In the latest legal thriller from author of Quicksand, Doctor Stig Ahlin was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a teenage girl. When Sophia Weber discovers critical flaws in the murder investigation, she decides to help Ahlin, arousing public disgust among those who are certain of Ahlin's guilt.
... a somewhat arid, if absorbing, legal thriller ... It is both a strength and a frustration of Beyond All Reasonable Doubt that the author does not feel the imperative to explain too much or to tie her ending up in a neat bow. Instead, while by the end of the book the central question has been answered, even more have been posed — and not in the way that sets up a sequel (though that could happen), but in the way that imitates life, in all its messiness and obfuscation ... You kind of want to throw it against a wall. And you want to meet Sophia Weber again.
Award-winning Swedish author Giolito excels at portraying those accused of horrible crimes ... the plot frames what is the best part of the writing, an intricate examination of the psyches of criminals and those who work with them, accompanied by pointed questions about who is served by the justice system. While this is a fine novel on its own merits, it is perhaps a bit less compelling than its predecessor [Quicksand]. Still, both novels are great reads, and libraries should have them on hand for when Netflix airs its production of Quicksand on April 15, 2019.
... a taut, sobering ride, playing out against cold, rain and flinty skies ... The novel evokes a Scandinavia where herring is pondered and directness is a virtue even in its cunning ... A lawyer herself, Giolito is clever in the intricacies and personalities, including prosecutors, judges and journalists, propelling a justice system that whirs on sensation and jurisprudence ... The pace is quick and the writing fluid, although at times sentences ring flat, as if missing a beat or a bit of evocative imagery.
