Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harper (2011), 480 pages
Description
When a young girl's body is pulled out of the harbor in the small Swedish resort town of Fjallbacka, Det. Patrik Hedström becomes the lead investigator as he struggles with lazy and inept colleagues and an even remoter-than-usual boss. It's his grim task to discover who could be behind the murder of the child both he and his partner Erica knew well.
User reviews
LibraryThing member smik
I haven't read anything by this author before and quite happily read THE STONE-CUTTER as a stand alone. It only occurred to me towards the end that it might be part of a series, as indeed it is. The series are police procedurals set the small seaside town of Fjallbacka, Sweden.
The opening hook of
The plot is made all the more complex by the introduction of a historical thread. While this thread is actually essential to the story and to the eventual resolution of the murder, it does seem to take a long time to unfold.
The narrated version has a few consistency problems, first of all with pronunciation of names, and also with the differentiation between voices. The narrator seemed to me to at first decide to use a number of British accents, which felt a bit strange in a Swedish novel, and then to abandon that scheme.
Murder, evil, and damaged personalities lie at the heart of this novel. There is a twist at the end that I really didn't see coming.
I will be looking to read more from Camilla Lackberg.
The opening hook of
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the story is the death of Sara, an 8 year old, the daughter of Patrik Hedstrom's wife's friend. The tragedy seems to become deeper when the police learn that Sara's death is in fact murder and there seems to be no lack of suspects including the girl's own father.The plot is made all the more complex by the introduction of a historical thread. While this thread is actually essential to the story and to the eventual resolution of the murder, it does seem to take a long time to unfold.
The narrated version has a few consistency problems, first of all with pronunciation of names, and also with the differentiation between voices. The narrator seemed to me to at first decide to use a number of British accents, which felt a bit strange in a Swedish novel, and then to abandon that scheme.
Murder, evil, and damaged personalities lie at the heart of this novel. There is a twist at the end that I really didn't see coming.
I will be looking to read more from Camilla Lackberg.
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LibraryThing member anais_nin
My favourite in the series so far. I started reading The Ice Princess a few weeks ago with mild curiosity, not really knowing what to expect but soon became hooked on Lackberg's writing style and story ideas. Now I am devouring the whole series, one book at a time.
After Louise Penny this is
After Louise Penny this is
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probably my favourite contemporary female mystery writer. The stories are so intricately woven, the characters seem almost real, I have a feeling I'd recognize them if I ran into them on the street. In each book there is always more than one mystery to be unraveled, especially in the Stonecutter. Can't wait to start The Stranger. Show Less
LibraryThing member cameling
One of the most masterful Scandicrime fiction authors presents us with a thriller that has all the makings of a movie that will keep viewers at the edge of their seat until the ending credits flash on the screen.
The 3rd in the series, Detective Patrik Hedstrom and his team are tasked with finding
Alternating with the investigation is the unfolding story set more than 50 years ago of a young woman who believes herself betrayed by all the men in her life.
The author's skill in tying all the different individuals, their past and their hidden secrets together so smoothly and with escalating tension deserves a standing ovation.
The 3rd in the series, Detective Patrik Hedstrom and his team are tasked with finding
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the murderer of a young child, found in the water by a local fisherman. The investigation is blurred by secrets held by the family of the young child and by their feuding neighbors. But why is there ash in the young victim's lungs? When 2 more babies are found with ash on their clothings or in their mouths but thankfully otherwise unharmed and one of the babies is Hedstrom's daughter, the investigators step up in their interviewing techniques with a suspect they have in custody. Alternating with the investigation is the unfolding story set more than 50 years ago of a young woman who believes herself betrayed by all the men in her life.
