Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of this series of books and was delighted when offered the opportunity to leave a review in exchange for the ARC.
Jenny Lind vanishes on the way home from school. Her abduction is witnessed by a classmate, but no trace is found of her. Five years later her body is discovered in a park in Central Stockholm. The only witnesses are Martin - a man just released from psychiatric treatment and an unidentified homeless woman. Where has Jenny been for the last 5 years? A tough case for Joona and a welcome reappearance of a character from the first book. I did miss Saga though...
My book of the year so far - brilliant.

On her way home from school Jenny Lind is abducted by a truck driver and taken to a house where she is kept captive with other girls. Some have been there for years. They know that any attempt at escape is futile and witness the barbaric punishments handed out to those who try. Watched over by Granny, they dread Caesar’s visits. At around the same time as Jenny’s parents are pleading for her return, Pamela and Martin lose their daughter Alice in an accident on an ice lake. Five years later Jenny is returned but is found grotesquely hanged in a children’s playground. One person sees it all – Martin, a man haunted by the ghosts of his two dead brothers who prevent him from speaking and add to his complex PTSD issues which have kept him in a psych ward until recently. But is he a witness or a suspect? An inspired and brilliant detective, Joona Linna is both a blessing and a liability to the National Crime Unit. His previous boss Carlos Eliasson has been forced to resign over his last case and now Margot Silverman is in charge. And she tells Joona very firmly that he is not to get involved. Not that that would ever stop him. On a high at Laila’s place, he suddenly remembers photos from a suicide years ago with an uncanny resemblance to Jenny Lind’s death. Could there be a serial killer at large? As another young girl disappears, Joona fears that many more lives are at risk and once more enlists the help of the brilliant hypnotist Erik Maria Bark in his quest for the truth. Neither of them will imagine the gruesome horrors that await them.
Wow! The plot is sheer brilliance and beautifully written in a very distinctive style which translates perfectly from the original. All the strands become cleverly woven together as the plot unfolds, sweeping the reader along to a dramatic conclusion in a deeply dark and chilling story that explores the depths of a deranged and damaged mind. This is a truly great series featuring original storylines that never ever fail to thrill the reader. With the chilling cliff-hanger left in Saga Bauer’s hands, I can't wait to read the next story. 5*

I have not read this author before, but this book was an incredible trip! Just when you think you know... you don't know.

Thanks for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

My thanks to Bonnier Books UK Zaffre for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Mirror Man’ by Lars Kepler in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was originally published in Sweden in 2020 and translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition.

This is Book 8 in their series of police procedurals featuring Detective Joona Linna with the National Crime Unit. I have read four of the previous books in this series so somewhat familiar with its characters and setting, though it can be read as a standalone and background is provided for new readers.

Kepler’s plots are quite complex and often rather gruesome and this one is no different. It opens with the shocking kidnapping of 16-year-old Jenny Lind as well as a tragic accident for another family. The story then moves forward five years and Jenny’s case is long gone cold. Then one night … no, I cannot reveal more as it’s all too easy to enter spoiler territory. It really is the kind of crime thriller that is best read with little advance knowledge of the plot.

In their Authors’ Note Alexander and Alexandra Ahndoril, who write under the pen name of Lars Kepler, explain that while crime fiction is primarily written as entertainment that it can also be a platform for discussions about social issues; in this case violence against women including human trafficking.

Like much Nordic Noir ‘The Mirror Man’ has very dark themes that might prove disturbing for some readers.

Overall, I remain impressed by this excellent series and plan to catch up with the books that I missed as well as look forward to further cases with Joona Linna and his team.

I was new to Lars Kepler as an author and, therefore, to the Joona Linna series of books and I am deeply grateful to NetGalley for the introduction to both. Right from page 1, a dark, threatening atmosphere is created and the reader is drawn into the menacing world of a serial killer at large in Sweden. There are some quite graphically gruesome passages in the book, and some genuinely creepy sequences which literally made my scalp tingle; I was reminded of the Thomas Harris novels featuring a certain doctor. There are also some extraordinarily suspenseful passages when I had to remind myself to breathe. This excellent, complex story is full of terror, twists, turns, red herrings and surprises with a gasp-out-loud ending. Five stars from me and a sky-high recommendation to fans of the Scandi noir and police procedural genres.

