Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I don’t read True Crime as often as some, but, for some reason, the urge to read this tale was overwhelming. Unlike most months, there were at least three Amazon First titles that I was eager to read. If not for a determined ‘missing persons’ investigator and the victim’s nervous sister, the perpetrator probably would have gotten away with murder. Almost as critical, without the determination of a journalist, and a competent translator, we likely would not know of this sensational case. POV: This story is told in third person. BLUSH FACTOR: Although there are not a great number of profanities, there are some, including f-words. As a true story, though, it does seem right to include the rough language of the people speaking. ADVENTURE: Yes, there is adventure within the pages. The sense of adventure is not as strong as some fiction, of course, but. I am more in tune with Swedish and their lifestyle. SUSPENSE: Yes, there is suspense, from the opening chapter, all the way through the story. THE WRITING: This is a page-turner that had me turning the pages quickly. The writing, bearing in mind that I read the English edition, after translation from Swedish, is pretty straightforward. Unlike fiction, there is not a lot of latitude in regards to creative writing, which may be a blessing for the translator. Still, the writing is quite good and hooked me from the early pages. For a better understanding, please refer to the excerpt below. Excerpt To avoid any possible spoilers, I have published a very short sample of the writing. ‘…An additional factor adds spice to the narrative: Göran Lundblad’s grandfather Knut, the adventurer, at one point purportedly promised to gift part of his forest to an older member of the Törnblad clan, as thanks for services rendered. The Törnblad man cared for the Norra Förlösa land as a kind of forester, and Knut Lundblad wanted to compensate him somehow. But when the time came to convey the land, Gustav Lundblad controlled all the Lundblad properties, and he reneged on his father’s promise. “It’s the kind of thing that would stick in the craw, I reckon,” said Mats Råberg, a Norra Förlösa farmer who rented his land from the Lundblads. “It’s partly about money, partly about being stabbed in the back.” In the Lundblad family, it is said that it was an older aunt of Gustav’s who owned the forest in question. After she was moved into a nursing home, her neighbor Karl-Oskar Törnblad would visit, ingratiating himself with coffee, cake, and silver-tongued persuasion. He wanted her to sign the property over to him. But Gustav caught wind of the scheme and managed to stop the transfer. The words of the foiled Karl-Oskar Törnblad later became something of a mantra for his family: “One day, Ställe Farm will be ours.” At the end of the 1960s, Göran Lundblad was sent away to Ireland by his father. Rumor had it that it was because of Göran’s poor performance in school. In fact, he was being ushered into the family business as…’ Palmkvist, Joakim. The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator (pp. 44-45). Amazon Crossing. Kindle Edition. BOTTOM LINE Certainly, this is a true crime story worth reading. Not spectacular, but well-written and well-translated. I was leaning towards five stars, but want to draw attention to the profanities and to the fact that it is a translation. Ah, never mind. I loved it. Five stars out of five. I am striving to produce reviews that help you find books that you want, or avoid books that you wish to avoid. With your help, my improvement will help you and me improve book reviews on Amazon. Together, you and I can build a great customer review process that helps everybody. Will you join me? It is people such as you who have helped me improve over the years. I'm still learning, and I have a great deal yet to learn. With your help, I'll improve every day. One request: Be respectful and courteous in your comments and emails to me. I will do likewise with you. Thank you so much for indicating if this review helped you, or for your comment.