Mind’s Eye by Hakan Nesser
The Inspector Van Veeteren series’ eagerly awaited debut book is now available in English. Finally, readers in America will be able to start reading this engrossing series by one of Europe’s most well-known and successful mystery authors.
Janek Mitter found his wife of three months dead and facedown in the bathtub when he woke up one morning with a terrible hangover. Chief Inspector Van Veeteren understood that murder investigations were never as simple and straightforward as this one. He is convicted of a drunken crime of passion and sentenced to a mental institution despite having only the most tenuous justification for his actions.
But when Mitter also suffers a violent death, Van Veeteren’s suspicions regarding the identity of the murderer are confirmed. The head inspector now begins a thorough inquiry into the two murders. Van Veeteren may only be able to identify the murderer and uncover the surprising source of this heinous violence if the unspoken secrets of the dead, which were revealed in a mystery letter Mitter wrote just before he passed away, are ultimately released.
Mind's Eye by Hakan Nesser
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This is a mystery featuring Inspector Van Veeteren. It is a complexly plotted mystery involving multiple murder victims, but revealing any more would give away a crucial plot twist.
Chief Inspector Van Veeteren is a persona that contrasts sharply with Mankell’s reclusive Kurt Wallender. But make no mistake, VV is a talented and committed chief inspector. But I frequently found myself laughing aloud at his forthright and outspoken conduct around his coworkers, and even around his boss, the police chief. The suspect contacts the police station with some information, but he can’t remember the name of the Inspector who questioned him. This is one of the book’s funnier moments.
The intriguing plot involves a man who, after waking up with a terrible hangover and stumbling to the bathroom, discovers his wife dead in the bathtub. He has no memory of anything but his name. Has he murdered his wife? Van Veeteren is not quite pleased with the verdict—he is found guilty and sentenced to a mental hospital—but he sits back and lets the legal system do its job. Then, however, the murderer who had already been found guilty is killed, necessitating a thorough investigation into what actually took place.
The homicide is being looked into by Detective Inspector Van Veeteren. We gain more knowledge along the road than the inspector, and we are left to watch as accurate assumptions and careless actions produce unexpected outcomes.
The subtle comedy that permeates the entire novel is an unexpected bonus, and it is wonderful to watch Chief Inspector Van Veeteren tie everything together in this elaborately woven plot.
When we discover the reason for the murders, the plot’s development becomes clear and everything makes sense. The book’s police procedural section is likewise quite well-written and entertaining to read. This is a “funnier” series because Van Veeteren is a likeable detective with a sardonic outlook.