The author's skill in tying all the different individuals, their past and their hidden secrets together so smoothly and with escalating tension deserves a standing ovation.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Very easy reading, if you can avoid thinking too hard about all the murders and other cruelty and stuff, but not mindless by any means. Very focused on parent-child relationships. Quite a lot of talk about evil people - but this is a bit misleading as it's more evil emerging out of evil done to
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people rather than people being evil in themselves. Or maybe I'm just putting my own thoughts into it. Anyway I liked all the different strands of story. Must have liked it because after I finished this book I immediately started reading the next one in the series.... Show Less
LibraryThing member jeanfeldeisen
A clever collection of stories about peoople in a little Swedish town that comes together more and more as it nears the end. A thrilling build up to the conclusion and the bad guy is unsuspected. I enjoyed it enough to get two more by the author.
LibraryThing member ChrisSterry
A skilful plot which kept me wanting to read on. The gradual convergenece of the historical story, beginning in the 1920s with the present day time line was well done, and added to the suspense. I did work out who did it just before the end. But the desire to rush on to the end was tempered by the
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sheer, untempered misery and unhappiness of every character in the book. The bleak, rainswept lanscape of a Scandinavian autumn was a good metaphor for the book as a whole. I enjoyed the book enormously, but I am going off now to read the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes to cheer myself up! Show Less
LibraryThing member Schatje
This is the third book in Lackberg's series, and the reader catches up with the characters introduced previously.
Erica and Patrik have an infant daughter, and parenthood requires some adjustment: Erica suffers from post-partum depression and Patrik has to juggle a demanding new case and the
A little girl is found dead, and an autopsy reveals murder. To complicate matters, the victim is the daughter of one of Erica's friends. As Patrik investigates, many dark secrets of the residents of Fjallbacka are revealed. Child abuse and exploitation are discovered.
The upbringing of children is a major theme. The roots of the child's murder lie in an earlier generation and can be attributed, at least in part, to the upbringing of children. In the present, Eric and Patrik try to find an appropriate parenting style. Even the incompetent police chief becomes indirectly involved in raising a child, albeit belatedly.
This is another good read. The alternation between past and present adds interest as the reader tries to guess the connection between the story of the daughter of a stone quarry owner beginning in the 1920s and the death of a child in the early years of the 21st century.
Erica and Patrik have an infant daughter, and parenthood requires some adjustment: Erica suffers from post-partum depression and Patrik has to juggle a demanding new case and the
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responsibilities of fatherhood. A little girl is found dead, and an autopsy reveals murder. To complicate matters, the victim is the daughter of one of Erica's friends. As Patrik investigates, many dark secrets of the residents of Fjallbacka are revealed. Child abuse and exploitation are discovered.
The upbringing of children is a major theme. The roots of the child's murder lie in an earlier generation and can be attributed, at least in part, to the upbringing of children. In the present, Eric and Patrik try to find an appropriate parenting style. Even the incompetent police chief becomes indirectly involved in raising a child, albeit belatedly.
This is another good read. The alternation between past and present adds interest as the reader tries to guess the connection between the story of the daughter of a stone quarry owner beginning in the 1920s and the death of a child in the early years of the 21st century.
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LibraryThing member brigidsmith
An excellent story, covering a family over 90 years. The plot was detailed and clever, and the characters were believable. No real insights into human nature or examples of excellent writing, but a really good whodunnit that kept me turning the pages.
LibraryThing member magentaflake
A better story than the Preacher. Detective Hedstrom has just become a father when a young girl is found drowned, murdered. Interwoven is another story which is connect4ed to the murder. Found it all too contrived.
LibraryThing member martinhughharvey
Another Swedish thriller author.
Decent enough detective story with a plot twist that did take me near to the end of the book to figure out. Enjoyable reading and not too complex. Most detective stories seem to have a protagonist detective that has quirks that add to the book - this didn't which I
Thanks to my sister for lending it to me.
Decent enough detective story with a plot twist that did take me near to the end of the book to figure out. Enjoyable reading and not too complex. Most detective stories seem to have a protagonist detective that has quirks that add to the book - this didn't which I
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missed.Thanks to my sister for lending it to me.
