What do you think?
Rate this book
Naia Thulin #1
Octobre
Début octobre, dans la banlieue de Copenhague, la police découvre le cadavre d'une femme amputée d'une main. A côté du corps, un petit bonhomme fabriqué à partir de marrons et d'allumettes. Chargés de l'enquête, la jeune inspectrice Naia Thulin et l'inspecteur Mark Hess découvrent vite que cette figurine est porteuse de mystérieuses empreintes : celles de la fille de Rosa Hartung, ministre des Affaires sociales, enlevée un an plus tôt et présumée morte.
Thulin et Hess explorent toutes les pistes qui leur révéleraient un lien entre la disparition de la fille de la ministre et la victime à la main coupée. Lorsqu'une autre femme est tuée, selon le même mode opératoire, ils comprennent que le cauchemar ne fait que commencer...
Thulin et Hess explorent toutes les pistes qui leur révéleraient un lien entre la disparition de la fille de la ministre et la victime à la main coupée. Lorsqu'une autre femme est tuée, selon le même mode opératoire, ils comprennent que le cauchemar ne fait que commencer...
736 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
4860 people are currently reading
82079 people want to read
About the author
Søren Sveistrup
12 books1,902 followersSøren Sveistrup is an internationally acclaimed scriptwriter of the Danish television phenomenon The Killing which won various international awards and sold in more than a hundred countries. More recently, Sveistrup wrote the screenplay for Jo Nesbø's The Snowman.
Sveistrup obtained a Master in Literature and in History from the University of Copenhagen and studied at the Danish Film School. He has won countless prizes, including an Emmy for Nikolaj and Julie and a BAFTA for The Killing.
Sveistrup obtained a Master in Literature and in History from the University of Copenhagen and studied at the Danish Film School. He has won countless prizes, including an Emmy for Nikolaj and Julie and a BAFTA for The Killing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,277 reviews
November 30, 2025
When the weather turns cold and the days dark, is there anything more satisfying than cozying up with a dark crime thriller? I think not.
A serial killer is loose on the streets of Copenhagen. In addition to the brutally mutilated victims, the killer also leaves behind his calling card, a little figurine made of chestnuts and matchsticks. Even more baffling, a clue from each scene seems to point to another unrelated and already solved crime. The police must stop the killer before he claims any more victims. But how do you stop someone that's always one step ahead?
This story contains all the hallmarks of a terrific Scandinavian noir. The crimes are gruesome, the detectives are all flawed, and the setting is dark and gloomy. It could not be more quintessential of the genre.
Diving in, I did find the beginning a little bit slow. A good number of characters are introduced initially, and I had some trouble remembering them all. But once I got over that hump and everything started to come together, I couldn't put it down. It's one of those substantial stories you can just sink your teeth into and not surface for hours.
If there's one small annoyance, it's that most of the detectives in here are awfully whinny about having to do their jobs. Any time facts had to be rechecked or previously unsolved items had to be revisited, there would inevitably be a chorus of whys and whatever for's. And since that didn't add anything to the story, I'm not sure why it was even included (unless it's a part of the heretofore mentioned hallmarks of a Scandinavian noir I'm not aware of).
Still, minor quibbles aside, I found this to be thoroughly entertaining. I had great fun following along with the twists and turns, and the big reveal was worth the buildup. Even though this story is on the longer side, I found it riveting once I got into it. It was the perfect book to get lost in on a dreary day, wrapped up in a cozy blanket with a hot cup of tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
A serial killer is loose on the streets of Copenhagen. In addition to the brutally mutilated victims, the killer also leaves behind his calling card, a little figurine made of chestnuts and matchsticks. Even more baffling, a clue from each scene seems to point to another unrelated and already solved crime. The police must stop the killer before he claims any more victims. But how do you stop someone that's always one step ahead?
This story contains all the hallmarks of a terrific Scandinavian noir. The crimes are gruesome, the detectives are all flawed, and the setting is dark and gloomy. It could not be more quintessential of the genre.
Diving in, I did find the beginning a little bit slow. A good number of characters are introduced initially, and I had some trouble remembering them all. But once I got over that hump and everything started to come together, I couldn't put it down. It's one of those substantial stories you can just sink your teeth into and not surface for hours.
If there's one small annoyance, it's that most of the detectives in here are awfully whinny about having to do their jobs. Any time facts had to be rechecked or previously unsolved items had to be revisited, there would inevitably be a chorus of whys and whatever for's. And since that didn't add anything to the story, I'm not sure why it was even included (unless it's a part of the heretofore mentioned hallmarks of a Scandinavian noir I'm not aware of).
Still, minor quibbles aside, I found this to be thoroughly entertaining. I had great fun following along with the twists and turns, and the big reveal was worth the buildup. Even though this story is on the longer side, I found it riveting once I got into it. It was the perfect book to get lost in on a dreary day, wrapped up in a cozy blanket with a hot cup of tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
April 15, 2022
Whoop whoop! Today Chestnut Man’s adaptation into series just released on Netflix! I just watched a few scenes and they seemed outstandingly promising! 🥳📚
I was sooooo ready to give five Danish, thrilling, chilling, darkest, mind numbing stars to this book as a die-hard fan of Danish series “Forbrydelsen” (American version is “Killing” but in my opinion Danish version beats the hell of US version because of the atmosphere, sensational, smart, darker crime thriller elements and far better casting performances: I always prefer Sarah Lund over Sarah Linden!)
But now I’m barely rounding up 3.5 to 4 stars just because of the impressive, riveting, exciting beginning. The reasons to cut the points:
- Longevity: There were too many detailed, long, never ending descriptions slow the pace and you wanted to skip the details and try to find the real action hid in the long sentences. If the author may reduce at least 100 pages and cut some extra details about all the characters’ background stories, it could be helpful for us to get the juicy, thrilling and witty parts of the story that hooked me up at the first chapters.
- RESEMBLANCE with “Forbrydelsen”: Thulin is between Girl in the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth with her technological skills, high intelligence and Killing’s Sarah Lund with her independent, work-oriented, serious, detailed, tough manners (she tries to raise her child by herself. As a difference from Sarah, she has a girl who forms a quick relationship with her new troubled colleague)
Unlike Stephen Holder( thanks to US version series introduced us Joel Kinnaman, now he is in every show including Hanna, For All Mankind, Altered Carbon) / or Lennart Brix (Danish character), Hess, stronger and more complex, introvert hero, has troubled past, his new position is a test and last chance for him to prove his ability to work on a case, being a part of a team. He is not a drug addict or divorced like Lennart/Stephen but his past demons and a heart wrenching tragedy he’d endured justifies his changing moods and antisocial manners.
A SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTWRITER ALWAYS GIVES HIMSELF AWAY: I felt like I didn’t read chapters of book, I read 130 scenes of a screenplay. Some character descriptions, detailed background stories and their motives were written like character analysis. It was good to imagine each chapter as fast pacing, moving scenes of an action/ crime thriller movie. It worked for me as I start to read like that and I imagined Rosamund Pike and Tom Hardy as my casting choices! (Sorry no American actors came to my mind. I think British talents already invaded Hollywood!)
But I still liked the writing, dark, stunning, captivating atmosphere, gruesome, stomach lurching, violent murders that we used to from the other Scandinavian novels. The main reason connects the murders is child abuse/neglect/abandonment. The killer acts like a savior of those harmed, wounded little children!
I wish I could see more parts of Thulin and Hess come together, getting rid of the hostility and disconnection weaken their performances to organize as colleagues and friends, taking out their boxing gloves and settling their differences. I wanted to see them work as a real team, more love-hate relationship. But they didn’t team up till the end and they continue their own personal investigations, they didn’t share much about their findings which put them more dangerous situations. But I think a sequel is coming and at the next book we’re gonna see more connection and bounding relationship between them.
As a result, after omitting few pages, this is still a great story with remarkable characterization and dark, stunning, heart throbbing, agitating, horrifying but also creatively dark and scary themes make this one of the good examples of the genre. So if the author decides to write a sequel or adapt it to the TV, I happily read and watch it! I’m a big fan of his previous works and I am enthusiastic and excited to read more crime stories he will create in near future.
blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
I was sooooo ready to give five Danish, thrilling, chilling, darkest, mind numbing stars to this book as a die-hard fan of Danish series “Forbrydelsen” (American version is “Killing” but in my opinion Danish version beats the hell of US version because of the atmosphere, sensational, smart, darker crime thriller elements and far better casting performances: I always prefer Sarah Lund over Sarah Linden!)
But now I’m barely rounding up 3.5 to 4 stars just because of the impressive, riveting, exciting beginning. The reasons to cut the points:
- Longevity: There were too many detailed, long, never ending descriptions slow the pace and you wanted to skip the details and try to find the real action hid in the long sentences. If the author may reduce at least 100 pages and cut some extra details about all the characters’ background stories, it could be helpful for us to get the juicy, thrilling and witty parts of the story that hooked me up at the first chapters.
- RESEMBLANCE with “Forbrydelsen”: Thulin is between Girl in the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth with her technological skills, high intelligence and Killing’s Sarah Lund with her independent, work-oriented, serious, detailed, tough manners (she tries to raise her child by herself. As a difference from Sarah, she has a girl who forms a quick relationship with her new troubled colleague)
Unlike Stephen Holder( thanks to US version series introduced us Joel Kinnaman, now he is in every show including Hanna, For All Mankind, Altered Carbon) / or Lennart Brix (Danish character), Hess, stronger and more complex, introvert hero, has troubled past, his new position is a test and last chance for him to prove his ability to work on a case, being a part of a team. He is not a drug addict or divorced like Lennart/Stephen but his past demons and a heart wrenching tragedy he’d endured justifies his changing moods and antisocial manners.
A SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTWRITER ALWAYS GIVES HIMSELF AWAY: I felt like I didn’t read chapters of book, I read 130 scenes of a screenplay. Some character descriptions, detailed background stories and their motives were written like character analysis. It was good to imagine each chapter as fast pacing, moving scenes of an action/ crime thriller movie. It worked for me as I start to read like that and I imagined Rosamund Pike and Tom Hardy as my casting choices! (Sorry no American actors came to my mind. I think British talents already invaded Hollywood!)
