You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Judy and I both have this as an orange choice for August, would anyone like to join us for a buddy read / chat? Not sure which week it will be at the mo.

This was probably the first one to be placed on my "Orange list". It has been on my To-Read Shelf since Sept 2011. Time to read it.

I'll join you.

Just finished reading this book. Loved the main characters. This book sent me to atlases of Denmark looking up the towns mentioned. Are the main characters in these nordic thriller5s becoming a bit stero-typed. Drink too much, lonely a bit of a slob, eat the wrong food. Just a thought.

I'm liking this Carl MØrck guy already. He may be a slacker, but he is really good at working the system, avoiding red-tape and making fools out of his superiors, who are not working the system, but raping it.

I just know this slacker is going to "do good" in spite of himself.

I love this book! I really like Carl Morck and his sidekick. I love the way that Carl started earning his new partner's respect by giving him the compass, and the way that his Arab assistant earned Carl's respect. It is a delightful, interesting book.

Connie wrote: "I love this book! I really like Carl Morck and his sidekick. I love the way that Carl started earning his new partner's respect by giving him the compass, and the way that his Arab assistant earne..."

Me too! Carl and Assad are an odd couple for a partnership and I like them very much. I can see another must read series in my future.

Almeta wrote: "Connie wrote: "I love this book! I really like Carl Morck and his sidekick. I love the way that Carl started earning his new partner's respect by giving him the compass, and the way that his Arab ..."

Me too! I am excited for this series to get off the ground. I read everything by Henning Mankell and truly enjoyed his work. I think these books have the potential to be just as great.

Switching between the comic partnership and the dramatic singular existence of the victim is producing a roller coaster ride of emotion for me. Such a stark contrast.

Do you think you could survive the cruelty to which Merete is subjected? (view spoiler)[That is a lot of years to keep one's sanity and to not be diseased for that matter. (hide spoiler)]

For several chapters, I was completely in the dark about the villains’ identity, just as were Carl and Assad. Could have been a secret love interest, a political enemy, a "mistreated" secretary, hmmm.

When Merete got a response to the question "What did I do to deserve this?" I felt I was pointed in the right direction. From there I couldn't figure the relationship of the villainous characters, but I was pretty sure I knew for what she was being punished.

Re yoursspoiler Almeta I was also caught unawares to the villian's identity. I thought this was a weak link in the book. Nobody could tolerate that much cruelity. It was just TOO much of an ordeal.The strengths of the book were the descriptive scenery and the interaction of the two main characters.

Ack! Why did Carl put up with Vigga and Jesper?

He put up with bureaucratic bosses, insulting peers, demeaning working conditions, surly secretaries, liars, power satiated health personnel, on and on,

AND he kept the upper hand.

BUT he let his wife live on his property although not with him, while he paid for her lover’s and her extraordinary adventures. He housed, fed and raised a disrespectful teenager who wasn’t his blood and was really his wife’s responsibility.

AND he had behaved powerless.

Love it how Assad changed the dynamics of the police station. It started to smell of spices, the colours became brighter and Assad had a prayer mat. But I also liked that Assad was always commenting on beautiful women. Until you realise that Assad considered all women beautiful including the so-called battleax in the office.The one Assad charmed into borrowing not one but two video players

Regarding Almeta's message 9: My stomach does flip-flops every time the story goes back to Merete and her awful situation. It's just horrible and I can't imagine I'd stay sane in the same circumstances.

I really like Carl and Assad as a team; it's cute how Assad slowly wins Carl over.

And yes, I love how Assad thinks all women are beautiful and how he charms them.

I'm half-way through the book and thoroughly enjoying it.