Snowdrift

Written by Helene Tursten

Narrated by Stina Nielsen

When a new lead breaks in the cold case that has long haunted Swedish Detective Inspector Embla Nyström, the truth she’s been seeking about her best friend’s disappearance may finally be revealed—if it doesn’t kill her first.

One winter night, 28-year-old Detective Inspector Embla Nyström receives a phone call that sends her reeling. It’s been fourteen years since her best friend disappeared from a nightclub in Gothenburg, but Embla recognizes her voice before the call abruptly disconnects. Embla is thrilled to learn Lollo is still alive, but before she can dive into the case, she gets another phone call—this time from a relative. A man has been found shot dead in one of the guest houses he and his wife manage in rural Sweden. Could she come take a look?

When Embla arrives on the scene, she receives another shock. The dead man is Milo Stavic, a well-known gang member and one of the last people seen with Lollo. And, as Embla soon learns, the same night that Milo was shot in the guest house, his brother Luca was also killed. Why, after all these years, is someone targeting the Stavic brothers, and where is the third brother? With help from a handsome local detective and his police dog in training, Embla launches an investigation into the three Stavic brothers, hoping it will bring her closer to finally finding Lollo and putting an end to her terrible nightmares.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705010129

Reviews for Snowdrift

[edgoldberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Detective Inspector Embla Nystrom receives a phone call that sends her reeling. Fourteen years ago, when Nystrom was fourteen, her best friend, Lollo, disappeared from a nightclub which Lollo and Embla snuck out to. Embla has been haunted by horrific dreams about the incident ever since. When she recognizes her friend’s voice on the phone before the call is abruptly cut off, Embla is thrilled that her friend is still alive and confused as to why she called, but before she can begin to search for Lollo, work intrudes.A man has been found shot to death in one of the guest houses run by Embla’s relative who asks if she can come take a look. When she arrives, she’s stunned to see the dead man is Milo Stavic, a well-known crime boss and Lollo’s abductor along with his two brothers. At that time, Milo threatened to kill Embla if she ever breathed a word about seeing him. Moreover, the same night that Milo was killed, his brother Luca was also killed. Who is targeting the brothers and where is brother number 3 who has been missing from his Croatian home for two weeks?Snowdrift, as with the other books in this series and in the Irene Huss series, is a solid police procedural. As a matter of fact, Irene Huss is mentioned several times in the book. It is low key and it is only in the last quarter of the book that there is, as one reviewer mentioned, an “…edge-of-your-seat climactic shootout…” There is a touch of romance in the book and, for those who like dogs, a smart police dog-in-training. As a matter of fact that was one of the highlights for me.Snowdrift is a good entree into Nordic Noir. It is not too bleak but Tursten accurately describes the harsh February Swedish weather. For readers not into dark, bleak mysteries such as those by Icelandic author Arnuldur Indridason’s Detective Erlundur series, the Irene Huss and the Embla Nystrom series would be a good starting point.

[cathyskye · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Helene Tursten is skilled at crafting mysteries that keep you wanting more. I love her Detective Inspector Irene Huss series, but for some reason after reading three books in this new series, I can't seem to warm up to Embla Nyström. I think it is partly due to the fact that this younger woman keeps everyone at a distance and has a tendency to look down at anyone who doesn't eat as healthy as she does. Lighten up, Embla! For whatever reason, I can't quite put my finger on why she leaves me cold. (But I certainly appreciate Tursten keeping us informed about Irene Huss who works in the same unit.)What I can put my finger on is that Snowdrift needed some tightening up by fifty pages or so-- and that the twist at the end which is supposed to be a shocker didn't surprise me at all. Not every book in a series can be a barnburner, and for me, Snowdrift was decidedly flat. Combine that with the fact that I can't get enthused about Embla, and I have doubts about continuing with this series.(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)