The Cabin

William Wisting #13

by Jørn Lier Horst

** Jørn Lier Horst is the winner of the 2018 Nordic Noir Thriller of the Year award **

You loved Wallander, now meet Wisting . . .
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Pre-order the second instalment in the Cold Case Quartet from one of Scandinavia's most successful writers

It's been fifteen years since Simon Meier walked out of his house, never to be seen again.

And just one day since politician Bernard Clausen was found dead at his cabin on the Norwegian coast.

When Chief Inspector William Wisting is asked to investigate he soon discovers he may have found the key to solving Meier's disappearance.

But doing so means he must work with an old adversary to piece together what really happened all those years ago.

It's a puzzle that leads them into a dark underworld on the trail of Clausen's interests and vices . A shady place from which may never emerge - especially when he finds it leads closer to home than he ever could have imagined.
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'Jørn Lier Horst is one of the most brilliantly understated crime novelists writing today' Sunday Times

'A well-crafted, atmospheric, character-driven thriller - I couldn't put it down!' Alex Dahl, author of The Boy At The Door

'Up there with the best of the Nordic crime writers' Marcel Berlin, The Times

'A good Nordic police procedural with well-drawn characters' Choice Magazine

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Nordic Noir, Scandinavian Literature, Audiobook

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2018

About the author

Jorn Lier Horst (born in Bamble, Telemark 1970) is a former Senior Investigating Officer at the Norwegian police force. He made his literary debut as a crime writer in 2004 and is considered one of the foremost Nordic crime writers.

His series of mystery novels starring chief inspector William Wisting provides a detailed and authentic insight into how criminal cases are investigated and how it affects those involved, whether private or professional. The books represent a simple and accurate picture of the modern Nordic societies and is characterized by political and social commentary subtext.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Jorn Lier Horst was a real life policeman, eventually becoming head investigator in Larvik, Norway, where he has set his series featuring William Wisting, who is himself Chief Inspector in Larvik CID. So there is an air of authenticity that runs right through the gripping narrative, in this, the second in the Cold Case Quartet.

Simon Meier disappeared 15 years ago, but apart from the occasional unconfirmed sighting of him, the trail has gone cold.

Politician Bernard Clausen was found dead just yesterday at his summer cabin. Though there are no suspicious circumstances regarding his death, it’s the large stash of cash (80 million kroner to be precise!) that was discovered at the scene that has investigators scratching their heads. Now, how these two individuals were connected, despite the passing of the years will have to be ascertained by Wisting, and it won’t be easy. Where did the huge amount of money ( all of it in old bank notes from the period that Simon disappeared) come from, and what happened to Simon?

Due to the sensitivity of this case, involving as it does a respected politician, Wisting has to keep this investigation very much under the radar, and he enlists a small team of trusted colleagues, as well as his investigative journalist daughter Line.

This was an extremely complex investigation with many characters and many suspects, it was brilliant on the small detail yet still creating and retaining tension, and whilst many books are judiciously edited in these times of reduced attention spans, this one wasn’t, and yet there was not one superfluous turn of phrase. The characters were well fleshed, the investigation was intelligently carried out and completed, and furthermore it was completely gripping, coming as it did with some heart stopping moments, particularly for Line. And finally to our protagonist Wisting, here we have a law enforcement officer who doesn’t believe police work gives him the right to be judgemental - I think that’s a wonderful trait, and I think he’s wonderful too! Highly recommended.

*My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for my ARC for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m feeling like quite the jet setter after visiting Québec, England, Ireland, Israel & Denmark in recent literary travels. Now I’m returning to Norway to catch up with Chief Inspector William Wisting in the 13th instalment of the series.

And just in time. Wisting has been handed a politically sensitive case with strict instructions….perform a thorough investigation but tell as few people as possible.


Bernard Clausen was a well known politician who recently died. Nothing hinky there as it was from natural causes. The real mystery arose after his colleague found boxes of money hidden in Clausen’s cabin. Wisting needs to find out where it came from PDQ before word leaks out & hits the political fan.


He handpicks a few select colleagues & swears them to secrecy. Included is his journalist daughter Line who is given the task of looking into Clausen’s personal & professional background. None of them could have guessed where it all would lead. And it’s not long before some sinister events make it clear there are those who’d prefer they stop digging.


I’ve always thought of this series as more thinking man’s mysteries than action driven thrillers. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some hair raising moments. But it’s Wisting’s understated style & dogged determination that drives the plot. He’s a smart, likeable guy whose brain never stops turning over the evidence.


