The Glass Devil

by Helene Tursten

Book Overview

Pastor Sten Schyttelius, his wife and his son, a school teacher, have been shot to death. Could this be the work of a cult of Satanists, as the clues left by the murderer indicate? Detective Inspector Irene Huss is on the case. Third volume in a well-received series of police procedurals with a female lead set in modern Sweden.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569474524
• ISBN13: 9781569474525
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Soho Crime
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Scandanavia's Second Biggest Problem

In this the third novel of the "Huss Series" to be published in English, Tursten concentrates on a growing problem. Because there a few ways to trace anonymous people on the internet, it has become a 'home' for pornographers and pedophiles. In permissive Sweden it's the pedophiles who have taken to the net in droves, using it to contact other pedophiles and spread their poison all over the world. Into a triple murder of a pastor, his wife and son, steps Huss who will need hip-boots before this is all over. There is less procedure and more character development in this book and she is becoming more like 'Pepe Calvalho' each episode by describing the cooking of her husband and chef Krister. Though very subtle, there seems to be a polemic about the Swedish Church but I'm not sure what her point is supposed to be. We are also treated to a more in depth study of her colleagues especially Superintendent Anderssen. Though he should be retired (sixty is mandatory retirement for Swedish cops) she is keeping him on for at least one more novel. Is she setting Hush up as his replacement? We are also treated to a visit with English DI Thompson, who is half brazilian, his mother, sister, wife and twins. It seems that Tursten has a 'thing' for twins, she has one set and two cousins are also described as 'looking like twins'. Tursten's descriptions of Huss' shopping trips in London look like a way of turning her own trips (if she does shop there) into 'research'. It's interesting to see the growth of her daughters and the changes to her fellow cops. She never misses a chance to hit out at the number one problem in Sweden, alcohol abuse. Her fellow cop who is always drinking on the job and calling in sick (on the 'morning after') is admitted to the hospital for 'stomach' problems, which Huss says to herself must be his liver, is very telling as to a major problem among Swedes. There are eight novels in the series that have been published so far but this is only the third that has been translated. I'm looking forward to following Huss et al for many years to come. Zeb Kantrowitz

Excellent Swedish police procedural

His cousin Georg, the principal of a high school, calls worried about dedicated teacher Jacob Schyttelius not coming to work or calling in. Though vague, Goteborg Criminal Superintendent Sven Andersson drafts Detective Inspector Irene Huss to accompany him when he drives out to the man's isolated cottage. Huss who has worked with Anderson for fifteen years is shocked that he has a relative. However, she more stunned at the cottage where they find a dead Jacob shot in the head by a rifle. His computer monitor is loaded with upside down pentagrams. After insuring control of the crime scene, the two cops visit Jacob's elderly parents, Pastor Sten Schyttelius and his wife Elsa only to find both shot in the eyes; once again their monitor displays upside down pentagrams. Neither computer contains information as a pro deleted everything. Huss turns to Jacob's anguished sister, Rebecka, who lives in London, but she is clueless. With no leads, Huss chooses to follow Sten's activities first because he was investigating a Satanist cult, which may tie to the upside down pentagrams. The third translated Huss Swedish police procedural (see DETECTIVE INSPECTOR HUSS and THE TORSO) is an excellent tale from the opening phone call until the final climax. Huss is terrific as she investigates the triple murders, but makes little progress until she makes inquiries into the Pastor's investigation. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this superb tale hat brings a taste of Sweden to the reader as well as a strong police investigation. Harriet Klausner

Another solid mystery by Tursten

While it isn't quite as gripping as The Torso, this is yet another fine work by Helene Tursten featuring Detective Inspector Huss. Tursten once again creates a believable, intelligent, and interesting character, as well as her fellow detectives and family, resulting in an engaging and intriguing mystery.