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lasbulle's review against another edition
4.0
I Brinn mig en sol figurerar en hel del karaktärer, som vi också får följa. Dels är det författaren, som inte nämns vid namn, annat än som Malen. Denne Malen skriver i nutid en bok om ett antal mord, begågna i Tiarp under 80-talet. I boken skriver han om polisen Sven, och hans son Vidar, och den del av boken som rör utredningen är skriven i princip som en vanlig deckare. Vi som läsare påminns då och då om att det är just Malens historia vi läser, och inte alltid det som faktiskt hände. Han påpekar själv att han egentligen inte kan veta hur karaktärerna han skriver om egentligen kände, vad de tyckte, och om utredningen gått till exakt på det viset han beskriver. Det är ett snyggt grepp som jag imponeras av!
I den nutida berättelsen stöter författaren, Malen, ibland på Vidar, och andra karaktärer som han ju skriver om, och det är här någonstans som skulle kunna bli riktigt rörigt. Men Christoffer Carlsson löser det så snyggt att jag väldigt sällan tappar tråden. Jag gillar blandningen av klassisk deckare med inslag av mer knepig relationsroman blandat med uppväxtskildring, och som extra strössel tillkommer beskrivningarna av det lilla samhället där människor blir kvar i sina förfäders fotspår.
Språket är fint men aldrig överdrivet svårt, meningarna väl genomtänkta. Carlsson läser själv in sin ljudbok och det tillför verkligen något extra, speciellt i dialogen och rösterna hos karaktärerna som då pratar just som författaren tänkt. Det gillar jag!
I den nutida berättelsen stöter författaren, Malen, ibland på Vidar, och andra karaktärer som han ju skriver om, och det är här någonstans som skulle kunna bli riktigt rörigt. Men Christoffer Carlsson löser det så snyggt att jag väldigt sällan tappar tråden. Jag gillar blandningen av klassisk deckare med inslag av mer knepig relationsroman blandat med uppväxtskildring, och som extra strössel tillkommer beskrivningarna av det lilla samhället där människor blir kvar i sina förfäders fotspår.
Språket är fint men aldrig överdrivet svårt, meningarna väl genomtänkta. Carlsson läser själv in sin ljudbok och det tillför verkligen något extra, speciellt i dialogen och rösterna hos karaktärerna som då pratar just som författaren tänkt. Det gillar jag!
writerreader's review against another edition
3.75
[Spoilers!] Been thinking about what to give this book (about a week since I read it and it has already slowly shifted out of my mind). In many ways I enjoyed it a lot. sure, the start lags (I'd say the first 100 pages for sure and in some spots here and there), but once it gets going the story really kicks into gear.
One thing's for sure. This mystery is very different from others in that it kinda sits with the life cycle of one detective, then the next, and speaks not only to the murder and "whodunit" but to how the murders affect people. Both those who knew the victim and those who partook in the investigation. In that way it was unique and welcome (to me, not sure if this is an entire subgenre) but at times you kinda wanted to get back to the mystery of the murders. I also wanted more clues dropped (unless I completely missed them, in which case go ahead and roast me). But that all seems a minor quibble.
This mystery ends up being a treatise on violence, and on power. The detective who is first on the case gets blamed for possibly contributing to the death of the first victim (not clear if that's true). Then the case goes to his head and he thinks a former colleague of his did the murders, but in the end he didn't. But he does kill him (!!) and another colleague helps cover up. Then you're left with the sad truth that the killer was still alive but basically a vegetable (which is fine, I do wish there had been more on this person, even if it was in retrospect). But what did you expect, a normal mystery? Tidy bows at the end? You fools. Cowards. This isn't that. So you don't even get the true satisfaction of a perp behind bars (he has already been behind bars for decades, the bars of his body. Hell even one of the almost victims gets guilt for pointing out the wrong person.) No, you get real life messiness of violence simply lingering on a bunch of apes in the forest in Sweden and them trying to come to terms with it.
Not sure if this is my best mystery but I will read more from this author.
One thing's for sure. This mystery is very different from others in that it kinda sits with the life cycle of one detective, then the next, and speaks not only to the murder and "whodunit" but to how the murders affect people. Both those who knew the victim and those who partook in the investigation. In that way it was unique and welcome (to me, not sure if this is an entire subgenre) but at times you kinda wanted to get back to the mystery of the murders. I also wanted more clues dropped (unless I completely missed them, in which case go ahead and roast me). But that all seems a minor quibble.
This mystery ends up being a treatise on violence, and on power. The detective who is first on the case gets blamed for possibly contributing to the death of the first victim (not clear if that's true). Then the case goes to his head and he thinks a former colleague of his did the murders, but in the end he didn't. But he does kill him (!!) and another colleague helps cover up. Then you're left with the sad truth that the killer was still alive but basically a vegetable (which is fine, I do wish there had been more on this person, even if it was in retrospect). But what did you expect, a normal mystery? Tidy bows at the end? You fools. Cowards. This isn't that. So you don't even get the true satisfaction of a perp behind bars (he has already been behind bars for decades, the bars of his body. Hell even one of the almost victims gets guilt for pointing out the wrong person.) No, you get real life messiness of violence simply lingering on a bunch of apes in the forest in Sweden and them trying to come to terms with it.
