Overall 4/5
Detective series set in Sweden
Crime
The Lost Boy by Camilla Läckberg (translated by Tiina Nunnally) is the seventh novel in the Erica Falck-Patrik Hedström crime thriller series set in the Swedish town of Fjällbacka. The overriding theme for this novel is grief, which particularly resonates with me, having yesterday attended the very sad funeral of my young nephew’s beautiful wife.
Detective Inspector Patrik Hedström returns to work from sick leave with strict orders to avoid stress but given the birth of twins; the car crash that killed the unborn child of his wife’s sister; and the nature of his job, Patrik’s chances of avoiding stress seem unlikely. His first case involves the shooting of Mats Sverin, a financial director for a local consortium involved in the restoration of one of the town’s landmark buildings.
With no signs of forced entry or of a struggle and the fact that Sverin has been shot in the back of the head, Patrik concludes that the victim knew his killer. The problem is that Sverin appears to be widely liked and outside of his parents, he has no friends and didn’t associate after hours with his co-workers, so finding a motive or potential suspects is tricky.
An interview with Sverin’s parents leads to Nathalie, the victim’s childhood sweetheart. Nathalie has recently fled to Gråskär Island off the coast of Fjällbacka, with her son Sam after the brutal death of her husband. Patrik interviews Nathalie who is devastated to learn of Sverin’s murder and admits that he came to visit her the night of his death but that he left early. He did, however, leave behind his briefcase and laptop but these provide no further clues for the investigation.
Patrik concentrates on learning more about Sverin’s past. He discovers his involvement with a women’s refuge in Stockholm but he is unable to find a connection between the shelter and Sverin’s murder. He does, however, learn that shortly before Sverin moved back to Fjällbacka, he was badly beaten by a gang of youths. When cocaine is found in the garbage outside Sverin’s apartment, Patrik wonders if there might be a connection between the drugs, Sverin’s beating and his murder.
The Lost Boy is a complex and clever novel which blends police procedural with the harsh realities of life, particularly the effects of domestic violence. Läckberg uses Patrik and Erica’s enjoyment of their twin boys to starkly contrast against the loss suffered by the other mothers featured in this novel.
Running Chook Books 