This is an intriguing and absorbing account of several murders all with links to the medical profession in
Copenhagen. That city is used superbly as the background for the book and its descriptive parts are very well written. The Butterfly House of the title was a retreat for mentally damaged teenagers but is now closed. The reasons for that are a story in themselves linked to the death of a care worker who was challenging the medical treatment in use there. Then bodies are found beside fountains. All have connections to the same profession. One key suspect is Peter Demant, a psychiatrist in the House. An intriguing extra is that he collects dead butterflies. He is described as having “to make an effort not to talk down to people”. It is clear to Jeppe Korner who runs the investigation that the deaths are all linked. His problem is in finding the connection. He is aided by his assistant Sara and by Annette who is meant to be on maternity leave but can’t keep out of running her own investigation. “The butterfly that draws the least attention to itself is the most dangerous.” The question is which of these very well created characters is the culprit. The book moves to an unexpected ending. It is an excellent read and I recommend it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy of The Butterfly House, the second novel to feature Copenhagen detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner.

A delivery boy discovers a naked body in a fountain and Jeppe Kørner is asked to lead the investigation. The body has some strange marks on it and the cause of death is exsanguination. Unfortunately more bodies follow. Jeppe struggles to gain traction in a case with its roots in the past, but Anette, bored at home on maternity leave, engages in some unauthorised investigating to help him along.

I have not read The Tenant so I am new to this series and didn’t know what to expect. My late arrival to the series is not an issue as this works well as a stand-alone and I didn’t feel any lack of backstory, so that’s good. There are many things to like in this novel, but it simply didn’t hold my attention and it took me days, rather than my usual hours, to finish.

The novel is told from multiple points of view and I found it difficult to slot the characters into the narrative and discern their role in events. I didn’t enjoy this uncertainty and I disliked the constant switching of perspective with little hint of where it was going. I got to the stage that I read it to fulfill my commitment to write a review, otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it and that would have been a shame because the ending is the best bit of the book as it finishes strongly with a couple of action scenes, one reprising the opening chapter, and all loose ends tied up.

I liked the investigation which is low-key and offers a realistic view of the difficulties of policing in a state with laws and rights protection, something readers don’t always see in fiction. I would have loved this novel if it was told entirely from and concentrated on the investigative point of view, cutting out a lot of the extraneities. On the other hand I thought the characterisation of the more minor characters was strong, although Jeppe and Anette were more stereotypical. Aside from the strangeness of an American translation of a European novel (no, I can’t explain why it’s strange, it just is to me) I liked the no-nonsense prose and style which made the novel more readable to me.

The Butterfly House is not a bad novel and it will appeal to many readers. Its execution is simply not to my taste.

I'm a fan of Scandinavian mysteries though I always have a bit of a problem keeping the unfamiliar names straight. It helped that the characters were all well-defined and interesting. There's plenty of action in this book and a good story, along with getting to know the characters. It was hard to understand Annette being so reckless with a new baby and loving husband at home - - but I guess that is just part of her character. I look forward to the inevitable next book in the series where she is back to work full time as partner to Jeppe. I'm sure there are many adventures to come!

I read and enjoyed The Tenant so when I was offered the chance to read The Butterfly House I jumped at it, and I'm glad I did. It's very atmospheric with lots going on in both the foreground and the background. A slow burner of a story but with plenty to keep you entertained.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

A pretty solid, if standard police procedural dealing with treatment and mistreatment of mentally ill young people.

I have not read the first book in this series but I was able to follow the storyline without any issues.

The plot felt a little slow and cumbersome in places. I found the dialogue a bit weighty and clumsy, perhaps due to the translation. There were almost too many to subplots, some more interesting than others and I don’t think I have ever read a book that spent so long weaving in the loose ends after the storyline of the main crime was finished.

I didn’t like Kørner as much as I feel the author would like me too. He comes off as a bit sanctimonious. I would have preferred more Werner, who is more flawed, more human than the ultimately boring Kørner.

Would I read any more in this series? Yes, especially if Werner was there to roughen up the perfect edges of her partner.

