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Kørner and Werner #5
The Island
From internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, the series that is a "gripping addition to the Scandinavian crime fiction pantheon" (Oprah Daily) comes to a stunning conclusion as Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner rush to untangle a long-simmering mystery before a brutal killer strikes again.
Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer working on a biography on a female anthropologist with a mysterious past and coming to terms with her own crushing sense of loneliness in the wake of a dear friend's death. When Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island's local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be.
Back in Copenhagen, Anette Werner is tasked with leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered on a downtown playground. As she follows the strange trail of clues, they all seem to lead back to Bornholm. With an innocent offer to check out a lead, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Anette and Esther to unravel the island's secrets before it's too late.
With her signature "unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists" (Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Katrine Engberg weaves a satisfying and white-knuckled finale to her Korner and Werner series that is a modern classic of Scandinavian noir.
Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer working on a biography on a female anthropologist with a mysterious past and coming to terms with her own crushing sense of loneliness in the wake of a dear friend's death. When Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island's local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be.
Back in Copenhagen, Anette Werner is tasked with leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered on a downtown playground. As she follows the strange trail of clues, they all seem to lead back to Bornholm. With an innocent offer to check out a lead, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Anette and Esther to unravel the island's secrets before it's too late.
With her signature "unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists" (Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Katrine Engberg weaves a satisfying and white-knuckled finale to her Korner and Werner series that is a modern classic of Scandinavian noir.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
210 people are currently reading
12540 people want to read
About the author
Katrine Engberg
17 books1,241 followersKatrine Engberg is a Danish crime fiction author and former choreographer, dancer, stage director and actor.
Her debut novel was the novel “Crocodile Guardian” otherwise known as “The Tenant” that she first published in 2016 to widespread popularity. The book became a massive hit among reviewers and readers and got several nominations for a range of prestigious awards. She followed it up with “Blood Moon” an excellent crime novel that the Copenhagen newspaper wrote that crime queens should be shaking in their boots at the upstart soon taking their place. The novel would earn her an author of the year nomination. She would then write her third novel in the series titled “Glasvinge,” which was also a huge success just like her previous two works. The third novel got a MARTHA award nomination in 2018 and 2019.
Katrine Engberg was brought up in Østerbro and still lives in the town with her husband and their child.
Her debut novel was the novel “Crocodile Guardian” otherwise known as “The Tenant” that she first published in 2016 to widespread popularity. The book became a massive hit among reviewers and readers and got several nominations for a range of prestigious awards. She followed it up with “Blood Moon” an excellent crime novel that the Copenhagen newspaper wrote that crime queens should be shaking in their boots at the upstart soon taking their place. The novel would earn her an author of the year nomination. She would then write her third novel in the series titled “Glasvinge,” which was also a huge success just like her previous two works. The third novel got a MARTHA award nomination in 2018 and 2019.
Katrine Engberg was brought up in Østerbro and still lives in the town with her husband and their child.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 459 reviews
February 7, 2023
The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg
I've now read all four of the books in this Scandinavian five book series that were translated to English. The characters of Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner had me glued to the series despite the gruesomeness of the crimes in each book. We spend so much time in their heads and I love it. Jeppe, so very sensitive, with a heart that's broken too many times. Anette, a strong woman who can be like a bull stomping through a china cabinet, often saying the wrong thing, pretty sure she shouldn't have said it, but shrugging and trudging on through life. Jeppe, tugging at my heartstrings, Anette, making me laugh. What a team they have make. Jeppe repulsed by Anette's crudeness, Anette shaking her head at Jeppe's touchiness to anything out of place or not quite right. Together they make an awesome team and they truly do care about each other.
But, for now, Jeppe is on leave from the police force, living on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Working as a lumberjack has been good for Jeppe. He's made a friend in the housebound elderly widower who Jeppe gladly watches over. Jeppe's dear friend Esther de Laurenti is on the island too, as she is working on a book about a late female anthropologist.
Anette is leading an investigation into a severed corpse and that investigation leads her to Bornholm. She's feeling great pressure handling this first case on her own. No wonder that since Jeppe is in Bornholm that Anette recruits him for some off the books investigation. And Jeppe has no trouble jumping right back into the saddle. This is a really good way to end the series if this is the end of the series but if Jeppe and Anette have more books in the future, I'll be there for them.
Publication: February 7, 2023
Thank you to Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I've now read all four of the books in this Scandinavian five book series that were translated to English. The characters of Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner had me glued to the series despite the gruesomeness of the crimes in each book. We spend so much time in their heads and I love it. Jeppe, so very sensitive, with a heart that's broken too many times. Anette, a strong woman who can be like a bull stomping through a china cabinet, often saying the wrong thing, pretty sure she shouldn't have said it, but shrugging and trudging on through life. Jeppe, tugging at my heartstrings, Anette, making me laugh. What a team they have make. Jeppe repulsed by Anette's crudeness, Anette shaking her head at Jeppe's touchiness to anything out of place or not quite right. Together they make an awesome team and they truly do care about each other.
But, for now, Jeppe is on leave from the police force, living on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Working as a lumberjack has been good for Jeppe. He's made a friend in the housebound elderly widower who Jeppe gladly watches over. Jeppe's dear friend Esther de Laurenti is on the island too, as she is working on a book about a late female anthropologist.
Anette is leading an investigation into a severed corpse and that investigation leads her to Bornholm. She's feeling great pressure handling this first case on her own. No wonder that since Jeppe is in Bornholm that Anette recruits him for some off the books investigation. And Jeppe has no trouble jumping right back into the saddle. This is a really good way to end the series if this is the end of the series but if Jeppe and Anette have more books in the future, I'll be there for them.
Publication: February 7, 2023
Thank you to Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 7, 2023
Happy Publication Day (U.S.)! - February 07, 2023
An abandoned suitcase with half of a body inside it, found in a park in downtown Copenhagen, sets the clock in motion for the frantic search for a brutal killer. The identity of the victim is yet to be determined and while the police try to match the victim to recently reported missing person reports, clues lead Detective Anette Werner to the island of Bornholm, where she teams up with local law enforcement and is also assisted by her former partner Jeppe Korner, who is currently on leave from the Violent Crimes Department in Copenhagen and is working as a lumberjack on the island. As they proceed with the investigation into the probable connection between the island and the brutal murder, positively identify the victim and find out who killed him and to what end, Korner uncovers a lot more than he expected about the people he had been interacting with regularly over the past months– failing businesses, missing money, family secrets, the absconding criminally inclined son of a deceased anthropologist and a fundamentalist church that was founded and is funded by influential members of the community. Esther di Laurenti is also on the island and has an important role in this story, indirectly helping Jesse uncover the secrets of the island as she works through the old letters of the late anthropologist whose biography she is currently writing. The inhabitants of the island and their secrets and backstories present us with the multiple threads in the plot and the author does a great job of connecting everything with the primary narrative.
