What Never Happens

by Anne Holt

Book Overview

All over Oslo, celebrities are turning up dead in the most macabre of situations: a talk show host with her tongue cut out, a politician crucified with a copy of the Koran stuffed up her private... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446578037
• ISBN13: 9780641931345
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Looking forward to the Final book of the Trilogy

"What Never Happens" (also published in Europe as "The Final Murder") is the middle book of a trilogy about a Norwegian Cop (Adam Stubo) and a woman (Johanne Vik, now his wife) who studied profiling at the FBI. They met and married in book one and now have a child together, and a quirky ten year old daughter from her first marriage. In this the second book, Johanne has just given birth and both she and Adam are suffering from new baby fears and lack of sleep. In a short period of time, four 'celebrity murders' are committed. A talk show host is found with her tongue cut out, a politician is found crucified to her bed, a critic/essayist is found with his pen in his eye, and a biathelete is found with a bullet hole in a target pinned to his chest. Vik ties these back to a symposium at the FBI where the same types of murders were 'profiled' and the last was the burning down of the house of the detective (with him in it) that investigated the murders. How do you protect yourself from someone who has committed the perfect murder? Though the crime scenes are painstakingly gone over, not one clue as to the identity of the murderer is ever found. We know that the murderer will be coming after Stubo, but when and how is anybody's guess. To tell anymore about the mystery would give away too much of the plot but it does seem to do what all second books do, slowly lead us into book three. That is actually my only complaint about this book, and that is, it is really slow at some points. Now I don't know if this is just the problem of all 'second acts' or of this writer. I've read other Norwegian writers, specifically Jo Nesbo, and his books NEVER flag, but he is exceptional. Holt is famous for another series "Hanne Wilhelmsen" (seven books) that has never been translated, so it's hard to make a comparison to her other works. This trilogy was specifically written to introduce her to the English language market. The third book is finished and publish in 2006, and is due to be published later this year. What is interesting is her diatribes about Norwegian culture, the way that immigrants (referred to as foreigners) are treated, how Holt dispenses comments on religion, politics, and Norway. Her story is very dark and the people (Norwegians) seem to act like automatons. With the cradle to grave economy, there doesn't seem to be any reason for anyone to put themselves out there, you just cruise through life. BORING! She even makes light of lawyers who become writers (her) and that gays and lesbians (her again) are out in the open all over the place. The name of one of her murder victims is Fiona Helle whose husband's first name is Berndt. I'm looking forward to the third book and seeing some of the other series translated. Zeb Kantrowitz

One of the best murder mysteries that I've ever read

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (2/08) "What Never Happens" is a compelling, thought-provoking mystery written by Scandinavia's well-known crime author Anne Holt. When a series of uniquely gruesome murders occur, investigator Adam Stubo and his wife, Johanne Vik, who is a gifted profiler, get involved. Johanne, who just had a baby and cares for a young daughter with autistic-like behaviors, is exhausted. She has some very bad memories from her past when she was in training with the FBI, however, she finds herself recalling patterns of past murders to what is currently happening. There is definitely an intelligent person involved with the murders. As the pattern begins to show itself, she realizes that she and Adam are in danger. The characters have a great deal of depth and dimension. I also got to know Adam and Johanne. Holt made them so real to me. The way she writes about Johanne's daughter has me convinced that she has first-hand experience in dealing with a child with special needs. Trying to overcome their personal issues and solve the mystery of the murders is incredibly stressful for them, but it also helps Johanne work through some issues. She is forced to confront her past. "What Never Happens" is absolutely fascinating. It is by far one of the best murder mysteries that I have ever read. Anne Holt came up with an incredible idea for writing this book. Her imagination scares me! She also manages to tie together different murders that you would assume have no connection. I don't want to give it away, so I will leave it at that. The murders and the symbolism behind them are incredibly diabolical and creative. This is a must read for murder mystery fans. It would also provide some hot topics for readers groups.

entertaining Norwegian police procedural

In Oslo, the first victim is Fiona Helle, talk show hostess of On the Move With Fiona, whose tongue was carefully and neatly severed. The next to die is politician Victoria Heinerback crucified in her bed with a copy of the Koran partially shoved up her vagina. The third fatality of this serial killer was a nasty critic who received a stab wound through his eye. Married detectives Adam Stubo and Johanne Vik investigate the homicides, but for several weeks find no links except for the viciousness of the serial killer; that is until Johanne finds a nebulous connection between Helle's children and the victims. With something to go on, Adam seeks a motive that he believes will uncover the diabolically clever killer. This is an entertaining Norwegian police procedural that provides the audience a taste of Oslo to enhance the serial killer plot. The look at Norway is done through the eyes of the victims and the killer, which also distracts from the investigation. Still fans will enjoy this fine thriller as Stubo and Vik work a difficult case (see WHAT IS MINE for their previous investigation; not read by me). Harriet Klausner