Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harper (2011), Edition: 0, Paperback, 400 pages
Description
Returning to her hometown after the funeral of her parents, writer Erica Falck finds a community on the brink of tragedy. The death of her childhood friend, Alex, is just the beginning. Her wrists slashed, her body frozen in an ice cold bath, it seems that she has taken her own life. Erica conceives a memoir about the beautiful but remote Alex, one that will answer questions about their lost friendship. While her interest grows to an obsession, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own suspicions about the case. But it is only when they start working together that the truth begins to emerge about the small town with a deeply disturbing past.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Eowyn1
Unbalanced (from crime novel to chick-lit and back again) and unexciting - although I suspect that the translation from Swedish to English may be partly to blame. But there were so many hints that I started to suspect the main plot around page 88 (only to be confirmed on page 330...).
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"Heart-stopping" and "Sweden's new Agatha Christie"? No, definitely not (not for this debut anyway). Publishers should be a little more careful about their cover blurbs... Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This is not a terrible book. Erica, the author of a series of biographies of Swedish women, returns to her hometown, a small coastal village, upon the sudden deaths of her parents. She's going through their things and working on her latest book, when she finds the body of a childhood friend. The
Spoiler Alert
There could be a good crime novel here, but the book is let down by the sloppiness of the writing. In one scene, the police officer realizes that he's been wearing the same clothes for three days, because he has just started a steamy relationship with Erica (and, seriously? Five times a night?). In the following scene, Erica sends her sister up to her room and then is embarrassed because her new lover has left his clothes scattered everywhere. It's things like that that make me think I'm reading a first draft and to wonder why I should take the time to read the damn thing when it's clear the author didn't.
There's an alarming veer over into chick-lit when Erica meets Officer Patrik and begins to worry a lot about what underwear to wear and how many weight watchers points are in any given food. Oddly, her new love echoes her concerns and spends loads of time choosing outfits and bemoaning the size of his ass.
The secondary characters are paper-thin caricatures with women often portrayed as ice-cold bitches or gold-digging tramps and the men as abusers or careless philanderers.
And, finally, the mystery is held together by a series of documents whose contents the people in the book are privy to long before the reader. If the mystery could be cleared up using knowledge held by the main characters, I call cheating. I was surprised to read on the flap that Lackberg is a ginormous bestselling author in Sweden, but then again, I'm often surprised by what makes the lists here.
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mystery of Alex's death, who killed her and the unraveling of her final hours interests Erica, who sees a book in it. Did Alex really have a romantic relationship with the town drunk? And how is the most powerful family in town involved?Spoiler Alert
There could be a good crime novel here, but the book is let down by the sloppiness of the writing. In one scene, the police officer realizes that he's been wearing the same clothes for three days, because he has just started a steamy relationship with Erica (and, seriously? Five times a night?). In the following scene, Erica sends her sister up to her room and then is embarrassed because her new lover has left his clothes scattered everywhere. It's things like that that make me think I'm reading a first draft and to wonder why I should take the time to read the damn thing when it's clear the author didn't.
There's an alarming veer over into chick-lit when Erica meets Officer Patrik and begins to worry a lot about what underwear to wear and how many weight watchers points are in any given food. Oddly, her new love echoes her concerns and spends loads of time choosing outfits and bemoaning the size of his ass.
The secondary characters are paper-thin caricatures with women often portrayed as ice-cold bitches or gold-digging tramps and the men as abusers or careless philanderers.
And, finally, the mystery is held together by a series of documents whose contents the people in the book are privy to long before the reader. If the mystery could be cleared up using knowledge held by the main characters, I call cheating. I was surprised to read on the flap that Lackberg is a ginormous bestselling author in Sweden, but then again, I'm often surprised by what makes the lists here.
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LibraryThing member CommonReeda
A patchy book, basically a good crime good plot but odd details, why wait until the end to reveal what had happened to her parents when it had no bearing on the main story? Indifferent characterisation, some well written passages, others poor, descending into Mills and Boon. But I liked the
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description of a community on this beautiful Bohusan coastline and it's good to have the occasional soft boiled thriller. Show Less
LibraryThing member amberwitch
Badly written, disconnected book. An editor and a proofreader would have done wonders, but there is only so much to be done with such a clumsy attempt at a crime novel.
It reads like the kind of book that is written because there is a market for swedish femi-crime novels, leading to the publication
The female protagonist is as fake as the self-aggrandizing daydreams of a high school primadonna. The leading police officer is so repulsive and stupid he should have been unable to survive.
The story is drowned in a deluge of minutia that is meant to create an ambience, but only manages to annoy. The misuse of adjectives and metaphors abounds - and I find it hard to believe that they are due to the translation.
The book is filled with random sidestories that has little to no relevance for the plot. Minor characters are introduced in great detail, only to be abandoned, never to be heard of again.
The completely unfounded one page rant about the working conditions of police workers and their lack of resources are followed by repeating scenes describing a police employee who spend his working hours playing solitaire on his pc - who is incidently equally irrelevant for the plot.
The author clearly shows her lack of grasp of the genre when se repeatedly relies on the trick of letting her characters make important discoveries that are only shared with the reader long after the fact. The anti cliff-hanger that goes with the anti ambience creating writing, and cardboard characters.
In short, this novel is not recommended to even the most dedicated fan of the genre.
The story follows Erica, who is back in her childhood home to clean up the hause after her parents death. While there she discover a former best friend dead in a bathtub, and is hired by the bereaved arents to write a memorial piece on her. This, along with her writers curiosity, and ridiculous spontaniety, involves her in the murder investigation. The murder investigation reacquaints her with another childhood friend, and much Bridget Jones hilarity ensies as they pursue their mutual attraction. The murder, and subsequent suicide of someone connected to the murder victim, are connected to each others, and a mysterious disappearance 25 years earlier.
It reads like the kind of book that is written because there is a market for swedish femi-crime novels, leading to the publication
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of substandard work. Some amateur writer has tried to cover all the standard components of the genre, while overshooting every one of them. The female protagonist is as fake as the self-aggrandizing daydreams of a high school primadonna. The leading police officer is so repulsive and stupid he should have been unable to survive.
The story is drowned in a deluge of minutia that is meant to create an ambience, but only manages to annoy. The misuse of adjectives and metaphors abounds - and I find it hard to believe that they are due to the translation.
The book is filled with random sidestories that has little to no relevance for the plot. Minor characters are introduced in great detail, only to be abandoned, never to be heard of again.
The completely unfounded one page rant about the working conditions of police workers and their lack of resources are followed by repeating scenes describing a police employee who spend his working hours playing solitaire on his pc - who is incidently equally irrelevant for the plot.
The author clearly shows her lack of grasp of the genre when se repeatedly relies on the trick of letting her characters make important discoveries that are only shared with the reader long after the fact. The anti cliff-hanger that goes with the anti ambience creating writing, and cardboard characters.
In short, this novel is not recommended to even the most dedicated fan of the genre.
The story follows Erica, who is back in her childhood home to clean up the hause after her parents death. While there she discover a former best friend dead in a bathtub, and is hired by the bereaved arents to write a memorial piece on her. This, along with her writers curiosity, and ridiculous spontaniety, involves her in the murder investigation. The murder investigation reacquaints her with another childhood friend, and much Bridget Jones hilarity ensies as they pursue their mutual attraction. The murder, and subsequent suicide of someone connected to the murder victim, are connected to each others, and a mysterious disappearance 25 years earlier.
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LibraryThing member Schatje
This is the first of seven mysteries set in Fjallbacka, Sweden, featuring Erica Falck and Patrik Hedstrom.
Erica is a 35-year-old biographer of female Swedish writers. During a stay at her coastal hometown, Alexandra Wijkner, a childhood friend, apparently commits suicide. Of course, it is soon
This is a mystery, but probably because it's the first in a series, there is some focus on introducing characters and establishing relationships. The budding romantic relationship between Erica and Patrik is central.
The police officers at the Tanumshede police station, other than Patrik, are unbelievably incompetent. The police chief, Bertil Mellberg, does nothing but has an exceedingly high opinion of himself. The eldest member of the force, Gosta Flygare, devotes "all his energy to doing as little as possible until retirement." The youngest, Martin Molin, is a total innocent; his naivete makes him "totally unsuitable for police work." The last member is Ernst Lundgren, a sycophant who never misses "a chance to promote himself, preferably at the expense of others."
The portrayal of life in a small town, however, is very realistic. Everyone knows everyone, and though people may try to keep secrets, gossip abounds. As the investigation continues, it soon becomes clear that secrets are never completely buried. In fact, those who remain silent seem to suffer the most.
Some tricks are played on the reader in order to create suspense. Erica, for example, withholds vital evidence from Patrik. At other times, a character discovers an important piece of information, but it is withheld from the reader.
The book is an entertaining read despite its flaws. Lackberg takes full advantage of opportunities for humour.
Erica is a 35-year-old biographer of female Swedish writers. During a stay at her coastal hometown, Alexandra Wijkner, a childhood friend, apparently commits suicide. Of course, it is soon
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determined that her death was the result of foul play. The case is investigated by Officer Patrik Hedstrom, another friend of Erica's from her childhood.This is a mystery, but probably because it's the first in a series, there is some focus on introducing characters and establishing relationships. The budding romantic relationship between Erica and Patrik is central.
The police officers at the Tanumshede police station, other than Patrik, are unbelievably incompetent. The police chief, Bertil Mellberg, does nothing but has an exceedingly high opinion of himself. The eldest member of the force, Gosta Flygare, devotes "all his energy to doing as little as possible until retirement." The youngest, Martin Molin, is a total innocent; his naivete makes him "totally unsuitable for police work." The last member is Ernst Lundgren, a sycophant who never misses "a chance to promote himself, preferably at the expense of others."
The portrayal of life in a small town, however, is very realistic. Everyone knows everyone, and though people may try to keep secrets, gossip abounds. As the investigation continues, it soon becomes clear that secrets are never completely buried. In fact, those who remain silent seem to suffer the most.
Some tricks are played on the reader in order to create suspense. Erica, for example, withholds vital evidence from Patrik. At other times, a character discovers an important piece of information, but it is withheld from the reader.
The book is an entertaining read despite its flaws. Lackberg takes full advantage of opportunities for humour.
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LibraryThing member ReviewsbyMolly
While I usually love suspense novels, this one was a little off for me. The author shows some signs of talent, and it may be because this is a foreign novel translated to English, I don't know, but I just didn't like the way this book was. Her characters, while complex enough, failed to blend well
I feel awful when I have to give a review like this, but honesty is the best policy and every author deserves a chance, even it isn't a book that the reader likes. I gave this author a chance and didn't like the book, and sadly, I have to give this book 2 stars. But, that being said, I do still encourage everyone to try this book. Sometimes a book might not set well with one reader, yet be another readers favorite book.
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with the plot line, in my opinion. The Scandinavian mystery thriller, well, it just didn't capture me the way I was hoping it would. I was hoping for some fast paced mystery, yet it was, to me, slow going and a bit boring, as it dragged on.I feel awful when I have to give a review like this, but honesty is the best policy and every author deserves a chance, even it isn't a book that the reader likes. I gave this author a chance and didn't like the book, and sadly, I have to give this book 2 stars. But, that being said, I do still encourage everyone to try this book. Sometimes a book might not set well with one reader, yet be another readers favorite book.
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LibraryThing member CentralCaliGrrrl
I really, really wanted to like this book. Suspense thrillers are my favorite and I was very excited to read a crime mystery by a woman as highly regarded as Camilla Läckberg. Maybe I expected too much, but The Ice Princess just wasn’t as astounding as I had hoped it would be.
It did have a
This is the first novel written by Ms. Läckberg and, at times, you can really tell that she’s a novice. The text seemed amateurish. It had a very slow but mostly steady pace. Unfortunately, I had to occasionally force myself to keep reading, which shouldn’t happen with a suspense thriller.
I’m sure that as Camilla sharpens her skills as a writer (which apparently she has already done, considering her six best-sellers) her work will become more enticing. I know she’s a hit in Europe, but in my opinion The Ice Princess simply doesn’t compare to others I read.
(Received complimentary copy for review purposes only.)
2 ½ Stars
It did have a
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decent plot with a few shocking, unexpected twists. Most of the characters were well developed and realistic -- none of them were perfect, just like the rest of us. However, Ms. Läckberg constantly added way too many personal, and unnecessary, details about their lives, which was distracting from the story. This is the first novel written by Ms. Läckberg and, at times, you can really tell that she’s a novice. The text seemed amateurish. It had a very slow but mostly steady pace. Unfortunately, I had to occasionally force myself to keep reading, which shouldn’t happen with a suspense thriller.
I’m sure that as Camilla sharpens her skills as a writer (which apparently she has already done, considering her six best-sellers) her work will become more enticing. I know she’s a hit in Europe, but in my opinion The Ice Princess simply doesn’t compare to others I read.
(Received complimentary copy for review purposes only.)
2 ½ Stars
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
A good, but not great, mystery novel. It's definitely a pop mystery and it's clear why James Patterson picked her -- and why she's so popular. I probably won't seek out any of her other books, because I have a feeling they'll all be similar. I enjoyed the story and some of the characters, but the
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clichés were a bit much. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
The author is a best seller in Sweden, and her translator is the same one who did the Stieg Larsson books, so I thought this book ought to be good, and it was.
Erica Falck is a 35-year-old writer living in Fjällbacka who finds her childhood friend, Alexandra (“Alex”) Wijkner, dead in a bathtub
Erica joins forces with a police officer investigating the case, Patrik Hedstrom, who has had a crush on Erica all his life. Their budding relationship provides some opportunity for humor and for a breather from the suspense.
Various subplots concern Anders Nilsson – a painter who was in love with Alex; The Lorentz Family – whose stewardship of the Fjällbacka cannery made them the “royalty" of the town; Erica’s ex-boyfriend Dan and his family; and Erica’s sister Anna, married to Lucas, a brutal, abusive man who seemingly has total control over his wife. All of these subplots are connected, but we don’t know how until the story progresses.
Evaluation: I thought this was a pretty good page-turner, and I really liked Erica and Patrik. I loved the way Erica saw food in terms of Weight Watcher points, and seemed to find a soul mate in Patrik, who could never resist a good pastry.
