The Ice Beneath Her revolves around three main characters: Detective Peter Lindgren, Emma Bohman and Hanne Lagerlind-Schon, all of whom are troubled souls.
Lindgren is called to the scene of a grizzly murder. A beheaded young woman was found in the home of business tycoon Jesper Orre. Orre is reviled by the press for his hard-nosed business tactics and uncertain temper. Currently missing, he is the prime suspect in the murder. Lindgren has his personal demons, among them his inability to commit to pretty much anything and his estrangement from his teenage son, a product an apathetic relationship.

Lindgren’s partner, Manfred Olsson, remarked that the crime resembled an unsolved 10-year-old cold case in which a severed head was placed beside the corpse with its eyelids taped open. He suggested that they bring in Hanne Lagerlind-Schon, the profiler they used in the previous case. Little did Olsson know that Lindgren and Schon had a relationship that ended badly and bringing her in would create an awkward situation. Despite Lindgren’s protests, Hanne is brought in to consult.

Hanne is in the midst of a suffocating marriage to a domineering husband. Additionally, she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. She is wondering whether she is (a) capable of working with Lindgren and (b) whether her mind will give out on her in the midst of the investigation.

Emma Bohman is a shop girl working in one of Orre’s clothing stores and who was dating him at the time of his disappearance. She has had a tough life living with an alcoholic mother and having been raped by her wood shop teacher in high school. By all appearances, however, she has adjusted as well as can be expected under the circumstances. However, after Orre’s disappearance, strange things begin happening to her.

The chapters of the book alternate between Lindgre n, Bohman and Schon. It describes in police procedural form the course of the investigation and well as how each individual intersects with the others. It provides ample background on each character allowing the reader to understand what makes each of them tick.

This book has lots of twists and turns, many of which came as a total surprise. One reviewer said the book “…has all the essential components of great Scandinavian crime fiction: a strong police procedural, a dark, moody atmosphere, and compelling burdened detectives…” ( )

"As usual I feel a kind of sadness, but also a fascination with the irrepressible urge of human beings to kill each other."

There are three alternating narrators in the Scandi-crime novel from Sweden, including two of the investigators, Peter and Hanne, who have a complicated history. They haven't worked together in a while, and Hanne has learned that she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, a fact that she is keeping from Peter. The third narrator is a young woman named Emma describing events taking place during the weeks before the crime. We are uncertain of her role, and don't know whether she is a victim or a perpetrator. And although she seems honest, we are not quite sure whether she's living in reality, and whether to trust her version of events.

As the book opens, the body of a beautiful woman lying in a pool of blood has been discovered in the home of Jesper Ore, the wealthy CEO of a fashionable retail chain. She has been decapitated, and police must first determine her identity. Jesper himself is missing.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller/police procedural. I tend to prefer my crime novels to have an emphasis on character, and not on shoot-outs. ( )

This is a gripping psycho crime novel that is multi-layered, as it is not only about solving a case, but also about the psychological depths of various protagonists.
On the one hand, there is Peter, a detective who has fears of commitment, the origins of which can be found in his childhood. There is Hanna, the profiler, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of dementia. Then we have Emma. She remains a mystery for a long time, even though one quickly gets the feeling that she has major psychological problems. Then there is Jesper, the boss of a large clothing company. And there are Manfred and Sanchez, Peter's work colleagues.
The body of a young woman is found in the flat of the rich businessman Jesper Orre - brutally murdered. There is no trace of him. Ten years ago there was a very similar case - unsolved. Hanne, the profiler from back then, is therefore asked to investigate. She has to delve into the past, and her present is becoming blurred. Her existence is increasingly cracked, and the two cases connect in an unpleasant way.
The story switches back and forth between Peter, Hanna and Emma. As a reader, you are drawn into a maelstrom that won't let you go.
A very exciting story, and you hardly want to put the book aside. ( )

This book kept me guessing. Great translation. ( )

*** : Donné à Miriam