Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I've just started "Jar City" by Arnaldur Indridason, which is a nice break from the Swedish crime bender I've been on. So far, I'm really enjoying it!

I'm not currently reading them, but I really recommend James Thompson, an American writer who now lives in Finland. Really suck-you-in, read-under-the-covers crime fiction set in Finland. He only has two -- Snow Angels and Lucifer's Tears -- but I can't wait for more! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Marie wrote: "I'm not currently reading them, but I really recommend James Thompson, an American writer who now lives in Finland. Really suck-you-in, read-under-the-covers crime fiction set in Finland. He only h..."

Ooh! Thanks for the tip, Marie! I've just started Arnaldur Indridason's Erlendur series and am completely and hopelessly hooked. It's such a joy to find a series you love and find there's 9 more books!

I love when I find a new series! Summer is the perfect time to read your way through them, too. I remember the summer I discovered Ellen Gilchrist... but that's another group.

I'm on the third book in the Erlendur series by Arnaldur Indridason, "Voices." Maybe it's the subject matter, or I'm reading far too late at night, but the premise of this book seems a little silly (choirboys, dead Santa in the basement) Regardless, I'm still really enjoying it.

I'm going on a work trip tomorrow, and am planning on packing some Jo Nesbo, Wallander #1 (!) and Ake Edwardson.

I enjoyed "Voices" but thought the same thing at first, kinda silly. The other interesting thing about it is that it was the only one I've read so far that wasn't a cold case type mystery. I didn't see the ending coming though. Nice twist!

Started my first Jo Nesbo book last night, I usually try to start a series in order if possible but since not all of his previous ones have been translated I went ahead and just started Nemesis.

Hi! Thanks Molly for inviting me! I am about to start Three Seconds by Roslund and Hellstrom and have Jar City waiting for me at the Library. I had no idea that Wallander was a book series. I should have guessed. I will be adding that to my queue next!

Dave wrote: "I enjoyed "Voices" but thought the same thing at first, kinda silly. The other interesting thing about it is that it was the only one I've read so far that wasn't a cold case type mystery. I didn'..."

I would really recommend you try and keep some kind of sequence with Nesbo. The Redbreast, Nemesis and Devils Star are The Oslo Trilogy...there is a key subplot that is introduced in the Redbreast and climaxes in the Devils Star.. Nesbo does fill you in each book, but I would definitely read the Redbreast before the Devils Star

Yeah, I figured that out after reading Nemesis. Went back and read Redbreast and then have since read Devils Star, Redeemer, and Snowman.

Just starting The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson.

Yesterday I finished reading "Between Summer's Longing and Winter's End" by Leif G.W. Persson. Despite the predominately poor reviews, I found this book extremely engaging and entertaining.

What I thought interesting is that while in most crime books you start with a murder and then work back towards figuring out the "who dunnit", in this book you also have an impending murder (based on the true and unsolved assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme)and a number of suspects to figure out who's "going to do it"
Perhaps a little over ambitious and at times overly technical to make for light summer reading, however I still thoroughly enjoyed it.


Today I'm back Mankell's Wallander series, book #4

Androcles wrote: "Which begs the question, how much does climate, location and environment influence what we read and the extent to which we enjoy a particular book in a particular setting? "

Coincidentally, I have been thinking about this lately, as the air conditioning in my house was kaput (it has since, mercifully, been fixed). My tactic was to read about cold settings in an attempt to forget about the 90F degree temperatures inside my house at 9pm at night. It didn't really work as I had hoped. That said, I'm reading "Death Angels" by Ake Edwardsson. It's... okay. Perhaps I'm not thoroughly enjoying it because the writing, or perhaps the characters were talking about bundling themselves up in the snow, while I cursed my (warm) existence.

Marie wrote: "I'm not currently reading them, but I really recommend James Thompson, an American writer who now lives in Finland. Really suck-you-in, read-under-the-covers crime fiction set in Finland. He only h..."

I really loved those too. I wondered how a native would perceive his interpretation of some of Finland's history and culture.

Molly wrote: "Androcles wrote: "Which begs the question, how much does climate, location and environment influence what we read and the extent to which we enjoy a particular book in a particular setting? "

Coin..."

I used to try that cold approach too. Then last summer when it was really hot I was reading Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris, which takes place in Saudi Arabia. The descriptions of the heat made me feel much cooler than reading a book about cold weather ever did. At one point a character has to go to a shoe store to replace the shoes she is wearing because they melted to the pavement. Cooled me right down reading that.

Ellen wrote: "I really loved those too. I wondered how a native would perceive his interpretation of some of Finland's history and culture."

I think he's married to a Finnish woman, so I'd be interested in hearing what she thinks!

Androcles wrote: "Hi Mary, I would be most interested to hear what your impressions on this book (The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson) are. I started reading it on my kindle whilst vacationing on the island of..."

I found that in the first few chapters so many characters with intersecting story lines were introduced that it was hard to keep track of everyone. I have about 100 pages left and definitely recommend you give it another try.

In addition to The Laughing Policeman I am also reading The Naming of the Bones by Louise Welsh. This is for my local book group. It is a Scottish mystery about an academic trying to resurrect the life and death of a forgotten poet. I am having a bit of a time going from Sweden to Scotland, although both seem to be wet most of the time. I am also reading the nonfiction book The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno. This man tried to downsize his life for a year to a hundred things - excluding things he shared with his family. Books counted as one thing - a library. He gave himself a bit of leeway.

I'm just starting The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler. It's actually written by a husband and wife so of course they are being compared to Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. I've read mixed reviews of this book but the premise sounds interesting so I'll give it a try.

I'm also reading (well listening to) The Stonecutter and am in the middle of a Norwegian book called Burned by Thomas Enger. Enjoying both, though it's unusual for me to have two Nordic books on the go at once.

