I loved this book, full of twists and turns just like the killing tv series and I spent the whole book changing my mind about who was responsible at every turn. This is dark and disturbing but a book you can’t put down and with two lead cops who I really brought into and liked and wanted them to catch the bad guy.

It's one of those ideal early October days; the sun is shining but there's a crisp chill in the air. It's a Sunday too so I have the luxury of time, I can do whatever I like on this day of great possibility. With the shifting seasons, I am surrounded by events and opportunities. So I spent my morning lost in this book. I ignored the hunger creeping over me. I dismissed the Low Battery warning on my Kindle. I was not putting this down!

The Chestnut Man is one of those books that finds a special balance. Even in the opening chapter, and the chapters here are brief, Sveistrup manages to offer up a pretty warm and cosy cliche and then slam it into your face like a snowball laced with shards of ice. And until you finally finish this book you are basically going to be thrown around between comfortable, easy reading, and dark, brutal passages. It's like riding a rollercoaster with a blindfold on at times because you're never entirely sure when the next turn is coming and you certainly don't know whether you'll quietly climb or suddenly dive into the depths.

As impressive as this navigation through the story is, there's a subtlety that takes it even further. Despite being a third person narrative Sveistrup manages to bring the individual characters perspectives in with the careful use of language, a small shift in tone to highlight racism or immaturity. It makes for some slightly unsettling sentences and adds so much texture to the story.

It's probably no surprise to learn that the ensemble of characters are all pretty broken, the extent and reasoning for most taking such a long time to come out you barely remember you have no idea why they're the way they are, but these reveals are presented at key moments, there's no need for oversharing exposition, just a small line here and there to remind you there are layers to everything you're reading.

When you combine it all... You get something powerful. It won't be easy reading for some people. It touches on difficult subjects and although it doesn't bask these areas it can't avoid them or pull the punches. But, if you feel brave enough, clear your calendar and pick this up. It's worth your time.

A book I have been unable to put down but not a read for the squeamish. It is really important and necessary to review this book whilst giving nothing away in order that the reader enjoys or should I say suffers the suspense and uncertainty of every page with no accidental indicators. Go in blind and enjoy the ride. A female detective desperate to change departments. A male detective transferred to the same department while under threat of suspension. Both charged to work together to solve one horrendous crime, quickly followed by a similar brutal murder indicating same perpetrator. Neither like or initially respect each others capabilities yet forced to track down and apprehend a serial killer against a ticking clock. Running in parallel a senior politician returning to work after a sabbatical of 12 months recovering from the kidnap and disappearance of her young daughter. The tightly constructed plot lines, callous and brutal in every respect require the two police officers to work together, usually in horrific circumstances to resolve a series of events indicating links with the child abduction. From beginning to end I was unable to figure out any answers and when given an answer by the author the story immediately introduced a more complex scenario, leaving the reader in awe of the authors ability to keep the reader guessing. This book weaves an intricate thriller using characters from every strata of society. No person is obviously guilty but neither can any character be considered innocent or blameless. The quick pace of this book has not allowed any breathing space until the very last chapter when the relentless speed of events threatens all involved. Every accolade to the writer for ensuring the book lived up to every expectation and does not disappoint.

Interesting story but having read several Scandinavian police investigative murder stories, I find the procedures very ponderous and slow to be resolved. This one is on the same lines. Some good characters and an interesting storyline. The action sped up rapidly towards the conclusion. Good ending.

As you might expect from the writer behind 'The Killing', this is an excellent thriller – a real page-turner with a couple of red herrings thrown in, great characterisation and two detectives who I would hope to read about again. Deserves to be a huge hit.

A real page turner from first page, couldn't put the book down until I'd finished. Well written with superb story, many twists and turns keeps you engrossed right to the end.

Thought this book was excellent. A clever blend of politics, policing and detective work. Not forgetting the interesting and well drawn characters. Whilst the characters were very well developed they were not allowed to get in the way of the main story i.e. the murders. I couldn't put the book down and I was not disappointed with the ending - what more is there to say.

