Stuck in the middle of solving a case and finding her long-lost friend Embla is investigating the recent hits of the Stavic Brothers. Could their deaths be related to Lollo's dissapearance.

This is a great suspense novel that I couldn't put down. It's fun to read books set in other countries, even though they are sometimes a little difficult to read.

Embla Nyström continues her development as an investigator while dealing with haunting memories from her teen years. All is not as it seems but Embla’s focus on doing the right thing pays off. If you have enjoyed the two proceeding novels you will like this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast paced thriller that was hard to put down! The story stayed with me long after I finished reading!

Helene Tursten is skilled at crafting mysteries that keep you wanting more. I love her Detective Inspector Irene Huss series, but for some reason after reading three books in this new series, I can't seem to warm up to Embla Nyström. I think it is partly due to the fact that this younger woman keeps everyone at a distance and has a tendency to look down at anyone who doesn't eat as healthy as she does. Lighten up, Embla! For whatever reason, I can't quite put my finger on why she leaves me cold. (But I certainly appreciate Tursten keeping us informed about Irene Huss who works in the same unit.)

What I can put my finger on is that Snowdrift needed some tightening up by fifty pages or so-- and that the twist at the end which is supposed to be a shocker didn't surprise me at all. Not every book in a series can be a barnburner, and for me, Snowdrift was decidedly flat. Combine that with the fact that I can't get enthused about Embla, and I have doubts about continuing with this series.

This book is translated from Swedish and is third in the series about inspector Embla Nystrom. Unfortunately, I haven’t read the previous stories but this book can be read as a standalone. The background history is given where necessary.
Embla who works as a police detective in Gothenburg is taking her spring break with her uncle and the 9-year-old son of her ex in her uncle’s cabin in Dalsland in a remote part of South Sweden. There she receives a phone call from a remote cousin who owns a bungalow park. One of his guests is found shot through the head in his bed. She’s surprised when she recognises the victim as Milo Stavic, a notorious Gothenburg crime boss who was also involved in the disappearance of her friend Lollo, 14 years earlier when they were teenagers. It doesn’t take long to discover that one of Milo’s brothers is shot in a car park the same day and that the other brother has vanished in Croatia 2 weeks earlier. Around the time of Milo’s murder, there was a stabbing at a party of a bandy team (sort of ice-hockey) a few kilometres down the road. Embla strikes up a friendship with Olle, the local policeman who investigates this crime. Strangely enough, none of the victim’s friends seems to be willing to talk to the police about the stabbing.

I’ve read the whole ‘Erlendur’-series by now and think that I’ve found a new Scandinavian favourite. Embla is certainly a more engaging character. She is a real bad-ass cop; tough, strong and clever but with a great heart. She still has a great relationship with the son of her ex-partner. She’s also helpful, she rushes to this cousin’s bungalow park even though she’s on vacation and helps Olle out with his case. I hope he’s a stayer because he found the way to my heart and I’m a fan of his brave police-dog-in training as well.
Embla is also an avid hunter and hunting is an everyday part of the life of many remotely living people in Sweden and other countries. I’m not a fan of hunting but through lack of big predators certain cute animals can become pests. Hunting for food is also something else than for sports. Of course, if we all go out hunting for food, nature will be void of animals very quickly. I find this a difficult moral dilemma because the wild animals certainly have a far better life than those we breed for food. I’ve tried being a vegetarian for a few years but in the end, I did miss eating certain dishes and I caved. Embla eats some mouth-watering recipes in her cousin’s restaurant as well. I got hungry while I read this.
A special mention is about the weather that plays a role of its own in this story.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley and SOHO Press and this is my honest review of it.

A thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having mistaken this book for the latest installment of an altogether series when I requested the ARC, I went into it more of out a sense of obligation than anticipation, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Probably more of a 3.5 than 4 star if I'm feeling nitpicky, which I'm not because it was just so dang fun. I truly enjoyed the characters, the preposterous storyline (what is it about the chic Nordic cool that makes the impossible seem possible?) and the rollercoaster craziness endeared it to me all the more. Maybe I was just that sort of mood, but no matter the reason, it just hit me right.

Although Snödrev is in Swedish I read an English translation of it and it was called Snowdrift to be published 3 September 2020. I like the way Helene Tursten has developed to keep us excited when she talks about Embla and Lollo. Friends from the beginning then Lollo is kidnapped with Embla seeing it happen and was threaten by one of the Stavic brothers. Years later Embla is having nightmares about it, yet she is now a police officer. Embla talks with her old boss Göran about it when she gets a call from Lollo 15 years later. As it happens all the Stavic brothers have been killed and when Milo is killed it happened in one of Embla's aunts and uncles holiday cottages where they brought Embla in and she calls her old boss and tells him. Olle Tillman is a police officer with his dog Tore which becomes Embla's new beau (Olle not Tore) after a misunderstanding. This book has many other scenes and scenarios which add to the story and make it worth your while to read it. I liked the tension between Embla and Olle until they changed their toons. Lollo was found to change her story also, so now they know, or do they.

After reading <i>Winter Grave</i> I wanted to read more Embla Nystrom and <i>Snow Drift</i> lived up to the promise of that first. I'm still not clear why the special unit she belonged to was disbanded, but it's great that she can call on them when necessary. Of course the murder she gets involved with is far more complicated than originally thought, and there's even a personal connection. The twist at the end, however, leads me to think that the next book will be darker, perhaps closer to Scandi Noir than standard procedurals. And I can't wait!

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

I always look forward to a new book by a favorite author and even though I enjoyed the read, I must admit I was a little disappointed in the story line.

A voice from Embla's past reawakens memories she has tried to suppress and plunges her into the underworld of gangs, illegal drugs, human trafficking and mafia bosses. Her journey will lead her to an answer better left hidden, but in the end the truth has a way of finding a way out. All in all, not a bad read and one I would make note of for those cold, snowy December days when this book is due out.

Enjoy!

This is the third installment of Tursten's Swedish mystery series featuring Detective Inspector Embla Nyström, It takes place both in Gothenburg and in rural Sweden. The story involves gangs in Croatia and Sweden, and also a mystery from Embla's past. It is an engrossing story, and the elements of life in rural Sweden are interesting. It's a good installment in the series. Irene Huss, Embla's office mate and the feature of Tursten's other series, makes an appearance as well. This book is recommended.

A real page turner. This author consistently turns out well plotted and good character development books.
The storyline in Snowdrift does not disappoint.