Line has inherited her father’s drive & has a different approach that adds to the investigation. Also returning is cop Adrian Stiller, a character you may remember from the last book. Initially I was leery as he was a bit of a scumbag in that one. He & Line have some history & he’s not above using those around him to further his ambitions.


Progress on the case is initially slow. The team feels as if they’re trying to assemble a giant jigsaw without knowing what the final picture looks like. Or even some of the pieces. The plot is intricate & it takes a while to lay the groundwork but after a couple of connections are made, the pace picks up considerably with a literal race to the finish.


For me this didn’t score quite as high on the entertainment meter as the last book (The Katharina Code) as it has a more sober tone. But I can always rely on this author to deliver a smart, well plotted story that keeps you guessing. I enjoy Wisting’s company & hope he doesn’t mind if I tag along on his next case. If you’re a fan of Arnaldur Indriðason, Håkan Nesser, Leif Persson or Quentin Bates, you should be reading this series.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having long been a fan of Jørn Lier Horst, I wa pleased when his newest book came across my virtual desk. Horst has developed the William Wisting series and dazzled readers for many years, with an attention to detail and complex cases that boil down to a simple fact. This ‘series within a series’, in which Wisting explores some cold cases, serves to entertain readers just as much as any other book with Wisting in the protagonist role. A long and storied career with the police has helped William Wisting earn a great reputation amongst his colleagues. After being summoned to meet with the Director General of Public Prosecutions, Wisting is sent on a covert mission on the outskirts of Oslo. After the death of Bernhard Clausen, a prominent Norwegian politician, someone discovered a large cache of money on the property, neatly packed away in a few bags. Wisting must determine the origin of this money and do so before the press gets wind of anything. When Wisting arrives, he discovers a massive amount of cash in various demonization and currencies, which raises a red flag for him. As Wisting tries to learn a little more about Clausen, Wisting uncovers that a freak motorbike accident took the life of Clausen’s adult son a number of years ago. Even more interesting, one of the son’s friends died in a freak drowning around the same time. Calling upon his journalist daughter, Line, to assist, Wisting discovers that there might be more to the story than a simple drowning. He also makes a loose connection between the discovered money and a robbery, but not before someone burns the cabin to the ground. Wisting is left to wonder whether he is opening too many old wounds, especially when he feels he can connect the money to the deaths in some way. When Line and her young daughter are threatened, Wisting knows he’s onto something, but cannot justify giving it all up just yet. What secrets did Bernard Clausen possess and how might things unravel into a homicide investigation? Horst spins another wonderful story and keeps the reader wanting to know more in this second ‘cold case’ quartet. Recommended to those who have long enjoy Horst’s writing, as well as the reader who find enjoyment in Scandinavian police procedurals.

I can always rely on a great read when picking up a book by Jørn Lier Horst. His novels pack a wonderful punch and keep the reader constantly thinking while they are entertained. William Wisting has developed as a character over a number of novels, honing his skills as a police detective. Well-versed in all the types of antics criminals can take, Wisting is duped by little and appears to have a great deal of patience as he coaxes the truth out of witnesses, sometimes without their knowing. The reader will also see a softer side to Wisting as he interacts with his granddaughter and chooses to help out wherever he can. This contrast works well, especially for those who have a long history reading these novels. Other characters serve to complement Wisting and the larger story in a highly effective manner. Horst has a way of creating characters who fit in perfectly and there is no lack of this in the novel, from the high ranking political figures through to the lowly workers who have tried to hide over the past number of years. The story was strong and kept my attention throughout, even when choosing to focus on a cold case matter. I cannot help but love the Scandinavian flavour of the plot and delivery which differs greatly with the usual fare I read. The translation into English does not appear to hamper the strength of the book at all. I have often said that there is little hesitation in the narrative and it almost seems as though the book was penned in English, making the read even better. While I still hope for the first few novels to be translated into English, I am happy to see such progress in the William Wisting character and this series as a whole.

Kudos, Mr. Horst, for another great piece. Your know how to lure the reader in and won’t let go until the final sentence or two.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some hidden money is found after a politician dies. Chief Inspector Wisting has been called in to investigate the death and finds li is to a cold case from 2003 when Si on Meier went missing. The money found in the cabin is believed to be linked to a local robbery which had also taken place several years ago. Wisting's daughter, Line is helping out with the investigation. Are the cases connected.

This is the first book that I have read by the author. I also did not know that it was part off a series. The story has a slow but steady pace until we get to the final chapters where it starts to speed up. The interpretation is first class. As the layers unfold, the more interesting the book becomes. The characters are well rounded and believable. The plotline is perfect. There is also someone else after the money and they're not adverse to using violence to find it. I really liked this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Jørn Lier Horst for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Mike Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘…it now struck Wisting that the perfect metaphor for an investigation was a jigsaw puzzle. It was just that sometimes you had too many pieces and some of them belonged to a different puzzle.’