Not sure if this is my best mystery but I will read more from this author.
amandat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Decent crime novel, but too long and ending was a bit of a let down.
gadrake's review against another edition
4.0
Swedish author Carlsson is also one of Sweden's leading crime experts. It is clear that his knowledge, particularly as it pertains to handling evidence, is on display here.
One set of crimes in the 1980s that is never solved turns out to be "that" crime that torments a fine police officer, Sven, until the end of his life. Young women are stalked in remote areas and then murdered. Sven is conscientious, good at his job, and ultimately obsessed with finding this evil perpetrator. His wife and son pay the price in the form of his absence from family life.
Now today, Sven's son Vidar is a police officer. Their relationship has always been mildly disappointing with both wanting something better. Those dark crimes have affected so many people in their small community, families and police alike. Then Vidar begins to uncover new information which may be harmful to his father.
This is a slow-developing plot with plenty of eerie moments and intertwining story threads. The author demonstrates how trauma passes through generations. Excellent writing for those who love Scandinavian crime fiction.
One set of crimes in the 1980s that is never solved turns out to be "that" crime that torments a fine police officer, Sven, until the end of his life. Young women are stalked in remote areas and then murdered. Sven is conscientious, good at his job, and ultimately obsessed with finding this evil perpetrator. His wife and son pay the price in the form of his absence from family life.
Now today, Sven's son Vidar is a police officer. Their relationship has always been mildly disappointing with both wanting something better. Those dark crimes have affected so many people in their small community, families and police alike. Then Vidar begins to uncover new information which may be harmful to his father.
This is a slow-developing plot with plenty of eerie moments and intertwining story threads. The author demonstrates how trauma passes through generations. Excellent writing for those who love Scandinavian crime fiction.
fiktiviteter's review against another edition
5.0
Läs min recension på bloggen: https://www.fiktiviteter.se/2021/05/26/brinn-mig-en-sol-av-christoffer-carlsson/
speedreadstagram's review against another edition
4.0
Its 1986 and a supposed serial killer calls the police to tell them about his first victim. He tells them he is going to do it again, and then the line goes blank. By the time the police make it to the scene, the woman is almost dead. That same night, Sweden plunges into a state of shock after the murder of the prime minister.
The police officer, Sven, becomes obsessed with the case and trying to make a connection between the two murders. Eventually he grows so frustrated he retires. Now decades later, a novelist takes an interest in and befriends Sven. Will they be able to put their heads together and solve the murders?
I was scrolling threads the other day and came across this thread from @Randomhouse They said if you posted an emoji, they would recommend you a book. So, I did, and this is the book they recommended. I am always down for a good police procedural and noir novel, and this one did not disappoint. This book has many moving parts and changing timelines. While fun, I did have to make sure I was in the right mindset to listen to the audio. I was able to follow the story, and was completely engrossed, but it was not a book you can just put on and not be utterly focused. The narrator did a fantastic job portraying the book in an understandable and gripping way. I will say that on 1x speed the narration was a little slow, so I did turn the speed up to more of my liking. I think this is apparent in the audio length of over 14 hrs for a 440-page novel. I really enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on.
Give this one a read or listen if you are in the mood for a very well written noir novel.
Thanks again @randomhouse for the rec! I hope you do another one of those threads soon.
The police officer, Sven, becomes obsessed with the case and trying to make a connection between the two murders. Eventually he grows so frustrated he retires. Now decades later, a novelist takes an interest in and befriends Sven. Will they be able to put their heads together and solve the murders?
I was scrolling threads the other day and came across this thread from @Randomhouse They said if you posted an emoji, they would recommend you a book. So, I did, and this is the book they recommended. I am always down for a good police procedural and noir novel, and this one did not disappoint. This book has many moving parts and changing timelines. While fun, I did have to make sure I was in the right mindset to listen to the audio. I was able to follow the story, and was completely engrossed, but it was not a book you can just put on and not be utterly focused. The narrator did a fantastic job portraying the book in an understandable and gripping way. I will say that on 1x speed the narration was a little slow, so I did turn the speed up to more of my liking. I think this is apparent in the audio length of over 14 hrs for a 440-page novel. I really enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on.
Give this one a read or listen if you are in the mood for a very well written noir novel.
Thanks again @randomhouse for the rec! I hope you do another one of those threads soon.
elinthing's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hpnyknits's review against another edition
4.0
Not your usual police procedural, not even for Scandinavian noire.
Much of the book is about the lives of the characters.
Twists and turns in the plot that surprise you.
Much of the book is about the lives of the characters.
Twists and turns in the plot that surprise you.
rachaelinpa's review against another edition
4.0
Very well done mystery. The twists were good, even if the real killer was hinted at heavily midway through the book, it was still interesting to see how all that played out with the other characters. Unusual character development & very enjoyable overall.
submenu's review against another edition
After attending book club and finding out whodunnit I wasn’t interested enough to finish.