Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Spoilers welcome on this thread for group read The Tenant.
Please note how far into the book if posting mid-book updates and let us know what you thought.

Mild Spoilers to chapters 1-9

The book starts off with an intriguing, but very brutal murder, introductions to neighbors and the police detectives assigned the case, and with a few flashbacks offering snippets of prior events. The victim is a mystery.
I'm never sure with translated novels if the dialogue quirks are a result of different languages or if the style is as originally intended. Some of the colorful descriptions tend to more telling than showing.
I am eager to learn more.

Wonder what you thought of the end of Ch 3, Ann? Is that a passage from Esther's manuscript? But before it the last image is that of Kristoffer... A very sinister passage but intriguing as to its origins. It's rather generically written. Wonder if the book will play with real brutal crimes and fictional accounts. I know it's all fiction but I'm interested in this seeming contrast. On with ch4:)

Just finished ch.9. I'm intrigued to see how these book excerpts develop later. Enjoying the book. What do you make of Esther and that subtle reveal?

Anne: Initially I thought the (yes, intriguing) excerpt was a flashback. The idea of the excerpts being passages from Esther's manuscript is certainly reasonable; it was alluded to with some significance. Kristoffer seems off (and for more than his autism )

Anne wrote: "Wonder what you thought of the end of Ch 3, Ann? Is that a passage from Esther's manuscript? But before it the last image is that of Kristoffer... A very sinister passage but intriguing as to its o..."

Spoilers through chapter 23 and Friday August 10 which is 56% in and seems a good break to comment.

The police partners squabble like children and Jeppe, having taken leave for personal reasons, and back at work with this his first case post recent divorce, seems to be having another breakdown.
I’ve cut this character some slack but he’s veering into territory that has had me metaphorically tossing a book across the room in the past. I have also Kindle highlighted passages of the various moments where the author’s descriptions jar me out of the story. Again, I wonder if this is due to the translation. More about that later.

So far Esther de Laurenti is the only character I find sympathy for or relate to. (Rather unusual for a police procedural, and not boding well for the series) but there are several more days of this investigation based on the handy dated chapter sections, so I will see if they redeem themselves. They did have a break through when their suspect Kristoffer was murdered and evidence obviously planted led to a suspect yet unknown toying with the police.
This seemed to take longer for the realization to set in due to the in-fighting among the investigative team. (*Not my favorite kind of police procedural)

just about to start Friday, August 10. I was rather fascinated by Kristoffer but then he was murdered in such a theatrical manner. I'm wondering how the murders are connected, I'm sure they are. Something from Esther's past? Used to think she was the guilty one and I might not even dismiss that yet. involved in someway? Like yourself Ann, I'm not sure about the team at the minute. I would like there to be more depth to them in the book rather than steam rolling ahead with the narrative. It's certainly quick in its development. Would be happy for more suspense too, even for surprises to be hard-hitting. I'm not really feeling anything for the characters yet. I usually get attached to characters in a book but not so far with this one. What do you think about the characters, Ann?

Just finished the audio version yesterday and here are my thoughts (spoilers to the end of the book):

I agree with Ann that the translation may be why the narrative was a bit clunky.

Do they actually play baseball in Denmark and, even if they do, if someone described a co-worker as an outfielder would you know what they were talking about?

I found all the police characters a bit thin especially Anette who was supposedly a lead character.

Jeppe was a bit more fleshed out but if his backstory was supposed to make him sympathetic it did not work for me. I thought his actions were pretty off-putting throughout especially his preoccupation with hooking up with the witness.

The entire police team did not really seem to uncover much and were reactive throughout the story.

At least there was a motive for the murders though I could not believe that David Bovin was convinced that Esther was his mother since the timing was so off. I also guessed that Bovin was killer during the scene with Sara while she was making her health drink. I also did not buy that Julie would fall so heavily for Bovin since he did not seem to have much of a personality.

I also did not feel that Kingo would so willingly give himself up which helped tie everything up quickly in the end.

Overall this was just an OK listen for me but the narration by Graeme Malcolm was fine so I had no trouble finishing the book.

