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Konrad Simonsen #5
The Night Ferry
A riveting crime novel from the internationally bestselling authors of The Hanging and The Girl in the Ice--the fifth book in the Konrad Simonsen series.
Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.
Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
60 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Lotte Hammer
67 books141 followersLotte Hammer (born 1955) finished her training as a nurse in 1977. She has since worked and lived many places, such as Greece, Germany, the North Sea’s oil rigs and the American air force bases in Greenland. From 1995 to 2010 she was head of the Public Eldercare in Halsnaes, Denmark. From 2006 to 2010 she was actively involved in local politics and has been writing full time since 2010.
The crime writing siblings, Lotte Hammer and Søren Hammer published their first novel Svinehunde (The Beast Within) in March 2010.
The crime writing siblings, Lotte Hammer and Søren Hammer published their first novel Svinehunde (The Beast Within) in March 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 4, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lotte and Søren Hammer, and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Another intriguing novel in the Konrad Simonsen series that sees many twists baffle the reader from the opening paragraphs. When a mysterious man slips onto a canal boat, he appears to have a mission. By murdering many of the adults on board, he seems pleased to slip away by plunging into the water. Seeing the small boat in distress, a larger ferry approaches, but is unable to its course, adding to the carnage. Chief of Homicide Konrad Simonsen and his team are assigned the case, soon rattled when they learn that one of their own is amongst dead. With sketchy witness statements and video coverage of the canal boat’s time on the water, Simonsen zeros in on one man with a past in Denmark’s military services as a likely suspect. Extrapolating the service record of one Bjørn Lauritzen, the Homicide Squad notice that he spent time in Serbia and Bosnia during the mid-90s, a time when the Yugoslav Civil War was in full-swing. Lauritzen’s apparent contact in Denmark may have helped grease the wheels for numerous horrible acts against a cultural minority, something the military will not discuss and stonewalls when it comes to offering up any documentation, even at the highest levels. Simonsen moves quickly to push his investigation to its limits and is able to garner a significant amount of evidence, ensuring the case goes before the courts. Once the legal process commences, there are some loopholes left open and the outcome is anything but certain. Simonsen cannot let this killer slip through his fingers, but the evidence speaks for itself. Might there be another way to ensure justice is served? The Hammer siblings are known for their dark and highly confusing thrillers and this is one of the best. Fan of the series will flock to this, hoping to sift through much of the intense narrative and see Konrad Simonsen rise to the occasion once again.
I am no Scandinavian police procedural or dark thriller expert, but I have read my share over the last number of years. Of all the authors I have encountered, Lotte and Søren Hammer are surely the most convoluted and tangential in their delivery, while keeping the story impossible to put down. While some may dislike this style of writing, much of the story develops under the surface and the attentive reader can adjust to extract all they need to help piece together the elements of the crime. Konrad Simonsen is often front and centre in the series, with his development usually building as the narrative progresses. However, Simonsen seems almost to hover and remain stagnant (at least as it relates to character revelations) in this piece, allowing some of his other Homicide Squad to grow. With the loss of one member, there is a void left in the team and certain individuals flirt with the possibility of being added in subsequent novels. The plot itself is serpentine, beginning with the murder aboard the boat but soon pushing away, as though this local killing spree is only a cover for the larger story. The Hammers do not refute this, as the story morphs into something all about the murderous rampages in the Yugoslav Civil War, though it is the nuances and connections to other countries that keeps the reader intrigued. I applaud the Hammer siblings for this tangent, as it offered up more intrigue than a local mystery might have done, forcing many characters to expand their powers beyond that of the streets within Copenhagen. There seems to be some social commentary woven into the narrative, such that the reader can parse through what is being said and take a stand for themselves. I found it quite interesting, though I can see how some readers might prefer an ‘A to Z’ story whose focus is the slain group aboard the canal boat rather than in the Eastern parts of Europe. I can see that there is much to be done by the Hammer siblings and can only hope the series has enough steam to keep churning out wonderful books.
Kudos, Madam and Mister Hammer, for another wonderful novel. I can see that translation into English has not lessened the impact of your work and hope its quality remains high.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Another intriguing novel in the Konrad Simonsen series that sees many twists baffle the reader from the opening paragraphs. When a mysterious man slips onto a canal boat, he appears to have a mission. By murdering many of the adults on board, he seems pleased to slip away by plunging into the water. Seeing the small boat in distress, a larger ferry approaches, but is unable to its course, adding to the carnage. Chief of Homicide Konrad Simonsen and his team are assigned the case, soon rattled when they learn that one of their own is amongst dead. With sketchy witness statements and video coverage of the canal boat’s time on the water, Simonsen zeros in on one man with a past in Denmark’s military services as a likely suspect. Extrapolating the service record of one Bjørn Lauritzen, the Homicide Squad notice that he spent time in Serbia and Bosnia during the mid-90s, a time when the Yugoslav Civil War was in full-swing. Lauritzen’s apparent contact in Denmark may have helped grease the wheels for numerous horrible acts against a cultural minority, something the military will not discuss and stonewalls when it comes to offering up any documentation, even at the highest levels. Simonsen moves quickly to push his investigation to its limits and is able to garner a significant amount of evidence, ensuring the case goes before the courts. Once the legal process commences, there are some loopholes left open and the outcome is anything but certain. Simonsen cannot let this killer slip through his fingers, but the evidence speaks for itself. Might there be another way to ensure justice is served? The Hammer siblings are known for their dark and highly confusing thrillers and this is one of the best. Fan of the series will flock to this, hoping to sift through much of the intense narrative and see Konrad Simonsen rise to the occasion once again.
I am no Scandinavian police procedural or dark thriller expert, but I have read my share over the last number of years. Of all the authors I have encountered, Lotte and Søren Hammer are surely the most convoluted and tangential in their delivery, while keeping the story impossible to put down. While some may dislike this style of writing, much of the story develops under the surface and the attentive reader can adjust to extract all they need to help piece together the elements of the crime. Konrad Simonsen is often front and centre in the series, with his development usually building as the narrative progresses. However, Simonsen seems almost to hover and remain stagnant (at least as it relates to character revelations) in this piece, allowing some of his other Homicide Squad to grow. With the loss of one member, there is a void left in the team and certain individuals flirt with the possibility of being added in subsequent novels. The plot itself is serpentine, beginning with the murder aboard the boat but soon pushing away, as though this local killing spree is only a cover for the larger story. The Hammers do not refute this, as the story morphs into something all about the murderous rampages in the Yugoslav Civil War, though it is the nuances and connections to other countries that keeps the reader intrigued. I applaud the Hammer siblings for this tangent, as it offered up more intrigue than a local mystery might have done, forcing many characters to expand their powers beyond that of the streets within Copenhagen. There seems to be some social commentary woven into the narrative, such that the reader can parse through what is being said and take a stand for themselves. I found it quite interesting, though I can see how some readers might prefer an ‘A to Z’ story whose focus is the slain group aboard the canal boat rather than in the Eastern parts of Europe. I can see that there is much to be done by the Hammer siblings and can only hope the series has enough steam to keep churning out wonderful books.
