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Die Beobachterin
Elena mietet ein Häuschen in einer schwedischen Kleinstadt, um nach der Trennung von ihrem Mann von vorn anzufangen. Ihre Tage sind leer, die Wohnung verlässt sie kaum. Ablenkung findet sie einzig darin, vom Küchenfenster aus die Menschen im Haus gegenüber zu beobachten: eine ganz normale, glückliche Familie. Doch als im Nachbargebäude plötzlich seltsame Dinge geschehen, ist Elena überzeugt davon, dass hinter den verschlossenen Türen ein Geheimnis lauert. Je besessener sie ihre Nachbarn beobachtet, desto mehr fürchtet sie, dass bald etwas Schreckliches passieren wird – und trifft eine Entscheidung, die sie selbst in tödliche Gefahr bringt...
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
124 people are currently reading
2267 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Eriksson
6 books117 followersCaroline Eriksson holds a master’s degree in social psychology and worked for more than ten years in human-resource management before deciding to pursue writing, her childhood dream. Her first two novels are based on historical Swedish murder cases, and her debut, The Devil Helped Me, was nominated for Stora Ljudbokspriset (the Big Audiobook Prize) in 2014.
Caroline has lived all over the world. She attended high school in Quantico, Virginia; studied at the University of Adelaide in Australia; and now lives in Stockholm. She denies being a daredevil but admits that she once threw herself off a mountain in New Zealand in a hang-gliding experiment.
Her greatest adventure today is raising her two children, and she satisfies any residual wanderlust by exploring the most terrifying parts of life—its dark psychological elements—in her writing.
The Missing is Caroline’s first psychological suspense thriller and her first book translated into English. She’s already hard at work on her next novel.
Caroline has lived all over the world. She attended high school in Quantico, Virginia; studied at the University of Adelaide in Australia; and now lives in Stockholm. She denies being a daredevil but admits that she once threw herself off a mountain in New Zealand in a hang-gliding experiment.
Her greatest adventure today is raising her two children, and she satisfies any residual wanderlust by exploring the most terrifying parts of life—its dark psychological elements—in her writing.
The Missing is Caroline’s first psychological suspense thriller and her first book translated into English. She’s already hard at work on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
September 27, 2018
Elena is an author that has recently separated from her husband. She has moved into a new place but lacks any motivation to unpack much less write anything. Her appetite is non-existent and her days and nights begin blending together as she struggles with insomnia.
One morning as she sits at her kitchen table she notices her neighbors across the way going about their business. She becomes obsessed with watching this family while also striking up a friendship with their 14 year old son.
She finally feels inspired to begin writing again and she sure does have a wicked story to tell.
That's it! That's all I can say! This needs to remain as vague as possible because it could easily be spoiled.
I read Caroline Eriksson's book The Missing and really enjoyed it while other reviewers seemed to detest it. Why it worked for me I have no idea but it did and this one was no different. This lady knows how to spin your head around. The entire time I was reading this book, and like with her other book, I kept asking myself what in the hell is going on and I was unable to put this book down until I found out. Well played, Ms. Erikkson!
Thank you to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
One morning as she sits at her kitchen table she notices her neighbors across the way going about their business. She becomes obsessed with watching this family while also striking up a friendship with their 14 year old son.
She finally feels inspired to begin writing again and she sure does have a wicked story to tell.
That's it! That's all I can say! This needs to remain as vague as possible because it could easily be spoiled.
I read Caroline Eriksson's book The Missing and really enjoyed it while other reviewers seemed to detest it. Why it worked for me I have no idea but it did and this one was no different. This lady knows how to spin your head around. The entire time I was reading this book, and like with her other book, I kept asking myself what in the hell is going on and I was unable to put this book down until I found out. Well played, Ms. Erikkson!
Thank you to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Elena moved in to a townhome temporarily while on a bit of a hiatus from her marriage. During this trial separation, she will allow herself no contact with her husband – instead focusing on herself and her career . . . which sadly is kind of non-existent. Living on residuals from her one hit novel, Elena passes the time proofreading other’s writing, having Friday night dinner with her sister and sitting at the kitchen window . . . . .
Until she finally decides to take her publisher’s advice and . . . .
“Dig where you are.”
And then????
“It’s like what I write has repercussions in what takes place in the Storm house.”
I snatched this one after seeing my friend Michelle’s review and I’m happy to report I was not disappointed. While not quite as good as The Woman in the Window, this was waaaaaay more of a satisfying domestic thriller to me than The Girl on the Train. I enjoyed the three narratives (Elena, the husband and the new book) and didn’t mind that I kind of new what was going on before the big reveal. 3.5 Stars.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Elena moved in to a townhome temporarily while on a bit of a hiatus from her marriage. During this trial separation, she will allow herself no contact with her husband – instead focusing on herself and her career . . . which sadly is kind of non-existent. Living on residuals from her one hit novel, Elena passes the time proofreading other’s writing, having Friday night dinner with her sister and sitting at the kitchen window . . . . .
Until she finally decides to take her publisher’s advice and . . . .
“Dig where you are.”
And then????
“It’s like what I write has repercussions in what takes place in the Storm house.”
I snatched this one after seeing my friend Michelle’s review and I’m happy to report I was not disappointed. While not quite as good as The Woman in the Window, this was waaaaaay more of a satisfying domestic thriller to me than The Girl on the Train. I enjoyed the three narratives (Elena, the husband and the new book) and didn’t mind that I kind of new what was going on before the big reveal. 3.5 Stars.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 23, 2018
4.5 Stars
Elena is an author. Recently separated from her husband, she's finding it hard to concentrate on anything, let alone her writing. She's renting a house and has basically buried herself there. She's unable to eat, sleep, she hasn't even unpacked her things. Day by day, night by night, she worsens as she becomes mentally unbalanced.
