Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
Helpful Score: 1
#2 Inspector Konrad Seijer mystery set in Norway. An elderly woman is found dead in her remote cabin home, her garden hoe firmly planted in the side of her head. Meanwhile, Errki Johrma, a disturbed young schizophrenic, has escaped from a nearby asylum so everyone assumes he is the perpetrator of that heinous crime. A young boy walking in the woods taking some bow-shooting practice who discovered the womans body reports having seen Errki in the woods near her cabin. But Inspector Seijer isnt so sure, and even comes up with a bizarre bet with his second in command that their culprit isnt Errki at all. The young mans psychiatrist doesnt believe he did it either, as violence simply doesnt fit his profile of past behaviors. Seijer is working not only the murder case, but the case of a bank robbery that occurs the next morninga bank robbery that involves a hostage, no less. The two cases begin to strangely entwine during the course of the investigation.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Seijer wasnt quite so morose in this book, maybe that had something to do with it. The book rotates back and forth with chapters told from the point of view of several characters, including the bad guys. Sometimes this works for an author and other times I find it annoying, but Fossum uses that tool remarkably well and the book had a very satisfying feel to it: Im certainly glad to have already procured the next few in the series.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Seijer wasnt quite so morose in this book, maybe that had something to do with it. The book rotates back and forth with chapters told from the point of view of several characters, including the bad guys. Sometimes this works for an author and other times I find it annoying, but Fossum uses that tool remarkably well and the book had a very satisfying feel to it: Im certainly glad to have already procured the next few in the series.
Mary H. (ravenswing) reviewed He Who Fears the Wolf (Inspector Sejer, Bk 2) on + 91 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great Norwegian mystery. Features Inspector Sejer, a clever cop with his own personal demons. A strange crime with even stranger suspects. Heavy on the psychological aspects of the criminal mind. Lots of twists. Recommended!
Helpful Score: 1
Like the way the author gets into the minds of her characters.
Judith L. (jlautner) reviewed He Who Fears the Wolf (Inspector Sejer, Bk 2) on + 105 more book reviews
As with others in this Inspector Sejer series, the characters involved in the story take top billing. I get a little each time about Sejer, but mostly the portraits are of the victims, the friends, the relationships between characters.
A chubby 12-year-old archery fan finds the body of an elderly woman who lives alone. Her face has been smashed in, apparently by an axe. The woman lived alone in the woods, took care of herself and her property, and nobody can think of anyone who wanted her dead.
Sejer and team come in to investigate. The boy, Kannick Snellingen, lives in a home for wayward children, where he is something of an outcast. Kannick tells the police that he saw someone at the scene: Errki, escaped from a mental institution.
Now the hunt is on for Errki, and the community is up in arms. He should still be incarcerated. He needs to be caught. Nobody is safe.
Oh, and the bank robbery.
Of course it's all a little more complex than that. And a bit sad, maybe more than a bit.
I really enjoyed reading about Kannick and Errki and the bank robber and how they got where they were. And a bit more about Sejer and Jacob Skarre.
A chubby 12-year-old archery fan finds the body of an elderly woman who lives alone. Her face has been smashed in, apparently by an axe. The woman lived alone in the woods, took care of herself and her property, and nobody can think of anyone who wanted her dead.
Sejer and team come in to investigate. The boy, Kannick Snellingen, lives in a home for wayward children, where he is something of an outcast. Kannick tells the police that he saw someone at the scene: Errki, escaped from a mental institution.
Now the hunt is on for Errki, and the community is up in arms. He should still be incarcerated. He needs to be caught. Nobody is safe.
Oh, and the bank robbery.
Of course it's all a little more complex than that. And a bit sad, maybe more than a bit.
I really enjoyed reading about Kannick and Errki and the bank robber and how they got where they were. And a bit more about Sejer and Jacob Skarre.
