Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book. I've never read anything by this author before, nor did I realize the author is actually plural (a husband and wife duo), and that this book is the most recent in a series of books with the same main character (Joona Linna a detective in Sweden). I'm sure I'm not the first, and most certainly won't be the last to compare this writing duo to the late Stieg Larsson. The Spider was a good book overall and I liked the characters of Joona and another detective named Saga Bauer. There are some references to events that I assume were likely to have been in previous books from this series, but it didn't take away from me reading this book on its own. There was enough description to give me the gist of the event(s). The story is about Joona and Saga's tracking of a serial killer that seems to be making the killings very personal. There is a very unique "calling card" or M.O. for this killer. The detectives are sent packages containing unique wrapping and a small tin carved figure that shows who the intended victim is, and the unique wrapping is always a clue as to WHERE the victim will be killed...if only they can solve the riddle/clues in time to stop it. The victims themselves are all connected in some way to Joona and/or Saga and the unique wrapping of each figurine is a complex set of clues that really ups the ante since that's the only way they can stop the killer before they can carry out the kill. The kills themselves are very unique as well. And very specific. Each victim is first shot in the back to immobilize/paralyze them and then they are dragged out by a winch on a truck. Days later, they are found wrapped in plastic and ropes like a cocoon and hung up (from a tree etc), with their "body" basically dissolved in chemicals...leaving it hard to even tell they were a person at all. This all lends to adding a great deal of tension to the story since the detectives and the team they're working with discover very quickly how critical it is to be able to decipher the clues. The story unfolds at a good pace and the revelation of who the killer is and what their motivations are, is done bit by bit as each victim is killed...they are warned by the killer that there will be 9 victims in total and so the countdown is on, and so is the frantic race to stop it. I'll have to go back and read the previous books in this series.

In The Spider by Lars Kepler, Joona Linna and Saga Bauer are faced with one of their most ruthless and seemingly unstoppable killers yet. When a badly decomposed body is discovered wrapped in a sack filled with a caustic liquid and, worse, it is someone both Joona and Saga know, they realize it’s linked to a threatening post card Saga received three years previous and that the writer is now acting on the threat. As the bodies pile up and despite each murder preceded by a package containing a small figurine and clues to the next victim, it seems the killer is always several steps ahead.

The Spider is the ninth in the Joona Linna series and it is one heart pounding non-stop page turner. It kept me reading into the wee small hours needing to know what came next. Warning though for those who are not familiar with the series - it is also extremely violent and definitely not for the weak of heart or stomach. Overall, one hell of a wild ride.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think this may be my favourite books in this series I think because so much of the focus is on Saga. She was largely ignored in the last book which I understand but she is definitely back with a vengeance.

This was an incredibly intricate storyline with an attention to detail I really appreciated. It’s dark, violent, gritty, and shocking. After reading it, I’m really not sure how much loss a person is able to bear but I’m curious where all of this takes both Saga and Joona.

Looking forward to the next installment. This was great.

This is my first Lars Kepler book and I enjoyed it! I don't read crime that often but this was thrilling, suspenseful and well written. The only reason I gave it a 3/5 stars is because I didn't really connect with any of the characters strongly and I think its probably because this is a 9th book in a series and I haven't read the previous books.

If you are into crime, mystery, suspense and police-criminal narratives, read this! Probably start from the 1st book in the series tho haha. FYI, it is quite graphic so read the content warnings beforehand to be safe.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lars Keplar, Penguin Random House Canada, and McClelland & Stewart for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Back for another adventure in the Joona Linna series, I turned to the latest book by Lars Kepler. A collaborative effort by two strong Swedish authors, Kepler is able to captivate the reader while also keeping things moving at a break-neck pace. While Linna has been saddled with many tough cases, this one could be the most complex, as members of the police appear to be the target, with gruesome outcomes. While Linna tries to stay one step ahead of the killer, clues point that he could be the next victim, sending the entire team into a tailspin. Racing against the clock, Linna must locate the killer and stop their actions before more die. Kepler keeps the reader flipping pages in this sensational Scandinavian noir thriller!

Three years ago, a postcard arrived at the home of Saga Bauer, who had been doing some work with the National Police Service in Sweden. The text on the back, while somewhat cryptic, carried an ominous tone that nine white bullets were earmarked for members of the police. Saga took notice, but it was the promise that one would be used on Joona Linna, her boss, that made Saga feel the heat. However, as time passed and nothing happened, it all became a distant memory,.

After a body is found, highly decomposed, with a white bullet inside, the memories of that postcard come back to the surface. The victim is soon identified as a member of the National Police and Joona Linna is called in to help find the killer., With a knack for locating some of Sweden’ worst killers, Linna will stop at nothing until the culprit is identified and behind bars. One killing soon leads to more and the game is on!

Odd clues, including tin figurines and a goading message, fuel the search, in which Linna brings Saga Bauer back into the fold. However, as things progress, there are suspicious clues that emerge, leaving some of believe that Saga might be behind the whole thing. Linna wrestles with trying to distance himself, but also has a great deal of trust for his former team member, all while he remains the primary target for this, as yet, unidentified killer.

