E drept că adresa lor exactă conține și numele cvartalului, dar dacă englezul o fi zis block, de ce să nu zicem în română bloc, deși la noi, bloc înseamnă cam altceva, iar cititorul nu-și imaginează o casă (chiar dacă locuiesc cîteva familii în ea).
La un moment dat, cineva îi mulțumește Annikăi și ea îi răspunde:
- Cu plăcere.
O fi corect? Așa se spune cînd îți mulțumește cineva pentru ospitalitate?
Această inserție cu gîndul Annikăi pare cam ciudată pentru cititorul de engleză și română. Pentru suedezi, nu. Pentru că la ei, „cu plăcere” se poate exprima diferit, în funcție de serviciul/fapta care a atras mulțumirile.
Referirile la Gothenburg n-ar fi existat decît la o traducere din engeză. Și nici atunci, de fapt, pentru că traducătorul/redactorul ar fi trebuit să folosească oricum Göteborg, așa cum scriem noi, chiar dcă nu folosim nici pronunția suedeză, nici pe cea englezească. În nici un caz Gothenburg nu avea ce căuta în cartea asta.
Și mă opresc aici, era vorba doar să ilustrez, nu să fac un inventar.
O să am grijă de-acum, ca următoarea carte suedeză pe care o voi citi să fie tradusă din suedeză. Ceea ce însemană că, profund recunoscător politicii editoriale de la Trei, nu voi avea parte de întreaga serie Annika Bengtzon.
Asta e! E o vorbă care zice că în viață nu poți să le ai pe toate.
La fel de adevărat este că o altă vorbă zice „dar e bine să încerci”.
Ca să încheiem într-o notă optimistă totuși.
PS. Pe viață este al șaptelea volum din seria Annika Bengtzon.
Odată ajunsă în piața Mosebacke a mărit pasul, a dat ocol clădirii Södra Teatern și s-a oprit să privească portul. Era unul dintre locurile care-i plăceau cel mai mult în lume. Dacă ar fi fost să tr[iască într-un loc după pofta inimii, și-ar fi cumpărat un apartament pe Fjällgatan sau în apropiere de spitalul Ersta. Priveliștea era incredibilă, apa și luminile, clădirile medievale, muzeul, Djurgården și parcul de distracții în dreapta, în depărtare muzeul Waldemarsudde, oglindindu-se în apă. Un vapor care venea din Vaxholm se apropia de chei, cu luminițele sclipind în apă. Acolo locuiau oameni de mai bine de o mie de ani, înainte ca Birger Jarl să construiască, pe insulele de la gura lacului Mälaren, capitala Suediei.
Cartea e OK, e bine scrisă, povestea se desfășoară cum e firesc în cazul cărților de gen, suspans, lipici pe pagini, nu te dai dus pînă nu mai termini încă un capitol și încă unul… și tot așa.
Marea surpriză au constituit-o însă pasajele – destul de numeroase – în care Annika Bengzton apare ca personaj de roman (nu de roman polițist), cu problemele unei femei în plin divorț, cu doi copii după ea, cu un sac de necazuri în spinare, cu prietenii pe care a știut (sau nu) să le cultive, cu percepții ale vieții din punctele de vedere al ziaristei, mamei și soției (înșelate, părăsite), un personaj care mi-a devenit și mai apropiat la lectură, după ce-mi plăcuse sub înfățișarea lui Malin Crépin.
- Du-te dracului, i-a strigat. Sper să mori, căpușă egoistă!
A reușit cumva să descuie ușa, a trîntit-o în urma ei, apoi a luat-o pe scări, fără să aprindă lumina. S-a oprit în fașa ușii ei și a ascultat dacă venea vreun sunet de jos, dar totul era liniște și umbre prăfoase.
A descuiat și a intrat în sufragerie fără să aprindă lumina, după cum își făcuse obiceiul. A stat nemișcată în mijlocul încăperii și a așteptat pînă ce toate grijile zilei s-au făcut mici și au dispărut. Întunericul și liniștea îi dădeau un sentiment de calm. Întunericul n-o speria, niciodată nu o speriase. Dimpotrivă, o lăsa să se ascundă și să exploreze cărări noi.
A sunat telefonul și a rupt liniștea.
Annika Bengtzon, ziarista puternică, femeia fragilă… care s-a mutat unde? Tocmai pe Västerlånggatan, o stradă pe care am umblat zi de zi, două luni din viața mea. Cum să nu-mi placă?
