The Ice Swimmer

Oslo Detectives #8

by Kjell Ola Dahl, Don Bartlett (Translator)

When a dead man is lifted from the freezing waters of Oslo Harbour just before Christmas, Detective Lena Stigersand's stressful life suddenly becomes even more complicated. Not only is she dealing with a cancer scare, a stalker and an untrustworthy boyfriend, but it seems both a politician and Norway's security services might be involved in the murder. With her trusted colleagues, Gunnarstranda and Frølich, at her side, Lena digs deep into the case and finds that it not only goes to the heart of the Norwegian establishment, but it might be rather to close to her personal life for comfort.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Nordic Noir, Procedural, Noir

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Born in 1958, Dahl's first novel was published in 1993. He is best known for his series about Oslo detectives Frank Frølich and Inspector Gunnarstranda.

Also publishes as K.O. Dahl

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ice Swimmer is the latest in Kjell Ola Dahl’s Oslo Detective series, with a paperback publication date of October 1, 2018. (It's available on Kindle now.)

Warning to readers who prefer to start any series with Book #1: Of the first 7 books, 5 have been published in English and they were published in reverse order to their Swedish publication dates. The good news is that, even though this is a series, the books don’t focus on the same detective and the Ice Swimmer is the first novel to focus on detective, Lena Stigersand. Ice Swimmer is the only book I’ve read in the series and my first Kjell Ola Dahl novel, and I didn’t have any sense of missing background information or context at any point.

Ice Swimmer is a complex police procedural with a political conspiracy, a leak in the police department, competing jurisdictional battles between Swedish agencies with different agendas, a fling with a reporter, and multiple threats to Stigersand’s life thrown in for good measure. Within the first twenty pages, there are two dead bodies and others soon join them. Two of the bad guys are a tad one-dimensional, but Dahl knows where the line is and stops just short of it. He also manages to introduce a dozen or so characters without confusing the reader or requiring a white board to track relationships and roles. The mystery works.

There’s also an important storyline relating to Stigersand’s personal life, so be prepared for the occasional diversion from the core multiple murder investigation, multiple potential murderers and constant – and I do mean, constant – mentions of Swedish foods. You need to be at your most disciplined when reading The Ice Swimmer or you may find you’ve packed on a couple of pounds before you are done. One entire page is devoted to a detective’s recipe for fish soup. I predict that a sizeable contingent of readers will want to put the book down and start shopping for ingredients. As an American reader, I find these mentions to be a bonus. The Ice Swimmer has a strong sense of place. It could occur nowhere other than Sweden. But if you don’t know the streets, rivers and landscape, you might read past all of those grounding references and miss all of the landscape and culture that make The Ice Swimmer Swedish. You can’t ignore the food mentions, though, and who would want to? Here’s just one excerpt:

“...aquavit, lutefisk, creamed peas, roast pork and pork ribs, mutton ribs steamed for hours over beech twigs, sauerkraut with caraway, and puréed swede and pork sausages spiced with ginger, rounded off with floury potatoes, crowned with fresh coffee combined with the delicate odour of exclusive cognac.”

Oh, and it’s cold. The Ice Swimmer takes place in the days prior to Christmas. There’s not a lot of sunlight and cheer, although seasonal traditions and family expectations surround the characters.

Oddly, I recommend The Ice Swimmer as an ideal beach/weekend retreat book for fans of Nordic Noir who seek one. Often, series authors don’t get enough credit for simply producing good work. What’s not here is as important as what is – no over-the-top violence, no violence against children, no torture porn, no bombastic, ignorant head of the police department, no sexist colleagues. It’s not the best Swedish police procedural I’ve read this year or even terribly memorable, but Dahl’s done a serviceable job here and it’s always a plus to find a new Scandi author to add to my “good” list. When that author has a solid backlist of titles, it’s even more enjoyable.

Thanks to Orenda and Net Galley for a review copy.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, the tale weaves here was incredible. Dark mystery, a cancer scare, deceiving characters & a plot that thickens with every chapter! It doesn’t matter if you’ve read any others in this series, it’s fine as a standalone. I was absorbed in this from the first chapter & enjoyed it immensely.
Thanks to Orenda for this free copy:)

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just last year I was introduced property to the Nordic Noir genre and have fallen greatly in love. Despite my vast hunger to try and read all things in this genre, this is my first Kjell Ola Dahl. I was a little hesitant like I always am, walking into a series without reading from book one... and this is 8th in the Oslo Detectives series. No worries though! For those who may be hesitant, DON'T BE - this actually reads extremely well as a stand alone!

