Thrillers & Suspense
![Anne Mette Hancock - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_anne_mette_hancock.jpg)
The Corpse Flower (A Kaldan and Scháfer Mystery)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo meets Sharp Objects in this internationally bestselling psychological thriller, for fans of Jo Nesbø and Henning Mankell, now for the first time in English.
Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan is in the middle of a nightmare. One of her sources has been caught lying, and she could lose her job over it. Then she receives the first in a series of cryptic and unsettling letters from a woman named Anna Kiel.
Wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a young lawyer three years earlier, Anna hasn't been seen by anyone since she left the crime scene covered in blood. The police think she's fled the country until homicide detective Erik Scháfer comes up with a lead after the reporter who originally wrote about the case is found murdered in his apartment. Has Anna Kiel struck again, or is there more than one killer at large? And why does every clue point directly to Heloise Kaldan?
Meanwhile, the letters keep coming, and they hint at a connection between Anna and Heloise. As Heloise starts digging deeper, she realizes that to tell Anna's story she will have to revisit the darkest parts of her own past--confronting someone she swore she'd never see again.
The Corpse Flower is the first in the #1 bestselling Danish crime series, the Kaldan and Scháfer mysteries.
Danish journalist Heloise Kaldan is in the middle of a nightmare. One of her sources has been caught lying, and she could lose her job over it. Then she receives the first in a series of cryptic and unsettling letters from a woman named Anna Kiel.
Wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a young lawyer three years earlier, Anna hasn't been seen by anyone since she left the crime scene covered in blood. The police think she's fled the country until homicide detective Erik Scháfer comes up with a lead after the reporter who originally wrote about the case is found murdered in his apartment. Has Anna Kiel struck again, or is there more than one killer at large? And why does every clue point directly to Heloise Kaldan?
Meanwhile, the letters keep coming, and they hint at a connection between Anna and Heloise. As Heloise starts digging deeper, she realizes that to tell Anna's story she will have to revisit the darkest parts of her own past--confronting someone she swore she'd never see again.
The Corpse Flower is the first in the #1 bestselling Danish crime series, the Kaldan and Scháfer mysteries.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Corpse Flower:
"Structurally flawless."
-The Washington Post
"If you enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you will thoroughly enjoy this [Danish] thriller full of action, family secrets, and intrigue."
-The San Diego Union-Tribune, Recommended Reads
"Scandinavian noir at its noirest. It's hard, maybe unthinkable, to imagine how Hancock will follow it up."
-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This book has a little bit of everything. If you enjoy Scandinavian crime stories, you will definitely want to check [it] out."
-San Francisco Book Review, 5-star review
"[A] gripping debut . . . Assured prose matches the intricate plot. Hancock is off to a strong start."
-Publishers Weekly
"Gripping, endearing, dark, and funny, Anne Mette Hancock has written the best series I've read this year. Kaldan and Schafer are my new favorite crime-solving duo. Highly recommended."
-Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Hancock writes with a razor-sharp pen, wittily and with originality. I simply adore her books."
-Katrine Engberg, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Tenant and The Butterfly House
"A guaranteed page-turner."
-Emelie Schepp, international bestselling author of the Jana Berzelius series
"Anne Mette Hancock has written a killer book. This one has it all-a great story, compelling characters, and a page-turning plot. Don't miss The Corpse Flower."
-Harry Hunsicker, author of The Devil's Country and former executive vice-president of the Mystery Writers of America
"Absolutely wonderful. Superbly constructed and totally enthralling."
-Helene Tursten, author of Snowdrift
"Structurally flawless."
-The Washington Post
"If you enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you will thoroughly enjoy this [Danish] thriller full of action, family secrets, and intrigue."
-The San Diego Union-Tribune, Recommended Reads
"Scandinavian noir at its noirest. It's hard, maybe unthinkable, to imagine how Hancock will follow it up."
-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This book has a little bit of everything. If you enjoy Scandinavian crime stories, you will definitely want to check [it] out."
-San Francisco Book Review, 5-star review
"[A] gripping debut . . . Assured prose matches the intricate plot. Hancock is off to a strong start."
-Publishers Weekly
"Gripping, endearing, dark, and funny, Anne Mette Hancock has written the best series I've read this year. Kaldan and Schafer are my new favorite crime-solving duo. Highly recommended."
-Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Hancock writes with a razor-sharp pen, wittily and with originality. I simply adore her books."
-Katrine Engberg, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Tenant and The Butterfly House
"A guaranteed page-turner."
-Emelie Schepp, international bestselling author of the Jana Berzelius series
"Anne Mette Hancock has written a killer book. This one has it all-a great story, compelling characters, and a page-turning plot. Don't miss The Corpse Flower."
-Harry Hunsicker, author of The Devil's Country and former executive vice-president of the Mystery Writers of America
"Absolutely wonderful. Superbly constructed and totally enthralling."
-Helene Tursten, author of Snowdrift
Readers Top Reviews
KatKindle Fictio
I was engaged from the first page! I love it when I can disappear into a good mystery. You will not be disappointed.
CRKaryn HudsonKat
In this day and age, quality research is within reach and required as authors attempt to include obscure themes, crime expertise, diversity, cultural experiences. I found this book to be poorly crafted and lazily conceived. As an example, Anne Mette Hancock describes a homely scene: “The plastic slats over the ventilator from the kitchen were rattling their familiar mealtime melody on the outside wall of the house and it had the same effect on Schafer as the bells had had on Pavlov’s dogs…” later when referring to Connie, Schafer’s black wife: “He saw her through the kitchen doorway. She was wearing a yellow dress. She stood there peeling avocados on a wooden cutting board on the island in the middle of the kitchen. Her curly, black hair was unbraided and surrounded her face LIKE A LION’S MANE.” The time in which dehumanizing descriptions were acceptable is over. You know better, therefore DO BETTER! I also know a great deal about pedophiles for one of them had a role in my birth. I found the entire subject written to shock and sensationalize thus destroying any opportunity for insight. This book is sold as a masterpiece claiming a semblance to works by Jo Nesbo, and authors of Sharp Objects, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I found this to be laughable at best and insulting at worst. I am deleting this book from my library right after I post this review.
larvalbugCRKaryn
The book came in good condition and before the deadline suggested for arrival at purchase.
Sandi Taublarvalb
I really enjoyed this book. Interesting, complex characters and a good mystery with lots of subplots which come together very realistically in the end. Despite the repellent crimes underlying the story, and being thoroughly repulsed by them, I’m surprised to find myself saying I “enjoyed” it. But it grasped my interest from start to finish, and really gave me a chance to root for the “good guys”, who in their different guises and aspects, some truly unusual, pursued justice in their own unique ways.
JHSandi Taublarva
The reviews of this book were glorious, promising this was the best mystery of the year, hands down. Although a good story, the book was not outstanding. Some of the more interesting allusions eg Heloise and Abelard turned out to be red herrings only, the characters were underdeveloped, the villain a stock character, and the plot pretty uncomplicated in the end.
