What do you think?
Rate this book
Konrad Sejer #1
جريمة في الظلام
في ظهر أحد الأيام، وأثناء تمشيتها مع ابنتها بجانب النهر، تجد "إيفا" وابنتها "إيما" جثة رجل طافية على سطح البحر. تُصدم "إيفا"، وتأخذ ابنتها وتبتعد سريعًا، منتوية الاتصال بالشرطة للإبلاغ عن الجثة، لكنها لا تفعل، وينتهي بها الأمر وهي تتصل برقم آخر.
يبدأ المحقق "كونراد سيير" التحقيق في أمر الجثة، إنها لرجل مختفٍ منذ عدة أشهر، وقد اختفى في الوقت نفسه الذي عثروا فيه على جثة عاهرة في شقتها. هناك أمر مريب يحيط بالموضوع بأكلمه، الطعنات التي تلقاها الرجل في ظهره، سيارته البيضاء التي اختفت دون أدنى أثر، تلك المرأة التي وجدت الجثة لكنها لم تبلغ الشرطة عنها كما ادعت أنها فعلت.
كل خطوط القضية لا تؤدي إلى شيء، لكن "سيير" رجل صبور وذكي، ويرى أن هناك حلقة واحدة مفقودة هي التي تربط بين كل تلك الخيوط، عليه فقط أن يصل إليها ويجعلها تتحدث.
هذه هي الرواية الأولى في سلسلة المحقق "كونراد سيير"، والتي بدأت معها مسيرة "كارين فوسم" الأدبية كملكة الجريمة النرويجية.
نُبذة المؤلفة:
"كارين فوسم"
كاتبة وشاعرة نرويجية. ولدت عام 1954 في "ساندفيورد". بدأت مشوارها الأدبي كشاعرة حيث كتبت أولى قصائدها عام 1974، والتي فازت بجائزة "تارياي وسوس" الأدبية في العام نفسه. ثم اتجهت في منتصف التسعينيات لكتابة الرواية. واشتهرت بكتابات الجرائم حيث عرفت بأنها "ملكة روايات الجريمة النرويجية"، بسبب نجاح سلسلة الجريمة "المحقق كونراد سيير" التي تُرجمت إلى أكثر من 25 لغة ونالت العديد من الجوائز. وقد فازت ثاني رواياتها "لا تنظر إلى الوراء" التي تم نشرها عام 1996 بجائزة "ريفرتون" الأدبية لأفضل رواية جريمة نرويجية في العام نفسه، وجائزة "المفتاح الزجاجي" عام 1997 كأفضل رواية جريمة. وتحولت إلى فيلم سينمائي. عملت أيضًا ممرضة لفترة في المستشفيات.
يبدأ المحقق "كونراد سيير" التحقيق في أمر الجثة، إنها لرجل مختفٍ منذ عدة أشهر، وقد اختفى في الوقت نفسه الذي عثروا فيه على جثة عاهرة في شقتها. هناك أمر مريب يحيط بالموضوع بأكلمه، الطعنات التي تلقاها الرجل في ظهره، سيارته البيضاء التي اختفت دون أدنى أثر، تلك المرأة التي وجدت الجثة لكنها لم تبلغ الشرطة عنها كما ادعت أنها فعلت.
كل خطوط القضية لا تؤدي إلى شيء، لكن "سيير" رجل صبور وذكي، ويرى أن هناك حلقة واحدة مفقودة هي التي تربط بين كل تلك الخيوط، عليه فقط أن يصل إليها ويجعلها تتحدث.
هذه هي الرواية الأولى في سلسلة المحقق "كونراد سيير"، والتي بدأت معها مسيرة "كارين فوسم" الأدبية كملكة الجريمة النرويجية.
نُبذة المؤلفة:
"كارين فوسم"
كاتبة وشاعرة نرويجية. ولدت عام 1954 في "ساندفيورد". بدأت مشوارها الأدبي كشاعرة حيث كتبت أولى قصائدها عام 1974، والتي فازت بجائزة "تارياي وسوس" الأدبية في العام نفسه. ثم اتجهت في منتصف التسعينيات لكتابة الرواية. واشتهرت بكتابات الجرائم حيث عرفت بأنها "ملكة روايات الجريمة النرويجية"، بسبب نجاح سلسلة الجريمة "المحقق كونراد سيير" التي تُرجمت إلى أكثر من 25 لغة ونالت العديد من الجوائز. وقد فازت ثاني رواياتها "لا تنظر إلى الوراء" التي تم نشرها عام 1996 بجائزة "ريفرتون" الأدبية لأفضل رواية جريمة نرويجية في العام نفسه، وجائزة "المفتاح الزجاجي" عام 1997 كأفضل رواية جريمة. وتحولت إلى فيلم سينمائي. عملت أيضًا ممرضة لفترة في المستشفيات.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
735 people are currently reading
4132 people want to read
About the author
Karin Fossum
60 books1,138 followersKarin Fossum (née Mathisen) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction,often known there as the "Norwegian queen of crime". She lives in Oslo. Fossum was initially a poet, with her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won the Tarjei Vesaas' Debutant Prize. She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award for her novel "Don't Look Back", which also won the Riverton Prize, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in 2005 for "Calling Out For You".
Series:
* Inspector Konrad Sejer
* Eddie Feber
Series:
* Inspector Konrad Sejer
* Eddie Feber
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 700 reviews
November 7, 2021
This is the first book in the popular Norwegian mystery series featuring Inspector Konrad Sejer.
As the story opens Eva Magnus and her seven-year-old daughter Emma spot a body floating in an Oslo river. Young Emma is fascinated, but Eva is horrified.
To humor her daughter Eva agrees to phone the police from a nearby call box.
Eva pretends to call the authorities but really phones her father and has a brief conversation about this and that. She then hustles Emma away.
Of course the police soon pull the man's body out of the water and identify it as Egil Einarsson, a local brewery worker who's been stabbed to death. Further inquiries reveal that Einarsson disappeared about six months ago, at about the same time a high-class prostitute named Maja Durban was murdered. Because the deaths occurred in the same general area Inspector Sejer thinks they're probably related.
Sejer interviews Einarsson's wife......
.....who reports that her husband was a very ordinary fellow who - when not at the brewery - went to the Kings Arms pub with his friends or worked on his car in the garage.
Sejer also speaks to Einarsson's six-year-old son, who was often an 'assistant mechanic' to his dad. I like that Sejer befriends the Einarsson boy, taking him for a ride in a police car and buying him a little child-size boiler suit.
Sejer also interviews Einarsson's friends and colleagues, and learns that - when he disappeared - the dead man was going to sell his treasured car. However, no one knows who the buyer was.
As it turns out Sejer has also interviewed Eva Magnus....months before. Eva and Maja (the dead prostitute) had been childhood friends who became reacquainted just before Maja was killed. Eva reported having dinner with her friend and briefly visiting her apartment - but said she knew nothing about Maja's death.
Sejer is a little suspicious because Eva - a struggling artist who was always broke - has been a little flush lately. She even took Emma to McDonald's! (Wow! Ha ha ha.)
The story is told from two alternating points of views: Inspector Sejer and Eva Magnus. In the first half of the book we follow Sejer's investigations and learn about Eva's day to day activities. Sejer is an astute, determined detective who interviews witnesses again and again to eke out every little bit of information....and maybe trip them up.
Eva is a divorcee who's oddly friendly with the ex-husband who ran out on her. She's also a painter with a unique vision and style - supported by government grants. We learn that Eva has struggled to pay bills, buy food, and slip her elderly dad a few extra kroner. She also worries about her daughter, a rather plain, chubby child who's scheduled to start school.
This first part of the story is compelling and suspenseful.
The second half of the book details the events leading up the murders of Maja and Einarsson. This section of the story is very detailed and a little slow, but does elucidate how and why everything happened.....some of which is quite startling.
Overall, a good introduction to the Inspector Sejer mysteries.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
January 18, 2020
This is the first book in a fairly long series, translated from Norwegian. It is also published under the title In the Darkness
The book starts well when Eva and her daughter, out for a stroll along the river bank, find a dead body in the water. Eva's reaction to this is not one you would expect and the story develops from there. We meet our main character, Inspector Konrad Sejer, who turns out to be a caring and thoughtful man, and also one who worries at a case until it is concluded like a dog with a bone.
I felt the book started and finished well although it bogged down a bit in the middle. The ending was a surprise to me but with hindsight the clues were all there. It was a good read and I will be continuing with the series.
The book starts well when Eva and her daughter, out for a stroll along the river bank, find a dead body in the water. Eva's reaction to this is not one you would expect and the story develops from there. We meet our main character, Inspector Konrad Sejer, who turns out to be a caring and thoughtful man, and also one who worries at a case until it is concluded like a dog with a bone.
I felt the book started and finished well although it bogged down a bit in the middle. The ending was a surprise to me but with hindsight the clues were all there. It was a good read and I will be continuing with the series.
February 14, 2022
Es una novela que se lee muy rápido. Tiene un ritmo ágil.
La trama está bien, pero es bastante sosa. De perfil bajo, diría.
Quería conocer un poco al famoso inspector Sejer y la verdad es que no interviene mucho en la novela. Es más bien un personaje secundario.
Una novela, en general, aburrida.
Me ha decepcionado bastante porqué esperaba más de esta autora noruega tan reconocida por sus novelas negras.
-----------------------------
It is a novel that reads very quickly. It has an agile pace.
The plot is good, but it is rather bland. Low profile, I would say.
I wanted to get to know the famous Inspector Sejer a bit and the truth is that he doesn't intervene much in the novel. He is more of a secondary character.
An overall boring novel.
I was quite disappointed because I expected more from this Norwegian author so well known for her crime novels.
La trama está bien, pero es bastante sosa. De perfil bajo, diría.
Quería conocer un poco al famoso inspector Sejer y la verdad es que no interviene mucho en la novela. Es más bien un personaje secundario.
Una novela, en general, aburrida.
Me ha decepcionado bastante porqué esperaba más de esta autora noruega tan reconocida por sus novelas negras.
-----------------------------
It is a novel that reads very quickly. It has an agile pace.
The plot is good, but it is rather bland. Low profile, I would say.
I wanted to get to know the famous Inspector Sejer a bit and the truth is that he doesn't intervene much in the novel. He is more of a secondary character.
An overall boring novel.
I was quite disappointed because I expected more from this Norwegian author so well known for her crime novels.
August 1, 2013
Karin Fossum may be listed as the Queen of crime fiction, but to me, she is the queen of the disconcerting ending. I mean, blow me away, Ms Karin. Blow. Me. Away. You did it again! Well, let me first digress.
Ever since the outrageously popular series, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Scandinavian mysteries have been flooding the American marketplace. How to parse which ones are good, mediocre, or flat out bad? Some of these mysteries preceded DRAGON in its original country, but were printed in English after the Dragon Fever, capitalizing on the notion of region. Readers are hungry for Scandinavian mysteries, and I am no exception. But, after reading some stinkers, I decided to do my homework. Norwegian Karin Fossum was a published poet before being a crime writer, which bodes well, as this is obviously a writer who cares about the power of lyricism. Her descriptive prose is subtly poetic.
Karin Fossum books were not released in the US in chronological order (unfortunately), but she was here before Larsson, which alerts me that she didn’t arrive BECAUSE of Larsson. THE INDIAN BRIDE, which was published here in 2005, demonstrated Fossum as a writer who is not just interested in the good guys catching the bad guys. It is a fascinating story that is more sociological and character-driven, one that I can comfortably recommend to my non-crime book reading friends.
EVA'S EYE, the first Inspector Sejer book, has finally arrived. It has a more unorthodox approach to the series genre. Sejer doesn't come across as the main character. He is integral to the story, and the necessary moral center. But, instead of HIS categorical perspective, it is Eva, a self-contained, beautiful, but too-thin woman, who carries the book. This is brilliant, because "series" books that focus primarily on the crime-fighter eventually peter out, because the cop or detective either becomes a parody of him/herself or a stock-in-trade cardboard figure. Even though I am obligated to read the Sejer series out of order, it is evident that Sejer's (and Skarre's) characters build gradually, and keenly. I finally get to see the genesis of Sejer, and I appreciate the light but revealing touch by Fossum.
The narrative swings back and forth in time, but ever so delicately, and accessibly. Artist Eva is a divorcee with a young child, Emma. She is committed to her work, and makes her living solely on her art. Her art is best described as a style of underpainting in order to capture light, shadows, and the play of both. She uses black and white exclusively (and some layers of grey). Often, an observer asks, “What does it mean?”
While Eva is down by the river with Emma, she sees a dead and decomposing body floating in the bank among the stones. And by the way, here is the description of the river, to illustrate the power of Fossum’s prose:
“The river cascaded through the countryside, splitting the cold town into two shivering gray floes.”
Fossum’s descriptions go hand and hand with the characters’ tensions and fears. The mood of the town, the atmosphere, directly correlates to that of the characters who inhabit it.
Eva assures her daughter that she will call the police from the phone box nearby. But she doesn’t. That is all one needs to know. The rest of the story unfolds at a superb clip, keeping pace with the reader’s demands while creating a creeping thrill of tension and awe.
The ending, as all Fossum books I have read, gnawed at me. Some of her books are open-ended; however, if you are one who likes for major points to be revealed, you will be satisfied by the close of this book, as there aren’t a lot of loose ends. Yet, there are jaw-dropping surprises. Even with this debut novel, it is evident that Fossum is a first-class writer. And crime writer.
Ever since the outrageously popular series, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Scandinavian mysteries have been flooding the American marketplace. How to parse which ones are good, mediocre, or flat out bad? Some of these mysteries preceded DRAGON in its original country, but were printed in English after the Dragon Fever, capitalizing on the notion of region. Readers are hungry for Scandinavian mysteries, and I am no exception. But, after reading some stinkers, I decided to do my homework. Norwegian Karin Fossum was a published poet before being a crime writer, which bodes well, as this is obviously a writer who cares about the power of lyricism. Her descriptive prose is subtly poetic.
Karin Fossum books were not released in the US in chronological order (unfortunately), but she was here before Larsson, which alerts me that she didn’t arrive BECAUSE of Larsson. THE INDIAN BRIDE, which was published here in 2005, demonstrated Fossum as a writer who is not just interested in the good guys catching the bad guys. It is a fascinating story that is more sociological and character-driven, one that I can comfortably recommend to my non-crime book reading friends.
EVA'S EYE, the first Inspector Sejer book, has finally arrived. It has a more unorthodox approach to the series genre. Sejer doesn't come across as the main character. He is integral to the story, and the necessary moral center. But, instead of HIS categorical perspective, it is Eva, a self-contained, beautiful, but too-thin woman, who carries the book. This is brilliant, because "series" books that focus primarily on the crime-fighter eventually peter out, because the cop or detective either becomes a parody of him/herself or a stock-in-trade cardboard figure. Even though I am obligated to read the Sejer series out of order, it is evident that Sejer's (and Skarre's) characters build gradually, and keenly. I finally get to see the genesis of Sejer, and I appreciate the light but revealing touch by Fossum.
The narrative swings back and forth in time, but ever so delicately, and accessibly. Artist Eva is a divorcee with a young child, Emma. She is committed to her work, and makes her living solely on her art. Her art is best described as a style of underpainting in order to capture light, shadows, and the play of both. She uses black and white exclusively (and some layers of grey). Often, an observer asks, “What does it mean?”
While Eva is down by the river with Emma, she sees a dead and decomposing body floating in the bank among the stones. And by the way, here is the description of the river, to illustrate the power of Fossum’s prose:
“The river cascaded through the countryside, splitting the cold town into two shivering gray floes.”
Fossum’s descriptions go hand and hand with the characters’ tensions and fears. The mood of the town, the atmosphere, directly correlates to that of the characters who inhabit it.
Eva assures her daughter that she will call the police from the phone box nearby. But she doesn’t. That is all one needs to know. The rest of the story unfolds at a superb clip, keeping pace with the reader’s demands while creating a creeping thrill of tension and awe.
The ending, as all Fossum books I have read, gnawed at me. Some of her books are open-ended; however, if you are one who likes for major points to be revealed, you will be satisfied by the close of this book, as there aren’t a lot of loose ends. Yet, there are jaw-dropping surprises. Even with this debut novel, it is evident that Fossum is a first-class writer. And crime writer.
October 15, 2015
There is a reason for reading a series in order, and I think it will be especially important in my reading of Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer series. With translated books, they are not always done in order. This one was her debut, and I'm glad I get to start at the beginning.
So, this is my first Fossum book. I really had no expectations and that kept me from being disappointed. I really like Inspector Sejer. He has a great relationship with his daughter, helps children, talks to his dog, and is an astute inspector. I want to get to know him better.
Much of the book is told from Eva's point of view, and I had a hard time connecting with her. She wasn't upset about being left by her husband, she didn't change her life to provide for her child, and she crossed lines that I never would. I did find myself skimming over a few paragraphs in places that dragged during her story.
All in all, this was a good beginning and introduction to the series. I have the second book here in my pile and look forward to continuing with it.
So, this is my first Fossum book. I really had no expectations and that kept me from being disappointed. I really like Inspector Sejer. He has a great relationship with his daughter, helps children, talks to his dog, and is an astute inspector. I want to get to know him better.
Much of the book is told from Eva's point of view, and I had a hard time connecting with her. She wasn't upset about being left by her husband, she didn't change her life to provide for her child, and she crossed lines that I never would. I did find myself skimming over a few paragraphs in places that dragged during her story.
All in all, this was a good beginning and introduction to the series. I have the second book here in my pile and look forward to continuing with it.
August 27, 2013
3.5 This is actually her first book in this series, but has just been translated and released here in the states. Seemed sort of funny to be reading a book where his grandson is a baby, after reading the series and seeing him grow up, that took a bit getting used to. But I have to say I really enjoyed this story, she spent alot of time on her characters and the reader can tell. It was not as dark, and abrupt as some of her later ones, but regardless the lady can write.
February 25, 2018
2.5
No sé por qué esperaba muchísimo más. Pensaba que sería algo original y diferente, pero se me hizo predecible.
También detestaba que se desviara tanto la historia del caso. Era exasperante.
Puede que el libro le guste a otras personas, a mí me pareció de lo más normal.
No sé por qué esperaba muchísimo más. Pensaba que sería algo original y diferente, pero se me hizo predecible.
También detestaba que se desviara tanto la historia del caso. Era exasperante.
Puede que el libro le guste a otras personas, a mí me pareció de lo más normal.
March 18, 2024
Interesting. It's such a lame word, but what can I say? It applies here.
This is the first book in a Nordic Noir series featuring Inspector Sejer. He's a nice guy and a talented investigator. Doesn't drink too much and isn't isolated from his family. So he's not the "noir" in the Nordic Noir.
That belongs to the story itself, which revolves around the titular Eva. She's a divorced artist with a seven year old daughter, who together stumble on a body floating in the river. This turns out to be the remains of a guy who disappeared six months ago, about the same time as a prostitute is found dead in her apartment. Eva was the woman's childhood friend but hadn't seen her for 25 years until they reconnected the day before she was murdered.
The book is the story of how these events are tied together by Eva's personality and her life circumstances. For one thing, her artistic sensibility drives a lot of her decision making, and not necessarily in good ways. Then there is her daughter, who is pleasant enough but is overweight and unattractive and talks too much. Not a normal characterization of a kid in this kind of novel, where they tend more toward surly teenagers, but Fossom sees to it that those qualities impact the plot.
Which moves forward steadily based on Eva's reactions to events, and how they intersect with Sejer's intuition and insights. It's dark and compelling, kind of like Eva's pictures. I'm not sure I would want to live with one of those, and I'm not sure I will want to read more of this series even though Fossum's writing is excellent. It's just a bit too noir for where I am right now, though of course things could change.
I'm giving this 3 stars as part of my 2024 mission to dole out my 4 and 5 star ratings more judiciously. It's definitely above average for a crime novel, but I've got to start drawing the line somewhere!
This is the first book in a Nordic Noir series featuring Inspector Sejer. He's a nice guy and a talented investigator. Doesn't drink too much and isn't isolated from his family. So he's not the "noir" in the Nordic Noir.
That belongs to the story itself, which revolves around the titular Eva. She's a divorced artist with a seven year old daughter, who together stumble on a body floating in the river. This turns out to be the remains of a guy who disappeared six months ago, about the same time as a prostitute is found dead in her apartment. Eva was the woman's childhood friend but hadn't seen her for 25 years until they reconnected the day before she was murdered.
The book is the story of how these events are tied together by Eva's personality and her life circumstances. For one thing, her artistic sensibility drives a lot of her decision making, and not necessarily in good ways. Then there is her daughter, who is pleasant enough but is overweight and unattractive and talks too much. Not a normal characterization of a kid in this kind of novel, where they tend more toward surly teenagers, but Fossom sees to it that those qualities impact the plot.
Which moves forward steadily based on Eva's reactions to events, and how they intersect with Sejer's intuition and insights. It's dark and compelling, kind of like Eva's pictures. I'm not sure I would want to live with one of those, and I'm not sure I will want to read more of this series even though Fossum's writing is excellent. It's just a bit too noir for where I am right now, though of course things could change.
I'm giving this 3 stars as part of my 2024 mission to dole out my 4 and 5 star ratings more judiciously. It's definitely above average for a crime novel, but I've got to start drawing the line somewhere!
December 1, 2025
3. 5 ⭐️ = Quite Good
Audio.
I found this quite difficult to rate as there were parts that I was gripped by and then there were parts that I thought really dragged.
This is the first in this series and the characters were likeable. I’ve read one that was further along in this series, and I much preferred it - so I’ll definitely read #2.
Not too far- fetched in the storyline department, and I actually think that this would make a really good t.v series.
Audio.
I found this quite difficult to rate as there were parts that I was gripped by and then there were parts that I thought really dragged.
This is the first in this series and the characters were likeable. I’ve read one that was further along in this series, and I much preferred it - so I’ll definitely read #2.
Not too far- fetched in the storyline department, and I actually think that this would make a really good t.v series.
May 14, 2020
Hmm... This wasn't bad, but it was just eh 🤷🏻♀️ the ending especially was just a bit lack-lustre for me. I guess I'd just been expecting something a bit more exciting! The overall pace was slow and although the second half was more interesting, it was difficult to follow at times.
2.5 stars rounded up
2.5 stars rounded up
July 25, 2013
I love the Inspector Sejer series; this is Scandinavian crime fiction at its best! Fossum is brilliant – writing understated, intelligent narratives that discuss the moral dilemmas of real life. We see most of the story through the views of her main characters, in this instance the struggling artist Eva and Inspector Konrad Sejer. Both are empathetic, considered and real.
Konrad Sejer listens. I am so impressed that this quietly spoken, conservative middle aged man has such patience and great listening skills. He has mastered the art perceptive listening; he is totally focused, mindful and aware, leaving gaps in conversation to allow the other person to fill in the spaces, a trait that works very well.
I loved how Eva and her friend discuss the meaning of art and what it is to be an artist: “You become an artist because you have to. Because there aren’t any alternatives.” Simply stated, personal, accurate.
Prostitution is given the same serious considerations as art; “Let’s call it customer service of a sort. People ring up and make an appointment, and I receive them. There are many needs out there, you know, and this niche in the market is really deep.” Again a simple, unemotional statement of facts as Maja (and perhaps the author) sees it. Fossum is the master of the understatement; the few words she uses are measured and considered, intelligent and effective.
So here we have a crime novel that presents us with several moral dilemmas, some interesting points to consider and two murders. A great read; a well structured plot, empathetic intelligent main characters, this is Fossum at her best. This is the first book in the Inspector Sejer series though it has been the last to be translated to English. The entire series is worthy of your consideration, you will not be disappointed.
Konrad Sejer listens. I am so impressed that this quietly spoken, conservative middle aged man has such patience and great listening skills. He has mastered the art perceptive listening; he is totally focused, mindful and aware, leaving gaps in conversation to allow the other person to fill in the spaces, a trait that works very well.
I loved how Eva and her friend discuss the meaning of art and what it is to be an artist: “You become an artist because you have to. Because there aren’t any alternatives.” Simply stated, personal, accurate.
