The Drowning

July 6, 2015
Läckberg’s uneven sixth novel set in the Swedish town of Fjällbacka (after 2014’s The Hidden Child) opens promisingly enough with the baffling disappearance of family man Magnus Kjellner, in circumstances suggesting payback for some horrific long-past crime. Writer Erica Falck subsequently discovers that one of Magnus’s best friends, Christian Thydell—an overnight sensation with a debut novel that Erica helped edit—has been receiving threatening letters. Even pregnant with twins, Erica naturally can’t resist trying to investigate. Tension quickly mounts with flashbacks to the increasingly toxic childhood of a mystery boy, a foster child placed with a couple who no longer want him after they have a daughter of their own. Despite the book’s many strengths, including a rich community of characters, dramatic scenes of violence, and a haunting tone, the psychologically fishy plot fails to convince. A stunning cliffhanger climax suggests that next time around might be better. Agent: Joakim Hansson, Nordin Literary Agency (Sweden).

September 1, 2015

The small town of Fjallbacka has been anything but quiet recently. Librarian Christian Thydell's first book has all the critics raving; his friend, Magnus Kjellner, vanished three months earlier; and now it's revealed that Christian has been receiving threatening letters. The police haven't been able to solve Magnus's disappearance, and Det. Patrik Hedstrom is beginning to lose hope. Meanwhile, Patrik's wife, crime writer Erica Falck, who had helped Christian with his writing, probes the letters further. Once Magnus's body is discovered, other pieces fall into place linking these two seemingly unrelated mysteries and endangering other members of the community. VERDICT Despite the intriguing story line and premise, the excessive details hinder the buildup of page-turning suspense. Fans of the series (The Lost Boy; Fallen Angels) will want to pick up this title, but readers expecting an exciting crime thriller should keep looking. [See Prepub Alert, 6/21/15.]--Portia Kapraun, Monticello-Union Twp. P.L., IN

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2015
The sixth American release in Lackberg's Erica Falck and Patrik Hedstrom series pits Swedish-crime-writer Falck and her police-detective husband, Patrik, against a killer seeking retribution for long-buried evil. Christian Thydell's first novel, The Mermaid, is poised for runaway success, especially after reports that he's been receiving death threats create a media storm. Christian refuses to acknowledge the danger, and his concerned friend Erica asks Patrik to look into the threats. Patrik is struck by the coincidence that Christian's closest friend, Magnus Kjellner, recently disappeared without a trace, and when Magnus' brutally attacked body is found, Patrik is certain the murder is connected to Christian's tormentor. Erica is drawn to this real-life mystery as much by Christian's deterioration as by the puzzle's allure, and she's soon linked the threats to Magnus' two childhood friends, who have also attracted the killer's wrath. Ominous snapshots of a torturous childhood slowly reveal the killer's backstory and mingle with the present-day investigation to illustrate the killer's motive. Lackberg's subtle approach and unique talent for portraying realistically complex relationships creates a sorrowful, harrowing psychological thriller. Series fans will applaud the further development of Erica's relationships with Patrik and her sister, Anna, and will anguish over the cliff-hanger conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 15, 2015
After publishing his debut novel to critical acclaim, Christian Thydell seems terribly anxious. Could his novel hold the clues to a mystery? Bestselling Swedish crime novelist Lackberg (The Hidden Child, 2014, etc.) returns with another puzzle for Detective Patrik Hedstrom and his wife, writer Erica Falck, to solve. Now pregnant with twins, Erica has been mentoring Christian, and she's alarmed when he faints before an important publicity event. At first Christian claims he's tired and anxious about his childhood friend Magnus Kjellner, who disappeared three months ago. But under pressure from his wife, Christian confesses to Erica that he's been receiving vaguely threatening notes ever since he began working on The Mermaid. Unfortunately, that's all he reveals, and his unwillingness to help in his investigation piques Erica's sleuthing instincts. She begins looking into things, first discreetly pocketing one of the notes to take to Patrik. Although he sees no obvious connection between Magnus' disappearance and Christian's letters, Patrik senses that there's more to the story. It seems Magnus' other childhood friends Erik Lind and Kenneth Bengtsson have troubles, too. While Erik plots how to leave both his wife and his mistress without undue financial expense, Kenneth mournfully awaits his beloved wife's imminent death from cancer. Although he, too, has been receiving ominous notes, Kenneth strangely keeps quiet. Lackberg excels at ratcheting up the tension by weaving this complex, fascinating, very dark mystery through the everyday lives of the unsuspecting residents of Fjallbacka, any of whom might be involved. And between each chapter tracing the investigation, Lackberg inserts the tale of a mysterious, adopted boy, who might have grown up to be another victim or the killer. Filled with Hitchcock-ian twists, Lackberg's latest mesmerizes.

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