A superior crime novel with great characters.
I found it a little too bogged down in detail at times but enjoyed it all the same.
Having read many ‘psychological thrillers’, it makes a nice change to read one that real depth, rather than the lightweights that are churned out ad infinitum.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

A unique tale of two independent detectives with ambitions to go elsewhere who are thrown together charged with solving a murder case. They are a disjointed team suspicious of each other with a take it or leave it attitude to each other’s ideas. The case soon escalates when other murders occur with the killer leaving a chestnut man behind to suggest a link with more to follow. When political interests become involved their careers are threatened if the fail to find the killer. This forces them to work together if their careers are not to be destroyed. How their relationship evolves and how they finally crack the case makes a fascinating read.

Fantastic. This novel is very very good. It is quite lengthy but definitely does not feel like it. I was gripped by the story from very early on, a classic Scandinavia crime thriller that would make an excellent series.

This book became un put downable for me. Despite a necessarily gentle start, the further I read, the more I neglected the world around me!
It starts with a flashback to 1989, the significance of which is revealed in the final chapters. Back in present day, we are introduced to the characters of the key detectives, Thulin and Hess, both of whom seem to be damaged by life and circumstances. This could have felt a little cliqued but somehow, I still felt myself becoming an advocate for them both.
The murders in question start with an average level of gruesomeness and accelerate rapidly toward downright creepiness. This is emphasised more as the title of the book becomes more relevant. Although I had my suspicions about the identity of the killer, I still managed to accuse everyone before the denouement. The explanation worked for me, although I did find myself puzzled about one key point With plenty of red herrings and a back story of political life, the book felt well rounded. Only frustration was the seeming incompetence and unwillingness to listen of most of the Danish police.
I’m hoping this is the start of a series!

An excellent addition to the Scandi-Noir list. Multiple twists to the plot which keep one guessing to the end; incidents, characters that are seemingly unconnected, but are they? This was a book that had me thinking 'just one more chapter' and then I would find myself several chapters later! Impossible to put down. Would highly recommend to anyone who likes a good story, plot, characterisation.

Look forward to further novels by this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pengiun UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of The Chestnut Man, a stand alone thriller set in Copenhagen.

When Laura Kjaer is murdered in the playground behind her house Detective Naia Thulin and disgraced Europol detective Mark Hess are put on the case. Laura's missing hand and the figure of a man made from chestnuts at the scene make them suspect that there may be more to the case than is immediately apparent. In the meantime Minister for Social Affairs Rosa Hartung is returning to work after the disappearance and assumed murder of her daughter the year before. Hess suspects a link between the cases but no one wants to know as they have the perpetrator locked up.

I enjoyed The Chestnut Man which has an intricate plot with many twists and turns. I do, however, think that the author shows his screenwriting roots in the execution as some of the scenes would be better visually than they are in the written word, notably the infighting about the direction of the case. I found the stubbornness of Chief Detective Nylander in sticking to his original convictions annoying and repetitive in the book but I could imagine it being good drama as tempers rise and Hess finds ways to circumvent his edicts. I also think the novel is overly long and making it shorter would have packed more of a punch.

Having said that there is a good, well conceived plot in the novel with lots of misdirection and false starts and a well concealed perpetrator and motive. I was hooked on all the potential links and it provides much food for speculation, especially as most of mine was wrong! It mostly follows the investigation and Rosa Hartung in its point of view and while the timeline is mostly in the present the opening chapter from 1989 tells the reader that there is much more to the story than is immediately apparent.

Thulin and Hess are interesting protagonists. Thulin is remote and not heavily invested in her current position, in fact she's applied for another job in a more high profile department. She is, however, very interested in promotion which will come by toeing the party line. I found her a strange character, supposedly smart but ready to accept the obvious without asking too many questions. Hess, on the other hand, is the maverick with a capacity for lateral thinking and an ability to see beyond the obvious. He would probably be as annoying as anything in real life but he's a great fictional detective and by far my favourite character.

The Chestnut Man is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I did not enjoy this. I don't like present tense novels nor did I like the violence. It's just a pastiche of so much Scandinavian noir.

A lovely read!

The book starts a bit slow but then quickly builds up speed. The story itself is gripping and full of twists and turns!