I'm not sure if the translation of this book changed things, but I really struggled to read it. I also didn't realize it was the second book in a series. I don't think that impacted it too much, but overall, this wasn't really the read for me. Many thanks for the advanced copy!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

For some reason, I didn't review this when I first received from NetGalley, which is a shame, because I can't figure out why the rest of the books in this series haven't been released. Mirror Books put out a big splash about how they were acquiring the rights to the entire Axel Steen series (or at least the first five) by Jesper Stein, but as yet, the rest haven't been put on the English language market. I sincerely hope this changes, because Die For Me (or Bye, Bye Blackbird as it was originally called in Denmark - a MUCH better title) is a tremendous scandi-mystery and as gritty as it gets.

The book meets up with DI Axel Steen after the events of Unrest, with Steen bruised, scarred, left without a wife or largely, his daughter, and fighting for his life with a vengeful boss (a man who is now dating Steen's ex) and the bureaucracy he loathes. Steen is a great character, with personality to spare, a cutting wit and enough goblins in the closet to impress even Lars Kepler imo. He's high most of the time, suffering from massive anxiety, and ready to throw a punch at the slightest provocation. All in all, a fabulous DI to sink your teeth into.

In Die For Me, Steen investigates a vicious series of rapes occurring in Copenhagen. A masked assailant is entering homes at night - seemingly knowing already that it's occupied only by a single woman - and doing unspeakable things once he's there. Stein is adept at getting the point across. Scandi thrillers are always brutal and this one is especially so. You might find yourself agreeing with Steen that most rapists/killers of this nature can't be rehabilitated. In fact, what they might need the most is to be pushed off a 20-storey-high rise. But I digress.

When Steen discovers that the rapes are linked to the cold case murder of Marie Schmidt, one he's never been able to let go of, he's determined to solve it once and for all.

Engrossing, firey and complex, this book will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page. Mirror Books, PLEASE RELEASE THE REST!!!! I'm dying here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Better late than never, hopefully.

This book was an enjoyable, fast paced read. The translation seemed fluid and well done. The characters were a little flat, but I wondered if maybe the translation had lost a little of the spark that may be in the original prose. This book, I'd classify as Nordic Noir, was an easy and entertaining read.

New series alert. Had I known this was book 2, I would have read book 1 first.

Die For Me is very well written, especially since it's based on investigation and procedures. Its nice to see that Stein took the time to actually do research on the topic. The storyline and plot are realistic and well executed, which is super important for me especially when reading this genre! It's well rounded in the sense that it brought about good investigative work, and bad. This is a great series for any police procedure, mystery type lover!

Thank you to netgalley for my copy for an honest review

I'm a big Nordic Noir fan and Jesper Stein is a new to me author.

Overall, I liked the premise and overarching plot of the book. I'm not sure if it was lost in translation, but it did not flow for me and I really struggled with how dated some of the language and perspectives of the characters were. While sometimes this is done as an observation on what needs to change, I did not get that sense from this book.

It's a dark book with unlikeable characters as we have become accustomed to in the genre, but Axel didn't have a lot of redeemable qualities that make other leads in the genre successful. Trigger warnings detailed sexual abuse.

Thank you Mirror Books and NetGalley for this book
This was the first Jesper Stein book I have ready and no understand it may be part of a series so need to read the ones before.
I wasn't sure to start with this one but once I got into it I liked it. A bit tricky to read at times and some bits I think may have been lost in translation, but a well novel. Good plot and Interesting characters.
Recommend

This is one intense, twisted, dark and addictive novel! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Compulsive, gripping and horrifying! Will keep you on the edge of your seat!

TW - rape/child abuse

I feel like something got lost in translation with this one. I really struggled to read it.
The premise was great, the story itself wasn't actually too bad but I found it really difficult to get into it.
The characters were unlikeable, the story itself was over explained at times and honestly, some of the parts I skipped over as it was boring.
Quite a few times I was prepared to put this as DNF but my need to know who the rapist/killer was kept me reading. I did guess the final twist at the end as well.

Well developed storyline with intriguing characters throughout. Invested in axels background. Would be interested in reading a follow up.

This book isn’t for the faint hearted, there are some quite shocking scenes but I found that the author, when it came to the victims wrote this with sensitivity and it’s clear that a lot of research went into this story. It was totally fascinating reading about how cold cases can be re-opened and how advanced technology these days can be used in such cases and the difference it can make.

Set in Copenhagen, DIE FOR ME is the second in the DCI Axel Steen series and features an annoyingly flawed main character. I don't know how many books I have read where the main detective drinks himself into oblivion, although this one gets stoned has sex and gets stoned again. But the theme does get a little tiring after a while.

The premise for DIE FOR ME indeed sounded promising but I don't know if something is lost in the translation or I was just frustrated with the politics and the depressing narrative by the main character, Axel Steen, because it just grated on me. The most exciting thing was the Prologue. Then came the police politics, the morose monloguing by Axel, his getting stoned on his days off, the ex-wife now shacked up with his boss...I just lost patience with it.

