The Preacher

The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg
Mystery
Patrick Hedstrom Series, #2
2011 HighBridge Audio
Read by David Thorn
Finished on March 15, 2016
Rating: 2/5 (Fair)

Publisher's Blurb:

In the fishing community of Fjällbacka, life is remote, peaceful, and for some, tragically short. Foul play was always suspected in the disappearance twenty years ago of two young campers, but their bodies were never found. But now, a young boy out playing has confirmed the grim truth. Their remains are discovered alongside those of a fresh victim, sending the tiny town into shock.

Local detective Patrik Hedström, expecting a baby with his girlfriend Erica, can only imagine what it is like to lose a child. When a second young girl goes missing, Hedström's attention focuses on the Hults, a feuding clan of misfits, religious fanatics and criminals. The suspect list is long but time is short—which of this family's dark secrets will provide the vital clue?

Oh my goodness! I really needed a family tree for this cast of characters. The narrative was very confusing until I finally got everyone (and their relationships to one another) sorted out. This may have just been a problem with the audio version, since so many of the names sound similar to each other, but it was definitely a hindrance to my listening pleasure. There is also quite a leap forward in time from where the previous book (The Ice Princess) left off, which made me feel like I had accidentally skipped a book in the series. And, I can't remember when I read such a convoluted denouement! If I didn't like the main characters so much, I would have ditched this book after reading 3 or 4 chapters.

Final Thoughts:

Blergh.