The Caller

By: Karin Fossum

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

One mild summer evening Lily and her husband are enjoying a meal while their baby daughter sleeps peacefully in her pram beneath a maple tree. But when Lily steps outside she is paralysed with terror. The child is bathed in blood. Inspector Sejer is called to the hospital to meet the family. Mercifully, the baby is unharmed, but her parents are deeply shaken, and Sejer spends the evening trying to comprehend why anyone would carry out such a sinister prank. Then, just before midnight, somebody rings his doorbell.

The corridor is empty, but the caller has left a small grey envelope on the mat. From his living room window, the inspector watches a figure slip across the car park and disappear into the darkness. Inside the envelope Sejer finds a postcard bearing a short message: Hell begins now.

©2011 Karin Fossum (P)2011 Random House Audio Go

Good listen!

This is the second book of Karin Fossum that I've read. The first one was Broken, which I read in printed form and LOVED. This one isn't as successful as that, in my view, but I still liked it a lot. Fossum is a Norwegian author, but not as "dark" as Jo Nesb?? or as the Swedish Stieg Larsson. Some interesting plot twists, and the narration is quite good.

Grim and gripping

For such short book, Fossum delivers dark and intense detail, engaging characters and a great Norwegian setting. This is not a volume to select if you are looking for an uplifting read, but it is hard to stop listening. I shall definitely be looking for more of Fossum's work. The narrator was very good as well, although I prefer the current trend of Brits narrating the Scandinavian mysteries, but Rintoul does an excellent job of differentiating the characters without detracting from the story.

Suspense in the Norwegian woods!

I chose The Caller because it received an excellent review in the Los Angeles Times, and it was well-deserved. I listen to my audiobooks while I walk every morning, and I could hardly wait for the next day to continue listening. Now I am disappointed that there are no more titles available on Audible. The Caller is enjoyable for its unusual plot, well-drawn characters, and details of life in what seemed to be an ordinary Norwegian town, with suburban housing tracts surrounded by farms and woods.

I hope that Audible adds more titles by Karin Fossum, and soon!

Really different crime story

None of the characters were stereotypical. The policemen, the instigator/criminal, the victims and even the crimes themselves were all unexpected. Karin Fossum's stories are always a wonderful way to spend your time - either reading or listening.

Another good narrator!

Would you listen to The Caller again? Why?

Yes. The story is compelling.

What about David Rintoul’s performance did you like?

His voice, British accent & the dramatic emphasis on certain sentences.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Beware the karma of revenge.

Peculiarly Norwegian? Or Universal?

Would you listen to The Caller again? Why?

Yes. I need to listen again to catch all the nuances of Fossum's finely crafted storylines and characters. Her story is peopled with people I recognize. The couple with the baby who were shocked out of their complacency live in my small town. As the crimes build in complexity so does the evolvement of the very formal and shrewd Inspector Sejer.

Fossum may be described as Norway's Queen of Dark but I find her stories less "dark" than thoughtful. She tells a cautionary mystery without dipping to modern explicitness or grossness.

I read "Don't Look Back" and prefer the excellent voice of David Rintoul.

Dark Sad Story

This is not really a mystery but the story of a severely dysfunctional family where events spiral downward thru mischief and chance. It certainly supports the domino theory. I did like the main character but he was so repressed he became a danger to himself and the world he lived in. Very Creative as the book travels in a circle and ends with the old saying "what goes around comes around".

Not Fossum's Best

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Karin Fossum is an excellent writer, and I am a big fan, but this book doesn't measure up to her best. It is very, very dark, and sad. Her previous books are slightly dark, and not very sad. This went over the edge to me, and I just wanted to finish it.

What does David Rintoul bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

David Rintoul has a lovely deep and resonant voice. He carries the listener along.

Any additional comments?

Inspector Sejer is a favorite protagonist, but his ruminations don't get enough room in this story.

great narration, not so great plot

What did you like best about The Caller? What did you like least?

The narrator was great. The social commentary was not subtle or nuanced and the plot lacked any unexpected twists.

What could Karin Fossum have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More complex characters with a little subtlety in their development. Maybe a female character who does something besides take care of other people.

Have you listened to any of David Rintoul’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time with Rintoul, but he was grear.

Do you think The Caller needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Based on the flatness of this book, I don't think I will continue with the series.

not on par with other "scandinavian" mysteries

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, this was not on par with some of the other Scandinavian mysteries such as Mankell, Lackberg, and Nesbo.

What was most disappointing about Karin Fossum’s story?

Story and characters seemed shallow with the book more as a series of unpleasant episodes. It was hard to care about any of the characters and there was never any payoff to the story. At least it was short.

Any additional comments?

too bad audible doesn't offer versions Fossum's other novels since it seems like this isn't as good as her others.