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Whitechapel, 1888: London is bowed under Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror.
London, 2015: actress Julianne Bell is abducted in a case similar to the terrible Tower Hamlets murders of some ten years earlier, and harking back to the Ripper killings of a century before.
Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015: a woman’s body is found mutilated in a forest, her wounds identical to those of the Tower Hamlets victims. With the man arrested for the Tower Hamlets crimes already locked up, do the new killings mean he has a dangerous accomplice, or is a copy-cat serial killer on the loose?
Profiler Emily Roy and true-crime writer Alexis Castells again find themselves drawn into an intriguing case, with personal links that turn their world upside down. Following the highly acclaimed Block 46 and guaranteed to disturb and enthral, Keeper is a breathless thriller from the new queen of French Noir.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2017
83 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Johana Gustawsson
16Ìýbooks186ÌýfollowersBorn in 1978 in Marseille, France, and a graduate of Political Sciences, Johana Gustawsson was a journalist for television and French press. She now lives in London, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 3, 2018
*Thank you to who kindly sent me a paperback copy in exchange for an honest review *
Johana Gustawsson explores our innermost fears in this, her second book in the Emily Roy and Alexis Castells crime series.
The narrative flows effortlessly between London's Whitechapel of 1888, when Jack The Ripper terrorised the community, and London and Sweden in 2015, with a serial killer who's signature murders bear more than a passing resemblance to those of Jack The Ripper.
London 2015 and actress Julianne Bell is due to appear on a breakfast show at the BBC, but she never arrives. In Sweden a young woman is found dead by a lake, her body has been badly mutilated - chunks of flesh having been carved from her breasts, buttocks and thighs. This murder appears to have all the hallmarks of the Tower Hamlets murders in London 10 years previously. Richard Hemfield was found guilty of these murders and is now incarcerated in Broadmoor, but the methods he used are identical, so who is responsible? Is there a copycat killer at work?
Emily Roy (profiler) and Alexis Castells ( true crime writer) are brought in to help on the case, and it's going to be a particularly difficult and distressing investigation for everyone involved.
Both in terms of the violence used, and the sexual content described, this is a fairly explicit read, though they're not used merely as a filler, but ( in part ) to demonstrate a visceral hatred for those women, considered by the killer, to have loose morals, and he needs absolutely no justification for his actions.
It goes without saying that the content is distressing, but the plot is extremely clever and the author is clearly gifted, as the narrative is employed with great intelligence. The characters are well drawn ( even though some of them are terrifying ) and it's impossible not to put yourself in the victims' shoes, and to imagine the nightmare they faced.
Dark and disturbing, yet ultimately superb, this latest offering from Johana Gustawsson is without doubt a book that I believe will be one of the standout reads of 2018 for me. With a twist that, (in my opinion) is one of the most memorable to date, I can’t praise this author enough. Highly recommended
Johana Gustawsson explores our innermost fears in this, her second book in the Emily Roy and Alexis Castells crime series.
The narrative flows effortlessly between London's Whitechapel of 1888, when Jack The Ripper terrorised the community, and London and Sweden in 2015, with a serial killer who's signature murders bear more than a passing resemblance to those of Jack The Ripper.
London 2015 and actress Julianne Bell is due to appear on a breakfast show at the BBC, but she never arrives. In Sweden a young woman is found dead by a lake, her body has been badly mutilated - chunks of flesh having been carved from her breasts, buttocks and thighs. This murder appears to have all the hallmarks of the Tower Hamlets murders in London 10 years previously. Richard Hemfield was found guilty of these murders and is now incarcerated in Broadmoor, but the methods he used are identical, so who is responsible? Is there a copycat killer at work?
Emily Roy (profiler) and Alexis Castells ( true crime writer) are brought in to help on the case, and it's going to be a particularly difficult and distressing investigation for everyone involved.
Both in terms of the violence used, and the sexual content described, this is a fairly explicit read, though they're not used merely as a filler, but ( in part ) to demonstrate a visceral hatred for those women, considered by the killer, to have loose morals, and he needs absolutely no justification for his actions.
It goes without saying that the content is distressing, but the plot is extremely clever and the author is clearly gifted, as the narrative is employed with great intelligence. The characters are well drawn ( even though some of them are terrifying ) and it's impossible not to put yourself in the victims' shoes, and to imagine the nightmare they faced.
Dark and disturbing, yet ultimately superb, this latest offering from Johana Gustawsson is without doubt a book that I believe will be one of the standout reads of 2018 for me. With a twist that, (in my opinion) is one of the most memorable to date, I can’t praise this author enough. Highly recommended
April 12, 2018
You may remember that around this time last year I was raving about the first book in this series, Block 46 so to say Keeper was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018 is a massive understatement. Gustawsson is an incredibly talented author who has taken crime fiction to an entirely new and fascinating place and I loved Keeper just as much (maybe even a little bit more) than Block 46.
Many authors attempt dual timelines and some manage to pull it off but there is NO ONE around that does it so seamlessly as Gustawsson does. Within these different periods of time there were several different subplots that were all intense and intriguing and once again, I struggled to figure out exactly how they would merge together. They seem mostly unrelated, but oh no they’re actually meticulously detailed and connected in the most mind blowing ways, it is seriously impressive. I’m always in awe of good writers, but she takes things to a whole new level of genius.
There’s only so much I can say to try and covey just how amazing this book is so I’ll just finish up by saying if you’re looking for a fresh, bold crime fiction read, look no further. But read both book one and book two, it’s well worth it!
Keeper in three words: Unflinching, Intelligent and Dark.
Many authors attempt dual timelines and some manage to pull it off but there is NO ONE around that does it so seamlessly as Gustawsson does. Within these different periods of time there were several different subplots that were all intense and intriguing and once again, I struggled to figure out exactly how they would merge together. They seem mostly unrelated, but oh no they’re actually meticulously detailed and connected in the most mind blowing ways, it is seriously impressive. I’m always in awe of good writers, but she takes things to a whole new level of genius.
There’s only so much I can say to try and covey just how amazing this book is so I’ll just finish up by saying if you’re looking for a fresh, bold crime fiction read, look no further. But read both book one and book two, it’s well worth it!
Keeper in three words: Unflinching, Intelligent and Dark.
August 18, 2018
I was blown away by the twist that I didn't see coming.
My only regret is I didn't read Block 46, so Johana Gustawsson is a new author for me, but certainly one that I will keeping an eye open for in future. Murders in London and Sweden lead the police back to Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. I'm not afraid to admit that I was scared of what would happen next. In London in 2015 forty-three year old actress Julianne Bell was expected at the BBC television studios for an appearance on a morning show but she never arrived. There's an atmosphere of horror when a female has been found with her flesh cut out. Scotland Yard know that Richard Hemfield had been behind bars for the Tower Hamlets crimes, he was a dangerous killer that killed several women. But chilling sequences seems to point out that could Julianne have been abducted by Richard Hemfield's accomplice or is there a copycat out there carving out parts of women's bodies. keeper has in the end characters that make you want to scream at them with one question Why? A scary thriller investigation that has quite a few twists at the end that made me gasp.
My only regret is I didn't read Block 46, so Johana Gustawsson is a new author for me, but certainly one that I will keeping an eye open for in future. Murders in London and Sweden lead the police back to Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. I'm not afraid to admit that I was scared of what would happen next. In London in 2015 forty-three year old actress Julianne Bell was expected at the BBC television studios for an appearance on a morning show but she never arrived. There's an atmosphere of horror when a female has been found with her flesh cut out. Scotland Yard know that Richard Hemfield had been behind bars for the Tower Hamlets crimes, he was a dangerous killer that killed several women. But chilling sequences seems to point out that could Julianne have been abducted by Richard Hemfield's accomplice or is there a copycat out there carving out parts of women's bodies. keeper has in the end characters that make you want to scream at them with one question Why? A scary thriller investigation that has quite a few twists at the end that made me gasp.
April 19, 2018
Stop whatever you're doing, run... don't walk...RUN and go buy Gustawsson's BLOCK 46 and KEEPER. Well, what are you waiting for?! Seriously you guys and gals. In BLOCK 46, I stated that it was, "Nordic Crime paralleling present day suspense with a historical Nazi concentration camp story line. The author weaves a tale of incredible intrigue and manages to surprise you at every turn." She does it AGAIN with KEEPER. This time we get more Nordic Crime paralleling present day suspense with the history of Jack the Ripper. Again she manages to pull it off by running parallel story lines from past to present, interweaving the characters and their obsessive and disturbing behavior and surprising me at every turn. EVERY TURN.
I don't think you need to read these in order. Keeper reads extremely well as a stand alone. However, you do get to see a little more from our mains, Emily and Alexis... so... I'm a bit person who likes to read series from the beginning. So while it's not necessary for this, yet... there's only two books so far so you may as well. And quite frankly, if you love historical fiction mixed in with nordic noir and psychological thrillers... well you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't read these! The characters are outstanding.
Deeply dark and disturbing, some subject matter such as pedophilia, cannibalism and rape may deter some readers. It only intrigues me more. Gustawsson brings these to the pages in detail, but not in an overdone manner. While there were a couple things that I THINK I had figured out and did go in that direction, she managed to blow me away with ALL the twists and turns. Bear in mind, these are throat punch twists. They're subtle, like little barbed clues that settle deep into your skin and just when you think you've got them out.... there goes another one. Two words: SIMPLY BRILLIANT.