Laura wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gallows Bird, by Camilla Lackberg. I've been ordering some series from a bookstore in London because they come out in England before the US. I have Jar City and The Hand T..."

Jar City is one of my favorites!

I second Jar City! In fact, I love Arnaldur Indridason to bits!

I am reading Voices right now!

I really liked Voices. It was kind of ridonk. I mean, the absurdity of it all made me laugh a lot. But it was still great.

I've just finished and was somewhat disappointed, but there was enough there to read the next one in the series

Currently finishing Nesbo's Oslo trilogy. Love it! Next on my lost is Indridason's Silence of the Grave.

Just finished Jar City..I am quite keen to get into as many new series as possible, so have been deliberately reading first installments of different crime writers that I might like ( while I wait for Nesbo's The Phantom to be translated!) I intend to read more Anne Holt, Indridason, possibly Roslund and Hellstorm and Alder Olsen

I am currently reading The Dogs of Riga,by Henning Mankiell. I'm really enjoying in so far. I feel it's a little more suspensful than Faceless Killers was.

I am currently reading The Killers Art by mari Jungstedt. It's the second of her books that I've read, the first was 'Unseen'. They feature Inspector Knutus and although not my favourite of the Scandanavian authors (that I have read so far), they move along nicely and keep me guessing.

I love Henning Mankell and also Anne Holt & Jo Nesbo

Christina wrote: "I am currently reading The Dogs of Riga,by Henning Mankiell. I'm really enjoying in so far. I feel it's a little more suspensful than Faceless Killers was."

I felt the same way and for me the series really took off starting with book four "The Man Who Smiled"

Just started

I am reading "The Troubled Man" by Mankell. I haven't read any of his before ( though I have seen all of the Swedish series...several times in fact). I have to say, I am finding it rather slow, though I like the character of Wallander . I like his melacholic musings and I would like to know how his story is concluded.

I'm currently reading Aldra fucka upp (Never fuck up) by Jens Lapidus. I'm totally in love with Snabba cash (Easy money) and I have to admit so far it's even better :-) Unfortunately I don't have time to read so I broke this down to 40 pages a day - it's my 'must-read' and I can't wait to finish that book.

Mary wrote: "I'm just starting The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler...I've read mixed reviews of this book but the premise sounds interesting so I'll give it a try

Did you finish it? What did you think? I've just started in on audio and am underwhelmed to say the least. Pondering making it a DNF at this point.

Bernadette wrote: "Mary wrote: "I'm just starting The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler...I've read mixed reviews of this book but the premise sounds interesting so I'll give it a try

Did you finish it? What did you think? I..."

It doesn't get much better. I finished it just to see if it would all make sense at the end but it didn't. Too many far fetched subplots and characters that weren't necessary.

Thanks Mary, I haven't made up my mind whether to finish or not still but it certainly doesn't seem to be going anywhere interesring. Shame that a book like this would get so much hype, there are many much better Nordic crime books available

Decided to start The Princess of Burundi instead of The Silence of the Grave (it will probably be next). Found a couple of Mankell's and an Indridisan in the used bookstore!

I've just started The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo - liking it so far.

Maggie wrote: "I've just started The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo - liking it so far."

I think this is one of his best Maggie - I would be interested to know how you rate this against his other Harry Hole stories..a very clever story

Although still very, very good, Redeemer is probably my least favourite in the series. I prefer Devil's Star and The Snowman.

I do rate the Devil Star Ian..I just read it before Nemesis and the Redbreast..so I was very confused at the start!

Reading "The Leopard" now, also excellent!

Dave wrote: "Reading "The Leopard" now, also excellent!"

Looking forward to reading that

Just about finished reading The Return of the Dancing Master and am about to start Bad Intentions by Karin Fossum.

I have all the Jo Nesbo books up to The Snowman. I'm reading The Redeemer first because I got a list online that said it was the first Harry Hole book. Is this right? What is the correct order - I have to do things in order! lol

Maggie wrote: "I have all the Jo Nesbo books up to The Snowman. I'm reading The Redeemer first because I got a list online that said it was the first Harry Hole book. Is this right? What is the correct order -..."

Of the translated books, the order is
The Redbreast, Nemesis and then the Devils Star. They are known as the Oslo trilogy and they do have a subplot which climaxes with the Devils Star. I would definitely read these three books in order. The Redeemer is the 4th in the series, followed by the Snowman and then the Leopard. I think these can be enjoyed whatever order you read them in..though you get a better understanding of Harry's development as a character if you read them in order. The very first Hole novels ( The Batman, The Cockroaches) aren't available in English yet...god knows why.

I've read that the first novel "The Batman" is being translated by Don Bartlett for a June 2012 release.

Also his new one "Phantom" is scheduled for english release Jan 2012 (also translated by Don Bartlett)

I've seen the interviews as well, definitely does appear that Harry is not long for the world.

It wouldn't surprise me if we get one more after "The Phantom" that would make ten total, which seems to be the magic number for Scandi-crime series.

Ruth wrote: "Great to hear more Don Bartlett translations are in the pipeline. Jo Nesbo is in conversation with John Connolly (not a Nordic crime fiction writer, but brilliant nonetheless) in Oslo tonight - sho..."

I was discussing this with Molly at some point, how interesting it is when you read enough to start having favorite translators. Don Bartlett is great!

Here's the books in order:

The Batman_____________
Cockroaches
The Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devils Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard
Phantom
Headhunter

Kenneth wrote: "Here's the books in order:

The Batman
Cockroaches
The Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devils Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard
Phantom
Headhunter"

I think Kenneth that "Headhunters" is a stand alone novel ie not part of the Hole series.