The Chestnut Man

I've definitely arrived late to the party on a book that has already inspired a TV series. However, even though I enjoyed the adaptation for TV, it was very hard to me to engage with the story. It wasn't until around halfway that I got used to the way the author style (maybe a translation issue). It does feels like an unfinished draft, and sometimes, it drifts around characters that are completely irrelevant while leaving important details about the main protagonists which leaves them a bit plain. It also falls in the category of too-many-characters kinda deal.

Said this, there are two excellent reasons this book is worth reading. First, the vibrant narration of the "action" passages. These generate a vibrant and tense atmosphere that is incredibly enjoyable, still disturbing due the content. Some of the actions of the killer are absolutely cruel and you can feel the urge and the tension. Finally, the subtleness of the reveal of main plots of the story are always under the reader nose, yet they were unknown -at least to me- until they were put in the light by the author. It is very nice to read a thriller story where you have no idea of what's going on or specially who's doing it.

3.5 stars

I haven’t watched The Killing (Forbrydelsen), the successful Danish TV series. My relation with TV–or what we used to call TV, as internet have changed the definition of television-is almost not existing these days. I prefer to read.

What The Chestnut Man has to do with The Killing? The man behind the two stories is Søren Sveistrup, better known for his work in TV. Not having watched The Killing I cannot make the comparison that the stunningly success of the TV series inevitably generates. Maybe this is a good thing.

The Chestnut Man is a noir crime story, very Scandinavian in itself, what we call Nordic noir. It reminded me Henning Mankell’s shocking crime stories where the complex relationships, the ever-present violence and the corruption in the welfare state is a central theme.

As in many Nordic noir stories, in The Chestnut Man, Søren Sveistrup examines crime in the wider context of a damaged society. The Scandinavian welfare model represents an ideal, modern society based on solidarity among citizens and ensuring a safety net for everyone. Søren Sveistrup reflects on the dark side of this model, more specifically how the welfare state fails to provide social security and welfare to children from abuse and neglect.

Central characters in the story are two police investigators, who, one might say, have many of the typical gender characteristics found in modern crime stories. Naia Thulin is a hard-working single mum, very efficient, smart and with a strong attention to detail. She is also aloof and unconventional in her personal relationships. Mark Hess, is a sad and burned-out cop, with a detached demeanour and an alcohol problem. But he is also, clever, insightful and possess an unflinching determination to do whatever necessary to uncover the mystery.

If you are looking for originality, you won’t find it in The Chestnut Man and some of the crime scenes could be –for the most delicate -quite unsettling. But it but it is a multi-layer, well plotted and a page-turner story and there are lots of twists and unexpected events. I enjoyed the book very much.

Read the full review at Maquina Lectora