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Charlie Lager #1
For the Missing
She must find Annabelle. Before it's too late.
THE MISSING
Nora's daughter Annabelle has disappeared, last seen on her way home from a party.
THE LOST
Gullspång's inexperienced police are wilting under the national media spotlight - and its residents desperate for answers.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING . . .
Stockholm DI Charlie Lager must return home to find Annabelle, and then get out of town as soon as she can. Before everyone discovers the truth about her . . .
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
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August 27, 2018
3.5 stars
This is the english translation of a popular book released last year in Sweden. The first of a series, it introduces DI Charlie Lager of the National Operations Dept. in Stockholm. When a young girl from the small town of Gullspång goes missing, she & colleague Anders Bratt are sent to help with the investigation.
As we quickly learn, Charlie has a boatload of secrets. One of them is she actually grew up in Gullspång with her alcoholic mother Betty. And she’s spent most of her life suppressing the memories. Not a problem, she’ll just keep that to herself & do her job (& pack her medication). Besides, what are the odds she’ll be recognized after 20 years?
Annabelle Roos is a smart, vivacious teenager who loves a good party. There’s not much to do in Gullspång except get together & drink. As far as she’s concerned, her future does not include sticking around. But until then, she has to survive small town gossip & her unstable mother. Turns out Annabelle has a few secrets of her own & after one night of partying, she disappears.
The book has 4 story lines that alternate & gradually connect to the overall arc of the plot. The one given the least amount of space is the investigation into Annabelle’s disappearance. In other chapters we follow her over the course of her last few days leading up to the party. There’s also the story of Rosa & Alice, 2 young girls whose friendship takes a sinister turn. And lastly, we relive Charlie’s childhood as her return to town opens the floodgates on all those memories & events she’s worked so hard to forget.
So here’s the deal. This author has some serious writing skills & the fact it is a debut novel just makes it all the more impressive. Kudos also go out to the translator. The prose is smooth & without the odd phrases or stilted dialogue I’ve come across in other translated works.
But I think your enjoyment of this book may be tied to your reading preferences. This was a new author for me so I did a little reading up on her books & saw this tagged as a thriller. I would have to humbly disagree. If forced to give it a label, I’d say it’s a combination of family drama & suspense.
I thought I was picking up a police procedural which I love to read but soon discovered the investigative aspect plays a minor role. This is actually Charlie’s story. And boy, does she have one to tell. I won’t get into details but since she fled Gullspång, Charlie’s life has been a steady stream of booze, pills & meaningless one night stands. And as we revisit the past with her, we come to understand why she has a few “issues”. The choice to make Charlie’s personal story the focus may have been because this is book #1 in a series & the author wanted to establish the character & her history.
So when it came to rating the book, I chose to base it on personal preference & what I enjoy reading. It’s just a simple mismatch between book & reader & not a reflection of this author’s ability to craft a compelling story with a strong sense of place. If you’re a fan of character driven drama this should be right up your street.
By the end the fates of Annabelle, Rosa, Alice & Betty are revealed & there are some surprises in store. As for Charlie….well, she’s got a long road ahead of her but you get the feeling she’s finally made peace with her past.
This is the english translation of a popular book released last year in Sweden. The first of a series, it introduces DI Charlie Lager of the National Operations Dept. in Stockholm. When a young girl from the small town of Gullspång goes missing, she & colleague Anders Bratt are sent to help with the investigation.
As we quickly learn, Charlie has a boatload of secrets. One of them is she actually grew up in Gullspång with her alcoholic mother Betty. And she’s spent most of her life suppressing the memories. Not a problem, she’ll just keep that to herself & do her job (& pack her medication). Besides, what are the odds she’ll be recognized after 20 years?
Annabelle Roos is a smart, vivacious teenager who loves a good party. There’s not much to do in Gullspång except get together & drink. As far as she’s concerned, her future does not include sticking around. But until then, she has to survive small town gossip & her unstable mother. Turns out Annabelle has a few secrets of her own & after one night of partying, she disappears.
The book has 4 story lines that alternate & gradually connect to the overall arc of the plot. The one given the least amount of space is the investigation into Annabelle’s disappearance. In other chapters we follow her over the course of her last few days leading up to the party. There’s also the story of Rosa & Alice, 2 young girls whose friendship takes a sinister turn. And lastly, we relive Charlie’s childhood as her return to town opens the floodgates on all those memories & events she’s worked so hard to forget.
So here’s the deal. This author has some serious writing skills & the fact it is a debut novel just makes it all the more impressive. Kudos also go out to the translator. The prose is smooth & without the odd phrases or stilted dialogue I’ve come across in other translated works.
But I think your enjoyment of this book may be tied to your reading preferences. This was a new author for me so I did a little reading up on her books & saw this tagged as a thriller. I would have to humbly disagree. If forced to give it a label, I’d say it’s a combination of family drama & suspense.
I thought I was picking up a police procedural which I love to read but soon discovered the investigative aspect plays a minor role. This is actually Charlie’s story. And boy, does she have one to tell. I won’t get into details but since she fled Gullspång, Charlie’s life has been a steady stream of booze, pills & meaningless one night stands. And as we revisit the past with her, we come to understand why she has a few “issues”. The choice to make Charlie’s personal story the focus may have been because this is book #1 in a series & the author wanted to establish the character & her history.
So when it came to rating the book, I chose to base it on personal preference & what I enjoy reading. It’s just a simple mismatch between book & reader & not a reflection of this author’s ability to craft a compelling story with a strong sense of place. If you’re a fan of character driven drama this should be right up your street.
By the end the fates of Annabelle, Rosa, Alice & Betty are revealed & there are some surprises in store. As for Charlie….well, she’s got a long road ahead of her but you get the feeling she’s finally made peace with her past.
January 22, 2021
No comencé la lectura con altas expectativas; he leído varios libros en que el personaje principal se ve envuelto en alguna situación que le obliga a volver al lugar de su infancia y enfrentarse a sus propios demonios. Rápidamente me vienen a la memoria Heridas abiertas, Escrito en el agua y El guardián invisible, buenos libros que dejan la vara alta. Incluso es probable que tenga más a mi haber que ahora no recuerdo.
