MixedCrime Fiction LoverI admired Turton’s daring experiment, but it ultimately left me disorientated and maybe even a little bit weary. Readers will need dedication to persist and keep up with the entangling plot twists. Had it been 100 pages shorter with fewer plot lines, it would have packed a bigger punch, allowing its innovative style to shine through.
Deon Meyer tr. K.L. Seegers
RaveCrime Fiction Lover... a compelling, rip-roaring crime story peppered with dry South African humour ... Meyer’s depiction of Stellenbosch is spot on, from the persistent traffic and parking issues to income disparities ... includes a wonderfully vivid depiction of the Stellenbosch setting and the multiple references to its neighbourhoods and restaurants warmed this reader’s Stellenbosch heart ... Meyer’s short, punchy chapters keep readers on their toes, but sometimes make it hard to focus on the overarching storylines. The expansive cast of characters, many with Afrikaans nicknames coined according to their appearances or mannerisms, could confuse, but fortunately most add interest and some light comic relief ... everything you would expect from a Deon Meyer novel. It’s clear why his books have been translated into 127 languages. He knows how to craft an engaging and clever plot through multiple threads without losing the attention of his audience. The Dark Flood grips, entertains and satisfies. It comes recommended, even if you’re not a Stellenbosch local.
Kotaro Isaka, trans. by Sam Malissa
RaveCrime Fiction Lover\"... a bizarre, over-the-top, almost farce-like situation of double-crossing, twists and confusion as to where the suitcase is and who works for whom. You will be given multiple parts of the puzzle and all the information, but much like Bullet Train’s characters, it’s hard to see the big picture and recognise which cardinal piece is missing ... On the surface Bullet Train can easily be compartmentalised into the action-thriller genre, but there’s much more to it than a thrill-a-minute action fix. It’s dark, funny, absurd and it certainly boast the most interesting bunch of characters we’ve seen in a while. An assassin obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine, another who quotes Virginia Woolf verbatim—you can’t ask for anything more unpredictable or quirky.
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Helene Tursten trans. by Marlaine Delargy
PositiveCrime Fiction LoverIn comparison to earlier novels like The Torso and The Glass Devil, Snowdrift has a lighter, less grisly touch. There are still plenty of the required crime fiction elements, including a convincing, high-octane action scene, but it seems less sombre than the author’s previous books ... On the surface, Snowdrift creates the impression of a standard police procedural where the body count can be laid squarely at the feet of rival gangs and their eminent power struggle. Fortunately, appearances can be deceiving and Tursten successfully distracts us with multiple loose ends, misdirection and an extensive, sometimes overwhelmingly large, cast of characters ... well-written, traditional police procedural, ...
Ragnar Jonasson
PositiveCrime Fiction LoverJonasson’s use of reverse chronology throughout the Hidden Iceland series won’t be to everyone’s taste. He gave us all the necessary information regarding Hulda’s life in The Darkness. So, we go into The Mist knowing what lies ahead and how Hulda’s life will pan out. Does this spoil the series? Strangely enough it doesn’t. This knowledge amplifies the tension. Add to this the mysteries of the murders and Unnur’s disappearance and there are sufficient uncertainties to keep your interest piqued ... This author is becoming the king of atmosphere. In The Mist he creates the perfect combination of dread and claustrophobia ... Even though The Mist is loaded with mood and setting its plot doesn’t disappoint. As with any good crime novel, there has to be a twist you didn’t see coming or a convergence of plot lines you didn’t expect. All the boxes are ticked here.