Erica Falck is a 35-year-old writer living in Fjällbacka who finds her childhood friend, Alexandra (“Alex”) Wijkner, dead in a bathtub
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full of ice water, with both wrists slashed. She and Alex had been estranged for twenty-five years, but prior to that, they were like sisters. Erica never understood what came between them. Nevertheless, Alex’s family asks Erica to write an article about Alex commemorating her life. But when an autopsy establishes that Alex's death was due to murder rather than suicide, and that moreover she had been pregnant, everything gets complicated.Erica joins forces with a police officer investigating the case, Patrik Hedstrom, who has had a crush on Erica all his life. Their budding relationship provides some opportunity for humor and for a breather from the suspense.
Various subplots concern Anders Nilsson – a painter who was in love with Alex; The Lorentz Family – whose stewardship of the Fjällbacka cannery made them the “royalty" of the town; Erica’s ex-boyfriend Dan and his family; and Erica’s sister Anna, married to Lucas, a brutal, abusive man who seemingly has total control over his wife. All of these subplots are connected, but we don’t know how until the story progresses.
Evaluation: I thought this was a pretty good page-turner, and I really liked Erica and Patrik. I loved the way Erica saw food in terms of Weight Watcher points, and seemed to find a soul mate in Patrik, who could never resist a good pastry.
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LibraryThing member lmikkel
There must be two editions of this book out there. The edition that garnered all the raves and 4 star reviews, alas, was not the edition I read. I read the one with the 1 to 2 star reviews. These reviewers mentioned the plodding translation, the slide into chick lit and the trite characterizations.
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I wish I had read the other book. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
Sometimes my reading and TV watching (or just my reading) intersects in strange and mysterious ways. Just before picking up this book I was making my way through the first season of Castle, starring Nathan Fillian as the crime writer, Richard Castle. The episode I watched involved the murder of a
The similarities end there, however. I picked up The Ice Princess hoping that it wouldn't be another Girl with a Dragon Tattoo and I got what I wished for. It was an interesting story but there were several things that bugged me.
Throughout the entire story some really major clues were glaringly ignored (specifically one involving the murder victim). They were ignored by the family, the police and the writer and it made absolutely no sense to me. Eventually I understood that by ignoring these clues the author was able to go back to them and tie everything together - but the omission was so obvious that it had me smacking my head and saying "DUH" to those involved.
It's frustrating to me when, in order to have a huge twist, you have to drop glaringly obvious clues and then ignore them. A twist should be something no one sees coming.
It's always fun to read about other cultures and it was interesting to see Sweden through the eyes of Ms. Läckberg and her characters, I just wish the mystery had been more of a mystery and less of a puzzle with an obvious twist.
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young woman who was frozen solid, so when I began this book about a writer and a murder involving a young woman frozen in a bathtub I got a strange feeling of deja vu.The similarities end there, however. I picked up The Ice Princess hoping that it wouldn't be another Girl with a Dragon Tattoo and I got what I wished for. It was an interesting story but there were several things that bugged me.
Throughout the entire story some really major clues were glaringly ignored (specifically one involving the murder victim). They were ignored by the family, the police and the writer and it made absolutely no sense to me. Eventually I understood that by ignoring these clues the author was able to go back to them and tie everything together - but the omission was so obvious that it had me smacking my head and saying "DUH" to those involved.
It's frustrating to me when, in order to have a huge twist, you have to drop glaringly obvious clues and then ignore them. A twist should be something no one sees coming.
It's always fun to read about other cultures and it was interesting to see Sweden through the eyes of Ms. Läckberg and her characters, I just wish the mystery had been more of a mystery and less of a puzzle with an obvious twist.
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LibraryThing member RABooktalker
Following the fine tradition of recent successful Swedish mystery authors, this is another name to watch. A very good mystery with good characters as well as a good sense of place. Well written and a good mystery.
LibraryThing member gilly1944
An excellent book. Part love story and part crime novel it is an enthralling read. Well developed characters inhabiting an authentic winter landscape.
LibraryThing member jmyers24
Camilla Lackberg's The Ice Princess is a mystery full of mysteries. There's Alex Wijkner, the murder victim, found partially frozen in the bathtub of her childhood-turned-summer home by the caretaker and Erica, Alex's estranged friend from childhood. Why was she there and not at her home in
Other, more domestic mysteries, also wind their way through this complex narrative: Will Erica, who has returned to Fjällbacka after her parents' death in a car accident, keep her childhood home from the greedy hands of her brother-in-law, who she is sure is physically abusing her sister, Anna? What is the issue between Dan, her former lover and still close friend, and his wife, Pernilla? Why does Pernilla, after all these years, suddenly seem to think she and Dan are once again romantically involved? And can Patrik, the Police Detective investigating Alex's death, possibly be “the one” for Erica?
I found The Ice Princess a solid whodunit with many interesting side stories. I enjoyed the characters and the setting and found myself hoping Lackberg has written other as equally engaging mysteries. There were, at times, seemingly abrupt shifts of scene but this could be due to the Kindle formatting and not the author's style.
Note: This review is of the Kindle version of this work.
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Göteborg with her husband, Henrik, Erica wonders. Why had Alex abandon the close friendship with Erica while they were in grade school and moved away without even saying goodbye? Then there is the Lorentz family: mother Nelly, adopted son Jan, and missing son Nils, who simply vanished on January day in 1977 and was never found. Why had Alex kept an article about Nils' disappearance hidden in a drawer in her childhood bedroom? Why had Nelly Lorentz come to Alex's funeral reception and spent most of her time talking to Alex's sister, Julia? And there's the mystery of a painting Alex kept hidden in her closet at Fjällbacka of herself, naked, painted by her childhood classmate, Anders Nilsson, whose adult life is characterized by frequent extreme drunken binges occasionally interrupted with bouts of creativity. Other, more domestic mysteries, also wind their way through this complex narrative: Will Erica, who has returned to Fjällbacka after her parents' death in a car accident, keep her childhood home from the greedy hands of her brother-in-law, who she is sure is physically abusing her sister, Anna? What is the issue between Dan, her former lover and still close friend, and his wife, Pernilla? Why does Pernilla, after all these years, suddenly seem to think she and Dan are once again romantically involved? And can Patrik, the Police Detective investigating Alex's death, possibly be “the one” for Erica?
I found The Ice Princess a solid whodunit with many interesting side stories. I enjoyed the characters and the setting and found myself hoping Lackberg has written other as equally engaging mysteries. There were, at times, seemingly abrupt shifts of scene but this could be due to the Kindle formatting and not the author's style.
Note: This review is of the Kindle version of this work.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: Eilert Berg was not a happy man.
After the death of her parents, biographer Erica Falck finds herself back in her hometown of Fjällbacka, Sweden. Simultaneously trying to go through her parents' things and finish work on her fifth book, Erica is finding both tasks distasteful. When her
While Falck is conducting her own investigation, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own leads on the woman's death. It is only when Erica and Patrik begin working together that the truth begins to emerge about the small town's past.
This is a mystery for those who are character-driven readers. Erica not only writes, grieves for her parents and her lost friendship with the deceased Alex, she has to deal with her younger sister and her grasping husband. Patrik is not only investigating the death of Erica's childhood friend, he has to cope with the boss from hell. Erica and Patrik are attracted to each other, and it's a romance that's well done: enough detail to make romance lovers' toes curl a bit without turning off those who prefer their whodunits with guns and no roses.
Läckberg's interest in people and motivation is clear in The Ice Princess. She also shows a great deal of skill in meting out details to keep the suspense percolating. I can't help but feel that, although she's got two great characters in Erica and Patrik, Läckberg has the most fun with Patrik's boss, Bertil Mellberg:
"What she considered his most repulsive feature, however, was the atrocious comb-over he had constructed to hide his bald pate. He had let the remaining strands of hair grow out-- his employees could only guess how long they must be-- and then he wound the hair round atop his head in an arrangement that most resembled an abandoned crow's nest."
What's scary about Mellberg is that, although his characterization borders on buffoonery, Läckberg doesn't put a foot wrong because I swear I once worked with his twin!
Mellberg aside, I truly enjoyed reading this book. Läckberg is a very visual writer; Scandinavian furniture makers, interior designers and food magazines are mentioned that were totally unknown to me, but I wasn't bothered. That's what an Internet connection and search engines are for. Looking up some of the unfamiliar names helped me see with Läckberg's eyes and educated me, all at the same time. For those readers who don't care about such things, they are very easily ignored.
I deduced what had happened to Alex as a child, but that didn't take away any enjoyment of this book. Good pacing and story combined with excellent characters and motivations to make for a very pleasurable read. I am now looking for the rest of the books in this series because I just have to know about the further adventures of Erica and Patrik.
After the death of her parents, biographer Erica Falck finds herself back in her hometown of Fjällbacka, Sweden. Simultaneously trying to go through her parents' things and finish work on her fifth book, Erica is finding both tasks distasteful. When her
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childhood friend is found with her wrists slashed in a frozen bath, Erica begins writing a memoir about her beautiful but remote friend in which she intends to answer questions about their lost friendship.While Falck is conducting her own investigation, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own leads on the woman's death. It is only when Erica and Patrik begin working together that the truth begins to emerge about the small town's past.
This is a mystery for those who are character-driven readers. Erica not only writes, grieves for her parents and her lost friendship with the deceased Alex, she has to deal with her younger sister and her grasping husband. Patrik is not only investigating the death of Erica's childhood friend, he has to cope with the boss from hell. Erica and Patrik are attracted to each other, and it's a romance that's well done: enough detail to make romance lovers' toes curl a bit without turning off those who prefer their whodunits with guns and no roses.
