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Kouplan #1
The Truth Behind the Lie: A Novel
The Truth Behind The Lie is Sara Lövestam’s award-winning and gripping novel about blurred lines, second chances, and the lengths one will go to for the truth.
When a six-year-old girl disappears and calling the police isn’t an option, her desperate mother Pernilla turns to an unlikely source for help. She finds a cryptic ad online for a private
“Need help, but can’t contact the police?”
That’s where Kouplan comes in. He’s an Iranian refugee living in hiding. He was forced to leave Iran after news of his and his brother's involvement with a radical newspaper hated by the regime was discovered. Kouplan’s brother disappeared, and he hasn’t seen him in four years. He makes a living as a P.I. working under the radar, waiting for the day he can legally apply for asylum.
Pernilla’s daughter has vanished without a trace, and Kouplan is an expert at living and working off the grid. He’s the perfect PI to help… but something in Pernilla’s story doesn’t add up. She might need help that he can’t offer...and a little girl’s life hangs in the balance.
When a six-year-old girl disappears and calling the police isn’t an option, her desperate mother Pernilla turns to an unlikely source for help. She finds a cryptic ad online for a private
“Need help, but can’t contact the police?”
That’s where Kouplan comes in. He’s an Iranian refugee living in hiding. He was forced to leave Iran after news of his and his brother's involvement with a radical newspaper hated by the regime was discovered. Kouplan’s brother disappeared, and he hasn’t seen him in four years. He makes a living as a P.I. working under the radar, waiting for the day he can legally apply for asylum.
Pernilla’s daughter has vanished without a trace, and Kouplan is an expert at living and working off the grid. He’s the perfect PI to help… but something in Pernilla’s story doesn’t add up. She might need help that he can’t offer...and a little girl’s life hangs in the balance.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
62 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
September 13, 2019
Kouplan is trying to live off the radar. Out of sight of the local police. Yet he wants to be a PI. Is he qualified? Probably not. But perhaps he’ll learn as he goes. I mean how hard could it really be?
Pernilla wants to hire Kouplan to find her missing daughter. Only six years old. Here one minute gone the next. Only Pernilla has reasons of her for hiding from the police.
With all the hidden truths can Kouplan solve this crime and bring the young girl home?
This was a well written Swedish thriller that kept me engaged and guessing to the end, with some shocking twists along the way!
Thank you to Danielle Prielipp, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and Sara Lovestam for an ARC to read and review.
Pernilla wants to hire Kouplan to find her missing daughter. Only six years old. Here one minute gone the next. Only Pernilla has reasons of her for hiding from the police.
With all the hidden truths can Kouplan solve this crime and bring the young girl home?
This was a well written Swedish thriller that kept me engaged and guessing to the end, with some shocking twists along the way!
Thank you to Danielle Prielipp, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and Sara Lovestam for an ARC to read and review.
August 20, 2019
Well, it's...different? The Truth Behind The Lie makes me curious about why the story is indeed bizarre beyond reason. I almost feel like the author wanted readers to feel secure and smart before they fell off a cliff into a haze of absurdity, ignorance and misdirection. Maybe that was the goal? Or, maybe this story is just plain weird and that's all there is to it. Either way, I honestly didn't care much for it. Too much weird for me. I especially disliked the ending because it was pointless by then to even mention what was happening. No spoilers. So, that's my opinion. I would not read it again.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 1, 2019
Lost in Translation
Pernilla, a single mother, hires a private detective, Kouplan, to help find her lost child Julia.
She can't go to the police for reasons unknown so she hires Kouplan an Iranian refugee who for reasons of his own advertises his services discreetly over the internet.
Over time Kouplan senses that there is something wrong with Pernilla's story and wonders is the child really missing? Was there a child to begin with?
A unique way of telling a story. Something was lost in the translation from Swedish to English. Like a movie you would see in an art house with subtitles. Kouplan is an interesting character that i would be curious to see how his life turned out.
Pernilla, a single mother, hires a private detective, Kouplan, to help find her lost child Julia.
She can't go to the police for reasons unknown so she hires Kouplan an Iranian refugee who for reasons of his own advertises his services discreetly over the internet.
Over time Kouplan senses that there is something wrong with Pernilla's story and wonders is the child really missing? Was there a child to begin with?
A unique way of telling a story. Something was lost in the translation from Swedish to English. Like a movie you would see in an art house with subtitles. Kouplan is an interesting character that i would be curious to see how his life turned out.
