Saturday, February 2, 2008

What Never Happens-Anne Holt

What Never Happens
Anne Holt
Grand Central, Feb 2008, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446578035

In Oslo, the first victim is Fiona Helle, talk show hostess of On the Move With Fiona, whose tongue was carefully and neatly severed. The next to die is politician Victoria Heinerback crucified in her bed with a copy of the Koran partially shoved up her vagina. The third fatality of this serial killer was a nasty critic who received a stab wound through his eye.

Married detectives Adam Stubo and Johanne Vik investigate the homicides, but for several weeks find no links except for the viciousness of the serial killer; that is until Johanne finds a nebulous connection between Helle’s children and the victims. With something to go on, Adam seeks a motive that he believes will uncover the diabolically clever killer.

This is an entertaining Norwegian police procedural that provides the audience a taste of Oslo to enhance the serial killer plot. The look at Norway is done through the eyes of the victims and the killer, which also distracts from the investigation. Still fans will enjoy this fine thriller as Stubo and Vik work a difficult case (see WHAT IS MINE for their previous investigation; not read by me).

Harriet Klausner

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