Scandinavian noir at it's very best. Jorn Lier Horst just keeps getting better and better.
'The Inner Darkness' is certainly an apt title for this novel as it is surely one of William Wisting's darkest and most chilling cases and brings him and his family closer to danger than ever before.
As always Horst takes us to the horrors that lurk below the calm surface of Norwegian society and the sense of place and the landscape permeates it throughout.
The denouement is nail-biting and shocking. A tour-de-force from a novelist at the height of his powers.

This the third book by Jorn Lier Horst that I have read and the third in the series with Chief Inspector Wisting and a colleague Stiller. And, yes, it was like meeting up with an old friend. My previous reviews on his work (particularly the first I read) cited my unfamiliarity with the Norwegian landscape and language which influenced my review - but now I feel comfortable with these aspects even though they are actually not familiar to me at all.

Tom Kerr is a notorious serial killer and has spent four years in prison. Now he wants to talk and Wisting is anxious to listen, as they need to discover where Kerr left the body of his last victim – Kerr has agreed to show him.

There is another agenda, the authorities believe that Kerr had an accomplice – known as The Other One – and the police believe he will attempt to rescue Kerr. Plans are put in place, and Stiller has hired Wisting’s daughter to film this outing. Naturally it goes wrong, and Kerr manages to escape into the Norwegian forest. However the body of another woman has been found – killed weeks ago – so the police wonder if there is a copy-cat killer. If so, it means that another murder will follow.

This is very much a police procedural with the benefit of familiarity with the characters, Wisting and his daughter and Stiller being front and centre. Thoroughly enjoyable, clear thought-processes, exciting, thrilling. I really can’t say anything else – just I thought this brilliant, just like the last two. Enjoyed it more, because he feels like an old friend now.

I can’t recommend it enough – but would suggest reading the other two first – not necessary but would just enhance your enjoyment of this superb novel.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of the Wisting books, thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this one - it didn’t disappoint. Once again, Wisting is on a cold case, where a prisoner wants to help his chances and show the team where he buried a body. But he’s been planning this for months and it all goes wrong for Wisting and it’s a race against time to sort it all out.
What I love the most about this book is the pace. It’s so quick and so full of twists and turns that you don’t realise you’re halfway through already. I think the whole story takes place over a few days and in that time, Wisting doesn’t even seem to sleep.
The characters are good also, the same few are part of the investigation team, with his daughter Line being pivotal to the story.
I couldn’t put this book down and it’s definitely highly recommended to thriller fans

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Good storyline, good characters and basically an enjoyable read.

Is it possible that a country with police who seem almost kindly have to investigate crimes so heinous? The Inner Darkness by Jørn Lier Horst details some of the most depraved crimes I have ever come across, as everyone's favourite uncle in the police William Wisting, takes on the investigative challenge. Wisting has a daughter called Line who strangely seems to be involved in most of his cases but as a civilian journo / cameraperson. As ever she gets herself caught up sufficiently to put herself and her daughter Amalie in danger.
Anne Bruce has done a great job in her translation from the original Norwegian.
My only niggle were the two tracking devices used on Tom Kerr. Impossibly small and undetectable in footwear? I think not. The tiniest piece of grit I can feel in mine.
Otherwise a great detective novel and hard to put down.

It's always a pleasure when I come back to these books and I was pleased to be offered a publisher ARC. As always the slow drip of information keeps the reader engaged with masterful forward momentum- I was halfway through the book before I ever realised how deeply I had fallen back into Wisting's world. I would say that at some points there is noticeable disconnect as believability is stretched. As the plot begins to reveal itself these characters can reach supervillain archetypes, with the detail and planning occasionally falling into the far fetched. I still thoroughly enjoyed the ride and found myself surprised several times, even if this outing seemed a little more thriller by the numbers than earlier works.

Brilliant. This was a first class novel. I watched the ‘Wisting’ series on BBC recently and enjoyed it. This new book did not disappoint. The plot and characters were great. I won’t give any of the plot away, but it had plenty of twists. Highly recommended.

Thomas Kerr is a convicted murderer - he’s been let out of prison for a day as he’s told authorities that he will show them where the body of one of his victims is. He’s also intimated that he’s ready to identify an accomplice known as “The Other One”. Wisting is in attendance as the area Kerr has identified as the deposition site is in his region. His daughter Line is there filming the proceedings for a future documentary project - this was arranged by Adrian Stiller from Kripos. While leading police to the site Kerr escapes. Wisting is under pressure to apprehend Kerr quickly and it is obvious that “The Other One” has assisted Kerr again. The investigation throws up several suspects that could be involved but no sign of Kerr. Wisting is also investigation by Internal Affairs as he was ostensibly in charge when he escaped.

