Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Harper (2011), Paperback, 432 pages
Description
The discovery of two murder victims who were killed twenty years earlier is complicated by the body of a third, recent victim at the same location, a case that compels detective Patrik Hedstrom to investigate a feuding clan of misfits, religious fanatics, and criminals.
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
OK, the short answer, UGH. What is up with Scandinavian fiction. This was not thrilling or mysterious. It was just full of depressed, depressing and annoying people. The family relationships are so stressful as are the relationships between the police officers and just about everyone else in the
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book. Halfway through the book I decided that the victims were the luckiest folks in the book. At least they were out of their misery. Show Less
LibraryThing member bsquaredinoz
In the second of what is now 8 books (though only 4 translated to English so far) we return to the summer resort town of Fjällbacka in Sweden. Writer Erica Falck and her partner, policeman Patrik Hedström, are enjoying a few days’ holiday before the birth of their first baby. Their idyll is
I very much enjoyed this book though will concede that at least a portion of that enjoyment is sheer relief that the book contained a Swedish bloke who wasn’t a complete bastard (unlike Box 21 which I recently finished). Patrik is a really terrific character. Unlike many of his crime fiction counterparts he is no lone wolf either at home or at work. He is very wrapped up in Erica and their soon-to-be-baby and, even though his work is important, is still involved with their home life (including getting rid of their series of annoying visitors who refuse to leave the house and expect to be waited on hand and foot by the heavily pregnant Erica). At work he relies on his colleagues, well at least the functional ones like Martin, the eager young rookie and Annika who holds the office together and the teamwork they display while doing their jobs and dealing with their idiot of a boss is credibly depicted. While there are plenty of obsessed loner characters that I really like, they’re not always realistic whereas Patrik feels very real indeed.
The story of The Preacher is one I was probably destined to enjoy. I love family sagas and other people’s family feuds. Throw in a charismatic or odd religious character and you’ve well and truly hooked me. This book had all of that with the large Hult family full of complicated relationships and a charismatic preacher as part of their heritage. Although at times I thought the author had forgotten there was a crime to solve I didn’t mind too much as I was quite engrossed by untangling the family history and changing my mind (several times) about whodunnit.
Läckberg’s books are lighter or cosier than many police procedurals, so not recommended for those whose preferences are entirely at the dark/hard-boiled end of the genre spectrum. However if you like your crime fiction to be set within a fairly credible, middle-class environment that most people will recongise (even if you’ve never been to Sweden) then you could do much worse than this book. It could have done with a bit of editing but other than that it’s nicely written, has interesting characters and even a sense of humour.
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interrupted when a recently deceased body and two skeletons are found and Patrik must return to work early and head up the investigation. It soon becomes clear that the skeletons are the remains of two young women who disappeared in the late 1970′s and the body is that of a young tourist. Attention for the murders soon focuses on the feud-ridden Hult family, one of whom was accused of the earlier disappearances (though he died before the crimes were solved). With an incompetent boss and a couple of staff who couldn’t work in an iron lung, Patrik has few resources to help him solve the case as quickly as everyone is demanding.I very much enjoyed this book though will concede that at least a portion of that enjoyment is sheer relief that the book contained a Swedish bloke who wasn’t a complete bastard (unlike Box 21 which I recently finished). Patrik is a really terrific character. Unlike many of his crime fiction counterparts he is no lone wolf either at home or at work. He is very wrapped up in Erica and their soon-to-be-baby and, even though his work is important, is still involved with their home life (including getting rid of their series of annoying visitors who refuse to leave the house and expect to be waited on hand and foot by the heavily pregnant Erica). At work he relies on his colleagues, well at least the functional ones like Martin, the eager young rookie and Annika who holds the office together and the teamwork they display while doing their jobs and dealing with their idiot of a boss is credibly depicted. While there are plenty of obsessed loner characters that I really like, they’re not always realistic whereas Patrik feels very real indeed.
The story of The Preacher is one I was probably destined to enjoy. I love family sagas and other people’s family feuds. Throw in a charismatic or odd religious character and you’ve well and truly hooked me. This book had all of that with the large Hult family full of complicated relationships and a charismatic preacher as part of their heritage. Although at times I thought the author had forgotten there was a crime to solve I didn’t mind too much as I was quite engrossed by untangling the family history and changing my mind (several times) about whodunnit.