Prostitution is given the same serious considerations as art; “Let’s call it customer service of a sort. People ring up and make an appointment, and I receive them. There are many needs out there, you know, and this niche in the market is really deep.” Again a simple, unemotional statement of facts as Maja (and perhaps the author) sees it. Fossum is the master of the understatement; the few words she uses are measured and considered, intelligent and effective.
So here we have a crime novel that presents us with several moral dilemmas, some interesting points to consider and two murders. A great read; a well structured plot, empathetic intelligent main characters, this is Fossum at her best. This is the first book in the Inspector Sejer series though it has been the last to be translated to English. The entire series is worthy of your consideration, you will not be disappointed.
June 8, 2015
This is the first Sejer and must have been translated after the others. I've read all the latter Sejer series and some of her stand alones, as well. This is a 3.5 star but I couldn't round it up because it is majorly centered within the thoughts/ "eyes" of Eva, and not in Sejer's. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't give the Sejer ponderous slant, quite the same way. There was a very tense 50 page escapade that definitely was a 4. And the children who were minor characters were also drawn quite well, 4.5 or 5. But as good as Karin Fossum's novels are to plot and motivations, I just didn't feel the "real" in this one. Eva's personality, I got it. But not why the rage flowed when it did.
She is an excellent writer, one of my favorites. Her people and Sejer, quite flawed and often morose, but honest to their core identity. And in this one, Eva actually left me super interested, but also quite perplexed. As a novel entity, this one lost an entire star for the jumpiness of the transitions. And she gets MUCH better at that later in the series with added plot interest and twists you don't see coming. I completely understand why this was not the first translated and promoted. They needed to get Sejer and his dog as the pivot to return to another plot or book in the series. This one did not have him as the pivot point.
She is an excellent writer, one of my favorites. Her people and Sejer, quite flawed and often morose, but honest to their core identity. And in this one, Eva actually left me super interested, but also quite perplexed. As a novel entity, this one lost an entire star for the jumpiness of the transitions. And she gets MUCH better at that later in the series with added plot interest and twists you don't see coming. I completely understand why this was not the first translated and promoted. They needed to get Sejer and his dog as the pivot to return to another plot or book in the series. This one did not have him as the pivot point.
April 17, 2019
Don't know why I was so late reading Karin Fossum. I really enjoyed this book and the gentle descriptive and incisive language which relates a detective story that is on a par with any current Scandinavian criminal fiction.
Inspector Sejer is a wonderfully drawn character who thinks a good deal and has an intelligent line in questioning.
The author has a different approach to telling her story of a double murder with plenty of tension throughout as well as the usual twists and turns. The usual chronological account is dispensed with and although it takes a couple of chapters to get into the swing of things the story from Eva's perspective rather than just the from Police investigation makes this a refreshing and bold novel.
Inspector Sejer is a wonderfully drawn character who thinks a good deal and has an intelligent line in questioning.
The author has a different approach to telling her story of a double murder with plenty of tension throughout as well as the usual twists and turns. The usual chronological account is dispensed with and although it takes a couple of chapters to get into the swing of things the story from Eva's perspective rather than just the from Police investigation makes this a refreshing and bold novel.
October 18, 2025
Author Karin Fossum came highly recommended by two of my bookish friends, whose recommendations I take seriously. Also, my recent trip to Norway has piqued my interest in Scandinavian authors, Norwegians in particular. I like to read a series in order, so even though this book is quite old, I decided to give it a try.
Eva Magnus is a struggling artist and single parent who is living hand-to-mouth. When she and her daughter discover a man's body in a river, instead of reporting it to the police, she keeps it a secret. The body is later found and identified as a brewery worker, missing for over six months, with a wife and small child. Inspector Sejer begins investigating and notices that at the time the man went missing, a prostitute was found murdered. Sejer senses a connection, and oddly enough, he finds Eva linked to both people. Now it's up to him to prove her guilt or innocence.
I enjoyed how Fossum made clear who the killer was, then went back in time to show what led up to both killings. Eva is a sympathetic character, and the moral and financial dilemmas she faces made me root for her. I also liked Sejer and how he went about solving both murders. Overall, I liked the book, and I am willing to try the next book in the series. 4/5 stars.
Eva Magnus is a struggling artist and single parent who is living hand-to-mouth. When she and her daughter discover a man's body in a river, instead of reporting it to the police, she keeps it a secret. The body is later found and identified as a brewery worker, missing for over six months, with a wife and small child. Inspector Sejer begins investigating and notices that at the time the man went missing, a prostitute was found murdered. Sejer senses a connection, and oddly enough, he finds Eva linked to both people. Now it's up to him to prove her guilt or innocence.
I enjoyed how Fossum made clear who the killer was, then went back in time to show what led up to both killings. Eva is a sympathetic character, and the moral and financial dilemmas she faces made me root for her. I also liked Sejer and how he went about solving both murders. Overall, I liked the book, and I am willing to try the next book in the series. 4/5 stars.
January 26, 2020
Inspector Sejer (sey-year) is born in this book. We should christen him or anoint him. He doesn’t enter as a savior nor will he ever in successive books. At least not regarding an initial murder because then you wouldn’t have a murder mystery. In fact, he (and all other detectives) might not ever prevent a second murder.
What we may honor, though, is his ability to read emotions and not become emotional himself. His aura doesn’t stem from his melancholy demeanor (that’s always a useful characteristic to give a detective!) and it doesn’t come from bravado. He is nearly the humblest investigator you’ll find in detective fiction.
Karin Fossum does masterful work. She starts with a simple premise and keeps the unfolding brutality simple. Nothing over the top. Just pure scripting. In theory, that’s a great way to write a police procedural if you’re not trying to write a thriller.
It must take extraordinary restraint to keep the story convergent as she does so well. Possibly, that’s the key to Scandinavian mystery, though you’ll find thrillers in that genre.
However, if you as a writer are convergent, what you do between narrow lines must be powerful. You must deal with human emotions, whether they are frail or strong, in a way that let’s the reader know how they are feeling. They must survive or fold right there in front of you.
She really gets well the loathing and anxiety of characters trapped in a fate of their own making. Speaking of characters, Fossum allows them to move the plot along by their reaction to events and by the foolish decisions they make. She doesn’t use magic.
This one has a twist of the sort that will make you empathetic for a killer. On another note, it got up my nose for a wholly different reason than my feelings for the superb writing. Read it to find out why.
What we may honor, though, is his ability to read emotions and not become emotional himself. His aura doesn’t stem from his melancholy demeanor (that’s always a useful characteristic to give a detective!) and it doesn’t come from bravado. He is nearly the humblest investigator you’ll find in detective fiction.
Karin Fossum does masterful work. She starts with a simple premise and keeps the unfolding brutality simple. Nothing over the top. Just pure scripting. In theory, that’s a great way to write a police procedural if you’re not trying to write a thriller.
It must take extraordinary restraint to keep the story convergent as she does so well. Possibly, that’s the key to Scandinavian mystery, though you’ll find thrillers in that genre.
However, if you as a writer are convergent, what you do between narrow lines must be powerful. You must deal with human emotions, whether they are frail or strong, in a way that let’s the reader know how they are feeling. They must survive or fold right there in front of you.
She really gets well the loathing and anxiety of characters trapped in a fate of their own making. Speaking of characters, Fossum allows them to move the plot along by their reaction to events and by the foolish decisions they make. She doesn’t use magic.
This one has a twist of the sort that will make you empathetic for a killer. On another note, it got up my nose for a wholly different reason than my feelings for the superb writing. Read it to find out why.
April 22, 2015
Eva is walking alongside a river with her daughter, and they discover a dead body in the water. They go to a phone box to call the police, although Eva doesn't actually call the police so not to get her daughter or herself involved. But this is the second murder in this small town that occurred within a few days...
This book is pretty much what I love about Nordic Noir. We have a clever investigator (this time, an actual policeman), with an interesting backstory and past. A murder or two which may or may not relate to each other. Flips of narrative and playing with storytelling devices. Twists. Sudden ending. All with amazing descriptions of landscape and wonderful Scandinavian settings.