Kudos, Madam and Mister Hammer, for another wonderful novel. I can see that translation into English has not lessened the impact of your work and hope its quality remains high.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 1, 2018
Yes, most readers liked this book far more than I did.
First of all and of most importance, the form is extremely problematic. It's continuity sense and thought patterns are chaotic.
In one paragraph you may have a flashback thought or a fast forward observation "hearsay" by a 3rd party quip- or a 2 week ago memory trill- all playing together. Terribly time of placement or speaker confusing- would be stating it mildly. So the reading of this book itself became a chore- 1 star on my enjoyment scale. For me, as the plotting was not bad (about a 3)- but the telling of the possibility of connections between the various parts of the different crime cases- or any tangent overlap cause and effect among/ between the cases? That was as clear as opaque black paint. Even with the Epilogue help. Usually I can "fill in the gaps" or understand the under feelings of fall outs. Not with this Danish group. I just couldn't.
If two people wrote this, their styles of sentence connection and progress to a beginning, middle, end of a scene or gathering, or day projection or any ONE central chapter item/ idea or plot progression piece are not "mixed" but merely recorded "side by side". This is just my opinion, but I think it is an accurate guess.
At first I thought it was in the translation -either problems with tensing or within colloquial meanings being "off". But the more I read, I doubt it was translation after all. But instead a mixture of the authors "eyes" to the narrator's thoughts and conversations just not meshing as one story.
Yes, I am completely outlier on this Hammer sibling novel. Way outside the appreciation circle, and I'm not even a Jutlander. (They keep calling one of the characters this "quip"- is it a pejorative? Or just a locale designation?)
What truly didn't help either in my comprehension to the perps, motives, or whole piece of this tale- is that it also holds immense Bosnian/Serbian War language, codes, names for weapons etc. for which I truly didn't have a clue as they flipped in and out of the narratives.
No more of these Hammer's series for me. My enjoyment factors to this level of brutality conveyed here, plus the majority holding of main protagonists who have such levels of cold, rather offish, "affect"? Even if the form smoothed out to "quit" all the jumps and skips? Nope.
Forgive me, and don't use my reaction as the norm because I know I just failed in "getting" this book. War books of gruesome detailing are barely tolerated for me with this length even when they are masterpieces.
This one just lost me. Now and again it stayed in one spot long enough for me to grasp a few character traits, as with The Countess. I'm surprised that I finished it. I got lost in the chaos of switching and voices. 2 stars.
First of all and of most importance, the form is extremely problematic. It's continuity sense and thought patterns are chaotic.
In one paragraph you may have a flashback thought or a fast forward observation "hearsay" by a 3rd party quip- or a 2 week ago memory trill- all playing together. Terribly time of placement or speaker confusing- would be stating it mildly. So the reading of this book itself became a chore- 1 star on my enjoyment scale. For me, as the plotting was not bad (about a 3)- but the telling of the possibility of connections between the various parts of the different crime cases- or any tangent overlap cause and effect among/ between the cases? That was as clear as opaque black paint. Even with the Epilogue help. Usually I can "fill in the gaps" or understand the under feelings of fall outs. Not with this Danish group. I just couldn't.
If two people wrote this, their styles of sentence connection and progress to a beginning, middle, end of a scene or gathering, or day projection or any ONE central chapter item/ idea or plot progression piece are not "mixed" but merely recorded "side by side". This is just my opinion, but I think it is an accurate guess.
At first I thought it was in the translation -either problems with tensing or within colloquial meanings being "off". But the more I read, I doubt it was translation after all. But instead a mixture of the authors "eyes" to the narrator's thoughts and conversations just not meshing as one story.
Yes, I am completely outlier on this Hammer sibling novel. Way outside the appreciation circle, and I'm not even a Jutlander. (They keep calling one of the characters this "quip"- is it a pejorative? Or just a locale designation?)
What truly didn't help either in my comprehension to the perps, motives, or whole piece of this tale- is that it also holds immense Bosnian/Serbian War language, codes, names for weapons etc. for which I truly didn't have a clue as they flipped in and out of the narratives.
No more of these Hammer's series for me. My enjoyment factors to this level of brutality conveyed here, plus the majority holding of main protagonists who have such levels of cold, rather offish, "affect"? Even if the form smoothed out to "quit" all the jumps and skips? Nope.
Forgive me, and don't use my reaction as the norm because I know I just failed in "getting" this book. War books of gruesome detailing are barely tolerated for me with this length even when they are masterpieces.
This one just lost me. Now and again it stayed in one spot long enough for me to grasp a few character traits, as with The Countess. I'm surprised that I finished it. I got lost in the chaos of switching and voices. 2 stars.
January 21, 2019
''The Night Ferry'' is the latest installment in the magnificent Konrad Simonsen police procedural novel series and although it definitely doesn't disappoint, in my opinion, it was less interesting than the previous book of the Danish siblings' duo (titled ''The Lake'') and that is mainly due to the story itself. The plot is dense and interesting, as always, but it doesn't manage to engage fully the reader on the emotional side, which seems strange when you think that one of the central characters of the series (Pauline), is also one of the victims of the initial -shocking- crime in the book. Furthermore, while ''The Night Ferry'' contains some interesting information on the Yugoslavian civil war at the mid-90s and the Danish military entanglement in Bosnia and in Srebrenica massacre, it lacks the interesting, powerful villain characters who would make the plot irresistible to the reader. Apart from the above, those who purchase the book will have the chance to delve once again into the world of Konrad Simonsen and his team which is, in my opinion, one of the best as far as character description and development is concerned. It is one of the best outlined group of characters in contemporary Scandinavian crime fiction, reminiscent of Arne Dahl's ''A-Gruppen''. In addition to that, the simple -but of high quality- prose of Lotte and Søren Hammer renders their novels a great choice for every true fan of crime fiction. I am sure that the really talented Scandinavian writers' duet has a lot more to offer in the near future.
May 29, 2019
This book is also known as The Night Ferry.
I really do enjoy a European thriller. I have read a lot of Scandinavian authors but also enjoy the odd German or French writer. Their perspective is slightly different and, as with the movies and TV shows, the people appear more normal. They are not all gorgeous, athletic, haunted, driven and so on.
This was my second Hammer book and I liked it as much as the first (although they are really the 4th and 5th in the series). Nice and meaty (i.e. long) it was also convoluted and complex just the way I love them. Konrad Simonsen and his team have a terrible crime to solve. A ferry has been rammed by a larger boat killing most of the people on board. Many were Japanese schoolchildren. Soon it is discovered that a man jumped into the boat from a bridge and killed all the adults on board, bar one who jumped overboard and drowned.
Of course nobody wants to talk, there are secrets aplenty, intrigue and more murders. If you want non-stop action this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy a challenging mystery that makes you think - you might enjoy it. The other thing I like about European writers is the stories trend to be quite plausible and the baddies are generally not some weird arse psycho fruitcake who goes on about 'cleansing' and punishment as an excuse to hurt women and/or children.
I really do enjoy a European thriller. I have read a lot of Scandinavian authors but also enjoy the odd German or French writer. Their perspective is slightly different and, as with the movies and TV shows, the people appear more normal. They are not all gorgeous, athletic, haunted, driven and so on.
This was my second Hammer book and I liked it as much as the first (although they are really the 4th and 5th in the series). Nice and meaty (i.e. long) it was also convoluted and complex just the way I love them. Konrad Simonsen and his team have a terrible crime to solve. A ferry has been rammed by a larger boat killing most of the people on board. Many were Japanese schoolchildren. Soon it is discovered that a man jumped into the boat from a bridge and killed all the adults on board, bar one who jumped overboard and drowned.
Of course nobody wants to talk, there are secrets aplenty, intrigue and more murders. If you want non-stop action this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy a challenging mystery that makes you think - you might enjoy it. The other thing I like about European writers is the stories trend to be quite plausible and the baddies are generally not some weird arse psycho fruitcake who goes on about 'cleansing' and punishment as an excuse to hurt women and/or children.
June 8, 2018
*Note: A copy of the book was provided in exchange of an honest review. I would like to thank Bloomsbury India for the book.*
Review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
-Samidha
Review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 STARS
What a page turner!
I will admit (shamefully), that I have absolutely no idea about Denmark’s past in terms of the country’s wars, its politics, the general laws and such. However that did not, influence my liking or disliking of the book; instead it made it all the more fascinating.
“It was years since he had visited a city and the setting unnerved him. He liked empty places, preferably forests.”
The plot starts in 2010, when a man jumps into a passing tourist boat, with adults and school-children. He ends up killing four adults, and flees by swimming to the shore. The boat’s captain unable to avoid a collision sinks the boat, drowning children and adults. Twelve die, and only one is left alive. When DCI Simonsen (our hero-cop) arrives at the crime scene with his team, he discovers that the first person to be murdered was actually one of their own. Is this a co-incidence or is this a start of something?
The plot is such that I can’t decide what to tell, and what to conceal. From the jacket, it really doesn’t seem very interesting or eye catching; however it is one of the best detective, murder-mystery books that I’ve picked up this year. I don’t usually gravitate towards detective mystery because they seem a bit boring, either I don’t care about the murders, or the investigation process really makes me bawl. However, this was removed from that, it made me care about the characters, the short chapters kept my interest, the investigations had logic, the plot twists, and the fast pacing really made it unique, even in its own genre. Never having read any of the previous books in this Danish series, I wouldn’t know if the other stories are better or connected, but even as a standalone it was a delight. Some of the scenes had me rile up, and much like any reader I also made a lot of my own presumptions (unfortunately none of them came to fruition).
“He offered his Homicide Chief a chair, and announced that there was coffee, tea and soft drinks, which Simonsen would have been blind not to see.”
It did take me some time to get into the writing, not that it is difficult English, but it did take some time to get into the setting, to follow through. The novel spans across time, it follows the link between two murders, so it got a little bit tough there, because I would usually forget the names of the people concerned in the other case.
The writing is very to the point; if you’ve been reading Agatha Christie then this is definitely something different, as it is more mature. Even the concept becomes very dark by the time we are half way through, but there is great team support and the investigations happen with precision and detail. Simonsen and team do feel like a team, and the dialogue isn’t very heavy (looking at you Le Carre).
Final verdict: I would really urge everyone to pick this book. If you’re a mystery buff/love all things murder, or if you are trying your hand at the genre for the first time. It really is a very satisfying, though provoking and thrilling read.
-Samidha
June 2, 2018
You know I love Scandinavian mysteries and I was pleasantly surprised to find another author in this genre. But I must admit I was a little disappointed in the beginning and thought I wasn’t going to finish this book. Never say never because there are always exceptions to the rule and this was one for me.
The storyline is intriguing but I don’t know if it’s the writing or the translation that bothered me the most. Once I got into the plot I had to get to the end because I needed answers like everyone else. And I loved the ending.
The storyline is intriguing but I don’t know if it’s the writing or the translation that bothered me the most. Once I got into the plot I had to get to the end because I needed answers like everyone else. And I loved the ending.
June 18, 2018
Check full review at http://www.vidhyathakkar.com/bookrevi...
First of all, I loved the cover and the title of the book. It’s super attractive. The book is so engaging. I loved how the plot is set. It’s amazing. The way it had twists and turns, every chapter completing the puzzle, was something I loved. It’s a super engrossing read. The narration that the author gave was simply crisp, simple and smooth. One can easily connect with the book from the very first page. The book has 74 chapters and each chapter has its own importance. I loved how the investigation was made. How there were twists and turns with every page. This book had strong characters. It has mystery, crime, suspense, everything. Well, it was a bit heavy read but then a fast-paced one. The flow of the book was also crisp and smooth. The language used by the author is simple. I loved the writing style. I loved how events were taking place.
I loved how the author described each and every scene beautifully with so many twists. This book something different from the thriller books that we read. The backdrop, the narration, the plot, characterization, language, everything was on point.
It was my first read of this author and I am loving it. It’s super impressive. it is the best detective crime fiction book. If you love reading mystery, thriller, Go for it. It’s a real page-turner.
First of all, I loved the cover and the title of the book. It’s super attractive. The book is so engaging. I loved how the plot is set. It’s amazing. The way it had twists and turns, every chapter completing the puzzle, was something I loved. It’s a super engrossing read. The narration that the author gave was simply crisp, simple and smooth. One can easily connect with the book from the very first page. The book has 74 chapters and each chapter has its own importance. I loved how the investigation was made. How there were twists and turns with every page. This book had strong characters. It has mystery, crime, suspense, everything. Well, it was a bit heavy read but then a fast-paced one. The flow of the book was also crisp and smooth. The language used by the author is simple. I loved the writing style. I loved how events were taking place.
I loved how the author described each and every scene beautifully with so many twists. This book something different from the thriller books that we read. The backdrop, the narration, the plot, characterization, language, everything was on point.
It was my first read of this author and I am loving it. It’s super impressive. it is the best detective crime fiction book. If you love reading mystery, thriller, Go for it. It’s a real page-turner.