I actually am enthralled with Detective Lena's character. Girl has a LOT going on - the synopsis pretty much sums it up - cancer scare, crazy ex, weird, unreliable current and now a possible conspiracy. PHEW! Girl needs some Calgon to take her away.

I can most certainly see why this author is considered one of the godfathers of Nordic Noir. He spins his tale with ease and keeps you guessing up until the very end. Intricately plotted, this police procedural leaves no stone unturned and closes the case with a satisfying ending that leaves you satiated.

Thank you to Orenda Books for this copy!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about the Norwegian crime dramas that piques my interest every time and this one was a good one! This is a police procedural that gets pretty complicated and at times a little confusing, but once you get things sorted out in your head it is a good read. Lena Stigersand is an interesting detective who has just found out she has cancer as she is facing this very challenging case. Although I liked the character I found her a little strange. The very last scene in the book I found extremely strange and I really didn't like that part and just felt it was just too weird.

Thanks to Kjell Ola Dahl and Trafalgar Square Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found on noveldeelights.com

3.5* --> 4*

Despite the fact Kjell Ola Dahl is known as one of the godfathers of Nordic Noir and that I’ve had Faithless on my bookshelf for aeons, this is the first book I’ve read by him. While it says The Ice Swimmer is the eighth book in the Oslo Detectives series, don’t let that put you off as this reads perfectly well as a stand-alone and I never really felt I was missing out on anything.

It’s a busy day in the city of Oslo. The body of a man is lifted from the freezing waters of the harbour and a young woman has apparently taken her own life by jumping in front of a train. Things aren’t quite what they seem though. Detective Lena Stigersand is in charge of the first investigation, while her colleague Gunnarstranda looks into the second one. But Lena has a whole lot of other issues to deal with.

The Ice Swimmer is a truly cleverly plotted police procedural. What looks like a simple drowning quickly turns into a murky tale full of lies, deceit and corruption. Not only does it involve a high ranking politician, it even looks like someone close to Lena may somehow be involved. And why does it seem like someone is following her?

I must say this thrilling investigation kept me guessing throughout and it was a true delight seeing various threads come together at one point. But I also really enjoyed the glimpses into the team’s personal lives and the realistic touches, like spending long hours of boring stake-outs in the freezing cold Oslo winter.

It’s easy to see why Kjell Ola Dahl is so highly regarded in this genre. Yes, I may have stumbled over the Norwegian names a few times or gotten some characters confused with others but that’s hardly the author’s fault and it didn’t ruin my enjoyment at all. If anything, it required me to focus that little bit harder. Which you’d think would have helped me solve the case, but no. The reveals left me completely blindsided.

The Ice Swimmer is a twisty and incredibly well written story, full of suspense and intrigue and it had me glued to the pages. Of course, I must also mention the seamless translation by Don Bartlett. If you’re a fan of the Nordic Noir genre, you will undoubtedly enjoy this latest addition to the Oslo Detectives series!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it but did not love it. This was a seriously grim, violent and somewhat psychotic book to read on my birthday. But...it had a taste of Norwegian Christmas observances to help offset the Norwegian noir crime that included more than one psychotic person.
I don't think I will revisit the series for more, as the construction and delivery was very odd. There was clever plotting throughout, so this is not your average predictable crime book.
I am shivering here in some very cold weather and one particular scene of the young woman stripping and jumping into frigid lake after carving a hole was one ice cube too many.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot think of anything more terrifying than someone chasing me through the underground on and off trains, while the world just went about its business, either oblivious to what is happening or choosing to be. Well the chase was well and truly on when I opened this book but unfortunately not for long. In the freezing cold outside the body of a young man is being pulled from the icy water of the harbour. This wasn’t going to be any ordinary day for Detective Lena Stigersand or her colleagues Gunnarstranda and Frølich.
I have fallen in love with Nordic Noir and still finding these gems just thrills me every time. I loved how the chapters were set out as the story branched from what seemed like random acts of suicide to murder and so much more, then seamless connected one after another as the very different cases collided.
Now I love an independent strong-willed detective, be it a man or woman and here was a sassy lady that was pretty head strong. Detective Lena Stigersand has to work for every ounce of happiness in her life but both in her professional and private lives she has been thrown a few curve balls. Impulsive decisions put her in jeopardy throughout the story. This is a no holds barred lady who isn’t afraid of pushing past the big wigs but she steps on some mighty big shoes. It makes for hair-raising reading.
I really loved how Dahl made these characters breathe as each one really came to life in my imagination. From the intense fear felt by Stigersand that literally turned my hands cold while I was reading, to my loathing for some characters that really made my skin crawl. The translation flowed perfectly with only the characters names being new to me. This is really a domino effect story that brings together very different people from all walks of life making them all part of one event. Very clever. A terrific read.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ice Swimmer – A Nordic Classic

