The Chestnut Man

by Soren Sveistrup

Overview

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

If you find one, he's already found you ....

From the creator of The Killing, “a full-throttle thriller in the tradition of classic Stieg Larsson” (A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window).

Winner of the Barry Award for Best First Mystery/Crime Novel * A New York Times Book Review Best Book of the Year

A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen.

His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene.

Examining the dolls, forensics makes a shocking discovery—a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government minister’s daughter who had been kidnapped and murdered a year ago.

A tragic coincidence—or something more twisted?

To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues.

Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over.

And no one is safe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062895387
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	25,599
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Søren Sveistrup is an internationally acclaimed script writer, creator and film producer of several TV series. From 2007 to 2012 he was the creator and writer of THE KILLING, which has won several international awards, been sold to more than a hundred countries all over the world and remade for AMC by Fox Television Studios in the US. He lives in Copenhagen.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/01/2019

DEBUT In Copenhagen, a woman is found murdered with a small token made of chestnuts next to her containing the fingerprint of a missing girl presumed dead. Detectives Naia Thulin and Marl Hess are thrown into a mystery that will make them question everything they know. As the two newly paired partners try to decipher the link between this new case and that of the missing girl, more women are targeted by the killer dubbed as the Chestnut Man by the media. Danish TV scriptwriter (The Killing) Sveistrup's debut is filled with imagery of Copenhagen, terrifying scenes, and strong characterization. The writing is superb; the author takes readers through a classic detective story of a closed case coming back to light. The switching of perspectives among the short chapters is a bit jarring at first, but readers will soon learn to appreciate entering the minds of both the detectives and the potential victims. Readers of Jo Nesbø's The Snowman and other noir fiction will want to read this one. VERDICT Sveistrup creates a plot so intricately woven that even a seasoned crime reader won't guess the ending. This book is the best kind of terrifying.—Natalie Browning, Longwood Univ. Lib., Farmville, VA

Library Journal

…cunningly plotted…

The New York Times Book Review - Marilyn Stasio

Cunningly plotted  . . . . Although it’s hard to look away from Sveistrup’s fiendish villain, the good guys are also worthy of your attention.” — New York Times Book Review

“A tension-charged debut. . . . Incendiary.” — Financial Times

“This might just be the thriller of the year. The Chestnut Man grips you from the opening page and never lets go, as we’re pulled into a haunting whirlwind of secrets, deception and the dark side of the soul. The policing is top-notch, of course, and the characters—good and bad—are so real we’re sure we’ve met them before. Brilliant!” — Jeffery Deaver, author of The Never Game

“A full-throttle thriller in the tradition of classic Stieg Larsson, drenched in atmosphere and charged with adrenaline. Buckle up. You’ll gulp down every word. I loved this book.” — A.J. Finn, author of the The Woman in the Window

“A stellar debut.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This is a page-turner that will make you hesitate before turning the page, so unnerving is the violence. One of the best and scariest crime novels of the year, it adds to its rewards by promising us at least one sequel. A tantalizing, un-put-down-able novel by an instant master of the form.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Superb… Sveistrup creates a plot so intricately woven that even a seasoned crime reader won’t guess the ending. This book is the best kind of terrifying.” — Library Journal, starred review

“A complex procedural deepened by gut-wrenching social commentary.” — Booklist

“A big, bold, spend-all-day-reading thriller.... In his debut crime novel, Søren Sveistrup instantly establishes himself as a must-read author for fans of Nordic Noir legends Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler—and, for that matter, as a must-read for any reader who just wants a gripping thriller to sink their teeth into.” — Crime by the Book

“A thrilling page-turning story with lots of twists and turns that will keep you reading right to the last page.” — Red Carpet Crash

From the Publisher

This might just be the thriller of the year. The Chestnut Man grips you from the opening page and never lets go, as we’re pulled into a haunting whirlwind of secrets, deception and the dark side of the soul. The policing is top-notch, of course, and the characters—good and bad—are so real we’re sure we’ve met them before. Brilliant!

Jeffery Deaver

A complex procedural deepened by gut-wrenching social commentary.

Booklist

A tension-charged debut. . . . Incendiary.

Financial Times

A thrilling page-turning story with lots of twists and turns that will keep you reading right to the last page.

Red Carpet Crash

Cunningly plotted  . . . . Although it’s hard to look away from Sveistrup’s fiendish villain, the good guys are also worthy of your attention.

New York Times Book Review

A big, bold, spend-all-day-reading thriller.... In his debut crime novel, Søren Sveistrup instantly establishes himself as a must-read author for fans of Nordic Noir legends Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler—and, for that matter, as a must-read for any reader who just wants a gripping thriller to sink their teeth into.

Crime by the Book

A full-throttle thriller in the tradition of classic Stieg Larsson, drenched in atmosphere and charged with adrenaline. Buckle up. You’ll gulp down every word. I loved this book.

A.J. Finn

A complex procedural deepened by gut-wrenching social commentary.

Booklist

A tension-charged debut. . . . Incendiary.

Financial Times

A complex procedural deepened by gut-wrenching social commentary.

Booklist

A tension-charged debut. . . . Incendiary.

Financial Times

Cunningly plotted  . . . . Although it’s hard to look away from Sveistrup’s fiendish villain, the good guys are also worthy of your attention.

New York Times Book Review