Läckberg’s books are lighter or cosier than many police procedurals, so not recommended for those whose preferences are entirely at the dark/hard-boiled end of the genre spectrum. However if you like your crime fiction to be set within a fairly credible, middle-class environment that most people will recongise (even if you’ve never been to Sweden) then you could do much worse than this book. It could have done with a bit of editing but other than that it’s nicely written, has interesting characters and even a sense of humour.
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LibraryThing member cameling
It's a wonderful Scandicrime novel with more twists and turns than soft-serve ice cream. A dead woman is found and when the crime scene folks start to move her, they find her body laid on top of 2 female skeletons. What's the connection between her and the skeletons? Is this the work of a serial
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killer? A prominent family in the community comes under scrutiny again, both for the scandal that hit them when the first 2 women were killed, and again when 2 more women are missing. Will the police find the answers before more women are abducted and killed? Show Less
LibraryThing member ellenr
Discovery of a young woman's body atop bones of two other older corpses leads local police to past crimes and a family's hidden secrets. Well-told plotting, engaging characters.
LibraryThing member gilly1944
Good plot, good characters, great swedish atmosphere...
LibraryThing member Schatje
This second Falck/Hedstrom mystery begins with the discovery of the body of a young woman; beneath her body lie two skeletons of young women who disappeared two decades earlier.
Patrik leads the investigation. The evidence soon points to a member of the family of Ephraim Hult, a charismatic
Lackberg's strength lies in the psychological depth she gives her characters. An examination of motives is always central, and there are many of those: revenge, obsession with power, concern for public reputation, seething resentments spawned by injustice, love and passion.
Erica's role in the investigation is minimal. She is at home since she is heavily pregnant with her and Patrik's child. Her role in the book seems to be to add humour as she tries to deal with unwelcome visitors.
Patrik is an atypical literary detective. He is not the usual quirky character with a brooding personality; instead, he is a fairly well-adjusted, regular person with a family life. It is the other police officers with whom he works that are the problem. Martin Molin in the first book is given only "assignments that a child could do," but here proves to be a competent detective. Gosta Flygare, the heretofore lazy senior officer nearing retirement who saw his job as a "disruptive element that prevented him from being on the golf course," is shown to have some redeeming qualities. Perhaps Lackberg is suggesting that first appearances can be deceiving and that people may rise to a challenge? However, the Police Chief and Officer Ernst Lundgren continue to be paragons of laziness and ineptitude. They seem to be the Swedish version of the Keystone Cops.
Although flawed, the book is still an enjoyable read.
Patrik leads the investigation. The evidence soon points to a member of the family of Ephraim Hult, a charismatic
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preacher. The family includes misfits, criminals, and religious fanatics, so there are plenty of suspects from which to choose.Lackberg's strength lies in the psychological depth she gives her characters. An examination of motives is always central, and there are many of those: revenge, obsession with power, concern for public reputation, seething resentments spawned by injustice, love and passion.
Erica's role in the investigation is minimal. She is at home since she is heavily pregnant with her and Patrik's child. Her role in the book seems to be to add humour as she tries to deal with unwelcome visitors.
Patrik is an atypical literary detective. He is not the usual quirky character with a brooding personality; instead, he is a fairly well-adjusted, regular person with a family life. It is the other police officers with whom he works that are the problem. Martin Molin in the first book is given only "assignments that a child could do," but here proves to be a competent detective. Gosta Flygare, the heretofore lazy senior officer nearing retirement who saw his job as a "disruptive element that prevented him from being on the golf course," is shown to have some redeeming qualities. Perhaps Lackberg is suggesting that first appearances can be deceiving and that people may rise to a challenge? However, the Police Chief and Officer Ernst Lundgren continue to be paragons of laziness and ineptitude. They seem to be the Swedish version of the Keystone Cops.
Although flawed, the book is still an enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: The day was off to a promising start.