Bodies are appearing around the city of Copenhagen. They are submerged in water and have fine incision marks on their arms; they have bled to death. Detective Jeppe Korner is leading the investigation into these unsettling murders. He is missing his usual partner, Anette Werner who is on maternity leave. However Anette is bored and sets off on her own independent investigation which puts her life in danger. This is the second book in the series after The Tenant and it is just as good. You don’t need have read the first book to enjoy this one.

There is a great plot involving a home for children with psychiatric problems and their support workers, an egotistical psychiatrist, and a potential whistle-blower. There is a connection between all of these and Jeppe needs to join up the dots. The action is fast paced and takes place over just a few days. The setting of a wet and cold Copenhagen creates an excellent atmosphere.

The characters are well developed and you get a real sense of individual personalities. Jeppe and Anette, in particular, really breathe life into the story. Themes of mental health, underfunded care services and the ways in which people can get lost in the ‘system’ are deftly explored. There is plenty of suspense and many twists and turns. If you enjoy Scandi crime, you’ll love this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this gripping Danish thriller,I had already read The Tenant which I also loved so I was looking forward to reading the second book in this series with Coppenhagen Detectives Jeppe Korner and Annette Werner .Annette is on maternity leave and Jeppe has a new partner Falck. A dead body is found in a fountain, the first of three which will be found, a serial killer is on the loose and Jeppe and Falck are on the case and this is the beginning of a fastpaced gripping read .Esther and Greggas from The Tenant also return they felt like old friends .A really enjoyable series looking forward to reading more .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

As a fan of Scandinavian crime noir this type of novel has always impressed me. This one was no exception. A great story line based on mistreatment of young people in a supposed mental health clinic, a tale of revenge for the treatment they received leading to murder. Well recommended.

In Copenhagen, the body of a woman is discovered floating in a fountain in the Old Market, the cause of death is exsanguination, drained completely of her blood. 24 hours later another body is discovered in another of fountain in the city with the same cause of death and mysterious injuries. Lead investigator Jeppe Kørner is put on the case whist his partner, Anette Werner is at home on maternity leave after and unexpected pregnancy. As Jeppe investigates the victims and finds a link to Butterfly House, a private psychiatric facility for young people, Anette decides to look into the case herself to usurp her boredom at home and unearths some dark truths.

Last year I decided to read more translated fiction which included Katrine Engberg's novel The Tenant which I absolutely adored so I was over the moon when Hodder & Stoughton invited me to review the next book in the series! Despite this being part of the series with a small nod to a couple of characters from the first book, Esther and Greggers, it also makes a fantastic stand alone that a reader can go into blind.

Like The Tenant this will keep you hooked! The Butterfly House is fast paced, dark and compelling. It kept me guessing all the way through, unable to predict the twists and pick up the red herrings. Even though the characters are complex, telling the story from multiple POVs I was never lost. Something about Engberg’s writing style feels like it's written just for me and I cannot wait for the next instalment in the series.

After recovering from a hurtful divorce that nearly ruined his career, Inspector Korner is put in charge of a triple homicide investigation without the starting influence of his partner Annette Werner, who's on maternity leave. The top brass are on his back, threatening to take the case away unless he gets a result very soon. It's a race he has to win in order to save the life of someone he really cares for.

I have a huge weakspot for Nordic thrillers. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I devour these stories like candy.

The Butterfly House is no exception. Jeppe and Anette are both wonderful, complex and fleshed out characters. The story itself is tense and keeps your attention right there.

Highly recommend!

If you are into Scandinavian Police/Serial Killer/Unpronounceable town and street names then this is a book that I am sure you will enjoy. OK I can say (and write) Copenhagen!
A couple of reviews ago I listed my expected components of police/serial killer books after having read/reviewed many in the last few years. The Butterfly House does differ in some respects to my schematic - male lead detective with no serious hand-ups or bad childhood experiences.
I did enjoy the book a lot but found the first 10%-15% of the book quite difficult to grasp as we are provided with a string of character names and scenarios. Unless I missed it (quite possible!) the prologue activity seems to have little or no relevance to the main theme of the book. I had to wait until the last handful of pages for the link to be revealed.
I was able to work out the culprit (rare for me) after a process of elimination and heads and tails logic.
Definitely a good read

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

I really enjoyed reading this book, even though i couldn't complete the first book in the series. This book takes us through Copengagen as three dead bodies are found in three days, all killed n dumped in s similar manner. The police must find connection between the three before time runs out n more bodies drop.

