Author : Ake Edwardson
Genre : Crime / Thriller
Publisher : Penguin
Pages : 352
Rating 6.5/10
Source : Publisher ARC
What with the success of Steig Larsson’s trilogy, translated Swedish thrillers seem to be coming out in full force. Ake Edwardson’s “The Shadow Woman” is one such book, translated by Per Carlson. This novel is the second book of the “Inspector Winter” series by Edwardson, but the fifth book to be translated into English and published in the US.
The Shadow Woman is a police-work-heavy novel. The story is built around the unidentified body of a young woman found in the densely wooded Gothenburg area during the annual Gothenburg party. The police have not much to go on except a mysterious mark on the tree near which the woman is found. Inspector Eric Winter, just back from vacation, is assigned to the case. Initially we read of a mysterious female character, and a scared child (events told from the child’s perspective) involved in some sort of heist. The woman later ends up dead and that triggers the investigation. As Winters searches for the woman’s identity, he finds several – which one those several personalities was real and who wanted her dead?
There are also some sub-plots, such as the ongoing gang wars, and a policewoman getting her jaw smashed in, which do not have much to do with the story except maybe build character and tone. The reader is lead through the action via third person descriptions of the events which might have been done to heighten suspense, but also serves to make them detached.
The style of writing is very brooding and introspective. The author describes Chief Inspector Winter’s state of mind (Winter has a rocky personal life) but it is done is such a dry and “sideways” manner that I could not get involved in Winter’s struggles. Thus Winter for me remained a rather shadowy character, great at his work, but lacking in the appeal that would make him a strong protagonist. The author also seems to jump back and forth in time, and between personal points of view, creating a relatively broken pace.
Like the Larsson trilogy, this one also has a Swedish setting and sensibility. “The Shadow Woman” was better translated than “The girl with the dragon tattoo” had, but like it, I wish the style had been edited to appeal to world-wide audiences. Some of the language seemed odd and artificial, and some descriptions superfluous, and I was not able to tell whether that was a result of the translation or if it was author intended.
Folks who enjoy meticulous police procedurals will probably enjoy this one.