What annoys me about translated books, particularly with crime books, is that publishers tend to choose what they think are the "good stories" and just translate those. Who cares if it's book 7 in a 10 book series! This series is no exception, unfortunately, with many other Inspector Konrad Sejer books published before the English publishers thought that book 1 was worth translating. I'm glad they did though as I think this was a beautiful introductory novel, and I will join this Inspector again on his skydiving over fjords and maybe another murder.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
This book is pretty much what I love about Nordic Noir. We have a clever investigator (this time, an actual policeman), with an interesting backstory and past. A murder or two which may or may not relate to each other. Flips of narrative and playing with storytelling devices. Twists. Sudden ending. All with amazing descriptions of landscape and wonderful Scandinavian settings.
What annoys me about translated books, particularly with crime books, is that publishers tend to choose what they think are the "good stories" and just translate those. Who cares if it's book 7 in a 10 book series! This series is no exception, unfortunately, with many other Inspector Konrad Sejer books published before the English publishers thought that book 1 was worth translating. I'm glad they did though as I think this was a beautiful introductory novel, and I will join this Inspector again on his skydiving over fjords and maybe another murder.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
August 10, 2016
Eva's Eye is the first in Fossum's Inspector Sejer police procedural series, set in Norway. The first half of the book deserves 5 stars for pacing, character development, plotting, setting the stage. The kind of book you stay up too late reading 2 nights running. The second half of the book focuses on a single character - not Inspector Sejer - and I didn't actually want to spend that much time immersed in that character's mind. He/she became more appalling to me the longer we were together. Fossum's unveiling of the crimes, and a key misunderstanding, was brilliant. The reader had seen and learned enough to figure it out, perhaps, but I didn't.
All-told, this is a very satisfying, well-written, quick read. In fact, it's a must-read if - like me - the idea of Lee Child and Louise Penny writing a novel together appeals. I suspect they would produce a work very much like Eva's Eye.
All-told, this is a very satisfying, well-written, quick read. In fact, it's a must-read if - like me - the idea of Lee Child and Louise Penny writing a novel together appeals. I suspect they would produce a work very much like Eva's Eye.
October 18, 2017
Мне нравится Фоссум за псевдодетектив, где автора больше интересуют герои, а не расследование преступлений. И инспектор Сейер -душка, конечно, но довольно номинальный персонаж.
April 7, 2024
not so good poorly written... :)
December 13, 2024
"أبسط الأفعال قد تؤدي إلى نتائج كبيرة، فالحصاة التي ترميها في الماء قد ينتهي بها المطاف في شاطئ لم يخطر على بالك"
December 27, 2017
Libro leído en el club de lectura perteneciente al grupo La Cafetería de Audrey
2,5 estrellas. Me da mucha lástima darle esta puntuación, pero no he podido darle más.
El motivo por el que no le he dado más es porque me ha parecido muy previsible desde el comienzo. Si, por ejemplo, la autora o editorial no hubiera decidido escribir una sinopsis TAN clara, habría habido algún misterio por resolver en el libro. La historia trata sobre lo que se expone en la sinopsis, ni más ni menos. Te da a entender (no te lo dice claramente) quién es el asesino desde el comienzo. Sí hay un pequeño giro al final, pero para mi gusto fue un poco Deus ex machina. Los personajes me han resultado algo planos y muy pesados. Eva es insoportable, parece que no puede ver a su hija, y lo peor es que intenta crear cierta simpatía que en mi opinión nunca se logra. Sejer no hace gran cosa. Sí, resuelve el caso, pero parece que tiene el camino marcado con luces para que no se pierda. Apenas hay lugar para cavilaciones, simplemente las cosas ocurren porque sí. El resto de los personajes son muy superficiales y poco se dice de ellos.
En definitiva, creo que es un buen libro de novela negra, pero tampoco aporta algo original al género. Como historia está bien; como investigación no es lo que esperaba.
2,5 estrellas. Me da mucha lástima darle esta puntuación, pero no he podido darle más.
El motivo por el que no le he dado más es porque me ha parecido muy previsible desde el comienzo. Si, por ejemplo, la autora o editorial no hubiera decidido escribir una sinopsis TAN clara, habría habido algún misterio por resolver en el libro. La historia trata sobre lo que se expone en la sinopsis, ni más ni menos. Te da a entender (no te lo dice claramente) quién es el asesino desde el comienzo. Sí hay un pequeño giro al final, pero para mi gusto fue un poco Deus ex machina. Los personajes me han resultado algo planos y muy pesados. Eva es insoportable, parece que no puede ver a su hija, y lo peor es que intenta crear cierta simpatía que en mi opinión nunca se logra. Sejer no hace gran cosa. Sí, resuelve el caso, pero parece que tiene el camino marcado con luces para que no se pierda. Apenas hay lugar para cavilaciones, simplemente las cosas ocurren porque sí. El resto de los personajes son muy superficiales y poco se dice de ellos.
En definitiva, creo que es un buen libro de novela negra, pero tampoco aporta algo original al género. Como historia está bien; como investigación no es lo que esperaba.
June 5, 2023
3.5 نجوم لرواية ممتعة ولكنها ليست بالعمق المتوقع.. أو ربما ظلمتها بقراءتها بعد رواية أماكن مظلمة التي ابتلعتني وبهرتني..
الرواية هي أولى روايات سلسلة الكاتبة التي يلعب دور البطولة فيها المحقق كونراد سيير..
تدور الرواية حول ايفا الفنانة المعوزة والأم المعيلة التي تلاقي مصادفة بصديقتها مايا بعد ٢٥ سنة من الفراق.. ثم تقتل مايا في ظروف غامضة وبعد ستة أشهر تظهر جثة رجل. يبحث سيير عن القاتل في الجريمتين ويتساءل عن الرابط بينهما..
لم يقنعني دافع الجريمة، خاصة الثانية.. ولم أحب النهاية.
الرواية هي أولى روايات سلسلة الكاتبة التي يلعب دور البطولة فيها المحقق كونراد سيير..
تدور الرواية حول ايفا الفنانة المعوزة والأم المعيلة التي تلاقي مصادفة بصديقتها مايا بعد ٢٥ سنة من الفراق.. ثم تقتل مايا في ظروف غامضة وبعد ستة أشهر تظهر جثة رجل. يبحث سيير عن القاتل في الجريمتين ويتساءل عن الرابط بينهما..
لم يقنعني دافع الجريمة، خاصة الثانية.. ولم أحب النهاية.
November 5, 2016
As a fairly recent reader of the writing of former poet and the now recognised "Norwegian queen of crime", Karin Fossum, I had only read two of the series prior to In the Darkness. Consequently I may have avoided one of the gripes of long-standing fans of this series who found themselves faced with problem of translation out of order. Although published in Norway in 1995, the novel was not available to English readers until 2013 and appeared when many readers already felt well acquainted with her enigmatic Inspector Konrad Sejer. Fossum writes beautifully, her prose is mesmerising and her stripped back narrative never makes the mistake of over elaborating, thereby allowing the reader to make their own judgements on the drama that unfolds. Fossum's novels often concentrate specifically on one individual, using them as a means of illustrating wider messages about society, and this is the case with this novel, also entitled Eva's Eye in later reprints.
Karin Fossum presents a balanced view and an appreciation of the two sides in every story. She appreciates how little divides good and evil and how circumstances can often corner individuals into positions where a formerly seemingly unthinkable action feels like their only option. The forty-nine year old Konrad Sejer understands that things are not always starkly black and white, and that for those of the margins of society the dividing line is often less well defined. This is particularly relevant for In the Darkness where the vehicle for telling much of the story is Eva Marie Magnus, a single mother approaching forty and struggling to make her mark as an artist. At one point Sejer asks Eva why she doesn't use colours in her paintings and she challenges him as to why she should, only for his response to be that reality isn't simply black or white. Inspector Konrad Sejer is more an observer and processor of the information he is made privy to, oiling the wheels and delivering the story through non-judgemental eyes and presenting both sides of every story, rather than actively participating in the drama playing out. Sejer merely performs his job and does not consider himself as superior to the people he meets in his line of work. He not only empathises, he sympathises and listens and his circuitous line of questioning often extrudes the most pertinent details from those he encounters. Sejer gives people time and respect and his intelligent conservational skills never belittle any of those he meets and mean he is often rewarded with frankness.