Sandi: all good thoughts, and I agree with you completely. I thought a couple of times while reading the (free Kindle Unlimited) ebook that an audio listen would have sped me right past some of the clunkier spots. Good to know the narration was ok, glad I didn't bother with an audible credit for it. I can't say I would recommend my library add the audio.
It did make me curious about how this translation came about. I wondered while reading if they simply did literal translations of the words in the sentences and then put them together without any sense of the plot or meaning.
More Spoilers to the end <><><><>
The detectives did little to no detecting to the end; I didn't go back and add any comments from the mid-point, but that is a summary I was left with -- and 'reactive' is a good description for their investigation. I am not interested in any more cases with this team.

The likelihood that Esther was David's mother was quite preposterous and didn't hold much water as an explanation making the motive very weak. Yes, off-putting is a good description of Jeppe's hooking up with the witness and it was completely unnecessary in my opinion, I think that really colored my opinion in a bad light.

Sandi wrote: "Just finished the audio version yesterday and here are my thoughts (spoilers to the end of the book):

I agree with Ann that the translation may be why the narrative was a bit clunky."

Ann wrote: "The detectives did little to no detecting to the end; I didn't go back and add any comments from the mid-point, but that is a summary I was left with -- and 'reactive' is a good description for their investigation. I am not interested in any more cases with this team.."

I very much doubt that I will read any further in the series too. I am much more character oriented than plot but, if a plot is really engaging I can overlook thin characterizations. This book just was lacking in both.

Sandi, one small silver lining, I can list The Tenant as one of my determination books. ;) (set in another country!)

I just finished, and was aware while reading that two of you were lukewarm about the book. I actually liked it enough despite its flaws--not that I'll be reading more, I didn't realize it was a series and was content to let that be the end of it.
I found the team to be frustrating and acting at odds throughout. Jeppe was out of sorts and didn't like anyone except for maybe Sara (a future love interest for Jeppe? I don't know the age difference but he seemed to soften when she was around). The way Annette got on his nerves perplexed me, and he initially seemed to be a tentative leader. He grew into his role later, though.
I was really sad when Kristoffer bit the dust. His friendship with Eleanor was really sweet--I found myself wishing I had a friend like that. (Especially one who cooked, planned and helped with entertaining!)
I didn't take to Esther initially--I found her a bit odd with her alcohol problem (reminded me of Una in The Girl Who Died) and her reaction once she figured out the killer was enacting her murder mystery plot. Did we ever figure out how he got access to their private shared folder? And great idea, let's engage the psychopath in a discussion about his crimes!
I agree about Bovin actually thinking Esther was his mom. He must have been completely deranged (well he was I suppose).
Jeppe's obsession with Anna(?) did seem a bit contrived. What happily married woman invites strange and depressed men into their home when the hubby is away? I didn't at all see what she saw in him. That interlude ended the way it should have.
I found the whole connection between the murderer, the manipulator, the tenant and the tenant's father a bit far-fetched, but it did offer a reason for the killings, as over-the-top as it was.
I bet having it narrated added some interest. This was one of my few print reads because a paperback was the only thing I could get from the library. After all that, though, I wound up liking it. Love those books set in Copenhagen! It would be my foreign country book if I hadn't already finished The Girl Who Died which took place in an equally appealing Iceland

Carol: I'm glad we didn't steer you away from the book. I was not unhappy I read it, in hindsight, if the characters could have been a bit more likeable on the police force, I would have probably enjoyed it more.
I was sad to lose Kristoffer too, for me and Esther - she was still the most likeable character to me.
Great comments!

"I was really sad when Kristoffer bit the dust. His friendship with Eleanor was really sweet--I found myself wishing I had a friend like that. (Especially one who cooked, planned and helped with entertaining!)"
"And great idea, let's engage the psychopath in a discussion about his crimes!"
"He must have been completely deranged (well he was I suppose)."

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I just finished, and was aware while reading that two of you were lukewarm about the book. I actually liked it enough despite its flaws--not that I'll be reading more, I didn't realize it was a series..."