Broken [Kindle Edition]

If you're a fan of Fossum's Konrad Sejer detective series, you might feel a bit disappointed that her latest novel `Broken' isn't part of the series but something rather different.
You might even, having read the synopsis, imagine that this isn't going to be for you. It sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? One of her characters comes into her bedroom and talks to her. I admit I wasn't sure this was going to work.
But I needn't have worried, and you needn't worry either. The mark of a really good writer is that whatever they write, it will be worth reading.
And in any case, 'Broken' is not that dissimilar to Fossum's other books. In those there's often a social misfit who, through his inexperience of the world ends up in trouble, unintentionally and without malice. This is a theme Fossum has explored many times and she goes to town on it here.
The misfit this time is Alvar Eide, who works at an art gallery, has no friends or family, and is socially inept, to an extreme degree.
And yet, he's rather likeable. A bit weird, perhaps, but his weirdness is only an extreme version of what's in a lot of us. It's easy to empathise with Alvar - most of the time anyway.
The book is all about him, and focuses very closely on him. We get to know him very well. And from different angles, because he's the character that pops into the author's house from time to time for a chat about how the plot's going. This is an odd device, but strangely, and contrary to my expectation, it works. You could read a lot into why Fossum does this. Is it to reveal something about her creative process, or about herself perhaps? It's hard to know because the 'author' is also a character, presumably. But to what extent? By letting the character talk to the author, and therefore the reader, off stage as it were, it in a way lets the reader into the process more than usual too.
It shouldn't work. It's an odd thing to do. I've never come across it before, but I don't wish she hadn't done it.
And Alvar's story is as compelling as anything else Fossum has written.
There may not be a string of gruesome crimes and a police investigation (though the police are involved at some point...) but `Broken' is full of suspense and tension. I found myself getting quite worked up at times, almost wanting to shout at Alvar. He certainly is impossible at times. If he'd come into my house I would have given him some good advice, that's for sure.
As usual, the writing is spare and concise. With the lightest touch Fossum lays the story before you so you see it like a movie running in your head. There's great skill in the writing but you never notice it.
So then. A different kind of Karin Fossum novel. I thought I would miss Sejer and Skarre, and that old dog. But I didn't. Not for a second. This is a brilliant novel.

I have read all of Inspector Sejer's books and at the beginning I was a bit wary about this not being part of the series but I was really pleasantly surprised. The story is great, very gripping, you really suffer for poor Alvar. I love the way Karin Fossum describes her characters. She is very well natured and companssionate. The plot and grammar are as always great. I think this is my favourite book by Karin Fossum. Give it a go, you will not regret it!

I was a bit confused until I realized there is a muddle of 2 books being reviewed. Karin Fossum I really enjoyed- an unusual break from grissly murders that I usually find in Scandinavian crime authors I am getting to know- but creapy and well written.Broken by Slaughter I haven't read yet.