No obstante, fue una lectura que disfruté muchísimo. Lina Bengtsdotter escribe muy muy bien, sabe mantener la intriga con capítulos cortos y ágiles, desarrollando la narración en tres momentos diferentes que permite que el lector vaya un paso por delante de la investigación. Además, usa una técnica narrativa que me gusta mucho: la de insertar diálogos en los párrafos. Siendo su novela debut, es una autora a la que le voy a seguir la pista muy de cerca.
Sin embargo, mi principal problema es que la novela promete algo que no se cumple. Tanto en la sinopsis como en la lectura misma se hace referencia a una investigadora peculiar y con gran intuición que yo no vi por ninguna parte, por el contrario, sentí que las pistas salían casi debajo de la manga y por pura casualidad. Eso no quiere decir que no me haya gustado la construcción del personaje, pero fue por otros motivos y no por los que se anticipan.
Mi otro pero es el desenlace; es original y no me lo esperaba, pero te deja con la sensación que todo lo leído es un sin sentido. También quedan algunos cabos sueltos que no creo que tengan continuidad en próximas entregas, ya que son muy propios del caso que se aborda en este libro.
Tres estrellitas me parece lo más justo.
Reto #17 PopSugae 2021: Un libro que tenga el mismo título que una canción
No obstante, fue una lectura que disfruté muchísimo. Lina Bengtsdotter escribe muy muy bien, sabe mantener la intriga con capítulos cortos y ágiles, desarrollando la narración en tres momentos diferentes que permite que el lector vaya un paso por delante de la investigación. Además, usa una técnica narrativa que me gusta mucho: la de insertar diálogos en los párrafos. Siendo su novela debut, es una autora a la que le voy a seguir la pista muy de cerca.
Sin embargo, mi principal problema es que la novela promete algo que no se cumple. Tanto en la sinopsis como en la lectura misma se hace referencia a una investigadora peculiar y con gran intuición que yo no vi por ninguna parte, por el contrario, sentí que las pistas salían casi debajo de la manga y por pura casualidad. Eso no quiere decir que no me haya gustado la construcción del personaje, pero fue por otros motivos y no por los que se anticipan.
Mi otro pero es el desenlace; es original y no me lo esperaba, pero te deja con la sensación que todo lo leído es un sin sentido. También quedan algunos cabos sueltos que no creo que tengan continuidad en próximas entregas, ya que son muy propios del caso que se aborda en este libro.
Tres estrellitas me parece lo más justo.
Reto #17 PopSugae 2021: Un libro que tenga el mismo título que una canción
May 12, 2023
Quite interesting psychological thriller about a missing girl and a screwed-up policewoman with a murky past.
The flashbacks add a suspenseful component to the plot.
The very concise and a bit odd narrative style couldn’t really convince me, though.
3 stars.
The flashbacks add a suspenseful component to the plot.
The very concise and a bit odd narrative style couldn’t really convince me, though.
3 stars.
February 2, 2021
Un buen thriller, donde sus dos protagonistas son todo un misterio. Ambientado en un pueblo sueco, donde todo es estático, intercalando presente y pasado.
Reconozco que el interés por la lectura de esta historia ha sido errático, a ratos decae, pero me ha dejado varios interrogantes.....
Reconozco que el interés por la lectura de esta historia ha sido errático, a ratos decae, pero me ha dejado varios interrogantes.....
January 8, 2019
When a young girl goes missing from a small town in Sweden, Charlie Lager and her colleague Anders are sent to help in the investigation. Unknown to everyone, Charlie grew up in this town. She’s determined to make sure nobody finds out but can she keep it up? And can detectives find young Annabelle before it’s too late?
For The Missing is the first instalment in the Charlie Lager series and promises great things for the future. Mostly set in the small town of Gullspång, the atmosphere is quite gloomy and the sense of claustrophobia and isolation is all-encompassing. This small town has very little to offer. To be honest, I can’t fathom at all why anyone would want to live there. There are no prospects, people have a hard time making ends meet and there is very little to do for entertainment. It’s no wonder Charlie made her escape from this place but why? And how will this forced return affect her?
I must admit that this didn’t quite turn out the way I expected it to. Yes, there’s an investigation into the disappearance of a teenaged girl but it goes deeper than that and the actual police work almost takes a backseat. This is very much a character-driven story and a truly fine example of Scandi-Noir, with its main focus on main protagonist, Charlie, and a rather intriguing backstory. In alternating chapters, the reader is introduced to two young girls. These chapters really grabbed my attention and I couldn’t at all figure out how they were connected to anything. And with every resident in Gullspång seemingly having something to hide, finding out who’s responsible for Annabelle’s disappearance is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. In short, there’s plenty on offer here to hold your attention throughout.
This first instalment in the Charlie Lager series won the Crimetime Specsavers Best Debut Award and it’s easy to see why. Gripping and atmospheric, this slow-burner marks the perfect introduction to Charlie Lager. I have no doubt this complex characters hides many more secrets and it’ll be thrilling to find out what those are.
For The Missing is the first instalment in the Charlie Lager series and promises great things for the future. Mostly set in the small town of Gullspång, the atmosphere is quite gloomy and the sense of claustrophobia and isolation is all-encompassing. This small town has very little to offer. To be honest, I can’t fathom at all why anyone would want to live there. There are no prospects, people have a hard time making ends meet and there is very little to do for entertainment. It’s no wonder Charlie made her escape from this place but why? And how will this forced return affect her?
I must admit that this didn’t quite turn out the way I expected it to. Yes, there’s an investigation into the disappearance of a teenaged girl but it goes deeper than that and the actual police work almost takes a backseat. This is very much a character-driven story and a truly fine example of Scandi-Noir, with its main focus on main protagonist, Charlie, and a rather intriguing backstory. In alternating chapters, the reader is introduced to two young girls. These chapters really grabbed my attention and I couldn’t at all figure out how they were connected to anything. And with every resident in Gullspång seemingly having something to hide, finding out who’s responsible for Annabelle’s disappearance is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. In short, there’s plenty on offer here to hold your attention throughout.
This first instalment in the Charlie Lager series won the Crimetime Specsavers Best Debut Award and it’s easy to see why. Gripping and atmospheric, this slow-burner marks the perfect introduction to Charlie Lager. I have no doubt this complex characters hides many more secrets and it’ll be thrilling to find out what those are.
November 30, 2019
When teenager Annabelle goes missing in a small town in Sweden, Charlie and her colleague Anders are sent to investigate. For Charlie this is a personal journey as she has not been back home for nineteen years and is hoping she will not be recognised by the locals.
This is the first book in a new series, if the others are anything like this one then this is definitely a series to look out for!!
I was thoroughly hooked by this book. Charlie is a great character with a strong backstory that is as compelling as the police investigation. I am looking forward to learning more about her and her secrets.
The story alternates between before and after Annabelle”s disappearance. We are also introduced to best friends Rosa and Alice, these short chapters are very intriguing and I loved how the stories all join together at the end.
With everybody seeming to be hiding something, finding Annabelle seems to no mean feat.
Looking forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend them.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
This is the first book in a new series, if the others are anything like this one then this is definitely a series to look out for!!
I was thoroughly hooked by this book. Charlie is a great character with a strong backstory that is as compelling as the police investigation. I am looking forward to learning more about her and her secrets.
The story alternates between before and after Annabelle”s disappearance. We are also introduced to best friends Rosa and Alice, these short chapters are very intriguing and I loved how the stories all join together at the end.
With everybody seeming to be hiding something, finding Annabelle seems to no mean feat.
Looking forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend them.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
January 23, 2019
Nada nuevo, pero me ha gustado
Tres historias que se van intercalando y al final convergen.
Con una estructura de capítulos cortos y un ritmo ágil nos va transportando a un pequeño pueblo perdido en el interior de Suecia para conocer la historia de Annabelle, la desaparecida; la dos amigas: Rose y Alice y el pasado de la detective Charlie Lager. En todos los casos, tenemos familias desarraigadas con situaciones especiales y el panorama que nos presentan no es muy halagüeño: problemas de alcoholismo y otras drogas desde muy temprana edad, un pueblo con pocos medios, escasas salidas profesionales, pocos lugares de ocio, .... y la necesidad de crear lazos afectivos de nuestros personajes.
No es una trama original: un caso de desaparición de un menor. Tampoco el personaje de Charlie Lager es especial: una detective con problemas personales, dependencia del alcohol y pastillas, con problemas afectivos y una infancia difícil. El ambiente, aunque estuviésemos en Suecia, me ha recordado el ambiente opresivo y deprimido algún pueblo de la "América profunda" con sus secretos y rencillas del pasado, recogido en otros libros que he leído. Pero que le vamos a hacer, si me gustan estos ambientes ....
Aún así el libro me ha parecido bien escrito. Ha sabido mantener un ritmo ágil y la intriga hasta el final, introduciendo también algún giro, ha conseguido retratar el ambiente y sus gentes y ha sabido jugar con las tres historias, para poder entrelazarlas al final.
Lo único que podría decir es que después de estar todo el tiempo analizando y dirigiendo las sospechas hacia los habitantes del pueblo, desenredando la madeja y sacando secretos ocultos, el final aunque coherente y plausible no es el esperado.
El personaje de Charlie, detective por encima de todo, aunque acabe suspendida, ... puede dar bastante juego con nuevos casos a investigar en el futuro. Habrá que ver si realmente ha superado sus traumas, la relación de su compañero Anders y si se vuelve a encontrar con Johan.
Continuaré con la serie.
Por todo ello:
Valoración: 7,75/10
Lectura: Enero 2019
Tres historias que se van intercalando y al final convergen.
Con una estructura de capítulos cortos y un ritmo ágil nos va transportando a un pequeño pueblo perdido en el interior de Suecia para conocer la historia de Annabelle, la desaparecida; la dos amigas: Rose y Alice y el pasado de la detective Charlie Lager. En todos los casos, tenemos familias desarraigadas con situaciones especiales y el panorama que nos presentan no es muy halagüeño: problemas de alcoholismo y otras drogas desde muy temprana edad, un pueblo con pocos medios, escasas salidas profesionales, pocos lugares de ocio, .... y la necesidad de crear lazos afectivos de nuestros personajes.
No es una trama original: un caso de desaparición de un menor. Tampoco el personaje de Charlie Lager es especial: una detective con problemas personales, dependencia del alcohol y pastillas, con problemas afectivos y una infancia difícil. El ambiente, aunque estuviésemos en Suecia, me ha recordado el ambiente opresivo y deprimido algún pueblo de la "América profunda" con sus secretos y rencillas del pasado, recogido en otros libros que he leído. Pero que le vamos a hacer, si me gustan estos ambientes ....
Aún así el libro me ha parecido bien escrito. Ha sabido mantener un ritmo ágil y la intriga hasta el final, introduciendo también algún giro, ha conseguido retratar el ambiente y sus gentes y ha sabido jugar con las tres historias, para poder entrelazarlas al final.
Lo único que podría decir es que después de estar todo el tiempo analizando y dirigiendo las sospechas hacia los habitantes del pueblo, desenredando la madeja y sacando secretos ocultos, el final aunque coherente y plausible no es el esperado.
El personaje de Charlie, detective por encima de todo, aunque acabe suspendida, ... puede dar bastante juego con nuevos casos a investigar en el futuro. Habrá que ver si realmente ha superado sus traumas, la relación de su compañero Anders y si se vuelve a encontrar con Johan.
Continuaré con la serie.
Por todo ello:
Valoración: 7,75/10
Lectura: Enero 2019
December 12, 2018
For the Missing, the first novel to feature DI Charlie Lager set in the Swedish town of Gullspång, Västergötland, is the epitome of Scandi Noir and a very promising start to a new series. It has all the claustrophobia and atmosphere that good noir fiction can evoke, but the author adds refreshing originality by making it more of a character study. The analysis focuses on DI Lager and the missing girl Annabelle and shows the unravelling of both of their lives over the course of the novel. Despite the lack of action, the book held my interest for the duration. That's the mark of an excellent writer, one who can make even the most mundane situations exciting and interesting.
