Novi, uznemirujući i napeti slučaj inspektora Everta Grensa – pridružite mu se ako smete da siđete u grotlo pakla.
Dve četvorogodišnje devojčice nestale su u Stokholmu istog dana. Jedna je oteta u supermarketu, a druga na parkingu. Nikad nisu pronađene. Njihovi kovčezi leže prazni na lokalnom groblju.
Nekoliko godina kasnije jedan neobičan susret i sopstvene trauma nagnaće kriminalističkog inspektora Everta Grensa da ponovo otvori sada već zastareli slučaj o nestalim devojčicama. Potraga ga vodi do mučnih dubina organizovane pedofilske mreže koju može razbiti jedino ako bude imao nekog iznutra. Grens poziva svog penzionisanog partnera Pita Hofmana, najboljeg tajnog operativca kog poznaje, da pokuša da se infiltrira u grupu. Imaće samo jednu šansu. Jesu li spremni da je iskoriste?
„Ruslund piše na dva načina – na mračan i mračniji. Mirno spavaj će vas uzdrmati do kostiju. Izvanredan primer skandinavskog noara.“ – New York Times
„Maestralan roman o teškoj i zahtevnoj temi. Dok ga budete čitali, budite spremni na loš san i košmare.“ – Göteborgsposten
Anders Roslund is a Swedish author and journalist. He is the founder and former head of Kulturnyheterna (Culture News) on SVT, Sweden's national television broadcaster. For many years he worked as a news reporter – specializing in criminal and social issues – and as an Editor-in-chief at Rapport and Aktuellt, the two major News programmes on SVT.
Roslund regularly collaborates with Börge Hellström, and together they make up the writing duo of Roslund & Hellström.
It all starts with a chance encounter with ‘Jenny‘ whilst Detective Superintendent Ewart Grens is visiting the grave of his wife Anni. He learns that Jenny’s daughter Alva is taken from a car park at the age of 4 and is never found and she takes him to view her empty grave which is simply marked “My Little Girl”. Ewart is fully engaged and wants to know more, in the process he learns about another little girl also aged 4, who is taken on the same day. Ewart is now fully invested if not obsessed with the case but is denied the right to investigate it by his boss Erik Wilson and ordered to take leave. Erik is deeply concerned about Ewart’s health and welfare and does not believe he is up to the challenge. However, when a colleague from an online division brings him an horrific photograph Grens is determined to continue and so goes “off piste”. With outside help, which includes the Danish police and Piet Hoffman who, with persuasion, is prepared to go undercover to try to infiltrate and unmask a world wide paedophile ring.
It goes without saying this makes for shocking reading as it clearly deals with heinous crimes. Whilst the author leaves you in no doubt, the storyline does not go over the top as it’s mostly about pursuing the criminals. What they learn is so dark it’s jet black and obviously some of it is very painful and shocks to the core. The effect on Grens and Hoffman is palpable. What is revealed is monstrous, gruesome and horrific and their rage and determination to unmask these dregs of society is understandable. The toll on Hoffman is done extremely well and you feel his disgust and applaud his bravery. It’s chilling, dangerous, tense and builds to a really good conclusion.
The characterisation is also good, Ewart carries a big burden which makes him feel human. The ultimate ending is unpredictable and one I like as it fits in so well with Ewart’s character. Kudos to the author.
Overall, of course this is a stab you in your heart whilst your stomach is churning and your brain recoiling type of read but it’s also really good and well written. This is a series that fans of Scandi Noir will enjoy.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K./Vintage for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Este dia, que amanheceu com a terrível notícia do início de uma guerra aqui tão perto, talvez seja o dia indicado para escrever esta opinião.
Este é um livro que retrata o pior do ser humano. A violência inconsequente e gratuita contra outros. A insanidade de querer controlar, de submeter outras pessoas à força, em constante pressão física e psicológica.
Este livro não está relacionado com guerra de armas como a que a Europa de leste vive no dia de hoje. O tema desta obra é tão ou mais bárbaro do que a história que hoje vai ficar registada. Nas suas páginas encontramos uma guerra contra o abuso sexual infantil. O mais ignóbil dos crimes.
Crianças que se deveriam sentir seguras junto dos pais, são horrivelmente abusadas por estes. Outras, são roubadas dos braços amorosos dos seus progenitores e levadas para um mundo de podridão.
Este livro é duro, é difícil de ler mas é impossível parar. A escrita é muito envolvente e fez com que eu me imbuísse de um desejo de justiça misturado com vingança que não me deixou largar o livro até terminar.
Foi o primeiro livro que li do autor, mas vou pegar de seguida no “A aniversariante”, já publicado em Portugal.
Aconselho muito esta leitura. É um tema difícil mas que deve ser lido e debatido, é um problema real que não podemos ignorar. Por isso, espero que o leiam, que se revoltem e que se unam aos protagonistas nesta luta.
Peguei neste livro sem expectativas e fui bastante surpreendida! Apesar do tema ser muito pesado e por vezes violento( pedofilia) - felizmente o autor consegue ter a subtileza de falar do tema ser ser muito descritivo e por isso acaba por ser uma leitura mais “fácil “- e por isso acredito que não sendo um livro para toda a gente, acho que é um policial incrível , com uma história a ritmo frenético e um inspector dedicado a resolver toda a trama, fazendo-nos querer que em todas as cidades existisse um inspetor/ polícia assim dedicado a resolver este tipo de crimes…
Pisac je uspio da dočara tamnu stranu interneta,da obradi temu pedofilije na jedan pravi način: da izazove emociju u čitaocu preko nekih poglavlja a da opet te natjera samo na blagu jezu ali ne i na gađenje (kao što znaju pojedini pisci), jer na moje lično zadovoljstvo nije bilo previše opisa zlostavljanja i tih scena sa djecom.
This book was a struggle for me at times, only due to the subject matter of the book, but it’s one that really sticks with you. It’s as atmospheric as it is addictive (I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop) and the writing is descriptive and raw. It’s a wonderful book with a great main character who, despite their flaws and baggage, is determined to find out the truth and won’t stop until they do. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping thriller, but please read the synopsis carefully as this subject matter can be difficult to read.
Thank you to Vintage Books for sending me a proof of this wonderful book.
Inhalt: Sie waren beide vier Jahre alt, als sie am selben Tag verschwanden. Jetzt werden sie von ihren Familien zu Grabe getragen. Doch beide Särge sind leer, die Körper der Mädchen wurden nie gefunden. Kriminalkommissar Ewert Grens macht sich auf die Suche nach den verschwundenen Kindern und muss dafür mit Undercoveragent Piet Hoffmann in die dunkelsten Seiten des Darknets vordringen. Sie merken bald, dass es ihre bisher schmutzigste und schwierigste Mission werden wird… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Meine Meinung: Selten habe ich ein Buch gelesen, das mich zu gleichen Teilen fasziniert wie auch schockiert hat. ‘Schlaft, Kinder, schlaft’ brachte mich tatsächlich an die Grenze meiner Belastung. Ich hatte permanent ein unwohles Bauchgefühl beim Lesen. Deshalb möchte ich auch unbedingt eine Triggerwarnung (Sexueller und psychischer Missbrauch an Kindern) für diese Geschichte aussprechen. Den verschrobenen Ermittler Ewert Grens mochte ich sehr gerne. Seine eigene traurige Vergangenheit machte ihn für mich sehr menschlich und sympathisch. Als Grens auf den Undercoveragent Hoffmann traf, hatte ich irgendwie das Gefühl etwas zwischen den beiden verpasst zu haben. Wahrscheinlich erfährt man im Vorgängerband ‘Geburtstagskind’ mehr über die schwierige Beziehung der beiden. Auch wenn das Buch ein paar Längen hatte, habe ich es in kürzester Zeit durchgelesen. Einfach weil die alptraumhafte Geschichte insgesamt sehr spannend war. Nun brauche ich erst einmal etwas seichtere Unterhaltung 😉 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Mein Fazit: Sehr spannend und überaus düster. Ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiter verfolgen 👍🏼 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Meine Bewertung: 4/5 Sterne 🌟
Гренс е далеч от героичен полицай, точно обратното, той все повече затъва в своята скъб и се дистанцира от работата, подготвен за скорошно пенсиониране и навярно бърз край след него, но изчезването на две четиригодишни момичета го връща към действителността и го подтиква да затърси отчаяно следи там, където преди години неговите колеги са ударили на камък. “Безследно изчезнали” – това е присъда, а родителите на едното дете само искат то да бъде официално обявено за мъртво, за да продължат напред. Само че Гренс няма намерение да ги остави в скръбта им – точно обратното, той е твърдо решен да го открие, а за тази цел отново ще му е нужен Пийт Хофман, който все не може да се откаже и да заживее спокоен живот. Този път обаче дегизировката му просто няма да е достатъчна – той трябва да се внедри в групичка с толкова изкривена психика, че да се впише изисква да се пречупи изцяло. И става наистина страшно, особено със суровия обрат, който Руслунд поднася абсолютно безмилостно.
Jag började läsa boken utan att tänka på vem författaren var och vilka böcker av honom jag hade läst. Redan från de första sidorna kände jag igen stilen. Det som slår mig mest är att jag vet mycket väl att det här inte är "true crime" men på samma gång kan jag inte låta bli att tänka på hur sanningsenligt allting i boken är. Misshandel, pornografi, sexuell utnyttjande av barn... Odjuret som gömmer sig i folk som verkar helt normala. Människor som lever dubbelliv. Sådant händer ju hela tiden. Det som för mig är ett bra tidsfördriv är säkert någon annans verklighet. Överraskande utvecklingar och mycket att fundera på långt efter att man har lagt ifrån sig boken.
In Stockholm, Alva, Jenny's daughter went missing when she was four. Detective Ewert Grens meets Jenny who is sitting on a bench in the cemetery where Alva's empty grave is and learns of the vanishing of another 4yo at the same time. The cases from five years ago were closed but Grens decides to find out what happened. He is unofficially helped by the Danish police. A disturbing, brutal, white-knuckle, extremely emotional tale with some excellent characterisation.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Vintage via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This novel makes for difficult reading due to the subject matter but is beautifully written and chock full of atmosphere.
A chance encounter leads to a dark reality and an investigation that will test the will of all involved.it unfolds on the page and you end up all in hoping for the best and fearing the worst.
The author absorbs the reader into this one and you really live it, descriptively vivid and deeply emotional.
Sve u svemu ok, ocjena 3,5. Dobar početak knjige koji te mami da nastaviš čitati i saznaš kraj. Autor je "na pristojan način" uspješno dočarao taj odvratan svijet pedofilije.
I took full advantage of a lazy day and read this in one sitting. Be warned , its brutal. But I seem to like those types of books. I really enjoyed the main character, who has plenty of baggage, but is also determined to find the truth. Those guys are always the best. I liked the back up team who brought all the tech knowledge (and more) that the old timers struggle to understand.
Grim reading at times, but fairly unputdownable.
This is clearly part of a series, but I didnt feel lost at any point. I did feel I'd like to read the others now.
Next time I see this authors name on a book I'll be snapping it up.
Scandi noir one of my favourite genres and a new author for me and I am doing the happy dance. A very dark tour de force of a crime thriller. Swedish detective Ewart Grens is a broken and tortured man. With his career coming to an end and has been a thorn in the side of his peers and colleagues, he is still mourning the death of his wife and child. One day he is having a conversation with a stranger at the cemetery. The woman is visiting an empty grave of her little girl. Her daughter disappeared 5 years ago and has been declared dead. Another little girl went missing on the same day. He goes to hiss bosses and they refuse to reopen these cases. Grens is forced to take leave but unbeknownst to his superiors he secretly mounts his own investigation. Little does he realise that this is only the beginning of a tale of human trafficking, kidnapping children to order, the dark web and worldwide hunt for a notorious peodaphile ring that has tentacles world wide. Well written with plenty of heart in your mouth moments and a few surprises. After reading this rollercoaster I have found out that there is a whole series of Ewart Grens thrillers. Off to Amazon I go. A well deserved five stars and a MUST READ!!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Már az első rész is kedvemre való volt, ezen a részen meg egyszerűen nem találok fogást. Súlyos és gyomorforgató a téma pedig: pedofília, gyermekbántalmazás – nem is volt könnyű olvasmány, hiszen ijesztően valószerűek és drámaiak az események. Remekül felépített, jó ritmusú krimi nulla üresjárattal. Grens mélyre ás a szokott módján, de Hoffmannt nehezen lehet a beépülésre rábírni, és nem is bírja a gyomra. A hardcore rajongóknak kötelező olvasmány.
Viena iš geresnių tokio žanro knygų. Tamsi ir nemaloni. Neseniai mačiau filmą "Laisvės garsas" ir faktas, kad dabar yra daugiau vergų nei vergovės laikais, ypač vaikų, seksualiai išnaudojamų, pribloškiantis ir gniuždantis.
4,5*... É mto bom este livro.. Tem algumas passagens chocantes, mas isso torna a leitura ainda melhor, porque nos faz sentir algo forte. Um tema sensível, mas adorei!!
Roslundova novinarska pozadina vidljiva je u cijelom romanu. Njegova proza je ekonomična, lišena nepotrebnih ukrasa i često brutalno izravna. Ne piše da bi zabavio - piše da bi razotkrio, optužio i privukao pažnju. Međutim, roman često žrtvuje emocionalnu rezonancu za proceduralne detalje. Odlomci se mogu činiti repetitivnima ili predugima, posebno u ranim poglavljima. Dijalog je često ukočen i previše funkcionalan, služeći radnji, a ne likovima.
Detektiv Ewert Grens je srce ovog romana, ali to je srce koje jedva kuca. Grens je arhetip izgorjelog policajca: progonjen, nedruštven i vođen krivnjom, a ne pravdom. Njegova ljudskost najočitija je u njegovoj usamljenosti. Piet Hoffman, nasuprot tome, reaktivniji je - čovjek nevoljko uvučen u tamu.
Iako Slatko snivaj ima zanimljivu ideju, izvedba je za mene podbacila u određenim dijelovima. Tema zlostavljanja djece, trgovine ljudima i digitalnog iskorištavanje maloljetnika nesumnjivo je važna. Ali Roslund je predstavlja s takvim nefiltriranim intenzitetom da graniči s voajerizmom. Postoji tanka linija između podizanja svijesti i ponovnog traumatiziranja. Također, roman se prebacuje između perspektiva i vremenskih linija, a da uvijek ne daje do znanja čiji glas slijedimo ili u kojoj smo godini. Iako ta dezorijentacija može biti namjerna, može biti frustrirajuća.
Slatko snivaj nije knjiga u kojoj ćete uživati. To je knjiga koju ćete podnositi. Roslundova poruka je jasna: ovi zločini su stvarni, njihove žrtve zaboravljene, a pravda previše spora. Roman funkcionira kao optužnica, ogledalo usmjereno prema slijepim točkama društva. Ali kao djelo fikcije, posrće. Emocionalna jezgra gubi se u brusilici procedure i užasa. Likovi su zamagljeni, a tempo iscrpljuje zamah.
Za obožavatelje koje privlači sirovi, surovi realizam, Slatko snivaj može biti pun pogodak. No, povremene čitatelje kriminalističke fikcije treba upozoriti: ovo nije ugodna vožnja. To je poziv na buđenje i, kao i većina alarma, više je uznemirujući nego dobrodošao.
Gosto de muitos géneros, mas os policiais estão no topo das minhas preferências e estava com saudades de ler um realmente bom. Anders Roslund surpreendeu-me muito, pela positiva! Com uma temática tão dura como a pedofilia, este podia bem ser um livro intragável. No entanto, foi escrito com muita mestria e sensibilidade. As piores situações são descritas até ao ponto certo. Incomodam, revoltam, mas não me impediram de prosseguir.
Ao longo da investigação houveram momentos de muita tensão, extremamente vividos e, quando eu pensava que esta história não se poderia tornar pior, eis que o autor eleva o patamar! Custa imaginar quantas crianças poderão ser vítimas de pedofilia e quantos monstros se cruzam connosco todos os dias!
Quero destacar os personagens, a forma como foram desenvolvidos. Ewert Grens, Piet Hoffman, até mesmo a agente Birte podiam ser reais. Os autores de policiais nórdicos são realmente fantásticos nesse requisito. Não só as investigações são excepcionais, no sentido do trabalho policial, como o desenvolvimento da vida pessoal dos personagens faz o leitor querer continuar a acompanhar.
Schlaft, Kinder, schlaft ist bereits der 7. Band aus der Serie Ewert Grens ermittelt. Das war mir leider nicht bewusst - ich kenne die anderen Bücher also nicht.
Für den Kriminalfall an sich ist es nicht weiter schlimm, wenn man mitten in der Serie einsteigt, denn dieser ist in sich abgeschlossen. Jedoch lebt so eine Krimiserie auch von der Entwicklung des Ermittlers und den anderen Menschen in seinem Umfeld. Ewert ist ein bereits älterer Kriminalpolizist, der sehr verschlossen ist und mit Überarbeitung zu kämpfen hat. Er ist bestimmt ein sehr interessanter Charakter, jedoch fehlte mir hier eben das Hintergrundwissen, das man bestimmt hat, wenn man bei Band 1 zu lesen begonnen hat. Auch um seine Beziehungen zu anderen Menschen zu verstehen, hätte ich wohl die Vorgeschichte gebraucht. Manchmal wurde nur ganz knapp wenn überhaupt angemerkt, warum das Verhältnis zu jemanden angeknackst ist. Das hat mir persönlich die Lesefreude etwas geschmälert.
Der Fall an sich ist sehr spannend, das Thema jedoch nicht einfach: Pädophile. Auch wenn die Szenen nicht übermäßig genau oder grauslich geschildert werden, sind alleine Andeutungen und wage Beschreibungen bei dieser Thematik schon sehr heftig. Dennoch hat ein bisschen die Emotionalität gefehlt. Dem Leser wurde durchgehend beschrieben, wie sehr dieser Fall den Ermittlern nahe geht, wie sehr sie an ihre Grenzen stoßen, trotzdem hat da etwas gefehlt, das ich nicht genau benennen kann.
Das Buch war spannend und interessant, jedoch aufgrund der oben genannten Punkte für mich leider nur Mittelmaß. Ich kann mir aber sehr gut vorstellen, dass das anders ist, wenn man Ewert schon länger begleitet.
This is a dark read. Not exactly gratuitously so, but when you are dealing with a storyline that involves children who have been abducted off the streets, you shouldn't go into this expecting a fairytale ending. I think even the Brothers Grimm may have struggled to conceive a theme as dark as this as there truly are some things that are worse than being eaten by a Big Bad Wolf. So if stories involving abuse of children are an issue for you, then you may wish to give this a miss.
This latest case if a bit of a surprise for our protagonist, Ewert Grens, and somewhat of a headache for his superiors. A chance meeting ina. cemetery leads Grens to the case of a young girl who was abducted from the street. Her mother has had her declared dead even though no trace of her has ever been found. It piques Grens' interest, for very personal reasons, and he decides to look into the disappearance to see if he can bring the Mother closure. Whilst looking into the case files, his attention is brought to another missing child case with disturbingly similar circumstances surrounding the disappearance. With the second child about to be declared legally dead, Grens is determined to find the truth, no matter what the cost - personal or professional.
As you can imagine, what Grens is likely to uncover is quite disturbing and leads him into uncharted waters. This is a case undulating with tension, threat, emotion. It is almost impossible not to be moved in someway by what Grens discovers, be it with sadness or anger, yet the author manages to portray the facts in a sympathetic rather than sensational way. There were many times when I felt the anger building, as well as the disgust, for what was happening on the page. There were also times when I could feel my pulse quickening as the stakes are raised and it looks like the antagonist may well win. Grens' old friend, Piet Hoffman, plays a very key role in what comes to pass and it is safe to say that even he was out of his depth when it came to the level of depravity he is faced with. There are scenes of high action, where the risks are high, but these actually felt like a break in some of the tension as a straight forward standoff between good and bad is far easier to stomach than the real evil at the heart of the book.
I've not read many books in this series, but this did feel like a bit of closure for Grens, allowing him to move on and accept his past in a way he hadn't been able to before. It is emotional on so many levels, but carefully written, the author's skill in using language to create atmosphere and setting allowing that occasional respite from the darkness when it is needed most. Not a book for all readers due to the subject, but one that fans of the series will want to read.
Jag verkligen älskar allt som Roslund och Hellström och nu Roslund skrivit om Piet Hoffman och Ewert Grens. Den här boken var också fantastisk. Den här gången handlar historian om ett mycket känsligt ämne - ett ämne som de flesta kanske inte vet så mycket om, men som ändå är verklighet - pedofiler. Piet Hoffman får en gång till, trots att han egentligen inte vill, infiltrera - en pedofilring den här gången. Och även om han verkligen avskyr pedofiler och själv inte är kapabel till att låtsas vara en av dem, vilket behövs för att kunna lura dem och sedan avslöja dem, är han suverän.
Och Ewert Grens går igenom en tuff tid, han får äntligen försonas med sina minnen och den enorma sorgen han bär på.
Jag ser verkligen fram emot nästa bok om Piet Hoffman och Ewert Grens!
Um homem, detetive da polícia tenta fugir do seu passado mas, um encontro aleatório leva-o a enfrentar o seu medo e, desmantelar uma organização criminal. Uma história de superação e esperança.
Jau seniai dėl knygos neaukojau ir taip trūkstamo miego. Ir seniai skaitydama nepykau ant savęs… kad nemoku skaityti greičiau. Atsitiktinai į rankas pakliuvęs storas skandinaviškas trileris buvo tai, ko man reikėjo.
Apie autorių A. Roslund nebuvau girdėjusi nieko (o dabar jį lyginčiau su L. Kepler!). Negirdėjau ir apie komisarą Grensą ar slaptąjį agentą Hofmaną - svarbiausius veikėjus. Nežinau, kur anksčiau slėpiausi, nes ši knyga - DEŠIMTOJI serijos dalis, tačiau galiu pasakyti tik tiek, kad labai labai norėčiau perskaityti likusias devynias.
Apie ką yra ‘Saldžių sapnų’? Net sunku pradėti - ir tema nemaloni, ir spoilerių daug. Šis trileris - be galo niūrus, net pyktį savo neteisybe varantis ir atveriantis skausmingą tiesą apie daugiamilijoninę industriją. Vaikų išnaudojimo industriją, kurioje ne tik grobiami svetimi, bet uždarbiaujama ir iš savų vaikų.
Tyrėjas Grensas kapinėse susipažįsta su moterimi, lankančia tuščią kapą - ten užkastas karstelis, simbolizuojantis kadaise pagrobtą ir nesurastą keturmetę jos dukrą. Grensas slapta atnaujina bylą, o joje kapstydamasis patenka į ‘triušio urvą’ - tokį gilų, nešvarų ir bauginantį, jog nėra tikras, ar išsikapstys…
Koks paradoksas: tema tokia sunki, kad net atstumia… bet skaityti - nepaprastai lengva. Dinamiškas, įtemptas, nesikartojantis - toks šis kūrinys. LABAI patiko kaip puikiai čia susižaidė tyli įtampa ir sprogstantis veiksmas - viena veja kitą ir įtraukia iki pabaigos.
Įtraukė ir man visai nauja tema - slaptojo agento infiltravimas į nusikaltėlių gaujas. Netikėtai įdomu! Maskuotės, ruošimasis, įsijautimas, persikūnijimas į tipažą, kurį niekini, bet privalai juo tapti, kad įvykdytum teisingumą. Geras istorijos kabliukas.
Pliusų daug. O minusų? Vos pora: keli erzinantys peršokimai, vienas didelės, svarbios mįslės išrišimas, įvykęs taip skubotai ir lyg tarp kitko, kad likau kaip maišu trenkta. Viena romantinė linija, kuri… tik nervus tampė. Bet, aj, kam galvoti apie trūkumus, jei galima apie privalumus? O jų čia DAUG!
Žiauriai įsijaučiau, labai patiko ir ŽINAU, kad patiks mėgstantiems veiksmą, vingius ir įsimintinus tyrimus.