What does a corpse flower and Anna Kiel have in common? The carnivorous flower rarely blooms, attracting dung beetles and flies with its odor of rotting flesh. Anna is not a flower, but one could say she has yet to bloom, and seems to attract a more devious predator than bugs. As she describes the flower to Heloise, she is also revealing herself: “It’s not the plant’s fault that it’s been furnished with the need it has. It didn’t choose to smell like a morgue. It’s just playing the hand it was dealt by nature, and it’s playing it well. It’s about survival.” Anna is who she is because of the choices of her parents, the ignorance of her childhood community, and the actions of evil adults. Since the age of six, her only goal has been survival.

Four years ago, Anna Kiel was seen bloodied as she left the apartment of Christoffer Mossing. Since then, she has been evading capture by hiding out in another country. In the present, Heloise Kaldan starts receiving cryptic letters signed by Anna. These missives—sent from various cities in France--hint at a connection between the two, and end with the same last line: “Give me at least through your words some sweet semblance of yourself”.

Heloise uses her investigative skills and contacts as a journalist at the Demokratisk Dagblad, in Copenhagen, to look into the letters from Anna, and the murder. Her investigation and letters brings her in contact with detective sergeant Erik Schafer, who worked on the Cristofer Mossing murder, and Ulrich Andersson a reclusive journalist who may have gotten too close to the truth.

One of the things I enjoyed is the author’s ability to write characters that are actual people. I wound up feeling like I entered into the lives of already existing people. I could feel the backstory and personality of each character without her resorting to exposition. We got to know people by their interactions with others; and how and what they converse about. As they grew, so did the story; we only learn information as they do. This added a welcome layer to the story.

I recommend this book!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a surprise read! I tend to be picky with my thrillers and mysteries, but Hancock did a fantastic job with this. Heloise, a journalist under fire for unknowingly using false sources for a huge story. Trying to recuperate from the blowback, she suddenly receives letters from a missing woman that was charged with murder of a rich lawyer and son of business tycoon. She's suddenly swept up into a dark world of murder, gambling, and blackmail and caught between her moral compass and need to survive.

There was a large cast of characters that I was overwhelmed by at first, but quickly caught on as the plot's current swept me up. A fantastic debut novel! I look forward to reading more of Anne Mette Hancock in the future!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC!

Wow!! Thanks NetGalley for providing me with a copy. I just couldn’t put it down. I am a fan of danish crime series and watch them all the time. I could just see this book being played out on tv as a series

The scene was set well and the plot was great and it played out well. Some may say the subject matter is horrific. Yes it is. But t having said this it happens in real life and all fiction is based on fact.

Good read, well written and fast paced. Highly recommend.

A journalist in Copenhagen is contacted by a woman wanted for a sensational murder. The cryptic messages are hard to interpret, though there seems to be a story there. As she digs deeper, uncovering the connection between a powerful man and a child sex trafficking ring, she has to confront a trauma from her past and interview someone she never wanted to see again. This is a well-paced story with subject matter that some will find deeply unpleasant. I would give it a 4 for characters and pacing and a 3 for the plot itself mainly because the sensational subject matter was not as carefully handled as I would like.

Definite must read! Nothing is as it seems, secrets abound, red herrings pull you from page to page until the situation is revealed and what a surprise it is. Definitely wasn't expecting the turn of events, and was very intense leading to a satisfying resolution.

The cast of character was a bit large but otherwise I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was well done and kept me invested in the story. The twists were a bit predictable for me, but otherwise a solid read!

After the first chapter I could not put this book down. The Corpse Flower is a true thriller from the first chapter to the last! Although the crimes mentioned in this book are not pleasant ones to read about, they do happen.

Cover rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reporter Heloise Kaldan has been receiving bizarre letters from a woman called Anna Kiel, who disappeared years ago after murdering Christoffer Mossing. As Heloise races to find out Anna’s motive, a revelation much closer to home starts to unwind.

This book had me hooked! Probably one too many characters for my deteriorating memory, but it inspired me to start a book review diary. The reveal made me so flabbergasted that I wanted one particular man to DIE for what he has done. So disgusting!

However, not all the men are despicable and belong in hell. Martin Duvall and Kenneth Vallo deserve praise for protecting the women they love. And not forgetting Eric Schafer for helping Heloise get those bastards!

Many thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane Books and author Anne Mette Hancock for the ARC. I really enjoyed it!

Wow. This was a great book. It was twisty and a fun read. The characters and plot were well written.

Heloise, a journalist, is getting messages from being an alleged killer, Anna. There is a connection between Anna and Heloise, but Heloise can't figure it out until she talks with her father, a paedophile. This is a sick story, but a great thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley for this book.