In the Darkness is told in a strikingly different way from the average crime novel, beginning with Inspector Sejer escorting the dishevelled and tearful Eva Marie Magnus to his office on a grey April day. Then the story unfolds and shows just what brought this about, starting with the discovery of a mans body in the fast river that weaves through the small town. Although Eva and her seven-year-old daughter, Emma, are the first to notice the corpse and Eva assures her daughter that she will report the matter to the police, she does not in fact do so, crucially calling her father instead and neglecting to mention anything apart from the McDonalds her and Emma are planning to visit. It is April before the bloated and battered body is recovered, and the victim swiftly identified as Egil Einarsson, a married man with a young son, considered reliable by his employers and wife who was reported missing in October. The seventeen stab wounds inflicted on his body clearly do not speak of a simple death by drowning. As Sejer collates his information he discovers that brewery worker Egil was either tinkering with his well preserved car or socialising with his colleagues at the Kings Arm's hostelry and his intent on the night he went out was to show his vehicle to a potential buyer, something his son remembers clearly. His wife, however, is in the dark and Sejer finds himself drawn to the other murder occupying his team, within days of Egil Einarsson going missing. In a country where homicides are so rare, Sejer muses on the scene of the other incident, the flat of Maja Durban, being just yards from the drinking haunt of Egil Einarsson. Inspector Sejer suspects a connection and pursues both investigations voraciously.
One of the last people to see Maja alive was her old school friend, Eva Magnus, who ran into her childhood friend in town and exchanged stories of the memories they shared. When Konrad Sejer also comes to hear that her daughter mentioned seeing the corpse in the water to her father, he tackles Eva, who profusely states that she reported the matter. When the son of Egil Einarsson remembers the name of the potential car buyer, Eva Magnus is revealed to be the common connection between the two victims and Sejer needs answers. There is much to admire about Inspector Konrad Sejer and although this is really the story of a single mother chasing her dream to flourish as an artist, he is the central point for the police involvement in this story. Through the character of Eva Marie, Fossum contrasts the fortunes of Maja and Eva, with Eva speaking of an artistic calling and Maja offering a much more matter of fact assessment about her own brand of customer service, namely prostitution, as simply a means to a secure future. The breathtaking ending to In the Darkness is ingenious and illustrates just what a talent Karin Fossum is, speaking volumes without requiring excess bloodshed.
Although the younger police officer, Jacob Skarre, appears in this case, it is not until later in the series that he teams up exclusively with Sejer. Forty-nine-years of age, widowed for eight years and clearly still missing his wife, Konrad Sejer has a flourishing relationship with his only child, Ingrid, and dotes on his adopted Somalian grandson, four-year-old Matteus. Living alone with Kollberg, his Leonberger who is frequently given the benefit of his masters wisdom, he restricts himself to an admittedly large whiskey and a single cigarette every evening. The more I see of his erudite approach the more I want to read more and I can only compare his style to that of William Wisting, protagonist of the novels by Jørn Lier Horst.
Fossum is a keen observer of society, and many of the asides that she passes comment on bring colour to the story, a typical example being when the fatherly Sejer gives a tour of the police station and courthouse to a young boy, and manages to provide some appreciation of how Norway goes about rehabilitating their prison population. Fossum also recognises the lack of a national DNA database in crime detection and astutely notes how the drive for this is affected by how worthwhile the authorities regard a crime as worth solving, and her honestly is refreshing. Likewise the police station and courthouse are merely another part of the town, sitting side by side with a Cash & Carry, a brewery and the usual ordinariness of daily life and the three Portakabins that the police make use of evidences just how implicit they are to everyday life!
Bravo, Karin Fossum!
Karin Fossum presents a balanced view and an appreciation of the two sides in every story. She appreciates how little divides good and evil and how circumstances can often corner individuals into positions where a formerly seemingly unthinkable action feels like their only option. The forty-nine year old Konrad Sejer understands that things are not always starkly black and white, and that for those of the margins of society the dividing line is often less well defined. This is particularly relevant for In the Darkness where the vehicle for telling much of the story is Eva Marie Magnus, a single mother approaching forty and struggling to make her mark as an artist. At one point Sejer asks Eva why she doesn't use colours in her paintings and she challenges him as to why she should, only for his response to be that reality isn't simply black or white. Inspector Konrad Sejer is more an observer and processor of the information he is made privy to, oiling the wheels and delivering the story through non-judgemental eyes and presenting both sides of every story, rather than actively participating in the drama playing out. Sejer merely performs his job and does not consider himself as superior to the people he meets in his line of work. He not only empathises, he sympathises and listens and his circuitous line of questioning often extrudes the most pertinent details from those he encounters. Sejer gives people time and respect and his intelligent conservational skills never belittle any of those he meets and mean he is often rewarded with frankness.
In the Darkness is told in a strikingly different way from the average crime novel, beginning with Inspector Sejer escorting the dishevelled and tearful Eva Marie Magnus to his office on a grey April day. Then the story unfolds and shows just what brought this about, starting with the discovery of a mans body in the fast river that weaves through the small town. Although Eva and her seven-year-old daughter, Emma, are the first to notice the corpse and Eva assures her daughter that she will report the matter to the police, she does not in fact do so, crucially calling her father instead and neglecting to mention anything apart from the McDonalds her and Emma are planning to visit. It is April before the bloated and battered body is recovered, and the victim swiftly identified as Egil Einarsson, a married man with a young son, considered reliable by his employers and wife who was reported missing in October. The seventeen stab wounds inflicted on his body clearly do not speak of a simple death by drowning. As Sejer collates his information he discovers that brewery worker Egil was either tinkering with his well preserved car or socialising with his colleagues at the Kings Arm's hostelry and his intent on the night he went out was to show his vehicle to a potential buyer, something his son remembers clearly. His wife, however, is in the dark and Sejer finds himself drawn to the other murder occupying his team, within days of Egil Einarsson going missing. In a country where homicides are so rare, Sejer muses on the scene of the other incident, the flat of Maja Durban, being just yards from the drinking haunt of Egil Einarsson. Inspector Sejer suspects a connection and pursues both investigations voraciously.
One of the last people to see Maja alive was her old school friend, Eva Magnus, who ran into her childhood friend in town and exchanged stories of the memories they shared. When Konrad Sejer also comes to hear that her daughter mentioned seeing the corpse in the water to her father, he tackles Eva, who profusely states that she reported the matter. When the son of Egil Einarsson remembers the name of the potential car buyer, Eva Magnus is revealed to be the common connection between the two victims and Sejer needs answers. There is much to admire about Inspector Konrad Sejer and although this is really the story of a single mother chasing her dream to flourish as an artist, he is the central point for the police involvement in this story. Through the character of Eva Marie, Fossum contrasts the fortunes of Maja and Eva, with Eva speaking of an artistic calling and Maja offering a much more matter of fact assessment about her own brand of customer service, namely prostitution, as simply a means to a secure future. The breathtaking ending to In the Darkness is ingenious and illustrates just what a talent Karin Fossum is, speaking volumes without requiring excess bloodshed.
Although the younger police officer, Jacob Skarre, appears in this case, it is not until later in the series that he teams up exclusively with Sejer. Forty-nine-years of age, widowed for eight years and clearly still missing his wife, Konrad Sejer has a flourishing relationship with his only child, Ingrid, and dotes on his adopted Somalian grandson, four-year-old Matteus. Living alone with Kollberg, his Leonberger who is frequently given the benefit of his masters wisdom, he restricts himself to an admittedly large whiskey and a single cigarette every evening. The more I see of his erudite approach the more I want to read more and I can only compare his style to that of William Wisting, protagonist of the novels by Jørn Lier Horst.
Fossum is a keen observer of society, and many of the asides that she passes comment on bring colour to the story, a typical example being when the fatherly Sejer gives a tour of the police station and courthouse to a young boy, and manages to provide some appreciation of how Norway goes about rehabilitating their prison population. Fossum also recognises the lack of a national DNA database in crime detection and astutely notes how the drive for this is affected by how worthwhile the authorities regard a crime as worth solving, and her honestly is refreshing. Likewise the police station and courthouse are merely another part of the town, sitting side by side with a Cash & Carry, a brewery and the usual ordinariness of daily life and the three Portakabins that the police make use of evidences just how implicit they are to everyday life!
Bravo, Karin Fossum!
September 15, 2020
In the Darkness (Norwegian title
Evas öga
) is an engrossing character-driven psychological drama, verging into thriller territory in a few scenes. It's the first book in Karin Fossum's Inspector Konrad Sejer Series.
