An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

Reviewed by Kristin

Maud is a most delightful 88-year-old Swedish lady who knows what she wants, and knows how to get it. She has a strong sense of justice and is not above putting on a little old lady act complete with a wavering voice and foggy memories when she is being questioned by the police in the wake of several suspicious deaths.

Maud has been quietly selling her valuables and enjoying little jaunts around the world as a reward for a life well lived. She is off to South Africa (again) to go on safari with a tour group. As she dozes on the airplane, she recalls memories from decades past. It appears that her ruthless ways did not begin in her elder years, but long, long ago.

I love that this second collection of stories goes back into Maud’s past after the first volume entitled An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good.  Maud may be manipulative and controlling, but this time around we learn about Maud taking care of her sister Charlotte and working as a language teacher at the local girls’ grammar school. Maud has a sense of right and wrong, and the means to carry out whatever vengeance is necessary when an innocent has been harmed, or may be in imminent danger. She is the protector of the weak, and when that works in her favor too, that’s all well and good.

Helene Tursten wraps up the collection in a way that could mean this is the end of Maud’s story, or it’s entirely possible that we may see another volume in a few years with Maud still living her best life. This is a small book which was easy to read in an evening. I have checked it out from the library (and now must return it as several other patrons are on the waiting list) but I think I will have to buy my own copies of both titles. Maud is one elderly lady worth re-reading.

The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

The library’s Nevermore Book Club has several members who are fans of “Nordic Noir”—dark psychological mysteries set in various parts of Scandinavia.  Playing to this widespread love of the genre, Alexander McCall Smith has come up with his own variation:  the Inspector Varg Novels, described as “Nordic Blanc.”  The first title in the series is The Department of Sensitive Crimes. This book was a big hit in Nevermore, winning rave reviews.

Inspector Ulf Varg—both Ulf and Varg mean wolf, by the way so his name is Wolf Wolf—is the  typical morose Swedish policeman (in the books, anyway) who spends time with a therapist to work out his inner anguish.  This could possibly be better accomplished if he actually talked to the therapist, but inasmuch as the good doctor is preoccupied with his own interior monologue. His co-workers are similarly introspective; even his dog is depressed.

 Varg is in charge of the titular department, which deals with crimes that must be dealt with discreetly such as the case of a man stabbed in the back of his knee.  There’s also the case of a missing person who may not be missing or a person, or at least not the person as represented.  There is much over the top introspection and commentary, but as with most of McCall Smith’s books, the parody is a gentle one, done with fondness and with an eye for the absurd.

I picked this up to fulfill a book bingo square for “A book set in Sweden” and because the Nevermore group enjoyed it so much.  I did like it, but I think I would have thought it even funnier if I had read more in this genre.  Some of the cases were left a bit unfinished to my way of thinking, but they also reminded me as the sort of case investigated by Mma Ramotswe and Mma Grace Makutsi—it’s not so much about the case but the people we meet and the things we learn.

While this wasn’t a top pick for me, it’s still a fun book.

My Favorite Swedish Authors

One of our staff members is originally from Sweden, so in light of the popularity of books set in Scandinavia we asked her to tell us about some of her favorite authors.

Camilla Läckberg: Patrik Hedström series

I read the first one in this crime series “The ice princess” and I was hooked.

The crimes committed are usually on the gritty side catching your attention, but it’s balanced out with the relationship between Patrik and Erica. Family dynamics are slightly different in Sweden, so I can relate to their dynamics. I like how intermittent stories of the past are injected, revealing slowly why a crime was committed.

I find it very hard to put down her books, hence one of my most favorite Swedish authors.

Håkan Nesser: Inspector Van Veeteren series

This is another crime series I really like. The inspector Van Veeteren lives in a fictional town, but it feels European to me. He is a moody grumpy character, but so likeable anyway. He is stubborn, set in his ways, and plods on solving mysteries which he is superb at doing.

Liza Marklund: Annika Bengtzon series

Yet another crime series, but with a much faster pace. I love the main character who is for a change not working in the capacity of the police force. She is a journalist who is very driven professionally, and tries to balance work with home life. She is often in danger, and the stories gets hectic at times. The setting is Stockholm, and the places are familiar to me so it feels like I am there with her as the stories plays out.

Anders Roslund & Börje Hellström: Ewert Grens series

This duo is one of my latest favorites! (Unfortunately Hellström has passed away, but Roslund continued the series on his own.) This is a suspense thriller series with an edge. I find them impossible to put down as they keep me on the edge of my seat. Roslund has a journalistic background, and Hellström is an ex-con. Their knowledge of the Swedish society’s crime, drugs, social problems, and how the penal system works makes their books ring true. There are always many twists, turns and surprises. The setting is mostly in Stockholm and surrounding areas, but also abroad. Ewert even goes to visit his wife who is in a hospice on Lidingö. I grew up on that island which is a suburb of Stockholm, and it’s depicted perfectly. Can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Anton Svenson (pseudonym for Anders Roslund & Stefan Thunberg):

Made in Sweden (only 2 in this series, and is concluded as far as I know)

This series is based on true events. It’s actually about the author Thunberg’s own family. Many members of his family were Sweden’s most notorious bank robbers in the 1990’s. I didn’t live there at that time, but remember hearing about it. The story is quite extraordinary, and it happened in Sweden of all places. It’s an amazing tale of a tight-knit dysfunctional family filled with violence. It’s heart wrenching and very gripping. There was no way I was putting this book down except for eating, sleeping and going to work.