January 31, 2022
Sara Lövestam writing was on an excellent level. She uses an illegal alien from Iran re-named Kouplan as the detective and a woman named Pernilla as the mother. It was a very noir story. If I talk about it I would spoil it for you so you know that it's unusual, but it's amazing how things turn out. I read it in one sitting, didn't move until I finished it. It's sort of like a Jessi Adler-Olsen book as the nearest I can come to saying who Sara Lövestam is like.
Read
February 18, 2020I thought this book was extraordinary, but I didn't enjoy it.
I did like Kouplan, the protagonist. He was so liminal. This is an anthropological term for being an outsider, caught betwixt and between. This is my favorite sort of character.
OTOH Kouplan's client, Pernilla, isn't the sort of character that I want to read about at all.
I saw a review on GR that said this wasn't a crime novel. Actually there was some very serious crime that Kouplan uncovered in the course of the narrative. Yet this case did show how risky it was for someone in Kouplan's situation to become involved in investigating crimes. It also illustrated his inadequacy as a PI. There were things that most people in that profession could do routinely, that Kouplan couldn't do. So it's difficult for me to see that Kouplan has a future as an investigator unless his situation changes radically. He is smart and resourceful, but those qualities alone can only take him so far.
I did like Kouplan, the protagonist. He was so liminal. This is an anthropological term for being an outsider, caught betwixt and between. This is my favorite sort of character.
OTOH Kouplan's client, Pernilla, isn't the sort of character that I want to read about at all.
I saw a review on GR that said this wasn't a crime novel. Actually there was some very serious crime that Kouplan uncovered in the course of the narrative. Yet this case did show how risky it was for someone in Kouplan's situation to become involved in investigating crimes. It also illustrated his inadequacy as a PI. There were things that most people in that profession could do routinely, that Kouplan couldn't do. So it's difficult for me to see that Kouplan has a future as an investigator unless his situation changes radically. He is smart and resourceful, but those qualities alone can only take him so far.
March 31, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised after reading a couple of mediocre reviews but this was such an oddly different novel that I persevered and ended up really liking it! Kouplan is a very young PI who advertises his specialty as being able to help someone who doesn't want to involve the police. As an Iranian refugee who is trying to blend in and not be deported, he eagerly responds to a young woman whose six-year-old daughter, Julia has disappeared at a local mall. She fears the worst and Kouplan sets out to discover whether it is child abduction or something even more sinister and widespread. With few leads and more questions than answers, Kouplan sets his sights on the truth and continues to search until the shocking conclusion. Satisfying and different!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 2, 2019
This is an incredible book. For about the 1st 25% I was confused, but intrigued! At first I thought my confusion was solely to do with the translation and my unfamiliarity with life in Sweden, and yes those were a factor, but as I slowy adapted to those factors I discovered the author was intentionally dropping little things in which were "huh?", then eventually provided a twist or explanation which made it make sense. This continues thru the whole book and is such a delight! Her structuring of the story is superb. Her characters fully realized. Cannot recommend more highly!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher Martin's Press for the opportunity to enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher Martin's Press for the opportunity to enjoy this book.
August 28, 2019
Not my kind of book, topic to disturbing, barely finished but read the last line was pertinent so hung in there ...
October 12, 2024
Oväntad plottwist gjorde att betyget gick från 2 till 3. Inte min typ av bok men ändå roligt att läsa något nytt! Sparar resterande tankar till bokklubben :)
December 8, 2018
Απλή γραφή, ενδιαφέρον πλοκή, ευκολοδιάβαστο και με έναν πρωταγωνιστή που μόνο να τον συμπαθήσω μπορούσα. Απόλαυσα τη κάθε σελίδα του. Θα ήθελα να ακολουθήσω τον Κουπλάν και σε άλλες έρευνές του.
November 15, 2019
A very thoughtful and thought provoking book. The mystery is more than you think and leads to more than you expect.
April 14, 2018
Av Sara Lövestam har jag läst en bok innan och redan då, för över fyra år sedan, lovade jag mig själv att läsa mer av henne. I år kände jag att det var dags och för säkerhets skull så fick hon vara med i två utmaningar för att det utan tvivel skulle bli av. Läs mer på min blogg
September 15, 2019
In Sara Lövestam's The Truth Behind the Lie, this gripping thriller will have you at the edge of your seat. It all started when Kouplan, an Iranian refuge living and hiding in Sweden, answered a strange ad who needed assistance from a PI. That's when he met Pernilla, a mother who said her six-year-old daughter Julia is missing, who doesn't want the Swedish police's help. From there, Kouplan asked her questions about the date of Julia's abduction and some background history in her life and Julia's. From there, Kouplan looks for clues all over Sweden to see if he could find her before it's too late. Since he's been living off the grid, he uses all his resources to help find Julia and if she was abducted by a child smuggling ring or not. Inside-out, he covers all his bases and tracks down anybody who might know about Pernilla and Julia's life including a priest named Thor. As he digs deeper into Pernilla's world and Julia's birth, something doesn't make sense to her. Was it a figment of her imagination or was she telling the truth? Kouplan has to find the answer before it might be too late to save either one of them in the end.
January 4, 2020
An array of some very hot and important topics are presented and treated in this story: mental health problems, immigration, human trafficking, family relationships and more. They make for a tough read but also for a very interesting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat till you reach the last sentence. Read it with an open mind. Highly recommended.
did-not-finish
May 4, 2018Jag fångas inte av handlingen trots att ett barn har försvunnit. Det borde vara spännande men jag sitter snarare och tänker på annat. Efter 1 h och 19 min (= ca 20 %) ger jag upp.
July 24, 2024
El prefacio explica que aunque la obra ganó premios como "novela negra", la intención de la autora no era escribir una historia de este género... simplemente eligió a un detective sin papeles (en situación ilegal) como protagonista.
Aunque (afortunadamente) no podamos conectar con las circunstancias de los personajes, las diferentes tramas son sorprendentemente cercanas ya que la autora apela a emociones universales para construirlas.
Es económica en sus palabras pero intensa en su elección.
Me fascinó y me resultó diferente... y sorprendente.
Aunque (afortunadamente) no podamos conectar con las circunstancias de los personajes, las diferentes tramas son sorprendentemente cercanas ya que la autora apela a emociones universales para construirlas.
Es económica en sus palabras pero intensa en su elección.
Me fascinó y me resultó diferente... y sorprendente.
April 6, 2022
J'ai beaucoup aimé ce premier tome, j'ai vite accroché avec l'écriture de l'autrice et avec les personnages. L'enquête m'a beaucoup plu, c'était bien mené et j'avoue que si j'ai eu des doutes parfois, la fin m'a surprise. Une bonne découverte à mon sens !
September 27, 2020
Goed en vlotlezend boek. Het begin leek mij eerst wat onrealistisch, maar naarmate het verhaal verder gaat, vallen allen puzzelstukjes op zijn plaats.
August 30, 2019
Pernilla’s six-year old daughter, Julia, has disappeared. Confident that she is in the hands of a criminal and stricken with fear, Pernilla refuses to go to the police. In her desperate search for answers she finds an ad for a private investigator and sends a cryptic plea for help. Enter Kouplan, an Iranian refugee hiding from Swedish immigration authorities. Unable to work a regular job, he has turned to freelancing as a detective.
Pernilla and Kouplan seem like a strange pairing, but together they seem to find comfort in each other. Kouplan may not be the perfect P.I., but he is the friend that Pernilla so desperately needs right now. As the investigation into Julia carries on in soon becomes clear that Pernilla may be keeping secrets about the disappearance close. The clues don’t fit and the only explanation Kouplan can see is one that leaves more questions than answers.
I absolutely love Nordic noir and the gritty, darker level the genre typically takes a crime fiction novel. I wasn’t immediately hit by that vibe with THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE, which at first left me cautious as to where my feelings would take me. Ultimately what I found was a quirky pairing between Pernilla and Kouplan that centered around a topic that had much more depth than first glance revealed. It took me a bit to find my footing in the novel, but thankfully Lovestam kept the chapters short and the story fast paced. Once things started to make sense and Kouplan dug deeper into Julia’s disappearance I was able to find my way.
It quickly becomes clear within the first few chapters of THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE that no one is who they seem and everyone is hiding secrets from those around them. Our two main characters of Pernilla and Kouplan are perhaps the biggest offenders of secret keeping. Pernilla knows more about how and why her daughter would be kidnapped than she is letting on. Kouplan is hiding not only his identity, but his origins, and what brought him to Sweden. There is a complexity to these characters that draws the reader in and makes you want to know more about them.
I appreciated that Lovestam had alternating narratives throughout the story to give the reader a look into both narrators, as well as a look into the kidnapping. I did find them a little confusing at times when the switch wasn’t entirely clear, but once you realized that stylistic quality to Lovestam’s writing, it became easy to follow the flow. The looks into the kidnapping added a great level of tension that brought the grit more commonly found in this genre.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE isn’t your typical piece of Nordic noir. It’s a unique book with equally unique characters who create a story that truly captivates the reader. I loved the ending and knowing that this is just the beginning of a series centered around Kouplan makes me excited to check out more.
Disclosure: Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Pernilla and Kouplan seem like a strange pairing, but together they seem to find comfort in each other. Kouplan may not be the perfect P.I., but he is the friend that Pernilla so desperately needs right now. As the investigation into Julia carries on in soon becomes clear that Pernilla may be keeping secrets about the disappearance close. The clues don’t fit and the only explanation Kouplan can see is one that leaves more questions than answers.
