This is the fifth in the Swedish series of books featuring Joona Linna, who is now a former Detective Superintendent.

I don’t know if it is because of the translation, but the writing seemed very disjointed. Although the overall plot was good, I found none of the characters likable and it took a long time to tell the story. I had to force myself to finish the book and frequently skimmed over sections.

Fans of this series will probably enjoy it, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites.

Read over the course of 4 days, this book is very scary, I had trouble falling to sleep because of it - 3 nights in a row.

Really liked the attention to detail, not just in describing action/movement of each character but each element / process (medical procedures, piano lesson, car accident etc.). Joona Linna can't seem to catch a break.

Just looked at the 'Note About the Author' and apparently Lars Kepler does not exist!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! I only wish I had known prior to requesting it was a series. I am happy to know the series revolves around Join a. He was my fAvorite character. I pictured his personality like Sam Elliot in Road house (and who doesn't like Sam Elliott). I will definitely like to start the series from the beginning. It kept me guessing up until the end.

Thank you marshalled for the opportunity to read The Stalker in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a fantastic thriller! The opening scenes are chilling to say the least. Someone is stalking women from afar, video taping them as they go about their lives in their homes and then sending the video to police minutes before the each woman is murdered. Needless to say, the police don't have time to figure out who the women are before they're killed. This storyline runs parallel to another involving Joona Linna who's returned after being declared dead in The Sandman. Joona is not at his best but he's called in to assist the new detective in charge, Margot, who's very pregnant and very dedicated to stopping this killer. Joona also reconnects with his friend, the hypnotist Erik, which makes for an interesting dynamic. Everything about this story worked for me, the pace was excellent, the characterization strong, and the mystery a top notch whodunit. I didn't have it figured out that's for sure. I can't wait for the next installment in this series!!

Another strong addition to the Joona Linna series. Well-written with a great plot from start to finish. This might be my favorite of the entire series. Readers who enjoy dark, disturbing thrillers will definitely want to check Stalker out asap!

The opening to Stalker is immediately engrossing; there's something so terrifying about a murderer who presents their chosen victim to the police before a body is discovered. The Swedish National Crime Unit have the unnerving experience of watching a video of a woman going about her business in her own home oblivious to the fact that she's being recorded but they know she is going to be viciously murdered and there's nothing they can do to prevent it happening. Detective Margot Silverman is the police expert on serial killers, spree killers and stalkers and has been put in charge of the case - the first since her appointment - and when a second video arrives she immediately recognises they are looking for a serial killer. The first few chapters of the book are completely gripping; the police's horror as they watch the new video is almost palpable as they realise they aren't going to be able to save her and then the perspective switches to that of the woman whose death is inevitable but nonetheless still shocking when it comes. I was initially a little concerned when the pace slowed after such a fabulous start but the riveting character-building here meant any worries I had were short-lived and before long I knew this was going to be one of those books I couldn't put down.
Much of the novel is written in the third person, present tense which creates a real feeling of immediacy to the proceedings and makes the reader feel as much an observer to the horrific crimes as the police are whenever a new video is posted. I found it absolutely intriguing that Joona Linna doesn't appear in person until several chapters into the book and when he does, it's clear that he is quite possibly as damaged as some of the criminals he brings to justice. It's fair to say that the main character here is probably Erik Maria Bark, a psychologist who knows Linna as they'd worked together in the past and whose skills as a hypnotist look like they could be vital as it appears there is a link between this investigation and previous case. It would also seem that Erik has made a few transgressions which might eventually come to light and at first I really wasn't sure how I should respond to him - is he the key to discovering the truth or is he partly to blame for a killer still walking free? It's only when he becomes involved with a blind piano tutor, Jackie that I began to warm to him but even here there are moments where there are unsettling parallels between him and the murderer as he observes Jackie without her knowledge. Jackie herself is a wonderful character whose blindness never solely defines her. I don't know any blind people well but felt the authors successfully explored both the challenges and the benefits of being visually impaired and I was delighted to see a disabled person in a book allowed to have a sex life and not just be a token character without any real personality.
Although Joona's role in the book is a lesser one, his influence, reputation and sheer force of personality, even when he seems broken is fascinating and I looked forward to the scenes in which he appears. I've not read the previous Joona Linna books and while I loved Stalker and am happy to recommend it as a standalone novel, I think that readers who already know the series have a slight advantage because I don't know how this Joona compares to his persona in the earlier books. I loved the sense of danger about him and the feeling that his concept of justice doesn't always agree with the law. It's clear that he has witnessed some terrible acts during his lifetime and that as a result, it wouldn't take too much for him to resort to vigilantism rather than relying on the law to adequately deal with wrong-doers.
This is not the Sweden that perhaps springs to mind when envisaging the country; Stalker is a vividly brutal and gritty novel which looks at the social issues prevalent in many countries, from drug use to gun crime to people trafficking. After the slower middle section, the action picks up again and after a genuinely shocking revelation, the final few chapters are exceptionally tense - so much so that I couldn't put the book down. I ended up staying awake until after 1am until I reached the end and then I couldn't sleep because my heart was still racing! Stalker is dark, twisted and uncompromising and although it's an uncomfortable read at times, I found it absolutely compelling and cannot recommend it highly enough to anybody who enjoys complex, disturbing thrillers. I loved it and can't wait to go back and read the previous books in the series now!