While walking along the riverbank in their (unnamed) Norwegian town, artist and single mother Eva Magnus and her 7-year-old daughter Emma come across the remains of a man, floating to the surface. Eva goes to telephone the police, but changes her mind at the last minute, and they leave the discovery for someone else. Other aspects of Eva's behaviour are odd, too - she's recently come into a source of income that must be kept secret, and seems unusually nervy about the prospect of police questioning.
Meanwhile, Inspector Konrad Sejer is investigating the unsolved violent death of high-class prostitute Maja Durban. After the identification of the body in the river as missing brewery worker Egil Einarsson, Sejer detects various connections between the two deaths, and many of those links seem to lead to Eva Magnus, who was a witness in the Durban investigation. What exactly has Eva got to hide?
While the plot of In the Darkness is built around the core of Sejer's criminal investigation into the deaths of Durban and Einarsson, the great strength of the book is in the complex characters and relationships Fossum builds throughout. The use of altering perspectives and extensive inner dialogue allows for a deep examination of human nature, relationships and the circumstances that may prompt good people to make disasterous decisions. The reader develops real sympathy for each of the protagonists, their domestic existences and the motivations behind their actions. Sejer himself is a thoughtful, intuitive and sympathetic character, and the insights into his personal life as a somewhat lonely widower really flesh him out in a way that's quite striking for a central detective character.
As an English speaker, I read the translation by James Anderson from the original Norwegian, and found it well-written in a characteristically Scandinavian style, with restrained and pragmatic prose, moral complexity and finely-drawn characters. Highly recommended - I'll be returning to this series in the future.
While walking along the riverbank in their (unnamed) Norwegian town, artist and single mother Eva Magnus and her 7-year-old daughter Emma come across the remains of a man, floating to the surface. Eva goes to telephone the police, but changes her mind at the last minute, and they leave the discovery for someone else. Other aspects of Eva's behaviour are odd, too - she's recently come into a source of income that must be kept secret, and seems unusually nervy about the prospect of police questioning.
Meanwhile, Inspector Konrad Sejer is investigating the unsolved violent death of high-class prostitute Maja Durban. After the identification of the body in the river as missing brewery worker Egil Einarsson, Sejer detects various connections between the two deaths, and many of those links seem to lead to Eva Magnus, who was a witness in the Durban investigation. What exactly has Eva got to hide?
While the plot of In the Darkness is built around the core of Sejer's criminal investigation into the deaths of Durban and Einarsson, the great strength of the book is in the complex characters and relationships Fossum builds throughout. The use of altering perspectives and extensive inner dialogue allows for a deep examination of human nature, relationships and the circumstances that may prompt good people to make disasterous decisions. The reader develops real sympathy for each of the protagonists, their domestic existences and the motivations behind their actions. Sejer himself is a thoughtful, intuitive and sympathetic character, and the insights into his personal life as a somewhat lonely widower really flesh him out in a way that's quite striking for a central detective character.
As an English speaker, I read the translation by James Anderson from the original Norwegian, and found it well-written in a characteristically Scandinavian style, with restrained and pragmatic prose, moral complexity and finely-drawn characters. Highly recommended - I'll be returning to this series in the future.
June 20, 2017
Ik ga hier misschien heel wat fans beledigen maar dit deed me eerder denken aan zo’n pocketje dat je snel in het station koopt als je trein naar het verre zuiden al vertrekkensklaar staat en je beseft dat je niets bij je hebt om te lezen. Zo licht dus.
Literaire thriller? Wat bedoelt men daar eigenlijk mee? Ik vind het alvast geen thriller. Voor mij is een thriller een boek dat van begin tot eind spannend is en waarbij de acties en gebeurtenissen zich steeds sneller opvolgen om uiteindelijk in een grootste ontknoping te ontploffen, la grande finale. Niets van dit alles hier.
In het eerste deel van het boek wordt een lijk ontdekt van iemand die al zes maanden vermist is. De inspecteur die de verdwijning en nu dus ook moord onderzoekt neemt de draad weer op, komt er snel achter dat er een verband is met een tweede moord en heeft al snel iemand in het vizier.
Na wat speur- en achtervolgingswerk kan hij de verdachte oppakken (spanning weg dus). Het tweede deel (meer dan de helft van het boek eigenlijk) is dan de bekentenis van de verdachte: zij geeft haar kant van het verhaal vanaf een gebeurtenis zes maanden geleden, wat ze heeft meegemaakt en ook hoe die twee personen om het leven zijn gekomen.
In een kort laatste deel, een soort epiloog eigenlijk, komen we niets belangrijk meer te weten.
--- Spoiler alert---
Op de laatste bladzijden wordt per belangrijk personage een paragraaf gewijd aan hun bezigheid zodat we ons een idee kunnen vormen over de toekomst die hun te wachten staat. Alleen van de (ex?-)man van Maya komen we ineens niets meer te weten. Het lijkt me straf dat die ineens de zoektocht naar het geld zou hebben opgegeven …
Geen klassieke whodunit dus: je weet al vrij snel wie de spil van het mysterie is. Maar het blijft gelukkig nog leuk genoeg om verder te lezen en te weten te komen hoe de verdachte haar verhaal doet.
Fossum doet wel haar best om van de hoofdpersonages mensen te maken door hun karakters goed te omschrijven. De inspecteur wil ze volgens mij iets te nadrukkelijk sympathiek laten overkomen alsof ze zich wil afzetten tegen het cliché van de stereotiepe norse einzelganger die vrij veel voorkomt in misdaadverhalen (en films en TV-reeksen).
Ik heb het vrij snel gelezen. Het stak zeker niet tegen maar ik denk dat er nog veel interessantere boeken te lezen zijn alvorens ik nog eens iets van Fossum lees.
Literaire thriller? Wat bedoelt men daar eigenlijk mee? Ik vind het alvast geen thriller. Voor mij is een thriller een boek dat van begin tot eind spannend is en waarbij de acties en gebeurtenissen zich steeds sneller opvolgen om uiteindelijk in een grootste ontknoping te ontploffen, la grande finale. Niets van dit alles hier.
In het eerste deel van het boek wordt een lijk ontdekt van iemand die al zes maanden vermist is. De inspecteur die de verdwijning en nu dus ook moord onderzoekt neemt de draad weer op, komt er snel achter dat er een verband is met een tweede moord en heeft al snel iemand in het vizier.
Na wat speur- en achtervolgingswerk kan hij de verdachte oppakken (spanning weg dus). Het tweede deel (meer dan de helft van het boek eigenlijk) is dan de bekentenis van de verdachte: zij geeft haar kant van het verhaal vanaf een gebeurtenis zes maanden geleden, wat ze heeft meegemaakt en ook hoe die twee personen om het leven zijn gekomen.
In een kort laatste deel, een soort epiloog eigenlijk, komen we niets belangrijk meer te weten.
--- Spoiler alert---
Op de laatste bladzijden wordt per belangrijk personage een paragraaf gewijd aan hun bezigheid zodat we ons een idee kunnen vormen over de toekomst die hun te wachten staat. Alleen van de (ex?-)man van Maya komen we ineens niets meer te weten. Het lijkt me straf dat die ineens de zoektocht naar het geld zou hebben opgegeven …
Geen klassieke whodunit dus: je weet al vrij snel wie de spil van het mysterie is. Maar het blijft gelukkig nog leuk genoeg om verder te lezen en te weten te komen hoe de verdachte haar verhaal doet.
Fossum doet wel haar best om van de hoofdpersonages mensen te maken door hun karakters goed te omschrijven. De inspecteur wil ze volgens mij iets te nadrukkelijk sympathiek laten overkomen alsof ze zich wil afzetten tegen het cliché van de stereotiepe norse einzelganger die vrij veel voorkomt in misdaadverhalen (en films en TV-reeksen).
Ik heb het vrij snel gelezen. Het stak zeker niet tegen maar ik denk dat er nog veel interessantere boeken te lezen zijn alvorens ik nog eens iets van Fossum lees.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2016
Well !!! This is how you present a book ! No mistakes and well written and by a foreign writer. Yet English authors can't manage to accomplish this feat so well done to Ms Fossum and her translator Mr Anderson. You've put others to shame while proving it CAN be done !! Actually, many of these Nordic writers do a really good job. Perhaps they just take more pride in their work than British and American writers. It certainly makes it way more of a pleasure to read them.
