Book Review | In The Heat Of The Moment by Viveca Sten

In The Heat Of The Moment

by Viveca Sten

Translated by Marlaine Delargy

Amazon Crossing

Publication Date : September 4, 2018

Pages : 414

Synopsis From Publisher : 

It’s Midsummer’s Eve, the celebration of the longest day of the year, and on Sandhamn it’s the longest party of the year. But the fun comes to a dead halt when a young reveler is murdered, a teenage girl is found drugged and dazed on the beach, and other young women vanish. So far, what links the victims is a mystery. For Nora Linde and her new boyfriend, Jonas Sköld, the crimes are personal: one of the missing girls is Wilma, Jonas’s daughter. And her disappearance could test Nora and Jonas’s relationship in ways they never expected.

Thrust into the investigation, they soon discover that it’s more than a case of bad blood between friends. But the truth, which has receded into a haze of carousing, drugs, and liquor, is getting harder to see. If Nora and Jonas are going to find out what happened to Wilma, they’d better do it fast—before the ebbing tides sweep away all the terrible secrets of that night on Sandhamn Island.

As an avid reader of crime fiction I am often asked “ Do you get tired of reading about death and gore?” "Why not try reading something less dark?” I consistently answer no to both questions. However I will admit that sometimes I am in the mood for something a little lighter, especially after an intense and dark read. Whenever I have reached my maximum capacity of gore and blood, I turn to the latest English translation of the Sandhamn mystery series. 

It is the beginning of Midsummer on the island of Sandhamn, boats are moored in jetties, the weather is beautiful and alcohol is plentiful. Tourists and locals alike are gearing up to celebrate the longest day of the year. When the body of sixteen year old Victor Ekengreen is found celebrations are halted. While Victor’s death is devastating many of the locals assume his demise is a result of a mishap with alcohol. No one suspects murder. Detective Inspector Thomas Andreasson is called into investigate the death and quickly realizes that alcohol was just one factor which lead to Victor’s death. 

Nora Linde, Thomas’ childhood friend, is looking forward to a relaxing Midsummer with her new boyfriend Jonas Skold. When Jonas’ fourteen year old daughter Wilma goes missing, Nora and Jonas begin to fear the worst. While the drama surrounding Wilma’s disappearance unfolds, Nora and Jonas’ relationship goes through it’s first major trial. Nora’s support seems unwanted and Jonas begins to distance himself from her. As Thomas investigates a murder and Nora aids in the search for Wilma, events occur which provide Sandhamn with a memorable but tragic Midsummer.

I have read and enjoyed all of the books in the Sandhamn series that have been translated into English. What I particularly enjoy is my brief transportation to the island of Sandhamn. The island is a tourist hotspot for people looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Stockholm. Sten describes ocean breezes, loads of boats in the harbor, and plenty of activity as the locals prepare for the tourists from Stockholm. Sandhamn is indeed a real location, about 30 miles from Stockholm in the Stockholm Archipelago. When I read the first book of the series I remembered hearing or reading of the island in the past. I finally remembered where I read the name recently. In Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series, lead character Mikael Blomkvist owns a cabin on Sandhamn. Sandhamn has now made it to the top of my list of places I want to visit. 

In the other books in the series, the story is told from the perspective of the two main characters Nora and Thomas. With In The Heat Of The Moment , Sten branches out and exposes readers to the perspectives of not only Nora and Thomas but to everyone involved in the central mystery. This change displayed Sten’s versatility and made In The Heat Of the Moment even more captivating. 

Nora and Thomas’ lives have completely evolved since the beginning of the series. When we first meet Nora in Still Waters, she is happily married with two young sons. Thomas is single and struggling with the death of his infant daughter. In In The Heat Of The Moment, both of their circumstances have completely changed. This is my absolute favorite element of the Sandhamn series. I have become invested in the characters and impatiently await each new translation. 

Enjoyable is the best way to describe my feelings for In The Heat Of The Moment and the Sandhamn series. While the stories are lighter than most of my other crime fiction reads, they are no less exciting and intriguing. Each story contains the perfect amount of emotion and suspense. Fans of Camillia Lackberg should add In The Heat Of The Moment and the entire Sandhamn series to their list of must reads. 

**Thanks to Amazon Crossing for my free copy of In The Heat Of The Moment**

Murder and Moore Rating : 

5 out of 5 Stars