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Oslo Detectives #9
Sister
The Oslo Detectives are back in another chilling slice of Nordic Noir … Frølich searches for the mysterious sister of a young female asylum seeker, but when people start to die, everything points to an old case and a series of events that someone will do anything to hide…
‘An impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times
‘Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted’ Denzil Meyrick
‘Outstanding … This is a must for fans of Nordic noir’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review
____________________
Suspended from duty, Detective Frølich is working as a private investigator, when his girlfriend’s colleague asks for his help with a female asylum seeker, who the authorities are about to deport. She claims to have a sister in Norway, and fears that returning to her home country will mean instant death.
Frølich quickly discovers the whereabouts of the young woman’s sister, but things become increasingly complex when she denies having a sibling, and Frølich is threatened off the case by the police. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that the answers lie in an old investigation, and the mysterious sister, who is now on the run…
A dark, chilling and up-to-the-minute Nordic Noir thriller, Sister is also a tense and well-plotted murder mystery with a moving tragedy at its heart, cementing Kjell Ola Dahl as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation.
____________________
‘Kjell Ola Dahl has always been skilful at character and setting, but the particular defining characteristic of Sister is the steadily accelerating pace, handled with a sure touch. And Frølich remains a rounded and intriguing character, particularly in this latest iteration’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times
‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb’ William Ryan
‘Dark, stylish and suspenseful … the perfect example of why Nordic Noir has become such a popular genre’ Reader’s Digest
‘If you have never sampled Dahl, now is the time to try’ Daily Mail
‘Suspenseful, beautifully and clearly written, with a sure-footed plot, this is a book that thrills’ Live & Deadly
‘Dahl is a quiet master of the detective thriller, delivering complex plots and a simpatico hero — Frank Frolich, cop turned PI — with Chandleresque elan plus a serious intelligence that roots out essential truths. Here, Frolich is pulled into the “shadowlands” of Norway’s asylum seekers and those who profit from them, in an impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times
‘An impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times
‘Absorbing, heart-rending and perfectly plotted’ Denzil Meyrick
‘Outstanding … This is a must for fans of Nordic noir’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review
____________________
Suspended from duty, Detective Frølich is working as a private investigator, when his girlfriend’s colleague asks for his help with a female asylum seeker, who the authorities are about to deport. She claims to have a sister in Norway, and fears that returning to her home country will mean instant death.
Frølich quickly discovers the whereabouts of the young woman’s sister, but things become increasingly complex when she denies having a sibling, and Frølich is threatened off the case by the police. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that the answers lie in an old investigation, and the mysterious sister, who is now on the run…
A dark, chilling and up-to-the-minute Nordic Noir thriller, Sister is also a tense and well-plotted murder mystery with a moving tragedy at its heart, cementing Kjell Ola Dahl as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation.
____________________
‘Kjell Ola Dahl has always been skilful at character and setting, but the particular defining characteristic of Sister is the steadily accelerating pace, handled with a sure touch. And Frølich remains a rounded and intriguing character, particularly in this latest iteration’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times
‘Kjell Ola Dahl’s novels are superb’ William Ryan
‘Dark, stylish and suspenseful … the perfect example of why Nordic Noir has become such a popular genre’ Reader’s Digest
‘If you have never sampled Dahl, now is the time to try’ Daily Mail
‘Suspenseful, beautifully and clearly written, with a sure-footed plot, this is a book that thrills’ Live & Deadly
‘Dahl is a quiet master of the detective thriller, delivering complex plots and a simpatico hero — Frank Frolich, cop turned PI — with Chandleresque elan plus a serious intelligence that roots out essential truths. Here, Frolich is pulled into the “shadowlands” of Norway’s asylum seekers and those who profit from them, in an impeccably plotted gold-star, A-grade work of Scandi noir’ The Times
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
169 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Kjell Ola Dahl
42 books128 followersBorn in 1958, Dahl's first novel was published in 1993. He is best known for his series about Oslo detectives Frank Frølich and Inspector Gunnarstranda.
Also publishes as K.O. Dahl
Also publishes as K.O. Dahl
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 19, 2020
This is my first time reading something of the Nordic Noir, the genre of crime fiction largely following the police point of view. Well, the main character here is a former police officer now turned private detective. His business is not exactly booming but all the clients are drawn to him due to his anti-corruption stance. Yes, that is something remarkable about Frølich and his ideals shine throughout even with all the humiliations and the physical assault he is forced to endure.
Beginning with the search of a lost sister, the story gradually turns into a murder mystery and the links all point to a previous incident. Along with this, the author also gives a glimpse of the corrupted political system of Norway and the condition of immigrants. From the very first page it will have you hooked in the guessing game, which I miserably failed. Hmm . . . not my first time failing to find the culprit.
The book was not as fast paced as I expected and until the last part, things were going rather peacefully (apart from regular murders, that is). It could be the way of narration, but nothing really seems to shook us while reading, which was new. So if you are in search of some crime narratives this could definitely be a part of the list. Or if you want to read something out of your comfort zone (like me) then this is going to be a new experience.
Beginning with the search of a lost sister, the story gradually turns into a murder mystery and the links all point to a previous incident. Along with this, the author also gives a glimpse of the corrupted political system of Norway and the condition of immigrants. From the very first page it will have you hooked in the guessing game, which I miserably failed. Hmm . . . not my first time failing to find the culprit.
The book was not as fast paced as I expected and until the last part, things were going rather peacefully (apart from regular murders, that is). It could be the way of narration, but nothing really seems to shook us while reading, which was new. So if you are in search of some crime narratives this could definitely be a part of the list. Or if you want to read something out of your comfort zone (like me) then this is going to be a new experience.
April 28, 2020
* edit to add review*
A murdered author and a missing asylum seeker sends Frank Frølich on a journey into the seedy underworld of human trafficking and police corruption.
This is a nordic noir and whilst I have read several books in this genre it is not really my go to genre to read, but I love stepping out of my comfort zone and discovering new authors. Sister is book 9 in the Oslo Detectives Series, and the first in the series that I have read and also the first by Kjell Ola Dahl as well.
I found this a little slow to start with but once I got into Dahl's style of writing and found my groove I began to get engrossed with this story. Frank Frølich is now a PI (private detective) after being suspended from the police force, and after finishing his last job and wondering what to do next he stops off at a cafe and sticks up a conversation with the waitress Matilde, and this is where things progress rather quickly between then and they enter a relationship together. Matilde asks him to meet with a friend of her's who works with asylum seekers, a woman is looking for her sister who she knows is somewhere in Norway but cant be traced and at the same time he is approached by an author who hires him to look into the matter of deaths on a ferry, related to asylum seekers and human trafficking.
When the author ends up dead, his uncle hires Frank to continue with his nephews request and also find his killer. Can these two apparent different cases be connected? and if so why? Thjis was a slow story to start with then it really picked up its pace about half way through, and like I said once I got into the groove I found myself in the two intertwined mysteries that Frank was trying to get to the bottom of.
Being book 9 in the series this was easily a stand alone and if you are looking for some Nordic Noir for a change of pace then I recommend Sister for sure.
4 stars
A murdered author and a missing asylum seeker sends Frank Frølich on a journey into the seedy underworld of human trafficking and police corruption.
This is a nordic noir and whilst I have read several books in this genre it is not really my go to genre to read, but I love stepping out of my comfort zone and discovering new authors. Sister is book 9 in the Oslo Detectives Series, and the first in the series that I have read and also the first by Kjell Ola Dahl as well.
I found this a little slow to start with but once I got into Dahl's style of writing and found my groove I began to get engrossed with this story. Frank Frølich is now a PI (private detective) after being suspended from the police force, and after finishing his last job and wondering what to do next he stops off at a cafe and sticks up a conversation with the waitress Matilde, and this is where things progress rather quickly between then and they enter a relationship together. Matilde asks him to meet with a friend of her's who works with asylum seekers, a woman is looking for her sister who she knows is somewhere in Norway but cant be traced and at the same time he is approached by an author who hires him to look into the matter of deaths on a ferry, related to asylum seekers and human trafficking.
When the author ends up dead, his uncle hires Frank to continue with his nephews request and also find his killer. Can these two apparent different cases be connected? and if so why? Thjis was a slow story to start with then it really picked up its pace about half way through, and like I said once I got into the groove I found myself in the two intertwined mysteries that Frank was trying to get to the bottom of.
Being book 9 in the series this was easily a stand alone and if you are looking for some Nordic Noir for a change of pace then I recommend Sister for sure.
4 stars
April 19, 2020
My first experience in entering the mind of author Kjell Ola Dahl, through the screen of my kindle, was dark and thrilling. Having never read any of the earlier works, I was a novice who was pulled into the book with a zapping energy that held me in raptures from beginning to end.
A murder mystery at its core it was, the book narrated the story of a cop, Frank Frølich, turned private investigator who was approached by Aisha to look into the case of her disappeared sister. A writer soon approached him with a huge advance payment asking him to look at the matter of deaths on a ferry, related to asylum seekers and human trafficking. The body of the author was then found stabbed, and the story convoluted still further.
Whoa... I was stopped in my tracks at the smooth way the author could weave the dual plot lines into the story, the tapestry was rich with suspense and the need for justice. I loved Frølich, his code of honor was well etched, making him stand out amongst the others. He was one determined dude, and I cheered him on all through the pages.
The words chosen by the author made me feel the righteous anger at certain moments in the story. There were multitude of emotions which came out as the plot unfolded. The social issues of immigration and the life of Asylum seekers were sensitively shown. The author could balance them cleverly, showing me the pathos of circumstances while keeping me aware that it was a thriller too.
Suspenseful and complex, the story kept me hooked to my kindle all through the Sunday afternoon. A captivating read.