While The Butterfly House remains my favorite in this series, The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg comes in as a very close second. Intriguing mystery, the atmospheric setting of the island, multiple suspects, long-buried secrets and a satisfying twist make for an absorbing read. The narrative is medium-paced but consistent and though the author leaves plenty of breadcrumbs along the way, I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery and the suspenseful build-up to the finale. I liked how this time the author kept the focus primarily on solving the case and exploring the multiple threads that connect to the murder, instead of distracting with a whole lot of personal drama of the main characters (which was a major complaint of mine with the previous book in the series). Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read! This is the fifth book in the original series but the fourth book that has been translated into English. I wish Book #2 could also be made available in English.
Many thanks to the author, Gallery Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Sanctuary is due for release on February 07, 2023.
My reviews for the previous installments:
Korner and Werner#1 The Tenant
Korner and Werner#3 The Butterfly House
Korner and Werner#4 The Harbor
November 11, 2022
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to Gallery Books and Katrine Engberg. The author's books are bestsellers in her home country of Denmark.
This is book 5 in series but it worked fine for me as a stand alone. There were references to incidents in the previous books. Jeppe Karner is a police detective on leave from the Copenhagen police and nursing a broken heart according to the blurb. Anette Werner is charge of the Violent Crimes unit in Jeppe's absence. She and her team are called to the scene of a grisly discovery. Half of a body has been found in a suitcase.
Jeppe is now working as a lumberjack, cutting down trees, on the Danish island of Bornholm, which is in the Baltic Sea, southeast of the tip of Sweden. People who travel back to Copenhagen from Bornholm frequently take the ferry to Ystad, Sweden, enroute to Denmark.
Jeppe is pulled into the investigation when Anette asks him to ask around the island about a missing person that might be the dead body.
There are secrets from the past that contribute to this mystery. I thought that this example of Nordic noir was a well done police procedural with a number of different characters who contribute to the resolution of the case. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end.
I rate this book 4 stars and recommend it to fans of Nordic noir and mystery fans in general.
The translation was pretty good, with a few minor errors that will probably be corrected in the published edition, Feb., 2023. My copy is an uncorrected proof.
I learned something new: a "dactylographer" is a fingerprint technician.
One quote: Jeppe realizing that he is being pulled back into police work: "Jeppe got up, suddenly heavy in both body and soul. Whatever you flee from, you carry with you. Just when you think you can be at peace, the chaos finds its way and pushes you out into the deep again."
This is book 5 in series but it worked fine for me as a stand alone. There were references to incidents in the previous books. Jeppe Karner is a police detective on leave from the Copenhagen police and nursing a broken heart according to the blurb. Anette Werner is charge of the Violent Crimes unit in Jeppe's absence. She and her team are called to the scene of a grisly discovery. Half of a body has been found in a suitcase.
Jeppe is now working as a lumberjack, cutting down trees, on the Danish island of Bornholm, which is in the Baltic Sea, southeast of the tip of Sweden. People who travel back to Copenhagen from Bornholm frequently take the ferry to Ystad, Sweden, enroute to Denmark.
Jeppe is pulled into the investigation when Anette asks him to ask around the island about a missing person that might be the dead body.
There are secrets from the past that contribute to this mystery. I thought that this example of Nordic noir was a well done police procedural with a number of different characters who contribute to the resolution of the case. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end.
I rate this book 4 stars and recommend it to fans of Nordic noir and mystery fans in general.
The translation was pretty good, with a few minor errors that will probably be corrected in the published edition, Feb., 2023. My copy is an uncorrected proof.
I learned something new: a "dactylographer" is a fingerprint technician.
One quote: Jeppe realizing that he is being pulled back into police work: "Jeppe got up, suddenly heavy in both body and soul. Whatever you flee from, you carry with you. Just when you think you can be at peace, the chaos finds its way and pushes you out into the deep again."
January 31, 2023
My thanks to Gallery Books, Katrine Engberg and Netgalley.
This was just an odd book.
I actually loved the location and the very messed up murder mystery.
My main issue came down to the characters. Didn't matter if they were the police, bad guy's or whomever. I just found it difficult to find anyone who was halfway likable.
I don't always need to love everyone, but when it's a series, I do expect better.
I fully expect that I won't be continuing on with this series.
Just to reiterate. Good mystery. Lousy people.
This was just an odd book.
I actually loved the location and the very messed up murder mystery.
My main issue came down to the characters. Didn't matter if they were the police, bad guy's or whomever. I just found it difficult to find anyone who was halfway likable.
I don't always need to love everyone, but when it's a series, I do expect better.
I fully expect that I won't be continuing on with this series.
Just to reiterate. Good mystery. Lousy people.
September 30, 2025
A slow-paced but suspenseful atmospheric thriller about a body found in a suitcase, past indiscretions and family secrets.
June 15, 2023
As I set out to write this review, I realized that this was the fifth in this series, set in Copenhagen. I looked to see what I had rated the others in this series, all fours, but it seems the second in series has not yet been published. A note states they are being translated and published out of order. What kind of sense does that make?
Anyway, Jeppe who is heartbroken over his breakup with Sara, has taken a leave from the police and apparently become a lumberjack. Annette, now in charge, is presented with a gruesome case, a case that is proving difficult. Eventually the case is solved , and though Annette reached out to Jeppe for help, he is very reluctant. Will Annette be able to draw him into her case? Is Jeppe really suited to be a lumberjack?
Not sure if there will be more installments, but I hope there is. I love these Nordic Noirs and this is a good, solid series.
Anyway, Jeppe who is heartbroken over his breakup with Sara, has taken a leave from the police and apparently become a lumberjack. Annette, now in charge, is presented with a gruesome case, a case that is proving difficult. Eventually the case is solved , and though Annette reached out to Jeppe for help, he is very reluctant. Will Annette be able to draw him into her case? Is Jeppe really suited to be a lumberjack?
Not sure if there will be more installments, but I hope there is. I love these Nordic Noirs and this is a good, solid series.
February 7, 2023
4 Nordic slow-burn stars
*now available
I have really enjoyed this series and I’m a bit sad that this seems to be the conclusion. I’m hoping the second book is translated so there might be one more to read.
The series features a pair of detectives – Korner and Werner – and this author does a great job of character development along with storytelling. Korner is currently on leave from the police, working as a lumberjack on an island called Bornholm.
The opening scene is quite grisly, and police find half of a body in a suitcase abandoned in Copenhagen. Werner is placed in charge of the investigation and she’s really missing her partner Korner. Who is the man in the suitcase? There are a surprising number of missing men to track down. Strangely enough, many clues in the case lead to Bornholm. Korner and Werner begin to work together in an unofficial capacity.
There’s another storyline with Esther de Laurenti, she’s appeared in the other books, and she’s writing a biography of an anthropologist on Bornholm as well. As these books often do, soon the paths cross for everyone and there’s a web of deception, danger, and missing money on the island.
