The Killing

I read this book without having seeing any TV adaptations, and went only on the series reputation when choosing to buy it. I think this may have enhanced my enjoyment as I had no preconceived ideas about any of the characters. Basically my preconception of 'The Killing' was it's dark and the lead character like a nice woolly Christmas jumper!The opening of the book was very well written and gripping from the start, this pace was mostly kept up throughout the novel. The characters were well written, I felt Nanna Birk Larsen`s parents were portrayed very well, the grief was well described. Sarah Lund is very likable despite her clear foibles and I was willing her to get on the plane and go to Sweden for her own good, but if she had it wouldn't have been a very good book!The plot developed well, and there were loads of little twists & turns to the story. I had to really think about what I was reading to keep track, and reread the odd sections to remember some of the names, which sounded similar to my untrained ear. The scenery is very well described and added to the foreboding feel of the narrative, giving a real sense of place.My only criticism is that it could do with either better editing or being slightly shorter. The sections about the political party I found difficult to get through and ashamedly skipped a few bits. In my opinion they did not add to the story and this is the reason I am giving it 4 and not 5. I genuinely enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of murder mystery/thriller, if you have enjoyed Wallander, as I have, then this may be right up your street. I am eagerly looking forward to the next instalment; however, the only question which I ask myself is if I watch the box sets of the TV Drama will it now spoil the books?

The book was bought out of curiosity. How can a television series, a very popular series, be turned into book? Normally a successful book gets turned into a film or TV series not the other way around. Characters and plots have already been thought of bye another person or persons, the book author is using their intellectual property. There have been some changes made, not for the better as they seem to have contributed to the length of the book, it's far too long. Some of the writing is incredibly irritating in style but for the most part the original tense nature of the story is kept in tact. It helps if your memory is like mine, full of holes. Better still if you have never watched the programmes or heard of Sarah Lund. She is written up as a hard, cold selfish woman, unlikeable even, which is quite different to the way she is seen in the series. All in all I'm not sure the book works if the reader has knowledge of The Killing but it probably does as a stand alone detective novel

This is a good read, although I'm not enamoured with Hewson's writing style. But there's no doubting his expertise in spinning a complex story of political intrigue, suspense, love and horror.As someone who lived in Copenhagen for a number of years, I enjoyed the fact that this story is set in that bleak, grey, yet uniquely attractive city. But the author's descriptions of the locations appeared to be a little of the mark to me. This doesn't detract at all from the story, however.If there's one thing I didn't like, ironically, that would be the sheer number of plot twists and goose chases that Hewson leads his readers on. I didn't see the TV series, so I guess the author is just following the screenplay. But for me, that resulted in rather a negative sensation of despair, one that I guess I'd share with the main characters in the story. By the time I was halfway through, I was wishing the police would just get a break and solve the case. In my opinion the book was just too long, and it left me exhausted. But all in all, I enjoyed it. Only the slight drudgery of one false lead after another kept me from giving it a full five stars.

One word for this book - wow. I have eye strain from not being able to put it down. It's absolutely brilliant. I have never seem the TV show,only heard that its excellent, so I went into this with an open mind, but I was literally blown away by the pace of it; the tension never lets up. Sarah Lund and Jan Meyer are investigating the brutal rape and murder of Nanna Birk Larsen and the murder seems to be connected to the City Hall. No one seems to care about her death; the only thing everyone is concerned about is their public image and the run up to being the Mayor. There are so many twists and turns in this incredible book they are literally breathtaking. I can usually spot the murderer in most crime books but, as the spotlight was on so many people, I was flitting from one suspect to another. I absolutely loved the great Sarah Lund and her troubled life; and I grew to like Jan Meyer who I couldn't really take to at first.I am just about to start reading The Killing 2 but doubt it could be anything as good as this one - or can it? - watch this space!I can only apologise to my family and friends for being a complete and utter bookworm over the last few days.10/10 and most definitely highly recommended.