The Last Fix

The Last Fix Review

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"The Last Fix" by K.O. Dahl joins the growing inventory of Scandinavian mystery books that are now being translated into English and distributed in the U.S. and other anglophone countries. The best of these crime novels have intricate plots, but also, unusually good character development. While I wouldn't rate "The Last Fix" at the top of the list in this sub-genre (this isn't Nesbo, Larrsen, Mankell, Fossum, etc.), it was ultimately a decent read, and I would definitely give author Dahl another look.

"The Last Fix" is centered on the murder of an attractive young woman, who is recovering from drug addiction and a traumatic childhood. Her last hours are carefully documented in the narrative run up to what will turn out to be her violent death. The rest of the book is spent on a Rashomon-like re-telling of the events prior and after the murder, as well as a detailed description of the young woman's life, including her various dubious relationships. The rehash of the crime and eventual resolution are produced through a very long police procedural by the two Oslo cops assigned to the case, Frolich and Gunnarstranda. The conclusion is relatively satisfying, but as the person(s) responsible for the crime had relatively little character or psychological workup before the final pages, the author strains a bit to provide credible motive (in my opinion.)

The main problem I had with this novel was what seemed like a kind of mushiness in the narrative and slightly off-center dialogues between the characters. The translation into English was done by a Brit who took no pains to avoid UK-slang in order to make the language more accessible to other anglophones. Overall, the book could have used some sharpening from a more astute editor and some compromises on the English translation.

An intricate psychological thriller from the master of Norwegian crimewriting— the latest in the Oslo Detective’s series

 

A recovering drug addict, Katrine Bratterud, is almost finished with her time in rehab. One evening, contemplating her success at the shore of a lake, she senses that she is not alone.

The discovery of Katrine’s corpse the following day brings detectives Frølich and Gunnarstranda onto the case and into a web of secrets and lies that stretches back generations.

K.O. Dahl weaves an intricate plot, juxtaposing the selfdelusion of drug addicts with the more complex self-delusions of the well-respected middle-class people treating them. Like Henning Mankell, Dahl manages to merge the suspense of the classical whodunit with the detailed precision of the police procedural novel.

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Customer Reviews

A new voice in Scandinavian noir. - Neal C. Reynolds - Indianapolis, Indiana
I find it incredible that this only has one review so far and that so many are giving that one review negative votes.This is actually more of a police procedural than it is noir...the final portion of the book is what gives it more of a noir feel.A recovering addict is apparantly raped and killed after she's been attacked at the travel agency where she's employed and after she's been sick at a party held by her rehab center, a party she didn't really wish to attend but felt obligated to. The resulting police investigation reveals a past involving several men who become suspects and a connection to a twenty year old cold case. Scandinavian crime novels have an unique flavor to them, and this is easily one of the best comparable to the work of those like Fossum and Nesbo.


Jul 11, 2010 06:54:20