Läckberg's interest in people and motivation is clear in The Ice Princess. She also shows a great deal of skill in meting out details to keep the suspense percolating. I can't help but feel that, although she's got two great characters in Erica and Patrik, Läckberg has the most fun with Patrik's boss, Bertil Mellberg:
"What she considered his most repulsive feature, however, was the atrocious comb-over he had constructed to hide his bald pate. He had let the remaining strands of hair grow out-- his employees could only guess how long they must be-- and then he wound the hair round atop his head in an arrangement that most resembled an abandoned crow's nest."
What's scary about Mellberg is that, although his characterization borders on buffoonery, Läckberg doesn't put a foot wrong because I swear I once worked with his twin!
Mellberg aside, I truly enjoyed reading this book. Läckberg is a very visual writer; Scandinavian furniture makers, interior designers and food magazines are mentioned that were totally unknown to me, but I wasn't bothered. That's what an Internet connection and search engines are for. Looking up some of the unfamiliar names helped me see with Läckberg's eyes and educated me, all at the same time. For those readers who don't care about such things, they are very easily ignored.
I deduced what had happened to Alex as a child, but that didn't take away any enjoyment of this book. Good pacing and story combined with excellent characters and motivations to make for a very pleasurable read. I am now looking for the rest of the books in this series because I just have to know about the further adventures of Erica and Patrik.
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LibraryThing member kmaziarz
Slightly neurotic and self-concious biography author Erica Falck has returned to her childhood home of Fjallbacka to sort through her deceased parents’ belongings and work on her current book. When her childhood best friend, the glamorous Alex, is found dead in her bathtub—an apparent
Some clunky writing—which may be the fault of the translation—takes away from the otherwise suspenseful story. The setting, a tourist town nearly abandoned in the off-season, helps create further chill. Those looking for another Swedish mystery to read after finishing the third Stieg Larsson may find this mystery of interest.
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suicide—Erica is second on the scene. One of the policemen called in to investigate the death, which turns out to be a murder made to look like suicide, is another of Erica’s childhood friends, Patrik Hedstrom. Patrik has always had a bit of a “thing” for Erica, who never personally found Patrik interesting until now. Their developing relationship complicates the investigation, as Erica finds herself increasingly obsessed with discovering how Alex lived after their friendship ended, why the friendship ended at all, and who would have wanted to kill her. A local alchoholic artist whom Alex has sponsored at her gallery is originally suspected of the crime, but the true story turns out to be a lot darker and more complicated than anyone believed.Some clunky writing—which may be the fault of the translation—takes away from the otherwise suspenseful story. The setting, a tourist town nearly abandoned in the off-season, helps create further chill. Those looking for another Swedish mystery to read after finishing the third Stieg Larsson may find this mystery of interest.
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LibraryThing member dawnlovesbooks
a good mystery. love the icy background and the insight into all the different characters!
LibraryThing member litendeavors
I may be the only living female who hasn't yet read Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy. So, when Lackberg's new book is compared to the Scandinavian publishing phenomenon, it doesn't register much with me.
Maybe that's a good thing. There's nothing to compare The Ice Princess to. I'm not a reader of
The Story:
Erica Falck moves to her hometown of Fjallbacka, Sweden after the death of her parents. A writer, she is attempting to finish her fourth biography when she discovers the death of her childhood friend, Alex. Found in a tub of nearly frozen water with both wrists slashed, Alex's death sets off an investigation to which no one person is exempt. Erica is drawn into the tragedy and mystery surrounding the life and death of her estranged friend. Along with Patrik Hedstrom, a police detective assigned to the case, Erica finds out more about the quiet close-knit seaside community than she ever wanted to know.
The Review:
There was so much going on in this thriller. A prodigious amount of colorful characters: from the eccentric elderly Mrs. Petren, who uses thousands of Santas and a state of the art coffee machine to ensure a steady stream of guests; to the aging socialite Nelly Lorentz, who is somehow involved in Alex's death; to Alex's sister, Julia, who is grieving in a very unusual way.
Lackberg touches on a number of issues--domestic violence, child abuse, negligence, mental illness, and adultery--without devolving into the typical moralistic fare. Every detail of human nature is spot on, except the voice of the victim of domestic violence; in this case, it seems Lackberg consulted case studies and assigned the voice of the psychologist to the victim herself.
In addition to that, there was an awkwardness to some of the sentences; I don't know whether that was caused by the translator or the author herself. It's nothing especially jarring, just an awareness of the bump in the flow.
In addition to that, one of my chief complaints is that the deceased character seems to be the one most filled with life. Alex is well defined, which distinguishes from most of the other characters. Even Erica's voice didn't seem quite her own (as much as the author's) until about 100 pages in, when the writing noticeably improves and the story becomes more gripping.I've heard that Lackberg's writing improves with each new book, so I'm interested to see how the next one goes.
This story was engrossing, the characters profound, and the atmosphere well drawn.
The Opinion:
Aside from those negatives, The Ice Princess is a fast, light read that will keep you racing through the pages to find answers that will make your jaw drop. Seriously.
3.75 out of 5 stars
Maybe that's a good thing. There's nothing to compare The Ice Princess to. I'm not a reader of
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the recent craze of Swedish noir, though I will venture into Henning Mankell territory next week. Thus, this novel will be considered strictly on its own merits.The Story:
Erica Falck moves to her hometown of Fjallbacka, Sweden after the death of her parents. A writer, she is attempting to finish her fourth biography when she discovers the death of her childhood friend, Alex. Found in a tub of nearly frozen water with both wrists slashed, Alex's death sets off an investigation to which no one person is exempt. Erica is drawn into the tragedy and mystery surrounding the life and death of her estranged friend. Along with Patrik Hedstrom, a police detective assigned to the case, Erica finds out more about the quiet close-knit seaside community than she ever wanted to know.
The Review:
There was so much going on in this thriller. A prodigious amount of colorful characters: from the eccentric elderly Mrs. Petren, who uses thousands of Santas and a state of the art coffee machine to ensure a steady stream of guests; to the aging socialite Nelly Lorentz, who is somehow involved in Alex's death; to Alex's sister, Julia, who is grieving in a very unusual way.
Lackberg touches on a number of issues--domestic violence, child abuse, negligence, mental illness, and adultery--without devolving into the typical moralistic fare. Every detail of human nature is spot on, except the voice of the victim of domestic violence; in this case, it seems Lackberg consulted case studies and assigned the voice of the psychologist to the victim herself.
In addition to that, there was an awkwardness to some of the sentences; I don't know whether that was caused by the translator or the author herself. It's nothing especially jarring, just an awareness of the bump in the flow.
In addition to that, one of my chief complaints is that the deceased character seems to be the one most filled with life. Alex is well defined, which distinguishes from most of the other characters. Even Erica's voice didn't seem quite her own (as much as the author's) until about 100 pages in, when the writing noticeably improves and the story becomes more gripping.I've heard that Lackberg's writing improves with each new book, so I'm interested to see how the next one goes.
This story was engrossing, the characters profound, and the atmosphere well drawn.
The Opinion:
Aside from those negatives, The Ice Princess is a fast, light read that will keep you racing through the pages to find answers that will make your jaw drop. Seriously.
3.75 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member Fluffyblue
Murder mystery where a biographer gets involved in the investigation in to the possible murder of her childhood best friend.
I found this book quite boring to be honest. There was nothing in it that hasn't already been written about before, and the plot was so thin. I definitely won't be reading
I found this book quite boring to be honest. There was nothing in it that hasn't already been written about before, and the plot was so thin. I definitely won't be reading
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any more of this series of books. Show Less
LibraryThing member kylenapoli
Having gotten the recommendation from a trusted source, I intended to like this book, but seldom have I encountered prose so flat, with so much told and not shown. Many paragraphs that ostensibly represent dialog, because enclosed in quotation marks, are actually pure, plodding exposition. Is this
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a literary model preferred by modern Scandinavian authors? Or simply an artifact of translation into English? I wish I knew. Show Less
LibraryThing member NancyPires
Good murder mystery although not classified as such. Enjoyed very much.
LibraryThing member bhowell
Ms Lackberg is a relative newcomer in the new genre of Scandinavian thrillers but her characters, writer Erica Falck, and police detective Patrik Hedstrom are a winning team. This is the first in the series and at this point Patrik and Erica are not yet a couple. Erica returns to her hometown,
Lots of descriptions of ice and snow and the cold followed by the cosy huddling by the fire that seems to take place in all these Scandinavian thrillers.
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Fjallbacka, from Stockholm for her parents funeral. In the midst of her grief, the brutal murder of her childhood friend, Alex, shocks her into action and she finds herself searching obsessively for answers. Meanwhile her beloved sister struggles with an abusive husband. Patrik begins his investigation.Lots of descriptions of ice and snow and the cold followed by the cosy huddling by the fire that seems to take place in all these Scandinavian thrillers.
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LibraryThing member Jcambridge
I read both Ice Princess and The Hypnotist while on vacation in Scandinavia. I found this book to be the better of the two -- the characters and the plot were far more believable. It was a book I didn't want to put down until I was finished and I was surprised at the ending. I will make a point of
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reading more of Lockberg's books. I would recommend it! Show Less
LibraryThing member samantha.1020
From the back cover:
"Erica Falck reutrns to her tiny, remote hometown of Fjallbacka, Sweden, after her parents' deaths only to encounter another tragedy: the suicide of her childhood best friend, Alex. It's Erica herself who finds Alex's body-suspended in a bathtub of frozen water, her wrists
My Thoughts:
I was really hoping to like this book more than I did. And after reading that summary I was really looking forward to reading it which may have led to my disappointment. I'll have to admit that I never quite connected with the story though which led to a bit of a disappointing reading experience for me.
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I really, really liked the atmosphere that the author created with this book. The descriptions of the setting, the icy cold, all fit perfectly for me as an ideal setting for a thriller. I could feel the cold while I was reading and I loved how just the atmosphere drew me into the book. The mystery was interesting and I'll admit to never having any clue as to who the killer was. The problem that I had with this book was more with never connecting to the characters. The author wrote the story from multiple viewpoints and I found it hard to transition between the characters. I found the switching viewpoints confusing and would have preferred a little more distinction between each character and their thoughts. And I never fully connected with the characters. I liked Erica and Patrik's characters but although I liked them I felt distant from them and what they were going through. The other characters were never fleshed out enough for me to really care one way or another about them. The storyline was good but it moved slowly for me. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense for me but there was a lot of foreshadowing. And I'm going to be honest and say that my dislikes might have just been me with this book. The book was translated and is written by a Swedish author which also makes me wonder if that is why I had problems connecting to the book. It could have just been that it didn't translate well. Maybe if I had read this book written in its' original language then I would have been able to enjoy it more.
All in all, I found this to just be an okay read for me. Although I had a few problems with it, I would still be open to reading more by this author and continuing on with the series.
"Erica Falck reutrns to her tiny, remote hometown of Fjallbacka, Sweden, after her parents' deaths only to encounter another tragedy: the suicide of her childhood best friend, Alex. It's Erica herself who finds Alex's body-suspended in a bathtub of frozen water, her wrists
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slashed. Erica is bewildered: Why would a beautiful woman who had it all take her own life?"My Thoughts:
I was really hoping to like this book more than I did. And after reading that summary I was really looking forward to reading it which may have led to my disappointment. I'll have to admit that I never quite connected with the story though which led to a bit of a disappointing reading experience for me.
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I really, really liked the atmosphere that the author created with this book. The descriptions of the setting, the icy cold, all fit perfectly for me as an ideal setting for a thriller. I could feel the cold while I was reading and I loved how just the atmosphere drew me into the book. The mystery was interesting and I'll admit to never having any clue as to who the killer was. The problem that I had with this book was more with never connecting to the characters. The author wrote the story from multiple viewpoints and I found it hard to transition between the characters. I found the switching viewpoints confusing and would have preferred a little more distinction between each character and their thoughts. And I never fully connected with the characters. I liked Erica and Patrik's characters but although I liked them I felt distant from them and what they were going through. The other characters were never fleshed out enough for me to really care one way or another about them. The storyline was good but it moved slowly for me. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense for me but there was a lot of foreshadowing. And I'm going to be honest and say that my dislikes might have just been me with this book. The book was translated and is written by a Swedish author which also makes me wonder if that is why I had problems connecting to the book. It could have just been that it didn't translate well. Maybe if I had read this book written in its' original language then I would have been able to enjoy it more.
All in all, I found this to just be an okay read for me. Although I had a few problems with it, I would still be open to reading more by this author and continuing on with the series.
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LibraryThing member wortklauberlein
The plot twists, humor, romance, and several likable characters make up for a rather flat translation, by the same man who did the Stieg Larsson series.
In a Swedish winter, a woman's body is found frozen in a bathtub, her wrists slit. Suicide or cold-blooded murder?
Author Camilla Lackberg keeps the
She relies too frequently on the clumsy device of having one of the people investigating the death of beautiful Alexandra find an Important Clue but wait several chapters for the reader to be let in on it, by which time I at least had forgotten all about it.
The Scandinavian setting isn't too important -- any place cold enough to have someone stay frozen in a bathtub for a few days would do -- except for one detail that pops up a few times. Apparently in Sweden people who have to sit down out-of-doors make sure they place their mittens under them. Fear of urinary tract infections seems to outrank fear of frostbitten fingers...
In a Swedish winter, a woman's body is found frozen in a bathtub, her wrists slit. Suicide or cold-blooded murder?
Author Camilla Lackberg keeps the
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reader wondering with a growing roster of potential killers and another body hinting at the mystery's deep roots in the past of the seaside town of Fjallbacka. She relies too frequently on the clumsy device of having one of the people investigating the death of beautiful Alexandra find an Important Clue but wait several chapters for the reader to be let in on it, by which time I at least had forgotten all about it.
The Scandinavian setting isn't too important -- any place cold enough to have someone stay frozen in a bathtub for a few days would do -- except for one detail that pops up a few times. Apparently in Sweden people who have to sit down out-of-doors make sure they place their mittens under them. Fear of urinary tract infections seems to outrank fear of frostbitten fingers...
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Awards
Language
Original language
Swedish
Original publication date
2002 (original Swedish)
2008 (English: Murray)
Physical description
400 p.; 4.33 inches
ISBN
9780007421565