May 24, 2018
Lotte and Søren Hammer have taken the Balkan war and brought it to Denmark. With a veteran taking center stage in a killing that had children from Japan on board a boat that had the victims. The children died as a result of people who were killed and then killer swam to shore leaving the children to fend for themselves. This hit the police very hard and they had to find out who the killer was and why he killed everyone. The Countess and her husband, Konrad Simonsen, were the hardest hit of the police. Konrad, even went to the servicemen's club find out the name of the former Danish soldier. The story continues and it escalates from there. This book keeps you involved and you don't want to put it down. Lets just say that you will want to cheer at the end.
August 18, 2018
Abandoned about halfway through. Not my cup of tea although starting out with promise.
June 22, 2018
I received a free copy of the book from the publishers in exchange of an honest review.
I have been looking forward to explore the Nordic or Scandinavian Crime genre since a year. And finally got a chance to get into it with The Night Ferry by Lotte and Soren Hammer. And it's a book that seems to be PERFECTLY done.
It had all the elements of a good crime mystery. The plot was intruiging and dense and just a few pages in, you get hooked to it. The narration was smooth and consistent. The story was weaved and told in such a manner that made sure you remain invested in the investigation. Finally, the ending touches just the right chords.
Moreover, it's a book that stays with you for a long time.
A definte recommendation for the fans of Crime Thrillers.
I have been looking forward to explore the Nordic or Scandinavian Crime genre since a year. And finally got a chance to get into it with The Night Ferry by Lotte and Soren Hammer. And it's a book that seems to be PERFECTLY done.
It had all the elements of a good crime mystery. The plot was intruiging and dense and just a few pages in, you get hooked to it. The narration was smooth and consistent. The story was weaved and told in such a manner that made sure you remain invested in the investigation. Finally, the ending touches just the right chords.
Moreover, it's a book that stays with you for a long time.
A definte recommendation for the fans of Crime Thrillers.
June 13, 2018
I have a weakness for thriller genre and when Bloomsbury India asked me if they could sent me a copy of “The Night Ferry” No was definitely not the answer.
Thank you Bloomsbury for sending this wonderful thriller along my way.
To be honest I have never indulged myself in Scandinavian mysteries but after reading this I now what I am missing from my life.
The engrossing tale starts off with an incident in the Night Ferry and our detective Simonsen is called in to find out the reason behind it.
What then follows is a wave of secrets, theories and twists and turns that are beyond our wildest imaginations.
A dark political thriller summed up with a thick plot and just the ample amount of characterisation makes this novel stand out.
What attracted me the most was the to-the point narration of the author duo.The scenes were descriptive enough but not too much that they would be buzzbill.
Although I admit that it took me a day or two to get through the intial pages may be because of the fact that the writing flow was a tad bit different from the other mysteries I have read(Dan Brown, Sidney Sheldon and Agatha Christie ones) or it might be because the translation thing.
But nonetheless it is quite a riveting thriller and must definitely be read by hard core thriller lovers.
Thank you Bloomsbury for sending this wonderful thriller along my way.
To be honest I have never indulged myself in Scandinavian mysteries but after reading this I now what I am missing from my life.
The engrossing tale starts off with an incident in the Night Ferry and our detective Simonsen is called in to find out the reason behind it.
What then follows is a wave of secrets, theories and twists and turns that are beyond our wildest imaginations.
A dark political thriller summed up with a thick plot and just the ample amount of characterisation makes this novel stand out.
What attracted me the most was the to-the point narration of the author duo.The scenes were descriptive enough but not too much that they would be buzzbill.
Although I admit that it took me a day or two to get through the intial pages may be because of the fact that the writing flow was a tad bit different from the other mysteries I have read(Dan Brown, Sidney Sheldon and Agatha Christie ones) or it might be because the translation thing.
But nonetheless it is quite a riveting thriller and must definitely be read by hard core thriller lovers.
June 23, 2018
*I received a free copy from the publisher and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*
When I was offered this book for review I thought it sounded interesting. And I’m happy to report that it was and even more so then I thought.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and everything about it. I enjoyed the setting, Denmark, which was a nice change of pace and I enjoyed it to learn more about it, I only been there once. I loved the characters, the bad, the good and the ugly , we get a nice mix of them and of course I really enjoyed the story which kept me glued to the page and kept me up late to finish it. I couldn’t put it down and just had to know who, where and what ;)
The pacing of the book was great most of the times there were only a few times it felt a bit too slow or maybe I was just impatient. I also should mention that while I really enjoyed the setting it also took me a couple chapters to get used to it and learn about their laws as I went a long. But it was a pretty smooth getting used to as the book just sucks you further and further into the plot.
This was my first book in this series but I think I will go and read some of the other books in the series I also will keep my eye out for future books be the authors. If you a fan of murder mystery and thrillers I think you will enjoy this book.
I rate it 4 ★
July 12, 2018
A book that is equally good and exhausting and hence, a bullet point review. The Night Ferry is more like a police procedure gone wrong rather than a thriller. A few interesting points about the book are as follows:
-The Night Ferry is a murder investigation that involves a hard-working detective and an extremely smart villain. The book contains more characters than you can count, most of them having a chaotic past.
-The plot starts with a murder followed by a police investigation. The readers are provided with the details as and when the investigation is done, so the reader gets to form their own opinion about the story. As the killer is found and the case moves to trial, more and more manipulations follow and innocent lives are lost, again.
-The writing style is extremely descriptive and the author invests a lot of time in character and plot building. I felt the need to take a breather every two to three chapters. On the brighter side, there is a lot of information about Denmark and the laws and the way a Scandinavian investigation is carried out. The author also gives us a lifelike description of the landscape.
-The book can't be read at one/two sittings and hence, it is a very slow read. One might feel the need to give up multiple times. but the plot is powerful enough to make you feel the need to get some answers.
The Night Ferry is an intriguing, descriptive and somewhat intense thriller that has a lot to offer. The Plot is well planned and well executed. However, I felt that the book could have been easily transformed into a series rather than one big, excruciating book.
-The Night Ferry is a murder investigation that involves a hard-working detective and an extremely smart villain. The book contains more characters than you can count, most of them having a chaotic past.
-The plot starts with a murder followed by a police investigation. The readers are provided with the details as and when the investigation is done, so the reader gets to form their own opinion about the story. As the killer is found and the case moves to trial, more and more manipulations follow and innocent lives are lost, again.
-The writing style is extremely descriptive and the author invests a lot of time in character and plot building. I felt the need to take a breather every two to three chapters. On the brighter side, there is a lot of information about Denmark and the laws and the way a Scandinavian investigation is carried out. The author also gives us a lifelike description of the landscape.
-The book can't be read at one/two sittings and hence, it is a very slow read. One might feel the need to give up multiple times. but the plot is powerful enough to make you feel the need to get some answers.
The Night Ferry is an intriguing, descriptive and somewhat intense thriller that has a lot to offer. The Plot is well planned and well executed. However, I felt that the book could have been easily transformed into a series rather than one big, excruciating book.
October 19, 2018
Did this book stand a chance of keeping me engaged against season 2 of Ozark?
There's a horrible mass murder then a whole bunch of gobbledy-gook leading up to a bad trial and someone is poorly framed. The nature of framing is pretty damned clever. And that's at 60% or so. There's a horrible war crime inciting all of it and PTSD/mental patients (sorry for terminology faux pas) as usual. And then it's tied up with a bow and we're on vacation in the South Pacific.
All of the police detectives are incestuous but that's ok because the villains are, too.
Glad none of the detectives were raging alcoholics. Hard to find that lately.
Easily five hundred pages yet goodreads claims 350.
There's a horrible mass murder then a whole bunch of gobbledy-gook leading up to a bad trial and someone is poorly framed. The nature of framing is pretty damned clever. And that's at 60% or so. There's a horrible war crime inciting all of it and PTSD/mental patients (sorry for terminology faux pas) as usual. And then it's tied up with a bow and we're on vacation in the South Pacific.
All of the police detectives are incestuous but that's ok because the villains are, too.
Glad none of the detectives were raging alcoholics. Hard to find that lately.
Easily five hundred pages yet goodreads claims 350.
May 30, 2018
This is the first book I've read in this series, and it was impressive. I thought I was burnt out on the Scandinavian crime genre, but this one reminded me more than other contemporary efforts of Mankell's Wallander series since there was a definite world view focus and effect. The structure ran somewhat true to that model also. The Copenhagen setting and motivation behind the initial shocking scene that sets the plot in motion were handled originally, and there appears to be a great deal of thought behind the creation of the Simonsen and his wife, the Countess, as well as their co-workers. Not a full five star since there was some fat in the middle that could have been trimmed.
June 6, 2019
''The Night Ferry'' is the latest installment in the exceptional Konrad Simonsen police procedural novel series and this is the first book I've read in this series and once I got into the plot I had to get to the end because I needed answers like everyone else. I can’t believe I have been missing out on this whole genre of Scandinavian thrillers.
From the blurb you get to know that
“Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.”
But the fact is that once the plot starts unfolding, once you delve deeper in the book it becomes so much more than just a murder mystery of 20 people. It is by far the best detective crime fiction books I have picked up with a political backdrop!
I usually get bored by detective stories because they all turn out to be predictable barring a few thrillers I have read. But this one had to-the point description, witty dialogues, investigations that stirred your senses while making absolute sense and unpredictable plot twists that just kept coming!!
The chapters are really short which is very good because it keeps the pace going and keeps you glued to the book! I haven’t read other works of the author duo so I cannot really compare if the story is repetitive or better, but reading this book was a pure delight and got me totally hooked! And now I will surely be reading other installments of this series because I loved the authors so much.
Rating: 5/5
If you're a suspense, murder mystery buff you will love it!
From the blurb you get to know that
“Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.”
But the fact is that once the plot starts unfolding, once you delve deeper in the book it becomes so much more than just a murder mystery of 20 people. It is by far the best detective crime fiction books I have picked up with a political backdrop!
I usually get bored by detective stories because they all turn out to be predictable barring a few thrillers I have read. But this one had to-the point description, witty dialogues, investigations that stirred your senses while making absolute sense and unpredictable plot twists that just kept coming!!
The chapters are really short which is very good because it keeps the pace going and keeps you glued to the book! I haven’t read other works of the author duo so I cannot really compare if the story is repetitive or better, but reading this book was a pure delight and got me totally hooked! And now I will surely be reading other installments of this series because I loved the authors so much.
Rating: 5/5
If you're a suspense, murder mystery buff you will love it!
April 19, 2015
velskrevet og rigtig god bog, der ikke bare som så mange andre krimier handler om at finde ud af who-done-it. Jeg var helt vild med det politiske tovtrækkeri, retsspillet, fortidens krig, veteranerne, PTSD aspektet, hovedpersonerne (som jeg ikke har stiftet bekendtskab med tidligere).
Det hele er virkeligt godt gennemtænkt og sammenskruet :)
Det hele er virkeligt godt gennemtænkt og sammenskruet :)
August 11, 2018
The Night Ferry is a thriller from start to finish. Lotte Hammer has complete control of the narrative, unlike her characters. I love how the title of the book becomes a double entendre at the very end. And mind you, the reader, you do not know how the story is resolved until the very end.
November 9, 2018
The Konrad Simonsen series has been on my must-read list from the beginning. The inaugural volume, THE HANGING, demonstrated that the brother-sister team of Lotte and Søren Hammer had an uncanny ability to devise unusual and complex mysteries with perplexing homicides at their core. The “police” part of these extremely well-written police procedurals have been anchored by Simonsen, Copenhagen’s somewhat dour Detective Chief Superintendent, and a secondary cast that is most capable of stepping up and out on their own.
The fifth book, THE NIGHT FERRY, has just been released in the United States following its 2014 publication in the Hammers’ native Denmark --- and thus far is the best installment of the series published here.
Part of what makes it so memorable is the opening scenario, which introduces a harrowing series of murders, quickly and expertly performed, that result in an unintended and unexpected catastrophe. In the immediate aftermath, Simonsen and his team are left flummoxed as to who would do such a thing --- and why --- but when the victims are identified, it is discovered that among their numbers is one of the police force’s own. Another of the victims is a contact who may have had information regarding a cold case that the dead officer was obsessed with solving. It becomes clear to the team that the killings were an attempt to keep the original case from being solved, and that in order to avenge their colleague, they are going to have to solve both the new case with its multiple fatalities and the previous one.
There is a thin line connecting the two cases that some well-hidden adversaries are determined that Simonsen and his team will not find. Even with this obstruction, Simonsen is able to make a case, leading to charges being filed and a trial being held. However, the result is quite surprising in a couple of ways, and Simonsen is back at square one, having to prove a colleague’s innocence against improbable odds. Along the way, he acquires an enigmatic but powerful ally that he is not entirely sure he can trust, but must. The team soon finds itself far outside its comfort zone in a hostile environment, investigating a series of atrocities that have been all but forgotten, in the hopes of uncovering an ever-elusive truth and obtaining some justice for their colleagues, both living and dead.
THE NIGHT FERRY is the Hammers’ most complex and challenging work to date, taking the usual cast --- and some other characters --- into unexpected places for unpredictable reasons. It zigs and zags delightfully before ending in a satisfying place, and sets up a subplot or two that undoubtedly will play out in future installments. And if the book sounds intriguing but you don’t want to jump into the middle of a series, never fear. The Hammers do a terrific job of providing those who are new to Simonsen’s world with an explanation as to what has gone before.
Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not tip the fedora to Bloomsbury Publishing, which acknowledges translator Charlotte Barslund in a manner both befitting and long overdue.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
The fifth book, THE NIGHT FERRY, has just been released in the United States following its 2014 publication in the Hammers’ native Denmark --- and thus far is the best installment of the series published here.
