It's a slow burner and it took me a while to get into it. I did enjoy it once I got into it but I feel it could have been a bit shorter. A good read after the slow start and I didn't expect the ending. A good pace and writing style too.

I'm pleased I read this but I do think it was a bit long!
I liked it how the chapters alternated and the ending was unexpected!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me awhile to really get into this book as it was quite a slow burner. But, once it got going I really enjoyed the story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was my first book I have read by this author and having heard good things about their previous work A Nearly Normal Family, I was looking forward to reading this.
From the very start of this I was invested and intrigued as to what was going to happen.
I have to say, we get to read from a few characters POV's and I always enjoy that!
The characters were well defined and I was never confused as to who was who.
I also really liked the writing style. I found that it flowed really well and the plot was well paced.
One other thing I enjoyed was the little interrogation chapters we got. This really added to the story and kept me wanting to read it.
I would class this as more of a suspense than a thriller so beware of that going in. I really did enjoy this one, perhaps more than I anticipated I would.
Having read this I will definitely be reading the authors other work.

It took me a while to get into the storyline but overall it was a good read with interesting characters. For me, personally, it wasn't an 'edge of seater' just a good, well written read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

Ordinary Lives…?
Bill, Karla and Jennica - three seemingly ordinary people leading seemingly ordinary lives. One Summer will change everything when two murders connect them in seemingly impossible ways. The truth is in there somewhere. Cleverly crafted, atmospheric character driven suspense with a drip feed narrative and a continuous undertone of creeping menace. A wholly intriguing premise and a resulting tale which amply delivers.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Bill is struggling to raise her daughter after the death of his partner. She was the anchor in his life and now he feels homeless. Debts are accumulating and his few bad habits are coming back. But he promised Miranda that he’ll try for the sake of their daughter.

Karla dreams of being a judge one day. To pursue her lifelong dream she finally moves away from her addict mother and tries her best to achieve her goal. She had a rough childhood which made her empathetic and she is willing to do anything for people who are close to her.

Jennica is the dark sheep of her family and she doesn’t know how to settle and neither she wants to. She is a serial dater and her whole life depends upon pretending and lying. She was such an unlikeable and annoying character. I think the author kind of wanted the audience to like her. But her POV was so meh and her humor was even more meh.

Steven and Regina are THAT wealthy couple who looks perfect on paper. Steven is a successful Pediatrician and Regina is the daughter of a famous author. Of course, there was Waheeda, a diversity token. Her character secondhand embarrassed me.

The plot wasn’t entirely unique, there were several elements that are so common. Multiple POVs tried to keep things interesting. Although, I found the story was stretched and the characters uninteresting. Past and Present switching of the story helped a lot to make the book interesting. The ending was also unexpected but at the same time unsatisfactory. Many questions remained unanswered and several events didn’t make sense.

I loved the author’s previous novel A Nearly Normal Family so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Woman Inside, The novel follows three characters; Bill, a widower who lives with his daughter Sally, Karla, a law student renting a room from Bill and cleaning for the wealthy Rytter family and Jennica who meets Steven Rytter on a dating app.
I loved the structure of the novel; the alternating points of view of the main characters, combined with the police investigation into the murder of the Rytters. It’s a character led novel and I was completely drawn into the characters lives and keen to discover how they were connected to the murders. Another compelling and intriguing read from the author. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Bill, a struggling father, advertises for a new lodger to help keep his finances afloat. This advert is seen by Karla, a student who works part time cleaning for a wealthy couple, The Rytters. While there she sees something strange is at play with the couple. When the Rytters are found dead it is a race to find out who would have the motive to kill.

This is a well written slow burn of a thriller. It was slightly too slow for me but I did enjoy all the reveals and watching the puzzle come together. The story is told through different characters, some which were very unlikeable! The author did a good job creating these characters personalities and behaviours. This is a hard book to review as I did enjoy the writing style but I never felt fully invested in the story, probably due to the pace and the length of the book. Even though this book wasn’t for me at the time I can see others have loved it. A great book to read for those who like a slow built police procedural full of secrets. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy in return for an honest review.

After a triumphant 2018 debut with A Nearly Normal Family, M.T. Edvardsson established himself as one of the most eloquent fresh voices in Swedish crime fiction literature and won the genre's hardcore readership by delivering a twisted tale of murder, told by many different perspectives and featuring stark characters that felt real in terms of their actions on page and thought process. The Woman Inside is Edvardsson's second writing endeavor, one that all authors dread due to the so-called "curse of the second novel" which dictates that a successful debut is frequently followed by a lesser book, thus diminishing the readers' excitement and eventually leaving them feeling discontented. However, the Swedish author stayed loyal to the debut's recipe in terms of narrative structure and characterization and the final result is destined to appease all those who were ambivalent regarding this novel's merits and qualities. It should be noted that the book was originally written in English, not in Edvardsson's mother language, a choice which, at first sight, may seem a tad baffling as it's rare for a writer to author a text in a language other than his native. But Edvardsson proves to be a seasoned wordsmith with a keen insight in the language that he uses and the text feels natural with a flow and tonality that doesn't expose its author in any way.