It's summer in Fjällbacka, Sweden. Erica Falck is close to the end of her pregnancy, and her partner, police detective Patrik Hedström, has taken some vacation time to be with her. Unfortunately, the body of a young German woman is found on the
When the bones of two young women are discovered buried beneath the German woman, speculation is high that the skeletons are of two young women who disappeared in the area in 1979. Patrik now has more work than ever before which means that Erica is left unwillingly on the sidelines to deal with freeloading relatives who like to show up uninvited on the doorstep of any family member who owns beachfront property away from the city.
For me, the weakness of this book was in its plot. The title of the book itself turned out to be a big clue, and the solution was clear to me early on-- including the answer to the DNA question that was stumping all of the police. Fortunately the plot was only a minor irritant to me because what I like so much about Läckberg's books isn't her plotting, but her marvelous cast of characters.
Although it was disappointing that Erica Falck took a backseat in this investigation, she was left in charge of the comic relief. Her reactions to some of the freeloaders showing up at her house made me laugh and cheer (and be extremely thankful for having family and friends who never just "show up" for free room and board).
Läckberg's cast of characters is a large one, and even though they're not all likable, they are all very well drawn. During the course of the investigation, I came to know about their lives and personalities, and I have definite favorites as well as a character or two whom I believe just has to go.
The Preacher may be the second book in this series, but it stands very well on its own. If you're a character-driven reader, as I am, and if you're willing to overlook a weak bit here and there in the plot, you're going to be amply rewarded with a wonderful cast of characters.
It's summer in Fjällbacka, Sweden. Erica Falck is close to the end of her pregnancy, and her partner, police detective Patrik Hedström, has taken some vacation time to be with her. Unfortunately, the body of a young German woman is found on the
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beach, and Patrik is called in to lead the investigation. Since the heat has turned Erica into one continuous mood swing, Patrik is ashamed to admit that he's looking forward to getting back to work.When the bones of two young women are discovered buried beneath the German woman, speculation is high that the skeletons are of two young women who disappeared in the area in 1979. Patrik now has more work than ever before which means that Erica is left unwillingly on the sidelines to deal with freeloading relatives who like to show up uninvited on the doorstep of any family member who owns beachfront property away from the city.
For me, the weakness of this book was in its plot. The title of the book itself turned out to be a big clue, and the solution was clear to me early on-- including the answer to the DNA question that was stumping all of the police. Fortunately the plot was only a minor irritant to me because what I like so much about Läckberg's books isn't her plotting, but her marvelous cast of characters.
Although it was disappointing that Erica Falck took a backseat in this investigation, she was left in charge of the comic relief. Her reactions to some of the freeloaders showing up at her house made me laugh and cheer (and be extremely thankful for having family and friends who never just "show up" for free room and board).
Läckberg's cast of characters is a large one, and even though they're not all likable, they are all very well drawn. During the course of the investigation, I came to know about their lives and personalities, and I have definite favorites as well as a character or two whom I believe just has to go.
The Preacher may be the second book in this series, but it stands very well on its own. If you're a character-driven reader, as I am, and if you're willing to overlook a weak bit here and there in the plot, you're going to be amply rewarded with a wonderful cast of characters.
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LibraryThing member magentaflake
Got very confused with the characters in this book. They belong to a divided family and I found it difficult working out who was who. Not a great read and definitely not one of her best.
LibraryThing member ritaer
Difficult to follow in parts since author uses many individual points of view. The killer's motivation is an unusual one and the mystery is complicated. Rather dark, especially the sections from POV of victims.
As an American reader I do wonder what temperature is considered a heat wave in Sweden.
As an American reader I do wonder what temperature is considered a heat wave in Sweden.
LibraryThing member willmurdoch
Much too busy with sub plots and characters. Her intra-family relations are trite and conventional. Not a good scando crime story; the police are just too middle class and content with society.
LibraryThing member annbury
The second novel centered around Lackberg's appealing protagonists -- writer Erica Falck and policeman Patrick Hedstrom. Like "The Ice Princess", this one has lively characters, a vivid sense of place, and a welcome dash of humor. The story, however, seems less driven by the psychology of
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apparantly normal people, and more an account of an over-the-top Scandinavian Gothic family. I enjoyed the book, however, and will look forward to further adventures with Erica and Patrick. Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
***Spoiler Alert*** After reading the first book in this series and really enjoying it I knew that I had to continue on with the series. This book starts off with Erica pregnant with her and Patrick's first child. I was so excited that they were together and having a child. The only thing that I
I thought the whole idea about the unsolved murders was really interesting. I liked all the twists and turns that happened during the investigation of those murders and of the disappearance of Jenny Moller. I wish there would have been a happier ending for Jenny Moller, but I was really happy that we find out the background story as to what happened to Johannes. I thought this book was as good as the first if not better.
