Jussi Adler Olsen

Redemption

Detective:  Carl Morck
Location:   Copenhagen
Time:         Current
Genre:       Scandi-Noir

This is the third in the Adler-Olsen Department Q series. The detective Carl Morck is in charge of some form of cold case department. He is assisted by an unlikely team of his cleaner Assad, a Syrian immigrant and a ditzy woman called Rose.

The story begins with a badly deteriorated message in a bottle from a kidnap victim which finds its way to Morck via Scotland 20 years after it was launched. This leads Morck eventually to discover similar crimes being committed. As the reader, one is already following this crime which involves the mistreated son of a religious clique minister preying on families in similar cliques feeling secure in the knowledge that the way he has set up his kidnap and blackmail will ensure his victims will never reveal what has happened.

Jussi Adler olsen's website

Previously Read
Mercy
Disgrace

Ann Cleeves

A Lesson in Dying

Detective:   Inspector Ramsey
Location::    North East England (Heppleburn)
Time:         1990s
Genre:       Police Procedural

This is the first in the Ann Cleeves Inspector Ramsay novels and possibly recently re-published following the success of her later Vera Stanhope and Shetland novels.

The plot is based on the murder of an unpopular headteacher at a small village school and between the staffroom and the parents' association there are a number of likely suspects. When the head's wife is arrested the school caretaker and his daughter (a member of the parents' association) begin their own investigation and after some hesitation Ramsay accepts their support.

Blackmail is uncovered and other deaths follow before the conclusion which has a nice twist.

Ann Cleeves' websie

Jo Nesbo

The Bat

Detective: Harry Hole
Location:  Sydney, Australia
Time:        About 2000
Genre:      Scandi Noir

Yes, a Scandi Noir set in Australia. This is a prequel to the Jo Nesbo/Harry Hole series which begins with Redbreast. and tells the story of his experience in Australia dealing with a serial killer which is referred back to in many of the later novels. 

Hole is in Australia to assist with the investigation into the murder of a young Norwegian woman. His sidekick initially is  an older Sydney detective with Apborigina roots. The novel deals with the place of the Aborigine in Australian society and the detective, who is more deeply involved in the affair than might be obvious gives Hole guidance by usimng Aboriginal myths as guidance. 

Well crafted like the other Harry hole novels.

A+

Jo Nesbo's website

Previously Read
Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devil's Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard

Leigh Russell

Road Closed

Detective Geraldine Steele
Location  England
Time        Present
Genre      Police Procedural

Possibly a viable plot line. A burgling duo leave a victim dead at the bottom of the stairs, They go on to bungle another job and as they escape turn the gas on in the kitchen leading to an explosion and a fatal fire. The circumstances are such that the police may suspect the victims widow. 

Undfortunately the telling isn't convincing. The police procedures come across as loose and the escalation of murders by the main villain isn't credible. 

B-

Previously Read
Dead End

Leigh Russell's website