Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
Danmark, København, ca 2018
Journalisten Heloise Kaldan bliver kontaktet pr brev af en efterlyst kvinde, Anna Kiel, som gemmer sig nær Cannes i Frankrig. Anna Kiel er filmet af overvågningskameraet ved den 37-årige advokat, Christian Mossing, kort efter at han blev dræbt. Hun var oversmurt med
Heloise er ikke i godt humør for hun har kørt med en historie, hvor kilden fyldte hende med løgn. Og kilden er Martin Duvall, som hun har sympati for og går i seng med.
Kriminalmanden politiassistent Erik Schäfer opsøges af en kvinde, der har set og fotograferet Anna Kiel. Kvinden og hendes mand, Vilhelm, har et lille landsted i Provence, uden for Saint-Remy. I en lille by en times kørsel mod nord så kvinden Anna og har et foto, der beviser det. Heloise får flere breve fra Anna Kiel og bliver også cyberstalket af hende, for Anna poster et billede, der er taget fra Heloise's altan.
Anna flytter sig fra det sydfranske til Paris, hvor hun og en mand ved navn Nick planlægger at lokke Heloise til. Christian Mossings far, Johannes, vil ikke tale med hverken politi eller Heloise og han vil heller ikke lade sin kone Ellen Mossing snakke med Heloise.
Der er meget skumle forbindelser til Johannes Mossing og politiet har også forsøgt at få dem bekræftet, men i årevis har der ikke været nogen, der har sagt et pip eller har kunnet fremskaffet et bevis på noget som helst. En journalist Ulrich Andersson har forsøgt at bore i sagen, men han har modtaget meget troværdige trusler på livet og er droppet helt ud, blevet forladt af konen og opfører sig paranoidt. Han tager fat i Heloise, der har forsøgt at kontakte ham, og han advarer hende mod at beskæftige sig med Mossing senior overhovedet. Det er dog allerede for sent for Ulrich, for en Stefan Nielsen, der er en af Mossings håndgangne mænd, opsøger ham, da han kommer hjem i lejligheden. Besøget munder ud i at Ulrich bliver kvalt og hængt op i loftet i sit badeværelse. Kriminalmanden Erik Schäfer og hans makker Lisa Augustin synes det ser forkert ud og obducenten Oppermann finder da også klare spor efter at det er et drab. Heloise fortæller alt hvad hun ved om sagen til Schäfer. Han fortæller til gengæld at de har fundet Anna Kiels dna på brevene og en Martin Duvalls fingeraftryk på dørhåndtaget. Hun kan ikke lide at høre at han er i registret, fordi han har en nylig overstået voldsdom. Han fortæller at det er fordi han slog sin bedste ven ned, da han opdagede at hans nu eks-ven og eks-kone havde noget kørende. Heloise bliver overfaldet i sin lejlighed af Stefan og næsten kvalt, men Stefan bliver slået ned af Martin og må lige en tur på skadestuen og blive syet, inden han kan blive afhørt af Schäfer. Det forhør bliver ret kort, for Stefan er ret ligeglad og hans advokat er sjovt nok også en af Johannes Mossings advokater. En stor terningeformet klods af en forsvarsadvokat, Marcus Plessner, der godt kunne være modelleret over Peter Hjørne. Schäfer forsøger også at snakke med Johannes Mossing, men denne henviser til sin advokat og beder Schäfer hilse sin chokoladefarvede kone, Connie.
Lisa Augustin finder nøglen til Anna Kiels breve. Det er en bog om en kærlighedsaffære mellem Pierre Abélard og Héloïse i 1100-tallet. Heloise snakker med først Anna Kiels mor, Jonna, og så hendes far, Frank, der fortæller at Jonna var ludoman. De mørke rygter om Johannes Mossing går på at han er lånehaj i stor stil og at folk, der ikke betaler, forsvinder. Heloise snakker også med Kenneth Vallø, som var gode venner med Anna i skolen og stadig har kontakt. Han er blevet endog meget rig på at sælge sit IT-firma til kineserne. Bogen om Abélard og Héloïse er skrevet af Nick Kaldan, som er far til Heloise, så det er nok ikke rigtigt at hun ikke har gættet hvad brevene handler om. Nick Kaldan sidder i fængsel i Frankrig for medvirken i en pædofiliring og Heloise har droppet enhver kontakt med ham, da han tilstod at anklagerne var rigtige. Anna Kiel får lokket Heloise til at besøge sin far, for det var Nicks betingelse for at overlade beviser i sagen til hende. Nick er uhelbredeligt syg af kræft men alligevel bange for Johannes Mossing.