Similar to the opening scene, the ending of this one had me on tenterhooks. I thought I might know one reason why the series was ending as a main character’s life hangs in the balance. A bit of a slow burn but well worth the read for me!
My sincere thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read and review this one.
*now available
I have really enjoyed this series and I’m a bit sad that this seems to be the conclusion. I’m hoping the second book is translated so there might be one more to read.
The series features a pair of detectives – Korner and Werner – and this author does a great job of character development along with storytelling. Korner is currently on leave from the police, working as a lumberjack on an island called Bornholm.
The opening scene is quite grisly, and police find half of a body in a suitcase abandoned in Copenhagen. Werner is placed in charge of the investigation and she’s really missing her partner Korner. Who is the man in the suitcase? There are a surprising number of missing men to track down. Strangely enough, many clues in the case lead to Bornholm. Korner and Werner begin to work together in an unofficial capacity.
There’s another storyline with Esther de Laurenti, she’s appeared in the other books, and she’s writing a biography of an anthropologist on Bornholm as well. As these books often do, soon the paths cross for everyone and there’s a web of deception, danger, and missing money on the island.
Similar to the opening scene, the ending of this one had me on tenterhooks. I thought I might know one reason why the series was ending as a main character’s life hangs in the balance. A bit of a slow burn but well worth the read for me!
My sincere thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read and review this one.
January 18, 2025
I like my stories with a strong sense of local atmosphere, and this one (unbeknownst to me when I got it) took me right back to Denmark. More specifically, the setting was an island called Bornholm which is way over to the east of Sweden, far from the Danish mainland.
The author is a better writer than detective; I'd rather read that combination than the reverse. There were probably a few too many characters, and the unfamiliar Danish names didn't make it any easier to keep them straight. A few plot points don't bear scrutiny, but the pleasures of the writing more than made up for that. I laughed at a home's interior decoration "designed to drive out any remaining feng shui." A great many detective cliches were tamped down or absent, and she really did capture the mood of the remote island, which is a tourist mecca in summer and in winter? Well, it's Scandinavia, after all. At 600 square kilometers (225 square miles) and with 40,000 year-round inhabitants, it's much larger than the islands featured in other recent books I've read that are set in the same general area.
I can easily imagine myself launching an investigation of my own into this author's other books.
In the month of May there is no place more beautiful than Denmark and no place more beautiful in Denmark than the island of Bornholm. The nature here is so different from the rest of Denmark, less friendly and groomed. Here it's raw, windblown, and harsh, and I love it.This is the fifth book in a series starring Anette Werner and Jeppe Kørner, and while I probably would have enjoyed it more if I'd read some of the predecessors, it worked just fine as a standalone, too.
The author is a better writer than detective; I'd rather read that combination than the reverse. There were probably a few too many characters, and the unfamiliar Danish names didn't make it any easier to keep them straight. A few plot points don't bear scrutiny, but the pleasures of the writing more than made up for that. I laughed at a home's interior decoration "designed to drive out any remaining feng shui." A great many detective cliches were tamped down or absent, and she really did capture the mood of the remote island, which is a tourist mecca in summer and in winter? Well, it's Scandinavia, after all. At 600 square kilometers (225 square miles) and with 40,000 year-round inhabitants, it's much larger than the islands featured in other recent books I've read that are set in the same general area.
I can easily imagine myself launching an investigation of my own into this author's other books.
September 29, 2023
Somehow this book got lost in my tbr pile, and I'm rather confused. After reading The Island, I sat down to write my review. So my surprise, I saw two books with the same cover, namely The Sanctuary (book 5 in the series apparently) and The Island... Searching for more information on the web only added to my confusion. Not a single site to be found where I could find the solution to this riddle.
Anyway, I decided to just put my feelings about The Island (as I know it) on paper.
If this is really the end of a series - whether it would be 4 or 5 books - than I hope to read more books of her in other series, or stand alone titles. Jeppe and Anette are a very good team, so different and yet so alike. It's no wonder Annette turns to Jeppe, toiling away in the woods on his island, when she is confronted with a rather gruesome find. Even from a distance, they keep working well together and you can almost see the bond they share.
The story unfolds at a steady pace with some real surprises. I liked it that there is a character that's no longer alive having a real distinctive voice.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
Anyway, I decided to just put my feelings about The Island (as I know it) on paper.
If this is really the end of a series - whether it would be 4 or 5 books - than I hope to read more books of her in other series, or stand alone titles. Jeppe and Anette are a very good team, so different and yet so alike. It's no wonder Annette turns to Jeppe, toiling away in the woods on his island, when she is confronted with a rather gruesome find. Even from a distance, they keep working well together and you can almost see the bond they share.
The story unfolds at a steady pace with some real surprises. I liked it that there is a character that's no longer alive having a real distinctive voice.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
March 13, 2023
It's so pleasurable to say unreservedly that The Sanctuary is an exceptionally good book. This crime novel about a Danish police officer and her comrades entices you in and weaves a masterful tale across your mind. The setting is beautifully mysterious and the characters come alive with imperfections and needs. Read and enjoy!
My thanks to the author, Katrine Engberg, and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for my copy of this outstanding book. #Goodreads Giveaway
My thanks to the author, Katrine Engberg, and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for my copy of this outstanding book. #Goodreads Giveaway
November 10, 2022
The Copenhagen police have made a grisly discovery: a partial body in a suitcase has been found on a local playground. Anette is assigned to the case; her former partner Jeppe has taken a leave and is working as a lumberjack on the island of Bornholm. Esther is writing a biography of a well-known anthropologist, and has been invited by the late woman's daughter, Ida, to peruse her papers in the family home on Bornholm. Anette and her team find a connection to their case on Bornholm, an island holding many secrets-- windswept and atmospheric, sinister even, in November when the tourists have gone. Who is the man whose remains are in the suitcase? Jeppe decides to help informally with the investigation, asking questions around Bornholm, which eventually put him in a horrifying life or death situation. This book kept me guessing until the end--fans of the Nordic Noir genre will not want to miss this one. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
January 8, 2023
This was an intriguing read. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who did it the entire time. I loved the atmospheric setting on the island to give it a nice vibe for the book. The main character is very interesting. The writing style alone just reels you in and gets you hooked on reading. This is a novel from the series, which I haven't read any of the books before this but didn't feel like it needed much backstory as it really just focused on the crime and trying to find the killer(s). I enjoyed this read!
I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
November 9, 2022
Wieder ein gelungener Band der Ermittlerreihe um Jeppe Korner und Annette Werner. Diesmal spielt die Handlung auf der Insel Bornholm, die sehr atmosphärisch beschrieben wurde. Wer ist der Mann, dessen Leiche in 2 Teile zersägt und in 2 Koffern vergraben wurde? Und was muss er getan haben um dieses Schicksal zu erleiden?
Ich habe die Figuren, die Katrine Engberg erschaffen hat, irgendwie ins Herz geschlossen. Das ist absolut die Stärke dieser Reihe. Ich habe ein wenig des Falls und auch der Rahmenhandlung unserer Protagonisten vorhergesehen, aber das macht mir Nichts… es fühlte sich gut durchdacht an und sogar ein wenig emotional am Ende. 4 Sterne!
