The Liza Marklund Reader’s Companion A Collection of Excerpts By Liza Marklund

Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 2013. Kindle Format (2129 KB)  ASIN: B00A6CTB7K. ISBN-13: 9781476730875. Free download Ebook 320 pages. 

The title says it all. It is a collection of excerpts that can be downloaded free. Specifically the excerpts relate to Den Röda Vargen (2003; English translation Red Wolf, trans. Neil Smith, 2010); Nobels testamente (2006; English translation Last Will, trans. Neil Smith, 2012); and Livstid (2007; English translation Lifetime, trans. Neil Smith, 2013). It can provide a nice introduction to the books of Liza Marklund to those who do not know them.

Red Wolf
Reporter Annika Bengtzon is working on the story of a devastating crime when she hears that a journalist investigating the same incident has been killed. It appears to be a hit-and-run accident. Several brutal killings follow — all linked by handwritten letters sent to the victims’ relatives. When Annika unravels a connection with the story she’s writing, she is thrown on to the trail of a deadly psychopath. Caught in a frenzied spiral of secrets and violence, Annika finds herself and her marriage at breaking point. Will her refusal to stop pursuing the truth eventually destroy her? (Source: www.lizamarklund.com)

Last Will
For the first time in her career, reporter Annika Bengtzon is covering the glamorous Nobel Prize Dinner, traditionally held in Stockholm’s City Hall. The world’s notabilities are enjoying themselves on the dance floor when suddenly gunshots break through the din of conversation and music. In the ensuing panic, the presumed assassin wrestles Annika to the ground. Soon, she is caught in the middle of an intricate drama with links to Alfred Nobel — not only as a reporter but also as a key witness. (Source: www.lizamarklund.com)

Lifetime
A police officer is callously shot and killed in his bedroom in front of his traumatized wife, Julia. When police arrives on the scene, Julia rambles on about a woman entering the house, killing David and kidnapping their son, but all the evidence suggests Julia is guilty of the crime. Reporter Annika Bengtzon covers the case and is drawn in headfirst when she realizes that Julia is about to be falsely charged. Working against the clock, Annika is determined to clear Julia’s name and locate her missing son. (Source: www.lizamarklund.com)

To be honest I can’t remember why I didn’t enjoy Red Wolf as much as Last Will and Lifetime. Now that I reread some excerpts, I believe my review of Red Wolf, was unfair and I strongly recommend the reading of all three.

Liza Marklund is an author, journalist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Her crime novels, featuring the relentless reporter Annika Bengtzon, instantly became international hits and have sold millions of copies in thirty languages worldwide. She lives in Stockholm, Sweden, and Marbella, Spain, where she is at work on the next installment in the series. Visit her website at www.lizamarklund.com. (Source: Simon & Schuster)

Review: Borderline by Liza Marklund

Esta entrada es bilingüe, para ver la versión en castellano desplazarse hacia abajo

Transworld Digital, 2014. Kindle edition (1422 KB). Originally published by Piratförlarget in Swedish in 2011 as Du gamla, du fria . English translation by Neil Smith, 2014. eISBN: 9781409043492 ASIN: B00KY3N3OS. Pages 480  

Three years after the events narrated in Lifetime and The Long Shadow (see my reviews HERE and HERE). Annika Bengtzon and her husband Thomas Samuelsson have returned to live together and are back in Stockholm after spending three years in Washington, DC. For more information on the series see my previous entry: An Update of the Annika Bengtzon series.

Thomas is in Nairobi attending a Frontex conference. That summer, when the family returned to Sweden, he got a job at the Agency for Guidance in Migration Issues. In the last two days, Annika is trying to get in touch with him, but he doesn’t answer his phone.

Simultaneously, the body of a woman has appeared, all covered with snow, behind a nursery school in Axelberg. A dead body doesn’t necessarily mean that a crime has been committed but, instinctively, Annika believes this isn’t one of those cases. Since her return, four other women have  been murdered in Stockholm, all stabbed. 

At this point, Jimmy Halenius, under-secretary of state at the Department of Justice and Thomas’s boss, informs Annika that Thomas, together with six other EU representatives, has disappeared, in fact they have been kidnapped. He is one of the members of a delegation that went to the Somalia border for a field inspection. What follows is the story of Annika in Sweden, told by a third person narrator, intertwined with the first person account of Thomas’s captivity.

