The Cleaner has a good plot, it's well-written, and it has relatable characters. A sad but compelling story of domestic violence, ruthless crime and drugs. This is the first book that I've read by this author and it has proven to be a good choice.

Bertram has been raised by his mother while his father Patrick Asp serves time in prison for murder. The gang he is in regularly trades stolen goods for cash and one day he takes a leather jacket from the restaurant his mother works at. The theft is connected to the murder/disappearance of several high profile people who were involved in his fathers incarceration and the
Translated from Danish this book has a Nordic noir feel to it and a great plot both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I loved this book, and couldn't wait to finish it. It was gripping from beginning to end, and Inger will be one of my new favorite authors around. Recommended for anyone who loves a good entertaining read.

A good addition to Scandinavian thrillers with a neat plot and precise narrative. The translation at places is shoddy. The conclusion doesn’t cover all the questions raised by the investigators. Maybe to do with the translation or an oversight on the part of the author. Fans of Scandinavian noir should definitely give it a shot.

I enjoyed this book. I am a fan of Nordic noir and always keen to find new authors. Quite short in length, but good nevertheless.

Creepy thriller.
I loved the structure of the book - episodes.
A lesson for me because of Eva Maja: listen to my children no matter how strange sounds what they are trying to say. I liked Bertram, a brave young man., determined to save his mom, but then the truth came out. His father is not a murderer, he did not kill his little sister.
Action from the beginning, no time to get bored. The murders are well calculated, creepy.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this great story.

The Cleaner is a new Scandinavian crime novel by Inger Gammelgaard Madsen. Originally published in Danish, this English language translation released 5th Feb 2021 by Saga Egmont is 154 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is part of a serial work featuring a hired killer (the titular "Cleaner") as well as one of the main characters in this book, Rolando Benito, who is an inspector in the author's longer series. Despite its shorter length, the author does quite well providing clearly delineated characters who are three dimensional and believable and despite the somewhat outlandish nature of plots which revolve around assassins, it works well. The narrative arc is tense and tightly written and the denouement is satisfying. There were some surprises at the resolution which I hadn't anticipated.

Despite being part of a longer series, it was fine as a standalone and I had no trouble keeping the characters straight. The author seems quite adept at providing the necessary backstory without info-dumping or spoon feeding.There are some places in the book where I felt the rhythm of the language was a trifle choppy, but I believe that's a result of the translation work which hasn't compensated for the differences in scansion between Danish and English.

The language is moderately rough; I would say R-rated for cursing and violence. It's an engaging, quick read and I would recommend it for fans of Scandi-crime.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This book has an impressive plot and lots of credibility. The characters are superbly written. A very engrossing book not too long and read in one sitting

I'm voluntarily leaving a review. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for letting me read an advanced copy.
This was great. Vividly drawn, realistic characters who inspire real emotional investment in the reader, a fast-paced, engaging plot, and a satisfying ending (even though I'd been crossing my fingers for a slightly different outcome!)
The writing was solid, and the voices of the characters believable. I don't often enjoy contract killer stories (they're boring), but this worked extremely well. By centering the story on a character who accidentally got involved, rather than the hit man, it made for a much more compelling (and surprisingly emotional read).
Hard to say much more, just, this was a good one, give it a read!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Saga Egmont for a review copy of The Cleaner, a thriller set in the East Jutland region of Denmark, featuring Police Complaints Authority Investigator Roland Benito and reporter Anne Larsen.

When Bertram steals an expensive jacket it puts his life in danger. At the same time Roland Benito is investigating the conduct of two patrol officers after the suicide of a prison officer. Anne Larsen is looking at the suicide from a different angle and is given a message from child killer, Patrick Asp.

I enjoyed The Cleaner to a point. It is not a long novel so it’s to the point and doesn’t waste time. It is well conceived and executed with a thoughtful and logical plot and a different approach to the standard procedural. I was impressed.

English speaking readers are joining this series in the middle of it so it’s difficult to know what is standard, but it mostly concentrates on Bertram and his discoveries. This narrative is supplemented by Roland and Anne’s investigations. It is a bit of a misnomer to call it a Roland Benito novel as he doesn’t have the starring role and is constrained by his job as a Police Complaints Authority Investigator, which means he is no longer a police officer.

My main complaint about the novel is the translation. It’s not poor, but it lacks oomph and one or two things make me think he is not a native English speaker.

The Cleaner is an interesting read and I like the way the author approaches her novel, so I would look out for more. 3.5*

When Scandinavian noir found a prominent place in the world crime fiction scene it was writers from Sweden and Norway that led the way. Now, Denmark pitches in a new contender with Inger Gammelgaard Madsen who I feel certain will make her voice heard soon.
This novel has an impressive plot and lots of credibility. The characters are superbly realized and written with integrity and empathy. Roland Benito is Inger's series detective and I intend to read them all. A very engrossing book