If this book were a wine, I would call it "fruit forward." It was wonderful in the beginning with the immediate complex relationship between the landlord Esther and the murdered tenant Julie who was found by the other tenant Gregers. The complexity takes off from there, when Julie's parents enter, a former lover and other characters. Eventually the complex relationships are untangled and the real murder is discovered.

It took me a long time to write the review because it took me a long time to get through the book. I loved the beginning - like a fruit forward wine - but after a while I had difficulty staying engaged with the language. I enjoyed the complexity of the story, but I found the language dull and could not sit down with the book for long periods of time.

This is not Jo Nesbo or Stieg Larsson, but Ms. Engberg is to be commended for her first book. It is well thought and the complexity is cognitively satisfying. Perhaps it is the translation, but the language is dull and I was glad to finish The Tenant last night.

Thanks to Katrine Engberg, Gallery/Scout Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy for which I have provided this review.

Julie, a 21 year old women, is found murdered and mutilated in her Copenhagen apartment. Detectives Jeppe and Anette are assigned to the difficult case, which seems to go nowhere. A suspect is found murdered, and someone confesses to the crime who obviously is lying. Details emerge from the past which shed new light on the case, but can they solve it before the deranged murderer kills again? I read a lot of Nordic Noir mysteries and have favorite translators, but was surprised that no translator is listed for this book. It's definitely one of the darker ones I've read, but it is very well done, and should appeal to fans of the genre. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy.

In an apartment building in Denmark a young girl is brutally murdered. She is found by an older man who also is a tenant in the same building.
Detective Korner of the Copenhagen Police force and his female partner Detective Werner are called in to investigate. When the detectives arrive on the scene they find that the clever killer has left no clues for them to go on, even the murder weapon is gone.

The plot thickens as the detectives work diligently to solve the case. Each interview with possible suspects bring more questions than answers. Each suspect is hiding something. They all have secrets from the past that tie them to the victim. Is the key to finding the murderer the discovery of those secrets? And will the detectives find that key?

A possible suspect is revealed when the detectives discover that the landlord is writing a murder mystery. Even though her book was written before the murder even occurred it describes the murder that took place in her building exactly.

Suddenly more twists and turns in the case begin to evolve. Suspects are being murdered and everyone involved fears for their life.

Who did kill young Julie and why? A surprise ending awaits you.

The author did a wonderful job on the plot and the characters. Each character’s personality was as unique as their personal stories.

I did feel the book was a little too long and drawn out. Even though the author provided an adequate ending to the book it could have been solved a little quicker. I grew impatient awaiting the ending.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review. Thank you Netgalley.

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

This who-done-it book was well written and a great story.
The characters were authentic. Their backgrounds were well researched by the author making them believable and likeable.

The story revolves around the tenants of a building and how their lives are intertwined. How the past can haunt us. How the truth can be stranger than fiction. How life imitates art.

Delve into this book and the characters. You won’t be disappointed.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book. My review is freely given and is my own.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The book centers around Esther, who owns an apartment building. One of her tenants find another tenant murdered in her apartment. Jeppe is one of the detectives who is assigned to the case. He is newly divorced and going through his own issues.

Esther is a fledgling author who is writing a murder mystery and the murder of her tenant is eerily similar to her novel. This makes Esther a prime suspect.

The first part of the book was a bit hard to get into and it felt like I was missing some of the back story that eventually came out later in the book. There were a few twists and turns that kept me interested. I did figure out one part of it rather early on.
3.5/5 stars

This one is fine. That's it. Fine. There's nothing wrong with it, but nothing jumped off the page as particularly right either... The characters, the setting, the pacing, the atmosphere - they were all, well, fine. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, I know - but on the other hand, I can't say there was anything particularly wrong with it or point to what would have made it a more compelling read for me.

I guess my biggest issue is that I never felt like I connected with either of the detectives, and in scandi Noir that's usually not the case for me - the main characters are usually damaged in a way that resonates with their victims and makes for a compelling back and forth as the mystery is revealed. Not so much here. Honestly, the two detectives felt a little flat to me. I never connected with them - or the landlady and her unusual friend or the victim or the roommate or frankly anyone... And without some feeling for the characters, I struggle to truly fall into a story.

I read this in fits and starts, which is unusual for me in this genre as the stories are usually so darkly engaging that I can't put them down. So maybe part of the problem is how I read it. I'd set it down and pick it back up the next day, and realize I had very little recollection of what had happened... This one never got under my skin and on the whole just wasn't for me...

Thank you to the author, Katrine Engberg, Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of the Tenant.

This was a new genre of book then what I normally would read, however I was able to enjoy reading this book. The book centers around an elderly lady who rents an apartment to a man who finds the body of a woman in the apartment. The novel started off with an intriguing beginning, and kept my attention throughout. I thought the ending was a bit long, though and kind of wished it would have wrapped up just a big sooner.

It was a quick, fun, different read, however I thought it was easy to read and the translation was decent.

I was hopeful that I would enjoy "The Tenant," the first novel in Katrine Engberg's crime series featuring police sergeants Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner. Danish noir, what could go wrong? Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one and remain doubtful I will continue with the series.

The plot of the novel is simple: the duo is assigned to the case of a young woman who was murdered in her apartment and left with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face. Her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who had been writing a book where the main character was based on the real-life woman, and is the immediate suspect.

The novel felt all over the place and to be honest, I wasn't a fan of either detective. While I enjoyed that there wasn't any veiled sexual tension between the two individuals, neither of them are particularly engaging. I also thought that there was little need for dual points-of-view. I finished the novel quickly but I don't think it bodes well for the novel when I don't remember who the killer was (and it's only been about two weeks since I finished it).

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scoutbooks for the opportunity to read the ARC.

ALL THE stars. Absolutely loved this book! The story flows, the characters are fascinating and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.

Lots of twists and turns in this fascinating story, and you have to be paying attention to put it all together. Crime fiction at its best!!

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY! This is an awesome start to what I hope will be a long series of books. This is not your typical "nordic noir". It kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the book.

My thanks to Netgalley and Gallery, Pocket Books for this advanced readers copy. This book is set to release in January, 2020.

A young woman is murdered, her body mutilated. Then, things get really weird.

Kathrine Engberg's "The Tenant" was a familiar police procedural . . . to a point. Not derivative, though. The novel jumped a little too far off the rails . . . in a good way . . . for that.

Jeppe Korner is the Copenhagen police investigator tasked with heading the team investigating the murder. Korner is recently returned to work after suffering a breakdown after his wife left him. An imaginary back injury has him hooked on painkillers. He figures he has lost his investigation mojo. Maybe he has.

The murder mystery takes gobs of zigs and zags. Some of the answers are fairly easy to come up with. Other developments are just out there. Still, it's an engaging ride.

(This review has been posted to Goodreads, Facebook and to Facebook groups 52 Books and The Book Club Girls.)

A murder, the victim's face is cut in an intricate pattern. A writer, whose novel closely resembles the murder that has taken place. Could she know more than she is letting on, or is the real murderer following the manuscript a little too closely.
This book is by a Danish author., and I did find some of the terminology and names difficult to follow. The mystery has some twists, but overall I was disappointed. I kept waiting for the big wow and it never happened.

“The Tenant” by Katrine Engberg is a fast-paced mystery/thriller from Denmark. The novel debuts detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner as they set out to catch an elusive killer in Copenhagen. After a young girl is found dead in her apartment, with a strange symbol drawn on her face, detectives search for clues as to why she was killed.

Esther, the owner of the building and an aspiring novelist, realizes that the killer of the tenant is following her plotline. When she shares this discovery with the police, she quickly becomes wrapped up in the mystery. Can Detectives Korner and Werner keep Esther Safe before the killer closes in?

There were so many intricate threads holding this story together and the author never dropped one of them. “The Tenant” was brilliantly executed and held my attention to the very end. As complex as the mystery was, it was still easy to follow. I loved the Danish atmosphere. It felt like other Nordic novels I have read. The translation was well done and flowed very naturally.

I appreciated the pace of “The Tenant.” It begins by introducing us to life as a police officer in Copenhagen. Then, page by page, the clues start pouring in. Which ones are reliable? Who is lying and who can you trust?

Jeppe Korner was a fascinating character, recovering from a painful divorce, with demons he must battle every day. It was interesting to find myself rooting for him one minute and frustrated with his choices the next. Like an anticipated gift, the author unwraps him page by page, revealing more about this enigmatic main character as the story unfolds. And although there were mentions referring to Detective Korner’s sex life (or lack of one), there was nothing very explicit. Likewise, the language was clean, overall.

If you love a good mystery with plenty of twists and turns, definitely check out “The Tenant.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with a copy of The Tenant in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book. It captured by attention right from the beginning, and kept it for the entire book. The author describes each of the characters very well, and they are easy to get to know. This book is not an intense murder mystery, but is an excellent book. I would highly recommend it. I received a complimentary advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher. Any opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I just finished The Tenant and gave it 4 stars. I feel like the last half of the book was a cold-blooded game of endless cat and mouse. It was awesome! I haven't read a book like this in awhile with so many characters that were suspects, and they all looked guilty! This book had many characters, which I felt made it very complex. I feel like if it was a movie, it would be one that you learn something new each time you watch it. Do you know those kinds? All of a sudden, you have a Eureka moment and realize something that you missed in watching it the first time? This book was so well engineered. I mean, you have to pay attention or you'll miss a key piece of the puzzle. And, everyone seems to be connected to each other which makes it fascinating and bizarre. And, just when I start to connect with some of the characters, they end up dead or are next in line to be killed!

This one was a nail-biter that will keep your heart pounding and your eyes flying through the words so you can figure out who's guilty. Literally, this one keeps you thinking when you put it down and have to return to life. I found myself having to back up a few pages each time I had to step away so that I could remember where I left off because it was so action-packed and eventful.

Thanks to @Netgalley @Pocketbooks @Scoutpress for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to @KatrineEngberg for thinking up such a believable and thrilling read. #literaryfiction #mystery #thriller #thetenant #netgalley

Nicely written Murder Mystery/Thriller. Interesting and quirky characters. Translation nicely done, easily readable. Not certain needed such an extended wrap up, but I know many readers enjoy that. I recommend to anyone ready for a fun jaunt.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first book for Katrine Engberg, already established as a well-known choreographer and dancer in her native Sweden. This Scandinavian noir mystery, almost impossible to put down, portrays morally complex and challenged characters trying to unravel a sinister plot. The female and male police detectives assigned to the case, with all their idiosyncrasies, provide plenty of interest for the reader, and they nicely round out the plot. The book is inventive and clever and is highly recommended for mystery readers.

I love a good suspense/mystery, and this one was fairly entertaining.
When a young woman living on the ground floor of a residential building is discovered to have been brutally murdered, landlord and retired professor Esther de Laurenti’s life is turned upside down.
A pair of detectives, Jeppe Korner and Annette Werner, are assigned to the case, which leads them to various suspects who all seem to have unusual motivations.
The twisted part of the novel is that the murder—gruesomely intricate facial carvings and all—is almost identical to an unfinished crime novel written by Esther de Laurenti herself.
Throughout the novel, I had many different suspicions and remained enthralled by the dizzying detective work, but my favorite component of the story was the banter between Korner and Werner. I’d love to see Engberg develop a series following these two and their cases.
As far as thrillers go, this one was unique. It earns 4 stars.

An interesting mystery that kept me guessing. The characters are well crafted with depth and personality. I had some trouble getting use to differences that are expected with a writer that is from Denmark. I couldn't imagine where the story was taking place. I attribute this to reading mostly American writers where I can easily visualize where the story is taking place. That being said, I had no idea who the killer was and it was a surprise when the layers were peeled back to reveal the who and why of the story.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Scout Press. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#The Tenant #NetGalley