Kjell Ola Dahl returns with the Ice Swimmer once again proving why he is one of the best crime writers in Norway, now making headway here. If you have never read any of Dahl’s work, then you really are missing out on classy Nordic Noir. What he delivers on every page is powerful and convincing and the best example of Nordic Noir and why it is one of Britain’s favourite crime genres.

Detective Lena Stigersand already has a stressful life, she does not require it to be made any more difficult, but you do not always get what you want. When a civil servant is pulled from the freezing water of Oslo Harbour her life is about to turn for the worst. Which just before Christmas is not the most welcome thing.

Besides trying to crack a case that at first looks like suicide but turns into a murder case, having to deal with a cancer diagnosis, stalker, a new boyfriend whom seems to have secrets. Life is not easy, as her mother is on at her about the forth coming Christmas.

Working alongside her colleagues, who she has trusted throughout her service, Lena digs deeper and finds herself in a political storm not of her own making. Someone within the Police Department seems to be letting them down, as the newspapers seem to be ahead of the Police, which piles pressure on them.

The Ice Swimmer is a taut, tense explosion of Nordic Noir, that is beautifully written, and Don Bartlett once again translates and does not lose any of the power or the beauty of the text. Dahl is such a talented writer whose writing is powerful and so convincing, you will enjoy reading. The only fault being the crime gets solved and life moves on!

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Kjell ended his story, hint, read the book. It was quite obvious that Lena was a person that would do whatever it took to come out ahead in what ever was to be accomplished. Gunnarstranda was on her side with most of what she said, and was a father figure to her as far as Rindal, their boss, was concerned. Gunnarstranda always had the advice that swayed her into making the right choice, except in figuring out who the killer was. I like Kjell's story and the play between Lena and Steffen, it was very realistic in it's action, in what played out between them. I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars because it was more realistic than most.

[Clair · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ice Swimmer opens with someone trying to escape someone on the metro – we don’t know who these people are or why they are in this position but what is clear is that the woman does not want to be caught.

We are then transported to the streets of Oslo where a body is being removed from the water – what appears to be a simple drowning soon turns into a sinister investigation for the Oslo Detectives.

This is the 8th book in the series and the second I have read but it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone.

This book certainly keeps its reader on their toes with the cleverly plotted investigation full of threads that eventually come together for both the reader and the police. There is also an interesting angle to this book as we also get to know Detective Lena Stigersand and privy to the challenges she’s having personally alongside the challenging investigation she has.

This is a slower pace of thriller but is full of leads and red herrings. Kjell Ola Dahl writes wonderfully and it’s clear why he is regarded so highly within the genre of Nordic noir.

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A smart procedural mystery with characters that were relatable and likable. The plot gets a bit thick with the introduction of an international element. Otherwise, it's a series I would follow.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

his is the eighth book in the series and the first one I have read. My first question was would I have missed out on any background information about the characters. The simple answer was no, this is a novel that stands very firmly on its own.

From the outset the pace is unrelenting, two murders, two investigations, and an author leading the reader through a myriad of twists and turns.

The main protagonist is Lena Stigersand, a detective in her mid thirties. She is a character I instantly liked. I loved her tenacious, feisty nature and her penchant for romantic movies, a complete contradiction, to her outward facing persona. I admired her ability to push aside her cancer diagnosis and become totally consumed in the murder investigation.