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was disappointed about in regards to the pregnancy was that Erica goes into labor at the end and we are not told whether they have a boy or a girl. Oh well guess I have to wait for the next book to find out.I thought the whole idea about the unsolved murders was really interesting. I liked all the twists and turns that happened during the investigation of those murders and of the disappearance of Jenny Moller. I wish there would have been a happier ending for Jenny Moller, but I was really happy that we find out the background story as to what happened to Johannes. I thought this book was as good as the first if not better.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
In the summer of 2003, in Fjällbacka, Sweden, the newly dead body of a young girl is found on top of the skeletons of two other dead girls who had been missing since 1979. Detective Patrik Hedström, who we met in Lackberg’s previous book, The Ice Princess, is called back from his vacation to
Hedström now lives with Erica Falck, who is eight months pregnant with their baby. (Erica was the main character in The Ice Princess.) It is hot, and Erica is miserable, but Patrik's attention quickly turns elsewhere when yet another girl goes missing.
Patrick and his colleagues zero in on the Hult family, the deceased patriarch of whom, Ephraim, was a charismatic and charlatanical preacher. Ephraim’s sons, Gabriel and Johannes, and grandson Jacob were all deeply affected by Ephraim’s teachings. On the surface they seem pious, but something is rotten in the state of Sweden.
Discussion: Erica’s attempts to occupy herself with a succession of boorish guests are probably meant to provide a sort of “comic relief” to the tension of the investigation, but instead, I just found these parts as boorish as the company.
The police procedural portion of the book didn’t bowl me over either. Patrick is appealing as a character, but most of his colleagues are not, and the various interactions and complications of the Hult family are almost as daunting to master as was Stieg Larsson’s Vanger family in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In fact, it is a bit similar to that book, but without Lisbeth of course (who made all the plot complications tolerable). Certainly though there is a sub-theme of hatred of and aggression towards women (except, ironically, in the case of the murderer).
It should be noted that one of Patrick’s likeable coworkers is named Martin Molin. In real life, Camilla Läckberg married police officer Martin Melin in 2010. Martin Melin became a well-known celebrity in Sweden after winning the TV-show Survivor in 1997.
Evaluation: A little more complicated and predictable than I like, but not without appeal, especially if you are into Scandinavian mysteries. This one is kind of interesting in that you get a view of Sweden in the summer, when everyone is sweltering.
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take charge of the case.Hedström now lives with Erica Falck, who is eight months pregnant with their baby. (Erica was the main character in The Ice Princess.) It is hot, and Erica is miserable, but Patrik's attention quickly turns elsewhere when yet another girl goes missing.
Patrick and his colleagues zero in on the Hult family, the deceased patriarch of whom, Ephraim, was a charismatic and charlatanical preacher. Ephraim’s sons, Gabriel and Johannes, and grandson Jacob were all deeply affected by Ephraim’s teachings. On the surface they seem pious, but something is rotten in the state of Sweden.
Discussion: Erica’s attempts to occupy herself with a succession of boorish guests are probably meant to provide a sort of “comic relief” to the tension of the investigation, but instead, I just found these parts as boorish as the company.
The police procedural portion of the book didn’t bowl me over either. Patrick is appealing as a character, but most of his colleagues are not, and the various interactions and complications of the Hult family are almost as daunting to master as was Stieg Larsson’s Vanger family in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In fact, it is a bit similar to that book, but without Lisbeth of course (who made all the plot complications tolerable). Certainly though there is a sub-theme of hatred of and aggression towards women (except, ironically, in the case of the murderer).
It should be noted that one of Patrick’s likeable coworkers is named Martin Molin. In real life, Camilla Läckberg married police officer Martin Melin in 2010. Martin Melin became a well-known celebrity in Sweden after winning the TV-show Survivor in 1997.
