Reviews

• “Swedish mysterian Persson brings a memorable creation to a close in this pensive whodunit. /…/ There aren’t many red herrings: the real mystery in this well-paced though brooding story is what to do with what Johansson uncovers about the “perfectly ordinary, decent Swede” to whom all the evidence points. Indeed, the crux of the story lies in Johansson’s wrestling with an appropriate solution to a crime that, incredibly, is fast slipping to the other side of the statute of limitations: does he let the bad guy get away, or does he take justice into his own hands? A knotty, sinuous story that leads to a hard-won resolution—and a decidedly conclusive end.”

• “[A] cleverly plotted police procedural ”

• “A brilliant police procedural /…/ it is almost impossible to put down. An absolutely masterful crime novel.”

• “There’s a mystery — a 25-year-old cold case — in The Dying Detective, but it’s not the most interesting part of Leif GW Persson’s latest novel. It’s a tale of aging, of coming to grips with death and illness and the meaning of life. As in many Scandinavian novels, it’s a dark vision. /…/ Mr. Persson devotes much of this novel to his protagonist’s thoughts, some spoken, others unspoken, at a time when his life has changed and he realizes things will never be the same as they used to be. Tough stuff, but the author handles it with humor and irony. Mr. Persson’s writing (at least in this excellent translation) has a light touch that makes it bearable to read, even entertaining.”

• “Exhaustively detailed police procedural, painstakingly translated by Neil Smith.”

• “The story moves steadily along, the pages turning without effort, and the mystery and its investigation hold our interest throughout. Additionally, the translation from the original Swedish by Neil Smith is smooth and transparent. /…/ If you’re an aficionado of the genre, or even if you’re new to it and would like to try a representative sample, grab yourself a grilled sausage with sauerkraut and mustard, a glass of Swedish vodka, and read this book!”

• “Persson is more authentic than Stieg Larsson… With this amazing novel, Persson proves himself to be a significant voice, classic yet original, on the overly-exhausted Scandinavian crime fiction scene. A blend of tradition and innovation.”

• “Read the book for its teeming sarcasm, its humor and its portrait of a dying detective and his tender, almost beautiful, relationships to friends and family – and perhaps to get a sharpened view of morals and revenge, also within the police force. Gifted entertainment set in a macho world.”

• “Leif GW Persson is quite simply an oasis… An extraordinarily fascinating, double-edged story that is extremely hard to put down.”

• “[The Dying Detective] is an excellent book that is clever, amusing and imaginative without being predictable or prejudiced.”

• “The weightiest reason why one should read The Dying Detective is Persson’s excellent prose and characteristically bone-dry humor.”

• “The Dying Detective is simply phenomenally brilliant without one single unnecessary page.”

• “A meticulous masterpiece.”

• “[Leif GW Persson] remains unthreatened as the King of Swedish crime writing. Period.”

• “The novel has all the qualities that readers have come to expect from this author: intelligent entertainment, suspense, coarse humor and small portions of self-irony.”

• “[Leif GW Persson] is a divinely gifted storyteller.”

• “[Leif GW Persson] has inherited the position that was once held by Vilhelm Moberg: the author as public ombudsman, one who examines Swedish society, and speaks up when something is wrong.”

• “Magical!”