Despre cartea pe care am citit-o (adică traducerea Dinei Litzica) ce să zic? Nu mă așteptam ca o editură cum e Trei să ne ofere o carte suedeză tradusă din limba engleză. Deși tocmai citisem cartea finlandezului Tuomainen tradusă din germană. Dar am văzut și „Prințesa ghețurilor”, de Camilla Läckberg, tradusă din suedeză, „Furtună solară”, de Åsa Larsson, tot din suedeză… E drept că am în colecția lor și volume de Håkan Nesser și, din nou, Liza Marklund, doar traduse (fără a se specifica din ce limbă – nu știu dacă Laurențiu Dulman și Constantin Dumitru-Palcus traduc din suedeză sau nu)…
Adică avem aici, în „Pe viață”, ce a înțeles traducătoarea română din ce a înțeles traducătorul englez. Iar redactorul… a avut și el grijă să avem o variantă fidelă a romanului pe care l-au citit englezii, că de-asta a fost angajat (în rest e destul de bună redactarea).
Că doar e carte polițistă, nu? Ce sufletul mării! Dacă aflăm cine omoară pe cine e foarte bine, n-am dat banii degeaba. (Aici am fost ironic)
Să vă dau cîteva exemple care n-ar fi existat la o traducere a originalului.
De pildă, pe Västerlånggatan nu sînt blocuri. Annika nu s-ar fi putut îndrepta spre blocul în care locuia, cum se spune în versiunea românească. Pe Västerlånggatan sînt doar case. Cu două, trei etaje, e drept, dar case. Multe din secolul XVII. E drept că adresa lor exactă conține și numele cvartalului, dar dacă englezul o fi zis block, de ce să nu zicem în română bloc, deși la noi, bloc înseamnă cam altceva, iar cititorul nu-și imaginează o casă (chiar dacă locuiesc cîteva familii în ea).
La un moment dat, cineva îi mulțumește Annikăi și ea îi răspunde:
- Cu plăcere.
O fi corect? Așa se spune cînd îți mulțumește cineva pentru ospitalitate?
Această inserție cu gîndul Annikăi pare cam ciudată pentru cititorul de engleză și română. Pentru suedezi, nu. Pentru că la ei, „cu plăcere” se poate exprima diferit, în funcție de serviciul/fapta care a atras mulțumirile.
Referirile la Gothenburg n-ar fi existat decît la o traducere din engeză. Și nici atunci, de fapt, pentru că traducătorul/redactorul ar fi trebuit să folosească oricum Göteborg, așa cum scriem noi, chiar dcă nu folosim nici pronunția suedeză, nici pe cea englezească. În nici un caz Gothenburg nu avea ce căuta în cartea asta.
Și mă opresc aici, era vorba doar să ilustrez, nu să fac un inventar.
O să am grijă de-acum, ca următoarea carte suedeză pe care o voi citi să fie tradusă din suedeză. Ceea ce însemană că, profund recunoscător politicii editoriale de la Trei, nu voi avea parte de întreaga serie Annika Bengtzon.
Asta e! E o vorbă care zice că în viață nu poți să le ai pe toate.
La fel de adevărat este că o altă vorbă zice „dar e bine să încerci”.
Ca să încheiem într-o notă optimistă totuși.
PS. Pe viață este al șaptelea volum din seria Annika Bengtzon.
September 24, 2021
For me, the plot just became too unbelievable. I would try another book by this author as there were elements that I did like, such as the complex female characters and the incorporation of women and children’s rights issues.
February 1, 2013
Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/XcJesz
My rating: 3.5 Stars
My opinion: I must admit that I love this series by Liza Marklund. I must also admit that I have only read the first two books in the series before reading this one. I know that I must go in and fill the blanks though. Ms. Marklund does a wonderful job at laying out her storylines a piece at a time to keep the readers intrigued and asking questions.
One of my pet peeves of this series continues to be too heavy of a focus on Annika's private life and the "emotions" that come along with it. One of my loves about the greater majority of Nordic Noir authors is that the genre tends to focus on "just the facts, ma'am" in regards to the mystery/crime. As I continue to read contemporaries of Ms. Marklund in Nordic Noir, the better chunk have gotten away from doing the "emotions game". Ms. Marklund continues to do this though and it serves as a distraction from the true storyline. I think that there is fine line in drawing a very nice balance in the "private" lives of the characters and the main storyline. In my humble opinion, it comes across as the primary storyline is unable to stand on its' own and needs the prop of "drama central" to give it a lift up.
Seeing that I have only read the first two of the series and now this one, I researched other reviews of this book. My first impression was that this book could be read as a stand alone; however, another reviewer who seemed to know the series very well stated this novel refers back significantly to other books in the series. As a result, I would say read the other books in the series first. It might help to have a better understanding of the characters and the storyline.
My rating: 3.5 Stars
My opinion: I must admit that I love this series by Liza Marklund. I must also admit that I have only read the first two books in the series before reading this one. I know that I must go in and fill the blanks though. Ms. Marklund does a wonderful job at laying out her storylines a piece at a time to keep the readers intrigued and asking questions.