Gunnarstranda was the old hand, very little fazing him, and the one who seemed to hold everything together. There was obviously a back story between himself and Frolich, that I was unaware of but that didn’t matter as Dahl dealt with the present and referred very little or at all to the past.

This could very easily have been a simple murder thriller with the protagonists racing to catch the killer, but by cleverly interweaving the world of politics and world trade Dahl added an extra dimension. The involvement of a high level politician and their abuse of power added a certain amount of realism, and the ensuing events would not be out of place in a government in any country throughout the world.

I thought Dahl got the pacing of the novel just right, hooking me into the story from the very first page. What I liked above all was his skill at managing several plot strands and dropping little clues along the way before finally pulling everything together into a dramatic and fraught final few pages.

A particularly interesting aside were the descriptions of the Swedish capitol, Oslo, and a tour of the underground rail tracks and back streets, which were definitely not on the tourist routes. It is hard to imagine such a beautiful city having a more salubrious side to it, but it provided the perfect setting for the dark and murky story that ensued.

It is a book that I found utterly engrossing with an ending that did not disappoint and after resisting the pull of the whole Scandi Noir book scene I can now say I am a convert and will definitely be reading more by Kjell Ola Dahl.

[Lovedreadingthis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, complex and nail - bitingly tense, it is all those, with a terrific female detective leading up this investigation in the form of Lena Stigersand, focused and driven, cool and collected, determined, but also vulnerable and somehow alone. A well rounded character, very much focussed on the investigation in this book but with some references to family and some trouble ahead due to health problems, Lena struck me as very pragmatic, getting the job done and not allowing herself to be distracted by anything else. The author struck a fine balance between the investigation, at the heart of the plot but developing the characters, particularly Lena to engage the reader. I found myself really feeling sorry for Lena when she was played - you'll need to read the book to find out how, but I was impressed by her inner strength to carry on when really thinks were pretty messed up for her on a number of levels.
The plot was intricate in classic Scandi Noir style, with a number of characters and sub plots, however in the vein of The Millenium Trilogy this flowed well, I was able to comfortably keep track of what was going on and who was who, with very little referring back. As a book it had me gripped, the chapters were chronologically set by day with sub chapters detailing different characters actions on that particular day, the chapters were pretty short and it was very easy to read just one more... Crime and conspiracy, secrets and lies in the biting cold of Oslo. Perfect!

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two tragic deaths just before Christmas seem to be grim but unconnected and simple cases for Detective Lena Stigersand and Inspector Gunnarstranda to investigate. Lena is called to the drowning of a young man in Oslo Harbour - probably as a result of an alcohol fuelled accident after a night out, and Gunnarstranda's case seems even more straightforward after a homeless drug addict throws herself in front of a train. However, the evidence doesn't match the hypotheses and before long they realise that both deaths seem to be more sinister - and that their cases may have more in common than just the date of death.
Though the intricacies of the investigations are utterly intriguing, character development is equally engrossing as Kjell Ola Dahl allows space in the novel to reveal more about their personal and inner lives. Indeed there is a whole page dedicated to Gunnarstranda's recipe for fish soup; it has nothing to do whatsoever with the investigation but gives us an insight into the sort of man he is, and how his meticulous preparation of soup is mirrored by his scrupulous attitude to police work. The Ice Swimmer is really Lena Stigersand's book however, as most of the events unfold from her perspective as her professional and private lives collide. She is clearly a perceptive and dedicated officer but her concerns about her health and her tentative relationship with journalist, Steffen Gjerstad means her focus becomes torn. The emotional demands of the case are shown to have a real impact on Lena as she tries to discover who can be trusted when she uncovers shady political dealings, and it is through her that the impact of police work on the mental health of officers is explored.
The slower pace means the plot is allowed to evolve gradually and though the story is a contemporary one, the timeless quality to the narrative meant this was a book I wanted to truly appreciate by losing myself in it for a few hours rather than racing to the end. There is an evocative richness to Kjell Ola Dahl's writing as his detailed descriptions evoke the chill of the Oslo streets and the tangled lives of the characters in the book. The Ice Swimmer is imbued with a real sense of the subtle melancholy that effects many of us during the long winter months. This isn't a book about the triumphant capture of a murderer, it's about the dogged determination for some justice to be served while recognising a system which protects some more than others.
The complexities of the plot may demand the reader's full attention but in return they are rewarded with an engrossing and beautifully crafted novel. Praise too for Don Bartlett's translation which ensures the prose flows naturally throughout. Intricate, intelligent and suspenseful, The Ice Swimmer is everything I love about Nordic Noir and it is a book that captivated me from the very first page through to the startling finale. Highly recommended.