But I still liked the writing, dark, stunning, captivating atmosphere, gruesome, stomach lurching, violent murders that we used to from the other Scandinavian novels. The main reason connects the murders is child abuse/neglect/abandonment. The killer acts like a savior of those harmed, wounded little children!
I wish I could see more parts of Thulin and Hess come together, getting rid of the hostility and disconnection weaken their performances to organize as colleagues and friends, taking out their boxing gloves and settling their differences. I wanted to see them work as a real team, more love-hate relationship. But they didn’t team up till the end and they continue their own personal investigations, they didn’t share much about their findings which put them more dangerous situations. But I think a sequel is coming and at the next book we’re gonna see more connection and bounding relationship between them.
As a result, after omitting few pages, this is still a great story with remarkable characterization and dark, stunning, heart throbbing, agitating, horrifying but also creatively dark and scary themes make this one of the good examples of the genre. So if the author decides to write a sequel or adapt it to the TV, I happily read and watch it! I’m a big fan of his previous works and I am enthusiastic and excited to read more crime stories he will create in near future.
blog
July 6, 2025
If you find one, he's already found you.
A psychopath with a distinctive calling card is terrorizing Copenhagen in this tense, debut Crime Thriller from Soren Sveistrup.
The Chestnut Man is a brutally fast-paced read. For real. I needed a nap when I finished!!
Women are disappearing. When their battered and mutilated bodies are discovered, a chestnut man, a type of handmade doll, is always located at the grisly crime scenes.
Made of matchsticks and two chestnuts, the little dolls come to be thought of as the killer's signature, but what could it mean?
When forensic evidence connects the chestnut men, via a fingerprint, to the missing daughter of a government minister, things really begin to heat up.
How could these crimes possibly be related?
Detectives, Thulin and Hess, team up to try to solve the mystery and prevent another woman from falling victim to the vicious Chestnut Man.
For a 500+ page novel, this book reads extremely quickly. The chapters are super short, keeping the narrative flowing at a feverish pace.
I found Sveistrup's writing to be extremely engaging. It was smart, with twists, turns and red herrings around every corner. As I raced towards the conclusion, I loved how the case pieced itself together.
Thulin and Hess were both believable and compelling. I would love to read further mysteries with them at the helm.
From the very first pages, Sveistrup sets a grisly tone, which I love. Additionally, the intensity of the story never lets up. There was not one moment where it felt like the story wasn't accelerating.
I was so impressed with that. The execution of the plot is brilliant. I could've used a little bit more development of Hess and Thulin's characters, which is why I am really hoping for a second book featuring these two detectives.
I highly recommend this impressive piece of Nordic Noir!!
You better clear your schedule though if you plan to pick it up, because once you start, you won't want to put it down!
A psychopath with a distinctive calling card is terrorizing Copenhagen in this tense, debut Crime Thriller from Soren Sveistrup.
The Chestnut Man is a brutally fast-paced read. For real. I needed a nap when I finished!!
Women are disappearing. When their battered and mutilated bodies are discovered, a chestnut man, a type of handmade doll, is always located at the grisly crime scenes.
Made of matchsticks and two chestnuts, the little dolls come to be thought of as the killer's signature, but what could it mean?
When forensic evidence connects the chestnut men, via a fingerprint, to the missing daughter of a government minister, things really begin to heat up.
How could these crimes possibly be related?
Detectives, Thulin and Hess, team up to try to solve the mystery and prevent another woman from falling victim to the vicious Chestnut Man.
For a 500+ page novel, this book reads extremely quickly. The chapters are super short, keeping the narrative flowing at a feverish pace.
I found Sveistrup's writing to be extremely engaging. It was smart, with twists, turns and red herrings around every corner. As I raced towards the conclusion, I loved how the case pieced itself together.
Thulin and Hess were both believable and compelling. I would love to read further mysteries with them at the helm.
From the very first pages, Sveistrup sets a grisly tone, which I love. Additionally, the intensity of the story never lets up. There was not one moment where it felt like the story wasn't accelerating.
I was so impressed with that. The execution of the plot is brilliant. I could've used a little bit more development of Hess and Thulin's characters, which is why I am really hoping for a second book featuring these two detectives.
I highly recommend this impressive piece of Nordic Noir!!
You better clear your schedule though if you plan to pick it up, because once you start, you won't want to put it down!
November 6, 2021
I'm a big fan of police procedurals and this book hit the spot for me. It is very gory and graphic though so keep that in mind if you decide to read the book. It's also very atmospheric, with the dark, wet, dreary, cold climate of Copenhagen setting the stage for a serial killer. The story begins thirty years ago when a farm family is brutally slaughtered, along with a soon to retire detective, who stopped at the farm to investigate complaints of wandering farm animals.
The book than moves to the present day female homicide detective Thulin having to work with young but seasoned detective Hess, who has been kicked back to her agency for disciplinary reasons. Hess seems to have a very big case of "don't care" and just wants back to his normal job of working international crimes while Thulin is hoping to move to a new job dealing with cybercrime. But first they have to solve the death of a woman who has been brutally murdered after being tortured. But before they can solve that crime, there is another murder and they realize that the killer has an agenda that includes killing more women.
Both detectives have dark pasts although we don't get to know the entire story about either one of them. I'm hoping that there is another book about these two down the line because I want to know more about them. The work they do is very methodical and even tedious, such a mix of horror and brutality, intertersperced with countless red herrings within the story, via the killer, but also from the author. Just when you think you have a handle on things, everything goes lopsided. There is a sense of the need for things to be solved now, before more women are killed, mixed in with a sense of the tedium of such a job.
A friend of mine told me about The Killing, an Amazon Prime series that has this author as the scriptwriter and now I'm busy watching the series. The Chestnut Man would make a good program, too.
Published September 3rd 2019
Thank you to Harper/Harper Collins and Edelweiss for this ARC.
The book than moves to the present day female homicide detective Thulin having to work with young but seasoned detective Hess, who has been kicked back to her agency for disciplinary reasons. Hess seems to have a very big case of "don't care" and just wants back to his normal job of working international crimes while Thulin is hoping to move to a new job dealing with cybercrime. But first they have to solve the death of a woman who has been brutally murdered after being tortured. But before they can solve that crime, there is another murder and they realize that the killer has an agenda that includes killing more women.
Both detectives have dark pasts although we don't get to know the entire story about either one of them. I'm hoping that there is another book about these two down the line because I want to know more about them. The work they do is very methodical and even tedious, such a mix of horror and brutality, intertersperced with countless red herrings within the story, via the killer, but also from the author. Just when you think you have a handle on things, everything goes lopsided. There is a sense of the need for things to be solved now, before more women are killed, mixed in with a sense of the tedium of such a job.
A friend of mine told me about The Killing, an Amazon Prime series that has this author as the scriptwriter and now I'm busy watching the series. The Chestnut Man would make a good program, too.
Published September 3rd 2019
Thank you to Harper/Harper Collins and Edelweiss for this ARC.
May 19, 2019
Omg! I had to get this because I loved the show "The Killing" (need to read those books) LOOK AT THE STAINED EDGES & it's signed and numbered!
This book was pretty awesome and freaky!!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
This book was pretty awesome and freaky!!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
May 14, 2019
A grizzly debut that will NOT having you dreaming of chestnuts roasting on an open fire anytime soon. I'd rather have Jack frost nipping at my nose instead thank you very much! This debut novel details a police investigation into the murders of mothers who have had various allegations of neglect and abuse filed against them. The murders are violent and gruesome. He likes to take a hand here, a foot there...but he is a giver also - his gift or calling card, if you will, is a chestnut man made out (you guessed it!) chestnuts and match sticks. Interesting choice of calling card but this is an interesting case. What makes this even more interesting that there is a fingerprint on the chestnut men left behind - the fingerprint of a young girl who went missing a year ago. She is presumed dead, but her parents are given hope when her print if found on the chestnut men.
This had a few twists and turns, and things all do come together in the end. I didn't figure this one out which was nice. I liked to be surprised. In the end it all made sense and had me looking back wondering if I might have missed some clues. The only thing that would have made this book better for me was more of the killer. I would have loved to hear that POV without giving the identity away.
Not for the faint at heart but if you are a fan of Scandinavian fiction or the television show the Killing, this one is for you. There are some gruesome scenes, but they are not gratuitous. They serve a purpose - to show just how sick and damaged the killer is.
I look forward to more books by this author.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
This had a few twists and turns, and things all do come together in the end. I didn't figure this one out which was nice. I liked to be surprised. In the end it all made sense and had me looking back wondering if I might have missed some clues. The only thing that would have made this book better for me was more of the killer. I would have loved to hear that POV without giving the identity away.
Not for the faint at heart but if you are a fan of Scandinavian fiction or the television show the Killing, this one is for you. There are some gruesome scenes, but they are not gratuitous. They serve a purpose - to show just how sick and damaged the killer is.
I look forward to more books by this author.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 6, 2020
Liked this book it held my attention throughout. It didn’t really grab, though until about a hundred pages in. I think it was the structure, the quick short chapters that helped to move the story long at a fast clip. This prevented me from dropping into the “Fictive Dream,” which is important to for me to enjoy the book. There are also multiple points of view. Once I settled into the style and format I did enjoy the book a great deal. Because of the structure, multiple points of view, the short chapters/scenes, it had a cinematic feel. The book should easily convert to the movies. There were times I wished there wasn’t so much narrative and more scene. I do recommend this book to mystery readers.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series.
October 20, 2025
5/5 ⭐
I don't know if I've ever admitted this before but I am a fan of Scandinavian crime books and Stieg Larsson is probably to blame. And The Chestnut Man vibes with Larsson's books perfectly. Of course I had to like this. amirite?
This book is dark and cold and terrible and it managed to disgust me at some point so much that I had to put it down, pace around the bookstore I work in to calm down and then pick it up again.
There aren't many things that can make my skin crawl, but this one had them all. So of course I got disgusted and revolted. So of course I had to give it 5 stars. I still can't bleach the information I read there away from my brain. But hey, still. 5 stars go to this.
