Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Blind Goddess: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Mystery" by Anne Holt

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Review of "Blind Goddess: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Mystery" by Anne Holt

In this first book featuring Police Detective 'Hanne Wilhelmsen', the investigator and her partner look into two murders.

*****

A young Dutchman is accused of killing a drug dealer in Oslo, Norway.....

…..and insists on being represented by Karen Borg, the lawyer who found the body.

However Borg is a civil, not criminal attorney, and defense lawyer Peter Strup tries to horn in on her client.

The Dutchman refuses to change lawyers though and exhibits fear of attorneys and lockup.

Soon afterwards another attorney, the disreputable Hansa Larsen, is shot to death. Police officers Håkon Sand and Hanne Wilhelmsen connect the murders of the drug dealer and shady lawyer.

Moreover, they find clues in the lawyer's house that lead them to suspect a huge drug-dealing conspiracy that involves lawyers and maybe even high government officials.

The police follow complex clues to unearth the culprits but have a very difficult time trying to bring them to justice. There's a lot of blather about the Norwegian court/justice system which slows down the story and the climax is very drawn out as well.

The book has some interesting characters/relationships that add to the story: married lawyer Karen and her friend Detective Håkon have a romantic attraction; Detective Hanne is gay and lives with her girlfriend. There's an intrepid reporter chasing after a scoop. And there are plenty of lawyers, good and bad. I thought it was just an average mystery/thriller.

Rating: 3 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Review of "Blind Goddess: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Mystery" by Anne Holt

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