I delighted in this one! It unquestionably has a dull, contorted, and frightening vibe! Heloise is a fruitful columnist who is essentially near the precarious edge of losing her employment since one of her sources lied. With the entirety of that pressure going on, she likewise begins to get hidden messages. Presently, these enigmatic messages are not simply from anybody. They are from a supposed executioner. At that point, we have Officer Erik. He is as yet chipping away at a deadly cutting from three years earlier. While he has his great presume Anna, he can't associate her to the homicide nor discover intention in her. Notwithstanding, a significant number of his hints are pointing him towards Heloise as his executioner. At that point, Heloise begins delving into Anna's set of experiences and found a portion of her covered-up past fires springing up. Presently, she conversed with somebody she guaranteed that she wouldn't talk with until the kingdom came.
I will caution perusers there are a ton of exciting bends in the road in this book, and large numbers of them are bent and extremely dim to the point I figure the perusers of John Marrs and Caroline Krepnes would appreciate this book! I unquestionably prescribe it to any individual who enjoys dull twisty thrill rides!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 12, 2021
Fans of Steig Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” will enjoy this Swedish police procedural, full of action, family secrets, intrigue and investigation.
*This story may be a trigger. Child sexual abuse and trafficking are discussed*.
Journalist Heloise Kaldan is desperately trying to save her career, after a once-trusted source is caught lying, putting Heloise’s integrity and professional ethics (as well as her job) on the line. When she starts to receive letters from Anna Kiel, Heloise begins to wonder if she has found a way to rejuvenate her career. Three years ago, Anna brutally killed a young lawyer in his home, and has been on the run ever since. But in her correspondence to Heloise, she claims they have a connection, and she will come out of hiding to speak with Heloise about what really happened. But Heloise has to make a deal, one that she is reluctant to make. Can Heloise risk her career, and her life, in order to tell Anna’s story?
“The Corpse Flower” is the newest novel by Swedish author Anne Mette Hancock. The majority of her other novels are in their original language, and “Corpse” seems to be the first one translated to English for the mass market.
Initially, I was overwhelmed when reading this novel. There are a lot of characters, and a lot of intertwining plots. I really didn’t get into this novel right away. I wasn’t sure who was whom, and I had to pay close attention in order to follow the interconnected plotlines. Not only is the story told from Heloise’s perspective, but Erik Schaefer (the lead investigator) takes a turn as well, and of course, we do hear periodically from Anna. I am so glad I persevered though- once the connection between Anna and Heloise was made, I was hooked.
The author definitely has a way with character development. Right off the bat, I was unsure about Anna, not convinced of her guilt, and as the story played on, I rooted for her and wanted to see her succeed. The horrifying details of the events leading up to her violent crime emotionally wrecked me and my gears shifted, immediately leaving me feeling empathy for young Anna.
I enjoyed this novel (especially the latter half). Powerfully written with a satisfying conclusion, “The Corpse Flower” will definitely leave you pensive, emotional and drained, but in all the right ways.

I really enjoyed reading this book even though the plot and its ending was evident almost from the beginning. The author did hold my interest in her suspenseful tale of a girl’s scheme for revenge and justice.

I was surprised that this was the author’s debut novel. I am hoping that her next novel will be translated in the near future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC.

Heloise is a journalist for a large newspaper. Out of the blue she receives a letter from a woman (Anna) who is wanted for the murder of a prominent lawyer. This is the first lead in Anna’s case in a couple of years. Heloise has no idea why she has been contacted as she has no prior relationship with Anna and did not even cover the story when the murder originally took place. But the letters continue; Anna seems to know a lot about Heloise and the journalist becomes intrigued. She investigates alongside two police detectives.
This sets the stage for a dark and twisty thriller.
I found this book to be well written with the right amount of clues, red herrings and twists to keep me guessing. Although some of the descriptions are quite dark and graphic (not for the faint of heart), I didn't find them to be gratuitous and everything was important to the central plot/outcome of the story. The characters were well developed and their motivations clear. Fans of the Scandi-thriller genre who are not off-put by some graphic scenes will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Superb book. Tightly plotted, and beautifully written. Reminded me of Stieg Larsson’s “Girl with the dragon tattoo” and the excitement I felt on discovering an amazing author when I read that. Bound to be huge success.

Oo definitely a creepy one! The characters were more intense then I thought they would be which is always a plus. But honestly great book and the writing was fantastic!

Enjoyed this one. I felt like there was something missing though, something I needed to love it. Well thought out plot and easy to read.

Heloise is a journalist who is always looking for a story. So when she is contacted by Anna (a murderer in hiding), Heloise is intrigued. And while Anna's cryptic letters appear to be legitimate, Heloise needs to do some hardcore detective work before she can write her story. Even though Heloise knows this will be the story of a lifetime, she isn't exactly sure what Anna means when she says that their lives are connected!?

Well, this sure took an unexpected turn! I thought this was going to just be about the killer and the main character but I got so much more than what I bargained for. It started with the pretense of just being a run-of-the-mill thriller but then somewhere along the way the veil of fiction was gradually removed to show us the dark despicable side of humanity, one that actually happens as we speak.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this free ARC. This review is made of my own accord, with no monetary compensation from the names mentioned above, and/or the rightful owners of this ARC.

Fantastic read! Captivating literally from the very first sentence, to every single chapter thereafter. The prose is perfect - not too much to get boring, nor too little to feel choppy. It is expertly researched unlike typical churned out mystery "thrillers". It is a perfectly translated novel that doesn't feel like a translation whatsoever; so much effort was put into making it such a great read. I loved how the author focused, and effectively used the investigative journalist woven into the police effort to unravel this story of resilience on so many levels. This is the best page turner, satisfying read in this genre that I've had the opportunity to enjoy in a long time. Highly recommended.