But she has something new to pay attention to. She watches her neighbors at night behind her blinds. She witnesses a marriage on the rocks, the anger of the woman, her cheating husband. She becomes that stalker we all hear about. ... following him to work, following her to the gym. She even spies on the husband's love affair. She befriends their son, Leo.
Somehow this all has inspired her to start writing again. She takes bits and pieces of what she sees and weaves them into the fabric of a story. She becomes certain that the wife means to harm the husband.
As danger escalates, the line between real and unreal dissolve....
Elena and the husband are the primary story tellers with alternating chapter. Some chapters are Elena's book .. the story she is writing. It's an interesting concept, complex, a little hard to follow at the beginning. But as the story parts begin to merge, a much bigger picture begins to appear. Not everything is as it appears to be.
Many thanks to the author / AmazonCrossing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Elena is an author. Recently separated from her husband, she's finding it hard to concentrate on anything, let alone her writing. She's renting a house and has basically buried herself there. She's unable to eat, sleep, she hasn't even unpacked her things. Day by day, night by night, she worsens as she becomes mentally unbalanced.
But she has something new to pay attention to. She watches her neighbors at night behind her blinds. She witnesses a marriage on the rocks, the anger of the woman, her cheating husband. She becomes that stalker we all hear about. ... following him to work, following her to the gym. She even spies on the husband's love affair. She befriends their son, Leo.
Somehow this all has inspired her to start writing again. She takes bits and pieces of what she sees and weaves them into the fabric of a story. She becomes certain that the wife means to harm the husband.
As danger escalates, the line between real and unreal dissolve....
Elena and the husband are the primary story tellers with alternating chapter. Some chapters are Elena's book .. the story she is writing. It's an interesting concept, complex, a little hard to follow at the beginning. But as the story parts begin to merge, a much bigger picture begins to appear. Not everything is as it appears to be.
Many thanks to the author / AmazonCrossing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 11, 2020
NUDA I ZŁOŚĆ
Chyba sobie zamówię pieczątkę z napisem „wyrób thrilleropodobny” i będę stemplować wszystkie obyczajówki dla kobiet udające thrillery, zamiast pisać recenzje, w których wciąż muszę się powtarzać.
Trup w prologu. Oho! Jasny sygnał, że dalej przez długi czas nic się nie będzie działo. Zgadłam. Złość.
Nuda.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka ma jakiś kłopot ze sobą i z siostrą, ale nie wiadomo o co chodzi.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka ma jakiś problem z mężem, rozstała się z nim, chociaż go kocha i tęskni, ale nie wiadomo dlaczego. Jak by było wiadomo, to może bym się nawet przejęła, ale nie wiem, więc ani mnie to grzeje, ani ziębi. Bohaterka nudziara.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka (autorka thrillerów!) przeżywa męki twórcze, bo nie potrafi zabrać się do pisania kolejnej powieści. A niby dlaczego czytelnika thrillera (sic!) ma to obchodzić?
Nuda.
Nic się nie dzieje. O, przepraszam, to z rozpędu. Coś się dzieje w domu naprzeciwko. Bohaterka wietrzy tragedię małżeńską u sąsiadów i postanawia dowiedzieć się, o co chodzi.
Nawet trochę się dzieje.
Bohaterka prowadząc śledztwo zachowuje się jak totalna blondynka, ale ma szczęście, jak to blondynka, i przypadkiem ustala kilka ważnych szczegółów. Blondynki górą!
80% na czytniku. Teraz naprawdę coś się dzieje. W wyniku tej akcji autorka postanawia wyjawić nam, że do tej pory przez cały czas nas oszukiwała. Złość.
Uwaga! Spoiler tu:
https://www.czytacz.pl/2020/09/caroli...
Dałeś się nabrać czytelniku? Ha, ha, ha, ja tylko żartowałam.
Jeżeli ktoś, tak jak ja dał się wciągnąć w pułapkę, poczuje się oszukany. Jeśli ktoś domyśli się od razu, czyją historię autorka opowiada, nie będzie miał żadnej zabawy z rozwiązania zagadki. Złość.
Zakończenie. Nuda. Już wiemy o co chodzi, więc końcówka ciągnie się jak nitka ze swetra w rozmiarze XXL. Bohaterka wyjaśnia siostrze wszystko to, co wcześniej szczegółowo opisała.
Bohaterka informuje nas, że nie jest tą samą kobietą co wcześniej. Dla niej to pewnie istotne. Dla nas wcale. Zostawmy ją więc z tą błogą świadomością i omijajmy książki pani Eriksson bardzo szerokim łukiem.
Chyba sobie zamówię pieczątkę z napisem „wyrób thrilleropodobny” i będę stemplować wszystkie obyczajówki dla kobiet udające thrillery, zamiast pisać recenzje, w których wciąż muszę się powtarzać.
Trup w prologu. Oho! Jasny sygnał, że dalej przez długi czas nic się nie będzie działo. Zgadłam. Złość.
Nuda.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka ma jakiś kłopot ze sobą i z siostrą, ale nie wiadomo o co chodzi.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka ma jakiś problem z mężem, rozstała się z nim, chociaż go kocha i tęskni, ale nie wiadomo dlaczego. Jak by było wiadomo, to może bym się nawet przejęła, ale nie wiem, więc ani mnie to grzeje, ani ziębi. Bohaterka nudziara.
Nic się nie dzieje.
Bohaterka (autorka thrillerów!) przeżywa męki twórcze, bo nie potrafi zabrać się do pisania kolejnej powieści. A niby dlaczego czytelnika thrillera (sic!) ma to obchodzić?