The story setting of The Woman Inside is, in some ways, reminiscent of that featured in the author's debut as there is, once again, a murder at the center of the plot with a multitude of characters revolving around the terrible event which opens the novel and generates a certain amount of suspense and mystery throughout the course of the story. As it was the case with A Nearly Normal Family, the locational setting is the town of Lund, in the southern Swedish province of Scania. It is there that the novel's main characters live and breathe, namely Karla, Bill, and Jennica. Each one of them offers their own point of view through which the story is told with Edvardsson excelling at the handling of this particular trope -very common among Nordic crime fiction authors-, slowly building a kaleidoscopic narrative that never loses momentum due to its multifaceted nature. The characters are not necessarily likable and there will be many who will find Bill's dependence from his dead wife irritating or Jennica's job (offering psychic advices to the masses) a bit haywire and her general attitude rather vapid. Nevertheless, it is these little flaws that deem the characters realistic and plausible and Edvardsson is careful not to coerce sympathy for his protagonist from the readers, opting to outline them in a humanlike manner.

Karla is a young woman who wants to study law and become a judge, however currently she is forced to do odd jobs in order to survive. In that spirit, she accepts a job as a cleaner for a wealthy couple, Steven and Regina Rytter, who are also the victims of the crime that drives the story. From the beginning, Karla suspects that something is off in the Rytter's household as Steven is -almost always- absent while his wife is bedridden because of a mysterious disease that even lacks a proper diagnosis. At the same time, as the consequence of her dire financial situation, she rents a room in a house owned by Bill, a young widower who is also the father of an eight-year-old girl, Sally. Gradually, Bill and Karla get to know each other and then Karla does something improper, stealing a precious ring from the Rytters in order to help Bill and Sally, an small crime that will have major repercussions. The third protagonist is Jennica who meets Steven Rytter from an online dating app and forges an intimate relationship with him. Their idyllic liaison is slowly crumbling as Steven's behavior makes her believe that he is hiding something serious.

The aforementioned characters carry the heavy weight of storytelling and the text's orderly streaming is sparsely intercepted by some fragments of police interrogation transcripts where major and minor players of the story give their own viewpoint on case of the Rytters' murder. The short interactions offer vital information to the readers and enhance the mystery aspect of the story. There is a strong whodunit element in play and it is only in the end that we finally learn the truth about the killings. I read in some online reviews of the novel that the final felt anti-climactic, however I thoroughly disagree as I found it to be both fitting and clever. All in all, The Woman Inside will gratify even the most demanding of Nordic crime fiction aficionados and is a first-rate choice for all fans of stories told through the eyes of several characters. If you loved A Nearly Normal Family, then forget any qualms that you may have and buy this book. It is guaranteed entertainment from one of the most promising new writers of the genre.

This book was reasonably well written but lacked something that made me want to keep picking it up. This was a DNF for me but others will enjoy. 5 stars for fairness.
Thank you to the publisher author and NetGalley for a copy.

#TheWomanInside #NetGalley
5 ⭐
'The darkness dwells, the desperation grows between the characters and the walls close in until you're caught in the trap.' Lars Kepler international master of suspense, this is a story about dependency, justice, and the sometimes fine line between right and wrong.Bill, a widower and single dad, is in a financial mess with bills to pay when he rents out a room in his apartment to Karla.
Karla left home to study law and to earn some money begins working as a cleaner at the palatial home of Steven and Regina Rytter. But inside their house it is clear that something is wrong with the doctor and his wife, who never leaves her bedroom.
Jennica is single and careerless when she meets Steven on Tinder. But just as she thinks her luck is changing, it soon becomes clear that Steven is hiding secrets of his own . By the end of the summer Steven and Regina Rytter will be found dead in their home and the questions will begin Ordinary people will do things they never thought possible when faced with extraordinary circumstances, and the truth is that the woman inside may hold the key to it all .
Hjs writing style is ready unique.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me an advance copy.

This definitely wasn't what I wad expecting and I'm not entirely disappointed by it. I was excited by the premise and was expecting a standard murder mystery but this was something much more complex. Its told through 3 character povs and those subplots are actually what the majority of the book is about. Its all about these 3 people and the secrets they hold and the behaviours they hide. It is quite slow paced and it relies more on the tension being built and the readers fascination to discover which of the characters is just that twisted to have done the crime. So definitely not the murder mystery I was expecting but still quite a fascinating character study into the darkness of humans and just how much can be hidden behind closed doors. In saying that, I didn't find the characters terribly interesting ot well written. When the book is relying on them so heavily, I would have thought they'd be a bit better written and have some more layers to unravel. I'd still say it's well worth a read for those who do like this type of psychological thrillers

This is a real page-turner. Essentially it is 3 narratives and each narrator tells their story in the present tense. Their stories are linked by a crime that is discovered at the beginning of the novel but their relationship to it only gradually becomes clear.

It is a fascinating puzzle, held together structurally by excerpts from the police investigation. The pace of the story is brisk and the narrators (Bill, Karla and Jennica) are all satisfyingly flawed. The reader never entirely trusts their narrative viewpoints, which adds depth to the puzzle.

A cracking read - would definitely recommend it.

Thank you Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

<b> Writing: 2.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: ok then/5 </b>

<b> SYNOPSIS </b>

Bill, Karla, and Jennica all have a motive to kill the Rytters, a wealthy couple with a couple of dark secrets. So who did it!?

<b> MY OPINION </b>

Respectfully, the writing was nowhere close to same calibre for [book:A Nearly Normal Family|51541213]. I think this was M.T. Edvardsson's first english book, and (again, with all due respect), you can tell. Writing in English as a native speaker is challenging enough (lord knows I barely manage), but writing in English as a non-native speaker is a whole different beast. I applaud Edvardsson for his first English work, but readers, don't expect this to be on the same level as ANNF.

This book is the epitome of a popcorn thriller. The plot and characters are about as a deep as a puddle. It could've been bangerlicious if, in true Nordic Noir style, we got a lil deeper with each (fucked up) character's psyche, but the author kept this group pretty Flat Stanley (one dimensional).

I have no idea if we were supposed to like Jennica, but I most certainly did not. Selfish, vapid, and holding onto her childhood "trauma" as an excuse for faffing about in her professional life. Yes, your dad cheated a lot, and your mom didn't bat an eyelash, but can you PLEASE get a job? I'm begging you.

Karla was the only character I felt sorry for. Her backstory with her addict mom was truly sad, and you could empathize with her struggle. She, by far, was the most nuanced character: an aspiring Judge with slippery fingers and a questionable moral compass. I think her scenario could create a many good book club discussions. If you steal bread to feed your children, are you still a bad person? Debate amongst yourself bookstahoes!

I know I have a fidget spinner where I should have a heart so take this with a grain of salt, but Bill was annoying af. We get it, you have no personality outside of your wife, and now that she'd dead, you're as lost as a baby beaver in a tsunami. I felt bad for Sally for having a gambling addict with the spine of a wet noodle as a dad, but I didn't feel bad for his plight. Also... did Miranda cheat or nah??? I never got my answer and for it being such a point of contention between Bill and Jennica, it was weird that it was brushed to the side at the end.

Ultimately, if you're looking for mindless entertainment with low stakes, this is it. Very much meh and surface level. Also in the lowest of keys, it was a mash up of other popular books.......... just sayin.

<b> PROS AND CONS </b>

Pros: quick read, doesn't evoke a lot of strong feelings

Cons: one-dimensional characters, predictable, seems like a totally different author wrote this compared to his debut

A well written book. With a great who did it storyline. I think the author did a great job in keeping the reader engaged and guessing throughout the book.

We know the couple are murdered but which of the three suspects did it?

For me, I found the plot great and the look at the suspects benefited from great writing but all in all in was a bit dry and I didn’t find myself excited.

Super, a really good book, I loved how it was written and the general storyline, one of my favourite books of the year so far

From the author of the brilliant A Nearly Normal Family, comes another page-turning and clever crime mystery. Like his previous book, this is also written from 3 characters’ perspectives, interspersed with police interviews. A doctor and his sick wife have been found dead in their luxury home, but just who is responsible and which, if any, of the three unreliable narrators are responsible? Excellent.

Steven and Regina Rytter are found dead in a wealthy part of Lund.

Widower Bill Olsson is struggling financially and is desperate to provide for his much loved daughter Sally. He’s forced to advertise for a lodger and Karla, a student, answers the ad. Karla cleans for the Rytters to earn much needed cash to pay for her studies. Karla discovers that Regina is very ill and has been unable to leave the house in a long time. Steven seems to be a very controlling husband and his motives seem unclear. Bills situation spirals down, Karla wants to help and the scene is set. The story is told in alternating points of view and interspersed with police interviews so the truth emerges snippet by snippet.

I loved A Nearly Normal Family and so am delighted to get the opportunity to read this book. It’s a slow burner, character driven mystery thriller with the author doing a good job in conveying distinctive personalities with each of the main protagonists. There’s a lot going on with each of them including grief, financial issues and family difficulties and the ties of those. Initially, you can’t see how each of them and their problems can connect but it is cleverly done.

The novel is well written with some good dialogue. I especially like the funny interactions between one character and their pet which makes me smile and breaks the tension I hardly realise is there!

It builds slowly but surely as you catch little frissons of something deep bubbling underneath the surface. It didn’t ought to be as fascinating as it is because it’s a very low-key book but it is! You keep asking what game are each of them up to??? They kid themselves, self justifying that they’re doing the right thing but basically we have some liars and cheats here! I like the ending which is well connected to what comes before it but maybe it’s a bit too pat???

Overall, though this is another well observed and thought provoking read from M T Edvardsson.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.