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Odd Singsaker #3
Човешката природа
Хладнокръвният и изкушен от насилието полицай Ролф Фагерхюс планира да отвлече дъщеричката си и да избяга с нея в чужбина. За да си осигури средства за това, ограбва и убива наркопласьор, но едно момче става свидетел на това. Сред блокираните от сняг пътища Ролф се натъква на американската полицайка Фелиша Стоун. Тя открива умиращото момче и прави всичко възможно да му помогне, докато хладнокръвният убиец е по дирите им.
Междувременно двама студенти наркомани правят най-голямата грешка в живота си. Човекът, който отива да ги накаже, е биячът, съблазнен от жената на Ролф с цел да й помогне да се отърве от съпруга си.
Но плановете на всички тези хора се объркват, а съдбите им се заплитат по непредвидим начин. Норвежкият следовател Уд Сингсакер - съпруг на Фелиша Стоун, трябва да открие връзката между тези случаи и да се опита да разбере човешката природа, която освен с прочутите четири типа темперамент се характеризира със страсти, любов и неподозирана склонност към престъпления. Оказва се, че наблюденията на Хипократ за нея са валидни и днес.
Междувременно двама студенти наркомани правят най-голямата грешка в живота си. Човекът, който отива да ги накаже, е биячът, съблазнен от жената на Ролф с цел да й помогне да се отърве от съпруга си.
Но плановете на всички тези хора се объркват, а съдбите им се заплитат по непредвидим начин. Норвежкият следовател Уд Сингсакер - съпруг на Фелиша Стоун, трябва да открие връзката между тези случаи и да се опита да разбере човешката природа, която освен с прочутите четири типа темперамент се характеризира със страсти, любов и неподозирана склонност към престъпления. Оказва се, че наблюденията на Хипократ за нея са валидни и днес.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 16, 2022
Човешката природа е все така агресивна: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/c...
Историята събира няколко пресичащи се паралелни линии – на готов на всичко полицай, който иска да открие жена си, която го е напуснала, и да вземе дъщеричката им. Неговият образ е този, който задвижва целия сюжет, и който съчетава в себе си мощта на природна стихия и агресията на диво животно. На пътя му ще се изпречат обаче препятствия, едно от които е жена, която е избягала в търсене на себе си и се оказва на грешното място в грешното време.
Издателство Изида
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/c...
Историята събира няколко пресичащи се паралелни линии – на готов на всичко полицай, който иска да открие жена си, която го е напуснала, и да вземе дъщеричката им. Неговият образ е този, който задвижва целия сюжет, и който съчетава в себе си мощта на природна стихия и агресията на диво животно. На пътя му ще се изпречат обаче препятствия, едно от които е жена, която е избягала в търсене на себе си и се оказва на грешното място в грешното време.
Издателство Изида
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/c...
January 12, 2024
The third book in the Odd Singsaker series is less a thriller mystery and more a puzzle in which all the plot threads are told separately but eventually meld together to form a cohesive story.
Written in a Tarantino-esque method with disjointed timelines and a cast of various miscreants and oddballs, in the The Fifth Element we are introduced to, in no particular order:
A drug dealer and his enforcer, a missing kilo of cocaine, druggies, a police officer on the run, his psychotic and estranged wife, a murder plot, forced ODs, Odd's missing wife, Felicia, a dead shopkeeper and his son, the only witness, an explosion, a boat crash, an internal investigation, a suicide, a priceless book, a near death and hope renewed. Whew!
And that's just the CliffNotes version.
I don't like this method of storytelling because its confusing, the constant jumping back and forth between timelines and POV from various characters.
It works better on-screen and even then that's not a given. I continued to read because I was curious to see how everyone factored into the story and to see if Odd would discover what happened to his wife.
Oh, and you know I can't forget the little bit of adultering that occurs. Its not explained in great detail but it does happen. The character was drunk at the time but that's no excuse.