One of my pet peeves of this series continues to be too heavy of a focus on Annika's private life and the "emotions" that come along with it. One of my loves about the greater majority of Nordic Noir authors is that the genre tends to focus on "just the facts, ma'am" in regards to the mystery/crime. As I continue to read contemporaries of Ms. Marklund in Nordic Noir, the better chunk have gotten away from doing the "emotions game". Ms. Marklund continues to do this though and it serves as a distraction from the true storyline. I think that there is fine line in drawing a very nice balance in the "private" lives of the characters and the main storyline. In my humble opinion, it comes across as the primary storyline is unable to stand on its' own and needs the prop of "drama central" to give it a lift up.
Seeing that I have only read the first two of the series and now this one, I researched other reviews of this book. My first impression was that this book could be read as a stand alone; however, another reviewer who seemed to know the series very well stated this novel refers back significantly to other books in the series. As a result, I would say read the other books in the series first. It might help to have a better understanding of the characters and the storyline.
April 10, 2013
Liza Marklund's latest book Lifetime is the seventh book featuring newspaper reporter Annika Bengtzon.
Stockholm, Sweden. Police Officer Nina Hoffman is on patrol when a shots fired call comes in. Nina and her partner race to the scene - only to find that the victim is another cop - and his wife Julia is lying beside him, covered in blood. Worse still - their four year old son is missing. Julia swears there was someone else in the apartment. Nina is sure her friend and former co worker could not do such a thing. Or could she....? Annika knows both women - she did a story on them years before. The high profile case is a story worth investigating.
This is the third book I've read by Marklund and I've enjoyed every one. Annika is a complicated protagonist - she's headstrong, impulsive and plunges headlong into her stories. She trusts her instincts and hunches and follows them regardless. But her personal life is in a shambles - she herself is suspected of a crime and her marriage is falling apart. Although I've heard some other readers remark that this secondary storyline muddies the waters of the main plot, I disagree. I quite like seeing the two sides of Annika's life personal and professional. Both story lines held my interest equally.
Annika's investigation leads to more questions and links to the past, with the path to answers and resolution anything but straight. Marklund keeps us guessing about Julia until the very end. And the end was a lovely 'gotcha'. Marklund brings the setting to life as well, with descriptions that underline the gritty tone of the mystery.
This is an excellent series with a character I quite like. Definitely recommended. I'll be watching for the next in the series
Stockholm, Sweden. Police Officer Nina Hoffman is on patrol when a shots fired call comes in. Nina and her partner race to the scene - only to find that the victim is another cop - and his wife Julia is lying beside him, covered in blood. Worse still - their four year old son is missing. Julia swears there was someone else in the apartment. Nina is sure her friend and former co worker could not do such a thing. Or could she....? Annika knows both women - she did a story on them years before. The high profile case is a story worth investigating.
This is the third book I've read by Marklund and I've enjoyed every one. Annika is a complicated protagonist - she's headstrong, impulsive and plunges headlong into her stories. She trusts her instincts and hunches and follows them regardless. But her personal life is in a shambles - she herself is suspected of a crime and her marriage is falling apart. Although I've heard some other readers remark that this secondary storyline muddies the waters of the main plot, I disagree. I quite like seeing the two sides of Annika's life personal and professional. Both story lines held my interest equally.
Annika's investigation leads to more questions and links to the past, with the path to answers and resolution anything but straight. Marklund keeps us guessing about Julia until the very end. And the end was a lovely 'gotcha'. Marklund brings the setting to life as well, with descriptions that underline the gritty tone of the mystery.
This is an excellent series with a character I quite like. Definitely recommended. I'll be watching for the next in the series
April 25, 2013
“Lifetime” by Liza Marklund, published by Emily Bestler Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – April 9, 2013
If one has been following the influx of mysteries coming from the Nordic nations, one will be familiar with Liza Marklund, who is considered one of the better crime writers from Sweden.
“Lifetime” is the continuation of the story of Annika Bengtson. Annika is a reporter who is balancing her job, with being a mother and a wife. Her home life starts to fall apart when her husband leaves her for another woman and is threatening to take the children.
While this is happening, Annika becomes involved with the murder of David Lindholm, a much respected member of the police force. All the evidence points to his wife as the murderer, but many questions still remain unresolved. The biggest question is the disappearance of their 4 year old son. Julia, David’s wife, claims a woman not only shot David but kidnapped her son.
Annika, who has doubts concerning Julia’s guilt, begins a search that will test all of her reporter skills. She receives very little help as everyone has already condemned Julia, and she is also faced with some self doubt of her own convictions, plus trying to pull her personal life together.
A very good mystery that saves a surprise to the very last sentence in the book. One must keep in mind that this is a Nordic novel that contains many unpronounceable names but can easily be overcome by just passing over them. The book also provides an interesting insight into the Scandinavian justice system. There is also a lot of detail in the book, more than one would find in an American mystery.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – April 9, 2013
If one has been following the influx of mysteries coming from the Nordic nations, one will be familiar with Liza Marklund, who is considered one of the better crime writers from Sweden.
