An interesting story full of plot twists, unexpected turns and suspense. It keeps you on your toes with trying to figure out who dun it.

Thanks to @Random and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #BlazeMeaSun. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this Swedish murder mystery. It's a layered story a series of unsolved crimes in a small community and how the effects reverberate through the generations. Carlsson writes beautifully and really helps the reader connect with the characters and the setting.

Definitely recommend this book.

I absolutely loved this book. This book reminded me a lot of how Jo Nesbo writes. If you enjoy a good police procedural and novels about serial killers you will definitely be entertained by this new to the US author. I "blazed" through this book to it's stunning conclusion. Highly recommended and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book early for an honest review!

I just couldn’t get into this book. It jumped around some and I didn’t connect with the characters. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House for sharing this upcoming novel by a new (to the American market) author. This is both a murder mystery/serial killer story and somewhat of a philosophical investigation into human nature. I think tackling both things made the book as long as it was, but I was fascinated by the approach. Trying to understand the actions of some of the main players was as interesting as trying to identify the killer. I’d recommend this fir anyone who is a fan of police procedural/ serial killer novels, especially Nordic ones.

3.5 stars, rounding up.

In 1986 small-town Sweden, a remorseless murderer is on the loose and targeting young women. Police are at a stand-still, with no clear motive, little evidence, and a complete lack of credible suspects. Sven Jörgensson is haunted by the crimes, retiring from the police force but still clinging to the investigation as his illness further degrades his health. His son Vidar, now a cop himself, has also become involved in the hunt for the killer, who has struck again in 1991. As the years drag on, no one has really been able to untangle themselves from the stain these events have left on the community. It's now 2019, and Vidar is still stumbling upon new things that make him question every decision he and his father have made over the last 33 years.

This is a really unique piece of crime fiction. I absolutely love the structure — opening with our author, moving into the narrative he has presumably written so far, and ending with our author questioning everything he's written and searching out the truth. It is a Swedish book, written by a Swedish author, and the pacing is different from what I, an American, have come to expect from my crime novels and thrillers. It is slow, introspective, and detailed. I savored it, but I did find myself wishing it was faster. The detail in this book is incredible, and I think the characters are well-written, though I didn't find myself really connecting with them. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves crime fiction, especially those who would like to read a Scandinavian example!

Thank you to Christoffer Carlsson, Random House / Hogarth Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

How Do You Right A Wrong?

Moth moved back to his childhood home yearning for something he couldn’t describe. He wanted to relax, connect with his roots, and write his next story. Writing didn’t come easy, though, and soon his life changed into a pursuit for truth. One family he fondly remembered was Vidar Jorgensson and his father Seth. He and Vidar were school friends and Seth was the sheriff when Moth moved away. Meeting Vidar in the bar that night three months after moving back home changes Moth’s direction.

It was back in spring of 1986 when Sven’s life changed forever. A woman had been raped and murdered, Sven determined to find the killer. Moth picks up the story there and delves into every facet of the case, talking with everyone who is still alive, pouring over everything he can find to document Sven’s obsession with the case and the final outcome. You won’t want to miss the ending, this is mystery at its best.

I loved everything about this book. The writer’s style, the slow unraveling of details, the emotions of the people involved. If you like stories with more depth than just catching bad guys you’re going to love it, too.

It was a little hard for me to attach myself to the criminal part of the story, I did follow the story of David and Sven lives. The writer did a good job with the details and explanation of how Sven performed his job duties with his son. I found myself paying a close attention to these moments, because I thought that they had some connection to the plot. The story moved with an easy pace. Some parts of the story was entertaining.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. The characters didn't really grab me and the timeline jumps around a bit trying to get you engaged in the story, but instead it just seemed to kind of confuse where the author was trying to lead you. Very slow read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hogarth Press for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. I absolutely love love love Scandinavian Noir and gritty crime novels, so I was really excited to hear from a new voice and award-winning writer. I really liked the short chapters and the dual timeline in Blaze Me a Sun. However, I got to about 50% and was bored. I have decided to stop reading, and I am sad because I see from other reviews that the ending is amazing. I just don't have the stamina to get myself there, and I wondered if some of the writing could have been tightened up a bit to keep me invested. This was just not for me.

The pace was a little slow, but still enjoyable. I love police procedurals so this appealed to me. It did keep me guessing!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The author has written many books, but this is the first one that has been translated into English and is debuting here. I was quite disappointed to find out that I couldn't mass order all of his other books.

This story is a writer, writing about murders that took place in the village he grew up in thirty years prior and people it affected. There was a serial killer and the murders were never solved, or were they?

He has moved back into the house he grew up in after his divorce, unable to write, but he starts looking into cases that were never solved. He wants to know what happened and the police officer and son he idolized were in the middle of this mystery.

I could not put this book down. It is beautifully written and all of the characters were people you could care about. Twists and turns and the ending was not what I expected.
This is a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and Hogarth Publishing for this early read!

Slow burn Swedish crime mystery, but really so much more. This books examines the role of guilt in family relationships and small towns. And the reverberations of violence across the decades. The characters are full-realized and complex. Even though the pace is slower than typical mystery/thriller type books, you keep reading because you want to know what happened, and how everyone involved fared.

"In February 1986, the Halland police receive a call from a man who claims to have attacked his first victim. I’m going to do it again, he says before the line cuts off. By the time policeman Sven Jörgensson reaches the crime scene, the woman is taking her last breath. For Sven, this will prove a decisive moment. On the same night, Sweden plunges into a state of shock after the murder of the prime minister. Could there possibly be a connection?

As Sven becomes obsessed with the case, two more fall victim. For years Sven remains haunted by the murders he cannot solve, fearing that the killer might strike again. Eventually Sven retires from the police in defeat. Having failed to catch the killer, he passes his obsession to his son, who has joined the force to be closer to his father.

Decades later, the case unexpectedly resurfaces when a novelist returns home to Halland after a failed marriage and sputtering career. The writer befriends a retired police officer, a former colleague of Sven's, who helps the novelist--our narrator--unspool the many strands of this engrossing tale about a community confronting its shames."

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Whew! This one was tough. I could only get through a few pages at a time before my lids got heavy and I was falling asleep. Way to long. I found the writing to be choppy; definitely not a smooth read. Not sure if it was because of translation or if this is how the author writes.

I really wanted to like it as the storyline is exactly my favorite genre to read.

Thank you #netgalley and #randomhouse #hogarth for the opportunity. This one just didn't do it for me.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Hogart for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a first American publication for this Swedish author. It is my first from this author so I did not know what to expect. The time frame is from 1986 to present and is a multi generational novel of three police family members who are trying to solve some long ago murders that appear to be from a serial killer. This book is not a fast read and if you put it down too long you find you have to go back and read previous parts again to stay on track. I liked the book but it does drag in parts. It is well worth the time you spend with the characters. At times I felt as though the story was part Swedish travelogue and part crime. But, I feel that the author’s background in criminology makes the accuracy of the book very believable. I recommend this to people who love crime stories and look forward to more books from this author.

I had high hopes for this, but it missed the mark for me. Too much of the book dragged, which made it really hard to stay engaged. There's a large focus on internal monologues and speculations, and it really pulled me out of the story. The killer's identity was too predictable, though there were a number of red herrings.

Definitely wore me out. The story drags and the investigation is detailed. I just couldn't it to enjoy.

I enjoyed this book overall, however, I will warn you - it was a harder book to read (for me). 

The story has an unusual narrator and time jumps, so it gets hard to pick it back up again if you lie it down.  However, I will say the ending is satisfying and I am glad I stuck it out to the finish. 

I love noir and Sweden is such a wonderful setting for that genre.  In the descriptions, you can feel the author taking you to a dreary, gray town with dreary, gray weather to put you through this very gloomy mystery.  The plot is very well written and all at once pervasive and specific. 

If you like moody, melancholy Swedish noir then this book is for you.

Scandinavian-noir authors write some of the best, darkest police procedurals and Blaze Me a Sun is no different. Christoffer Carlsson pens a slow-burning hunt for a serial killer intertwined with the actual assassination of Sweden's Prime Minister in 1986.

I am a big fan of learning events I was not aware of in the thrillers I read and Blaze Me a Sun did just that. While not a barn-burner, Carlsson uses the assassination as a backdrop that is immensely interesting although dark. My one suggestion would be to read this when you can focus on just the book. There are many moving parts through changing timelines and it is easy to be confused. I had to read multiple parts multiple times to make sure I understood what was happening. All in all, Blaze Me a Sun was thoroughly enjoyable and shouldn't be missed if you like dark, criminal procedurals.

My sincere thanks to Christoffer Carlsson, Hogarth, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Blaze Me a Sun!

Wow! I didn't know what to expect when I received notice that I could read this book! I can say that I don't read alot of police crime novels. BUT!!!!! I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! It's absolutely fantastic!! I'll definitely be listing this author as someone to watch for new books!!!