Micaela Vargas is a young police officer desperate to prove herself. She's got two brothers on the wrong side of the law, but she's determined not to let that hold her back, despite her fellow officers trying to put her down. Hans Rekke is a world reknowned expert on interrogation techniques, but also suffers with severe mental health issues that see him struggle to face the world. The two must work together to try and uncover the truth behind the murder of an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, a case that turns out to be much more complicated and far reaching than either of them anticipated.

I've read and enjoyed David Lagercrantz's additions to the Millenium trilogy series, so was excited to see he had a stand alone novel out. Unfortunately this one fell short of the mark for me, and I ended up being glad to get to the end of it.

the main thing that bothered me with this one was that I often found myself feeling like I was missing information. All the way through the book there was instances of the narrator referring to events or memories that had not been mentioned previously, as if the reader should know what was being talked about. It left me feeling like there was a lot of gaps, and although I could generally make assumptions to fill in the blanks that's not something I feel I should need to do in the first book in a series.

The story jumped around a lot, between different characters and towards the end also with times and places, which made it hard to follow at times.

There is a great storyline in here, Lagercrantz has got a complex mystery with several different facets to it. I also liked the idea of Vargas and Rekke as an unlikely team, and although they need a little work I think they could become a great pair for an ongoing series.

In the end this one was just too disjointed for me to really get into it.

Today, I’m taking part in a blog blast organised by Quergus books & Maclehose Press for Dark Music. This crime novel turned out to be very surprising and not what I expected at all. It was very intelligent and cleverly written novel about solving a murder case. The two main characters of this novel were proper underdogs, a young, female police officer who got taken off the case and a professor battling addiction and depression but with a very sharp mind. What surprised me about this novel was how the case was solved, police failed to find the culprit to the murder by using traditional methods, but the psychology professor solved it by thinking like Sherlock Holmes. It made fascinating reading.
I loved the location for this novel, namely Sweden. I like reading Scandinavian crime novels, as these seem to be very popular nowadays. I also liked the writing style of the author, the plot twists, how action-packed and fast-paced this crime novel was, the character development and having a strong female main character in a novel filled with male characters.
This was the first novel which I’ve read by the author and it was a joy to discover a new author whose writing I like, and I would like to read more books by the author in the future. I’m giving Dark Musuc 4 stars, and I recommend it to all readers who like cleverly written, and intelligent crime novels/thrillers.

This is a great crime, mystery novel. It starts out slow and jumps around a bit but once you get into the flow, it takes off from there. Mikaela is my favourite character as she has an edge too her that I love. Overall an enjoyable read , this is the first in a new series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My rating ⭐⭐⭐3/5

A gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB


The launch of a new series inspired by Sherlock Holmes. A murder investigation brings together two unlikely allies in a race to uncover a shadowy international conspiracy.

Professor Hans Rekke: born into a wealthy Stockholm family, world authority on interrogation techniques, capable of vertiginous feats of logic and observation . . . But he might just fall apart when the going gets tough, leading to substance abuse and despair.

Micaela Vargas: community police officer, born to Chilean political refugees in a tough suburb, with two brothers on the shady side of the law.
#darkmusic

Why would someone take your dream away? When a football referee is killed the police are on the case but there is something else going on here. Micaela knows that she needs to watch herself if she wants to stay on the team but something is bugging her about the murder. When she meets Professor Hans Rekke she knows that she is on the right path but no one else wants to listen.
So when she is taken off the team for not wanting to spy on her brother she decides to carry on digging. With the help of Hans she starts putting the pieces all together. The victim wasn't upstanding citizen as he had a hidden past and could that be what got him killed? What happened all those years ago on Kabul? Why did someone that loved music so much turn against his fellow musicians?

Can they find out the whole truth and close the case or will there still be secrets that will be left uncovered? Will Hans be able to get his health back in check as Micaela knows that he really knows his stuff but she does worry about him?
A good read. Took me a while to get into it as it jumped around at times.
I like Micaela as she is trying her best, she doesn't give up and even with her family situation is still tries to keep them safe. I can see her having a good career in the police.
Hans is a strange man that is ill but his brain is brilliant I do wonder if anything will ever happen between them to?
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

A professor born to a wealthy Stockholm family seems to have all the skills and expertise but maybe he can't take the pressure when the going gets tough. A female community police officer with something to prove makes an unlikely teammate to find a killer. But a murder investigation pulls them together.

I do love Scandinavian murder mysteries and this one is no exception. Adding the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson angle made it a particularly interesting read for me. The story progresses well and is intriguing. There is a deep and twisty plot that involves the CIA, the Taliban, and the police.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a quirky detective story.

I'm not the greatest fan of nordic noir but i was curious to read this story as there's echoes of Sherlock Holmes and Henning Menkel.
It's not a fast paced or action packed novel as it's character driven and it takes its sweet time to introduce us to the two main character, Rekke and Vargars, who are from the top and lowest social class.
A genius and a woman who needs to prove herself. We know since the first pages that she's also seen as a political extremist and politics and history plays an important role in this story.
Rekke is a genius, bipolar and addicted to substances as the Sherlock Holmes. But he's also a well thought and interesting character. Vargas' is on the wrong side of the low and she was born in a very poor area.
These two unlikely partners work well together and when the action starts this becomes a gripping and twisty story.
The author did a good job in mixing social instances, police procedural, and political thriller. There's a lot of potential in this series.
This book requires to be patient and if you can wait ti's an interesting and gripping read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to MacLehose Press and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Having enjoyed the author’s additions to the Millennium series I was keen to read the starting point of a new series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, the interplay between the two main characters was great! Hans is written well as the troubled genius and at point you want to slap him, as is the design I’d imagine!

I’m keen to see what unfolds in Vargas’ background that will no doubt give the author plenty of material in the remainder of the series.

Well worth checking out

As a fan of Lagercrantz's follow on from Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy I was delighted to be offered the chance to read an advance ebook of Dark Music in exchange for an honest review. This is a much less violent book, more of a traditional detective story which brings together a young police detective, from a poor immigrant family with a hoodlum brother, and a privileged professor with his own problems. The story is set shortly after the Iraq war and provides an interesting reminder of the politics and behaviours of Western governments at that time. It also provided me with information I didn't previously know - about the Taliban's destruction of instruments and response to music - both relevant to understanding this story. The influence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books are obvious, increasingly so as the book progresses, but fortunately I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes. As a result I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it easy to read and overall well written. I'd be very happy to read more in the series.

A good series starter. We are introduced to the main characters and given enough information to keep us interested and wanting to know more. Very Sherlock and Watson but well done with interesting twists.

Professor Hans Rekke may have insight into people but right now he needs help to function and come back from despair. Micaela Vargas is just what he needs but she also needs him to help solve a murder enquiry where external powers do not want her to succeed.

Loved this thrilling book with great characters and well paced. Enjoy finding out the truth.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of Dark Music, a thriller set in Stockholm in 2003 that features police officer Micaela Vargas and psychologist Hans Rekke.

An Afghan immigrant is murdered in Stockholm and the police are quick to identify a suspect, but with no direct proof they need a confession and think that Professor Rekke, an expert in interrogation techniques, is the man to help them get it. He doesn’t believe they have the right man, nor does Micaela Vargas who has been seconded to the investigation. Rekke and Vargas team up to uncover something more sinister than a simple murder.

I enjoyed Dark Murder, which has an interesting tale to tell and some unusual protagonists. Having read it I would definitely like to read more about Rekke and Vargas and am glad to have got in at the start of a new series.

The novel is told from various points of view on the investigative side and later on, when more information is available there are flashbacks to events a few years earlier. It sort of turns the standard in the genre upside down and asks the question of when is a victim not a victim. I know that this is vague, but I would suggest reading the novel to find out why, because it’s well done. It is also a slow burner with much of the novel concerned with introducing the characters and their various tics and foibles. I think it’s overdone with Rekke a total mess of bi-polar and drug addiction, while Vargas is the “goody two shoes” in an extremely shady immigrant family. It distracts from the main event and is low on the credibility meter. I understand that the inspiration for their characters is Holmes and Watson, but I don’t really see it as Vargas has much to contribute, unlike Watson, Rekke maybe as Holmes.

The novel is firmly set in its turn of the century setting, where what they uncover is shocking, but no so much now when we have 20 years of knowledge and disgust. Still, it packs a punch in what it has to say, how it says it and the abject cynicism of the politicians (nothing ever changes) in lying to cover up their misdeeds.

I don’t know how to describe Dark Music, perhaps as a meaty, strangely compulsive read with a difficult subject matter. However I describe it I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

I have enjoyed David Lagercrantz' work since reading the Millennium series additions by Steig Larsson. This new stand alone novel does not disappoint. An unlikely pairing between Professor Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas however it definitely works with each bringing unique personalities. A gripping story which navigates it's way from the Taliban, to private music schools, terrorist attacks, the CIA and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Absolutely brilliant and I will definitely be looking out for the next case they get involved in.

Swedish author David Lagercrantz is probably best known for taking the mantel of Stieg Larsson to follow up the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Books to deliver a follow up trilogy (The Girl in the Spiders Web, The Girl Who Takes and Eye for an Eye and The Girl Who Lived Twice). So perhaps it is no surprise that his next series (because the ending leaves readers in no doubt that a series is intended) is not entirely original but rather a riff on Sherlock Holmes. Dark Music sees an eccentric, troubled but gifted hyper-observational professor and a young policewoman joining forces to solve a puzzling crime.
Dark Music opens in media res for reasons that are unclear. It is 2003, and the Swedish police have been directed to seek out a professor Hans Rekke to help them. The narrative then drops back a few days and finds young detective Micaela Vargas as part of a team investigating the murder of a soccer referee. The man was an Afghani reportedly tortured by the Taliban and the prime suspect is a passionate local who was seen drunkenly threatening the victim during the game. Suffice to say that there is much more to the story, but in getting there Micaela is dropped from the case and only manages to get back on it when she reconnects with Rekke and the two start making some startling discoveries about the victim and his past in Afghanistan.
Crime fiction is a careful balance between character, plot and narrative and in Dark Music Lagercrantz has got this balance all wrong. He spends almost half of the novel introducing Vargas and Rekke, giving little reason for the reader to care about the victim and the crime itself. As the mystery unfolds it does so in a static way with Vargas and Rekke sitting in an apartment surfing the internet, making phonecalls and drawing deductions. There is little tension and less drive. The only thing that keeps the enterprise afloat at all is the central conceit of the plot which is connected to the actions of the Taliban and the American response to 9/11.
Hans Rekke is a wealthy, super intelligent dilettante who is addicted to drugs and plays a musical instrument (the piano), he cannot help making detailed and surprisingly correct observations about people he meets based on the slimmest of evidence and he has a brother who is just as frighteningly competent who is high up in the government. He is so much a Sherlock Holmes clone that one of the characters actually calls him out on it at one point. In the way of modern Holmesian pastcihes his offsider Vargas has a little more agency than a traditional Doctor Watson. She is a dogged investigator in her own right, unappreciated in the police force as she is young and a woman but also has a troubled past and potentially criminal family.
The background of religious extremism, American terrorist response and the role of presumably neutral countries, a couple of interesting characters and a murder investigation sound like an interesting set up for a crime book. But not this one. Dark Music is for the most part a slog, with most of the mystery solved by flashbacks and exposition that ends with a whimper rather than bang. The last few pages set up future cases for Rekke and Vargas but there is little here to invite readers to return.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This Author was brave enough to take on the challenge of extending the series of books featuring one of my all time favourite characters 'Lisbeth Salander '. I admit initially I was dubious, but surely anything was better than no more books, Well I was very impressed, I thought he took her to another realistic super hero level. So I was intrigued by this blurb, and a new detective duo.
Michaela Vargas is a community Police Officer of Chilean decent, brave clever feisty street smart, who is added to a task force investigating a seemingly straight forward murder. It's suggested they seek the help of Professor Hans Rekke a somewhat eccentric expert in criminology, with addiction problems definitely a modern day Sherlock Holmes character. However there proves to be a lot more to this case, conspiracy high level government intrigue and suspense. Well written and gripping from start to finish with plenty of surprises along the way. Excellent characterisation throughout especially our new dynamic duo. I look forward to more.
Completely recommended.

Very good. David Lagercrantz is one of my favourite authors and this was a refreshing take on a crime drama with original characters. I would recommend this novel.

Everything wonderful that fans of this genre have come to hope for - evocative setting, intriguing characters and a mystery which in enthralling from start to finish, I love the writing style, with such vividly drawn characters who interact so credibly that I feel they must be real!

A man refereeing a boy’s football match is found murdered in the woods nearby after the match. A man is arrested with no real evidence, to the disgust of a young female DC on the investigating team. She decides to seek the help of a professor of psychology who has helped before and finds him at a low ebb and just manages to stop his suicide attempt. With the background of a murder case the story provides an intermate profile of a nutty professor locked in a world where he senses things that others do not notice that provides an insight into solving a mystery. Unfortunately, with no challenge to his intellect he tries to escape the everyday by sinking into a drug induced coma. How the DC induces him to come back to reality and to be weaned off his drugs is as much of a challenge as getting his help, as bit by bit to solve a complex international case bringing to light CIA and Taliban barbaric misdeeds that vested interests try to suppress. A most unusual story of an extraordinary detective duo.

David Lagercrantz introduces two stunning new investigators into the dark world of Scandinavian crime fiction. They are an unlikely duo but what an interesting team they make.
The plot is complex, expertly told and full of almost unbearable suspense. The dark underbelly of corrupt international politics seeps through the cracks of a murder case and adds layer upon layer of compelling detail.
The supporting characters are drawn with distinction and demand one's empathy.
The best crime thriller of the year.

Professor Hans Rekke: born into a wealthy Stockholm family, world authority on interrogation techniques, capable of vertiginous feats of logic and observation . . . But he might just fall apart when the going gets tough, leading to substance abuse and despair.

Micaela Vargas: community police officer, born to Chilean political refugees in a tough suburb, with two brothers on the shady side of the law.

Vargas feels she has something to prove. She's tenacious and uncompromising, but she needs Rekke's unique mind to help her solve the case. Rekke has it all - wealth, reputation - but also a tendency to throw it all away. He needs Vargas to help him get back on an even keel so he can focus his mind on finding the killer before they're both silenced for good.

This is a character-driven novel about the investigation of an Afghan refugee stoned to death after refereeing a football match in a Stockholm suburb. The investigative duo are Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas. Hans Rekke is an accomplished pianist and brilliant man who is also bipolar and a drug abuser. Micaela Vargas is a police woman dealing with a dismissive, male-dominated police force. She is Chilean with a troubled family background. One brother is a drug addict while the other is a criminal. They aren’t exactly Sherlock and Watson, but they are an interesting team. This isn’t a mystery thriller full of twists and turns, but it’s an enjoyable read about an unusual investigative duo and how they operate.