A serial killer mirroring crimes to the crimes in a book? And their gruesome? AND based on historical methods? Um, all the YES... please! 😏 Book one in the Jessica Niemi series, Seeck gets us warm and comfortable in getting to know our main protagonist while still feeding us the gory goodness that nordic noir (in my experience) has a fantastic reputation for. ❤

Sometimes I feel that first-in-a-series books tend to focus on the plot with a little bit of character development to really engage the reader into wanting to read further. I sometimes feel a bit wanting to know more about the main character(s).. so I guess, good job? 🤷🤣 Seeck provides BOTH. A solid look into Niemi AND an engaging premise with crimes to solve.

There's a bit of a parallel story line that we get and we bounce between them during our journey. While I do believe this gets us a good look at Niemi and her character as a detective and woman, I did find my eyes glazing a bit at these and wanting to sprint back to the other storyline. Sometimes I felt that there was just *too* much going on to really focus my attention at times. I know, I know... not enough or too much? WHY AM I SO HARD TO SATISFY?

What I love the best is the atmosphere most nordic noir brings that no other genre can really compare to. The movie that plays in my head when I read these are SO VIVID and I love every minute of it. While I had some small issues with this read, it is a solid first entry into a series that I think will satiate any nordic noir/gory crime lover.

When I requested Max Seeck's novel, The Witch Hunter, I thought I was going to be reading a novel about witches. What I ended up with was a Nordic police procedural. Investigator Jessica Niemi and her colleagues are searching for a murderer that is recreating scenes from a famous book series, The Witch Hunter.

The pace here is quick and the action feels continuous. The chapters are short and almost all of them end on some sort of cliffhanger that leaves you scurrying ahead to the next page. Early on in the novel your ability to trust people at face value is shattered, so I was immediately suspicious of every character, which left me tense and on edge for the remainder of the novel. And not for one moment did I anticipate the big reveal about Jessica's past. It was delicious.

That being said I did have a couple issues. The first being that there are dual timelines, though one doesn't even begin until almost halfway into the novel. And when the narrative shifts between timelines there are no indicators that you are now reading about the past. This takes a bit to get used to and initially frustrated me. I was reading an uncorrected proof though so maybe that is amended in the final version?

My other issue is that it is very clear that there are times when the reader isn't being given all the information and I wanted to yell at the page that people don't actually speak like that. In reality if someone was speaking around things in an actual conversation you would ask them what the hell was wrong with them.

Overall though, this was a great novel that kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages long after I was supposed to put my book down and move on to other tasks. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

3.5 Stars

If you want a creepy story to keep you up at night look no further than The Witch Hunter!

Roger Koponen is a successful author who is known for his horror/supernatural series called The Witch Hunter. Witches are sought out, tortured, and killed in various ways in his books but soon bodies start appearing in real life in the same manner detailed in his stories. Talk about mind blowing!

Jessica Niemi is lead on this case but she is struggling with some things in her past that start to inhibit her from staying completely focused on solving these murders.

I enjoy thrillers and police procedurals so I really liked reading this for the most part. The only complaint I have is it took me a little while to realize some chapters were in Jessica’s past so I did get confused at times, and the domestic violence aspect of her past with Colombano was a little hard for me to read. Overall this was a very dark, strange, and intriguing book!

4.5/5 rounded up.

It should not be a secret that I have been loving Nordic Noir lately, and The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck was no exception! I'm very excited that it is book one of a series, and I had a great time starting to get to know Jessica. There are multiple viewpoints, but Jessica's is the main one and I loved her. She has her secrets (who doesn't), but she is an incredibly smart character and made for an awesome detective. I actually think the synopsis gives a little too much away, so I would recommend not even reading it. If you like Nordic noir and police procedurals I would just give it a try to see what you think!

I personally loved the police procedural aspect, and there are quite a few pulse-pounding moments. It is a bit on the slower side but was paced well enough that you never feel bored. Every time it would slow down something else would happen and then we were off again! It did veer off into Jessica's backstory sometimes which was intriguing although I didn't know where it was going. In that respect it reminded me a bit of a Lars Kepler novel, but it was actually about a main character instead of a side character. Eventually you do find out why that period in her life was being brought up and WOW, it was definitely a mind blown moment for me.

The Witch Hunter has some more gruesome and disturbing moments, and there is also a trigger for rape, but overall it didn't go all that in depth so I think it would be ok for the more squeamish readers out there. It was CREEPY though, and I think it made for an excellent fall/October read. I will definitely be looking forward to book two which I hope will be released in the US sooner rather than later.

Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The Witch Hunter was an atmospheric read perfect for this time of year. This is a book meant to be read on a cold fall day where there is enough bite in the air to show that winter will be here all too soon. Or this would also be a perfect book to read curled up by the fire on a cold, snowy day. It just has ALL of the atmosphere which was something I really enjoyed about it. This book also has a few genuinely creepy parts to it that I didn't see coming. There is this foreboding atmosphere and then combined with those creepy scenes added up to quite a suspenseful read. In fact, I really enjoyed my time with this book until the very end. I won't spoil anything but I honestly don't know how I feel about the ending. I think that I will know more after I read the next book in this series whenever that releases. And I definitely really do want to read that next book because there were so many things that I enjoyed about this book. But I also was left with questions...and enough of them that the ending left me feeling a bit taken aback. That's the most I will say about it. I will say that I really liked Jessica as a character and was intrigued by her. She isn't what she seems and I'm hoping that we will have the opportunity to learn more about her as the series goes on. Because there are so many questions I have also about her and her past. It's going to be a long wait for that next book I tell you!

Overall, I enjoyed this book for the most part although the end left me a bit wanting. I hope that I was able to convey that there are so many good things about this book regardless of how I felt about the ending. I'm really glad that this is just the beginning of a series so I can get answers and read more about these characters. I will definitely be continuing on with this series whenever the next book releases. I think that readers who enjoy Nordic noir, who enjoy an atmospheric police procedural, and those who enjoy their mysteries with a hint of something more should give this book a shot. Recommended.

Bottom Line: A suspenseful and atmospheric read that didn't quite meet my expectations at the end.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Honest thoughts are my own.

CW: Witchcraft, rape, domestic violence, teeth (I can't say more than that because of spoilers but...), murder

Nordic Noir is one of my favorite crime fiction sub-genre. I generally enjoy the intricate plots, most tend to be character driven, and fast paced. Unfortunately, I just did not enjoy the pace or the plot of this book. It had so much potential, I loved the premise of the book but there were just too many point of views that the book did not match the synopsis in my opinion.

Started off a bit slow, but picked up and transitioned to a good thriller. Very creepy at times, and a different take on witches. I don’t usually enjoy translated books, but this was well done.

This was an interesting take on Nordic Noir - witches and witch hunters in modern day. The story opened up with a bang - a murder of a woman of a famous writer. This writer has written a series of books, of fictional Witch Hunting. But this woman isn't the only victim, and it seems like we have a serial killer on a loose. Who or why they are killing people, and what is the connection to the occult?

I loved the setting - the dark, cold, bleary surroundings made a perfect atmosphere for witches. However, it felt a bit overwhelming with the number of characters, not just the investigators but also the victims. With so much going on it felt clunky and confused at times.

Jessica as our MC, ugh. Not sure what to think of her. Her backstory, even if it was a nice touch didn't really help build or explain her character. It seemed like an extra added information to connect us to certain characters, and just show her dark and sad past. However, her current person didn't seem affected much by that backstory. I wish we saw more of her family instead in those back in time chapters.

Overall it was an intriguing read, and I liked the final twist. But some of the parts were predictable, and the book felt stretched out. Looking forward to seeing more of Jessica and how this book affects her in the future.
Overall 3.5 rounded up.

A decent Finnish mystery/police procedural. A police team of interesting characters that worked well together. A plot with surprises and gruesome murders mimicking a best selling author’s books. A touch of occult. Flashbacks that require more explanation. An unresolved, unsatisfying ending. Maybe all will be answered in the next book? I would be curious enough to give it a try.

Max Seeck's The Witch Hunter is set in Finland. It centers on Roger Koponen, bestselling author of a psychological thriller trilogy of the same name. While he's away at a book signing, his wife Maria is found dead. She's posed in a scene that's a replica of one from her husband's book.

The lead investigator, Sergeant Jessica Niemi, is driven by her own demons, and keeps deep secrets from her colleagues. Niemi's own back story is interleaved with the succession of creatively gruesome killings that she investigates. It's quite the conspiracy and comes to a head when Jessica's own connection to it all is revealed.

Like watching foreign films, experiencing books from other countries – even in translation – exposes readers to different sensibilities which may be prevalent in those regions. For those who expect novels to follow a set trajectory, this can be challenging at times. Max Seeck’s The Witch Hunter – set in Helsinki, Finland – is part of the Nordic crime tradition, but forges its own unique path while telling a compelling story.

