The Swedish Girl

DCI Lorimer, Book 10

By: Alex Gray

Narrated by: Joe Dunlop

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

When Kirsty Wilson lands a room in a luxury Glasgow flat owned by Swedish fellow student Eva Magnusson she can't believe her luck. But Kirsty's delight turns to terror when she finds the beautiful Swedish girl lying dead in their home and their male flatmate accused of her murder.

Kirsty refuses to accept that he is guilty and, inspired by family friend Detective Superintendent Lorimer, sets out to clear his name. Meanwhile, Lorimer calls on trusted psychologist Solly Brightman to help unravel the truth behind the enigmatic Eva's life and death. But it is not long until another woman, bearing a marked resemblance to Eva, is brutally murdered.

Horrified, Lorimer realises that Kirsty could be right. Is it possible that Glasgow's finest detective has put the wrong man behind bars? And is there a cold-blooded killer out there orchestrating the death of the next innocent victim?

In this gripping read, Alex Gray sends her dynamic Scottish detective from the gritty heart of Glasgow to the snowy streets of Stockholm in his toughest case yet.

©2013 Alex Gray (P)2013 Isis Publishing Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Gray is the new master of Scottish crime writing." ( Scottish Daily Express)

"Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh." ( Daily Mail)

Not for me.

Would you try another book from Alex Gray and/or Joe Dunlop?

No for Alex Gray. Yes for Joe Dunlop. Disappointed.

Has The Swedish Girl turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I love the UK mystery scene.

Which scene was your favorite?

Nothing memorable. The story starts off on a faulty premise that the young man arrested could be proved to be the killer just because he had been intimate with her. The main characters are flat. Tall handsome police superintendent with school teacher wife. Best friend profiler with pathologist wife and cute baby. Detective who is worried about her career. Kids on their own for the first time. That's it. Good writing. Great narrator - normally I would stop listening. Life is too short.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

I'm sure others may enjoy but I wouldn't recommend.

Strong story

Held my attention from start to finish, first book in a while. Well written, no clichés and didn't get predictable.

Drug on. And on. And ON.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This was really all about the story/writing, the narration was great. The storyline was just a long, slow slog, pointlessly so.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something else British/UK. :-) My newest obsession is UK authors. They have such a fresh perspective and authentic style for the most part.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Joe Dunlop?

Sure.

What character would you cut from The Swedish Girl?

DI Grant, followed closely by DS Wilson.

Any additional comments?

I found that I cared very, very little about ANY of these characters, they were either blundering or utterly self-involved. Lorimer was the only main character who wasn't either of these things, but he certainly seemed happy to endlessly take his wife for granted - not endearing.