Awesome book. I read this one first because of getting it early to review. I now need to go back and read the series from the start. The writing is amazing and characters flow together. The story is perfectly written.

Stalker is the fifth book in the Joona Linna series by the husband and wife duo who write under the pseudonym Lars Kepler. I'm always intrigued by writing collaborations as to how they share the workload but at the same time it must be great to have someone working alongside you to brainstorm ideas as you're writing but can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to work with your real life partner.

Having never read a book by this writing duo I had nothing to compare it to so was going into their writing with fresh eyes although I do feel a little background of the characters might have benefited me, especially in connection with what had happened previously with Joona Linna, but still it was readable on its own merit. As the title suggests the premise of this novel is of someone who is watching their victims, recording their every movement and posting clips of them before killing them.

My heart was literally in my mouth as I was reading the first few chapters and could sense the fear and panic that Susanna must have felt when she realises that she's not alone in her house and her husband is stuck on an airplane and won't be home for hours. Although sadly for her this was not an opportunist robbery as she first thought and she ultimately pays the price for not locking a door. The authors do a great job of setting the scene that it almost feels like a movie playing out before your eyes... and a bit like a crime drama on your screen sometimes a little too gruesome reading at times.

This really was a complex case for heavily pregnant detective Margot Silverman which will take us a journey full of red herrings, deeply hidden secrets, old cases (which is where regulars of the series may get more benefit than a newcomer to the series) as well as the reappearance of Joona Linna. The only thing that was missing for me personally is that I would have also like to explore the psychology of stalkers a bit more and get into their mindset and see what makes them tick and do the things they do.

I will admit that it was probably not such a good idea to read this book late into the night as, despite living in a first floor flat with a wooden walkway to the front door so I would hear anyone approaching, every creak or sound in my flat freaked the living daylights out of me even though I knew there was no possibility that anyone could have gotten in!

Despite its length at over 500 pages, it didn't feel like a particularly long read as the short chapter format and pacing meant that I found myself racing through the pages, although I did find the pace slowed considerably in the middle section until it picked up again and we reached the shocking conclusion and the killer was revealed. Having enjoyed, and it feels so wrong to describe this in that way considering the subject matter, my first experience of Lars Kepler's writing I now need to try and find more hours in the day to go back and read the previous four books in the series.

Before I read Stalker, I went back and read The Sandman for some background on this book and boy these are LONG books! But really, really good books too! I love Joona--he is a great character and a fabulous detective. The writing in these books is amazing, so descriptive and exact not missing any details, giving the reader a full picture of what is going on. The plot is intriguing, looking for a stalker who posts an online video just before killing the victims. I had NO idea who the stalker was and it was a surprise to me as I kept reading with more and more details being revealed. The pacing of the story was excellent, kept moving but not too fast switching from main character to main character every chapters to keep the story full circle and progressing. Definitely a greaat book, long but worth it, and once I got into the story, I could not put it down. Highly recommended! I plan to go back and read the first three now, at my leisure. A great series!

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Oh my BLEEPING goodness!!!!!!!! Why have I never picked up a Lars Kepler novel until now?! Omg - I still can't get my head around what I read, so I apologise in advance if there is a lot of 'omg!' and sentences which make no sense at all. Obviously I would prefer it if the review was coherent....but I can't promise anything!!!

So, 'Stalker' was the first book I had read by the dynamic duo, Lars Kepler. Yes, it is part of a series, and no you do not need to have read the previous four books before you read this one - in my opinion, obviously. At around 500 odd pages, I honestly thought that it would end up being a story which just went on and on. It wasn't. I was actually quite surprised by how concise the book was considering it was of great length, so much so, I started and finished the book in one day! Unfortunately I had to put the book down a couple of times as the child and pets needed feeding....how selfish of them to want food!!!!

It's safe to say that my bank account will take a bit of a hit this week as I aim to purchase the other four books in paperback, as well as this one. Do you think I loved it?! Short answer: OMG YES! Seriously, I was absolutely hooked by the twisted turn of events, the psychologically damaging storyline, and the incredibly nauseating and vivid descriptions of certain characters actions. Yes, that's right, I used the word 'nauseating' as a positive. Who would have thought it?!

'Stalker' isn't a read for the faint hearted or people who have an aversion to blood. Although saying that, you might get an aversion to blood whilst reading this - a lot is lost! The storyline is fast paced in places, slow paced in others, yet the level of intensity throughout the entire book was absolutely phenomenal.

I loved the array of dynamic characters, each one adding their flaws into the storyline to create a multi layered read which, if I were wearing any, would have totally blown my socks off! I was absolutely shocked by the conclusion as I had tried to work out my own 'whodunnit', but ended up failing miserably. I think the fact the authors dropped red herring after red herring, whilst also pointing bloody fingers at one character in particular, it was only natural for me to follow those instincts and think that they were the one who had done it. Obviously at the time I didn't know the pieces of information I was using as glue to my puzzle pieces, were in fact red herrings. It just goes to show how complex the minds of Lars Kepler are, and the complexity of the storyline itself. Clearly not everything is as it seems, right?!

It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that 'Stalker' is now a very strong contender for my top book of 2019. Wow, seriously, 'Stalker' is an jawdroppingly, gritty, read which left me wanting more. Outstanding beyond belief. The book may have been long in pages, but it felt like one of the quickest books I've ever read. I can not recommend this enough!

I loved this book! Seriously, the writing and characters felt real and absolutely amazing. I did get a little bit lost in the middle but I had a family emergency that took a lot of my attention so it was my own fault.

A Stalker is loose in Stockholm and Detective Joona Linna is hunting him before he can kill again.

A serial killer is sending YouTube links to the Swedish National Crime Unit showing peeping Tom video of women right before they are murdered. What connects the videos or woman? Who could the serial killer be? Detective Margot Silverman is put in charge of the case. She recruits Detective Joona Linna who then recruits Maria Bark, a hypnotist, to assist. As the serial killer continues to kill, the killing method is linked to an old case that imprisoned a possibly innocent man.

There aren’t many clues to be found in this lengthy but enthralling thriller. However, it is fun just to follow the case work of the Swedish detectives. Even though this book clocks in at over 500 pages, it doesn’t seem that long as you are reading it. Stalker is highly recommended for readers looking for a dark intelligent Scandinavian noir. 4 stars!

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for a copy that I wished for in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller draws you in fast and intense. The characters keep you guessing constantly and have a certain suspicion to them. Its almost like a “old fashion” thriller vibe. The crimes are violent and graphic with twists and turns that keep you glued to the story.
If you enjoy a good crime/ thriller this is a good one to go to. It’s my first time reading this author. When I went in I didn’t know it was the fifth book in a series. This had no effect on following the storyline other than I want to go read the previous ones.
I received this arc from NetGalley for an honest opinion

Serial killers are no laughing matter. Such thrillers are all the rage these days and you can find dozens of them at your local bookstore. But, this one stands out from the pack. Written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym Lars Kepler, this fifth installment in the series is awl-written, engrossing thriller.

Taking place in Sweden, it is filled with interesting characters, tense moments, and glimpses into the dark corners of Swedish society. It starts with the police receiving videos of killings and becomes a race against time to try to get there before the killer strikes again. And, the best suspect has been in custody for a decade and a half. The tension keeps ratcheting up step by step before the climatic standoff. Good work here.

What have I learnt from reading this book?! KEEP YOUR CURTAINS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES!!!! A terrifying but brilliant story that can't help leave you feeling really unsettled and on edge as you turn each page!

I hadn't read any of the previous books in this series - but I will soon rectify that! - and that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this story which is a fabulous study of obsessive personalities, the fear of being watched and that race against time to try and save the next victim as the 'stalker' liked to film the victims in their homes and upload the clips online before he struck. The desperation of the detectives trying to locate each victim is clear for all to see, but knowing they're going to be too late to save people is crucifying them.

Trying to work out just who The Stalker is was a complex and very cleverly drawn out affair. There are glimpses back to old cases which link to these current murders,and as you begin to enter a very dark world that surrounds the plot and really adds to the sinister side of this story. Hypnosis is used but that often doesn't get a clearer picture for everyone and I found it to be a head scratcher at times trying to work out just who they could trust and just what link, if any, there was between the poor victims.

With such a pulsating start and ending, it was only fair that things did slow down a little during the middle, but the action and twists made up for that when things all became a little clearer towards the end and I am looking forward to going back to the previous books in the series to get more of a fix of these flawed but fascinating characters!

Highly recommended if you like your crime dark and twisted ... just keep away from the windows!

Stalker is the first book I have read by Lars Kepler although I do have an earlier book from the series. I wish I had read at least that one, then I would have understood these characters much more. It took me a while to appreciate Joona. It was his character I wish I’d known more about. What he was like before his family were torn apart by danger and threats. I liked him, I wanted him to succeed and be proven right. I didn’t want him to feel let down by somebody who was a friend.

I do read a lot of Scandinavian crime fiction but this one made all of them look like cozy crime. It’s one of the goriest that I have read and some of the worst sides of society are convincingly shown. It was chilling getting to know the victims just before they were attacked and it felt personal. It’s also one, that when I finished I felt drained. Mainly because when the killer was revealed, quite a way before the end, and I saw how insane they were I felt more tense than I have felt in a long time from reading fiction.

I’m uncertain as to how many of the other characters have appeared before or how many will be in the next book. There are many who I would like to meet again. It is quite a long book, the longest I’ve read for a while and it did take me a while to get into it. I’m glad I persevered, this is yet another series I plan to catch up on.

Stalker by Lars Kepler is the 5th In the Detective Joona Linna series.

Another sensational book in this series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Homicide Detective Joona Linna worked for the National Criminal Investigation Department in Sweden. He is highly trained in mixed close combat, innovative weaponry, and urban guerrilla warfare. He tends to stretch the rules, but he needs to be “right”. He is driven, driven to keep going until the crime is solved. Due to a ruthless serial killer, he sent away wife and daughter, and faked their deaths. He has lived without them for many years. Recent events have brought this case to the surface and resulted in Joona going missing, and presumed dead.

My Synopsis:
Margot Silverman is the new police expert on serial killers and moved into Joona Linna’s office the same week they held his memorial ceremony. She does not know Joona. She is 36 and pregnant with her third child. She works with Adam, who is 28, and joined the force after a brief professional soccer career. He is a little over-eager.

There is a serial killer out there who posts a video of his victim on You-Tube from outside her window – before the kill.

Joona's friend, Erik Maria Bark is a psychiatrist who successfully uses hypnosis to help his patients uncover memories. Margot convinces Erik to help get information from the latest victim’s husband, who, upon finding his wife dead, proceeded to clean up the crime scene and put his dead wife to bed. His shock has made him forget everything. The little that Erik does obtain reminds him of a man from 9 years ago. A man that he recommended be incarcerated, even though he said he had an alibi during his session. Erik had ignored the statement since he really didn’t trust what the brain-damaged man said, but he always wondered. This over-sight will prove costly.

Saga Bauer has been looking for the body of Jurek Walter for a year. If she can find his body, she can prove to Joona Linna that it is safe to come home.

Joona is living in a small house in the middle of nowhere with his daughter Lumi. His wife has died of cancer. He has surrounded the house with cameras and defensive weapons. He is not the man he once was. He is thin, with a long scraggly beard, and walks with a cane. Yet he is the only hope they have of solving this case. It may cost Joona more than he anticipated, but he probably wouldn’t change a thing.

My Opinions:
WOW. I will assume you’ve been reading the series. We all knew the star of the show could not be dead...and the authors brought our beloved Joona back in an unhurried, realistic manner. His journey back to investigative work was good.

There was a lot going on, and a lot of new characters, but everything flowed smoothly. There were a lot of twists in this one that I didn’t see coming. In particular, the identity of the killer.

The ending….what can I say….a shock.

Okay, I can’t see reading this without reading the other four previous novels in this series. You would miss so much of both the character development and parts of the plot.  

Regarding the authors - I still don’t know how this husband and wife team work together so well as to create this work of literary art…but I hope they continue!

This is the fifth novel and I must say the best so far from the team Lars Kepler. I didn’t realize when I requested it from NetGalley that I had already read it. I assumed it was a new release. However, I can say that it held my attention from start to finish - the story is as always complex and engrossing, and the writing is tight. The book is long so there are a lot of characters to sort out, and Joona is not a major player in this one - at least at the beginning. There are twists and turns in the storyline that are all so enjoyable. I loved this book. Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

That book kept me guessing till the end. The characters were well rounded. I recommend it for those who like to read mystery novels. I would like to thank netgalley for letting me review this book for a fair review.