What do you think?
Rate this book
Anders Knutas #6
Den mörka ängeln
Reckless in the grip of passion, a successful event planner leaves his wife and children for his new lover. When he turns up murdered after a big night out, the spurned wife is a natural suspect.
But the motive widens when three cottages are set on fire in the peaceful vacation destination of Gotland Island. In order for Detective Anders Knutas to catch the killer, he must unravel the truth that lies hidden at the heart of a broken family--and face secrets of his own.
But the motive widens when three cottages are set on fire in the peaceful vacation destination of Gotland Island. In order for Detective Anders Knutas to catch the killer, he must unravel the truth that lies hidden at the heart of a broken family--and face secrets of his own.
315 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
40 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
Mari Jungstedt
32 books465 followersMari Jungstedt is a Swedish journalist and popular crime fiction author.
Jungstedt worked as a reporter on Swedish national public radio and television, and was an occasional presenter on TV4's daily talk show Förkväll.
Her first three novels are set on the island of Gotland and feature Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas and the journalist Johan Berg. Two of her novels were filmed for Swedish TV, and her work has been translated into English by Tiina Nunnally.
Mari Jungstedt lives in Stockholm. Her husband comes from Visby, Gotland, and they spend their summers on Gotland.
Series:
* Anders Knutas
* Málagasviten
Jungstedt worked as a reporter on Swedish national public radio and television, and was an occasional presenter on TV4's daily talk show Förkväll.
Her first three novels are set on the island of Gotland and feature Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas and the journalist Johan Berg. Two of her novels were filmed for Swedish TV, and her work has been translated into English by Tiina Nunnally.
Mari Jungstedt lives in Stockholm. Her husband comes from Visby, Gotland, and they spend their summers on Gotland.
Series:
* Anders Knutas
* Málagasviten
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
February 12, 2018
3 de 5 estrellas ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (me ha gustado 🙂)
La sexta novela del comisario Knutas. Es una intriga sencilla, sin grandes giros ni sorpresas pero me ha parecido agradable y me he divertido.
La sexta novela del comisario Knutas. Es una intriga sencilla, sin grandes giros ni sorpresas pero me ha parecido agradable y me he divertido.
September 12, 2012
A good traditional whodunnit. 6th outing for Anders Knutas and his team; all the main characters are involved and time given to allow their back stories to be developed further.
This is an old fashioned crime mystery, well written as the detectives rush to find a killer before they strike again.
I really like this author, her detectives are realistic and human and try to maintain an open mind and exclude no clue or potential suspect.
It also focuses on families, for good or ill and makes your reflect on your own relationships.
This is an old fashioned crime mystery, well written as the detectives rush to find a killer before they strike again.
I really like this author, her detectives are realistic and human and try to maintain an open mind and exclude no clue or potential suspect.
It also focuses on families, for good or ill and makes your reflect on your own relationships.
July 5, 2014
I was impressed with the way the whole story unfolded. And Karin's confession to Knutus was a heartbreaker.
August 28, 2022
Skön chill sommarläsning, men väckte absolut inga känslor hos mig. har tidigare läst böcker av Jungstedt, och tyckt de varit spännande men denna kanske blir den sista.
April 14, 2017
I have read and enjoyed the previous 5 books in the series but I feel Dark Angel is a bit of a letdown. The plot - the poisoning of a local events planner - is extremely thin and could have been solved in a novella, maybe even a short story, if the police had done thorough background checks, which, obviously as a plot device, they didn't so we are left with a slim narrative padded with alternate chapters of somebody's miserable childhood. It all becomes clear about half way through but up until then seems meaningless and pointless. Normally I enjoy the mixture of home and work life in a police procedural but it's all becoming a bit too "right on" and politically correct for me as Knutas worries about not connecting with his 16 year old son and feels guilty for the one time he pulls him up - I'm sure we've all felt it but going on about it doesn't make for good reading. Lastly, I feel that Johan and Emma are now superfluous as characters and add little to the plot. This is not a bad book it's just not great.
July 22, 2012
Jeg elsker Mari Jungstedt, og ogsaa denne gang gik det hurtigt med at læse bogen, fordi den var god.
En' ting irriterede mig dog grænseløst.
