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Sandhamn Murders #3
Guiltless
The tiny Swedish island of Sandhamn has always been a haven for lawyer Nora Linde. With trouble brewing in her marriage, she finds its comforts more welcome than ever, even in the depths of winter. That is, until her two young sons trip across a severed arm in the woods.
The boys’ gruesome discovery will once again connect Nora with her childhood friend Thomas Andreasson, now a local police detective. When the limb is identified as belonging to a twenty-year-old woman who disappeared without a trace months earlier, what had been a missing persons case takes on a whole new urgency.
Nora and Thomas delve deeply into the woman’s final hours, each of them wrestling not only with the case but with the private demons it awakens in them. As they do, they’ll find themselves drawn into the history of Sandhamn and the tensions that have been simmering just below the surface for more than a hundred years.
The boys’ gruesome discovery will once again connect Nora with her childhood friend Thomas Andreasson, now a local police detective. When the limb is identified as belonging to a twenty-year-old woman who disappeared without a trace months earlier, what had been a missing persons case takes on a whole new urgency.
Nora and Thomas delve deeply into the woman’s final hours, each of them wrestling not only with the case but with the private demons it awakens in them. As they do, they’ll find themselves drawn into the history of Sandhamn and the tensions that have been simmering just below the surface for more than a hundred years.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Viveca Sten
45 books920 followersViveca Sten made her author debut with crime novel Still Waters. It soon became a huge hit with both critics and readers and today the author has sold almost 3 million copies of her books worldwide.
In May 2014, her seventh novel, The Price of Power, was published in Sweden. It was hugely successful and Viveca cemented her place as one of the country’s most popular authors. Her Sandhamn Murder Series continues to top the best seller charts, not to mention the whopping success of the TV mini-series that is based on Viveca’s novels. An estimated 30 million people around the globe have been watching the adventures of Nora and Thomas unfold on the TV screen.
Today, Viveca lives in Stockholm with her husband and three children. During the summer months she leaves for Sandhamn to write and spend the holidays with her family. This year she has also been working on a cookbook that features stories from the Stockholm archipelago
.
In May 2014, her seventh novel, The Price of Power, was published in Sweden. It was hugely successful and Viveca cemented her place as one of the country’s most popular authors. Her Sandhamn Murder Series continues to top the best seller charts, not to mention the whopping success of the TV mini-series that is based on Viveca’s novels. An estimated 30 million people around the globe have been watching the adventures of Nora and Thomas unfold on the TV screen.
Today, Viveca lives in Stockholm with her husband and three children. During the summer months she leaves for Sandhamn to write and spend the holidays with her family. This year she has also been working on a cookbook that features stories from the Stockholm archipelago
.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
June 10, 2018
Ummm. Not my favorite in the series so far.
The beginning started off with so much promise. I was immediately pulled in by the drama surrounding the main characters. There were high stakes for both Nora and Thomas in each of their personal lives. Love lost and love found. But then the disappearance/murder mixed with the century old family quarrel was a stretch for me.
The main plot didn’t come together. There was so much build up for something as cliche as “favoritism” and “revenge”. And if you’re going to develop a sub-story to substantiate the emotion turmoil of a situation then it needs to be equally as strong as the main plot line. And, to me, it wasn’t.
Also, to be frank, there were way too many unnecessary characters. Like Pelle... why was he in this? Because the book needed another creeper? And Mats the profiler? Again, what did he bring?
I dunno. In this case, less is more should have been practiced.
The book ends on a cliff hanger, which was smart. But it’s starting to get a little Grey’s Anatomy with the drama.
The beginning started off with so much promise. I was immediately pulled in by the drama surrounding the main characters. There were high stakes for both Nora and Thomas in each of their personal lives. Love lost and love found. But then the disappearance/murder mixed with the century old family quarrel was a stretch for me.
The main plot didn’t come together. There was so much build up for something as cliche as “favoritism” and “revenge”. And if you’re going to develop a sub-story to substantiate the emotion turmoil of a situation then it needs to be equally as strong as the main plot line. And, to me, it wasn’t.
Also, to be frank, there were way too many unnecessary characters. Like Pelle... why was he in this? Because the book needed another creeper? And Mats the profiler? Again, what did he bring?
I dunno. In this case, less is more should have been practiced.
The book ends on a cliff hanger, which was smart. But it’s starting to get a little Grey’s Anatomy with the drama.
May 18, 2020
This is the 3rd book in this crime series set on an archipelago off Stockholm called Sandhamn. A young girl has been missing on Sandhamn for four months and despite a large search nothing has come to light. Fears are that she has fallen into the sea and her body may never be discovered.
As per other books in this series, the lead characters are Nora (a lawyer with a holiday house on Sandhamn) and Thomas (a police officer and close friend of Nora). They are both a a pivotal point in their respective relationships. Now they find themselves caught up in what may end up being a very macabre murder.
The story is told in parallel with another relating to the early 1900's about a poor family on the island. In the beginning it seems that this story is quite unrelated to the present but as it unfolds it becomes more apparent that there is a debt to be settled.
An intriguing murder/mystery that I found quite hard to put down. Looking forward to book 4!