To be clear, it disgusted me and revolted me, but I wasn't personally offended by it because the story was rich and really well narrated, with little details and hints spread all over the narrative. The characters seemed to be constructed in the perfect style good crime novels must have and they just fit into the action really well. They sounded exactly like the stories we hear about Scandinavian people: they are laid back in a cold, distant way. They enjoy simple, even boring things. They're somehow detached and calculated, even though they're not soulless, robotic beings.
This book however should come with some trigger warnings, it's most definitely gruesome, heavy and not for the faint of heart. I mean you'll even get chapters where the POV changes from the main characters' stories to the next victims' of the Chestnut Man stories. And, truth be told, it's kind of scary to see the world through the eyes of a victim and be able to do nothing at all about it.
I personally think this is one of the best crime books I've ever read and even though it's quite messed up, it's smart and ingenious, and if you're not really used to crime books then the plot twists in this one will blow your mind most definitely.
Also, this has been recommended to me by my friend and ex-co-worker and I'd like to give her special thanks because it was, indeed, a really really good read. Especially if you like messed up crime stories like I do (gives off Jigsaw vibes from time to time, not gonna lie).
I don't know if I've ever admitted this before but I am a fan of Scandinavian crime books and Stieg Larsson is probably to blame. And The Chestnut Man vibes with Larsson's books perfectly. Of course I had to like this. amirite?
This book is dark and cold and terrible and it managed to disgust me at some point so much that I had to put it down, pace around the bookstore I work in to calm down and then pick it up again.
There aren't many things that can make my skin crawl, but this one had them all. So of course I got disgusted and revolted. So of course I had to give it 5 stars. I still can't bleach the information I read there away from my brain. But hey, still. 5 stars go to this.
To be clear, it disgusted me and revolted me, but I wasn't personally offended by it because the story was rich and really well narrated, with little details and hints spread all over the narrative. The characters seemed to be constructed in the perfect style good crime novels must have and they just fit into the action really well. They sounded exactly like the stories we hear about Scandinavian people: they are laid back in a cold, distant way. They enjoy simple, even boring things. They're somehow detached and calculated, even though they're not soulless, robotic beings.
This book however should come with some trigger warnings, it's most definitely gruesome, heavy and not for the faint of heart. I mean you'll even get chapters where the POV changes from the main characters' stories to the next victims' of the Chestnut Man stories. And, truth be told, it's kind of scary to see the world through the eyes of a victim and be able to do nothing at all about it.
I personally think this is one of the best crime books I've ever read and even though it's quite messed up, it's smart and ingenious, and if you're not really used to crime books then the plot twists in this one will blow your mind most definitely.
Also, this has been recommended to me by my friend and ex-co-worker and I'd like to give her special thanks because it was, indeed, a really really good read. Especially if you like messed up crime stories like I do (gives off Jigsaw vibes from time to time, not gonna lie).
October 27, 2019
3.5 stars
A promising start, but a ways to go!
The Chestnut Man is a psychological thriller about a serial killer out for revenge.
Little chestnut men are discovered at the crime scenes of gruesome murders. A 12-year-old girl who has been missing for a year, and presumed dead, has a link to the little dolls. Two detectives are brought in to find "The Chestnut Man," a serial killer who has been eluding the police for years. Putting the puzzle together proves dangerous, as the killer is one step ahead. Will they be able to stop a deranged killer or will they be the next victims of "The Chestnut Man?"
The bad: It took me over a week to read The Chestnut Man, which is a very long time for me. There were times when I was completely immersed in the story and other times where I was able to put this down. I am a huge fan of the Nordic Noir genre and I felt like parts of this plot had been borrowed from other books/authors I have read. The author is the writer of the T.V. show The Killing, and parts of this book read like they are meant to play out on the small screen--this book could have used a good edit. The writing was choppy (this might be due to the translation), and other parts felt like they were inserted to drag the plot out. In the end, everything came together just a little too neatly and happily--I can envision this book being played out on as a television series, with even the last bit is thrown in for the end to add a second season.
Onto the good: The two main detectives were cardboard-like in the beginning, but towards the end, they finally developed some life. They grew on me and I wouldn’t mind seeing them again in another book. While the plot was formulaic, I was still interested in reading it and seeing events play out.
The verdict: While this wasn’t the amazing Nordic Noir thriller I was hoping for, I found it to be a decent read with a lot of potential. It was rough in the beginning, but The Chestnut Man grew on me in the end.
A promising start, but a ways to go!
The Chestnut Man is a psychological thriller about a serial killer out for revenge.
Little chestnut men are discovered at the crime scenes of gruesome murders. A 12-year-old girl who has been missing for a year, and presumed dead, has a link to the little dolls. Two detectives are brought in to find "The Chestnut Man," a serial killer who has been eluding the police for years. Putting the puzzle together proves dangerous, as the killer is one step ahead. Will they be able to stop a deranged killer or will they be the next victims of "The Chestnut Man?"
The bad: It took me over a week to read The Chestnut Man, which is a very long time for me. There were times when I was completely immersed in the story and other times where I was able to put this down. I am a huge fan of the Nordic Noir genre and I felt like parts of this plot had been borrowed from other books/authors I have read. The author is the writer of the T.V. show The Killing, and parts of this book read like they are meant to play out on the small screen--this book could have used a good edit. The writing was choppy (this might be due to the translation), and other parts felt like they were inserted to drag the plot out. In the end, everything came together just a little too neatly and happily--I can envision this book being played out on as a television series, with even the last bit is thrown in for the end to add a second season.
Onto the good: The two main detectives were cardboard-like in the beginning, but towards the end, they finally developed some life. They grew on me and I wouldn’t mind seeing them again in another book. While the plot was formulaic, I was still interested in reading it and seeing events play out.
The verdict: While this wasn’t the amazing Nordic Noir thriller I was hoping for, I found it to be a decent read with a lot of potential. It was rough in the beginning, but The Chestnut Man grew on me in the end.
December 19, 2018
Soren Sveistrup is the man behind the runaway successful Danish TV series, The Killing, he has now turned his attention to writing his first Scandi-Noir novel set in Copenhagen. The Chestnut Man carries trademark elements of The Killing, it is part police procedural, part psychological thriller, incorporating politicians whilst giving us social realism in its portrayals and insights into the lives of its diverse range of characters that inhabit the story. It is dark, bleak, and brutal with a serial killer running rampant in the present day. Naia Thulin is a detective in Homicide's Murder Squad led by Nylander, feeling that her workload has barely challenged her abilities, she wants more and has plans to transfer to NC3 (National Cyber Crime Centre). She is a single mother, with a daughter Le. Mark Hess has been pushed out of Europol after issues, and lands in the Murder Squad, not wanting to be there, with every intention of being reinstated in Europol as soon as possible. He is partnered with Thulin, who quickly judges him to be a man that will be of little use, with a reputation for not being much of a detective.
The detectives find themselves on a brutal murder scene where a 37 year old mother, Laura Kjaer, has been horrifically killed with her amputated hand missing, and left at the scene is a chestnut man. A still grieving Rosa Hartung is returning to her post as politician and Minister for Social Affairs in the government after the disappearance of her 12 year old daughter, Kristine, a year ago. Linus Bekker confessed to and is sectioned in a psychiatric facility for her murder, although his memory of the act was poor but evidence suggests the conviction is secure. Rosa is plunged into fresh turmoil when fingerprints on the chestnut man at the murder scene are identified as being that of Kristine. Additionally, Rosa is receiving disturbing death threats. As further murders occur with a similar MO of mothers with children with the signature chestnut men with Kristine's fingerprints, the police struggle to find any leads whilst the serial killer runs rings around them. Hess and Thulin are ordered to ignore the Hartrup connection, despite the fact it seems to be critical to the investigation.
Sveistrup gives us compelling crime fiction with a fascinating partnership between Thulin with her eyes on a future out of the murder squad, and Hess, with a traumatised past with little interest initially in the case. One of the highlights of the novel is the development of their characters and their relationship from such poor initial beginnings. Hess becomes a man obsessed to the point of falling apart, determined to get to the bottom of the heinous murders being committed. None of the Murder Squad are accepting of him and the boss has lined him up as the fall guy as the pressure intensifies on the police. It takes time for Thulin to see Hess as a dedicated and effective detective that challenges the perceptions of the case, dogged in his determination to find the killer and willing to enter forbidden territory, convinced the case is rooted in the past and that Rosa Hartung is central to it. This is a crime thriller that will appeal to fans of Scandi-Noir, a genre defined by its darkness and harrowing murders. Sveistrup has succeeded in making a brilliant chilling debut, compulsive and gripping reading, packed with suspense and tension, and with great characterisation. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
The detectives find themselves on a brutal murder scene where a 37 year old mother, Laura Kjaer, has been horrifically killed with her amputated hand missing, and left at the scene is a chestnut man. A still grieving Rosa Hartung is returning to her post as politician and Minister for Social Affairs in the government after the disappearance of her 12 year old daughter, Kristine, a year ago. Linus Bekker confessed to and is sectioned in a psychiatric facility for her murder, although his memory of the act was poor but evidence suggests the conviction is secure. Rosa is plunged into fresh turmoil when fingerprints on the chestnut man at the murder scene are identified as being that of Kristine. Additionally, Rosa is receiving disturbing death threats. As further murders occur with a similar MO of mothers with children with the signature chestnut men with Kristine's fingerprints, the police struggle to find any leads whilst the serial killer runs rings around them. Hess and Thulin are ordered to ignore the Hartrup connection, despite the fact it seems to be critical to the investigation.
Sveistrup gives us compelling crime fiction with a fascinating partnership between Thulin with her eyes on a future out of the murder squad, and Hess, with a traumatised past with little interest initially in the case. One of the highlights of the novel is the development of their characters and their relationship from such poor initial beginnings. Hess becomes a man obsessed to the point of falling apart, determined to get to the bottom of the heinous murders being committed. None of the Murder Squad are accepting of him and the boss has lined him up as the fall guy as the pressure intensifies on the police. It takes time for Thulin to see Hess as a dedicated and effective detective that challenges the perceptions of the case, dogged in his determination to find the killer and willing to enter forbidden territory, convinced the case is rooted in the past and that Rosa Hartung is central to it. This is a crime thriller that will appeal to fans of Scandi-Noir, a genre defined by its darkness and harrowing murders. Sveistrup has succeeded in making a brilliant chilling debut, compulsive and gripping reading, packed with suspense and tension, and with great characterisation. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
October 7, 2019
Whoa...this book was so dark, brutal, gory...fantastic...
