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Beneath a dark winter sky . . . death waits patiently.
A journalist is murdered in the frozen white landscape of a northern Swedish town. Annika Bengtzon, a reporter at a Stockholm-based tabloid, was planning to interview him about a long-ago attack against an isolated air base nearby, and now she suspects that his death is linked to that attack.
Against the explicit orders of her boss, she begins to investigate the event, which is soon followed by a series of shocking murders. Annika knows the murders are connected. At the same time, she begins to suspect that her husband is hiding something, and nothing can counteract the loneliness that has crept into her life.
Behind everything lurks the figure of the Red Wolf, a cold-blooded killer with the soul of a lover. In the end, she must discover the truth not only about the murders but also about the lies that are destroying her own family.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
117 people are currently reading
1777 people want to read
About the author
Liza Marklund
122 books546 followersScandinavia’s undisputed queen of crime fiction, Liza Marklund is the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Annika Bengtzon series.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
Liza Marklund was born in 1962 in the small village of Pålmark, close to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. She is also co-owner of Piratförlaget, one of Sweden’s most successful publishing houses. Since her debut in 1995, Liza Marklund has written eleven novels and two nonfiction books. Liza co-wrote the international bestseller The Postcard Killers with James Patterson, making her the second Swedish author ever to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her crime novels featuring the gutsy reporter Annika Bengtzon have sold more than 13 million copies in 30 languages to date.
Liza Marklund worked as an investigative news reporter for ten years and as an editor in print and television news for five. Today, she also makes documentaries for television and writes for various newspapers. Her topics are often women and children’s rights. Liza has made documentaries about children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and Russia, and a series about domestic violence, Take a Little Beating.
Liza is also a popular columnist since 20 years. Her columns have appeared in various Swedish and international newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times in the UK, Welt am Sonntag in Germany, Dagbladet Information in Denmark, and Ilta-Lehti in Finland. She is a regular columnist in Swedish tabloid Expressen and Norwegian daily Verdens Gang. Today, Liza and her family divide their time between Stockholm in Sweden and Marbella in southern Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
February 20, 2024
Dogged crime reporter, Annika Bengtzon, is drawn to the Arctic town of Lulea by the promise of new evidence relating to an old, unsolved case of terrorism - the blowing up of a military plane in 1969. When a local journalist working on the story is found murdered, Bengtzon’s instinct is to track down the bombers in the hope of finding his killer. Despite the orders of her boss in Stockholm to leave well alone, Annika realises that both crimes are also related to a series of violent deaths unfolding across northern Sweden.
At the centre of the violence, past and present, is the shadowy figure of the Dragon, a code-named assassin who has returned to Sweden to tie up loose ends before his impending death. The race to uncover the Dragon’s identity before he eliminates his former co-conspirators forms the storyline.
Red Wolf is certainly a page-turner, that also delves into the political climate in Sweden in the 60’s/70’s, something that will appeal to those with more knowledge of it than me. The author grew up in the Swedish Arctic and successfully conjures up a landscape of dark and dreary despair. Though a little slow at times, it nevertheless held my interest.
At the centre of the violence, past and present, is the shadowy figure of the Dragon, a code-named assassin who has returned to Sweden to tie up loose ends before his impending death. The race to uncover the Dragon’s identity before he eliminates his former co-conspirators forms the storyline.
Red Wolf is certainly a page-turner, that also delves into the political climate in Sweden in the 60’s/70’s, something that will appeal to those with more knowledge of it than me. The author grew up in the Swedish Arctic and successfully conjures up a landscape of dark and dreary despair. Though a little slow at times, it nevertheless held my interest.
July 14, 2022
Autoarea este jurnalista, coproprietara la o editura mare din Suedia si scrie romane politiste. A publicat 8 romane in seria Annika Bengtzon si toate au fost bestsellere internationale. De la ea am mai citit si "Prime-Time".
In "Den Roda Vargen" o avem in prim plan pe reportera de investigatii Annika Bengtzon care lucreaza la ziarul "Kvallspressen", are 2 copii si o viata personala complicata pentru ca sotul ei o inseala cu o colega de munca. Ea lucreaza la o serie de articole despre victimele din atentatul de la baza aeriana din Lulea. Au trecut 30 de ani de atunci si lucrurile inca nu sunt elucidate, mai ales ca se zvoneste ca ar fi fost un atac terorist la mijloc. In acest scop Annika se duce la fata locului sa se intalneasca cu un ziarist care detine informatii noi despre caz. Cand ajunge acolo insa afla ca Benny, ziaristul, a fost lovit mortal de o masina. Annika e convinsa ca acesta a fost ucis si incepe sa ancheteze singura scotand la iveala tot felul de lucruri neplacute care vor conduce la alte cadavre. Se pare ca a reusit sa trezeasca un criminal versat.
Va recomand acest roman, este o lectura agreabila eroina fiind ambitioasa, luptatoare si profesionista. Cartea are foarte multe amanunte despre terorism, maoism si mai avem si un fiu de preot care este traumatizat dar si o ministra a culturii, fosta terorista, astfel ca unele parti mi s-au parut greu de inteles. Mi s-a parut in schimb ca autoarea transmite bine durerea Annikai cand aceasta descopera ca barbatul ei se culca cu o alta femeie si mi-a placut metoda ei de a scapa de aceasta. De asemenea am considerat ca si sentimentele prietenei sale Anne Snapphane, care se lupta si ea cu fostul ei sot pentru custodia fetei lor sunt bine exprimate.
In incheiere atasez cateva citate care mi-au placut si mi s-au parut demne de retinut:
"Cand haosul se dezlantuie si razboiul isi schimba caracterul, mai important decat orice altceva e sa te uiti inapoi, sa inveti din istorie."
"Stia despre ce era vorba; in lupta nu trebuie niciodata sa eziti."
"Ceea ce i-a ramas este sentimentul de dreptate, adevarul ca un far intr-o lume plina de intuneric."
"Cel care sta pe malul apei suficient de mult isi vede cu timpul majoritatea dusmanilor plutind prin fata sa."
"Sa gandesti liber e important, dar sa gandesti corect e si mai important. Libertatea, se gandi el, tirania timpului nostru."
"Dar exista oameni rai, pe care nu poti sa-i vindeci cu dragoste."
"Blestematul Om al Renasterii care s-a trezit intr-o buna dimineata in anul 1100 la Florenta si a descoperit capitalismul, s-a asezat in capul oaselor in pat si si-a dat seama de posibilitatile ego-ului sau, a inteles ca statul este un organism care poate fi controlat si manipulat."
In "Den Roda Vargen" o avem in prim plan pe reportera de investigatii Annika Bengtzon care lucreaza la ziarul "Kvallspressen", are 2 copii si o viata personala complicata pentru ca sotul ei o inseala cu o colega de munca. Ea lucreaza la o serie de articole despre victimele din atentatul de la baza aeriana din Lulea. Au trecut 30 de ani de atunci si lucrurile inca nu sunt elucidate, mai ales ca se zvoneste ca ar fi fost un atac terorist la mijloc. In acest scop Annika se duce la fata locului sa se intalneasca cu un ziarist care detine informatii noi despre caz. Cand ajunge acolo insa afla ca Benny, ziaristul, a fost lovit mortal de o masina. Annika e convinsa ca acesta a fost ucis si incepe sa ancheteze singura scotand la iveala tot felul de lucruri neplacute care vor conduce la alte cadavre. Se pare ca a reusit sa trezeasca un criminal versat.