Ich habe die Figuren, die Katrine Engberg erschaffen hat, irgendwie ins Herz geschlossen. Das ist absolut die Stärke dieser Reihe. Ich habe ein wenig des Falls und auch der Rahmenhandlung unserer Protagonisten vorhergesehen, aber das macht mir Nichts… es fühlte sich gut durchdacht an und sogar ein wenig emotional am Ende. 4 Sterne!
November 7, 2022
Bornholm, Dänemark, im November: Polizeiassistent Jeppe Kørner hat sich über den Winter von der Polizeiarbeit in Kopenhagen auf die abgelegene Ostseeinsel zurückgezogen. Er möchte endlich seine Gedanken beruhigen und verdingt sich als Holzfäller bei einem örtlichen Sägewerk. Doch dann erhält er einen Anruf von seiner Kollegin Annette Werner: In Kopenhagen wurde die Hälfte einer Leiche in einem alten Koffer gefunden - und alle Spuren führen nach Bornholm und tief in die Vergangenheit...
"Wintersonne", übersetzt von Ulrich Sonnenberg, ist der fünfte Teil der Kopenhagen-Krimi-Serie von Katrine Engberg - und für mich bisher der stärkste Band der Reihe! Nachdem mich "Das Nest" im letzten Jahr nur recht gut unterhalten hat, wurde ich dieses Mal regelrecht umgehauen, so spannend und fesselnd fand ich den neuen Fall der Ermittler*innen Kørner und Werner samt Team.
Was mich besonders fasziniert hat, war das Setting des Krimis. Der größte Teil des Buchs spielt sich auf der dänischen Ferieninsel Bornholm ab - und ich kann nur empfehlen, diese kleine Insel bei Gelegenheit zu googeln, ihr werdet sofort Sehnsucht danach verspüren, dort einen ruhigen, gemütlichen Urlaub zu verbringen. Katrine Engberg nutzt einerseits den Charme dieser atmosphärischen Umgebung, andererseits spielt sie aber auch gerade mit der Abgeschiedenheit und Einsamkeit des Insellebens, mit diesem Mikrokosmos, in dem alle alle kennen und niemand je irgend etwas vergisst.
Erzählt wird der hochspannende Fall aus mehreren Perspektiven: Die beiden Polizeiassistent*innen teilen ihre Gedanken mit den Lesenden, aber auch unsere alte Bekannte Esther de Laurenti kommt zu Wort und spielt erneut eine nicht unerhebliche Rolle in dieser perfekt konstruierten Geschichte, bei der sich erst ganz zum Schluss alle Fäden lösen lassen. Besonders die Briefe, die Esther für die Autobiographie einer Anthropologin zu lesen bekommt, waren ein kluger Kniff der Autorin - mehr möchte ich dazu aber gar nicht verraten.
"Wintersonne" ist der erste Krimi, der mich seit Langem mal wieder so richtig packen konnte - und ich habe ihn tatsächlich innerhalb nur eines Tages ausgelesen. Katrine Engberg hat damit wiederholt bewiesen, was für eine grandiose Schriftstellerin sie ist - ich freue mich schon riesig auf weitere Teile der Kopenhagen-Reihe!
"Wintersonne", übersetzt von Ulrich Sonnenberg, ist der fünfte Teil der Kopenhagen-Krimi-Serie von Katrine Engberg - und für mich bisher der stärkste Band der Reihe! Nachdem mich "Das Nest" im letzten Jahr nur recht gut unterhalten hat, wurde ich dieses Mal regelrecht umgehauen, so spannend und fesselnd fand ich den neuen Fall der Ermittler*innen Kørner und Werner samt Team.
Was mich besonders fasziniert hat, war das Setting des Krimis. Der größte Teil des Buchs spielt sich auf der dänischen Ferieninsel Bornholm ab - und ich kann nur empfehlen, diese kleine Insel bei Gelegenheit zu googeln, ihr werdet sofort Sehnsucht danach verspüren, dort einen ruhigen, gemütlichen Urlaub zu verbringen. Katrine Engberg nutzt einerseits den Charme dieser atmosphärischen Umgebung, andererseits spielt sie aber auch gerade mit der Abgeschiedenheit und Einsamkeit des Insellebens, mit diesem Mikrokosmos, in dem alle alle kennen und niemand je irgend etwas vergisst.
Erzählt wird der hochspannende Fall aus mehreren Perspektiven: Die beiden Polizeiassistent*innen teilen ihre Gedanken mit den Lesenden, aber auch unsere alte Bekannte Esther de Laurenti kommt zu Wort und spielt erneut eine nicht unerhebliche Rolle in dieser perfekt konstruierten Geschichte, bei der sich erst ganz zum Schluss alle Fäden lösen lassen. Besonders die Briefe, die Esther für die Autobiographie einer Anthropologin zu lesen bekommt, waren ein kluger Kniff der Autorin - mehr möchte ich dazu aber gar nicht verraten.
"Wintersonne" ist der erste Krimi, der mich seit Langem mal wieder so richtig packen konnte - und ich habe ihn tatsächlich innerhalb nur eines Tages ausgelesen. Katrine Engberg hat damit wiederholt bewiesen, was für eine grandiose Schriftstellerin sie ist - ich freue mich schon riesig auf weitere Teile der Kopenhagen-Reihe!
January 29, 2023
Imagine waking to realize you are lying bound and about to be split in half by a band saw that is running. The horror! That's how this terrific Nordic police procedural begins. In this 5th book in the series, Jeppe Kørner is on a leave of absence from the Violent Crimes Department to nurse his broken heart and is working as a lumberjack on the island of Bornholm. When half of a body is found in a vintage suitcase in a park in Copenhagen, Detective Anette Werner takes the lead on the case.
Who is the victim? When clues lead to the island, Werner can't help but involve her old partner in the investigation...on an informal basis, of course. This gripping police procedural has several strands in the plot which eventually do tie together nicely with several twists. Although Jeppe and Anette are the prominent characters, many others are equally well-formed. The publisher's blurb says this is the conclusion to the series but I sincerely hope that isn't true as I'd enjoy reading more with these characters.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Who is the victim? When clues lead to the island, Werner can't help but involve her old partner in the investigation...on an informal basis, of course. This gripping police procedural has several strands in the plot which eventually do tie together nicely with several twists. Although Jeppe and Anette are the prominent characters, many others are equally well-formed. The publisher's blurb says this is the conclusion to the series but I sincerely hope that isn't true as I'd enjoy reading more with these characters.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
November 26, 2022
Thank you to Gallery Books and Karine Engberg for my copy of this book! A body found- sawed in half in a suitcase in Copenhagen- starts Detective Anette Werner down the path of a mysterious and gruesome investigation. Without her partner Jeppe Korner by her side, Anette is left to follow the strange trail of clues to the island of Bornholm. Fortunately for her, Jeppe is on Bornholm for the winter, working as a lumberjack and trying to mend his broken heart.
Meanwhile, Esther de Laurenti is also living in Bornholm, writing the biography of a well known anthropologist with a mysterious past. After the death of her close friend, she dives into her work looking for a distraction. But when her host’s brother disappears, Esther calls on her old friend Jeppe to look into the disappearance and put her mind at ease.
Thoughts: The Sanctuary is a wonderful fifth book in the Korner and Werner series and perfect for fans of Nordic Noir. The chilly and dark atmosphere that surrounds the police procedural plot is impossible to put down and hard to look away from. From the very first page, Engberg captures the reader’s attention and leads them on a journey to an icy and secluded island.
Reading the other books in the series before this one is the best way to learn to love both Jeppe and Anette. They are unique characters with interesting stories and people that are easy to root for. The story continues right where book four, The Harbor, left off and felt to me like greeting an old friend. Fans of detective books and the dark atmosphere of Copenhagen will love the next installment of this series! 4-stars
Meanwhile, Esther de Laurenti is also living in Bornholm, writing the biography of a well known anthropologist with a mysterious past. After the death of her close friend, she dives into her work looking for a distraction. But when her host’s brother disappears, Esther calls on her old friend Jeppe to look into the disappearance and put her mind at ease.
Thoughts: The Sanctuary is a wonderful fifth book in the Korner and Werner series and perfect for fans of Nordic Noir. The chilly and dark atmosphere that surrounds the police procedural plot is impossible to put down and hard to look away from. From the very first page, Engberg captures the reader’s attention and leads them on a journey to an icy and secluded island.
Reading the other books in the series before this one is the best way to learn to love both Jeppe and Anette. They are unique characters with interesting stories and people that are easy to root for. The story continues right where book four, The Harbor, left off and felt to me like greeting an old friend. Fans of detective books and the dark atmosphere of Copenhagen will love the next installment of this series! 4-stars
April 17, 2024
Este foi o meu livro preferido na série.
Foi um caso danado e que me pôs a pensar e a tecer muitas teorias - todas erradas😁!
As revelações foram todas guardadas para o fim. Até lá, fui bem enganada😁.
Fico muito satisfeita por ter terminado outra série.
Quotes:
"É ótimo ter um homem por perto, sobretudo porque a seguir ele volta para a sua própria casa."
"Na categoria do <>, a realidade superava sempre a imaginação."
"Com a idade, o apetite tornara-se um convidado inconstante..."
Foi um caso danado e que me pôs a pensar e a tecer muitas teorias - todas erradas😁!
As revelações foram todas guardadas para o fim. Até lá, fui bem enganada😁.
Fico muito satisfeita por ter terminado outra série.
Quotes:
"É ótimo ter um homem por perto, sobretudo porque a seguir ele volta para a sua própria casa."
"Na categoria do <>, a realidade superava sempre a imaginação."
"Com a idade, o apetite tornara-se um convidado inconstante..."
December 24, 2022
This book was just ok for me. It’s part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I had read the prior book but I think there are more before that. Anette and Jeppe are partners but Jeppe is on a leave of absence and working at some sort of logging company on a remote island for some reason. When a body is found, it ties back to where he happens to be so he gets pulled into the investigation, like it or not. You also get a secondary storyline of a lady named Esther writing a biography on a recently deceased woman and some chapters are told via letters the woman had written.
The murder investigation was pretty good and there were some surprises as Anette and team try to figure out what happened and who the victim even is. There was some mystery with this but when all was revealed I couldn’t really figure out the victim’s intentions or the timing around it. I don’t know if it was just the Scandinavian names but I also felt like there were a lot of characters who were sometimes hard to keep straight. I wasn’t sure the secondary storyline was even all that necessary though the author tied everything together nicely at the end.
Overall, ok read but wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sure why it was titled “the Sanctuary”- I guess maybe the island setting was supposed to be a sanctuary for Jeppe? Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The murder investigation was pretty good and there were some surprises as Anette and team try to figure out what happened and who the victim even is. There was some mystery with this but when all was revealed I couldn’t really figure out the victim’s intentions or the timing around it. I don’t know if it was just the Scandinavian names but I also felt like there were a lot of characters who were sometimes hard to keep straight. I wasn’t sure the secondary storyline was even all that necessary though the author tied everything together nicely at the end.
Overall, ok read but wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sure why it was titled “the Sanctuary”- I guess maybe the island setting was supposed to be a sanctuary for Jeppe? Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2023
THE SANCTUARY is the fifth book in the series featuring Danish detectives Anette Werner and Jeppe Korner. Only four of these books have been translated into English—#2 for some reason being omitted—but in those four, Esther de Laurenti has also appeared. In the first novel, I considered Esther to be another red herring, a possible (although unlikely) suspect; but then she was inserted into the other instalments in the series, a relatively small role in each but still part of the tale. In THE SANCTUARY, Esther plays a major role in the investigation, not as a suspect, but as a facilitator to the investigation.
I was surprised at the beginning of the book to find Jeppe working as a lumberjack on the island of Bornholm, on leave from the police department, trying to forget his failed romance with Sara, another investigator in his department. I remembered the failed romance from the previous book, but didn’t remember anything being said about Jeppe taking leave to work in a completely different type of occupation. However, when I checked, it was mentioned in the closing chapter; it just didn’t register in my memory as an important detail.
Esther has also travelled to Bornholm, to collect information for a biography she is writing. Thus, it is left to Anette to take charge of the latest murder case in Copenhagen, finding the killer of a partial body found in a suitcase. But first she must identify the victim. Eventually, finding the seller of the suitcase leads Anette to Bornholm as well.
I don’t rate THE SANCTUARY to be quite as good as its two predecessors, “The Butterfly “ and “The Harbor”—primarily because it didn’t highlight the humorous interplay between the strong, serious Anette and the sensitive but unstable Jeppe. The clash of their personalities was there but it wasn’t underscored.
On the other hand, the author was as skilled as ever at keeping me in the dark with regards to the mystery—she had several surprises I wasn’t expecting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Tenant (Korner & Werner #1)
The Butterfly House (Korner & Werner #3)
The Harbor (Korner & Werner #4)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was surprised at the beginning of the book to find Jeppe working as a lumberjack on the island of Bornholm, on leave from the police department, trying to forget his failed romance with Sara, another investigator in his department. I remembered the failed romance from the previous book, but didn’t remember anything being said about Jeppe taking leave to work in a completely different type of occupation. However, when I checked, it was mentioned in the closing chapter; it just didn’t register in my memory as an important detail.
Esther has also travelled to Bornholm, to collect information for a biography she is writing. Thus, it is left to Anette to take charge of the latest murder case in Copenhagen, finding the killer of a partial body found in a suitcase. But first she must identify the victim. Eventually, finding the seller of the suitcase leads Anette to Bornholm as well.
I don’t rate THE SANCTUARY to be quite as good as its two predecessors, “The Butterfly “ and “The Harbor”—primarily because it didn’t highlight the humorous interplay between the strong, serious Anette and the sensitive but unstable Jeppe. The clash of their personalities was there but it wasn’t underscored.
On the other hand, the author was as skilled as ever at keeping me in the dark with regards to the mystery—she had several surprises I wasn’t expecting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Tenant (Korner & Werner #1)
The Butterfly House (Korner & Werner #3)
The Harbor (Korner & Werner #4)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 6, 2023
In The Sanctuary which is sadly Engberg’s last Korner/Werner novel, the stakes are high for both of them, the tension to solve the murder…palpable and the side plots absolutely amazing!
As Jeppe Korner has decided to take a leave of absence from the Copenhagen police force while he continues to deal with his personal issues and demons which he still cannot let go of, he decides to go to an island called Bornholm and work as a laborer.
At the same time, Esther de Laurenti, who is his long-time friend and writer has been asked to work on a biography of an anthropologist on the same island. Eshter is still reeling from a dramatic change in her life and feels the distraction of working on someone else’s life, which seems to be in letter form would be a wonderful diversion.
That leaves Korner’s partner, Anette Werner on her own at police headquarters, unable to join her family on a little vacation. She can’t believe just how much their absence affects her.
So, when a corpse is discovered in a suitcase at a playground Werner must tackle the case primarily alone. But this is a very unsettling corpse. You see, the body has been sawed in half so there is half a body in the case. Where on earth could the other part of the body be? What a gruesome way to kill someone. There must be a lot of insanity in this act. This of course makes identification very difficult. As Werner tries to locate missing persons who could possibly be the remains, the clues begin to point to the very place Korner is working.
Werner convinces Korner to assist her as a favor. Plus the fact she doesn’t want to travel to the island. Of course, once Korner begins to look for clues, he cannot stop, and Werner must join him anyway. They begin to narrow down who the dead man could possibly be, but in the process, they open up a pandora’s box of motive which goes back years.
Korner gets too deeply involved in the case, overstepping his bounds, unaware that his snooping could possibly lead him to be the next sawed victim. With so many twists and turns, a shocking ending to the case and a wonderful farewell to these beloved characters, Engberg certainly saved the best story for last!
Thank you #NetGalley #Gallery/ScoutPress #TheSanctuary #KatrineEngberg for the advance copy.
As Jeppe Korner has decided to take a leave of absence from the Copenhagen police force while he continues to deal with his personal issues and demons which he still cannot let go of, he decides to go to an island called Bornholm and work as a laborer.
At the same time, Esther de Laurenti, who is his long-time friend and writer has been asked to work on a biography of an anthropologist on the same island. Eshter is still reeling from a dramatic change in her life and feels the distraction of working on someone else’s life, which seems to be in letter form would be a wonderful diversion.
That leaves Korner’s partner, Anette Werner on her own at police headquarters, unable to join her family on a little vacation. She can’t believe just how much their absence affects her.
So, when a corpse is discovered in a suitcase at a playground Werner must tackle the case primarily alone. But this is a very unsettling corpse. You see, the body has been sawed in half so there is half a body in the case. Where on earth could the other part of the body be? What a gruesome way to kill someone. There must be a lot of insanity in this act. This of course makes identification very difficult. As Werner tries to locate missing persons who could possibly be the remains, the clues begin to point to the very place Korner is working.
Werner convinces Korner to assist her as a favor. Plus the fact she doesn’t want to travel to the island. Of course, once Korner begins to look for clues, he cannot stop, and Werner must join him anyway. They begin to narrow down who the dead man could possibly be, but in the process, they open up a pandora’s box of motive which goes back years.
Korner gets too deeply involved in the case, overstepping his bounds, unaware that his snooping could possibly lead him to be the next sawed victim. With so many twists and turns, a shocking ending to the case and a wonderful farewell to these beloved characters, Engberg certainly saved the best story for last!
Thank you #NetGalley #Gallery/ScoutPress #TheSanctuary #KatrineEngberg for the advance copy.
January 24, 2023
Annette Werner and Jeppe Kørner are partners in Copenhagen’s police department. Jeppe, after a failed romantic relationship, has taken a leave of absence and is recovering on Bornholm, an island. When two parts of the same body which was sawed in half are found in Copenhagen, Annette’s inquiries take her to Bornholm where she enlists her partner’s assistance. Coincidentally, a mutual friend, Esther, is also on the island researching the life of an anthropologist about whom she is writing a book.
This is the fifth in the Kørner and Werner series; it is the second I have read. I really like this author’s writing and particularly the main characters. This is a Nordic noir novel, so it is characteristically a bit dark. With a clever plot, good character development, it is a well written, fast read; I couldn’t put it down. It is quite suspenseful, full of on-the-mark observations of life and aging and I really liked the literary device of parts of the story being revealed through historical letters.
Although one of a series, this can work as a standalone. However, the characters are so enjoyable, I would suggest going back and reading some of the prior books.
Thanks to #netgalley and #gallerybooks for the ARC.
This is the fifth in the Kørner and Werner series; it is the second I have read. I really like this author’s writing and particularly the main characters. This is a Nordic noir novel, so it is characteristically a bit dark. With a clever plot, good character development, it is a well written, fast read; I couldn’t put it down. It is quite suspenseful, full of on-the-mark observations of life and aging and I really liked the literary device of parts of the story being revealed through historical letters.
Although one of a series, this can work as a standalone. However, the characters are so enjoyable, I would suggest going back and reading some of the prior books.
Thanks to #netgalley and #gallerybooks for the ARC.
May 1, 2023
3.5 stars
The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg is the fifth in the Detectives Kørner & Werner series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon and Schuster (Gallery/Scout Press) and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Inspector Jeppe Kørner is with the Copenhagen Police Department (Violent Crimes Division), is divorced. According to his colleague, Anette Werner, Jeppe is too sensitive and a wimp. Jeppe thinks of her as a loud bulldozer. Annette has been married for over 20 years, and much to her surprise, recently gave birth to a daughter. Their boss, Police Commissioner Irene Dam, thinks their diverse personalities complement each other, so usually assigns them cases together. Other members of their team consist of overly-ambitious Detective Thomas Larsen, old-timer Detective Torben Falck, and computer whiz Sara Saidani.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Jeppe is on leave from the police force after he and Sara broke up. He is on the island of Bornholm, cutting down trees.
Jeppe's friend Esther is also on the island, where she is working on the biography of a female anthropologist. The woman's daughter Ida is letting Esther stay in the home to go through all of her mom's letters. Esther is still mourning the loss of her room-mate Greggers, and it is an ideal situation.
Annette is leading the investigation into the discovery of a corpse in a downtown playground. It is actually only half of a body, stuffed into a suitcase. It appears the body was sawed in half. Clues lead back to Bornholm, and Annette asks Jeppe for some help.
My Opinions:
This was quite good. I really like the characters, and that includes Esther.
The story is written from a number of perspectives, including the letters that Esther is reading. Although they were an integral part of the story, I found them a little boring.
As with the others in the series, there was a lot going on, and it was interesting how everything tied together, with a couple of twists. There may have been a few too many suspects, and it may have dragged a little, but it was still good.
I keep wondering why only 4 of the 5 books in this series have been translated into English. Part of me thinks it may be too late for me to read the missing one if it appears...but then again....
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 24, 2023
Werner and Kørner are back in what is the final book in this Danish crime series. This time, however Werner finds herself leading the investigation of a murdered man whose found in a suitcase in a park. Kørner is on leave from the force and is living now in Bornholm. When the investigation leads to the island, will Kørner be able to resist the temptation to not get involved in bringing the killer to justice?
I have truly enjoyed this series. The characters are all likable and the plots and pacing are fantastic. Please be sure that you read them in order though and enjoy the growth these characters go through. Highly recommend for a fun and entertaining read!
My thanks to Gallery/Scout Press, author Katrine Engberg, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
I have truly enjoyed this series. The characters are all likable and the plots and pacing are fantastic. Please be sure that you read them in order though and enjoy the growth these characters go through. Highly recommend for a fun and entertaining read!
My thanks to Gallery/Scout Press, author Katrine Engberg, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
January 19, 2021
"Bornholm, Bornholm, Bornholm.
Du er min dejlige ferie ø"
.
Katrine Engberg har i de tidligere bøger haft et forholdsvis stort person galleri, det har hun så ikke just haft i denne her bog, selvfølgelig er der en del nævnt, foruden dem som plejer, men ikke på samme måde som tidligere.
.
Katrine skriver i en beskrivelse at det føles som om man selv er der.
Måden hun beskriver vejret, stemningen, og den "lille" ø.
Jeg glæder mig til den dag jeg kan besøge Bornholm.
.
Der er seriøst tårer i mine øjne efter at have læst denne bog færdig.
.
Jeg bliver nød til at rykke Glasvingen ned på en 2. plads og lade Isola få 1. pladsen.
Sikke en bog, sikke en historie.
.
Det har været en sand fornøjelse at læse om Kørner, Werner og Esther og jeg håber inderligt at der i fremtiden ville komme flere bøger.
Jeg ville dog indtil videre ønske Katrine Engberg held og lykke med hendes nye bog eventyr, som jeg helt sikkert ville læse når det er.
Du er min dejlige ferie ø"
.
Katrine Engberg har i de tidligere bøger haft et forholdsvis stort person galleri, det har hun så ikke just haft i denne her bog, selvfølgelig er der en del nævnt, foruden dem som plejer, men ikke på samme måde som tidligere.
.
Katrine skriver i en beskrivelse at det føles som om man selv er der.
Måden hun beskriver vejret, stemningen, og den "lille" ø.
Jeg glæder mig til den dag jeg kan besøge Bornholm.
.
Der er seriøst tårer i mine øjne efter at have læst denne bog færdig.
.
Jeg bliver nød til at rykke Glasvingen ned på en 2. plads og lade Isola få 1. pladsen.
Sikke en bog, sikke en historie.
.
Det har været en sand fornøjelse at læse om Kørner, Werner og Esther og jeg håber inderligt at der i fremtiden ville komme flere bøger.
Jeg ville dog indtil videre ønske Katrine Engberg held og lykke med hendes nye bog eventyr, som jeg helt sikkert ville læse når det er.
April 13, 2023
THE SANCTUARY by Katrine Engberg
Publication: 02/07/2023
Gallery Books / Scout Press
4 Star Rating ….
Another brilliant atmospheric police procedural, immersed in rich characterization and dark and gritty literary prose. This is the fifth book of the series translated into English and is reported to be the finale. Another gruesome crime forces the intertwining relationship between Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner. This tale as the others can be enjoyed as a standalone as Engberg flawlessly provides the necessary backstory. However, reading all sequentially will allow the reader to appreciate the evolution of the character, foibles, and motivation of this intriguing pair. Jeppe has been cuckolded and divorced , and reeling from unsuccessful relationships. He finds himself heartbroken and grieving, and forced to take a leave of absence from the police force. He has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. He feels that working at a sawmill and lumberjacking will provide the necessary salve to heal his psyche. Also on the island is a dear old friend, Esther de Laurenti, who is working on her next book …. A biography of the famed female anthropologist , Margrethe Dybris. Her research entails poring over a myriad of personal letters stored away over a lifetime …. that will eventually unlock and uncover secrets and mysteries of the island.
Jeppe at times has been repulsed by Anette’s crudeness and lack of tact, while Anette is surprised at the degree of Jeppe’s “touchy- feelines” and apparent arrogance.. Compared to Jeppe’s passion, Anette is like “a bull in a china shop.” Regardless they have learned to appreciate their differences and have grown into an awesome team.
Back in Copenhagen, half of a severed corpse is discovered in a suitcase in a downtown playground. Anette, without a partner, is tasked to lead the investigation and uncovers a strange trail of clues leading back to Bornholm. She then contacts Jeppe, and cajoles him into checking out leads on the island, as an off-the-books investigation. He inadvertently uncovers a sinister mystery of the past, linked to the present day gruesome murder. The second half of the body eventually turns up in another suitcase near Copenhagen’s Citadel.
Engberg proves to be a masterful storyteller as she weaves a convoluted narrative involving betrayal, jealousy and friendship, and love that propels into a thrilling and suspenseful tale with an unexpected denouement. Engberg manages to interconnect the web of spun lies into a propulsive thriller that is satisfying, yet leaves the reader yearning for more Korner and Werner mysteries . Perhaps this is not yet the finale for this awesome partnership .
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books / Scout Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: 02/07/2023
Gallery Books / Scout Press
4 Star Rating ….
Another brilliant atmospheric police procedural, immersed in rich characterization and dark and gritty literary prose. This is the fifth book of the series translated into English and is reported to be the finale. Another gruesome crime forces the intertwining relationship between Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner. This tale as the others can be enjoyed as a standalone as Engberg flawlessly provides the necessary backstory. However, reading all sequentially will allow the reader to appreciate the evolution of the character, foibles, and motivation of this intriguing pair. Jeppe has been cuckolded and divorced , and reeling from unsuccessful relationships. He finds himself heartbroken and grieving, and forced to take a leave of absence from the police force. He has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. He feels that working at a sawmill and lumberjacking will provide the necessary salve to heal his psyche. Also on the island is a dear old friend, Esther de Laurenti, who is working on her next book …. A biography of the famed female anthropologist , Margrethe Dybris. Her research entails poring over a myriad of personal letters stored away over a lifetime …. that will eventually unlock and uncover secrets and mysteries of the island.
Jeppe at times has been repulsed by Anette’s crudeness and lack of tact, while Anette is surprised at the degree of Jeppe’s “touchy- feelines” and apparent arrogance.. Compared to Jeppe’s passion, Anette is like “a bull in a china shop.” Regardless they have learned to appreciate their differences and have grown into an awesome team.
Back in Copenhagen, half of a severed corpse is discovered in a suitcase in a downtown playground. Anette, without a partner, is tasked to lead the investigation and uncovers a strange trail of clues leading back to Bornholm. She then contacts Jeppe, and cajoles him into checking out leads on the island, as an off-the-books investigation. He inadvertently uncovers a sinister mystery of the past, linked to the present day gruesome murder. The second half of the body eventually turns up in another suitcase near Copenhagen’s Citadel.
Engberg proves to be a masterful storyteller as she weaves a convoluted narrative involving betrayal, jealousy and friendship, and love that propels into a thrilling and suspenseful tale with an unexpected denouement. Engberg manages to interconnect the web of spun lies into a propulsive thriller that is satisfying, yet leaves the reader yearning for more Korner and Werner mysteries . Perhaps this is not yet the finale for this awesome partnership .
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books / Scout Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
In Kopenhagen wird eine Leiche in einem Koffer gefunden – der Körper wurde offenbar mit einer großen Säge einmal der Länge nach durchgeschnitten. Doch wo ist die andere Hälfte abgeblieben? Und wer ist der unbekannte Tote?
Die Spur führt die dänischen Ermittler nach Bornholm, einer Ostseeinsel nahe Schweden. Zufällig arbeitet dort derzeit auch Anette Werners alter Partner Jeppe Korner arbeitet. Um nach einer persönlichen Krise eine Auszeit zu nehmen, hat er sich auf der abgeschiedenen Insel einen Job als Waldarbeiter gesucht.
Das spielt seinen Kollegen nun in die Karten, denn auf dieser Insel, wo jeder jeden kennt, sind nicht alle übermäßig auskunftsbereit. Und je länger Anette sich dort aufhält, desto überzeugter ist sie, dass der Schlüssel zu diesem Rätsel in der Vergangenheit liegt…
____________
Hat mir gefallen, hat sich aber trotz des brutalen Mordes irgendwie viel leichter angefühlt als die letzten Bände. Ich weiß nicht, ob mir die Handlung lange in Erinnerung bleibt, aber für den Moment war’s eine tolle Geschichte.
3.5 🌟
Die Spur führt die dänischen Ermittler nach Bornholm, einer Ostseeinsel nahe Schweden. Zufällig arbeitet dort derzeit auch Anette Werners alter Partner Jeppe Korner arbeitet. Um nach einer persönlichen Krise eine Auszeit zu nehmen, hat er sich auf der abgeschiedenen Insel einen Job als Waldarbeiter gesucht.
Das spielt seinen Kollegen nun in die Karten, denn auf dieser Insel, wo jeder jeden kennt, sind nicht alle übermäßig auskunftsbereit. Und je länger Anette sich dort aufhält, desto überzeugter ist sie, dass der Schlüssel zu diesem Rätsel in der Vergangenheit liegt…
____________
Hat mir gefallen, hat sich aber trotz des brutalen Mordes irgendwie viel leichter angefühlt als die letzten Bände. Ich weiß nicht, ob mir die Handlung lange in Erinnerung bleibt, aber für den Moment war’s eine tolle Geschichte.
3.5 🌟
February 13, 2023
I really enjoyed Engberg's previous novels in this series, and "The Sanctuary" ensures that these characters ended in a satisfactory way. With rich characterization, a compelling and multi-layered story-line, and a stunning setting, this crime thriller/police procedural met my expectations. The island setting of Bernholm added extra appeal as island settings are among my favourites.
This police procedural gave as much weight to the personal back-stories of the main, recurring characters as it did to the crime featured in the book. This is something that I really appreciate in a crime novel. The novel also included a historic murder case which had ties to the present day crime.
The crime in this book was a particularly grisly one, it has to be said.
"The Sanctuary" was a study of human relationships. It was also a murder mystery, and a crime thriller with themes of betrayal, jealousy, and missing persons.
Fast-paced, and with a compelling plot, this Danish crime thriller will be sure to be enjoyed by many fans of Scandinavian noir. Recommended!
This police procedural gave as much weight to the personal back-stories of the main, recurring characters as it did to the crime featured in the book. This is something that I really appreciate in a crime novel. The novel also included a historic murder case which had ties to the present day crime.
The crime in this book was a particularly grisly one, it has to be said.
"The Sanctuary" was a study of human relationships. It was also a murder mystery, and a crime thriller with themes of betrayal, jealousy, and missing persons.
Fast-paced, and with a compelling plot, this Danish crime thriller will be sure to be enjoyed by many fans of Scandinavian noir. Recommended!
February 15, 2023
The Sanctuary
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 2/7/23
Author: Katrine Engberg
Publisher: Gallery Books
GR: 3.91
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Gallery Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: There are five books to this Nordic Noir series, however, only 4 have been translated to English, this is the final book in the series. This is officially book number five in the Korner and Werner Scandinavian series. The crimes are very gruesome and detailed in this entire series. The author does an amazing job at setting the atmosphere and tone of the island, pulls you into the storyline.
Jeppe is on leave from the police force for the winter. Anette is working a case that leads her to the island that Jeppe is on. Jeppe is the sensitive one, who has had his heart broken before. Anette is fierce, loyal, and just makes you smile. Anette recruits Jeppe for some assistance in investigation, not official. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and the two officers make such a great team. The author’s writing style translates to English well, is creative, suspenseful, and keeps you engaged. The pacing of the mystery and flow of character development was medium, not a slow burn, but also not fast paced throughout the story. The ending was fantastic.
The prior books were about the character building, where this one was more on the mystery at hand. If the second book gets translated to English, I would also read that one. I would recommend this series, especially this final book. It was a good ending to the series. The four books are also on audiobook.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 2/7/23
Author: Katrine Engberg
Publisher: Gallery Books
GR: 3.91
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Gallery Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: There are five books to this Nordic Noir series, however, only 4 have been translated to English, this is the final book in the series. This is officially book number five in the Korner and Werner Scandinavian series. The crimes are very gruesome and detailed in this entire series. The author does an amazing job at setting the atmosphere and tone of the island, pulls you into the storyline.
Jeppe is on leave from the police force for the winter. Anette is working a case that leads her to the island that Jeppe is on. Jeppe is the sensitive one, who has had his heart broken before. Anette is fierce, loyal, and just makes you smile. Anette recruits Jeppe for some assistance in investigation, not official. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and the two officers make such a great team. The author’s writing style translates to English well, is creative, suspenseful, and keeps you engaged. The pacing of the mystery and flow of character development was medium, not a slow burn, but also not fast paced throughout the story. The ending was fantastic.
The prior books were about the character building, where this one was more on the mystery at hand. If the second book gets translated to English, I would also read that one. I would recommend this series, especially this final book. It was a good ending to the series. The four books are also on audiobook.
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