When the killer is given the moniker ‘The Spider’, Linna tries to lure them out and learns of a horrible incident in the past that could be fuelling the killings. Still, as Saga becomes the primary suspect, there is something within Linna that refuses to believe that his friend and former colleague could be this dark. Still, with no clear path to solving the case, the web gets even more complex and Linna finds himself tangled in the middle of it all. A chilling piece that will have readers wondering as the story progresses, proving Lars Kepler’s superior writing ability.

I discovered the work of Lars Kepler a number of years ago, pulled in by the dark and addictive thrillers that had been written. Now into the ninth book, I cannot get my hands on these novels fast enough. Lars Kepler uses a strong narrative style to keep the reader hooked from the opening pages and never backs down, weaving tales and plots into each chapter. The characters, many of whom emerge for the first time, are strong and keep the reader in the middle of the action, adding depth to an already stellar piece of writing. Joona Linna continues to receive some development, a Finn working in the Swedish police system. Plot twists emerge and develop with ease, which is nothing new for Kepler fans. It is the speed at which things happen that will force the reader to hold on tight in order not to get lost in the lighting speed of developments. Something I have always noticed is that there is such an easy flow to Lars Kepler novels, which is surprising not only because it is a collaborative pair of strong Swedish writers, but also due to the translation factor. There appears to be no jaggedness when it come to reading, nothing jilted or lost in translation. This adds to my enjoyment and I can only hope that others will see that as well. Dark, Scandinavian, and full of surprises. What else could you want in a book?!

Kudos, Lars Kepler, for a stunning ninth novel in the series., I cannot wait to see what you have in the works!

Joona and Saga face a seemingly unstoppable killer who uses riddles to identify upcoming victims. Frustration and tension mount as they realize the case has ties to a postcard Saga received 3 years ago as well as to particularly heinous case they investigated in the past. Time is ticking and they must work quickly to catch the killer.

Joona and Saga were completely new characters to me. The book is fast paced and filled with suspense. The plot twists and turns yet is easy to follow. I liked this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys gritty crime novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy for review.

The riddle is their only clue. Can they solve it quickly enough to prevent another murder? So dark that sometimes you need to put it down and breathe, Lars Kepler continues the Joona Linna series and does not disappoint. People close to Saga Bauer are being killed in a horrific manner. A tin figure with a riddle arrives before each murder with Joona to be the last. Can Saga solve it before it's too late? Dark and compelling you won't want to put this one down.
#TheSpider#NetGalley#McClelland&Stewart

Wow 😳very “unputdownable”. Creepy, horrifying , couldn’t get enough. To me it was reminiscent of the Dragon Tattoo series. I will definitely go back and read some of the earlier books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, McClelland & Stewart

More weird Swedish crimes, this time with a connection to the series' previous serial killer mastermind. Well written and keeps the reader guessing, has a bit of graphic violence and none of the characters are ever safe.

Interesting follow up in the Joona Linna series. This one wasn't my favorite of them, but these books are very consistently good. Loved the villain in this one. The interplay between Joona and Saga was great. Will continue reading this series!

Another superb book by Lars Kepler. The books keep getting better, the plots more convoluted and horrendous, the individuals more and more damaged by the jobs they have and the positions they take.. Always good presides over evil, but at what cost? I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is filled with riddles, complex clues, and sad people. But throughout the story, a theme pervades which is the love and strong ties of a family. That in itself is a very very important point to always remember.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy for an honest review

The book starts with Margot getting shot in the back and taken. Keeping you engrossed as to what may have happened to her. Other killings start to happen.

It’s a story about Saga and Joona and how They have to figure out riddles in order to save 9 people. Saga is trying to get into NCU National Crime unit to work with Joona.
They are left clues, being taunted by the killer.

Captivating, great read.

This book is a twisty, turny thriller that kept me on edge almost every chapter. Lars Kepler does an impressive job of setting a scene, and eliciting feelings of real anxiety when you read. I will say, however, that this book is not for the faint of heart - it’s dark, it’s graphic, it’s at times vulgar - so if that is not your cup of tea then I would skip this one!

This book can be read as a standalone, which I did, though this is part of a series with Joona Linna, and reading the others helps give you back story that might make this an easier read. There are a lot of characters and a lot happening, so having that history likely would have made this an easier read from the start. It took me about 50% of the book to get really comfortable with who everyone was, and once I did the whole story really picked up for me.

My one gripe when it comes to procedural thrillers involving cops or detectives, is there’s always that one who just does everything wrong - Saga Bauer is it for me. Somehow we glazed over her shooting an officer in the leg, and all the other crimes she committed while on the run from being accused of the main plot murders. This seems to be a bit of a standard trope, and while it makes for a good story line, it sort of loses me.

Overall, a pretty classic Lars Kepler style novel that was exhilarating and frightening to read!

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Net Galley for this early read.