Dead Joker

A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel, Book 5

By: Anne Holt

Narrated by: Kate Reading

From Anne Holt, the internationally best-selling author of 1222, comes the next installment in her Edgar Award-nominated mystery series.

Chief Public Prosecutor Sigurd Halvorsrud's wife is found dead in front of the fireplace in the family living room. The cause of death: decapitation. Her husband, who witnessed the grisly murder and is himself covered in blood, immediately falls under suspicion, though he claims his wife's killer was Ståle Salvesen, a man he'd prosecuted years before.

Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is called in to lead the investigation with her old colleague, Billy T. Despite the circumstantial evidence, Hanne is unconvinced of Sigurd Halvorsrud's guilt - that is until a witness says he saw Ståle Salvesen commit suicide by jumping off a bridge days before the murder took place. Then a journalist at one of Oslo's largest newspapers is found beheaded. What links these two horrifically violent crimes?

The demanding investigation soon clashes with a terrible crisis in Hanne's personal life. Cecilie, the woman she has lived with for almost 20 years, has fallen seriously ill and doesn't have much time to live.

With a savage killer on the loose, Hanne must ask herself: Is the truth worth chasing at all costs?

©2016 Anne Holt (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Masterfully told story

Deeply moving story and excellently narrated. Nuanced examination of crime and judicial system and also the role of media.

The best one yet

Excellent plot and three-dimensional characters. Hanne is infuriating, pitiable, and lovable all at the same time. You must, however, read this series in order to avoid major spoilers in the meta-story.

good story good narration just an enjoyable read

enjoy the series very much this narrator is very good I'll have to look for more books that she did all in all this was the type of book that I couldn't wait to get back to
I listen to my books while I do housework and it just makes my day goes very happily

Contains sexual themes, child abuse

If you’re reading the series, this is an major turning point in the main character’s life, but it’s also a predictable child abuse situation, the type that was so popular in police procedural as in the 90’s.