Anna Kiel møder Heloise på vej fra besøget ved Nick og giver hende et interview, som hun siger bliver sidste gang de ses. Anna giver en mappe med beviser videre til Heloise, som deler dem med Schäfer og lovens stærke arm lægger sig om elleve af de pædofile. En tolvte gemmer sig på bunden af havet lidt udenfor havnen i Aarhus, så han kan ikke rammes mere.
Ifølge Anna Kiel var Christopher Mossing også skjult til stede, da hun gentagne gange blev voldtaget af de voksne mænd i pædofiliringen. Første gang på hendes 9-års fødselsdag. Og i stedet for at hjælpe hende bagefter, voldtog han hende en ekstra gang. En god grund til at lade hævnen gå ud over ham som den første. Men der var ingen beviser mod ham.
Beviserne peger heller ikke på Johannes Mossing, der kan drille Schäfer helt uantastet.
Til gengæld har Anna Kiel haft god tid til at forberede sig og på et hotelværelse sniger hun sig ind på Johannes Mossing og lader ham smage kniven, hun har med til formålet. Johannes Mossings kone Ellen ser Anna, men nikker bare let til Anna og gør så ellers ud fra værelset igen. Anna dræber Mossing og går ned på havnen og ombord på den yacht, som Kenneth Vallø har liggende der.
Grundpræmissen i bogen er at man kan slippe afsted med alting, hvis man har penge nok og er lidt forsigtig. Johannes Mossing kan ikke røres af retssystemet, men Anna Kiel kan slå ham ihjel og så søge ly ved en rig ven. Det er nok fornuftigt at slutte bogen der, så forfatteren slipper for at fortælle hvorfor yachten ikke skulle blive opbragt og Anna havne i fængsel for to mord.
Journalisten Heloise Kaldan bliver kontaktet pr brev af en efterlyst kvinde, Anna Kiel, som gemmer sig nær Cannes i Frankrig. Anna Kiel er filmet af overvågningskameraet ved den 37-årige advokat, Christian Mossing, kort efter at han blev dræbt. Hun var oversmurt med
Show More
blod.Heloise er ikke i godt humør for hun har kørt med en historie, hvor kilden fyldte hende med løgn. Og kilden er Martin Duvall, som hun har sympati for og går i seng med.
Kriminalmanden politiassistent Erik Schäfer opsøges af en kvinde, der har set og fotograferet Anna Kiel. Kvinden og hendes mand, Vilhelm, har et lille landsted i Provence, uden for Saint-Remy. I en lille by en times kørsel mod nord så kvinden Anna og har et foto, der beviser det. Heloise får flere breve fra Anna Kiel og bliver også cyberstalket af hende, for Anna poster et billede, der er taget fra Heloise's altan.
Anna flytter sig fra det sydfranske til Paris, hvor hun og en mand ved navn Nick planlægger at lokke Heloise til. Christian Mossings far, Johannes, vil ikke tale med hverken politi eller Heloise og han vil heller ikke lade sin kone Ellen Mossing snakke med Heloise.
Der er meget skumle forbindelser til Johannes Mossing og politiet har også forsøgt at få dem bekræftet, men i årevis har der ikke været nogen, der har sagt et pip eller har kunnet fremskaffet et bevis på noget som helst. En journalist Ulrich Andersson har forsøgt at bore i sagen, men han har modtaget meget troværdige trusler på livet og er droppet helt ud, blevet forladt af konen og opfører sig paranoidt. Han tager fat i Heloise, der har forsøgt at kontakte ham, og han advarer hende mod at beskæftige sig med Mossing senior overhovedet. Det er dog allerede for sent for Ulrich, for en Stefan Nielsen, der er en af Mossings håndgangne mænd, opsøger ham, da han kommer hjem i lejligheden. Besøget munder ud i at Ulrich bliver kvalt og hængt op i loftet i sit badeværelse. Kriminalmanden Erik Schäfer og hans makker Lisa Augustin synes det ser forkert ud og obducenten Oppermann finder da også klare spor efter at det er et drab. Heloise fortæller alt hvad hun ved om sagen til Schäfer. Han fortæller til gengæld at de har fundet Anna Kiels dna på brevene og en Martin Duvalls fingeraftryk på dørhåndtaget. Hun kan ikke lide at høre at han er i registret, fordi han har en nylig overstået voldsdom. Han fortæller at det er fordi han slog sin bedste ven ned, da han opdagede at hans nu eks-ven og eks-kone havde noget kørende. Heloise bliver overfaldet i sin lejlighed af Stefan og næsten kvalt, men Stefan bliver slået ned af Martin og må lige en tur på skadestuen og blive syet, inden han kan blive afhørt af Schäfer. Det forhør bliver ret kort, for Stefan er ret ligeglad og hans advokat er sjovt nok også en af Johannes Mossings advokater. En stor terningeformet klods af en forsvarsadvokat, Marcus Plessner, der godt kunne være modelleret over Peter Hjørne. Schäfer forsøger også at snakke med Johannes Mossing, men denne henviser til sin advokat og beder Schäfer hilse sin chokoladefarvede kone, Connie.
Lisa Augustin finder nøglen til Anna Kiels breve. Det er en bog om en kærlighedsaffære mellem Pierre Abélard og Héloïse i 1100-tallet. Heloise snakker med først Anna Kiels mor, Jonna, og så hendes far, Frank, der fortæller at Jonna var ludoman. De mørke rygter om Johannes Mossing går på at han er lånehaj i stor stil og at folk, der ikke betaler, forsvinder. Heloise snakker også med Kenneth Vallø, som var gode venner med Anna i skolen og stadig har kontakt. Han er blevet endog meget rig på at sælge sit IT-firma til kineserne. Bogen om Abélard og Héloïse er skrevet af Nick Kaldan, som er far til Heloise, så det er nok ikke rigtigt at hun ikke har gættet hvad brevene handler om. Nick Kaldan sidder i fængsel i Frankrig for medvirken i en pædofiliring og Heloise har droppet enhver kontakt med ham, da han tilstod at anklagerne var rigtige. Anna Kiel får lokket Heloise til at besøge sin far, for det var Nicks betingelse for at overlade beviser i sagen til hende. Nick er uhelbredeligt syg af kræft men alligevel bange for Johannes Mossing.
Anna Kiel møder Heloise på vej fra besøget ved Nick og giver hende et interview, som hun siger bliver sidste gang de ses. Anna giver en mappe med beviser videre til Heloise, som deler dem med Schäfer og lovens stærke arm lægger sig om elleve af de pædofile. En tolvte gemmer sig på bunden af havet lidt udenfor havnen i Aarhus, så han kan ikke rammes mere.
Ifølge Anna Kiel var Christopher Mossing også skjult til stede, da hun gentagne gange blev voldtaget af de voksne mænd i pædofiliringen. Første gang på hendes 9-års fødselsdag. Og i stedet for at hjælpe hende bagefter, voldtog han hende en ekstra gang. En god grund til at lade hævnen gå ud over ham som den første. Men der var ingen beviser mod ham.
Beviserne peger heller ikke på Johannes Mossing, der kan drille Schäfer helt uantastet.
Til gengæld har Anna Kiel haft god tid til at forberede sig og på et hotelværelse sniger hun sig ind på Johannes Mossing og lader ham smage kniven, hun har med til formålet. Johannes Mossings kone Ellen ser Anna, men nikker bare let til Anna og gør så ellers ud fra værelset igen. Anna dræber Mossing og går ned på havnen og ombord på den yacht, som Kenneth Vallø har liggende der.
Grundpræmissen i bogen er at man kan slippe afsted med alting, hvis man har penge nok og er lidt forsigtig. Johannes Mossing kan ikke røres af retssystemet, men Anna Kiel kan slå ham ihjel og så søge ly ved en rig ven. Det er nok fornuftigt at slutte bogen der, så forfatteren slipper for at fortælle hvorfor yachten ikke skulle blive opbragt og Anna havne i fængsel for to mord.
Show Less
Genres
Publication
[Kbh.] : Lindhardt og Ringhof, 2018.
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo meets Sharp Objects in this internationally bestselling psychological thriller, for fans of Jo Nesbø and Henning Mankell, now for the first time in English. Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan is in the middle of a nightmare. One of her sources has been caught lying, and she could lose her job over it. Then she receives the first in a series of cryptic and unsettling letters from a woman named Anna Kiel. Wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a young lawyer three years earlier, Anna hasn't been seen by anyone since she left the crime scene covered in blood. The police think she's fled the country until homicide detective Erik Scháfer comes up with a lead after the reporter who originally wrote about the case is found murdered in his apartment. Has Anna Kiel struck again, or is there more than one killer at large? And why does every clue point directly to Heloise Kaldan? Meanwhile, the letters keep coming, and they hint at a connection between Anna and Heloise. As Heloise starts digging deeper, she realizes that to tell Anna's story she will have to revisit the darkest parts of her own past�??confronting someone she swore she'd never see again. The Corpse Flower is the first in the #1 bestselling Danish crime series, the Kaldan and Scháfer mysteries.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bfister
A journalist in Copenhagen is contacted by a woman wanted for a sensational murder. The cryptic messages are hard to interpret, though there seems to be a story there. As she digs deeper, uncovering the connection between a powerful man and a child sex trafficking ring, she has to confront a trauma
Show More
from her past and interview someone she never wanted to see again. This is a well-paced story with subject matter that some will find deeply unpleasant. I would give it a 4 for characters and pacing and a 3 for the plot itself, mainly because the sensational subject matter was not as carefully handled as I would like. Show Less
LibraryThing member MJHagan
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The 2017 Danish work has been translated to English for the first time. The story follows Heloise Kaldan, a newspaper reporter who finds herself in trouble at work due to a story she’d previously written being proven to be false. As
However, ever the reporter, Heloise connects with Erik Schafer, the original detective on the murder case and while somewhat leery of each other and the other’s motives, they both start to uncover more information about the previous murder and the reason for the letters that are being sent.
