Publisher: Transworld
SYNOPSIS:
Retired Chief of the National Crime Police and Swedish Security Service Lars Martin Johansson has just suffered a stroke. He is paying the price for a life of excess - stress, good food and fine wine. With his dangerously high blood pressure, his heart could fail at the slightest excitement.
In the hospital, a chance encounter with a neurologist provides an important piece of information about a 25-year-old murder investigation and alerts Lars Martin Johansson's irrepressible police instincts. The period for prosecution expired just weeks earlier and that isn't the only limitation. Lars Martin Johansson is determined to solve the atrocious crime – from his deathbed.
The inimitable style, distinct voice and dark humour of Leif GW Persson, along with the fascinating exploration of a long-cold murder case, serves to make The Dying Detective a true masterpiece of the genre.
REVIEW:
It probably comes to many readers as no surprise that I love to spend time in the Scandinavian Crime genre. There's soemthing so moreish about the landscape and the culture that populates it that really has you glued from start to Finnish (sorry for the pun. LOL)
Here Leif goes to prove why, if you love crime thrillers, you really need to delve into it and in particular, if this is your first outing, why you should make this book your starting point. As the title states its the story of Lars Martin Johansson, the dying detective, who in his final days seeks to resolve a case that has been ongoing for a quarter of a ventury. Its well written, the characters not only beleiveable but people you feel you could actually meet and when its all bound up with cracking dialogue as well as beautifully written prose, you know that you're on to a winner.
ITs a delightful dive into a dark world but for me, what makes this story more than compelling is the principle character coming to terms with what is to come, hoping to clear his mind and conscience of that one case that has been there since it originated before his death. ITs dark, brings the world into startling colour and whilst I can't vie for all the procedures within, feels like its correct with other titles I've read.
If you only read one Scandinavian crime, please meke sure that its this one. You won't be disappointed and I get the feeling that it will open up a whole new set of titles that will take you away as well as chilling your marrow.
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