As per other books in this series, the lead characters are Nora (a lawyer with a holiday house on Sandhamn) and Thomas (a police officer and close friend of Nora). They are both a a pivotal point in their respective relationships. Now they find themselves caught up in what may end up being a very macabre murder.
The story is told in parallel with another relating to the early 1900's about a poor family on the island. In the beginning it seems that this story is quite unrelated to the present but as it unfolds it becomes more apparent that there is a debt to be settled.
An intriguing murder/mystery that I found quite hard to put down. Looking forward to book 4!
June 24, 2017
Love this series
I can not wait until the next book is translated into English. This series has been an unexpected find. The author is a great storyteller,and her the combination of likeable interesting characters and captivating stories makes it a wonderful read
I can not wait until the next book is translated into English. This series has been an unexpected find. The author is a great storyteller,and her the combination of likeable interesting characters and captivating stories makes it a wonderful read
July 10, 2024
Onschuldig verleden van Viveca Sten is het derde deel van de Sandhamn reeks en vertelt ons meer over de levens van Nora en Thomas. Nora ontdekt dat haar man Hendrik is vreemdgegaan en vlucht met haar kinderen naar Sandhamn. Daar is Thomas bezig met een onderzoek naar een vermiste tiener. Als bij toeval ontdekt één van Nora’s zoons het ontzielde lichaam van het vermiste meisje. In het boek maken we verder een sprong terug in de tijd naar het begin van de jaren 1900 en lezen we over Godfrid, Vendela en hun zoon. Later komt in dit gezin ook nog een dochter ter wereld. Het is lang onduidelijk wat de connectie tussen de beide verhalen is, maar zoals altijd komt de lezer dit in het slot te weten. Het motief van de moord is misschien een beetje minder dan in de vorige boeken, maar opnieuw heb ik genoten. Ook is het stuk over Godfrid en zijn familie niet altijd even spannend om te lezen en was ik meer geïnteresseerd in het verhaal dat zich in het heden afspeelt. Toch blijft de Sandhamn reeks me boeien. Ik geef dit boek dan ook graag 4 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2024...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2024...
June 26, 2018
E' il primo giallo di Viveca Sten che leggo e ritrovo tutti i "topoi" che hanno reso celebre il giallo scandinavo: un'accurata miscela tra plot giallo e denuncia di alcuni temi sociali scottanti, storie del passato che continuano a influenzare il presente, l'indagine poliziesca intervallata da scene di vita familiare come insegnano i numi tutelari del poliziesco svedese Sjöwall e Wahlöö, ambientazione in luoghi innevati e solitari e soprattutto una narrazione che riesce con maestria ad amalgamare tutti questi temi restando credibile e verosimile.
June 2, 2017
I think there may be a good book hidden in here somewhere but you have to go through so much detail it is hard to find. The author seems to be more interested in writing about people and their problems then creating an interesting mystery.
February 18, 2022
Dobra książka, ale ostrzegam, że jest pełna przemocy domowej i rażącej niesprawiedliwości.
August 29, 2023
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: The tiny Swedish island of Sandhamn has always been a haven for lawyer Nora Linde. With trouble brewing in her marriage, she finds its comforts more welcome than ever, even in the depths of winter. That is, until her two young sons trip across a severed arm in the woods.
The boys’ gruesome discovery will once again connect Nora with her childhood friend Thomas Andreasson, now a local police detective. When the limb is identified as belonging to a twenty-year-old woman who disappeared without a trace months earlier, what had been a missing persons case takes on a whole new urgency.
Nora and Thomas delve deeply into the woman’s final hours, each of them wrestling not only with the case but with the private demons it awakens in them. As they do, they’ll find themselves drawn into the history of Sandhamn and the tensions that have been simmering just below the surface for more than a hundred years.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: ScandiCozy all over again...the novel, which is to say the ongoing series part of the read, is about the familial misadventures and vicissitudes of the main characters. This part of the read worked very well for me. Thomas's life as a cop is complicated enough to scare off an understanding and caring partner, let alone a self-centered one like Thomas's ex-wife. Nora the lawyer's finally bumped into the immutable reality that her snobbish doctor husband is a complete waste of her time and emotion when his ongoing infidelity is revealed (to no one's shock except Nora's). Now she needs to find a way to co-parent with someone she quite rightly despises after learning of his betrayal of her.
Thomas is at a different crossroads. His future is as unclear as his friend Nora's is, but he needs to reckon with a past that he's mostly dealt with by running from what he can't bury. His pain, that of a grieving father for his dead child, is so deep he can't let go of it. His ex-wife, Pernilla, who gets his blame for the death, is by the end of the book less shibboleth and more a flawed and also grieving person. Maybe, now that he's got some perspective, he can let go of his raw pain and move forward...we shall see. And that, right there, is the genius of this series: I care, and I want to see. I'm really invested in the characters.
The murder of a young girl, and its ties to Sandhamn's past, wasn't as successful for me. In part this is down to the fact that, while I am perfectly happy to suspend disbelief, the interrelationship of the modern crime with Nora's house and, by extension, her already troubled idea of her long-ago found family, strained the relevant emotional muscles too far. That, plus a fair-play violation in the form of a crucial interrelationship of past and present being completely withheld, left me feeling less kindly toward that aspect of the read.
