Isprinsessan (The Ice Princess) - Camilla Läckberg

The first book of the Fjällbacka series introduces the characters of the long standing mystery series set in a little town of Sweden where too many deaths seem to happen. Young, pretty and a little snobbish Alex is found dead in her house at Fjällbacka. Her old friend Erica, a non-fiction writer, is one of the first to find the corpse, and decides to investigate (or put her nose into other people's lives) to see what was behind the killing. Not only her, policeman Patrik Hedström is also trying to find the killer of Alex. Cue your typical whodunit where Erica and Patrik go around trying to find clues and the truth behind the death of Alex. It is your typical story with lots of conversations, and with little tidbits that advance the story. Läckberg doesn't go for the Sherlock Holmes mold of analyzing clues and little details and lots of mental work, but more into the Miss Marple of the 'heroes' going talking around trying to find the truth in their interrogations. Actually, the feeling I got is that it is not a book that cares a lot about the mystery per se, and more about the world construction and the development of the characters. The reader will enjoy being with Erica and Patrik and seeing them investigating and their relationship and their interactions with others. But they will have more problems with the mystery per se, as the author throws new information out of the blue just to further the plot and the reader can't really know what happened and who is the killer based on the information that appears in the story (maybe closer to the end of the story, but not from early on; there is no change for the reader to play detective). As a mystery story it lacks in real mystery. Isprinsessan (The Ice Princess) is an entertaining book that the fan of mysteries will enjoy (even if they will not be very surprised by it). A perfect reading for those free afternoons (with a coffee and some pastries). The best: the characters interactions; there is way more than just the mystery; it is easy to read and engaging The worst: no chance to play detective; the mystery isn't great; the new information out of the blue just to further the plot; the resolution is just ok Further Reading: Any book of the series would be a good option, probably, but I have just read "The Drowning", which was entertaining but had a weak ending; Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes if you want oldies; Yusuke Kishi, Keigo Higashino, Miyabe Miyuki,Ranpo Edogawa or Natsuo Kirino if you go for Japanese mysteries; maybe "Gone Girl" for a different kind of 'mystery' novel or "Fever Of The Bone" by Val McDermid. 6.5/10 (English Translation by Steven T. Murray)