Lars Kepler can seriously do no wrong. Every single book they write, immediately becomes one of my favorite reads of the year. Their writing, characters and plot just sucks you right in. These can definitely be read as standalones, but to fully appreciate the books I would definitely recommend reading the whole series.

Seventeen year old Jenny was abducted in broad daylight, there was zero clues as to who took her and for what purpose. Five years later she is found dead in a public park. Joona is put on the case and he quickly realizes a similarity to a suicide case years ago. The further Joona digs into this story, the more confusing and complicated he realizes it us. I love that we get multiple perspectives and we get to see how this case is moving along from every direction. The girls POV was obviously the most fascinating and repulsive but kept the story absolutely thrilling. It was filled with so many twists and turns, that it kept my head spinning right up until the very last page. If you know Lars Kepler, than you know this is going to end in the best way possible and leave you wanting another book immediately.

This was another extremely graphic and gruesome book at times. It's one I'm definitely going to be thinking about for awhile, especially because of how far off I was from predicting the ending. Like seriously, did not see that coming at all! Highly recommend this book and this series

🪞🪞🪞🪞Thank you to the authors and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Mirror Man will be published on 1/18/22.

LARS KEPLER is the pseudonym of the critically acclaimed husband-and-wife team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril. Translated from Swedish by Alice Menzies.

This is one of the most sinister, dark, and chilling novels I’ve ever read. If it’s not, then it’s certainly among the creepiest. It definitely grabs the reader. At a lengthy 400 pages, I was unable to stop reading it and the narrative held my interest. Readers will feel like they are in another world filled with unique, psychologically tense storytelling.

If you’re looking for an outstanding novel to read, look no further than The Mirror Man. Beyond just being dark and graphic, this is one of those novels that you won’t be able put down, guaranteed to keep you awake and reading well into the night. This is Book #8 in the Killer Instinct series; however, you can certainly read it as a stand alone novel. Personally, I have not read any of the other books in this series and had no difficulty understanding the story. The Mirror Man is highly creative Scandinavian crime fiction. I can totally see this being turned into a film or TV series.

I’ve always wanted to read the Joona Linna series because I love a good serial killer mystery. On a whim, I decided to request an ARC of The Mirror Man even though I haven't started the series yet.

There were some references to Joona’s past that would have probably made more sense if I had read the previous books. That didn’t take away from my reading experience as the mystery itself is a standalone. Teenage girls are kidnapped and forced into a life of servitude to a man named Caesar. When one of them is found hanging in a playground five years after her disappearance, Joona is determined to find out where she was being held captive. The only witness to her death is a mentally ill man who wants to help, but has blocked out any memory of what he saw.

Joona Linna is a hard charging detective who will do anything to catch a killer, even defying direct orders from his superiors. If I was missing, he’s the kind of person I would want on the case. I really liked being inside his brain as he slowly pieced together the clues.

The story has a good mix of detective work and action. It was fast paced and well plotted, which made me want to keep turning the pages. The twists kept me guessing and I did not know who the killer was until the very end.

This book was terrifying, dark, and brutal. The murders are pretty gruesome so if that’s not your thing, I would steer clear. Now excuse me while I go start this series from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler.

Lars Kepler is one of my favorite authors and this book does not disappoint. The Mirror Man is twisty, dark and atmospheric like the others in this series. I had to put the book down a couple times to catch my breath because it’s quite intense. Great thriller and really leaves you on the edge of your seat!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler

The Mirror Man is the newest installment in the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler (out in the US in Jan 2022).

This one was a wild ride!! It had the traditional elements you normally see in Nordic noir: serial killers, graphic violence, and flawed characters. However, this one had a really unique aspect to it that I 100% did NOT see coming 😅😅 (I can’t say more, because I don’t want to give spoilers).

Overall, I really liked this one! I felt unsettled and “creeped out” when I finished, but I’m also really excited to see what happens next!

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @aaknopf for the #gifted e-copy!

Jenny Lind is abducted on her way home from school. Despite the clear description from an eyewitness, the search provides no further leads and is called off. Not long afterwards, a tragedy on an ice fishing trip leaves Pamela Nordstrom devastated. Five years later these two seemingly unrelated cases collide and Detective Joona Linna must work backwards to try and solve the old case before more girls go missing.

I have read a lot of books in this genre, but I can honestly say that the tension and creepiness in The Mirror Man is unrivalled. The killer’s MO and disturbing actions created a real uneasiness throughout this skilfully plotted thriller.

The Mirror Man had everything you would want and expect from a Nordic Noir - Dark and complex storylines, interesting characters, a flawed but brilliant detective, incredible suspense and a well-thought-out conclusion. Every chapter was carefully considered, the investigation was twisted and compelling – an addictive page-turner and a fantastic addition to the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler is another excellent Joona Linna novel. Flawed character but excellent detective and exceptional at putting the pieces of a puzzle together to solve the crime. The Mirror Man involves a serial killer who abducts girls, puts them in cages and terrorizes them. Some scenes are brutal and not for the very faint of heart. These scenes are short and there to demonstrate the cruelty and insanity of the killer. Step by step Kepler moves along an intricate path. The ending twist is so surprising and just great. Excellent Joona Linna addition.

In 2021, I discovered the Nordic Noir genre and the phenomenal author duo that makes up Lars Kepler. When NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group gave me the opportunity to read the eighth book in the Detective Joona Linna series ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review, I jumped at the chance! I find this Swedish police procedural series to be fast-paced and these books keep me up past my bedtime! The Mirror Man was no exception to these characteristics. “Detective Joona Linna is on the trail of a kidnapper who targets teenage girls and makes their worst nightmares a reality.” This description from the publisher is spot on and the surprise twist at the end had me thinking about it long after I finished reading this book!

The Mirror Man is my second read from the series featuring Detective Joona Linna. This is very much Nordic Noir, which is a beloved genre for many. For lovers of this series I am sure you won't be disappointed with the non stop action and amazing twist at the end.

A man who has suffered a traumatic event in his past is only partially communicative, but he is the only witness to a gruesome murder. Young women are being kidnapped and held captive by a mad man and his mother. Joona is rushing to locate and save the next victim, and pressure is on the witness to come forth with information.

This is an action packed story with very dark moments, and fans of this genre will not be disappointed. For myself, there was too much extreme violence against women, and also an animal, for me to really enjoy this book. If you are triggered by such things then handle with care.

I did read the book and enjoy the plotline if I skimmed through the violence. There was a twist at the end that totally caught me by surprise. But for me this was probably a 3 star read. However, I don't feel it is fair to downgrade just because I am not the reader this book is meant for, so I am giving it 4 stars.

Thanks to the author, Knopf Doubeday and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been anticipating the release of this book since reading Lazarus just over a year ago, the last installment in the Detective Joona Linna series, secretly wishing I could read Sweedish! Well, the Mirror Man is here, in English, and will be hitting the shelves in the U. S. on January 18, 2022. I was incredibly lucky to get my hands on the early reader copy from @aaknopf and @netgalley, and the book did not disappoint!

A teenage girl was abducted on her way home from school and taken to a remote location where she is kept with other young women facing unimaginable horrors. Five years later her body is found on a playground with very few clues. When another girl is kidnapped in a similar manner, Detective Joona Linna must walk a thin line to be able to rescue the teen and solve the mystery of the twisted-minded killer to stop him.

This book kept me way past midnight, and if this is your first Kepler novel, let me warn you, it gets graphic and disturbing at times, but it's a captivating thriller with twisted plot, dark setting, shocking discoveries and amazingly written characters. Joona is fearless, brilliant and gentle. His mind is not of an ordinary man and he goes after the most evil and vicious villains without a second thought. He is not always liked by his superiors, but his out-of-the-box thinking helps save many lives.

The great thing about this book is that it works as a stand-alone! The previous books in the series take the reader through the main character's past and slowly reveal many important details about the Detective. All in all, this is an amazing read I cannot recommend enough for any crime fiction lovers. 5/5 ⭐ from me!

Lars Kepler brings action, suspense, and heart-wrenching moments to The Mirror Man , the eighth novel in the Joona Linna Killer Instinct series. This is an unforgettable police procedural and crime thriller set in Sweden. Lars Kepler is the pseudonym for the husband and wife writing team of Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. While this novel is the eighth in the series, it worked as a standalone novel for me. However, I believe reading the previous novels would reveal additional background and insights into Joona’s character growth as well as his family and work relationships.

Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school and taken to a remote location where she and other girls face many horrors. Five years later her body is found in a playground with few clues as to where she’s been and who her killer is. Detective Joona Linna gets involved and when another girl goes missing, he fears a killer is escalating his activities.

Joona is a likeable character who feels strongly that everything should be done to find the killer and rescue Mia Andersson. This doesn’t always sit well with his immediate superior who want the quick solution and often leads to some intense situations. His character is well-developed by this eighth novel. Of the secondary characters, Pamela and Martin Nordstrom as well as Dr. Erik Maria Bark have the most depth with believable flaws and are unique in their own ways.

The conflicts and sense of urgency move the story forward and through some unexpected twists. The internal dialogues and the narrative pulls readers into the inner world of the characters making us unsettled, distressed, and thankful that Joona has the tenacity to keep investigating.

A memorable beginning sets the stage for what is to come. Reading on, the suspense was high through-out most of the novel. The plot is complex and has twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. The high stakes kept me engaged throughout the story. The well-written story and the incredible characters, combined with unnerving action, culminates in an astounding conclusion.

What a novel! Will you guess the identity of the killer? This novel contains several graphic and disturbing scenes and the antagonist’s deranged actions have a terrifying realism that is memorable. However, it is well-written, with a brilliant plot, and extraordinary characters. This reader was transported to the dark and horrifying world of the investigator and the victims. Themes include abduction, murder, family, child abuse, grief, severe trauma, physical abuse, mental health disorders, and much more.

Overall, this was an intense, dark, and gritty story with complex characters that kept me turning the pages. I am looking forward to reading the prior books as I wait on the next one in the series. Crime enthusiasts and thriller fans may want to check out this series if they can handle the triggers.

Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group – Knopf and the writing team of Lars Kepler for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

** I would definitely throw a word of caution out to anyone that has triggers from situations that are not ideal or even harsh sexual situations. There are some graphic scenes in this book but I do believe that it is necessary in the story if we are to understand what a monster the killer is.**

I have to admit that I had to give myself some time to mull this one over before I could write the review. Lars Kepler definitely knows how to write a thriller that will keep you turning the pages and wondering what is going to happen in the end.

Detective Joona Linna has been on the trail of a killer that abducts young girls and takes them to a place that no one would want to be taken to. The place that the killer takes the girls to is such a bad place that only the killer could imagine this nasty place. The punishments that are given out to the girls is about as bad as the place that he houses them. I could only imagine the place in my mind and can't even think about keeping my animals there, let alone a human being. This killer is a monster and he has help from the least unsuspected person.

When the young girl that had been abducted shows up dead on a playground in a way that only this sick monster of a killer could do, Joona knows that he has to find this killer and fast. When another young lady comes up missing soon after this other young lady has been killed, things start to really crazy now. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering where the plot is going to take you next. I don't want to give away any of this book because you will not be able to put it down once you start reading it., Such a suspenseful book that will have you wanting to reach through the book and kill this monster yourself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book. I recommend this book for all suspense lovers!

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I would definitely be recommending this book to readers on my Instagram bookstagram account.

Lars Kepler can never disappoint and this was one of their most twisted books yet. I absolutely love this series and this case really creeped me out and was well written with one of the best strings of reveals.

I realise Lars Kepler is going to be a gruesome read but this was gruesome and then some! Teenage girls locked in cages and then killed , dumped to be found years later. There are some really dark parts here. A good addition to the series but I think I need a break from this darkness for the moment.

Lars Kepler has done it again! They are the King and Queen of making my heart race and I don't hate it!

The Mirror Man is the 8th installment in the Joona Linna series, but can definitely be read as a standalone... although you may not understand the last page teaser that's thrown in if you haven't read The Sandman (book 4) and Lazarus (book 7).

This book opens up with some terrifying scenes and doesn't let up throughout. And, like their other books, once you hit the mid-mark, you will not be able to put it down! That's what happened to me yesterday. I stayed up until midnight finishing this one and didn't even realize it was that late because I was so captivated by the book.

The Mirror Man is about Jenny Lind who was abducted in broad daylight, with a witness, 5 years ago but was never found. We have three storylines here... law enforcement trying to track down a serial killer, a woman and her husband who witness something horrific tied to the case and last, and most horrifying, the camp where not only Jenny Lind was taken, but many other girls over the years. Those are the scenes that are sure to get your blood pumping!

If you like dark and twisted, then I highly recommend this one! Can't wait for book 9!

Content Warnings: drug and alcohol use; mention of suicide; rape; infidelity; PTSD; dog fight

Kepler's 8th Killer Instinct novel is a smash, worthy of the half a shelf in our bookstore we give to this husband and wife writing duo. Gruesome plot, a good supporting cast of detectives, and the Swedish setting all make for compelling reading. I love to recommend this series for those who like Thomas Harris and Stieg Larsson.

Typical detective murder mystery I’m going to get you type situation. I tried really hard to get into it and it was probably just me but it was just not my cup of tea. A serial killer (I guess?) catches underage girls, takes advantage of them, plays games with them, and then doesn’t kill them right away like you would expect. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The first part of the book seemed rather flat, this is where all the girls became victims of the killer. Things later started to make sense one we knew who the killer was, but we had to wait for this since it took time to figure out who it was. And Joona Linna came into play after Pamela requested him. It started when Alice went missing 5 years prior (she was Pamela's daughter), but Mia (no mom & dad) ended up becoming missing also, as Pamela was about to adopt her. Mia was the catalyst that got Pamela upset, but Jenny Lind was the girl who got Joona's dander up with her murder. He looked into it and found other women had been kidnapped and murdered. It really takes off when Joona figures out that a woman who was seen at the Jenny Lind murder was wearing a mink head as a neckless. The team Kepler seems to be able to control all the different aspects of psychological phenomenon that takes place in this story. But they also say in the afterword that much more has to be done. See if you can figure out who the murder is before you are told?

Another thouroughly engaging Joona Linna novel from the duo known as Lars Kepler. I always have love for these books because the storylines keep me interested and the stories are always wild, with crazy villains and twisty plots. This one is no exception, with Joona Linna chasing an elusive serial killer abducting and butchering women for years. His methods so oblique and subtle that authorities are in the dark that all the disappearances and homicides are connected. Perhaps he would have continued killing without being noticed, if it weren’t for the death of Jenny Lind. One mistake opens the door for Joona, and he makes a promise to find the person who held Jenny Lind for 5 years before killing her and leaving her body on public display. From there things take a wild turn and the story seems to get crazier as it goes on. I flew through it since the story has a tendency to grab ahold of you and keep you flipping pages. Another gripping story that leaves a subtle teaser at the end, perhaps setting up the next novel?? Review posted to Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Litsy and LibraryThing