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The Killing (Killing 1)
 
 

The Killing (Killing 1) [Kindle Edition]

David Hewson
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)

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"'Through the dark wood where the dead trees give no shelter Nanna Birk Larsen runs... There is a bright monocular eye that follows, like a hunter after a wounded deer. It moves in a slow approaching zigzag, marching through the Pineseskoven wasteland, through the Pentecost Forest. The chill water, the fear, his presence not so far away... There is one torchlight on her now, the single blazing eye. And it is here...'"

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Through the dark wood where the dead trees give no shelter Nanna Birk Larsen runs . . . There is a bright monocular eye that follows, like a hunter after a wounded deer. It moves in a slow approaching zigzag, marching through the Pineseskoven wasteland, through the Pentecost Forest. The chill water, the fear, his presence not so far away . . . There is one torchlight on her now, the single blazing eye. And it is here . . . Sarah Lund is looking forward to her last day as a detective with the Copenhagen Police department before moving to Sweden. But everything changes when nineteen-year-old student, Nanna Birk Larsen, is found raped and brutally murdered in the woods outside the city. Lund’s plans to relocate are put on hold as she leads the investigation along with fellow detective Jan Meyer. While Nanna’s family struggles to cope with their loss, local politician, Troels Hartmann, is in the middle of an election campaign to become the new mayor of Copenhagen. When links between City Hall and the murder suddenly come to light , the case takes an entirely different turn. Over the course of twenty days, suspect upon suspect emerges as violence, political intrigue cast their shadows over the hunt for the killer.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Who Killed Nanna? 31 May 2012
By M. Dowden HALL OF FAME TOP 50 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Alright, I confess, I still haven't seen this Danish crime series, I have only seen the US version, which I know is different (indeed its longer). After reading this though I know I want to see the original series. I don't know if the story is exactly the same as the series, or indeed if you have seen that, that you would feel this is an accurate rendering of the characters. I would expect people to have differing views on that, and so won't go into it. I think most people are aware of the story, when nineteen year old Nanna Birk Larsen is found brutally murdered, the police start their investigations. At the same time as this there are Mayoral elections in Copenhagen, and this gets caught up in the case.

In all there are three main themes throughout this story, the police investigation, the politics that are going on with the elections, and the story of the family trying to come to terms with the loss of their daughter. Although this is easier to do visually, David Hewson has managed to weave these strands together brilliantly, making this easy to follow. Obviously why this works so well, isn't just the interconnecting themes, and the dirty politicking, but also the actions of the police.

We are all familiar with the way most crime novels and dramas work, they either get the right person after lots of work, or they arrest someone, then they realise that they have got it wrong, and finish the book or show with the correct perpetrator. This however is much more realistic. Lets face it, someone is found murdered, you either manage to arrest the murderer pretty soon, or it becomes a mammoth task. With DNA not necessarily being found that is usable, and with people lying for a multitude of reasons, the police have to go on what evidence they have. This story shows that, as well as the determination of Sarah Lund, who should have left the day after the case starts, but stays on. With red herrings and new evidence turning up, she and the person who is supposed to take over from her, Jan Meyer, are on the case, Lund becoming obsessed with it.

Hewson travelled to Denmark to see the sights and meet up with Soren Sveistrup, who wrote the series to help with the writing of this book. Ultimately if the series is like this, then it is no wonder that so many countries around the world bought it to show. If you are looking for something above most crime novels, and that gives you something to really get your teeth into, then this is it.
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41 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By  TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I have been a fan of David Hewson for years. I have read almost all of his books, and just have his very earliest to read. David has his own team of detectives working mostly out of Rome. He has also written some stunning stand-alone novels, such as The Cemetery of Secrets, which has a more mystical feel to it. His main Nic Costa series is the closest he comes to The Killing, but there would appear to be a tightly knit team working in those, whereas in The Killing we see a lone detective trying to solve a case. However, there are famous instances in the Costa series of one detective following their gut instinct and leaving everyone else standing. Nic has been reprimanded several times by Falcone for doing this, and even Falcone himself is not immune to it.

I was surprised and delighted to see that David was offered the job of turning The Killing into a novel. He is a mature writer and brings something extra to the action. I have watched the original Danish series, with subtitles, and was disappointed with the American version, which I quickly dropped. The characterization in the Danish version is flawless. Could David bring to the novel what Danish TV brought to the original?

I was even more delighted to find that I was offered a pre-release copy of this novel. I was not disappointed. The writing is tense, sharp, staccato. So much happens in the series that it is difficult to remember much of it, and I found myself re-living the scenes, and sometimes wondering whether I had missed a lot by having to concentrate on those subtitles.

One thing I noticed in another review from someone who had not seen the TV series was that Lund was described by him as calculating. However, almost every comment about the original described her as being borderline autistic. I got that message from the book, but could it be that I am influenced by my memories of the TV series? It would be a pity if details like that did not come across. The tension between her and the impulsive Meyer is certainly as strong in the book as it was in the series. She walks away from people whilst they are talking to them. She is as irritating here as she is lovable, a complex character, torn between family and a life in Sweden, and staying on because she just has to finish a case.

If you saw the original, or want to go straight to the book, I am sure this will not disappoint. There is enough there in either case. Plus, I hope you will be moved to watch the original after reading this, and to read more David Hewson.

One final note. As of writing this, the description says 400 pages, but it is 600 large, A5 pages in my pre-release version, quite a hefty book. I found it easy to read, though, and you get a key to all those characters in it, at the front, a nice touch.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it 9 Mar 2013
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Enjoyed reading this novel. Never saw the TV series but enjoyed reading this so much that I also bought the second novel which took some reading before the enjoyment was experienced one's again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good indeed
This is the book of the TV series "The Killing", series one. Whilst all three TV series had their merits, series one, at 20 episodes, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Read more
Published 24 days ago by isis 1958
5.0 out of 5 stars Hewson's Triumph!
When I read that David Hewson had written a novel based on the Danish TV series The Killing, and despite Hewson being an established and respected author of detective crime fiction... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pigwin
5.0 out of 5 stars better than the t.v series
watch the t.v series and thought that was great, but the book is way better
with more twists and am looking forward to reading the next book
Published 1 month ago by MR.S.Cruickshank
5.0 out of 5 stars The Killing 1
What can i say. This was every bit a good as the excellent TV series. Well worth the read as The Killing two. Can't wait for number 3
Published 1 month ago by john hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent.
Cannot fault it.I was hooked from start to finish with the twists and turns and red herrings making it impossible to solve who did it right up to the final episode. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jimbo
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Really enjoyed this book from start to finish, just when you think it's all wrapped up there's another twist... go ahead and enjoy!
Published 1 month ago by Mrs S L Heather
5.0 out of 5 stars DANISH kILLINGS
Having previously only seen the US version set in Seattle, I was surprised to find some major changes in the plot but on the whole the story was more convincing, particularly the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. W. Greenock
5.0 out of 5 stars All that we were told it would be
We had heard about this DVD, and found it to be just what we were told. Although drawn out, it is never boring, and it kept us guessing until the end of the penultimate... Read more
Published 1 month ago by R G
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like the TV show, you'll love this
David Hewson has done a superb job. I have Multiple Sclerosis, and along with that a very bad memory. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
A top read keeps you engrossed throughout this book was a free down load and was not a let down
Published 1 month ago by Brownie63
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