Charlie is the typical, slightly cliched investigator with issues in her personal life, however, she does not allow her afflictions and addictions to affect her at work. She's a very troubled protagonist and you learn more about her as the novel progresses and by the conclusion, I was right behind her. The writing is incredible and flows effortlessly from one page to the next, it's hard to believe that's this is a debut. The translator also deserves a mention as I had completely forgotten that I was reading a work that has been translated until I read about it again after finishing it. If you enjoy character-driven novels then this may be a good fit for you, but I don't feel this is a thriller per se, it's more of a suspense or domestic noir than anything else, but that doesn't make it any less engrossing.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Charlie is the typical, slightly cliched investigator with issues in her personal life, however, she does not allow her afflictions and addictions to affect her at work. She's a very troubled protagonist and you learn more about her as the novel progresses and by the conclusion, I was right behind her. The writing is incredible and flows effortlessly from one page to the next, it's hard to believe that's this is a debut. The translator also deserves a mention as I had completely forgotten that I was reading a work that has been translated until I read about it again after finishing it. If you enjoy character-driven novels then this may be a good fit for you, but I don't feel this is a thriller per se, it's more of a suspense or domestic noir than anything else, but that doesn't make it any less engrossing.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
February 3, 2019
Η πρώτη σκέψη που έκανα τελειώνοντας το ήταν πως η γυναίκα ξέρει να γράφει.Χωρίς τίποτα σπουδαία λόγια και εντυπωσιακά στοιχεία,κατάφερε να γράψει μια ιστορία που δικαίως βραβεύτηκε.Το πιο αντιπροσωπευτικό παράδειγμα γι'αυτό,είναι η ταυτόχρονη χρήση ευθύ και πλαγίου λόγου στη διάρκεια των διαλόγων-τακτική που δεν απαντάται συχνά και που χρειάζεται μεγάλη μαεστρία για να μην καταλήξει δυσανάγνωστο το κείμενο.Σε δεύτερο χρόνο,η αστυνομική πλευρά αυτού του μυθιστορήματος ήταν εντέχνως μπλεγμένη με την επιστροφή στο παρελθόν της επιθεωρήτριας,ένα παρελθόν τόσο καταραμένο, όσο και η ζωή των κατοίκων του χωριού.Ζωές ταλαιπωρημένες,ψυχές κατατρεγμένες,θάνατοι,μυστικά,πάθη και λάθη και μια εξιλέωση που δεν έρχεται ποτέ,όλα αυτά τα ζει ο αναγνώστης ταυτόχρονα με την προσπάθεια εξιχνίασης της εξαφάνισης της Άναμπελ.
"Σ'αυτήν την ιστορία υπάρχουν μόνο θύματα!"
5🌟γιατί εδώ και μια ώρα δεν μπορώ να σκεφτώ ούτε ένα σημείο που να "έπασχε" έστω και λίγο.
"Σ'αυτήν την ιστορία υπάρχουν μόνο θύματα!"
5🌟γιατί εδώ και μια ώρα δεν μπορώ να σκεφτώ ούτε ένα σημείο που να "έπασχε" έστω και λίγο.
July 31, 2019
Moeilijk weg te leggen boek. Ben al benieuwd naar het vervolg erop...
December 5, 2019
"Έφυγαν από την αίθουσα την ώρα που ακουγόταν το τελευταίο τραγούδι της βραδιάς, το Hotel California. Το μέρος που πάντα μπορούσες να αφήσεις, αλλά όχι να φύγεις από αυτό."...
Και αυτό είναι το μοναδικό σημείο σε ολόκληρο το βιβλίο που αξίζει !!!
Επική ΜΠΟΥΡΔΑ...Τέτοια π@παριά (και τέτοιο χάσιμο χρόνου) είχα να διαβάσω από το κακέκτυπο του Bourne (aka "ο θεός του πολέμου"💩)!
Ακόμη αναρωτιέμαι γιατί δεν το παράτησα...🙄
Δεν είναι ούτε για ΜΙΣΟ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ. Προσάναμμα... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Και αυτό είναι το μοναδικό σημείο σε ολόκληρο το βιβλίο που αξίζει !!!
Επική ΜΠΟΥΡΔΑ...Τέτοια π@παριά (και τέτοιο χάσιμο χρόνου) είχα να διαβάσω από το κακέκτυπο του Bourne (aka "ο θεός του πολέμου"💩)!
Ακόμη αναρωτιέμαι γιατί δεν το παράτησα...🙄
Δεν είναι ούτε για ΜΙΣΟ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ. Προσάναμμα... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
January 24, 2019
En resumen,me ha gustado,ni mucho ni poco. 🤓No aporta nada muy destacable en su trama pero reconozco que me gusta bastante como está escrito. Bien la galería de personajes aunque les diría a los escritores nórdicos que de vez en cuando el/la protagonista policía/detective no sea un borrachuzo. Por variar más que nada.🤫🤓
January 29, 2020
Típico libro de policía alcoholizada y con un pasado oscuro. La desaparición de Annabelle aquí casi no pinta nada. La trama se centra más en el pasado de la inspectora y en sus problemas personales. A ver si el segundo de la serie mejora pero con este me he llevado una decepción. Un 2,5 ⭐
August 11, 2021
Leído en apenas 5 horas, no es que sea una gran maravilla pero me enganchó a tope. Desde luego no sé qué tienen las escritoras nórdicas pero me chiflan ☺
February 21, 2022
I am just amazed when a debut author presents a crime thriller in a fresh way. Risks abound for it to be taken seriously as if getting published was not already an impossibly high hurdle to so many.
Yet here we have a police procedural that is based in Sweden, that is original, inventive and so imaginative.
At a time when psychology and close relationships seem to be the subject of every new book trying to replicate any female on a form of transport. Lina Bengtsdotter has approach the genre with a discerning gaze and written a remarkable novel.
It is also a book deserving a second reading not because it is over complicated but to appreciate all the nuanced content.
The author also had a number a flawed characters so in an imperfect world no-one in this fictional account, based on small town Sweden, measures up as an upright citizen. I loved the sense of secrets in a tight community where normally everyone appears to know each other’s business.
A missing teenager in a settlement a couple of hours from the capital, sends two Stockholm detectives to support and lend their expertise.
Gullsapång is where the drama takes place. It is also where one of the detectives grew up. It isn’t so much a return of the girl who did so well but a re-union to incomplete memories and thoughts that continue to trouble her mind and sleep.
A wonderful story of broken lives and shattered dreams that is tense, thrilling and a refreshing pinch of truth.
Released 13th December 2018 - Today!!
Yet here we have a police procedural that is based in Sweden, that is original, inventive and so imaginative.
At a time when psychology and close relationships seem to be the subject of every new book trying to replicate any female on a form of transport. Lina Bengtsdotter has approach the genre with a discerning gaze and written a remarkable novel.
It is also a book deserving a second reading not because it is over complicated but to appreciate all the nuanced content.
The author also had a number a flawed characters so in an imperfect world no-one in this fictional account, based on small town Sweden, measures up as an upright citizen. I loved the sense of secrets in a tight community where normally everyone appears to know each other’s business.
A missing teenager in a settlement a couple of hours from the capital, sends two Stockholm detectives to support and lend their expertise.
Gullsapång is where the drama takes place. It is also where one of the detectives grew up. It isn’t so much a return of the girl who did so well but a re-union to incomplete memories and thoughts that continue to trouble her mind and sleep.
A wonderful story of broken lives and shattered dreams that is tense, thrilling and a refreshing pinch of truth.
Released 13th December 2018 - Today!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2019
Αν και το ξεκινάει πολύ ωραία παρά τα κλισέ (προβληματικό μπατσόνι, αλκοόλ, ψυχολογικά κλπ) στην πορεία το χάνει και μάλλον επειδή προσπαθεί να τα πει όλα σε μια ιστορία: Και για το βούρκο της επαρχίας και για το πώς είναι να είσαι έφηβος (και ειδικά έφηβος της επαρχίας) και για τα βάρη του παρελθόντος που σε διαμορφώνουν και και και και και. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι να τα περάσει όλα επιφανειακά (αναγκαστικά) παρά τις καλές προθέσεις. Still, δε χαλάστηκα που το διάβασα.
August 17, 2019
Embora tenha gostado deste livro, esperava mais do final...
Um livro rápido de ler pois cada capitulo conta uma parte da historia de várias personagens e vamos sempre querer avançar para percebermos melhor a história.
Uma cidade onde tantas pessoas são culpadas de alguma coisa.
Ainda assim fico curiosa de ver a evolução que a personagem principal vai ter nos próximos livros.
Um livro rápido de ler pois cada capitulo conta uma parte da historia de várias personagens e vamos sempre querer avançar para percebermos melhor a história.
Uma cidade onde tantas pessoas são culpadas de alguma coisa.
Ainda assim fico curiosa de ver a evolução que a personagem principal vai ter nos próximos livros.
September 16, 2019
Charlie (Charline) Lager is a police detective working in Stockholm for the National Operations Department. Single, in her mid-thirties, she depends on anti-depressants, alcohol, and various pharmaceuticals to get her though her days. Once in a while, she'll sleep with a stranger to just feel close to someone. She is messed up. Charlie has always been messed up. The child of single mother living in the impoverished small Swedish town of Gullspång, Charlie had been on intimate terms with chaos and turmoil for her entire life. Charlie was put into foster care at the age of fourteen, the same time she moved to Stockholm.
Now, two decades later, she is returning to Gullspång for the first time. She and her police partner Anders Bratt are tasked with a missing persons case. A seventeen year-old young woman has vanished after attending a party. The young woman is someone who Charlie can identify with. Someone who is complex, very intelligent, very beautiful, and it would seem... very messed up. Her name was Annabelle Roos.
The investigation into Annabelle's disappearance brings Charlie back into contact with her childhood friend, Susanne, and also exposes the dark underbelly of Gullspång, an outwardly beautiful small town where Charlie owns a house. Her mother's house which was never in great shape is now falling into ruin since being abandoned years before.
Anders, who has a wife and young child at home in Stockholm, is constantly on the phone with his wife, who seems needy and ridden with unwarranted jealousy. Charlie, despite her reassurances to her bosses in Stockholm, finds solace in alcohol while in Gullspång. This culminates with Charlie being suspended from the case. It has now been two weeks since the beautiful, strawberry blond, Annabel disappeared...
Meanwhile, the reader is made privy to a backstory that took place many years earlier. The story of two young girls named Alice and Rosa. Best friends, they both come from highly dysfunctional homes.
MY THOUGHTS
D.I. Charlie Lager was a unique and interesting protagonist whom I will follow throughout this quality series. Though translated, the narrative flowed seamlessly at a good pace. The descriptions of the Swedish towns and landscape immersed me in the story.
Though the premise of a missing child is not a new one, Bengstdotter breathes fresh life and more than a little suspense into her series debut. I enjoy a 'damaged' protagonist and Charlie surely fills that bill. All of the characters in this novel were written with understanding and empathy. Charlie's partner, Anders, was a good foil for her.
Though I've read some reviews by readers who found the ending a tad disappointing, I heartily disagree. I found the end realistic, therefore apt.
The backstory of the girls Rosa and Alice was at once mesmerizing and appalling. The author neatly joined the various stories together to form a cohesive and believable whole.
"For the Missing" is an excellent start to a quality Swedish police procedural series. Like all Scandinavian noir, it exposed the dark, secretive underbelly of the picturesque landscape. I am very much looking forward to the second novel in the series. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary digital copy of "For the Missing" from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley. I provided this review voluntarily.
Now, two decades later, she is returning to Gullspång for the first time. She and her police partner Anders Bratt are tasked with a missing persons case. A seventeen year-old young woman has vanished after attending a party. The young woman is someone who Charlie can identify with. Someone who is complex, very intelligent, very beautiful, and it would seem... very messed up. Her name was Annabelle Roos.
The investigation into Annabelle's disappearance brings Charlie back into contact with her childhood friend, Susanne, and also exposes the dark underbelly of Gullspång, an outwardly beautiful small town where Charlie owns a house. Her mother's house which was never in great shape is now falling into ruin since being abandoned years before.
Anders, who has a wife and young child at home in Stockholm, is constantly on the phone with his wife, who seems needy and ridden with unwarranted jealousy. Charlie, despite her reassurances to her bosses in Stockholm, finds solace in alcohol while in Gullspång. This culminates with Charlie being suspended from the case. It has now been two weeks since the beautiful, strawberry blond, Annabel disappeared...
Meanwhile, the reader is made privy to a backstory that took place many years earlier. The story of two young girls named Alice and Rosa. Best friends, they both come from highly dysfunctional homes.
MY THOUGHTS
D.I. Charlie Lager was a unique and interesting protagonist whom I will follow throughout this quality series. Though translated, the narrative flowed seamlessly at a good pace. The descriptions of the Swedish towns and landscape immersed me in the story.
Though the premise of a missing child is not a new one, Bengstdotter breathes fresh life and more than a little suspense into her series debut. I enjoy a 'damaged' protagonist and Charlie surely fills that bill. All of the characters in this novel were written with understanding and empathy. Charlie's partner, Anders, was a good foil for her.
Though I've read some reviews by readers who found the ending a tad disappointing, I heartily disagree. I found the end realistic, therefore apt.
The backstory of the girls Rosa and Alice was at once mesmerizing and appalling. The author neatly joined the various stories together to form a cohesive and believable whole.
"For the Missing" is an excellent start to a quality Swedish police procedural series. Like all Scandinavian noir, it exposed the dark, secretive underbelly of the picturesque landscape. I am very much looking forward to the second novel in the series. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary digital copy of "For the Missing" from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley. I provided this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of For The Missing, a stand alone novel set in the Swedish town of Gullspång, Västergötland.
Detectives Charline "Charlie" Lager and Anders Bratt are sent from Stockholm to Gullspång to help the local police find 17 year old Annabelle Roos who disappeared after a party. Unfortunately for Charlie Gullspång is the town she escaped from twenty years ago and she has mixed feelings about returning.
I thoroughly enjoyed For the Missing which is not so much a crime novel as an unraveling of Charlie and Annabelle's characters. It is not my usual fare as I prefer a more fact based procedural but I found it gripping reading. The novel is mostly told from Charlie's point of view, both in the present day and in her memories of her childhood but it also has flashbacks to Annabelle's last days told from her point of view and mysterious passages titled "there and then" which catalogue Alice's friendship with Rosa and seem to have nothing to do with the plot until they do at the end.
The police investigation consists of interviews and conversations and seems rather perfunctory and haphazard but it's merely background to the main thrust of the novel which is the examination of Charlie and Annabelle's characters and the shadow cast by the past on the present. I found it riveting despite both characters being a bit of a cliché. Charlie had a troubled upbringing and it manifests itself now in drink, pills and a promiscuous sex life and yet she manages to be a star at work. Slowly, over the course of the novel, how she came to be like this is explored and explained. Annabelle is initially portrayed as a good student and all round good girl but gradually cracks appear in this facade and she is hiding big secrets. The small town setting brings a magnifying glass to any flaws and a sense of claustrophobia to the events. It's very well done.
For the Missing is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Detectives Charline "Charlie" Lager and Anders Bratt are sent from Stockholm to Gullspång to help the local police find 17 year old Annabelle Roos who disappeared after a party. Unfortunately for Charlie Gullspång is the town she escaped from twenty years ago and she has mixed feelings about returning.
I thoroughly enjoyed For the Missing which is not so much a crime novel as an unraveling of Charlie and Annabelle's characters. It is not my usual fare as I prefer a more fact based procedural but I found it gripping reading. The novel is mostly told from Charlie's point of view, both in the present day and in her memories of her childhood but it also has flashbacks to Annabelle's last days told from her point of view and mysterious passages titled "there and then" which catalogue Alice's friendship with Rosa and seem to have nothing to do with the plot until they do at the end.
The police investigation consists of interviews and conversations and seems rather perfunctory and haphazard but it's merely background to the main thrust of the novel which is the examination of Charlie and Annabelle's characters and the shadow cast by the past on the present. I found it riveting despite both characters being a bit of a cliché. Charlie had a troubled upbringing and it manifests itself now in drink, pills and a promiscuous sex life and yet she manages to be a star at work. Slowly, over the course of the novel, how she came to be like this is explored and explained. Annabelle is initially portrayed as a good student and all round good girl but gradually cracks appear in this facade and she is hiding big secrets. The small town setting brings a magnifying glass to any flaws and a sense of claustrophobia to the events. It's very well done.
For the Missing is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 2, 2019
Mi reseña completa:https://bookeandoconmangeles.blogspot...
December 22, 2020
In the remote Swedish town of Gullspång, teenager Annabelle Loos goes missing after leaving a party. The local police are out of their depth in trying to find her and request assistance from Stockholm who dispatch two detectives; one of whom is Charlie Lager. Unbeknownst to her boss and colleagues, Gullspång is Charlie’s hometown; a place which she couldn’t leave fast enough and to which she dreads returning.
The investigation into Annabelle’s disappearance proceeds very slowly but much of the interest centres around glimpses into Charlie’s past and life with alcoholic mother Betty. There are also some intriguing flashbacks to a sinister pair called Rosa and Alice and one keeps wondering how they fit into the current narrative.
This is an unusual and highly assured debut novel with a fascinating and endearing central protagonist. I look forward to reading more adventures of Charlie Lager.
The investigation into Annabelle’s disappearance proceeds very slowly but much of the interest centres around glimpses into Charlie’s past and life with alcoholic mother Betty. There are also some intriguing flashbacks to a sinister pair called Rosa and Alice and one keeps wondering how they fit into the current narrative.
This is an unusual and highly assured debut novel with a fascinating and endearing central protagonist. I look forward to reading more adventures of Charlie Lager.
February 12, 2020
Interesante debut de la autora, en un clásico “nordic-noir”, con Charlie, la protagonista atormentada por su infancia que se ve obligada a volver a su pueblo para investigar la desaparición de una joven. La novela va alternando entre tres momentos: el actual, el correspondiente al día de la desaparición y la historia de dos chicas de la zona transcurrida años atrás.