There is no mystery here; you know who the villains are, the usual degenerates and druggies, but the reader is left trying to piece together how each character contributes to the story. There's no time to like or sympathize with anyone, I certainly didn't but then I never took to Odd in the first place.
Written in a Tarantino-esque method with disjointed timelines and a cast of various miscreants and oddballs, in the The Fifth Element we are introduced to, in no particular order:
A drug dealer and his enforcer, a missing kilo of cocaine, druggies, a police officer on the run, his psychotic and estranged wife, a murder plot, forced ODs, Odd's missing wife, Felicia, a dead shopkeeper and his son, the only witness, an explosion, a boat crash, an internal investigation, a suicide, a priceless book, a near death and hope renewed. Whew!
And that's just the CliffNotes version.
I don't like this method of storytelling because its confusing, the constant jumping back and forth between timelines and POV from various characters.
It works better on-screen and even then that's not a given. I continued to read because I was curious to see how everyone factored into the story and to see if Odd would discover what happened to his wife.
Oh, and you know I can't forget the little bit of adultering that occurs. Its not explained in great detail but it does happen. The character was drunk at the time but that's no excuse.
There is no mystery here; you know who the villains are, the usual degenerates and druggies, but the reader is left trying to piece together how each character contributes to the story. There's no time to like or sympathize with anyone, I certainly didn't but then I never took to Odd in the first place.
February 2, 2017
The first volume in the Odd Singsaker series was brilliant and I didn't like the second one too much. The Fifth Element goes back to the basics and it is fantastic. At first the structure going back and forth in time was a little confusing, and the sudden introduction of characters we didn't know kept me thinking I was missing something. But it all ends up fitting together so well, that it was exhilarating. All these characters are part of the same story, and only once you've read the whole book will you really get what was going on. Some parts made no sense, until you saw the full picture and then they were key pieces in the puzzle. The plot kept playing with my expectations back and forth. It starts immediately at the end of Dreamless and some of the characters actually follow the case it in the media. Felicia left Odd and he doesn't know where she is. This ties with a new investigation that Odd is not supposed to work on (on account of nearly having been murdered at the end of the last volume). But when Felicia's car is found at the scene, he gets involved. You know that he is hiding something from Internal Affairs, but what is it? I can't say much more about the plot, only that it is twisty, smart and very, very entertaining.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press!
March 14, 2017
Introducing a myriad of divergent characters operating in varying time frames made reading this complex thriller like working a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle. Challenging but extraordinarily satisfying to finally see the O'Henry-esque spin the author so brilliantly weaves on unintended consequences; the Fifth Element. It's a totally original, creative and entertaining take on the motivation and sheer randomness of crime and succeeds in taking Scandinavian crime fiction to the next level.
June 24, 2018
About thirty pages in I almost gave up. Then it just got so good I couldn’t stop reading it. Very thrilling with many unexpected twists and connections. Excellent read!
June 21, 2024
За мен стилът на автора е доста странен и вече съм сигурна, че не ми допада. Това е втората книга, която чета и тук нещата бяха още по-трудни. Особения момент е в начина на разказване - първо се случва основното действие, а след това авторът се връща назад във времето, за да ни представи героите и какво е довело до главното действие. Дълго време се чудех какво не ми харесва, но вече разбрах, че това е точно този характерен начин на представяне на историята - обърква ме, дори ми пречи да викна в същността. Не мога да си изградя образ на героите, не мога да влезна в действието, изобщо не е моят стил на писане. Засега оставям настрана други заглавия от Йорген Бреке, надявам се след време да превъзмогна особеностите му и да прочета и други заглавия.
June 5, 2018
Lovely twisty ending after a complex mystery revealed slowly by jumping back and forth in time. Sadly some of the complexity was achieved by a clunky middle of the book explaining all the interconnections (fifth element) and setting up another book........possibly.
April 11, 2013
Høy litterær kvalitet, original historie, utfordrende bipersoner som kunne vært hovedpersoner. Spenning fra første til siste side!