The Witch Hunter, like most crime novels, starts with a murder. In this case it is the death of Maria, the wife of celebrated novelist Roger Koponen. Roger has traveled to a book lecture, leaving his wife alone in their home. Unfortunately, this made her an easy target. Once the police become involved, it quickly becomes clear that this crime is related to Koponen’s most successful work, The Witch Hunter trilogy. The massive success of this book series makes the knowledge of them almost ubiquitous, so that everyone in Finland and maybe the world is familiar with its plotline. Now that they know this current murder echoes one that appears in the first novel, authorities immediately begin to suspect that their killer is using the trilogy as a model for his crimes – and that can only mean that more deaths are imminent.

On its most basic level, The Witch Hunter is a police procedural. As such, Max Seeck allows each of the members of the police force to tell part of the story. With each individual investigating a different aspect of the crime, readers gain a fuller picture of the puzzle before them. Jessica Niemi is the lead investigator on the case and the character that readers learn the most about. Interspersed with the current case, Max Seeck gives readers a glimpse into Jessica’s past – a troubled one that influences her in ways that even she may not yet understand.

Since the occult plays a vital role in the plot of The Witch Hunter (both the fictional trilogy in the novel and the novel itself), it is no surprise that there is an underlining tone of uneasiness to all the action. Readers, just like the characters, must determine what is real as the oddity factor continues to escalate. There are definitely a few shocking and disturbing scenes that will stick with readers for a long time, more because of their inherent creepiness than any outright gratuitously graphic violence. The complex case takes many detours, some of them extremely surprising, on its way to the nail-biting conclusion.

The writing here is sublime; not something that is typical of the thriller genre and certainly unusual with a book in translation. There is none of the clunkiness that often accompanies books when they appear in languages other than their native tongue. Kristian London should be commended for that, but one gets the sense that the original also had this lofty feel that elevates it above the standard fare.

Now, back to the unique sensibilities. The Witch Hunter is a not a book that is going to give up all its secrets easily. Readers who like everything to be neatly tied into a bow at the end might want to look elsewhere. Answers are given, especially as it relates to the crime(s), but those answers lead to many more questions that are left to the reader to sort through. Max Seeck tackles many complex topics and themes in The Witch Hunter – everything from toxic masculinity to mental health concerns, along with feelings of mortality, relationship dynamics, and of course theories of witchcraft. This is a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat while reading it, but it will also lead to deeper contemplation of bigger issues during the times when the book is set aside.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

I've always been a fan of the Nordic Noir genre when it comes to mysteries and police procedurals. Also, who doesn't enjoy a book where you're the main character? THE WITCH HUNTER is the first book in the Jessica Niemi series. If you're looking for something creepy, atmospheric, and suspenseful then this needs to be on your TBR.

This was very unique when it came to the plot - a string of gruesome murders based on a book. Who doesn't love a book within a book? Jessica Niemi is one the case of the murder of the wife of a famous author. The murder scene was staged to look like an occult ritual, but the horrific scene was eerily similar to a part of her husband's book. When more bodies are discovered the investigators must turn to the books to see what could happen next.

There were enough characters to keep you guessing, but not too many to cause confusion. The pacing of the investigation was spot on. Sometimes with Nordic Noir books they can feel painfully slow moving, so this was a nice surprise as the book progressed. The best part about this genre though, is the way the authors set the scene and create the atmosphere. I felt like I was right there with Jessica in Helsinki following the clues and scouring the books.

I loved how the author offered us little clues and details throughout the book, and there were even some that clicked later on for me. I would caution that there were some graphic and twisted parts that not all readers may enjoy (the darker the better for a murder mystery if you ask me). I can't wait to see where book two takes Jessica Niemi!

The Witch Hunter is the first book in the Jessica Niemi series by Max Seeck. A suspenseful mystery thriller that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, never knowing what will happen next. The characters are well-written with intriguing backstories that are sure to surprise you at just the right time to leave you wanting more.

A bestselling author’s wife has been found dead in a gorgeous black evening gown, sitting at the head of an empty dining table. Her most chilling feature—her face is frozen in a ghastly smile.
At first it seems as though a deranged psychopath is reenacting the gruesome murders from the Witch Hunt trilogy, bestsellers written by the victim’s husband. But investigator Jessica Niemi soon realizes she’s not looking for a single killer but rather for dozens of believers in a sinister form of witchcraft who know her every move and are always one step ahead.
As the bodies start piling up, Jessica knows they won’t stop until they get what they want. And when her dark past comes to light, Jessica finds herself battling her own demons while desperately trying to catch a coven of killers before they claim their next victim.