A murder mystery at its core it was, the book narrated the story of a cop, Frank Frølich, turned private investigator who was approached by Aisha to look into the case of her disappeared sister. A writer soon approached him with a huge advance payment asking him to look at the matter of deaths on a ferry, related to asylum seekers and human trafficking. The body of the author was then found stabbed, and the story convoluted still further.
Whoa... I was stopped in my tracks at the smooth way the author could weave the dual plot lines into the story, the tapestry was rich with suspense and the need for justice. I loved Frølich, his code of honor was well etched, making him stand out amongst the others. He was one determined dude, and I cheered him on all through the pages.
The words chosen by the author made me feel the righteous anger at certain moments in the story. There were multitude of emotions which came out as the plot unfolded. The social issues of immigration and the life of Asylum seekers were sensitively shown. The author could balance them cleverly, showing me the pathos of circumstances while keeping me aware that it was a thriller too.
Suspenseful and complex, the story kept me hooked to my kindle all through the Sunday afternoon. A captivating read.
May 10, 2020
Finished reading: April 5th 2020
"He knew the only way to find an answer was to walk into the hornet's nest and see what made it buzz."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
April 14, 2020
This year I pledged to read more genres outside of historical fiction so when I received an email from Anne Cater about a new Nordic Noir book I immediately jumped at the chance! And I'm so glad I did!
Frank Frølich is wrapping up his latest case as a Private Investigator when he meets Mathilde and begins seeing her. When she learns he is a PI she tells him about a friend of hers that needs his help. She works at a Refugee center and there is a girl there looking for her sister who left Iraq and traveled to Norway. She is worried for her sister and needs to find her before she is deported. With little to go on Frank doesn't expect to have much luck finding her and when a reporter contacts Frank to look into an old case involving a mysterious fire that claimed a lot of lives years before, the case takes on a whole new life. People begin dying and Frank is drawn into many investigations at once. It was like a Russian nesting doll...with each layer a new mystery is revealed. I loved that!
I really enjoyed Dahl's unique writing style and once the mysteries unfolded I was hooked. I am definitely going to pick up the other books in the series to see what I missed. Many thanks to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for the chance to read Sister!
Frank Frølich is wrapping up his latest case as a Private Investigator when he meets Mathilde and begins seeing her. When she learns he is a PI she tells him about a friend of hers that needs his help. She works at a Refugee center and there is a girl there looking for her sister who left Iraq and traveled to Norway. She is worried for her sister and needs to find her before she is deported. With little to go on Frank doesn't expect to have much luck finding her and when a reporter contacts Frank to look into an old case involving a mysterious fire that claimed a lot of lives years before, the case takes on a whole new life. People begin dying and Frank is drawn into many investigations at once. It was like a Russian nesting doll...with each layer a new mystery is revealed. I loved that!
I really enjoyed Dahl's unique writing style and once the mysteries unfolded I was hooked. I am definitely going to pick up the other books in the series to see what I missed. Many thanks to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for the chance to read Sister!
April 3, 2020
Frank Frølich is currently suspended from the Oslo police and now is trying to make a living as a private detective. His last job, proving a man was stealing alcohol and cigarettes from his employer, has just finished with a successful conviction and he is wondering where his next month's rent will come from. On the way home one day he stops for a meal and meets a cafe worker, Matilde, whom he quickly falls into a relationship with. She in turn asks him to help out a friend of hers in his professional capacity. The friend, Guri, works at a refugee centre and is deeply concerned for the plight of one of their clients, a teenage girl called Aisha who has fled to Norway from Iraq and now searches for her sister who left her home country in 2005. Finding a relative will help prevent her deportation. He interviews Aisha and leaves with a photo of her sister, determined to do what he can. At one point he thinks he may have found someone who recognises the woman but no one is talking. Frank then receives a visit from an author who is writing an book about immigration and people smuggling, but whose greatest work was an in-depth novel investigating a terrible cruise ship disaster where many people lost their lives. There are many theories about cover ups and conspiracies, and the author believes that the full truth was never exposed despite follow up enquiries. The author claims to know where the missing sister is and demands to know who is looking for her. Frank refuses and tries to hand the man's money back but he disappears. He traces the man's house but despite strange comings and goings there, fails to spot the author himself. The next day he receives a visit from his old boss Gunnarstranda who tells him the author has been found dead in his house. A second body later turns up, discovered by Frank himself, and Frank wonders whether the deaths could be connected to his current enquiry or to the very old investigation that refuses to lie down. More people seem to want to hire Frank's services but how genuine are their motives? This is a very well written murder mystery and the pace never lets up as one false trail after another opens up. The older case will make the reader both sad at the tragedy and angry at the injustice of it all as Frank doggedly follows up his leads and roots through years old evidence. The real motive for the killings was so well bundled up with misdirection and red herrings that it truly never crossed my mind, as it gets revealed in a dramatic and thrilling ending. When I started reading I had not realised this was part of a series, as the characters are all clearly defined and the book works perfectly well as a stand alone. Frank is a terrific protagonist and I shall definitely be catching up on previous stories featuring the "Oslo Detectives" very soon. Highly recommended. 5*
August 28, 2020
I liked the way he kept his book noir. Leaving Frank Frølich wondering what had happened. He had several cases, the ship disaster from years before. The murder of his client before he could not take the case. The murder of a psychiatrist at her house. The murder of an Syrian man. Each one of these murders was made relevant by someone who was involved with the action. Kjell was always getting Frank Flølich around each of the murders before or after they happened. He also had a redhead involved in someway that backfired when she found out he wasn't forthcoming on one of the murders brothers. Action and no action seems to be what Frank found out and he finally figured out what had happened in each case. Seems one of his previous cops was an interesting case where he didn't resolve the disaster to his findings. But Kjell made everything interesting to where you were on pins and needles in anticipating what happened. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars. It was good reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2020
Full review 8th April 2020
June 2, 2020
Sister (Oslo Detectives #9). Kjell Ola Dahl, Don Bartlett translator... iBook 4.99.
THIS IS NOT NORDIC NOIR.....and I really wish that people would stop tagging reads and reviews with terminology that does not apply.
Yes, it is set mostly in Oslo, Norway, including a nice road trip and the series is tagged as the Oslo Detectives.....but this is a nice ambling read of a detective Frank Frølich that stopped the police force and is trying to make a living as a private detective now. His relationship with the force and his old partner is strained and not really well explained. So you could say no longer really....Oslo Detectives!
The adventures or storyline happen when he meets a nice woman, a waitress named Matilde with a mysterious musical past and a love of vintage American vehicles and enters into a love affair with her. He is worried about making his rent. She introduces him to a woman who works as a counselor at a asylum center to investigate some mysterious sister of a refugee. He is then contacted by a man who wrote a book about a famous Norwegian boat disaster, then more queries about refugees, as one asylum seeker disappears and connections with a third and fourth person asking for his help about the boat disaster and more mystery regarding refugees and it begins to seem that these cases may be intertwined....
In some ways, it is a puzzling read but the twists and turns are nicely tidy by the end and as Frank and Matilde drive through the countryside there are some nice moments as she looks for a new found brother and he tries to find clues...but the story rambles and I really had a hard time staying interested even as one murder after another happens.... Frank Frølich’s relationship with his old partner, Gunnarstranda is sad really
Kjell Ola Dahl, translated by Don Bartlett. Norway. Gunnarstranda & Frølich the Oslo Detectives,
**6 of the 8 novels have been published in English, these translations have been published in the reverse order to which they were written.
Lethal Investments #1. 1993/2012
The Last Fix. #2. 2000/2010
The Man in the Window #3. 2001/2009
Lugenmeer 2003 #4 ???
The Fourth Man. # 5. 2005/2009
Wraakengel 2007 #6 ???
Faithless, # 7 Oslo. March 2010/2017. iBook.
The Ice Swimmer, # 8. Oslo Detectives. Feb 28, 2018. iBook.
Sister (Oslo Detectives #9). Kjell Ola Dahl, Don Bartlett translator... iBook 4.99. 3/5 🛑
THIS IS NOT NORDIC NOIR.....and I really wish that people would stop tagging reads and reviews with terminology that does not apply.
Yes, it is set mostly in Oslo, Norway, including a nice road trip and the series is tagged as the Oslo Detectives.....but this is a nice ambling read of a detective Frank Frølich that stopped the police force and is trying to make a living as a private detective now. His relationship with the force and his old partner is strained and not really well explained. So you could say no longer really....Oslo Detectives!
The adventures or storyline happen when he meets a nice woman, a waitress named Matilde with a mysterious musical past and a love of vintage American vehicles and enters into a love affair with her. He is worried about making his rent. She introduces him to a woman who works as a counselor at a asylum center to investigate some mysterious sister of a refugee. He is then contacted by a man who wrote a book about a famous Norwegian boat disaster, then more queries about refugees, as one asylum seeker disappears and connections with a third and fourth person asking for his help about the boat disaster and more mystery regarding refugees and it begins to seem that these cases may be intertwined....
In some ways, it is a puzzling read but the twists and turns are nicely tidy by the end and as Frank and Matilde drive through the countryside there are some nice moments as she looks for a new found brother and he tries to find clues...but the story rambles and I really had a hard time staying interested even as one murder after another happens.... Frank Frølich’s relationship with his old partner, Gunnarstranda is sad really
Kjell Ola Dahl, translated by Don Bartlett. Norway. Gunnarstranda & Frølich the Oslo Detectives,
**6 of the 8 novels have been published in English, these translations have been published in the reverse order to which they were written.
Lethal Investments #1. 1993/2012
The Last Fix. #2. 2000/2010
The Man in the Window #3. 2001/2009
Lugenmeer 2003 #4 ???
The Fourth Man. # 5. 2005/2009
Wraakengel 2007 #6 ???