Nuda.
Nic się nie dzieje. O, przepraszam, to z rozpędu. Coś się dzieje w domu naprzeciwko. Bohaterka wietrzy tragedię małżeńską u sąsiadów i postanawia dowiedzieć się, o co chodzi.
Nawet trochę się dzieje.
Bohaterka prowadząc śledztwo zachowuje się jak totalna blondynka, ale ma szczęście, jak to blondynka, i przypadkiem ustala kilka ważnych szczegółów. Blondynki górą!
80% na czytniku. Teraz naprawdę coś się dzieje. W wyniku tej akcji autorka postanawia wyjawić nam, że do tej pory przez cały czas nas oszukiwała. Złość.
Uwaga! Spoiler tu:
https://www.czytacz.pl/2020/09/caroli...
Dałeś się nabrać czytelniku? Ha, ha, ha, ja tylko żartowałam.
Jeżeli ktoś, tak jak ja dał się wciągnąć w pułapkę, poczuje się oszukany. Jeśli ktoś domyśli się od razu, czyją historię autorka opowiada, nie będzie miał żadnej zabawy z rozwiązania zagadki. Złość.
Zakończenie. Nuda. Już wiemy o co chodzi, więc końcówka ciągnie się jak nitka ze swetra w rozmiarze XXL. Bohaterka wyjaśnia siostrze wszystko to, co wcześniej szczegółowo opisała.
Bohaterka informuje nas, że nie jest tą samą kobietą co wcześniej. Dla niej to pewnie istotne. Dla nas wcale. Zostawmy ją więc z tą błogą świadomością i omijajmy książki pani Eriksson bardzo szerokim łukiem.
February 6, 2021
A Swedish version of RARE WINDOW, or THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW with the protagonist who's a writer this time.
It's certainly more melancholic. Scenes on your own E-reader blur at times when it gets harder and harder to tell what the protagonist actually sees and what she imagines to be her fictitious story.
It's certainly more melancholic. Scenes on your own E-reader blur at times when it gets harder and harder to tell what the protagonist actually sees and what she imagines to be her fictitious story.
September 26, 2018
The Watcher by Caroline Eriksson is a quick and captivating read!
Unreliable narrator alert! Love them! Elena is an author that is newly separated from her husband and is now living on her own in a new neighborhood. She finds herself intrigued by her neighbors across the street, the Storm family. As she watches them she becomes more and more curious as to what is going on behind closed doors. Adding to her already suspicious thoughts is the Storm's son, Leo, who wants to be a writer and has befriended Elena. Leo has some stories to tell about his family and Elena's need for inspiration drives her to listen to them intently and fill in the blank spaces on her own. As she begins to write her novel, the lines between reality and fiction become blurred and soon she can't be sure if her paranoia is justified or if she is slipping into a state of insanity.
I loved Elena. I loved her introspection, nurturing traits and her intelligence. I found her to be a very well developed and relatable protagonist. I enjoyed the friendship with Leo and found her relationship with her sister to be so heartwarming! I would love to see more of her, what happens next in her life!
The Watcher is an intense book than will keep the pages open and flipping! I didn't have my 'AHA moment' until right when the twist was revealed which is the way every good book should be. I thoroughly enjoyed every word!
Special thanks to Netgalley and AmazonCrossing for an opportunity to read and review The Watcher.
Unreliable narrator alert! Love them! Elena is an author that is newly separated from her husband and is now living on her own in a new neighborhood. She finds herself intrigued by her neighbors across the street, the Storm family. As she watches them she becomes more and more curious as to what is going on behind closed doors. Adding to her already suspicious thoughts is the Storm's son, Leo, who wants to be a writer and has befriended Elena. Leo has some stories to tell about his family and Elena's need for inspiration drives her to listen to them intently and fill in the blank spaces on her own. As she begins to write her novel, the lines between reality and fiction become blurred and soon she can't be sure if her paranoia is justified or if she is slipping into a state of insanity.
I loved Elena. I loved her introspection, nurturing traits and her intelligence. I found her to be a very well developed and relatable protagonist. I enjoyed the friendship with Leo and found her relationship with her sister to be so heartwarming! I would love to see more of her, what happens next in her life!
The Watcher is an intense book than will keep the pages open and flipping! I didn't have my 'AHA moment' until right when the twist was revealed which is the way every good book should be. I thoroughly enjoyed every word!
Special thanks to Netgalley and AmazonCrossing for an opportunity to read and review The Watcher.
January 7, 2024
Kolejny średnio satysfakcjonujący thriller pochłonięty w ostatnim czasie (przy życiu trzyma mnie już tylko najnowsza Charlotte Link, której w dalszym ciągu nie zaczęłam). Nie jestem fanką przedstawionej w tym tytule kreacji bohaterów, którą roboczo nazwać mogę "obłąkańczą". Trudno jest mi sympatyzować z bohaterami dającymi się ponieść irracjonalnym zapędom. Często nie jestem przez to w stanie "na trzeźwo" podejść do zaserwowanego mi obrazu człowieczego.
Mimo wszystko, forma książki okazała się dość angażująca, a zdecydowanie tego potrzebowałam w ostatnim czasie. No i... chyba jestem zmuszona dodać osobistego plusa - za odblokowanie moich pogrzebanych przed laty twórczych ciągot.
Mimo wszystko, forma książki okazała się dość angażująca, a zdecydowanie tego potrzebowałam w ostatnim czasie. No i... chyba jestem zmuszona dodać osobistego plusa - za odblokowanie moich pogrzebanych przed laty twórczych ciągot.