Paulatinamente, las tres historias van convergiendo hasta un sorprendente final.
La protagonista me ha gustado, actúa de forma muy coherente con sus vivencias personales. El que no me ha convencido es su compañero investigador, poco definido e incoherente en su trato con Charlie: tan pronto la apoya, como al rato, le pone trabas; sin que haya un motivo para esta diferencia.
Paulatinamente, las tres historias van convergiendo hasta un sorprendente final.
La protagonista me ha gustado, actúa de forma muy coherente con sus vivencias personales. El que no me ha convencido es su compañero investigador, poco definido e incoherente en su trato con Charlie: tan pronto la apoya, como al rato, le pone trabas; sin que haya un motivo para esta diferencia.
February 9, 2020
Ravna linija.
Nervirala me prepotentna detektivka koja je i alkoholičarka Muka mi je više od tog klišea. Nijedan lik mi se nije dopao. Svi su ili površno opisani ili iritantni. Neke situacije su mi bile nerealne i nije mi se dopalo kako je samo preletela preko nekih delova.
Mislim da je trebalo da liči na roman "Suša" i da se fokusira na karaktere i na atmosferu učmalosti malog mesta, ali meni je ova knjiga baš promašaj. Ništa nećete propustiti ako je zaobiđete
Nervirala me prepotentna detektivka koja je i alkoholičarka Muka mi je više od tog klišea. Nijedan lik mi se nije dopao. Svi su ili površno opisani ili iritantni. Neke situacije su mi bile nerealne i nije mi se dopalo kako je samo preletela preko nekih delova.
Mislim da je trebalo da liči na roman "Suša" i da se fokusira na karaktere i na atmosferu učmalosti malog mesta, ali meni je ova knjiga baš promašaj. Ništa nećete propustiti ako je zaobiđete
May 2, 2019
Estoy entre 2'5-3
Cuando comencé la lectura me dio buenas vibraciones y esperaba más de lo que al final resultó :/
Cuando comencé la lectura me dio buenas vibraciones y esperaba más de lo que al final resultó :/
January 18, 2019
Esta es de esas historias que te gustan, pero que le falta "algo". Los protagonistas se sienten distantes, no hay química entre ellos y no me dijeron nada. La trama gira más en torno al pasado de Charlie que en la desaparición de Annabelle. Se lee rápido. Se va desarrollando lentamente. No hay grandes giros inesperados. Casi todo se va intuyendo a medida que la lectura avanza, lo que la vuelve predecible y llena de clichés. Poli con un pasado tormentoso, alcohólica, pastillera y una gran capacidad de autodestrucción. Ya parece que es un patrón. Aún así está bien escrita y por la curiosidad de saber qué rayos le pasó a Annabelle uno termina leyéndola.
July 16, 2017
Annabelle är författarens debutroman, och vilken debut det är! Jag minns inte ens när jag senast läste en så här välskriven och spännande deckare. Deckare är ofta ganska spännande, men inte från början till slut. Och inte på den här nivån. Annabelle är verkligen en bok helt i min smak! Intrigen håller ihop hela vägen och har mig i ett järngrepp ända till upplösningen. Det är så snyggt.
Miljöerna och karaktärerna känns igen. Småstadsmentaliteten, där alla känner alla och livet går sin gilla gång, utan alltför stora förväntningar på framtiden. Där byns starke man har ett inflytande över det mesta som sker, eftersom han äger industrin som sysselsätter större delen av bygden. De ljumma, svenska sommarkvällarna. Vad man fördriver tiden med när man inte längre är barn och inte heller riktigt vuxen. Där kiosken blir en samlingspunkt för det coola gänget, med eller utan moped, och där de flesta kommer att följa i sina föräldrars fotspår och börja arbeta i ett praktiskt yrke direkt efter gymnasiet. Som en effektfull kontrast kommer de två kriminalinspektörerna från Stockholm med sina långa utbildningar, storstadsvanor och värderingar, som i vissa fall skiljer sig rejält från personernas på den lilla bruksorten. Det är så trovärdigt skildrat, och det bidrar till att öka intresset för hur allt kommer att utveckla sig.
Lika spännande som det är att följa utredningsarbetet, där var och varannan i det lilla samhället bär på hemligheter, är det att gradvis inse vem kriminalinspektör Charlie Lager egentligen är, och vilka hemligheter hon själv bär på. Jag gillar hur författaren växlar i berättelsen mellan vad som hände den kvällen Annabelle försvann och vad som hände tidigare. De parallella historierna väcker många frågor som gör det här till en bok man inte kan sluta läsa innan allt har fått sin förklaring. En av årets mest gedigna, välskrivna och läsvärda deckare!
Miljöerna och karaktärerna känns igen. Småstadsmentaliteten, där alla känner alla och livet går sin gilla gång, utan alltför stora förväntningar på framtiden. Där byns starke man har ett inflytande över det mesta som sker, eftersom han äger industrin som sysselsätter större delen av bygden. De ljumma, svenska sommarkvällarna. Vad man fördriver tiden med när man inte längre är barn och inte heller riktigt vuxen. Där kiosken blir en samlingspunkt för det coola gänget, med eller utan moped, och där de flesta kommer att följa i sina föräldrars fotspår och börja arbeta i ett praktiskt yrke direkt efter gymnasiet. Som en effektfull kontrast kommer de två kriminalinspektörerna från Stockholm med sina långa utbildningar, storstadsvanor och värderingar, som i vissa fall skiljer sig rejält från personernas på den lilla bruksorten. Det är så trovärdigt skildrat, och det bidrar till att öka intresset för hur allt kommer att utveckla sig.
Lika spännande som det är att följa utredningsarbetet, där var och varannan i det lilla samhället bär på hemligheter, är det att gradvis inse vem kriminalinspektör Charlie Lager egentligen är, och vilka hemligheter hon själv bär på. Jag gillar hur författaren växlar i berättelsen mellan vad som hände den kvällen Annabelle försvann och vad som hände tidigare. De parallella historierna väcker många frågor som gör det här till en bok man inte kan sluta läsa innan allt har fått sin förklaring. En av årets mest gedigna, välskrivna och läsvärda deckare!