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LibraryThing member libsue
Fast paced, detailed mystery that had me guessing until a few chapters from the end. Not a literary masterpiece, but not the trash that Patterson puts out. I'll be back for more from Lackberg.
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
A child's body is brought to the surface of the sea by a fisherman. At first the death appears accidental, but on autopsy, it is shown that the girl had bath water and ashes in her lungs, indicating murder. Worse is the fact that investigator Patrik Hedstrom knows the girl, Sara, who was the
Jump back to 1923 and the story of Agnes, a spoiled teenager, who sneaks out of the house at night, who has her widower father wrapped around her little pinky, who always gets what she wants.
For the majority of the book, Patrik and his crew have no clues. The story revolves around a long-standing feud between Sara's grandmother, Lilian, and her neighbor, Kaj. The plot also explores the relationship between Charlotte and her husband, Niclas, as well as various other husband/wife/child relationships.
There is also an unfinished subplot regarding Erica's sister, Anna, and her abusive boyfriend.
I find Scandinavian mysteries tough going sometimes. I like tighter stories. However, the characters in The Stonecutter are interesting and Patrik is a great example of a harried murder investigator.
Having said all of this, I'd give the Stonecutter a try and I, personally, will read another of Camilla Lackberg's books.
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daughter of Charlotte, his wife Erica's friend.Jump back to 1923 and the story of Agnes, a spoiled teenager, who sneaks out of the house at night, who has her widower father wrapped around her little pinky, who always gets what she wants.
For the majority of the book, Patrik and his crew have no clues. The story revolves around a long-standing feud between Sara's grandmother, Lilian, and her neighbor, Kaj. The plot also explores the relationship between Charlotte and her husband, Niclas, as well as various other husband/wife/child relationships.
There is also an unfinished subplot regarding Erica's sister, Anna, and her abusive boyfriend.
I find Scandinavian mysteries tough going sometimes. I like tighter stories. However, the characters in The Stonecutter are interesting and Patrik is a great example of a harried murder investigator.
Having said all of this, I'd give the Stonecutter a try and I, personally, will read another of Camilla Lackberg's books.
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LibraryThing member dpappas
I really liked the first two books in this series so I knew that once I was able to read the third book I would. In this book Erica and Patrik have a newly born little girl, Maja. I loved seeing them all as a family, that was one of the bright spots of this book. As far as the rest of the book I
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found most of it to be predictable. Maybe I just have a screwed-up mind or I have read far too many books with subjects like this but it didn't seem that hard at all to figure out who had killed little Sara, and the other mysteries of the book. Even though it was predictable I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more of this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member chasidar
Disappointing. Another of these Swedish crime novels. Too many threads and took a while until they come together. Some storylines are not developed enough to hold you and take away from the main story.
LibraryThing member neverlistless
I enjoyed this book immensely. It continues to follow Erica, Patrik and the small town of Fjallbacka. Lackberg does a great job weaving characters' stories together - even stories that span nearly 70 years! The murder in this book is of a small girl, Sara, who is found floating in the ocean. At
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first the police believe that her death is an accident, but investigative discoveries cause them to change their minds. Meanwhile, the story flashes back to Sweden in the 1920s to the life of Agnes, a spoiled rich girl who believes that she has a right to anything she wants, and how her choices and deeds have affected lives to this day. Show Less
LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: The lobster fishery was not what it once was.
Detective Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck are celebrating the birth of their first child... or they would be if Erica weren't on such an emotional roller coaster. Patrik loves mother and baby dearly, but lately he's glad that work takes him
Camilla Läckberg's series featuring Patrik and Erica is a favorite of mine, even when I put the clues together quickly, as I did in this book. The reason for this is the fact that Läckberg has created a book (and a series) that goes well beyond a mystery that must be solved.
The mystery does play an important part in The Stonecutter. The investigation into the death of the little girl is absorbing, and it is interspersed with even more intense chapters concerning a man and wife from several decades in the past. These two separate stories intersect and prove what one character tells another: "I've thought about this, and we can't keep living with a secret. Monsters live in the dark." Quite scary monsters, as it turns out.