Faithless, # 7 Oslo. March 2010/2017. iBook.
The Ice Swimmer, # 8. Oslo Detectives. Feb 28, 2018. iBook.
Sister (Oslo Detectives #9). Kjell Ola Dahl, Don Bartlett translator... iBook 4.99. 3/5 🛑
April 6, 2020
After last year's historical spy thriller, The Courier, Kjell Ola Dahl returns to his Oslo Detectives series with Sister, a story which is rooted in the some of the pressing social challenges affecting many countries besides just Norway. Having loved the previous novel, The Ice Swimmer, I was really looking forward to reading Sister; although a long-running series, each can be easily enjoyed as standalones so newcomers needn't be concerned about beginning here.
The book has a rather romantic opening when Frank Frølich, working on a routine case as a private investigator, meets a woman, Matilde in a café with whom he has an instant rapport. They embark on a relationship but when she asks him to help a friend, he finds himself immersed in a complicated investigation which results in him being at odds with his former colleagues in the police force, including his old partner Gunnarstranda. He reluctantly agrees to try to locate Sheyma, the older sister of a young asylum seeker, Aisha but knowing how many families have become fragmented through immigration and fearing the worst may have occurred to a female refugee who reportedly travelled alone means he is doesn't expect to be able to provide any good news - particularly as Aisha's refugee status has been denied and she is due to be deported imminently.
With very little to go on, other than a photograph, Frølich is surprised when a possible small breakthrough brings an unexpected lead to his door. Fredrik Andersen is a writer whose latest book is about immigration and people smuggling but rather than providing information as to Sheyma's whereabouts, he warns the detective off then surprises him with an offer of his own. This becomes a recurring occurrence throughout the book and it's fascinating to see how Frølich becomes torn by the various requests placed upon him.
What begins as a likely hopeless missing person case becomes much more sinister when the death toll begins to rise and as well as the links to illegal immigration, Frank also finds himself looking into an old tragedy involving a ferry which caught fire killing over a hundred passengers on board. There is some significant criticism of the police here, Kjell Ola Dahl certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to examining the times where they are at fault; their harsh treatment of asylum seekers, their reluctance or refusal to look beyond the simple explanation into a death and perhaps most damningly, there is a suggestion of corruption due to their willingness to protect certain groups above others.
Frølich is such an intriguing character and I was constantly riveted by his story. He is working as as a private investigator after being suspended from the police but I can't help but wonder whether he will decide he prefers being on the outside having been exposed to the institutional darkness within. He realises that the police, politicians and press are intrinsically connected and though they may claim to hold one another to account, the truth is murkier and they actually conspire to protect one another to maintain the staus quo.
Although some of the subject matter is typically bleak, the Norwegian summer setting lends a lighter feel to the novel, especially in many of the scenes with Matilde and there are some lovely touches of humour - including an awkward conversation Frank has with a very candid gynaecologist... Far from detracting from the serious topics, this lightness ensures the contrast with darker sides of society seems all the more shocking. Frølich is a very human detective; he is a tenacious investigator who becomes progressively preoccupied with uncovering the truth but he doesn't eagerly put himself into dangerous situations and indeed his terror is almost palpable at times. Sister is uncomfortably convincing and a large part of that comes from the very real man at the heart of the story - he is entirely believable and so it follows that what he discovers also becomes only too credible.
With writing this compelling it really isn't surprising to know that Kjell Ola Dahl is considered one of the godfathers of Nordic Noir; the complex, skilfully crafted narrative piercingly explores contemporary social issues and as always praise should also go to Don Bartlett's excellent translation. Sister is gripping, immersive storytelling of highest calibre, I thoroughly recommend it.
The book has a rather romantic opening when Frank Frølich, working on a routine case as a private investigator, meets a woman, Matilde in a café with whom he has an instant rapport. They embark on a relationship but when she asks him to help a friend, he finds himself immersed in a complicated investigation which results in him being at odds with his former colleagues in the police force, including his old partner Gunnarstranda. He reluctantly agrees to try to locate Sheyma, the older sister of a young asylum seeker, Aisha but knowing how many families have become fragmented through immigration and fearing the worst may have occurred to a female refugee who reportedly travelled alone means he is doesn't expect to be able to provide any good news - particularly as Aisha's refugee status has been denied and she is due to be deported imminently.
With very little to go on, other than a photograph, Frølich is surprised when a possible small breakthrough brings an unexpected lead to his door. Fredrik Andersen is a writer whose latest book is about immigration and people smuggling but rather than providing information as to Sheyma's whereabouts, he warns the detective off then surprises him with an offer of his own. This becomes a recurring occurrence throughout the book and it's fascinating to see how Frølich becomes torn by the various requests placed upon him.
What begins as a likely hopeless missing person case becomes much more sinister when the death toll begins to rise and as well as the links to illegal immigration, Frank also finds himself looking into an old tragedy involving a ferry which caught fire killing over a hundred passengers on board. There is some significant criticism of the police here, Kjell Ola Dahl certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to examining the times where they are at fault; their harsh treatment of asylum seekers, their reluctance or refusal to look beyond the simple explanation into a death and perhaps most damningly, there is a suggestion of corruption due to their willingness to protect certain groups above others.
Frølich is such an intriguing character and I was constantly riveted by his story. He is working as as a private investigator after being suspended from the police but I can't help but wonder whether he will decide he prefers being on the outside having been exposed to the institutional darkness within. He realises that the police, politicians and press are intrinsically connected and though they may claim to hold one another to account, the truth is murkier and they actually conspire to protect one another to maintain the staus quo.
Although some of the subject matter is typically bleak, the Norwegian summer setting lends a lighter feel to the novel, especially in many of the scenes with Matilde and there are some lovely touches of humour - including an awkward conversation Frank has with a very candid gynaecologist... Far from detracting from the serious topics, this lightness ensures the contrast with darker sides of society seems all the more shocking. Frølich is a very human detective; he is a tenacious investigator who becomes progressively preoccupied with uncovering the truth but he doesn't eagerly put himself into dangerous situations and indeed his terror is almost palpable at times. Sister is uncomfortably convincing and a large part of that comes from the very real man at the heart of the story - he is entirely believable and so it follows that what he discovers also becomes only too credible.
With writing this compelling it really isn't surprising to know that Kjell Ola Dahl is considered one of the godfathers of Nordic Noir; the complex, skilfully crafted narrative piercingly explores contemporary social issues and as always praise should also go to Don Bartlett's excellent translation. Sister is gripping, immersive storytelling of highest calibre, I thoroughly recommend it.
May 10, 2020
Sister is the ninth instalment in the Oslo Detectives series, and it’s the third Oslo Detectives novel published by Orenda Books, after Faithless and The Ice Swimmer. I was planning on reading these last two before Sister, but life got in the way, so despite my need to read series in the right order, Sister was my first Oslo Detective novel. However, I experienced no problems with it at all. There were no continuing storylines to confuse me, and despite not knowing his history, I instantly liked protagonist Frølich, Oslo detective turned private investigator.
Sister is a detective story and a murder mystery and highly entertaining as such, but it also touches upon the heavier subject of the refugees debate: housing, support they should be given or denied, deportation, etc. It never gets overly political or controversial, but it does make for a very interesting backdrop to the story, which is actually exactly what I had expected from this author after reading his standalone historical thriller The Courier.
At first I thought that Sister would be a slow burner but then suddenly it took off at a speed that left me reeling! Off we went on an intricate investigation, a dozen seemingly loose threads dangling in front of my eyes, the bigger picture eluding me, leaving both Frølich and me desperately trying to connect the dots. Suffering from a bout of insomnia, I picked up Sister in the middle of the night, in the hopes of finding peace, of dozing off. I read until I was too tired to even hold my Kobo, it was drop the book or drop dead (I hesitated but in the end I chose to drop the book), but did I doze off? Of course I didn’t! Instead, I added Frølich’s investigations to my nighttime ponderings on a loop in a rather sad and completely pointless merry-go-round: coronavirus; work; Frølich; do I really trust her; what is he hiding; what is that bit all about; why do people not just say what they have to say over the phone, what’s with the whole “we need to meet in person” spiel, I mean it’s not even allowed now with the whole corona situation; work; Frølich; … Sigh. I should have chosen something silly and brainless instead of a riveting detective story, rookie mistake 😄
In the end I did manage to get some sleep, and I went back to Norway the next day, to continue my investigations. However involved I got, it was Frølich who figured it out, my muddled brain hadn’t seen the patterns at all, had missed the clues, had failed to connect any dots. Yet the finale made total sense, all the pieces of the puzzle slotted in their right place, I was looking on, saying “oh” and nodding, finally understanding.
Sister is a great read, one of those stories that makes me want to whip out a whiteboard, markers, magnets and red yarn and physically create a murder board. I’m very happy to have finally acquainted myself with the Oslo detectives and I can’t wait to go back to the earlier novels, and I am equally eager for the next one, bring it on! Recommended to lovers of Nordic Noir, detective stories and murder mysteries!
Sister is a detective story and a murder mystery and highly entertaining as such, but it also touches upon the heavier subject of the refugees debate: housing, support they should be given or denied, deportation, etc. It never gets overly political or controversial, but it does make for a very interesting backdrop to the story, which is actually exactly what I had expected from this author after reading his standalone historical thriller The Courier.
