Easy read, fast paced, likable characters... in short, a really good book!

Jedna z těch slabších detektivek, které jsem četl. Závěrečná zápletka docela dobrá, ale kniha má 350 stran a trochu se rozjede až po 250.

“The man's hair was blond and appeared to be parted in the middle like that of a fifties actor…. There was a fussiness beneath his sartorial élan and a touch of arrogance in his step. He was clean shaven, his ears stuck out a little, his face was wide and a bit too handsome…” P153/4

Oh, Åke Edwardson and Chief Inspector Erik Winter, how has it taken me so long to finally commence this Scandi Noir series? Åke, as the author of this police procedural, you have done a sensational job of creating the mood, atmosphere, sense of place and depth of characters that are everything I love about this genre. While Winter is not entirely my cup of tea I know I am going to get to like him more and more. You have given me just enough plot to keep me interested while I pause and ponder over your carefully chosen prose and execution of a genre that is actually not just about solving a crime (as far as I am concerned).

Death Angels is the first of this series and was written back in 1997 and translated from Swedish in 2009. It needs to be read with the that time frame in mind in terms of some slightly non PC language used. Straddling both Gothenburg and London, Winter finds himself in the centre of a particularly gruesome and somewhat unsettling set of murders involving young Swedish and British tourists, potentially at a cross roads re their sexuality. Enough said there. Identical murders are discovered virtually simultaneously on both sides of the North Sea, and soon enough Winter is in London and the stage is set for investigation.

Winter is quite unlike any Scandi Noir protagonist I’ve read. While the tone and pitch of the prose gave me whispers of Håkan Nesser’s books, Winter is certainly no Barbarotti nor Van Veeteran. He’s self contained, lover of jazz, contemplative, and reflective individuals in the genre. He’s well to do, not an alcoholic, never married, smart dresser, comfortable in his own skin, exuding confidence without cockiness. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of his vulnerability as the series progresses.

I like the way that Edwardson gives voice to Winter’s thoughts and doubts (not an uncommon characteristic in Scandi crime novels). As he arrives in London, we hear his thoughts… “whatever direction he took, menace was his journey and his destination. He was alone, and he had no faith in anything”. P151.

Other characters are also given voices, although clearly as secondary parts. Go particular note is Bergenhem, whom I found quite fascinating and an entire dialogue could occur about him and what drives him. Fascinating for me.

Anyway, this was a great intro to this series. Four fat stars and looking forward to more of Winter.

Death Angels is a plodding police procedural that barely qualifies as a mystery. The last 1/3rd of the novel is decent, but the first part is a slog. If you like slow, mostly boring novels heavy with meandering and unrealistic dialogue, then this novel is for you.

Liked it, didn't love it. First in a series so maybe they improve. Gripping by the end.

Disturbing ending, and a taste of what is to come in this series. Love the character Eric Winter, and his impossible personal mystery. The plot is disturbing, but the best part is the process. Not often I like the process but I do in this series.

somewhat standard swedish thriller. winter is okay - flawed but dedicated to the cases he works. i wasn't rooting for him the way i do, say, joona linna or carl mørck. the story plods along realistically, i think - we're privy to knowledge that the cops don't have, but not from the killer - from citizen witnesses who take forever to come forward with their information. it's sort of annoying since we know what will break the case open but have to a hundred pages to get there. POV is somewhat confusing until you realize edwardson just switches back and forth within the same paragraph and you start to sort out the detective's names.

also, what is with swedish authors being very detailed on the foods their characters eat? i feel like all of these that i read are meticulous about cataloging what people eat and drink.

Szybko, coraz szybciej: bliźniacze morderstwa. W Londynie giną młodzi mieszkańcy Göteborga, w Göteborgu- młodzi Londyńczycy. Istnieje podejrzenie, że morderca jest też producentem snuff movies. Oczywiście, nikt nie przyzna się do fascynacji tego rodzaju filmami.
Poznajcie Erika Wintera, 37-latka. Jeden z najmłodszych komisarzy w dziejach. Prywatnie - brat rozwiedzionej lekarki, syn rodziców, którzy uciekli przed zimnem i starością do Hiszpanii. Mimo powodzenia u płci przeciwnej - człowiek samotny. Poznajemy go, gdy wraca z pogrzebu przyjaciela- geja.
Nie chciałbym być malkontentem, ale: już pierwszy tom cyklu pokazuje nam faceta jakby przetrąconego przez życie. Używa on tego, na co pozwala mu bogactwo. Jednak to wszystko wygląda na powierzchowne. Z kobietami nie łączy go nic nad przypadkowy i raczej nieemocjonalny seks. Podziwiam autora, że do tego wszystkiego uczynił go miłośnikiem Coltrane'a. Bardziej pasowałby mu cool jazz, który lubi mniej.
Więc, jeśli Wallander wydawał się wam coraz większym dziadem, Winter może was - swoją inercją - powalić. Warto mu dać szansę, bo w śledztwie poznaje Szkota Macdonalda, który ma na niego zbawienny wpływ- stanowi jakby jego dopełnienie, jest przeciwieństwem, ale jest podobny.
Oczywiście poza tym śledztwo trwa. I morderca zostaje złapany. Ale nie ma tu odkupienia dla śledczego, bo zbrodnia jest wokół niego.
Zdecydowanie - nie jest to kryminał dla osób choćby w lekkiej depresji. Ale jaki jest?

Not bad for a first book in a series, but not great. I will try the next in one in the series. Chief Inspector Erik Winter is in charge of a murder investigation in Sweden of teenage boys. The murders are horrific and in a pattern that makes it clear that the same person is doing the killing.