Even though I did deduce the killer's identity quickly, I wasn't put off one little bit. This is because the home life of Patrik and Erica is central to the book. They are intelligent, likable characters that are easy to care about, and often the problems that they are dealing with in their private lives find themselves woven into the ongoing investigations. The theme of coping with motherhood is integral to the book, and Erica as a new mother, has a role to play in the story's outcome. Even Erica's sister, a mother in an abusive relationship, is heard as a faint and troubling chorus in the background.
I recommend Läckberg's series for its setting in rural Sweden, for its intricately plotted mysteries, but most of all for its cast of meticulously drawn characters. It's Läckberg's characters that will keep me returning book after book after book.
Detective Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck are celebrating the birth of their first child... or they would be if Erica weren't on such an emotional roller coaster. Patrik loves mother and baby dearly, but lately he's glad that work takes him
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out of the house-- even if it's the suspicious drowning death of a little girl he and Erica knew well. The more people Patrik interviews, the more clues he puts together, the more he becomes aware of the fact that a long-buried secret is lurking in the fishing village of Fjällbacka, Sweden.Camilla Läckberg's series featuring Patrik and Erica is a favorite of mine, even when I put the clues together quickly, as I did in this book. The reason for this is the fact that Läckberg has created a book (and a series) that goes well beyond a mystery that must be solved.
The mystery does play an important part in The Stonecutter. The investigation into the death of the little girl is absorbing, and it is interspersed with even more intense chapters concerning a man and wife from several decades in the past. These two separate stories intersect and prove what one character tells another: "I've thought about this, and we can't keep living with a secret. Monsters live in the dark." Quite scary monsters, as it turns out.
Even though I did deduce the killer's identity quickly, I wasn't put off one little bit. This is because the home life of Patrik and Erica is central to the book. They are intelligent, likable characters that are easy to care about, and often the problems that they are dealing with in their private lives find themselves woven into the ongoing investigations. The theme of coping with motherhood is integral to the book, and Erica as a new mother, has a role to play in the story's outcome. Even Erica's sister, a mother in an abusive relationship, is heard as a faint and troubling chorus in the background.
I recommend Läckberg's series for its setting in rural Sweden, for its intricately plotted mysteries, but most of all for its cast of meticulously drawn characters. It's Läckberg's characters that will keep me returning book after book after book.
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LibraryThing member tangledthread
This is the third in a series of Patrick Hedsrom detective stories by Camilla Lackberg. The author is very good at building suspense through the chapters and carries different threads through out the story line. She also avoids the very dark, depressive atmosphere that is often found in of Swedish
I highly recommend this series for those who like mysteries.
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mysteries.I highly recommend this series for those who like mysteries.
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LibraryThing member bhowell
I think "The Stone Cutter" is better than the previous two in this series or perhaps the translator is improving. Her two previous books had clunky English with too much slang that somehow was not very realistic. Her characters seem a little more intelligent in this book. I have ordered Gallows
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Bird and hopefully all 7 of this series will ultimately be translated to English. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bookbets50
The Stonecutter was very readable-the primary mystery being who killed the little girl found in the ocean with bathwater in her lungs. There were some random subplots (the neighbors and the chief with his new son) but overall, I liked it.
LibraryThing member Twink
I do a rotating display at the library on genres and authors. This last month I featured Scandinavian authors. I've read many of the authors I featured, but Camilla Lackberg was new to me.
The Stonecutter is the third book in her series set in Fjallbacka, Sweden that features Detective Patrik
A local fisherman hauling in his nets draws up an unexpected and grisly catch - the body of a young girl. When Patrik is called to the scene, he is horrified to realize he knows the girl. Further investigation reveals that the drowning was no accident.
