Wow ! what a brilliant read .This is a very long book but the fast pace just keeps going all the way to the ending .Hess and Thurin are great characters being thrown together not willingly .to find what seems like a serial killer who leaves little chestnut men as his calling card This is a Scandi crime thriller ,beautifully written which will keep you guessing all the way through .It is very gory and dark but you just get drawn into the story which is very hard to put down .I can see this book being dramatised for TV .This is one of those books that keeps you guessing and guessing with a real good twist at the end ! Just Fabulous ! Many thanks to the Publishers ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review

Don't miss reading this book - it is so clever and makes superb reading. I started to read with the expectation it would be yet another Scandinavian type novel - dark, cold, snowy and oh so slow. Forget that - this one moves at a good pace and the character descriptions are excellent. I did not work out who was the villain but no doubt other readers will be more successful sooner. I won't spoil the story in case anyone decides to read this review but make sure you read it as soon as you can in 2019.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but it was worth persevering with.
The story follows a spate of killings, where the killer leaves behind a Chestnut man. All the victim's appear to have one thing in common ( I won't say what) The case seems to be in someway connected to the disappearance of a government minister's daughter a year earlier.
I would highly recommend this book.

Ambitious young detective Naia Thulin and her partner Mark Hess (a burned out investigator who's just been sent back from Europol for disciplinary reasons) are called to investigate the brutal murder of a young woman.  They quickly discover a strange piece of evidence, connecting this case to a case from a year ago.  A case involving the missing daughter of a politician, which has already been closed.  Soon afterwards another woman is found murdered in a similar style, with another piece of evidence linking to the closed case.  Thulin and Hess realise they are in a race against the clock before the killer strikes again, but what is his true motive?

I'm a huge fan of Nordic Noir, so I was looking forward to this, hoping for a new author to follow.

I found the story easy to get into, and I really liked the writing style. The vocabulary is wide and varied, without sounding pretentious.  From early on the book was ticking a lot of boxes for me.

Character wise I didn't really like any of them in the early stages of the book.  I found all three of Thulin, Hess and Nylander to be far too self serving, and not the sort of hero I want to keep reading about if I'm looking for a series.  Thulin and Hess did slowly start to grow on me, and I'd follow them for another book now, but they still have some work to do to become likeable characters in my eye.

For the plot itself, I thought the story was very clever.  I didn't see the ending coming until it was spelled out for me, and even then I still didn't want to believe.  The story moved at a fast pace right through and didn't have any slow moments.  It was brutal in places, but it didn't feel like it was unnecessary or just to shock, it worked with the story.  I thought Sveistrup did a great job of tying up the loose ends and bringing everything together.  He also leaves a potential opening for a sequel or later instalment, without it feeling like this book was unfinished.

Overall I thought this was a great read.  It definitely lived up to my hopes, and I'll be following this author in future, whether he makes this into a series or leaves it as a stand alone and moves on to something new.  The only thing I would've liked is for me to have felt more of a connection with one of the main detectives.  A solid 4*, highly recommended if you like crime dramas or Nordic Noir.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review

A Scandi murder mystery to rival Jo Nesbo. Kidnap, gory murders and hero cops who unravel the truth. What's not to like? Enjoyable twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion.

This is well-written with a complex plot and some interesting characters,it’s a real page turner too. However I’ve given 4 stars instead of 5 as it is really too gruesome for me, and of course the victims are women. I read it when alone late at night and really wish I hadn’t.

I loved this book it was an amazing read !!!
Dark, atmospheric and absorbing this is a wonderful Scandi crime thriller that is certainly going to be a sure fire hit. So right from the start you know this is a thriller that’s going to keep you guessing, nothing is straightforward and the two main characters of Thulin and the infuriatingly laid back Hess who at first comes over as totally disinterested in the case are brilliantly written. The pace of this book really picks up speed driving you breathless to an exciting and thrilling conclusion and to make it even better I really hadn’t a clue just who the perpetrator or perpetrators could be making it one of the best thrillers I have ever read ..I can’t praise the book enough so I would just urge you to read it and find out for yourselves..you won’t be disappointed.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

So-so, not terrible but I didn't feel invested in the story. More gruesome than I expected and i worked out who the killer was far too early for the reveal to be a surprise. I didn't hate it but wouldn't seek it out to read again.

The Chestnut Man is a graphic crime thriller from the writer of the brilliant Killing. Set in Denmark this book has a great cast of characters and an evil serial killer,there were a lot of sharp intakes of breaths whilst reading this!

The two main characters are detectives Naia Thurlin a single mother of one, who reminded me of Saga from The Bridge, and Mark Hess who has been working for Europol for the last 5 years but sent back to Denmark seemingly whilst his conduct is being looked into. They are brought together to investigate the case of a young woman found murdered and whose hand had been sawn off prior to her death. By the body a chestnut man is found, these appear to be popular in Denmark made out of chestnuts with matchsticks for arms and legs.

The plot line is multi stranded, all coming together gradually and satisfactorily, although at times horrific this books ends well.

I have read many thrillers this year, many of them excellent, this is up there with the best if not at the top of my list.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly

This was a wonderfully atmospheric, autumnal and chilling read, which I found hard to put down.

It did take me a few chapters to settle into the writing - the scene changes feel very visual - I could see them playing out on screen, but initially the changing points of view were difficult to follow in print. But I'm very glad I stuck with it. It built to become a dark and twisty novel, and I definitely didn't work out who the killer was. I should probably flag that there was disturbing content, with themes of child abuse.

I enjoyed getting to know the two main detectives - Hess is a fantastically unlikeable but intriguing character, while Thulin is smart and determined. I feel there's a lot of backstory to both of them which we haven't yet learned, and this could easily become part of a series, which I'd be very happy to read..

Excellent piece of Scandinavian noir , very violent unrelentless action that keeps one enthralled throughout. A seemingly washed out detective allied with an unhappy in her post colleague eventually gel together to solve the relentless mystery. Darkly atmospheric this really is a wonderful book with other great characters woven into the complex plot, thoroughly enjoyable and recommended!

From the writer of The Killing, I think I can safely say that if you enjoyed that you will enjoy this.

 

The Chestnut Man is a pacy, considered serial killer thriller with an intriguingly complex cast and a creepy as heck plot that keeps you turning those pages.

Immersively written with a race to the finish edge of seat finale, The Chestnut Man may well haunt your dreams.

Recommended.

Without doubt one of the best books I have read in the last few years.

This is the story of a killer that leaves the mark of a chestnut man at each of their crime scenes. When one occurs a detective is assigned but she is then apparently lumbered with a detective who was with Europol but has been kicked back home for a misdemeanor. He appears lack lustre and disappears but I suppose as with every thing there is more going on with this guy than you at first realise.
The two detectives muscle through the crime scenes as bodies start to pile up and there appears to be a link to the missing daughter of a politician as well. All good stuff as it mixes together to give lots of problems and possible culprits.
On they go searching and then realise that this killer has been doing it longer than they knew but still they seem no closer to the killer.....

I will leave the story there because I urge you to go read it and I don't want to ruin it for you. Firstly you won't be disappointed and secondly you will get a real treat of a book that is well written keeps you wanting to read on and guessing and guessing right to the end. It is a real good twist and not what I expected when the killer is revealed.
This is a debut novel and it is undoubtedly one of the best debuts I have read. Brilliant is just one adjective I would use to describe it. I can't wait for their next book because I for one will be buying it.

This is a good dark novel. It is slow to start with and builds into a really good dark thriller. There is a lot to this book and it is really well written. The chestnut people and the atmosphere all added to the feel of the novel. I hope Soren Sveistrup continues to write.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Initially I wasn't very keen on this book as it was a bit slow - however, it soon got more fast paced and was a perfect scandi-thriller ( is that a genre all in itself?!) with tortured protagonists! I'm not sure if this is intended to be part of a series but I definitely would be interesting in reading more

The story begins in 1986 when an elderly police officer discovers several people dead at a farm. Two young children - a sister & brother - are found alive in the basement. The policeman who was first on the scene is one of the victims, killed as he searched the farmhouse.
Fast foward to the present day and the brutal murder of a young woman in a playground in a quiet suburb of Copenhagen. One of her hands has been completely severed and above her body hangs a small doll - a Chestnut Man - made from chestnuts and matches.
A young female detective, Naia Thulin, is assigned the case. Naia is a single mum who is on the verge of transferring to Denmark's cybercrime unit when she's partnered with Mark Hess He's just been suspended from his job with Europol at The Hague and is the subject of an ongoing investigation to clear his name. Their case takes a sensational turn when they discover a mysterious fingerprint on the Chestnut Man - evidence connecting it to a school girl, Kristine, who went missing a year earlier and is presumed dead. Kristine was the daughter of Sweden's Social Affairs minister, Rosa Hartung.
The man who confessed to her murder is behind bars and the case closed. But some believe the police forced him to confess and it could be that Kristine is still alive.
A second young woman is savagely murdered with both her hands being cut off. Another Chestnut Man is found with her body. Thulin and Hess believe the killer is building his own Chestnut Man and that more deaths and dismemberment will soon follow. The story moves quickly along with many twists and turns and red herrings. The murderer seems to be almost superhuman, always one step ahead of the police, second guessing the investigation at every turn. There's a lot of office politics at play within the murder squad, with the boss, Nylander, doing his best to ensure he doesn't end up being the fall guy if the murderer isn't caught.
He repeatedly tries to stop Thulin and Hess from chasing new leads, refusing to believe that his squad may have had an innocent man jailed for the murder of Kristine Hartung. He prevents them from interviewing Rosa Hartung, threatening to suspend them if they disobey him. As Thulin and Hess gradually begin to trust each other, their sole ally on the police is the head of the forensics unit. But, each time they think they're getting somewhere, something happens - another subplot - to throw them off track.
In parts of the book, there's far too much information, especially the minutely detailed descriptions of very minor characters, while at other points in the book the actions of Thulin and Hess and the killer seem to collide in a breathless rush and this reader found it confusing to determine who was doing what at vital moments of the story. On the plus side, it's a good police procedural/serial killer thriller - and you'll learn a lot about forensics and chestnuts!

