LAST WILL

Annika Bengtzon, a reporter for the Evening Post, is covering the Nobel Prize winners’ dinner in Stockholm when she suddenly becomes a key witness to a shooting.

What starts as a single murder soon spirals into a dark and dangerous killing spree that Annika finds herself in the middle of. As Annika begins to draw conclusions from the controversy surrounding the victims deaths she consequently becomes the front runner in the killer’s game of chase

Marklund, the number one bestselling author, showcases her research throughout the book within the level of scientific and medical detail that extends over the pages. In particular, the selection for the accolade of the Nobel Prize that Marklund weaves into the plot is interesting and well researched. The facts are the foundations which provide solidity to the scientific plot, though at times they can overwhelm passages that require simplicity in order to be understood. This slows the plots in places however the second half of the book, as is the norm in crime thriller books, is laced with excitement and twists so that the reader will race to the end.

Annika is a well thought out and likeable character. The daily battle to balance her home and work life is a constant frustration that adds a deeper dimension and humanises the plot. While Annika is at the forefront of the book, the secondary characters stand strong due to Marklund’s clever description and presentation. There are certain characters that have been created to distinctly lead the reader down the garden path with no end in sight which can be frustrating but also necessary to keep the reader guessing.

This novel is part of a series but can be read independently. It stands alone as a great crime read that is layered with excellent intelligence.