Stone Coffin, the seventh outing in Kjell Eriksson's Ann Lindell series, is an engrossing and complex mystery about the inexplicable hit and run deaths of a mother and her six year old daughter.

Ann Lindell and her fellow investigators are soon on scene of the accident where the tragedy deeply affects even the most hardened police detective. Quickly figuring out Josefin Cederén and her daugher Emily were deliberately run down, the investigators soon turn their attention to locating Josefin's missing husband, Sven-Erik, a researcher and co-owner of a medical lab. The longer Sven-Erik is missing, the more convinced the police are that he is somehow involved in his wife and daughter's deaths. A deeper look into his company yields startling information about his recent erratic behavior, a puzzling land purchase in a foreign country and a suspicious bank transaction. The discovery that Sven-Erik is involved with another woman also puts him at the top of Ann's suspect list. Following an unexpected breakthrough, the police officially close the investigation, but Ann cannot shake the feeling there is much to this case than anyone believes.

Ann is a tenacious investigator whose intuition is just as valuable as her sleuthing abilities. She is relentless in her pursuit for justice and despite the popular opinion that Sven-Erik killed his wife and daughter, she has serious doubts about this theory. She continues to question his acquaintances and co-workers and what she learns just reinforces her misgivings. Incredibly thorough, Ann continues sifting through the various clues and leads but she finds insufficient evidence to fully exonerate Sven-Erik.

When the case heats up again after another murder, the investigation takes Ann and her fellow detectives to Spain where Sven-Erik's medical lab also has a facility. With a few suspicious accounting discrepancies, a missing memo and a planned expansion of the company, the investigators continue trying to understand how this information relates to the deaths in Sweden. With the help of a local policeman, crucial evidence breaks the case wide open. Upon their return to Sweden, another piece of the puzzle drops into place which provides a stunning conclusion to the investigation.

During the investigation, Ann is quite introspective as she finds herself at a crossroads in her personal life. Her former lover, Edvard Risberg, tentatively reaches out in hopes of reconciling their relationship. While Ann is open to resuming their partnership, she is uncertain whether or not they can overcome the issues that lead her to end their romance six months earlier. Just as they are on the cusp of starting over, Ann receives unexpected news that could permanently derail their reconciliation.

While Stone Coffin is an intriguing police procedural, the novel is relatively slow paced. The investigation moves at snail's pace and Ann's personal problems play a significant role in the storyline. Kjell Eriksson does a brilliant job keeping the motive for the crimes under wraps until the story's shocking conclusion. Since not all of the storylines are fully resolved, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ann Lindell Mystery series. ( )

confus, brouillon... (peut pas dire mieux) ( )

Ann Lindell is a detective in Sweden, who is called in on the case of a hit and run. A mother and her young daughter were killed, and the husband has disappeared.

Eriksson has a writing style I really enjoyed. It's straightforward, but also detailed. The character of Lindell is complex and rings true.

The mystery was interesting as well, and had quite a few twists and turns.

For me, the book got somewhat confusing as it progressed. There were so many characters that I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I also found the solution to the mystery itself somewhat confusing, and somewhat abrupt.

I didn't love this book, and I didn't hate this book. To me, it was an okay read. I wanted more from it than I feel like I got. I won't be hurrying to read any more of the series. ( )

This novel was sent to me by the publisher St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Thank you.

This Ann Lindell Swedish police procedural begins with the hit–and run-deaths of a young mother and her six year old daughter. The Violent Crimes division is drawn into the tragedy because the deaths could possibly be domestic murders with the husband as the suspect. Within a matter of days, however, the investigation morphs into an international criminal conspiracy with at least two more victims and a tangled chain which stretches from Sweden to Spain to the Domican Republic.

Stone Coffin is Eriksson at his best and bleakest. As Ann and her colleagues uncover the truth behind the deaths of the Cederen family in the search for justice, they discover more questions which may or may never be answered. This is grim stuff which involves animal rights activists, career criminals, and the lack of ethics at the highest government levels. The solutions are not tied up in neat bows and justice, as in real life, is only partially served. I wish I could be more specific, but that would reveal too much of the plot.

Lindell, as well as dealing with the cases, is stressed out. She is at a crossroad in her life. Having reconnected with her lover, she and Edvard Risberg face hard choices. Could she relocate to his island and give up a career in a big city for country life and possibly a career with rural law enforcement? Should he give up the life he loves and the friends who have become family to move to the city and do what? Plus she has a problem that could destroy their relationship completely.

Stone Coffin shows police work at its most challenging. Highly recommended ( )

Bra igen av Kjell Eriksson. Intressant historia med internationell förgrening.
Dock blir historien om Lindell och Edvard - alltså den privata delen, skiljd från kriminalhistorien - mindre och mindre intressant. Eriksson har väl kanske målat in sig lite i ett hörn när det gäller den delen, och det känns som det går på konstgjord andning. ( )