3.75 Stars

I jumped into Gideon's Ring without having read any of the previous books in the Hammarby series, and while it absolutely works as a standalone, I do think readers who already know these characters and their history will connect with the story more quickly than I did.

It took me a little while to really get invested, particularly in the beginning as I was getting to know an already-established cast and their relationships. Once the story got moving, though, I was in. This is a dark, complex crime thriller with multiple perspectives, an unsettling investigation, and enough going on both inside and outside the case to keep things interesting.

I especially enjoyed the procedural side of the story and how the investigation became increasingly complicated as more pieces were uncovered. The personal conflicts within the detective squad added another layer that I suspect would have had even more impact if I had followed these characters from the beginning of the series.

Overall, this was a very good read. The slower start kept it just shy of four stars for me, but I would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy darker police procedurals and psychological crime fiction. And if you're already a fan of the Hammarby series, I have a feeling you'll get even more out of this one than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.