“Lifetime” is the continuation of the story of Annika Bengtson. Annika is a reporter who is balancing her job, with being a mother and a wife. Her home life starts to fall apart when her husband leaves her for another woman and is threatening to take the children.
While this is happening, Annika becomes involved with the murder of David Lindholm, a much respected member of the police force. All the evidence points to his wife as the murderer, but many questions still remain unresolved. The biggest question is the disappearance of their 4 year old son. Julia, David’s wife, claims a woman not only shot David but kidnapped her son.
Annika, who has doubts concerning Julia’s guilt, begins a search that will test all of her reporter skills. She receives very little help as everyone has already condemned Julia, and she is also faced with some self doubt of her own convictions, plus trying to pull her personal life together.
A very good mystery that saves a surprise to the very last sentence in the book. One must keep in mind that this is a Nordic novel that contains many unpronounceable names but can easily be overcome by just passing over them. The book also provides an interesting insight into the Scandinavian justice system. There is also a lot of detail in the book, more than one would find in an American mystery.
August 31, 2013
I came to the novels after watching their film adaptations on Netflix. My biggest peeve with the novels is how irritating almost everyone is, as if none of them graduated from pre-school and learned to get along with anyone else. Annika's "friend" Anne is completely unbelievable.
That said, Lifetime is a better book than the two I read previously, with a tighter and more credible plot.
That said, Lifetime is a better book than the two I read previously, with a tighter and more credible plot.
January 30, 2014
A finely written novel combining police procedural and private investigation. For a detailed review, please visit my blog: http://tesatorul.blogspot.ro/2014/01/....
October 21, 2021
I've become a Annika Bengtson and Katarina Ewelöf fan!!!!
March 10, 2021
Este o carte politista ce pune la indoiala increderea in societate, in prieteni, in familie si, cel mai important, in tine insuti. Este o carte plina de suspans ce iti va oferi un sfarsit tulburator plin de intrebari, intrebari pe care le veti pune propriei persoane si, de asemenea, tot voi veti gasi un raspuns la ele.
Recunosc ca am citit cartea pe kindle si fiind curioasa de modul in care scrie aceasta scriitoare nordica, nu am realizat ca romanul "Pe viata" este al 7-lea volum din seria Annika Bengtzon 😊
Recunosc ca am citit cartea pe kindle si fiind curioasa de modul in care scrie aceasta scriitoare nordica, nu am realizat ca romanul "Pe viata" este al 7-lea volum din seria Annika Bengtzon 😊
October 7, 2021
Pienen tauon jälkeen jatkoin Annika Bengtzonin seikkailuja. Jälleen ihan okei kirja vaikka monissa kohdissa vähän tylsähköä kirjoittamista. Parasta on tietysti tutkintoihin liittyvät jutut ja ihmettelen miksei niitä ole enempää ja sekin vähän toimittajan puolesta - luulisi poliisin tutkivan asioita. Myös (ex-)miehestä kertominen on omituista koska en oikein käsitä miten se liittyy millään tavoin muihin kirjan tapahtumiin, varsinkin nyt kun ovat eroamassa niin ei liity edes avioliiton kautta niin sanotusti. Päähenkilö on jossain määrin melko ärsyttäväkin muttei sentään vedä vertoja ärsyttävyydessään ex-mieheen. Sen verran okei kirja kuitenkin että jatkan sarjan kirjat loppuun ellei sarjan taso laske todella paljon.
July 20, 2025
Passelig bra - litt annenrangs fra Liza Marklund som skrev rasende bra krim i starten. Her er det mange tråder som skal ordnes opp i og så dukket det opp plutselige løsninger på siste sidene - det virker kunstig. Men finfin sommerlektyre, altså!
January 17, 2018
Turbūt labiausiai patikusi knyga iš visos serijos apie A. Bengzton iki šiol.
January 3, 2020
Meh...I might read the next one. I thought some of the plot lines were convoluted. I started in the middle of the series though so that is probably part of it. I might read the next one and see.
August 8, 2022
Alku hyvä, mutta sitten tarina muuttui supertylsäksi. Päähenkilö oli uskomattoman lapsellinen ja raivostuttava :D Ei tee mieli lukea sarjaa yhtään enempää
September 18, 2022
Mittelmäßig spannender Krimi, zwischendurch sehr langatmig.....da hätte man wirklich mehr draus machen können....
March 13, 2020
Ehkä toimittaja Annika Bengtzonin elämää kuvaavia dekkareita tulisi lukea järjestyksessä, sillä tässäkin kirjassa viitataan aikaisempiin tapauksiin. Murhatapauksen lisäksi selvittelyssä ovat äitiyden ja uran yhdistäminen sekä parisuhteen rikkoutumiseen liittyvät vaikeudet – ja joitain pienempiä sivujuonia, jotka tuntuvat jokseenkin turhilta.
