Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 1
Nina Borg is a fascinating character who can make a reader feel strong and conflicting emotions. Her work for the Danish Red Cross is her mission in life. She is compelled to save the world through every single person she helps. She is a person to be admired for her strength, determination, and protective instincts. But that very same zeal has come at a great price. By focusing on the care of strangers, in this third book in the series Nina has lost her husband and children, who have given up demanding-- at the very least-- equal billing with her work. Nina is in sad shape, made all the sadder by the fact that it is all her own doing. Her working life may be a cause for admiration, but her personal life is reason for exasperation.
As she fights to keep little Katerina safe, she does find time to reflect on her actions and their consequences. Her soul searching is unflinching and brutally honest. Nina knows what she's done wrong, and she doesn't know if she's capable of making the necessary changes to get her family back-- or even if there's a chance of reconciliation at all. This is a wonderful, nuanced characterization that I've come to love in this series of books.
But Nina is not the only fierce soul in this book. Natasha Doroshenko can match her stride for determined, unflagging stride. Natasha's life has often been a nightmare, and she has learned to be ruthless and cunning in order to survive. As the story alternates between present-day Denmark and 1930s Russia, the reader learns how people's behavior is often shaped by events in the past. The Russian chapters are chilling and horrific, and as the story unfolds, we not only learn about the distant past, we learn about Natasha's life with her husband, a man who was paid for keeping secrets.
With differing timelines and characters' stories, Death of a Nightingale can be a bit confusing occasionally, but everything is woven together satisfactorily before book's end. Once again, Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis have constructed an emotional roller coaster ride peopled by characters of marvelous depth and nuance. With Nina in such a state, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book in this series to see how she progresses.
As she fights to keep little Katerina safe, she does find time to reflect on her actions and their consequences. Her soul searching is unflinching and brutally honest. Nina knows what she's done wrong, and she doesn't know if she's capable of making the necessary changes to get her family back-- or even if there's a chance of reconciliation at all. This is a wonderful, nuanced characterization that I've come to love in this series of books.
But Nina is not the only fierce soul in this book. Natasha Doroshenko can match her stride for determined, unflagging stride. Natasha's life has often been a nightmare, and she has learned to be ruthless and cunning in order to survive. As the story alternates between present-day Denmark and 1930s Russia, the reader learns how people's behavior is often shaped by events in the past. The Russian chapters are chilling and horrific, and as the story unfolds, we not only learn about the distant past, we learn about Natasha's life with her husband, a man who was paid for keeping secrets.
With differing timelines and characters' stories, Death of a Nightingale can be a bit confusing occasionally, but everything is woven together satisfactorily before book's end. Once again, Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis have constructed an emotional roller coaster ride peopled by characters of marvelous depth and nuance. With Nina in such a state, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book in this series to see how she progresses.
Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
Nina Borg is now single after her husband left her for almost getting herself and her daughter killed in the first two books. While working as a nurse at a refugee center, she becomes involved in the lives of a Natasha and Katerina, a Ukrainian mother and her young daughter. Natasha is arrested for the murder of her fiancee but escapes police custody. Because Nina had promised Natasha that she would care for Katerina, she begins investigating the alleged murder, and intervenes when Natasha is in danger.
Nina's story is interspersed with flashbacks chronicling the lives of two Ukranian sisters living under Stalin. There is also a parallel story involving the police investigation of Natasha's case. All these alternating chapters make for a slow and initially confusing start to the book. I am a fan of this series, but struggled through the first two-thirds of the book. however, all the threads come together in the end for a satisfying conclusion.
New readers to the series would best be served by reading one of the first two entries before this one, but those who have read and enjoyed the other books will enjoy this one too (at least in the end).
Nina's story is interspersed with flashbacks chronicling the lives of two Ukranian sisters living under Stalin. There is also a parallel story involving the police investigation of Natasha's case. All these alternating chapters make for a slow and initially confusing start to the book. I am a fan of this series, but struggled through the first two-thirds of the book. however, all the threads come together in the end for a satisfying conclusion.
New readers to the series would best be served by reading one of the first two entries before this one, but those who have read and enjoyed the other books will enjoy this one too (at least in the end).