I absolutely love Nordic noir and the gritty, darker level the genre typically takes a crime fiction novel. I wasn’t immediately hit by that vibe with THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE, which at first left me cautious as to where my feelings would take me. Ultimately what I found was a quirky pairing between Pernilla and Kouplan that centered around a topic that had much more depth than first glance revealed. It took me a bit to find my footing in the novel, but thankfully Lovestam kept the chapters short and the story fast paced. Once things started to make sense and Kouplan dug deeper into Julia’s disappearance I was able to find my way.
It quickly becomes clear within the first few chapters of THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE that no one is who they seem and everyone is hiding secrets from those around them. Our two main characters of Pernilla and Kouplan are perhaps the biggest offenders of secret keeping. Pernilla knows more about how and why her daughter would be kidnapped than she is letting on. Kouplan is hiding not only his identity, but his origins, and what brought him to Sweden. There is a complexity to these characters that draws the reader in and makes you want to know more about them.
I appreciated that Lovestam had alternating narratives throughout the story to give the reader a look into both narrators, as well as a look into the kidnapping. I did find them a little confusing at times when the switch wasn’t entirely clear, but once you realized that stylistic quality to Lovestam’s writing, it became easy to follow the flow. The looks into the kidnapping added a great level of tension that brought the grit more commonly found in this genre.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE isn’t your typical piece of Nordic noir. It’s a unique book with equally unique characters who create a story that truly captivates the reader. I loved the ending and knowing that this is just the beginning of a series centered around Kouplan makes me excited to check out more.
Disclosure: Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
September 5, 2019
First Sentence: The rain was so strange the day they took Julia.
Kouplan is a young, very young, Iranian refugee who needs to stay in the shadows. To earn money, he works as a Private Investigator to those who can't involve the police. Pernilla, a single mother recently split from her husband, desperately seeks Kouplan's help. Her daughter has disappeared and, for reasons of her own fears going to the police. The deeper Kouplan digs into the case, the more he questions whether things are as he has been told.
Lövestam has created a very intriguing opening. Both the protagonist and the client are as mysterious as is the case. The author does a very good job of making one want to know more about who these characters are. Due to Kouplan's background, Iranian proverbs are included which injects realism into the character—Cho istadei, daste oftade gir … As long as you are standing, hold out a hand to those who have fallen." There is also interesting imagery—"As she gets up, she's dizzy and the pajamas fall to the floor. Janus [her dog] picks them up with his teeth and as she stumbles into the kitchen, he follows her. The pajamas hang from his muzzle like a lifeless, extremely thin child." One can be secure in the knowledge that no animals are harmed in the story.
The descriptions of Kouplans' overwhelming fear of being stopped by the police is almost palpable and it makes the story extremely relevant to today also giving it a universality. One realizes the issue of refugees and their fears are common to many countries. However, though Lövestam, one is given a view of that Sweden which is contrary to the idyllic version most hold as being true. Both characters are forced to live in the shadows due to the restrictions and rules of governments—"It's unreal how he, born in a hot country to parents with double degrees, is now following a mountain of muscle while avoiding the police like a criminal in this October chill of Stockholm." There is a lot of focus on food—"There's something special about hunger." But this isn't the food which comes from indulgence, but from knowing real hunger.
The author provides excellent twists and mysterious trails down which we're led, with a clever and "oh, my" turn of events and realization. This is not what one usually thinks of as "Scandinavian noir," in that it lacks the usual traits related to some of those characters and contains little violence. Instead, this is very new and different from what most of us have read before.
"The Truth Behind the Lie" is a fascinating book of complex, enigmatic characters where no one and nothing is as it seems.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE (Myst-Kouplan-Sweden-Contemp) –VG
Lövestam, Sara - Standalone
Minotaur Books, Aug 2019
Kouplan is a young, very young, Iranian refugee who needs to stay in the shadows. To earn money, he works as a Private Investigator to those who can't involve the police. Pernilla, a single mother recently split from her husband, desperately seeks Kouplan's help. Her daughter has disappeared and, for reasons of her own fears going to the police. The deeper Kouplan digs into the case, the more he questions whether things are as he has been told.
Lövestam has created a very intriguing opening. Both the protagonist and the client are as mysterious as is the case. The author does a very good job of making one want to know more about who these characters are. Due to Kouplan's background, Iranian proverbs are included which injects realism into the character—Cho istadei, daste oftade gir … As long as you are standing, hold out a hand to those who have fallen." There is also interesting imagery—"As she gets up, she's dizzy and the pajamas fall to the floor. Janus [her dog] picks them up with his teeth and as she stumbles into the kitchen, he follows her. The pajamas hang from his muzzle like a lifeless, extremely thin child." One can be secure in the knowledge that no animals are harmed in the story.