Lars Kepler: Detective Inspector Joona Linna series

This is one of my very latest finds, and definitely a favorite. Lars Kepler is pseudonym for a married couple who has written books on their own. Lars is homage to Stieg Larsson, and Kepler for the German scientist Johannes Kepler.

The crimes committed are very grisly. The tales are complex, and very gripping and thrilling. Yet again the setting is centered in Stockholm. I love that Sweden now has so many really awesome writers. 

Linna is Finnish, and is a very likeable character. He is strong, observant, fearless, and very good at his job.

Stieg Larsson: Millennium series

Yes, I liked this series as well – how can I not? Mostly set in Stockholm, but also all over Sweden. As the stories unfold, I’m right there. Embedded in the story are mental and social issues in Sweden I have seen and been aware of. 

I read the third book in English, and I can’t say I like the translator at all. If I had begun with the translated book, I don’t think I would have continued reading the series. They are much better in the original language.

I have read the continuation of the series by David Lagercrantz. Even though I like him as a writer,  I didn't like his continued work as much, and therefore I stopped after his first book.

Niklas Natt och Dag

This author comes from one of the oldest noble families in Sweden. I read his debut book The Wolf and the Watchman in Swedish (as I almost always do). This book is a historical thriller, and beware if you have a weak stomach because it’s super grisly with horrible details. He did a superb job though because I couldn’t help continuing to read even as I was disgusted. It very much shows the life and surroundings of the time period (18th century Stockholm).

Fredrik Backman

Finally something lighter to read. I love reading his books, they make me laugh out loud! The characters are so well described! I grew up with these kind of people so I can relate to them all. Actually, he is absolutely phenomenal at characterizing typical behavior of Swedish people. 

Margareta Magnusson: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

OK, so I believe everybody needs to read this book.  We live in such a consumer society, and have way too much stuff. My parents grew up during the depression and WWII. Hence, we saved everything in case it was needed, and nothing was to be wasted. This book puts a light touch on the subject that one needs to clean up their belongings before you die, so your family members do not have to deal with all of it. I’m myself doing this right now, and boy, do I have a lot of stuff – it’s quite incredible!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Reviewed by Jeanne

 Beartown is a small community whose ice hockey A-team was second in the nation about twenty years ago, but still carries the pride of those days. One member of that team even went to play in Canada in the NHL for a while.  Now, with jobs dwindling and no tourism or industry—or as one character puts it all they have is “darkness, cold, and unemployment”-- Beartown once again has pinned its hopes on ice hockey.  They have a great team, a team that might just make it into the championship round and bring a new rink, new training facilities, and new life to Beartown.

Then there is an incident which tears the town and the team apart.  Can Beartown survive?

I may have mentioned a time or twelve that I love Book Bingo because it encourages me to read books I might not pick up otherwise.  That was the case with the first Backman book I read, A Man Called Ove (and which I loved) and so it was with the second when the square told me to read a book about sports.  I don’t hate sports, I just don’t know that I like to read about them all that much.  And then I remembered that Backman’s Beartown was about ice hockey.

Well, it is.  And it isn’t.

Backman has a deep understanding of his characters and is an artist at revealing them to the reader, giving each one multiple layers and facets.  There’s a full cast here indeed:  Peter, the former champion, who has returned home to help the town win again, bringing with him his attorney wife and two children, bright Maya and her younger brother, Leo; Kevin, the new golden boy who may bring glory to the town; Sune, the old man who has coached the A-team for decades but who knows that he’s going to be pushed out; and Amat, whose mother immigrated to Beartown and works as a cleaner so that her son can have a better life and play this game that he loves with all his heart and soul.  There are numerous other supporting characters who can seem overwhelming at first, but they all have important roles to play in the drama. 

What I love about Backman’s writing is that his characters aren’t often predictable.  Some who seem unlikable at first may emerge as heroes while the seemingly sympathetic person turns out to care more for his own agenda than for the greater good.

More than anything, this is an examination of human character and society and made a much greater impression on me than I would have imagined.  There are some things that I may quibble with—Backman likes to leap forward to the future and occasionally tantalize his audience with hints of what happened to a character—but I also have to admit those make for memorable impressions.

If you like tough stories well told, peopled by fully developed characters, moments when you will cringe and cheer, and an exploration of both the light and dark in human beings, then by all means pick up Beartown.  You may even want to try the sequel, Us Against You, which continues the story of some of the characters.  A third book is in the works.

And I don’t know beans about hockey.