Die For Me

Axel Steen #2

by Jesper Stein

A brutal stalker is preying on women in Copenhagen.

DI Axel Steen begins an obsessive manhunt that sends him spiralling out of control. 

The investigation is fraught with heart-stopping near-misses, dark mysteries,  and a final revelation with devastating consequences…

A raw psychological thriller from a master of crime storytelling.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Denmark, Noir, Nordic Noir

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jesper Stein er født i Århus i 1965. Han er uddannet journalist og har arbejdet som litteraturskribent, rets- og kriminalreporter i København. I dag er han fuldtids forfatter.

I 2008 skrev han bestselleren Man jager et bæst og fanger et menneske sammen med Bent Isager-Nielsen.
I 2012 udkom hans skønlitterære debut Uro, der indbragte ham Det Danske Kriminalakademis Debutantpris.
I 2013 udkom bind 2 i serien om Axel Steen, Bye Bye Blackbird. De udenlandske rettigheder er solgt til Italien, Tyskland, Island, Norge, Rumænien, Holland og Sverige.
I 2014 udkom 3. bind i serien om Axel steen, Akrash.
I 2015 udkom 4. bind i Axel Steen serien, Aisha som indbragte Jesper Stein De Gyldne Laurbær.

Romanerne er solgt til udgivelse i adskillige lande ligesom filmrettighederne er købt af SF Studios - Første film om Axel Steen forventes at få premiere i efteråret 2018

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial rapist is terrorising women in Copenhagen. He might have killed a young girl. Axel Steel is the DI who is investigating. There is no evidence or clues to who the rapist might be. Steen had been obsessed by a rape case four years ago and that had been blamed for his wife leaving him. Now they seem to have DNA evidence that links back to that case.

As the book is translated into English, it took me a little while to get into. This is also the second book in this series and I have not read any of the previous ones. It's fast paced, action packed and gripping. There's a mixed bunch of characters, some you will like some you will loathe. Axel Steen is a damaged but fully capable policeman. This book can be read as a standalone. A great police procedural.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mirror Books and the author Jesper Stein for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial rapist is creating havoc in Copenhagen. DI Axel Steen is the investigative lead and what he finds astounds him.

A current case he's looking out reminds him of a case from a few years back that has never been solved. That particular case cost him his wife, daughter, and almost his job. He's becoming obsesses about solving these cases, and more so when other case are found.

None of the rapes have ever been connected nor solved, mainly due to police ignorance, prejudice, and extreme incompetence. His increasing frustration and anger is causing his former police partner, now his boss, to question everything that Steen does. To make it even harder is his boss' boss is now married to Steen's ex-wife. And there's nothing that man would like better than creating a mess for Steen. even forcing him to lose his job.

With no witnesses, no leads, no DNA his search is bearing little fruit, but as Steen presses on, he finds a revelation with horrible consequences that he never foresaw.

This is an exacting crime fiction/psychological thriller that makes it clear that men who hate women are found at every level of society. Well written ... and translated ... as much about the victims as an investigation gone wrong, it's a real page turner with twists and turns and stand-out characters.

Steen, himself, is not a real likeable character. He is scarred from his previous case (Book 1 in the series), still has feelings for his ex-wife, needs pot and booze to get him through his days and nights, and rarely says No to any female who's interested. The man who married his ex-wife is a real jerk ... constantly looking for ways to sink Steen's career. The only likeable character is his young daughter, who he gets to see only sporadically.

Many thanks to the author / Mirror Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die For Me is the second book in the Axel Steen Danish gritty police series. Without the gritty darkness of the first book, Die For Me is not the story of a city under seige, but the story of Axel’s return to the unsolved Case that tore him to pieces and ripped his marriage apart. It is seemingly linked to a new case by similarities in the modus operandi. Of course, no one sees the connection but Axel. The flip side to the crime story is Axel’s face-off with Jens, his ex wife’s new man. The story is often told, in alternating chapters, through their clashing points of view as they spar over one woman. Axel still lives for his cases and died over and over again in them. Axel is a great character,

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure if something got lost in the translation of this but I struggled to read it. The premise itself of a DNA sample connecting several crimes and the possible redemption of Steen is a good one but I just couldn't take to any of the characters. Steen just doesn't seem to have anything worth liking beyond his desire for solving the crime. Normally I really enjoy Scandi crime but sadly this one wasn't for me. 

