However, soon after the book was published and the first edition had sold, it was revealed that Lars Kepler was a pen name invented by literary duo Alexandra and Alexander Coelho Ahndoril. They said Kepler was the person they both became when they wrote crime novels.
The Hypnotist starts with the brutal slaughter of a family, with only a son and daughter escaping. You feel right from the start of this book that something extraordinary is going to happen as the characters develop.
Detective Inspector Joona Linna demands to investigate the grisly aftermath, against the wishes of the national police. To do so he forces disgraced specialist hypnotist Erik Maria Bark back into action.
There is a darkness about this book that reminds this reviewer of Larsson and his Millennium series. When there is violence, it is short and sharp.
The psychology of each character is explored in depth and readers see their foibles, sometimes their strengths. But it is mainly their shortcomings which are exposed for all to see. The fact that Maria Bark and Linna can rise above their failings is a tribute to the authors' grasp of how people are more likely to react to a real-life situation, rather than inventing a story-line only to enhance the thrill of the chase.
There are some narrow escapes but also some brutal scenes which are vividly written. Suspense remains until the last few pages, and Kepler wraps up the book in a satisfying way.
After only a month in Swedish bookstores, The Hypnotist topped the bestseller list. It deserves to do well in New Zealand.
The plot revolves around Glen Barber, who is going through tough times in his construction company. A mysterious fire destroyed one of his projects. His wife has her own plans for helping them out of financial difficulty, but appears to have caused an accident on a motorway off-ramp that kills her and two others in the other car.
A mystery involving a network of Milford housewives starts to unravel, but not quickly. Each chapter brings another possibility of who has caused the sudden deaths of two women who are good friends.
Two plots run simultaneously in the narrative, which has one of the best endings I've read in a long time.
There is a hint of sexual kinkiness, but not enough to upset anyone. The kinkiness leads to the downfall of one villain - suddenly, as it happens. But the best is left until last ...
• Dene Mackenzie is a Dunedin journalist.
