Torquil Macleod

Murder in Malmo

Detective Anita Sundstrum
Setting      Malmo
Time         2008/09
Genre       Scandi Noire

This is the second of the Anita Sundstrum, Malmo, novels. Sundstrum is returning to work after the controversy which concluded the first book and she finds herself sidelined to dealing with an art theft whilst the rest of the detectives concentrate on the murder by gassing of an advertising executive. It is not until a third murder that the plots start to come together and Sunstrom is reconciled to the main action. At the same time there is a rogue gunman randomly killing members of the Malmo immigrant community. As in other Sedish novels the rise of racist reaction to immigration is an aspect of the plot.  The plot develops well as information is skilfully revealed and there are some well crated twists.

In terms of backplot, Sundstrom is still drawn emotionally to the killer she arrested at the end of the first novel and she still has to handle the advances of a sexist and slimy colleague and professional rival.

A
Torqil Macleod's website

Previous novel 
Meet me in Malmo

Alison Bruce

The Siren

Detective: Gary Goodhew
Setting:      Cambridge
Time:         Current
Genre        Police Procedural

This is the second of Alison Bruce's Goodhew novels set in Cambridge and in many ways is better than the first, particularly in the characterisation of Goodhew, who in the first novel was too recocious a green detective and the presence of his grandmother as his eminence gris is not apparent.

The plot begins with the discovery of a body in a car pulled from the sea in Spain and the death in a fire of one of two women who know something about it and the disappearance of the other one's young child. The direction the story takes is not always predictable and the twists are intrguing.

Rating A

Previously read  Cambridge Blue

Alison Bruce website

Aline Tenpleton

Lamb to the Slaughter

Detective: Marjorie Fleming
Setting:     Galloway
Time:        Current
Genre       Scots Police Procedural

This the fourth of Templeton's, Flaming novels is nicely crafted with puzzling leads and a neat final twist. A dead sheep is dumped in the courtyard of a small town craft centre. The land owner, who may or may not be about to sell the location to a large supermarket chain, is shot at close range with a shotgun on his doorstep. Is there a link, and if so what? And who will benefit from the murdered man's will. The final arrest comes as a surprise, but there's a twist beyond that.

In the backplot Fleming has to cope with the problems of having a teenage daughter and the death of her father, while within her team there is romance and duplicity.

Rating A

Aline Templeton's Website

Previously Read
Cold in the Earth
The Darkness and the Deep
Lying Dead

Dana Stabenow

The Singing of the Dead

Private Investigator: Kate Shugak
Time                        Current
Setting:                    Alaska

Yet another of the Kate Shugak novels. Eleventh in the series. Shugak is hired as a security guard for an candidate in the Alaskan House of Representatives following the receipt of threatening letters to the candidate. The story is paralled by one set in the late 1890's to 1915 during the Gold Rush era concerning the career and ultimately murder of a prostitute who tries to better herself.  

In the Shugak series Stabenow mostly concerns herself with the plight of native Alaskans (Shugak is an Aleut). In this novel between the sub and main plots Stebenow explores the origins of the sate's Anglo population making the point that most of the state's "aristocracy" can be traced back to prostitutes who married well. 

It is whether of not there are skeleton's in the family cupboard of both Shugak's employer and her opponent that drives much of the plot especially after a researcher who has been asked to check into backgrounds is murdered.

In terms of the backplot ARC, Shugak is still coming to terms with the murder of her partner and reconciling herself to the responsibility of looking after his 14 year old sn.

Rating A

Dana Stabenow's web site

Previously read
A Cold Day for Murder
A Fatal Flaw
Dead in the Water
A Cold Blooded Business 
Whisper to the Blood
A Night too Dark
Though Not Dead
Restless in the Grave

Sara Blaedel

Blue Blood
(Also published as "Call me Princess")

Detective: Louise Rick
Time:        Current
Setting:     Copenhagen
Genre:       Scandi Noir

This is the second of Blaedel's Louise Rick novels. It concerns a brutal rape of a young woman  and dwells a lot on the consequences for the victim before there is a second rape, this time resulting in the death of the victim.In order to trace the perpetrator Rick is drawn into exploring the world of internet dating which takes her dangerously close to the villain. At the same time Rick's best friend, a journalist is trying to exploit the problems of the original victim and unwittingly exposes her to further danger.

The background story of Rick's problems with her partner are a little drawn out and slow the pace of the story.

Rating B+

Sara Blaedel's website