August 29, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, didn’t want to put it down. The authors writing is so realistic and enjoyable. I always love an Annika Bengtzen book
September 5, 2013
Liza Marklund’s newest book opens with scenes detailing more than one instance
of marital infidelity (a recurring theme), followed in short order by the firebombing of a house where a woman and her two small children reside. The woman is Annika Bengtzon, a reporter for Sweden’s Evening Post and the protagonist in this author’s earlier novels. Then, in the next scene, the police discover the body of a murdered man, and find his wife apparently in a state of shock, in an adjacent room, murmuring something about “the other woman” who had killed her husband and taken the couple’s young son. (The woman is police officer Nina Hoffman, also a character in Ms. Marklund’s prior novels.) The police, however, find no evidence of the son’s presence, nor that of any alleged “other woman.” And that’s just in the opening pages. As one might expect, after that kind of beginning, calling this novel a “page-turner” doesn’t begin to do it justice. Soon after I started reading, what I had guessed were 10 pages read were actually 50; I cannot say I finished the book in one sitting, though – it took two sittings, within 24 hours.
The murdered man was a perceived “supercop” widely admired and one of the best-known police officers in Sweden; his wife, Julia, is the prime suspect. The two women, Julia and Anna, are closely connected, close friends having both entered the Police Academy nearly a decade earlier and both serving for years as neighborhood police officers in Stockholm. Scenes alternate between the two plot lines and the two protagonists, Annika and Nina, often within the same chapters (which I sometimes found a bit disorienting). The investigations of both crimes take unexpected turns, and develop another recurring theme, as stated by the author: “Was there any hope for humanity at all with so much evil everywhere?” and “If everything’s going to hell, I think human beings are capable of absolutely anything.” As Annika’s own investigation continues, she is told: “Are you really sure you want to know? Are you willing to pay the price of knowing? Believe me, it isn’t worth it.” But the reader surely will want to know, and the plot is carefully constructed and moves briskly along.
I read this novel having just returned from Stockholm (using a Stockholm-imprinted bookmark), and delighted in finding much familiar here. Beyond that, of course, the writing was terrific, the protagonists wonderfully well-drawn, and the book is recommended.
August 26, 2017
My exploration of Scandinavian mystery writers continued with this entry by the exotic Swedish author, Liza Marklund. She has racked up a number of best sellers in Sweden, mostly featuring reporter Annika Bengzton. As we join the action, Bengzton’s friend and police officer Nina Hoffman has received first call to a murder involving police hero and friend of hers, David Lindholm. His son has been captured and his wife, Julia, is hysterical, claiming there was a woman who was involved. Unfortunately, Julia, a former police officer herself and also friend of Nina’s, reported her police pistol missing several months before but it has now turned up as the murder weapon. In addition, Annika’s house has burned completely to the ground and her husband, Thomas, is involved in an affair with Sophia, a small-breasted snob from the upper crust of Stockholm society. (She wears French silk bras.) All these factors resonate through the book and, to some readers, may seem like filler as Annika ruminates on her misfortune as well as on the Lindholm case. She figures Julia is innocent but a series of prior psychological breakdowns and her current one get in the way of her clearing her friend. Even Nina, also a friend, believes Julia will get a life sentence. In the meantime, Thomas, the philanderer, is working on an economic study of the costs of installing a new life sentence option for Sweden and has discovered that automatic and non-appealable life sentences would cost the Swedish public a lot of money. Annika get a series of breaks from her editor, Schyman, though none from a man who serves as ombudsman (also convinced of Julia’s guilt) a man known only as “Q.” Annika, even though threatened with harm if she continues, carries on, of course, until the case is solved and justice, more or less, is done to the participants. There are some dull moments in the middle where Annika is considering her misfortune and thinking about things other than the case, but the pace picks up after the lulls and moves to a satisfactory conclusion. Since this is the first Marklund offering I have read, I have others to explore in the future and will look forward to doing so. The mix of detective work, inner workings of the Swedish justice system and journalism business are intriguing additions to the crime itself. Recommended.
June 10, 2015
Liza Marklund's news reporter-cum-Inspector Detective-Annika Bengzton is hugely likable - meaning she gets the kinds of results or better that many fictional DCI's do, but struggles with issues any contemporary woman can relate to.
Her rage at her ex-husband's shacking up with a rich, beautiful vapid new lover is expressed in hilarious ways, and her resiliance in the face of the bitter failures in her life seem all too familiar. Annika habitually refers to her husband's new lover as 'Sophia Fucking Bitch Grenborg', even to the point of being infantile. But, after all, there is something endearing and human about a writer who risks alienating her readers by going over the top now and then. Liza Marklund's major ACE is Annika ... Without her, I suspect this crime series would be less than stellar.