At first I thought that Sister would be a slow burner but then suddenly it took off at a speed that left me reeling! Off we went on an intricate investigation, a dozen seemingly loose threads dangling in front of my eyes, the bigger picture eluding me, leaving both Frølich and me desperately trying to connect the dots. Suffering from a bout of insomnia, I picked up Sister in the middle of the night, in the hopes of finding peace, of dozing off. I read until I was too tired to even hold my Kobo, it was drop the book or drop dead (I hesitated but in the end I chose to drop the book), but did I doze off? Of course I didn’t! Instead, I added Frølich’s investigations to my nighttime ponderings on a loop in a rather sad and completely pointless merry-go-round: coronavirus; work; Frølich; do I really trust her; what is he hiding; what is that bit all about; why do people not just say what they have to say over the phone, what’s with the whole “we need to meet in person” spiel, I mean it’s not even allowed now with the whole corona situation; work; Frølich; … Sigh. I should have chosen something silly and brainless instead of a riveting detective story, rookie mistake 😄
In the end I did manage to get some sleep, and I went back to Norway the next day, to continue my investigations. However involved I got, it was Frølich who figured it out, my muddled brain hadn’t seen the patterns at all, had missed the clues, had failed to connect any dots. Yet the finale made total sense, all the pieces of the puzzle slotted in their right place, I was looking on, saying “oh” and nodding, finally understanding.
Sister is a great read, one of those stories that makes me want to whip out a whiteboard, markers, magnets and red yarn and physically create a murder board. I’m very happy to have finally acquainted myself with the Oslo detectives and I can’t wait to go back to the earlier novels, and I am equally eager for the next one, bring it on! Recommended to lovers of Nordic Noir, detective stories and murder mysteries!
September 10, 2020
This Nordic mystery could have been a great read until it started going in too many directions.
Frolich, a Private Investigator, once a police officer who left the department on bad terms, is approached by Guri, a woman who wants to prevent a girl from being deported. This girl supposedly has a sister in Norway and if they can find her, the deportation will not occur.
Shortly after Frolich is given the assignment to find the sister, a man named Anderson tries to give him some work. There was a Norwegian ship that sank years ago and Anderson believes there is a police cover-up of the fire that destroyed the ship. Anderson believes the fire was arson and that there is a conspiracy to hide that fact. He would like Frolich to find the truth.
Right after Anderson's visit to Frolich, deaths start happening. The question is which deaths are suicide and which are murder, and also if there is any connection between them.
It is at this point that the novel takes off on rabbit trails that subtract from it being a cohesive whole.
I felt that there was a lot of back story from previous installments of this series that I was not knowledgeable about. I believe I could have appreciated this mystery much more had I not read it as a stand-alone.
Frolich, a Private Investigator, once a police officer who left the department on bad terms, is approached by Guri, a woman who wants to prevent a girl from being deported. This girl supposedly has a sister in Norway and if they can find her, the deportation will not occur.
Shortly after Frolich is given the assignment to find the sister, a man named Anderson tries to give him some work. There was a Norwegian ship that sank years ago and Anderson believes there is a police cover-up of the fire that destroyed the ship. Anderson believes the fire was arson and that there is a conspiracy to hide that fact. He would like Frolich to find the truth.
Right after Anderson's visit to Frolich, deaths start happening. The question is which deaths are suicide and which are murder, and also if there is any connection between them.
It is at this point that the novel takes off on rabbit trails that subtract from it being a cohesive whole.
I felt that there was a lot of back story from previous installments of this series that I was not knowledgeable about. I believe I could have appreciated this mystery much more had I not read it as a stand-alone.
April 7, 2020
Detective Frolich has been suspended from duty on the Oslo police force. Since he’s departure as a police officer, he has started his own private investigation business. Frolich’s girlfriend has a case for him, as her co-worker desperately wants to help an asylum seeker. She claims her sister is somewhere in Norway and is urgently in need of finding her to avoid deportation. As Frolich starts his search things quickly escalate in complexity when the missing sister claims she’s never heard of this woman before. Things start to get stranger for Frolich as bodies start to accumulate, all with an odd connection to this asylum seeker, her missing sister, and an old investigation.
My first introduction to Kjell Ola Dahl was with the previous installment of this series, ICE SWIMMER. I instantly was hooked to Kjell’s writing style. With SISTER the reader is instantly thrown into Frolich’s day to day life as a private investigator and his new case. I love how the chapters unfold in a way that is methodically plotted and never rushed, but somehow still manages to hold an air of tension. Nordic Noir is often classified as being on the darker side, but Kjell finds a way to blend those elements of this story with a lighter air. Put simply, this book is rich, tense, and captivating!
SISTER is driven by the main character of Frank Frolich, who seamlessly conveys a sense of devotion to his detective craft, as well as a passion for justice. The reader never once doubts Frolich’s conviction to solving the case that has been dumped in his lap, even though time after time he is put in strange situations that would certainly justify throwing in the towel. There is a wonderful sense of honesty to Frolich, which I think for me as a reader is incredibly refreshing. So often books in the crime fiction genre lean too heavily on creating detectives with dark pasts. While Frolich has personal issues, namely the fact that he has lost his position on the police force, these items don’t weigh him down.
I absolutely love that SISTER has such an intricately layered plot. I wasn’t sure what Frolich was going to find himself investigating when he first took the case of the missing sister. What we both, Frolich and myself, found was something so much more! This case has a little bit of everything: a missing person who doesn’t want to be found, an odd connection to a controversial case, and a healthy dose of murder! Despite being the ninth installment in a long running series, this book easily works as a standalone and in a great introduction to Kjell Ola Dahl’s fantastic writing!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my free copy of this book!
My first introduction to Kjell Ola Dahl was with the previous installment of this series, ICE SWIMMER. I instantly was hooked to Kjell’s writing style. With SISTER the reader is instantly thrown into Frolich’s day to day life as a private investigator and his new case. I love how the chapters unfold in a way that is methodically plotted and never rushed, but somehow still manages to hold an air of tension. Nordic Noir is often classified as being on the darker side, but Kjell finds a way to blend those elements of this story with a lighter air. Put simply, this book is rich, tense, and captivating!
SISTER is driven by the main character of Frank Frolich, who seamlessly conveys a sense of devotion to his detective craft, as well as a passion for justice. The reader never once doubts Frolich’s conviction to solving the case that has been dumped in his lap, even though time after time he is put in strange situations that would certainly justify throwing in the towel. There is a wonderful sense of honesty to Frolich, which I think for me as a reader is incredibly refreshing. So often books in the crime fiction genre lean too heavily on creating detectives with dark pasts. While Frolich has personal issues, namely the fact that he has lost his position on the police force, these items don’t weigh him down.
I absolutely love that SISTER has such an intricately layered plot. I wasn’t sure what Frolich was going to find himself investigating when he first took the case of the missing sister. What we both, Frolich and myself, found was something so much more! This case has a little bit of everything: a missing person who doesn’t want to be found, an odd connection to a controversial case, and a healthy dose of murder! Despite being the ninth installment in a long running series, this book easily works as a standalone and in a great introduction to Kjell Ola Dahl’s fantastic writing!
A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my free copy of this book!
February 24, 2021
I was really looking forward to reading this book based on the back covers description, which was, unfortunately, very misleading. There's a whole storyline that isn't even mentioned and almost nothing that's said on the back is correct in any way. I don't know if it's a bad translation or?
Anyway. The book is fine. The protagonist is a fairly uninteresting man, some roads that are explored are not explained, and the dialogue is dreary.
A lot of the characters are unnecessary too, including a vagina obsessed gynaecologist. Yes. He also has absolutely 0 importance in the book. Really weird.
The setting is what made it for me. I really enjoy scandi books, so even if this one wasn't great I enjoyed the world it was set in. I don't know if id reccomend it to.other people but I wouldn't not recommend it. Just don't be fooled by the back cover.
Anyway. The book is fine. The protagonist is a fairly uninteresting man, some roads that are explored are not explained, and the dialogue is dreary.
A lot of the characters are unnecessary too, including a vagina obsessed gynaecologist. Yes. He also has absolutely 0 importance in the book. Really weird.
The setting is what made it for me. I really enjoy scandi books, so even if this one wasn't great I enjoyed the world it was set in. I don't know if id reccomend it to.other people but I wouldn't not recommend it. Just don't be fooled by the back cover.
April 4, 2021
Some of the books in this series are good, but not this one.Repetitive, going nowhere.
April 5, 2020
Man kan tilgive et overlæsset plot med løse ender, hvis det er formidlet med charme – ikke hvis det ligner en transskribering af en skolekomedie.
April 6, 2020
How lovely to be back in the company of Frank Frølich. He may no longer be at the helm of the police investigations, having left under a cloud some time before, but in his new role as Private Investigator it hasn't stopped him from finding himself in the middle of a pretty serious investigation, one that puts him in conflict with some names from his past.
From the very beginning of this book I found myself completely immersed in Frank's story and, by default, that of the world of immigrants, asylum seekers and cruise ship disasters in which he found himself. A chance trip to a shopping mall after the conclusion of a case sees Frølich meeting Mathilde, a woman who is about to change his life, both romantically and professionally. As a favour to her he agrees to help one of her friends in tracing a woman who fled to Norway from Iraq some years before and whose sister who has made a similar journey and is now on the verge of being deported if they cannot trace the woman to vouch for her to remain in the country.
And so it begins ... Nothing about the case is quite as it seems and from a simple missing persons investigation, the story turns to murder and potential insurance fraud as Frølich also finds himself engaged in trying to track down what really happened when a cruise ship succumbed to a catastrophic blaze some thirty years earlier, a blaze in which many lives were lost. That in itself is a heartbreaking story, and one full of mystery as it appears the original investigation may not stand up to close scrutiny.
I loved the way in which Kjell Ola Dahl has brought that whole investigation to life, taking readers through the evidence and allowing us to form our own opinions on what really happened. But this isn't exclusively about the cruise ship disaster, and nor is it really a book about the plight of asylum seekers in Norway, although it touches upon both subjects in a very measured and clever way. This is a very complex and multi-layered tale, not so much so as to be inaccessible, but enough that you can be completely fooled by what you think you know, and blindsided by the truth when it is finally revealed.
Once again, readers are treated to characters who are very authentic, very three dimensional and diverse. I liked the way in which Mathilde's freer spirit seemed to rub off on Frank, although he remained true to himself in that he could never fully switch off from the case and, when all was said and done, his need to find the answers was the strongest pull of all. And one of the finest things about this series is the beautiful way in which Kjell Ola Dahl sets the scene for readers. We are not confined to the neighbourhoods around the cityscape that makes up Frank's natural habitat. We are led on a journey across country at one stage, and on ferry journeys at others, all of which are brilliantly captured on the page, letting readers experience the sights, sounds and almost the smells of Norway, as we move from chapter to chapter. It is a book which I flew through as I was so fully engaged in what I was reading and desperate to know how all of the threads pulled together.
This is a story in which one tragedy leads to the next, and then the next, and so on. If you come expecting a happy ending, you may be disappointed. You will get a resolution - without a shadow of a doubt. Frank achieves all he is commissioned to do, and perhaps a touch more, but in a story that is defined by family, honour, loss, deception and careful manipulation, there is little chance for anyone to come out of this investigation on top.
Got to say, though, that I am completely intrigued, and a little bit excited, by the ending too.
A big shout out to translator, Don Bartlett, who has done a fantastic job yet again of making the author's words, and Frølich's world, absolutely sing in English.
From the very beginning of this book I found myself completely immersed in Frank's story and, by default, that of the world of immigrants, asylum seekers and cruise ship disasters in which he found himself. A chance trip to a shopping mall after the conclusion of a case sees Frølich meeting Mathilde, a woman who is about to change his life, both romantically and professionally. As a favour to her he agrees to help one of her friends in tracing a woman who fled to Norway from Iraq some years before and whose sister who has made a similar journey and is now on the verge of being deported if they cannot trace the woman to vouch for her to remain in the country.
And so it begins ... Nothing about the case is quite as it seems and from a simple missing persons investigation, the story turns to murder and potential insurance fraud as Frølich also finds himself engaged in trying to track down what really happened when a cruise ship succumbed to a catastrophic blaze some thirty years earlier, a blaze in which many lives were lost. That in itself is a heartbreaking story, and one full of mystery as it appears the original investigation may not stand up to close scrutiny.
I loved the way in which Kjell Ola Dahl has brought that whole investigation to life, taking readers through the evidence and allowing us to form our own opinions on what really happened. But this isn't exclusively about the cruise ship disaster, and nor is it really a book about the plight of asylum seekers in Norway, although it touches upon both subjects in a very measured and clever way. This is a very complex and multi-layered tale, not so much so as to be inaccessible, but enough that you can be completely fooled by what you think you know, and blindsided by the truth when it is finally revealed.
Once again, readers are treated to characters who are very authentic, very three dimensional and diverse. I liked the way in which Mathilde's freer spirit seemed to rub off on Frank, although he remained true to himself in that he could never fully switch off from the case and, when all was said and done, his need to find the answers was the strongest pull of all. And one of the finest things about this series is the beautiful way in which Kjell Ola Dahl sets the scene for readers. We are not confined to the neighbourhoods around the cityscape that makes up Frank's natural habitat. We are led on a journey across country at one stage, and on ferry journeys at others, all of which are brilliantly captured on the page, letting readers experience the sights, sounds and almost the smells of Norway, as we move from chapter to chapter. It is a book which I flew through as I was so fully engaged in what I was reading and desperate to know how all of the threads pulled together.
This is a story in which one tragedy leads to the next, and then the next, and so on. If you come expecting a happy ending, you may be disappointed. You will get a resolution - without a shadow of a doubt. Frank achieves all he is commissioned to do, and perhaps a touch more, but in a story that is defined by family, honour, loss, deception and careful manipulation, there is little chance for anyone to come out of this investigation on top.
Got to say, though, that I am completely intrigued, and a little bit excited, by the ending too.
A big shout out to translator, Don Bartlett, who has done a fantastic job yet again of making the author's words, and Frølich's world, absolutely sing in English.
April 13, 2020
Suspended police detective Frank Frolich, now working as private detective in Olso, finds himself involved in the case of the missing sister of an illegal immigrant - as a favour to a friend of his new girlfriend, Mathilde.
Although reluctant to take on a case on behalf of a client who is unlikely to be able to pay for his services, Frolich soon discovers that there is something very fishy going on here.
Before long he is mysteriously contacted by the author of an infamous book about a suspicious ferry disaster, who tells him things are not all they appear to be - that the woman he is searching for does not even have a younger sister and that he will be putting her in terrible danger if he continues with this case.
As the plot thickens, Frolich finds himself chasing several lines of inquiry around the fate of illegal immigrants in Norway and to do with the ferry accident, and bodies are starting to pile up.
Can Frolich get to the bottom of this strange case before it is too late?
***************************************************************
Sister is the most complex and devilishly plotted contemporary Nordic Noir murder mystery that I have read for a very long time and it kept me turning the pages until well into the night!
Our Norwegian protagonist, former police detective Frank Frolich, finds himself accidentally involved in a case that appears to be a simple one about a missing person - albeit one which he thinks has no chance of success, when his normal lines of inquiry draw a total blank on the whereabouts of an Iraqi immigrant called Sheyma, who apparently came to Norway some years ago.
But it is not long before Frolich finds he has stirred up a hornets' nest that brings him into contact with a host of would be clients who want him to perform jobs which confusingly conflict with each other and promise to drag him into the mire surrounding, not only the current sate of illegal asylum cases in Norway, but also the mystery surrounding a ferry disaster from 1988.
A case Frolich took only as a favour to his new girlfriend takes him into dangerous territory, as people he comes into contact start turning up dead and he is under suspicion of being involved in their deaths by the police - including his former colleague Gunnarstranda. What is really going on here? How do the threads of seemingly unconnected cases appear to be tangled together?
I can't give too much away here, for fear of giving spoliers, but this is edge-of-your-seat stuff and I found myself racing through the chapters in pursuit of the thrilling conclusions to all the wonderful threads Kjell Ola Dahl has wrought in this book. We are treated to a highly appropriate Nordic smorgasbord of subjects under the microscope, from of the treatment of asylum seekers, honour killings, conspiracy theories, corruption, mishandled investigations, and even the fallout from human relationships and loneliness, all of which make for an incredibly absorbing story.
This is the first contemporary thriller I have read from the pen of Kjell Ola Dahl, having previously only read his outstanding historical novel The Courier, but yet again he has managed to write a marvelous book with oodles of plot to keep you entertained and gobsmacked in equal measure - you do have to concentrate on this one ladies and gentlemen, but the result is certainly worth it. I should add that Don Bartlett has done another fabulous job with the translation of Kjell Ola Dahl's work here.
If you like your Nordic Noir pacy, complex and intelligent, with mysteries that will challenge your deductive powers - and quite frankly, who doesn't - then Kjell Ola Dahl is certainly the man for you.
I will definitely be seeking out one of his other Oslo Detectives books the next time I need to fire up my brain cells!
Although reluctant to take on a case on behalf of a client who is unlikely to be able to pay for his services, Frolich soon discovers that there is something very fishy going on here.
Before long he is mysteriously contacted by the author of an infamous book about a suspicious ferry disaster, who tells him things are not all they appear to be - that the woman he is searching for does not even have a younger sister and that he will be putting her in terrible danger if he continues with this case.
As the plot thickens, Frolich finds himself chasing several lines of inquiry around the fate of illegal immigrants in Norway and to do with the ferry accident, and bodies are starting to pile up.
Can Frolich get to the bottom of this strange case before it is too late?
***************************************************************
Sister is the most complex and devilishly plotted contemporary Nordic Noir murder mystery that I have read for a very long time and it kept me turning the pages until well into the night!
Our Norwegian protagonist, former police detective Frank Frolich, finds himself accidentally involved in a case that appears to be a simple one about a missing person - albeit one which he thinks has no chance of success, when his normal lines of inquiry draw a total blank on the whereabouts of an Iraqi immigrant called Sheyma, who apparently came to Norway some years ago.
But it is not long before Frolich finds he has stirred up a hornets' nest that brings him into contact with a host of would be clients who want him to perform jobs which confusingly conflict with each other and promise to drag him into the mire surrounding, not only the current sate of illegal asylum cases in Norway, but also the mystery surrounding a ferry disaster from 1988.
A case Frolich took only as a favour to his new girlfriend takes him into dangerous territory, as people he comes into contact start turning up dead and he is under suspicion of being involved in their deaths by the police - including his former colleague Gunnarstranda. What is really going on here? How do the threads of seemingly unconnected cases appear to be tangled together?
I can't give too much away here, for fear of giving spoliers, but this is edge-of-your-seat stuff and I found myself racing through the chapters in pursuit of the thrilling conclusions to all the wonderful threads Kjell Ola Dahl has wrought in this book. We are treated to a highly appropriate Nordic smorgasbord of subjects under the microscope, from of the treatment of asylum seekers, honour killings, conspiracy theories, corruption, mishandled investigations, and even the fallout from human relationships and loneliness, all of which make for an incredibly absorbing story.
This is the first contemporary thriller I have read from the pen of Kjell Ola Dahl, having previously only read his outstanding historical novel The Courier, but yet again he has managed to write a marvelous book with oodles of plot to keep you entertained and gobsmacked in equal measure - you do have to concentrate on this one ladies and gentlemen, but the result is certainly worth it. I should add that Don Bartlett has done another fabulous job with the translation of Kjell Ola Dahl's work here.
If you like your Nordic Noir pacy, complex and intelligent, with mysteries that will challenge your deductive powers - and quite frankly, who doesn't - then Kjell Ola Dahl is certainly the man for you.
I will definitely be seeking out one of his other Oslo Detectives books the next time I need to fire up my brain cells!
May 16, 2020
After a diversion into the historical based thriller The Courier (which I would highly recommend) Kjell Ola Dahl has reverted back to his Oslo Detective series with Sister being the eighth outing. As usual Frank Frølich is in the midst of a couple of tricky cases, and as he discovers connections between the two, his innate powers of detection are put under pressure…
By isolating Frølich from his previous role as police detective, Dahl has opened up a world of possibilities for this character as a private investigator, whilst retaining his connections to his former career. Hence, regular readers of the series will see Frølich retain a relationship with a familiar character from the previous books, yet have the scope to embark on his own probing investigation unfettered by his former restraints as a police officer. As I was reading, I felt that we could be looking at a younger Varg Veum, the central character of Gunnar Staalessen’s excellent series, and a private investigator of some repute. Although Frølich does not have exactly the same characteristics or highly developed cynicism of Veum, the indications are good that this new career will be a good fit for him as the series progresses, and it will be interesting to see into which direction Dahl will lead him. He is a persistent and determined investigator, and as his two initially unconnected investigations begin to meld together, he has numerous red herrings and blind alleys to navigate. One of these cases in particular, highlights Frølich‘s tenacity as an investigator, and also his own personal moral code to challenge authority, and to achieve some kind of justice for the victim, despite, at times, intense personal danger to himself.
As Frølich gradually unpicks the underlying strands of each case, what Dahl constructs is a story that balances equally a cold case of some years previously, a maritime accident and a very pertinent and contemporary case centred on immigration. Dahl is very adroit at taking the reader into the finer detail of a case, in particular the historical case of a devastating fire on board a ship, and he also constructs the narrative so there is a salient repetition of certain information, to keep us in the loop with Frølich‘s discoveries, and to map out the conspiracy theory in a clear and relevant manner. Although I was less engaged with this strand of the story, there were certain elements of it that piqued my interest as the scope of the conspiracy was gradually revealed. I did, however, enjoy the more contemporary element of the book, focussing on the murder of a immigration worker, and how this impacts on her associates, on Frølich and also on a new personal relationship he has embarked on. By its very nature this was going to be a more emotive case for Frølich, and Dahl neatly arouses the readers’ sympathies for both the victim and others, as elements of the past give rise to retribution and revenge.
Once again, translated beautifully by Don Bartlett, Dahl has constructed a multi-layered and thoroughly researched crime thriller where the impact of past and present interweave and impact on each other. The book is peppered with some nice little elements of humour, and I am always impressed by Dahl’s aptitude for constructing such a visual depiction of his characters from relatively few details of their physical features, like mini caricatures. As I said previously, in the long term, it will be interesting how Frølich overcomes the personal disappointments that this case brings to him, and how his career as a private investigator will play out after his ignominious fall from grace as a police officer. It all bodes well for a good solid change of direction in the Oslo Detective series. Recommended.
By isolating Frølich from his previous role as police detective, Dahl has opened up a world of possibilities for this character as a private investigator, whilst retaining his connections to his former career. Hence, regular readers of the series will see Frølich retain a relationship with a familiar character from the previous books, yet have the scope to embark on his own probing investigation unfettered by his former restraints as a police officer. As I was reading, I felt that we could be looking at a younger Varg Veum, the central character of Gunnar Staalessen’s excellent series, and a private investigator of some repute. Although Frølich does not have exactly the same characteristics or highly developed cynicism of Veum, the indications are good that this new career will be a good fit for him as the series progresses, and it will be interesting to see into which direction Dahl will lead him. He is a persistent and determined investigator, and as his two initially unconnected investigations begin to meld together, he has numerous red herrings and blind alleys to navigate. One of these cases in particular, highlights Frølich‘s tenacity as an investigator, and also his own personal moral code to challenge authority, and to achieve some kind of justice for the victim, despite, at times, intense personal danger to himself.
As Frølich gradually unpicks the underlying strands of each case, what Dahl constructs is a story that balances equally a cold case of some years previously, a maritime accident and a very pertinent and contemporary case centred on immigration. Dahl is very adroit at taking the reader into the finer detail of a case, in particular the historical case of a devastating fire on board a ship, and he also constructs the narrative so there is a salient repetition of certain information, to keep us in the loop with Frølich‘s discoveries, and to map out the conspiracy theory in a clear and relevant manner. Although I was less engaged with this strand of the story, there were certain elements of it that piqued my interest as the scope of the conspiracy was gradually revealed. I did, however, enjoy the more contemporary element of the book, focussing on the murder of a immigration worker, and how this impacts on her associates, on Frølich and also on a new personal relationship he has embarked on. By its very nature this was going to be a more emotive case for Frølich, and Dahl neatly arouses the readers’ sympathies for both the victim and others, as elements of the past give rise to retribution and revenge.
Once again, translated beautifully by Don Bartlett, Dahl has constructed a multi-layered and thoroughly researched crime thriller where the impact of past and present interweave and impact on each other. The book is peppered with some nice little elements of humour, and I am always impressed by Dahl’s aptitude for constructing such a visual depiction of his characters from relatively few details of their physical features, like mini caricatures. As I said previously, in the long term, it will be interesting how Frølich overcomes the personal disappointments that this case brings to him, and how his career as a private investigator will play out after his ignominious fall from grace as a police officer. It all bodes well for a good solid change of direction in the Oslo Detective series. Recommended.
February 14, 2022
This installment in the Oslo Detective series was a bit of a mess to me, probably as private investigators cases can mix together in actual life. We follow Frank Frolich, a disgraced cop turned private investigator, over basically three storylines/cases that combine, mix, separate, entangle, and pull apart repeatedly and only sort of knit together at the end.
Frank begins a relationship at the beginning of the book with a woman who brings vintage cars, music, and steaminess to this story, and also a case to start us off. Her friend, Guri, hires Frank to locate the sister of a client at the immigrant/refugee center where she works. Aisha is about to be deported back to Syria unless as a last resort she can file for a family reunification with a sister who came to Norway years before, but has now disappeared. Through his search for the sister, he comes into contact with a writer who is working on a book about refugees and wants to know the circumstances of Frank's search; he knows the alleged sister and she doesn't have a sister, so who is behind the search, and why? Through the writer, Frank becomes entangled in a ferry accident decades earlier that killed people and was controversially termed an accident despite many indications that it was deliberate arson tied to insurance fraud. As Frank gets involved with this incident, two more people walk into his office to hire him for searches related to both cases, and a murder happens. How are these mysteries all tied together?
This is my first Dahl book and kind of a mess, to me. So many people walk into Frank's office and try to hire him to investigate his other clients that it becomes almost comical. We also go through a convoluted trip with Frank and his girlfriend that seems to have nothing to do with the cases but introduces us to the most unfortunate part of the book, a doctor with some nasty creepy disposition on his women patients that I cannot see had any reason to be in the book. I wish I'd never read it. And Frank's girlfriend added to my annoyance as she reacts to every situation with jumping into bed. In the end the third thread of the murders really came out of the blue and I'm not sure why it was even in the book. Kudos for tackling an issue, refugees, that is complex and current, though.
I don't know if this is characteristic of Dahl's work. This one was well written enough that I will try another one to see if I like it more.
Recommend to hard core Nordic Noir fans. But warning about the doctor bit. And I'm not overly sensitive.
Frank begins a relationship at the beginning of the book with a woman who brings vintage cars, music, and steaminess to this story, and also a case to start us off. Her friend, Guri, hires Frank to locate the sister of a client at the immigrant/refugee center where she works. Aisha is about to be deported back to Syria unless as a last resort she can file for a family reunification with a sister who came to Norway years before, but has now disappeared. Through his search for the sister, he comes into contact with a writer who is working on a book about refugees and wants to know the circumstances of Frank's search; he knows the alleged sister and she doesn't have a sister, so who is behind the search, and why? Through the writer, Frank becomes entangled in a ferry accident decades earlier that killed people and was controversially termed an accident despite many indications that it was deliberate arson tied to insurance fraud. As Frank gets involved with this incident, two more people walk into his office to hire him for searches related to both cases, and a murder happens. How are these mysteries all tied together?
This is my first Dahl book and kind of a mess, to me. So many people walk into Frank's office and try to hire him to investigate his other clients that it becomes almost comical. We also go through a convoluted trip with Frank and his girlfriend that seems to have nothing to do with the cases but introduces us to the most unfortunate part of the book, a doctor with some nasty creepy disposition on his women patients that I cannot see had any reason to be in the book. I wish I'd never read it. And Frank's girlfriend added to my annoyance as she reacts to every situation with jumping into bed. In the end the third thread of the murders really came out of the blue and I'm not sure why it was even in the book. Kudos for tackling an issue, refugees, that is complex and current, though.
I don't know if this is characteristic of Dahl's work. This one was well written enough that I will try another one to see if I like it more.
Recommend to hard core Nordic Noir fans. But warning about the doctor bit. And I'm not overly sensitive.
April 13, 2020
I find that when I am stressed and frightened, the things that normally console me, seem to fall to the wayside. Reading is something I’m struggling with, I find it hard to concentrate and hard to sit still, so to be able to read a beautifully written book at this time is especially precious. Sister by Kjeli Ola Dahl, is a polished and exciting read, that kept me engrossed and allowed me to forget things for a while.
Kjeli’s relaxed and yet addictive style of writing is just what I needed. The story flowed along gently, but don’t mistake that for it having no oomph, because it does! It is intricate and controlled, the tension slowly filling the story and the reader with a deep sense of unease. It’s like he drip feeds it into your mind as you read, so that he reveals the secrets behind the death, you not only don’t see it coming, you feel elated that you didn’t see it coming. Then you feel incredibly excited that you were hoodwinked by a writer of immense talent. I finished it and sat back and thought, wow, that was splendid and how lucky I felt to having been given the opportunity to read it.