Da morderen er på cafe'en, bliver der igen og igen sagt han ikke sagde et ord. Alligevel bestilte han et stykke kage og en ramlose. Og så må han jo unægeligt alligevel have sagt et par ord...
En' ting irriterede mig dog grænseløst.
Da morderen er på cafe'en, bliver der igen og igen sagt han ikke sagde et ord. Alligevel bestilte han et stykke kage og en ramlose. Og så må han jo unægeligt alligevel have sagt et par ord...
September 1, 2015
Book six in a series that ought to be read in order. New cases but same main characters makes things really messed up if you read them in another order.
The case in this one didn't really catch or intrigue me but I liked the character-build going on in this book.
The case in this one didn't really catch or intrigue me but I liked the character-build going on in this book.
December 29, 2014
A well written mystery set in Gotland, Sweden, this book offers a murder that is influenced by events that took place many years before. It is the latest book in the series by the author with Detective Anders Knutas.
April 15, 2023
Aprobado. Sin mucho más que añadir...
Dos asesinatos aparentemente no relacionados, ningún sospechoso y un grupo de policías con problemas personales.
Es una historia entretenida (a ratos) y con una ambientación muy diferente a la que estoy acostumbrada: un punto a su favor. Pero nada más 😶🌫️
También tengo que decir que quizás no me gustó tanto como cabría esperar ya que lo leí en un formato ebook muy mal editado y me costó un poco centrar a los personajes 😩
Dos asesinatos aparentemente no relacionados, ningún sospechoso y un grupo de policías con problemas personales.
Es una historia entretenida (a ratos) y con una ambientación muy diferente a la que estoy acostumbrada: un punto a su favor. Pero nada más 😶🌫️
También tengo que decir que quizás no me gustó tanto como cabría esperar ya que lo leí en un formato ebook muy mal editado y me costó un poco centrar a los personajes 😩
December 30, 2021
La literatura policiaca escandinava ha sido un descubrimiento en los últimos tiempos, sobre todo porque ha venido a echar abajo el mito de que en esos países todo es perfecto. En este libro, que forma parte de una serie ambientada en la isla de Gotland, nos muestra una sociedad pequeña, donde todo mundo se conoce más o menos, y en la que sin embargo hay un problema grave relacionado con la violencia de los jóvenes y las familias disfuncionales. La autora interrelaciona la vida personal de sus personajes (dos policías y un periodista) con una intriga que muestra las problemáticas de una cultura que, si bien ha logrado trascender en apariencia los limitantes ideológicos de la religión calvinista, no ha logrado superar ciertos comportamientos y actitudes que se han quedado como una herencia dentro de la mentalidad colectiva.
August 26, 2024
Bra bok, skildrar en tragisk historia om en splittrad familj och hur livet artar sig för samtliga syskon. Som alltid i Mari Jubgdtedts blcker är mördaren alltid helt oväntad, gör att boken blir spännande från början till slut.
January 15, 2020
Doordat je af en toe met de dader meeleest, word je steeds nieuwsgieriger.
October 29, 2021
Jungsted tarjoilee perusvarmaa perinteistä dekkaria ja se toimi sateisen mökkireissun ratoksi vallan hyvin. Henkilökaarti ei ärsytä ja juonen kuljetus on vaivatonta, ei valittamista.
April 29, 2022
Precis som de tidigare delarna spännande från början till slut.
January 6, 2025
Verhaallijnen van verschillende personen lopen door elkaar heen, wat voor mij soms wat verwarrend was. Het verhaal is wel heel realistisch geschreven, bevat leuke plot twists en een spannend einde.
October 12, 2017
Novela negra pura y dura que me ha durado un suspiro. Se lee muy fácil y me ha enganchado
May 31, 2020
Riktigt bra deckare. Glad att jag återupptäckt serien. Nu ska jag läsa nästa bok direkt!