I have watched many series of Wisting on the TV and enjoyed them. But don’t remember this story being shown. Does not of course mean I didn’t see it just that I likely didn’t remember it. Wisting is a strong character with a strong relationship with his daughter.

Difficult to put this book down. Wisting is given a special assignment to investigate the death of a senior politician. Well not his death actually. More the contents found in his cabin after his death. Two separate cases are then linked and resolved. But there are tough times for his daughter. Complicated police procedural but expounded well.

I felt I could relate to Wisting as a character in his playing jigsaw puzzles with his 2 year old granddaughter Amalie. As I do with my now 2 1/2 year old grandson and later will be doing with my now 18 month old one. My grandson always wants to be the winner and finish first, but wants me involved. Only recently saying ‘Grandad you are a big boy you can do this yourself.’ Before taking out the piece I had placed and reinserting it himself.

As the book finishes:

‘Woof woof,’ Amalie barked from down on the floor, waving a jigsaw piece shaped like a dog.
Wisting heaved himself out of his chair, dropped down to his knees and crawled across to her. ‘Moo,’ he said, inserting the cow in the right place.
Amalie laughed and clapped her hands.
They had put together this same jigsaw puzzle many times before, but Amalie seemed equally delighted every time the pieces fell into place.
Wisting smiled. He knew that feeling well.

I like a book that brings a special memory to mind😉

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up there with Norwegian Noir writer Horst's most accomplished crime thrillers, The Cabin is a cracker of an addition to his Scandinavian Noir catalogue. The second instalment in The Cold Case Quartet series featuring inimitable Chief Inspector William Wisting pulls no punches and from its opening, it slowly but surely envelops you in its dark and chilling atmosphere. It wasn't long before I was fully committed and then swiftly followed by that amazing "problem" - an overwhelming inability to put the book down despite having important tasks to complete, The fact that Horst was a police investigator for many years lends this a sense of realism and believability often missing from thrillers in large part.

He also knows how to capture a readers attention and then keep it for the entirety of the novel; there was never any point that I felt I was becoming bored or disillusioned despite reading a lot of this genre and Scandi Noir in general. In fact, the whole series is one which is gritty, riveting, full of twists, steeped in mystery and the added bonus of being based in a setting that is a character in its own right with how prominent it is and how much it adds to the stellar, stark atmospherics all round.

If you consider yourself an enthusiastic crime connoisseur then this is well worth your time' both this book and its predecessor although this is, in my opinion, more enjoyable than The Katharina Code. Although it is always preferable to have read the preceding instalment in a series I don't think this is a necessity; this book can be thoroughly enjoyed and understood with no issues whatsoever so feel free to jump right on in. I would like to also give a quick mention of the huge impact translation can make in the success/failure of a book; here Anne Bruce has done such an adept job that it reads very much as though it had been written in English, Highly recommended. Many thanks to Penguin - Michael Joseph for an ARC.

[Jannelies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first 'William Wisting'. Being fond of Scandinavian authors, I was surprised never to have read one of the books in this series before.
I was not disappointed but all in all, it is not a 4 or 5 star book for me.
The Cabin is book 13 in this series but I had no trouble whatsoever to get acquainted with the main character of William, his daughter and his colleagues. There is just enough background information without going back to other books in the series all the time. This is good but it made me wonder: is William Wisting always the way he is? He seems very competent, but for me, he doesn't stand out much like other Scandinavian detectives.
This book all revolves about the finding of a lot of money ánd the disappearing of a young man, and I don't think it is a spoiler to tell that both cases are related. This is very cleverly done; of course the reader will suspect what is going on, but there are still some nice surprises in the plot.
I gave it 3 stars while it could have been a 4 star book. This is because it is a very long story that lacks a good pace to keep the reader wanting to keep reading. There is not so much actual action, but there is a lot of speculation and sometimes the speculation leads to nothing.
It is well-written but there is not much attention for atmosphere which makes it all a little bland. All in all a good enough book, and I can understand why Horst is so popular.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It now struck Wisting that the perfect metaphor for an investigation was a jigsaw puzzle. It was just that sometimes you had too many pieces and some of them belonged to a different puzzle.

The scene takes place a year after solving The Katharina Code: The Cold Case Quartet, Book 1. Inspector William Wisting of the Larvik Police is summoned to Oslo by the Director-General. Bernard Clausen, a prominent Labour party politician has died of a heart attack and a colleague visiting the deceased’s cabin has made a startling discovery – boxes containing euros, greenbacks and sterling worth almost 8 million in krone.

