Ten little rabbits, all dressed in white
Tried to get to heaven on the end of a kite.
Kite string got broken, down they all fell,
Instead of going to heaven, they all went to…
– The Rabbit Hunter
[ About the Book ]
It begins with a nursery rhyme. Nineteen minutes later you die.
A masked stranger stands in the shadows. He watches his victim through the window. He will kill him slowly—make him pay.
Soon the Rabbit Hunter has claimed another three victims. This predator will stop at nothing to reap his ultimate revenge. It’s up to Joona Linna and Saga Bauer to untangle one of the most complex cases of their career, and follow the killer’s trail of destruction back to one horrific night of violence.
[ My Review ]
The Rabbit Hunter is the sixth thriller in the Lars Kepler’s international bestselling series featuring Detective Superintendent Joona Linna. Published with Alfred A. Knopf Publishing Group on January 14th, it is translated by Neil Smith and described as a ‘gripping’ read.
Having never read a Lars Kepler book I was intrigued to read The Rabbit Hunter but was a little nervous of jumping in at book six. I obviously did not have the back story of the main character Joona Linna but I didn’t find it a particular difficulty as the story was enough to keep me hooked.
The Rabbit Hunter is a very sinister read. A book featuring a killer who uses nursery rhymes to draw in their prey will always unsettle. The opening scenes of this book are quite graphic and offer the reader an insight into the dark depths of depravity that lie ahead. The Swedish foreign minister is brutally attacked and murdered in his home. There is an immediate lock-down as state security attempt to unravel the reasons for this barbaric attack.
Meanwhile Joona Linna has spent two years in a high security prison for reasons linked to a previous case. His expertise is requested by Saga Bauer, Operational Superintendent at the Swedish Security Service. She believes that Linna can provide the knowledge required in figuring out this unexplained killing. Is it personal or is it a terrorist attack?
As the body count rises the authorities continue to suspect terrorism but with Linna’s assistance they realise, with catastrophic effect, that they are most likely wrong. This is a killer with a very clear objective. This is a killer looking for revenge…
As the hunter widens his net, some more high-profile names become entangled in this case. Linna and Bauer are soon only too aware that time is very much against them and they need to make fast decisions with immediate and fast actions taken. This is high-adrenaline stuff folks!
There were a few scenes I did feel were superfluous to the plot and, I’m sure, some may consider gratuitous. I still am none the wiser as to the why, but I am going to assume that the answers may be found in future books in this series. Also, while reading, I did feel that the English language may have impacted some of the dialogue in places, stilted it a little perhaps.
The Rabbit Hunter is most certainly NOT a book for the faint of heart. There are stomach churning scenes of brutality and pure violence that are VERY graphic. As the pages turn, the pace quickens with your pulse rate as you race to the final finish. What evil hand is at work here? Why is this killer so barbaric in their attacks?
The Rabbit Hunter is a disturbing read, yet a very addictive one. It is gripping, disconcerting and riveting, a book that I am sure will thrill all fans , both new and old, of this dynamic duo.
[ Bio ]
LARS KEPLER is the pseudonym of the critically acclaimed husband-and-wife team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril.
Their number-one internationally best-selling Joona Linna series has sold more than fourteen million copies in forty languages.
The Ahndorils were both established writers before they adopted the pen name Lars Kepler and have each published several acclaimed novels. They live in Stockholm, Sweden.
I’m intrigued by this one Mairead. Great review.
Thanks so much Linda. I appreciate your words x
Wow amazing review! xx
Cheers Nicki! Not too sure if I could get it across without giving too much away! x