Many and varied are the topics covered in this book, the ninth in the series featuring crime reporter Annika Begtzon and, in my view, it won’t disappoint any of her loyal readers. The story is not only attractive, but it is also extremely convincing and tackles some highly topical issues, without forgetting that this is a work of fiction. The result is an absorbing and very interesting read.

Liza Marklund is an author, publisher, journalist, columnist, and goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Her crime novels featuring the relentless reporter Annika Bengtzon instantly became an international hit, and Marklund’s books have sold over 15 million copies in 30 languages to date. She has achieved the unique feat of being a number one bestseller in all five Nordic countries, as well as the USA. She has been awarded numerous prizes, including the inaugural Petrona award for best Scandinavian crime novel of the year 2013 for Last Will, as well as a nomination for the Glass Key for best Scandinavian crime novel.

Neil Smith studied Scandinavian Studies at University College London, and lived in Stockholm for several years. He now lives in Norfolk.

My rating: A (I loved it).

Borderline has been reviewed at Crime Scraps Review (Norman) and Euro Crime (Michelle Peckham).

Liza Marklund website

The Random House Group

Simon & Schuster

Salomonsson Agency

Boderline por Liza Marklund 

Tres años después de los acontecimientos narrados en Lifetime y The Long Shadow (ver mis reseñas AQUÍ y AQUÍ), Annika Bengtzon y su esposo Thomas Samuelsson han vuelto a vivir juntos y están de regreso en Estocolmo después de pasar tres años en Washington, DC. Para obtener más información sobre la serie ver mi entrada anterior: An Update of the Annika Bengtzon series.

Thomas está en Nairobi asistiendo a una conferencia de Frontex. Ese verano, cuando la familia regresó a Suecia, consiguió un trabajo en la Agencia de Orientación sobre Cuestiones de Inmigración. En los últimos dos días, Annika está tratando de ponerse en contacto con él, pero él no contesta a su teléfono.

Simultáneamente, aparece el cuerpo de una mujer cubierto de nieve detrás de una escuela infantil en Axelberg. Esto no significa necesariamente que se haya cometido un crimen pero, instintivamente, Annika cree que este no es uno de esos casos. Desde su regreso, otras cuatro mujeres han sido asesinadas en Estocolmo, todas apuñaladas.

En este punto, Jimmy Halenius, el subsecretario de Estado del Ministerio de Justicia y jefe de Thomas, informa a Annika que Thomas, junto con otros seis representantes de la UE, ha desaparecido, de hecho han sido secuestrados. Él es uno de los miembros de la delegación que se trasladó a la frontera con Somalia para una visita sobre el terreno. Lo que sigue es la historia de Annika en Suecia, contada por un narrador en tercera persona, entrelazada con el relato en primera persona de la cautividad de Thomas.

Muchos y muy variados son los temas que se tratan en este libro, el noveno de la serie protagonizada por la periodista de asuntos criminales Annika Bergzon y, en mi opinión, no va a decepcionar a ninguno de sus fieles lectores. La historia no es sólo atractiva, sino que también es muy convincente y aborda algunos temas de gran actualidad, sin olvidar que se trata de una obra de ficción.El resultado es una lectura absorbente y muy interesante.

Liza Marklund es autora, editora, periodista, columnista y embajadora de buena voluntad de UNICEF. Sus novelas negras protagonizadas por la implacable periodista Annika Bengtzon se convirtieron inmediatamente en un éxito internacional, y los libros de Marklund han vendido más de 15 millones de copias en 30 idiomas hasta la fecha. Ella ha conseguido algo excepcional convertirse en un éxito de ventas en los cinco países nórdicos y en los EE.UU. Ha sido galardonada con numerosos premios, incluyendo la primera edición del premio Petrona a la mejor novela negra escandinava del año 2013 por Last Will, junto con una nominación al premio Glass Key a la mejor novela negra escandinava.

Neil Smith realizó estudios escandinavos en University College de Londres, y vivió varios años en Estocolmo. Ahora vive en Norfolk.

Mi valoración: A (Me encantó).

Review: The Long Shadow by Liza Marklund

Esta entrada es bilingüe, para ver la versión en castellano desplazarse hacia abajo.