The present day chapters dealing with Patrik's investigation are alternated with chapters detailing a story beginning in 1923, set in the same village. The two narratives seemed to have no connection to each other whatsoever in the beginning, but I was fascinated by the older story as well. More and more of the past is revealed with every chapter and I started to get an inkling of where the two narratives might meet. I quite enjoyed having the story slowly but deliciously pieced together. Lackberg has done an excellent job with her plotting - it's intriguing and inventive.
Although Patrik is the lead protagonist, there are other recurring characters that are just as well drawn and developed. Patrik's girlfriend Erica has just given birth to their first child and is having great difficulty coping. His colleagues at the station run the gamut - from keen to lazy to dangerous. The townsfolk are a mixed bunch - all with secrets it seems. I enjoy a series that lets us 'know' the characters and see their lives evolve from book to book.
Lackberg's mystery is excellent, but I also appreciated the depth with which she explored the psyches of all involved - both police and suspects. The theme of relationships is explored in many forms - especially that of parent/child. These explorations were the most frightening parts of the book. There are sub plots never fully wrapped up as well, which was okay - the ending has only left me eager to read the next in the series - The Gallows Bird. A great read and a new addition to my list of must read mystery authors.
The Stonecutter is the third book in her series set in Fjallbacka, Sweden that features Detective Patrik
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Hedstrom. A local fisherman hauling in his nets draws up an unexpected and grisly catch - the body of a young girl. When Patrik is called to the scene, he is horrified to realize he knows the girl. Further investigation reveals that the drowning was no accident.
The present day chapters dealing with Patrik's investigation are alternated with chapters detailing a story beginning in 1923, set in the same village. The two narratives seemed to have no connection to each other whatsoever in the beginning, but I was fascinated by the older story as well. More and more of the past is revealed with every chapter and I started to get an inkling of where the two narratives might meet. I quite enjoyed having the story slowly but deliciously pieced together. Lackberg has done an excellent job with her plotting - it's intriguing and inventive.
Although Patrik is the lead protagonist, there are other recurring characters that are just as well drawn and developed. Patrik's girlfriend Erica has just given birth to their first child and is having great difficulty coping. His colleagues at the station run the gamut - from keen to lazy to dangerous. The townsfolk are a mixed bunch - all with secrets it seems. I enjoy a series that lets us 'know' the characters and see their lives evolve from book to book.
Lackberg's mystery is excellent, but I also appreciated the depth with which she explored the psyches of all involved - both police and suspects. The theme of relationships is explored in many forms - especially that of parent/child. These explorations were the most frightening parts of the book. There are sub plots never fully wrapped up as well, which was okay - the ending has only left me eager to read the next in the series - The Gallows Bird. A great read and a new addition to my list of must read mystery authors.
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LibraryThing member PattyLouise
The Stonecutter
By
Camilla Lackberg
My"in a nutshell"summary...
A little girl is found dead in a fishing village...mystery surrounds her death.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Whew...this book has a ton of issues going on with all of the characters all at the same time. First of all...a little
What I loved about this book...
Ok...I truly loved the story...I loved Patrick...frustrated detective. I loved the whackadoodle characters...Lilian...the neighbor you love to hate...Kaj...their ridiculous feuding...there was so much going on!
What I did not love about this book...
I did not understand the story that was happening in 1923. I was happily reading along and then every now and then...we are in 1923 with a rich man's daughter and a stone cutter and a pregnancy. I am still trying to figure it out! Plus everyone in this book is miserable! Totally thoroughly miserable! And also just when I think I know the members of one family...another member pops in and I have no clue where he/she came from...I did not like this at all. But by the end of the book...it all makes sense.
Final thoughts...
An interesting mystery...with quite a few confusing parts and quite a few exciting parts... It's a translation so perhaps that added to my confusion...not sure. But fans will love this addition to this series. I am quite certain of that...I had no idea who the murderer was until it was finally spelled out for me at the very end! And...just to add a bit of a teaser...the ending was totally shocking...and brilliant!
By
Camilla Lackberg
My"in a nutshell"summary...
A little girl is found dead in a fishing village...mystery surrounds her death.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Whew...this book has a ton of issues going on with all of the characters all at the same time. First of all...a little
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girl...Sara...is found drowned. Within hours what was thought to be an accident is now declared a murder. So now...suddenly...this little village is filled with suspects! There are families feuding, neighbors feuding and lots of mysteries and unexplained actions. Plus the detective on the case has just had a baby with his girl friend and while they are both exhausted...she...Erica...seems to be suffering from a post baby depression that is making everyone miserable. There does not seem to be a likeable or normal person in sight anywhere! Lilian...the little dead girl's grandmother...is atrocious!What I loved about this book...
Ok...I truly loved the story...I loved Patrick...frustrated detective. I loved the whackadoodle characters...Lilian...the neighbor you love to hate...Kaj...their ridiculous feuding...there was so much going on!
What I did not love about this book...
I did not understand the story that was happening in 1923. I was happily reading along and then every now and then...we are in 1923 with a rich man's daughter and a stone cutter and a pregnancy. I am still trying to figure it out! Plus everyone in this book is miserable! Totally thoroughly miserable! And also just when I think I know the members of one family...another member pops in and I have no clue where he/she came from...I did not like this at all. But by the end of the book...it all makes sense.
Final thoughts...
An interesting mystery...with quite a few confusing parts and quite a few exciting parts... It's a translation so perhaps that added to my confusion...not sure. But fans will love this addition to this series. I am quite certain of that...I had no idea who the murderer was until it was finally spelled out for me at the very end! And...just to add a bit of a teaser...the ending was totally shocking...and brilliant!
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LibraryThing member mcelhra
The Stonecutter is the third book in the Patrik Hedstrom mystery/thriller series by Camilla Läckberg. I haven’t read the previous two books but I don’t think there are any spoilers for them in this review.
Listening to the audio book was great fun. David Thorn, the narrator, had a very dramatic
The character development in this book is outstanding. This book has an ensemble cast and Läckberg has given each character as much attention as if they were all main characters, with each character having a detailed back-story. Because of this, I was continually going back and forth on who I thought killed Sara and was second guessing myself until the very end. It was great. I was worried that with so many characters with unfamiliar (to me) names, that I would have a hard time keeping track of them on audio since I couldn’t flip back and forth like with a paper book. However, the names were all different sounding enough that I didn’t have any problems.
In addition to the main present day plot of Sara’s murder, there is a subplot about a stonecutter that starts in the 1920s. It’s apparent that it will somehow tie into the present day story but it’s not revealed until late in the book. It was really a second mystery trying to figure out how it would eventually be weaved in to the primary story and I was surprised by how it did.
Even though I haven’t read the first two books in this series, I didn’t have any trouble jumping right in. It doesn’t quite stand alone because one of the subplots ends in a cliffhanger that is no doubt the focus of the fourth book. The mystery of Sara’s murder is solved in this book though.
From what I’ve read, Camilla Läckberg is immensely popular in Sweden and after reading The Stonecutter, I can see why. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Nordic crime novels.
Listening to the audio book was great fun. David Thorn, the narrator, had a very dramatic
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British accent complete with rolling “R”s. It was really interesting hearing all of the Swedish people and place names correctly pronounced because they usually sound nothing like they are spelled. For instance, Patrik is pronounced “POOR-trig”.The character development in this book is outstanding. This book has an ensemble cast and Läckberg has given each character as much attention as if they were all main characters, with each character having a detailed back-story. Because of this, I was continually going back and forth on who I thought killed Sara and was second guessing myself until the very end. It was great. I was worried that with so many characters with unfamiliar (to me) names, that I would have a hard time keeping track of them on audio since I couldn’t flip back and forth like with a paper book. However, the names were all different sounding enough that I didn’t have any problems.
In addition to the main present day plot of Sara’s murder, there is a subplot about a stonecutter that starts in the 1920s. It’s apparent that it will somehow tie into the present day story but it’s not revealed until late in the book. It was really a second mystery trying to figure out how it would eventually be weaved in to the primary story and I was surprised by how it did.
Even though I haven’t read the first two books in this series, I didn’t have any trouble jumping right in. It doesn’t quite stand alone because one of the subplots ends in a cliffhanger that is no doubt the focus of the fourth book. The mystery of Sara’s murder is solved in this book though.
From what I’ve read, Camilla Läckberg is immensely popular in Sweden and after reading The Stonecutter, I can see why. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Nordic crime novels.
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LibraryThing member fredamans
Gerard gave the book a five star review. After reading it, I can totally see why. Yeah, the subject matter is sensitive, surrounding a young girls' death, but when you look deeper into the mystery and suspense, you get one helluva story.
My emotions grew so strong towards the characters. I actually
I had no idea this was a third book in a series, and honestly it didn't matter at all. This is easily read as a stand alone. With that in mind, I want to go back and read the two previous books in the series. I love the flow and style of writing from this author, and can't wait to read more.
Even with sensitive subject matter, suspense lovers will gobble this right up as it does have a twist ending!
My emotions grew so strong towards the characters. I actually
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developed hatred for one woman. Looking back, when a story can draw that kind of emotion from you, all the while being make-believe, it must be a great tale! I had no idea this was a third book in a series, and honestly it didn't matter at all. This is easily read as a stand alone. With that in mind, I want to go back and read the two previous books in the series. I love the flow and style of writing from this author, and can't wait to read more.
Even with sensitive subject matter, suspense lovers will gobble this right up as it does have a twist ending!
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LibraryThing member pidgeon92
The third in the series, and definitely a cut above the first two. Looking forward to the rest of the series being available in ebook format.
LibraryThing member bsquaredinoz
Patrik Hedström and his partner Erica Falck have a 2 month old daughter Maya and neither of them are getting much rest. Patrik at least gets to escape to office but Erica feels trapped, especially with Patrik’s judgemental and domineering mother staying. Her friend Charlotte is concerned about
In Australia during my youth there was an ad campaign for Claytons non alcoholic whisky (this is not the place to ponder the sheer pointlessness of such a product) with a slogan which said “the drink you have when you’re not having a drink” (it’s worth noting the slogan has become part of the local vernacular, the drink itself fell quickly into obscurity). Though I enjoy them a lot I do think Camilla Lackberg’s novels are the crime fiction you have when you’re not having crime fiction.
The first reason for me thinking that this is not entirely a crime fiction novel is that there is, as always with Lackberg’s books, so much else going on. As well as Erica and Patrik coming to grips with their new bundle of joy/horror we have Patrick’s (useless) boss learning a secret about his own past, a colleague at the police station moving in with his new girlfriend and we learn a little more about Erica’s sister’s abuse-filled relationship. And we haven’t even gotten to the suspects yet. Even before the tragic death of Charlotte and her family (she, her husband, mother and terminally ill stepfather all live together) have enough gruesome family secrets and psychological problems between them to keep a barrage of psychiatrists busy for months and their feuding neighbours don’t fare much better. Lackberg is a skilful storyteller though because she depicts these people very believably (they could easily be your neighbours) and draws the reader into caring about how these hastily glimpsed lives will resolve themselves. It is always a sign that an author has created good characters when I start muttering under my breath at some action or statement by someone I don’t like (and there were several someones not to like here).
I should also mention that the eponymous stonecutter is not a present-day character at all. He is a stonecutter living in the 1920′s and his rather tragic story unfolds via a separate historical thread that is woven throughout the novel. It won’t surprise anyone that the two threads are linked but the way this is done does take a bit of working out. For the majority of this part of the tale we’re more concerned with melodrama than we are with crime and I thought this thread had less of an engaging feel to it than the present-day story as it was all a bit inevitable.
And when you get right down to it the crime which is the nub of this novel could have been solved a lot more quickly by anything approaching a competent police force (though the resort town of Fjällbacka in Sweden where the novel is set appears to only have only 3 even vaguely competent people working at their police station). Even Patrik, who is a decent man and policeman, makes some fairly rudimentary mistakes at the outset of the case and he gets the inspiration for the crime’s solution only after he watches an American crime show on TV!
Despite this not-quite-crime-fiction feel though I enjoyed The Stonecutter as translated by the always-excellent Steven T Murray and read to me engagingly by Eamonn Riley (I should consume all my translated fiction this way and learn the proper pronunciations of names instead of the butchery I make of them in my head). Lackberg has created entirely credible characters who range across a spectrum that starts with ‘like a lot’ and ends with ‘would like to see boiled alive in a vat of hot tar’ and she makes the reader care about what happens to them all. I can live with the slightly haphazard crime solving in these circumstances.
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post-natal depression. But then Charlotte’s world falls apart when her own eight year-old daughter is found dead. At first she is thought to have drowned accidentally but then evidence appears to indicate the death was more sinister.In Australia during my youth there was an ad campaign for Claytons non alcoholic whisky (this is not the place to ponder the sheer pointlessness of such a product) with a slogan which said “the drink you have when you’re not having a drink” (it’s worth noting the slogan has become part of the local vernacular, the drink itself fell quickly into obscurity). Though I enjoy them a lot I do think Camilla Lackberg’s novels are the crime fiction you have when you’re not having crime fiction.
The first reason for me thinking that this is not entirely a crime fiction novel is that there is, as always with Lackberg’s books, so much else going on. As well as Erica and Patrik coming to grips with their new bundle of joy/horror we have Patrick’s (useless) boss learning a secret about his own past, a colleague at the police station moving in with his new girlfriend and we learn a little more about Erica’s sister’s abuse-filled relationship. And we haven’t even gotten to the suspects yet. Even before the tragic death of Charlotte and her family (she, her husband, mother and terminally ill stepfather all live together) have enough gruesome family secrets and psychological problems between them to keep a barrage of psychiatrists busy for months and their feuding neighbours don’t fare much better. Lackberg is a skilful storyteller though because she depicts these people very believably (they could easily be your neighbours) and draws the reader into caring about how these hastily glimpsed lives will resolve themselves. It is always a sign that an author has created good characters when I start muttering under my breath at some action or statement by someone I don’t like (and there were several someones not to like here).
I should also mention that the eponymous stonecutter is not a present-day character at all. He is a stonecutter living in the 1920′s and his rather tragic story unfolds via a separate historical thread that is woven throughout the novel. It won’t surprise anyone that the two threads are linked but the way this is done does take a bit of working out. For the majority of this part of the tale we’re more concerned with melodrama than we are with crime and I thought this thread had less of an engaging feel to it than the present-day story as it was all a bit inevitable.
And when you get right down to it the crime which is the nub of this novel could have been solved a lot more quickly by anything approaching a competent police force (though the resort town of Fjällbacka in Sweden where the novel is set appears to only have only 3 even vaguely competent people working at their police station). Even Patrik, who is a decent man and policeman, makes some fairly rudimentary mistakes at the outset of the case and he gets the inspiration for the crime’s solution only after he watches an American crime show on TV!
Despite this not-quite-crime-fiction feel though I enjoyed The Stonecutter as translated by the always-excellent Steven T Murray and read to me engagingly by Eamonn Riley (I should consume all my translated fiction this way and learn the proper pronunciations of names instead of the butchery I make of them in my head). Lackberg has created entirely credible characters who range across a spectrum that starts with ‘like a lot’ and ends with ‘would like to see boiled alive in a vat of hot tar’ and she makes the reader care about what happens to them all. I can live with the slightly haphazard crime solving in these circumstances.
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Language
Original language
Swedish
Original publication date
2005 (original Swedish)
2010 (English: Murray)
Physical description
565 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0007253974 / 9780007253975