Great book, the skilful blend of mystery and suspense made this an exhilarating read that will leave you questioning the boundaries of human nature

Wow! What a read. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Given that it is part of a series, I thought it would make it difficult to follow but it was fine. Definitely something you can easily read as a stand-alone!

Great, detailed, graphic read!

As a fan of Lars Kepler this novel didn't disappoint. If you like nordic noir, action, suspense and thrilling story lines then The Mirror Man is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve gone and done it again.. this is book eight in a series! It read well as a standalone but I’ll definitely be starting from number one as I felt there were some parts referenced that I didn’t quite understand and I feel you’d really benefit from the character development, starting from the beginning.

But this was an absolutely BRILLIANT book, which I still hugely enjoyed and would highly recommend! Chilling, brutal, tense and gritty, THE MIRROR MAN is a super absorbing, unputdownable crime thriller, with a fast paced, complex plot and interesting, layered characters; the perfect combination to keep me utterly gripped to a story.

This is not for the faint of heart however! There’s some pretty disturbing, graphic violence throughout the book, and I felt genuinely creeped out and/or sick in places. I loved that we got so many different perspectives during the plot, including the detectives, the witnesses, the girls and the mirror man themselves — there’s almost several storylines running parallel to one another. I did PARTIALLY guess the identity of the mirror man but not to the full extent: it was so cleverly written and well thought out.

Overall, this was the perfect mix of detective mystery, thriller + horror. I’ve downloaded the first seven books onto my SCRIBD TBR and I’m super excited to get round to them and get to know Joona from the beginning!

📍 Thank you to the publisher, author + NetGalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own. Review also posted to @redheadbookgirl (IG), Goodreads and Storygraph.

𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒚 @ 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 🥀

I’ve enjoyed all the Lars Kepler books I’ve read so far, they’re brilliant, can’t wait to make sure I read the whole series to be honest so I was chuffed when I got approved for the mirror man! As always I love Joona Linna and the squad, I like the mysteries and the thrill of these books and this one was no different. It’s twisty and thrilling in all the right places and will have you hooked from start to end!

Thank you Bonnier Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
Well this didn't disappoint. I just love the way this duos writes.
It kept me up at night trying to finish this.
Definitely recommended

It took me ages to read this and as a result I have mixed feelings. I enjoyed it but it had no draw for me and I kept putting it down for sometimes weeks at a time. I had really hoped it would draw me in and be completely consuming but unfortunately not.

This was my first book by the Lars Kepler duo and I can’t wait to dig into more of their work! A thrilling, captivating Book that I simply could not put down…definitely recommend!

Sadly this just wasn't for me even though the cover and the premise sounded right up my street I just found it too illogical and far fetched.

I don't even know why I thought I'd like it in all honesty, I haven't so far found a Scandinavian Noir book that I've enjoyed but thought I'd keep trying hoping to find one.. unfortunately this was not the one!

For a supposed crime thriller I found the focus based more on the actions than the actual suspense and mystery that makes a thriller a thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for the ARC.

What a ride! A thrilling suspense novel from Lars Kepler - my first book from this author!

Well narrated, twisty and well-paced. I am looking forward to my next book from this author!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

A massive crime novel that manages to set and keep a good pace throughout! The plot is haunted and creepy at times and also quite brutal. Not for the faint hearted but if you can manage to stick with it you won’t be disappointed a solid 4star read!

Can you imagine that a killer has been kidnapping and killing young people for years and the police has not found still the killer? This is the story of Jenny, who was abducted 5 years ago and now her body has appeared in a public park… Of course the police will start investigating the case, but only Detective Joona Linna can find some similar treats with an old case, a possible suicide years ago… But now, another young girl has disappeared and Joona knows that the clock is ticking against them.
This is quite a dark and atmospheric read; on one side we have Joona trying to find the killer and on the other side we have the young girls, frightened for their lives and knowing that their time is running down.
I have to say that this is the 8th book of the Joona Linna series, you can read it as a standalone, but you’ll miss some connections between the characters, not important for the case, but always interesting to know! I love Lars Kepler books, so I would recommend anyone to start the series from the beginning, it is worth it.
As I said, this is a dark book, you can feel the pain of the victims in your own skin, being afraid of your life and sometimes wanting to close your eyes because of how scared you can be. But that’s why the book is so well written that it makes you feel part of it, not a mere observer but a victim too.
This is a book you’ll want to read in one sitting, twists and surprises are waiting for the readers, believe me.
Are you ready to meet “The Mirror Man”?