April 5, 2017
If you're one of he countless who relishes mysteries and enjoys puzzles you're in for a seldom found pleasure with The Fifth Element by noted Nordic writer Jorgen Brekke. .This author has created a sensation not only in his own country but throughout the world with his vaunted tales featuring Police Inspector Odd Singsaker (Where Monsters Dwell, Dreamless). Now, Brekke raises the bar with a frightening story filled with horrors - drugs, exortion, spousal abuse.
What may be initially confusing to some all comes together as the tale unfolds. Brekke seems to have a limitless imagination that not only thoroughly entertains readers but challenges them at the same time. Set against a starkly presented Scandinavian background The Fifth Element is a true treat not only for Nordic crime fans but for crime fans throughout the world.
Police Inspector Singsaker has been captured, held behind bars on an island off the northern coast of Norway. He rouses himself, confused to find he is holding a shotgun and there is a corpse next to him. But what or who brought him to this? How did he get here?
A short while earlier his wife, Felicia, had disappeared. Unbeknown to him she had tried to find her way back to him but had become lost in a snowstorm. While Odd continues to search for his wife other lives intersect with his - there is a corrupt cop from Oslo, a dishonest college student who has stolen mega amounts of cocaine, and a hit man hired by the drug dealers who have been robbed. As if this were not enough horrible crimes come to light and terrifying characters who have nothing to lose emerge.
Brekke has delivered another winner that readers will be unable to put down
Enjoy!
What may be initially confusing to some all comes together as the tale unfolds. Brekke seems to have a limitless imagination that not only thoroughly entertains readers but challenges them at the same time. Set against a starkly presented Scandinavian background The Fifth Element is a true treat not only for Nordic crime fans but for crime fans throughout the world.
Police Inspector Singsaker has been captured, held behind bars on an island off the northern coast of Norway. He rouses himself, confused to find he is holding a shotgun and there is a corpse next to him. But what or who brought him to this? How did he get here?
A short while earlier his wife, Felicia, had disappeared. Unbeknown to him she had tried to find her way back to him but had become lost in a snowstorm. While Odd continues to search for his wife other lives intersect with his - there is a corrupt cop from Oslo, a dishonest college student who has stolen mega amounts of cocaine, and a hit man hired by the drug dealers who have been robbed. As if this were not enough horrible crimes come to light and terrifying characters who have nothing to lose emerge.
Brekke has delivered another winner that readers will be unable to put down
Enjoy!
May 2, 2013
Førstebetjent Odd Singsaker er tilbake i Brekkes tredje bok, desverre også den svakeste, ihvertfall i mine øyne. Brekke skriver godt, men har i denne boka gått vekk fra formelen med historiske tilbakeblikk og paralellhistorie som fungerte så godt i de to første. I stedet har Brekke i denne boka valgt en tidslinje som hopper fram og tilbake rundt et ubestemt tidspunkt da "det" skjedde. Det blir uoversiktlig og irriterende og framstår mest som om forfatteren bruker dette som et virkemiddel for å gjøre seg interessant. All hoppingen i tid ser ikke ut til å ha noen umiddelbar effekt utover dette, og jeg tror boka hadde fungert bedre med en noe mer lineær kronologisk rekkefølge, måtehold er ofte en god ide!
Dette ble derfor et noe skuffende gjensyn med Singsaker, men ingen dårlig bok, bare ikke på høyde med de to foregående. Denne boka gjør det ingenting å gå glipp av, men for all del, om du ikke har fått med deg Brekkes to første bøker har du noe å glede deg til! :-)
Dette ble derfor et noe skuffende gjensyn med Singsaker, men ingen dårlig bok, bare ikke på høyde med de to foregående. Denne boka gjør det ingenting å gå glipp av, men for all del, om du ikke har fått med deg Brekkes to første bøker har du noe å glede deg til! :-)
April 24, 2013
En flott oppfølger i serien om Odd Singsaker. Hva skjedde med Felicia? Det er vanskelig å si noe konkret om handlingen, uten å røpe for mye av plottet, men om du likte de to første bøkene, vil du ikke bli skuffet.
Denne boken er en nåtidsbok, i motsetning til de to foregående. Likevel er det fire historier som skjer parallelt, og som flettes inn i hverandre til slutt. En spennende bok, vanskelig å legge fra seg. Begynn tidlig på ettermiddagen, slik at ikke hele nattesøvnen forsvinner!
Brekkes beste hittil?
Denne boken er en nåtidsbok, i motsetning til de to foregående. Likevel er det fire historier som skjer parallelt, og som flettes inn i hverandre til slutt. En spennende bok, vanskelig å legge fra seg. Begynn tidlig på ettermiddagen, slik at ikke hele nattesøvnen forsvinner!
Brekkes beste hittil?
August 22, 2017
Jørgen Brekke left us with a cliff hanger, will Odd come out of it alive or will Sving reck his revenge in London, that's the question that the next book will answer. He's made me wonder if characters were alive or dead never giving me a chance to decide. And if they came back you could imagine why were they allowed to. I won't discuss who or why because that is for you to find out by reading this book. You won't regret it.
January 15, 2018
This was a difficult read in the beginning because of the complex interweaving of the major subplots that eventually come together. Still, I really liked the book once I got fully engaged. The reader who persists despite early confusion will be rewarded!
April 8, 2019
This one is an odd one for Nordic Noir as it has a philosophical basis. That is not a normal feature of the genre! It is based on Aristotle’s explanation of the Four Elements of life: Earth, Water, Fire and Air. The Fifth Element was later added by Aristotle: Aether or Quintessence. These elements later formed the basis for much of Buddhism. Here, the Fifth Element is that sense beyond evidence and logic, that exists in most serious crime solutions. Odd Singsaker is a cop whose wife, Felicia, leaves him but regrets her departure and wants to return home and reconcile. This is Norway, however, so her trip home is stalled and then wrecked by a snowstorm. While she gets in trouble because she’s lost in the woods, Odd is coming to in the midst of devastation caused by an explosion, leaving him with a corpse, a shotgun and a pistol that is pointed at him. Entering the plot and affecting it in various ways are a corrupt cop named Fagerhus, along with a cocaine addict, a college kid who gets introduced to cocaine and various and sundry other odd characters. As for Odd, he describes himself this way: “I am who I am. A man of habit. An aging policeman. I don’t want to be anything else.” Felicia is from Richmond, Virginia, so that explains her warped character(!). The structure of the novel is odd in that each section is marked by a period of time “before the event” or “after the event.” The “event” is a bomb going off that eliminates a number of the cast of characters but brings the murder case to a conclusion and Felicia to a crisis. I found the structure with sections marked by time before and after an event confusing, maybe because I prefer a linear plot in mysteries, but I sort of adjusted to the form and made it through. I liked the concept of the Five Elements and that fifth one works well in this book. I am tempted to read more Brekke. He has two other novels published.
May 20, 2019
Čeští čtenáři ho znají dva roky. Za tu dobu je spisovatel Jørgen Brekke (50), že umí napsat napínavý, děsivý a rozhodně strhující příběh. Pátý element je toho důkazem.
V domě na norském ostrově Hitra leží mrtvé tělo. Na místě činu se v době vraždy nacházel policejní vyšetřovatel na neschopence Odd Singsaker. Co se tam vlastně stalo? Inspektora Odda před časem opustila jeho žena Felicia. Když se nyní rozhodne k manželovi vrátit, jako by se jí počasí snažilo v tom zabránit. Letadla nelétají, vlaky nejezdí, a tak si Felicia musí půjčit auto a vyrazit na sever po silnici. Cestou však zmizí ve sněhové bouři. Jak s jejím zmizením souvisí chladnokrevný policista, od kterého odešla manželka, lehkomyslný student, který drogovým dealerům ukradne pořádný balík kokainu, a ranař s baseballovou pálkou, kterého si okradení dealeři najmou, aby vypátral viníka? Rozmotat tohle spletité klubko vzájemně provázaných událostí nebude vůbec snadné. Než zjistíme, co se Felicii stalo, odhalíme řadu nejasností a zločinů…
Norský spisovatel Jørgen Brekke vstoupil do českých knihkupectví a hlavně povědomí čtenářů dost razantně už titulem Říše milosti (2016). Svou pozici si u nich pojistil minulý rok Bezesným (2017) a nyní přichází do třetice a to doslova „všeho dobrého“. A mrazivého. Kniha je pokračováním série s Američankou Felicií Stone a norským policejním inspektorem Oddem Singsakerem, což jsou dva ústřední hrdinové Brekkeho knih.