Her books are located in Stockholm, one of my favorite cities, and I confess that I like to pull out my Stockholm map to plot her progress through its streets: Gamla Stan, Sodermalm, Kungsholmen, etc. Admittedly, this would not be every reader's cup of tea. However, Marklund's descriptive writing and love for Stockholm are showcased happily: descriptions of streets, winter weather, and main characters are atmospheric evoking the specific world of Scandinavia and its people.
The plot of 'Lifetime' is solid, FAST-PACED, and fascinating. It involves a network of organized crime figures that've wormed their way into the police force; thus solving the murder of one David Lindholm, a Police Detective, involves investigating crime networks that reach to the coast of Costa del Sol, Spain, and back. Personal and professional lives are woven together in treacherous ways.
You can follow Annika Bengzton through the Swedish TV series starring Malin Crépin, available on DVD (they're lots of fun but very abbreviated) or read the books. I prefer both; the more I get of Stockholm, the happier I am.
Her rage at her ex-husband's shacking up with a rich, beautiful vapid new lover is expressed in hilarious ways, and her resiliance in the face of the bitter failures in her life seem all too familiar. Annika habitually refers to her husband's new lover as 'Sophia Fucking Bitch Grenborg', even to the point of being infantile. But, after all, there is something endearing and human about a writer who risks alienating her readers by going over the top now and then. Liza Marklund's major ACE is Annika ... Without her, I suspect this crime series would be less than stellar.
Her books are located in Stockholm, one of my favorite cities, and I confess that I like to pull out my Stockholm map to plot her progress through its streets: Gamla Stan, Sodermalm, Kungsholmen, etc. Admittedly, this would not be every reader's cup of tea. However, Marklund's descriptive writing and love for Stockholm are showcased happily: descriptions of streets, winter weather, and main characters are atmospheric evoking the specific world of Scandinavia and its people.
The plot of 'Lifetime' is solid, FAST-PACED, and fascinating. It involves a network of organized crime figures that've wormed their way into the police force; thus solving the murder of one David Lindholm, a Police Detective, involves investigating crime networks that reach to the coast of Costa del Sol, Spain, and back. Personal and professional lives are woven together in treacherous ways.
You can follow Annika Bengzton through the Swedish TV series starring Malin Crépin, available on DVD (they're lots of fun but very abbreviated) or read the books. I prefer both; the more I get of Stockholm, the happier I am.
Read
June 26, 2015Author Liza Marklund has been called the “Queen of Scandinavian crime fiction” and once you read “Lifetime,” her latest book, you’ll see why. Marklund has over 9 million copies of her books in print in over 30 languages along with a major movie deal. Liza Marklund’s writing pops like a Super Aegis 2 machine gun.
Following the theme that people are not always what they appear to be, former tabloid journalist Marklund starts the story with a police officer finding one of their own naked in his bed riddled with bullets with his spaced-out wife rocking on the floor near him. There is also the main character, newspaper reporter Annika Bengtzon, running with her children away from a house that is burning down. Both of these set-ups are certainly strong enough to get your attention. As the novel progresses, the wife of the police detective appears to be guilty of his murder and the disappearance of their only child, but reporter Bengtzon doesn’t believe it to be true and sets off on a one-woman, tenancious mission to prove the wife’s innocence.
Newspaper woman Bengtzon’s life is falling apart. The new case seems to give her life meaning when all other meaning seems to be leaving it. She is a strong-willed woman – not always likeable – and, because she is strong, much is piled upon her. And she can take it. All this creates an intriguing depth of character as author Marklund juggles personal and professional crisis. The mystery plot closes nicely, but the personal tribulations will make you long for the release of the next novel. And plot-twist endings are always nice.
Unsung hero Neil Smith does a great job translating.
My Review of Lifetime on Killer Nashville
My Other Reviews on Killer Nashville
Following the theme that people are not always what they appear to be, former tabloid journalist Marklund starts the story with a police officer finding one of their own naked in his bed riddled with bullets with his spaced-out wife rocking on the floor near him. There is also the main character, newspaper reporter Annika Bengtzon, running with her children away from a house that is burning down. Both of these set-ups are certainly strong enough to get your attention. As the novel progresses, the wife of the police detective appears to be guilty of his murder and the disappearance of their only child, but reporter Bengtzon doesn’t believe it to be true and sets off on a one-woman, tenancious mission to prove the wife’s innocence.
Newspaper woman Bengtzon’s life is falling apart. The new case seems to give her life meaning when all other meaning seems to be leaving it. She is a strong-willed woman – not always likeable – and, because she is strong, much is piled upon her. And she can take it. All this creates an intriguing depth of character as author Marklund juggles personal and professional crisis. The mystery plot closes nicely, but the personal tribulations will make you long for the release of the next novel. And plot-twist endings are always nice.