October 11, 2018
I don’t know what to think of this book yet. I loved it, yet I’m not sure I understood it. But I’ll be thinking about it and write a review in the next couple days.
Well, after going over and over it in my head, I'm not sure that I completely comprehend everything I read. But I read enough to know that it is a keeper! I think I could read it again in 6 months or a year and gain additional insight. That's saying a lot for me. I very seldom want to reread books of any kind.
First of all, the story throws the reader for loop after loop throughout the book. Just when you think you know what's going on, it gives you a gem that twists you even more. I like that. The characters are perfect for this story.
I'll be interested in reading other reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Well, after going over and over it in my head, I'm not sure that I completely comprehend everything I read. But I read enough to know that it is a keeper! I think I could read it again in 6 months or a year and gain additional insight. That's saying a lot for me. I very seldom want to reread books of any kind.
First of all, the story throws the reader for loop after loop throughout the book. Just when you think you know what's going on, it gives you a gem that twists you even more. I like that. The characters are perfect for this story.
I'll be interested in reading other reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
August 7, 2018
This sounded intriguing, but did not work for me on quite a few levels. The narrative voices, supposed to be told from the perspectives of different characters, are so similar that it is hard to differentiate between them. The Scandinavian element is all but lost, and I found the writing quite dull. The Watcher did not grip me at all.
March 9, 2020
Zvaigzni piešķiru SEV, par pacietību. Nu šitāds, godīgi sakot, sūds. Nē, nenoliedzu tiesības rakstīt - bet kaut ko tādu tomēr labāk atstāt dienasgrāmatā vai rakstnieka piezīmēs.. Jā, atkal jautājums - vai visu uzrakstīto vajag izdot. Lūk, manuprāt, piemērs, ka reizēm tomēr labāk neizdot.
July 22, 2018
Shrug...there's something that probably should never be used to describe a thriller. And yet…Nothing’s wrong with it technically. It’s by the numbers suspense with female author and female protagonist, Scandinavian too, which comes across in no way at all, sadly, this book just refused to stand out and even the slight narrative trickery the author employed didn’t quite do it. Essentially there are a few perspectives at play and the trick is in how they are to be arranged, a puzzle of sorts. The main character is a woman whose marriage is struggling, an author whose writing has stalled, a person who is becoming something of a shut in until she finds some neighbors across the street to focus on. Soon both her writing and her imagination are stimulated, but not necessarily in a good (at least safe and productive) way. The main excitement of the novel comes out of the rearrangement of the puzzle chapters and the psychology behind it all, but it seems somewhat cheap, because it is that way only because of the dispersal of the information throughout the book and the trick is gimmicky and repetitive. The psychological depiction of the protagonist itself was ok, pretty good even, as you would expect from an author with masters is social psychology, but the unhinged woman shtick has been done so many times it really takes some originality to stand out and in the end this one just wasn’t striking enough. It read well, easily and quickly, but it’ll be forgotten in much the same manner. Not a terrible book by any means, not something to avoid, decent read with some entertainment value, just very much in line (virtually indistinguishable from) with all the other similar books overwhelming the market and the genre right now. Thanks Netgalley.
April 22, 2019
Psiholoģiskās spriedzes romāni man ir jaunums “ēdienkartē”!
Bija diezgan interesanti, viegli un raiti lasās, lai arī šur - tur pazaudēju pavedienu. Kādam laikam pietiks ...
Un vēl, pie šīs grāmatas vēlreiz apjautu - cik svarīgs ir labs tulkojums, šeit pārāk bieži nācās izsaukties “ak’ nu neeee!”
Bija diezgan interesanti, viegli un raiti lasās, lai arī šur - tur pazaudēju pavedienu. Kādam laikam pietiks ...
Un vēl, pie šīs grāmatas vēlreiz apjautu - cik svarīgs ir labs tulkojums, šeit pārāk bieži nācās izsaukties “ak’ nu neeee!”
December 18, 2018
The main character Elena is going through a rough time. She has just separated from her beloved husband and is living on her own for the first time in years. She feels lost and depressed. She has nothing to do, so she starts watching her neighbours through the window and gradually she becomes more and more obsessed with their lives. She wants to help them, but her obsession is clearly unhealthy. Through most of the book it is hard to be sure if she is right to be worried about her neighbours’ well-being or is she deluding herself to forget about her own troubles.
“The Watcher” is not an easy book to handle, because the characters are very troubled. When I read that the author has a degree in social psychology I wasn’t surprised. The characters are suffering from anorexia, depression, compulsion (anxiety disorder?) and insomnia. They also have problems with communication.
To be honest I didn’t like the main character Elena. I couldn’t understand her behaviour and choices. She was just so frustrating. Also, relationships between her and other characters in this book seemed to be overdramatized. A few minutes of honest conversation would do much good to solve most of the characters’ problems. What's more for me there were too many twist and turns in the book. It is like the author wanted too much to surprise her readers to care about the rules of probability. But it may appeal to some readers, who like to be constantly surprised.
Overall, “The Watcher” by Caroline Eriksson was an engaging (even if a little frustrating) read. It will be perfect for readers that enjoyed “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn or “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins.
I received "The Watcher" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.
“The Watcher” is not an easy book to handle, because the characters are very troubled. When I read that the author has a degree in social psychology I wasn’t surprised. The characters are suffering from anorexia, depression, compulsion (anxiety disorder?) and insomnia. They also have problems with communication.
To be honest I didn’t like the main character Elena. I couldn’t understand her behaviour and choices. She was just so frustrating. Also, relationships between her and other characters in this book seemed to be overdramatized. A few minutes of honest conversation would do much good to solve most of the characters’ problems. What's more for me there were too many twist and turns in the book. It is like the author wanted too much to surprise her readers to care about the rules of probability. But it may appeal to some readers, who like to be constantly surprised.