With proper editing, this could be a classic thriller, but as it is, it's way too long and I was a bit relieved when I came to the end. Although this is fiction, at times the plot stretches credulity too far. The characters of Thulin and Hess are likeable enough, but too many others - especially their police colleagues - seem more like cardboard cutouts. The author Soren Sveistrup was scriptwriter for the amazing Danish crime drama, "The Killing"***, so this book will probably sell by the truckload, but I'd rather he wrote another series of ***"Forbrydelsen".

My thanks to the publishers Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Chestnut Man is so dark, and disturbing.

I must say it was difficult to read from time to time, as there is a lot of upsetting content in it, but it's not done in a vulgar way and put together very powerfully.

I loved Hess, and Thurin, both strong characters with their flaws. Hess specifically fits quickly into the very likeable anti-hero space in the eyes of the reader. I wish there wasn't the classic 'encounter with the villain and action' section in the end, this book really didn't needed it. But the ending was beautiful. I can't say too much about the plot to not to reveal but I can say Chestnut Mans will haunt you forever after reading this book.

Gritty, disturbing, dark Scandi-crime, there are trigger warnings but pick it up if you have the stomach, you won't be disappointed.

A fantastic atmospheric thriller,that takes your breath away. It is typically Nordic Noir,full of cruelty and graphic descriptions of torture that may be hard for some to read,but absolutely necessary in this case.
A young girl is found murdered in a playground,with one of her hands cut off. The mutilation appears to have been done whilst she was conscious,and near her body is found a chestnut doll. Later on, other victims are discovered,also with missing body parts. Is the killer trying to make a complete person in order to send a message and who is he trying to reach? What is the significance of chestnut dolls,and indeed,what the heck is a chestnut doll?
This is an edge-of-the- seat thriller,and do remember to breathe, at times you will be holding your breath!! There are murders,blood and gore aplenty. There are also the usual suspects, Hess the troubled detective, Thulin ,the young keen and eager to impress newbie and this time,politicians who have secrets to hide. A good story is when you have empathy with people involved and you are silently cheering them on,and this novel did that for me. I didn't guess the identity of the killer or the motive, so that is a win-win situation in my book.
An excellent first novel,which I find hard to believe this book is. The story is compelling,the characters are well rounded and I absolutely recommend this book. I hope there will be more books to follow. They deserve the chance to become more developed.
I have rated this as a five star read,and have posted this review to Goodreads today.

Soren Sveistrup, better known as creator and writer of Danish drama The Killing, is clearly a master at his craft, This is a superb thriller in the great Nordic Noir tradition where no holds are barred in terms of examination of the characters involved or the malignity of the crimes perpetrated, with a fine mix of heroic qualities in flawed characters, visitation of personal grief and a soupcon of political intrigue. And yet ... the author seems to manage to avoid the trap of the the so-called 'gritty' novels that fill many shop bookshelves with just plain nastiness and unpleasant, unlikeable characters - criminals and detectives alike being anti-everything except swear words - and instead engenders in us sympathy for those flawed characters and imbues us with hope they will overcome the evil and even find enrichment of their own lives - a sure sign we have identified with them.

Briefly, a young woman is found murdered in a playground In Copenhagen with one hand sawn off, and nearby hands a small chestnut doll. An unlikely pair of detectives - Naia Thulin, a young women in the Copenhagen force and the Mark Hess, a burned-out investigator sent to join her from Europol, where he is under a cloud - are at complete odds with each other but each in their own way doing their best to find the killer. The plot is complicated by a connection to the disappearance a year earlier of the young daughter of political minister Rosa Hartung, then complicated further still by another murder, and another chestnut doll left by the body.. Thulin and Hess are now racing against time as they fear the murderer may not be finished with his task and they try to stay a step ahead of the killer.

Absolutely edge-of-your-seat stuff, the best of thrillers and the best of writing. I understand this is the author's first novel. All I can say is this doesn't read like a first novel. It is up there with the best of them. Highly recommended for thriller-lovers everywhere who enjoy meaningful and empathic characters and good back stories. A slight warning in that some of the descriptions of bodies/murderer's methods can be quite graphic, but if you can cope with just a page or two of that, it's well worth it.

This is basically a police procedural novel, but with great characters and a detailed plot. The main detectives have the usual personal problems, but they are fleshed out as 3D people who we get to know as individuals. Some of the descriptions of violence are quite gruesome, especially near the end of the book, but not gratuitously so. I really enjoyed this gripping read, and can't wait for the next book from Soren Sveistrup.