Last One Alive (Kjeld Nygaard 2)
Karin Nordin
Back in December, I was lucky enough to be sent an advanced copy of Karin Nordin’s fantastic Where Ravens Roost, the first in her new Kjeld Nygaard series. Well I’ve just finished Last One Alive, and I’m delighted to say that the series just gets better and better!
Where Ravens Roost left us with intriguing hints as to how Kjeld had found himself suspended, as well as insights into his life in Gothenburg, with his ex-husband Bengt and his young daughter, Tove.
This book takes us to Gothenburg; Kjeld’s suspension has been lifted, but the reasons for that still hang over him like a cloud.
The book opens with the murder of a young woman; a woman from Kjeld’s past. As more victims are killed, it soon becomes clear that this case is personal to Kjeld. And when Tove is placed in danger, his past actions return to haunt him.
In the first book, Kjeld’s troubled family life is laid bare. I said at the time, that it didn’t feel like a debut, or even the first in a series. Kjeld, and his sidekick Esme, jump off the page fully formed. This book manages to repeat the same feat. This is the first time we have seen Kjeld working and living in Gothenburg, but you could easily believe that Nordin has been writing these characters for several books. In addition to the expected character development for Kjeld, we also learn more about Esme; it’s clear that there are hidden layers that will be revealed over time.
As before, the book is an authentic slice of ScandiNoir. Swedish society is laid out in an accessible manner for the non-Scandinavian, with enough Swedish place names and businesses to give a strong sense of place, without scaring off Anglophones with no experience of the country.
The book is satisfying complex, with unexpected revelations throughout. Best of all, like book one, it really hooks you into the series, not just this story. That’s not to say that it isn’t complete. The mystery is resolved at the end, but Nordin leaves enough threads dangling that you want to grab the next in the series to remain in this world and continue the tale.
The book will be available on September 15th for download, with the paperback following in November.
This is definitely a #RecommendedRead.
Where Ravens Roost left us with intriguing hints as to how Kjeld had found himself suspended, as well as insights into his life in Gothenburg, with his ex-husband Bengt and his young daughter, Tove.
This book takes us to Gothenburg; Kjeld’s suspension has been lifted, but the reasons for that still hang over him like a cloud.
The book opens with the murder of a young woman; a woman from Kjeld’s past. As more victims are killed, it soon becomes clear that this case is personal to Kjeld. And when Tove is placed in danger, his past actions return to haunt him.
In the first book, Kjeld’s troubled family life is laid bare. I said at the time, that it didn’t feel like a debut, or even the first in a series. Kjeld, and his sidekick Esme, jump off the page fully formed. This book manages to repeat the same feat. This is the first time we have seen Kjeld working and living in Gothenburg, but you could easily believe that Nordin has been writing these characters for several books. In addition to the expected character development for Kjeld, we also learn more about Esme; it’s clear that there are hidden layers that will be revealed over time.
As before, the book is an authentic slice of ScandiNoir. Swedish society is laid out in an accessible manner for the non-Scandinavian, with enough Swedish place names and businesses to give a strong sense of place, without scaring off Anglophones with no experience of the country.
The book is satisfying complex, with unexpected revelations throughout. Best of all, like book one, it really hooks you into the series, not just this story. That’s not to say that it isn’t complete. The mystery is resolved at the end, but Nordin leaves enough threads dangling that you want to grab the next in the series to remain in this world and continue the tale.
The book will be available on September 15th for download, with the paperback following in November.
This is definitely a #RecommendedRead.