Part of what makes it so memorable is the opening scenario, which introduces a harrowing series of murders, quickly and expertly performed, that result in an unintended and unexpected catastrophe. In the immediate aftermath, Simonsen and his team are left flummoxed as to who would do such a thing --- and why --- but when the victims are identified, it is discovered that among their numbers is one of the police force’s own. Another of the victims is a contact who may have had information regarding a cold case that the dead officer was obsessed with solving. It becomes clear to the team that the killings were an attempt to keep the original case from being solved, and that in order to avenge their colleague, they are going to have to solve both the new case with its multiple fatalities and the previous one.
There is a thin line connecting the two cases that some well-hidden adversaries are determined that Simonsen and his team will not find. Even with this obstruction, Simonsen is able to make a case, leading to charges being filed and a trial being held. However, the result is quite surprising in a couple of ways, and Simonsen is back at square one, having to prove a colleague’s innocence against improbable odds. Along the way, he acquires an enigmatic but powerful ally that he is not entirely sure he can trust, but must. The team soon finds itself far outside its comfort zone in a hostile environment, investigating a series of atrocities that have been all but forgotten, in the hopes of uncovering an ever-elusive truth and obtaining some justice for their colleagues, both living and dead.
THE NIGHT FERRY is the Hammers’ most complex and challenging work to date, taking the usual cast --- and some other characters --- into unexpected places for unpredictable reasons. It zigs and zags delightfully before ending in a satisfying place, and sets up a subplot or two that undoubtedly will play out in future installments. And if the book sounds intriguing but you don’t want to jump into the middle of a series, never fear. The Hammers do a terrific job of providing those who are new to Simonsen’s world with an explanation as to what has gone before.
Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not tip the fedora to Bloomsbury Publishing, which acknowledges translator Charlotte Barslund in a manner both befitting and long overdue.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
June 25, 2018
It's been a pretty long time that I have started on a thriller that I had picked up without considering the author. A good amount of rave reviews online made me pick up this book which otherwise would have gone unnoticed by me if it hadn't been the posts on my various social media handles. Lotte and Soren Hammer's The Night Ferry though is the fifth book in the series of thrillers featuring Konrad Simonsen, is a pretty standalone novel and that's what made me decide to pick up this book as otherwise I haven't read the series. So how did the book fare in my eyes, read ahead to check it out.
Blurb :
Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.
Reasons why this book worked for me:
One of the main reason that this book worked for me was eventhough it was the fifth novel in the series was that the book stood out as a standalone novel and did not rely on the previous books to continue the story. Almost like the Hercule Poirot novels which followed the same routine. Also, the novel touches upon the crimes spanning different timelines which increases the thrill as the story goes by and does reaches its high point during climax which makes it an absolute page turner.
Downside to the book:
Though the book was pretty well written, there were at times the book tend to move towards predictability. The author tried to veer away from those points and hence one keeps turning the pages to know further on how the novel fares.
My Take on the Book:
One good thing about this book is that it introduced me to a pretty new author whom I had never heard of before. I would like to thank Bloomsbury for providing me a copy of this amazing book which otherwise I wouldn't have read if it hadn't been for them. Also, the writing style of the author is pretty easy to grasp and seems quite friendly and hence allows us to keep rooting for the character. In my opinion, I would surely recommend this book to everyone who are looking for a thriller that might keep them hooked all night.
Ratings : 🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5
Book in Three Words : Gripping. Unputdownable. Must-read.
Blurb :
Sixteen children and four adults are killed in a devastating boat crash in Copenhagen. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in, only to discover that this was no accident and that one of the passengers has a very personal connection to the homicide team.
Reeling from this revelation and not knowing who to trust, Simonsen follows a trail that eventually leads him to Bosnia and a network of criminal misconduct. All evidence points towards one shady figure: a high-ranking army specialist with a suspicious past. But the more Simonsen digs, the further the truth slips from his grasp.
Reasons why this book worked for me:
One of the main reason that this book worked for me was eventhough it was the fifth novel in the series was that the book stood out as a standalone novel and did not rely on the previous books to continue the story. Almost like the Hercule Poirot novels which followed the same routine. Also, the novel touches upon the crimes spanning different timelines which increases the thrill as the story goes by and does reaches its high point during climax which makes it an absolute page turner.
Downside to the book:
Though the book was pretty well written, there were at times the book tend to move towards predictability. The author tried to veer away from those points and hence one keeps turning the pages to know further on how the novel fares.
My Take on the Book:
One good thing about this book is that it introduced me to a pretty new author whom I had never heard of before. I would like to thank Bloomsbury for providing me a copy of this amazing book which otherwise I wouldn't have read if it hadn't been for them. Also, the writing style of the author is pretty easy to grasp and seems quite friendly and hence allows us to keep rooting for the character. In my opinion, I would surely recommend this book to everyone who are looking for a thriller that might keep them hooked all night.
Ratings : 🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5
Book in Three Words : Gripping. Unputdownable. Must-read.
July 10, 2018
In "The Night Ferry," by Lotte and Søren Hammer, translated from the Danish by Charlotte Barslund, a stealthy perpetrator commits multiple murders. One of his victims is Pauline Berg, a colleague of Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen. Berg had been obsessed with a possible homicide that no one else thought deserved further investigation, but she would not be dissuaded from pursuing the matter vigorously. Could her determination to keep a closed inquiry alive have led to her death? Simonsen, his wife and fellow detective Nathalie von Rosen (nicknamed the Countess), Deputy Homicide Chief Arne Pedersen, and others join forces to find the villain who jumped onto a tour boat with an intent to kill.
This complex police procedural brings to mind wooden nesting dolls. When one is opened, another is hidden inside. At the outset, Konrad and his team have no idea that they are poking sticks into a nest of vipers. Their quest will lead them to discover corruption in high places; a conspiracy to conceal scandalous acts of savagery; and a sobering history lesson about ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, during which bands of thugs tortured and slaughtered well over one hundred thousand men, women, and children.
Why do terrible transgressions often go unpunished? All it takes is for deceitful people to destroy records and evidence, and pretend that nothing has happened. To reveal the truth, Simonsen and his fellow detectives search for forensic evidence and track down witnesses who have relevant information to share. This novel requires close attention to detail, since it has a large cast of characters and a dense plot that is sometimes difficult to follow. On the plus side, "The Night Ferry" is a suspenseful, powerfully written, and involving thriller as well as a disturbing look at the incredible cruelty of which human beings are capable. Although Konrad Simonsen can be a bit of a curmudgeon, he is intelligent, courageous, a strong leader, and a crafty strategist. He and his colleagues risk their reputations and their lives in order to redress an outrageous miscarriage of justice.