Unsung hero Neil Smith does a great job translating.
My Review of Lifetime on Killer Nashville
My Other Reviews on Killer Nashville
July 10, 2013
I have enjoyed some other Scandinavian mystery/detective writers in the past, so when I saw this book in our local public library, I decided to give it a try.
One thing that these Scandinavian authors appear to have in common is that they seem to have a dark image of what society is like in their country. This one is no exception. The characters are all flawed in relatively major ways. For example, the main character, Annika, a journalist, is experiencing serious problems in her marriage, but still (for a time) clings to her love for her husband, even though it is evident that he only thinks of himself and his sexy rich mistress, treats his wife terribly, and doesn't seem capable of handling his very young kids. When burned out of her house, Annika seems to be incapable of rational thought (I suppose this could be explained as shock), and displays a degree of helplessness that is in contrast to her dogged and courageous attempts to uncover facts relating to a murder that everyone else thinks is obviously done by the victim's wife.
All the other characters also seem to be seriously flawed in different (or similar) ways; there's not a single good character among them. Is life in Scandinavia really this bad? I suspect not. (Yes, I know that many American and British crime novelists portray the seamier side of their respective societies, but somehow they seem not quite so dark -- and my impression of Scandinavia is rather higher than UK and US societies; perhaps I am too naive?)
Despite the above comments, I found this book to be good; it certainly kept me engrossed and turning pages. There wasn't really a mystery to be solved at the end, but the resolution was fine.
I will likely look for other books by this author (and I know there are others).
One thing that these Scandinavian authors appear to have in common is that they seem to have a dark image of what society is like in their country. This one is no exception. The characters are all flawed in relatively major ways. For example, the main character, Annika, a journalist, is experiencing serious problems in her marriage, but still (for a time) clings to her love for her husband, even though it is evident that he only thinks of himself and his sexy rich mistress, treats his wife terribly, and doesn't seem capable of handling his very young kids. When burned out of her house, Annika seems to be incapable of rational thought (I suppose this could be explained as shock), and displays a degree of helplessness that is in contrast to her dogged and courageous attempts to uncover facts relating to a murder that everyone else thinks is obviously done by the victim's wife.
All the other characters also seem to be seriously flawed in different (or similar) ways; there's not a single good character among them. Is life in Scandinavia really this bad? I suspect not. (Yes, I know that many American and British crime novelists portray the seamier side of their respective societies, but somehow they seem not quite so dark -- and my impression of Scandinavia is rather higher than UK and US societies; perhaps I am too naive?)
Despite the above comments, I found this book to be good; it certainly kept me engrossed and turning pages. There wasn't really a mystery to be solved at the end, but the resolution was fine.
I will likely look for other books by this author (and I know there are others).
July 11, 2013
Just like life: sometimes messy and confusing with no neat endings tied up in a bow.
This is my first acquaintance with journalist Annike Bengtzon and I liked her very much. As LIFETIME is the 7 th in the series I wasn't always certain about some of the references but that didnt matter.
There are two main threads of the book; both equally as riveting. Newly separated Annike's flat is set on fire and she only just escapes with her children. Annike is horrified when she realises that police suspect her of arson. She is homeless, the insurance company is refusing to pay out and things are very fraught with her husband who decides he wants full custody of the children There is also a police officer Annike once worked with whose husband is murdered. She is arrested and charged. But did she do it. If that's not enough the paper where she works is planning more staff reductions. It's with this backdrop that Annike undertakes an investigation into the woman charged with murder.
Is there a single Scandanavian crime writer who doesn't write brilliantly? Perhaps its those long cold winters stuck inside that gives them more time to write. I liked LIFETIME a geat deal. Annike is very human and a flawed one at that. She makes mistakes, does silly things then regrets it and struggles with life like the rest of us. I found her exasperating at times but that made me like her even more. Marklund could never be accused of being kind to her characters. She does put them through the mill at times. The ending isn't all that neat and there is a twist at the very end that I didn't see coming at all and the resolution came close to raising more questions than it answered and I liked that. Just like life. Not neat, not always pretty but never dull.
This is my first acquaintance with journalist Annike Bengtzon and I liked her very much. As LIFETIME is the 7 th in the series I wasn't always certain about some of the references but that didnt matter.
There are two main threads of the book; both equally as riveting. Newly separated Annike's flat is set on fire and she only just escapes with her children. Annike is horrified when she realises that police suspect her of arson. She is homeless, the insurance company is refusing to pay out and things are very fraught with her husband who decides he wants full custody of the children There is also a police officer Annike once worked with whose husband is murdered. She is arrested and charged. But did she do it. If that's not enough the paper where she works is planning more staff reductions. It's with this backdrop that Annike undertakes an investigation into the woman charged with murder.
Is there a single Scandanavian crime writer who doesn't write brilliantly? Perhaps its those long cold winters stuck inside that gives them more time to write. I liked LIFETIME a geat deal. Annike is very human and a flawed one at that. She makes mistakes, does silly things then regrets it and struggles with life like the rest of us. I found her exasperating at times but that made me like her even more. Marklund could never be accused of being kind to her characters. She does put them through the mill at times. The ending isn't all that neat and there is a twist at the very end that I didn't see coming at all and the resolution came close to raising more questions than it answered and I liked that. Just like life. Not neat, not always pretty but never dull.
October 8, 2020
Liza Marklund's 'Livstid' is an intense novel, centered around a bloody murder - a highly appreciated policeman all over Sweden. All his colleagues and the entire public opinion condamn the victim's wife, especially because they had marital problems, she seemed to be psychically unstable, and their 4 years boy is missing and, finally, considered to be dead, killed by his mother.
The jurnalistic enquiry of the main character, Annika Bengtzon, is very difficult to be conducted, the journalist being the only one to consider the accused not guilty, and her efforts (very well surprised by the author) being knitted with personal crises that she is confronted, one after another - her house is set on fire, her best friend refuses to lodge her and her two children (saved from the fire, but remained with nothing), her husband leaves her for his mistress and acuse her of setting the fire, then following the on-going divorce, the children's custody, with all its associated problems, the menaces and the aggression of thosr who wanted her giving up, but also the restructures and the staff reduces at the newspaper' editorial office.
But Annika is an intelligent, powerful, and resistant woman, who finds her balance and her support both in her professional activity, which she is developing with passion and trust in her own capability, and in her love for her children.
Finally, a lot of things are being clarified, but others leave questions without answers. But the reader knows that the Annika Bengtzon seria continues, so hope remains. Therefore... I can't wait to read the next novel - '"En Plats I Solen" ('A place in the sun')!
The jurnalistic enquiry of the main character, Annika Bengtzon, is very difficult to be conducted, the journalist being the only one to consider the accused not guilty, and her efforts (very well surprised by the author) being knitted with personal crises that she is confronted, one after another - her house is set on fire, her best friend refuses to lodge her and her two children (saved from the fire, but remained with nothing), her husband leaves her for his mistress and acuse her of setting the fire, then following the on-going divorce, the children's custody, with all its associated problems, the menaces and the aggression of thosr who wanted her giving up, but also the restructures and the staff reduces at the newspaper' editorial office.
But Annika is an intelligent, powerful, and resistant woman, who finds her balance and her support both in her professional activity, which she is developing with passion and trust in her own capability, and in her love for her children.
Finally, a lot of things are being clarified, but others leave questions without answers. But the reader knows that the Annika Bengtzon seria continues, so hope remains. Therefore... I can't wait to read the next novel - '"En Plats I Solen" ('A place in the sun')!
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February 2, 2014Lifetime, by Liza Marklund, a-minus,Narrated by India Fisher, Produced by Brilliance Audio, Downloaded from audible.com.
This is the seventh in the Annika Bengtzen series. Inspector Nina Hofman is called to the scene of a crime. It turns out to be a fellow cop and his wife, who is a friend of hers. The cop, David is dead in his bed shot through the heart and with his testicles shot off. His wife Julia, is wandering around almost insane from terror and grief. She keeps repeating that a woman came in, killed David and kidnapped their 4-year-old son,Alexander. Alexander is gone, but everything points to Julia being the killer. She is also a former cop and her service revolver was used in the shooting. Annika hears about the crime and being a good reporter, begins the process of finding out everything she can. She worked one other case in which both Inspector Hofman and Julia were involved, so she has some connections that other reporters don’t have. She believes Julia to be innocent of the crime, but she’s the only one. This is a chilling fast-paced thriller in which Annika again and againputs her neck out to find out more information, and ultimately she solves the crime. We also have the resolution of her marriage involved in this book, something that has been coming on for some time. Very good.
This is the seventh in the Annika Bengtzen series. Inspector Nina Hofman is called to the scene of a crime. It turns out to be a fellow cop and his wife, who is a friend of hers. The cop, David is dead in his bed shot through the heart and with his testicles shot off. His wife Julia, is wandering around almost insane from terror and grief. She keeps repeating that a woman came in, killed David and kidnapped their 4-year-old son,Alexander. Alexander is gone, but everything points to Julia being the killer. She is also a former cop and her service revolver was used in the shooting. Annika hears about the crime and being a good reporter, begins the process of finding out everything she can. She worked one other case in which both Inspector Hofman and Julia were involved, so she has some connections that other reporters don’t have. She believes Julia to be innocent of the crime, but she’s the only one. This is a chilling fast-paced thriller in which Annika again and againputs her neck out to find out more information, and ultimately she solves the crime. We also have the resolution of her marriage involved in this book, something that has been coming on for some time. Very good.
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