I am also really discomfited by Nora's too-easy acceptance of some very shady "explanations" of a new character's deeply creeper-y behaviors. It could simply be the author felt they were sufficient...this all takes place pre-#MeToo...but they read as troubling to me because Nora doesn't seem to question the man's motives more than superficially. It's kind-of of a piece with the spoilery problem I had with book 2. This ain't, to my old-man eyes, any kind of a message I think should sit well with anyone in the 2020s.
Don't start here, but don't skip the story in its turn. It might not be my favorite of them so far, but it's got a lot going for it.
The Publisher Says: The tiny Swedish island of Sandhamn has always been a haven for lawyer Nora Linde. With trouble brewing in her marriage, she finds its comforts more welcome than ever, even in the depths of winter. That is, until her two young sons trip across a severed arm in the woods.
The boys’ gruesome discovery will once again connect Nora with her childhood friend Thomas Andreasson, now a local police detective. When the limb is identified as belonging to a twenty-year-old woman who disappeared without a trace months earlier, what had been a missing persons case takes on a whole new urgency.
Nora and Thomas delve deeply into the woman’s final hours, each of them wrestling not only with the case but with the private demons it awakens in them. As they do, they’ll find themselves drawn into the history of Sandhamn and the tensions that have been simmering just below the surface for more than a hundred years.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: ScandiCozy all over again...the novel, which is to say the ongoing series part of the read, is about the familial misadventures and vicissitudes of the main characters. This part of the read worked very well for me. Thomas's life as a cop is complicated enough to scare off an understanding and caring partner, let alone a self-centered one like Thomas's ex-wife. Nora the lawyer's finally bumped into the immutable reality that her snobbish doctor husband is a complete waste of her time and emotion when his ongoing infidelity is revealed (to no one's shock except Nora's). Now she needs to find a way to co-parent with someone she quite rightly despises after learning of his betrayal of her.
Thomas is at a different crossroads. His future is as unclear as his friend Nora's is, but he needs to reckon with a past that he's mostly dealt with by running from what he can't bury. His pain, that of a grieving father for his dead child, is so deep he can't let go of it. His ex-wife, Pernilla, who gets his blame for the death, is by the end of the book less shibboleth and more a flawed and also grieving person. Maybe, now that he's got some perspective, he can let go of his raw pain and move forward...we shall see. And that, right there, is the genius of this series: I care, and I want to see. I'm really invested in the characters.
The murder of a young girl, and its ties to Sandhamn's past, wasn't as successful for me. In part this is down to the fact that, while I am perfectly happy to suspend disbelief, the interrelationship of the modern crime with Nora's house and, by extension, her already troubled idea of her long-ago found family, strained the relevant emotional muscles too far. That, plus a fair-play violation in the form of a crucial interrelationship of past and present being completely withheld, left me feeling less kindly toward that aspect of the read.
I am also really discomfited by Nora's too-easy acceptance of some very shady "explanations" of a new character's deeply creeper-y behaviors. It could simply be the author felt they were sufficient...this all takes place pre-#MeToo...but they read as troubling to me because Nora doesn't seem to question the man's motives more than superficially. It's kind-of of a piece with the spoilery problem I had with book 2. This ain't, to my old-man eyes, any kind of a message I think should sit well with anyone in the 2020s.
Don't start here, but don't skip the story in its turn. It might not be my favorite of them so far, but it's got a lot going for it.
October 12, 2023
( AUDIOLIBRO)
Como no quiero ser injusto le doy 4 estrellas de 5.
No son realmente libros policiacos, pero me ha pasado con estos lo que con los de Riley Paige, que me "tiran" más por la historia de los personajes principales que por el crimen men en sí, solo que estos me parecen mejores incluso.
En resumen, que enganchan que no veas y que el crimen es lo de menos.
Por cierto, ojo al "gancho" final, es épico.
Como no quiero ser injusto le doy 4 estrellas de 5.
No son realmente libros policiacos, pero me ha pasado con estos lo que con los de Riley Paige, que me "tiran" más por la historia de los personajes principales que por el crimen men en sí, solo que estos me parecen mejores incluso.
En resumen, que enganchan que no veas y que el crimen es lo de menos.
Por cierto, ojo al "gancho" final, es épico.
June 21, 2020
A young woman disappeared on Sandhamn. Months later Nora's sons discover a black bag while playing. Thomas and Margit come to the island to investigate. Nora left her husband after discovering his affair with a nurse. She ran to Sandhamn since the boys were on a school break.Thomas' ex-wife returns to Stockholm and visits Thomas. The book also contains a century old story relevant to the current investigation although not immediately apparent. I didn't like the way the story ended, but since the series continues I assume the outcome will end up being favorable. I really enjoy this series and look forward to the next installment. (3.5 stars)
December 2, 2017
Me ha parecido asombrosa. Esperaba mucha calidad por lo que había oído pero no imaginaba que me gustaría tanto como para leerla en 5 noches. Buena descripción de los personajes, lugares, buena trama, bien hilvanada la historia, intriga creciendo desde la primera página, final emotivo e inesperado. Lo tiene todo.
Compré este libro en un kiosko junto a otro de la misma autora. Estoy deseando empezarlo también.