Overall, “The Watcher” by Caroline Eriksson was an engaging (even if a little frustrating) read. It will be perfect for readers that enjoyed “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn or “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins.
I received "The Watcher" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.
August 1, 2018
First I want to thank netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book for my kindle! I really enjoyed this book this was definitely a psychological thriller. The book started out introducing you to Elena an author who has hit a rough patch in her marriage and decided she needs a three month break so she moves into her sisters friends home and house sits while the friend is away. While she’s there she decides to watch her neighbors house and soon gets involved in there everyday problems which includes befriending there loner son. Soon you don’t know what’s real and what’s not since elana isn’t sleeping or eating and trying to write a new book. She’s certain the neighbors wife is planning to murder her husband or is she. The book can get a bit confusing with the back and forth but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it!
July 25, 2018
Betyg: 4,5 av 5.
Caroline Eriksson har gett ut fyra böcker. Först två historiska böcker som bygger på gamla verkliga mordfall, men dom två har jag inte läst.
Sen så gav hon ut den psykologiska spänningsromanen De försvunna, som jag läste för ett par år sedan, och tyckte väldigt mycket om. Länken går till min recension av boken.
Nu har jag läst Caroline Erikssons fjärde bok, Hon som vakar, som jag tyckte var precis lika bra som hennes förra bok.
Boken är spännande, lättläst, gripande, och oförutsägbar.
Jag rekommenderar Hon som vakar varmt, och även De försvunna. Och jag ser fram emot kommande böcker av författaren.
Caroline Eriksson har gett ut fyra böcker. Först två historiska böcker som bygger på gamla verkliga mordfall, men dom två har jag inte läst.
Sen så gav hon ut den psykologiska spänningsromanen De försvunna, som jag läste för ett par år sedan, och tyckte väldigt mycket om. Länken går till min recension av boken.
Nu har jag läst Caroline Erikssons fjärde bok, Hon som vakar, som jag tyckte var precis lika bra som hennes förra bok.
Boken är spännande, lättläst, gripande, och oförutsägbar.
Jag rekommenderar Hon som vakar varmt, och även De försvunna. Och jag ser fram emot kommande böcker av författaren.
May 4, 2022
3,9/5
Cette chronique va être extrêmement rapide :
1. J’ai vu venir le truc au chapitre 3
2. La fin était quand même touchante et m’a émue
Ça aurait été excellent si ça n’avait pas été si évident au premier abord, dommage 🤷🏻♀️
Cette chronique va être extrêmement rapide :
1. J’ai vu venir le truc au chapitre 3
2. La fin était quand même touchante et m’a émue
Ça aurait été excellent si ça n’avait pas été si évident au premier abord, dommage 🤷🏻♀️
June 2, 2022
Raffiniert konstruiertes literarisches Verwirrspiel um Realität und Phantasie aus der Sicht einer Autorin, der "Beobachterin". Spannend!!!
April 26, 2019
Gleich vorweg: Das Buch hat mich umgehauen! Ich habe es am Stück gelesen, weil ich es nicht mehr weglegen konnte und es steckt viel mehr drin, als man am Anfang erwartet. Die Autorin werde ich wirklich im Hinterkopf behalten.
Eingeteilt ist das Buch in kurze Kapitel, die jeweils in der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben sind. Je nachdem erzählt die Protagonistin Elena, die auch den Hauptteil ausmacht, der Ehemann oder die Ehefrau, wobei man hier immer nur Bruchstücke ihrer Gedanken mitgeteilt bekommt. Durch die Kapitelüberschriften kann man immer gut unterscheiden, durch welche Augen man gerade blickt. Aber weil es eben immer in der Ich-Form ist, ist man sehr nah an den Figuren, sie wirken authentisch und teilweise fast, als würden sie dem Leser ihre Geschichte erzählen. Das hat mir richtig gut gefallen und dafür gesorgt, dass ich immer weiter umgeblättert habe.
Die Geschichte an sich ist eigentlich recht simple. Elena befindet sich in einer kleinen Lebenskrise, ist von ihrem Mann getrennt und versucht erstmal, wieder mit sich selbst klar zu kommen. Was alles passiert ist, was dahinter steckt, das wird nur angedeutet. Hier kann man nach und nach zwischen den Zeilen lesen und sich ihre Vergangenheit erschließen.
Nicht zu kurz kommen aber auch die Geschehnisse in der Gegenwart, vor allem Elenas Beobachtungen und ihre Rückschlüsse. Es ist einfach super spannend, aber auch ein bisschen gruselig, wenn man bedenkt, dass man von jemand Fremden beobachtet wird. Obwohl handlungstechnisch gar nicht so viel passiert, ist das Buch überhaupt nicht langatmig.
Elena als Protagonistin hat mir gut gefallen. Sie ist auf keinen Fall die typische Heldin und um ehrlich zu sein verhält sie sich schon teilweise sehr komisch, aber gerade deswegen fand ich sie sehr sympathisch. Ich bin ihr gern auf den Füßen gefolgt.
Was aber das Buch ausmacht, ist das Ende. Es ist kein klassischer Thriller und der ein oder andere Leser wird vielleicht enttäuscht sein, aber mich hat es einfach nur begeistert. Auf einmal werden die ganzen Schichten aufgedeckt, die die Autorin geschaffen hat, ohne dass man als Leser vorher auch nur den Hauch einer Ahnung hatte. Mir blieb wirklich der Mund offen stehen, aber alles war in sich so schlüssig, dass es total Sinn gemacht hat. Einfach super!
