This book was a long, hard read.  However the story kept me intrigued enough to finish it.  There are many very long descriptions of buildings and weather that perhaps were a little too detailed.

The story follows an investigator who is days away from dying of consumption and a rough ex navy man in the late 1700s who finds a body in the river.  Together the 2 of them follow clues to solve the murder of the man found in the river who has had all  of his limbs removed over a period of time to allow him to survive each  amputation.

An horrific read that I'm not sure that I would say I enjoyed however it was a fascinating read that engaged me enough to want to finish it.

This is dark, very dark, but absolutely compulsive reading.  Everything slots so well into the story and the end is satisfying but the journey is horrific.  What a dark and dangerous time to be alive, never mind to be a woman.  I had to read this with one hand over my eyes at times but I couldn't stop so clearly it is worth the revulsion.  Excellent but read with a warning.

The writing is atmospheric with all the sights and smells but so far the story is slow but way too gruesome for me. I'm usually ok with that but one scene in particular made me think this isn't for me.

Despite enjoying dark themes, at time I found the brutality quite hard to stomach but I pushed on and think the visceral reaction I had to certain scenes of cruelty only serve to demonstrate how vividly the author portrays the historical period and the acts people can be forced to commit in extreme circumstances. I liked that the two damaged male leads, Mickell Cardell the city watchman and Cecil Winge the investigator, are able to form an alliance that grows into respect and friendship. The knowledge that Winge has consumption and his time is running out adds poignancy and ensures that there will be no easy neat ending.

I found the historical period convincing, I was there in filthy, sodden, depraved Stockholm. I was by turns disgusted, scared and moved by the events described. Brutal and bleak this story also conveys hope with characters striving to right wrongs and willing to believe in love despite the darkness.

I tried and failed to get into this novel and did not finish it.  A slow narrative and unremitting darkness made this a very difficult read.

I really enojyed this, despite its very dark subject matter. Thankfully, the most gruesome aspects of it were not described in great detail as I think that might have too hard to take. We are left to picture those things ourselves without having them too painfully spelled out. A deliberate choice on the part of the author, I am sure, because the picture of 18th century Sweden is sharp and shocking, leaving us in no doubt of how hard and unpleasant life was for many of its inhabitants.  Extremely evocative writing by a great new Scandinavian talent.

I've tried twice now to get into this book. I want to like it but I'm not sure the translation is up to scratch, it's just not holding my attention. Sorry.

I enjoyed this read.  It kept me turning the page and the suspense filled plot  kept me fully engaged.

I found the unremitting grimness of this ‘genre-busting’ historical crime thriller too much to bear. At first, I was fascinated (though repelled) by the descriptions of eighteenth century Stockholm - the filth, poverty and corruption  but, combined with the murder and violence it became too much to bear.  It’s structure (in parts, with a new one beginning with a different voice in an earlier part of the story), slowed it down as did the long descriptions of battle which Cardell and Blix shared. They didn’t feel like first hand accounts, more like a historical novelist showing his research. It has been described as a page turner but I found I was dreading picking it up. Brutality begets brutality, I get it, but I didn’t feel that there was enough  insight into humanity to warrant the descriptions of violence and cruelty. I know I’m in the minority here, but it didn’t work for me.

I didn’t love this book it was long and drawn out but this is a personal opinion and may appeal to others more than me

This was a bit hit and miss. I liked it for the most part but there were places that the narrative seemed a bit all over the place. The setting was generally interesting and well built but it fet a little flat. I would have preferred that just one narrative line was followed as this was where it got confusing. There were multiple arcs occurring in one moment and it all felt a bit too much.

This book only instils my love for murder mysteries even more! Niklas has created an eerie and dark plot lifting off from a gruesome murder. Excellent characters and very compelling

I am still reeling from this book!This is not for the faint-hearted.The author has a talent for engulfing you in the story...and what a dark,macabre place that is.I read a review that this was hard to get into at the start.I would agree with that,but it doesn't take long to be absorbed in this fantastic,albeit disturbing story.This book will stay with me for a long time.I absolutely loved it,although maybe not one to read if you are feeling anxious!

A gripping and gruesome tale of murder and life in 18th century Sweden.  Some stomach-churning details and insights into the lifestyles of both rich and poor.  Very good 'crime' novel with lots of twists and turns so the reader is left until the end to discover 'whodunnit'.  Excellent book.

It's 1793 and watchman Mickel Cardell discovers a body in the river. It's limbs, tongue and eyes have been removed. Attorney Cecil Winge is tasked with finding the identity not only of the victim but also the perpetrator despite suffering with consumption himself. Winge and Cardell team up to solve the grisly murder which leads them to discover the lives and journeys of other characters.

Letters are discovered written by Kristofer Blix but who was he? Did he commit the crime? Kristofer leads a life of ups and down until one awful night leads to a series of events he cannot escape from.

Anna Stina is another individual mixed up in these events but not without her own heartbreak.

How are all these characters interlinked?

Can they discover who the victim is before Winges authority to investigate is revoked? Will Winge solve the crime before he himself passes away?

This is a fascinating but grisly thriller and a great case of who dunnit. For those who enjoy a great murder mystery this is one for you. Be warned tho it can be a bit gruesome in details but I found it fascinating.

I did not expect how grim and dark this was going to be. I don't know why 18th century Stockholm is presented darkly in Swedish literature. but I actually ended up really liking Cardell and Winch. These kind of gritty but driven narrators is really what kind of keeps you going until the the mystery gets close to resolution. There was a lot of grim stuff in here and the Dunoon is certainly grim but all in all this is a really well-crafted historical fiction horror novel that actually tells you a lot.

A really interesting thriller, I loved the setting and the storyline. Great characters made this book engaging and believable.

Thanks for letting me review this book

A bleak but compelling story that I enjoyed immensely from start to finish. It's a very type of book that I normally like to read but I'm very happy to have given it a go. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

This book was just the right amount of horrifying – enough to make me intrigued, but not quite enough to make me stop. It certainly got close, but the whirlwind of a mystery kept me going. Read this if you want a book to sink into for solid hours at a time!

Quite hard work, and not quite grip[ping enough to warrant it. YET basically a good and intriguing read. will definitely come back to the authort to see if he can ramp it up to the next level