Muy recomendable.
Compré este libro en un kiosko junto a otro de la misma autora. Estoy deseando empezarlo también.
Muy recomendable.
June 8, 2022
I love having a good crime/thriller series that you can just binge on. Those series where you can follow the lives of the main characters and every book is a new crime or murder case. I've loved series by Karin Slaughter, M.J. Arlidge and now this series by Viveca Sten is high on my list to binge read this year!
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
If you love those crime/mystery series that follow certain main-characters and their lives during the several books in a series; this is a series to read! The setting is so unique; Sandhamn in Sweden. After reading 3 books in this series, it just feels like coming home. And then in this third book Viveca Sten shows us she has some tricks up her sleeve... With that huge CLIFFHANGER. You gotta love it, and I do!
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
If you love those crime/mystery series that follow certain main-characters and their lives during the several books in a series; this is a series to read! The setting is so unique; Sandhamn in Sweden. After reading 3 books in this series, it just feels like coming home. And then in this third book Viveca Sten shows us she has some tricks up her sleeve... With that huge CLIFFHANGER. You gotta love it, and I do!
April 27, 2018
The focus is less on the mystery and more on the personal lives. Nora's situtation is interesting; Thomas' less so. An good enough reader, lite and easy.
January 9, 2023
I’m finally reviewing the third book in the Sandhamn murders with Series 8 of the show starting next week. Yay. And this is a tricky one to review with quite a long sub story set nearly 100 years in the past. Like a few other readers this is my least favourite of the three books I have read and Sten takes a harder line than in the equivalent tv episode, killing off at least one more person than in the show.
“The tiny Swedish island of Sandhamn has always been a haven for lawyer Nora Linde. With trouble brewing in her marriage, she finds its comforts more welcome than ever, even in the depths of winter. That is, until her two young sons trip across a severed arm in the woods.”
Nora Linde is one of my favourite characters, not just in this series but in any book I’ve read and I think this is the main reason I actually read the three books. In this book when we catch up with Nora we are straight into her life with no preliminaries. In just one page Nora and the reader discover that Henryk, her husband, is having an affair. She flees to the island and that’s where Simon, her son, discovers the arm. He finally manages to tell his mother and from then on Nora and Thomas (her childhood friend and police officer) are drawn together; Thomas reopens the investigation of a missing girl and Nora, beginning her life as a single mother, is reading the diaries of life on the islands in the early part of the 20th century. She found them in the beautiful old house she inherited in the second book. Of course, the murder and the diaries are linked but you’ll have to read the book to discover just how.
“The tiny Swedish island of Sandhamn has always been a haven for lawyer Nora Linde. With trouble brewing in her marriage, she finds its comforts more welcome than ever, even in the depths of winter. That is, until her two young sons trip across a severed arm in the woods.”
Nora Linde is one of my favourite characters, not just in this series but in any book I’ve read and I think this is the main reason I actually read the three books. In this book when we catch up with Nora we are straight into her life with no preliminaries. In just one page Nora and the reader discover that Henryk, her husband, is having an affair. She flees to the island and that’s where Simon, her son, discovers the arm. He finally manages to tell his mother and from then on Nora and Thomas (her childhood friend and police officer) are drawn together; Thomas reopens the investigation of a missing girl and Nora, beginning her life as a single mother, is reading the diaries of life on the islands in the early part of the 20th century. She found them in the beautiful old house she inherited in the second book. Of course, the murder and the diaries are linked but you’ll have to read the book to discover just how.
October 22, 2020
Tämä on sarjan kolmas osa, ja huomaan tykästyneeni näihin varsin leppoisiin Sandhamn-kirjoihin. Ihmissuhteet ovat murhaselvittelyjä melkein keskeisemmässä roolissa, ja kylläpä ne jännään kohtaan jäivätkin tämän kirjan lopussa.
April 17, 2024
Liked the book . Not happy about the cliffhanger. Luckily the next in this series is available.
September 6, 2018
Thomas affronte ses vieux fantômes. Nora est mise k-o par les siens. Une lecture confortable même si l'enquête est davantage poignante que palpitante.
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http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...
February 24, 2022
4.5/5
I obtained a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
Guiltless is the third novel in the Sandham Murders series. Nora recently finds out her husband, and father of her children, has cheated on her with a nurse at his hospital. The only saving grace in this troubling time is that her kids are scheduled for mid-semester break. Nora takes her two boys to the island of Sandham so she can collect her thoughts, think of her next move, and avoid her soon-to-be ex-husband. She soon learns that Sandham isn't the quiet, small town she has grown to love. After her sons discover a disembodied arm in the woods, Nora now needs to find a way to maintain a sense of normalcy for her children while dealing with the loss of her marriage. Thomas and Margit are seasoned police officers on the case of missing person Lena Rosen. Though dealing with his own personal struggles, Thomas is dedicated to solving this case. With glimpses into a seemingly unrelated history into the life of a young boy in 1928 Sandham spliced into the story, Nora, Thomas, and Margit discover a horrifying and deep seeded truth.