This complex police procedural brings to mind wooden nesting dolls. When one is opened, another is hidden inside. At the outset, Konrad and his team have no idea that they are poking sticks into a nest of vipers. Their quest will lead them to discover corruption in high places; a conspiracy to conceal scandalous acts of savagery; and a sobering history lesson about ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, during which bands of thugs tortured and slaughtered well over one hundred thousand men, women, and children.
Why do terrible transgressions often go unpunished? All it takes is for deceitful people to destroy records and evidence, and pretend that nothing has happened. To reveal the truth, Simonsen and his fellow detectives search for forensic evidence and track down witnesses who have relevant information to share. This novel requires close attention to detail, since it has a large cast of characters and a dense plot that is sometimes difficult to follow. On the plus side, "The Night Ferry" is a suspenseful, powerfully written, and involving thriller as well as a disturbing look at the incredible cruelty of which human beings are capable. Although Konrad Simonsen can be a bit of a curmudgeon, he is intelligent, courageous, a strong leader, and a crafty strategist. He and his colleagues risk their reputations and their lives in order to redress an outrageous miscarriage of justice.
May 5, 2025
Das Duo Hammer und ich haben ein – wie soll ich es sagen – schwieriges Verhältnis. Von den vorherigen Bänden fand ich zwei Teile toll und zwei Teile so langweilig, dass ich diese abgebrochen hatte. Also stand es 50:50 beim letzten Band.
Wichtigste Frage zuerst, muss man die vier Bände vorher gelesen haben? Ich hatte nur die ersten beiden Bände gelesen und dies reichte völlig aus. Jedoch würde ich empfehlen, wenigstens einen der beiden Bücher zu lesen, um das Ermittlerteam kennenzulernen. Das macht einiges einfacher, wenn es Anspielungen im Laufe der Handlung gibt.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch großen Spaß gemacht und versöhnte mich wieder mit der Reihe. Doch warum gefiel mir nun der fünfte Band auf einmal wieder? Das hatte mehrere Gründe:
Der Fall war schlichtweg spannend. Er war nicht völlig abgedreht, es gab die gute, alte klassische Ermittlerarbeit, nicht zu viele Nebenhandlungen und ich hatte stets das Gefühl, dass der Kern des Krimis tatsächlich so stattfinden könnte. Und vielleicht, nein, ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, es sich auch im wahren teilweise so Leben abspielt. Was den Fall umso erschreckender macht. Und gerade das, dieser Funken Realismus und der beschriebene Konflikt, machten auch die ersten beiden Teile so gut in meinen Augen.
Außerdem bin ich ein Fan eines guten Ermittlers bzw. eines guten Ermittlerteams. Dabei geht es mir um individuelle Charaktere (keine Extreme), ihre Zusammenarbeit und wie sie sich in den Fall einfügen. Ich mag es nicht, wenn auf einmal einer im Ermittlerteam ausschert und sich die Hälfte des Buches um seine Probleme kümmert. Es ist etwas anderes, wenn es nur einen Protagonisten gibt, aber im Rahmen eines ganzen Teams stört mich das gewaltig. Und leider war dies in den vorherigen beiden Bänden streckenweise der Fall.
Von daher, Glück gehabt, ich habe mich gefreut, die Reihe so abschließen zu können. Und wer weiß, vielleicht gibt es doch noch irgendwann einmal eine Fortsetzung.
Wichtigste Frage zuerst, muss man die vier Bände vorher gelesen haben? Ich hatte nur die ersten beiden Bände gelesen und dies reichte völlig aus. Jedoch würde ich empfehlen, wenigstens einen der beiden Bücher zu lesen, um das Ermittlerteam kennenzulernen. Das macht einiges einfacher, wenn es Anspielungen im Laufe der Handlung gibt.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch großen Spaß gemacht und versöhnte mich wieder mit der Reihe. Doch warum gefiel mir nun der fünfte Band auf einmal wieder? Das hatte mehrere Gründe:
Der Fall war schlichtweg spannend. Er war nicht völlig abgedreht, es gab die gute, alte klassische Ermittlerarbeit, nicht zu viele Nebenhandlungen und ich hatte stets das Gefühl, dass der Kern des Krimis tatsächlich so stattfinden könnte. Und vielleicht, nein, ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, es sich auch im wahren teilweise so Leben abspielt. Was den Fall umso erschreckender macht. Und gerade das, dieser Funken Realismus und der beschriebene Konflikt, machten auch die ersten beiden Teile so gut in meinen Augen.
Außerdem bin ich ein Fan eines guten Ermittlers bzw. eines guten Ermittlerteams. Dabei geht es mir um individuelle Charaktere (keine Extreme), ihre Zusammenarbeit und wie sie sich in den Fall einfügen. Ich mag es nicht, wenn auf einmal einer im Ermittlerteam ausschert und sich die Hälfte des Buches um seine Probleme kümmert. Es ist etwas anderes, wenn es nur einen Protagonisten gibt, aber im Rahmen eines ganzen Teams stört mich das gewaltig. Und leider war dies in den vorherigen beiden Bänden streckenweise der Fall.
Von daher, Glück gehabt, ich habe mich gefreut, die Reihe so abschließen zu können. Und wer weiß, vielleicht gibt es doch noch irgendwann einmal eine Fortsetzung.
July 29, 2018
4.5 stars.
Yet another exceptional instalment in the Konrad Simonson series.
This brother-sister duo have improved with every book this produce and this, the 5th instalment, is the best to date.
Frightening real in the socio-political elements, the police procedural mystery was not overdone or overwhelmed.
It’s frightening if you think too hard about how everyday people are forgotten about in the machine that is war/government/politics and spying.
I try not to think too hard on these things, much to my shame but if I did, I’d want to kill myself. Dramatic? Yes! Honest? Also yes!
The tragedy at the beginning is almost set to the side and while some may find it cold, I preferred it.
This may have been a translation thing rather than the authors’ style but the missing character was a huge annoyance to me and I was, quietly, glad they were finally gone. Even if they had been right all along...
Very recommended!
However, a great story, a great result.
Hopefully the next few books will also be translated.
Yet another exceptional instalment in the Konrad Simonson series.
This brother-sister duo have improved with every book this produce and this, the 5th instalment, is the best to date.
Frightening real in the socio-political elements, the police procedural mystery was not overdone or overwhelmed.
It’s frightening if you think too hard about how everyday people are forgotten about in the machine that is war/government/politics and spying.
I try not to think too hard on these things, much to my shame but if I did, I’d want to kill myself. Dramatic? Yes! Honest? Also yes!
The tragedy at the beginning is almost set to the side and while some may find it cold, I preferred it.
This may have been a translation thing rather than the authors’ style but the missing character was a huge annoyance to me and I was, quietly, glad they were finally gone. Even if they had been right all along...
Very recommended!
However, a great story, a great result.
Hopefully the next few books will also be translated.
July 2, 2018
This is my first book from Lotte Hammer and well, it's definitely not the last!
