Reviews

• “Who assassinated Olof Palme, Swedish socialist prime minister, February 28th 1986? Leif GW Persson has his own theory. Similar to Ellroy in his American Underworld trilogy, this criminologist and author weaves together reality and fiction when he lets a group of honest cops once again scrutinize millions of documents to investigate the murder case. As the conspiracy theory develops the confusion grows. Brilliant.”

• “These 560 pages are fascinating when it comes to the investigation: lots of slapdash procedures and estimations, contradictory witness reports, missing documents… amazing revelations of cops that are utterly vulgar, openly fascist or downright sadomasochistic.”

• “Persson has produced a crime novel that has everything to appeal to fans of the crime genre. /…/ And finally a forthright criticism of the corrupt Swedish police which gives this thick book weight and significance.”

• “The author of this brilliant crime novel, in which the characters like to eat and drink, is not an unknown writer but a crime writing star much like Henning Mankell.”

• “A story built in a masterly way.”

• “With genuine mastery Persson demonstrates the police’s ineffectiveness and lack of coordination. Persson succeeds in creating a unique and exclusive world of sterling characters… within a police force that is not short in either slackness, flagrant mistakes or feeble-minded drivel.”

• “…the truly great, dark trilogy from Sweden is in fact Persson’s. /…/ His novels have a miraculous ability to describe the complications within the police force, among influential politicians, and within the secret service. /…/ Rich storytelling, which elegantly succeeds in conveying voices that are diametrically opposed. /…/ A method that [Persson] particularly skillfully uses is the combination of dialogue and inner contemplation that makes all of his characters believable and coherent, and which gives the narrative a powerful drive… A masterpiece.”

• “… an immensely thrilling read…about the most talked-about crime in modern Swedish history. /…/…captivating reading that gets your brain cells going.”

• “Falling Freely As If In A Dream is outstanding, unique in clarity and written with consistence in style and diction. Leif GW Persson, Swedish champion of the police procedural and holder of a black belt in realism, can safely park his patrol car in the garage and take the weekend off, knowing he has done some good work. Once again, he has managed to round up and handcuff all the pretentious amateurs of the genre and outdo all the inglorious little trolls. Go Persson! /…/ Persson has managed to blow life into his characters, making them both convincing and longed for.”

• “Leif GW Persson tells his story, lets his imagination run wild, and conveys his insights of how Swedish society works on different levels. It is amazingly entertaining and littered with that typically dry, Perssonesque sense of humor. But does he give us the solution to the murder of Olof Palme? I wouldn’t want to say; the best thing about this novel is that it is not the denouement that is most important, but the shamelessly entertaining plot leading up to it.”

• “The two previous acts [in the trilogy] were exquisite and refined novels that combined illusionless realism with bubbling narrative zest. The plots were complex, the conspiracies numerous. /…/ The suspense mounts as the time for the unveiling of the culprit actually seems to draw nearer. /…/ … a suggestive and compelling finale of a trilogy that must be characterized as a true tour de force with few counterparts in this country.”

• “Leif GW Persson is probably Sweden’s funniest crime writer, possibly also the best writer generally…”

• “At his best, Leif GW Persson is as much of a "real author" as his policemen are "real policemen". His books bear the mark of traditional and genuine craftsmanship, spiced up with a generous serving of humor. The dialogue is meritoriously sparse, no emotional drivel in sight.”

• “…a trilogy that deserves a spot on the classics shelf, next to Sjöwall & Wahlöö. With Falling Freely As If In A Dream, [Persson] has added a good 1,500 pages of fictitious private police work to the world’s largest murder investigation. Even though some of it is true and some of it is pure invention, Persson’s suggestion of a solution belongs in the category 'more likely' among all the crazy inventions of the police and the public. And it is definitely the most entertaining.”

• “The critical run-though of a failed investigation is…both entertaining and worrying. /…/ The zone where fact and fiction, truth and lies meet is an interesting playing field, and Leif GW Persson uses it to his advantage.”

• “This is entertaining, interesting and gripping social criticism in the shape of a crime novel.”

• “Leif GW Persson is an informed, if much-debated criminologist, and he is a clever storyteller. The book has an uplifting, fresh feel to it…. /…/ … a suspenseful and at times humorous book, that also asks a very topical question: How much truth can a democratic society really handle?””

• “The story that he has cooked up is incredibly captivating. The mass of details from the investigation, together with the fact that [Persson] is very well informed on what really happened makes for a story where many parts are both believable and convincing. /…/ His writing is brisk, entertaining, and humorous, and he doles out irony and sarcastic remarks in good measure.”

• “Persson has achieved a plot that is thrilling, clever, and informed. /…/ But he doesn’t waste his powder and shot only on the plot. Persson’s strength has always been the characterization, which must be said, is unusual for the genre. Reading about Inspector Bäckström is a pure joy… /…/ Among the Swedish crime writers, Leif GW Persson belongs in the top layer, perhaps he is even the best.”

• “As one might expect from Leif GW Persson, this is momentously knowledgeable and informed, but with refreshing elements of drastic, dry humor. A very interesting read.”

• “…the new trail that he picks up… is interesting and makes for a suspenseful story. He writes briskly and in a way that captivates the reader. His protagonists are also interesting characters of flesh and blood, especially when he depicts how they manage to get reluctant witnesses to warm up and tell their interrogators more than they intended.”

• “It has the feel of a real investigation, carried out by convincing characters and shedding new light on this most perplexing of crimes.”