by Karin Nordin
SYNOPSIS
They survived once. Can he save them this time?
When Detective Kjeld Nygaard is called to the discovery of a body in the burnt-out shell of a house, his heart sinks. He never wanted to see this house again. The house of a notorious serial killer. The house where he rescued Louisa Karlsson from being murdered. But when they discover the body is in fact Louisa, the mystery deepens. It can’t be the old serial killer. He’s dead. Then another body is found, again killed in the exact place where Kjeld saved them from another murderer. Another survivor dead.
With the clock ticking Kjeld and his partner Detective Esme Jansson are desperate to stop any more survivors from being murdered. But every clue they find leads to a dead end. Why is the killer picking off people Kjeld rescued? Could it be connected to another of his previous cases? When Kjeld’s daughter is kidnapped – it’s a race against time to save her life. Can Kjeld stop the killer without paying the ultimate price or will he be the last one alive?
REVIEW Back in February, I had the opportunity to take part in the Blog Tour for Where Ravens Roost - the first in the Detective Nygaard series. You can read my review on the link below; https://amandallwyd.wixsite.com/thebutlerdidit/post/where-ravens-roost Now, Kjeld Nygaard returns in a second novel - Last One Alive.
When Kjeld is called out to a burning house he has a vague feeling that he recognises it. It becomes apparent that this house belonged to a serial killer from a case he worked a few years earlier. The Detective is even more shocked to find that the body inside the house is Louisa Karlsson, the same girl he once saved from that killer. When another body is discovered, Kjeld realises that this is another survivor from a previous investigation. What exactly is the link between these murders, why is the killer targeting people who have already been through and survived one attack and could Kjeld himself be at risk?
If you're a horror fan, this book has some similarities to the way the 'final girls' trope is used in the book 'The Final Girl Support Group' by Grady Hendrix, and the ongoing serial killer thread had a similar vibe to Robert Bryndza's 'Nine Elms' but here, both of these elements are mixed into a more typical Scandi Crime police procedural. For me, this was the perfect storyline, and could actually have been written with me in mind - a combination of two of my favourite genres and books from my recent favourites list. For that reason, even though I loved Where Ravens Roost, I thought that Last One Alive was even better!
I was really intrigued by the relationship between Nygaard and his former partner Nils. This was touched on in the first book and then developed further in this story. As I mentioned in my previous review, I would absolutely love to read a prequel which explores what happened between these two characters.
Complex, atmospheric and full of suspense, Last One Alive is the perfect Scandi Noir for anyone who likes serial killer books with a darker edge!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karin Nordin has been a compulsive reader of thrilling stories since childhood and discovered her love of Scandinavian crime fiction during summers spent visiting family in Norway and Sweden. She has worked in healthcare and education, including as a pharmacy technician, karate instructor, and an English language teacher for the Dutch military. She completed the Creative Writing MSc from the University of Edinburgh with Distinction in 2019 and also holds an MA in Scandinavian Literary Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Born in ‘The Biggest Little City in the World’ and raised in America’s Rust Belt, she now lives in the Netherlands. Her first novel, Where Ravens Roost, was published by HQ Digital, an imprint of Harper Collins UK, in 2021.
Thanks to @HQstories, @SianBaldwin and @KNordinAuthor for my slot on the Blog Tour and the opportunity to read and review.
Product format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0008462055
Pages: 384 pp
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