March 2, 2019
Intrigada hasta el final!
Una historia con mucha intriga, de hecho hasta el final no sabes lo que ha ocurrido con Annabelle, esta contada en tercera persona, desde varias épocas, lo ocurrido el día de la desaparición, el pasado de la detective Charlie y el pasado de Alice y Rosa, me ha gustado el misterio que hay entorno a estos personajes, en principio sin conexión con la historia de Annabelle. Es una lectura muy ágil, rápida y de capítulos cortos, en apenas un par de días te lo terminas.
La traducción esta bien, pero deberían haber traducido muchas de las poesías o letras de canciones que aparecen, ya que solo hay en castellano algunas (a mi modo de ver claro esta).
Toca temas muy de actualidad, como los adolescentes conflictivos, el alcoholismo, las drogas, los problemas familiares y la infidelidad.
La detective Charlie tiene que enfrentarse a su pasado y a un presente dificil, además de su trabajo en la investigación, en su pueblo natal, que le trae muchos recuerdos, buenos y malos, donde descubrirá muchas cosas que desconocía y que la ayudarán a avanzar.
Ha sido todo un descubrimiento, una autora que apunto para próximas lecturas, con muchas conjeturas, muchos sospechosos y donde te van dando la información con cuenta gotas. El final ha sido inesperado, esperaba algo más impactante, pero ha estado genial.
Lo recomiendo, pasareis un buen rato haciendo quinielas.
Una historia con mucha intriga, de hecho hasta el final no sabes lo que ha ocurrido con Annabelle, esta contada en tercera persona, desde varias épocas, lo ocurrido el día de la desaparición, el pasado de la detective Charlie y el pasado de Alice y Rosa, me ha gustado el misterio que hay entorno a estos personajes, en principio sin conexión con la historia de Annabelle. Es una lectura muy ágil, rápida y de capítulos cortos, en apenas un par de días te lo terminas.
La traducción esta bien, pero deberían haber traducido muchas de las poesías o letras de canciones que aparecen, ya que solo hay en castellano algunas (a mi modo de ver claro esta).
Toca temas muy de actualidad, como los adolescentes conflictivos, el alcoholismo, las drogas, los problemas familiares y la infidelidad.
La detective Charlie tiene que enfrentarse a su pasado y a un presente dificil, además de su trabajo en la investigación, en su pueblo natal, que le trae muchos recuerdos, buenos y malos, donde descubrirá muchas cosas que desconocía y que la ayudarán a avanzar.
Ha sido todo un descubrimiento, una autora que apunto para próximas lecturas, con muchas conjeturas, muchos sospechosos y donde te van dando la información con cuenta gotas. El final ha sido inesperado, esperaba algo más impactante, pero ha estado genial.
Lo recomiendo, pasareis un buen rato haciendo quinielas.
November 16, 2017
„Annabelle” to świetny, klasyczny, a nawet tradycyjny kryminał prosto ze Skandynawii. Każdy najważniejszy dla gatunku element jest tutaj na swoim miejscu. Prowincjonalne miasteczko odcięte od świata, zamysł zbrodni, o której nic do końca nie wiadomo i tajemnice, które ukrywa cała społeczność. Do tego oczywiście detektyw po przejściach, z problemami, najlepszy w swoim fachu, czyli tutaj inspektorka Charlie Lager. Jak przystało na opowieść prosto z Północy, Lina Bengtsdotter wciąga czytelnika w mroczną, posępną intrygę, która nie tylko pokazuje mentalność mniejszych społeczności, nie tylko wbija szpile w zakłamanie zbiorowości i niechęć do grzebania w prywatności tak charakterystycznej dla Szwedów, ale zwyczajnie dociera do dna ludzkiej duszy. Tego smutnego miejsca, gdzie drzemie największa ciemność.
Lina Bengtsdotter to nowa, jaśniejąca gwiazda szwedzkiego kryminału i kolejne nazwisko, które warto śledzić, jeśli jesteście miłośnikami zbrodniczych opowieści rodem ze Skandynawii.
Lina Bengtsdotter to nowa, jaśniejąca gwiazda szwedzkiego kryminału i kolejne nazwisko, które warto śledzić, jeśli jesteście miłośnikami zbrodniczych opowieści rodem ze Skandynawii.
April 15, 2019
מותחן שוודי מעולה ממש, ראשון בסדרת הבלשית צ'רלי לאגר.
לאגר היא בחורה צעירה ומבריקה, אך מעורערת בנפשה לאחר שעברה ילדות קשה במיוחד.
היא חיה על תרופות פסיכיאטריות, אותן היא משלבת עם כמויות לא סבירות של אלכוהול, מתעוררת במיטות זרות בשעות לא שעות, עובדת בשיטות לא קונבנציונליות, מצפצפת על כל החוקים, עושה לעצמה פדיחות, מסבכת את המשטרה ואת הבוס שלה בצרות, ומכורה קשות לעבודה שלה.
ספר מעניין, כתוב היטב, שמצליח מחד לבנות עלילת מתח מצוינת ומאידך לעצב דמויות עגולות ואנושיות.
מחכה לספר הבא בסדרה.
אנבל/לינה בנגטסדוטר
לאגר היא בחורה צעירה ומבריקה, אך מעורערת בנפשה לאחר שעברה ילדות קשה במיוחד.
היא חיה על תרופות פסיכיאטריות, אותן היא משלבת עם כמויות לא סבירות של אלכוהול, מתעוררת במיטות זרות בשעות לא שעות, עובדת בשיטות לא קונבנציונליות, מצפצפת על כל החוקים, עושה לעצמה פדיחות, מסבכת את המשטרה ואת הבוס שלה בצרות, ומכורה קשות לעבודה שלה.
ספר מעניין, כתוב היטב, שמצליח מחד לבנות עלילת מתח מצוינת ומאידך לעצב דמויות עגולות ואנושיות.
מחכה לספר הבא בסדרה.
אנבל/לינה בנגטסדוטר
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