Wie gesagt: Ich bin restlos begeistert, von mir gibt es 5 Sterne und eine klare Leseempfehlung!
Eingeteilt ist das Buch in kurze Kapitel, die jeweils in der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben sind. Je nachdem erzählt die Protagonistin Elena, die auch den Hauptteil ausmacht, der Ehemann oder die Ehefrau, wobei man hier immer nur Bruchstücke ihrer Gedanken mitgeteilt bekommt. Durch die Kapitelüberschriften kann man immer gut unterscheiden, durch welche Augen man gerade blickt. Aber weil es eben immer in der Ich-Form ist, ist man sehr nah an den Figuren, sie wirken authentisch und teilweise fast, als würden sie dem Leser ihre Geschichte erzählen. Das hat mir richtig gut gefallen und dafür gesorgt, dass ich immer weiter umgeblättert habe.
Die Geschichte an sich ist eigentlich recht simple. Elena befindet sich in einer kleinen Lebenskrise, ist von ihrem Mann getrennt und versucht erstmal, wieder mit sich selbst klar zu kommen. Was alles passiert ist, was dahinter steckt, das wird nur angedeutet. Hier kann man nach und nach zwischen den Zeilen lesen und sich ihre Vergangenheit erschließen.
Nicht zu kurz kommen aber auch die Geschehnisse in der Gegenwart, vor allem Elenas Beobachtungen und ihre Rückschlüsse. Es ist einfach super spannend, aber auch ein bisschen gruselig, wenn man bedenkt, dass man von jemand Fremden beobachtet wird. Obwohl handlungstechnisch gar nicht so viel passiert, ist das Buch überhaupt nicht langatmig.
Elena als Protagonistin hat mir gut gefallen. Sie ist auf keinen Fall die typische Heldin und um ehrlich zu sein verhält sie sich schon teilweise sehr komisch, aber gerade deswegen fand ich sie sehr sympathisch. Ich bin ihr gern auf den Füßen gefolgt.
Was aber das Buch ausmacht, ist das Ende. Es ist kein klassischer Thriller und der ein oder andere Leser wird vielleicht enttäuscht sein, aber mich hat es einfach nur begeistert. Auf einmal werden die ganzen Schichten aufgedeckt, die die Autorin geschaffen hat, ohne dass man als Leser vorher auch nur den Hauch einer Ahnung hatte. Mir blieb wirklich der Mund offen stehen, aber alles war in sich so schlüssig, dass es total Sinn gemacht hat. Einfach super!
Wie gesagt: Ich bin restlos begeistert, von mir gibt es 5 Sterne und eine klare Leseempfehlung!
July 29, 2018
As I started reading the story I noticed that I had a difficult time keeping focused. However, as I got passed th first 10 chapters it starts becoming more clear at to what the authors imagination was bringing together. Elena is a married woman who moves out of the marital home to start a life away from her husband. She is an author who has written books but is finding it hard to write. She sees her neighbors and become intrigued by them. I do not want to give away too much of the story but I must say that this is one I would love to see another book written with Elena in it. You may find it a little drawn out in the beginning, but it gets much better. The ending brings it all togethe for the reader and you will have that ah ha moment.
I want to thank netgalley as well as the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to eas this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I give this on 4.5 out of 5 only because it was so drawn out in the early part of the story. I will however, round up for the author.
I want to thank netgalley as well as the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to eas this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I give this on 4.5 out of 5 only because it was so drawn out in the early part of the story. I will however, round up for the author.
August 15, 2018
A slow read for a Swedish psychological thriller! It all takes place in the lead character’s mind so it’s very claustrophobic and unsettlingas you never know what really is going on.
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
The book sets the scene well with the isolation, the house, the boredom and the imagination of a writer looking for her next plot. There’s a little bit of nosiness in all of us I think so to have someone watch the house next door makes sense.
The novel takes off as it were, when the woman starts to discover more and the pace picks up. What took away the pace here though was the alternation view points which up until now hadn’t bothered me. It mirror the thought process here I suppose but I wanted to feel the full impact of the ending.
There’s no locations of interest but just as well as I wouldn’t want to meet any of the people in the novel!
August 13, 2018
This was a hard book to get through because Caroline used each character to give an impression that what was happening really did happen. After saying that I feel like I am spoiling the story for you to read. As you read Elena is an author that is watching her neighbors through her window making assumptions about them. They have a 14 year old boy, Leo, that also wants to be an author. His problems become Elena's, because he comes home from school without shoe's, or his door key. She need to write something as a story and this seems to be the ticket. Things take a drastic change when she follows Veronica when she goes off with two suitcases. I'll leave it at that so you can get into the story.
December 15, 2018
An einem Tag durchgelesen 😱 Das ist mir auch schon lange nicht mehr passiert 😄 Das war echt sehr spannend und lies sich einfach unheimlich schnell lesen :)
October 27, 2022
"Elena mietet ein Häuschen in einer schwedischen Kleinstadt, um nach der Trennung von ihrem Mann von vorn anzufangen. Ihre Tage sind leer, die Wohnung verlässt sie kaum. Ablenkung findet sie einzig darin, vom Küchenfenster aus die Menschen im Haus gegenüber zu beobachten: eine ganz normale, glückliche Familie. Doch als im Nachbargebäude plötzlich seltsame Dinge geschehen, ist Elena überzeugt davon, dass hinter den verschlossenen Türen ein Geheimnis lauert. Je besessener sie ihre Nachbarn beobachtet, desto mehr fürchtet sie, dass bald etwas Schreckliches passieren wird – und trifft eine Entscheidung, die sie selbst in tödliche Gefahr bringt..."
