I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Forty Days Without Shadow by Olivier TrucPublished by Trapdoor on April 1, 2014
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 444
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
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Winter is savage and cold in Lapland. When a priceless local relic is stolen from Kautokeino, a village in the middle of the isolated snowy tundra, detectives Klemet Nango – a familiar face in the rural community – and Nina Nansen, fresh out of the local police academy, are called to investigate.
There are just a few days until the locals will host a UN World Heritage conference, and Klemet and Nina are under pressure to retrieve the artefact, due to be presented to a world-renowned French scientist as part of the celebrations. When a local reindeer herder is found brutally murdered, Klemet and Nina immediately suspect that the two events are linked. But the villagers don't take too kindly to having their secret histories stirred up and the duo is forced to cross the icy landscapes alone in search of the answers that will lead them to a killer.
Forty Days Without Shadow had an intriguing plot, filled with interesting characters, detailed descriptions and a dark atmosphere. I loved how the characters developed over time, how the relationship between Klemet and Nina grew to become more real, more believable. And how Nina grew from being naive to fully understanding what was happening.
For me what let the story down was the slow pace. There was just so much going on within the plot and with all the different characters involved, with alternative chapters dedicated to them. But despite this slow pace tension was built and there was a continuing sense of isolation. Also the ending felt unsatisfactory, all questions had been answered but the next part – the what happened next part was missing – it was a really abrupt ending.
Forty Days without Shadow was an interesting and enjoyable read. I just wish that it had been a more fast-paced thriller, than the slow-paced mystery I got. This is a page turner but be prepared for the sheer amount that needs to be absorbed.
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