Wisting is to head a discrete and politically-sensitive investigation into where the money came from and can enlist whoever he chooses, settling on Crime Scene investigator Mortensen, and his own daughter, investigative journalist Line, to look into Clausen’s background. The two men go to the cabin, photograph everything and take the money away with them – before the cabin is mysteriously razed to the ground in a fierce blaze.

The money is suspected to be the proceeds of a robbery at the airport fifteen years earlier, and William calls upon the investigator at that time, Audan Thule, to join the team, while Line discovers the case of a missing person, Simon Meier, who disappeared on the same day as the robbery. The Meier case has crossed the desk of Adrian Stiller, of the Kripos Cold Case Group, known for his unorthodox methods of gaining a result. But with a possible overlap between the two cases, reluctantly Wisting asks him to join the group.

This was another extraordinary mystery from Norwegian author Jørn Lier Horst, once a criminal detective, and is essentially a series within a series, though not all of his books have been translated into English. After a slow beginning the multiple threads begin to overlap - or are dropped. Line meets another journalist who looked into the Simon Meier disappearance years before, who followed claims that Meier was in seen Spain. (The reader learns that, with construction of the Øresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark, it is possible to drive from Oslo to Marbella in thirty-six hours).

As the tension ramps up, the violence is understated rather than graphic, but nonetheless chilling. It is the attention to detail that wins out – Line’s daughter, Amelia, fourteen months old in the first book, has now turned two and like any active toddler, grasps at anything that catches her attention, with no awareness of danger. This leads to some heart-stopping moments any parent will recognize. I did spot one of the villains fairly early, but I did not foresee the ending.

A stylish, thinking novel - you need to look out for the occasional clue that unlocks the case. Good detecting, good investigating, and I am looking forward to the third title in the Cold Case Quartet, “The Inner Darkness”, due to be released in late May.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Непоганий, міцно збитий скандинавський детектив. Місцями герої трохи повторювали одне й те саме, але загалом сюжет рухався жваво.

Єдине, що мене здивувало - абсолютна емоційна стерильність тексту. Автор зовсім не говорить про те, що почувають його герої - лише показує дії. Навіть коли на них нападають чи є загроза життю. А також практично не описує їх, не додає подробиць, які допомагають краще уявити цих людей . Можливо, правда, це було в першій книзі цього циклу. Загалом я люблю, коли в детективах картина трохи об'ємніша

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holding the baby...

When former leading politician Bernhard Klausner dies, his colleague is astonished to discover a huge stash of cash hidden in his cabin. Because of the political sensitivity the Chief of Police asks Inspector William Wisting to carry out a confidential investigation to find out where the cash came from. Wisting does what any top police officer asked to investigate a sensitive case would naturally do – he tells the whole story to his journalist daughter and asks her to help with the investigation, clearly feeling that the entire resources of the Norwegian police force which have been put at his disposal for the case simply won’t be as competent as a jobbing free lance reporter with babysitter issues. Meantime, Amalie, the baby in question, entertains us all with her charming baby ways throughout the entire book. Gosh.

As you will gather, the idea of Wisting involving his daughter in a sensitive case blew the story way over the credibility line even before it started, but I persevered. Just like Amalie did when she struggled to complete her ten-piece jigsaw with a picture of a cow on it. Next thing we know Wisting decides the safest place to keep the vast haul of cash is, no, not in some police security vault or even in a bank, but in his own basement. I began to wonder if the Norwegian police force is actually a professional one at all, or maybe it’s modelled on a Toytown version. Then, because his daughter Line is investigating the case for him, Wisting stays at home to babysit Amalie, as you do. Amalie likes to have her tinned stew mushed up for her, by the way – isn’t that adorable?

The initial premise is interesting, but the storytelling reduces it to an overlong, repetitive and highly confusing account of every detail of the investigation. The reader will follow Line or one of the police investigators as they interview a witness or read some reports and then that investigator will report what we’ve just read to Wisting so we get to read it all for a second time. The investigation barely moves for the first 60% of the book, with them simply confirming information that was already in the police files and speculating endlessly about the same things over and over. Meantime, Amalie plays games on Grandpa’s iPad – the one he uses for accessing confidential police files.

The last 40% might be brilliant. I wouldn’t know since I skimmed it to find out whodunit, or rather whodunwhat. But when I focussed back in at 90% only to find Amalie had woken up from a nap and was calling for her Mummy, I decided to leave them all to it. Now I’ll never know what the plot was about, and d’you know? I’m fine with that.

