What’s not to like about a depressed, grumpy 50-year-old detective fed up with being overworked and being surrounded by nincompoops? Let’s just say I could relate. Written in the late 90s, this mystery encompasses the search for an evil computer genious intent on bringing down the global financial system. Sure, it’s feasible but the evilness somehow seemed more comic-book than authentic. The strength of the mystery is the way in which the author describes how a police force uncovers clues, distinguishing useful information and good intuition from dead ends and dry leads. Unfortunately, the plot is dated and the character development is minimal. Also, good mysteries teach about a particular time or location. This one takes place in Sweden, but it could have been anywhere.
