Thank you Crooked Lane Books and netgalley for this opportunity. I was really glad to read some nordic noir again. I missed and this book make me want to read more this genre again.

Perfect follow up to The Corpse Flower. I believe you could read this as a standalone but you’d probably get more out of it if you read The Corpse Flower (phenomenal book) first. I can’t wait for book 3!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This title is the second instalment in the Danish “Kaldan and Schafer Crime Series”, and although you could read it as a standalone, personally I feel it would be best to read “The Corpse Flower” first as it sets up the context for the main characters and helps you understand the subplot and dynamics.


Another dark mysterious Nordic read by Anne Mette Hancock, this time surrounding the disappearance of a small child. Not normally a theme I like to read, but one that I did end up enjoying. I enjoyed the characters individual storylines and relationships more than the missing child element, but I did enjoy the ending and the way it was left to readers to interpret whether there would be a link between the Warfarin article and the last chapter.


Slow burning at the very start, but does eventually pick up in pace, and by the end you’ll be sad its over.


Another great story in the series from Anne Mette Hancock. I look forward to book 3 when it’s translated into English.


4 Stars – Nordic Read With Various Triggers


Publication Date: 8th November 2022


Thank you to #NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks and #AnneMetteHancock for an ARC of #TheCollector in exchange for an honest review.

This is a solid follow-up to "The corpse flower", the first instalment in the Kaldan and Schafer series (which I loved). No worries though if you haven't read the previous book: The collector reads like a standalone and I think you would not feel like you're missing the full picture.

This book is your typical detective novel, a perfect "popcorn read". It is very atmospheric (an aspect that I noticed and appreciated in the first book as well) and manages to keep you glued to the page with its short, snappy chapters and fast pace.

Unfortunately, I had some issues with the translation: I have a feeling some sentences were a bit messy.

Overall, highly suggested reading for anyone looking for an entertaining mystery/thriller with a dark, nordic setting.

I love this genre ! Nordic thrillers / murder is just the best ! I really enjoyed it dark and compelling and hope
I get to read more in this series ! Thank you fab read !

Great quick read. I was hooked from the start until the end and cannot wait for more in this series.

This book was incrdible! I didn't realise I would love this half as much as I could! A dark and gripping murder case that left me hooked.

An enjoyable read as far as crime fiction goes. However, not sure how the book title is relevant to the story.

A bit disjointed but characters vivid if inconsistent; I kept having to look back to see who was who. Story of missing boy is always compelling...

I was invited to read this on a book tour, so received a widget, however I had not read the first book and did not realize it was a series. So it was hard for me to follow. I wish I would have read the first and been able to enjoy this more.

A young boy has gone missing from his Danish school. Eric Schafer is soon on the case along with investigative reporter, Heloise Kaldan not far behind. In the days right before disappearing, Lukas, who is obsessed with pareidolia (a phenomenon that makes him see faces in random things) posts a picture of a barn. Is it coincidence or does it have a deeper meaning. Heloise is still dealing with her past, trying to put the pieces back together and is in the midst of questioning her future, but realizes that she’s seen that barn before … but where? With very few clues, Eric and Heloise, along with Schafer’s team are desperately searching for Lukas in hopes that it’s not already too late! Hancock’s newest book is a great follow up to her first in the series, The Corpse Flower, but can definitely be read as a stand alone. A page turning police procedural that keeps the reader guessing throughout with an ending that will leave you stunned! Hoping to see much more of Schafer and Kaldan in the future!! Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Nordic mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I always look forward to more translations. This book takes place in Copenhagen and begins with a missing boy. I read and enjoyed the author’s The Corpse Flower, and she is a very good writer. Recommended!

An awesome, suspenseful plot. What can you trust is real, is the question.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF after 50 pages.

I read Hancock previous book, so I was excited that I received The Collector. I expected a similar style crime book, and if I had of continued, maybe I would have found that. I have seen other reviews that speak quite highly of the book, and how much they enjoyed the twists and turns. So, me DNFing this might be a me problem.

I had two problems early on in the book. My first was when one of the characters went on a ramble about immigrants, and how they’re ruining everything. I’m normally okay with things like this, if it feels like it’s pertinent to the story itself, or has a reason to explain why a character is the way they are. Instead, this was a bit character that barely showed up in the first novel, really didn’t feel like they’d be a more important character in this one, and felt like it was placed here to entirely further the authors views on immigrants. It felt gross, and out of place. It went on for entirely too long as well. One line - fine. An entire rambling page? Not my cup of tea.

The second thing that got me was where the male detective is called to the scene of a kidnapping at a school. He immediately spots a person who he decides looks suspicious. They have long hair, and are slender, The detective can’t decide if the person is male or female, and decides that is suspicious enough. When they discover that they are, in fact, a male teacher, well, of course that’s reason to investigate them for being too feminine and questioning their motives for working around children. This again, felt gross to me. It was such an outdated view, and it baffled me what this could be considered good writing.

With both of these instances happening early in the book, I decided I didn’t care enough to continue. Maybe the rest of the book is good. Maybe it’s a good thriller! I didn’t care to find out though. I hope others have better luck, but I don’t think I’ll be checking out anything further from this author.

When 10-year-old Lukas disappears from his Copenhagen school, police investigators discover that the boy had a peculiar obsession with pareidolia—a phenomenon that makes him see faces in random things. A photo on his phone posted just hours before his disappearance shows an old barn door that resembles a face. Journalist Heloise Kaldan thinks she recognizes the barn—but from where?
When Luke’s blood-flecked jacket is found in the moat at Copenhagen’s Citadel, DNA evidence points to Thomas Strand, an ex-soldier suffering from severe PTSD. But then Strand turns up dead in his apartment, shot in the head execution style.
What did the last person to see Lukas really witness that morning in the school yard? Was it really Lukas, or an optical illusion? Can you ever truly trust your eyes?

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

The Collector is the second book in a series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a police procedural that tackles issues of child abuse, domestic violence, PTSD, and revenge so it’s not a light read! I thought the mystery is intriguing because there are two running storylines that eventually merge into a surprising conclusion. The ending has a neat reveal too.

However, I found the characters difficult to read this time around. Erik is sadly giving problematic vibes because he’s upset about men wearing makeup and has weird thoughts about Middle-Eastern people he meets. Then Heloise is like a stone because she goes through a lot but barely has any reactions. The supporting characters are also pretty lacking. I think with the heavy subject matter, more consideration for the characters would have improved the story. Read this if you’re in the mood for dark procedurals!

So mindblowing!!

I read this books in question of days.
It was such a masterpiece and so good written. I don´t want to talk a lot more about this plot, because I believe I will give you some spoilers and that’s not what I want.
Please read this book if you are an addcited to a mysterious history.
Well done Anne! I need to read more books from you!

One thing I will never get tired of is adding Nordic Noir authors to my growing roster of must follow series. Anne Mette Hancock is the last one to earn a spot on that list. If I liked The Corpse Flower, I loved The Collector even more. Second in the series, Kaldan and Schäfer are already established as completely solvent leads, providing an engaging story you will fly by.

Journalist Heloise Kaldan is at her doctor’s office when he receives a phone call from his kid’s school informing him his son Lukas has gone missing. He’s gone without a trace until his jacket is found under the ice in the moat at Copenhagen’s Citadel. Erik Schäfer, of the Violent Crimes Unit is assigned the case. With few clues to work with, could the last picture Lukas posted of an old barn resembling a face have something to do with his disappearance?

Although it can be read as a stand alone I strongly recommend reading the first one in the serie to better comprehend Heloise’s character and where she’s coming from. She’s dealing with several personal issues that will entangle into the investigation, and I liked the balance the author got between both. I also like how her relationship with Schäfer is developing. For once, theirs is not a romantic relationship but more of a father-daughter kinda thing.

The story introduced an interesting element that was really intriguing, Luka’s obsession with pareidolia (seeing faces on random objects or patterns of light and shadow). Heloise thinks she recognises the picture Lukas posted but, does she? Or is it just an illusion? With possible connections to soldiers suffering PTSD and another nurse, the investigation will get darker and darker as it progresses.

As it happens with most Nordic noir, the atmosphere is fantastic. Dark, oppressive, bleak, it really adds to the misdirection throughout the story. It also gives a great feel of the city of Copenhagen, transporting the reader there. The ending caught me by surprise but was really fitting to this dark tale.

A third book has already been published in Danish, so I really hope we can get an English translation soon to keep enjoying this fantastic series.

P.S: why is it called The Collector? I can’t find any meaning to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could’ve sworn I’ve already given a feedback onthis book on here since I throrughly enjoyed the story! I love this. The twist and turns, it neither got boring or out of hand. The story stayed within its course while also paying respect to the story of the main characters. It is indeed a fitting sequel to The Corpse Flower. Anne Mette Hancock is among my favorite authors and I have NetGalley to thank for leading me to her books. I’m certainly looking forward to the next in the series.

I love this series and I jumped on the chance to read an early copy of this. I hope the entire series gets translated into English because it’s so good!

The second book in this series featured the same journalist and detective from book one, but with a totally different plot/crime to solve.
I enjoy both characters and they way they work together and yet still completely respect the boundaries of their profession. I flew through the pages didn’t guess the murderer at all. I felt like enough of the details led the characters on different paths and it made the mystery harder to guess as a result. I was also engrossed in Heloise’s personal life in this one…

I can’t wait to read more of this series and I definitely recommend it. Even though it fits as Nordic noir, I think any general mystery fan would enjoy them as they aren’t overly dark and I feel like the characters are likable and intriguing.