[Mark Lisac · Rating 2 out of 5]

An utterly ridiculous police story whose only positive attribute is a more or less decent pace. Only for readers who like intricate plotting to the exclusion of plausibility and literary merit (as was the case with The Da Vinci Code). The lead character, Oslo detective Lena Stigersand, makes endless bad decisions, including steadily withholding information from her strangely tolerant colleagues. The murder that triggers the subsequent action ultimately lacks a believable motive. A shadowy international conspiracy and secret intelligence operation complicates matters but is never fully explained, possibly because the author didn't want to bother with difficult details. Many events and police activities are not believable. The writing is average at best, and the translation from the original Norwegian is well below the standard of the translation from Finnish in the last book I read, Palm Beach Finland. Kept going to the end mostly to see if it could produce a redeeming conclusion; it did not.
There were times when I wondered if this was supposed to be a sort of comedy about a rather frazzled woman police officer overcoming her personal obstacles. At other times I wondered if the author was chortling to himself as he experimented to see what readers might accept. Anyone who doesn't choke on the episode involving a cherry pit will probably be willing to keep going to the end and possibly even enjoy this mess.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of K.O. Dahl's previous books translated into English, but this one may be my favorite so far. The two normal protagonists in Dahl's Oslo police series, Gunnarstranda and Frolich, play lesser roles in this one, although Gunnarstranda's periodic involvement is still a key to the story. Mostly, however, this book introduces us to a newbie in the department, Lena Stigersand, and her involvement in a multiple murder case. We follow her steps along the way, and we see her ambition in wanting to be successful in this job. But is she too focused on this case, to the detriment of her career as well as her personal life? Gunnarstranda does some excellent counseling for her in both regards. Dahl does a very good and believable job of getting inside her head in both respects, wanting to solve the case and in dealing with issues that develop in her life. It is a complex tale of murder, a reporter of dubious morals, politics, greed, Secret Service agents, investments in foreign countries, police who are leakers of confidential information, and a whole bunch of people looking out only for their own self interest. Dahl brings it all to a satisfactory, and maybe even upbeat, conclusion, but we still have to feel sorry for the Ice Swimmer.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena Stigersand is called to attend the scene of a drowned man in the freezing waters of Oslo Harbour. Her colleague Gunnerstranda is working on another case of suicide. Amongst these cases a letter threatening a Member of Parliament arrives.

This book is broken down into chapters that then have several sub chapters, I found this really helpful as it meant I could get used to the names of the various characters and familiarise myself with their names. As the investigations proceed the presence of the other characters make themselves known and not always in the best of ways. I soon found myself getting used to their names, and some I am sure I have not pronounced correctly.

There are several plots that run together and the author has done a wonderful job of not blurring or mixing them up, this is where I think the sub-chapters really help. I found myself taken around the streets of Oslo as well as the back alleys and also underground into tunnels. As well as this I discovered a variety of food that certainly whet my appetite and also a few Christmas traditions. By adding these little steps away from the hustle and bustle of the investigations it gave me a chance to almost catch my breath for a moment before being taken off again into the story.

Obviously murder and crime feature in this book, but the author focuses also on finding the who’s and the why’s of the case. But also there is a good amount about Lena, the main protagonist in her personal life and newly diagnosis condition. She comes across as a mix of a logical thinking but also one that rushes headlong into trouble sort of person as well as being a guarded character regarding her personal life.