The descriptions of Kouplans' overwhelming fear of being stopped by the police is almost palpable and it makes the story extremely relevant to today also giving it a universality. One realizes the issue of refugees and their fears are common to many countries. However, though Lövestam, one is given a view of that Sweden which is contrary to the idyllic version most hold as being true. Both characters are forced to live in the shadows due to the restrictions and rules of governments—"It's unreal how he, born in a hot country to parents with double degrees, is now following a mountain of muscle while avoiding the police like a criminal in this October chill of Stockholm." There is a lot of focus on food—"There's something special about hunger." But this isn't the food which comes from indulgence, but from knowing real hunger.
The author provides excellent twists and mysterious trails down which we're led, with a clever and "oh, my" turn of events and realization. This is not what one usually thinks of as "Scandinavian noir," in that it lacks the usual traits related to some of those characters and contains little violence. Instead, this is very new and different from what most of us have read before.
"The Truth Behind the Lie" is a fascinating book of complex, enigmatic characters where no one and nothing is as it seems.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIE (Myst-Kouplan-Sweden-Contemp) –VG
Lövestam, Sara - Standalone
Minotaur Books, Aug 2019
May 10, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
The Truth Behind the Lie.
To be honest, I did not have high hopes for this book due to the few negative reviews I had read posted here already.
But you know what they say about only a few reviews? Don't trust them.
This was a surprising read and better than I expected.
Kouplan is a young Iranian refugee hired by a mother, Pernilla, to find her missing daughter. He is inexperienced but he is determined and resourceful.
But something about Pernilla's story doesn't feel right as Kouplan pursues his leads and finds himself coming too close for comfort with some very bad people.
When he discovers the truth behind the missing girl, Kouplan's quick mind is able to save the life of a child without risking his illegal status.
I liked Kouplan; he is relatable, smart and sympathetic, and his fear of being discovered by immigration officials is something we can all understand, especially given our current political climate.
There is a note by the author at the end of the book that said her inspiration for Kouplan came from her time working with Iranian refugees, which gives the story a more personal touch.
The twist is a familiar one but it works here because the reader is focused on the missing child, not on the little clues we miss along with Kouplan.
We search for the child along with him and when he realizes something is amiss, we sense it, too.
There are many triggers here so be warned: human trafficking, pedophilia, sexual abuse and violence, and mental illness.
This book was a pleasant surprise, including the ending.
I look forward to more books featuring Kouplan.
To be honest, I did not have high hopes for this book due to the few negative reviews I had read posted here already.
But you know what they say about only a few reviews? Don't trust them.
This was a surprising read and better than I expected.
Kouplan is a young Iranian refugee hired by a mother, Pernilla, to find her missing daughter. He is inexperienced but he is determined and resourceful.
But something about Pernilla's story doesn't feel right as Kouplan pursues his leads and finds himself coming too close for comfort with some very bad people.
When he discovers the truth behind the missing girl, Kouplan's quick mind is able to save the life of a child without risking his illegal status.
I liked Kouplan; he is relatable, smart and sympathetic, and his fear of being discovered by immigration officials is something we can all understand, especially given our current political climate.
There is a note by the author at the end of the book that said her inspiration for Kouplan came from her time working with Iranian refugees, which gives the story a more personal touch.
The twist is a familiar one but it works here because the reader is focused on the missing child, not on the little clues we miss along with Kouplan.
We search for the child along with him and when he realizes something is amiss, we sense it, too.
There are many triggers here so be warned: human trafficking, pedophilia, sexual abuse and violence, and mental illness.
This book was a pleasant surprise, including the ending.
I look forward to more books featuring Kouplan.
November 19, 2021
FY FAN!!
Så. Nu har jag fått sagt det.
Den här boken blev rekommenderad till mig av en vän. Eftersom jag gillar Lövestams barnböcker läste jag inte på närmre om boken utan gav mig helt enkelt in i den. Jag borde nog ha kollat upp den mer, för jag väntade mig en typisk deckare men det här var mer av en psykologisk thriller. Det är många tunga ämnen i boken; Kouplans hemligheter och hans rädsla för polisen, barnarov, mental ohälsa … det är mycket. Framåt slutet grät jag, för några av scenerna var så fruktansvärt tunga och hemska. Lövestam har verkligen lyckats skriva en obehaglig mysterieroman utan att överanvända splattereffekter.