ALL THE STARS!
Thank you to Orenda Books for this copy!
I don't think you need to read these in order. Keeper reads extremely well as a stand alone. However, you do get to see a little more from our mains, Emily and Alexis... so... I'm a bit person who likes to read series from the beginning. So while it's not necessary for this, yet... there's only two books so far so you may as well. And quite frankly, if you love historical fiction mixed in with nordic noir and psychological thrillers... well you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't read these! The characters are outstanding.
Deeply dark and disturbing, some subject matter such as pedophilia, cannibalism and rape may deter some readers. It only intrigues me more. Gustawsson brings these to the pages in detail, but not in an overdone manner. While there were a couple things that I THINK I had figured out and did go in that direction, she managed to blow me away with ALL the twists and turns. Bear in mind, these are throat punch twists. They're subtle, like little barbed clues that settle deep into your skin and just when you think you've got them out.... there goes another one. Two words: SIMPLY BRILLIANT.
ALL THE STARS!
Thank you to Orenda Books for this copy!
April 9, 2018
There are some books I like, others I love and then there is the rare book that blows me away with an ingenious plot, incredible writing, and bucketfuls of suspense and Keeper by Johana Gustawsson fits the bill perfectly. Block 46 the first book in the series actually made it on to my top reads of 2017, so I couldn’t wait to read this one. Keeper sees the return of French true crime writer Alexis Castells Canadian profiler Emily Roy, I do like the author’s career choices for her two main protagonists, as it means the plot doesn’t feature heavily on police procedures, which I find can sometimes overwhelm a plot. There are a lot of characters in this book so it did take me a while to work out who was who, but this in no way distracted from the read. Keeper is told through past and present events, and suffice to say the author skips flawlessly between time lines. I must give a mention to Maxim Jakubowski who translated the book, he’s done a fantastic job.
Keeper has so much to offer it’s a crime thriller with a unique plot, the author combines crimes committed in both Sweden and the UK with crimes from the past, in this case the horrific and gruesome crimes committed by Jack The Ripper. I found myself trying to work out the connection (I failed miserably I should add) between the Jack the Ripper crimes in Whitechapel 1988 and the crimes committed in Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015, how the hell could the two connect? I thought I had a fairly vivid imagination where crime thrillers are concerned, but I couldn’t even begin to figure out where this book was heading. I should mention that this book does contain some pretty gruesome and disturbing scenes, but as it’s a crime thriller they are very much part of the plot.
Johana Gustawsson has an incredible knack of writing in such a descriptive way that it doesn’t take much imagination to conjure up the images she writes about, from the poverty stricken Whitechapel, to the gruesome crime scenes that sent shivers down my spine you can’t but help but become immersed in her writing. Without a doubt the author has created a dark and unsettling read, Johana Gustawsson has such a vivid and creative imagination she takes you to the darkest places, explores the most gruesome crimes and then brings all the elements together to create one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read this year. I really can’t wait to see where the twisted imagination of the new Queen Of French noir takes her readers next. Highly, highly recommended, and yes this compelling crime thriller will be on my top reads of 2018 without a shadow of a doubt.
All my reviews can be found at
Keeper has so much to offer it’s a crime thriller with a unique plot, the author combines crimes committed in both Sweden and the UK with crimes from the past, in this case the horrific and gruesome crimes committed by Jack The Ripper. I found myself trying to work out the connection (I failed miserably I should add) between the Jack the Ripper crimes in Whitechapel 1988 and the crimes committed in Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015, how the hell could the two connect? I thought I had a fairly vivid imagination where crime thrillers are concerned, but I couldn’t even begin to figure out where this book was heading. I should mention that this book does contain some pretty gruesome and disturbing scenes, but as it’s a crime thriller they are very much part of the plot.
Johana Gustawsson has an incredible knack of writing in such a descriptive way that it doesn’t take much imagination to conjure up the images she writes about, from the poverty stricken Whitechapel, to the gruesome crime scenes that sent shivers down my spine you can’t but help but become immersed in her writing. Without a doubt the author has created a dark and unsettling read, Johana Gustawsson has such a vivid and creative imagination she takes you to the darkest places, explores the most gruesome crimes and then brings all the elements together to create one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read this year. I really can’t wait to see where the twisted imagination of the new Queen Of French noir takes her readers next. Highly, highly recommended, and yes this compelling crime thriller will be on my top reads of 2018 without a shadow of a doubt.
All my reviews can be found at
April 8, 2018
Keeper is the second book in the Roy & Castells series. I wouldn’t say it was a necessity to read them in order but I highly recommend reading Block 46 solely because it is a great read.
I wasn’t sure if the author could top Block 46. The author has a way of combining past with present to deliver a truly dark and deliciously disturbing reading experience. If at all possible, I loved Keeper even more.
As soon as I read the blurb and Jack the Rippers name is mentioned I was already sold on this book. Who could not be fascinated with the brutal murders in an historical case that has never been solved? I was really interested to see how the author would work this in with a modern day crime story and I have to say it worked perfectly.
The story flicks from past to present of which each time scale was as fascinating as the other. The murders that take place in both are horrific and gruesome. We start off in a court room of which the person on trial sings a song in his head which just set the bar well and truly high for what gruesome things as a reader we can look forward to.
Emily and Alexis yet again work tirelessly in trying to solve the case and I was well and truly fascinated with how they go about it. I have to say I am quite fascinated with profilers so Emily’s side of the investigation was especially gripping stuff.
Keeper is just a truly awesome read. It is dark and twisted and I absolutely loved every minute of it. This is one unputdownable, spine chilling read and an absolute must read for crime fans.
My thanks to Orenda and Anne Cater for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I wasn’t sure if the author could top Block 46. The author has a way of combining past with present to deliver a truly dark and deliciously disturbing reading experience. If at all possible, I loved Keeper even more.
As soon as I read the blurb and Jack the Rippers name is mentioned I was already sold on this book. Who could not be fascinated with the brutal murders in an historical case that has never been solved? I was really interested to see how the author would work this in with a modern day crime story and I have to say it worked perfectly.
The story flicks from past to present of which each time scale was as fascinating as the other. The murders that take place in both are horrific and gruesome. We start off in a court room of which the person on trial sings a song in his head which just set the bar well and truly high for what gruesome things as a reader we can look forward to.
Emily and Alexis yet again work tirelessly in trying to solve the case and I was well and truly fascinated with how they go about it. I have to say I am quite fascinated with profilers so Emily’s side of the investigation was especially gripping stuff.
Keeper is just a truly awesome read. It is dark and twisted and I absolutely loved every minute of it. This is one unputdownable, spine chilling read and an absolute must read for crime fans.
My thanks to Orenda and Anne Cater for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 13, 2018
I adored Block 46 by Johana Gustawsson, she evoked some deeply hidden emotions in me and therefore I didn’t think anything else she delivered would live up to that amazing book. I gave it 5 stars which means that Keeper really needs to get 10 STARS as not only did I love it, I loved it even MORE than Block 46!!
Having met the author at the Orenda Roadshow in Liverpool recently, it is hard to reconcile the sweet looking woman with the sheer power of the words that she puts on the page! Keeper is an horrifically gory and intense crime thriller which made a considerable impact on me! I was left open mouthed in shock at how the storyline came together and I applaud Johana Gustawsson for her very clever plot threads. This book didn’t just have me on the edge of my seat, it pushed me OVER the edge with its pure genius!
This is the second in the Roy and Castells series and I really enjoyed revisiting these characters. Emily Roy is a profiler who is brought in when a famous actress is kidnapped and a series of murders in Sweden seem to be related to a past case. But someone has been convicted of the Tower Hamlets murders and is currently in Broadmoor. Is there a copycat killer on the loose and if so is it too late to save the latest victim? And when Alexis realises there is a personal connection to this criminal, how will she cope?
What I adored about this novel was how the author used the true life crimes of Jack the Ripper in one of the storylines that threaded through the current day investigation. The sights, sounds and smells of Victorian London were vividly brought to life in an almost sickeningly realistic illustration of the period. Descriptions of settings were consistently exceptional throughout so that I felt a real sense of time and place. It was like a living painting had been created around me throwing me into scenarios alongside the characters and I was there watching the storyline unravel with them. So be warned that if you are a little bit squeamish, there are some very realistic and darkly disturbing scenes that might cause distress. But they are integral to the plot and my goodness they give you some serious goosebumps!
I pride myself on working out plot twists many pages before they are disclosed but I was well and truly shocked by the revelations towards the end of the book. And that denouement has booked this novel a place on my “favourite books of the year so far� list and I can’t see it straying too far away from there even though it’s still only April! I just LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! It’s clever, intelligent and breathtaking. And I forgot until the end that it was actually written in French and translated!! The translation by Maxim Jakubowski is so seamless that if you didn’t know it was a translation, you would have assumed that it had been written that way originally.
A brilliant book that I highly recommend everyone reads! Did I mention that I LOVED IT?!
April 7, 2018
To say Keeper was a highly anticipated read would be an understatement; the first book in this series, Block 46, ranked number one in my top books of 2017, so you can only image the high expectations I placed on this novel. A round of applause for Gustawsson because, my oh my, did she deliver another superb instalment in this series. If you haven’t read Block 46, I highly recommend you do and follow it up with this novel. I do believe you can enjoy this one as a standalone as it’s a new case, but you’ll lose out on the backstory of the characters.
Gustawsson has this amazing ability to tell multiple stories at once. You have the narrative beginning in 1888, London, not only does this bring the chill of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror but, it also gives this novel a darkly delightful element of historical fiction. Combined with two present day (2015) narratives, set in London and Sweden, you have a complex plot that will keep you interested throughout. What I’ve just explained is made easy to follow as this novel has chapter headings, and this allows you to know exactly what time period and location you’re in.
What makes this book, and series, unique is the two main protagonists â€� Emily Roy is a profiler and Alexis Castells is a crime writer, and their relationship isn’t how you’d usually expect a “crime fighting duosâ€� to be. All the characters in this book are so well developed; and as I learnt from reading Block 46, never underestimate ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s character creation!
Keeper has the perfect blend of suspense, thrills and chills. Granted, I didn’t find the twist as jaw-dropping as in the previous book, but, jeez, Gustawsson knows how to spin a twist!
Seeing all the puzzle pieces fall into place is what makes this novel so enjoyable. The way everything connects, not just the past and present, but how every aspect of the plot comes together, it’s so good, you just have to take a moment and reflect back on how good it is! A masterfully crafted novel. And, so much thanks to Maxim Jakubowski for providing the translation.
When I read Block 46 last year, I said, if you only read one book I’ve recommended, make it that one; well, I’m saying the same thing this year � if you only read one book I’ve recommended this year, make it Keeper. Without a shadow of a doubt, the Roy and Castells series is one of my favourites, and I cannot wait for book three!
*My thanks to the publisher (Orenda Books) for providing me with a copy of this book*
Gustawsson has this amazing ability to tell multiple stories at once. You have the narrative beginning in 1888, London, not only does this bring the chill of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror but, it also gives this novel a darkly delightful element of historical fiction. Combined with two present day (2015) narratives, set in London and Sweden, you have a complex plot that will keep you interested throughout. What I’ve just explained is made easy to follow as this novel has chapter headings, and this allows you to know exactly what time period and location you’re in.
What makes this book, and series, unique is the two main protagonists â€� Emily Roy is a profiler and Alexis Castells is a crime writer, and their relationship isn’t how you’d usually expect a “crime fighting duosâ€� to be. All the characters in this book are so well developed; and as I learnt from reading Block 46, never underestimate ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s character creation!
Keeper has the perfect blend of suspense, thrills and chills. Granted, I didn’t find the twist as jaw-dropping as in the previous book, but, jeez, Gustawsson knows how to spin a twist!
Seeing all the puzzle pieces fall into place is what makes this novel so enjoyable. The way everything connects, not just the past and present, but how every aspect of the plot comes together, it’s so good, you just have to take a moment and reflect back on how good it is! A masterfully crafted novel. And, so much thanks to Maxim Jakubowski for providing the translation.
When I read Block 46 last year, I said, if you only read one book I’ve recommended, make it that one; well, I’m saying the same thing this year � if you only read one book I’ve recommended this year, make it Keeper. Without a shadow of a doubt, the Roy and Castells series is one of my favourites, and I cannot wait for book three!
*My thanks to the publisher (Orenda Books) for providing me with a copy of this book*
September 28, 2021
Mör este un roman ingenios, pe care l-am devorat. Care m-a fascinat. Care este înfiorător de reușit. Cu o poveste brutală, sângeroasă, bolnavă. O carte perfectă pentru toți fanii genului noir, extrem de potrivită de citit în sezonul rece sau chiar de Halloween, pentru a crea acea atmosferă specifică acestei sărbători.
Autoarea are mult potențial, la fel și personajele imaginate. Și nu mă refer doar la cele două protagoniste care dau numele seriei. Nu, toate personajele create de Gustawsson trezesc ceva în tine, fie că vorbim de sentimente pozitive, fie că ne referim la cele mai întunecate sentimente. Te intrigă, te revoltă și te uimesc de la o pagină la alta. Nu sunt construite în întregime din întuneric, ci formează un tablou complex alcătuit din lumini și umbre. Frumsețe și urâțenie. Iubire și ură. Un joc nebunesc, în care absolut toți actorii participă, uneori conștient, alteori influențați de circumstanțe, pe scena vieții, această necruțătoare și implacabil de rece realitate cu care noi toți ne confruntăm în fiecare zi.
Cu o scriere captivantă și convingătoare, Johana Gustawsson își poartă cititorii de pe străduțele sufocante ale Londrei victoriene ale anului 1888 până în prezentul anului 2015, unde două fire narative își dau întâlnire atât pe pământ londonez, cât și pe cel suedez. Astfel, acțiunea începe în forță din momentul în care cadavrul unei tinere femei este descoperit în Suedia, ciopârțit și eviscerat. Un alt caz, de răpire de această dată, se face remarcat la Londra, acolo unde o celebră actriță este dată dispărută. Elemente similare celor două cazuri au mai fost întâlnite cu mult timp înainte, în perioada 2004 și 2005, când șase femei au fost date dispărute, ca mai apoi corpurile lor să fie găsite abandonate în cartierul londonez Tower Hamlets.
Este un roman în care, lăsând la o parte violența cu care sunt descise multe dintre pasaje, vorbește despre teme delicate precum familiile disfuncționale, violența îndreptată asupra femeilor, abuzul pe care unii copii sunt nevoiți să-l îndure chiar de la cei care ar fi trebuit să-i apare necondiționat, și anume părinții lor, incestul, justiția coruptă și chiar canibalismul. La toate acestea se adaugă subtile teme din mitologiea nordică și nu foarte subtile teme psihologice, aceste două detalii reprezentând pentru mine cel mai mare atuu al cărții.
Recenzia completa:
Autoarea are mult potențial, la fel și personajele imaginate. Și nu mă refer doar la cele două protagoniste care dau numele seriei. Nu, toate personajele create de Gustawsson trezesc ceva în tine, fie că vorbim de sentimente pozitive, fie că ne referim la cele mai întunecate sentimente. Te intrigă, te revoltă și te uimesc de la o pagină la alta. Nu sunt construite în întregime din întuneric, ci formează un tablou complex alcătuit din lumini și umbre. Frumsețe și urâțenie. Iubire și ură. Un joc nebunesc, în care absolut toți actorii participă, uneori conștient, alteori influențați de circumstanțe, pe scena vieții, această necruțătoare și implacabil de rece realitate cu care noi toți ne confruntăm în fiecare zi.
Cu o scriere captivantă și convingătoare, Johana Gustawsson își poartă cititorii de pe străduțele sufocante ale Londrei victoriene ale anului 1888 până în prezentul anului 2015, unde două fire narative își dau întâlnire atât pe pământ londonez, cât și pe cel suedez. Astfel, acțiunea începe în forță din momentul în care cadavrul unei tinere femei este descoperit în Suedia, ciopârțit și eviscerat. Un alt caz, de răpire de această dată, se face remarcat la Londra, acolo unde o celebră actriță este dată dispărută. Elemente similare celor două cazuri au mai fost întâlnite cu mult timp înainte, în perioada 2004 și 2005, când șase femei au fost date dispărute, ca mai apoi corpurile lor să fie găsite abandonate în cartierul londonez Tower Hamlets.
Este un roman în care, lăsând la o parte violența cu care sunt descise multe dintre pasaje, vorbește despre teme delicate precum familiile disfuncționale, violența îndreptată asupra femeilor, abuzul pe care unii copii sunt nevoiți să-l îndure chiar de la cei care ar fi trebuit să-i apare necondiționat, și anume părinții lor, incestul, justiția coruptă și chiar canibalismul. La toate acestea se adaugă subtile teme din mitologiea nordică și nu foarte subtile teme psihologice, aceste două detalii reprezentând pentru mine cel mai mare atuu al cărții.
Recenzia completa:
April 2, 2018
Another literary twist on a tale here from the amazingly talented Johana Gustawsson � following on from the intense and brilliant Block 46 we head once more back into the world of Emily Roy and Alexis Castells as they tackle another dangerous, dark and fascinating case that will haunt their (and our) dreams.
The blurb tells you all you need to know about the plot going in � Keeper is instantly absorbing, intriguingly tangled and perfectly plotted, not for the faint hearted, the prose is hard hitting, emotional and graphic � once you are in you can’t get out.
I love a serial killer thriller which at it’s very basic level is what this is � however this is not the type of tale you would normally find under that heading, it is insightful and cleverly plays on character nuances and setting, with multiple views and different times enthralling the reader until BAM something happens that is like a punch to the gut. Immersive, intelligent, fascinating in it’s historical layers, Keeper is a proper page turner with a great big dose of heart and soul.
As if that wasn’t enough the author pulled off a feat that is practically impossible these days � surprising me with an ending that I genuinely didn’t see coming. That, if nothing else, would have given Keeper my highly recommended tag and there was much much more in this book to enjoy than that. So what can I say?
Highly Recommended.
The blurb tells you all you need to know about the plot going in � Keeper is instantly absorbing, intriguingly tangled and perfectly plotted, not for the faint hearted, the prose is hard hitting, emotional and graphic � once you are in you can’t get out.
I love a serial killer thriller which at it’s very basic level is what this is � however this is not the type of tale you would normally find under that heading, it is insightful and cleverly plays on character nuances and setting, with multiple views and different times enthralling the reader until BAM something happens that is like a punch to the gut. Immersive, intelligent, fascinating in it’s historical layers, Keeper is a proper page turner with a great big dose of heart and soul.
As if that wasn’t enough the author pulled off a feat that is practically impossible these days � surprising me with an ending that I genuinely didn’t see coming. That, if nothing else, would have given Keeper my highly recommended tag and there was much much more in this book to enjoy than that. So what can I say?
Highly Recommended.
May 27, 2018
Gustwasson is quite simply the mistress of dark, delicious, and deviant literary crime. Jaw. On. Floor. That is all.
June 17, 2018
I recently asked several book bloggers to tell me their Top 5 books of 2018 so far and Keeper kept appearing over and over again.Ìý For those of you who follow my reviews you will know that I can't read books out of order so I downloaded and read the first book in the series Block 46 yesterday (see my review here) and the second I finished it, I downloaded and started Keeper which I read in half a day.
You probably could read these books as standalone, but I like to get to know the characters properly and in chronological order and reading this book immediately after Block 46 meant that everything was fresh in my mind.
Once again the author has managed to create a truly disturbing and dark crime thriller based over two timelines, 1888 in Whitechapel, London and 2015 in London and Sweden.Ìý With a truly sickening serial killer(s) on the loose in London and Sweden Roy & Castells team up together to solve the crime.Ìý Ìý
In Keeper we get to learn so much more about the 2 main female characters, the police teams in London and Sweden and the introduction of several wonderful new characters which brings an added layer giving the story more depth.Ìý Ìý
If you love crime that makes you wince and shudder, makes you turn each page whilst holding your breath and with gripping chapters which leave you unable to put the book down until you finish it, then you should definitely read this series.
You probably could read these books as standalone, but I like to get to know the characters properly and in chronological order and reading this book immediately after Block 46 meant that everything was fresh in my mind.
Once again the author has managed to create a truly disturbing and dark crime thriller based over two timelines, 1888 in Whitechapel, London and 2015 in London and Sweden.Ìý With a truly sickening serial killer(s) on the loose in London and Sweden Roy & Castells team up together to solve the crime.Ìý Ìý
In Keeper we get to learn so much more about the 2 main female characters, the police teams in London and Sweden and the introduction of several wonderful new characters which brings an added layer giving the story more depth.Ìý Ìý
If you love crime that makes you wince and shudder, makes you turn each page whilst holding your breath and with gripping chapters which leave you unable to put the book down until you finish it, then you should definitely read this series.
April 26, 2018
2015: In London a famous actress goes missing. Wife to a loving husband and mother to twin girls, Julianne Bell has no enemies, no stalkers so why did she disappear just moments after leaving her home? Profiler Emily Roy is called in to help with the investigation and when she discovers a pair of Julianne’s shoes in the spot she was last seen, it has her alarm bells ringing. The case bears unnerving similarities to a string of abductions years ago. The bodies of six women were found in Tower Hamlets, chunks of skin cut away, two black feathers inserted into their ear canals. A man was arrested and sentenced for the murders and he has been serving his sentence ever since. So has an apprentice taken up his grisly mantle? Or do they have a copycat on their hands?
1880: Whitechapel is in a state of panic. A serial killer, dubbed Jack the Ripper, is on the lose, targeting young women and leaving the bodies of his victims with the most gruesome wounds. The police are at their wits end with no new leads and the people of Whitechapel are fearful for their lives.
2015: In Falkenberg, the body of a young woman is found in a forest, mutilated, two black feathers inserted in her ears. Emily Roy and Alexis Castells team up to to solve a mystery that spans decades of the most heinous crimes. But with links that sew their personal lives to this chilling case, there is so much more at stake.
Keeper captured me in its vice-like grip from the first sentence. And as a huge HUGE fan of Block 46, the first in the Roy & Castells series, I was so excited to get stuck into the second book. I was jumping for joy when I was invited to review and join the blog tour!
Johana Gustawsson has once again delivered a story that will completely knock your socks off. I especially loved Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s evocation of 1880s London and Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror. The descriptions of fear, poverty and squalor of that time were incredible. She seamlessly ties the three plot strands together and keeps her readers locked down tight in her grip all the way through! Oh my goodness! Keeper is absolutely incredible.
Keeper is a dark, bold, spine-chilling book that is the very definition of ‘gripping�! I loved it! Johana Gustawsson has delivered the next instalment in the Roy & Castells series with masterful attention to detail, shocking suspense and breath-taking twists!
Dark. Bold. Thrilling.
1880: Whitechapel is in a state of panic. A serial killer, dubbed Jack the Ripper, is on the lose, targeting young women and leaving the bodies of his victims with the most gruesome wounds. The police are at their wits end with no new leads and the people of Whitechapel are fearful for their lives.
2015: In Falkenberg, the body of a young woman is found in a forest, mutilated, two black feathers inserted in her ears. Emily Roy and Alexis Castells team up to to solve a mystery that spans decades of the most heinous crimes. But with links that sew their personal lives to this chilling case, there is so much more at stake.
Keeper captured me in its vice-like grip from the first sentence. And as a huge HUGE fan of Block 46, the first in the Roy & Castells series, I was so excited to get stuck into the second book. I was jumping for joy when I was invited to review and join the blog tour!
Johana Gustawsson has once again delivered a story that will completely knock your socks off. I especially loved Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s evocation of 1880s London and Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror. The descriptions of fear, poverty and squalor of that time were incredible. She seamlessly ties the three plot strands together and keeps her readers locked down tight in her grip all the way through! Oh my goodness! Keeper is absolutely incredible.
Keeper is a dark, bold, spine-chilling book that is the very definition of ‘gripping�! I loved it! Johana Gustawsson has delivered the next instalment in the Roy & Castells series with masterful attention to detail, shocking suspense and breath-taking twists!
Dark. Bold. Thrilling.
May 2, 2018
In my review of the previous Roy & Castells book, Block 46, I may have uttered the words “sheer perfection�. Quite frankly, I didn’t think Johana Gustawsson could top that and I wouldn’t need to worry about coming up with an even bigger statement than the one I made at the time. I was wrong. So very, very wrong. Because somehow Johana Gustawsson raised the bar even higher and completely blew me away!
If you’ve read Block 46 (and if you haven’t, I may just have to hurt you), then you know Johana Gustawsson combined crime fiction with events set in World War II, which just happens to be one of my favourite topics to read about. In Keeper, she does it again, by seamlessly and effortlessly combining yet another firm favourite of mine, Victorian era Jack The Ripper murders with current events in Sweden and England. How are these connected, I hear you ask? Well, you’ll just have to pick up the book, won’t you?
I will tell you that what follows is a dark, disturbing and deliciously gruesome tale. From the very first page, Keeper had me in a chokehold and wouldn’t let go. Forget sleep! Seriously! Either you’ll be up all night reading, or you will be haunted by nightmares. I gasped, I felt shocked, I even may have felt a little nauseous at times, uttered the words “bloody hell� and sank a little deeper into my sofa, felt somewhat breathless and most definitely speechless. This is what I look for in my books. An insanely awesome experience, a thrill a minute that has me completely absorbed and leaves me desperately wanting more.
Keeper is intensely gripping, utterly addictive and a compelling page-turner like no other. The relatively short chapters urge you on to read just one more, and then another. Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s writing is razor sharp and the investigation will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, frantically trying to figure out the clues. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the evil mastermind that is Johana Gustawsson (and really, she looks so sweet!) comes up with an absolutely fantastic conclusion that left me spinning as if I’d just gone on a rollercoaster about twenty times in a row.
In short, I loved it and highly recommend you pick this one up! It is of the sheerest perfection (😉) and will without a doubt be in my top 10 at the end of the year! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find a thesaurus. Odds are I’m going to need it for the next instalment in the series.
If you’ve read Block 46 (and if you haven’t, I may just have to hurt you), then you know Johana Gustawsson combined crime fiction with events set in World War II, which just happens to be one of my favourite topics to read about. In Keeper, she does it again, by seamlessly and effortlessly combining yet another firm favourite of mine, Victorian era Jack The Ripper murders with current events in Sweden and England. How are these connected, I hear you ask? Well, you’ll just have to pick up the book, won’t you?
I will tell you that what follows is a dark, disturbing and deliciously gruesome tale. From the very first page, Keeper had me in a chokehold and wouldn’t let go. Forget sleep! Seriously! Either you’ll be up all night reading, or you will be haunted by nightmares. I gasped, I felt shocked, I even may have felt a little nauseous at times, uttered the words “bloody hell� and sank a little deeper into my sofa, felt somewhat breathless and most definitely speechless. This is what I look for in my books. An insanely awesome experience, a thrill a minute that has me completely absorbed and leaves me desperately wanting more.
Keeper is intensely gripping, utterly addictive and a compelling page-turner like no other. The relatively short chapters urge you on to read just one more, and then another. Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s writing is razor sharp and the investigation will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, frantically trying to figure out the clues. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the evil mastermind that is Johana Gustawsson (and really, she looks so sweet!) comes up with an absolutely fantastic conclusion that left me spinning as if I’d just gone on a rollercoaster about twenty times in a row.
In short, I loved it and highly recommend you pick this one up! It is of the sheerest perfection (😉) and will without a doubt be in my top 10 at the end of the year! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find a thesaurus. Odds are I’m going to need it for the next instalment in the series.
April 17, 2018
Keeper is the second book in the Roy & Castells series written by Johana Gustawsson and is published in paperback by Orenda Books later this month (nothing to stop you from grabbing a copy of the eBook now though!).
I read the first book in the series, Block 46 last year. I really liked it, many others absolutely loved it and it made regular appearances on the ‘top books of 2017� lists. Rightly so. Knowing this added to the pre-read build up for me. I was excited, expectant and a little apprehensive.
For those new to ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s books, they are set in the present day (if you can call 2015 present!) but with a historical twist to them. The story’s tentacles reach back in time to real-life crimes. The reader gets to see how the evil of the past affects and manipulates the evil of the present. It’s a highly original concept, one that I haven’t found elsewhere and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I bow down to those that are able to write convincing fiction, but I grovel on the floor before those that include a fair amount of accurate historical fact (I assume it’s accurate by the way, I am certainly no historian!). In Block 46 we had the despicable and abhorrent treatment prisoners of war were subjected to by the detestable Nazi’s. In Keeper, we are plunged into the world of the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. Now I’m no Ripperologist but Jack the Ripper has always fascinated me. I’ve read a few books on the subject, some fact and some fiction. As far as the fictional ones go, this is by far the best.
I adored this book. Plain and simple. If Keeper doesn’t make it to my top three books of the year then there is something seriously wrong with me. Regular visitors to the blog will be fully aware that I like my crime thrillers a little more on the dark side. Keeper is one heck of a dark read. Picture the scene, there I was merrily reading away thinking to myself, ‘yup, it’s another good one � probably four stars at the moment but we’ll see how things go�. Then all of a sudden Gustawsson stepped things up a notch (or two). My jaw hit the table and I was utterly smitten with the author’s story. One of those, ‘WOAH� moments that I absolutely live for.
Keeper will take you places you never expected. It’s exactly the kind of novel I want to read and it’s going to stay with me for a very, very long time. My love for Emily Roy has grown. She’s such a likeable oddball character. She does have competition for my affections though as I also really liked intern, Aliénor Lindbergh. Such an interesting character and I hope we see more of her in the future. The dynamic between the two characters really worked for me.
I also love the international flavour of ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s books. The reader gets taken on a whirlwind journey from London to Falkenberg in Sweden, and back again. The characters also bring a welcome international flair to proceedings. For example, at one point Alexis Castells is having a dreaded ‘meet the parentsâ€� moment (her parents are meeting her partner). They don’t all speak the same language so some are conversing in English, others in Swedish, her parents are chatting in French and there’s a bit of Spanish thrown in for good measure too. One of my favourite scenes in the book.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. Strong characters, astonishing twists and really quite perfect. There’s not a single thing I can think of that I didn’t like, and that’s saying something! Totally gratifying, deliciously dark and WHAT a thrill-ride. Yeah, I loved this one. You really should read Keeper.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Keeper. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
I read the first book in the series, Block 46 last year. I really liked it, many others absolutely loved it and it made regular appearances on the ‘top books of 2017� lists. Rightly so. Knowing this added to the pre-read build up for me. I was excited, expectant and a little apprehensive.
For those new to ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s books, they are set in the present day (if you can call 2015 present!) but with a historical twist to them. The story’s tentacles reach back in time to real-life crimes. The reader gets to see how the evil of the past affects and manipulates the evil of the present. It’s a highly original concept, one that I haven’t found elsewhere and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I bow down to those that are able to write convincing fiction, but I grovel on the floor before those that include a fair amount of accurate historical fact (I assume it’s accurate by the way, I am certainly no historian!). In Block 46 we had the despicable and abhorrent treatment prisoners of war were subjected to by the detestable Nazi’s. In Keeper, we are plunged into the world of the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. Now I’m no Ripperologist but Jack the Ripper has always fascinated me. I’ve read a few books on the subject, some fact and some fiction. As far as the fictional ones go, this is by far the best.
I adored this book. Plain and simple. If Keeper doesn’t make it to my top three books of the year then there is something seriously wrong with me. Regular visitors to the blog will be fully aware that I like my crime thrillers a little more on the dark side. Keeper is one heck of a dark read. Picture the scene, there I was merrily reading away thinking to myself, ‘yup, it’s another good one � probably four stars at the moment but we’ll see how things go�. Then all of a sudden Gustawsson stepped things up a notch (or two). My jaw hit the table and I was utterly smitten with the author’s story. One of those, ‘WOAH� moments that I absolutely live for.
Keeper will take you places you never expected. It’s exactly the kind of novel I want to read and it’s going to stay with me for a very, very long time. My love for Emily Roy has grown. She’s such a likeable oddball character. She does have competition for my affections though as I also really liked intern, Aliénor Lindbergh. Such an interesting character and I hope we see more of her in the future. The dynamic between the two characters really worked for me.
I also love the international flavour of ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s books. The reader gets taken on a whirlwind journey from London to Falkenberg in Sweden, and back again. The characters also bring a welcome international flair to proceedings. For example, at one point Alexis Castells is having a dreaded ‘meet the parentsâ€� moment (her parents are meeting her partner). They don’t all speak the same language so some are conversing in English, others in Swedish, her parents are chatting in French and there’s a bit of Spanish thrown in for good measure too. One of my favourite scenes in the book.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. Strong characters, astonishing twists and really quite perfect. There’s not a single thing I can think of that I didn’t like, and that’s saying something! Totally gratifying, deliciously dark and WHAT a thrill-ride. Yeah, I loved this one. You really should read Keeper.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Keeper. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 3, 2018
I read Block 46 last year and not only was it an extremely emotional journey, it literally took my breath when I finished it. So when the second book in the Roy & Castle series came out I must admit to have been sceptical as to whether Gustawsson could come close to pulling it off again. What you clearly have to understand before starting this book, is that the utter terrifying realism that is unleashed from each page will make a permanent imprint on your soul. So yes, this book surpasses my wildest imaginings.
When I began reading I found myself at the heart of the Ripper killings in 1888, where the vivid descriptions of the fowl smelling streets and the residents of Whitechapel seemed to creep into my nostrils, as Gustawsson awoke every sense I had. Her attention to the smallest detail just takes you into the heart of it all to experience being there, including the terror and the intensity of suffering. You get all of it. It is like it is not done to come across as gruesome and senseless violence but because this is what is happening and you are there seeing it first hand.
The story shoots forward to 2015 and the abduction of an actress in London at the same time as the abduction and killing of a woman in Sweden. Both having the hall marks of a famous case 10 years previously, where the then murderer was sent to Broadmoor. Roy and Castells are brought into the mix with this vicious and insane murderer. Last time for one of them it had horrific consequences.
The story that unfolds is outrageously superb where I felt like I had been given a dot to dot picture without the numbers to join them up. You just know that when it all comes together it will be a masterpiece. Oh boy this is the second time I have been floored when I have finished reading this author’s books. Originally published in France the translation by Maxim Jakubowski is superb. This is a pretty special book! Just jaw dropping brilliance at its best!
When I began reading I found myself at the heart of the Ripper killings in 1888, where the vivid descriptions of the fowl smelling streets and the residents of Whitechapel seemed to creep into my nostrils, as Gustawsson awoke every sense I had. Her attention to the smallest detail just takes you into the heart of it all to experience being there, including the terror and the intensity of suffering. You get all of it. It is like it is not done to come across as gruesome and senseless violence but because this is what is happening and you are there seeing it first hand.
The story shoots forward to 2015 and the abduction of an actress in London at the same time as the abduction and killing of a woman in Sweden. Both having the hall marks of a famous case 10 years previously, where the then murderer was sent to Broadmoor. Roy and Castells are brought into the mix with this vicious and insane murderer. Last time for one of them it had horrific consequences.
The story that unfolds is outrageously superb where I felt like I had been given a dot to dot picture without the numbers to join them up. You just know that when it all comes together it will be a masterpiece. Oh boy this is the second time I have been floored when I have finished reading this author’s books. Originally published in France the translation by Maxim Jakubowski is superb. This is a pretty special book! Just jaw dropping brilliance at its best!
March 29, 2017
Une perle de thriller à ne pas louper!
Un duo super attachant, une intrigue palpitante, un voyage entre Londres et la Suède, mais également dans le temps avec une plongée dans les entrailles de Whitechapel à la fin du XIXè et les meurtres sanglants de Jack the ripper...
Le second volume d'une "série" (dans le sens de la suite des aventures du duo Castells&Roy).
L'attente va être rude avant le prochain!
Un duo super attachant, une intrigue palpitante, un voyage entre Londres et la Suède, mais également dans le temps avec une plongée dans les entrailles de Whitechapel à la fin du XIXè et les meurtres sanglants de Jack the ripper...
Le second volume d'une "série" (dans le sens de la suite des aventures du duo Castells&Roy).
L'attente va être rude avant le prochain!
June 28, 2018
WTF did I just read?! Mind blown!!! One of the most complicated plots I’ve ever read that unfolded slowly to show how everything linked together. Hannibal Lecter has NOTHING on these characters! Absolutely brilliant!
Thanks to Orenda for this copy:)
Thanks to Orenda for this copy:)
April 30, 2018
³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s Block 46 was an excellent crime mystery, and though the story of her second book is strong, the writing is not as convincing and it falls short of providing the same entertainment.
It is dark and the crimes are particularly gruesome as the story flits between timelines dating from the late 19th century to the present day, and split between a Swedish village and London.
I can’t quite put my finger on why the writing in this novel was so much less impressive than the first, but as an example, providing asides in brackets to the reader (describing someone’s weight in a different unit, or a time zone, for example) didn’t work. I can’t recall coming across it before, and found it patronising. Maybe I’m being picky..
The novel ends well though, in an unpredictable manner with a couple of good twists. 3.6 stars.
It is dark and the crimes are particularly gruesome as the story flits between timelines dating from the late 19th century to the present day, and split between a Swedish village and London.
I can’t quite put my finger on why the writing in this novel was so much less impressive than the first, but as an example, providing asides in brackets to the reader (describing someone’s weight in a different unit, or a time zone, for example) didn’t work. I can’t recall coming across it before, and found it patronising. Maybe I’m being picky..
The novel ends well though, in an unpredictable manner with a couple of good twists. 3.6 stars.
April 8, 2018
Last year, I read Block 46, a new novel in a French Noir series by Johana Gustawsson, and was completely blown away. Historical fiction collided with mystery and suspense bringing a fast-paced plot with memorable characters that kept me up late into the night and recommend it to all my friends and coworkers. So, when I was asked to be a part of the blog tour for ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s second novel featuring the same detectives as Block 46, Keeper, I enthusiastically agreed!
Once again, Gustawasson combines past with the present as her story unfolds. Just as dark as Block 46 but in a completely different time period, this time we are transported back and forth from London/Sweden in 2015 and the Jack the Ripper murders which terrorized London in the 1800s. We follow profiler Emily Roy and true crime writer Alexis Castells as they struggle to see how these cases fit together, a copycat killer on the loose and family secrets. Once again, I found myself seriously impressed with how effortlessly the plot was weaved between the time periods.
It is extremely hard to discuss this book without giving anything away but the twist at the end was mind-blowing! Actual jaw-dropping. I was, once again, left reeling by this novel! Who knew that I would love this French Noir genre so much?! Overall, I loved the follow up to Block 46 and Keeper had me up late into the night, devouring pages! I cannot wait to see what Gustawasson will come up with next!
Highly, highly recommended.
Once again, Gustawasson combines past with the present as her story unfolds. Just as dark as Block 46 but in a completely different time period, this time we are transported back and forth from London/Sweden in 2015 and the Jack the Ripper murders which terrorized London in the 1800s. We follow profiler Emily Roy and true crime writer Alexis Castells as they struggle to see how these cases fit together, a copycat killer on the loose and family secrets. Once again, I found myself seriously impressed with how effortlessly the plot was weaved between the time periods.
It is extremely hard to discuss this book without giving anything away but the twist at the end was mind-blowing! Actual jaw-dropping. I was, once again, left reeling by this novel! Who knew that I would love this French Noir genre so much?! Overall, I loved the follow up to Block 46 and Keeper had me up late into the night, devouring pages! I cannot wait to see what Gustawasson will come up with next!
Highly, highly recommended.
April 24, 2018
I am one of the lucky one who get to read Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s stories first. Being able to read in French has its advantages! I read Mör a few months ago but had kept quiet about it as I wanted to review both books on the same day. It was so difficult not to shout just how mind-blowing the story is and how her beautifully bloody and elegant writing style immerse you in the shadows of the worst kind. But I did it. And weeks later I got the chance to read the translation, called Keeper and published by Orenda Books. Now you might know I am in love with many Orenda Books stories but you never know how you will feel about the next. Some stories just don’t work. Guess what. This one did.
Keeper. A word with promises. If you have read her first story in the Roy and Castells series, you think you know what you are getting into. Except you don’t really. There is no word to describe how dark and deep Keeper is. A raw gem wrapped in the most striking, cutting, astonishing narration. I couldn’t breathe at times. I couldn’t stop reading. Yes, I did cringe at some details, as our Johana knows how to make her reader feel the events are happening in front of them and she puts them at the heart of the story with no protection whatsoever. This is the best way to enjoy both the characters and the story.
Roy and Castells are back, for better or for worse! Demons from the past are coming back to haunt them, giving us the chance to get to know them better. I love those women. They couldn’t be more different. At least, that is what you are meant to believe. Emily is like a cat - independent, she doesn’t let you in, a protection cloak surrounds her. It would have been easy for her to become a cliché, to be cold and steer clear of any human contact, but there is more to it. Thanks to the author, layers of our favorite profiler are peeled, we get into her head and we start to understand her better. In her own way, she maintains relationships, and Alexis Castells is one of them. Alexis, struck and beaten by the past. Alexis, struggling and fighting to find a way out. Her feelings broke my heart, her strength made me more courageous. Did I say I loved those women?
But the magic doesn’t stop here. The characterization is so acute that every protagonist, main or secondary, comes with a history which makes the book richer, stronger, and better. You recognize names, you discover new ones, you wonder, you ask for more. I followed every thread with the same interest, coming back and forth from the past to the present, looking for clues and for answers.
Keeper is the perfect example of a story with the right balance between character development and action.
Here comes the action! Jack the Ripper rings a bell? We have all heard and/or read about it, but this time it feels personal. Knowing the characters, watching them retrace steps in two separate time frames, was completely fascinating. I cannot say much about what happens. Let’s say Johana Gustawsson brilliantly mixes the past and the present, coloring them both with blood and presenting us with the most realistic and chilling scenario. Having had the chance to meet her, I wonder where those intense and noir ideas come from! Because Keeper is not a happy story with butterflies and rainbows. Keeper is dartense! (dark and intense, a word I had to create for her first story, Block 46, as I was stuck and couldn’t express how I felt!) Actually, I even thought it was darker than the first book! Your mind screams for more and your emotions are all over the place as you imagine yourself being a victim, coming face to face with the bad guys, being right there with Emily and Alexis.
I would like to thank the translators, Maxim Jabulowski and David Warriner, for their fabulous work to allow Johana ³Ò³Ü²õ³Ù²¹·É²õ²õ´Ç²Ô’s touch to shine through the translation.
Keeper cuts through your mind and body and leaves scars, letting you beg for more from one of the best French voices in literature.
April 15, 2018
If an epic novel that will blow your mind is what you want, then this is it.
There's a lot to get your teeth into - murders in Sweden 2015 linking back to Jack the Ripper? A killer with a sick sense of justice. Family secrets. Murder and more secrets. Oh and some of the sharpest writing, sharpest plotting and fall off your seat OMG moments I've read in a while!
This book is very very clever.The present day plot is twistier than a very twisty thing. The links to the past stories are inspiring and fascinating to the extreme. Lots of povs/shifts in time to keep track of but this falls into place before you realise as the strength of the story supercedes everything else.
This really has to be read with little understanding of the plot to fully appreciate the intricate plotting and deliciously dark twists and turns. It's the kind of books you grimace at some scenes (graphic is not the word) and then rub your hands with glee at others - but you champion both for the way the words slap you in the face
Now after reading book two I am in awe of Johana. I've been lucky enough to meet her on several occasions now and she is the loveliest, warmest person ever! What goes on in that mind of hers? Haha total respect.
This is an early review granted but it's that good I couldn't help myself. It's out on kindle in Feb anyway and paperback in April. Devour this one!!
Merged review:
If an epic novel that will blow your mind is what you want, then this is it.
There's a lot to get your teeth into - murders in Sweden 2015 linking back to Jack the Ripper? A killer with a sick sense of justice. Family secrets. Murder and more secrets. Oh and some of the sharpest writing, sharpest plotting and fall off your seat OMG moments I've read in a while!
This book is very very clever.The present day plot is twistier than a very twisty thing. The links to the past stories are inspiring and fascinating to the extreme. Lots of povs/shifts in time to keep track of but this falls into place before you realise as the strength of the story supercedes everything else.
This really has to be read with little understanding of the plot to fully appreciate the intricate plotting and deliciously dark twists and turns. It's the kind of books you grimace at some scenes (graphic is not the word) and then rub your hands with glee at others - but you champion both for the way the words slap you in the face
Now after reading book two I am in awe of Johana. I've been lucky enough to meet her on several occasions now and she is the loveliest, warmest person ever! What goes on in that mind of hers? Haha total respect.
This is an early review granted but it's that good I couldn't help myself. It's out on kindle in Feb anyway and paperback in April. Devour this one!!
June 6, 2018
Keeper � Utterly Compelling
Johana Gustawsson follows up her highly successful debut, with the Keeper, a brilliant second book in her Roy and Castells series. Once again, she has written an excellent serial killer thriller with a few twists you just do not expect. Every time I thought I had solved the mystery and worked out the killer, Gustawsson throws a twist in just to keep you on your toes.
A story that looks back at the Jack the Ripper murders back in 1888, to London 2015 via Falkenberg in Sweden. Emily Roy a Scotland Yard Profiler and crime writer Alexis Castells are drawn into an intriguing case. There are links in this case that are a little too close to home for comfort.
London based actress Julianne Bell is abducted from outside her house on the way to a television interview, and there are unnerving links to a series of crimes from ten years before. The murderer in that case is now in Broadmoor and raises a series of questions the police are not particularly happy to look at once again.
A murder in Falkenberg, Sweden, seems to have links to the solved murders in London from ten years earlier. With the disappearance and the discovery of a dead body, have the police managed to catch the real killer? Did he have an accomplice? Or is this just a copycat at work? What Roy and Castells were not expecting was how close to home this case would come.
Keeper is a brilliantly multi-layered thriller, that has so much blood curdling violence, and touches some of taboos that society would rather not know about. At the same time, you just want to read on as you want to know who what where and why. While at times being challenging, this book soon has you engrossed, hours will go missing.
Johanna Gustawsson is the new Queen of French Noir and her writing is addictive, you will just want more of her!
Johana Gustawsson follows up her highly successful debut, with the Keeper, a brilliant second book in her Roy and Castells series. Once again, she has written an excellent serial killer thriller with a few twists you just do not expect. Every time I thought I had solved the mystery and worked out the killer, Gustawsson throws a twist in just to keep you on your toes.
A story that looks back at the Jack the Ripper murders back in 1888, to London 2015 via Falkenberg in Sweden. Emily Roy a Scotland Yard Profiler and crime writer Alexis Castells are drawn into an intriguing case. There are links in this case that are a little too close to home for comfort.
London based actress Julianne Bell is abducted from outside her house on the way to a television interview, and there are unnerving links to a series of crimes from ten years before. The murderer in that case is now in Broadmoor and raises a series of questions the police are not particularly happy to look at once again.
A murder in Falkenberg, Sweden, seems to have links to the solved murders in London from ten years earlier. With the disappearance and the discovery of a dead body, have the police managed to catch the real killer? Did he have an accomplice? Or is this just a copycat at work? What Roy and Castells were not expecting was how close to home this case would come.
Keeper is a brilliantly multi-layered thriller, that has so much blood curdling violence, and touches some of taboos that society would rather not know about. At the same time, you just want to read on as you want to know who what where and why. While at times being challenging, this book soon has you engrossed, hours will go missing.
Johanna Gustawsson is the new Queen of French Noir and her writing is addictive, you will just want more of her!
June 25, 2019
Another book that did not live up to the hype. I was so looking forward to read it for months! But with having so many books from NetGalley to review I hardly have the time to read the books I actually bought myself. So finally I managed to squeeze this one in. I had so high hopes for this book because of all the raving reviews. But unfortunately the book could not live up to it for me.
I had a hard time finding into the book from the start. The writing did not capture my attention and there where so many new characters joining in in every chapter. The reason why I skipped the first book of this series, “Block 46� was that Jack the Ripper was mentioned in the blurb. But I could not make the connection from the timeline told in the past, starting at the Ripper murders, to the story in 2015. I was distraught how every single character in this timeline somehow out of the blue developed a strange behavior. The book is also slow paced although it has short chapters. But the story did not intrigue me. Finally, at the last third of the book, the tension got stronger and I could see how the stories where connected eventually.
Maybe it was a mistake to skip the first book so I missed the mains things on the characters. At the end I must say that the story was good and tricky. I did not see that coming and I was surprised. This is what made this finally a 3 star read. I was disappointed that the Jack the Ripper connection was very weak and I have the feeling it was only built into the story because for attention-grabbing. I think the story could have worked without it. The story after all is good but very unrealistic and I found all this sudden cruelness some characters developed very weird.
I think I will not read another book from this author. The blurb of “Block 46� and her new book sound almost the same just with a different connection to past events.
I had a hard time finding into the book from the start. The writing did not capture my attention and there where so many new characters joining in in every chapter. The reason why I skipped the first book of this series, “Block 46� was that Jack the Ripper was mentioned in the blurb. But I could not make the connection from the timeline told in the past, starting at the Ripper murders, to the story in 2015. I was distraught how every single character in this timeline somehow out of the blue developed a strange behavior. The book is also slow paced although it has short chapters. But the story did not intrigue me. Finally, at the last third of the book, the tension got stronger and I could see how the stories where connected eventually.
Maybe it was a mistake to skip the first book so I missed the mains things on the characters. At the end I must say that the story was good and tricky. I did not see that coming and I was surprised. This is what made this finally a 3 star read. I was disappointed that the Jack the Ripper connection was very weak and I have the feeling it was only built into the story because for attention-grabbing. I think the story could have worked without it. The story after all is good but very unrealistic and I found all this sudden cruelness some characters developed very weird.
I think I will not read another book from this author. The blurb of “Block 46� and her new book sound almost the same just with a different connection to past events.
May 2, 2019
3/5 - I only finished this two weeks ago and already I needed a refresher from other people's reviews to remind me of exactly what happened. I'm not sure if it's me or the book (from looking at those other reviews, I think the evidence is screaming "It's you!!!").
Anyway, enjoyed this while I was reading. I liked the back and forth between 1888 London and 2015 Sweden/London, . I knew there was going to be a twist at the end and the first one I got, the second came out of nowhere and gave me quite a surprise. The most surprising part was that Emily didn't report what she'd deduced, when I read the scene I didn't understand that Emily was going to let them go, so I was quite surprised when that was finally revealed on the last page (when I read the words I had to go back and reread the second half of the previous scene to see what I'd missed). I look forward to any future books Gustawsson publishes.
Anyway, enjoyed this while I was reading. I liked the back and forth between 1888 London and 2015 Sweden/London, . I knew there was going to be a twist at the end and the first one I got, the second came out of nowhere and gave me quite a surprise. The most surprising part was that Emily didn't report what she'd deduced, when I read the scene I didn't understand that Emily was going to let them go, so I was quite surprised when that was finally revealed on the last page (when I read the words I had to go back and reread the second half of the previous scene to see what I'd missed). I look forward to any future books Gustawsson publishes.
April 13, 2018
‘The young woman was naked, sitting on the ground with her back against the dead tree trunk, legs wide apart, arms by her sides, the palms of her hands turned to the sky…Parted down the centre, her long blonde hair was splattered with mud and drawn back behind her shoulders to reveal her bust. Here, two dark-red craters now sat where her breasts should have been.�
Emily Roy and Alexis Castells are back with another investigation that will keep you up all night and will definitely result in a few stomach churning moments.
Keeper is the second novel in this series, following on from the incredible Block 46. Written by Johana Gustawsson and translated by Maxim Jakubowski, Keeper has just been published by Orenda Books.
Johana Gustawsson is wholly responsible for me having very strange dreams these past few days!!
Block 46 was written by the author in part tribute to her Grandfather and his incarceration in Buchenwald. It touched a chord with me, even though, admittedly, the violence was raw and uncensored. In Keeper we are witness to similar scenes of a violent and graphic nature but yet, due to the author’s writing style, I was completely drawn in.
The book is broken up into short chapters headed by location and date as opposed to chapter number, which really keeps you, as the reader, on your toes. We journey back to 1888 in Whitechapel, London. The smells, the rankness, the squalor are depicted so well, that you can almost picture yourself there walking in the excrement of the London streets.
‘Everyone drank in Whitechapel; men, women and children alike. Alcohol was the best way to deaden the body and soul and cloud the fact that tomorrow would be just another today�
As news swiftly gathers of a murder, the fear is palpable among some of the women of the night. These prostitutes live in appalling conditions, but yet they need to ply their wares on the streets to survive. Jack the Ripper has killed once and, as history tells us, he goes on the rampage, leaving terror in his wake.
Over 100 years later and the mutilated body of a woman is discovered by a lake in Sweden. At the same time, a famous actress goes missing from outside her family home in London. Initially thought to be two completely separate incidences, the services of profiler Emily Roy are called in by Scotland Yard, due to the high profile of the missing actress. As Emily Roy looks through footage and studies evidence, she starts to unearth similarities to a case now known as the Tower Hamlets murders. But the perpetrator of these crimes is now locked away in Broadmoor in a high security facility so is it a copycat??? As news filters through of the case in Sweden, Emily Roy soon finds herself back in Falkenberg again as she compares the two cases.
True-crime writer, Alexis Castells, is soon involved, as she has a personal history with the Tower Hamlets murders. Against her better judgement Alexis has to open up some wounds that have never truly healed and must face down one of her own personal demons.
Emily Roy and Alexis Castells have a very unusual relationship but it works. Together they unearth some highly distressing information as they piece together the jigsaw of this brutal crime that has disturbing comparisons to the case of Jack The Ripper all those decades previously.
Now I’m not going to lie to you here…if you are in any way squeamish this is probably not the book for you. There are scenes that some may find distressing, with no details spared. BUT if you have the stomach for it then might I add, WHAT A READ.
Keeper is evil personified. It is your worst nightmare. I mentioned in my previous review of Block 46 that Johana Gustawsson is a new voice in French Noir and she is. I’m not a fan of gore and gruesome books normally, so it is a complete testament to her writing that I keep coming back wanting more.
There are lots of characters in this book and there is lot of movement, so pay attention folks. You will need everything you got and DO NOT EAT ( just a bit of advice!!)
Keeper is enthralling, gripping, compelling. It is disturbing, barbaric, savage. It is bloody brilliant�.
Emily Roy and Alexis Castells are back with another investigation that will keep you up all night and will definitely result in a few stomach churning moments.
Keeper is the second novel in this series, following on from the incredible Block 46. Written by Johana Gustawsson and translated by Maxim Jakubowski, Keeper has just been published by Orenda Books.
Johana Gustawsson is wholly responsible for me having very strange dreams these past few days!!
Block 46 was written by the author in part tribute to her Grandfather and his incarceration in Buchenwald. It touched a chord with me, even though, admittedly, the violence was raw and uncensored. In Keeper we are witness to similar scenes of a violent and graphic nature but yet, due to the author’s writing style, I was completely drawn in.
The book is broken up into short chapters headed by location and date as opposed to chapter number, which really keeps you, as the reader, on your toes. We journey back to 1888 in Whitechapel, London. The smells, the rankness, the squalor are depicted so well, that you can almost picture yourself there walking in the excrement of the London streets.
‘Everyone drank in Whitechapel; men, women and children alike. Alcohol was the best way to deaden the body and soul and cloud the fact that tomorrow would be just another today�
As news swiftly gathers of a murder, the fear is palpable among some of the women of the night. These prostitutes live in appalling conditions, but yet they need to ply their wares on the streets to survive. Jack the Ripper has killed once and, as history tells us, he goes on the rampage, leaving terror in his wake.
Over 100 years later and the mutilated body of a woman is discovered by a lake in Sweden. At the same time, a famous actress goes missing from outside her family home in London. Initially thought to be two completely separate incidences, the services of profiler Emily Roy are called in by Scotland Yard, due to the high profile of the missing actress. As Emily Roy looks through footage and studies evidence, she starts to unearth similarities to a case now known as the Tower Hamlets murders. But the perpetrator of these crimes is now locked away in Broadmoor in a high security facility so is it a copycat??? As news filters through of the case in Sweden, Emily Roy soon finds herself back in Falkenberg again as she compares the two cases.
True-crime writer, Alexis Castells, is soon involved, as she has a personal history with the Tower Hamlets murders. Against her better judgement Alexis has to open up some wounds that have never truly healed and must face down one of her own personal demons.
Emily Roy and Alexis Castells have a very unusual relationship but it works. Together they unearth some highly distressing information as they piece together the jigsaw of this brutal crime that has disturbing comparisons to the case of Jack The Ripper all those decades previously.
Now I’m not going to lie to you here…if you are in any way squeamish this is probably not the book for you. There are scenes that some may find distressing, with no details spared. BUT if you have the stomach for it then might I add, WHAT A READ.
Keeper is evil personified. It is your worst nightmare. I mentioned in my previous review of Block 46 that Johana Gustawsson is a new voice in French Noir and she is. I’m not a fan of gore and gruesome books normally, so it is a complete testament to her writing that I keep coming back wanting more.
There are lots of characters in this book and there is lot of movement, so pay attention folks. You will need everything you got and DO NOT EAT ( just a bit of advice!!)
Keeper is enthralling, gripping, compelling. It is disturbing, barbaric, savage. It is bloody brilliant�.
August 16, 2018
The body of a woman has been found mutilated and with feathers in her ears in Falkenberg, Sweden. Shortly after the discovery of this body, a well-known actress, Julianne Bell, is abducted from her London home. These two cases bear a striking resemblance to the Tower Hamlets murders. The problem is, a man was caught and charged with those murders ten years ago. Since his conviction and subsequent imprisonment in a mental hospital, no new crimes have been committed until these.
These new crimes and the Tower Hamlets murders mimic the work of Jack the Ripper. In 1888, London was saturated in fear of Jack the Ripper. I local woman, Freda, witnessed a close friend of hers be discovered as one of his victims. Does Jack the Ripper and his murderous reign have a connection to the cases of present day? Emily Roy and Alexis Castells have once again been called in to assist with these new cases. Roy is there serving as a profiler hoping to catch the killer and Castells is involved because her past holds an deadly connection to the Tower Hamlets murders. Can this duo save Julianne Bell before she is murdered?
Last month I read BLOCK 46, the first book in this series, and Johana Gustawsson absolutely blew my mind. Reading KEEPER was an equally fantastic experience! KEEPER once again ties London and Sweden together with the past through an entirely fresh set of cases and killers. This time around Emily and Alexis are on the case of a missing actress, whose abduction screams similarities to a closed case known as the Tower Hamlets murders. These cases and the abduction also appear to be tied to the body of a woman who was found murdered Jack the Ripper style with the strange edition of black feathers in her ears.
All the while the reader is learning about these present cases, they are also treated to interwoven chapters focused in the past, starting in the year 1888, which just happens to be when Jack the Ripper was terrorizing London. See the connections happening? Also mixed throughout are chapters about Julianne’s abduction and imprisonment. Seems like a lot to take in right? Well Gustawsson spells everything out in an engaging, spell-binding style that leaves the reader with no choice, but to continue flipping pages.
Each narrative section of KEEPER stands alone as an interesting topic, but woven together, they truly create a masterful book. Chapter are kept short, but information and suspense filled, as they propel the reader towards the truth. I simply couldn’t stop myself from becoming invested in Emily and Alexis, who are intriguing and complicated women with strong intellectual gifts. These characters and the cases that they are solving make KEEPER a perfect read for any crime fiction, mystery, or thriller fan. I cannot wait to see what Johana Gustawsson comes up with next!
A special thank you to Orenda Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my full review!
These new crimes and the Tower Hamlets murders mimic the work of Jack the Ripper. In 1888, London was saturated in fear of Jack the Ripper. I local woman, Freda, witnessed a close friend of hers be discovered as one of his victims. Does Jack the Ripper and his murderous reign have a connection to the cases of present day? Emily Roy and Alexis Castells have once again been called in to assist with these new cases. Roy is there serving as a profiler hoping to catch the killer and Castells is involved because her past holds an deadly connection to the Tower Hamlets murders. Can this duo save Julianne Bell before she is murdered?
Last month I read BLOCK 46, the first book in this series, and Johana Gustawsson absolutely blew my mind. Reading KEEPER was an equally fantastic experience! KEEPER once again ties London and Sweden together with the past through an entirely fresh set of cases and killers. This time around Emily and Alexis are on the case of a missing actress, whose abduction screams similarities to a closed case known as the Tower Hamlets murders. These cases and the abduction also appear to be tied to the body of a woman who was found murdered Jack the Ripper style with the strange edition of black feathers in her ears.
All the while the reader is learning about these present cases, they are also treated to interwoven chapters focused in the past, starting in the year 1888, which just happens to be when Jack the Ripper was terrorizing London. See the connections happening? Also mixed throughout are chapters about Julianne’s abduction and imprisonment. Seems like a lot to take in right? Well Gustawsson spells everything out in an engaging, spell-binding style that leaves the reader with no choice, but to continue flipping pages.
Each narrative section of KEEPER stands alone as an interesting topic, but woven together, they truly create a masterful book. Chapter are kept short, but information and suspense filled, as they propel the reader towards the truth. I simply couldn’t stop myself from becoming invested in Emily and Alexis, who are intriguing and complicated women with strong intellectual gifts. These characters and the cases that they are solving make KEEPER a perfect read for any crime fiction, mystery, or thriller fan. I cannot wait to see what Johana Gustawsson comes up with next!
A special thank you to Orenda Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my full review!
July 10, 2022
Le deuxième volume d'une série est toujours plus difficile à écrire. Je l'ai trouvé tout aussi bon que "Block 46". La construction est identique. Nous suivons l'équipe d'enquêteurs, ici de deux pays différents, la Suède et l'Angleterre, la progression chronologique étant entrecoupée de courtes scènes assez mystérieuses (ici un Londres victorien alors que sévit Jack L'Eventreur) qui éclairent peu à peu le lecteur sur ce qui s'est vraiment passé.
Le roman est passionnant, foisonnant de personnages, alors que nous retrouvons la canadienne Emily Roy et Alexis Castells, la française, épaulées par une jeune femme atteinte du syndrome d'Asperger. L'ensemble est tout à fait passionnant, très noir, sans temps mort. J'ai vraiment apprécié de retrouver l'ambiance moitié suédoise, moitié anglaise. Je suis vraiment enthousiasmée par l'imagination de Johana Gustawsson qui parvient à renouveler le thème du serial killer, et qui réussit à nous surprendre avec un coup de théâtre final malin et parfaitement amené.
Une vraie réussite !
Le roman est passionnant, foisonnant de personnages, alors que nous retrouvons la canadienne Emily Roy et Alexis Castells, la française, épaulées par une jeune femme atteinte du syndrome d'Asperger. L'ensemble est tout à fait passionnant, très noir, sans temps mort. J'ai vraiment apprécié de retrouver l'ambiance moitié suédoise, moitié anglaise. Je suis vraiment enthousiasmée par l'imagination de Johana Gustawsson qui parvient à renouveler le thème du serial killer, et qui réussit à nous surprendre avec un coup de théâtre final malin et parfaitement amené.
Une vraie réussite !
July 9, 2019
To follow
December 13, 2019
LOVED this book !! Very original storyline, with twists and turns, will definitely be reading more by this author, highly recommend
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