Post by Junkyarddog on Oct 19, 2016 8:40:36 GMT
Christoffer Carlsson - The Falling Detective, (book 2 in the Junker series).
Leo Junker is back and I for one am glad of that. If anything I enjoyed this novel more than the first in the series, 'the Invisible Man from Salem' (Scribe Publications, 2015). It can take a while for a character to establish himself with readers but Junker felt right from the first page of this novel.
Leo Junker, supposedly recovered from the trauma of a previous brush with death, is back on duty in the 'snake pit' (homicide). His first case back is the stabbing of an academic sociologist researching radical left wing groups and apparently the only witness is a six year old boy, not much to start with. The investigation plunges Junker and his colleagues into the murky world of Sweden's extremist political factions, far left and right. Still, no sooner have the team started to make some headway in the case than SEPO (SAPO), state security, step in and take over. SEPO are keen to warn Junker off which is a big mistake because blackmail only makes him more determined to meddle in security matters, egged in by his colleague Birck. Junker wants to find out for himself what is really going on because eventually SEPO may need his help. It is a complicated plot but is easily understood and unfolds at a healthy pace, it a pleasure to spend time reading this novel. There are two strands to the tale that follow their separate paths inevitably towards that merging as the book reaches a strong climax. The ongoing background story from the first Junker novel is effortlessly embedded in this novel and overall this is a more polished read as there isn't the need for scene setting and characters building to the same extent.
Like a lot of Scandi-noir 'The Falling Detective' is concerned with more than the just a murder. This is a social critique of the changing face of Swedish politics and society and is a more intelligent thriller for that reason, (Christoffer Carlsson is also a criminologist). Post the murder of Olaf Palme (1986) politics in Sweden has changed, Sweden has become a much more divided society and darker forces have more of the centre stage. For thriller writers this is ripe for exploration and Carlsson taps into this rich vein for his source material. The Falling Detective is a noir tale that reflects the insecurities and uncertainties of Swedish political society as well as being a really decent murder mystery. So this is a dark novel but not unremittingly so it is also a clever witty novel with lighter moments. However, to be honest that juxtaposition between seriousness and lighter moments further point up the overall darkness of the story.
Carlsson has an original voice and Junker is a unique character despite being damaged/dis-functional which is de rigueur for Detective stories. Junker is out there on his own, a maverick, a bit selfish, single minded but he gets under your skin. There is a freshness to the style and tone of this novel. The Falling Detective is also a police procedural in the best traditions of Wahoo/Sjowall and Leif G. W. Persson but has it's own feel - sort of 'grime', up tempo and modern. The author has hit the mark here and we can look forward to more Junker in the future.
The translation feels right, the book has atmosphere and a coherence that must come from the original text . Both the humour and the darkness of the book have a common texture and the novel reads very smoothly.
I am not crazy about the cover art work but that is a small matter. I look forward to more Leo Junker.
Leo Junker is back and I for one am glad of that. If anything I enjoyed this novel more than the first in the series, 'the Invisible Man from Salem' (Scribe Publications, 2015). It can take a while for a character to establish himself with readers but Junker felt right from the first page of this novel.
Leo Junker, supposedly recovered from the trauma of a previous brush with death, is back on duty in the 'snake pit' (homicide). His first case back is the stabbing of an academic sociologist researching radical left wing groups and apparently the only witness is a six year old boy, not much to start with. The investigation plunges Junker and his colleagues into the murky world of Sweden's extremist political factions, far left and right. Still, no sooner have the team started to make some headway in the case than SEPO (SAPO), state security, step in and take over. SEPO are keen to warn Junker off which is a big mistake because blackmail only makes him more determined to meddle in security matters, egged in by his colleague Birck. Junker wants to find out for himself what is really going on because eventually SEPO may need his help. It is a complicated plot but is easily understood and unfolds at a healthy pace, it a pleasure to spend time reading this novel. There are two strands to the tale that follow their separate paths inevitably towards that merging as the book reaches a strong climax. The ongoing background story from the first Junker novel is effortlessly embedded in this novel and overall this is a more polished read as there isn't the need for scene setting and characters building to the same extent.
Like a lot of Scandi-noir 'The Falling Detective' is concerned with more than the just a murder. This is a social critique of the changing face of Swedish politics and society and is a more intelligent thriller for that reason, (Christoffer Carlsson is also a criminologist). Post the murder of Olaf Palme (1986) politics in Sweden has changed, Sweden has become a much more divided society and darker forces have more of the centre stage. For thriller writers this is ripe for exploration and Carlsson taps into this rich vein for his source material. The Falling Detective is a noir tale that reflects the insecurities and uncertainties of Swedish political society as well as being a really decent murder mystery. So this is a dark novel but not unremittingly so it is also a clever witty novel with lighter moments. However, to be honest that juxtaposition between seriousness and lighter moments further point up the overall darkness of the story.
Carlsson has an original voice and Junker is a unique character despite being damaged/dis-functional which is de rigueur for Detective stories. Junker is out there on his own, a maverick, a bit selfish, single minded but he gets under your skin. There is a freshness to the style and tone of this novel. The Falling Detective is also a police procedural in the best traditions of Wahoo/Sjowall and Leif G. W. Persson but has it's own feel - sort of 'grime', up tempo and modern. The author has hit the mark here and we can look forward to more Junker in the future.
The translation feels right, the book has atmosphere and a coherence that must come from the original text . Both the humour and the darkness of the book have a common texture and the novel reads very smoothly.
I am not crazy about the cover art work but that is a small matter. I look forward to more Leo Junker.