September 4, 2021
Que enganche de libros d verdad,no pensaba que iba a poder leerlos seguidos pq son muchos pero soy incapaz de parar,me encantan
Muy recomendable
Muy recomendable
October 1, 2018
Nova aventura, la sisena ja, del comissari Knutas, que en aquesta ocasió ha d’investigar l’assassinat del popular organitzador d’actes Viktor Algard, que ha aparegut mort l’endemà d’una de les seves ostentoses recepcions, per la inauguració d’un nou centre de convencions, a la que el propi comissari havia assistit. Aviat sorgeixen els dubtes de si els fets poden tenir res a veure amb la brutal pallissa que havia rebut un adolescent pocs dies abans en una de les festes per a joves que Algard organitzava en els seus locals.
Una història policíaca que es llegeix amb interès, com totes les anteriors. Capítols curtets, que ens van donant la visió de diferents personatges, i una història poc cruenta, apta per a tothom. A més, es pot llegir de manera individual, sense conèixer les anteriors protagonitzades pel comissari Knutas.
Una història policíaca que es llegeix amb interès, com totes les anteriors. Capítols curtets, que ens van donant la visió de diferents personatges, i una història poc cruenta, apta per a tothom. A més, es pot llegir de manera individual, sense conèixer les anteriors protagonitzades pel comissari Knutas.
July 6, 2014
Is it just me or are a lot of Scandinavian writer obsessed with damaged people? I've read a number of different writers who all feature a nameless person talking about his mother or father or both who abused him physically and/or mentally. Maybe they don't have any other kind of crime there? Or perhaps their readers just love this stuff. Actually I did too, but it was really intense. This is not the first book by this author, so I do have some catching up to do. The books take place on Gotland Island and feature Inspector Anders Knutas happily married and the father of twins. There has been an uptick of violence among teenagers that is bewildering to a lot of people. Kids are drinking and having violent fights. A boy who was a friend of his children is lying in a coma after being beaten. Then a local developer and event planner is murdered. Suspicion first goes to his wife whom he was planning on divorcing. In between we read the voice of an unknown figure who talks about his childhood with an abusive mother. It didn't take much to figure out what was going on here although there were quite a few surprises nevertheless. I'll definitely be reading the earlier books so I can do a catch up on her main character though. Good read all around!
January 3, 2015
While ostensibly a murder mystery in the small Swedish town in which the Anders Knutas series is located, the theme running through the novel is the effect of a mother’s attitudes on her children, and the detective’s relationship with his son. The mystery concerns who killed event planner Viktor Algard with poison the night of the successful party opening a new conference center.
Initially, the question which arose was whether the murderer could have been someone who objected to the construction of the building. Then news that Viktor took on a new lover and told his wife he wanted a divorce results in additional suspects. First, of course, is the wife. Then when it was learned that the drink containing the poison was intended for the mistress, suspicion fell on her when she conveniently gave the glass to Viktor when she went to the ladies room.
Knutas has his work cut out for him, as he tries to discover the truth of a mixed-up family and their attitude toward the mistress, and face his own problems with his son. It is an interesting juxtaposition in a tight plot which moves forward at a rapid pace.
Recommended.
Initially, the question which arose was whether the murderer could have been someone who objected to the construction of the building. Then news that Viktor took on a new lover and told his wife he wanted a divorce results in additional suspects. First, of course, is the wife. Then when it was learned that the drink containing the poison was intended for the mistress, suspicion fell on her when she conveniently gave the glass to Viktor when she went to the ladies room.
Knutas has his work cut out for him, as he tries to discover the truth of a mixed-up family and their attitude toward the mistress, and face his own problems with his son. It is an interesting juxtaposition in a tight plot which moves forward at a rapid pace.
Recommended.
June 19, 2021
Lättläst och svår att släppa, de parallella historierna höjer spänningen. Kände denna var ett snäpp bättre än föregångaren, förmodligen har det att göra med att det är mindre kärleksdrama mellan Emma och Johan i denna, tack och lov för det.
Äntligen får vi veta mer om Karins förflutna, jag såg inte det komma. Jag gillar henne som karaktär så det var intressant att äntligen få veta mer om henne.
Äntligen får vi veta mer om Karins förflutna, jag såg inte det komma. Jag gillar henne som karaktär så det var intressant att äntligen få veta mer om henne.
May 27, 2014
I don't know how it happened but I'm starting to like the series quite a bit.
The characters, the locale, the past, the passions and other forces driving the characters to do what they are about to. Good stuff.