Even though this book is the third of a series, it is able to stand alone as a solid read. I have not read the first two books, but the character history was briefly explained when background information was necessary. This allowed a stronger connection with the characters, for me, without taking away from the current story line. This book was over 350 pages for the kindle edition, but the words flew by as the story is fast paced and doesn't idle.
Viveca Sten's novel is translated from Swedish by Marlaine Delargy and some misspelling or translational issues are understandable. I did see two spelling errors that would have hardly make an impact on the story and I don't know enough about Sandham or Sweden in general to catch any inconsistencies. This book was enjoyable and gripping. The use of psychoanalyzing a murderer has always interested me. While that part of the story was brief, it was vital to catching a killer.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cozy mystery, but I would caution the reader that some descriptions can be graphic. This is not exactly a thriller but does have its moments of anticipation. I give it 4.5/5 stars because I feel like one character did not quite sit well with me. A friendly neighbor type, Pelle Forsberg, who seems to keep showing up but is a little creepy. In the end, his behavior is explained away with simple excuses which Nora accepts. It seems too neat and tidy, and I think women, especially, need to follow their instincts.
Overall, this was a fun and interesting read. I could not put together the full story until the final few chapters, so I saw this as a challenge that won over my self-proclaimed detective skills.
I obtained a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
Guiltless is the third novel in the Sandham Murders series. Nora recently finds out her husband, and father of her children, has cheated on her with a nurse at his hospital. The only saving grace in this troubling time is that her kids are scheduled for mid-semester break. Nora takes her two boys to the island of Sandham so she can collect her thoughts, think of her next move, and avoid her soon-to-be ex-husband. She soon learns that Sandham isn't the quiet, small town she has grown to love. After her sons discover a disembodied arm in the woods, Nora now needs to find a way to maintain a sense of normalcy for her children while dealing with the loss of her marriage. Thomas and Margit are seasoned police officers on the case of missing person Lena Rosen. Though dealing with his own personal struggles, Thomas is dedicated to solving this case. With glimpses into a seemingly unrelated history into the life of a young boy in 1928 Sandham spliced into the story, Nora, Thomas, and Margit discover a horrifying and deep seeded truth.
Even though this book is the third of a series, it is able to stand alone as a solid read. I have not read the first two books, but the character history was briefly explained when background information was necessary. This allowed a stronger connection with the characters, for me, without taking away from the current story line. This book was over 350 pages for the kindle edition, but the words flew by as the story is fast paced and doesn't idle.
Viveca Sten's novel is translated from Swedish by Marlaine Delargy and some misspelling or translational issues are understandable. I did see two spelling errors that would have hardly make an impact on the story and I don't know enough about Sandham or Sweden in general to catch any inconsistencies. This book was enjoyable and gripping. The use of psychoanalyzing a murderer has always interested me. While that part of the story was brief, it was vital to catching a killer.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cozy mystery, but I would caution the reader that some descriptions can be graphic. This is not exactly a thriller but does have its moments of anticipation. I give it 4.5/5 stars because I feel like one character did not quite sit well with me. A friendly neighbor type, Pelle Forsberg, who seems to keep showing up but is a little creepy. In the end, his behavior is explained away with simple excuses which Nora accepts. It seems too neat and tidy, and I think women, especially, need to follow their instincts.
Overall, this was a fun and interesting read. I could not put together the full story until the final few chapters, so I saw this as a challenge that won over my self-proclaimed detective skills.
October 3, 2017
Guiltless is my third trip to Sandhamn, a small island off the Swedish coast with a population of only a couple of hundred people but – seemingly – a lot of murder. I have to say, it sounds beautiful there, but – given the death count – I would think twice before visiting.
This time, the victim is a young girl, missing for months before Nora’s boys find her body. She is an island native (vs. the visitors that flood the island in the summer) and so her death is possibly more shocking than it might have been otherwise and the small community are rocked to it’s core. The question is why and who?
It’s a question Nora finds herself in the middle of, not just because her sons found the body but because her best friend, Thomas, is investing the case. Nora and Thomas make an interesting team. They don’t investigate together as such but they do use each other to bounce ideas off, as well as supporting each other in life in general.
I like their relationship (purely platonic) and both Nora and Thomas as individuals and I think it is this that keeps bringing me back to the series. They are genuinely nice people, the type I would want to know. Their friendships seems natural and I can only commend Sten for how well she has created these two people.
Her plots too are pretty good. There is a simplicity to them when you first start reading but soon the twists start coming and you don’t really know where you are. Clever. At the same time, a word that does pop to mind when describing her novels is gentle because you aren’t being beaten over the head with wild card detectives or omnipotent killers. There is an old fashioned element here, a lot of who dunit and (thankfully) very little in the way of gruesome.
This style fits me perfectly more often now I find. I don’t like lots of gore with my crime and I am tiring of detectives that go out on their own and don’t listen to anyone else on their team, usually whilst not sleeping, not eating and drinking too much. There is none of that in Thomas, and I like it. I also liked the book – a lot – and definitely recommend it (including for those who haven’t read the first two – it’s definitely a standalone).
This time, the victim is a young girl, missing for months before Nora’s boys find her body. She is an island native (vs. the visitors that flood the island in the summer) and so her death is possibly more shocking than it might have been otherwise and the small community are rocked to it’s core. The question is why and who?
