I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve borrowed a copy of Søren Sveistrup’s 2018 Danish crime novel The Chestnut Man only to return it to the public library ignored and unread. Wanting something to close out the Scandinavian portion of Rose City Reader‘s European Reading Challenge I decided to give the book another shot. This time I’m happy to report I finally read it. Better still, I’m also happy to report it’s one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Dark has hell, but damn good.
Denmark boasts one of the world’s highest standards of living and a political system so fair, transparent and efficient that political scientists around the world have adopted the term “getting to Denmark” as a yardstick to measure other countries’ progress towards full democracy. While Denmark however might be the envy of the world a deranged killer is on the loose in Copenhagen. One by one his victims are murdered, horribly mutilated and left with a small “chestnut man” doll of matchsticks and two chestnuts.
But even more disturbing, each chestnut man has the fingerprint of the same young girl. But not just any young girl, they belong to government minister Rosa Hartung’s daughter Kristina who was kidnapped and murdered a year ago. Assigned to the case are detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess who find themselves racing to find a killer who always seems to be several steps ahead of them. The same killer who’s somehow connected to Kristina Hartung, who unbelievably might still be alive.
This is an excellent thriller. Smart as hell with plot twists galore, The Chestnut Man is a terrific page turner. If you enjoy a good piece of Nordic Noir, especially stuff like Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo this one is definitely for you. The Chestnut Man is easily one of the best novels I’ve read this year. Consider it highly recommended.