The characters, the locale, the past, the passions and other forces driving the characters to do what they are about to. Good stuff.
August 9, 2016
I read this in Enlish, but the search wouldn't find the English version. I really like this series set on the Swedish island of Gotland. Johan's ups and downs with Emma need to butt out of the series, but otherwise it's pretty good.
March 30, 2017
Mira que me gusta bastante esta escritora y me entretiene, pero este libro ha sido demasiado evidente desde la mitad, y eso que yo no soy la más avispada para darse cuenta de estas cosas. Pero este volumen en concreto demasiado predecible.
January 4, 2017
Bra bok. Väldigt lättläst och en bra story helt enkelt.
December 19, 2017
Hasta el final con la intriga ¡Uauh!. Y cada vez nos cuentan más cosas de los protagonistas y sus familias.
November 6, 2018
Addictive & absorbing: the Anders Knutas Crime thrillers are a must read:
The Anders Knutas Series, written by Mari Jungstedt and translated from the Swedish to English by Tiina Nunnally, is an addictive nine-book series for reader who are captivated, like me, with Crime Mysteries and Thrillers.
My review is of the entire series, which I have just newly finished. From "Unseen", the first novel in the series, to "The Fourth Victim", the ninth novel, each boast superb plots, twists and turns and fabulously intriguing characters. I have no intention of summarising each book's plot: they each contain a brief summary inside the fly cover. Personally I avoid reading the summary, as I feel it gives too much away about the content of the novel. Other readers might find the summary useful. The publishers clearly think so.
The strength of the series is such that no one book is better than another: they are each a brilliant and totally absorbing read. As with other Swedish writers of this genre the novels are so distinctively different from English and American novels of the same ilk.
The series is based on the picturesque island of Gotland, Sweden's largest island and the annual summer influx of masses of tourists makes for an interesting setting. The capital of Gotland is Visby, which possesses an excellently preserved medieval wall, as well as most of the Island's native population (and crime). It is around Visby that the novels are largely centred. The author, Mari Jungstedt, makes full use of the Island's variable geography, rural economy and proximity to other Baltic counties in the books. The Island's very changeable seasonal weather is also used by the author to good effect from novel to novel.
The characters are very much three-dimensional, as are their lives and relationships with one another. These relationships can become complex at times which only adds spice to the stories.
There are four main characters: Chief Superintendent Anders Knutas (or "Knutie" as he is affectionately known to some, much to his annoyance); Karin Jacobsson (Knutas's Deputy); Johan Berg (Regional TV Reporter for Swedish TV) and Pia, Johan's very ambitious photographer, who will stop at nothing to get the best photo or film footage.
The novels can be read independently, as they each contain sufficient information about earlier events, to prevent the reader from getting lost. However, in my view, they are best read in sequence to fully grasp the development of both characters and relationships.
The variety and originality of the plots (and sub-plots) makes this one of the best crime series written by a Swedish author. Let's face it, the Swedes boast an abundance of literary talent in this field, and Mari Jungstedt is at the very top of the crop of their talented authors.
Buy a copy of "Unseen" and start reading. I fell for Jungstedt's easy flowing distinctive narrative from the start and then ploughed my way through all, currently translated, books in the series.
Unfortunately the books aren't cheap to buy (not at the date of this review anyway), either in paperback or Kindle, which is a pity since it makes them less affordable and hence accessible to all readers. I was lucky, as my local library had every book available to read in electronic form via Borrowbox.
But even at the prices quoted on Amazon you are guaranteed novels of quality. And, as Amazon point out, the price is set by the publisher, not Amazon themselves.
A treat to read, each novel is fully deserving of the Five Star rating I have given them. I am certain that you will agree.
The Anders Knutas Series, written by Mari Jungstedt and translated from the Swedish to English by Tiina Nunnally, is an addictive nine-book series for reader who are captivated, like me, with Crime Mysteries and Thrillers.
My review is of the entire series, which I have just newly finished. From "Unseen", the first novel in the series, to "The Fourth Victim", the ninth novel, each boast superb plots, twists and turns and fabulously intriguing characters. I have no intention of summarising each book's plot: they each contain a brief summary inside the fly cover. Personally I avoid reading the summary, as I feel it gives too much away about the content of the novel. Other readers might find the summary useful. The publishers clearly think so.