So this is a book I would highly recommend to readers of Nordic Noir, Crime, Mystery and Thriller genres. It is a brilliantly twisted in a complex and well laid out story, with various investigations unfolding and all being brought to a satisfying conclusion. My first time reading a book by this author and it will not be my last.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read some Nordic Noir on my trip to Iceland (and the library didn't have the Icelandic novels I was looking for), so I grabbed this one by a Norwegian author who is apparently quite well known. It's a solid example of the genre -- you've got your frigid weather, your Christmastime ambience, your political intrigue woven with police procedurals. It wasn't quite a page-turner, but by the end I cared about the central characters and there were a few surprises along the way.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il y a quelque chose de pourri dans l’empire du Danemark peut-être, mais au royaume de Norvège aussi comme le découvrira assez vite l'inspecteur de police Lena Stigersand. J'ai eu le plaisir de connaître l'auteur il y a quelques années et ceci est le premier thriller de lui que j'ai pu lire. Une histoire intéréssante avec un final surprenant, ou peut-être assez logique vu le monde d'aujourd'hui.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good Nordic Noir!

[Stina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isbaderen er 6. bind i serien om de norske kriminalfolk.

Denne adskiller sig noget fra de forgående, da vores hovedperson ikke er med i denne, bortset fra en meget lille birolle. I stedet udfoldes Gunnarstranda og Lena… Og det gøres rigtig godt :D

Det er igen en pageturner, den er yderst velskrevet og glider nærmest ned af sig selv.
Desværre var der et par episoder, hvor jeg synes at utopien sneg sig ind, og gjorde mig en anelse irriteret. Dog ikke i en sådan grad, at det påvirkede den samlede oplevelse.

Dahl kan altså noget med ordene, som er få forundt. Nu har jeg været med hele vejen, og gennem disse seks bøger, har jeg været rigtig godt underholdt, holder mere og mere af ”mine” personer, og glædes hver gang over den sproglige formulering Dahl lægger for dagen.

Det er synd han ikke er mere udbredt end som så, for han skriver fantastisk, plottet er sikkert hver gang, spændingen er med læseren, og endelig er det lidt gammeldags politiarbejde hans øjesten… Og dét er jeg vild med.

Gå endelig i gang, de kan sagtens læses hver for sig, men jeg vover pelsen og siger start med den første, og du vil hænge på hele vejen :D

Jeg håber der kommer mere om afdelingen, meget snart.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a twisty tale!

Two deaths in a short space of time from when the novel opens and then bam sham a lam, things get very murky indeed.

The novel opens when someone is being chased through the metro station and she heads into a tunnel.....then a body is fished from the waters within yards of Oslo's City Hall

Who is involved in these murders, why is the City Hall location important and does Oslo have an underbelly that is gradually getting darker and darker? Tunnels, black holes, icy waters...what on earth is happening in Oslo?

A damn fine novel that's what. Smooth translation too. Drink it up like a the full bodied taste fest it is.

Full review to come for the tour - but put this on your Nordic list right now

[Fiona Erskine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I don't normally read police procedurals, but Kjell was so charming at the Stockton leg of the Orenda tour (courtesy of Stockton Library and Drake Bookshop) that I thought I'd give this one a go.

So glad I did - it's a proper thriller.

My favourite scene is Lena's meeting with Bodil, when a bit of old fashioned shoe leather plodding results in a pivotal lead - but no spoilers here.

Nicely sexy, with strong women, bad boys and decent men. More Gunnastranda please, he's my favourite.

The ice swimming moments make great brackets. Leaves you tingling and satisfied.

I will definitely read more.

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Lena Stigersand is part of the team of Oslo detectives who investigate serious crimes in the city. She can more than hold her own with her colleagues, and in this book, it is Lena who is at the forefront of the investigation into the death of a man pulled from the icy waters of the harbour.

It is not long before the team realises that this is a murder enquiry and when another murder occurs shortly afterwards, it slowly becomes clear that they are related. Lena and Gunnarstranda are working different angles of the case, but as if Lena’s life were not already tough enough, it seems that her boss has got the wind up as one of the protagonists Lena has interviewed is a prominent politician and that politician doesn’t like the police interfering in her life.

Meanwhile, Lena has a health scare which she tries to put out of her mind while she is working. She has also fallen into a new relationship with a journalist, Steffen Gjerstad. Steffen had tipped off Lena’s colleague about the politician’s dinner with the dead man, but when the politician denies the meeting, Lena feels that she has been misled, though Steffen is adamant that the politician is lying. The implication is that there may well be a financial and political motive behind the crime and Lena will have to get to the heart of the case if she is to stand any chance of solving it.

