What a ride, what a read! This was a surprise for me, although it should not have been since my dear Bookseller Sally is the one who recommended this one - almost two years ago!! Gahhh!! Thank you, Sally, as always, and my apologies and confusion as to why it took me so long!
(I am on a mission to read those books that have been sitting on my shelf this year. I have been distracted and led astray and sucked in to so many other books this year that I have neglected the books that I intended to read. Obviously, because when I disciplined myself to stick to my stack, I found the receipt tucked into this one - from March 2018. Gulp. So, this year's reviews might seem like strange choices, but stick with me as I try to reduce my reading anxiety by reducing my stack!!)
Now, on to The Sandman. Do not be put off by the fact that this novel is listed as Joona Linna #4. From other reviews I have read, this one is by far the best, and I am not sure you need any backstory. I did not feel that anything was missing. I just started, and could not put this one down. At 449 pages, this is a pretty big book. I read it in about 3 days over a weekend. Short chapters a la James Patterson means you just want to keep reading - "one more chapter" never ends with two page lengths!! But you NEED to keep reading, which for me is one sign of a well written story.
And what a story this is. So beautifully executed in bringing all the strands of this web together, and while you might see one reveal coming pretty easily, I guarantee you will be shocked out of your mind at others. I was gobsmacked, as my English husband would say.
Written by a husband and wife team, and set in Stockholm, this is the story of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who might have unorthodox methods, but who always follows his guts. This instinct led to the discovery and arrest 13 years ago of a serial killer, Jurek Walter, who now resides in the highest security psychiatric prison ward. When one of his assumed victims suddenly shows up alive and says his sister is still alive too, Joona is pulled back into this case to find the girl and figure out how it is possible they survived while Jurek was imprisoned. He puts a female agent into the prison undercover, and hopes Jurek will reveal some information about his crimes.... and of course all hell breaks loose.
This story becomes violent, a bit graphic, and in some parts sick as the authors describe the actions and thoughts of mentally ill people who enact horrific things on innocents. So this is not for the queasy at heart. However, nothing is really gruesome in description, only in its aftermath if you know what I mean. You are told what happened, but it is not in detailed gore or in real time. The book's flap says this is an "unnerving" story, and that is an apt description. Manipulation, suggestion, maybe even some seriously twisted hypnotism, but also determination, loyalty and some very smart detail catching on the part of Joona will really keep you on your toes for this one. The perspective of the woman who goes undercover in the prison might be the most disturbing and claustrophobic. Shiver. But, I am not saying this is a turn off to reading the story. It makes is all the more interesting and stimulating.
This book was EXCELLENT. Can't wait for the next one - I am on the wait list at the library. Can't afford to increase my stack, and reader's anxiety!! ;-)
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