Book Review | The Rabbit Hunter by Lars Kepler

The Rabbit Hunter

by Lars Kepler

Translated by Neil Smith

Knopf Publishing Group

Publication Date : January 14, 2020

Pages: 528

Synopsis From Publisher:

Detective Joona Linna is finishing out a sentence at Kumla prison for assaulting an officer in the course of his last investigation when he is summoned to a meeting with the Swedish Prime Minister. The Foreign Minister has been brutally murdered. There's a chance more political figures could be targeted. The police need Linna to find the killer and neutralize the threat, so he's granted a temporary release from prison. But when another murder occurs, Linna realizes he's dealing with something far more complex, and far more terrifying, than anyone imagined. As the body count grows, Linna begins to understand that he can't do this alone and he reaches out to Saga Bauer, the young Security Police detective, for help. Now, together, the two race against time to unravel the killer's intricate plan before he can take his ultimate revenge

I have come to expect several things from Lars Kepler ; a fast paced plot, a complex mystery, and an extremely disturbed villain. The Rabbit Hunter is no exception, but what I love most about the series is how Kepler places Joona in extremely different circumstances with each book. In one book he is grieving, in another book he is personally under attack, in The Rabbit Hunter we find him in prison. Reading about Joona in these varying circumstances allows readers a full picture of his character.

In The Rabbit Hunter, we find Joona Linna in prison for aiding, abetting, and assault. Sweden’s Foreign Minister has been found dead in his home. His death signaling that other government officials could be in danger.  The Prime Minister secures a temporary release for Joona so he can investigate the Foreign Minister’s murder. With the help of Saga Bauer, Joona discovers a motive more treacherous than terror…revenge. 

Throughout the series we learn a lot about Joona and his past. However Kepler has still managed to make Joona mysterious and aloof. I still believe I have so much more to learn about Joona. Kepler gives readers more than enough to make sure they are invested in Joona but in many ways he remains an enigma. 

The Rabbit Hunter begins with the murder of the Swedish Prime Minister. We do not catch up with Joona until about 50 pages into the book. I loved this timing. Experiencing the crime from the perspective of the witnesses and the victim allows readers to fully understand the terror inflicted by the killer. Learning about the crime through a 3rd party, such as a member of law enforcement would filter out the horror experienced by the victims. These first 50 pages of The Rabbit Hunter are the most chilling parts of the book; setting the tone for a complex murder investigation as well as allowing readers to connect with the victim. Readers then become invested in the capture of the killer. 

To say I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Joona Linna series would be an understatement. Joona is a character who sticks with readers. The difficulties he faces while he investigates murders, the losses he endures, and his loyalty to the people he cares about, make readers root for him. 

I have been a fan of Lars Kepler for a few years. I started with The Hypnotist and was immediately hooked. With the release of each new English translation, Kepler further cements my love of Scandinavian crime fiction with darkness, grit, and loads of red herrings ; keeping me enamored with Scandinavian crime fiction and Joona Linna.

Murder and Moore Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars