Slick story. I like the writing as well as the story and characters. Few surprised. Overall a good yarn. Wish I read the 1 st though. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!

This is a complex murder mystery which captivates and keeps you guessing.
This is book 2 of a series and I was unable to obtain an English version of book 1 so I am unsure what background in character development that might have added to this book. I found there was enough information for me to not feel like I was too confused.

This story is narrated by a struggling writer who returns to Halland County in Sweden decades after an unsolved mystery of a man who claiming to a serial killer. He is desperate for distraction to revive his career after his marriage to Sara failed. He had remembered a cold case of a possible serial killer that seemed to occupy many investigators as a call comes in the same night the prime minister is murdered. This would become an obsession for Sven Jorgensson, an investigator who tries to make a connection between the self-proclaimed serial killer and the murder of the prime minister. After he retires, he encourages and assists his son, Vidar, who enters law enforcement as well to bond with his father.

When the writer returns home he finds that not much has changed except Vidar, who he finds disshelved in a bar looking very different than the man he knew 30 years ago. He had always admired him in high school who had called him "book moth" back then. He reflects the past when Vidar's father, Sven was a police officer. As he begins to dig up information from the past he speaks to retired police officer, Evy Carlen, 80 years-old and on her deathbed. She wanted to confide what happened many years ago to Sven and Vidar while investigating the unsolved mystery. What she reveals puts the writer on a path to uncover some hidden secrets and information surrounding the chaotic and rather botched investigation.

"BLAZE ME A SUN a serial killer in a small Swedish town commits his first murder the same night the prime minister is assassinated. This is a haunting, cinematic novel about the legacy of violence and a community's collective guilt by one of Scandinavia's most celebrated young crime writers."

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing access to this book for review consideration. All comments expressed in my review are my honest and unbiased opinion.

A Swedish policeman is tasked with the investigation of a serial killer. The case is still unresolved when he retires. Decades later, when his son is now working on the cold case, a writer comes to town with new information. The build-up of suspense is quite exciting and the resolution a surprise. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Very very slow moving murder mystery. A little disjointed when skipping from present to past when it finally gets to the actual crime that was committed many years ago. If you like a slow burn, tiKthiss one will fit the bill. I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The prime minister of Sweden is assassinated on the same night a serial killer calls the local sheriff's office to let them know he committed his first kill, but plans on more. The local Sheriff Sven Jorgensson is consumed with the case until he retires. Years later, an author comes to the area to try to get a new story started. He ends up writing about the crime that happened years ago, unlocking the secrets along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I enjoyed the book. The telling of similar and very difficult incidents in the life of the father be son was interesting

I became a fan of Scandinavian mysteries and crime novels decades ago when I first discovered Per Wahloo's and Maj Sjowall's excellent Martin Beck series. (Many current Scandi authors credit this writing team as the inspiration for their works). As the years have gone by I have found many more Scandi authors to enjoy so I was delighted to have the chance to read Blaze Me A Sun by Christoffer Carlsson who is new-to-me. I was not disappointed and look forward to reading more of his novels.

This tale begins in the present and is narrated by an author down on his luck both professionally and personally. He has retreated from Stockholm to the small southern Swedish town where he grew up, living in his childhood house. He begins to write about a local father (Sven Jorgensson) and son (Vidar) both of whom were police officers. The father becomes obsessed with a series of related and unsolved murders during his career. The first of these murders happens on the very night that PM Olof Palme is assassinated in Stockholm. The country is rocked to its very core even in the small town where Sven polices. The fact that none of the murders are solved during his lifetime impacts his life in many ways.

There is an unidentified body called the Tiarp Man, local superstitions, secrets galore and complex mysteries to solve as the author tries to unravel the story. Christoffer Carlsson seems to have taken a cue from Wahloo and Sjowall's social commentary/mystery foundation and has written a crime novel that is hard to put down. If Scandi mystery/crime novels are your taste this author provides much to relish. If you are new to Scandi mysteries this might be a good place to start reading the genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an early opportunity to read one of my favorite genres.

This had an interesting tone where everyone seemed to be possibly involved in the killings occurring. It was while Sven was on duty, that he discovered the first victim of the serial killer. He becomes involved in ways he wishes he wasn’t. He spends the rest of his career trying to find out who the killer is. This was very suspenseful. I enjoyed the characters and their stories.

A serial killer in a small Swedish town and the troubled detective tasked with solving his latest murder?? SIGN ME UP!!!!!! Except for some reason, I totally could not get into this. I think I was both confused and bored. I would love to try this author again, but DNF at 20% for this one.

I enjoyed this Swedish author's 1st English translation.... I thought it kind of 'in line' with other Scandinavian thrillers that I've read/enjoyed. I actually thought it started out kind of slow, but soon came to think that the author was just 'setting the hook'! And that he did! The author uses a couple time lines, & several character's different perspectives to weave a tale of a killer in a small town in Sweden....& how that all plays out over time. Non Swede's may have to 'adjust' to the uncommon Swedish names & towns, but I found it to be a pretty quick/easy adjustment. I look forward to reading more from this author, who is actually a leading criminologist in Sweden...so he probably has some relevant knowledge about this subject.... It's a real good solid read!
I received an e-ARC from Random House Publishing Group-Random House/ Hogarth via NetGalley....in return for reading it & posting my own fair & honest review.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I loved this book. I am a big fan of Nordic mysteries and this did not disappoint. A good story with well developed characters and a great sense of the place and times.
The story shifts between time periods and characters but ties together very nicely and without giving away the ending too early.

I am hoping this author has more books translated into English, because I would definitely read them.

Blaze Me a Sun tells the story of a crime writer who has moved back to his hometown in Sweden. He decides to re-investigate some murders that happened back in the 1980s when he was a kid and involved people that he knew and grew up with.
I really liked the dual timelines and the way the story was told and laid out. I have not read any Swedish noir books before, but after this one I definitely well. Once I started the bookand got a feel for who all the characters were I could not put this book down. The main themes were secrets, family ties, and small towns. I look forward to more books by the author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

It’s dark and very much fits other Swedish/Scandinavian thrillers I’ve read in the past. I do wish the time jumps were a little easier to follow but overall it wasn’t bad. I was curious about what happened to Sven’s wife as she isn’t mentioned again once the story moved to Vidar’s perspective. The culprit was pretty easy to figure out but I did like how the story led to the conclusion. Solid 3 stars for me.

“The pursuit of truth could go on forever, or until all the survivors forgot there was any truth to be found. The truth was a fantasy. The truth never ended.” That is the long and short of Blaze Me A Sun. This is a story about a serial killer, his murders, those trying to piece it together, those who believe they have the answers and those who question the conclusions. It is a journey to find the truth about a Swedish crime drama examined from many angles and perspectives. Too many angles and perspectives and too many pages but a good story, expose, narration, obsession and a few other simulations. With some serious editing it could have been a great story.

Thank you Hogarth, Random House and NetGalley for a copy

This is the best mystery novel I've read in a long time. Well written, excellent plot. I couldn't put it down.

It took me awhile to get into this book. It was slow but did pick up speed towards the end. Great story line and characters.

Blaze Me a Sun is well written, the characters are well developed. It started quickly and chapters were short so it was a "just one more chapter.," book. However the book felt too long, with too much angst and back stories. I am still glad I read it but do wish it had been a little shorter.
Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy of this book.

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

💙🖤💛💙🖤💛💙🖤💛💙🖤💛💙

Blaze Me a Sun is a #1 Bestselling Crime Thriller in Sweden and it made its U.S. debut in early-January 2023. The premise sounded incredible to me, as I love a gritty Crime story and I was excited to get to it. This lush, slow-burn Mystery definitely did not disappoint.

This story is told via various time periods, but the way Carlsson wove it all together was brilliant. We start with an author, who after a divorce, feels the need to return to his hometown, which he has been away from for many years. Known since he was a kid as Moth, this author, befriends a retired police officer and begins looking into a infamous local case, that of the Tiarp Man, a serial killer who haunted the area beginning in Moth's childhood.

We skillfully are shuttled back in time to the start of the Tiarp Man's crimes. It's 1986, and near Tiarp Farm, a young woman is attacked, raped and killed, left in her own vehicle. On the same night, the prime minister is assassinated. It's a time of uncertainty and unrest.

For officer, Sven Jörgensson, who found the first victim, finding the Tiarp Man becomes his life mission. The killer taunts the police, there are more victims, but without much to go on, Sven is left spinning his wheels.

Years later in 1991, there are more, similar, crimes. Is it the same person?

By this point, Sven's son, Vidar, has grown up to become a police officer himself and now it's his responsibility to investigate these heinous crimes.

Finally, in the later part of the novel, we return to Moth's perspective, as he wraps it all up for us. While at first glance, this may sound like it would be confusing, I assure you, it's not. Carlsson has expertly told this tale in a way that makes it approachable and intriguing throughout.

I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that as a format. I was concerned about pronouncing names and places correctly on my own, so felt it might be a good option for me. I would let a professional take the stress off. The narration by Peter Nobel was fantastic. He has a classic storytelling voice, which was a perfect match for this tale. I really enjoyed it.

From the start, I was intrigued. It is a slow-burn, one that not only pays off, but is enjoyable every moment of its telling. I like how layered the narrative was. It was more than just brutal crimes and the subsequent investigation.

There was a lot involving the history and secrets that small towns keep, as well exploration of family dynamics. For example with Sven and Vidar. Vidar discovers things about his Dad, after his Dad's death, that he didn't know before.

I think that can be an interesting discovery for adults. That our parents sometimes keep secrets from us. We don't know everything about them. They have their own distinct lives outside of us and they may keep things from us for varying reasons. Sometimes to protect us, but other times for reasons all their own.

I did occasionally have a difficult time keeping track of some details, particularly towards the end, but I take full blame for that. I'm not sure if I wasn't paying well enough attention in the beginning or what, but some of the side characters towards the end got confusing for me. With this being said, overall, I had a great time reading this and would definitely pick up more translated works from this author in the future.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Hogarth, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm excited to have found a new Nordic Thriller author to follow and definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a nuanced Crime Thriller.

This book marks, or so I read, the U.S. debut of this book, which hit No. 1 status in Sweden. I can see why; it's well-written, though to me it was more "dark" and, well, sad, than exciting. The complexity and detail, though, were impressive to say the least, although that meant I couldn't breeze through it as I usually do.

The decades-long story begins in a small Swedish town in 1986 with an ominous phone call to local police from someone who says he's attacked a woman and plans to do it again. On that same night, the unthinkable happens: the prime minister of Sweden is assassinated - making it a night few will forget. That's especially true for policeman Sven Jorgensson, who rushes to the scene of the caller's crime; there, he finds the victim still alive, but barely. What he does there (or does not do) changes him forever; if nothing else, solving the case becomes an obsession. And then, more of the unthinkable as two more victims turn up - and Sven's obsession consumes his entire being even beyond his retirement as his son, Vidar, joins the police and, to a certain extent, takes up what appears to be a lost cause.

Years pass with no resolution until a writer - the book's narrator - returns home and begins to collect information on all that happened for a book. By then, much water has gone over the bridge, and just a handful of the players back then are still around and much has been forgotten. Although learning the perpetrator's identity is a thread to be followed throughout, the story seemed to be much more about the ripple effects of one person's thoughts and behaviors on others around him. It wasn't a really easy book for me to read, but it was well worth the effort - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it. Recommended!