Recommended for people who are desperate to know if Amalie managed to complete her jigsaw. But not so much for people who like crime novels to have an air of credibility, some forward momentum, a decent pace and no babies.

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Penguin UK – Michael Joseph.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Inna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Колишній міністр закордонних справ Бернгард Клаусен помирає, а в його літньому будиночку знаходять коробки, по вінця напхані готівкою: доларами, євро і фунтами («навіть без золотих злитків», - згадала я про Ставицького). Справа делікатна і потребує таємного розслідування (кхе-кхе, ці норвежці такі вразливі). Коротше, знову приємно провела день з творчістю пана Горста.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than the first Cold Case book with William Wisting.

I might start from the very beginning …some time when I am not busy writing exam papers. On the otherhand, I seem to be able to find the time amid house chores, cooking dinner for my husband and I and the grueling paper writing.

[J TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Competente, credível, razoavelmente bem escrito. Melhor do ponto de vista de técnica de investigação criminal que do engenho inovador de escrita.
Foi o primeiro livro que li deste autor e desta série de William Wisting. Como sequela “ad eternum” resume-se a uma história que não se debruça na análise das personagens nem dos tempos e sociedade em que se insere. Na falta destes elementos fica mais como uma produção em série, mais preocupada em prender o leitor que de o convidar à reflexão. Contudo, enquanto leitura aditiva, com capítulos curtos, uma história com twists e falsas pistas stressantes para o leitor, nisto cumpre.
Leitura não surpreendente mas suficientemente cativante.

[Catherine Vamianaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Υπέροχο, καταπληκτικό. Άλλο ένα ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα του αγαπημένου Horst. Ο Βιστιν με την ομάδα του θα καταφέρουν να βρουν τι πραγματικά έγινε.
Δεν θέλω να αναφέρω λεπτομέρειες απλά διαβάστε το!!!!

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei deste livro. Foi intrigante. Como é que estão ligados um afogamento acidental num lago, um assalto no aeroporto onde uma enorme quantia de dinheiro foi roubada e encontrar este dinheiro, quase 20 anos mais tarde, na cabana de um ministro que acabou de falecer?

Curioso, muito curioso🤔.

Gostei muito de Wisting. Aliás, sempre gostei muito dele. De quem nunca gostei foi da Line, a filha jornalista de Wisting mas, neste livro, até gostei. Adorei como a filha pequena de Line esteve sempre presente ao longo da história, mesmo quando a equipa estava reunida a trabalhar no caso.

Infelizmente, a minha concentração não tem andado muito bem e foi-me difícil, de cada vez que retomava a leitura, relembrar os personagens, quem era quem, até porque estes nomes escandinavos são difíceis. É um livro que merecia que o meu cérebro estivesse melhor🤪.

[Marialena {bookfoxy} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Μου άρεσε αρκετά. Είναι ένα βιβλίο που κρατάει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη καθώς οι τρεις υποθέσεις που εμπλέκονται δημιουργούν αρκετά ερωτήματα που οδηγούν σε θεωρίες.

Είχε δράση, αγωνία, ανατροπές, ότι ζητάω προσωπικά από ένα καλό αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα. Η γραφή μου άρεσε πολύ, απλή και κατανοητή, καθόλου φλύαρη και αρκετά στοχευμένη.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fabulous mystery by the author. While it was slower than my usual reads, it was more complex, so it required that. The characters were again, fabulous and well developed and I loved the involvement of Line in the investigation, working with Wisting and his team. 

[Sofiia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Сподобалась більше ніж попередня частина. Добре, що попереду ще багато книг! Дуже мені комфортно з паном Вістінгом.

[Vanessa Loockx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 *

[Mike Sumner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Cabin by Jørn Lier Horst, the second book in The Cold Case Quartet. I had previously read The Katharina Code, the first in the series, so had some idea what to expect. A lengthy, slow burner of Norwegian noir in which Chief Inspector William Wisting once again is called upon to investigate a cold case that goes back to 2003. It's been fifteen years since Simon Meier walked out of his house, never to be seen again. And just one day since politician Bernard Clausen was found dead at his cabin on the Norwegian coast. Is there a possible link here? Could both events be linked to a heist of foreign currency worth some 80 million kroner at today's values?

The story unfolds layer by layer as Wisting and his team, including his daughter Line, seek to unravel the complexities of these old events.

This is another superbly plotted tale with perfect characterisation and highly believable day-to-day details of police procedures.

[Rudolfina (czytacz.pl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

OPOWIEŚCI Z REPUBLIKI BANANOWEJ
Zawsze myślałam, że ostatnimi czasy Norwegia stoi cywilizacyjnie wyżej niż Polska. Tymczasem czytam historię, która niby dzieje się w Norwegii, ale powinna rozgrywać się w jakiejś republice bananowej.