I have been wanting to get ahold of this book for a loooong time. I finally got lucky enough to get a copy. I must admit I was a bit intimidated when I discovered it was over 500 pages and that it was a police procedural. Trust me, none of that matters. The chapters were short and I flew through them. I found the tension building as I raced through them. I am not a fan of police procedurals but this had such a intriguing blurb that I had to dig in and yes it was addictive.
The crimes are not for the faint of heart. I found myself almost wanting to cover my eyes and peek at the pages, it was that gory. Yet what did I expect? This is a flipping serial killer that is into some weird games. He leaves his calling card at each scene...a handmade chestnut man. Yet the tiny chestnut dudes all have something in common. They all have the fingerprints of a victim that has been thought to be dead for a good year. Hmmm...is she alive or did she make these before she was brutally murdered?
I was all over the place with my suspicions as to whom might be "the chestnut man" as the killer was justly named by the media. We follow along with the team of detectives and they were just as much in the dark as I was as to who this twisted psychopath was.
I loved the ending and dare I say I predict there may be a sequel? Do I dare say the author left an opening for yet another twisted book? I really thought this was going to be just "too much for me" when I started it. Yet, it was like a bad accident, I just could not look away. I got caught up in the story and I had to know.........who is the chestnut man?
I have been wanting to get ahold of this book for a loooong time. I finally got lucky enough to get a copy. I must admit I was a bit intimidated when I discovered it was over 500 pages and that it was a police procedural. Trust me, none of that matters. The chapters were short and I flew through them. I found the tension building as I raced through them. I am not a fan of police procedurals but this had such a intriguing blurb that I had to dig in and yes it was addictive.
The crimes are not for the faint of heart. I found myself almost wanting to cover my eyes and peek at the pages, it was that gory. Yet what did I expect? This is a flipping serial killer that is into some weird games. He leaves his calling card at each scene...a handmade chestnut man. Yet the tiny chestnut dudes all have something in common. They all have the fingerprints of a victim that has been thought to be dead for a good year. Hmmm...is she alive or did she make these before she was brutally murdered?
I was all over the place with my suspicions as to whom might be "the chestnut man" as the killer was justly named by the media. We follow along with the team of detectives and they were just as much in the dark as I was as to who this twisted psychopath was.
I loved the ending and dare I say I predict there may be a sequel? Do I dare say the author left an opening for yet another twisted book? I really thought this was going to be just "too much for me" when I started it. Yet, it was like a bad accident, I just could not look away. I got caught up in the story and I had to know.........who is the chestnut man?
December 31, 2021
Thaulin and Hess are to clear some uncanny cases of murder. Several women are mutilated. It's about child neglect, sent in anonymously to the authorities. How is a prominent Danish minister Rosa Hartung involved in those murder mysteries? What about the kidnapping of her own daughter Kristine? Why is the past of some characters connected to that incredible series of murder? Definitely the highlight of the year. Extremely compelling and eerie page turner you can't turn down. If you liked Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy you'll absolutely love this one. So many right and wrong traces, extremely well drawn characters, a very mysterious killer leaving uncanny chestnut men at the crime scene, great twists and an excellent denouement you would never ever had thought of. This is the definitive murder mystery of my reading year! It was on my list for quite a while and I am glad that Lynne brought it back to my attention with referring to a Netflix series on that novel.Highly recommended! You shouldn't miss this one.
September 26, 2019
Serial killer fiction is one of my favorite subgenres, despite the fact that very few of these books reach a level of exceptional storytelling. But when it's done right, there's no better read for me.
Unfortunately, The Chestnut Man isn't done right.
I often feel as if there is some outline for writers of the genre entitled "How to Write the Typical Cliché Serial Killer Novel" of which they all follow and for some reason that's enough for the masses.
That's not enough for me.
The Chestnut Man follows this outline to a T. I'll sum it up for you:
Bad cop, good cop in love/hate relationship work under the threat of their up-and-coming superior who is more concerned with his career than actually solving a crime. Enter serial killer, throw in some gory scenes for distraction. Sprinkle in a few red herrings even though the killer is pretty obvious to most astute readers. Wrap everything up with bad cop saving good cop from killer but not before killer vomits the story of his entire friggin life as way of explaining why he started chopping people up as a hobby. Good cop and bad cop live happily ever after (fade to black).
2.5 Stars ⭐
If you're not a frequent reader of this genre then I've no doubt that this one will be a sufficient and engrossing story. If you wish to compare it to other books with more depth and less cliché, I can recommend a few:
Silence of the Lambs
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Perfume
The Collector
and a more recent addition, The Butterfly Garden.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, The Chestnut Man isn't done right.
I often feel as if there is some outline for writers of the genre entitled "How to Write the Typical Cliché Serial Killer Novel" of which they all follow and for some reason that's enough for the masses.
That's not enough for me.
The Chestnut Man follows this outline to a T. I'll sum it up for you:
Bad cop, good cop in love/hate relationship work under the threat of their up-and-coming superior who is more concerned with his career than actually solving a crime. Enter serial killer, throw in some gory scenes for distraction. Sprinkle in a few red herrings even though the killer is pretty obvious to most astute readers. Wrap everything up with bad cop saving good cop from killer but not before killer vomits the story of his entire friggin life as way of explaining why he started chopping people up as a hobby. Good cop and bad cop live happily ever after (fade to black).
2.5 Stars ⭐
If you're not a frequent reader of this genre then I've no doubt that this one will be a sufficient and engrossing story. If you wish to compare it to other books with more depth and less cliché, I can recommend a few:
Silence of the Lambs
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Perfume
The Collector
and a more recent addition, The Butterfly Garden.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2019
As the leaves fall, He's coming for you. . .
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup is a dark & gritty thriller and an excellent debut from the creator of the hit television show The Killing. With a brilliant storyline, tense atmosphere and some great characters, this is one of the best crime novels I have read in a long time.
Set in Denmark, a psychotic serial killer is terrorizing Copenhagen. His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene. To save innocent lives, an unlikely pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. As the investigation goes further, we realize that nothing is what it seems to be on surface.
Reading the book is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. None of the individual pieces look in place till the big pictures start emerging and the picture becomes suddenly clearer. Right from the novel’s first scene, THE CHESTNUT MAN gives a hint of the thrill ride that’s about to follow. Our story begins on Halloween in 1989, when a local Danish policeman is called to a remote farmhouse for a routine visit. Readers will be instantly transported to rural Denmark and the beauty of the autumn season…. till they encounter what’s waiting for them.
The story is a part of police procedural and part psychological thriller. A ‘Nordic-Noir’; with the bleak, dark setting and the complex characters, and is vastly different from the English country house murder mystery. The plot becomes increasingly, complex and the author cleverly interweaves the investigations, the politics and the individual lives of detectives Thulin and Hess and others. The story unfolds through numerous twists, turns, and cliff-hangers to an explosive climax. Even though 500 pages long it is the sort of book that never feels long.
Among the characters, Detectives Thulin and Hess make an unlikely pair. Thulin is a single mother and a rising star in her police force. Hess is an outsider—from Europol, sent to Copenhagen as punishment for one of his many blunders on the job. A dark brooding Hess is a perfect foil to Thulin’s cool and collected personality. I wish the story had more interactions between the two but hopefully, their story will be continued in future installments. The book has many instances of graphic violence. However, this violence is not at the expense of the story and only advances the story further. Having said that, some of the scenes may be upsetting for some.
Overall, The Chestnut Man is powerful, gritty police procedural with a brilliant storyline and some great characters. Sveistrup has succeeded in creating a gripping story, full of suspense and thrills. This is the one story you don’t want to miss.
Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Søren Sveistrup and Edelweiss for the ARC.
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup is a dark & gritty thriller and an excellent debut from the creator of the hit television show The Killing. With a brilliant storyline, tense atmosphere and some great characters, this is one of the best crime novels I have read in a long time.
Set in Denmark, a psychotic serial killer is terrorizing Copenhagen. His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene. To save innocent lives, an unlikely pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. As the investigation goes further, we realize that nothing is what it seems to be on surface.
Reading the book is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. None of the individual pieces look in place till the big pictures start emerging and the picture becomes suddenly clearer. Right from the novel’s first scene, THE CHESTNUT MAN gives a hint of the thrill ride that’s about to follow. Our story begins on Halloween in 1989, when a local Danish policeman is called to a remote farmhouse for a routine visit. Readers will be instantly transported to rural Denmark and the beauty of the autumn season…. till they encounter what’s waiting for them.
The story is a part of police procedural and part psychological thriller. A ‘Nordic-Noir’; with the bleak, dark setting and the complex characters, and is vastly different from the English country house murder mystery. The plot becomes increasingly, complex and the author cleverly interweaves the investigations, the politics and the individual lives of detectives Thulin and Hess and others. The story unfolds through numerous twists, turns, and cliff-hangers to an explosive climax. Even though 500 pages long it is the sort of book that never feels long.
Among the characters, Detectives Thulin and Hess make an unlikely pair. Thulin is a single mother and a rising star in her police force. Hess is an outsider—from Europol, sent to Copenhagen as punishment for one of his many blunders on the job. A dark brooding Hess is a perfect foil to Thulin’s cool and collected personality. I wish the story had more interactions between the two but hopefully, their story will be continued in future installments. The book has many instances of graphic violence. However, this violence is not at the expense of the story and only advances the story further. Having said that, some of the scenes may be upsetting for some.
Overall, The Chestnut Man is powerful, gritty police procedural with a brilliant storyline and some great characters. Sveistrup has succeeded in creating a gripping story, full of suspense and thrills. This is the one story you don’t want to miss.
Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Søren Sveistrup and Edelweiss for the ARC.