Evaluation: A little more complicated and predictable than I like, but not without appeal, especially if you are into Scandinavian mysteries. This one is kind of interesting in that you get a view of Sweden in the summer, when everyone is sweltering.
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LibraryThing member honoliipali
I have read that this author has been compared to Steig Larson. Not even close in my book.
I read the Ice Princess and thought it was fairly enjoyable. In the preacher, Ms. Lackberg continues the same core characters and adds a plethora of new characters for this story. Frankly, she goes into too
There are too many great indie authors to choose from that I will pass on further Lackberg novels.
I read the Ice Princess and thought it was fairly enjoyable. In the preacher, Ms. Lackberg continues the same core characters and adds a plethora of new characters for this story. Frankly, she goes into too
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much detail on superfluous characters and story lines. They do nothing but distract from the enjoyment of this book. There are too many great indie authors to choose from that I will pass on further Lackberg novels.
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LibraryThing member Jcambridge
This book was not as interesting or as well written as The Ice Princess, which was my introduction to Camilla Lackberg. I found the characters confusing and not well developed and felt the author was attempting to bring too many, and for the most part, unrelated, story lines into the novel. Much of
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the dialogue was simplistic and somewhat annoying to me as a reader. There are many other Scandinavian mystery/crime novels I would recommend before this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member austcrimefiction
Second book in the Erica Falck and Patrik Hedström series, THE PREACHER continues the personal story of these two characters, whilst taking the reader into another past / present scenario. I think I'm going to have to start a count of this sort of storyline as it seems to be cropping up all over
Apart from the locations, and the setting for this book there's not a lot unusual in the plot-line here, nor are there any particular stand out elements in the way that the investigation is undertaken. Focus falls on the local misfits, clues keep leading back to them, but which family member and what is the explanation for the 20 year gap.
The personal life aspects of this book do seem to take a lot of the focus. Erica's very advanced pregnancy means that she's unable to contribute to the investigation, instead a series of unwelcome guests in the house cause problems in the extreme heat, simply by refusing to leave.
I must admit the personal aspects, whilst amusing for a while, got pretty predictable quickly, and Erica's inability to show all these annoying people the door vaguely bewildering. As are her sisters actions, in an ongoing storyline from the first book. A lot of this wandering around in the personal didn't really seem to be advancing the story anywhere in particular, and I've no idea why on earth most of it was there.
Buried somewhere under all this personal chitchat, there is a plot lurking which was actually quite interesting. The first book THE ICE PRINCESS interested me slightly more than THE PREACHER, and I'd think that readers would be best off starting with the earlier book, as there's a lot that won't make a lot of sense in THE PREACHER without it. Whilst I was a bit disappointed in this book, this is a series I'm planning on continuing with as long as I can still see glimmers of something interesting.
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the place. In this case the present connects with the past when the body of a young tourist is located in the place where the bones of two missing tourists, missing for 20 years, are then discovered. A second young female goes missing and the race is on.Apart from the locations, and the setting for this book there's not a lot unusual in the plot-line here, nor are there any particular stand out elements in the way that the investigation is undertaken. Focus falls on the local misfits, clues keep leading back to them, but which family member and what is the explanation for the 20 year gap.
The personal life aspects of this book do seem to take a lot of the focus. Erica's very advanced pregnancy means that she's unable to contribute to the investigation, instead a series of unwelcome guests in the house cause problems in the extreme heat, simply by refusing to leave.
I must admit the personal aspects, whilst amusing for a while, got pretty predictable quickly, and Erica's inability to show all these annoying people the door vaguely bewildering. As are her sisters actions, in an ongoing storyline from the first book. A lot of this wandering around in the personal didn't really seem to be advancing the story anywhere in particular, and I've no idea why on earth most of it was there.
Buried somewhere under all this personal chitchat, there is a plot lurking which was actually quite interesting. The first book THE ICE PRINCESS interested me slightly more than THE PREACHER, and I'd think that readers would be best off starting with the earlier book, as there's a lot that won't make a lot of sense in THE PREACHER without it. Whilst I was a bit disappointed in this book, this is a series I'm planning on continuing with as long as I can still see glimmers of something interesting.