Prokurator generalny zleca śledztwo szeregowemu policjantowi z pominięciem wszelakich procedur. W domu zmarłego nagle na zawał polityka zostają znalezione kartony, w których leżą sobie dolary, funty i euro o wartości, w przeliczeniu, około trzydziestu pięciu milionów (!!!) złotych. Prokurator nakazuje policjantowi: zrób pan z tym coś i dowiedz się skąd on to miał. Policjant zabiera więc paczki z forsą do własnego domu, w którym nie ma nawet zainstalowanego alarmu (zakłada potem; alarm instalują mu od ręki, w godzinę, co może jednak oznaczać, że moja wstępna refleksja o wyższości cywilizacyjnej Norwegii była skądinąd słuszna, chociaż skłaniam się ku tezie, że to tylko efekt nieposkromionej wyobraźni autora). Oczywiście, od razu wiem, dlaczego detektyw robi coś tak idiotycznego – żeby potem ktoś mu te pieniądze mógł ukraść (to nie spoiler, nawet ćwierćinteligent by to załapał, a czytelnicy kryminałów mają podobno inteligencję na poziomie przynajmniej średnim).

To moje pierwsze spotkanie z autorem, i znów, tak jak w przypadku Simona Becketta, trafiam na niewypał. Tym razem, na szczęście autor nie zdradza, co wydarzyło się w poprzednich odcinkach, ale już sam absurdalny punkt wyjścia nastawia mnie do niego mało przychylnie. Dalej akcja jakoś się toczy, ale w pewnym momencie okazuje się, że wszystko to, do czego ekipa doszła już na wstępie, potwierdza się. Nie ma żadnych zwrotów akcji (z wyjątkiem kradzieży, zaanonsowanej już na początku umieszczeniem forsy w idiotycznym miejscu), a zakończenie zupełnie mnie nie przekonuje. Detektyw nie przedstawia żadnego dowodu, że tak działo się naprawdę, muszę mu uwierzyć na słowo, a nie robię tego z zasady, bo autorom kryminałów nigdy nie ufam.

„Ukryty pokój” to dwunasta powieść z serii o detektywie Wistingu. Niestety, również w przypadku tego autora potwierdza się moja obserwacja, co do „wypalenia” uznanych twórców. Grisham, Krajewski, Pérez-Reverte, Beckett, Horst, Nesbø, Läckberg, Gerritsen mają swoje wierne grono fanów, którzy kupią każdą ich książkę, więc po co się wysilać. Nowych, niestety, w ten sposób nie zdobędą, a starzy mogą się znudzić.

Dlatego właśnie lubię czytać debiuty. Miło jest czasem wyłowić perełkę.
https://www.czytacz.pl/

[Geir Tangen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Om noen spør meg om å oppsummere norsk påskekrim med ett ord, så ville det vært Wisting! Serien som nå er sluppet på Viaplay er knallbra, og jeg har alltid syntes at bøkene til Horst har ropt på en påskekrimfilmatisering.

«Det innerste rommet» er hans sist utgitte roman om krimhelten fra Larvik. En typisk Wisting-krim ispedd en del nyere trender innen internasjonal spenningslitteratur. Cold-case momentet der gamle kriminalsaker får nytt liv er hjertelig til stede. Det samme er trekket med å dra små etterforskningsteam ut av den ordinære politikontor-pakka, for å gi dem mer frihet til å gå utenom vanlig protokoll. En ekstern etterforskningsgruppe satt sammen av vår krimhelt med andre ord. Adler-Olsen og Arne Dahl er to andre som har gjort dette i sine bøker. Vi ser også at Jørn i stadig større grad involverer Wistings familie og hverdagsliv i bøkene for å skape engasjement rundt flere momenter enn kriminalsaken alene.

Horst utrolige evne til å tenke ut mysterier som pirrer leseren er en av de viktigste faktorene til hans suksess. Jeg vet ikke om noen andre i Norge som har et tilsvarende talent for å komme opp med fascinerende krimgåter. De enslige føttene iført joggesko som flyter i land på strendene i «Bunnfall», og de døde fuglene som faller ned fra himmelen i «Vinterstengt» er bare to eksempler. I denne siste Wisting-romanen er mysteriet Hvordan 80 millioner i utenlandsk valuta har endt opp på hytta til en avdød AP-minister i. Dette er et nytt eksempel på denne egne evnen Horst har til å erte oss krimlesere. Dette er ikke noe vi krimforfattere bare hoster opp til frokost i tide og utide. Det er faktisk inn i granskauen vanskelig! Og så kommer det som er enda verre … Å gi leseren et svar på gåten til slutt som er troverdig, snedig, og skjult akkurat lenge nok til at leseren ikke klarer å løse det på egenhånd. Kall det gjerne kommersielt. Kall det gjerne overfladisk. Men, kom ikke her og kall det enkelt. For det er det ikke! Og Jørn Lier Horst er i en egen klasse når det kommer til slike løsninger.

