Robert Bryndza's thriller novel, The Girl in the Ice, was compelling and riveting from the very first chapter. Initially, it was the cover of the novel that caught me eye, but the synopsis took full effect when I began reading the story. Taking place in London, lead detective Erika Foster pursues the case to find a serial killer who strangles their victims and disposes the bodies in areas of water. The novel is centered around a socialite--a young woman from a very influential, and suspicious, family. Foster has a habit of digging into the backgrounds of multiple characters throughout the story and ends up connecting a series of murders to establish a pattern of the serial killer. There are a number of characters and suspects introduced, making the reader decide which person to suspect even when the story is unfolding before their eyes. Foster has an appealing and relatable attitude, making her an ideal detective and character to sympathize with. Her backstory is explained and discussed throughout the novel, making her stance and drive on the case explanatory beyond the scope of her job description. This novel is fast paced and almost impossible to put down. Bryndza has written two other novels (to my knowledge) and I look forward to reading them as well. I'd rate this book as a very good read and would recommend to anyone interested in the crime fiction thriller genre.
Fredrik Backman's Anxious People is a 2019 publication, translated into English in 2021. This novel was nothing I had expected it to be based on the synopsis of a desperate individual who turned to robbing a bank in order to overcome current life circumstances. The novel follows a number of characters and their current livelihoods; individuals "held up" as hostages in the middle of an apartment showing which took place before the New Year holiday. I was impressed with the attention to detail Backman was able to portray, not necessarily in backdrops of locations but between the different characters' thoughts/lifestyles throughout the piece. What I expected of an individual in the beginning was not relatable to what was uncovered/divulged to the reader towards the middle/end of the novel. This novel did follow the actions of a woman (not identified gender-wise until late into the novel) who chose to rob a bank in order to retrieve financial means t...
Comments
Post a Comment