April 14, 2023
A ver cómo lo explico. Por una parte, tanto la trama como el desarrollo de la novela me ha parecido fascinante. Creo que está muy bien pensada y construida. Sinceramente, creo que es de esas novelas que no puedes parar de leer, y a pesar de que corta no es, casi te la puedes terminar en dos laaaargas sentadas. Su estructura es tan buena que te tragas lo que el autor te cuenta casi sin pestañear……. Pero.
Pero llega la parte de los crímenes, a los que asistimos casi en directo. Y ahí se nota que el autor es especialista en el género (me refiero a su papel como guionista y creador de “The killing”). Ahí se deja llevar más por la parte “cinematográfica” de las escenas que por un desarrollo más pensado en su formato de papel. Y se le va la mano. Mucho. Si uno se pone a recrear esas escenas fuera del ámbito cinematográfico, es casi imposible que el autor (o autora) pudiera cometer dichos crímenes, máxime cuando en uno de ellos tiene a la policía en el cogote, explayándose de la forma que lo hace. En esas escenas estamos viendo una película (o serie), no leyendo una novela.
Pero fuera de esa coyuntura, el resto de la narración funciona como un guante, incluidos los personajes y los diálogos, muy bien embutidos a lo largo de sus 130 capítulos. Mención aparte merecen los protagonistas, Thulin y Hess, que empiezan titubeantes y como si fueran ajenos a lo que acontece y acaban siendo el plato fuerte de toda la novela. Y me han quedado ganas de más entregas. De momento no hay más noticias sobre este autor.
4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
Pero llega la parte de los crímenes, a los que asistimos casi en directo. Y ahí se nota que el autor es especialista en el género (me refiero a su papel como guionista y creador de “The killing”). Ahí se deja llevar más por la parte “cinematográfica” de las escenas que por un desarrollo más pensado en su formato de papel. Y se le va la mano. Mucho. Si uno se pone a recrear esas escenas fuera del ámbito cinematográfico, es casi imposible que el autor (o autora) pudiera cometer dichos crímenes, máxime cuando en uno de ellos tiene a la policía en el cogote, explayándose de la forma que lo hace. En esas escenas estamos viendo una película (o serie), no leyendo una novela.
Pero fuera de esa coyuntura, el resto de la narración funciona como un guante, incluidos los personajes y los diálogos, muy bien embutidos a lo largo de sus 130 capítulos. Mención aparte merecen los protagonistas, Thulin y Hess, que empiezan titubeantes y como si fueran ajenos a lo que acontece y acaban siendo el plato fuerte de toda la novela. Y me han quedado ganas de más entregas. De momento no hay más noticias sobre este autor.
4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
April 13, 2022
“Chestnut Man
Come inside
Chestnut Man
Have you brought some chestnuts for me today?
Thank you…
Chestnut Man”🎶
A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen. At every blood-stained crime scene he leaves his "calling card" a Chestnut Man, a handmade doll made of matches and two chestnuts. Examining the dolls, the Department of Forensic Investigations is faced with a shocking discovery: a fingerprint belonging to a girl, the daughter of a politician, who had been kidnapped and presumed deceased a year ago. Tragic coincidence or something far more twisted? In order to save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put their differences aside so they can start connecting the evidence the Chestnut man leaves behind. Because one thing is absolutely clear: the killer is on a mission that is far from over…
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. A gruesome quadruple murder brings you face to face with the Chestnut Man. It was incredibly fun following the twists and turns and trying to guess who the serial killer was. Once it started rolling, I couldn't put it down. The characters were well developed and I loved all of the background stories. Even though the narrative is procedural in nature, it's quick pace will make you keep turning until you hit the last page.
Nordic Noir my heart! Highly recommended this one.
Come inside
Chestnut Man
Have you brought some chestnuts for me today?
Thank you…
Chestnut Man”🎶
A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen. At every blood-stained crime scene he leaves his "calling card" a Chestnut Man, a handmade doll made of matches and two chestnuts. Examining the dolls, the Department of Forensic Investigations is faced with a shocking discovery: a fingerprint belonging to a girl, the daughter of a politician, who had been kidnapped and presumed deceased a year ago. Tragic coincidence or something far more twisted? In order to save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put their differences aside so they can start connecting the evidence the Chestnut man leaves behind. Because one thing is absolutely clear: the killer is on a mission that is far from over…
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. A gruesome quadruple murder brings you face to face with the Chestnut Man. It was incredibly fun following the twists and turns and trying to guess who the serial killer was. Once it started rolling, I couldn't put it down. The characters were well developed and I loved all of the background stories. Even though the narrative is procedural in nature, it's quick pace will make you keep turning until you hit the last page.
Nordic Noir my heart! Highly recommended this one.
July 18, 2021
3.5 stars
Please don't think me a curmudgeon for not swooning over this much-vaunted Scandi crime thriller; I like to think that I'm usually fulsome with my praise. It might be worth pointing out that after reading seventeen books so far this year, my rating average is an indulgent 4.5
Not wanting to be a party pooper, I'll get my gripes out of the way first...
Gripes:
The book started brilliantly then gradually became leaden and drawn out.
The writing was a little clunky at times (possibly due to it being translated).
There was an unnecessary abundance of over-explaining once the killer was revealed. Almost like a covering over of cracks in the plot.
Unfortunately, the story was formulaic and some things just didn't ring true.
Likes:
I loved Hess's character: quirky and thinks outside the box (as per usual, no-one will listen). More could have been made of him.
The interplay between characters was gratifying and the suspenseful atmosphere wonderfully realised.
Until halfway through I was really loving it - so, a curate's egg of a book.
And, hey, don't listen to picky old me. Most readers have thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. I'm almost certain that you should follow their lead.
Please don't think me a curmudgeon for not swooning over this much-vaunted Scandi crime thriller; I like to think that I'm usually fulsome with my praise. It might be worth pointing out that after reading seventeen books so far this year, my rating average is an indulgent 4.5
Not wanting to be a party pooper, I'll get my gripes out of the way first...
Gripes:
The book started brilliantly then gradually became leaden and drawn out.
The writing was a little clunky at times (possibly due to it being translated).
There was an unnecessary abundance of over-explaining once the killer was revealed. Almost like a covering over of cracks in the plot.
Unfortunately, the story was formulaic and some things just didn't ring true.
Likes:
I loved Hess's character: quirky and thinks outside the box (as per usual, no-one will listen). More could have been made of him.
The interplay between characters was gratifying and the suspenseful atmosphere wonderfully realised.
Until halfway through I was really loving it - so, a curate's egg of a book.
And, hey, don't listen to picky old me. Most readers have thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. I'm almost certain that you should follow their lead.
October 31, 2019
5 Heart Pounding Stars!!! You'll never see/think of chestnuts roasting on an open fire the same way again!
It takes a lot for thrillers to impress me, even more for them to stump me. The Chestnut Man did both and is hands down my fave thriller read this year!
Combining a gripping storyline with great characters and the kind of intense atmosphere that will have you ferociously turning pages this was one of the best crime novels I have read in a while. I'm a sucker for police procedurals and this one definitely delivered for me. It was a twisted, slice of Nordic Noir which will appeal to those (like me!) who are not put off by upsetting content, gore or graphic violence. I have no problem admitting that I'm all in for this kind of stuff. 😉
It takes a lot for thrillers to impress me, even more for them to stump me. The Chestnut Man did both and is hands down my fave thriller read this year!
Combining a gripping storyline with great characters and the kind of intense atmosphere that will have you ferociously turning pages this was one of the best crime novels I have read in a while. I'm a sucker for police procedurals and this one definitely delivered for me. It was a twisted, slice of Nordic Noir which will appeal to those (like me!) who are not put off by upsetting content, gore or graphic violence. I have no problem admitting that I'm all in for this kind of stuff. 😉
August 4, 2019
Scandinavian police procedurals are surely some of my favourite foreign books, as they bring the story to life and do not lose impact when translated into English. Søren Sveistrup does a masterful job at bringing this eerie story to life and leaving just enough out there for the reader to feel a definite chill up the spine. When the body of a woman is discovered outside her home, the Copenhagen Police send their Major Case Team out to investigate. Naia Thulin takes point and has been assigned to work with Mark Hess, a liaison officer who is biding his time before returning to Europol. When Thulin and Hess survey the scene, it is as grizzly as they could imagine, with the woman brutally murdered and her severed hand missing. Not only that, her young son was inside and came upon the body before the authorities were called. A small chestnut man—sold at many roadside kiosks around Denmark—is found at the scene, though it is hard to determine if there is any significance. As Thulin works with a less than enthralled partner, another body appears, this time with both hands removed. Hess seeks to shed some light on the investigation and notices a second chestnut man at the scene. Hess posits about whether the victims are mutilated for a particular reason, deducing that the killer may have more than just a sadistic need to bring about pain. After forensic testing, new evidence on an old case comes to light, one in which the daughter of the Minister of Social Affairs plays a central role. A year ago, young Kristine Hartung went missing and was never found. A man full of perverse tendencies admitted to kidnapping and dismembering her body before scattering the parts all over rural Denmark. However, both chestnut men from the recent crime scenes have Hartung’s fingerprints on them. Could it be that Kristine Hartung is still alive, perhaps being held captive by this sadistic killer? As the bodies pile up, Thulin and Hess are no closer to finding the killer, but may have a lead on how the victims are being chosen. While young children sing of a chestnut man in their primary classrooms, another Chestnut Man lurks out of view, ready to strike and commit horrible crimes for reasons not yet clear. Sveistrup does an amazing job in this drawn-out piece that will keep readers up late into the night to find answers and wonder what lurks in the dark. Highly recommended to those who love psychological thrillers and the reader with an enjoyment for well-crafted Scandinavian thrillers.
It is such a pleasure to discover new authors that sweep you off your feet from their debuts. I have come across a few these past months and cannot speak enough about the wonders of those who have the knack to write with such confidence. Sveistrup does so well in pacing out his thriller with wonderful characters and a plot that cannot be matched. Naia Thulin is an interesting member of Copenhagen’s Major Crime Team, though she is wrestling with many issues in her personal life. A single mother with a less than committed boyfriend, she uses her work to replace much of the loss she has seen. Thulin is dedicated to her job and has a passion for finding the clues that will bring a killer to justice, but cannot help showing her vulnerabilities when she least expects it. The reader can enjoy much of her personality, which evolves with the book, though her grit and determination makes it hard not to like her on some level. Other characters find themselves complementing Thulin, as well as making the most of their place within the larger narrative. The variety of characters boasts numerous sub-plots that the reader must follow to better understand the overall narrative and successfully determine where the killer can be found. With a powerful narrative that is not diluted in translation, Sveistrup pulls the reader in during the opening pages and will not let go throughout the entire piece. Mixing short chapters that tease with longer and move developed ones, Sveistrup takes no prisoners as he sets about to present one of the most chilling novels I have read in a long while. I can only hope there are more to come.