Die erste Hälfte der Geschichte fand ich recht spannend und interessant, auch wenn sich die Spannung langsam aufbaut, aber dennoch bin ich neugierig gewesen was die Nachbarn verbergen und was das Ganz auf sich hat. Der Einstieg ist wirklich viel versprechend gewesen und aufgrund der kurzen Kapiteln und dem flüssigen Schreibstil lässt sich das Buch auch wirklich gut lesen. Die verschiedenen Erzählperspektiven, worauf ich nicht näher eingehen kann, verhelfen der Geschichte einer dynamischen Erzählweise, sodass ich echt dachte, dass das ein gutes Buch bzw. ein guter Pageturner werden würde. Der Spannungsbogen hatte sich bis zur Hälfte hin gut entwickelt und es gab einen großen Raum an Spekulationen, aber dann wurde alles irgendwie wirr und kurios und meine Interesse flachte dann ab, weil ich einige Dinge nicht wirklich nachvollziehen konnte. Zwar ist die Wendung in irgendeiner Art und Weise überraschend gewesen, aber irgendwie dann auch wieder nicht, weil ich mich das nicht überzeugen konnte. Mit fällt es auch irgendwie schwer zu sagen was mich genau gestört hat, wobei das irgendwie zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen ist um es gut zu finden.
Lest es einfach mal selbst, wenn ihr es auf dem SuB habt, aber mich lässt die Geschichte trotz guten Schreibstils und einem richtig guten Einstieg unzufrieden zurück und es hat mich dann doch irgendwie enttäuscht.
Die erste Hälfte der Geschichte fand ich recht spannend und interessant, auch wenn sich die Spannung langsam aufbaut, aber dennoch bin ich neugierig gewesen was die Nachbarn verbergen und was das Ganz auf sich hat. Der Einstieg ist wirklich viel versprechend gewesen und aufgrund der kurzen Kapiteln und dem flüssigen Schreibstil lässt sich das Buch auch wirklich gut lesen. Die verschiedenen Erzählperspektiven, worauf ich nicht näher eingehen kann, verhelfen der Geschichte einer dynamischen Erzählweise, sodass ich echt dachte, dass das ein gutes Buch bzw. ein guter Pageturner werden würde. Der Spannungsbogen hatte sich bis zur Hälfte hin gut entwickelt und es gab einen großen Raum an Spekulationen, aber dann wurde alles irgendwie wirr und kurios und meine Interesse flachte dann ab, weil ich einige Dinge nicht wirklich nachvollziehen konnte. Zwar ist die Wendung in irgendeiner Art und Weise überraschend gewesen, aber irgendwie dann auch wieder nicht, weil ich mich das nicht überzeugen konnte. Mit fällt es auch irgendwie schwer zu sagen was mich genau gestört hat, wobei das irgendwie zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen ist um es gut zu finden.
Lest es einfach mal selbst, wenn ihr es auf dem SuB habt, aber mich lässt die Geschichte trotz guten Schreibstils und einem richtig guten Einstieg unzufrieden zurück und es hat mich dann doch irgendwie enttäuscht.
August 26, 2017
Hon som vakar är en vansinnigt spännande och välskriven psykologisk thriller. En riktig bladvändare, som jag läste ut på en dag. Fast jag var tvungen att pausa och andas då och då… Caroline Eriksson är otroligt bra på att bygga upp en obehaglig hjärtklappningsstämnig av till synes vardagliga situationer. Redan efter första sidan så var jag fast. Jag som läser många deckare tycker det är befriande att läsa en bok som inte är blodig, inte är grotesk men ändå så oerhört spännande och obehaglig. Allt bygger på stämningar. Boken är också förhållandevis kort, men definitivt tillräckligt lång för att bygga en historia.
Det är bra karaktärsbeskrivningar, men grunden i en spänningsroman av den här sorten är förstås att man inte riktigt ska lita på de som berättar sina historier. Så det går inte riktigt att säga att man kommer någon in på livet. Jag gillar hur berättelsen växlar i berättarröster, det driver historien framåt. Någonstans i mitten av boken så slår det mig hur det ligger till. På sätt och vis visar det sig stämma när jag läst hela boken, men ändå så har jag inte alla delar vilket skapar överraskning. Dessutom gillar jag verkligen slutet på flera plan. Mer kan jag inte säga utan att spoila.
Hon som vakar är mer än bara spänning, det finns en hel del att fundera på om relationer. Vad man ser utifrån vad gäller relationer mellan andra människor är inte alltid rättvisande, och man ska inte dra alltför många slutsatser som utomstående. Just den delen är något jag funderat en hel del på i sommar, med anledning av en del händelser i min närhet. Man är så snabb på att dra slutsater och döma i dagens samhälle. Och just det bygger Hon som inte vakar på, för även jag som läsare inser att jag dragit vissa förhastade slutsatser.
Och jo Caroline – den där fjärde boken lyckades du verkligen med 😉 Jag ser fram emot den femte boken och hoppas den redan är på gång. Tillsvidare så ser jag fram mot Svenska deckarfestivalen i Sundsvall.
Omdöme: Vansinnigt spännande psykologisk thriller om vad som kan dölja sig under ytan.
Betyg: 5-
https://lottensbokblogg.wordpress.com...
Det är bra karaktärsbeskrivningar, men grunden i en spänningsroman av den här sorten är förstås att man inte riktigt ska lita på de som berättar sina historier. Så det går inte riktigt att säga att man kommer någon in på livet. Jag gillar hur berättelsen växlar i berättarröster, det driver historien framåt. Någonstans i mitten av boken så slår det mig hur det ligger till. På sätt och vis visar det sig stämma när jag läst hela boken, men ändå så har jag inte alla delar vilket skapar överraskning. Dessutom gillar jag verkligen slutet på flera plan. Mer kan jag inte säga utan att spoila.