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Axel Steen has always had his problems and it follows him everywhere. His divorce with Cecilie and his daughter Emma, and her marriage too Jens Jessen was hitting him very hard. His hash habit, and becoming involved with women such as Dorte Neergaard and Ea Holdt. But when he became involved with the murder of a girl who was found in a pond with his old partner John Darling, he couldn't leave it alone. It became excessive and actually put him in the hospital. I liked the way Stein always had Axel answer questions by asking another question. He never seem to give up on his belief that he was right. It leaves us with an opening by making it very noir in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who is involved with rapes and murder. I see that this is the 7th book in the series and that means now that I found Jesper I need to so some catch up.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5*/5
Ietsje beter dan zijn voorganger "Onrust", maar nog steeds ben ik niet enthousiast.
Alex Steen is een zeer onsympathieke, humorloze en serieuze man. Hij heeft aan iedereen een hekel en iedereen heeft een hekel aan hem. Hij heeft constant woordenwisselingen met collega's, leidinggevenden, kennissen en anderen. Woordenwisselingen in de auto, op het bureau, bij de mensen thuis etc. Niet echt prettig leesvoer.

Wat mij verder irriteerde was het feit dat de auteur het wel héél vaak heeft over: kont neuken, kont seks, anale seks, anale verkrachtingen, poepduwers, bruine rakkers etc.
Nou ben ik niet echt preuts, maar de overheersing van deze termen werd mij toch iets te veel.
De (beste vele) seksscènes of gedachten aan seks, zijn niets verhullend en worden met harde woorden beschreven.

Eigenlijk speelt het onderzoek naar de verkrachtingen en moord een bijrol en speelt het karakter Alex de hoofdrol. Maar aangezien ik deze vent niet meer kan luchten of zien, houd ik het hierbij voor gezien.
Bye bye Jesper Stein.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 1 out of 5]

Set in Copenhagen, DIE FOR ME is the second in the DCI Axel Steen series and features an annoyingly flawed main character. I don't know how many books I have read where the main detective drinks himself into oblivion, although this one gets stoned has sex and gets stoned again. But the theme does get a little tiring after a while.

The premise for DIE FOR ME indeed sounded promising but I don't know if something is lost in the translation or I was just frustrated with the politics and the depressing narrative by the main character, Axel Steen, because it just grated on me. The most exciting thing was the Prologue. Then came the police politics, the morose monloguing by Axel, his getting stoned on his days off, the ex-wife now shacked up with his boss...I just lost patience with it.

It begins with a missing young girl's body found in the lake in Orsted Park. It is clearly a homicide but it's one that remains unsolved leaving DCI Axel Steen both unsettled and haunted for years to come. But now a DNA match discovered on a sexual assault victim matches one found on an item belonging to the cold case victim. Axel begins investigating the new rape case and discovers there is a predator preying on young women in Copenhagen.

Had that remained the focus of the story, I may have enjoyed it far more, but as it was the back stabbing of police politics, the ex-wife now hooked up with Axel's boss, the annoying bits that just took away from the actual story...just ruined it for me. I didn't like his ex-wife Cecilie nor her lover, Deputy Commissioner Jens Jessen. I didn't want police politics, I didn't want morose monologuing as to where his life has gone wrong, I didn't want stoned sex with various women, I didn't want back stabbing or nastiness. I wanted a good solid crime thriller that gave us a look at both sides of the coin. I didn't get it. And if it was there, I must have missed it.

A police procedural that is dark and gritty, DIE FOR ME may not be for everyone due to its subject matter. For some, the topic of violent sexual assault and rape may be a little difficult to read.

I couldn't warm to Axel. But then I couldn't warm to any of the characters. He could be a competent detective but he just goes about things in an arse about way and added to that is his drug habit, not to mention his depressing monologue which were at times just a little too much.