She is able to establish a person of interest she wants to speak to, but when the security services warn her off and then an attack is made on her life, it feels like she is closer to the truth than she knew. In this dark and complex web of lies, who to trust becomes the critical question.

This is an excellent police procedural with a taste of the murky waters of global financial share dealings. It all makes perfect sense in today’s world where lives are expendable if money can be made and the Ice Swimmer makes it all too clear how that can happen. I love a crime book with a firm grasp on the real world and this is a fine example and a terrific read.

Kjell Ola Dahl does not over-complicate his prose and the clarity of his writing is a hallmark of this stupendous series. The Ice Swimmer can easily be read as a stand-alone book, though the series concerns the same group of Norwegian detectives.

Suspenseful, beautifully and clearly written, with a sure-footed plot, this is a book that thrills.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dead man has been found floating in the freezing waters of Oslo Harbor. There are no signs of foul play. The death looks like an intoxicated man who fell into the water and couldn't get out.

A woman throws herself in front of a metro train. CCTV footage reveals that she was being chased by a mysterious hooded man. Did she really commit suicide or was she pushed?

Oslo detective, Lena Stigerstand is put in charge of the drowning case. She quickly finds herself involved in the workings of local politics and Norway's secret services in connection with this death. To make matters more intense, Lena's personal life has taken crazy turn, after crazy turn. She has a new boyfriend who isn't quite what he seems, a stalker, and a cancer scare. With the help of her trusted colleagues in the Oslo police department Lena will hunt for the answers that draw these two seemingly unrelated cases together. Can she track the killer before they strike again?

Last year I started my journey in to reading more Nordic noir. When I was researching where to start Kjell Ola Dahl's name was one that kept popping up, so when Orenda reached out to me about participating in the blog tour for Dahl's latest installment in his Oslo Detective series I jumped at the chance! Despite this being the eighth book in a long standing series I felt like I was able to follow along without any issues. I got a feel for the trust between colleagues, which I'm sure has been built up over the last seven books, without feeling like I was missing pieces to the puzzle. I think my favorite part of this book, aside from the fascinating case, was Lena Stigerstand. The world of Lena is turned on it's side and then flipped again and again in this book and yet somehow she remains a pure badass detective. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a multi-layered crime fiction story with strong detectives leading the case. I'm looking forward to picking up some other editions in this series and getting to know these detectives a bit more in the future!

Thank you so much to Orenda Book and Kjell Ola Dahl for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the fabulous Anne Cater for setting up another #teamorenda tour full of fantastic bloggers! Please be sure to check out the rest of the blogs showcasing this book on its blog tour!

[Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderfully written book opens with a woman being chased through the streets of Oslo. It is a few days before Christmas, the streets are busy with shoppers and a lone female is being pursued by an unknown assailant. She runs into a Metro station, hops on a train, jumps off at the next station onto a different train and the chaser is right behind her. What happens next reverberates through the upper echelons of power, to the Oslo police and to Detective Lena Stigersand who is investigating the death of a man whose body has been pulled from Oslo Harbour. Are the two cases linked? If so, how?

The Ice Swimmer is the first book I have read in the Oslo Detective series of books but I didn’t feel lost and it can certainly be read as a stand alone novel. Ultimately though it made me want to go and read all of the others as this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only is there a wonderful sense of place (Oslo is a character in itself) but the characterisation is on point. It is important when picking up a book midway through a series that the characters are immediately recognisable and Kjell Ola Dhal writes Lena et al with a deft hand.

This is a twisty tale with red-herrings and clues dropped like breadcrumbs through the snowy streets of Oslo. I had no idea where it was going, which isn’t a criticism at all, the plotting is exemplary and the twists, when they come, are neither unrealistic nor sensational. This is good old-fashioned storytelling at its best. Lena has health issues on her mind, a case she is trying to crack, a boss clipping her wings and a new boyfriend who is a jorunalist and she really should stay away from him. The power play between Lena and her superior, the Government minister and her burgeoning relationship with Steffan are cleverly and accurately written and drew me in.

