This is one of those novels that I give a deserved 1/5 stars. It has all the distinguishing marks of a 1 star book.

Firstly: non-chronological chapters. Chapter 1 Bergort 2011. Chapter 2 NY 2015. Chapter 3 Bergort 2000, etc. I'm not saying this doesn't work because I've seen it work beautifully but this is an unneeded complication for the reader and if you do this, this better be a very well written book, which this isn't.

Secondly: None of the text is written in context. Chapter 1, I read an event that starts in the middle. I don't know who these people are and it's not clear what the greater context is. Chapter 2, same thing. Who are these people and what are they doing? Chapter 3, same thing, no context. Who is "we"? Where exactly are "we"?

Maybe this is supposed to be some artsy book and I'm supposed to get it at the end or not at all. Maybe this is some edgy writing that I'm just not getting because I'm not smart enough. Either way, this gets a 1 from me. I got this book free as a review copy.

A great concept and well written, but there's something about this second in the series that just didn't grip me like the first did.
Also, stop killing off the queer characters, no matter how minor, not cool.

Well, *that* was timely enough to be a little scary.

Really well-done, and very timely story arc. Zander is a strong writer with a good message

Yasmine and her brother Fadi have come to Sweden as young children. As the older sister, Yasmine always felt responsible for Fadi and when he got in a mess four years ago, she took over the blame and then left the country to make a new start in New York. She cut all connections to the old home, but now Fadi seems to be in real trouble and so she has to go back to the place where she has grown up. Some months before, Fadi joined a group of jihadists, he believed in the fight for Allah in Syria and went to war. After a major coincidence, he is now back in Sweden looking for revenge. At the same time, Klara, a young woman in London has taken over a really dangerous job without knowing it.

Joakim Zander’s thriller really has the finger on the pulse. Young, disillusioned immigrants who turn their back on Europe and believe in the holy war that groups such as IS are proclaiming and advertising for. You can follow Fadi’s thoughts and motivation; it is easy to understand what makes him join a radical group and why he is disappointed by the life and future he sees for himself in Sweden. His experiences in Syria – albeit rather short – also can illustrate the way those kids are hit by reality and how their dreams vanish into thin air. In a state of disillusionment and hopelessness – what is there that keeps you going and worth staying alive?

What I liked especially about the novel was the high speed at which the different lines of action move on. The chapters are rather short which also accelerates the action. Jumping backwards and forwards in time is first not easy, but when you got to know the characters, it is not difficult to follow their action anymore. The plot as a whole seems quite authentic and believable to me, at least the story about Yasmine and Fadi is highly likely to be real. The second part about Klara did not really convince me, she only appears at a quite late stage and much of her job remained unclear which made it difficult to bond with her. I also did not really see the necessity of this story for the main plot. I would have preferred a focus in the Yasmine/Fadi story.

All in all, a thriller which combines tension with a very hot topic, political entanglements and business interests – while also showing how strong the bon between siblings can be.

I’m thinking this may have been a case of my expectations being higher than what this book was for me. The book alternates three different perspectives and I found myself wanting to spend more time with some characters than other. It felt a little choppy and unrealistic in places but still made for an overall enjoyable Scandinavian crime/political thriller. I would recommend this for fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Some of the same themes are covered but the writing style is definitely different.

I’m thinking this may have been a case of my expectations being higher than what this book was for me. The book alternates three different perspectives and I found myself wanting to spend more time with some characters than other. It felt a little choppy and unrealistic in places but still made for an overall enjoyable Scandinavian crime/political thriller. I would recommend this for fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Some of the same themes are covered but the writing style is definitely different.