I used to really enjoy Scandi crime, but in the last couple of years I have found them to be far too convoluted with totally flawed and unlikable characters. Maybe I have had my fill of flawed characters that it just grates on me every time I come across one now. The world is depressing enough these days, I don't need a depressing main character to make my reads far from enjoyable.

While I didn't enjoy DIE FOR ME, many have done so. So maybe it's just me. It is a chilling read in parts but overall, not for me. However, don't take my word for it as others have thoroughly enjoyed it. You never know, you just may too

I would like to thank #JesperStein, #NetGalley and #MirrorBooks for an ARC of #DieForMe in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Christi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die for Me is the second book in the Axel Steen series set in Copenhagen and featuring a flawed main character. Dark and gritty and perfect for fans who are looking a new Nordic noir crime book to read.

In June 2004, a missing young girl is found in the water at Orsted Park. However, this one murder remains unsolved leaving DCI Axel Steen with ruined work and personal relationships that will continue to haunt him for years to come. Later, after the case is considered cold and where there have been no leads to follow up on in quite some time, a single DNA match is discovered on a sexual assault victim that matches one found on the young girl’s cap. To investigate the DNA sample, Axel will need to work with some of the individuals whose relationship he previously damaged leading them to discover several assault victims and a serial-rapist.

Because of the topic of rape and serial-rapists, some may find this book a little difficult at times. During the course of the investigations we see how the police department both competently and incompetently handle these cases – through prejudice or for other reasons, we watch Axel and other police officers listen to and ask questions of the victim’s accounts. We also see how the police take statements into account and investigate or don’t investigate.

Axel is a flawed character – a really flawed character – while he is a very competent police detective he also has a drug issue, a relationship with his ex-wife that still leaves him very torn, and is a workaholic. To be honest, I went back and forth deciding if I liked him or not. He would be a decent detective one minute and then in the next chapter he’d be an abrasive jerk to his co-worker. Sometimes it was a bit much and to say he’s got some issues is putting it lightly, plus his ex-wife’s boyfriend becomes his boss at the beginning of the book, which adds to the drama of his life. But, I suspect that if this one character is creating a lot of different emotions from me then that means that the author did a nice job of creating a well fleshed-out character.

Overall, a nice police procedural that is dark and gritty, but one where you also get a chance to take a reader’s tour of Copenhagen and learn of new places such as Israels Plads and Norrebro Park just to name a few and where both of which had me going to the Internet for pictures and details.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Mirror Books for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Mirror Books for an advance copy of Die for Me, the second novel to feature DI Axel Steen of the Copenhagen Police.

When DNA from a recent rape case is found to have links to an unsolved murder from four years ago Axel is desperate to investigate and solve the case that almost destroyed him and did destroy his marriage. When he finds more linked cases his determination to solve the case increases.

I thoroughly enjoyed Die for Me which is a good procedural, being strong on both procedure and the political considerations involved in any investigation. It is told, in third person from two points of view, those of Axel and Deputy Police Commissioner Jens Jessen with the added frisson that Axel’s ex-wife Cecilie left him for Jens. I liked this complication as the reader sees the relationship from both sides but never gets to know what Cecilie thinks so it’s all speculation and rather illuminating about their characters. The contrast in their characters is stark. Jens is the archetypal shiny, more bureaucrat than policeman with a keen eye for advantage and advancement whereas Axel is the driven loner with no concept of any consideration outside the needs of his case. Both, however, are a cauldron of emotion which adds colour, if not likability, to their personalities.

I really liked the investigation side of the novel which is very strong on procedure with the police casting a wide net, initially in terms of which historical cases to consider then suspects, and then gradually honing in. The arguments about the emphasis and approach to it are well done and realistic. This is not a soft novel so the characters are tough and uncompromising in their attitudes and towards each other and the rape descriptions are nothing short of harrowing. It also doesn’t miss the incompetence of some detectives and the failures in procedure, including rather pointed digs about the way certain officers treat rape victims. I love the take no prisoners tone as it seems realistic if uncomfortable at times.

