Thank you Netgalley, Profile Books Audio | Viper and Oskar Jensen for the audio Arc of Helle's Hound,
Narrated by Gunnar Cauthery

This is the second book in the Helle's and Death series, the first book is of the same name as the series and both books can be read as a standalone if you haven't read the first. These books are cosy mystery/ amateur sleuth books with a fair amount of humorous writing. I really enjoy Oskar's writing style and how he builds a medium paced mystery, character building and the humour with consistency and ease. I loved the dynamics between the characters, especially the friendships and the banter that happens between them.

I'll definitely be reading more of Oskar's books in this series and others in the future,

This book was narrated by Gunnar Cauthery and I really enjoyed his voice and cadence which got in line with this book nicely.

4.25 stars for Storygraph rounded to 4 stars for other review sites

Helle’s Hound is the second installment in Oskar Jensen’s delightful Helle & Death series, and it’s a truly charming addition. Having enjoyed the first book, I was pleased to find that this sequel lived up to expectations. With the same witty writing, realistic characters, and a cozy mystery at its heart, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read. As a bonus, the book doubles as a guide to some of London’s landmarks and great restaurants, adding an extra layer of charm. It’s an easy, entertaining read that fans of the series—and newcomers—will appreciate. I listened to the audio version and the excellent narration brought the characters and atmosphere to life.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, despite its middling Goodreads reviews and was eager to pick up the next one. However, I only really found this book to be 'ok', with some odd writing choices and a mystery that both attempted to do too much and left too much up to the imagination. It follows the death of Torben's mentor, which he believes is murder, and the investigation he goes on with Layla in tow to try and figure out the truth.

Layla is sort of my key problem with the book - namely, that her POV was just not necessary. Not only does she end up having little to do with the overall conclusion, but her chapters seemed to be entirely dedicated to running hot and cold as to whether she wanted to date Torben. The chapters tend to alternate POV's between the two and hers just isn't needed based on the writing we currently get.

I also found the mystery rather under-developed. There are many, many characters involved in it and I got completely lost as to who was who after a while, they all seemed to blend into one. It took a long time to get to the conclusion and when we did, more seemed to happen off the page than it did on. We get a pretty decent twist around the 80% mark and I was expecting more, but it just never came.

Honestly, the feeling I came out of this book with was just confusion. Like none of it has implanted on my brain or I didn't absorb the plot properly. What I mainly remember is Torben going to a lot of different restaurants and - to the author's credit - some rather delicious descriptions of food. And an election for an art museum. Really, anything beyond that has entirely escaped my mind.

Fresh from his adventures in a country mansion in Northumbria, Art History academic Torben Helle is back, and this time his canvas is the city of London.
His mentor Dame Charlotte Lazerton is found dead at the foot of her stairs, and Helle suspects there’s more to her death than a mere accident. When five high-profile people turn up at Dame Charlotte’s funeral, Helle suspects they may know more about her death, and drags in old University friend, barrister Leyla to “help” investigate.
I really enjoyed this follow up to Helle and Death. Seeing Helle given more freedom to roam the city as opposed to being snowed in at a country mansion keeps the pace of the story going. However, with this longer leash, there’s more scope for him to get things wrong, and bumble around. He’s a man for details, often missing the bigger picture, and he’s a character I just adore.
The novel reads like a classic golden age mystery in a modern setting, with laugh out loud moments. Torben Helle is such a delightful character, I can’t wait to follow more of his adventures. Seeing London through Helle’s eyes almost makes me want to get on the train and visit.
The narration is once again top class, bringing you right into Torben Helle's thought processes
Helle’s Hound is out on January 30 2025.
Many thanks to Viper Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel

This murder mystery follows Danish academic Torben Helle investigating his mentor's death after she's found partially eaten by her dog. While police consider it natural causes, Torben suspects murder and plays detective with help from his professionally well-connected friends. The novel offers a blend of academic politics, Cold War intrigue, and dark humour, with likeable (if slightly unrelatable) characters. However, the somewhat uneven pacing (even at 30% through I wasn't feeling the tension) and overcomplicated plot could try some readers' patience. While entertaining in its lighter moments, the mystery proves somewhat predictable for genre enthusiasts.

I got this as an ARC from NetGalley

This is decidedly more entertaining than the previous outing for Toben Helle (which I also read as an ARC) but that had more to do with the romance than the mystery. I resisted the urge to reread Helle & Death as I knew it would make me more critical of this one but my intense frustration with Helle forgetting or overlooking blindingly obvious vital information came with a heavy dose of deja vu.

However, where Helle & Death left me spitting feathers over the sheer improbability of the killer's method, this was within the bounds of my suspended disbelief. And the final solution leaves me asking questions but I can't claim Jensen kept the criminal mastermind off-page.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a cosy mystery with a Scandi twist