The strength of the series is such that no one book is better than another: they are each a brilliant and totally absorbing read. As with other Swedish writers of this genre the novels are so distinctively different from English and American novels of the same ilk.
The series is based on the picturesque island of Gotland, Sweden's largest island and the annual summer influx of masses of tourists makes for an interesting setting. The capital of Gotland is Visby, which possesses an excellently preserved medieval wall, as well as most of the Island's native population (and crime). It is around Visby that the novels are largely centred. The author, Mari Jungstedt, makes full use of the Island's variable geography, rural economy and proximity to other Baltic counties in the books. The Island's very changeable seasonal weather is also used by the author to good effect from novel to novel.
The characters are very much three-dimensional, as are their lives and relationships with one another. These relationships can become complex at times which only adds spice to the stories.
There are four main characters: Chief Superintendent Anders Knutas (or "Knutie" as he is affectionately known to some, much to his annoyance); Karin Jacobsson (Knutas's Deputy); Johan Berg (Regional TV Reporter for Swedish TV) and Pia, Johan's very ambitious photographer, who will stop at nothing to get the best photo or film footage.
The novels can be read independently, as they each contain sufficient information about earlier events, to prevent the reader from getting lost. However, in my view, they are best read in sequence to fully grasp the development of both characters and relationships.
The variety and originality of the plots (and sub-plots) makes this one of the best crime series written by a Swedish author. Let's face it, the Swedes boast an abundance of literary talent in this field, and Mari Jungstedt is at the very top of the crop of their talented authors.
Buy a copy of "Unseen" and start reading. I fell for Jungstedt's easy flowing distinctive narrative from the start and then ploughed my way through all, currently translated, books in the series.
Unfortunately the books aren't cheap to buy (not at the date of this review anyway), either in paperback or Kindle, which is a pity since it makes them less affordable and hence accessible to all readers. I was lucky, as my local library had every book available to read in electronic form via Borrowbox.
But even at the prices quoted on Amazon you are guaranteed novels of quality. And, as Amazon point out, the price is set by the publisher, not Amazon themselves.
A treat to read, each novel is fully deserving of the Five Star rating I have given them. I am certain that you will agree.
May 12, 2023
Dark Angel by Mari Jungstedt is the 6th book of the Anders Knutas mystery series set primarily on Gotland island in Sweden. Anders Knutas heads the detective team in Visby on Gotland. He's troubled by the rising violence among teenagers. A recent brawl outside a nightclub put one teen in a coma. Anders plans to start a task force to address the trend, but first his team must investigate a murder.
Viktor Algard was poisoned at a gala he organized to celebrate the opening of a convention center. Its construction had been controversial. Viktor had enemies; most recently, he was blamed for the teen violence outside his nightclub. Viktor's club had special party nights for minors. Although Viktor's club did not officially serve alcohol to minors, they didn't frisk the minors who entered. The parties always had drunk children and brawls.
Viktor had put another event organizer out of business. They're widely known as bitter enemies, so he's the first suspect. But then Anders intuits the poison could have been meant for someone else, Viktor's girlfriend. Following her first round of questioning, she flees. After the police find evidence to implicate her, they cannot find her - until a second attempt is made on her life.
Chapters occasionally alternate point of view to an unidentified person suffering from depression, reliving painful memories since childhood.
To his shock, Anders realizes he has lost touch with his own teenage children. Anders is too focused on work, and they resent it big-time. He's lost their trust and respect. How will he earn it back?
At work, Anders has noticed for months that his sidekick Karin is upset. She isn't sharing her personal issue with him, even when he asks. He's concerned for her. She's the best detective on the team; he would hate to lose her. Her eventual revelation is shattering news for Anders.
News reporter Johan, his photographer Pia, his wife Emma, and their daughter Elin are all back. Pia has an "inside" connection to the murder investigation (her boyfriend is a relative). Emma just happens to be the innocent bystander at the scene of the second murder.
Suspense builds to the second murder with a convincing red herring. The introduction of a new character very near the end of the book changes everything. (Isn't that "cheating" in a mystery?)