Die for Me is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to take part in the blog tour marking the release of the first Axel Steen thriller Unrest which proved an exhilarating and thought provoking series opener. In common with the first book, Jesper Stein has no reticence into plunging his reader into a nightmarish scenario, with a particularly vicious and sadistic individual stalking the streets of Copenhagen…

On the basis of the first two books, it comes as no surprise that they have been optioned for television by the producers of The Bridge, and if they find the right actor to bring the right level of tortured maverick detective, well, it will be an absolute must see! What Stein achieves so beautifully is manipulating the old cliché of crime fiction, that of the maverick cop with mental and physical weaknesses, estranged from personal relationships, lives for the job and so on, by making his protagonist Axel Steen utterly mesmerising. He’s strong-willed and tenacious, somewhat foolhardy at times with his physical wellbeing, both by his own actions and by putting himself in the path of danger without a moment’s hesitation, but what I really like about his character is the absolute certainty and steadfastness he brings to every action he takes in his professional life. His doggedness of purpose and the absolute empathy he has with both the murder victim, and the women who have been subjected to the most violent and degrading attacks, sets him apart admirably from his colleagues, and more importantly instils a faith in the women that their attacker will be caught and punished. To balance it out nicely, his personal life is not so clear-cut and leads to times of procrastination, doubt, and complete tactlessness but hey, he’s only human, but there is also an insidious presence in his day job who would probably tick off even the most mild mannered individual, to add to his troubles. Steen carries within him a mercurial mix of hot-headedness, empathy, compulsiveness, and sheer bloody-mindedness that makes him unpredictable, but also fascinating. A complicated man to be sure, but a great character…

Dealing with such an emotive and troubling subject as violence against women and rape, I think there is a danger of readers becoming desensitised slightly to the effect of these crimes, and the fear, shame and anger that women live with afterwards. I found this central theme in the book was handled in a particularly sensitive and balanced way, that whilst not shying away from the more visceral physical details of what these women have been subjected to, there is a real sense of understanding throughout of how this impacts on both their lives, and physical and mental wellbeing post-trauma. It felt to me that Stein had either researched this extremely thoroughly, but more evidently had spoken to women who had experienced this extreme violence, and what it had meant to live with the memory and affect of this crime. I may be wrong, but the book felt that it had a deeper connection to, and empathy with, victims of violence, rather than some of the more lazy depictions I have read. Equally, Stein succeeds admirably in steering clear of the mawkish, having a cool and clearheaded approach to the specifics of the crimes, a sense of sympathy to the victims, but wholly adhering to the natural aspect of the Scandinavian crime fiction tradition, where character and plot are so completely bound up with one another.

As well as focussing on the emotional and physical effects of the crimes perpetrated, there was also a dizzying amount of detail regarding the forensic investigation, written in a very natural and engaging way, and not just clumsily shoehorned into the narrative. Admittedly, those of us who practically inhale crime fiction would be aware of some aspects of forensic detection, but I learnt some really interesting stuff along the way, in terms of forensic investigation, reading a crime scene, and the intrinsic correlation of science with intuitive investigation in approaching cold cases. In conjunction with the extremely unpredictable Axel Steen and the slow burning tension of a complex and twisting investigation, I thought this was a great follow-up in the series. With the usual precision and sheer readability of a translation by Charlotte Barslund, Die For Me is to be recommended. Excellent.

[Dimitris Passas (TapTheLine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment in the Axel Steen series and also the second that has been translated in English, after the intriguing Unrest. Stein established himself as a worthy representative of Scandinavian crime fiction in the English-speaking audiences with Unrest and I had pre-ordered Die For Me in amazon months before its official release, as I couldn't wait for more. Happily, the book delivers and this is something rare when the expectations are set too high from the reader. This is a bit different novel than the previous one in terms of narrative technique but maintains the thrilling plotline and great characterization that we first encountered in Unrest. Axel Steen is a rogue homicide detective in the Copenhagen police force and he is known to his colleagues for his volatile character and the high-efficiency rate in case-solving. Axel is a rather troubled individual, he is divorced from his wife, Cecilie, and has a little daughter, Emma whom he sees every other week as arranged by the lawyers. He has some vices that also drag him down, the most prominent being his proclivity to smoke hash regularly, thus often becoming numb and spaced-out, distancing himself from other people and his surroundings. The beginning of the book finds Axel going through a tough phase in his life, as his ex-wife and daughter are outside Denmark and he is alone in his apartment in one of Copenhagen's most underprivileged neighborhoods, Nørrebro, puzzling over a new case that shares common characteristics with a previous investigation, one that finally led to his divorce and loss of his family.

For the rest of my review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/die-fo...

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow for the tour

[Daniel Shindler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second encounter with Detective Axel Steen of the Copenhagen police. It is somewhat of a departure from the first book, which was infused with more social and historical context than this entry.
This episode is a much more straightforward police procedural.The DNA in a recent rape case is linked to a four year old open murder case. This open case is one of the few that Axel has not closed.In addition, the case was a catylist for the dissolution of his marriage, leading to his ex wife Cecilie’s leaving Axel and forming an ongoing relationship with Axel’s boss, Jens Jensen.
The story revolves around the guesswork and grunt work that ultimately results in a solution. The plot is augmented by the tension between Axel and Jens, as both of their points of view are revealed in the story. Both are driven in different ways and there is a ratcheting up of tension between the two men. We get exposed to Jens’ feelings for the first time and gain more insight into Axel’s torments. The book is well plotted and moves at a reasonable pace. The relationship between Axel and Jens remains unresolved and will surely be explored in future books. I am anxious to learn of the next developments.

[Dee-Cee It's all about the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once finishing a book I usually like to get my words down quick for a review, while it’s all still fresh in my head but after reading Die for Me I have really struggled to find the words to describe how good this book is.

I’ve read many crime novels over the years, it’s one of my favourite genres and I’ve read about many flawed but good detectives but I’ve never read about one like Axel Steen. I don’t know what it is about him but he really got under my skin, he’s good at his job, In fact he’s really good and he doesn’t follow the rules but he’s determined and he has a real thirst for justice and I really liked him.

Die for Me sees Axel investigating rape cases, there’s a predator preying on young women and a link is found to a case Axel worked on four years previous which was never solved. A young girl was raped and murdered and its bothered Axel that no one was brought to justice so when the investigation opens up he is straight in there, teeth bared and ready to find the evil, sadistic man.

This isn’t an easy book to read, there are some quite shocking moments and I really felt for the young victims. I had serious chills reading some parts and as the investigation intensified so did my heartbeat. I found myself so engrossed in the story that I totally zoned out of the real world and completely lost track of time.

This book isn’t for the faint hearted, like I said there are some quite shocking scenes but I found that the author, when it came to the victims wrote this with sensitivity and it’s clear that a lot of research went into this story. It was totally fascinating reading about how cold cases can be re-opened and how advanced technology these days can be used in such cases and the difference it can make.

I really thoroughly enjoyed Die for Me, it was chilling, engrossing, it kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me awake at night. I’ll definitely be recommending it.

[Stina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endnu en perle fra Jesper Stein – Ligesom Debutten en denne krimi en bundsolid, levende og frem for alt fuldkommen realistisk bog. Også denne toer, er skrevet i et herligt flydende, letlæseligt sprog, det er en gedigen pageturner.

Denne gang er der mindre af den hæsblæsende jagt gennem Nørrebros gader, men til gengæld er der her en krimi, der indeholder så meget opklaringsarbejde, offerbeskrivelser og menneskelig indsigt, at det absolut ingen betydning har- tværtimod. Vi er igen I Steins elskede bydel: Nørrebro og nu også indre by – igen er bogen gennemstrålet af hans kærlighed til byen, og læseren er midt i universet, Stein kan det der med at lave et visuelt billede i sine bøger.

Persongalleriet er denne gang lidt anderledes da scenen er sat i et andet af samfundets mørke afkroge: voldtægter og incest. Samtlige personer er levende, vi er helt inde under huden på Axel igen, og meget tæt på de ofre, der denne gang plager ham. At Jesper Stein har hentet inspiration til ofre (og sikker også gerningsmand) i den store sag fra Amager, giver denne krimi, det ekstra realistiske lag.

