police procedural

The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason – Book Review

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The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason – Book Cover

After wrapping up the internationally acclaimed Erlendur series, Arnaldur Indridason launched a new crime series starring a fresh protagonist. Enter Konrád, a retired detective who first appears in The Darkness Knows—just as determined and conscientious as his famously grumpy predecessor.

Wake up! There’s a case to solve!

Inspector Erlendur might just be one of the most unconventional leading men in the history of crime fiction. A miserably moody, monosyllabic, and pathologically aloof Icelandic cop, he’s such a crashing bore that readers of his cases might find themselves turning steadily grayer and more featureless with each page—possibly even slipping into a light coma…

Well, Konrád from The Darkness Knows is only about a gram more exciting than him. I don’t know if most Icelanders are like this, or just the ones in Arnaldur Indridason’s social circle, but honestly—if Inspector Konrád ever invited you over, within twenty minutes you’d find yourself thinking that even methodically slitting your own wrists might be a more engaging way to pass the time than trying to hold a conversation with him…

The Erlendur series has 11 volumes. Nine of them have been published in Hungarian. Strangely enough, I’ve read them all. And no, no one held a gun to my head.

The reason, of course, is that Indridason more than makes up for his utterly unbearable protagonist with the actual investigative process. Just like he does with his new lead character…

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Ordeal by Jørn Lier Horst – Book Review

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Everyone has pretty much given up on the missing taxi driver by now—everyone except the media, who are busy accusing the police of negligence. (Hyenas.) But the safe belonging to a recently deceased old gangster boss—who “passed away peacefully” by tumbling down the stairs—suddenly brings new information to light. And what’s more, it ties the disappearance to a high-profile murder case. The ordeal of uncovering the truth falls to Inspector William Wisting.

So who is this William Wisting guy, anyway?

He’s hands down the most likable detective in all of Norway.

If you hate the cops (and honestly, who doesn’t?!), but you’re thinking it might be time to change that, Jørn Lier Horst’s crime novels could be a good place to start.

Wisting is the textbook example of a dedicated and conscientious police officer. He’s also a devoted dad.

And if his professional track record somehow doesn’t win you over, you can always root for him to hit it off with the charming prosecutor—or maybe patch things up with his ex, who recently dumped him for NO REASON. (Fingers crossed it wasn’t because she found the poor guy boring!) … Either way, there’s something quietly compelling about the way Horst gently nudges these two love-starved characters toward each other.

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In the Darkness by Mike Omer – Book Review

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In the Darkness by Mike Omer – Book Cover

Being a serial killer isn’t easy. Take, for example, the one who buries their victims alive—an exhausting amount of digging is involved. And in the scorching heat of San Angelo, Texas, no less. Not to mention the hassle of dealing with that sticky clay soil. But don’t think I’m trying to drum up sympathy here—anyone who does this sort of thing is a total scumbag and deserves to suffer for it. Still, what about the victim (in this case, as is often the norm, a pretty young woman) who suddenly finds herself buried in the darkness? …

… Zoe Bentley and her partner, Tatum Gray, once again delve deep into the twisted mind of a serial killer in this second installment of the series.

Something’s Missing in In the Darkness

What’s most lacking is a distinctive voice—something truly original that would set Mike Omer’s writing apart from the dozens of other thrillers featuring serial killers.

In many ways, In the Darkness is an average piece of work. The characters aren’t particularly compelling, the plot lacks genuinely exciting twists or scenes, and the writing as a whole feels rather bland.

The acknowledgments at the end of the book give a telling glimpse into just how many collaborators it took to piece together something coherent. It gives the impression that Mike Omer might not be capable of putting a finished product on the table by himself. And maybe that’s the case.

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No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen – Book Review

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No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen – Book Cover

Ellery Hathaway, a police officer, shot a ruthless criminal under controversial circumstances, which got her put on mandatory leave. Now, the protagonist of No Mercy is being required by her psychiatrist to join a group therapy program designed for victims of violent crimes. Ellery, who survived being abducted by a serial killer in her youth, still can’t seem to escape her past.

But once a cop, always a cop. Group therapy is an ideal place to stumble upon numerous unsolved or puzzling cases. A particularly brutal rapist? Smoldering tensions in an old arson case? Ellery dives into the investigation, sparing no one – least of all herself.

A Distinctive Detective

Joanna Schaffhausen begins No Mercy in a way that’s almost misleading. Recently, there’s been a trend of books featuring slightly sociopathic anti-heroines, who takes down her own family or colleagues in a lighthearted way, or gets mistaken for a dangerous assassin. Well, the opening line of No Mercy seems to channel this same genre.

But it only takes a few pages to realize you’re mistaken. Schaffhausen quickly builds a heavy atmosphere, and before you know it, you’re drawn in by Ellery Hathaway, a character who carries both physical and emotional scars – and your sympathy along with them.

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You Will Never Be Found by Tove Alsterdal – Book Review

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You Will Never Be Found by Tove Alsterdal – Book Cover

There are two main types of Scandinavian crime novels. First, there are the ones that try to bring joy to the reader through a protagonist who carries the weight of the world on their shoulders, endlessly depressed (see: Reykjavík Nights). Then, there are those that stand out with some extra twist, like the Harry Hole novels, where the added flavor comes from the brilliance (and alcoholism) of a detective specialized in serial killers (see: Killing Moon). Tove Alsterdal takes a different path. Her book You Will Never Be Found focuses primarily on authenticity.

