The Drowning

Patrik Hedstrom, Book 6

By: Camilla Läckberg

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

In the latest from worldwide best seller Camilla Lackberg, a new novel from a reclusive Fjallbacka resident has enraptured the community - but what secrets and tragedies are lurking behind the pages and threatening to come to life?

Christian Thydell's dream has come true. His debut novel, The Mermaid, has been published to rave reviews. So why is he as distant and unhappy as ever?

When crime writer Erica Falck, who helped Christian discover and develop his talents, learns he has been receiving anonymous threats, she investigates not just the messages but also the young author's mysterious past. Then one of Christian's closet friends, Magnus, goes missing.

Erica's husband, Detective Patrik Hedstrom, has his worst suspicions confirmed as the mind games aimed at Christian become a disturbing reality. Christian's group of friends - a "gang of four" from childhood - is a tangled web of relationships, love triangles, and family secrets that Erica and Patrik must unravel in order to discover what really happened to Magnus and who is still threatening Christian.

But with the victims themselves concealing evidence, the investigation is going nowhere. Is their silence driven by fear or guilt? What is the secret they would rather die to protect than live to see revealed?

©2015 Camilla Lackberg (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Another misery filled book from Läckberg

If I hadn't gotten the next book in the series for free I would probably make this the last of Läckberg's book I read. I really don't get her appeal. She can write a gripping book, but she adds in so many other problematic elements that they are just not an enjoyable read. The book centers on another mystery with an event in the past mixing with events in the present. That is part of the first problem with Läckberg is she make repetitive use of plot devices. An author nurtured by Erika has produced a big hit and he starts getting threatening letters. The solution is slowly revealed and is a bit far fetched as another reviewer stated, but it was satisfying. Another common element to Läckberg's book is they are filled with characters who are just awful people. It is not pleasant to spend a 12 hour listen with her characters. Terrible parents, evil children, neurotic obsessives, pompous idiots...you name it and Läckberg will include them to up the misery level.

I have read that Fjällbacka has become a tourist hot spot, but I don't know why people would want to visit Fjällbacka . At one point Erick muses that authors inadvertently include a lot of their own lives/themselves in their work. That does not imply good things about Läckberg or the people of Fjällbacka. I would also guess that a place like Fjällbacka may have a murder once every 100 years, so another unrealistic element

MILD SPOILER: Other reviewers have criticized the ending. To me it is just another plot device to create a cliffhanger while readers suffered through a year waiting for the next book. It seems her readers need to be as miserable as her characters. It also implies that she can't have two main characters who are happy. They need some misery in their lives as well which doesn't bode well for the start of the next book.

massive trigger warning!! please listen with care

what the actual....? SMH this book is not for the light hearted. I actually hate that I like this book this much. so much to unpack in this macabre book but still very thought provoking, worth reading but definitely have something uplifting to read after because this book is too much!!

Brilliantly written and spoken

I love a good crime novel with character development. This is one. Because of my background, I solved the mystery before getting there but it was still well done. The ending was abrupt.

enjoyed the story

enjoyed the story but did have somewhat of an unsettled ending. but opens door for another book

Read this!!!!

If you loved girl with a dragon tattoo you will love this as well. I haven’t given 5 stars in 100+ thrillers but this deserves

A real puzzler, but...

I enjoyed the psychological ins and outs of this mystery, but in the end I felt manipulated when characters figure things but the reader is left guessing what those details are. Vance is an excellent narrator and I always enjoy his reading. I like the detective and his clever wife and their relationship.
Everything was great until the last paragraph which was just too over the top for me. I won't spoil anything, but I really did not like where I got dropped off - cliff hangers are highly overrated.

Suspense and intrigue all the way through!

I am blown away at the amazing writing style, and true suspense throughout the entire story! I enjoy this genre in general, and Camilla Lackberg raises it to a new level. Also, Simon Vance is hands down my favorite narrator! I did a search under his name, which actually led me to this author. A masterful combination!

book twisted ending whoah , took long detours

rough to start where is it going?
loved the ending but not last paragraph unnecessary

Stick it Out

The first couple hours I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book, I almost stopped listening but I'm so glad I didn't. It was excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat.

What?!?!?!?

Everything about this book was great...until the end. It was so random. What a disappointment!