The story unfolds quickly and, in true thriller style, there are cliffhanger chapter endings and revelations that push the story forward. There are myriad characters in the novel and I didn’t have any difficulty keeping track of them. The plot kept me guessing most of the way thru the book and only as the first big plot point was close to being resolved did I start to put together some of the other remaining questions.
All-in-all, I enjoyed this book and would read more from Anne Mette Hancock. 4 stars.
The 2017 Danish work has been translated to English for the first time. The story follows Heloise Kaldan, a newspaper reporter who finds herself in trouble at work due to a story she’d previously written being proven to be false. As
Show More
she returns to her office to receive her punishment she finds a letter in her mail from wanted murderer Anna Keil who has eluded police for a number of years after a brutal murder of a prominent attorney. The letter is cryptic and Heloise has no idea why the killer has reached out to her.However, ever the reporter, Heloise connects with Erik Schafer, the original detective on the murder case and while somewhat leery of each other and the other’s motives, they both start to uncover more information about the previous murder and the reason for the letters that are being sent.
The story unfolds quickly and, in true thriller style, there are cliffhanger chapter endings and revelations that push the story forward. There are myriad characters in the novel and I didn’t have any difficulty keeping track of them. The plot kept me guessing most of the way thru the book and only as the first big plot point was close to being resolved did I start to put together some of the other remaining questions.
All-in-all, I enjoyed this book and would read more from Anne Mette Hancock. 4 stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Charon07
Anna’s got an unsavory secret. Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer has just received a new tip on an old murder case. And Heloise has recently published a piece of libelous journalism. These three characters are quickly introduced in the first three chapters of The Corpse Flower, and things continue
We soon find out that Anna is the prime suspect in Detective Schäfer’s cold case, and Heloise gets an enigmatic letter from Anna, despite Heloise not having covered the case or apparently having anything to do with it. There are several fresh corpses that also don’t appear at first to have any connection to the original case.
The short, fast-paced chapters kept introducing new surprises, so I was soon hooked and kept sneaking in just one more chapter, so this was one of my quickest reads this year. The fast-moving plot kept me guessing, and I certainly didn’t see the end coming, though maybe if I’d read more slowly I would have paid more attention to the clues that were planted. I had one small quibble: I felt that I was outright misled about one plot development, but it was not a major point. I also wish Sergeant Lisa Augustin had a bigger role—she seemed like a potentially interesting character that deserved more play time. Can I hope to see more of her in future sequels?
I’m a fan of Scandinavian noir, but although this was originally published in Denmark and includes some very dark deeds (so dark that I’d mention a trigger warning if it wouldn’t also be a spoiler), it seemed too sun-drenched to be noir. But it was still altogether a very satisfying thriller.
Show More
to move briskly along. These three characters’ paths will, of course, eventually cross, but there are many twists and turns before we discover what really connects them.We soon find out that Anna is the prime suspect in Detective Schäfer’s cold case, and Heloise gets an enigmatic letter from Anna, despite Heloise not having covered the case or apparently having anything to do with it. There are several fresh corpses that also don’t appear at first to have any connection to the original case.
The short, fast-paced chapters kept introducing new surprises, so I was soon hooked and kept sneaking in just one more chapter, so this was one of my quickest reads this year. The fast-moving plot kept me guessing, and I certainly didn’t see the end coming, though maybe if I’d read more slowly I would have paid more attention to the clues that were planted. I had one small quibble: I felt that I was outright misled about one plot development, but it was not a major point. I also wish Sergeant Lisa Augustin had a bigger role—she seemed like a potentially interesting character that deserved more play time. Can I hope to see more of her in future sequels?
I’m a fan of Scandinavian noir, but although this was originally published in Denmark and includes some very dark deeds (so dark that I’d mention a trigger warning if it wouldn’t also be a spoiler), it seemed too sun-drenched to be noir. But it was still altogether a very satisfying thriller.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
Review of eBook
Copenhagen journalist Heloise Kaldan stands in danger of losing her position with the newspaper “Demokratisk Dagblad” when the truth reveals that inaccurate information was the source of her story regarding a fashion mogul. She’d trusted her source, the man who provided the
Then Anna Kiel, wanted by the authorities in connection with the high-profile murder of Christoffer Mossing some three years earlier, begins sending enigmatic letters to Heloise. Although the journalist has no connection to the woman, her letters seem to suggest that she knows personal details of Heloise’s life. Intrigued, Heloise begins investigating, ultimately tracking down Ulrich Andersson, the reporter who’d originally covered the story of the young lawyer's brutal murder. She arranges a meeting and he warns her to stay away from the story.
At the same time, Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer and his partner, Sergeant Lisa Augustin, are working on the same murder case, seeking to bring in Anna Kiel. Ultimately, their investigation will cross with Heloise’s involvement in searching for answers in the case.
And then another person dies . . . .
Well-defined, nuanced characters populate this thriller/police procedural while an atmospheric sense of place anchors the narrative. Short chapters keep the suspense building and the narrative keeps moving along at a brisk pace. The tangled, tension-filled plot twists and turns with unexpected revelations keeping the reader invested in the telling of the tale.
Although told primarily from two perspectives . . . those of Heloise and Erik . . . Anna occasionally steps in with her point of view; ultimately, the unfolding story chronicles a horrific revelation that promises to change everything readers thought they knew about the accused murderess.
This riveting tale, sure to keep the pages turning and the readers on the edge of their seats, is dark and, at times, extremely disturbing. But the astonishing denouement is perfect for this gritty, compulsive tale of connections and murder and revenge.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program
Copenhagen journalist Heloise Kaldan stands in danger of losing her position with the newspaper “Demokratisk Dagblad” when the truth reveals that inaccurate information was the source of her story regarding a fashion mogul. She’d trusted her source, the man who provided the
Show More
information, but now that the newspaper published the story, it seems as if he’d lied.Then Anna Kiel, wanted by the authorities in connection with the high-profile murder of Christoffer Mossing some three years earlier, begins sending enigmatic letters to Heloise. Although the journalist has no connection to the woman, her letters seem to suggest that she knows personal details of Heloise’s life. Intrigued, Heloise begins investigating, ultimately tracking down Ulrich Andersson, the reporter who’d originally covered the story of the young lawyer's brutal murder. She arranges a meeting and he warns her to stay away from the story.
At the same time, Detective Sergeant Erik Schäfer and his partner, Sergeant Lisa Augustin, are working on the same murder case, seeking to bring in Anna Kiel. Ultimately, their investigation will cross with Heloise’s involvement in searching for answers in the case.
And then another person dies . . . .
Well-defined, nuanced characters populate this thriller/police procedural while an atmospheric sense of place anchors the narrative. Short chapters keep the suspense building and the narrative keeps moving along at a brisk pace. The tangled, tension-filled plot twists and turns with unexpected revelations keeping the reader invested in the telling of the tale.
Although told primarily from two perspectives . . . those of Heloise and Erik . . . Anna occasionally steps in with her point of view; ultimately, the unfolding story chronicles a horrific revelation that promises to change everything readers thought they knew about the accused murderess.
This riveting tale, sure to keep the pages turning and the readers on the edge of their seats, is dark and, at times, extremely disturbing. But the astonishing denouement is perfect for this gritty, compulsive tale of connections and murder and revenge.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program
Show Less
LibraryThing member breakfastatholly
I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read! The subject matter ended up being quite grim in places, and could definitely be triggering for some readers, but I thought that author handled it well. Graphic parts were used where needed but not over done.
At the outset, the mystery was so tightly
At the outset, the mystery was so tightly
Show More
wound and I couldn't even begin to guess what the main characters would uncover. It kept me intrigued and guessing until the end. Plus, I think it's the mark of a well-written book when you find yourself rooting for a murderer by the end of it. Show Less
LibraryThing member ozzer
If you like Scandinavian noir, this one might be for you. It has all the elements: tight plotting, suspense, plot twists, dark themes, rainy Northern European city setting (Copenhagen), complex protagonists, truly evil bad guys, gritty events, and lots of fun details about police procedures and
At first blush, there seem to be two plot lines—a case of investigative journalistic malpractice and a senseless murder where everyone already knows who did it but the killer has disappeared. The former quickly fades into the background however and the latter becomes the focus of the story.
Heloise Kaldan has been getting cryptic letters from accused killer Anna Kiel. Anna seems to know a lot about Heloise despite never having met her. She seems to want a meeting, possibly to tell her side of the story. Detective Sargent Erik Schäfer has been stuck on the Christoffer Mossing murder case ever since his prime suspect flew the coop. The two threads come together when Ulrich Andersson, an ex-reporter who covered the murder, turns up dead. Eric and Heloise join forces (sort of) to solve the mysteries of the strange letters and the missing murderer. Hancock’s intricate plot is too delicious to reveal much here, but suffice it to say, she manages it with assurance and skill. She deals her cards ever so slowly and with just enough detail to keep most readers engaged until the bitter end, and indeed bitter it is.
Show More
Danish culture.At first blush, there seem to be two plot lines—a case of investigative journalistic malpractice and a senseless murder where everyone already knows who did it but the killer has disappeared. The former quickly fades into the background however and the latter becomes the focus of the story.
Heloise Kaldan has been getting cryptic letters from accused killer Anna Kiel. Anna seems to know a lot about Heloise despite never having met her. She seems to want a meeting, possibly to tell her side of the story. Detective Sargent Erik Schäfer has been stuck on the Christoffer Mossing murder case ever since his prime suspect flew the coop. The two threads come together when Ulrich Andersson, an ex-reporter who covered the murder, turns up dead. Eric and Heloise join forces (sort of) to solve the mysteries of the strange letters and the missing murderer. Hancock’s intricate plot is too delicious to reveal much here, but suffice it to say, she manages it with assurance and skill. She deals her cards ever so slowly and with just enough detail to keep most readers engaged until the bitter end, and indeed bitter it is.
Show Less
LibraryThing member life2reinvent
The Corpse Flower, the English translation of a classic Danish thriller, Kaldan og Schäfer #1, is a dark, compelling thriller that starts with a fascinating premise and blooms into a full-blown den of secrets.
A corpse flower is also known as the penis plant. It smells like rotten flesh. Its
So why are people fascinated with the flower? As a character in the book points out, it’s because the corpse flower has evolved to survive.
The flower is a fitting symbol for this excellent crime story. I knew it was going to get uglier, but I couldn’t look away. I didn’t want to look away.
A lawyer from a powerful and wealthy family was murdered, and security footage showed Anna Kiel covered in blood and walking away from the building. Anna was to undergo trial for the murder, but she vanished without a trace. Three years later, Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan suddenly receives cryptic letters signed by Anna. Those letters prompt an investigation to revisit the cold case and figure out how it triggers later events.
Throughout the novel, Anne Mette Hancock introduces new characters with seemingly different secrets and deftly connects each to the story. All of the characters were connected to the plot in some way, and their thoughts and actions made sense. We see how these characters have evolved to survive. The tight story starts dark and gets even darker as Kaldan and Detective Erik Schäfer work to uncover the mystery of the letters and ultimately the truth behind the lawyer’s murder.
Hancock set the right mood as she dragged me deeper and deeper into the plot. The story grows more horrifying as it progresses toward the explosive climax. The resolution reasonably ties up the major plot issues. While the reader is aware of the characters’ secrets, there are still plenty that are hidden from other characters. Those secrets could impact future books in the series. At least I hope they do.
The Corpse Flower is smelly and ugly and fascinating, just like the actual flower. It is also well-written and enthralling and a wonderful choice for thriller seekers.
Thank you, Crooked Lane Publishers and NetGalley, for an advance review copy.
A corpse flower is also known as the penis plant. It smells like rotten flesh. Its
Show More
nickname refers to the shape of the bloom. The same week that The Corpse Flower was released, a penis plant bloomed in the Netherlands, marking only the third time that species has bloomed in Europe since 1997. It is ugly and smells like rotting flesh. So why are people fascinated with the flower? As a character in the book points out, it’s because the corpse flower has evolved to survive.
The flower is a fitting symbol for this excellent crime story. I knew it was going to get uglier, but I couldn’t look away. I didn’t want to look away.
A lawyer from a powerful and wealthy family was murdered, and security footage showed Anna Kiel covered in blood and walking away from the building. Anna was to undergo trial for the murder, but she vanished without a trace. Three years later, Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan suddenly receives cryptic letters signed by Anna. Those letters prompt an investigation to revisit the cold case and figure out how it triggers later events.
Throughout the novel, Anne Mette Hancock introduces new characters with seemingly different secrets and deftly connects each to the story. All of the characters were connected to the plot in some way, and their thoughts and actions made sense. We see how these characters have evolved to survive. The tight story starts dark and gets even darker as Kaldan and Detective Erik Schäfer work to uncover the mystery of the letters and ultimately the truth behind the lawyer’s murder.