As already stated in the blurb that this book started off with the boat crashing case in which total of sixteen children and four adults died and this case was hand-over to the detective Konard.
Now this book is what I call a full suspense, thriller and mystery novel. The descriptions were vivid and intellectual. Yes, you do have to keep your full concentration on the book to understand what is going on as there are many twist and turns which will tangle up your memory lane but they're so worth it.
Each twists have it's own mystery and the findings. The book is dark and not sugarcoated. It is a straight forward thriller that don;t need to say much.
The pace is slow like really slow. If you like that and not a fan of things happening at super fast speed then only read this one.
The only problem I had with the book was the font size. I know this might be a petty one but well...duh.
As already stated in the blurb that this book started off with the boat crashing case in which total of sixteen children and four adults died and this case was hand-over to the detective Konard.
Now this book is what I call a full suspense, thriller and mystery novel. The descriptions were vivid and intellectual. Yes, you do have to keep your full concentration on the book to understand what is going on as there are many twist and turns which will tangle up your memory lane but they're so worth it.
Each twists have it's own mystery and the findings. The book is dark and not sugarcoated. It is a straight forward thriller that don;t need to say much.
The pace is slow like really slow. If you like that and not a fan of things happening at super fast speed then only read this one.
The only problem I had with the book was the font size. I know this might be a petty one but well...duh.
September 15, 2020
So many elements in this book; the slaughter of the innocents on the eponymous ferry, the murders of those who may have had relevant nformation, the valiant efforts of the Homicide Division to determine the why and who behind the multiple murders, the stalling and obstruction of the Danish political authorities, the gradual emergence of atrocities in Srebenica in 1995 in the vicinity of the Danish post as a possible factor, the careless treatment of veterans after their return home, some, if not many of whom suffering from PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the shadowy role of the United States. Simon Simonsen, the Countess, his colleague and wife, as well as the other members of Simonsen's team, working around the clock to tie all the disparate strings together in order to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. A thrilling and satisfying ending, highly recommended.
June 8, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I enjoyed the book well enough but I find the stories to be somewhat similar to each other even though the plots are very different. This was my first time reading about how the war was from the Danish point of view. The thriller is engaging and keeps you hooked. The storyline is intriguing but I don’t know if it’s the writing or the translation that bothered me the most. Apart from the above, those who purchase the book will have the chance to delve once again into the world of Konrad Simonsen and his team which is, in my opinion, one of the best as far as character description and development is concerned.
I enjoyed the book well enough but I find the stories to be somewhat similar to each other even though the plots are very different. This was my first time reading about how the war was from the Danish point of view. The thriller is engaging and keeps you hooked. The storyline is intriguing but I don’t know if it’s the writing or the translation that bothered me the most. Apart from the above, those who purchase the book will have the chance to delve once again into the world of Konrad Simonsen and his team which is, in my opinion, one of the best as far as character description and development is concerned.
July 5, 2018
Rating 4.5/5
Another book in the Konrad Simonsen series and i'm surprised i've never heard about this before. However , i'm glad this book felt like a standalone and didn't influence my liking or disliking for the book.
The cover isn't very intriguing that will provoke you to instantly pick up the book but despite that this is exactly how detective novels should be. The narration starts in 2010 when a man jumps into a boat and murders four adults , leaving the children alive. The captain of the boat loses control and collides with a ship , drowning the remaining passengers. Twelve die and only one is alive. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in only to realize that one of the adult was of their own.
A co-incidence or a well plotted plan?
Well , I am not exactly sure what to tell you without giving some major spoilers but that would ruin the charm of a detective novel.
The plot is gripping and partly reminded me of Agatha Christie so this is going to be loved by all Christie fans. The narration is lucid , however it took me two to three days to get a grip on the story. The starting pages were a tad bit slow but once you get a grip on the writing style , the book is enjoyable. The scenes were descriptive to perfection and were neither too lengthy nor too short. The characterization is the real reason why the book stood out for me.
Dark political thriller. Perfect for your monthly dose of crime fiction novels.
Another book in the Konrad Simonsen series and i'm surprised i've never heard about this before. However , i'm glad this book felt like a standalone and didn't influence my liking or disliking for the book.
The cover isn't very intriguing that will provoke you to instantly pick up the book but despite that this is exactly how detective novels should be. The narration starts in 2010 when a man jumps into a boat and murders four adults , leaving the children alive. The captain of the boat loses control and collides with a ship , drowning the remaining passengers. Twelve die and only one is alive. Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is called in only to realize that one of the adult was of their own.
A co-incidence or a well plotted plan?
Well , I am not exactly sure what to tell you without giving some major spoilers but that would ruin the charm of a detective novel.
The plot is gripping and partly reminded me of Agatha Christie so this is going to be loved by all Christie fans. The narration is lucid , however it took me two to three days to get a grip on the story. The starting pages were a tad bit slow but once you get a grip on the writing style , the book is enjoyable. The scenes were descriptive to perfection and were neither too lengthy nor too short. The characterization is the real reason why the book stood out for me.
Dark political thriller. Perfect for your monthly dose of crime fiction novels.
November 3, 2018
3.5. An exciting opening, and incidentally a way in which the problem of Pauline is resolved (this is the 5th in the series, so the significance of this might be lost on anyone new to it). A fairly convoluted story with quite a high need for the reader to suspend disbelief. The part of the story concerning the Balkan war is interesting, as the Danish perspective is not well known outside Denmark, I suspect. Much of the tension comes from the active role being played by the secret service in undermining the police operation, and the feeling that there may be someone within the police also working against the team. I did think that Arne falling for Pauline's lookalike sister was a little bit corny. The ending is satisfying, if, surely, pretty implausible!
August 16, 2020
Den Sindssyge Polak er ganske vist nummer 5 i en serie, men den læses fint uden noget kendskab til de forrige bøger. Man bliver hurtigt suget ind i bogens dramatiske univers. Et egenligt handlingsreferat er unødigt. Det er nok at sige, at bogen sætter spotlight på forskellige bløde punkter i vores ellers rigtig fine samfundsorden. Bogen er fremragende komponeret: ved første gennemlæsning forekommer flere episoder aldeles mærkværdige, og først senere siger man "Åh naturligvis!". For mit vedkommende motiverede det til en anden gennemlæsning, og stor glæde ved NU at forstå, præcis hvorfor det på overfladen uforståelige, alligevel var krystalklare logiske konsekvenser.
Anbefales!
Anbefales!
January 29, 2024
Back to their best! After being disappointed with The Lake because of the focus away from the Homicide team, the Night Ferry proved to be a great read. Complex, as always with this writing team, the story twists and winds its way to a very satisfying conclusion. As always, you know early who the bad guys are - it's the way the detectives work together, piece together the clues and resolve the case that makes this series one of my favourites of late. It's not a simple whodunnit but well worth the hard work you need to put in to stay on top of the story.
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