I do not usually give books on here a chance if they are part of a series that I have not read, but this story sounded too interesting to not read. Honestly, it was a little bit of a letdown. I was not as invested in any of the characters as much, having not read any of the other books, but the entire buildup of the whole book is so nice, until the very end. I felt at the end I was just like, "what...just...happened..." I am curious how others who have read this entire series will feel.

Lazarus delivers on the serial killer story series that you just can't put down. Nordic noir at its best, you just have to hang on for how dark and twisted this killer is and how starkly uncommon the protagonist Joona Linna is in his hunt for serial killer Jurek.
Thanks to NetGalley, the writing duo Lars Kepler and Random House for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lazarus is an intricately plotted book with characters that are appealing and others who are ruthless. This is a thriller from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the story and couldn't put it down.

Lazarus is the seventh installment in the Joona Linna detective series by Lars Kepler. Every bit as nail-biting and enjoyable as the others.

3.5 stars. I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. The storyline and characters always suck me in. This one did not disappoint. It was tense, dark, gory at times, and maybe not for everyone. The ending kind of fell flat a little with the build up of the whole story, but I like that it was left with you knowing there was another book coming.

Lazarus is number 7 in the Joona Linna detective series by Lars Kepler. This is the first of the series that I read and it chilled me to the bone. There were enough flashbacks that it was easy to catch up on what I missed. The story follows Joona Linna, his girlfriend Valeria, and his partner Saga Bauer as they move from one horrible murder to the next. Joona and Saga are horrified to find evidence that the killings resemble those of a notorious criminal mastermind who was killed in previous books. The horror continues as victims close to both Joona and Saga disappear and are discovered tortured and mutilated. They have to work to discover the killer - who is looking suspiciously like the one they thought killed months ago. Lazarus is a compelling, suspenseful story that was so terrifying that it was hard to stop reading. Fans of Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter and Michael Connelly will totally enjoy these books as will anyone who wants a truly great, scary read!

With Lazarus, Swedish husband-and-wife duo Lars Kepler delivers an explosive, emotional and utterly terrifying chapter in the Joona Linna series.

The story opens with a grisly murder in Oslo and an unexpected connection to Detective Joona Linna. When a second murder leads to another connection, investigators bring him in for questioning. Joona soon realizes this is the work of a singular killer, and if it’s whom he suspects, the game has only just begun.

The nature of the murders brings into question whether Joona’s adversary—the villainous Jurek Walter, could still be alive. Walter, a highly intelligent and deeply manipulative psychopath, thrived on inflecting utter devastation to those he plotted against. Last they saw him, however, Saga watched his bullet-riddled body swept away by the current.

But as new evidence emerges and those closest to Joona and Saga are targeted, Joona has no doubt he’s facing the ruthless ghost from his past, resurrected in a new, truly terrifying way.

The novel—equal parts procedural and horror story—unfurls in staccato chapters which ratchet nearly unbearable tension. With emotion and an unexpected intimacy, the dark tale spirals to depths that take your breath away. I couldn’t help but devour every page, especially as these characters we’ve come to love face the most unprecedented, up-close-and-personal circumstances.

One of the aspects I loved the most about this book is that we spent more time with Saga Bauer, who in many ways is the antithesis to Joona. The path they each traverse in LAZARUS couldn’t be more divergent, the consequences of which they will bear by the jaw-dropping end.

True to style, Kepler pulls no punches, unflinchingly portraying violence and trauma. And it’s that approach, coupled with the emotional devastation of what transpires, that makes every Lars Kepler book extraordinary (and me, a reader for life).

Dark, chilling and coursing with adrenaline, this is one of my favorite thrillers of the year.

LAZARUS is probably the scariest and most thrilling book I’ve read in a long time. The villain is one compared with Hannibal Lector and I love the team of detectives chasing after him. Kepler creates stories that will haunt you in your nightmares. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I feel as if reading the series as a whole helps character build. LAZARUS is a high intensity police procedural that will make you want to sleep with the lights on.

Wow may have a new favorite author in this genre! I’ve been hearing about this duo author often from crimebythebook raving about them so much. So when I saw this book I had to request it! And I’m glad I got to read it. It’s my first from Lars Kepler, but I felt like even though it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. It’s a pretty dark mystery I’m not gonna lie- but I love it!! Also- I know a lot of people say they saw the twist coming miles way, but I’m one of those who are always surprised by these things so I enjoyed this book tremendously. Can’t wait to read more from Lars Kepler!!

The writing team known as Lars Kepler has delivered another high octane thriller. The book does not lose momentum , and the reader is kept wondering how Joona Linna is going to be able to find the killer he and Saga Bauer were sure was dead. Although many of the twists are a bit unbelievable, this is definitely a thriller that is sure to keep the reader up all night!

horror, international-crime-and-mystery, Scandinavian noir, law-enforcement, family-dynamics, friendship, suspense, thriller, torture****

If you like your murders gory and filled with both physical and psychological torture and horror you will love this book. The evil one outdoes Jeffrey Dahmer and Hannibal Lecter, partly because he directs minion on the outside while he remains in the prison for crazies. The authors are Swedish, and the translator for English readers is Neil Smith. This book is engrossing, but I have not read the others and did feel that this was a disadvantage for me. The publisher's blurb is very effective.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Knopf via NetGalley.

Happy PUB DAY to Lazarus! ( A Day Late) 🙈

I loved this book! Fans of Scandinavian or Nordic Noir as I’ve learned from #bookstagram need to read this book! I LOVE the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium) Series and I was always looking for another book with the same vibes...look no further! Lars Kepler and Jo Nesbo are it!

This was actually my first introduction to Lars Kepler, the husband and wife duo, and now I need to go read all of their other books.

As you know, I’m not a fan of summaries but if you love dark Scandinavian thrillers this is a MUST READ!

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @doubleday for allowing me the opportunity to review one of my most anticipated reads of 2020!

#Bookstagram #bookreview #LarsKepler #Lazarus #knopf #doubleday #decemberreads #ARC #pubday #NordicNoir #netgalley #scandinavian #thriller #suspense #excellentread #mustread #5Stars #bookstagramcommunity #reader #booklove

A fresh take on the serial killer genre, Kepler’s new novel falls into one of my favorite mystery categories: dark, twisted, bloody & ultra nordic noir. Heart-pumping, with a scaringly smart antagonist in the Swedish serial killer Jurek Walter, you’ll find your head swimming from intricate plots and desperate characters. This is technically part of a series but I just dived right in. Fans of The Chestnut Man will enjoy this one! Just don’t read it after dark.

First time reading this author. I didn't realize till the end that it was 7th in a series! Got a lot of catching up to do!

Fast paced, reminiscent of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, often gory - but overall a good read.

This book should come with a bold print warning about the violence. I made it halfway through but could not take any more after the elderly woman with dementia was batting a severed head of a man around with her cane. I have enjoyed the other books in the Joona Linna series. My non-completion of the books makes it difficult for a review. With than in mind and knowing that there are other readers who would love a book with a psychopath like Hannibal Lecter, I am channeling my brother’s reaction. He would love it. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is electrifying, but just be warned it isn’t for everyone. Jurek Walter, Linna’s nemesis, was introduced in the fourth book, and readers thought he had been killed, but he hasn’t and he returns to wreak havoc and death in the seventh book.

Number 7 in the Joona Linna series starts out super gruesome and just keeps on going. Evil villain Jurek Walter, with a new accomplice, is back with a vengeance. He is determined to destroy everyone Joona cares for. The action is pretty much one awful, grotesque event after another. Not for the faint of heart . . . but if horrible psychopathic antagonists are your thing, you would probably like it. There is a lot of background from previous stories involved, and it would definitely be helpful to be familiar with the series before reading this one.

Another stellar offering from Lars Kepler. A recommended purchase for collections where the previous titles were popular.

The premise of this novel is very good: when dangerous criminals start being murdered here and there in Europe, the various police do not worry so much: after all, someone is doing their dirty work for them. Detective Joona Linna is the only one who has a wake-up call: a terrible serial killer, who everyone thought was dead, has come back from the past. The unfolding, however, leaves something to be desired. For heaven's sake, the book is very well written and the action keeps the pages glued together, and luckily, because the suspension of disbelief leaves something to be desired, and it is difficult to overlook some solutions that are a little too hasty. A discreet entertainment, nothing more.

If you've read any of Joona Linna's books you will be flabbergasted by this one where he finally meets his nemesis from other books in Jurek Walter's. That's all I give you in telling you about this story that Lars Kepler has put together. You meet is lover in Valeria, and then his daughter, Lumi. Lumi has been living in Paris and was with her boyfriend when Joona called her and got her to meet him to go into hiding. Lars Kepler has kept you on your toes throughout this story and many characters are killed off. You must read this to find out who was killed and why? Who has lived and why? It's a must read book and you will enjoy it, I did.

2,6/5
Quality of writing: 3
Plot development: 3
Pace: 2
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 2
Ease of reading: 3

I was really, really, really hoping this would blow my socks off. I was excited and I was ready to read some quality mystery thriller! Maybe next time? Maybe I shouldn't have started with the 7th book in the series?
First third of Lazarus was really good. I found myself just sitting down and reading and reading and reading. Yes, the language seemed a bit simple in places (and complicated in others) and I don't know if it's the translation's fault or it's the fact that there's actually two people writing this book? Pace seemed a bit all over the place. Book finally picked up in the last 80 pages, but those last 15-20 pages were a disappointment. In my opinion - ending is a bit anticlimactic.
Joona Linna is absent for a big chunk of this book... The only interesting character seemed to be Beaver, his weird premonitions and pearl earrings...
But - Kepler can write a damn good and gory murder scene, I'll give them that. I think those were the scenes that kept me interested and going.