Hancock set the right mood as she dragged me deeper and deeper into the plot. The story grows more horrifying as it progresses toward the explosive climax. The resolution reasonably ties up the major plot issues. While the reader is aware of the characters’ secrets, there are still plenty that are hidden from other characters. Those secrets could impact future books in the series. At least I hope they do.
The Corpse Flower is smelly and ugly and fascinating, just like the actual flower. It is also well-written and enthralling and a wonderful choice for thriller seekers.
Thank you, Crooked Lane Publishers and NetGalley, for an advance review copy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
This is being compared to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and there are many similarities. A journalist, Heloise, who gets involved in a story about a wealthy man, a ringleader who it is believed has done or compelled many illegal activities, though proof is elusive. A young murderer, a woman who
I actually got to see the corpse flower at the Botanic Gardens, though I viewed it as it was opening on my computer. So, saw the flower without encountering the horrible death smell.
Show More
is being hunted by the authorities and who will eventually tell her story to the reporter. Both books contain the sexual abuse of children, but in this book, as in most Nordic novels, the writing is stark, spare not as cluttered as in Dragon tattoo. The pace is quicker and the main character, Heloise, has an interesting back story that comes to play. So though the similiarities are there, this is still its own story and it's a good one.I actually got to see the corpse flower at the Botanic Gardens, though I viewed it as it was opening on my computer. So, saw the flower without encountering the horrible death smell.
Show Less
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Journalist Heloise Kaldan is on the verge of being fired. The source material for an expose she wrote was falsified and she did not do her due diligence. Returning home after work, licking her wounds, she sifts through the mail and finds a letter from Anna Kiel, a woman alleged to have brutally
Anna’s cryptic letter, with peculiar phraseology and intimate details about Heloise, suggests that the two women are connected by someone in common, although Heloise cannot fathom who that might be. Heloise knows there’s a news story behind this letter written by a fugitive from justice and, if she goes to the police, they’ll prohibit her from following up, so she stays quiet.
Several days and another letter later, though it appears that Heloise’s apartment has been broken into. She finds herself having to call in the police, specifically Detective Sargeant Erik Schafer, the officer originally investigating Mossing’s murder.
Despite warnings of danger, Heloise continues looking into Anna, Christopher’s murder and his father, Johannes Mossing, thought to be heavily involved in illicit activities. She and Schafer do share information which Schafer hopes to use to arrest Anna. However, the threats and the body count continue to rise and Anna is still nowhere to be found. It is Schafer’s assistant, Lisa Augustin, who unveils the clue that allows Heloise to uncover her connection to Anna, forcing her to look at the dark side of her own family in the process.
One reviewer said Corpse Flower is “Scandinavian Noir at its noirest.” Another said “An emotionally wobbly Kaldan teams up with the dry, undiplomatic’ police detective…” I enjoyed the fast pace of the mystery, the excellent, relatable cast of characters, the believable plot and a sequence of events that keep you turning the pages. It is part police procedural and part investigative journalism.
Show More
murdered attorney Christopher Mossing several years earlier. At the time of the murder, she was shown staring into his surveillance camera, covered in blood. However, before the police could arrest her, Anna disappeared. Anna’s cryptic letter, with peculiar phraseology and intimate details about Heloise, suggests that the two women are connected by someone in common, although Heloise cannot fathom who that might be. Heloise knows there’s a news story behind this letter written by a fugitive from justice and, if she goes to the police, they’ll prohibit her from following up, so she stays quiet.
Several days and another letter later, though it appears that Heloise’s apartment has been broken into. She finds herself having to call in the police, specifically Detective Sargeant Erik Schafer, the officer originally investigating Mossing’s murder.
Despite warnings of danger, Heloise continues looking into Anna, Christopher’s murder and his father, Johannes Mossing, thought to be heavily involved in illicit activities. She and Schafer do share information which Schafer hopes to use to arrest Anna. However, the threats and the body count continue to rise and Anna is still nowhere to be found. It is Schafer’s assistant, Lisa Augustin, who unveils the clue that allows Heloise to uncover her connection to Anna, forcing her to look at the dark side of her own family in the process.
One reviewer said Corpse Flower is “Scandinavian Noir at its noirest.” Another said “An emotionally wobbly Kaldan teams up with the dry, undiplomatic’ police detective…” I enjoyed the fast pace of the mystery, the excellent, relatable cast of characters, the believable plot and a sequence of events that keep you turning the pages. It is part police procedural and part investigative journalism.
Show Less
LibraryThing member starlight-glimmer
I am fairly new to Nordic noir and I’m already hooked on the genre after reading gems like The Golden Cage by Camilla Läckberg and The Tenant by Katrine Engberg. This one impressed me so much, and I'm so eager to read the next books in the series (not yet translated to English, hopefully soon).