Brekke tentokrát napsal tradičnější skandinávskou krimi, ani tak ale čtenář ve svižném příběhu nepřijde o dávku překvapení a originálních motivů. Zajímavé je sledovat, jak se zdánlivě roztříštěné linie postupně propojují do strhujícího celku, kterým je nejen vyvrcholení příběhu, ale celá kniha. Jen je třeba o poznání více soustředění, bez něj může mít čtenář pocit, že se ztrácí v autorových řádcích. Třetí Brekkeho zastavení v rukou knihomolů je ale opět skvělým zážitkem a pozornost si plně zaslouží.
V domě na norském ostrově Hitra leží mrtvé tělo. Na místě činu se v době vraždy nacházel policejní vyšetřovatel na neschopence Odd Singsaker. Co se tam vlastně stalo? Inspektora Odda před časem opustila jeho žena Felicia. Když se nyní rozhodne k manželovi vrátit, jako by se jí počasí snažilo v tom zabránit. Letadla nelétají, vlaky nejezdí, a tak si Felicia musí půjčit auto a vyrazit na sever po silnici. Cestou však zmizí ve sněhové bouři. Jak s jejím zmizením souvisí chladnokrevný policista, od kterého odešla manželka, lehkomyslný student, který drogovým dealerům ukradne pořádný balík kokainu, a ranař s baseballovou pálkou, kterého si okradení dealeři najmou, aby vypátral viníka? Rozmotat tohle spletité klubko vzájemně provázaných událostí nebude vůbec snadné. Než zjistíme, co se Felicii stalo, odhalíme řadu nejasností a zločinů…
Norský spisovatel Jørgen Brekke vstoupil do českých knihkupectví a hlavně povědomí čtenářů dost razantně už titulem Říše milosti (2016). Svou pozici si u nich pojistil minulý rok Bezesným (2017) a nyní přichází do třetice a to doslova „všeho dobrého“. A mrazivého. Kniha je pokračováním série s Američankou Felicií Stone a norským policejním inspektorem Oddem Singsakerem, což jsou dva ústřední hrdinové Brekkeho knih.
Brekke tentokrát napsal tradičnější skandinávskou krimi, ani tak ale čtenář ve svižném příběhu nepřijde o dávku překvapení a originálních motivů. Zajímavé je sledovat, jak se zdánlivě roztříštěné linie postupně propojují do strhujícího celku, kterým je nejen vyvrcholení příběhu, ale celá kniha. Jen je třeba o poznání více soustředění, bez něj může mít čtenář pocit, že se ztrácí v autorových řádcích. Třetí Brekkeho zastavení v rukou knihomolů je ale opět skvělým zážitkem a pozornost si plně zaslouží.
September 9, 2017
Brekke endrer format i sin tredje bok. I stedet for å skrive krim med koblinger til historiske bøker, visesanger og forbrytelser, opererer han nå med fire parallelle historier i samtid. Boken tar oss ikke med til utlandet. Handlingen foregår stort sett i Trondheim og Oslo. De ulike handlingstrådene synes ikke å ha noe med hverandre å gjøre i starten, men gradvis nøstes personene og deres problemer sammen til en stor avslutning. Handlingen hopper litt fram og tilbake i et tidsrom på et par uke. Karakterene er spennende og det er godt driv i Brekkes fremstilling. Det jeg liker best med Brekke er imidlertid de historiske detaljene fra tidligere bøker og mystikken knyttet til disse. Dette savner jeg i "Menneskets Natur". Boken er mer en rendyrket "Thriller" enn et krim-mysterium. Avslutningsvis vender imidlertid mystiske bøker tilbake og boken gir en spennende opptakt til det som er i vente. Jeg kommer definitivt til å fortsette og lese Brekkes romaner.