It’s a question Nora finds herself in the middle of, not just because her sons found the body but because her best friend, Thomas, is investing the case. Nora and Thomas make an interesting team. They don’t investigate together as such but they do use each other to bounce ideas off, as well as supporting each other in life in general.
I like their relationship (purely platonic) and both Nora and Thomas as individuals and I think it is this that keeps bringing me back to the series. They are genuinely nice people, the type I would want to know. Their friendships seems natural and I can only commend Sten for how well she has created these two people.
Her plots too are pretty good. There is a simplicity to them when you first start reading but soon the twists start coming and you don’t really know where you are. Clever. At the same time, a word that does pop to mind when describing her novels is gentle because you aren’t being beaten over the head with wild card detectives or omnipotent killers. There is an old fashioned element here, a lot of who dunit and (thankfully) very little in the way of gruesome.
This style fits me perfectly more often now I find. I don’t like lots of gore with my crime and I am tiring of detectives that go out on their own and don’t listen to anyone else on their team, usually whilst not sleeping, not eating and drinking too much. There is none of that in Thomas, and I like it. I also liked the book – a lot – and definitely recommend it (including for those who haven’t read the first two – it’s definitely a standalone).
June 9, 2017
In the summer, the small Swedish island of Sandhamn is known for its "beautiful beaches and delightful regattas", but on a stormy Fall night, a young woman named Lina Rosen has disappeared. Four months later, the case is still unsolved and it's up to D.I. Thomas Andreasson, his partner Margit Grankvist, and his friend Nora Linde to find out the truth about what happened to Lina.
I've read quite a few Scandinavian mysteries and I really like this novel by Viveca Sten. This is third in a series, but the first I have read. I feel like I didn't get to know Margit very well from this book and it could be that background was given in one of the prior two books. I liked Thomas as a person and an investigator and his friend Nora is likeable, sympathetic, and intelligent.
In addition to the current mystery, the narrative includes flashbacks to a Sandhamn family going back as far as 1899. The tragic events related in those chapters are eventually and smoothly tied in to the present. I couldn't wait to see what, if anything, these characters from the past had to do with the current case.
The book is well-written and suspenseful. The writing style and the use of history paired with current event reminds me of Swedish author Camilla Lackberg, who is one of my favorites. As mentioned above, not all of the characters are as fully fleshed out as I would have liked, but that could be due to reading this book without reading the prior installments. The case is solved by the end of the book, but I was disappointed that a huge cliffhanger regarding an important character was left unresolved. Luckily, the next book comes out in English later this year. Until then, I plan to catch up on the first two books of this series. I'm so glad I was able to read this book and discover a new author that I really like.
I received this book from the Goodreads First-Reads program. The book was provided to me and in turn, I have provided an honest review.
I've read quite a few Scandinavian mysteries and I really like this novel by Viveca Sten. This is third in a series, but the first I have read. I feel like I didn't get to know Margit very well from this book and it could be that background was given in one of the prior two books. I liked Thomas as a person and an investigator and his friend Nora is likeable, sympathetic, and intelligent.
In addition to the current mystery, the narrative includes flashbacks to a Sandhamn family going back as far as 1899. The tragic events related in those chapters are eventually and smoothly tied in to the present. I couldn't wait to see what, if anything, these characters from the past had to do with the current case.
The book is well-written and suspenseful. The writing style and the use of history paired with current event reminds me of Swedish author Camilla Lackberg, who is one of my favorites. As mentioned above, not all of the characters are as fully fleshed out as I would have liked, but that could be due to reading this book without reading the prior installments. The case is solved by the end of the book, but I was disappointed that a huge cliffhanger regarding an important character was left unresolved. Luckily, the next book comes out in English later this year. Until then, I plan to catch up on the first two books of this series. I'm so glad I was able to read this book and discover a new author that I really like.
I received this book from the Goodreads First-Reads program. The book was provided to me and in turn, I have provided an honest review.
June 5, 2017
I enjoy reading about Sandhamn by Viveca Sten each story is totally different from the others except for the characters. The Island life is very fascinating and interesting and yet you have this weird feeling about whats going to happen. Nora Linde is a fantastic person who has diabetes, a cheating husband, and two small boys that she is fanatical about and a curiosity that happens to be right on the money. Her best friend, Thomas is a policeman who been through a lot of finding fault with blaming his former wife for the death of their child has come to his senses and no longer puts the blame on her.
The story starts with the disappearance of Lina Rosén who was cycling home from a friends house. After a extensive search of the Island the police finally gave up. Several months go by and Nora takes her boys out to Sandhamn away from their father once she learns he was unfaithful. The boys make a gruesome discovery and Nora goes to where they found it and then called Thomas about it. The police go in one direction but Nora, who's the owner of her make-believe Aunt's home discovers some diaries which tell of a feuding relatives and she suspects the people for the disappearance.
You can figure out what happens if you read this book yourself. I recommend it Highly.
The story starts with the disappearance of Lina Rosén who was cycling home from a friends house. After a extensive search of the Island the police finally gave up. Several months go by and Nora takes her boys out to Sandhamn away from their father once she learns he was unfaithful. The boys make a gruesome discovery and Nora goes to where they found it and then called Thomas about it. The police go in one direction but Nora, who's the owner of her make-believe Aunt's home discovers some diaries which tell of a feuding relatives and she suspects the people for the disappearance.
