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

This is a well constructed mystery coupled with a good story and good characterisation. While it is actually not possible to discuss language use as this is a translation, I would expect that the original would be at the same high level..

The book approaches being almost as much of a novel as a mystery novel due to the depiction of the lives of the detectives, especially Jeppe. We have just enough insight into him to also become intrigued with his life, his loves, his depression and continued squabbling with his partner...but not so much as we lose the main thrust of the mystery.

I did think the book dragged a bit at the end but decided to give it a 4 star basically because of the paucity of well written books of any kind that are now on the market.

I enjoyed this book very much. There is a nice, unique twist at the end. Wasn't expecting it and that added to the enjoyment. The translation was sometimes a bit off, but never enough to make the story unreadable. I always knew what the author was trying to get across. No cliffhanger. There is a definite end to this story, but would enjoy reading more about Jeppe and Annete.

This book was gripping from page 1. An older gentleman discovers his young neighbor brutally murdered one night while taking out his trash. As detectives Jeppe and Anette follow the clues they discover that the murder is described in detail by the victim's landlady in her unpublished novel. But, is the landlady another victim or the perpetrator? What's the link between the two women and why is no one honest with the police detectives, including the victim's own family? Jeppe and Anette have to wade through the lies and deceit to before the murderer kills off their suspect list while dealing with their own personal problems.

I enjoyed both the fast paced plot and the characters. Although there is a large cast of characters, the author describes them all in such a way that the reader can easily keep them all straight. The big reveal was (mostly) a surprise and I lost sleep because I had a hard time putting the book down. I definitely recommend this one to fans of mysteries, thrillers, and police procedurals.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Blown away by this book. The twisted crimes and flawed characters had me hooked! I feel like this book is going to be huge. And I’m so glad that I got a chance to read it!

When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment, with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. In short order, they establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who’s a bit too fond of drink and the host of raucous dinner parties with her artist friends. Esther also turns out to be a budding novelist—and when Julie turns up as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she’s writing, the link between fiction and real life grows both more urgent and more dangerous.



Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It starts off pulling you in and gets you hooked and cant put it down

Very good and well written. If I had 10 starts to give, I'd say 9. As it is, I'll give it 4. I didn't love the ending but overall I enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this e-ARC!

This was definitely a good read. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. This was definitely one that kept me guessing especially towards the end.

None of the characters were perfect and their problems were super believable and relatable. Jeppe, the main character, was flawed, but not too much. He was going through a divorce and was down on himself, so who could blame him for his flaws?

This definitely reminded me of a well written episode of Criminal Minds. The whole murder and investigation seemed like it could actually happen. The police and investigative unit were not portrayed as "super humans" and this made the book more interesting.

I recommend that everyone pick up this book when it comes out.