So this is the 8th book in the Joona Linna series, and it is the first time I have read a book by this author, as is my norm it seems. I do wish I had started this series at the beginning, but to be honest there is enough detail from the author for me to focus on this one story. I am curious however as to mentions of past events!

Joona Linna is a detective who doesn't always follow orders, it could be said that his actions cost jobs, especially as his previous boss is no longer around. A new boss, a new set of rules that Linna just seems to be able to wrangle his way around. It is just as well really.

The case is one that had gripped the Swedish newspapers 5 years previously, Jenny Lind went missing and hadn't been seen, assumed dead. When her body suddenly turns up in an execution-style way. There is a witness, but he cannot remember anything.

This is a brilliant story and has a good length to it at around 480 pages. This was a book that had me hooked from the outset and it was definitely an addictive one as I read it in one sitting!

The story is about a missing girl, but this isn't the only story. There are various other substories, well I say that but they are also stories in their own right if you get what I mean. Trying to work out what connects them is what kept me eagerly turning the pages.

There is the story of the man who has mental health problems and it tells why he cannot remember what he saw. There is the story of his wife, the story of the missing girl and of Linna who is trying to piece together the puzzles when he isn't even supposed to be working on the case.

These stories do start to connect but I didn't see the bigger picture until the author literally dropped the bombshell. I had ideas, I had theories and I was, as I usually am, wrong. I discovered that each character has a lot more to them than first meets the eye. Everyone has a secret or has something that they don't like to let on, but his story had many of them. What was preventing people from telling all they knew... fear!

This was such an addictive story and fr me the pacing was perfect. It is a slow case as there are no real leads as such, the odd lead that there is could be seen as tenuous at best. But this is where Linna comes into his own. While he can be annoying to his bosses, he is also quite tenacious. AS this is the first time I have come across this character I am curious. Curious to know more about him and what he has been through, he is a bit of an enigma for me and I think this also added to the intrigue of the story.

This is a fab story and one that has some really awful moments in it. It is shocking reading at times at the brutality but somehow the details that the author does include sort of fit with the image that the author builds up throughout the story.

This is one for those who like the longer mystery thriller, there are some brilliant clues and red herrings scattered throughout. Nothing can be taken for granted and I loved this. Brilliantly paced, fabulous characters and storyline and one for crime, thriller and police procedural fans., I loved it and would definitely recommend it.

I have read several books in the Detective Joona Linna series and this is the eighth and does not disappoint. Although part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone story. The action begins immediately with the abduction of a young girl, who is later found murdered. It ramps up quickly as Joona links another case with the same MO. He is relentless and will stop at nothing to catch the perpetrator, including going against the orders of his superiors.
Lars Kepler writes so well it's a pleasure to read his stories. The constant descriptions keep you right in the story, allowing you to see what he sees. At times, the action is so fast it’s breathtaking. It's one of those books you find impossible to put down.
The book is quite graphic at times so it won't be for everyone, although I really enjoyed reading it. Oh, and it’s a terrific ending.

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #LarsKepler and #BonnierBooksUK for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed Lars Keplar books in the past but struggled with this one and I nearly gave up reading midway. Unlike the others in the series, I didn't connect with Joona this time and felt it lacked the depth I was expecting. The graphic nature of some scenes put me off though I acknowledge this could be because of the new coverage at the moment rather than the writing itself.
The ending was unexpected and thrilling which helped increase the star rating.

‘Eleanor comes to a halt, gasping for air. Jenny Lind is gone.
A trampled cigarette and her bag of books are all that are left on the ground‘
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Lars Kepler is truly now one of my favourite authors. This duo KNOWS how to execute a brilliant story. From first line to last they have me fully gripped and flipping pages faster than I can even explain!
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Sixteen-year-old Jenny Lind is kidnapped in broad daylight on her way home from school and thrown into the back of a truck. She’s taken to a dilapidated house, where she and other girls face horrors far beyond their worst nightmares. Though they’re desperate to escape, their captor foils everyone of their attempts.
Five years later, Jenny’s body is found hanging in a playground, strung up with a winch on a rainy night. As the police are scrambling to find a lead in the scant evidence, Detective Joona Linna recognizes an eerie connection between Jenny’s murder and a death declared a suicide years before. And when another teenage girl goes missing, it becomes clear to Joona that they’re dealing with a serial killer—and his murderous rampage may have just begun.
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I could not have ripped through this faster. The recurring characters feel like friends now, and I’m already excited for the next Joona Linna instalment, and with THAT ending hinting at where it’s going, I AM BUZZED. I also love that the story gives glimpses into past events and yet has the ability to be read as a stand alone. The atmosphere, the murders, the all around plot. I can’t fault this one! HIGHLY recommend!
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Thank you to Netgalley & Bonnier Books UK for the ARC!

Now that was a proper psychological thriller! Joona Linna is again throwing himself in danger as this twisted and terrifying plot unfolds. Just when you think you can see what’s coming you’re wrong and must adjust as the story takes on a new edge. This book is complex and engrossing and holds nothing back. It’s violent and horrific, and brave and heroic. Brilliant writing and brilliant storytelling, if it was a movie you’d be peeking out from behind the couch! Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book and bravo to the authors!

A chilling and unnerving series of crimes full of tension, The Mirror Man is a dark and nerve-shredding thriller set in Sweden with riveting police procedural and suspenseful action.

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at the start as there is a lot that relies on you having read the other books in the series. For instance, I don't feel like I got to know Joona well in this instalment at all and it felt like there was a big event in the previous book that would have explained some things, so there was a lot that went over my head.

But everything else about this book had me absolutely hooked. The case at hand is gripping and the family at the forefront of the crime are compelling. It's brilliantly written, packed with great twists, and the complex plot develops at a quick pace to keep you eager to find out who's behind these horrible crimes.

I was genuinely quite scared during a number of scenes as well, and it's not often that a book is able to do that to me so I know that this is a story that's going to stick with me. It does feel long at times but I can always forgive Scandi noir thrillers for that because I always come away from them with a full understanding of every character and a complete feel for every setting, so it always pays off in the end.

One of my favourite things to read about when it comes to fictional serial killer stories is when they have an unbelievable but very real disorder or illness which gives some reasoning for their actions. This particular one is one of my favourites to read and learn more about. I've seen it used a few times before already, but its inclusion here still felt very clever, original and exciting.

If you like Scandi thrillers, this is definitely a book you need to read this year! I really want to go back to the start of this series now, and am sure to be kept awake by this fearsome story for some time yet.

I have to admit, The Mirror Man is the first novel by Lars Kepler that I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve heard a lot of praise for this series over the past few years, and now, I can certainly see why. If you’re new to this series as well, I can definitely say that you can easily read this book as a standalone. If you like dark crime fiction with plenty of tension, you need to give this book a go. It is a very unnerving read, but it is utterly gripping.

The book opens with a scene that throws us headfirst into the story, with the abduction of a young woman, Jenny Lind. The story gets going right away, and the tension is there right from the start. We see this part of the novel through the eyes of the young woman who has been taken, and Lars Kepler does a brilliant job of getting inside her head, as we experience the emotions and the fear that she is experiencing. Fast forward a few years later, and Jenny turns up dead, and the police’s only witness, Martin, who may be able to unlock the whole case, can’t remember anything from the night she was killed.

Lars Kepler knows how to create a tension filled read. I thought the backstory of Martin and his partner was really intriguing and you can see the emotion, the dark event in their past, has caused. They lost their daughter five years earlier while she was ice fishing with Martin, and since then he has suffered with his mental health. It seems almost impossible for the police to get him to reveal what he saw the night Jenny’s body was disposed of. This really made me want to know what he had seen, especially when they resort to using hypnosis.

As the police race to track down Jenny’s killer another young woman, Mia, goes missing and the tension really picks up a pace. You can see that there is a dangerous killer operating here, and it is not yet clear what their motive is. As the novel raced towards its conclusion there were several twists that completely floored me. I thought the ending was really well done and I could feel the emotions the characters were going through as Lars Kepler wraps the story up.

The Mirror Man is a brilliant read. It has definitely made me keen to read more of Lars Kepler’s work. I highly recommend it.

Unfortunately The Mirror Man, by Lars Kepler wasn't as good as I had hoped. It was quite slow going, and the writing style was not for me

Chilling, nerve-shredding, clever, and impossibly dark. This is an author to know. Just when you think you understand the motives behind the characters and the way their story lines are being presented—bam!—It will hit you with twists you won’t see coming!

Love Joona, he's a bit unorthodox but he gets thing's done, what a rollercoaster of twists and turns, you won't be disappointed, joona is indestructible , prepare to be up all night, love itttt

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books for an advance copy of The Mirror Man, the eighth novel to feature Joona Linna of Sweden’s National Crime Unit.

Five years ago Jenny Lind was kidnapped and never seen again until now when her body is found hanging in a children’s playground. Joona Linna discovers there is a witness, but the witness has mental health issues and can’t remember what he saw. Then another girl with links to the witness goes missing.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Mirror Man, which is a tense read, so tense I had to put it down on several occasions for a breather. I see this as a positive because it means that the writing and storytelling are powerful enough to get the reader involved and identifying with the characters. It should be noted that the novel will not be for everyone as it is dark, cruel and violent, showing life’s underbelly in all its despicable glory. I found the small details realistic, even if the main plot line is exaggerated and designed more for fiction than real life, despite the theme behind it being all too real.

The novel opens with the disappearance of Jenny Lind and then switches to the present day. It’s not immediately apparent where all the characters fit in, but their situations are compelling enough to keep the reader turning the pages until they slot into place. I must admit that I fell for the authors’ misdirection as I had the murderer picked out early on, only to be proved wrong. This is just one of the many twists in a novel that keeps the shocks coming. The ending was another one, which I didn’t find overly convincing or plausible, but the journey to get there is so intense and compelling that I’m prepared to overlook it.

The Mirror Man is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is the latest instalment in the Joona Linna series. Just as enjoyably dark and twisty as the previous books and anyone who hasn't yet got into this wonderful world really should give it a try. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 65%. I found it very slow moving and my attention kept wavering when I was reading it.

Lara Kepler is the expert writer in gruesome thrillers. His chief protagonist Joona Lina is the ultimate police investigator, hell bent on solving his cases using whatever means at his disposal. If it takes disobeying orders he is the expert: if the request demands his subservience, then he is prepared to get on his knees and beg. Whatever it takes, whoever becomes a casualty, the solution to the investigation is the only thing that matters. A young girl is abducted, no perpetrator, no evidence just a traumatised witness. A slow agonising investigation follows where several unconnected incidents occur, nothing is linked, characters appear disjointed from the investigation whilst Joona struggles to match pieces of a jigsaw that bare no relation to ongoing events. So many dead ends, numerous red herrings, and lack of any evidence towards resolving the mystery as the body count increases . With the clock ticking, everyone involved either injured, traumatised or incapacitated, numerous young girls lives depend on just one man. A terrifyingly exhausting race against time towards a blockbuster conclusion leaving nobody unscathed. A brilliant if harrowing storyline that stretches the imagination of the reader to their very limit. Very many thanks to authors, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a gruesome read...

jenny is abducted whilst walking home from school in broad daylight and even though extensive searches are held she is never found until years later her body is discovered in the most horrendous way...

when another teenager goes missing certain things point to the fact that they may have a serial killer in their midst..

not a bad read though it wasnt easy to read with what was being done to the girls