Det finns definitivt ett HBTQ-perspektiv i boken, men det är mellan raderna och kommer inte fram förrän ganska sent, då på ett sätt som inte känns särskilt bra.
Som sagt fick den här boken mig att gråta och inte på ett bra sätt. Det ligger en hel del triggerwarnings här, men jag skulle ändå rekommendera andra att läsa den, för Lövestam skriver så himla bra!
Så. Nu har jag fått sagt det.
Den här boken blev rekommenderad till mig av en vän. Eftersom jag gillar Lövestams barnböcker läste jag inte på närmre om boken utan gav mig helt enkelt in i den. Jag borde nog ha kollat upp den mer, för jag väntade mig en typisk deckare men det här var mer av en psykologisk thriller. Det är många tunga ämnen i boken; Kouplans hemligheter och hans rädsla för polisen, barnarov, mental ohälsa … det är mycket. Framåt slutet grät jag, för några av scenerna var så fruktansvärt tunga och hemska. Lövestam har verkligen lyckats skriva en obehaglig mysterieroman utan att överanvända splattereffekter.
Det finns definitivt ett HBTQ-perspektiv i boken, men det är mellan raderna och kommer inte fram förrän ganska sent, då på ett sätt som inte känns särskilt bra.
Som sagt fick den här boken mig att gråta och inte på ett bra sätt. Det ligger en hel del triggerwarnings här, men jag skulle ändå rekommendera andra att läsa den, för Lövestam skriver så himla bra!
December 17, 2015
Betyg: 5 av 5.
Sara Lövestam är en av mina absoluta favoritförfattare. Det här är hennes femte roman, och jag har älskat alla hennes fyra tidigare.
Här är länkar till mina recensioner av hennes tidigare fyra romaner, plus en faktabok: ”Udda”, ”I havet finns så många stora fiskar”, ”Tillbaka till henne”, ”Hjärta av jazz”, och ”Grejen med verb”.
Det som är härligt med Saras böcker, det är att dom är så väldigt olika varandra. Oftast så har ju författare en genre eller en viss stil som dom håller sig till, men det gäller inte Sara.
Fast hennes underbara sätt att skriva, det går igen i alla hennes böcker. Och hennes kärlek till lite udda och annorlunda människor också. Och hon står alltid upp för dom ”små” människorna.
Det känns nästan som jag är lite partisk när det gäller Sara Lövestams böcker, för jag visste att jag skulle älska den här boken, redan innan jag hade börjat på den.
”Sanning med modifikation” är en roman, men man skulle nästan också kunna kalla det en detektivroman. För det handlar ju om en privatdetektiv som letar efter en försvunnen flicka. Boken är den första delen i en planerad serie böcker om privatdetektiven Kouplan. Och jag ser verkligen fram emot att följa den härliga karaktären Kouplan i kommande böcker.
Boken är mycket välskriven och lättläst. Den är helt oförutsägbar, och har mycket bra tecknade karaktärer. Man känner verkligen med människorna, och boken är både gripande och spännande. Rekommenderar varmt boken, precis som Sara Lövestams tidigare romaner.
Sara Lövestam är en av mina absoluta favoritförfattare. Det här är hennes femte roman, och jag har älskat alla hennes fyra tidigare.
Här är länkar till mina recensioner av hennes tidigare fyra romaner, plus en faktabok: ”Udda”, ”I havet finns så många stora fiskar”, ”Tillbaka till henne”, ”Hjärta av jazz”, och ”Grejen med verb”.
Det som är härligt med Saras böcker, det är att dom är så väldigt olika varandra. Oftast så har ju författare en genre eller en viss stil som dom håller sig till, men det gäller inte Sara.
Fast hennes underbara sätt att skriva, det går igen i alla hennes böcker. Och hennes kärlek till lite udda och annorlunda människor också. Och hon står alltid upp för dom ”små” människorna.
Det känns nästan som jag är lite partisk när det gäller Sara Lövestams böcker, för jag visste att jag skulle älska den här boken, redan innan jag hade börjat på den.
”Sanning med modifikation” är en roman, men man skulle nästan också kunna kalla det en detektivroman. För det handlar ju om en privatdetektiv som letar efter en försvunnen flicka. Boken är den första delen i en planerad serie böcker om privatdetektiven Kouplan. Och jag ser verkligen fram emot att följa den härliga karaktären Kouplan i kommande böcker.
Boken är mycket välskriven och lättläst. Den är helt oförutsägbar, och har mycket bra tecknade karaktärer. Man känner verkligen med människorna, och boken är både gripande och spännande. Rekommenderar varmt boken, precis som Sara Lövestams tidigare romaner.