February 8, 2018
If you are tired of the single narrative police procedural/crime thriller, you might find this refreshing. This is a story where the other characters, and NOT the lead detective of the series Odd Singsaker, are front and centre. The beginning shocks a bit and then different threads weave together to keep the thrill of how and why a crime has been committed. This is the third in the series and you don't need to read the two previous to understand this novel or episode. The end sets up nicely to continue with the saga of Odd Singsaker. If only the English translations come fast enough (2 novels behind the original Norwegian).
June 15, 2017
This book starts so slowly that you almost have lost interest by the time the action picks up. When it does pick up, it's a multi-layered whirlwind, with several overlapping plots, multiple bad guys,and a few characters who blur the line between bad and good.
The book is a lot of fun, and while it's part of a series it stands alone. The narrative isn't fully linear, so it takes a little longer to read than it might otherwise.
The book is a lot of fun, and while it's part of a series it stands alone. The narrative isn't fully linear, so it takes a little longer to read than it might otherwise.
July 4, 2017
This is my first introduction to Brekke and the Odd Singsaker series and what a ride! Complex puzzle, bouncing back and forward and then back again until the plot finally becomes clear. I felt at times like I was trying to put together one of my sons three dimension wooden puzzles - where the heck does this piece go?! Will be keeping my eye out for the chance to read more in the series.
August 31, 2017
A good Scandinavian crime novel, 3rd in the series. While there was no real "whodunnit" here, putting together the pieces to figure out who did what, when and why kept my attention and curiosity going. 3.75 stars
April 13, 2018
That was fun! A little confusing at times, jumping around in time and between characters, but everything made sense by the conclusion, a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more of Jørgen Brekke’s thrillers.
February 17, 2019
Intense page turner
This was really intense. Didn't want to put it down. Sometime difficult to track which narrator you are listening too, but enough suspense and excitement to keep you riveted.
This was really intense. Didn't want to put it down. Sometime difficult to track which narrator you are listening too, but enough suspense and excitement to keep you riveted.
March 22, 2020
E-bok. Biblioteket. Bookbites. Norsk, bokmål. Tredje bok om Odd Singsaker, fra Trondheim og Kvenvær. Bra bok!
E-book. Library. Book Bites. Norwegian, bokmål. Third book with Odd Singsaker, from Trondheim and Kvenvær. Good book!
E-book. Library. Book Bites. Norwegian, bokmål. Third book with Odd Singsaker, from Trondheim and Kvenvær. Good book!
February 13, 2022
Absolutely wonderful! The author does a wonderful job of continually weaving in new aspects of the story, new perspectives throughout the book that make you rethink everything you thought you knew. I would read more from him.
June 10, 2017
Intricate plot. Somehow it was all too depressing for me.
July 16, 2017
A confusing plot but it all comes together in a convergence of coincidences. Probably I would have been less confused if I'd read the first two books in the series. I'll give those a go.
November 13, 2017
Different from books #1 and 2. No centuries-spanning flashback and no links to ancient mysteries... which I liked a lot with the first couple of books.
April 2, 2018
Eh - it was ok, not great. Might have enjoyed it more if I'd read the previous two books first!
June 11, 2018
Vanvittig irriterende at forfatteren ikke makter å holde seg til en tidslinje! "To uker før det skjedde", "Tre uker før det skjedde" - slik er det, hulter til bulter. Og jeg makter ikke å se at det skulle være noen grunn til det, annet enn for å virke ... fiffig? Ikke vet jeg.
Utrolig synd, for dette kunne vært en god bok.
Utrolig synd, for dette kunne vært en god bok.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews