VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE by Stefan Ahnhem
Minotaur; 9/6/2016
CBTB Rating: 4/5
The Verdict: Gripping Scandinavian crime fiction
I know I can’t be the only reader out there who seems to have a few books that have just been lingering on their TBR list for way too long… right?! One of my personal 2021 reading goals is to finally make a dent in that list and carve out some time to read crime novels that I’ve had sitting on my to-read pile for what feels like ages now. The latest book I’ve tackled from that list is Stefan Ahnhem’s serial killer thriller VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE, first published in the US in 2016. Set in Sweden and following a troubled detective on the trail of a very darkly inventive murderer, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE has all the ingredients I look for in a thriller—and the reading experience here delivers. Centering around a killer who appears to be targeting classmates from his youth, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE exemplifies the intricate plotting, grim mood, and complex character development that keeps me coming back for more Scandinavian crime fiction, book after book and year after year. With appeal for fans of Lars Kepler, Jo Nesbø, and Søren Sveistrup, Stefan Ahnhem’s first Fabian Risk novel made me an instant-fan of this gritty and gripping crime fiction series. If you’re looking for a dark, complex Nordic crime story to dig into as the fall season approaches, consider this oldie-but-a-goodie for your reading list—it’s a worthy addition.
Plot Details:
A KILLER WITH A MESSAGE.
Two men are dead. Both had been bullies at school. A single clue has been found at the scene: a class photo, with two faces neatly crossed out.
A DETECTIVE WHO CAN’T LET GO.
Fabian Risk is among the faces in the photograph. He’s also the lead detective on the case. He thought he’d left his schooldays behind. Now his classmates are dying for the sins of their childhood. . . .
CAN YOU EVER HIDE FROM JUSTICE?
The first book in an internationally bestselling, award-winning series, Stefan Ahnhem's Victim Without a Face is a chilling novel about the ultimate revenge.
Dark, gritty, and gripping, Stefan Ahnhem’s VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE starts with a bang, and doesn’t relent until the book’s final pages. Our story begins with a memorable—and horrific—scene: a man awakes to find himself strapped to the ground, being tortured by a mysterious villain for reasons unknown. Who is this man? Who is his captor? And what motivation could our story’s villain have for committing such a brutal act? Tasked with answering these questions and catching the killer is Fabian Risk, a detective formerly employed by the Stockholm police force who has just transferred to his hometown of Helsingborg when our story begins. Fabian Risk and his family are in desperate need of a fresh start; infidelity and a mysterious professional setback in Fabian’s recent past have driven a wedge between him and his wife, and unless a drastic change is made, divorce seems inevitable. Fabian is determined that their new life in Helsingborg will be different… that is, until his very first afternoon in his new home with his family is interrupted by his new police chief dropping by, alerting him to an urgent case that needs his attention. A brutal crime has been committed in a local school—the very same school Fabian attended growing up—and it appears the victim was one of Fabian’s classmates. When a class photo is found with the victim’s face crossed out, police begin to fear that this killer might have plans for the surviving class members, too. Who better to solve this crime than a detective who was in the very same class that this killer seems to be targeting? Fabian Risk finds himself drawn into a dangerous and far-reaching serial killer case that moves from Sweden to Denmark and deep into Fabian’s own past.
The Nordic Noir genre is known for brooding atmosphere, gritty and often quite violent plots, and complex, troubled characters—and if that sounds like your cup of tea, Stefan Ahnhem’s VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE will be right up your alley. Fans of the Scandinavian crime fiction genre who haven’t yet read Ahnhem’s work will fall instantly in step with his brand of storytelling in his first Fabian Risk thriller. Central to this story is a protagonist whose complex and troubled personal life is in the same league (though not quite as dark!) as fan-favorite characters Joona Linna (of Lars Kepler’s series) and Harry Hole (of Jo Nesbø’s series). When we meet him, Fabian Risk is a man on the brink of losing it all. An incident at his previous job in Stockholm has forced him to take a leave of absence from work, and infidelity has caused a deep rift between him and his beloved wife. Desperate to try and rebuild their family, Fabian and his wife decide to move to the coastal city of Helsingborg, where Fabian grew up. With this fresh start, they hope to begin to repair the damage that has been done to their relationship and to their family unit. But things get off to a rocky start in Helsingborg: Fabian’s teenage son becomes increasingly withdrawn as they settle into their new home, and Fabian’s attempt at work-life balance is upended when he is asked by his new boss to abandon his vacation and help solve the gruesome case central to our story. One of the biggest draws of the Nordic Noir genre is its complex character development, and Stefan Ahnhem delivers a compelling glimpse into Fabian Risk’s personal life in VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE. Fabian is an undeniably flawed and deliciously complex character: while admirable, his unwavering devotion to his job nevertheless comes at a high cost, and the juxtaposition of his brilliance as an investigator with his shortcomings as a father and husband brings his character to life, and helps him feel authentic and grounded throughout the story’s many shocking twists and turns. The intimate details of Fabian’s personal life balance the story’s gruesome crimes, bringing a welcome dose of realism and down-to-earth humanity to an otherwise dark and dramatic thriller.
Speaking of darkness and drama, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE delivers plenty of that, too. In VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE, Stefan Ahnhem crafts an engaging blend of realistic police procedure coupled with crimes that are twisted, inventive, and cinematic. Our story’s killer has a flair for the dramatic, and every single murder depicted in this book has an element of shock value to it that will remind readers of some of the more twisted and gruesome crimes written by powerhouse crime writing duo Lars Kepler. Readers who prefer more subtle depictions of violence will likely not find VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE to their liking; the crimes here are often horrific, sometimes a little bit far-fetched, and always highly memorable. (If I had one qualm with this book, it’s that its crimes occasionally went a bit too far even for me, not in terms of gore but rather in terms of plausibility; one particular murder committed in a moving vehicle on a busy highway felt a bit distractingly overdone.) As VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE unfurls, Stefan Ahnhem lights a fire under his detectives to solve the case with an ever-increasing body count and a threat of more horrific murders to come. The deeper detectives dig into this case, the more evident it becomes that our story’s killer won’t rest until he gets revenge on everyone who did him wrong in his school days. And speaking of this book’s connection to school: Ahnhem uses this book’s central mystery to explore potent topics of schoolyard bullying and the unthinkable cruelty that bullies can inflict on their victims. Through pages from a diary depicting such schoolyard abuse, Ahnhem draws readers ever deeper into the mind of a tormented young person. Readers won’t necessarily find themselves rooting for our story’s killer (his crimes are too twisted for that), but they will find that the more they learn about the killer’s past, the more the motivation behind his crimes rings true. Building to a thrilling, white-knuckle conclusion, VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE weaves an irresistibly complex and sinister tale of long-delayed retribution.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a total latecomer to Stefan Ahnhem’s work—his books have already sold over two million copies worldwide, and won him numerous awards—but better late than never is very true here. VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE served up exactly the kind of Nordic Noir read that I needed this summer, and reminded me once again just why the Scandinavian crime fiction genre will always be my favorite. Fans of Lars Kepler, Jo Nesbø, and Søren Sveistrup will find much to love in Ahnhem’s dark and intricate VICTIM WITHOUT A FACE.
Book Details:
Publisher : Minotaur Books (September 6, 2016)
Language : English
Hardcover : 608 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250103185
ISBN-13 : 978-1250103185
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