Title: Lazarus by Lars Kepler
Translated from the Swedish by Neil Smith
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Joona Linna Series Book Seven
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 487 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Sometimes the past won’t stay buried.
All across Europe, the most ruthless criminals are suffering gruesome deaths. At first, it seems coincidental that their underworld affiliations are finally catching up to them. But when two of the victims are found to have disturbing connections to Detective Joona Linna, it becomes clear that there’s a single killer at work. Still, police are reluctant to launch an investigation. If a mysterious vigilante is making their jobs easier, why stand in his way? Joona, however, is convinced this is no
would-be hero. These deaths serve a much darker purpose.
Desperate for help, Joona turns to Saga Bauer. If his hunch is correct, she’s one of the few people who stands a chance at bringing this criminal mastermind down. But Saga is fighting her own demons—and the killer knows just how to use them to his advantage. He continues to strike with impunity, and no one, it seems, is safe. When the killer begins targeting those closest to Saga and Joona, it appears more and more likely that Joona has been right all along, and that tracking down the person responsible will force him to confront a ghost from his past . . . the most terrifying villain he’s ever had to face.
Review:
Lazarus by Lars Kepler is a chilling addition to the Joona Linna series. This latest release can be read as a standalone but I HIGHLY recommend the previous mysteries for important back story.
Police Superintendent Joona Linna’s life is finally getting back to normal when two recent murders lead him to believe serial killer Jurek Walter is still alive. Setting in motion the plans he already has in place, he and his daughter Lumi disappear. Before leaving, he tries to convince his girlfriend Valeria deCastro to join him but she refuses. Saga Bauer, who works for the Swedish Special Police, does not heed his warning about Jurek which leaves her father Lars-Erik and her half-sister Pellerina and Valieria unprotected. By the time she finally believes him, will it be too late to save her and Linna’s loved ones from Jurek’s diabolical plot for revenge?
Saga and Nathan Pollock are working to find a violent killer whom Linna is certain has been recruited by Jurek. Neither Saga nor Nathan are convinced of his assertion but there is no doubt this killer is extremely dangerous. During the course of their investigation, they finally learn that Joona’s uncanny supposition about Jurek is correct. Time is not on their side as they frantically try to find answers about where he was after they thought he was dead.
Joona eventually abandons his plan and returns to find Jurek. His instincts once again prove to be invaluable as he, Saga and Nathan continue their hunt for their adversary. Saga deeply regrets not trusting Linna’s advice and she is absolutely devastated as Jurek’s thirst for vengeance threatens her loved ones.
Lazarus is a dark and gritty mystery that is incredibly fast-paced and engaging. The tension remains high as Joona and Saga hunt for a nemesis who will stop at nothing to destroy them. Lars Kepler brings this disturbing mystery to a nail-biting, edge of the seat conclusion. The final chapter will leave readers of the Joona Linna series impatiently awaiting the next installment in this absolutely outstanding series.