You can figure out what happens if you read this book yourself. I recommend it Highly.
October 28, 2020
As I read this series I get more invested in the characters, which is not unusual, I guess.
This book had an interesting feature, two story lines, one taking place on Sandhamm in the early twentieth century and the main story taking place in current times. Besides providing an intriguing mystery, these two threads contrasted life on Sandhamm during two different time periods.
I look forward to the learning more about the island as I advance in the series.
This book had an interesting feature, two story lines, one taking place on Sandhamm in the early twentieth century and the main story taking place in current times. Besides providing an intriguing mystery, these two threads contrasted life on Sandhamm during two different time periods.
I look forward to the learning more about the island as I advance in the series.
April 11, 2022
Interesting Murder mystery set on the small island of Sandhamn, Sweden. Interspersed with the historical background of several generations and their connection to the murder.
December 24, 2017
Ogni tanto entro nel tunnel del giallo Svezia e parto a nastro, leggendo un sacco di libri tutti in fila e provando ad approcciare nuovi autori. O, in questo caso, autrici. Viveca Sten fa parte di quella banda di autrici svedesi che mettono in scena crimini e indagini ambientati negli idilliaci paesaggi scandinavi, come la piccola isola di Sandhamn, a largo di Stoccolma.
"Com'è possibile scomparire nel nulla su un'isola così piccola?" Questa è la difficile domanda a cui deve trovare risposta l'ispettore Thomas Andreasson, chiamato a investigare sulla misteriosa sparizione di una giovane ragazza di cui si sono perse le tracce mentre stava venendo via dalla casa della sua migliore amica. Le indagini sembrano a un punto morto, quando per caso viene riscoperto parte del cadavere, fatto a pezzi per meglio nascondere le tracce. Ad aiutare Thomas, oltre ai colleghi, c'è la sua amica d'infanzia, Nora, avvocato che sta passando qualche giorno sull'isola con i figli per fuggire dalla crisi del suo matrimonio e dall'imminente divorzio (ovviamente, sono ancora in attesa di trovare un protagonista di questi gialli scandinavi che abbia una vita felice, o almeno serena...anche Thomas non scherza: pure lui separato e ancora segnato dal trauma della morte della sua unica figlia). Tra piste varie, la vera ragione di questo brutale omicidio trova le sue radici in un rancore profondo e implacabile che attraversa le diverse generazioni di due rami della stessa famiglia: fratello contro sorella, cugini cresciuti separati, e su tutti l'ombra di un padre violento e fanatico (che si era ripromesso di non trattare mai i propri figli nel modo in cui sui padre aveva trattato lui da ragazzo, fallendo miseramente). E tre vittime innocenti che finiscono per pagare per una faida di famiglia di cui non hanno nessuna colpa.
Mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio, ma la lettura è stata comunque piacevole e scorrevole. Certo, a volte tutta la storia della vendetta famigliare mi sembrava un tantino cervellotica, ma nel complesso la storia non era male. Un piccolo appunto: questo non è il primo libro della serie di Sandhamn, ma il terzo. Purtroppo mi sono fatta ingannare dal sito della Marsilio, senza controllare meglio, comunque sia la vicenda si segue benissimo anche senza la lettura dei volumi precedenti.
"Com'è possibile scomparire nel nulla su un'isola così piccola?" Questa è la difficile domanda a cui deve trovare risposta l'ispettore Thomas Andreasson, chiamato a investigare sulla misteriosa sparizione di una giovane ragazza di cui si sono perse le tracce mentre stava venendo via dalla casa della sua migliore amica. Le indagini sembrano a un punto morto, quando per caso viene riscoperto parte del cadavere, fatto a pezzi per meglio nascondere le tracce. Ad aiutare Thomas, oltre ai colleghi, c'è la sua amica d'infanzia, Nora, avvocato che sta passando qualche giorno sull'isola con i figli per fuggire dalla crisi del suo matrimonio e dall'imminente divorzio (ovviamente, sono ancora in attesa di trovare un protagonista di questi gialli scandinavi che abbia una vita felice, o almeno serena...anche Thomas non scherza: pure lui separato e ancora segnato dal trauma della morte della sua unica figlia). Tra piste varie, la vera ragione di questo brutale omicidio trova le sue radici in un rancore profondo e implacabile che attraversa le diverse generazioni di due rami della stessa famiglia: fratello contro sorella, cugini cresciuti separati, e su tutti l'ombra di un padre violento e fanatico (che si era ripromesso di non trattare mai i propri figli nel modo in cui sui padre aveva trattato lui da ragazzo, fallendo miseramente). E tre vittime innocenti che finiscono per pagare per una faida di famiglia di cui non hanno nessuna colpa.
Mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio, ma la lettura è stata comunque piacevole e scorrevole. Certo, a volte tutta la storia della vendetta famigliare mi sembrava un tantino cervellotica, ma nel complesso la storia non era male. Un piccolo appunto: questo non è il primo libro della serie di Sandhamn, ma il terzo. Purtroppo mi sono fatta ingannare dal sito della Marsilio, senza controllare meglio, comunque sia la vicenda si segue benissimo anche senza la lettura dei volumi precedenti.
