I'm Travelling Alone

Holger Munch & Mia Kruger, Book 1

By: Samuel Bjork

Narrated by: Laura Paton

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

When a six-year-old girl is found dead, hanging from a tree, the only clue the Oslo Police have to work with is an airline tag around her neck. It reads, 'I'm travelling alone'.

Holger Munch, veteran police investigator, is immediately charged with reassembling his homicide unit. But to complete the team, he must convince his erstwhile partner, Mia Krüger - a brilliant but troubled investigator - to return from the solitary island where she has retreated with plans to take her own life.

Reviewing the evidence, Mia identifies something no one else has noticed - a thin line carved into the dead girl's fingernail: the number one. Instinctively she knows this is only the beginning. To save other children from the same fate, she must find a way to cast aside her own demons and confront the most terrifying, coldhearted serial killer of her career....

©2015 Samuel Bjork (P)2015 Random House AudioBooks

Is it me?

I struggled through this book but maybe if I had read, istead of listened, I might have rated it higher. The story itself is fine, although in places the narrative owes more to Enid Blyton than Jo Nesbo, it's a little chatty, over explanative. It's a dark story but it didn't hold my attention as it should - I have seen 5 star reviews on Amazon but I don't see it. The other problem, which may accentuate the problems I had with the almost child-like story telling, is the narrator. Laura Paton has a lovely speaking voice, reads very well, and is hard to fault on the surface apart from when she says 'stepped in blood', for example, then I hear 'Pooh was a silly bear'. Her voice reminds me of a mother reading fairy stories to children and her male voices are poor; can't be helped and other's may not find that her voice lacks the gravitas and dark tones needed to help this book. Maybe Sean Barrett would have been a better choice. Look, this is just a personal point of view but that's what these are for.

A terrific book

If you like Jo Nesbo (or any of the other Scandinavian thriller writers) you,ll be bound to love this book. Really physiologically twisted baddies and very likeable good guys. fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the story. and it's brilliantly read...........Next please.......................??

Over padded

This had the makings of a good read/listen but was spoiled by being over padded with tedious detail and too much repetition.
It was an unlikely tale with an unsympathetic and irritating central character.
The narration was good.
The book was simply a re working of other more successful Scandi novels. This is no Stieg Larson or Karin Fossum. Buyer beware.

The best book I've read in a while

The twists and turns of the two stories will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Loved it. Narration realistic. Gripping to the end

Loved the storyline. Narrator made different characters realistic. Held my attention to the very end.

Great gripping right to the end

Great book kept you guessing. Really good change to find a thriller writer that doesn't feel the need to swear and go in overly graphic detail.

Excellent Nordic Noir

What did you like most about I'm Travelling Alone?

The characters and depth of the plot

What other book might you compare I'm Travelling Alone to, and why?

The Wallander series

What about Laura Paton’s performance did you like?

Engaging voice

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

?

Any additional comments?

Gripping stuff with some psychological insights

Not the greatest book

Overall story is good but there is a lack of real suspense and a lot of repetition I understand what the author was trying to do, write down the thoughts that go through a person's head, but it doesn't make good reading. Narration was ok but did not manage to contribute to suspense either.

Superb - very gripping

Well performed and a good story that had me hooked. I really enjoyed this one.

Brilliant

A good detective story from start to finish. Really impressed will look for more from this author!