Poor read

The actual story line/plot is very good - mystery until the last few chapter but the writting of the book I feel was very poor/childish. The little girl at a year old in the book is doing things no 1 year old would actual do/be able to do and the conversations and how one of the main characters goes off the wall at nothing was very unrealistic I thought which spoilt the book.

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The Hidden Child

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was extremely well crafted and brilliantly narrated. Unlike some other translations and adaptations from Swedish novels, this has been very well done and the narration brings the characters to life in a way that allows the listener to easily empathise with them. I would recommend this book without reservation.

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1 person found this helpful

Old fashion cliché

I think the book started quite well and I was hooked listening, but it didn't take long before the style of the writing become incredibly dreary. It's so old fashioned and simple in it's style, like the essays you wrote in college. If I didn't know better I would have thought this was an amateur writer. The dialogue was so predictable! The narrator also used a lot of the same voices for several characters - all male characters sound like they belong in the 60s. The story however, does get better and it's worth listening to the end. But I won't be choosing more books from this author.

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6 people found this helpful

poor listen

Disliked the book, only story I could not continue to listen to all the way to the end.. The reader did not have a voice that enhanced the story either making it quite hard to concentrate. I normally become immersed by the books that I purchase on audible.

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7 people found this helpful

Excellent read Couldnt let it go

I have read other Camilla Lackberg books and enjoyed each one. Enjoyed the narrative and the characters are really interesting. I also feel it has a good twist to it and I was sad to come to the end. I really enjoyed hearing about the day to day activities and would recommend.

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Slow and dreary

I have read, heard and seen a great many Scandinavian works. Most are outstanding consequently I was disappointed with this stories. Far too much domestic trivia, a shallow plot spread over silly events ... baby sitting and sitters, husband and wife arguments, what and how to feed the child. When important facts eventually come along you know full well they will be absorbed between the numbing cotton wool of household arrangements. The lead detective is rather a spineless excuse for a man and policemen... making pathetic excuses to avoid the wrath of his wife's tongue.
The story ambles along without either strength or conviction.

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Crime Novel or Sociology primer ?

A mystery - how can Carole (previous reviewer) give this book 5 stars, yet say she couldn't bother to finish it.
I understand the sentiment and do wonder if this book, rather than being under 'crime' should be recommended as a reader for first year sociology students majoring on dysfunctional families on modern Scandinavia, or a useful resource for those researching present day neo-facism - 'crime' happens, but it is a very small part of what's going on.
And there is something curiously stilted or dated about some of the writing or characterisation, though to what degree this is a function of the narration is difficult to tell, but I recently listend to Sjowall and Wahloo's first book, written in the 60's, and aspects of The Hidden Child feel like they pre-date that
I stuck it for the whole 17 hours - who knows, perhaps the abridged version is a better bet, and if someone can give me a good reason for listening to another Lackberg, please do, because otherwise I won't

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3 people found this helpful

Far too much chick stuff

I felt well be truly lectured on pregnancy and childbirth as if the author had to get it all of her own chest. It needed a strong editor to cut the overblown story down. Much of the book does nothing to advance the plot. As for the narrator he is one of the worst. I have listened to him on a few of lackbergs boos now and I still don't like his work. Sorry.

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