Va recomand acest roman, este o lectura agreabila eroina fiind ambitioasa, luptatoare si profesionista. Cartea are foarte multe amanunte despre terorism, maoism si mai avem si un fiu de preot care este traumatizat dar si o ministra a culturii, fosta terorista, astfel ca unele parti mi s-au parut greu de inteles. Mi s-a parut in schimb ca autoarea transmite bine durerea Annikai cand aceasta descopera ca barbatul ei se culca cu o alta femeie si mi-a placut metoda ei de a scapa de aceasta. De asemenea am considerat ca si sentimentele prietenei sale Anne Snapphane, care se lupta si ea cu fostul ei sot pentru custodia fetei lor sunt bine exprimate.
In incheiere atasez cateva citate care mi-au placut si mi s-au parut demne de retinut:
"Cand haosul se dezlantuie si razboiul isi schimba caracterul, mai important decat orice altceva e sa te uiti inapoi, sa inveti din istorie."
"Stia despre ce era vorba; in lupta nu trebuie niciodata sa eziti."
"Ceea ce i-a ramas este sentimentul de dreptate, adevarul ca un far intr-o lume plina de intuneric."
"Cel care sta pe malul apei suficient de mult isi vede cu timpul majoritatea dusmanilor plutind prin fata sa."
"Sa gandesti liber e important, dar sa gandesti corect e si mai important. Libertatea, se gandi el, tirania timpului nostru."
"Dar exista oameni rai, pe care nu poti sa-i vindeci cu dragoste."
"Blestematul Om al Renasterii care s-a trezit intr-o buna dimineata in anul 1100 la Florenta si a descoperit capitalismul, s-a asezat in capul oaselor in pat si si-a dat seama de posibilitatile ego-ului sau, a inteles ca statul este un organism care poate fi controlat si manipulat."
January 8, 2024
The more I read this one, the less I like it.
I'm old enough to see novels spoiled by unpleasant characters (Annika herself is far from the nicest girl in town) , tons of coincidental facts and diluted little stories. But don't tell me that 12 Million Euros (1200 piles of 10.000) have enough place in a sailor's bag, because I will think you're stupid. And I shall not respect you anymore...
I'm old enough to see novels spoiled by unpleasant characters (Annika herself is far from the nicest girl in town) , tons of coincidental facts and diluted little stories. But don't tell me that 12 Million Euros (1200 piles of 10.000) have enough place in a sailor's bag, because I will think you're stupid. And I shall not respect you anymore...
March 20, 2011
Okay, this bit before the review is really an angry rant about publishing. Honestly what is with you publishers? Releasing book five in a series, at least in America, before releasing the other ones? How does this make sense? Fix it!
I first heard about Marklund though a reviewer here at Goodreads that I follow. At that time, Marklund's series was not availble in the U.S.,because we American are illiterate readers, because I don't know. The books are up on Amazon, but a 25 dollar paperback is WAAAAAAAAAAY out of my price range. I couldn't find any in any used backstore.
Then Red Wolf came out and I got it this weekend.
I love Liza Marklund. I really, really do. I want her and her creation, Annika, to beat up the publishers and make them publish the rest of the books. (And if any author could do it, it's Marklund).
Now, I can hear you asking - well, if you feel that way about it, why did you give it four stars?
That's the publisher's fault. Because this is book five in a series, there is a sense of entering mid-point. This doesn't make it necessary to read the other books to know what is going on. I, however, have the feeling that reading the other books in the series would answer the central question I have about Annika in this book - whether or not she is suffering PTSD or something more? Additionally, as American, I found the whole bit about the television station, while easy enough to follow, slightly, strange. It felt like it tied into some comment on Swedish or EU television that I didn't get because I lack the political background. Not that it stopped me from enjoying the novel.
Red Wolf deals with the reporter Annika and her investigation into a terrorist attack in Sweden during the 1970s. Annika is a bit like Lisabeth (or whatever her name is) from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, though I believe this series predates Larsson. Annika is not a socially acceptable woman, she tends to be a bit hard headed, but she also is married with two children. She also has friends and doesn't put people off.
That in part, is why I liked this book. Annika is different but she is not a total outsider. She feels normal as well as different, almost more believable and less cliche. It's nice to the see the friendship in the novels, in particular the friendship she has with two women (one an old friend, another a co-worker). It makes her part of the world instead of part of a man's world, which can happen in books with a heroine.
During the course of her work, Annika must also deal with conflicts in her marriage (and how she deals with it, will spark a 'hey yeah'). In addition to the up front mystery and the homefront sub-plot, Marklund also deals with current trends in newspaper reporting. In other words, if you loved the last season of The Wire, you'll want to read this.
It is most likely true, that the reader will be able to figure out one of the baddies before hand, but Marklund seems to credit the reader with this ability. The writing is wonderful and gripping, though as a new reader to the series, it took about 35 pages to really get into it. I read the last 100 without looking up I was so engrossed.
Now, I just got to get the others in the series.
I first heard about Marklund though a reviewer here at Goodreads that I follow. At that time, Marklund's series was not availble in the U.S.,
Then Red Wolf came out and I got it this weekend.
I love Liza Marklund. I really, really do. I want her and her creation, Annika, to beat up the publishers and make them publish the rest of the books. (And if any author could do it, it's Marklund).
Now, I can hear you asking - well, if you feel that way about it, why did you give it four stars?
That's the publisher's fault. Because this is book five in a series, there is a sense of entering mid-point. This doesn't make it necessary to read the other books to know what is going on. I, however, have the feeling that reading the other books in the series would answer the central question I have about Annika in this book - whether or not she is suffering PTSD or something more? Additionally, as American, I found the whole bit about the television station, while easy enough to follow, slightly, strange. It felt like it tied into some comment on Swedish or EU television that I didn't get because I lack the political background. Not that it stopped me from enjoying the novel.
Red Wolf deals with the reporter Annika and her investigation into a terrorist attack in Sweden during the 1970s. Annika is a bit like Lisabeth (or whatever her name is) from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, though I believe this series predates Larsson. Annika is not a socially acceptable woman, she tends to be a bit hard headed, but she also is married with two children. She also has friends and doesn't put people off.
That in part, is why I liked this book. Annika is different but she is not a total outsider. She feels normal as well as different, almost more believable and less cliche. It's nice to the see the friendship in the novels, in particular the friendship she has with two women (one an old friend, another a co-worker). It makes her part of the world instead of part of a man's world, which can happen in books with a heroine.
During the course of her work, Annika must also deal with conflicts in her marriage (and how she deals with it, will spark a 'hey yeah'). In addition to the up front mystery and the homefront sub-plot, Marklund also deals with current trends in newspaper reporting. In other words, if you loved the last season of The Wire, you'll want to read this.
It is most likely true, that the reader will be able to figure out one of the baddies before hand, but Marklund seems to credit the reader with this ability. The writing is wonderful and gripping, though as a new reader to the series, it took about 35 pages to really get into it. I read the last 100 without looking up I was so engrossed.
Now, I just got to get the others in the series.
February 23, 2024
This actually is a Swedish series, about a reporter.
This has also been turned into a popular Swedish television series.
Back to the book.
Even though this is fifth in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Although, from my understanding from other reviewers, we might understand Annika’s character better if we had a chance to read The Bomber first. But whether the book is available or not, is another story.
Back to the book.
First, it takes a bit of patience to get into the story. (Could it be lost in translation?)
And typically, I am not one for patience getting into a story, but…for some reason (maybe because I was familiar with this character and this series) I wanted to give it a chance.
When the book hits its stride, about half way through, it clearly has been worth the time invested.
The overall plot stands out in the way it introduces multiple characters whose lives intermingle and the personal relationships each encounters. Not to mention a strong woman as the main character.
This has also been turned into a popular Swedish television series.
Back to the book.
Even though this is fifth in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Although, from my understanding from other reviewers, we might understand Annika’s character better if we had a chance to read The Bomber first. But whether the book is available or not, is another story.
Back to the book.
First, it takes a bit of patience to get into the story. (Could it be lost in translation?)
And typically, I am not one for patience getting into a story, but…for some reason (maybe because I was familiar with this character and this series) I wanted to give it a chance.
When the book hits its stride, about half way through, it clearly has been worth the time invested.
The overall plot stands out in the way it introduces multiple characters whose lives intermingle and the personal relationships each encounters. Not to mention a strong woman as the main character.
August 3, 2010
This book is actually 5th in a series....which I didnt realise until I was half way through lol.
The series is based on the reporter Annika Bengzton, the stories she does and her family.
Even though I haven't read any of the other books I still really enjoyed this.
All throughout it I kept getting images of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo...maybe because it was based in Sweden but also it just had the same feel to it. (Along with the hard to pronounce names [:)])
Also the same as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo you have to really persevere to get into the book as they were hard going with the explanations etc etc but once you get past 50 pages or so it started to get really interesting.
I actually really like Annika, and I found myself wishing I had known about the other books beforehand as she was an interesting character and I would have preferred to have known a little more about her past and what had happened etc as there were vague references, which I just didn't get and they weren't explained in the book.
I also didn't get why there was anything from her husband's perspective, he was annoying, whiny and selfish. Maybe I would have liked him if I had read the previous books but I don't think so. He didn't really give anything to the storyline, so I kinda thought it was pointless..unless of course it carries onto the next book.
My only critism was about the bad guy...he didn't really come across as a really bad, bad guy. Yes he was bad and a killer etc but they could have stretched that out a bit more, because as soon as you realise who it is, its pretty much over. I would have preferred there to be a bit more in depth to it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and if you like the crime genre of books then I recommend giving this a go.
I think I will definately try to read the previous books in the series.
8/10
The series is based on the reporter Annika Bengzton, the stories she does and her family.
Even though I haven't read any of the other books I still really enjoyed this.
All throughout it I kept getting images of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo...maybe because it was based in Sweden but also it just had the same feel to it. (Along with the hard to pronounce names [:)])
Also the same as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo you have to really persevere to get into the book as they were hard going with the explanations etc etc but once you get past 50 pages or so it started to get really interesting.
I actually really like Annika, and I found myself wishing I had known about the other books beforehand as she was an interesting character and I would have preferred to have known a little more about her past and what had happened etc as there were vague references, which I just didn't get and they weren't explained in the book.
I also didn't get why there was anything from her husband's perspective, he was annoying, whiny and selfish. Maybe I would have liked him if I had read the previous books but I don't think so. He didn't really give anything to the storyline, so I kinda thought it was pointless..unless of course it carries onto the next book.
My only critism was about the bad guy...he didn't really come across as a really bad, bad guy. Yes he was bad and a killer etc but they could have stretched that out a bit more, because as soon as you realise who it is, its pretty much over. I would have preferred there to be a bit more in depth to it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and if you like the crime genre of books then I recommend giving this a go.
I think I will definately try to read the previous books in the series.
8/10
March 23, 2020
Reporter Annika Bengtzon is like a dog with a bone when she's invested in a story. She is definitely a renegade, not interested in toeing the party line at the newspaper. Annika is shocked when a fellow journalist with whom she has been sharing notes on the case of an unsolved terrorist bombing in the late '60s is killed in a hit and run accident. She digs for details and soon discovers it wasn't an accident. The past has come back to haunt several people.
This book dives into the political climate in Sweden in the 1960s/70s when the Maoist movement gained popularity in Sweden. Readers familiar with Swedish political history will likely understand the underpinnings of the plot more than me. Red Wolf was absorbing at times, slow moving through other sections. Annika is a force to be reckoned with and for her alone, I will be back to read other books in the series.
This book dives into the political climate in Sweden in the 1960s/70s when the Maoist movement gained popularity in Sweden. Readers familiar with Swedish political history will likely understand the underpinnings of the plot more than me. Red Wolf was absorbing at times, slow moving through other sections. Annika is a force to be reckoned with and for her alone, I will be back to read other books in the series.
March 11, 2014
"Indépendence. Je suis mon propre maître."
Depois de ter lido o "Homicídio no Parque" fiquei com expectativas demasiado elevadas para os restantes livros da autora, da série da Annika Bengtzon. Tendo os seus livros duas ordens distintas - a ordem de publicação e a ordem cronológica da história - é difícil escolher como os vamos ler. O ideal seria a ordem de publicação. Porém, a minha pesquisa sobre a autora e a sua obra foi consequência do impacto da leitura do seu primeiro livro publicado em Portugal e, por isso, comecei logo de forma errada. Por essa mesma razão, pensei que ler o "Lobo Vermelho" de seguida não tivesse problema. Enganei-me.
O livro foca-se num mistério que envolve terroristas e eventos de um passado distante. Annika é jornalista e assume o papel de personagem principal, tendo a sua vida e detalhes relativos aos seus pensamentos e comportamentos um destaque principal. Contudo, existem vários desvios da história principal e assistimos a cada um deles separadamente. Por um lado temos o marido de Annika e as suas atitudes fora de casa e por outro temos a sua melhor amiga, Anne que é um pouco obsessiva com tudo o que a rodeia. Compreendo a necessidade de construir a personagem através dos que a rodeiam, mas na verdade senti uma distância demasiado longa entre mim e a Annika.
Penso que o que tornou este livro tão difícil de interiorizar foi o facto de ter perdido os três livros que o separam do outro que li. A falta de informação criou um vazio intransponível entre mim e a personagem.
Assim, este livro ficará para ler mais tarde, depois de assumir a série da forma correta. Tenho a certeza que fará toda a diferença. Pelo menos, assim o espero, porque a Annika causou-me uma forte impressão no nosso primeiro encontro.
"A verdade não é tão interessante, apenas a fantasia que ela é capaz de gerar."
Depois de ter lido o "Homicídio no Parque" fiquei com expectativas demasiado elevadas para os restantes livros da autora, da série da Annika Bengtzon. Tendo os seus livros duas ordens distintas - a ordem de publicação e a ordem cronológica da história - é difícil escolher como os vamos ler. O ideal seria a ordem de publicação. Porém, a minha pesquisa sobre a autora e a sua obra foi consequência do impacto da leitura do seu primeiro livro publicado em Portugal e, por isso, comecei logo de forma errada. Por essa mesma razão, pensei que ler o "Lobo Vermelho" de seguida não tivesse problema. Enganei-me.
O livro foca-se num mistério que envolve terroristas e eventos de um passado distante. Annika é jornalista e assume o papel de personagem principal, tendo a sua vida e detalhes relativos aos seus pensamentos e comportamentos um destaque principal. Contudo, existem vários desvios da história principal e assistimos a cada um deles separadamente. Por um lado temos o marido de Annika e as suas atitudes fora de casa e por outro temos a sua melhor amiga, Anne que é um pouco obsessiva com tudo o que a rodeia. Compreendo a necessidade de construir a personagem através dos que a rodeiam, mas na verdade senti uma distância demasiado longa entre mim e a Annika.
Penso que o que tornou este livro tão difícil de interiorizar foi o facto de ter perdido os três livros que o separam do outro que li. A falta de informação criou um vazio intransponível entre mim e a personagem.
Assim, este livro ficará para ler mais tarde, depois de assumir a série da forma correta. Tenho a certeza que fará toda a diferença. Pelo menos, assim o espero, porque a Annika causou-me uma forte impressão no nosso primeiro encontro.
"A verdade não é tão interessante, apenas a fantasia que ela é capaz de gerar."
February 2, 2012
This was a task to read but I guess it's really cold up there in the Netherlands! I suppose these authors will now
become the rage after Larsson and Nesbo have braved the Atlantic and hit pay dirt here in the USA! This is an amazing weave of spy vs.