[Judith van Wijk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Leuk deel weer en toch weer een heel ander verhaal dan de eerdere delen. Weet alleen niet of ik nou helemaal weet hoe alle linkjes waren. Ergens heb ik stukje "hoe" gemist geloof ik. Op naar het volgende deel in ieder geval.

[Wandaviolett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schreibweise ähnelt (leider) einem Polizeibericht.

Wisting, der Ermittler, wird von seiner normalen Arbeit abgezogen und muss einen Fall bearbeiten, bei dem das Versterben eines bekannten Politikers eine Rolle spielt. Eigentlich geht es nicht direkt um dessen Tod, sondern darum, was dieser in einer abgelegenen, recht noblen „Hütte“ auf dem Land, aufbewahrte. Man erfährt schnell, was das ist. Bleibt die Frage nach dem Warum, den Hintergründen und überhaupt ;-).

Der Fall ist im Prinzip unspektakulär und die Ermittler sind es auch. Ich mag normalerweise unaufgeregte Kriminalgeschichten, aber hier war mir zu viel Alltag. Dass Wisting eine Tochter hat, Line, die Journalistin ist und bei den Ermittlungen hilft, ist soweit noch in Ordnung. Es interessiert aber Null, wie häufig Amalie, die Enkelin, nicht schlafen kann, bei Wisting schläft, bespielt wird, vom Kindergarten abgeholt werden muss und wie oft man einen Löffel neben den Teller legt (und dergleichen). Auch wird pausenlos genickt oder umgeblättert oder whatsoever.

Letztlich ist aber vor allem die Schreibweise zu simpel, was dem Roman das Genick bricht. Ein Hauptsatz reiht sich an den anderen Hauptsatz, was dem ganzen Geschreibsel einen abgehackten Rhythmus gibt. Wir lesen jedoch keinen Polizeibericht, sondern einen Roman! Konjunktionen und Relativsätze müssten bei jemanden, der Autor sein will, geläufig sein. Sie sind das Motoröl des Romans.

Fazit: Ich konnte dem Fall und seiner Schreibweise, seiner Fülle für den Fall irrelevanter Details wenig abgewinnen. Das erste Buch mit Wisting als Ermittler hatte viel mehr von einer Charakterstudie an sich, diesmal ist alles stocknüchtern und leider auch ziemlich langweilig. Romane sollten außerdem keine Berichte sein.

Mit ganz viel Sympathie für den unblutigen Kriminalroman gibt es noch drei ganze Punkte.


Kategorie: Kriminalroman
Piperverlag, 2020

[Sid Nuncius · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am in a small minority, it seems, because I really couldn’t get on with The Cabin and eventually gave up before I finished it, which is a very rare thing for me.

The Cabin is a Norwegian police procedural and the first of the series that I have read (and the last, I suspect). A prominent politician dies and Wisting is sent to investigate what is left in the man’s holiday cabin, which leads to a dark, twisty story relating to some older cases. The trouble is that the storytelling just seemed plodding and tedious to me, with lots of detail which could have been interesting but read like a boring litany, some clumsily signalled Significant Events which the police don’t immediately spot even though it’s made pretty obvious to the reader, and so on – and the prose is lamentable in places. I don’t know how much of this is due to the author and how much to the translator, but the effect is pretty ghastly. In just the first few pages I picked out some terribly clunky writing like “’Let’s sit down,’ he said, gesturing with his hand,” some horribly stale usages like “This promised to be an investigation on a totally different level from what he was used to,” and some positively unforgivable, crashing clichés like “Amalie usually chattered nineteen to the dozen.”

It got no better and I’m afraid it became too much for me after a while. I’m very surprised to have such an unfavourable response to an author who was admired by Marcel Berlins and I am sorry to be so critical, but the truth is that I found The Cabin so poorly written that I couldn’t get through it.

(My thanks to Penguin for an ARC via NetGalley.)