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LibraryThing member pidgeon92
Pretty good. Better than the first in the series.
LibraryThing member Saretta.L
Come l'autrice sia definita la nuova Agatha Christie mi è sempre meno chiaro, il giallo in questione ruota attorno a un'unica famiglia e il lettore può, senza difficoltà, ridurre la rosa dei colpevoli e anche trovare l'assassino.
Le indagini questa volta le segue completamente Patrik, Erika,
---
Why the author is defined as the new Agatha Christie is a mystery to me; the crime in the novel is obviously related to a precise family and the reader easily can guess the killer among a bunch of probable ones.
The investigation is carried on by Patrik and Erika, pregnant, has only to wander in her house grieved by family and friends coming over and by the hot Swedish summer - I miss something about Sweden I guess, I used to complain about the muggy North Italy weather.
Le indagini questa volta le segue completamente Patrik, Erika,
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incinta, si limita a vagare in casa afflitta da visite di amici e parenti e dal caldo (ma proprio caldissimo) - qualcosa evidentemente mi sfugge della Svezia, e io che mi lamento dell'afa in Lombardia.---
Why the author is defined as the new Agatha Christie is a mystery to me; the crime in the novel is obviously related to a precise family and the reader easily can guess the killer among a bunch of probable ones.
The investigation is carried on by Patrik and Erika, pregnant, has only to wander in her house grieved by family and friends coming over and by the hot Swedish summer - I miss something about Sweden I guess, I used to complain about the muggy North Italy weather.
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LibraryThing member bfister
A preposterous soap opera with a crime so convoluted it needs a family tree and lots of gullibility. Those who think Scandinavian crime fiction is all dark, brooding, and full of social critique can look to Lackberg for evidence that it can be shallow, silly, and without any reference to
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contemporary social problems. Show Less
LibraryThing member cookiemo
This is another brilliant book by Lackberg. It is one of the earlier ones and being set in Sweden I have some problem finding the places mentioned. Erica is pregnant in this book and Patrick is caught up in a series of murders, some recent involving a local family.
LibraryThing member ccayne
Too complicated and far fetched.
LibraryThing member JEB5
Camilla Lackberg is an expert at weaving a murder mystery. This novel involves the murder of a German tourist, whose body is discovered one morning by a 6 year-old boy while he is playing. Upon removing her body from the scene, police discover two more bodies below her . . . bodies that are now
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merely skeletons. Chief investigator, Patrik must find out who these girls were, what happened to them, and who tortured and killed them. Lackberg slowly unravels this mystery through flashbacks, and multiple character perspectives. Her character's are well-developed, her story is enthralling, and her writing is beautiful. Once picked up, her novels are hard to put down. Show Less
LibraryThing member tangledthread
This is the third Patrik Hedsrom and Erica Falk mystery I've read and I've enjoyed how the author has developed the relationship between Patrik and Eric in addition to her well constructed mysteries. I'm looking forward to reading The Hidden Child and The Stranger and am hoping that more of the
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series will be translated and available in the U.S. Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Not quite as enjoyable as the first in this series. I listened to the audiobook, and it was difficult keeping all the characters straight.
LibraryThing member ChrisSterry
An excellent thriller. For me it really evoked the atmosphere of rural Sweden. The horror of the situation in the midst of small family feuds, country manors and seaside tourist spots gave a sort of 'Midsomer Murders' atmosphere, but with not so much nostalgia and a harder edge. I was initially a
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little disgruntled that I had worked out who the killer was 2/3 of the way through the book, and nearly gave up then, but the denoument, and the reason for the killings completely surprised me, and made the book compelling to the very last sentence. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2004 (original Swedish)
2009 (English: Murray)
Physical description
432 p.; 7.64 inches
ISBN
0007416199 / 9780007416196
Local notes
In the fishing community of Fjallbacka, life is remote, peaceful, and for some, tragically short. Foul play was always suspected in the disappearance twenty years ago of two young campers, but their bodies were never found. But now, a young boy out playing has confirmed the grim truth. Their remains are discovered alongside those of a fresh victim, sending the tiny town into shock. When a second young girl goes missing, Patrik Hedstrom’s attention focuses on the Hults, a feuding clan of misfits, religious fanatics and criminals.