Igen er politiarbejdet fuldkommen levende og realistisk, her er ingen lette løsningen, selv problemerne politiet imellem er super godt beskrevet – ingen selvhævdelse – udelukkende ”rigtige” mennesker og dialoger.

Plottet holder hele vejen, med en lille bitte afstikker i sidste sekund, dog får den mig ikke til at ændre min samlede oplevelse af bogen – den er virkelig god :)

Stein ER altså i en klasse for sig, eneste minus er, at han kun har planlagt 3 bøger om Axel, det er simpelthen ikke nok – så jeg venter MEGET utålmodigt på en treer, og krydser fingre for yderligere bøger – Det er en fryd at være i Steins univers – kom endelig indenfor ;)

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Die for Me has an excellent premise and has the potential to be a gripping thriller. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It did have its moments where I was able to get into the story, but most of it is very dry, almost documentary-ish. A large part of that may be due to the translation, but knowing that didn't make it any more enjoyable for me. I also had a problem with the characters. As in I didn't much like any of them. I usually like flawed characters, but they really need to have some redeemable qualities, and I didn't find that with Axel. The only positive was his determination to solve the case, but even that wasn't enough to make him likable. On the plus side, I was a little worried when I saw that this book is well into a series (something that should have and could have been mentioned somewhere in the blutb) but I had no problem following the story and would consider this a standalone. If I did miss something that was part of an earlier book, it was lost on me, possibly due to the stilted narrative. In the end, I don't know whether it was just me, or something got lost in the translation, but this one clearly missed its mark with me, and I don't feel any desire to check out earlier books in the series.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bogen fangede mig allerede fra første side og da jeg først kom i gang, havde jeg meget svært ved at lægge den fra mig igen. Det er mig en gåde, hvordan Stein kan holde niveauet lige så spændende, intenst og medrivende fra start til slut, men den evne mestrer han til ug. Sprogtonen er raffineret, især portrættet af storbyen og menneskene, der færdes deri er eminent, og man sidder ligefrem tilbage med følelsen af at være lige dér, hvor det hele foregår - på Nørrebro.

Nørreport Station. Dørtrin til Indre By. Trafik og fodgængerkaos over jorden, storbykloak og toiletvægge og lugten af pis og diselos nedenunder (...) Pølsevogn, forladte cykler i rustent samleje med hinanden, metroelevatorer, fladtrådte papkrus fra McDonald's og flaskesamlere, der rodede i skraldespande.

Der er på ingen måde tale om den svære toer, tværtimod, og jeg kan varmt anbefale Bye Bye Blackbird. Bogen er en efterfølger til den anmelderroste Uro, og det er derfor stadig vicekriminalkommisæren Axel Steen, der er omdrejningspunktet, men bogen kan sagtens læses uden kendskab til forgængeren.

[Berit Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Det er nok den bedste krimi jeg nogensinde har læst. Glæder mig som en gris til den 3. Aksel Sten udkommer 20. juni. Bye Bye Blackbird er perfekt bygget og fyldt med formuleringer der var værd at genlæse og highlighte på Kindlen.

[Linda Gullov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin krimi bygget over Amagermanden.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Axel Stein has never been able to forgive himself for failing to solve the murder of a young woman ten years earlier. When a woman is attacked in Copenhagen, Denmark, by a serial rapist in the present day, Axel believes he may, at last, have another shot at solving the murder. The case has haunted him for years, and this time he is determined to make sure that the culprit is put behind bars. And it is clear that Axel will go to any lengths possible to achieve his goal. He is a cop who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Die For Me is a very dark novel, and certainly not for the faint-hearted. Jesper Stein has created a terrifying and disturbing criminal in his latest book, and it is a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

DI Axel Stein, for me, is who makes the series stand out. He is a cop who doesn’t always follow the rules, and he has a very tumultuous personal life. Some of the things he gets up to made me wonder how on earth he gets away with it. But he gives this series its own unique flare and, surprisingly, I really like him. Having read the first two books in this series now, I think I’ll definitely be reading more as he is fast becoming one of my favourite characters in crime fiction.