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. It’s book 8 in a series that I haven’t read yet, but it worked well as a standalone. Joona is a likeable enough character that I would be interested in reading the rest of the series.

I’m going to start my review by saying please check trigger warnings. I saw a spoiler for this book before I started reading, but I’m glad that I did because it meant I was able to skip over a certain part. There’s lots of very upsetting scenes in this book, and some parts are described in a lot of detail. I think some parts had too much detail, and for the wrong reasons as they didn’t always contribute to the storyline. I’m not normally as bothered by these scenes, as long as they’re relevant to the storyline.

I did enjoy this book, but I also struggled with it. It was quite slow and confusing at times, and I really had to focus on what was happening. There’s a lot of names and details to remember, so I did get a bit confused. I really liked the twist, it was completely unexpected - but it did also confuse me a bit. It took a while for me to understand what was happening, but it was a big surprise. I had my theories, and they were all wrong. It was quite an easy book to read and I did like Lars Kepler’s writing. I read The Hypnotist a while ago and liked that book too. I would like to read the rest of the series in order because although I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from the storyline, they do at times mention things that happened in the past, so I didn’t understand those references.

Overall it was a good thriller, an easy to read book and one that I will be recommending. However, it was upsetting at times and tough to read. I’m sure that I’ll read the rest of this series at some point.

Well subltle it isn’t so only read if you don’t mind graphic detail. It was a great read though despite what seemed a very confusing first few chapters. I really didn’t know where I was for a while. As usual though this author keeps you enthralled ( or horrified) with an ending I defy anyone to guess early.

This moves at such a breakneck speed I almost forgot to breathe. At times too nasty to read – I skipped much of the dog fight – almost too far-fetched to be believable, but I still carried on, only stopping to work and sleep.

I said this in another review, but I am going to repeat is at it relevant to The Mirror Man. ‘There’s something about Scandi noir that makes it different from our own crime novels and police procedurals. It’s stripped back, realistic, never shies away from anything. It’s quite ‘hard’ though I’m not sure how to explain what I mean by that. The hero or heroine is usually tired, in or out of a messy relationship, drinks too much, has been around the block a few times.’

Our hero in this case is Joona Linna, a detective with The Swedish National Crime Unit, who appears damaged beyond repair, to the point where his daughter is distancing herself from him and he sometimes resorts to visiting an opium den. However, it’s not Joona who is the drinker – that is reserved for Pamela, whose husband Martin almost died when he fell through the ice on a fishing trip and Pamela’s daughter from a previous relationship is missing, presumed drowned.

Martin is in shock after the accident, and has totally retreated into himself, suffering from complex PTSD. So when he sees a murder in the local park while walking his dog Loke in the middle of a rainy night, he freezes and remembers nothing, other than that he was there.

The murder he has seen is that of Jenny Lind, abducted five years earlier while walking home from school. The autopsy reveals that she was freeze-branded on the back of her head, which triggers a memory in Joona about a ‘suicide’ many years before.

In the present day, Pamela wants to foster a troubled teenager called Mia as she feels she is ready to offer a stable home. Unfortunately social services turn her down because of Martin’s unstable behaviour and his arrest for the murder. And now Mia has also been abducted and the police are struggling to find any clues.

The plot becomes more and more complicated, the abductions and treatment of the victims kept in cages more and more sinister, a raid on a house just weird and the trip by Joona and two undercover police officers to a horrendous secret ‘night club’ called Eagle’s Nest the worst of all. Illegal boxing, dog and cock fighting, prostitution, drugs – it has it all.

This is not a book for the squeamish or faint-hearted – I’ve said that before – but I really mean it in this case. It’s dark, really dark, and there is no humour or police banter to lighten it. Having said that it’s brilliantly written, terrifying and compulsive.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours and to NetGalley for an ARC

Since I first discovered the Joona Linna series I have enjoyed every book and I have been waiting patiently for this latest novel to be published and it certainly didn't disappoint.
The book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the whole series from the beginning., and getting a feel for the excellent, dark, tense main character..
As with all the books this story takes some shocking twists., it is intense, gripping and you will not want to stop reading.
I highly recommend this excellent read in this brilliant series and look forward to the next

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Seems I have joined the party rather late; this is the 8th book in the series and only the first one I have read. If like me you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this series, do not fret – you can read this book as a standalone. But prepare yourself, you are going to want to read the rest of the series. This dark thriller will leave you eager for more.
As an introduction to this writing duo, I can say I loved the dark side they add to the story. This book has a lot of detail, and you are never left unsure about anything. The characters are clearly depicted, and every action is crystal clear. The authors do not hold back. You can expect a graphic, detailed story full of gory details.
When Jenny Lind, who was kidnapped five years earlier, is found hanging from a jungle gym in a local park, police are eager to find the culprit. With almost no leads available, Joona Linna manages to link the case to an old case that was ruled to be a suicide. Convinced they are dealing with a serial killer Joona is on the hunt, and when another girl is kidnapped it’s a race against the clock to solve the case.
This is a graphic, dark tale that left me completely focused as the flipped the pages. There are a lot of characters and even more detail to keep track of. At one point I was convinced I had the crime figured out, only to discover a twist I never saw coming. This intriguing read had me hooked from start to finish.
I enjoyed the psychology and old school psychiatry added to the story. This added to the characters' intrigue and made their dark, twisted actions all the more intriguing. The young women who were held captive break your heart and the twists and turns in this tale had me glued to the pages.
This series is new to me and I look forward to finding the time to read more of the books in this series. Joona Linna is a curious detective with unique techniques.
Crime thriller fans who enjoy a detailed, twisty tale can expect a treat when they reach for this title. You will find the book jam-packed with detail and never be left wondering about anything.

I don’t know how and why I haven’t read a Lars Kepler book before! I was missing out big time!

We are talking about a dark thriller, with grotesque and disturbing scenes, loads of twists and awful amount of suspense and action. It’s dark, cruel and raw but I loved it so very much! I had a long time to read such a good thriller!

I liked the vulnerability of the characters, the different story lines and points of view. The writing style was easy to follow but gripping. The ending was smashing and action- packed. Overall, excellent experience reading this!

‘The Mirror Man’ is a dark tale of young girls being kidnapped and held for long periods that will keep you wide awake long into the wee hours. This is a very good example of Nordic Noir as trust me it has all the classic hallmarks of this subgenre - dark, tense, brooding super cop as its protagonist, not afraid to make the readers feel uncomfortable! How is it that this is the first Lars Kepler book I have managed to read?! I always meant to pick them up having seen Abby at Crime by the Book rave about them among many others but you know what it is like, you can’t get round to everything. I am going to change this though as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Was it rash to come to a series that has eight books, maybe? But turns out no - it can be read as a standalone for sure! I will be going to head to the start of the series though and make my way through them in time for the next one being released!

Joona was a character which I enjoyed learning about and he is very entertaining! He does seem superhuman though with the number of injuries he manages to pick up in the line of duty. He does seem to get very laser-focused when on a case.

Trigger warnings - animal cruelty, disassociation identity disorder (DID).

I have read some reviews that have marked down the authors for the heightened aspects of DID. But we need to remember that this is a form of entertainment and they have managed to balance this out by highlighting the battle that can take place internally for someone who is suffering from DID.

I might be late to the party but we all know the best guests are!