This book was fantastic, it had everything I love in a good thriller, it was fast-paced, it had great characters and it was full of twists. I love cop mysteries and this one didn’t dissapoint, it was creepy, atmospheric and unputdownable.
The Wicth Hunter is the first book from the Jessica Niemi series and I can’t wait to read the next.

Thank you Netgalley and BerkleyPub for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I love books with bookish elements and in this one a killer is out there copying the murders from a world famous Nordic noir series. There are so many surprises that pop up while reading, and so many, “what is going on” moments. It was really good! I think this would be a great book for those wanting to dip their toe in Nordic noir. If you can handle suspense/thriller books you’d be good here.

However, it was a little confusing towards the beginning. There are some plot jumps that happen abruptly and I had to get through a few of them before I understood what they were. But my biggest complaint was with the ending. I really hope there’s a book two in the works because the ending was left wide open with almost nothing being resolved. I don’t love the fact that I didn’t see a guaranteed second book when I looked.

Thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy.

This is the type of read where maybe I asked for too much or was set up for too much failure. I was expecting noir and answers...unfortunately, by the end, I felt like muddled. It could fall under the lost in translation; however, I wonder how much of it truly could have been.

This was the perfect thriller for the season. This book was set in Finland and I found that it was translated pretty well. There were a few things that were hard to figure out, but overall it was well done.
The book was set from quite a few POV which I really enjoyed, and the chapters were very short so it made this a really quick read.
Someone was recreating murders in a popular witch hunter series. The string of deaths starts with the author's wife and continues from there. They know how the deaths will occur, but just not who or when.
The main character, Jessica, had a lot of emotional baggage and it jumped back and forth from then to now and at first I didn't understand why it was done, but it did come together in the end.
The plot was something I hadn't seen before and I didn't see it coming, which I really enjoyed. Some of it was hard to understand, so I am not sure if it was translation or if it was just the writing style. Overall I enjoyed it. Thank you to Max Seeck, Netgalley and Berkley for an early copy.

I had never read this author before, probably because this is a debut book. As this is a translated version, I’m not sure how debut it is. Anyway, I dived in thinking this would be paranormal. Once I finished it, I really still wasn’t sure if it was. This book is well-written, and the plot is interesting even if a little convoluted. There were so many big ideas in this, I think the author had a hard time fulfilling every one of those ideas. However, my attention was kept through most of this, and I was really wanting to see how it ended. I do recommend this because I am little more lenient on first books, and I do want to read the next one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Roger Kaponen is well known for his occult thrillers. But no one ever expected a murderer to use his books as a blueprint for their crimes. And yet, when Kaponen's own wife is discovered brutally murdered in their home, it seems someone has done just that.

Jessica Niemi is one of the investigators on the case. And she's the first to draw the connection between the books and the crime. Soon, she and the rest of her team realize they're being manipulated by a murderer who is always one step ahead. And with Kaponen's books as guides, they know there are more bodies to come.

I have been all about Nordic Noir of late. In fact, I'd say it helped get me out of a pretty major (and understandable) reading slump this year! Thankfully, there's a ton of backlist to delve into and just as many new releases on the horizon!

Max Seeck's debut is one of the latest and is out on shelves today.

This is a fun one because, in addition to the regular Scandi Crime darkness, it's got an extra creepy layer that makes it a perfect Halloween-y read!

A woman is found in her own home, murdered and gruesomely posed. The placement bears a striking, and later confirmed, resemblance to a murder that takes place in her own husband's bestselling crime series.

Jessica Niemi is a smart cop with a secret past. Throughout the book, she's not the only one keeping secrets. Her mentor is ill and trying to keep his health concerns under wraps as best he can. But the case is all consuming, which means he doesn't have much time to worry about his own diagnosis. Especially when it becomes clear that Jessica has caught the attention of the killer.

Seeck throws bodies at the reader pretty continuously as the book goes on. Any time the police think they may have a lead, there seems to be yet another murder to add to the growing list!

Jessica is a fascinating character. There are flashbacks to a trip to Italy that takes place when she's 19. How these figure into the story as a whole don't really become clear until the very end, but it's yet another part of her past that she's intent on not revisiting.

Interestingly, Goodreads has the book listed as Jessica Niemi #1. A quick search reveals there is indeed a second book that has just been released overseas. I'll be looking forward to reading more and seeing what happens next with Jessica.

This is a quick, some easy, but compelling, thriller. I read it in just a few sittings, as I really liked it. I was able to guess the ending, which is rare for me, as I don't normally even try. But this time around, I did.

3/5 Stars