[Aggeliki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ο φάκελος Κλάουζεν είναι χαρακτηριστικό δείγμα Νορβηγικής αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας. Που θα πει ότι στιγμές μου δίνει την αίσθηση κάπως φασόν ιστοριών με το αναμενόμενο φινάλε. Περίπου σαν να βλέπεις μια αστυνομική σειρά στο Netflix για να περάσει η βραδιά σου.
Εδώ ο θάνατος ενός επιφανούς πολιτικού γίνεται η αφορμή να ανοίξει ξανά μια ανεξιχνίαστη υπόθεση. Με τη δυναμική του αστυνομικού πατέρα και της δημοσιογράφου κόρης αλλά και και με τη συμβολή άλλων χαρακτήρων της αστυνομίας, πλέκεται μια ιστορία αργών ρυθμών στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της. Όλη η δράση έρχεται μαζεμένη, στα τελευταία κεφάλαια όπου ο ρόλος όλων των χαρακτήρων στις έρευνες καταλήγουν και στην προβλέψιμη λύση της υπόθεσης.
Με λίγα λόγια, ήταν καλό για χαλαρό διάβασμα παρέα με μια κούπα καφέ.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Michael Joseph for a review copy of The Cabin, the second novel in a quartet of cold case investigations to feature Norwegian detective William Wisting.

When politician Bernhardt Clausen dies something strange is found in his summer cabin. Wisting is asked to undertake a confidential investigation into this find but soon finds himself widening his investigation when he finds links to the fifteen year old disappearance of local man Simon Meier.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cabin which has an interesting and unusual premise and a detailed, logical plot. The novel is told mostly from Wisting and his daughter Line’s points of views but as she’s been co-opted in to the investigation this divided approach is not distracting but rather gives the reader a wider perspective of events. It works well. I have been reading this series ever since I picked up Dregs to try and I love the matter of fact tone and the solid, almost mesmerising, building of the case. I think you would be hard pushed to find a better police procedural series.

This is not a high octane thriller but a slow burning, methodical accumulation of facts and evidence that I find fascinating and engrossing. It starts with one unusual event and quickly widens into something much bigger with each avenue of investigation playing its part in developing the story of an old crime and its ramifications. It’s clever, detailed and obviously involved a lot of planning.

With such a detailed plot characterisation isn’t such a high priority. Wisting is drawn in the old fashioned way, more a catalyst in the investigation than a character. He is a fond father and grandfather and a smart, logical detective but that’s about all there is to say about him. Line Wisting is the strong character as a freelance journalist and single mother. She has more worries and issues.

The Cabin is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Daniela Guimarães · Rating 2 out of 5]

Antes de The Cabin, já, por várias vezes, me havia cruzado com o nome de Jørn Lier Horst, autor norueguês e ex-polícia, vencedor de alguns prémios literários relevantes, dentro do género thriller/nordic noir. Por essa razão, foi com grande expectativa que iniciei a leitura de The Cabin, o décimo-terceiro livro de uma coleção protagonizada por um detective chamado Wisting.

Wisting, o tal protagonista, é chamado por uma alta figura norueguesa - o equivalente ao nosso PGR - que o incumbe de uma investigação importante e secreta. Dias antes, o polémico ex-Ministro da Saúde, Bernhard Clausen, morreu de causas naturais. A sua secretária, tratando de todas as diligências consequentes, acabou por encontrar na cabana de férias de Bernhard, uma absurda quantia de dinheiro. Quantia essa cuja proveniência impõe conhecer. De alguma forma, vem Wisting a saber, o referido dinheiro está relacionado com o desaparecimento, anos antes, do jovem Simon Meier.

Acredito que lendo a premissa acima exposta, alguns de vocês ficarão tão interessados no livro, como eu. É original, diferente e não parece envolver os habituais clichês do género (diga-se crianças/lolitas mortas e/ou sexo). O problema, para mim, foi que a premissa acabou por se consubstanciar numa história lenta, demasiado detalhada e com pouquíssimas reviravoltas (ingrediente essencial, para mim, no género). Em momento algum, senti tensão, choque ou angústia. Acabou por ser um livro neutro que ofereceu pouca originalidade. Ao fim de poucos capítulos, já adivinhava o desenlace sendo que as personagens não tinham nada de cativante ou, sequer, complexo. Um livro que esquecerei, provavelmente, amanhã.

[Φίλιππος ²³ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*
7/10

[Helin Puksand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raamatud politseinik Wistingust on ikka põnevad. Selles loos hakkab Wisting uurima ootamatult välja ilmunud raha lugu. Ta kaasab uurimisrühma ka oma tütre, kuigi seab sellega tütre ohtu. Muidugi, Line ise soovib ka ise olla kaasatud. Segase looga on seotud kaks varasemat juhtmit, mis muidugi lõpuks ka Line abiga lahenduse leiavad.