Transworld Digital, 2013. Kindle edition. 633 KB. Originally published in Sweden in 2008 as En plats i solen. Translated from the Swedish by Neil Smith, 2013. Epub ISBN:  9781409043461. ASIN: B00CU8QBE4. 448 pages

Shortly after Annika Bengtzon has rejected the offer to become the leading editor at The Evening Post, an entire family is found dead after having been gassed in connection with a break-in at his home in Las Estrellas de Marbella on the Costa del Sol. Former NHL player Sebastian Söderström, his wife, his two kids, his mother-in-law and even his dog, were all killed the previous night. Annika, who now reports to Patrik as his immediate superior, flies to Malaga to confirm the victims’ identity and, while there, write a series of articles on drugs and money-laundering. But when she arrives to Spain, Annika discovers that a third person is unaccounted for, a teenage daughter. And Annika makes it her mission to find the missing girl.

The Long Shadow is the eighth instalment in Liza Marklund’s crime series featuring crime reporter Annika Bengtzon. It is a direct sequel to Lifetime (my review is HERE), which is, in turn, a direct sequel to Last Will (my review is HERE). Together they make up a trilogy with recurring characters, themes and plots linked to each other (from Wikipedia). It’s highly recommend to read these three books in chronological order, to avoid spoilers. 

I’d be lying if I said I’ve always enjoyed the Annika Bengtzon’s book series, my review of Red Wolf is HERE, but as of Last Will, and Lifetime, I have begun to appreciate this series much more and, in this sense, The Long Shadow is no exception despite all its flaws. To begin with Annika Bengtzon is a character that seems real, of flesh and blood, and this, to a large extent, is one of the main attractions of this series. I have particularly enjoyed all the chapters whose action takes place in Spain. Only I have found that, for my taste, the final outcome of the story is somewhat forced, but I have certainly enjoyed the ride. And I’m certainly looking forward to the next instalment.

My rating: 4/5.

The Long Shadow has been reviewed at FictionFan’s Book Reviews,

Liza Marklund Website in English

A Place in the Sun (The Long Shadow) at Salomonsson Agency  

The Random House Group

Listen to The Long Shadow by Liza Marklund by Random House Audiobooks

La larga sombra (aka Un lugar en el sol) de Liza Marklund

Poco después de que Annika Bengtzon ha rechazado la oferta de convertirse en el principal editor de The Evening Post, una familia entera aparece muerta tras haber sido gaseada en relación con un robo con escalamiento en su casa de Las Estrellas de Marbella en la Costa del Sol. El ex jugador profesional de hockey sobre hielo Sebastian Söderström, su esposa, sus dos hijos, su suegra y hasta su perro, fueron asesinados la noche anterior. Annika que tiene que reportar ahora a Patrik como su superior inmediato, vuela a Málaga para confirmar la identidad de las víctimas y, miestras está allí, escribir una serie de artículos sobre drogas y blanqueo de capitales. Pero cuando llega a España, Annika descubre que hay una tercera persona en paradero desconocido, una hija adolescente. Y Annika convierte en su misión el encontrar a la niña desaparecida.

La larga sombra (Un lugar en el sol) es la octava entrega de la serie de Liza Marklund protagonizada por la periodista especializada en temas delictivos Annika Bengtzon. Se trata de una continuación de Lifetime (mi reseña está AQUÍ), que es, a su vez, la continuación de Last Will (mi reseña está AQUÍ). Juntas forman una trilogía con personajes recurrentes, temas y argumentos vinculados entre sí (de Wikipedia). Es muy aconsejable leer estos tres libros por orden cronológico, para evitar spoilers.

Estaría mintiendo si dijera que siempre he disfrutado de la serie de libros de Annika Bengtzon, mi reseña de Red Wolf está AQUÍ, pero a partir de Last Will y Lifetime he empezado a apreciar mucho más esta serie y, en este sentido, La larga sombra no es una excepción a pesar de todos sus defectos. Para empezar Annika Bengtzon es un personaje que parece real, de carne y hueso, y esto, en gran medida, es uno de los principales atractivos de esta serie. He disfrutado especialmente todos los capítulos cuya acción se desarrolla en España. Sólo he encontrado que, para mi gusto, el desenlace final de la historia resulta un poco forzado, pero sin duda he disfrutado del viaje. Y, ciertamente, estoy deseando que se publique la próxima entrega.

