patchworkbunny reviewed Red Snow by Will Dean
Review of 'Red Snow' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
After Dark Pines helped me get the hang of audiobooks, I knew I had to listen to the sequel, Red Snow. I liked revisiting Gavrik and the familiar, odd residents, even though I know a small town can only have so many murders. Tuva is moving on, and I think that's important so that Gavrik isn't some sort of Nordic Midsomer where life expectancy is incredibly low. I will miss Gavrik though!
The story focuses on a bunch of incidents at the local licorice factory, starting with the suicide of its owner. This introduces the Grimberg family who are central to the plot. They are a very private family, and David Holmqvist is writing a book about them and the factory. Only problem is, they are not very forthcoming. In steps Tuva, who wants to find out more about the death, so offers to help David with research.
There is …
After Dark Pines helped me get the hang of audiobooks, I knew I had to listen to the sequel, Red Snow. I liked revisiting Gavrik and the familiar, odd residents, even though I know a small town can only have so many murders. Tuva is moving on, and I think that's important so that Gavrik isn't some sort of Nordic Midsomer where life expectancy is incredibly low. I will miss Gavrik though!
The story focuses on a bunch of incidents at the local licorice factory, starting with the suicide of its owner. This introduces the Grimberg family who are central to the plot. They are a very private family, and David Holmqvist is writing a book about them and the factory. Only problem is, they are not very forthcoming. In steps Tuva, who wants to find out more about the death, so offers to help David with research.
There is a love interest for the bisexual Tuva. Bad timing considering she's about to leave for a new job in the south. She has one last story to write and then she's gone. She is struggling with guilt over her mother's death and turning to alcohol. Whilst she's not an alcoholic yet, it shows her starting to depend on it to get through situations.
I loved all the details about living in rural Sweden during the winter. Everything is made difficult by the snow, ice and cold. Tuva explains her dependency on a good vehicle and the danger of the cold is a theme throughout. It's not just people that can kill. Again, Will Dean's viewpoint as an outsider now living in Sweden comes through in how he explains things, observations from his real life I suspect.
I did not work out who did it. I thought I had a good theory, but I'd only guessed at the motive not the perpetrator. I was a little sad at the realisation though, I had wanted better from them. I liked that it was a bit more complicated than in Dark Pines, when I could nod and go, yes they deserved to be caught.
Whilst I'm enjoying the Tuva Moodyson series, it is reminding me a little of why I stopped reading crime fiction in large quantities. There is a formula at work which is a little annoying to notice now I know it's there.
Listening Notes
This series is one that I definitely think the audiobook adds to the story, rather than detracts. It's so refreshing to have a real accent. Maya Lindh is perfect as Tuva and she could read to me for hours. I guess she did! It's also great to hear the names pronounced correctly, I know I would not have said Grimberg the right way if I was reading it myself.