It wasn’t just the excitement, the superb prose, the way the book was like reading a well fitted glove that had me so animated, it was the quirky sense of humour that caught me unawares. There was one moment in the book that had me giggling and left me reflecting on how Kjeli knows how to hold a reader in the plan of his hand, yet at the same time appreciates that the occasional light relief allows them to breath, before they are once again plunged into another gut wrenching moment of worrying about Frølich and his friends.
Now, the story itself is convoluted but balanced enough to keep the reader from having to make notes. Especially important at the moment, with so many suffering heightened stress levels. He takes an murder, adds in a few less clear cut events and merges them into an ending that ties together perfectly. Poor Frølich is lead a merry dance, lied to, manipulated and threatened. We know he can hold his own, but are left wondering if so many threats will overwhelm even him.
It is a masterclass in storytelling from a writer with an assured touch. Nothing is over done, but taken to the edge of what we as readers need, distraction and entertainment. A book of such class, I can’t emphasis enough, that this is a writer who worth adding to your too read pile. Class can never be indulged in too much and Kjeli writing embodies it’s very meaning.
Kjeli’s relaxed and yet addictive style of writing is just what I needed. The story flowed along gently, but don’t mistake that for it having no oomph, because it does! It is intricate and controlled, the tension slowly filling the story and the reader with a deep sense of unease. It’s like he drip feeds it into your mind as you read, so that he reveals the secrets behind the death, you not only don’t see it coming, you feel elated that you didn’t see it coming. Then you feel incredibly excited that you were hoodwinked by a writer of immense talent. I finished it and sat back and thought, wow, that was splendid and how lucky I felt to having been given the opportunity to read it.
It wasn’t just the excitement, the superb prose, the way the book was like reading a well fitted glove that had me so animated, it was the quirky sense of humour that caught me unawares. There was one moment in the book that had me giggling and left me reflecting on how Kjeli knows how to hold a reader in the plan of his hand, yet at the same time appreciates that the occasional light relief allows them to breath, before they are once again plunged into another gut wrenching moment of worrying about Frølich and his friends.
Now, the story itself is convoluted but balanced enough to keep the reader from having to make notes. Especially important at the moment, with so many suffering heightened stress levels. He takes an murder, adds in a few less clear cut events and merges them into an ending that ties together perfectly. Poor Frølich is lead a merry dance, lied to, manipulated and threatened. We know he can hold his own, but are left wondering if so many threats will overwhelm even him.
It is a masterclass in storytelling from a writer with an assured touch. Nothing is over done, but taken to the edge of what we as readers need, distraction and entertainment. A book of such class, I can’t emphasis enough, that this is a writer who worth adding to your too read pile. Class can never be indulged in too much and Kjeli writing embodies it’s very meaning.
April 22, 2020
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Sister, the latest in the Oslo Detectives series of books by Norwegian writer Kjell Ola Dahl and features Detective Frank Frølich. He has left the police force and is now a private detective, investigating such things as employees stealing from their workplace and is scraping a living together. When he meets a woman and falls into a relationship with her, she introduces him to a woman, Aisha who is looking for her sister.
Aisha is seeking asylum in Norway after fleeing Iraq. She is being held in a detention centre and finding her sister, Sheyma who left Iraq in 2005, is urgent as Aisha is facing deportation. The thing is, her sister hasn’t been heard of for quite some time and Frølich suspects that it may be like lookinhg for a needle in a haystack.
Frølich is a dedicated and thorough detective who takes his job seriously. Almost too seriously at times, allowing it to overshadow his personal life on occasion. His hunt for the missing sister takes him down some dark avenues to the underbelly of immigration and to a potential police cover up of a national disaster.
This is less a crime novel and more an examination of society. I found the plight of the refugees and the way they are carelessly treated by the system upsetting to read. Deportation means returning to a country filled with danger and violence but as Kjell Ola Dahl examines, remaining in Oslo may not be a safe option either.
Frølich is concerned that Sheyma, a young Iraqi woman travelling alone, has faced harm in Norway and that finding her may be nigh on impossible. When he finds a potential lead it appears that he may have found Sheyma, but it seems that she doesn’t want to be found and he has uncovered a hornets nest of deception. What starts off as a book about the hunt for a missing woman develops into possible corruption at the heart of the justice system.
For Frølich, who has the word justice running in his veins, this is like a red rag to a bull. He is already butting heads with his previous bosses and colleagues in the police, and when he is first on the scene at a possible murder, he is brought deeper into a web of lies and deceit.
This multi-layered and emotionally complex novel is a war cry against the ills of society. Frølich stands for all that is good in the world (even if he does questionable things) and is on a one man mission to right the wrongs. The sparse narrative adds to the pervading darkness of a system which is broken and corrupt and sent chills down my spine. Ably translated by Don Bartlett, this is a timely read about the world we live in and provides food for thought.
Sister, the latest in the Oslo Detectives series of books by Norwegian writer Kjell Ola Dahl and features Detective Frank Frølich. He has left the police force and is now a private detective, investigating such things as employees stealing from their workplace and is scraping a living together. When he meets a woman and falls into a relationship with her, she introduces him to a woman, Aisha who is looking for her sister.
Aisha is seeking asylum in Norway after fleeing Iraq. She is being held in a detention centre and finding her sister, Sheyma who left Iraq in 2005, is urgent as Aisha is facing deportation. The thing is, her sister hasn’t been heard of for quite some time and Frølich suspects that it may be like lookinhg for a needle in a haystack.
Frølich is a dedicated and thorough detective who takes his job seriously. Almost too seriously at times, allowing it to overshadow his personal life on occasion. His hunt for the missing sister takes him down some dark avenues to the underbelly of immigration and to a potential police cover up of a national disaster.
This is less a crime novel and more an examination of society. I found the plight of the refugees and the way they are carelessly treated by the system upsetting to read. Deportation means returning to a country filled with danger and violence but as Kjell Ola Dahl examines, remaining in Oslo may not be a safe option either.
Frølich is concerned that Sheyma, a young Iraqi woman travelling alone, has faced harm in Norway and that finding her may be nigh on impossible. When he finds a potential lead it appears that he may have found Sheyma, but it seems that she doesn’t want to be found and he has uncovered a hornets nest of deception. What starts off as a book about the hunt for a missing woman develops into possible corruption at the heart of the justice system.
For Frølich, who has the word justice running in his veins, this is like a red rag to a bull. He is already butting heads with his previous bosses and colleagues in the police, and when he is first on the scene at a possible murder, he is brought deeper into a web of lies and deceit.
This multi-layered and emotionally complex novel is a war cry against the ills of society. Frølich stands for all that is good in the world (even if he does questionable things) and is on a one man mission to right the wrongs. The sparse narrative adds to the pervading darkness of a system which is broken and corrupt and sent chills down my spine. Ably translated by Don Bartlett, this is a timely read about the world we live in and provides food for thought.
May 2, 2020
This was my first introduction to the world of Detective Frolich, despite being the the fact that it is book eight in the series. However, it works perfectly as a standalone, although I would like to know more about Frolich’s back story, as he is a fascinating character. In this book, we meet Frolich as he is working as a private detective, having been suspended from the police, and is trying to find his footing in this new world and work out how to make a living. Despite this, he gets involved in a case that is set to be hugely unprofitable for him at the behest of his new girlfriend, and a woman who begs him to help a refugee she is working with. The fact he accepts gives us great insight into Frolich’s character and what drives him. It is a sense of justice and wanting to help people that is his biggest motivator, rather than money.
The book takes Frolich across the Norwegian landscape, from Oslo to more remote places, and I found the descriptions of the locations enticing, if a little bleak. It felt like there was a darkness seeping into every corner of this novel, not just the crime but the setting and the characters too. In fact, the word that really encapsulated the feel of the book for me was melancholy. There was a sadness seeping from the pages; from Frolich and his situation; from the plight of the subjects of the investigation; and from the very landscape itself. The references to unfortunate things that have happened in Norway may have contributed to this throughout, the book felt sad and a little hopeless.
This is largely due to the driving narrative behind the story, which is the problem of refugees in Norway and the desperate situations in which they find themselves. Fleeing from places of war and persecution, they risk a lot to reach countries they believe they may be safe, only to find that they may be in as much danger where they have arrived than the place they are left. Subject to prejudice and at risk of exploitation, they find they have not reached the nirvana they were hoping for. The book is a damning indictment of how Western societies are failing these vulnerable people, as well as an illuminating social commentary on the risks that they face at either end of their journey. A very modern and relevant story, as well as being a gripping thriller.
I was hooked o this book from start to finish, although I did find it a heart-rending and thought-provoking read. I just wanted to mention the skill in the translation of this novel from Norwegian. It was seamless and barely noticeable, which is the great skill in translating fiction, I was not distracted by the translation at all. Another great, new writer to me from the astonishing Orenda stable, I can’t wait to catch up on the instalments I have missed and see what is next. Intelligent writing.
The book takes Frolich across the Norwegian landscape, from Oslo to more remote places, and I found the descriptions of the locations enticing, if a little bleak. It felt like there was a darkness seeping into every corner of this novel, not just the crime but the setting and the characters too. In fact, the word that really encapsulated the feel of the book for me was melancholy. There was a sadness seeping from the pages; from Frolich and his situation; from the plight of the subjects of the investigation; and from the very landscape itself. The references to unfortunate things that have happened in Norway may have contributed to this throughout, the book felt sad and a little hopeless.
This is largely due to the driving narrative behind the story, which is the problem of refugees in Norway and the desperate situations in which they find themselves. Fleeing from places of war and persecution, they risk a lot to reach countries they believe they may be safe, only to find that they may be in as much danger where they have arrived than the place they are left. Subject to prejudice and at risk of exploitation, they find they have not reached the nirvana they were hoping for. The book is a damning indictment of how Western societies are failing these vulnerable people, as well as an illuminating social commentary on the risks that they face at either end of their journey. A very modern and relevant story, as well as being a gripping thriller.
I was hooked o this book from start to finish, although I did find it a heart-rending and thought-provoking read. I just wanted to mention the skill in the translation of this novel from Norwegian. It was seamless and barely noticeable, which is the great skill in translating fiction, I was not distracted by the translation at all. Another great, new writer to me from the astonishing Orenda stable, I can’t wait to catch up on the instalments I have missed and see what is next. Intelligent writing.
December 31, 2020
I enjoyed the fact this wasn't just a crime read. In this journey of a story the author brings in politics, cultural dynamics and the eternal conflict of loss and grief. It's meticulously plotted, even if it often seems as if the reader is just along on the ride with Frølich as he tries to navigate a new relationship.
His new love interest asks him to do a friend of hers a favour, whether he can look for the sister of an asylum seeker, a sister who has changed her name and disappeared into the folds of Norway. At the time Frølich thinks there is something off about the way the young woman is unable to answer the majority of his questions, but when his search rattles some cages and has people knocking on his door he is certain there is more to the story.
It's Nordic noir, a subtle mystery and a scathing critique at times. It points a huge finger right at the inadequacies of asylum systems and the fraudulent practices supported by the complacency and indifference in our societies.
Can I just add, as a side-note, that the chapter with the gynaecologist or indeed that character in particular has left an impression. I wouldn't necessarily say a good one - more like a creepy uncomfortable experience with a deviant, who has no clue he is on the cusp of deviancy and yet firmly believes he is the overlord of female genitalia.
The author creates this plot within a plot, which doesn't necessarily bring the reader close to the solution per se, because Dahl is far too wily for that, but it is one heck of a read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
His new love interest asks him to do a friend of hers a favour, whether he can look for the sister of an asylum seeker, a sister who has changed her name and disappeared into the folds of Norway. At the time Frølich thinks there is something off about the way the young woman is unable to answer the majority of his questions, but when his search rattles some cages and has people knocking on his door he is certain there is more to the story.
It's Nordic noir, a subtle mystery and a scathing critique at times. It points a huge finger right at the inadequacies of asylum systems and the fraudulent practices supported by the complacency and indifference in our societies.
Can I just add, as a side-note, that the chapter with the gynaecologist or indeed that character in particular has left an impression. I wouldn't necessarily say a good one - more like a creepy uncomfortable experience with a deviant, who has no clue he is on the cusp of deviancy and yet firmly believes he is the overlord of female genitalia.
The author creates this plot within a plot, which doesn't necessarily bring the reader close to the solution per se, because Dahl is far too wily for that, but it is one heck of a read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
April 13, 2020
In March 2019 I read my first Kjell Ola Dahl novel, The Courier and I was completely blown away by it. He has written many novels but this was where I first discovered him. So it was with great excitement that I accepted an invitation to take part in the blog tour for his latest offering, is a very different novel but is an equally thrilling and engrossing read. Kjell has this wonderful ability to sink right into his subject matter and his plotting and the obvious extent of his research is brilliant.
Sister touches on subjects that are very relevant and up to date. As I write this many of us sit at home, keeping ourselves and those around us safe from a virus that has no discrimination. Yet what if our homes were not a place of safety but a place we needed to escape from? There has been many novels written around the theme of refugees and this touches on the subject in a new way. Kjell has brilliantly used this to create a thrilling, page-turning novel; a mystery that will keep you held within it's suspense until the very end.
Detective Frolich is an interesting character. The story dark and sinister. There are more in the Oslo Detectives series and I for one will be reading more from this brilliant author.
Sister touches on subjects that are very relevant and up to date. As I write this many of us sit at home, keeping ourselves and those around us safe from a virus that has no discrimination. Yet what if our homes were not a place of safety but a place we needed to escape from? There has been many novels written around the theme of refugees and this touches on the subject in a new way. Kjell has brilliantly used this to create a thrilling, page-turning novel; a mystery that will keep you held within it's suspense until the very end.
Detective Frolich is an interesting character. The story dark and sinister. There are more in the Oslo Detectives series and I for one will be reading more from this brilliant author.
April 25, 2020
When I start reading books which are written by authors and then translated I wonder if any part of it will be lost in translation. With Sister this is not the case. As I was reading I got swept into the hussle and bussle of the cases Frank Frølich was taking on or being forced into.
Frank Frølich is a private investigator who is struggling to get work. Then a case comes his way which not only breeds other cases but puts his life in danger.
Originally taking on a case, albeit reluctantly, looking for an asylum seekers sister little did he know that this case would lead him to follow a path of dead bodies. But who is committing these heinous crimes.
The way Kjell writes had me glued. All of these cases were coming out of the woodwork and I had no idea where they were going or who the murders were. Sometimes you have an idea where books are leading you but with Sister Kjell didn’t give anything away.
I also loved the relationship between Frank and his girlfriend Matilde. The holiday they went on to meet her brother and the intimacy between them was written so well.
If you like crime that is going to keep you guessing then this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it enough.
Frank Frølich is a private investigator who is struggling to get work. Then a case comes his way which not only breeds other cases but puts his life in danger.
Originally taking on a case, albeit reluctantly, looking for an asylum seekers sister little did he know that this case would lead him to follow a path of dead bodies. But who is committing these heinous crimes.
The way Kjell writes had me glued. All of these cases were coming out of the woodwork and I had no idea where they were going or who the murders were. Sometimes you have an idea where books are leading you but with Sister Kjell didn’t give anything away.
I also loved the relationship between Frank and his girlfriend Matilde. The holiday they went on to meet her brother and the intimacy between them was written so well.
If you like crime that is going to keep you guessing then this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it enough.
January 16, 2022
Unreliable witnesses who hide their motives, including private investigator Frank Frolich. Immigrants hiding from the police, sloppy and bent investigation of a cold case file involving a massive fire on a brand new Norwegian ferry in 1988, investigative journalists, rock and roll musicians, a love affair with a lady who owns a 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible, a trip out into the warm countryside as spring develops into summer, and life in Oslo when everyone uses cell phones and the internet. Frank is paid for a job he doesn't want and the man who pays him is murdered a few days later. He's already trying to find the sister of a crazy Iraqi immigrant, but that's a favor to his new girlfriend Matilde. Frank suspects he is being manipulated by the police and some of the witnesses he interviews. Then he stumbles on another murder, which the police quickly close out as a suicide. He can't resist searching for justice, and finds the true motives. The book was perfect to read in cool overcast winter days while the Omicron variant of Covid-19 fills up hospitals and distresses politicians who care more about the economy than public health. 872,931 dead from Covid-19 and 22,615,836 currently active cases in the US today.
June 18, 2020
My first read from Kjell Ola Dahl, Sister, is a masterfully intricate, Nordic Noir thriller. I’ve only read a handful of Nordic Noir, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite genre. Sister has added to that enjoyment. This is the ninth installment in this series, but works perfectly as a standalone. My only “complaint” is adding 8 more books to my TBR!
Main character, Frank Frølich, really drives this novel. His passion for justice and dedication to his job is obvious, and he’s a great character to route for. I very much enjoyed his character. His background proves that you don’t necessarily need a beaten down main character to drive your story.
Chilling and tense, this murder mystery was absolutely what I was hoping it would be. Fantastic writing, characters, and an intricate plot lead me to easily give Sister 5 stars. Highly recommended.
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Main character, Frank Frølich, really drives this novel. His passion for justice and dedication to his job is obvious, and he’s a great character to route for. I very much enjoyed his character. His background proves that you don’t necessarily need a beaten down main character to drive your story.
Chilling and tense, this murder mystery was absolutely what I was hoping it would be. Fantastic writing, characters, and an intricate plot lead me to easily give Sister 5 stars. Highly recommended.
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
November 29, 2020
Another in the series of the Oslo Detectives. Although this is a stand alone book it is helpful to have read others in the series just to have an idea to the background of the characters. Frank, now a private investigator is given two apparently conflicting tasks by two different people. Although there are tenuous connections between the cases he investigates them individually until the strands pull together and it becomes impossible for him to ignore the obvious.
The story deals with immigration and asylum seekers in Norway and also the ferry disaster in 1990 The Scandinavian Star (although under a different name). In neither case do the Oslo police come out well.
Interesting settings as Frank traverses Oslo and travels to the islands and further north in search of clues. Convincing characters who work without too much introspection so the plot keeps moving along with twists and turns.
Gripping read.
The story deals with immigration and asylum seekers in Norway and also the ferry disaster in 1990 The Scandinavian Star (although under a different name). In neither case do the Oslo police come out well.
Interesting settings as Frank traverses Oslo and travels to the islands and further north in search of clues. Convincing characters who work without too much introspection so the plot keeps moving along with twists and turns.
Gripping read.
April 2, 2020
Frank Frølich is a private investigator, while investigating a case of purloined goods he meets Matilde. She has a friend, Guri, who needs help finding the missing sister of an asylum seeker.
Frølich takes the case as a favour, but is then contacted by an author who is working on a new book about the immigration system and wants him to check the motives of those searching for the missing girl…
But, then things get dark, the bodies begin to pile up and the tension builds.
With an incredibly taut plot, that really keeps you guessing, such likeable characters and the topical storyline, this really is a totally compelling read. Nordic Noir at its very best.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Frølich takes the case as a favour, but is then contacted by an author who is working on a new book about the immigration system and wants him to check the motives of those searching for the missing girl…
But, then things get dark, the bodies begin to pile up and the tension builds.
With an incredibly taut plot, that really keeps you guessing, such likeable characters and the topical storyline, this really is a totally compelling read. Nordic Noir at its very best.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
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