I’ve enjoyed reading the preceding books in this series and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Gripped me from the first chapter and plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Jørn Lier Horst for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

would like to thank netgally and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

i am really liking this series,

an escaped prisoner
a grenade and gunshots

all this happened when wisting and a few others were letting the prisoner take them to the spot where he had left a body

how and why had it all be arranged, not many were in on it

but suddenly wisting is being made the scapegoat

oh my edge of your seat stuff....didnt see that ending coming, this series just gets better and better

This is the third book in this series and I have been lucky enough to have read them all and thoroughly enjoyed reading them so I was delighted to be offered the chance to read this book and I wasn't disappointed ,in fact I think this is the best book yet !! It is fast paced and gripping from the first pages it hurtles along and never lets you go .I love reading books that are so hard to put down and this is one of them .This book is very atmospheric I almost felt I was there with the characters who are very realistic .Wisting is of course a delight never giving up even when things go against him .The ending was a surprise and I was practically holding my breath ,I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Absolutely superb and definitely not to be missed
I always approach Scandinavian crime thrillers with a degree of doubt knowing that some can be somewhat slow and cause me to speed read to reduce loss of interest. This book is in no way like this - the story and tension never relent and you know the Other One must be someone in the book but I couldn't determine who. Even as the book nears the final sections you are led to think it is character A but then you are surprised (well I was) when it proves to be Character B.
This is the second Wisting book I have read and I think this is the better book for me.
I would have liked to have watched the Wisting series on TV but as it is sub-titled then I would not have appreciated it enough
Definitely a brilliant book - just a pity the release date has been delayed until November this year

Fourth, and presumably last, in the Cold Case quartet.

Thomas Kerr is a serial killer who targeted young women. His methods of torture and murder were horrific. Although he was eventually detained and convicted the authorities remain convinced that he had an assistant who was known then and now as The Other Man. One of Kerr’s victims has never been found so when he agrees to show the police where the girl’s body is buried, they accept his stringent conditions, well aware that this could be a cover for an escape attempt. Chief Inspector William Wisting is involved in the exercise, working with senior officers from associated departments to ensure that Kerr remains in custody.

But it all goes wrong and Wisting is in the firing line.

I have read many of JLH’s novels and have enjoyed them immensely so was looking forward to getting stuck into his latest novel and counted myself very fortunate to have received an advance copy.

All the old characters are present as well as some new ones. Horst has the ability to weave a complex plot with sub plots containing plenty of different characters whilst at the same time making it relatively easy for the reader to keep tabs on who’s who and how they fit into the storyline. The characters themselves are well defined and developed and the writing is free flowing and logical in its approach. A nod in the direction of the translator of many of his novels should be given to Anne Bruce. Translators rarely get a mention but to translate from one language to another whilst at the same time retaining the mood and feel of the original is no mean feat.

So, why 4 stars instead of 5? Without giving away a spoiler, there is a disconcerting trend for writers of books and TV programmes to involve the investigators or the investigators’ close family or friends as targets for the criminals. This occurs more often in a long running series, almost as if the author has run out of ideas. It’s not a trend I applaud as it happens so seldom in real life and I like my fiction to be credible. This is still a good read though and is highly recommended.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book for review.

As always when reading a Jorn Lier Horst book you are not disappointed. I quickly remembered the characters from the previous books that I have read and it was not difficult continuing with the series. Whilst reading the book I had a sense of foreboding the whole time, a good way to create the correct atmosphere of a killer on the loose. I loved all the characters and even though some of the are not really likable they are necessary for the story to flow. This book will surely be a bestseller when it is released. Jorn Lier Horst has an easy writing style that kept me entertained until the end.

Another gripping Detective William Wisting story has him escorting a multiple murderer from prison to show the police the burial site of a further murder he has admitted to. The prisoner escapes in dramatic fashion and all the elaborate precautions taken fail to keep him or recover him. Wisting's daughter Line features again, filming events in the hope of making a documentary about the killer. More bodies are found, events unfold at a cracking pace with plenty of false leads to keep you guessing. You won't want to put this one down.

The latest Nordic Noir crime featuring DI William Wisting and it does not disappoint. Serial murderer, Tom Kerr, having spent 4 years into his sentence decides to tell the police where he has buried his latest victim. An expedition is arranged to take Tom Kerr into the vast Norwegian forest and it goes horribly wrong when Tom Kerr manages to escape. Later when another murder victim similar to Kerr’s previous victims is found but was killed whilst Kerr was in prison, there are fears of a copy cat and the hunt is on.
Brilliantly written, Wisting’s daughter Line features greatly in this story set in Oslo with beautiful graphic views. A must read!!

Another episode in the terrific William Wisting series of Norwegian police dramas. Again his daughter Line has a major role not as a journalist this time but an official video recorder of a serial killer revealing where a victims body lies. His escape and the search for an accomplice in all his crimes is the central theme of this enthralling tale. Wisting is an intriguing character and O suspect there will be more adventures to come...hopefully!

This was my first read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it. Took a while to get the characters into my head, but couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t guess the outcome until nearly at the end. Would thoroughly recommend.

I am a great fan of Jorn Lier Horst and the Wisting series. This one does not disappoint. The relationships between the characters have developed over time but it is not necessary to have read earlier books, each one is fully stand alone. As always the reader is kept guessing by the clever detective work. A very good read, can highly recommend.

Another fantastic addition to the Scandinavian crime noir genre. This time based in Norway in and attempt the city of Oslo. After serving many years in prison a serial killer decides to give up the location of the burial site of the only one of his victims whose body was never found. This leads to a dramatic escape and further discovery of his partner in crime who the police have never been able to find. A great story revolving around Line Wisting and her policeman father.

sspoiler alert ** I personally found this book to only be ok.
It took about a third of It,to get to a point where the escaped convict wasn't where they thought he was. A fact that seemed so obvious from the start.
The pace and tension picked up after that,but I was never fully drawn in.