September 19, 2020
Es la tercera novela que leo de la autora y, sin duda, es la mejor hasta ahora.
La novela se inicia con la desaparición y búsqueda de Lina Rosén, pero, dadas las condiciones climáticas, tiene que suspenderse. Cuando todo parece relativamente perdido, un acontecimiento reabre la investigación y a partir de ahí son varios los sospechosos que se presentan.
La novela está narrada en dos tiempos (presente y pasado). Ambas narraciones están perfectamente enlazadas y se sustentan entre ellas. Lo sucedido en el pasado vincula sobremanera lo que sucede en el presente.
Junto a la trama principal, la autora sigue desarrollando las vidas de personajes continuos en todas sus novelas (personal de la comisaría, principalmente). Estas historias relatan acontecimientos que poco tienen que ver con la trama principal, pero que nos resultan interesantes a quienes conocemos a los personajes de otras novelas y queremos saber cómo evolucionan sus vidas. Además, hay que destacar que no se tratan de historias aisladas de la trama principal, sino que participan muy activamente en la misma.
La pluma de la autora es ágil, lo que, sumado a capítulos cortos y a la propia trama, hace que te atrape de principio a fin.
En definitiva, llegar al final me ha hecho desear empezar a leer la siguiente novela de Viveca Sten.
La novela se inicia con la desaparición y búsqueda de Lina Rosén, pero, dadas las condiciones climáticas, tiene que suspenderse. Cuando todo parece relativamente perdido, un acontecimiento reabre la investigación y a partir de ahí son varios los sospechosos que se presentan.
La novela está narrada en dos tiempos (presente y pasado). Ambas narraciones están perfectamente enlazadas y se sustentan entre ellas. Lo sucedido en el pasado vincula sobremanera lo que sucede en el presente.
Junto a la trama principal, la autora sigue desarrollando las vidas de personajes continuos en todas sus novelas (personal de la comisaría, principalmente). Estas historias relatan acontecimientos que poco tienen que ver con la trama principal, pero que nos resultan interesantes a quienes conocemos a los personajes de otras novelas y queremos saber cómo evolucionan sus vidas. Además, hay que destacar que no se tratan de historias aisladas de la trama principal, sino que participan muy activamente en la misma.
La pluma de la autora es ágil, lo que, sumado a capítulos cortos y a la propia trama, hace que te atrape de principio a fin.
En definitiva, llegar al final me ha hecho desear empezar a leer la siguiente novela de Viveca Sten.
May 27, 2017
The story goes back and forth between a current story and one from the early 1900's. - I wondered how the 2 stories connected. The current story is the death of a young girl. She had been missing for several months - when suddenly her arm was discovered by children playing in the snow
The older story is about a family with 2 children - The father is very controlling and abusive.
Since I have read the other two books, I was familiar with the main characters and their past stories - I felt as if I were catching up with old friends. I think this could be a stand alone book very easily - except the reader might not catch the nuances of relationships between the characters
The older story is about a family with 2 children - The father is very controlling and abusive.
Since I have read the other two books, I was familiar with the main characters and their past stories - I felt as if I were catching up with old friends. I think this could be a stand alone book very easily - except the reader might not catch the nuances of relationships between the characters
February 12, 2018
I picked up Guiltless for the Sweden stop on my Around the World in 80 Books challenge. I had not read the first or second novels in the series, but that did not seem to matter at all. I found that it worked very well indeed as a standalone novel. Guiltless takes part on a small island in the Swedish archipelago named Sandhamn, and is engaging from its very first page. Throughout, the novel is really well plotted and structured, and its translation is fluid. The sense of place and characters are well built, and I found Guiltless overall to be so easy to read, and so absorbing.
May 7, 2018
Well! This was certainly a much more disturbing book than the previous two in the series. And the murder mystery proper was nowhere near as predictable as in previous.....but I'm slightly aggravated because our author held out a key relationship fact until way late in the book (that was not a spoiler, I promise). Very thankful to have a bit more open time on the calendar to keep bingeing on this series. Totally sucked in to the main characters' personal lives.
May 13, 2024
This was such a fast read. The pacing is just right, and even though there is a dual timeline (not one of my faves), it works because I was curious how the two stories would fit together. The solution came together logically and satisfyingly, even if Sten had held some information back.
I haven't read any other books in this series, but I already want to read the next one. Sten balances the immediate mystery of this novel with the larger arc of the characters, and I am invested enough to want to know what happens next.
I don't want to give anything away about the story, but this was the right level of not too gory for me - but check first if you have sensitivities.
I haven't read any other books in this series, but I already want to read the next one. Sten balances the immediate mystery of this novel with the larger arc of the characters, and I am invested enough to want to know what happens next.
I don't want to give anything away about the story, but this was the right level of not too gory for me - but check first if you have sensitivities.
February 11, 2020
I was enjoying this book until the ending. Whoever came up with the trend of books in a series ending in cliffhangers should be smacked. I don't care that the next book is out and all. It isn't fair to the reader for books not to have a definite ending. Especially when there's danger to a main character involved, plot armor or no plot armor. So infuriating.
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