Tonight You're Dead

Sandhamn Murders, Book 4

By: Viveca Sten, Marlaine Delargy - translator

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Soon to be divorced, attorney Nora Linde is finding her way as a single mother, and even falling in love again, when she's asked by her childhood friend Detective Thomas Andreasson to help in a disturbing investigation. Marcus Nielsen, a university student, has apparently committed suicide, but it's what he's left behind that's so suspicious and damning: his research into the Coastal Rangers, an elite military group where, in 1977, a young cadet died under questionable circumstances, a sadistic sergeant went free, and a case went cold.

When two of Nielsen's contacts are also found dead - and diaries of their tortuous training turn up missing - Thomas and Nora are certain that whatever happened three decades ago is unforgivable. And for someone who wants to keep those secrets buried - unforgettable. Now they must fight against time to expose a cover-up that hasn't yet claimed its last victim.

©2011 Viveca Sten (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2017 by Marlaine Delargy.

Great story

I really enjoyed the story. This series is very good. I look forward to hearing more.

A very strong police procedural.

I started this series with book 5 and until now, I considered that the best of the series. I actually enjoyed this one more.

Sten adopts the same mechanic as the previous book – flashbacks to the past to fill in some detail – it didn’t work that well in book 3, the sections were too drawn out and distracted from the murder mystery in the present that you actually cared about. Here she nails it – shorter sections, just snippets giving you glimpses, without being a distraction. Instead of being vaguely annoying, they are fascinating.

The real shining element of this book is the police investigation. This is a breath of fresh air. A strong, competent and logical storyline which makes you stop the book so you can think it through and come up with a theory, only for another revelation to throw a spanner in the works and you have to rethink it again. I can’t think of another police procedural that I enjoyed this much. Too many have lazy, convenient or obvious police work or deductions and you can usually figure out who the killer is very quickly. This book does it right, enough twists and turns to have you changing your theories all the way through, without those twists being out of place or exaggerated. Everything feels logical and tight. You are kept guessing all the way to the end, you never have enough information until then to figure it out. This is an example of how to do a police investigation right.

Thomas really shines here – the best kind of detective: smart, logical and thoroughly competent. He’s the kind of policeman we wish they all were. Nora continues to be a strong, empathetic character and her connection to Sandhamn and it’s people always serves as a way of tying everything together. In the last book, I did feel Nora was too conveniently placed, but again, this book corrects those minor issues and Nora feels appropriately placed in the story.

Angela does her usual incredible reading – I am constantly impressed by the staggering array of voices she can do and it makes it so much easier to figure out who is who, especially with the character names being a bit exotic for an English speaker.

Another reason I’d call this a breath of fresh air is the location – most English language books are either in America or Britain. Sweden is a great change and an opportunity to learn something about a place in Europe I’ve never been. If it wasn’t for this excellent translation, I would never have read these books and I would have really missed out on a fantastic series I’ve really come to love.

You always know what you’re getting with Sten, I read one and immediately bought all of the other books. Some of the books are less great than others, but it doesn’t make them any less enjoyable. I have enjoyed every one and wouldn’t hesitate to read them again. Pair that with this fantastic reader, and you will find the hours literally fly by. I’ve never found it so easy to listen to 9 or 10 hour audiobooks before. I have listened to 5 full length books since the beginning of January, that’s more books than the entirety of last year. I’m always surprised when I remember that this is a translation, and not the original text – what a great job was done there! Finding an author you click with like this is incredibly hard, and I’m going to be devastated when I finish book 6.

Exciting, fast paced, with revelations keeping you guessing all the way to the end. I was impressed by book 5, but this one blows it out of the water.

Another great read from a master storyteller!

Viveca Sten is a master storyteller, she weaves you in and out of the lives of the characters in her books! Excellent read & Narration is superb! I can hardly wait to get to the next book!

Intriguing

I am enjoying the series. Interesting plot twists, engaging characters complemented by a good narration. I highly recommend.

Excellent book four

I’m really enjoying this series, this is a well done series and I highly recommend it to everyone.