Spy vs. Spy. and misdirection, wrong turns, bad decisions, and misplaced loyalties that just make us glad that we the reader live easier less complicated lives. ( seriously)
I discovered them 5 or so years ago and been on a one woman rant about them! Now all of a sudden
EVERY one is telling ME how great they are! ( sheesh!) anyway plod on through this it's like eating some
peculiar foreign foreign food for the first time, you're not quite sure if you like it, but with each bite it gets
better and better! Go on....... Dive in! You'll acquire a taste for these authors, seriously! It also helps to be
a bit of a European history buff, you just might learn something new as well! ( heaven forbid!)
become the rage after Larsson and Nesbo have braved the Atlantic and hit pay dirt here in the USA! This is an amazing weave of spy vs.
Spy vs. Spy. and misdirection, wrong turns, bad decisions, and misplaced loyalties that just make us glad that we the reader live easier less complicated lives. ( seriously)
I discovered them 5 or so years ago and been on a one woman rant about them! Now all of a sudden
EVERY one is telling ME how great they are! ( sheesh!) anyway plod on through this it's like eating some
peculiar foreign foreign food for the first time, you're not quite sure if you like it, but with each bite it gets
better and better! Go on....... Dive in! You'll acquire a taste for these authors, seriously! It also helps to be
a bit of a European history buff, you just might learn something new as well! ( heaven forbid!)
July 14, 2013
Wonderful! I'm really starting to enjoy Annika - her husband is a totally douchebag, though, and I have no idea why she would want him.
Great book, though - can't wait to read the rest of them!
Great book, though - can't wait to read the rest of them!
November 3, 2011
This book contains everything I love about Swedish crime fiction. First of all the crimes are realistic based in everyday human emotions. Anotherwords there isn’t some grand scheming mad man with super intelligence out to prove to the world and police that he is smarter than them. He doesn’t purposely tease the powers that be to catch him. I find to much of American crime fiction is dedicated to this type of criminal, and consequently it ends up being boring by trying to be sensationalistic.
Second it features a smart, but flawed hero who through hard work, small steps, and maybe a little luck manages to get to the bottom of the mystery. It lets me, the reader know, that if I just keep chipping away at the crime I could solve it too. It doesn’t take unrealistic skills or powers of deduction, it just takes perseverance. I like that and it keeps me in the story, especially the flaws in the protagonist’s life. It makes them real, less of a superhero.
In Red Wolf our heroine is coming back from her own exposure to crime. She is an investigative reporter and wants to write about serious issues, not the pop culture that is the fixture of many news organizations today. So looking at a 30 year old long forgotten terrorist attack for an anniversary piece her contact dies in a tragic accident. Not taking anything for coincidence she looks into the accident, and finds her first bread crumb.
From there we are taken down a path that slowly builds to a fully involved mystery that crosses the ages and involves terrorism, communism (who knew the Marxist and Maoist didn’t get along?), blackmail, love, and conspiracy. In the end I can say I was still surprised by the conclusion, but it did come down to those basic of all motives; shame and pride. That is a true crime, a crime I can believe in.
Nearly perfect with the only flaw being choppy dialogue. I would put that down to the translation process from Swedish to English. No matter how well done it loses a little of the flow and nuance to be found in the original. I suppose I should stop being lazy and go ahead and learn Swedish, but then I would need to learn Icelandic and Norwegian as well. Maybe next year.
So if you are looking for some great Swedish crime fiction, or just plain good crime fiction period, seek out Red Wolf. This is the third book featuring the heroine Annika, so get all three. Plus I can also recommend Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson, both brilliant as well.
Second it features a smart, but flawed hero who through hard work, small steps, and maybe a little luck manages to get to the bottom of the mystery. It lets me, the reader know, that if I just keep chipping away at the crime I could solve it too. It doesn’t take unrealistic skills or powers of deduction, it just takes perseverance. I like that and it keeps me in the story, especially the flaws in the protagonist’s life. It makes them real, less of a superhero.
In Red Wolf our heroine is coming back from her own exposure to crime. She is an investigative reporter and wants to write about serious issues, not the pop culture that is the fixture of many news organizations today. So looking at a 30 year old long forgotten terrorist attack for an anniversary piece her contact dies in a tragic accident. Not taking anything for coincidence she looks into the accident, and finds her first bread crumb.
From there we are taken down a path that slowly builds to a fully involved mystery that crosses the ages and involves terrorism, communism (who knew the Marxist and Maoist didn’t get along?), blackmail, love, and conspiracy. In the end I can say I was still surprised by the conclusion, but it did come down to those basic of all motives; shame and pride. That is a true crime, a crime I can believe in.
Nearly perfect with the only flaw being choppy dialogue. I would put that down to the translation process from Swedish to English. No matter how well done it loses a little of the flow and nuance to be found in the original. I suppose I should stop being lazy and go ahead and learn Swedish, but then I would need to learn Icelandic and Norwegian as well. Maybe next year.
So if you are looking for some great Swedish crime fiction, or just plain good crime fiction period, seek out Red Wolf. This is the third book featuring the heroine Annika, so get all three. Plus I can also recommend Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson, both brilliant as well.
February 5, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Annika Bengzton
SETTING: Sweden
SERIES: #5 of 5
RATING: 3.25
At one time, Annika Bengzton was the head of the crime team at a leading Swedish newspaper. Currently, she works as an independent investigative reporter, whose bosses don’t always trust her judgment in the stories that she chooses to report. Her current obsession is with an event that occurred 40 years earlier, when a Draken fighter plane exploded at a northern Swedish base. She senses that a cover-up has occurred; as she investigates, she finds that people who have some knowledge of what happened are being killed. It appears that someone is feeling very threatened about the possibility of the truth coming to light.
Convincing her editors that there is a story worth telling is a challenge, particularly since Annika suffers anxiety attacks where singing angels haunt her and can become quite obsessed when she’s following a lead. As a matter of fact, they forbid her to continue the investigation, a directive which she ignores. In addition to the incident with the plane, there are a lot of ingredients in the narrative mix, including a serial killer who returns after 40 years, plots involving powerful business and political leaders and evidence that her husband may be having an affair.
Although Marklund’s research is meticulous, I found that as an American I had no frame of reference for many of the political references and history incorporated into the narrative. The dependence on those details made a large part of the book inaccessible to me. I also found the beginning of the book to be rough going, as the translation wasn’t smooth flowing. On the other hand, the character of Anna is an intriguing one. She strongly believes in what she is doing and is determined to expose the truth, no matter what the cost. She has a real sense of justice that won’t allow her to compromise. And Marklund has taken full advantage of the cold and darkness of the Swedish setting to build a sense of menace.
Liza Marklund is a best-selling author in Sweden, with her books translated into 30 languages. RED WOLF is the fifth book in the series and introduces Annika Bengtzon to an American audience. A recent collaboration with James Patterson should ensure that Marklund will establish a lasting presence in the US marketplace.
SETTING: Sweden
SERIES: #5 of 5
RATING: 3.25
At one time, Annika Bengzton was the head of the crime team at a leading Swedish newspaper. Currently, she works as an independent investigative reporter, whose bosses don’t always trust her judgment in the stories that she chooses to report. Her current obsession is with an event that occurred 40 years earlier, when a Draken fighter plane exploded at a northern Swedish base. She senses that a cover-up has occurred; as she investigates, she finds that people who have some knowledge of what happened are being killed. It appears that someone is feeling very threatened about the possibility of the truth coming to light.
Convincing her editors that there is a story worth telling is a challenge, particularly since Annika suffers anxiety attacks where singing angels haunt her and can become quite obsessed when she’s following a lead. As a matter of fact, they forbid her to continue the investigation, a directive which she ignores. In addition to the incident with the plane, there are a lot of ingredients in the narrative mix, including a serial killer who returns after 40 years, plots involving powerful business and political leaders and evidence that her husband may be having an affair.
