The Stonecutter

 

The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg

Patrick Hedstrom Series #3

Mystery

2012

Finished on March 25, 2024

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

Scandi-crime thriller from international bestseller Camilla Läckberg, perfect for fans of Jo Nesbø, Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson.

The remote resort of Fjällbacka has seen its share of tragedy, though perhaps none worse than that of the little girl found in a fisherman's net. But this was no accidental drowning.Not only was there no seawater found in the girl's lungs--the autopsy yielded far more sinister findings. 

Local detective Patrik Hedström has just become a father. It's his grim task to discover who could be behind the murder of a child both he and his partner Erica knew well. Little Sara Florin's family history could provide the key, but how do you probe into the past of a family who has just suffered the consummate tragedy? What Patrick does not know is how Sara's death will open up the dark heart of Fjallbacka, spanning generations, encompassing a mysterious fire, thwarted ambitions, and pitting neighbor against neighbor, threatening to rip aside Fjallbacka's idyllic facade, perhaps forever.

It's been several years since I read the first two books in Camilla Lackberg's Fjallbacka series. I loved The Ice Princess, which I read in 2016, but was disappointed in The Preacher (the second installment), which I read the following month. As noted in my review (for The Preacher), I think these books are best read in print rather than on audio. Hearing the names spoken caused me great confusion, as many sounded similar to one another. There are also numerous characters to keep track of, and while reading The Stonecutter, I made a cheat sheet in order to stay on top of each new character and how they were related to one another. This third installment turned out to be a good mystery in spite of being able to unravel one of the clues about halfway in. At close to 500 pages, I did feel it could have been shorter, and I grew impatient with Hedstrom and his coworkers, wishing they'd hurry up and solve the murder mystery. At times, the detectives seemed to be fairly inept at their jobs, but Lackberg kept me guessing and overall, I was very pleased with the story. I plan to continue with the next book in the series (The Stranger) later this summer.

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.

The Ice Princess

The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
Mystery
Patrick Hedstrom Series, #1
2010 HighBridge Audio
Reader: David Thorn
Finished on February 8, 2016
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Winner of the 2008 Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, France's most prestigious award for crime fiction. 

Publisher's Blurb:

In this electrifying tale of suspense from an international crime-writing sensation, a grisly death exposes the dark heart of a Scandinavian seaside village.

Erica Falck returns to her tiny, remote hometown of Fjallbacka, Sweden, after her parents' deaths only to encounter another tragedy: the suicide of her childhood best friend, Alex. It's Erica herself who finds Alex's body--suspended in a bathtub of frozen water, her wrists slashed. Erica is bewildered: Why would a beautiful woman who had it all take her own life? Teaming up with police detective Patrik Hedstrom, Erica begins to uncover shocking events from Alex's childhood. As one horrifying fact after another comes to light, Erica and Patrik's curiosity gives way to obsession--and their flirtation grows into uncontrollable attraction. But it's not long before one thing becomes very clear: a deadly secret is at stake, and there's someone out there who will do anything--even commit murder-to protect it.

Fans of Scandinavian greats Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell will devour Camilla Lackberg's penetrating portrait of human nature at its darkest.


I love this series! And, I didn't find this first installment nearly as convoluted as Stieg Larsson's books, which makes it even more appealing to continue reading more by Lackberg. David Thorn is an excellent reader and his accent is wonderful. I found it interesting to listen to the audio and glance at the print edition to see how certain names are pronounced (not at all what I thought they would be!). I had lots of ideas about who might be the murderer, but it wasn't obvious, and at one point, I felt like my jaw literally dropped to the floor!

Final Thoughts:

A winning introduction to a new series. I downloaded the second book before I even finished this one, it was that good.