August 19, 2019
So many secrets, so many stories. I came away with a much better understanding of the lives led by immigrants and by people struggling with mental issues. While reading this suspenseful book try not to make any assumptions because all is not as it appears.
Kouplan is a young Iranian refugee trying to stay under the radar in Sweden. One way he makes money is to advertise his services as a private detective for others who need to avoid the police. Pernilla is one of those people, a mother in search of her lost daughter. Normally I would now give more details of the story but I'm hard pressed to give any for fear of spoilers. I'll just say that the secrets kept by Pernilla and Kouplan are such that, when I got to the end all I could say was WOW, I didn't see that coming. Part of me was thinking "I like that" and the part of me was think "what was that?" and I had to do a bit of a re-read of the last few pages. And I said Wow, again.
I normally read cozies and historical mysteries with the occasional darker reading thrown in. This is not the Scandinavian Noir I usually avoid and if there is another book in translation I think I could find space on my to be read list. I would like to know more about the world Kouplan inhabits.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Kouplan is a young Iranian refugee trying to stay under the radar in Sweden. One way he makes money is to advertise his services as a private detective for others who need to avoid the police. Pernilla is one of those people, a mother in search of her lost daughter. Normally I would now give more details of the story but I'm hard pressed to give any for fear of spoilers. I'll just say that the secrets kept by Pernilla and Kouplan are such that, when I got to the end all I could say was WOW, I didn't see that coming. Part of me was thinking "I like that" and the part of me was think "what was that?" and I had to do a bit of a re-read of the last few pages. And I said Wow, again.
I normally read cozies and historical mysteries with the occasional darker reading thrown in. This is not the Scandinavian Noir I usually avoid and if there is another book in translation I think I could find space on my to be read list. I would like to know more about the world Kouplan inhabits.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2019
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a paperback copy of this book to read and share my review with others.
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It is every mother’s nightmare – your child disappears and is now missing. Who can you turn to for help? Who can you call for help when calling the police is not an option? This is the predicament Pernilla finds herself in. Her daughter Julia is missing but Pernilla cannot call the police for help. When Pernilla sees an ad offering private detective help, she emails him.
What unfolds is a whirlwind of a story that will leave you breathless and unable to put this book down and unable to stop reading. This novel is full of shocking twists and turns that you will not see coming, and will have to thinking about this book long after you have done reading the last page. I loved this book and I flew through it.
I enjoyed reading about Kaplan and Pernilla and the obstacles they have each gone through in their lives that make them who they are today. A gripping story of one mother’s search for her missing child, and the lengths a mother will go to so they can find the ones they love.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a paperback copy of this book to read and share my review with others.
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It is every mother’s nightmare – your child disappears and is now missing. Who can you turn to for help? Who can you call for help when calling the police is not an option? This is the predicament Pernilla finds herself in. Her daughter Julia is missing but Pernilla cannot call the police for help. When Pernilla sees an ad offering private detective help, she emails him.
What unfolds is a whirlwind of a story that will leave you breathless and unable to put this book down and unable to stop reading. This novel is full of shocking twists and turns that you will not see coming, and will have to thinking about this book long after you have done reading the last page. I loved this book and I flew through it.
I enjoyed reading about Kaplan and Pernilla and the obstacles they have each gone through in their lives that make them who they are today. A gripping story of one mother’s search for her missing child, and the lengths a mother will go to so they can find the ones they love.
September 11, 2019
The Truth Behind the Lie
A Novel
by Sara Lövestam
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 27 Aug 2019
2⭐⭐
The suspenseful Swedish thriller, The Truth Behind the Lie, tells the story of shady former journalist Kouplan’s search for Permilla's missing child Julia. Told in alternate voices of both Pernilla and Kouplan the book follows the path over several weeks of both Pernilla and Kouplan through each of their points of view. I found this very confusing and did not like. I figured the book out really early on which was a huge disappointment to me. I loved Kouplan and was very interested in why he was leading a secret life and how he became a detective. Pernilla i did not like her. The first 80% of the book was extremely slow and repetitive. It took me over 3 weeks to read it. I kelpt putting it down. I almost didn't pick it back up. After you reach 80% it picks up and gives you I did not see that coming ending. Is this a story i would re-read ? No , Would i reccomend ? NO Why ? This book had three different story lines going on at the same time. I was often so very confused and lost . I hate giving a bad review, but this is one book I wouldn’t recommend , sorry .
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy of The Truth Behind The Lie in exchange for my honest review.
A Novel
by Sara Lövestam
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 27 Aug 2019
2⭐⭐
The suspenseful Swedish thriller, The Truth Behind the Lie, tells the story of shady former journalist Kouplan’s search for Permilla's missing child Julia. Told in alternate voices of both Pernilla and Kouplan the book follows the path over several weeks of both Pernilla and Kouplan through each of their points of view. I found this very confusing and did not like. I figured the book out really early on which was a huge disappointment to me. I loved Kouplan and was very interested in why he was leading a secret life and how he became a detective. Pernilla i did not like her. The first 80% of the book was extremely slow and repetitive. It took me over 3 weeks to read it. I kelpt putting it down. I almost didn't pick it back up. After you reach 80% it picks up and gives you I did not see that coming ending. Is this a story i would re-read ? No , Would i reccomend ? NO Why ? This book had three different story lines going on at the same time. I was often so very confused and lost . I hate giving a bad review, but this is one book I wouldn’t recommend , sorry .
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy of The Truth Behind The Lie in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2019
What a strange, dark little mystery! There's a big trigger warning for this one for the sex trafficking of women and young children. It's not overly graphic but it is pretty disturbing. The story delves into a lot of issues like mental illness, the plight of immigrants and refugees, and the terrifying lives of people who live in Sweden illegally. This seems awfully relevant and timely.
The mystery of the missing little girl was well done and although I did suspect what had happened to her well before the end I was never quite sure since pretty well everyone seemed to be unreliable in some way. There was a big twist at the very end that completely took me by surprise. It wasn't something that factored directly into the story and I'm sure a lot of readers might wonder why the author added it in at the last. I think it was intended to show that everyone has layers of secrets and even the most basic elements of identity are mutable. Overall this was a sad, bleak story but it ended with a bit of hope.
I began listening to this in audio format but I didn't love the narration and failed to feel engaged in the story. I switched to a written copy and enjoyed it much more.
The mystery of the missing little girl was well done and although I did suspect what had happened to her well before the end I was never quite sure since pretty well everyone seemed to be unreliable in some way. There was a big twist at the very end that completely took me by surprise. It wasn't something that factored directly into the story and I'm sure a lot of readers might wonder why the author added it in at the last. I think it was intended to show that everyone has layers of secrets and even the most basic elements of identity are mutable. Overall this was a sad, bleak story but it ended with a bit of hope.
I began listening to this in audio format but I didn't love the narration and failed to feel engaged in the story. I switched to a written copy and enjoyed it much more.
March 8, 2017
Sur la couverture du livre il est écrit : "Une enquête de Kouplan, détective sans-papiers". En quatrième de couv' on apprend que cette enquête va précipiter l'ex-journaliste iranien en situation irrégulière "dans le Stockolm underground, ces recoins de la ville où les clandestins sont des proies faciles pour les criminels".
Bref, on s'apprête à lire un polar venu du froid. Et puis, en cherchant des infos sur l'auteur, on apprend que son intention n'était pas décrire un polar, fût-il social. Mais qu'elle a écrit un roman qui a la particularité d'avoir un détective pour principal protagoniste. Sauf que... dès la sortie du livre, le prix du Meilleur polar débutant lui a été attribué.
Bref, c'est pas tout à fait un polar mais il y a quand même une enquête et des rebondissements. Et lorsqu'on tourne la dernière page, on est bien content d'apprendre que "Chacun sa vérité" est le premier tome d'une tétralogie. Parce qu'on veut en savoir plus sur Kouplan.
Bref, on s'apprête à lire un polar venu du froid. Et puis, en cherchant des infos sur l'auteur, on apprend que son intention n'était pas décrire un polar, fût-il social. Mais qu'elle a écrit un roman qui a la particularité d'avoir un détective pour principal protagoniste. Sauf que... dès la sortie du livre, le prix du Meilleur polar débutant lui a été attribué.
Bref, c'est pas tout à fait un polar mais il y a quand même une enquête et des rebondissements. Et lorsqu'on tourne la dernière page, on est bien content d'apprendre que "Chacun sa vérité" est le premier tome d'une tétralogie. Parce qu'on veut en savoir plus sur Kouplan.
January 10, 2016
This is NOT a crime novel. OK, it´s a sort of mystery but more of a psychological nature. It´s well written and has a different and interesting main character. I put it in my thriller-suspense shelf instead of in the crime shelf but it´s not really a thriller either. Easy to read and ok, but no more than that.
August 25, 2019
This book moved a little slow for me, but it was still enjoyable. The premise of the story definitely kept me going, even though it took a little while for it to pick up. I'm hoping to read more from Lovestam soon!
Thank you #NetGalley for an early copy of #TheTruthBehindTheLie for review!
Thank you #NetGalley for an early copy of #TheTruthBehindTheLie for review!
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