Hon som vakar är mer än bara spänning, det finns en hel del att fundera på om relationer. Vad man ser utifrån vad gäller relationer mellan andra människor är inte alltid rättvisande, och man ska inte dra alltför många slutsatser som utomstående. Just den delen är något jag funderat en hel del på i sommar, med anledning av en del händelser i min närhet. Man är så snabb på att dra slutsater och döma i dagens samhälle. Och just det bygger Hon som inte vakar på, för även jag som läsare inser att jag dragit vissa förhastade slutsatser.
Och jo Caroline – den där fjärde boken lyckades du verkligen med 😉 Jag ser fram emot den femte boken och hoppas den redan är på gång. Tillsvidare så ser jag fram mot Svenska deckarfestivalen i Sundsvall.
Omdöme: Vansinnigt spännande psykologisk thriller om vad som kan dölja sig under ytan.
Betyg: 5-
https://lottensbokblogg.wordpress.com...
September 6, 2020
Ecco, questo per me è il paradigma del thriller da supermercato, 5.90€ da pescare alla cieca nel calderone delle promozioni incrociando le dita e poi o la va, o la spacca. Dove di solito la spacca.
Una trama inconsistente, una storia che non decolla e invoglia allo sbadiglio libero, una scrittura piatta che è l’antitesi del ritmato, insomma nessuna gioia e molto tedio nel scorrere le pagine di un volume ingiustificabilmente lungo, oltre a tutto quanto sopra.
Presente la Christie? La Highsmith? La Link? Ecco. Lontane anne luci nell’iperspazio (loro).
Una trama inconsistente, una storia che non decolla e invoglia allo sbadiglio libero, una scrittura piatta che è l’antitesi del ritmato, insomma nessuna gioia e molto tedio nel scorrere le pagine di un volume ingiustificabilmente lungo, oltre a tutto quanto sopra.
Presente la Christie? La Highsmith? La Link? Ecco. Lontane anne luci nell’iperspazio (loro).
October 31, 2017
Spännande med ruggigt obehaglig huvudperson.
Want to read
March 25, 2023(Note to self-no review)
May 12, 2023
Gute Geschichte mit überraschender Wendung die ich nicht kommen sah.
August 15, 2022
Thriller psicologico di qualche anno fa. Manca l’elemento sorpresa perché mi immaginavo il finale già a metà libro. Nonostante tutto, racconto piacevole, che si lavora leggere velocemente. Lettura da ombrellone senza troppe pretese.
September 18, 2018
It was after reading about three quarters of this book that I finally realised the central plot twist that was at the heart of it. That it took so long was either the result of deficiencies in my powers of deduction or alternatively the writing skills of the author, probably a bit of both. Anyway to concisely summarise without importantly giving too much away, the plot is as follows. The central character Elena who's first person narration we primarily rely on has moved into rented accommodation to undergo a trail separation due to her faltering marriage. We also discover that she is a fairly a successful author who has published four novels but at the moment appears to be mentally fragile and is struggling to obtain ad hoc work proof reading manuscripts.
Unable to concentrate or refocus her life Elena becomes increasingly occupied in watching through the windows the goings on taking place at the neighbouring house. The more she sees the more she interprets and develops a narrative whereby a violent murderous act is to take place. This belief is enhanced when she befriends the teenage boy who lives there and hears the disturbing stories he tells. She becomes obsessional and her life so dominated by the need to prevent a future act of violence that she begins to stalk the neighbouring husband and wife and even gains access to their home. But are the facts portrayed by Elena really trustworthy or are they the product of an increasingly paranoid mind exacerbated by the thought process of an author of fiction?
The premise of someone being consumed by and ultimately placing themselves in danger by their voyeuristic activities is a well used plot theme with Rear Window and the recent best seller Woman in the Window immediately coming to mind but this does give any new addition to this genre another opportunity to explore the psychological motivations of the watcher and to nicely build up the suspense. Overall I found this an entertaining read with enough page turning moments to satisfy. The conclusion was also quite uplifting. My only criticism which I admit is probably derived from emanating from a UK perspective is that at no point could I really place where the setting of this book was which is so much of an attraction to the British reader when reading anything (mostly crime related) set in Scandinavia, perhaps this was deliberate by the author. Anyway if you like a well plotted thriller that keeps you guessing then I think this may be for you.
Unable to concentrate or refocus her life Elena becomes increasingly occupied in watching through the windows the goings on taking place at the neighbouring house. The more she sees the more she interprets and develops a narrative whereby a violent murderous act is to take place. This belief is enhanced when she befriends the teenage boy who lives there and hears the disturbing stories he tells. She becomes obsessional and her life so dominated by the need to prevent a future act of violence that she begins to stalk the neighbouring husband and wife and even gains access to their home. But are the facts portrayed by Elena really trustworthy or are they the product of an increasingly paranoid mind exacerbated by the thought process of an author of fiction?
The premise of someone being consumed by and ultimately placing themselves in danger by their voyeuristic activities is a well used plot theme with Rear Window and the recent best seller Woman in the Window immediately coming to mind but this does give any new addition to this genre another opportunity to explore the psychological motivations of the watcher and to nicely build up the suspense. Overall I found this an entertaining read with enough page turning moments to satisfy. The conclusion was also quite uplifting. My only criticism which I admit is probably derived from emanating from a UK perspective is that at no point could I really place where the setting of this book was which is so much of an attraction to the British reader when reading anything (mostly crime related) set in Scandinavia, perhaps this was deliberate by the author. Anyway if you like a well plotted thriller that keeps you guessing then I think this may be for you.
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