Viktor Algard was poisoned at a gala he organized to celebrate the opening of a convention center. Its construction had been controversial. Viktor had enemies; most recently, he was blamed for the teen violence outside his nightclub. Viktor's club had special party nights for minors. Although Viktor's club did not officially serve alcohol to minors, they didn't frisk the minors who entered. The parties always had drunk children and brawls.
Viktor had put another event organizer out of business. They're widely known as bitter enemies, so he's the first suspect. But then Anders intuits the poison could have been meant for someone else, Viktor's girlfriend. Following her first round of questioning, she flees. After the police find evidence to implicate her, they cannot find her - until a second attempt is made on her life.
Chapters occasionally alternate point of view to an unidentified person suffering from depression, reliving painful memories since childhood.
To his shock, Anders realizes he has lost touch with his own teenage children. Anders is too focused on work, and they resent it big-time. He's lost their trust and respect. How will he earn it back?
At work, Anders has noticed for months that his sidekick Karin is upset. She isn't sharing her personal issue with him, even when he asks. He's concerned for her. She's the best detective on the team; he would hate to lose her. Her eventual revelation is shattering news for Anders.
News reporter Johan, his photographer Pia, his wife Emma, and their daughter Elin are all back. Pia has an "inside" connection to the murder investigation (her boyfriend is a relative). Emma just happens to be the innocent bystander at the scene of the second murder.
Suspense builds to the second murder with a convincing red herring. The introduction of a new character very near the end of the book changes everything. (Isn't that "cheating" in a mystery?)
December 21, 2019
Fem ansikten:
DEN MÖRKA ÄNGELN
------
😍
Vi får äntligen höra mera om Karins förflutna. Hennes karriär sätts på prov tack vare hennes gärningar i den föregående boken.
Efter att ha gått leva ett relativt lugnt liv sedan första boken i serien, sätts Emmas liv återigen i fara.
Jungstedts handling är genuint överraskande, med några välplacerade svängar mot slutet av boken.
Efter en rad med rätt så typiska mordutredningar, känns både utredningen, mordsättet samt motivet fräscht.
Det hettar till i hemknutarna för Knutas, vilket äntligen ger mervärde för hans privatliv.
😃
Kapitlen skrivna i första person är de bäst lyckade kapitlen som Jungstedt hittills skrivit ur mördarens perspektiv.
Fungerande humor driver flera karaktärer, speciellt Johsn och Knutas, framåt.
Skönt att se Johan i en något mindre avgörande och mera avslappnad roll för omväxlingens skull.
😐
Utredningen står stilla och känns rutinerad under de första två tredjedelarna, innan en avgörande sväng plötsligt sätter fart på det hela.
Allt mera fokus sätts på Knutas och Karin. De övriga poliserna känns fortfarande som mindre viktiga karaktärer.
☹️
//
🤮
//
-----
Det sista ansiktet: 😃
DEN MÖRKA ÄNGELN
------
😍
Vi får äntligen höra mera om Karins förflutna. Hennes karriär sätts på prov tack vare hennes gärningar i den föregående boken.
Efter att ha gått leva ett relativt lugnt liv sedan första boken i serien, sätts Emmas liv återigen i fara.
Jungstedts handling är genuint överraskande, med några välplacerade svängar mot slutet av boken.
Efter en rad med rätt så typiska mordutredningar, känns både utredningen, mordsättet samt motivet fräscht.
Det hettar till i hemknutarna för Knutas, vilket äntligen ger mervärde för hans privatliv.
😃
Kapitlen skrivna i första person är de bäst lyckade kapitlen som Jungstedt hittills skrivit ur mördarens perspektiv.
Fungerande humor driver flera karaktärer, speciellt Johsn och Knutas, framåt.
Skönt att se Johan i en något mindre avgörande och mera avslappnad roll för omväxlingens skull.
😐
Utredningen står stilla och känns rutinerad under de första två tredjedelarna, innan en avgörande sväng plötsligt sätter fart på det hela.
Allt mera fokus sätts på Knutas och Karin. De övriga poliserna känns fortfarande som mindre viktiga karaktärer.
☹️
//
🤮
//
-----
Det sista ansiktet: 😃
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews