When mental illness professionals over step their own boundaries we are left with tragedy.
Deep hypnosis is a great idea for someone not suffering from severe mental illness but for many of these characters in falling deeper they experienced heartbreak that was simply unbearable to recreate in their minds.
This husband and wife duo team pack a punch literally and figuratively as we are led down the winding road of uncertainty and chaos.
A 15 yo teen winds up with over 100 wounds is hypnotized and in a trance is trying to open up about a gruesome double murder that wiped out and entire family.
Detective Joana Linna ( National Crime) is on the case with Erik Maria Bark recommended by good ol Daniella Richards to treat using hypnotic therapy.
Josef had to incurr terrible trauma but is it wise to have this recall of his memory in such a fragile state of mind?
Would his recollections be able to be utilized for the greater good in uncovering the truths about that fateful day?
Nature v Nurture and the power of connections being closest to the victims are often scrutinized.
No more so than here, when the spotlight turns to other family members including Evelyn the sister who managed to escape this mass disaster.
Abusive tendencies seem to run rampant in this family's bloodline so perhaps DNA testing may be in order...
Well, maybe later as right now things are going way too fast to slow it down.
Just stay with me, trust me, and don't ask questions , Ok...
Look , Josef has his problems and perhaps that's why he ran from the hospital while under treatment but there may just be more to uncover.
Like what about the 'wailord' yup you heard me that Pokemon creature and the sea?
Yes, well, that too is for a later time, keep going guys , don't stop this trainwreck!!
With multiple affairs under his belt and taking advantage of women at their most emotional and fragile states we have Erik aka womanizer slash healer.
However, one person in particular Lydia Everson may just hold the entire key to unlock this entire madness.
I'll tell you the setting in this was perfect with characters that you couldn't simply walk away from without igniting a fury of inner turmoil.
This was truly one heck of a remarkable read...
The ending was so good involving Lydia, Benjamin, Erik, and Simone that not much else can compare to it's brilliance.
Loved it all as you can tell.
Thank you Lars Kepler, the publisher, NetGalley, and Aldiko for this ARC copy in exchange for this honest review.

I had a hard time with the names in this book. It is Swedish after all and I haven't read a Swedish thriller in a little while, but after I got used to the names I happily dived into what I think is a disturbing and addictive read. From the beginning I was hooked by the drama in the story and I just had to know how it ended. I was not disappointed either. I know that this author is coming into the U. S. market with gusto and now that I have read this book I understand why. I am so looking forward to reading the rest of his library.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2385322810

This started off well, grabbing my interest straight away with the story of a family brutally murdered and the surviving son being hypnotised with the hope of finding answers. The story then moves to the Hypnotist himself, and the ill-fated hypnotherapy experiment he conduncted 10 years prior. 
The two stories never really link up and I was left wondering what really happened in the first, more interesting plotline. There was also not enough of the only really likable character - the Finnish detective Joona Linna.

I tend to wait until the very last moment, and beyond to give my opinion of a book. I absolutely, positively, with every fiber of my being hated this book. I can't even remember the main characters names. I just known that he was awfully prideful. He thought he was an ace investigator. Nope, not really. He was told he was a great dancer....he agreed. I was embarrassed. No, this is not a character I would give a hoot about. Lars Kepler isn't actually any author that I would care to read anything by again. I see how some folk may like him, but he's too simplistic.

There's not much a love more than a good mystery. This took me by surprise, having more twists and turns than I expected. I loved the damaged characters, the hypnotist Erik, his wife Simone, their struggle as a couple and parents while searching for their missing son. The mysterious yet determined detective, Joona. And all the characters that are met along the way. I have already checked out the next book in the series and can't wait to immerse myself in it.

I've heard about Lars Kepler, the husband and wife author team,  for awhile. The Hypnotist is the first of their books. After reading this, I am so glad I had the forethought to purchase the next three books. 

Detective Joona Linna is one of those great detectives the nordic writers do so well. He has this habit that made me laugh; when proven right, after saying he was, the other party must admit he was right. It is a habit that apparently annoys his superior. 

The Hypnotist is a brilliant read that is fast paced. Its a rather large book at 503 pages but doesn't ever drag so you'll fly through it. I would like to add the translation is impeccable.

The gist of the story is a boy with medical issues being kidnapped. There are several red herrings throughout the book that are pretty spectacular. 

I highly recommend not just this book but the author who is now on my list of authors who I know will never dissapoint me.  

Alas, the rating system will only let me give this book 5 stars. It deserves 20 times that.

Thank you NetGalley for this seriously fabulous read.

There was A LOT going on in this book, and it got a little wild at the end, but it was still an engaging read. The later books have better ratings, so I'm definitely going to continue on with the series because the mystery was well thought out overall.

There is only one survivor of a triple homicide, a boy who saw his entire family murdered. He himself, has been stabbed over 100 times and has withdrawn to a world inside his mind. Detective Inspector Joona Linna brings in Dr. Erik Maria Bark to hypnotize the boy so the killer can be apprehended. Bark is reluctant to perform the procedure, he’s seen the after effects of this type of therapy on patients and has sworn never to hypnotize anyone ever again. Linna wears him down, eventually, leading to a series of answers and events that may prove worse than the murders themselves. Kepler is a master of Nordic Noir and will keep you glued to the pages of this terrific thriller