What is this about?: A girl appears out of nowhere on a road, dying in a car accident even before anyone can reach her. Turns out she went missing months ago and that she’s been tortured by someone. This is the search for her killer, which in turn links his wife’s, Erica’s case, to his.
What else is this about?: Not so much a separate plot point, but Patrik and Erica’s relationship has reached a point where they work seamlessly together and weirdly, I found that endearing — they’ve already found a balance and sense of who they are together, working on this case.
Stars: 3.5
Should you read: YES. Nordic noir at its best.
Blurb: No. 1 international bestseller and Swedish crime sensation Camilla Lackberg’s new psychological thriller featuring Detective Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck – irresistible for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo.
January, Fjällbacka. A semi-naked girl wanders through the woods in freezing cold weather. When she finally reaches the road, a car comes out of nowhere. It doesn’t manage to stop.
By the time Detective Patrik Hedström receives word of the accident, the girl has already been identified. Four months ago she disappeared on her way home from the local riding school, and no one has seen her since. It quickly becomes clear that she has been subjected to unimaginably brutal treatment. And it’s likely she’s not the only one.
Meanwhile, Patrik’s wife, crime writer Erica Falck, is looking into an old case – a family tragedy that led to a man’s death. His wife was convicted of murder, but Erica senses that something isn’t right. What is the woman hiding? As Erica digs deeper, the past starts to cast a shadow over the present and Patrik is forced to see his investigation in a whole new light.
The days are colder here, something I felt more than usual reading The Ice Child. It’s book 9 in a series and while the case is self-contained in this book, I have to admit, that I did feel like I missed out on the relationships that have already been developed by now. But that’s the risk you run reading book 9 in a series, right?
Patrik and Erika are the core around which this book revolves. I think the author has found the perfect balance between two characters and their lives and their impact on the case in question because despite not reading how Patrik and Erika arrived at this point in time, one thing is clear: they are both determined investigators in their chosen fields, able to help one another when needed and doing so logically, in that there is nothing there for the sake of cheap drama a mystery.
The case in question is gruesome. Victoria is found after four months when she is killed in a hit and run accident, and the true extent of her injuries, beyond those of the accident, are realised. She’s been tortured and I admit, I almost gave up here, because this is gruesome. It’s not bloody or sensationalistic, in fact the author takes great pains for these revelations to come out clinically, but that is actually what makes it worse for me. And should tell you just how good this author is.
It becomes apparent that Patrik’s case is going to dovetail with an investigation of Erika’s into her new book. She’s been talking to Laila, a woman convicted of killing her husband. In truth her story is far more complicated, and I started the book wondering why she was included and thinking her a distraction to feel immense empathy for her by the end. Laila’s evolution is paced wonderfully, and again without sensationalism – she has been beaten down by her life and her choices, and she has nothing left to give but her silence. Erika though is determined, and while their conversations are stilted until the end, the author draws a wonderful picture of Laila in flashbacks, integrating her story into the larger picture.
The author takes great pains to ensure the secondary characters in her cast are well-drawn out and every word means something to the ending of the story. It’s one of those endings that’s going to make you go Oh as the puzzle pieces fall into place. I’m not going to call this a twist, I’m going to call this elegant plotting and writing.
As I mentioned above, the core of this story is Patrik and Erika: the ease with which they work with each other and their teams, and I would dearly love to have known them in book one, to see how this relationship evolved. Even Patrik’s fellow cops are understanding of them and their relationship, and interesting additions to the secondary cast. This team works well and you’re going to want to know how they ended up here.
All in all, a good introduction to a series, even if it is book 9!
I really like the sounds of this but when I first saw the cover on your Twitter feed, it immediately brought to mind The Ice Twins. That was a good book too if you haven’t checked it out.
I see what you mean, Barb, they’re SO similar! The book sounds amazingly creepy — please don’t tell me the remaining twin goes crazy and kills her mother or something? *shudders* I wonder if there’s a publishing standard for books like these: kids with red coats on covers?
Great review! You know I love this genre already and I haven’t read anything by this author yet. Definitely adding to my list!!
It’s excellent, and refreshing! A couple that works together and is interesting to read lol!
I read the last book last year – which was the first for me – and agree I felt like a missed out on a little but overall enjoyed it. I will have to check this one out for sure. Great review!
Ooh, did you? You’ve just made me excited about the series in general 🙂
You’re right, it’s surely a risk but glad it worked out well! The premise sounds really good and, I must say, I find myself quite curious now . . . Thanks for reviewing this!
I hope you get a chance to read it, silvia!
It does sound interesting how those seemingly unrelated cases turn out to be related. I don’t read a lot of thrillers as I don’t like the gruesome parts, but I do like mysteries. That’s why I dislike starting late in the series, even if the book can be read as a standalone you often miss part of the characters their past and relationships. It does sound like a well written book. Great review!
I generally dislike starting in the middle of a series, but I decided to take a chance with this one. Something about the blurb I just WANTED, you know? And it worked out this time at least 🙂
This cover is so eye-catching with the splash of red!
It does sound nice and endearing the way the two characters work together. Even if it isn’t the focus, it’s those kinds of things that make books enjoyable and well-rounded. And I love those types of books in which, as soon as you find out the ending, everything just falls into place and makes so much sense all the sudden. That’s definitely good plotting and writing!
I do really love mystery novels. I’m glad you liked this one. It’s good to know you CAN read and enjoy this one at no. 9, even if some of the relationships lacked a bit because you hadn’t read what came before.