Show More
Very, very high stakes here that are slowly, artfully revealed; the atmosphere and pacing are outstanding. I really like (and empathize with) protagonist Heloise, an independent journalist who won't back down from a story, especially one that exposes the criminal behavior of powerful men. Personally, I am an ardent fan of thrillers that involve a takedown of toxic masculinity. Fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish and Dervla McTiernan's gritty mysteries would probably enjoy this, which brings in elements of both. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dreesie
Heloise (pronounced Eloise), a Danish journalist, is censured by her paper for using a bad source. The same week, she begins getting letters supposedly from an accused murderer. Why Eloise? Why now? What is their connection?
-----
This is one of those mystery/thrillers that has twists--only the big
-----
This is one of those mystery/thrillers that has twists--only the big
Show More
twist in this novel comes so far out of left field that the reader can't possibly have been expecting it, since it has nothing to do with anything previously mentioned. There are odd storylines that seem to exist just to pull the story along--the corpse flower itself, for instance. For me, this made the book feel disjointed and kind of random. Show Less
LibraryThing member amcheri
Fuck yeah! Ahem, excuse me but I love the way this book ended.
I'm currently ignoring the pleading eyes of my dogs who are clearly starving so I can write this quick review. It took me a few starts to get into the story but once I did, I couldn't put it away.
I love a mystery that has me clueless
To be honest, I see myself giving this one a reread at some point. I'm sure there are bits here and there that I missed. As well as keeping an eye open for the next in the series.
Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook. Oh! The narrator was very good, too. Bonus!
I'm currently ignoring the pleading eyes of my dogs who are clearly starving so I can write this quick review. It took me a few starts to get into the story but once I did, I couldn't put it away.
I love a mystery that has me clueless
Show More
more than halfway through. And the predictions I did come up with were way off. That doesn't happen very often, unfortunately. Along with some nice twists and turns, The Corpse Flower is also very dark. Which I didn't expect. I don't remember what the blurb said when I requested it on NetGalley, but I'm pretty sure it didn't give away anything of substance because I might not have given it a shot if I'd known what brought the killer and the journalist together. To be honest, I see myself giving this one a reread at some point. I'm sure there are bits here and there that I missed. As well as keeping an eye open for the next in the series.
Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook. Oh! The narrator was very good, too. Bonus!
Show Less
LibraryThing member CasSprout
Excellent new author. This book has deep characters and an exciting, twisting plot. There should be a trigger warning, but that would give away too much.
LibraryThing member terran
I read the second entry in this series and liked it well enough to go back and read this first book. I liked it even better. However, the coverage of child abuse is included in a particularly graphic way, which is difficult to read.
Awards
Language
Original language
Danish
Original publication date
2017
2021 (deutsch)
Physical description
307 p.; 18.4 cm
ISBN
9788711910948
Local notes
Omslag: Anne Mette Hancock, Henriette Mørk
Omslaget viser en mund og en meget skarp kniv med håndskrift
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Side 155: Det eneste, der føles bedre end at anskaffe sig nye ting, er at skille sig af med lortet igen.
Side 264: Så jeg havde min seksuelle debut på min 9-års fødselsdag. Det var min mors fødselsdagsgave til mig.
Side 264: Første gang var der tre mænd, der tog mig på skift. De lugtede af sved og en anden underlig sødlig stank, jeg ikke kendte: en blanding af honning og klorin: Sæd, fandt jeg ud af, at det var. Der var også mænd, der så på. Rundt omkring i lokalet stod de og kiggede på, mens de onanerede. De vente på, det blev deres tur. Og sådan fortsatte det i en periode. Min mor satte mig af foran bygningen; de tog mig med indenfor og voldtog mig.
Omslaget viser en mund og en meget skarp kniv med håndskrift
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Side 155: Det eneste, der føles bedre end at anskaffe sig nye ting, er at skille sig af med lortet igen.
Side 264: Så jeg havde min seksuelle debut på min 9-års fødselsdag. Det var min mors fødselsdagsgave til mig.
Side 264: Første gang var der tre mænd, der tog mig på skift. De lugtede af sved og en anden underlig sødlig stank, jeg ikke kendte: en blanding af honning og klorin: Sæd, fandt jeg ud af, at det var. Der var også mænd, der så på. Rundt omkring i lokalet stod de og kiggede på, mens de onanerede. De vente på, det blev deres tur. Og sådan fortsatte det i en periode. Min mor satte mig af foran bygningen; de tog mig med indenfor og voldtog mig.
Similar in this library
Series
Pages
307
DDC/MDS
| 839.8138 |