Under the snow is a well-written crime story by Kerstin Ekman ,one of Sweden’s most prominent novelists.It was translated from the Swedish by John Tate.The story takes place in the harsh,distant Nordic landscape of Lapland,particularly in a town called Rakisjokk.The two main characters that stand out among the others are a police officer sergeant Jorgen Torsson and a hunter Erik Sjorgen
Traditionally, the plot begins with a misterious murder. A couple of friends gets killed in a bungalow somewhere in the outskirts of the town.When constable Torsson arrives at the place he is met with no clues ,as the only evidence of the crime are the bodies of the two victims.Even the thorough interrogation of all suspects and neighbours he carries out leaves the case untouched.But, what makes the situation even more tangled is the fact that Rakisjokk is a very small and friendly town in which an event like that should never have happened without any notice.Eventually the case is closed.But this is only until the arrival of Eric Sjorgen ,an eccenric deer hunter who gives the case a completely new shape.Together, they start an investigation which uncovers the small-town suspicion and guilt.All events move slowly towards a violent climax.
The book is a very intelligently-written piece of entertainment placing itself high in the world of the so-called detective story .Kerstin Ekman gave a really outstanding show of her ability to raise the suspense and to make the plot as complex as can be. Its absolutely breath-holding action shifts unexpectedly from side to side not allowing the reader to have a smallest bit of relax.The fact that it is set in a very severe ,though quite exotic, polar scenery of Lapland creates a unique,dark atmosphere which contributes a lot to the book’s general climate.Nevertheless, it is not left without a reasonable dose of humor.Generally speaking,the book itself is a vintage one of a kind and even though it was written in 1961 it still shows no sign of coming out of date.
Under the snow is far more than a crime-story. It appeals not only to the intellect but also to the heart, thats why it is recommended as much to the lovers of the kind as to ordinary audience.For many of those not keen on this literary kind this book will surely constitute a fine onset for a deeper interest. This is the kind of book you never forget once you have read it.The kind you just keep coming back to all the time.
Wygenerowano: 2003-10-19
angielski
darmowe wypracowania i ściągi - szkoła i studia