What's different about this Scandi-crime novel (first in a series I believe) is that the main detective, Irene Huss, is pretty normal. She's not depressed, not alcoholic, not a loner. Irene is married with two teenage daughters, and juggles her career, family, and personal life--she even has a dog, Sammie, with a big personality.

That being said, the crime she's faced with in this book is as gorey and heinous as anything I've read. She's faced with not a run-of-the-mill murder for financial gain, or a crime of passion. Instead, she's dealing with good old sexual perversion, of the necrophiliac variety.

The novel opens with the discovery of a decapitated, dismembered torso in a plastic bag on a deserted beach. Discovering the identity of the victim is only the beginning.

3 stars ( )

Irene Huss investigates an odd case in which a torso with no limbs or head washes ashore. They discover a similar case occurred in Denmark when they broaden their search. Irene travels there to compare information. They even discover video showing the murders, but the person appearing to commit them is the deceased. There's an element of horror as it appears the perpetrator wants someone close to Irene to be the next victim. I did not enjoy this installment because necrophilia is a major theme. I've never connected to Irene either. While I may read the next installment to complete the year's group read, I doubt I will continue the series in 2024. There are too many other books I'd enjoy more begging for my attention. ( )

I first read this book in 2014, but for some reason had no memory of it. Maybe I was on a mystery binge and it slipped out of my brain. Warning - this is a pretty gruesome story, even for the fictional detectives on the case.

A part of a body, just the torso, with various parts further missing, is found on a beach in Sweden. Several more parts are found after a search of more beach territory. Eventually, a similar murder is uncovered from several years ago in Copenhagen, and the two police forces share their information. When Inspector Huss is dispatched to Copenhagen to investigate further, two other murders are committed, and one more in Sweden! But there is evidence, video and photographic, so there is a chance to stop this nightmare. ( )

Ah yes, this is the one with the placid tolerance of the racist homophobic misogynistic alcoholic cop.

Another excellent novel in the Inspector Huss series. Great characters, plot, dialog, and timing; not too fast or too slow. And while there are 'bad guys' there are many, many truly good guys including the police trying to solve a frightening and difficult case. The warm rapport between Irene and her colleagues is a wonderful balance to the chaos and ugliness of murder.

Tursten's descriptions are detailed and relatable.

Truly enjoyable.