I haven't read the previous Joona Linna books, so was unfamiliar with the character - however that didn't detract from the book in any way. I'll read the earlier books if I can get hold of them.

As a fan of Nordic Noir, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - though some sections were a little on the gruesome side. The stalker element kept up the tension throughout. A good and varied range of characters kept me guessing who the stalker was. I actually guessed correctly in the end, but didn't foresee the plot twist at the end.

A good read for fans of this genre. I've been very keen on closing the curtains at dusk since reading this novel...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Superb book, genuinely scary at times and held my interest right up to the end. Didn't realise that this was in a series. Will be purchasing the earlier books in the series as soon as possible.

First - a big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. This was my first book by this author and because of that I was pleasantly surprise to discover that Margot was not the main character but Joona Linna. I like the way he was introduced even though I do realise there's a whole lot of back story there. I absolutely loved this book. The twists and turns didn't make me want to throw the book away: it kept me on the edge of my seat. The identity of the villain came as surprise. It is a well-researched and well written novel. A great one.

If you are looking for a chilling read that will keep you up at night (both reading and feeling a bit frightened and exposed after reading), this is the right book for you. I have not read any of the previous Joona Linna books (how did I miss them?!?) but was drawn to Stalker by the well earned comparisons to Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo. I haven't missed a step jumping into the series mid stream. It didn't take away from my enjoyment one bit. Stalker feels very similar to Larsson and Nesbo in ratcheting up the tension. No lie there.

Stalker is an extreme roller coaster ride. What a marvel! Plenty of suspense, angst and violent bits. If you are squeamish there are a few passages that might be troubling. This book mainly focuses on Margot Siverman, Jooona Linna and their police investigation into finding a serial killer stalker. It's a terrifically immersive read. At the height of the climax I was so wrapped up in the story I couldn't bother with making dinner.

Scandi thrillers really are brilliant to behold and Stalker certainly does not disappoint. There's a lot of meat to this story which made it difficult to put down. I'm so pleased to have finally discovered Lars Kepler. I've got to keep my eyes open for his past and future works. A really gripping thriller that raises the bar.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher. haven't read the other books in the series but that never took away from my enjoyment of this book.Stalker is the fifth instalment in the Swedish series and follows the crime of an obsessive stalker who brutality beats their victims,leaving their faces and other parts of their bodies completely disfigured.Before the crime is committed, a video is sent to the police where the Stalker simply observes the victim but as soon as it is sent the race is on.

A real page turner with never a dull moment. A serial killer is on the loose, and Erik, a psychologist realises that the stalker could be copying past murders, but has his doubts because the perpetrator of the original killings is in jail - but was he the killer? The reader faces numerous twists and turns before all is revealed. Eric has his own problems, but to reveal more could spoil the readers' enjoyment! A definite must read - brilliantly thought out and extremely well written.

I've read a lot of crime/thriller/murder mysteries and I can say that this is, without a doubt, the most spine-chilling, goosebump-inducing crime novel I've ever read. Honestly, I can't say I've ever read a novel which made my heart beat as fast as this. It pulled me right in, and as cliche as it sounds, I felt like I was there. This, as you might imagine, is pretty terrifying when the novel in question is a crime novel. 100% recommend if you think you can handle it!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I honestly didn't know what to expect but I was quite surprised. It was outstandingly brilliant. To be fair it went on a bit, I kind of expected the twist, but didn't think of her. The last few chapters where so good I just couldn't put it down. Great book the plot the twist the storyline and characters where exceptional.

I'm often dubious about novels which have been translated from Scandinavian as I find it difficult to follow the names but for some reason it wasn't the case this time.
It is undoubtedly a page-turning thriller that will keep you hooked to the end.
The book is also not for the faint hearted as the author doesn't hold back on the dark, uncomfortable scenes, both describing the killings and the drug fueled, party atmosphere.
The book built a great tension through to the inevitable twist at the end.
Kept me guessing for several nights and didn't let me down at any point.

A solid thriller but very formulaic and way too long for my taste. It could have held my interest more if it were a lot shorter and in my opinion the story wouldn't suffer at all from it, only benefit.

Also, probably because I've never read the other installments in the series (I didn't even know it was the 5th book) I could not engage much with the main characters. The end was a bit abrupt and too well tied in but then again, normal in formulaic thrillers.

It's not a bad book, just not a good fit for this particular reader but I am sure it will be a success.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a must to read. It has a complex plot and the pace is sure to keep readers engrossed and involved. It has been translated,of course,and a superb job seems to have been done on that. The characters are well drawn and most are not people you would want as friends! The ending is unexpected. Perhaps there should be a prize for readers who guess the outcome. This would make a dramatic film.

Another fabulous book from Lars Kepler and one that can't be rushed. It's a long story but never boring. I "solved" the crime quite early on... then again and again but not right with any of my guesses. It's not one of those tedious storied that just throws likely culprits out though just a very clever read.
I never give plot secrets away so I wo t say who I hope to read about again in future books...
I loved it from start to finish and I never did get used to the Scandinavian names for people and places but it didn't stop my enjoyment.

Stalker was a great book.
It starts with the National Crime Investigation Department receiving a video of a female being watched shortly afterwards word comes in that she has been brutally murdered. Is this a one off? No another video soon arrives can they catch this psychopath before they strike again?
Great twists and turns.

Despite the horrendous violence throughout you are gripped by the story to the end.

Oh my god! This story really got me, what a nail biter and not for the faint hearted. Lars Kepler certainly knows how to keep you hooked during this fast-paced thriller. There were moments when I had to stop reading as the suspense was too much for me to take, I got totally sucked into this novel and it was like I was there living this tale of horror through the eyes of the characters.

I have never read any of the Joona Linna stories previous to this one but after the adrenaline rush I got from this one I certainly will be. Thank you Net Galley for this oppourtunity.

There is a serial killer on the loose murdering women in such a brutal way that destroys their faces and leaving their bodies in different positions. The police receive a video of the victim before the murders take place and they race to get to them before the killer strikes. Joona Linna an ex-cop gets involved in trying to find and stop the serial killer when his friend a renowned psychiatrist is linked to each of the victims and is implicated in the sick crimes.

I was on the edge of seat during the entire reading of Stalker, by Lars Kepler. I found it absolutely terrifying and after the first few chapters almost stopped reading the book. I felt a little sick and quite unsettled with the feeling of being with the victims right before they were brutally murdered by a psychotic serial killer. I was fascinated by the view-points of all the main and minor characters and though at times it was confusing this shifting narrative, it was also quite interesting.

There was not one moment when the tension abated and everytime I felt like I knew what was about to happen, I was shocked by the twist in the plot. I read later that the writers of Stalker were inspired by the books of Stieg Larsson and I feel like this book was a fitting tribute to the late writer.

I am a huge fan of thrillers and crime novels however Stalker was one of the most brutal books that I have ever read and for several nights, I was unable go straight to sleep due what I had read that day. That said, I actually really enjoyed reading the book. It is definitely one of the best thrillers that I have read in months and I look forward to getting my hand on earlier books by Lars Kepler in the Joona Linna series.

Thankyou to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Unfortunately I did not realise this novel was part of a series which tended to spoil my enjoyment. I normally love Scandi Noir but this one wasn't for me. Nothing wrong with the story or the writing just not one for me.

The National Crime Unit in Stockholm receives a video of a woman, shortly afterwards she is found murdered. Then they receive another but cannot trace her before she too dies. Then there is a third. Clues from the way the bodies are staged leads leads psychologist Erik Bark to a former patient now convicted of murder and in a psychiatric unit. Meanwhile after the death of the criminal who was terrorising his family Finnish detective Junna Linna can come out of hiding. When the clues in the murder cases seem to suggest that Bark is the perpetrator Linna is in a race to solve the crimes before more women die.

The Junna Linna series of novels by the husband and wife team with the pen name Lars Kepler are now at their fifth instalment and the tension never lets up for a second. Whilst the plot is very convoluted, the links are clever and it does all make sense in the end! This is good quality Scandic-Crime but with a vary tough and unpleasant edge to it - it's not a soft read.

I didn't realise this was the 5th book in a series but it didn't matter. I now want to read the others as liked the main character Joona Linna and want to know about events leading up to the part he played in this book.
A serial killer, a heavily pregnant detective, an old detective presumed dead, a psychologist who undertakes hypnotism, a convict wrongly accused! A lot going on and very fast paced. I did guess quiet early on who the killer was but I was kept intrigued right until the end. A bit far fetched at times but overall a good read

I have enjoyed previous Joona Linna stories, so I was looking forward to this fifth outing. Kepler really knock it out of the park with this one. In classic Scandinavian crime thriller style: it is fast paced; it builds you up to a dramatic crescendo; it includes serious detail; and describes the main characters extremely well - albeit you often don't like them.

Margot was merely the tool to allow Joona back in and we didn't explore her in any great depth, but the other leads were convincing. The web that is weaved is complex and takes you down a few dead ends and, on this occasion, I didn't see the ending coming. The picture painted is at times extremely brutal and at others very tender, which makes it all the more compelling. An excellent story.

I am grateful for this early view of the book and admit I read it within 24 hours; I just couldn't it it down. It is another tour de force by Kepler and encourages me to keep ranking him at the top of the list of crime writers. Well done.