In this book, we get to see a lot more emotion in Axel than perhaps in the first. You can see that he is utterly determined to catch the person responsible for the crimes, and you can see how much the unsolved murder has affected him. He knows he can’t move on until he knows the truth. This was another part about him that I liked. He seems to be the only person in the police force who genuinely cares about the victims, and he is the only one who seems to want to see justice be properly served.

The crimes which take place in this book are very disturbing, and Jesper Stein paints a very vivid portrayal of what happened through the eyes of the victims. He is not over gratuitous, though. Although I found parts of what I read a bit unnerving, the witness accounts are essential to the plot.

The case quickly becomes complicated for Axel, and it is clear that it isn’t going to be easily solved. But Jesper Stein keeps the tension mounting as the police race closer and closer to the truth. I really engaged in the investigation, and I desperately wanted the police to catch the individual responsible. As I was reading, I got the feeling that this criminal wasn’t going to be someone who would simply go away quietly and that unless they were caught, they were going to continue their attacks.

If you enjoy crime novels with a fascinating and engaging protagonist, then I would definitely recommend Jesper Stein’s books. Die For Me is riveting from the first page to the last.

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Scandinavian Noir, let me introduce you to DI Axel Steen, and his dark journey through the streets of Denmark as he hunts evil.

This novel is gritty, intense in its telling because Steen is hunting a rapist and a killer. Not only are the characters very well crafted but the reader is shown the pain of the victims. This, in contrast, with the shoddy, at times, police work, makes you root for Steen because he may be a maverick cop, but no one is more determined than him to solve the case.

What’s interesting about this one is just how unorthodox Steen is, he engages in some jaded behaviour, has issues in his personal life, but what gives him likeability is that he’s a bad cop hunting evil. In the toss-up between bad and evil, you’re going to vote for bad to win! Steen, like most of our favourite detectives, is haunted by a past unsolved case, one he lost everything trying to solve. A case that you hope Steen can solve so he can gain a little peace, and hopefully start repairing his life. As you read, you can see the emotional whirlwind Steen is caught in, and that’s where you’ll find the heart in this novel. With a theme of disturbing violence against women, you really feel Steen is seeking justice for the survivors. It’s all too easy to focus on the thriller element when writing crime, but Stein has executed the police procedural side of things excellently. He has presented a well-rounded novel, that brings you thrills, chills, and most importantly the impact such crimes can have on the victims, and the police officers who investigate them. Such a complex novel this is!

Die For Me is, I believe, the second novel in the Axel Steen series, however, it can be read as a standalone. So much so, that I only realised it was part of a series when I added it to my Goodreads shelf! This isn’t a novel that reads quickly, but rather one you take your time with, one you tune into and give it the thought it deserves, thought for the victims and a thought for those who do what they can to find justice. Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Die For Me, read fluently and is a novel I recommend, without hesitation, for fans of dark Scandi-noir.

*My thanks to Mirror Books for providing me with a copy of this book*

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in the Axel Steen novels, but it can be read as a stand alone book. This is a Scandinavian crime thriller which I always find to be good reads if well translated.

Axel Steen is clearly a troubled man, a hash addict, anger issues, his marriage to Cecelie ended, his daughter Emma, and marriage to Jens Jessen have hit him hard. His marriage came to an end because of his obsession with an old case.

This story is at times darkly disturbing, a dark and gritty read, certainly not for the faint hearted, and certainly not a cozy mystery.

A serial rapist is on the loose in Copenhagen and for Axel the case seems similar to the one four years earlier, the case that wrecked his marriage. But there are no clues or evidence as to who is committing these crimes. But there may now be evidence linking back to his old case.

This is a fast paced novel, keeping the reader engaged throughout, with one bit of action after another. Axel pushes himself all the time determined to catch the person committing these crimes, he wants the women to feel safe on the streets. At times you wonder how much further he can push himself without burning out completely. There are characters you will like, and some you most definitely won’t like. I haven’t completely decided how I feel about Axel, he is clearly a good man who wants crimes solved, but he has so many flaws, maybe because of the break up of his marriage, as he clearly cannot commit romantically.

