Reviews
"If you aren't familiar with her Hanne Wilhelmsen novels, it's okay to dive in with this one--No. 7--but then do yourself a favor and binge-read the first six." -- Entertainment Weekly, "A good old-fashioned murder mystery. Wherever Hanne shows up next, my advice is to follow that wheelchair." --Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review, "Holt proves a masterful plotter. Unexpected twists hold up to scrutiny, loose ends are tied up and the finale leaves readers wanting more." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Fast-paced and involving.... Holt knows psychology as well as she knows the ins and outs of police-work. She quickly draws the reader into the minds and lives of half a dozen disparate characters--none more interesting than Inspector Wilhelmsen herself... Holt's visions of societal and ethical decay are balanced by glimpses of great poignancy, human consolation and love." --The Wall Street Journal, "Holt deftly marshals her perplexing narrative. . . by the sheer energy and vitality of her writing. As for the plot itself, it moves with the speed of the ill-fated train--but, unlike the train, Anne Holt's storytelling never comes off the rails." -- The Independent (UK), "A fine addition to a noteworthy series, spotlighting a politically sensitive case in the broader context of Norwegian society. A natural for Jo Nesb readers." --Booklist, starred review (on The Lion's Mouth ), "An ideal read-alike for fans of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole and Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer." -- Booklist (on Dead Joker ), "A nearly pitch-perfect procedural layered over a moving exploration of rejection and abandonment." -- Booklist, "Transcripts of witness statements alternate with Holt's penetrating psychological analysis of human desires, weaknesses, and essential decency, unveiling unexpected dimensions of her series characters." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review , "It's easy to see why Anne Holt, the former minister of justice in Norway and currently its bestselling female crime writer, is rapturously received in the rest of Europe." -- The Guardian (UK), "Powerful . . . nuanced characters and a strong sense of place make for an immersive tale that packs an emotional punch and offers incisive commentary on the failings of the criminal justice system." --Publishers Weekly (on Dead Joker ), "Within this English translation of Holt's 1997 novel lies a twisty tale of political intrigue...a clever mystery." --Library Journal, "A nearly pitch-perfect procedural layered over a moving exploration of rejection and abandonment." --Booklist , "Holt uses her surprising plot to highlight the nature of power and the extent to which it can corrupt." -- Publishers Weekly (on The Lion's Mouth ), "A fine addition to a noteworthy series, spotlighting a politically sensitive case in the broader context of Norwegian society. A natural for Jo Nesbø readers." --Booklist, starred review (on The Lion's Mouth ), "It must be spooky in Scandinavia, but Holt, Norway's best-selling female crime writer and a former minister of justice, has a goofy streak that changes the tone of this beguiling book....I really loved this snowbound book." -- Washington Post, "Nuanced characters and a strong sense of place make for an immersive tale that packs an emotional punch and offers incisive commentary on the failings of the criminal justice system." -- Publishers Weekly, "A well-wrought, claustrophobic mystery...best served by the blizzard, roaring in the background while Hanne parses the swirl of rumors and snow piles inexorably against the windows." -- Houston Chronicle