Title: The Chestnut Man
Author: Soren Sveistrup
Genre: thriller
My go-to Netflix shows are Nordic police procedural. I cannot get enough of these. They are so well-written, and the characters are so much better than in American police procedurals. They frequently feature female leads, which is awesome, and aren’t bogged down by tropes or an overwhelming amount of red herrings. So when I can find a book that’s similar, I’m really excited. And this book was a perfect match.
From Goodreads: The heart-pounding debut from the creator of the hit Scandinavian television show The Killing. If you find one, he’s already found you. A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.
His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene. Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government minister’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago.
A tragic coincidence—or something more twisted? To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over. And no one is safe.
I thought this book was great. I was left guessing until the end, but once the identity of The Chestnut Man was revealed, it all made sense. There weren’t a lot of dumb red herrings, but just good old fashioned police work following various leads. The main detective is a woman, so of course you know she’s awesome. The story was creative, the characters were solid, and the book overall kept me hooked. Definitely one of the better thrillers I’ve read in awhile.
Pleasant Nights 