The Rabbit Hunter

Starred review from November 4, 2019
Kepler (the pen name for a husband-and-wife writing team) manage a clever and intriguing variant on the serial killer theme in their outstanding sixth novel featuring Stockholm Det. Insp. Joona Linna (after 2019’s Stalker). Linna, who’s behind bars for helping a convict escape and assaulting a guard, gets a chance at redemption when he’s summoned to a meeting with his attorney, only to find the Swedish prime minister present. The previous night, Swedish foreign minister William Fock was murdered in his home by a masked man. Fock’s killer left a living witness—escort Sofia Stefansson, whose assignation went bad after Fock drugged her and tied her to his bed. Stefansson overheard the murderer tell Fock that “Ratjen opened the door.” The police believe Ratjen to be Salim Ratjen, a convicted drug dealer who was recorded making a phone call referencing “three big celebrations.” Since the date of the first one coincides with Fock’s killing, the PM fears that two more terror attacks are in the works. Linna agrees to help, but the investigation takes some highly unexpected directions. Kepler has never been better at hiding key clues in plain sight. Agent: Niclas Salomonsson, Salomonsson Agency (Sweden).

Saul Reichlin returns to narrate Book 6 in the Joona Linna series by the Swedish husband-and-wife writing team Lars Kepler. Through pace and tone, Reichlin masterfully maintains the tension throughout, making this the audiobook equivalent of a page-turner. The quiet, Finnish-accented Swedish-speaking Detective Joona Linna is rescued from his prison sentence (Book 5) to join his former partner, Saga Bauer, in the investigation of a brutal spree killer known as "the Rabbit Hunter." Reichlin skillfully differentiates the many characters, male and female, Swedish, Finnish, and American. The graphically detailed violent acts, while well read, are sometimes hard to listen to. That said, the audiobook is a nonstop roller-coaster ride for those who enjoy such thrills. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine