I love reading books by Scandinavian authors. They always write so well and tell great stories. This book is no exception. I will tell you that with the names of the people, cities, etc. they can be tedious. Again, this book is no exception.

That being said. This was a great story. I loved how the author played out the mystery and the investigation. Full of quirky characters, character names and cities, it takes a little while to get into this book. However, once I did, I was enthralled and just could not put the book down. Some very interesting criminals were part of this book as well.

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

You'll like this if you enjoy Scandavian noir. The Hammers have used the topical subject of human trafficking to explore the underside of Copenhagen. Simonsen is a well written classic detective- persistent, witty, and a tad dangerous himself. There are some twists and red herrings to keep you guessing about the identity not only of the woman but also of the bad guys. It's well written and translated- the story zipped along. Very plot driven, making it perfect for travel. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'd not read the earlier books but I'm going to look for them again. Try this for good atmospherics.

This book is about the "dark side" of Denmark, or any city actually. There is sex trafficking, torture, and murder. When the police can't find any leads or anything else to go on they turn the case over to Konrad Simonsen and his team. Did they get more than they bargained for in this story? Read the book to find out. I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.

Wow! This was a great crime book! Amazing detail--very well developed plot. Intense and thought provoking storyline on a very dark topic!!! It definitely did not follow any predictable pattern.. This book was long, but worth the read.

My first time to read a book by Authors Hammer and Hammer. This was a real page turner. A lot of suspense. An unknown woman was found murdered in a lake in Denmark. The case goes cold and is given to Konrad Simonson months later . The story is told from both the police and the killers point of view . This story involves prostitution and poker . Very well written plot with so much suspense I could put the book down..
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review..

This book starts off with a bang. There is torture and murder. The disposal of a body in a lake. A perfect setting for a murder mystery.

I felt a little bogged down the first portion of the book, but once I really got into the mystery part of the story, I was sucked in and couldn't get out. The dialog was full of witty quips and the main character was very insightful. I couldn't believe this was translated from another language, because the words felt very american to me. Who ever did the translation did an amazing job.

I really enjoyed this read, and I am not one for thriller/mysteries. Check out The Lake this summer.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lotte and Søren Hammer, and Bloomsbury USA for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

The Hammer siblings return with another novel in their highly successful Konrad Simonsen series, recently translated in English. With the dark undertones of a well-crafted Scandinavian thriller, the story pushes the reader to the limits, while also leaving them demanding more! As the story opens, three individuals are travelling through the forested areas of Denmark, as if on a mission. Dense trees and shadowy lanes lead to a secluded cabin, where something sinister is about to happen. A young African woman is led to the cabin and a crime committed. However, something goes wrong and she dies. Her body is tied to a large stone and left to sink in the middle of the lake, where nature takes its course. It is only when parts of her are found months later than the authorities arrive, eventually creating national headlines for bumbling the case. Konrad Simonsen and his Homicide Team are called in from Copenhagen to take over, while media outlets continue to feast off some of the bad press that has sullied the case to this point. Slow and methodical, Simonsen begins to explore what may have happened and tries to put a face to the victim, which is harder than it seems. From there, it is trying to locate a missing person report or some way of tying this woman to a social network. No leads leave Simonsen and the rest of the team scrambling. However, there are some concrete solutions that come out of the cabin and its surrounding area, which takes the Homicide team into the dark world of rape and eventually the seedy domain of sex trafficking. Meanwhile, the perpetrators hide away in plain sight, protecting the vast empire that keeps the world of sex trafficking in business. Someone reaches out and begins a blackmail scheme, as though they are fully aware of the horrible things that are going on and wish to bring about their own form of revenge. While Simonsen gets closer to an answer, questions arise as to how this could all be tied together and how deep the trafficking goes. Is it just the depraved that come to the well and seek this form of gratification or are there others, more 'mainstream' faces that dabble, as long as the price is fair? There is no justice for the victim and no family that mourn her, but Simonsen will stop at nothing until the culprits are caught and face the ultimate price. The only question is, does he have the determination to keep going? A powerful thriller that pulls the reader into a dark corner and explores sex trafficking at its most deplorable, but with so much social commentary that the reader will not be able to help but join the conversation. Perfect for those who want a deeper and more complex story in a game of cat and mouse.

I have long been a fan of the Hammers and their delightfully dark thriller series. As I have said numerous times, reading Scandinavian thrillers takes the story to an entirely new level, with complex storylines and thoroughly intriguing ideas that are handled with aplomb and a depth with which I do not find in North American novels. Add to that, the translation that is required to bring me an English language version. If things remain at such a high calibre outside of the story's original language, I can only imagine how powerful they are in the original Danish. The Hammer siblings also push the story further by using their well-honed collection of characters, each with their own backstory. Konrad Simonsen continues to lead the group, though has to struggle with some of his own past issues and the restructuring that his team has undergone, both due to his own issues and a case that went horribly wrong and left one member on the brink of disaster. Simonsen uses all he has to take the story in ways that the reader cannot help but follow, though they are fully aware of the flaws that the character possesses. As with many of their novels, there is a strong social commentary threaded into the story, which adds a dimension that cannot be missed. Be it the sex trafficking industry, the covert use of au pairs from another part of the world, or even the fact that some of the upper crust in Denmark are using this service without batting an eye. The Hammer siblings also pull in the discussion of shifting the blame on 'paid sex' away from the prostitute and solely onto the john, which seems to be happening in some of the surrounding countries. It leaves the reader with much to contemplate and perhaps shed the past concerns over the issue before delving into open-air discussions with others. These are strong issues and should be addressed, which are also handled in a serious and forthright manner by the authors. There is no better way to entertain and educate than to place a story on such precarious places and the Hammer siblings do it so well.

Kudos, Mr. and Madam Hammer for another sensational story. I know we English folk are still a few novels behind your Simonsen series, but I am eager to get my hands on more, as you push things to the limit and force me (and other readers) to confront some of the seedier aspects of life.

Be sure you have a strong constitution before you read this pounding thriller. The realism with which the Hammers describe the seedy underbelly of crime, including ruthless drug lords and desperate prostitutes, hits home and you feel the punches in a visceral way. Lots of talent in this writing duo... guarantee you'll be flipping those e-pages at lightning speed, even though you'd rather slow down and savor. Fast-paced, well-developed plot, and characters you really don't want to say good-bye to at the end. Looking forward to more by this pair!

The Lake by Lotte and Soren Hammer. This is Book 4 in the Konrad Simonsen series and this book is my second book from NetGalley. If you like Scandinavian Noir, you will love this book! I liked it so much that I added Book 1 The Hanging to my summer reading list. It is well written and very captivating. The story unfolds with a crime and then it is off and running. The writers weave through the story the police working on figuring out the crime and the criminals and their corruption. It is gritty, and at times unsettling, but these things are not unwelcome in the story at all. I found in Konrad Simonsen another detective that I believe I will love as much as Karl Morck and Armand Gamache. Konrad is brilliantly intelligent and wonderfully human. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars on Goodreads.

I thought that Lotte and Søren Hammer put a lot into this book to make everything come to pass but some of the item's weren't relevant to the story and could have been left out. What really happened to the men who were arrested for rape? Yes, it sort of fits but what really happened to them. I think it is worth reading as a series and I recommend this for my readers.

I found this book hard to read, the names were different, long and hard to remember them all. Overall I think it's a good book just not for me. I like more murder and more suspense.

The skeleton of a young girl is found in a lake and Konrad Simonsen and the Contessa (his wife and coworker) and the team are tasked with solving the case, which proves to be extremely difficult, involving unspeakable evil and the highest corridors of power in Denmark.
The story is written from the perspective of Konrad and the team as well as the criminals behind the murder. The crime syndicate is run by a couple and their daughter, cold blooded to the core. They buy young African girls as 'au pairs', and sell them to clients for sex. They also run an internet poker scam, which serves to launder the money made from the prostitution business.
The treatment of these girls is incomprehensible, the closest way to describe it is to liken it to the cattle business.
Konrad is not particularly likeable, at least to my mind, but the Contessa and the team are and one of them is quite a character. The team find her tough to work with, it seems she has emotional issues linked to a previous traumatic case. Since I haven't read the other books in the series, I don't know the back story, but will find out, as I intend to read all of them...I was that impressed.
The most fascinating character was the criminal couple's daughter. The end of the book was amazing, as you find out what really went on behind the scenes.
A fabulous book, very clever, well written and translated,and highly recommended.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

4 stars

A young woman is found murdered in a lake in Denmark. Her identity is unknown and with no leads at all the case grows cold. The case is handed to Konrad Simonsen months later when meticulous police work yield no clues.

Simonsen and his team begin to investigate. The detectives get along very well together, with only one exception and we have to make an allowance for her. There was not much background given on them, but I expect that is was laid out in previous books in this series.

This book is told from both the police team and the killers’ points of view. As we follow the investigation, we also follow the goings on involving not only the killers, but the wider arena of the criminal network with which they are associated. Prostitution and poker are their specialties.

This book is very well written, plotted and translated. I enjoyed it. The planning that went into the denouement was brilliant I must say. The novel was both suspenseful and exciting. This is my first Lotte and Soren Hammer book, but it won’t be my last. I went immediately to Amazon and shopped!

I want to thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read.