I'd wondered why there were three differing covers then realised I'm very late coming to this writer and this one, her first of the series, was written around 2002. I paid £4.99 for the Kindle version which is rare for a new author to me so took a chance. I like her Inspector Sejer a great deal although he can be a little politically incorrect (although he probably wasn't back in the 2000s-this is a new fad)....he was at heart very kindhearted, though.
My only criticism would be the over-use of the word lightning. I think we saw too much of that. Other than this I can't fault it at all and can't wait to read the others.
Eva was an intriguing character and there were also some funny remarks in it I got a kick out of. Yet the mystery was a very good one indeed and the ending a satisfing and unexpected one.
Very well done indeed.
I'd wondered why there were three differing covers then realised I'm very late coming to this writer and this one, her first of the series, was written around 2002. I paid £4.99 for the Kindle version which is rare for a new author to me so took a chance. I like her Inspector Sejer a great deal although he can be a little politically incorrect (although he probably wasn't back in the 2000s-this is a new fad)....he was at heart very kindhearted, though.
My only criticism would be the over-use of the word lightning. I think we saw too much of that. Other than this I can't fault it at all and can't wait to read the others.
Eva was an intriguing character and there were also some funny remarks in it I got a kick out of. Yet the mystery was a very good one indeed and the ending a satisfing and unexpected one.
Very well done indeed.
February 13, 2017
I am feeling quite ambivalent about the book. It is that feeling of not being sure if what you actually liked in the book is not what you are looking for in a Nordic mystery.
Eva Magnus discovers a body floating down the river. She calls her dad instead of notifying the police. Meanwhile, Inspecter Sejer connects the murder victim, reported missing with another murder around the same time (six months ago) in the same neighbourhood. And the investigation progresses close to reality police-work till they converge at Eva Magnus. The problem - police are shown having sparks of brilliance interspersed with lot of inaction. Inspector Sejer, the hero of he series, is a grandad who is patient, logical and startles people with his insightful questions.
In Danish, the book title translated roughly to "Through Eva's Eyes". And you understand why. The book is a lot closer to reality without diabolic schemes where human impulses take over. The conversations between Eva and Maja on art and prostitution sounded a lot like philosophy. The twist towards the end is a decent unexpected one!
The writing is confident but goes quite frequently on a tangent. It's neither here nor there when it comes to character and plot. I liked the mystery, but not totally convinced about how it was solved. I would read a couple more books in the series before making up my mind.
Eva Magnus discovers a body floating down the river. She calls her dad instead of notifying the police. Meanwhile, Inspecter Sejer connects the murder victim, reported missing with another murder around the same time (six months ago) in the same neighbourhood. And the investigation progresses close to reality police-work till they converge at Eva Magnus. The problem - police are shown having sparks of brilliance interspersed with lot of inaction. Inspector Sejer, the hero of he series, is a grandad who is patient, logical and startles people with his insightful questions.
In Danish, the book title translated roughly to "Through Eva's Eyes". And you understand why. The book is a lot closer to reality without diabolic schemes where human impulses take over. The conversations between Eva and Maja on art and prostitution sounded a lot like philosophy. The twist towards the end is a decent unexpected one!
The writing is confident but goes quite frequently on a tangent. It's neither here nor there when it comes to character and plot. I liked the mystery, but not totally convinced about how it was solved. I would read a couple more books in the series before making up my mind.
August 13, 2019
In the Darkness is the first book in Karin Fossum’s Konrad Sejer series, and I had high hopes for this one. It sounded like a wonderful read, creating the promise of a new crime series addiction. Unfortunately, my high hopes were not met.
Although In the Darkness was an interesting storyline, it didn’t give me the feelings I usually experience when reading crime novels. It was interesting to see how everything came together, the story certainly had me reading until the end, but the way in which the story was told didn’t quite hold my attention. I was ready to follow an officer as he tried to unravel a mystery, only to be given a very different kind of tale.
It’s difficult to explain without offering spoilers, but things in this were not what I expected. It started out a three-star rating, but when the details started to come together – when we got to see what happened – the change had me dropping it down to a two-star rating. There was a nice little twist at the end, one that had me considering giving an overall three-star rating, but it wasn’t quite enough.
There is potential with this series, but the way this story unfolded wasn’t quite for me. I’ll certainly give the second book a try to see if it works better for me, but this one did disappoint me in the end.
Although In the Darkness was an interesting storyline, it didn’t give me the feelings I usually experience when reading crime novels. It was interesting to see how everything came together, the story certainly had me reading until the end, but the way in which the story was told didn’t quite hold my attention. I was ready to follow an officer as he tried to unravel a mystery, only to be given a very different kind of tale.
It’s difficult to explain without offering spoilers, but things in this were not what I expected. It started out a three-star rating, but when the details started to come together – when we got to see what happened – the change had me dropping it down to a two-star rating. There was a nice little twist at the end, one that had me considering giving an overall three-star rating, but it wasn’t quite enough.
There is potential with this series, but the way this story unfolded wasn’t quite for me. I’ll certainly give the second book a try to see if it works better for me, but this one did disappoint me in the end.
February 14, 2022
جريمة في الظلام
ل كارين فوسم
ترجمة هند عادل
تعود بنا كارين فوسم لجريمة قتل جديدة في إحدى بلدات أو قرى النرويج.. ويبدأ المفتش سيير في البحث عن القاتل ويربط الجريمة بجريمة أخرى لامرأة ما.. لهذه القتيلة صديقة مطلقة - إيفا- تحوم حولها الشبهات ..
هذه الصديقة فنانه لديها ابنة ومخاوف وهواجس تجعل القارىء يشك فيها ويتعاطف معها لعدة أسباب..
ولكن للمفتش سيير رأي آخر حتى يكتشف هوية القاتل..
إيفا فنانة ترسم بطريقة حديثة لا يفهمها الناس، تمضغ الأقلام الرصاص، وتستمتع بلعق فرش الرسم بعد نقعها بزيت التربنتين فهي متعتها السرية..
تعيش إيفا في بلدة كالغريبة ..
❞ قالت “إيفا” لنفسها أن هذه البلدة غير متناغمة على الإطلاق، وكأن انقسامها إلى نصفين يحرمها من السعادة. فكل جانب يحاول فرض سيطرته. ❝
اعطتنا الكاتبة لمحات عن الحياة في هذه البلد الباردة للغاية.. لمحات اجتماعية ونفسيه لساكنيها.. عن العزلة التي يعيشها المجتمع..
وهكذا حتى تمضي بنا الرواية مع المفتش سيير والفنانة إيفا..
#نو_ها
ل كارين فوسم
ترجمة هند عادل
تعود بنا كارين فوسم لجريمة قتل جديدة في إحدى بلدات أو قرى النرويج.. ويبدأ المفتش سيير في البحث عن القاتل ويربط الجريمة بجريمة أخرى لامرأة ما.. لهذه القتيلة صديقة مطلقة - إيفا- تحوم حولها الشبهات ..
هذه الصديقة فنانه لديها ابنة ومخاوف وهواجس تجعل القارىء يشك فيها ويتعاطف معها لعدة أسباب..
ولكن للمفتش سيير رأي آخر حتى يكتشف هوية القاتل..
إيفا فنانة ترسم بطريقة حديثة لا يفهمها الناس، تمضغ الأقلام الرصاص، وتستمتع بلعق فرش الرسم بعد نقعها بزيت التربنتين فهي متعتها السرية..
تعيش إيفا في بلدة كالغريبة ..
❞ قالت “إيفا” لنفسها أن هذه البلدة غير متناغمة على الإطلاق، وكأن انقسامها إلى نصفين يحرمها من السعادة. فكل جانب يحاول فرض سيطرته. ❝
اعطتنا الكاتبة لمحات عن الحياة في هذه البلد الباردة للغاية.. لمحات اجتماعية ونفسيه لساكنيها.. عن العزلة التي يعيشها المجتمع..
وهكذا حتى تمضي بنا الرواية مع المفتش سيير والفنانة إيفا..
#نو_ها
Displaying 1 - 30 of 700 reviews