It begins with a missing young girl's body found in the lake in Orsted Park. It is clearly a homicide but it's one that remains unsolved leaving DCI Axel Steen both unsettled and haunted for years to come. But now a DNA match discovered on a sexual assault victim matches one found on an item belonging to the cold case victim. Axel begins investigating the new rape case and discovers there is a predator preying on young women in Copenhagen.

Had that remained the focus of the story, I may have enjoyed it far more, but as it was the back stabbing of police politics, the ex-wife now hooked up with Axel's boss, the annoying bits that just took away from the actual story...just ruined it for me. I didn't like his ex-wife Cecilie nor her lover, Deputy Commissioner Jens Jessen. I didn't want police politics, I didn't want morose monologuing as to where his life has gone wrong, I didn't want stoned sex with various women, I didn't want back stabbing or nastiness. I wanted a good solid crime thriller that gave us a look at both sides of the coin. I didn't get it. And if it was there, I must have missed it.

A police procedural that is dark and gritty, DIE FOR ME may not be for everyone due to its subject matter. For some, the topic of violent sexual assault and rape may be a little difficult to read.

I couldn't warm to Axel. But then I couldn't warm to any of the characters. He could be a competent detective but he just goes about things in an arse about way and added to that is his drug habit, not to mention his depressing monologue which were at times just a little too much.

I used to really enjoy Scandi crime, but in the last couple of years I have found them to be far too convoluted with totally flawed and unlikable characters. Maybe I have had my fill of flawed characters that it just grates on me every time I come across one now. The world is depressing enough these days, I don't need a depressing main character to make my reads far from enjoyable.

While I didn't enjoy DIE FOR ME, many have done so. So maybe it's just me. It is a chilling read in parts but overall, not for me. However, don't take my word for it as others have thoroughly enjoyed it. You never know, you just may too

I would like to thank #JesperStein, #NetGalley and #MirrorBooks for an ARC of #DieForMe in exchange for an honest review.

Well written crime mystery novel. Fabulous plot and Interesting characters. A first read for me from this author, but I will be reading more. Recommended.

‘Die for Me’ is the second book in a series set in Copenhagen featuring DI Axel Steen. It is marketed as perfect for fans who are looking for a new Nordic Noir crime series. However, I think readers would be well advised to start reading the Axel Steen series in order starting with number one in the series ‘Unrest’ in order to become familiar with the setting and Danish police procedures. The author Jesper Stein is the third bestselling writer in Denmark, with more than 250,000 copies sold.
Steen is a very familiar character from police procedurals: the flawed maverick male detective, divorced, with heart problems, smoking weed and drinking too much. It seems he is heading for rock bottom haunted by a murder case he was unable to solve. The book is set in Copenhagen where a serial rapist is on the loose and a bumbling police force is struggling to catch the perpetrator.
If you like your crime dark and gritty, then this is the book and series for you.
Stein has a distinct writing style in Danish which is hard to translate into English. Having also read Stein’s series in Danish, my personal opinion is that the English translation may make it harder than necessary for Steen and this series in English to gain a following outside Denmark to equal Stein’s successes in Denmark. For this reason I give ‘Die For Me’ 3 stars.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐

An old case and a new case come together in this dark police procedural. While this is a great premise, I wasn't connected to the characters. I sometimes wonder if that results from translation issues. I wanted to follow the crimes, but not the characters.

Die for Me is the second book in the Axel Steen series set in Copenhagen and featuring a flawed main character. Dark and gritty and perfect for fans who are looking a new Nordic noir crime book to read.

In June 2004, a missing young girl is found in the water at Orsted Park. However, this one murder remains unsolved leaving DCI Axel Steen with ruined work and personal relationships that will continue to haunt him for years to come. Later, after the case is considered cold and where there have been no leads to follow up on in quite some time, a single DNA match is discovered on a sexual assault victim that matches one found on the young girl’s cap. To investigate the DNA sample, Axel will need to work with some of the individuals whose relationship he previously damaged leading them to discover several assault victims and a serial-rapist.

Because of the topic of rape and serial-rapists, some may find this book a little difficult at times. During the course of the investigations we see how the police department both competently and incompetently handle these cases – through prejudice or for other reasons, we watch Axel and other police officers listen to and ask questions of the victim’s accounts. We also see how the police take statements into account and investigate or don’t investigate.

Axel is a flawed character – a really flawed character – while he is a very competent police detective he also has a drug issue, a relationship with his ex-wife that still leaves him very torn, and is a workaholic. To be honest, I went back and forth deciding if I liked him or not. He would be a decent detective one minute and then in the next chapter he’d be an abrasive jerk to his co-worker. Sometimes it was a bit much and to say he’s got some issues is putting it lightly, plus his ex-wife’s boyfriend becomes his boss at the beginning of the book, which adds to the drama of his life. But, I suspect that if this one character is creating a lot of different emotions from me then that means that the author did a nice job of creating a well fleshed-out character.

Overall, a nice police procedural that is dark and gritty, but one where you also get a chance to take a reader’s tour of Copenhagen and learn of new places such as Israels Plads and Norrebro Park just to name a few and where both of which had me going to the Internet for pictures and details.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Mirror Books for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

3⭐️ Review for Die For Me
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This was a cool story. A detective is hung up on a cold case that he was never able to solve. That cold case also occurred around the time his marriage dissolved and he went from full time dad to part time to his beloved Emma. Worse, the head of the police force is now dating his ex wife. He’s at rock bottom until there’s a hit on the DNA from a new rape case. This is Axel’s chance to find the murderer. Axel is a tough cop. He also will not stop at anything to track someone down, hurting himself and others along the way.
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This was translated from a different language so it was a little bit difficult to follow because the names are very similar. It was good though. It was a little slow in the beginning but once the action got going I was hooked. I will say none of the characters were truly likable for me but that’s what you get sometimes. This was a solid crime drama.
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Thank you the NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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I was fortunate enough to take part in the blog tour marking the release of the first Axel Steen thriller Unrest which proved an exhilarating and thought provoking series opener. In common with the first book, Jesper Stein has no reticence into plunging his reader into a nightmarish scenario, with a particularly vicious and sadistic individual stalking the streets of Copenhagen…

On the basis of the first two books, it comes as no surprise that they have been optioned for television by the producers of The Bridge, and if they find the right actor to bring the right level of tortured maverick detective, well, it will be an absolute must see! What Stein achieves so beautifully is manipulating the old cliché of crime fiction, that of the maverick cop with mental and physical weaknesses, estranged from personal relationships, lives for the job and so on, by making his protagonist Axel Steen utterly mesmerising. He’s strong-willed and tenacious, somewhat foolhardy at times with his physical wellbeing, both by his own actions and by putting himself in the path of danger without a moment’s hesitation, but what I really like about his character is the absolute certainty and steadfastness he brings to every action he takes in his professional life. His doggedness of purpose and the absolute empathy he has with both the murder victim, and the women who have been subjected to the most violent and degrading attacks, sets him apart admirably from his colleagues, and more importantly instils a faith in the women that their attacker will be caught and punished. To balance it out nicely, his personal life is not so clear-cut and leads to times of procrastination, doubt, and complete tactlessness but hey, he’s only human, but there is also an insidious presence in his day job who would probably tick off even the most mild mannered individual, to add to his troubles. Steen carries within him a mercurial mix of hot-headedness, empathy, compulsiveness, and sheer bloody-mindedness that makes him unpredictable, but also fascinating. A complicated man to be sure, but a great character…

Dealing with such an emotive and troubling subject as violence against women and rape, I think there is a danger of readers becoming desensitised slightly to the effect of these crimes, and the fear, shame and anger that women live with afterwards. I found this central theme in the book was handled in a particularly sensitive and balanced way, that whilst not shying away from the more visceral physical details of what these women have been subjected to, there is a real sense of understanding throughout of how this impacts on both their lives, and physical and mental wellbeing post-trauma. It felt to me that Stein had either researched this extremely thoroughly, but more evidently had spoken to women who had experienced this extreme violence, and what it had meant to live with the memory and affect of this crime. I may be wrong, but the book felt that it had a deeper connection to, and empathy with, victims of violence, rather than some of the more lazy depictions I have read. Equally, Stein succeeds admirably in steering clear of the mawkish, having a cool and clearheaded approach to the specifics of the crimes, a sense of sympathy to the victims, but wholly adhering to the natural aspect of the Scandinavian crime fiction tradition, where character and plot are so completely bound up with one another.

As well as focussing on the emotional and physical effects of the crimes perpetrated, there was also a dizzying amount of detail regarding the forensic investigation, written in a very natural and engaging way, and not just clumsily shoehorned into the narrative. Admittedly, those of us who practically inhale crime fiction would be aware of some aspects of forensic detection, but I learnt some really interesting stuff along the way, in terms of forensic investigation, reading a crime scene, and the intrinsic correlation of science with intuitive investigation in approaching cold cases. In conjunction with the extremely unpredictable Axel Steen and the slow burning tension of a complex and twisting investigation, I thought this was a great follow-up in the series. With the usual precision and sheer readability of a translation by Charlotte Barslund, Die For Me is to be recommended. Excellent.

I usually enjoy a crime novel but I found Die For Me difficult to get into and overall it’s not a book that I would recommend

This is the seventh book in the series and has been translated into English. It is a great story. We meet a drug addict detective who is desperate to spend time with his ex wife and child. It is fascinating to watch him spiral downwards and then pick him self up. he is caught up investigating a serial rapist in Copenhagen and he must emply all his skills to catch this clever criminal, who doesn't leave any clues behind. it will grip you from the start. A fab read.