The Dying Detective

A Mystery

By: Leif GW Persson, Neil Smith - translator

Narrated by: Erik Davies

***WINNER OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION'S INTERNATIONAL DAGGER 2017***
***WINNER OF THE DANISH ACADEMY OF CRIME WRITERS' PALLE ROSENKRANTZ PRIZE (Best Crime Novel 2012)***
***WINNER OF THE FINNISH ACADEMY OF CRIME WRITERS' AWARD (Best Crime Novel 2012)***
***WINNER OF THE GLASS KEY (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel 2011)***
***WINNER OF THE SWEDISH ACADEMY OF CRIME WRITERS' AWARD (Best Crime Novel of the Year 2010)***


LARS MARTIN JOHANSSON is a living legend. Cunning and perceptive, always one step ahead, he was known in the National Criminal Police as “the man who could see around corners.” But now Johansson is retired, living in the country, his police days behind him.

Or so he thinks.

After suffering a stroke, Johansson finds himself in the hospital. Tests show heart problems as well. And the only thing that can save him from despair is his doctor’s mention of an unsolved murder case from years before. The victim: an innocent nine-year-old girl.

Johansson is determined to solve the case, no matter his condition. With the help of his assistant, Matilda, an amateur detective, and Max, an orphan with a personal stake in the case, he launches an informal investigation from his hospital bed. Racing against time, he uncovers a web of connections that links sex tourism to a dead opera singer and a self-made millionaire. And as Johansson draws closer to solving the crime, he finds that he will have to confront not just a mystery but his own mortality as well.

Critic reviews

Winner of The Glass Key Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel

Winner of The Danish Academy of Crime Writers’ Palle Rosenkrantz Prize

Named Best Crime Novel of the Year by both the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers and the Finnish Academy of Crime Writers

“A brilliant police procedural. . . . An absolutely masterful crime novel.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“Memorable. . . . well-paced. . . . brooding. . . . the crux of the story lies in Johansson’s wrestling with an appropriate solution to a crime that, incredibly, is fast slipping to the other side of the statute of limitations: does he let the bad guy get away, or does he take justice into his own hands? A knotty, sinuous story that leads to a hard-won resolution—and a decidedly conclusive end.”
—Kirkus

“The King of Swedish crime writing. Period.”
—Kvällsposten, Sweden

“Extraordinarily fascinating . . . Extremely hard to put down.”
—Jyllands-Posten, Denmark (five stars)


“With this amazing novel, Persson proves himself to be a significant voice,
classic yet original.”
—La Repubblica, Italy

“Phenomenally brilliant.”
—Politiken, Denmark (five stars)


“Persson is a divinely gifted storyteller.”
—Dagens Nyheter, Sweden

“Excellent . . . Clever, amusing and imaginative.”
—Folketidende, Denmark

Rich and riveting

The police detective is absolutely lovable, and we root for him to capture the child murderer before death comes.

Good story, but narrator is hard to understand

Narrator doesn't do this story justice, very hard to comprehend and not worth it's asking price.

FIVE

Another 5: present day police procedural investigating a very old murder. The cast of characters is wide ranging and interesting. I enjoy reading about life in Sweden, as I do in so many of the mysteries these days. Not all are 5s. Plot wins over car chase, gun shots or misc blood shed :-)

slow paced, contemplative.

I enjoy this style but it is not everyone's first choice. the writer and narrator manage to bring to life a swedish state of mind and describe parts of the life style.

Great story about mentality,stress,+limited time

Reactions to murder, and response to serious medical conditions create similar reactions around the world. The attitudes of Lars Johanson were very interesting to me because he and I are close to the same age, with similar afflictions, and I could identify to his views on various medical advise and treatment.
Lars investigative methods are relentless and inventive. But you soon find out he has close ties to a young caregiver and a rough around the edges Russian orphan....this book is well written, translated, read, and the story is both timeless and universal with any culture in the world