'Horst is brilliant on the day-to-day details of investigation,
while keeping tension to the end' SUNDAY TIMES If you loved
Wallander, meet Wisting - your next Scandi crime obsession . . . 15
years ago, Simon Meier walked out of his house and was never seen
again. With no leads, the case quickly ran cold. Until now. Because
one day ago, politician Bernard Clausen died. And in his cabin on
the Norwegian coast, police make a shocking discovery. Boxes of
bank notes, worth millions of dollars. Collecting dust. Chief
Inspector William Wisting thinks it could link to Meier's
disappearance. But solving both cases will mean working with an old
adversary, and delving into a dark underworld - which leads closer
to home than he could have imagined . . . Fans of Jo Nesbo and
Stieg Larsson will be captivated by this thrilling and atmospheric
read from the award-winning Nordic crime writer. 'Plotting reigns
supreme' Barry Forshaw, Financial Times __________ 'Jorn Lier Horst
writes some of the best Scandinavian crime fiction . . . His books
are superbly plotted and addictive, the characters wonderfully
realized' Yrsa Sigurdardottir 'One of the most brilliantly
understated crime novelists writing today' Sunday Times 'Up there
with the best of the Nordic crime writers' Marcel Berlin, The Times
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NORWEGIAN TV SERIES WISTING FROM THE
PRODUCERS BEHIND WALLANDER AND THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
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My review
Wed, 27 Nov 2019 | Review
by: Breakaway R.
Nordic Noir lights up a cold case
Jørn Lier Horst was not a Scandinavian author I had come across and I was delighted to discover him through the ‘Cape Town Open Book Festival’ this year. During discussions he came across as clear thinking, purposeful man whose experience as head of investigations in the Norwegian police force has translated successfully into compelling crime novels. A full-time writer with a number of awards under his belt he has given life to a new and memorable character, Chief Inspector William Wisting, one who, I think, will remain up there with the likes of Wallander.
In ‘The Cabin’, the second in the ‘cold case quartet’, a controversial dead politician is the pivot of the plot. Bernhard Clausen dies of natural causes (yes, really) but it is a surprising discovery at his cabin on the Norwegian coast that sets the police on to a new trajectory. CI Wisting is called in on the understanding that he treats this as a confidential investigation. Choosing his team carefully he includes his daughter, freelance journalist Line, and colleague Espen Mortensen, crime scene technician amongst others, some not so welcome but necessary to uncovering the full story. As Wisting unpacks the situation it becomes apparent that the death, the discovery, politics and a 15 year -old cold case are linked inextricably.
Horst’s writing is methodical and his translator has done a superb job in providing English readers with a pacey read that allows one to keep track. Piece by piece – like a jigsaw puzzle, the clues start to add up but not predictably and the plotting cleverly leads you down a number of paths – all of which merge neatly at the end.
I liked the fact that there was little of the sometimes unrealistic violence that seems to haunt many of the Nordic Noir novels. I really warmed to widower Wisting and his daughter’s relationship which was very plausible. Her inclusion is purely practical as she is able to go where the police cannot. As she works through her connections and her own theories, she is put in danger - making for some spine-tingling moments.
Horst keeps the pace right up to the end and shows that a well-planned investigation while going awry at times, is about looking beyond the obvious while uncovering the intricacies and vices of personal and public lives.
The Cabin is a superb page-turner with a no-nonsense approach that certainly shows a police investigation at its very best.
Beryl Eichenberger
Breakaway reviewer received a copy of this book for review
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