So I ended 2019 having read 53 books. That’s 19 books from my unrealistic goal of 72 books. I only read three books in December. The first bookI read was Brad Thor’s Use of Force. That was followed by Torpedo Juice from Tim Dorsey. The last was The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.
I have read books by both Thor and Dorsey previously, more from Thor than Dorsey. In the early 2000s I read the first 7 books in Thor’s Scot Harvath series. Use of Force is book 17 in the series that now consists of 19 books.
While I did enjoy the book, I thought it dragged in several places. I didn’t think it was a page turner which is what I always thought was typical for the first seven books. So while I may not search out another of Thor’s books from the library, I do have at least one book The Apostle on my bookshelves so maybe, I will give that one a try.
The Chestnut Man
Unlike authors Brad Thor and Tim Dorsey, Soren Sveistrup is new to me. As a novelist he is actually new to everyone. As The Chestnut Man is his debut novel.
He is familiar to many though as an internationally acclaimed scriptwriter, creator, and film producer of numerous TV series. He was the creator and writer of The Killing, a Danish TV series which ran from2007-2012. Fox remade for AMC. It is currently a available on Hulu.
Considering the success of The Chestnut Man, I imagine his career as a novelist is looking very bright.
The setting of The Chestnut Man is Copenhagen (home to the author), where the police are try to stop a serial killer who is terrorising the city.
The killer’s victims are women who have been accused of child abuse. He leaves behind dismembered bodies and a calling card “a Chestnut Man” a handmade doll, made from matchsticks and two chestnuts. When a fingerprint belonging to the daughter of a government minister is found at the murder sites the police are baffled. The minister’s daughter had been kidnapped and murdered a year earlier. So what’s happening?
The Chestnut Man is 516 pages long, making it one of the longest books I read last year. With that said I never thought the story ever dragged. The plot had many nuances that kept it interesting throughout.
The characters, both good and bad, were believable and both of the lead detectives Naia Thulin and Hess are characters you can root for.
The bottomline ….
The Chestnut Man is one of the best books I read in 2019. A fast-paced twisty, turny, story, with unrelenting pace that builds to an exciting climax. Throw in some great characters and I’m ready and waiting…..Book Two Please!
The Chestnut Man was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus, Library Journal and the New York Times Book Review
So Check It Out !
You may also want to check out Use of Force by Brad Thor. while I think Use of Force can be read pas a standalone, why not start at the beginning by checking out The Lions of Lucerne. It’sBook 1 of the Scot Harvath series. You won’t regret it!
Links for Further Explorations