Kjell Ola Dhal is known as the Godfather of Nordic Noir and after reading The Ice Swimmer I can see why. This book is wonderfully and expertly translated by Don Bartlett who also translated Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole books (which are some of my absolute favourites) and if you too liked them then you will love The Ice Swimmer. I am a little annoyed at myself for waiting so long to read a Kjell Ola Dhal novel. I love Nordic Noir and I love well-plotted books which hold my interest and The Ice Swimmer has both in spades. On the bright side I have a whole series to devour now. Excellent.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kjell Ola Dahl, translated by Don Bartlett. Norway.
Gunnarstranda & Frølich, Oslo Detectives
**6 of 8 (11) novels have been published in English, these translations have been published in the reverse order to which they were written.
The Ice Swimmer, # 8. Oslo Detectives. Feb 28, 2018. iBook.
Lena Stigersand is back on the beat right from the start of this storyline, even though she had gone roque at the end of the last story Faithless during a hot summer and was to be doing office work awhile. But it is now winter. Oh, what bitterly cold weather to live in! She and Emil Yttergjerde attend the pulling of a corpse out of the harbour! Gunnarstranda deals with a suspected suicide on the tram underground..... and Frølich is awaiting hearing!!!! Two deaths. Suspected accidental drowning and suicide...then a shooting but what are they? Some interesting side characters. Again, too many theories mulled and described for me. Lena is key in this and Frank only appears briefly near the end. Gunnarstranda and Lena work to find answers through love affairs, health issues, plots with terrorists, international intrigue and security police......
Only the last chapter provides a clue to the title!

Lethal Investments #1. 1993/2012
The Last Fix. #2. 2000/2010
The Man in the Window #3. 2001/2009
Lugenmeer 2003 #4 no English found
The Fourth Man. # 5. 2005/2009
Wraakengel 2007 #6 no English
Faithless, # 7 Oslo. March 2010/2017.
The Ice Swimmer, # 8. Oslo Detectives. Feb 28, 2018.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling murder mystery set in OSLO



The Ice Swimmer is the sixth in Dahl’s Oslo Detective series and starts off with a chilling chase through the city’s main metro stations, culminating in the blackness of the railway tunnels. This is followed closely by the mysterious murder of a low-level civil servant, Sveinung Adeler, found drowned in Oslo Harbour.

Enter Detective Gunnarstranda and his colleague, Lena Stigersand who are brought in to investigate. What initially looks like a tragic accident takes a sinister turn as it emerges that, just before his death, Adeler had been dining with a Stortling MP and another unidentified man. Bring into the mix a stalker, an unreliable boyfriend and the Norwegian security services and you have the makings of a complex thriller that ends in the most unexpected way.

Interspersed with the dramatic twists and turns of the case are Lena’s own complicated life choices and her unanticipated ill health. As she digs into the case and finds herself fighting against the heart of the Norwegian establishment, she also has her own demons to deal with.

The streets and sights of Oslo are beautifully described and the freezing winter conditions came alive on the page. Richly translated by Don Bartlett, this is Nordic Noir not to be missed – although the Norwegian names can be hard to follow and remember for those unfamiliar with the language.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I realised this was number six in the Oslo Detectives series, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it, having not read any of the previous ones. But it is written is such a way that I didn’t feel I missed out on anything. This book takes one of the previous characters seen in the Oslo Detectives books, Lena Stigersand, and makes her the new lead character. Well-established characters of the preceding books also make an appearance, but most of our time is spent with Lena. I will be seeking out the other Oslo Detective books because I enjoyed this one a lot!

We are treated to two murders kicking off the story, they are completely different – different types of victims, different causes of death yet, there is something that links them. As Lena starts digging, she finds herself embroiled in a sticky, messy web of corruption, lies and distrustful people. Her investigation is made even harder when people in power try to prevent her finding out the truth, but she doesn’t let anyone stand in her way.

I really warmed towards Lena, she’s a fantastic lead character. She’s independent, determined, strong-willed and suspicious. Her personal problems take a back seat to her case, her recent diagnosis doesn’t do anything but make her more resolute in solving this case. Her new relationship with journalist Steffan, does add a nice little twist to the tale. He definitely knows more than he’s letting on to Lena and that made me very suspicious!

With ‘The Ice Swimmer’ Kjall Ola Dahl has delivered a complex, tightly plotted noir crime book, full of tension, suspense, twists and atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Orenda Books have reignited my love of Scandi-crime and every book I read from them is an utter gem, this one is no exception.