The Man Who Watched Women by Hjorth & Rosenfeldt

Description from NetGalley:

"As a heatwave blazes in Stockholm, a series of women are found brutally murdered and the Criminal Investigation Department is getting nowhere. The murders bear all the hallmarks of Edward Hinde, the serial killer jailed by psychological profiler Sebastian Bergman fifteen years earlier.

Sebastian desperately needs some order in his chaotic life. The revelation that he has a daughter, Vanya, could provide this longed-for stability. But should he tell her the truth and risk destroying her life and career?

Forcing his way into the investigation, Sebastian soon learns that the murders are connected to him and that no one around him is safe. Including Vanya."

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I must admit to not having read many so-called Scandi-Noir - in fact, I am ashamed to say that I have only ever read one by a highly successful author who shall remain nameless and, to be honest, it put me off as I just couldn't get into it at all … ok, I only read ½ of it so feel free to berate me as I probably deserve it! When I was invited to receive a free copy of The Man Who Watched Women from the publisher, Random House UK / Cornerstone Digital via NetGalley, I decided to put my previous experience aside and give it a go and I am quite pleased I did.

To be honest, it did take me a while to get into this book. I don’t think it was the story itself, which was pretty good with an interesting plot, it was more the characters that I found difficult to connect with. There weren't that many redeeming qualities with any of them and I particularly disliked the main character, Sebastian Bergman, who I found to be thoroughly unlikeable, creepy and a bit weird. I know he comes with significant baggage following a tragedy but that’s no excuse for being a total [insert suitably disparaging remark here] and don't even get me started on Haraldsson, the governor of Lövhaga Prison - I don’t want to give anything away but this guy is an idiot.

The members of the National CID murder squad known as Riksmord are a tight-knit unit who work well together but there is also some disquiet amongst its members particularly between Billy and Vanja who seemed like they were in competition with each other as to who was the best Police Officer when they should just get on with the job. Is this true to life? Probably but I found it petty.

The killers were the stars of the book for me … and Ellinor. Hinde, the serial killer behind bars, is an interesting character who is adept at manipulation and using people for his own gain as all good serial killers do. The copycat is equally as intriguing as he learns his ‘craft’ from someone he calls ‘the master’ with whom he is communicating via his obscure website. It couldn't possibly be Hinde as he has no way to communicate with the outside world … or does he? Ellinor is what I can only describe as an oddball … a strange and eccentric woman who, for some bizarre reason, is attracted to Sebastian. Despite this, she is a chink of light and welcome relief from the darkness of the narrative.

The story grows from the beginning and draws you in. It does become a little tedious for a time in the middle whilst the characters are developed and although this was necessary, I just felt it was a little overdone and long-winded.

In summary, The Man Who Watched Women was well written with a captivating storyline and complex characters and although I felt it was a little long, there was something that kept me reading to the end and I am happy to say that I would happily pick up another Scandi-Noir book in the future.