Eira Sjödin Returns to Investigate

Alsterdal’s series debut, We Know You Remember, won the prestigious Glass Key Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. So, it’s no surprise that the Swedish author’s protagonist, patrol officer Eira Sjödin, is once again given the chance to prove her skills with a new case.

What starts off as the disappearance of an unemployed actor soon reveals itself to be much more serious. Eira, who has been involved in the investigation from the very start, gets the opportunity to participate in the homicide investigation as well.

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The Last Move by Mary Burton – Book Review

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The Last Move by Mary Burton – Book Cover

Mary Burton is the author of dozens of romance novels. This fact alone might scare off many crime readers from picking up The Last Move. However, if you enjoy living dangerously, go ahead and give it a try.

The Last Move: A Decent Serial Killer Thriller

If you’ve already read a thousand crime novels where some vicious madmen is murdering innocent American citizens, it might be hard to surprise you. Mary Burton doesn’t really manage to do so either. But that’s not necessarily a problem, as it doesn’t seem to be her goal.

There’s a minor hiccup, though: theoretically, the Samaritan is already behind bars, but we’ve seen enough copycats, mentees trained by serial killers, or wrongly convicted criminals. It’s up to Dr. Hayden and Mazur to figure out which category the Samaritan falls into.

Minimal Romance Factor

Naturally, the protagonists have to work together. And here Burton surprises us: neither of them is unbearable, they don’t hate each other, and they don’t immediately want to rip each other’s clothes off. Instead, they work together excellently. Both are smart and dedicated, so it’s no wonder they develop a mutual attraction, right?

No.

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The Late Show by Michael Connelly – Book Review

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The Late Show by Michael Connelly – Book Cover

Reneé Ballard – The Appointed Successor of Harry Bosch

Good old Harry Bosch, our favorite detective (see The Concrete Blonde), and arguably the lead of the best crime series I’ve ever read, has retired. He’s gotten old, poor guy. Reneé Ballard, the protagonist of The Late Show, seems to be Connelly’s chosen successor for the Hollywood Division.

A quick Google search reveals that in the next Ballard story, the two crimefighters will team up. I don’t know, maybe Bosch, who has always had a soft spot for women, takes Ballard under his wing, or something like that—after all, he’s well into grandpa age now. But let’s leave that as a surprise. (Ah, I’m sure he’ll charm her.)

But fortunately, we won’t be left feeling Bosch’s absence for too long, because Ballard’s approach, dedication, and outsider status remind us a lot of Bosch. Plus, Ballard is pretty sexy too. (Sure, Bosch is sexy too, but just a bit less so.)

We overlook Ballard’s flaws just as we did Bosch’s, or rather, we overlook the author’s obsession with the same basic setup that he couldn’t quite let go of in The Late Show either: the lone wolf who follows their own path, constantly clashing with at least five superiors, with both sides making life difficult for each other at every opportunity.

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The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly – Book Review

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The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly book review

Detective Harry Bosch seems to have accidentally shot the wrong serial killer four years ago, taking out the wrong guy instead of the evil Dollmaker. Now, the broken and grieving family of the accidentally shot serial killer is suing Harry, who was only acting with the best of intentions. And just to make things worse, another victim shows up: The Concrete Blonde. Talk about bad luck…

Twisting Police Investigation… and Courtroom Drama

From here on, Connelly’s novel takes two parallel paths: in one, the grieving family’s lawyer is squeezing Harry’s balls in the courtroom, and in the other, the police investigation into the new victim unfolds.

Michael Connelly, a master of the procedural crime novel (focused on the exact police procedures), is no stranger to thrilling twists, having been a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times for years. Both storylines are exciting and full of unexpected turns. For example, it wasn’t until page 209 that I figured out who the killer was, and Harry, a little behind, figured it out just a few pages later. Unfortunately, we were both wrong…

Harry Bosch is an experienced detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. Crime novel fans (and his furious superiors) know him not only for his peculiar methods but also for his relentless pursuit of justice. The Concrete Blonde adds an extra layer to the tension, as the morally steadfast detective begins to doubt himself. The realism (and, of course, the twists) of the courtroom events are guaranteed by Connelly’s other well-known and excellent series centered on Mickey Haller, who just so happens to be a defense attorney.

Draw the Killer in the Trap!

What slightly dampens the overall picture of The Concrete Blonde are the last 50 pages. (But of course, the ending is always the hardest part to nail in a crime novel.) The way Harry Bosch reaches the killer seems, for some reason, not to flow organically from the investigation.

On the other hand, luring the killer into a trap bears quite a resemblance to the TV show The Mentalist, which, let’s face it, is not exactly known for being the most elegant solution. But aside from that, the Harry Bosch series is still probably the best crime series you can read right now. (Especially after the Jack Reacher (see: Past Tense) and Harry Hole series (see: Knife), to put it mildly, have started to take a nosedive.)

If You Want to Read Great Crime Fiction…

In fact, not just recently but in general: for me, the American author has been an all-time favorite for over 15 years, ever since I accidentally picked up City of Bones. Connelly’s Bosch series truly belongs to that rare group of detective stories that are IMPOSSIBLE to put down.

And The Concrete Blonde even features a lovely romantic subplot carried over from the previous book.
(Harry Bosch seems to attract both complex murder cases and women with the same inevitability—as magnets attract paperclips.)

Rating: 8.5/10

The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch #3) by Michael Connelly
448 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2014 by Orion
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