Although Marklund’s research is meticulous, I found that as an American I had no frame of reference for many of the political references and history incorporated into the narrative. The dependence on those details made a large part of the book inaccessible to me. I also found the beginning of the book to be rough going, as the translation wasn’t smooth flowing. On the other hand, the character of Anna is an intriguing one. She strongly believes in what she is doing and is determined to expose the truth, no matter what the cost. She has a real sense of justice that won’t allow her to compromise. And Marklund has taken full advantage of the cold and darkness of the Swedish setting to build a sense of menace.
Liza Marklund is a best-selling author in Sweden, with her books translated into 30 languages. RED WOLF is the fifth book in the series and introduces Annika Bengtzon to an American audience. A recent collaboration with James Patterson should ensure that Marklund will establish a lasting presence in the US marketplace.
July 31, 2016
I like to read outside my comfort zone sometimes-it is a great palate cleanser. I found a little gem in Red Wolf by Liza Marklund. Marklund is very famous (and I think deservedly so) in her native Sweden. The angle this book is written from and its' immersion in a culture alien to me made this book fascinating; this did not get five stars only because, as I was telling a friend, it took such a long time to start the fire. There is a point around page 150 when everything starts to click and after that you cannot stop reading. I am afraid many casual readers won't get that far, so I have to urge you to stick with this the payoff is worth it. This book is part of a series about investigative report Annika Bengtzon, and I think you will fall in love with this character. She is tough but not Sigourney Weaver's Ripley tough-she is very smart and endearing and very very human, and you will find you want her to succeed. When an author can make you care about a character in that way, no matter what language they wrote in, you know you have found a winner.
May 11, 2011
More Scandinavian Murder Mystery Mayhem! And Henning Mankell blurbed this one, saying that Marklund is "in a league of her own." Her Annika Bengtzon chases down murderers and terrorists, but she's not some cartoonish heroine. She juggles work with family, and is wracked by anxiety because she was taken hostage in an earlier book. Compelling and complex mystery fun.
December 24, 2021
Kompletne utiske o ovom romanu možete pročitati na blogu Petrov svet.
May 23, 2011
A man, born in Sweden near the Arctic Circle, returns to his country after nearly forty years. He has become more comfortable speaking and thinking in French than in his native tongue. He fled Sweden as a young man and now he is returning to die. He needs to see some of the people he knew so well so long ago. He has skills now that he didn’t have then. He is an assassin and he has unfinished business.
RED WOLF begins a few months after the end of THE BOMBER. Annika Bengtzon has become a free-lance reporter, free to follow stories that intrigue her. One of those stories dates from 1969 when a plane was destroyed on the field at the Swedish air base in Lulea, near the Arctic circle, a clear case of terrorism. A young soldier was killed in the explosion. No one was ever caught but during that period there were a number of groups with varying degrees of activity who supported the Soviet Union. Home-grown Communists may have played a role when talk of the “revolution”, people taking control of their countries to bring about pure communism, was popular. There were cells spread throughout Sweden; members of which had a code names and some have been waiting for forty years for the call to action. Annika believes that there may still be a story worth writing all these years later.
Annika learns that another journalist, Benny Ekland, from a paper near Lulea, is working on the same story and has discovered something that might finally move the destruction of the plane back to the front page. Annika agrees to meet Benny in Lulea and arrives in the town to discover that Benny is dead, killed in a hit-and-run accident. Annika doesn’t want to intrude on the grief of his friends so she goes to the site of the accident, just as something to do, a sign of respect. She discovers something the police have missed – there is a witness. Annika’s source knows without question that Benny’s death was a well-planned execution.
As Annika tries to continue where Benny left off, she is also being dragged into the emotional turmoil of her friend Anne who sees her career being destroyed if she can’t close the deal on a cable television project. The minister of culture is raising obstacles where there should have been none. Coincidentally, the minister of culture is from Lulea. There are so many ties to this small town near the top of the world that Annika wonders of there are connections between the actors in this new drama.
It doesn’t help Annika’s concentration when she sees proof that her husband is having an affair. Annika’s been told by her editors that they want no more terrorism stories. They think Annika is obsessed while she knows that there is something lurking just under the surface that could have serious repercussions for Sweden. But how to concentrate on this so that her editor sees what she sees, when she is still seeing Thomas with another woman?
RED WOLF is the long-awaited sequel to THE BOMBER. Published in Sweden in 2003, RED WOLF is not quite the book that THE BOMBER is. It takes much longer to get the action started. While it is important to the story, there seems to be more details than necessary about Anne and the complicated plan to unite all of Sweden through their connection to cable television. But, when the book hits its stride, about half way through, it clearly has been worth the time invested in all those details.
April 28, 2011
Won via First Reads Giveaways - thanks, Goodreads!
I think the really cool thing about the giveaways on Goodreads is that they've matched me up with books I normally wouldn't check out otherwise. My only experience with Swedish crime fiction came via Stieg Larsson, and I'm sorry to say that I couldn't get into The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at all. Liza Marklund, on the other hand, pleasantly surprised me.
This is apparently the fifth book in the Annika Bengtzon series - the previous ones were translated at one point, but seem to be out of print (judging from Amazon). However, sufficient background is given that one doesn't need to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this.
The setting is well-written - the book bounces between Stockholm and its surrounding towns (including Uppsala) to Luleå, above the Arctic Circle. It illustrates the differences between south-central vs. northern / urban vs. rural Sweden very well; in the beginning, the reader really gets a sense of Annika's discomfort at the sun setting so early in Luleå.
Marklund is also good at portraying emotion - although I was completely new to these characters, I felt I was easily able to delve into their personal lives. The main characters are flawed and irrational - they do stupid things and don't get out of them very easily, even Annika. I found that refreshing. There was one particular scene where Annika's friend sees her estranged husband's new girlfriend picking up her children at the daycare, and the things she says to her are incredibly nasty, but probably realistic given the situation - and there are consequences. Annika tries to start a smear campaign to get revenge on the woman her husband is cheating on her with, and that, too, is dealt with.
I found the mentions of various terrorist factions within Europe, including extremist Basque separatists and Maoists, incredibly fascinating. I liked when one of the characters found to be participating essentially claimed, "You wouldn't understand - you weren't alive during the sixties," which I thought was a neat way to underline the generational gap between them and Annika.
I'll probably tweak this review when it's not 4 AM anymore, but I'd say that if you're interested in a Scandinavian crime novel focusing on bits of overlooked European history, with realistic characters, this is definitely worth a shot.
I think the really cool thing about the giveaways on Goodreads is that they've matched me up with books I normally wouldn't check out otherwise. My only experience with Swedish crime fiction came via Stieg Larsson, and I'm sorry to say that I couldn't get into The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at all. Liza Marklund, on the other hand, pleasantly surprised me.
This is apparently the fifth book in the Annika Bengtzon series - the previous ones were translated at one point, but seem to be out of print (judging from Amazon). However, sufficient background is given that one doesn't need to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this.
The setting is well-written - the book bounces between Stockholm and its surrounding towns (including Uppsala) to Luleå, above the Arctic Circle. It illustrates the differences between south-central vs. northern / urban vs. rural Sweden very well; in the beginning, the reader really gets a sense of Annika's discomfort at the sun setting so early in Luleå.
Marklund is also good at portraying emotion - although I was completely new to these characters, I felt I was easily able to delve into their personal lives. The main characters are flawed and irrational - they do stupid things and don't get out of them very easily, even Annika. I found that refreshing. There was one particular scene where Annika's friend sees her estranged husband's new girlfriend picking up her children at the daycare, and the things she says to her are incredibly nasty, but probably realistic given the situation - and there are consequences. Annika tries to start a smear campaign to get revenge on the woman her husband is cheating on her with, and that, too, is dealt with.
I found the mentions of various terrorist factions within Europe, including extremist Basque separatists and Maoists, incredibly fascinating. I liked when one of the characters found to be participating essentially claimed, "You wouldn't understand - you weren't alive during the sixties," which I thought was a neat way to underline the generational gap between them and Annika.
I'll probably tweak this review when it's not 4 AM anymore, but I'd say that if you're interested in a Scandinavian crime novel focusing on bits of overlooked European history, with realistic characters, this is definitely worth a shot.
September 24, 2012
The fifth book in the Annika Bengtzon series, I've absolutely no idea whether or not the entire series has been translated in order or not. I've sort of lost the plot with this series, probably because the first book - THE BOMBER - didn't appeal a lot. The last I read, PRIME TIME, was better, but a lot of the problem is that Annika, as the main focus, is a character I find it very hard to either warm to, or increasingly raise much interest in.
The plot of RED WOLF, that idea of the past having a direct impact on the present, is something I'm noticing a lot these days. The interweaving of the 1969 destruction of a plane on a Swedish air base, home-grown Communist sleeper cells and the impacts of the Cold War on Sweden then and now was carefully drawn out, given immediacy and current day relevance by the death of another journalist, Benny Ekland. It's an interesting idea, in this book executed reasonably well, although it does take a little while to get going. Which wasn't exactly helpful, as there's also a lot going on in Annika's personal life, which, if like me, you're having trouble with Annika, doesn't help with getting into this book.
This is probably my biggest cause of confusion with this series. I can't work out why Annika grates quite as much as she does. Somehow she comes across to me as less stoic and determined and more whingy and inclined to play the martyr. Less put upon and more the cause of most of her problems.
There's also another pattern I've noticed a bit. Whilst having a journalist as an investigator of crimes, outside the law, isn't that big a stretch of the imagination, there is sometimes a tendency to just make out that the official police investigators have "missed" vital clues. Again, not a big stretch of the imagination to think that maybe it could happen... but every time a journalist is involved?
Blast, I think I'm in nitpicking territory. Which isn't a good thing. The biggest problem I've now got is that I'm not keen on the idea of just abandoning a series based on problems with one or two books - working on the principle that a book should stand alone, as well as be part of the series. 3 books out of 5 translated that have left me feeling a bit disappointed might mean that I have to shuffle the other couple down the priority pile a bit.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
The plot of RED WOLF, that idea of the past having a direct impact on the present, is something I'm noticing a lot these days. The interweaving of the 1969 destruction of a plane on a Swedish air base, home-grown Communist sleeper cells and the impacts of the Cold War on Sweden then and now was carefully drawn out, given immediacy and current day relevance by the death of another journalist, Benny Ekland. It's an interesting idea, in this book executed reasonably well, although it does take a little while to get going. Which wasn't exactly helpful, as there's also a lot going on in Annika's personal life, which, if like me, you're having trouble with Annika, doesn't help with getting into this book.
This is probably my biggest cause of confusion with this series. I can't work out why Annika grates quite as much as she does. Somehow she comes across to me as less stoic and determined and more whingy and inclined to play the martyr. Less put upon and more the cause of most of her problems.
There's also another pattern I've noticed a bit. Whilst having a journalist as an investigator of crimes, outside the law, isn't that big a stretch of the imagination, there is sometimes a tendency to just make out that the official police investigators have "missed" vital clues. Again, not a big stretch of the imagination to think that maybe it could happen... but every time a journalist is involved?
Blast, I think I'm in nitpicking territory. Which isn't a good thing. The biggest problem I've now got is that I'm not keen on the idea of just abandoning a series based on problems with one or two books - working on the principle that a book should stand alone, as well as be part of the series. 3 books out of 5 translated that have left me feeling a bit disappointed might mean that I have to shuffle the other couple down the priority pile a bit.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
October 18, 2010
Annika Bengtzon, a journalist at a national paper is scheduled to meet with Benny Ekland (also a journalist) on a story she is researching. She arrives to find that Benny is dead and the circumstances surrounding his death including the murder of a witness to his demise, make Annika suspect this case is more complex than first thought. As she begins investigating the first two murders, she comes across more murders and it appears there is a serial killer on the lose. But there is something odd about this serial killer's victims, they seemingly have nothing in common. When Annika takes her findings and speculations to her boss, he humiliates her and orders her off the case believing that her recent kidnapping by a local terrorist has warped her reasoning. But Annika refuses to let her investigation drop and doggedly goes searching for more information and how it relates to an incident that occurred in the sixties.
I was excited to read this book as it seemed like it would be an entertaining mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like the story got bogged down by too many details and was very slow moving. I found myself lost in descriptions that never really lead to anything of great importance. Annika's musings, her friend Anne's domestic drama, Annika's husband's infidelity etc, just did not add enough to the story to justify their presence. I did find Annika's children to be a welcome and innocent addition that helped lighten a heavy story and character. Through her children, Annika's softer and more sympathetic side come to the surface and make her easier to relate to. When we finally discover who the killer is and his motives, I have to be honest, I just did not care enough. The villain lacked the evil that I would have expected from one who had committed such heinous crimes.
I realized as I began to read the book that it is part of an ongoing series so some of the disconnect that I felt as I read the book may be as a result of this, I can't say for sure. There was something missing from this story and I ended up liking it less than I wanted to.
**Review copy received from Simon and Schuster.
I was excited to read this book as it seemed like it would be an entertaining mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like the story got bogged down by too many details and was very slow moving. I found myself lost in descriptions that never really lead to anything of great importance. Annika's musings, her friend Anne's domestic drama, Annika's husband's infidelity etc, just did not add enough to the story to justify their presence. I did find Annika's children to be a welcome and innocent addition that helped lighten a heavy story and character. Through her children, Annika's softer and more sympathetic side come to the surface and make her easier to relate to. When we finally discover who the killer is and his motives, I have to be honest, I just did not care enough. The villain lacked the evil that I would have expected from one who had committed such heinous crimes.
I realized as I began to read the book that it is part of an ongoing series so some of the disconnect that I felt as I read the book may be as a result of this, I can't say for sure. There was something missing from this story and I ended up liking it less than I wanted to.
**Review copy received from Simon and Schuster.
Read
February 27, 2011Red Wolf, by Liza Marklund, a-minus, Narrated by Jill Tanner, produced by Harper Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
Annika Bengtzon is a crime reporter for a major paper in Stockholm. She decides to investigate a murder of a journalist. She comes to believe that this crime connects to one that occurred 30 years ago, when a plane was blown up on a Swedish air base and someone was killed in the explosion, and the group responsible for the explosion were never caught. The police had a suspect, the leader of a small splinter Communist group, but he fled Sweden and hadn’t been seen in 30 years. But now with this latest murder, there appeared to be some new evidence about the previous hcrime. Annika determined to meet with a journalist in Northern Sweden who had come up with additional information and had published at least one article. She made an appointment to meet this journalist, but when she arrived she found the journalist had been killed, run over by a car. At first the police thought it an accident, but then Annika turned up a witness, a small boy who saw the whole accident. She convinced him to tell his mother and then the police, and then the child was murdered. A couple more murders take place. Then, inexplicably, Annika is told not to investigate the terrorist plot further. Of course she takes her own sick and vacation time and goes ahead. While finding answers to this mystery, she also learns that her husband is having an affair. This is one woman you don’t want to cross. She finds ways to “deal” with her husband’s girl friend as well. An excellent book with an intriguing character. I hope more of Marklund’s books are recorded in English.
