The Nightmare

By: Lars Kepler

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The chilling phenomenon begins again. On a summer night the dead body of a woman is found on board an abandoned pleasure boat drifting around in the Stockholm archipelago. Her lungs are filled with brackish water, but there are no traces of this water on her clothes or other parts of her body. Detective Inspector Joona Linna takes up the case. Forensics state that it was a simple drowning, that she must have been pulled aboard the boat which explains the lack of brackish water. But Joona knows better and suspects something much more sinister. The next day a man is found dead in his state apartment in Stockholm. The man is hanging in a noose from the lamp-hook in the ceiling. How did it happen? The room has a high ceiling with no furniture, absolutely nothing to climb on. Nevertheless Linna is convinced that it is suicide. Of course he is right. The man has committed suicide, but this fact doesn't close the case. It is only a prelude to a dizzyingly intense and dangerous course of events. There are certain agreements which cannot be broken off, not even if you are dead.

©2012 Lars Kepler (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

“A pulse-pounding debut that is already a native smash.” ( Financial Times)

“A pulse-pounding debut that is already a native smash.” ( Financial Times)

“One of the most exciting Swedish crime novels of recent years…It doesn’t get much better than this.” ( Göteborgsposten)

Favour for a nightmare.

Joona Linna investigates an illegal arms dealer after a corrupt government official commits suicide to avoid facing his worst nightmare. An incriminating photograph of an illegal arms deal is discovered and Joona Linna decides to investigate. A fantastic listen and read. Lars Kepler write brilliantly together and Sean Barrett gives an excellent performance as the narrator.

Thoroughly entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a thoroughly entertaining scandi-crime tale. Very much in the Jo Nesbo mould (without the serial killers and with a more politically related storyline). There are some implausabilities every now and again but overall it is a rollicking and highly enjoyable story. Sean Barrett is one of my favourite narrators and he does another great job to boot.

"I suppose the the title held a clue"

I love my Scandinavian crime but had a to drop out of this one before the end.
Great main character, perfectly narrated by the master but too violent, too many extra characters introduced just so they could be tortured or done away with - too much Mr Kepler. It actually reduces the tension and increases the eye rolling. I suppose the title held a clue. Should have paid more attention.