Mi valoración: 4/5.

An Update of the Annika Bengtzon series

Following my previous post HERE, the complete series at present consists of ten books. 

1. Studio sex (1999; Studio 69, trans. Kajsa von Hofsten, 2002; Exposed, trans. Neil Smith, 2011) (Spanish translation: Studio Sex, trad. Carlos del Valle, Suma de Letras, 2010) – takes place eight years before the action of The Bomber
2. Paradiset (2000; Paradise, trans. Ingrid Eng-Rundlow, 2004; Vanished, trans. Neil Smith, 2012) (Spanish translation Paraiso, trad. Carlos del Valle (?), Suma de Letras, 2011) – a direct continuation of Studio 69
3. Prime Time (2002; Prime Time, trans. Ingrid Eng-Rundlow, 2006) – the action occurs between Paradise and The Bomber.
4. Sprängaren (1998; English translation The Bomber, trans. Kajsa von Hofsten, 2000; The Bomber, trans. Neil Smith, 2011) (Spanish translation Dinamita, trad. Carlos del Valle, Suma de Letras, 2010) – the first book published in the series.
5. Den Röda Vargen (2003; English translation Red Wolf, trans. Neil Smith, 2010) – an independent story which picks up from the end of The Bomber.
6. Nobels testamente (2006; English translation Last Will, trans. Neil Smith, 2012) – takes place some months after The Red Wolf.
7. Livstid (2007; English translation Lifetime, trans. Neil Smith 2012) – a direct sequel to Last Will.
8. En plats i solen (2008; English translation The Long Shadow, trans. Neil Smith, 2013) – a direct sequel to Lifetime.
9. Du gamla, du fria (2011; the English translation Borderline, trans. Neil Smith, 2014) – takes place three years after Lifetime
10. Lyckliga gatan (2013; English title might be: Happy Nation) –  takes place six months after the events in Borderline.

Source: Salomonsson Agency

The three novels Last Will, Lifetime and The Long Shadow can be considered as a trilogy within the series. (Wikipedia)

Review: Lifetime by Liza Marklund

Esta entrada es bilingüe, para ver la versión en castellano desplazarse hacia abajo

Transworld Digital, 2013. Kindle edition. Translated from the Swedish by Neil Smith, 2013. Originally published in Sweden in 2007 as Livstid. 557 KB. ASIN: B00BUB5CT2. eSBN: 97881409043416. 

Lifetime is the seventh instalment in Liza Marklund’s best selling crime series featuring crime reporter Annika Bengtzon. The action takes place immediately after the events narrated in the previous book, Last Will (my review is HERE).

When the story opens a call to all cars patrolling the centre of Stockholm informs of some gunshots that have been heard on Bondegatan. Nina Hoffman is in the closest unit and she is the first to arrive. She soon realizes that the house belongs to the Lindholms. He, David, is Sweden’s best known and most respected detective. She, Julia, is Nina’s closest friend and, like her, a female police officer as well. In the house, David’s body is naked on his bed with one shot on his head and another on his stomach. His wife Julia is found on the bathroom floor. Although she is not physically hurt, she is in a state of deep shock and is able only to mumble that another woman has taken her child. In fact Alexander, their four-year-old son, is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Annika Bengtzon and her children, Kalle and Ellen, have managed to escape alive from the fire that has destroyed their house the very same day that Thomas, her husband, has left her for another woman, Sophia Grenborg. With no place to go, Annika seeks help from her friend Anne Snapphane. However Anne is not alone that night and refuses to let them in. 

The next day Annika finds out that Julia Lindholm is the prime suspect of her husband’s murder and is remanded in custody. It happens that Annika knows Julia Lindholm and Nina Hoffman. Five years ago, she spent a night in a patrol car with them both. They had plenty of time to talk. It was the night when they stumbled across a triple murder on Södermalm. The case was solved pretty quickly. A financial expert, Filip Andersson, was found guilty and is currently serving a life sentence in Kumla Prison. For this reason Annika receives the task to write an article about Julia Lindholm. And she is determined to find out the truth. 

Lifetime is another superb book in the series. The title makes reference to different situations that have ceased to be necessarily for a lifetime: a prison sentence, a job, a friendship, or even a marriage. We do need to learn how to live with that now-a-days and, in this sense, it proposes some interesting reflections. It also offers some interesting aspects about life in Sweden and its political and legal system. Besides the story is well developed and the characters are nicely plotted. I greatly enjoyed its reading and can hardly wait for The Long Shadow, the next instalment in the series which is due to be released on 12th September, 2013.  Although it can work as a standalone book it will be best if read after Last Will. My understanding is that together with The Long Shadow they form a trilogy within the series.  

My rating: 5/5.    

Lifetime has been reviewed at Reactions to Reading (Bernadette), at Crimepieces (Sarah), at Crime Scraps Review (Norman), and at Reviewing the evidence (Barbara), among others.

Transworld Publishers

The Random House Group

Liza Marklund Official Website

Salomonsson Agency

Lifetime (Para toda la vida) de Liza Marklund

Lifetime es la sètima entrega de la exitosa serie de novela policíaca de Liza Marklund protagonizada por la periodista especializada en asuntos criminales Annika Bengtzon. La acción tiene lugar inmediatamente después de los acontecimientos narrados en el libro anterior, Last Will (mi reseña se puede ver AQUÍ).

Cuando la historia comienza una llamada a todos los coches que patrullan el centro de Estocolmo informa de algunos disparos que se han escuchado en Bondegatan. Nina Hoffman se encuentra en la unidad más cercana, y es la primera en llegar. Pronto se da cuenta de que la casa pertenece a los Lindholms. Él, David, es el detective más conocido y más respetado de Suecia. Ella, Julia, es la mejor amiga de Nina y, como ella, también es policía. En la casa, el cuerpo de David está desnudo en su cama con un disparo en la cabeza y otro en el estómago. Su esposa Julia se encuentra en el suelo del cuato de baño. A pesar de que no está físicamente herida, está en un estado de shock profundo y sólo es capaz de balbucear que otra mujer se ha llevado a su hijo. De hecho Alejandro, su hijo de cuatro años de edad, no aparece por ninguna parte.

Mientras tanto, Annika Bengtzon y sus hijos, Kalle y Ellen, han conseguido escapar con vida del incendio que ha destruido su casa el mismo día en que Thomas, su marido la ha dejado por otra mujer, Sophia Grenborg. Sin ningún lugar a donde ir, Annika busca la ayuda de su amiga Anne Snapphane. Pero Anne no está sola esa noche y se niega a dejarlos entrar.

Al día siguiente Annika descubre que Julia Lindholm es la principal sospechosa del asesinato de su marido y está en prisión preventiva. Sucede que Annika conoce a Julia Lindholm y a Nina Hoffman. Hace cinco años, pasó una noche en un coche patrulla con las dos. Tuvieron mucho tiempo para hablar. Fue la noche en la que se tropezaron con un triple asesinato en Södermalm. El caso se resolvió con bastante rapidez. Un experto en finanzas, Filip Andersson, fue declarado culpable y actualmente está cumpliendo una sentencia de cadena perpetua en la prisión de Kumla. Por esta razón Annika recibe el encargo de escribir un artículo sobre Julia Lindholm. Y está decidida a descubrir la verdad.

Lifetime es otro excelente libro de la serie. El título hace referencia a las diferentes situaciones que han dejado de ser necesariamente para toda la vida: una pena de prisión, un trabajo, una amistad o incluso un matrimonio. Nosotros tenemos que aprender a vivir con eso hoy en día y en este sentido, nos propone algunas interesantes reflexiones. También nos ofrece algunos aspectos interesantes sobre la vida en Suecia y su sistema político y judicial. Además la historia está bien desarrollada y los personajes están muy bien dibujados. Disfruté mucho con su lectura y apenas puedo esperar a The Long Shadow, la nueva entrega de la serie que está prevista su salida a la venta el 12 de septiembre de 2013. A pesar de que puede funcionar como un libro independiente será mejor si se lee después de Last Will. Mi opinión es que, junto con The Long Shadow forman una trilogía dentro de la serie.

Mi calificación: 5/5.

En España la editorial Suma de Letras ha publicado hasta este moemento Dinamita, Studio Sex y Paraiso de Liza Marklund.