Kudos, Mr. Sveistrup, for making the transition from television to book writing. I can only hope others will find this book as stunning and create a buzz.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
It is such a pleasure to discover new authors that sweep you off your feet from their debuts. I have come across a few these past months and cannot speak enough about the wonders of those who have the knack to write with such confidence. Sveistrup does so well in pacing out his thriller with wonderful characters and a plot that cannot be matched. Naia Thulin is an interesting member of Copenhagen’s Major Crime Team, though she is wrestling with many issues in her personal life. A single mother with a less than committed boyfriend, she uses her work to replace much of the loss she has seen. Thulin is dedicated to her job and has a passion for finding the clues that will bring a killer to justice, but cannot help showing her vulnerabilities when she least expects it. The reader can enjoy much of her personality, which evolves with the book, though her grit and determination makes it hard not to like her on some level. Other characters find themselves complementing Thulin, as well as making the most of their place within the larger narrative. The variety of characters boasts numerous sub-plots that the reader must follow to better understand the overall narrative and successfully determine where the killer can be found. With a powerful narrative that is not diluted in translation, Sveistrup pulls the reader in during the opening pages and will not let go throughout the entire piece. Mixing short chapters that tease with longer and move developed ones, Sveistrup takes no prisoners as he sets about to present one of the most chilling novels I have read in a long while. I can only hope there are more to come.
Kudos, Mr. Sveistrup, for making the transition from television to book writing. I can only hope others will find this book as stunning and create a buzz.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 24, 2019
Taking place in Denmark, this ominous novel positively pulses with menace. A murderer leaves at the scene of the crime a sinister and primitive fetish in the form of a man made from chestnuts and matchsticks which echoes a childhood song about the “apple man.” The beginning is jaw-droppingly violent and the murders continue along this grisly vein. Gripping, violent and gruesome this is quite an addition to the Scandi-Noir subgenre. Best of all nothing is obvious although the ending did feel a bit conventional despite the length of the novel. Nevertheless, this is tautly plotted with a sure hand.
May 22, 2020
EXCERPT: ... once you catch sight of him, it's the boy on the far left who grabs the viewer's attention. He isn't tall for his age. Not as developed as the other boys, in fact, and his clothes are scruffy and down at heel. But his eyes are piercing. He's staring straight into the camera with an expressionless face, and it's as though he's the only one who hasn't heard the joke.
Hess stares at him. Hair, cheekbones, nose, chin, lips. All the features that change so radically during adolescence. Hess recognizes him, yet at the same time he doesn't; and it is only when he zooms in and covers the boy's face so only his eyes are visible that he can see who it is. He can see it, but it is as impossible as it is obvious. When comprehension dawns, his first thought is that it's too late to fight back.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: If you find one, he’s already found you.
A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.
His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene.
Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government minister’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago.
A tragic coincidence—or something more twisted?
To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues.
Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over.
And no one is safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I once tried roasted chestnuts, and must say I didn't like them. I did, however, like The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.
I liked the friction between Hess and Thulin, the lead investigators on the case of a brutally murdered mother. Neither of them want to be on this case. Thulin feels like she is treading water in Homicide and desperately wants to transfer to NC3, on track to become the best cyber crime unit in Europe. Hess has blotted his copybook with Europol so he has been sent back to Copenhagen to cool his heels.
I didn't like Hess at the outset, as anyone who read my updates could tell. But he kept surprising me. I made unflattering comments about his commitment to the case several times, and had to eat my words. Thulin seemed more committed, but didn't have Hess's flair for analytical and lateral thinking. Together they made a good, if somewhat resentful, team. And Thulin isn't above denigrating Hess to Nylander, the very conservative head of major crimes division, in order to advance her own agenda.
This is a dark and twisty read. It is graphic and gruesome in parts. Typical Nordic noir. I had no idea who the murderer was nor, initially, the motivation. But when the motivation was revealed, it sent me off on completely the wrong track. Very clever writing Mr Sveistrup.
Several people have commented that The Chestnut Man read more like a play than a novel. I didn't get that feeling, but I did sometimes feel that the writing was quite dispassionate and lacking in suspense. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book a lot; it is intriguing but not, to me, particularly suspenseful.
There are some beautiful touches, like the wreath of chestnut men, and compelling characters, strong characters, but rather a lot of characters, almost too many.
Definitely a read I recommend, and an author I will follow.
😱😱😱😱
#TheChestnutMan
THE AUTHOR: Søren Sveistrup is an internationally acclaimed scriptwriter of the Danish television phenomenon The Killing which won various international awards and sold in more than a hundred countries. More recently, Sveistrup wrote the screenplay for Jo Nesbø's The Snowman.
Sveistrup obtained a Master in Literature and in History from the University of Copenhagen and studied at the Danish Film School. He has won countless prizes, including an Emmy for Nikolaj and Julie and a BAFTA for The Killing.
DISCLOSURE: I read The Chestnut Man written by Soren Sveistrup, published by Penguin, for the Goodreads Mystery, Crime and Thriller group read. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Hess stares at him. Hair, cheekbones, nose, chin, lips. All the features that change so radically during adolescence. Hess recognizes him, yet at the same time he doesn't; and it is only when he zooms in and covers the boy's face so only his eyes are visible that he can see who it is. He can see it, but it is as impossible as it is obvious. When comprehension dawns, his first thought is that it's too late to fight back.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: If you find one, he’s already found you.
A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.
His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene.
Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government minister’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago.
A tragic coincidence—or something more twisted?
To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues.
Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over.
And no one is safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I once tried roasted chestnuts, and must say I didn't like them. I did, however, like The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.
I liked the friction between Hess and Thulin, the lead investigators on the case of a brutally murdered mother. Neither of them want to be on this case. Thulin feels like she is treading water in Homicide and desperately wants to transfer to NC3, on track to become the best cyber crime unit in Europe. Hess has blotted his copybook with Europol so he has been sent back to Copenhagen to cool his heels.
I didn't like Hess at the outset, as anyone who read my updates could tell. But he kept surprising me. I made unflattering comments about his commitment to the case several times, and had to eat my words. Thulin seemed more committed, but didn't have Hess's flair for analytical and lateral thinking. Together they made a good, if somewhat resentful, team. And Thulin isn't above denigrating Hess to Nylander, the very conservative head of major crimes division, in order to advance her own agenda.
This is a dark and twisty read. It is graphic and gruesome in parts. Typical Nordic noir. I had no idea who the murderer was nor, initially, the motivation. But when the motivation was revealed, it sent me off on completely the wrong track. Very clever writing Mr Sveistrup.
Several people have commented that The Chestnut Man read more like a play than a novel. I didn't get that feeling, but I did sometimes feel that the writing was quite dispassionate and lacking in suspense. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book a lot; it is intriguing but not, to me, particularly suspenseful.
There are some beautiful touches, like the wreath of chestnut men, and compelling characters, strong characters, but rather a lot of characters, almost too many.
Definitely a read I recommend, and an author I will follow.
😱😱😱😱
#TheChestnutMan
THE AUTHOR: Søren Sveistrup is an internationally acclaimed scriptwriter of the Danish television phenomenon The Killing which won various international awards and sold in more than a hundred countries. More recently, Sveistrup wrote the screenplay for Jo Nesbø's The Snowman.
Sveistrup obtained a Master in Literature and in History from the University of Copenhagen and studied at the Danish Film School. He has won countless prizes, including an Emmy for Nikolaj and Julie and a BAFTA for The Killing.
DISCLOSURE: I read The Chestnut Man written by Soren Sveistrup, published by Penguin, for the Goodreads Mystery, Crime and Thriller group read. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 27, 2021
The Chestnut Man was an atmospheric thriller with the right amount of suspense.
A murder has been committed and detective Thullin and Hess are the ones investigating it.
Thullin is a single mother and a very good detective. She has done the time in the department she is in but she's ready for an upgrade and recently has applied to the cyberunit.
Hess has been working with Europol solving cases. He's a nomad and doesn't really put any roots anywhere. He recently got in hot water during his last investigation and he was sent to Copenhagen as a form of punishment. At first, nothing is really interesting to him until the dead woman is found. He becomes even more invested when the fingerprint of an abducted twelve-year-old is found at the scene of the crime. The killer has left his calling card, a chestnut man and her prints are on it.
The twelve-year-old is presumed dead. Someone confessed to raping and murdering her over a year ago, so how can her fingerprint be there?
That's the million-dollar question.
There is one undeniable fact about the gruesome murders, the women who have been targeted have all failed their children in one way or the other. There has to be a connection but what is it?
The audio (which I did parts of it) was excellent. I felt like I was there, experiencing the cold dark days. I liked both detectives and I wanted to learn more about them. I do think that they needed to interact a lot more than they did.
I would love for this to become a series. I want more Hess and Thullin's cases.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
A murder has been committed and detective Thullin and Hess are the ones investigating it.
Thullin is a single mother and a very good detective. She has done the time in the department she is in but she's ready for an upgrade and recently has applied to the cyberunit.
Hess has been working with Europol solving cases. He's a nomad and doesn't really put any roots anywhere. He recently got in hot water during his last investigation and he was sent to Copenhagen as a form of punishment. At first, nothing is really interesting to him until the dead woman is found. He becomes even more invested when the fingerprint of an abducted twelve-year-old is found at the scene of the crime. The killer has left his calling card, a chestnut man and her prints are on it.
The twelve-year-old is presumed dead. Someone confessed to raping and murdering her over a year ago, so how can her fingerprint be there?
That's the million-dollar question.
There is one undeniable fact about the gruesome murders, the women who have been targeted have all failed their children in one way or the other. There has to be a connection but what is it?
The audio (which I did parts of it) was excellent. I felt like I was there, experiencing the cold dark days. I liked both detectives and I wanted to learn more about them. I do think that they needed to interact a lot more than they did.
I would love for this to become a series. I want more Hess and Thullin's cases.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
November 19, 2020
4.5 stars!
A gripping, shocking, addictive, fast-paced thriller!
Bodies are being discovered with limbs missing. A serial killer is leaving little handmade chestnut men near his victims. The town is terrified. Police are working round the clock to track down this dangerous psychopath.
This was EXCELLENT! It is over 500 pages, yet I was hanging on every word. Not once did the storyline loose its grip on me. The chapters are short (just the way I like them) and had me flipping pages as fast as possible. I was completely glued to this book from the moment I read the first sentence - the pace and flow were done to perfection! The characters were fantastic! The main policewoman, Thulin, is a unique and edgy character who I loved.
My one small critique is that the ending had some over-the-top elements that felt unrealistic.
I am a big fan of this author who also wrote the Netflix show “The Killing” and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with next. This was on my Edelweiss backlist and I’m kicking myself now for taking so long to read it. Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy. This easily makes my 2020 Favourites List!
A gripping, shocking, addictive, fast-paced thriller!
Bodies are being discovered with limbs missing. A serial killer is leaving little handmade chestnut men near his victims. The town is terrified. Police are working round the clock to track down this dangerous psychopath.
This was EXCELLENT! It is over 500 pages, yet I was hanging on every word. Not once did the storyline loose its grip on me. The chapters are short (just the way I like them) and had me flipping pages as fast as possible. I was completely glued to this book from the moment I read the first sentence - the pace and flow were done to perfection! The characters were fantastic! The main policewoman, Thulin, is a unique and edgy character who I loved.
My one small critique is that the ending had some over-the-top elements that felt unrealistic.
I am a big fan of this author who also wrote the Netflix show “The Killing” and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with next. This was on my Edelweiss backlist and I’m kicking myself now for taking so long to read it. Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy. This easily makes my 2020 Favourites List!
October 4, 2019
Fans of the hit show, The Killing, will find some common elements in the Chestnut Man, the debut from Danish screenwriter Soren Sveistrup. As a fan of the TV show, I appreciated the similarities, from the gloomy atmosphere to the flawed detective duo of Hess and Thulin.
The two are paired up when the murder of a young woman has links to the disappearance of a young girl a year earlier. When the cases are linked to other grisly murders, it’s clear there is a serial murderer on the loose in Copenhagen. The one defining characteristic, other than details of the actual killings, is the murderer leaves a calling card of a handmade chestnut doll at the scene. Chestnut dolls are apparently a thing in Denmark, and there is even a song: “Chestnut man, Chestnut man please come in…”
The story is a well-written, chilling, character-driven police procedural and the short chapters made for a tense page-turner that had me holding my breath and on the edge of my seat more than once. However, at slightly over 500 pages, the book would have been made even better had 100-150 pages been cut. Still, despite a few flaws, the story held my attention and I will definitely be in line for the author’s next book.
• Netflix has plans to adapt the book into a series. Production is planned to begin in 2020
• Recommended for fans of strong character-driven police procedurals such as those written by Tana French.
• This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both enjoyed. Our duo review of this and other books can be found at https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
The two are paired up when the murder of a young woman has links to the disappearance of a young girl a year earlier. When the cases are linked to other grisly murders, it’s clear there is a serial murderer on the loose in Copenhagen. The one defining characteristic, other than details of the actual killings, is the murderer leaves a calling card of a handmade chestnut doll at the scene. Chestnut dolls are apparently a thing in Denmark, and there is even a song: “Chestnut man, Chestnut man please come in…”
The story is a well-written, chilling, character-driven police procedural and the short chapters made for a tense page-turner that had me holding my breath and on the edge of my seat more than once. However, at slightly over 500 pages, the book would have been made even better had 100-150 pages been cut. Still, despite a few flaws, the story held my attention and I will definitely be in line for the author’s next book.
• Netflix has plans to adapt the book into a series. Production is planned to begin in 2020
• Recommended for fans of strong character-driven police procedurals such as those written by Tana French.
• This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both enjoyed. Our duo review of this and other books can be found at https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
March 15, 2021
It seems to me that everyone already knows about Soren Sveistrup because of The Killing, but since I’ve never watched it, this was my first time encountering his work.
It will definitely not be the last, because my Soren Sveinstrup journey just began!
In case you didn’t have a chance to see The Chestnut Man in person, let me tell you: it is a massive book. It has more than 500 pages and bigger format than usual novels. You could easily use it as a weapon!
But despite this novel looking intimidating at first, it reads really easily because of the short chapters, intense story and great translation.
The story follows two main characters, detective Naia Thulin and investigator Mark Hess who work on the case together. The murders they have to deal with are not easy on the stomach because the killer likes to do amputations while the victims are still alive. On the crime scenes, there is always one little chestnut man, as a mark of a killer.
There is so much more to the story, because we follow so many characters who’s stories intertwine.
At first it was bit hard for me to follow and connect everything and everyone, because of so many different characters with to me unusual names, but after some time (around 80 pages into the story), it became pretty easy to follow.
This crime novel is the first one that reminded me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Even if their stories are totally different, I recognized the similar dark atmosphere.
If you like Stieg Larsson, don’t miss out on this one!
This book really pulled me in. I was so invested in this gripping story, wanted to know everything and solve the crime myself, but also it made me want to know why characters acted the way they did, and what is under everyone’s surface.
The Chestnut Man is a brutal, chilling story that made me question are psychopaths really born that way, or do they become what they are because of others?
I think it’s both, and I think the second plays the main part what will become of a person.
Overall, I recommend The Chestnut Man to every single crime novels fan.
This book is the one that should be on everyone’s tbr-s and I predict that by the end of 2019 it will be on many people’s favorites lists.
It will definitely not be the last, because my Soren Sveinstrup journey just began!
In case you didn’t have a chance to see The Chestnut Man in person, let me tell you: it is a massive book. It has more than 500 pages and bigger format than usual novels. You could easily use it as a weapon!
But despite this novel looking intimidating at first, it reads really easily because of the short chapters, intense story and great translation.
The story follows two main characters, detective Naia Thulin and investigator Mark Hess who work on the case together. The murders they have to deal with are not easy on the stomach because the killer likes to do amputations while the victims are still alive. On the crime scenes, there is always one little chestnut man, as a mark of a killer.
There is so much more to the story, because we follow so many characters who’s stories intertwine.
At first it was bit hard for me to follow and connect everything and everyone, because of so many different characters with to me unusual names, but after some time (around 80 pages into the story), it became pretty easy to follow.
This crime novel is the first one that reminded me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Even if their stories are totally different, I recognized the similar dark atmosphere.
If you like Stieg Larsson, don’t miss out on this one!
This book really pulled me in. I was so invested in this gripping story, wanted to know everything and solve the crime myself, but also it made me want to know why characters acted the way they did, and what is under everyone’s surface.
The Chestnut Man is a brutal, chilling story that made me question are psychopaths really born that way, or do they become what they are because of others?
I think it’s both, and I think the second plays the main part what will become of a person.
Overall, I recommend The Chestnut Man to every single crime novels fan.
This book is the one that should be on everyone’s tbr-s and I predict that by the end of 2019 it will be on many people’s favorites lists.
October 9, 2019
This novel is very much in the style of Nordic Noir. Terrific intrigue at its best, descritptions of places that create the background for the plot and characters, and even the two main protagonists are hardly ever referred to by their first names, usually they are simply Thulin and Hess, which are the surnames. Yes, this is one of the thrillers that engaged me, despite graphic presentations of brutal murders of young women. I admit however, that these presentations are for the sake of a craftly mastered plot, and are well justified. The Chestnt Man definitely kept me on the edge of my sofa!
October 16, 2019
A dark, gripping and fast paced thriller which had me hooked right up until the end!
“Chestnut man, do come in,
Chestnut man, do come in,
Have you any chestnuts you’ve brought for me today?
Thank you kindly, won’t you stay….."
A murderer is terrorising Copenhagen. They have brutally killed a woman and leave a chestnut man (a small doll made with chestnuts and matchsticks) behind as a calling card. Not only that, but a fingerprint is found on the chestnut doll, which belongs to a girl who was murdered a year ago!
Two vastly different detectives must work together to solve the clues because this psychopathic killer is only just getting started…
This is the first book written by Søren Sveistrup, but I loved the TV series ‘The Killing,’ so I was really excited to read this! For a debut book, I was seriously impressed! I was completely engrossed, staying up beyond midnight to finish it, (which is unheard of for me, since the cat and kids wake me up about 6.30am most days!) and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it! I even read it at night, which I am usually too chicken to do!
I loved the setting! The dark, wintery, rain, and the woods, contrasted amazingly with the city. Reading about a dark creepy killer in the rain, whilst sat in the dark, listening to the rain here was a creepy experience for me. I did get quite scared, because this book did not shy away from violence, gore and graphic scenes. It was so tense and chilling, with many twists and turns, but I just couldn’t look away! For me it was the perfect mix of police work, politics and a psychological thriller. I can’t say that I didn’t guess who the killer was, but it didn’t bother me. The backstory was so worth it!
I thought the characters were brilliantly written. Every character was flawed, human, and relatable. Thulin, a single mum working her way up in the police force, and Hess, an ex-policeman, sent back to Copenhagen from Europol as a punishment for not doing his job properly, had very different personalities, but they worked. I have a feeling that this isn’t the only book to be written with these detectives in, or at least I hope it is not! It just feels like the beginning of a series to me, and now that I have seen the exciting news that Netflix is adapting it into a TV series, I really hope that means it isn’t the last we shall see of Hess and Thulin!
The book also spoke about grief, for the families who had lost someone. ”Grief is love made homeless.” is such a resonating quote for me. It is true, as just because a person you love has gone, it doesn’t mean your love for them has, but where is it meant to go? Rosa Hartung and her husbands grief for their murdered daughter was so raw.
If you are looking for a dark, gritty thriller, then look no further! Just a word of warning though, you may never look at chestnuts the same way again….
Oh and it's only 99p on Kindle at the moment! 🙌
“Chestnut man, do come in,
Chestnut man, do come in,
Have you any chestnuts you’ve brought for me today?
Thank you kindly, won’t you stay….."
A murderer is terrorising Copenhagen. They have brutally killed a woman and leave a chestnut man (a small doll made with chestnuts and matchsticks) behind as a calling card. Not only that, but a fingerprint is found on the chestnut doll, which belongs to a girl who was murdered a year ago!
Two vastly different detectives must work together to solve the clues because this psychopathic killer is only just getting started…
This is the first book written by Søren Sveistrup, but I loved the TV series ‘The Killing,’ so I was really excited to read this! For a debut book, I was seriously impressed! I was completely engrossed, staying up beyond midnight to finish it, (which is unheard of for me, since the cat and kids wake me up about 6.30am most days!) and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it! I even read it at night, which I am usually too chicken to do!
I loved the setting! The dark, wintery, rain, and the woods, contrasted amazingly with the city. Reading about a dark creepy killer in the rain, whilst sat in the dark, listening to the rain here was a creepy experience for me. I did get quite scared, because this book did not shy away from violence, gore and graphic scenes. It was so tense and chilling, with many twists and turns, but I just couldn’t look away! For me it was the perfect mix of police work, politics and a psychological thriller. I can’t say that I didn’t guess who the killer was, but it didn’t bother me. The backstory was so worth it!
I thought the characters were brilliantly written. Every character was flawed, human, and relatable. Thulin, a single mum working her way up in the police force, and Hess, an ex-policeman, sent back to Copenhagen from Europol as a punishment for not doing his job properly, had very different personalities, but they worked. I have a feeling that this isn’t the only book to be written with these detectives in, or at least I hope it is not! It just feels like the beginning of a series to me, and now that I have seen the exciting news that Netflix is adapting it into a TV series, I really hope that means it isn’t the last we shall see of Hess and Thulin!
The book also spoke about grief, for the families who had lost someone. ”Grief is love made homeless.” is such a resonating quote for me. It is true, as just because a person you love has gone, it doesn’t mean your love for them has, but where is it meant to go? Rosa Hartung and her husbands grief for their murdered daughter was so raw.
If you are looking for a dark, gritty thriller, then look no further! Just a word of warning though, you may never look at chestnuts the same way again….
Oh and it's only 99p on Kindle at the moment! 🙌
October 13, 2019
"Chestnut Man, do come in. Chestnut Man, do come in. Have you any chestnuts that you've brought for me today? Thank You kindly...Won't you stay?"
An innocent children's song, being used as a threat.
A Chestnut Man-a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts-left at each bloody crime scene.
A story that begins on Halloween, 1989 and spans the years till October-present day...
I WAS expecting a creepy mystery.
What I got was a 528 page methodical police procedural.
Perhaps I should've known better-I watched (and LOVED) the American drama series, "The Killing"-(from this author)-but for me, this one would've been better as a series as well... A bit more of the investigation revealed with each episode-a cliffhanger making you want to tune in again the following week..
As a book, the 528 page story was just TOO long- dragging on with the last 28 pages or so, being a summary TELLING you WHY the serial killer became a serial killer! It felt a bit anticlimactic after all that!
Another problem for me was that detectives too closely resembled the two detectives from "The Killing".
In this book, Thulin, single Mom, with a daughter she rarely sees, teamed up with Hess, an outsider just transferred in from another department.
In The Killing", single Mom Sarah Linden, who rarely sees her son, Jack, teamed up with the new outsider on the force, Stephen Holder who just transferred from the Narcotics division.
I kept picturing, Linden and Holder, instead of feeling like I was getting to know two different characters.
But, if you didn't read or watch "The Killing" and pick this up EXPECTING a police investigation about a ruthless serial killer...you will most likely find this story to be FRESHER and more satisfying than I did.
Trigger warnings: One dog killed -one dead pig dissected.
Thank You to Edelweiss, Harper Collins and the author for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review. Available now!
An innocent children's song, being used as a threat.
A Chestnut Man-a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts-left at each bloody crime scene.
A story that begins on Halloween, 1989 and spans the years till October-present day...
I WAS expecting a creepy mystery.
What I got was a 528 page methodical police procedural.
Perhaps I should've known better-I watched (and LOVED) the American drama series, "The Killing"-(from this author)-but for me, this one would've been better as a series as well... A bit more of the investigation revealed with each episode-a cliffhanger making you want to tune in again the following week..
As a book, the 528 page story was just TOO long- dragging on with the last 28 pages or so, being a summary TELLING you WHY the serial killer became a serial killer! It felt a bit anticlimactic after all that!
Another problem for me was that detectives too closely resembled the two detectives from "The Killing".
In this book, Thulin, single Mom, with a daughter she rarely sees, teamed up with Hess, an outsider just transferred in from another department.
In The Killing", single Mom Sarah Linden, who rarely sees her son, Jack, teamed up with the new outsider on the force, Stephen Holder who just transferred from the Narcotics division.
I kept picturing, Linden and Holder, instead of feeling like I was getting to know two different characters.
But, if you didn't read or watch "The Killing" and pick this up EXPECTING a police investigation about a ruthless serial killer...you will most likely find this story to be FRESHER and more satisfying than I did.
Trigger warnings: One dog killed -one dead pig dissected.
Thank You to Edelweiss, Harper Collins and the author for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review. Available now!
October 17, 2022
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup, Caroline Waight (translator) is a 2019 Harper publication.
There’s a serial killer on the loose in Copenhagen -one that leaves behind a ‘chestnut man’ doll at every scene. But a shocking discovery could tie these crimes to the unsolved kidnapping of a government minister’s daughter a year ago. The two detectives working the case, Thaulin and Hess are a bit mismatched as a team, but eventually they rise to the occasion, knowing they must catch 'The Chestnut Man’ before he strikes again…
I’ve had this book on my list for a couple of years- but it popped out at me when I went looking through my list for a good thriller to fit my fall reading mood- because what’s better than a terrifying serial killer story for some good Halloween thrills and chills? To make it even more effective the story transpires over the entire month of October- so this did seem like an appropriate choice.
I have not read a ‘Nordic’ thriller is quite some time and got a reminder, right off the bat, of how graphic they can be. The story gets off to a grisly start and then never lets up from start to finish.
The writing does tend to follow an old- school thriller format and is surprisingly slick and polished for all its grittiness. Regardless, this is a violent, white-knuckle suspense ride, as well as a smart, well-planned thriller- and is one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.
Overall, not to put too fine a point on it- the 2022 thriller offerings have been lukewarm at best. I’m glad I had this ace in the hole to make up for it. The story is not supernatural, but it is super scary, nonetheless, and is a great Fall/ Halloween read!
4.5
There’s a serial killer on the loose in Copenhagen -one that leaves behind a ‘chestnut man’ doll at every scene. But a shocking discovery could tie these crimes to the unsolved kidnapping of a government minister’s daughter a year ago. The two detectives working the case, Thaulin and Hess are a bit mismatched as a team, but eventually they rise to the occasion, knowing they must catch 'The Chestnut Man’ before he strikes again…
I’ve had this book on my list for a couple of years- but it popped out at me when I went looking through my list for a good thriller to fit my fall reading mood- because what’s better than a terrifying serial killer story for some good Halloween thrills and chills? To make it even more effective the story transpires over the entire month of October- so this did seem like an appropriate choice.
I have not read a ‘Nordic’ thriller is quite some time and got a reminder, right off the bat, of how graphic they can be. The story gets off to a grisly start and then never lets up from start to finish.
The writing does tend to follow an old- school thriller format and is surprisingly slick and polished for all its grittiness. Regardless, this is a violent, white-knuckle suspense ride, as well as a smart, well-planned thriller- and is one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.
Overall, not to put too fine a point on it- the 2022 thriller offerings have been lukewarm at best. I’m glad I had this ace in the hole to make up for it. The story is not supernatural, but it is super scary, nonetheless, and is a great Fall/ Halloween read!
4.5
August 14, 2020
The Chestnut Man is a fast paced murder mystery that does a phenomenal job of keeping the reader off balance. The writer has written a successful tv show in Denmark and it is obvious as the novel has the same style. I could see this being filmed as a mini-series.
Thulin draws a new partner just as she is assigned to a gruesome murder. Hess is just back in Denmark, after being pulled off his assignment to Europol for some reason. She’s not impressed with him and their work styles grate on each other. But they’re quickly drawn in as a chestnut man, a tiny homemade doll, left at the scene bears the fingerprint of a young girl who went missing and was presumed dead over a year ago. Soon, there’s a second murder. The murdered women have in common the fact they’re mothers with questionable partners and allegations of neglect against them.
This book grabbed me and never let me go. Like Thulin and Hess, I always felt two steps behind the killer. I enjoyed the way that the author brought the story to a conclusion with several twists I never saw coming. I’m not saying the climax is believable, but it is high octane. I recommend this for anyone who loves a good serial killer mystery. Don’t pick this up if you are troubled by gruesome scenes. This is definitely NOT a cozy mystery!
The narrator, Peter Noble, does a great job of expressing the tension and providing a wealth of different voices.
Thulin draws a new partner just as she is assigned to a gruesome murder. Hess is just back in Denmark, after being pulled off his assignment to Europol for some reason. She’s not impressed with him and their work styles grate on each other. But they’re quickly drawn in as a chestnut man, a tiny homemade doll, left at the scene bears the fingerprint of a young girl who went missing and was presumed dead over a year ago. Soon, there’s a second murder. The murdered women have in common the fact they’re mothers with questionable partners and allegations of neglect against them.
This book grabbed me and never let me go. Like Thulin and Hess, I always felt two steps behind the killer. I enjoyed the way that the author brought the story to a conclusion with several twists I never saw coming. I’m not saying the climax is believable, but it is high octane. I recommend this for anyone who loves a good serial killer mystery. Don’t pick this up if you are troubled by gruesome scenes. This is definitely NOT a cozy mystery!
The narrator, Peter Noble, does a great job of expressing the tension and providing a wealth of different voices.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,277 reviews