The Butterfly House

By: Katrine Engberg

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner race to solve a series of sordid murders linked to some of the most vulnerable patients in a Danish hospital in this sequel to the number-one international best seller The Tenant that is “brimming with personality, eccentric characters, and plenty of mystery and intrigue” (Crime by the Book).

Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But in the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen’s leading medical centers, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient.

Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in central Copenhagen stumbles upon a macabre find: the naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain with arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination - the draining of all the blood in her body.

Copenhagen investigator Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the case. His partner, Anette Werner, now on maternity leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home with a demanding newborn and an equally demanding husband. While Jeppe pounds the streets looking for answers, Anette decides to do a little freelance sleuthing. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she can’t even begin to fathom.

As the “thrillingly nerve-racking” (Shelf Awareness) investigation ventures into dark corners, it uncovers the shockingly depraved greed that festers beneath the surface of caregiving institutions - and what Jeppe and Anette discover will turn their blood as cold as ice…

©2021 Katrine Engberg. Translation ©2021 Tara Chace. Originally published in Denmark in 2018 by People’s Press as Glasvinge. Published by agreement with Salomonsson Agency. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

"Graeme Malcolm brings an English accent and a fine performance to this Danish mystery. People are dying, drained of their blood through tiny cuts. The victims' other commonality is Butterfly House, a facility for teens with mental health issues. Detective Jeppe Kørner is assigned to the case; his partner, Anette Werner, is at home with a new baby and is thoroughly bored. Slowly, she begins to inject herself into the proceedings. Malcolm's voice is naturally deep and rather smooth. His narrative tone often differs from his dialogue delivery. The former is more relaxed and rhythmic, which is especially appropriate when Engberg focuses on the domestic lives of her two protagonists and the backgrounds of the other characters in this compelling audiobook." (AudioFile)

Average Not Outstanding

A weak follow up to the tenant. Started off good but just lacked the overall good ending that can often accompany these thriller/detective novels. The “twist” or aha moment of why crimes were commented was only mentioned in passing at the very end and last few chapters felt forced. That being said- I love the detective team being established here and will absolutely continue to the next book.

Lovely true crime thriller

Moves quite quickly, the narrator navigates the danish sensibilities deftly and the story featured a slew of likable characters

Great narration

Hope this series continues. Really loved the characters and Graeme Malcolm is a wonderful narrator.

Love Katrine Engberg!

So good! Graeme Malcolm is perfect. I am going to go re- listen to The Tennant now.

Intriguing plot

Enjoyed listening to this book very much. I enjoyed her other book, The Tenant, too.

Explain why sex is necessary?

This was an interesting story, but two sex scenes that added nothing to the story. Only good for the last hour when th story was resolved.

This is the 3rd novel in the series, not the 2nd!

To anyone who enjoyed “The Tenant”, the first Engberg book about detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner-- "Butterfly House" is actually the third book in the series not the second. So if you feel confused or like a lot of time was skipped over, it's because you've missed an installment. For some reason the second book, "Blood Moon", hasn't been made available in english yet. Despite this oversight, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and especially Graeme Malcolm's narration. "Butterfly House" works well as a stand alone piece, but I hope the missing book will be made available soon.

don't drive while listening to

hard to follow. hard to keep everyone straight. not exactly what I was looking for

Started great, then went down hill

The books started out with a great story that immediately got your attention, then it got very slow. The ending was predictable, but I did enjoy the writing style and the narrator was very good.

it was okay

I think the story drug on too long. I would get bored and turn the speed up to 1.5.