I liked the book because it was fast paced n kept me guessing. Will definitely recommend this!

An angel of death is stalking the wards of a Copenhagen hospital, meanwhile a paperboy discovers a murdered middle aged woman dumped in a city fountain. More similar murders follow with the investigation led by Inspector Jeppe Kørner currently partnered with the somewhat plodding Inspector Falck while Anette Werner is on maternity leave. However, would this actually stop her getting involved? Of course not, she’s exhausted but bored and she cannot resist.

This is another excellent addition to the Kørner/Werner series and I like that some of the characters from The Tenant are included here such as the very likeable Esther de Laurenti. The detective duo are extremely good characters, they are well developed and interesting. I like the fact that we get into their lives too with Kørner moving on romantically and Werner’s struggles with new motherhood which makes them feel authentic. This is another good, gritty storyline as the murders are .... shall we settle for ‘creative’ and I find the inclusion of medical history in investigating the murder method especially intriguing. The murders seem to link to The Butterfly House, a former private residential treatment centre for children and teens with psychiatric issues. The inclusion of mental health as a theme is both interesting and very relevant. The plot is clever, with well connected threads and a fast pace which makes for gripping reading. There are plenty of twists, turns and several suspects which keeps you engaged until the end. The style is lively which maintains the focus and I like the occasional use of humour to lighten the dark. The setting in Copenhagen is great and there are some very good descriptions of the autumnal city which adds to the building atmosphere.

Overall, another well written and compelling novel from Katrine Engberg and I look forward to number three in the series with eager anticipation!

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc for an honest review.

Korner & Werner #2

Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But in the coronary unit at one of Copenhagen's leading medical centers, a nurse fiollls a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and enters the room of an older male patient.

Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in central Copenhagen stumbles upon a naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountaian.Her arms are marked with small incisions. There was no blood left in her body.

Detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are back investigating. A sociopath is on the loose. They're draining blood from their victims by using a medieval device that was used to treat illness. There's plenty of suspects to choose from in this steady paced read. The story takes a look at the mental health system and how under staffed and over worked they can be. The twists just kept comiing. I thought i had this all woked out, but i was wrong. This book/does reas well as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Hodder&Stoughton amd the author #KathrineEngberg for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This second novel by Katrine Engberg affirms her place at the forefront of Danish noir writers. This is a compelling and brave crime thriller written with honesty and integrity.
Jeppe Korner and Anete Werner of the Copenhagen police have worked well together but now Anete is on maternity leave and sick of dirty nappies and boredom. While the former officially investigates a series of murders in Copenhagen, the latter unofficially follows leads of her own, taking her ever closer to danger.
Engberg is a brilliant storyteller. The dark and morally complex plot has many layers. Once I'd started I couldn't stop reading.

I don’t normally read books in a series and hadn’t read The Tenant but the concept of this book sounded good and I’d heard great things about the author.

You definitely can read this as a stand-alone without it being confusing so don’t let it put you off if you haven’t read the first book.

I really enjoyed the Copenhagen setting and the actual case of bodies turning up bloodless in fountains was definitely intriguing. I did find this book to be quite slow placed though and it felt quite busy, there was a few sub plots and a lot of different characters to try and keep track of with a lot of changing narratives.

Thank you to NetGalley providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#TheButterflyHpuse #NetGalley
A good read.
In the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen's leading medical centres, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient.
Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in the centre of the city stumbles upon a macabre find: the body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain, her arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination - the draining of all the blood in her body. Clearly, this is no ordinary murder.
Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the investigation. His partner, Anette Werner, now on leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Straighten for giving me an advanced copy.