#allthebookreviews: The Sandman by Lars Kepler @aaknopf @crimebythebook #larskepler
The Sandman
by Lars Kepler
Thanks so much to Knopf Publicity for these copioes!
This is pretty much right in Jessica and I's wheelhouse. See both of our 5 STAR reviews below.
HAPPY PUBLISHING DAY!!!
HAPPY PUBLISHING DAY!!!
Publisher: Knopf
Published: March 6, 2018
Hardcover
464 Pages
Series: Joona Linna #4
Genres: Nordic Noir, Thriller, Crime Fiction
The #1 internationally best-selling thriller from the author of The Hypnotist tells the chilling story of a manipulative serial killer and the two brilliant police agents who must try to beat him at his own game.
Late one night, outside Stockholm, Mikael Kohler-Frost is found wandering. Thirteen years earlier, he went missing along with his younger sister. They were long thought to have been victims of Sweden's most notorious serial killer, Jurek Walter, now serving a life sentence in a maximum security psychiatric hospital. Now Mikael tells the police that his sister is still alive and being held by someone he knows only as the Sandman. Years ago, Detective Inspector Joona Linna made an excruciating personal sacrifice to ensure Jurek's capture. He is keenly aware of what this killer is capable of, and now he is certain that Jurek has an accomplice. He knows that any chance of rescuing Mikael's sister depends on getting Jurek to talk, and that the only agent capable of this is Inspector Saga Bauer, a twenty-seven-year-old prodigy. She will have to go under deep cover in the psychiatric ward where Jurek is imprisoned, and she will have to find a way to get to the psychopath before it's too late--and before he gets inside her head.
Late one night, outside Stockholm, Mikael Kohler-Frost is found wandering. Thirteen years earlier, he went missing along with his younger sister. They were long thought to have been victims of Sweden's most notorious serial killer, Jurek Walter, now serving a life sentence in a maximum security psychiatric hospital. Now Mikael tells the police that his sister is still alive and being held by someone he knows only as the Sandman. Years ago, Detective Inspector Joona Linna made an excruciating personal sacrifice to ensure Jurek's capture. He is keenly aware of what this killer is capable of, and now he is certain that Jurek has an accomplice. He knows that any chance of rescuing Mikael's sister depends on getting Jurek to talk, and that the only agent capable of this is Inspector Saga Bauer, a twenty-seven-year-old prodigy. She will have to go under deep cover in the psychiatric ward where Jurek is imprisoned, and she will have to find a way to get to the psychopath before it's too late--and before he gets inside her head.
My Review:
Fast paced and wickedly delicious. A must read for any thriller lover!
The synopsis alone drew me in right away. Undercover in a psychiatric ward? Yes please! This book is just flat out fantastic. With multiple perspectives, the authors bring you right into the middle of this fiendish operation. Thirteen years and going strong, somehow Jurek still manages to terrorize his victims and their families. Uff, my beating heart and my soft spot for a truly villainous antagonist.
While the hardcover looks like a monster, do not let the size intimidate you. These are all 2-3 page chapters and it reads FAST. These types of chapters are always a hit for me.. and ingenious. Ok - just a couple more pages... a couple more... a couple more... next thing you know I'm an hour late to my friend's birthday dinner. Oops! 😈
This storyline just sinks its teeth right into you, growls and dares you to try and get away. Addicting and consuming, you will NOT want to put this down. My favorite character? Saga. This woman. BAD ASS. Prodigy or not, going undercover to go face to face with a known serial killer takes a lot of ... well it just takes a lot OF!
This is the fourth book in the Joona Linna series. If you're like me and like to read series books in order, do NOT let this deter you.... it reads like a standalone and you won't feel lost in any way.
I could go on and on about this book but what I'll do instead is just tell you to buy it, borrow it, pick it up. Set aside a few hours and strap yourself in (safety first!). This is a ride you're going to want to be on.
★★★★★
Jessica's Review:
This was my introduction to Lars Kepler, and man, talk about starting out with a bang! THE SANDMAN was everything you want in a thriller/suspense novel. Short chapters, a serial killer, great detectives, and alternating perspectives make for an incredibly addictive read. The synopsis alone is enough to pull anyone in!
Despite how large this book is, you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll fly through it. As someone that ends on chapters I found myself saying "Just one more chapter" probably 20 times in a row - thank you 2-3 page chapters for keeping me up all night! I had no idea this was book four in a series so don't shy away from this because of that. It reads perfectly as a standalone.
A serial killer locked away in a psychiatric ward, a new missing person with eerily similar circumstances. Detective Saga Bauer must go into deep cover to find a way to the psychopath before it's too late - which means going into the psychiatric ward. Will Jurek get under her skin and into her mind before she can find out if he has an accomplice working on the outside?
That's about all I'm going to say about the plot of this book. You need to go into this without too much information. Jurek is a fantastic antagonist. Truly evil and a psychopath - what more could we want in a villain? Saga is definitely a stand out and you'll fall in love with her as she tries to take down this serial killer.
Overall, you need to pick this one up. If you're even mildly intrigued by the premise, then you won't be disappointed. Set aside some time and get ready for this addictively dark and disturbing story to grab you and not let go!
I give this all the stars - 5/5 stars!
Jessica's Review:
Despite how large this book is, you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll fly through it. As someone that ends on chapters I found myself saying "Just one more chapter" probably 20 times in a row - thank you 2-3 page chapters for keeping me up all night! I had no idea this was book four in a series so don't shy away from this because of that. It reads perfectly as a standalone.
A serial killer locked away in a psychiatric ward, a new missing person with eerily similar circumstances. Detective Saga Bauer must go into deep cover to find a way to the psychopath before it's too late - which means going into the psychiatric ward. Will Jurek get under her skin and into her mind before she can find out if he has an accomplice working on the outside?
That's about all I'm going to say about the plot of this book. You need to go into this without too much information. Jurek is a fantastic antagonist. Truly evil and a psychopath - what more could we want in a villain? Saga is definitely a stand out and you'll fall in love with her as she tries to take down this serial killer.
Overall, you need to pick this one up. If you're even mildly intrigued by the premise, then you won't be disappointed. Set aside some time and get ready for this addictively dark and disturbing story to grab you and not let go!
I give this all the stars - 5/5 stars!
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