Annika Bengtzon is a crime reporter for a major paper in Stockholm. She decides to investigate a murder of a journalist. She comes to believe that this crime connects to one that occurred 30 years ago, when a plane was blown up on a Swedish air base and someone was killed in the explosion, and the group responsible for the explosion were never caught. The police had a suspect, the leader of a small splinter Communist group, but he fled Sweden and hadn’t been seen in 30 years. But now with this latest murder, there appeared to be some new evidence about the previous hcrime. Annika determined to meet with a journalist in Northern Sweden who had come up with additional information and had published at least one article. She made an appointment to meet this journalist, but when she arrived she found the journalist had been killed, run over by a car. At first the police thought it an accident, but then Annika turned up a witness, a small boy who saw the whole accident. She convinced him to tell his mother and then the police, and then the child was murdered. A couple more murders take place. Then, inexplicably, Annika is told not to investigate the terrorist plot further. Of course she takes her own sick and vacation time and goes ahead. While finding answers to this mystery, she also learns that her husband is having an affair. This is one woman you don’t want to cross. She finds ways to “deal” with her husband’s girl friend as well. An excellent book with an intriguing character. I hope more of Marklund’s books are recorded in English.
October 26, 2013
One of these days, I'm going to learn to start reading a new-to-me author's books with his/her first. I think it would have been easier to follow had I known more of the backstory contained in Marklund's previous novels. However, this is till a terrific book - exceptionally well written. It's rather dark, sort of a mix of psychological thriller and psychological study. Annika Bengtzon, a journalist who recently suffered at the hands of terrorists herself, has made it her mission to study and report on terrorism for her newspaper. She's quickly swept up in a multi-layered mystery, with murder and intrigue around every corner. She seems to be suffering from post-traumatic stress, and her auditory hallucinations haunt her as well as readers. It's not a "fun" book to read. The dreariness of the Swedish landscape in mid-winter, the complexities of the 60's communist radical group, and the politics of power in journalism cast intended shadows over the storyline. If you liked the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you'll probably like this book.
June 5, 2012
Not nearly as good as Last Will, but a thoroughly developed mystery involving Annika Bengtzon solving the attack on a Swedish plane F21 that has never been solved. She arranged a meeting with a journalist up in the northern Swedish town of Lulea about an old case of terrorism – a terrorist attack on a military airport named F21 by a group that called themselves The Beasts. However, when she arrives in Lulea to meet him, she is told that the journalist has been killed in a hit and run accident. It doesn’t take Annika long to find out that he has been brutally murdered. More people are murdered and she realizes a mass-murderer is on the loose in Sweden.
Liza's novels are multilayered with equal emphasis given to Annika's work investigating crime and her family life and friendship with Anne. Good stuff.
Liza's novels are multilayered with equal emphasis given to Annika's work investigating crime and her family life and friendship with Anne. Good stuff.
July 16, 2014
There was a time when my reading was stalled and I was wondering if I should go on. I'm so glad that I did!
The book is long with a slow start. Thankfully It picked up the pace after 100 pages or so and then it really engaged my interest as I continued the story. It's fascinating to read about the rebels in the 1960s - I had little idea how China's Revolution and Mao had such far-reaching impact in a country as different as it could be, in this case, Sweden.
I have read her first book in the series and missed a few in between. It looks likely that I'll go back and catch up with one or two.
The book is long with a slow start. Thankfully It picked up the pace after 100 pages or so and then it really engaged my interest as I continued the story. It's fascinating to read about the rebels in the 1960s - I had little idea how China's Revolution and Mao had such far-reaching impact in a country as different as it could be, in this case, Sweden.
I have read her first book in the series and missed a few in between. It looks likely that I'll go back and catch up with one or two.
May 30, 2013
Quando tive conhecimento que ia surgir no mercado português mais um livro de Liza Marklund fiquei felicíssima. Isto porque há uns anos li o primeiro livro da série Annika Bengtzon, publicado pela Presença, e lembro-me de ter gostado muito. Em Homicídio no Parque Annika ainda era uma jovem estagiária num dos principais jornais de Estocolmo quando se viu envolvida na investigação do assassinato de uma jovem stripper.
Opinião completa: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...
Opinião completa: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...
June 15, 2011
Reminded me of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, of course. There were definitely times when I could tell that this was part of a series, but overall I didn't feel like I was missing too much. One day I might go back and look for the previous books. Like The Girl... this story took a while to get going but once it did, things moved along pretty rapidly and the story was well told.
August 2, 2017
Some very chilling moments interspersed with some non essential information. I enjoyed the description of the Northern Winter and the very cold, desolate setting. Would make a good movie if they haven't done so already.
April 6, 2021
לכבוד הוצאת אריה ניר
הנדון: המלצות עריכה, גרפיקה ועוד, לאחר קריאת הספר "הזאב האדום"
א.ג.נ.
השבת סיימתי את קריאת הספר "הזאב האדום". לקראת הוצאת הספרים הבאים של גב' מרקלונד, יש כמה דברים שאשמח אם תקחו לתשומת לבכם:
1. הספר מודפס בצורה צפופה מאוד. שוליים חיצוניים רחבים יותר יועילו לעין. וגם פנימיים. וגם בעליונים/תחתונים יש מקום לשיפור.
2. אם כבר הוזכרו השוליים העליונים - אפשר להקטין בבקשה את גודל הגופן שבו ממוספרים העמודים? תודה. אישית הייתי מעבירה את המספרים לתחתית העמוד, אבל זה כבר עניין של טעם אישי. בכל מקרה, אם חייבים למספר את העמודים למעלה, עדיף שהמספרים לא יהיו בגודל של כותרת.
3. ואם כבר כותרות- אז אפשר היה לוותר על המסגרת האפורה לכותרות הפרקים. עיצוב מיותר.
4. הגהה טובה יותר תעזור גם היא.
5. יש המון המון הערות והארות על שוודיה במהלך הספר, ותודה למתרגמת שלכם שאספה אותן בחריצות כזאת. לפעמים הבאות כדאי לשקול ריכוז כל ההערות בנספח בסוף הספר. אמנם יש כאן שיקולי נוחות, ויהיה מי שיאמר שדפדוף הלוך ושוב אינו נוח כל כך, אבל איסוף ההערות יחד היה מועיל יותר ויוצר תמונה שלמה יותר ולכן טוב יותר לקורא.
עד כאן לפרטים החיצוניים. בנוגע לפרטים מהותיים יותר, הרי שהבחירה שלכם לקחת סדרת ספרים ולתרגם אותה שלא על פי סדר הכתיבה היא תמוהה ביותר, בעיקר כאשר הספר שנבחר לתרגום מתוך הסדרה מאזכר שוב ושוב ספר קודם (או ספרים קודמים, לא הצלחתי להבין עד הסוף). וזה לא שהחלטתם לתרגם להיט רב מכר שכל העולם משתגע עליו ברגע זה. אם הוצאתם ב-2011 ספר שיצא בשפת המקור ב-2003, הייתם כבר יכולים ללכת עוד קצת אחורה בתרגום. בכל מקרה, בהנחה שזה לא הספר היחיד שתתרגמו, היה כדאי לשבץ על הכריכה הסבר בדבר מיקום הספר בסדרה, לטובת הקוראים העתידיים.
עם זאת, אחרי שהתגברתי על מחסום ההבנה הבולט הזה (מה קרה במנהרה? למה אניקה בטראומה? מה פגע בה? מי? ומדוע היא לא הלכה לטיפול פסיכולוגי?), ולאחר שההערות המתרגמת הרבות סייעו לי להבין מי נגד מי ולמה בשוודיה, הצלחתי להנות מהספר. היה נחמד להכיר את אניקה העיתונאית הסקרנית, להזדהות עם הבעיות שלה בניהול קריירה, ילדים, בעל, וחמות, ולהבין שלפחות בנקודה הזאת סדנה דארעא חד הוא. מותחן גיאוגרפי, קראו לו באחת הביקורות, וזה מונח לא רע. אולי מרקלונד ייסדה סוגה חדשה. בחום האוגוסטי של עמק החולה הישראלי, היציאה צפונה מרעננת. ההבנה שיש אפילו צפון יותר מצפון, ומיקום העלילה במקום שהוא קר אפילו לשוודים מסייע להתקרר בלהט העונתי שלנו. עם זאת, אני חייבת לומר שהרעים בספר יצאו די בלאי. הייתי אומרת שיש להם מה ללמוד מהחמאס שלנו, אבל היות ושוודיה ממילא בדרך להפוך למדינה מוסלמית, אני מניחה שהטרור האיסלאמי ממילא בוא יבוא אליה. יהיה מעניין לקרוא איך אניקה תתמודד מולם, במקום מול תא מחתרתי רדום משנות השישים שקורא לחבריו בשמות קוד של חיות, ושולח לקרבנות ציטוטים של מאו.
בכל מקרה, היה נעים וטוב, אם כי לא מבריק. אשמח לקרוא מספריה של מרקלונד אם וכאשר יתורגמו, ועדיף בסדר הכרונולוגי הנכון.
בברכה, אני.
May 14, 2024
It was a good read, especially the descriptions of the cold.
July 19, 2020
Je tiens à remercier les éditions HLAB et le site Netgalley qui permettent de lire la série entière.
L'histoire se déroule lors d'un hiver glacé où dans la ville de Lulea une reporter est assassinée. La journaliste Annika à la Presse du soir, c'est lié à l'attaque d'une base aérienne dans les années soixante. Annika va à tout prix tenter de résoudre dette enquête. Sauf que d'autres meurtres ont lieux, tous plus surprenant que les autres. Elle va devoir faire confiance qu'à elle même dans cette enquête.
Encore une enquête d'Annika dévorée, J'ai adoré l'histoire si captivante, addictive, remplie de suspens et de rebondissements avec toujours des personnages attachants.
L'histoire se déroule lors d'un hiver glacé où dans la ville de Lulea une reporter est assassinée. La journaliste Annika à la Presse du soir, c'est lié à l'attaque d'une base aérienne dans les années soixante. Annika va à tout prix tenter de résoudre dette enquête. Sauf que d'autres meurtres ont lieux, tous plus surprenant que les autres. Elle va devoir faire confiance qu'à elle même dans cette enquête.
Encore une enquête d'Annika dévorée, J'ai adoré l'histoire si captivante, addictive, remplie de suspens et de rebondissements avec toujours des personnages attachants.
February 14, 2011
Cover: Scary cool!
First Sentence: He had never been able to stand the sight of blood.
Annika Bengtzon is a reporter and mother of 2 who is writing a series of stories on domestic terrorism. On the hunt for an inside scoop on the F21 terrorist attack, she travels to Lulea to meet with Benny Ekland, a fellow reporter. By the time she gets there, Ekland has been struck and killed by a hit-and-run automobile, and the teenager who saw the attack is afraid to go to the police with the information. Annika suspects that he knows who the attacker was, but he never tells her so.
Soon Annika is on the trail of a man nicknamed Ragnwald (Geran Nilsson), a suspect in the F21 attacks who left Sweden years ago and is purported to be an assassin-at-large. As more people are murdered, Annika uncovers secrets that appear to involve the highest levels of government, and makes herself a target as well.
This is the fifth in a series, and I think I would have done better with it if I had read the first. In that book, it appears that Annika was taken hostage by a serial killer known as the Bomber, and she still suffers some sort of anxiety and/or panic attacks as a result. Because this is a translation from the Swedish, it might have helped me as an American reader to have more nuances available in the translation, as I often felt disconnected from the action and dialogue - for me, there were many incongruous statements with no filler. The politics of Sweden and it's history didn't transfer well for someone not familiar with it.
Otherwise, the writing was good and there were some twists that I didn't see coming. With the dual storylines (Annika's hunt for the terrorist as well as her suspicions of infidelity on the part of her husband), the reader not only becomes involved in the mystery, but in a familial relationship as well.
I was not bowled over by this book. I can attribute much of it to unfamiliarity with the country and it's politics and the nuances of the Swedish language and culture; however, I found myself more attracted to finding out what was going to happen in Annika's relationship with her husband and her friend Anne's relationship with her daughter's father than to the actual mystery that was supposed to be the main theme of the book. I also couldn't figure out what the heck Anne was doing, and it didn't get explained until almost the end of the book.
QUOTES
Maybe she knows I'm coming, he thought. Maybe she's trying to fool me into thinking she doesn't know, even though she knows everything. Maybe she'll pretend to be asleep when I go in and then kill me in my sleep.
Sven Mattsson who loved her more than anything else in the world, Sven who worshiped her so much that no one else could get close to her but him, couldn't even talk to her, and she wasn't allowed to think about anyone else but him, actually, nothing else but him. Anything else would be punished, and he punished her, he punished her and punished her until the day he stood before her by the furnace in the Halleforsnas works with the hunting knife in his hand.
"There'll never be any revolution. Humanity has bartered it for Coca-Cola and cable television."
First Sentence: He had never been able to stand the sight of blood.
Annika Bengtzon is a reporter and mother of 2 who is writing a series of stories on domestic terrorism. On the hunt for an inside scoop on the F21 terrorist attack, she travels to Lulea to meet with Benny Ekland, a fellow reporter. By the time she gets there, Ekland has been struck and killed by a hit-and-run automobile, and the teenager who saw the attack is afraid to go to the police with the information. Annika suspects that he knows who the attacker was, but he never tells her so.
Soon Annika is on the trail of a man nicknamed Ragnwald (Geran Nilsson), a suspect in the F21 attacks who left Sweden years ago and is purported to be an assassin-at-large. As more people are murdered, Annika uncovers secrets that appear to involve the highest levels of government, and makes herself a target as well.
This is the fifth in a series, and I think I would have done better with it if I had read the first. In that book, it appears that Annika was taken hostage by a serial killer known as the Bomber, and she still suffers some sort of anxiety and/or panic attacks as a result. Because this is a translation from the Swedish, it might have helped me as an American reader to have more nuances available in the translation, as I often felt disconnected from the action and dialogue - for me, there were many incongruous statements with no filler. The politics of Sweden and it's history didn't transfer well for someone not familiar with it.
Otherwise, the writing was good and there were some twists that I didn't see coming. With the dual storylines (Annika's hunt for the terrorist as well as her suspicions of infidelity on the part of her husband), the reader not only becomes involved in the mystery, but in a familial relationship as well.
I was not bowled over by this book. I can attribute much of it to unfamiliarity with the country and it's politics and the nuances of the Swedish language and culture; however, I found myself more attracted to finding out what was going to happen in Annika's relationship with her husband and her friend Anne's relationship with her daughter's father than to the actual mystery that was supposed to be the main theme of the book. I also couldn't figure out what the heck Anne was doing, and it didn't get explained until almost the end of the book.
QUOTES
Maybe she knows I'm coming, he thought. Maybe she's trying to fool me into thinking she doesn't know, even though she knows everything. Maybe she'll pretend to be asleep when I go in and then kill me in my sleep.
Sven Mattsson who loved her more than anything else in the world, Sven who worshiped her so much that no one else could get close to her but him, couldn't even talk to her, and she wasn't allowed to think about anyone else but him, actually, nothing else but him. Anything else would be punished, and he punished her, he punished her and punished her until the day he stood before her by the furnace in the Halleforsnas works with the hunting knife in his hand.
"There'll never be any revolution. Humanity has bartered it for Coca-Cola and cable television."
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