Despite the dark content I found this to be a very engaging read, the author added things about Denmark, about how the police procedure works there, the problems they have with immigrants are highlighted, some interesting titbits of information picked up through the storyline.

It can sometimes be difficult reading books that have been translated, as I find my brain trying to work out how to pronounce names, or places. I would have liked to have read some of the previous books in the series to get more if a feel for the characters especially to know more about Axel. But I do enjoy the Scandinavian noir books.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Mirrorbooks for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Axel Steen series by Jesper Stein.

The detective inspector in this book is quite unique. He is mega screwed up. He is divorced from his wife and they share custody of their six year old child. After the breakup of their marriage due to his single-minded obsession with the bluebird case, he began smoking hash and getting messed up nearly every night.

As he tries to focus on his job, his ex-wife's new boyfriend, one of the higher ups in the police department, wants to be involved in his investigation. He begins to connect a number of rapes to one suspect. His only problem is that he needs to prove it.

Great story. I was enthralled watching Axel break down and then rise up again. He had lots of road blocks which makes the plot so interesting. I began to wonder if the man could get past his demons in order to accomplish his goal. That is the mark of a great novel, in my opinion. You just can't take your eyes off the page crossing your fingers that Axel will be successful.

If you love a good police procedural, detective fiction, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review. I thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this title.

[D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like "Nordic Noir" a lot, and I'm pretty forgiving where the translation isn't quite 'right' - it's only really noticeable if you're looking for it in this book, IMO.
DI Axel Steen’s path in this book is a compelling one, chasing a serial rapist around Copenhagen, dealing with the fact that it's a case similar to (possibly?) that went cold, and destroyed his marriage several years previously.
The characters are strong, believable and the voice pretty pure. I devoured this book, all in one sitting in one afternoon. It didn't jar in many places, though there are a few tiny places you have to be a bit open-minded about it.
Obviously, it deals with adult themes, as most of these books do, but it did it in an acceptable way.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, on Netgalley.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series but the first one I've read. It works well as a stand-alone, since the characters and their relationships are well established and clear enough. The case is interesting: a serial rapist is terrorizing women in Copenhagen and may or may not have also murdered a young girl. Axel Steen, a damaged but capable cop will sacrifice everything to get to the bottom of this. There are a lot of twists and turns, and I was very surprised by the conclusion. Axel is not a well balanced man and his morals are not always clear, but he is a top-notch investigator. The rhythm is steady, making for a fast read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Mirror Books!

[Miloski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bye Bye Blackbird ha tutte le caratteristiche che ci aspettiamo quando scegliamo di leggere un giallo “del Nord”: l’indagine si fa più complessa man mano che vengono raccolti gli indizi, i personaggi sono complessi e ricchi di contraddizioni, le vittime non sono mai trattate con eccessiva compassione e i colpevoli sono tanto umani quanto gli altri personaggi e soprattutto il protagonista è un detective dalla vita a pezzi che sopravvive grazie al lavoro. L’indagine di polizia è descritta con sorprendente dovizia di particolari, che si tratti del rinvenimento del cadavere o della catalogazione dei casi Jasper Stein ha la capacità di addentrarsi nella procedura e raccontarla con estrema accuratezza, senza mai diventare eccessivo e ridondante.

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW - rape/child abuse

I feel like something got lost in translation with this one. I really struggled to read it.
The premise was great, the story itself wasn't actually too bad but I found it really difficult to get into it.
The characters were unlikeable, the story itself was over explained at times and honestly, some of the parts I skipped over as it was boring.
Quite a few times I was prepared to put this as DNF but my need to know who the rapist/killer was kept me reading. I did guess the final twist at the end as well.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Abby Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my bookclub. I hadn't heard of the author before but it would be the type of book I would pick up myself. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read the first in the series and other consecutive ones and other books by this author.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altid en fornøjelse at være i selskab med Axel Steen

[Ann-Christin Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Min omtale av Bye Bye Blackbird: https://mineboker.wordpress.com/2016/...