Wer sich auf das Spiel einlässt
Wird man irgendwann zu alt für Abenteuer? Gunvor Ström ist schon mitten in ihren Sechzigern, als ihre Karriere plötzlich eine drastische Wende erfährt. Aus einer erfolgreichen Laufbahn als Chirurgin, welche aufgrund ihrer zitternden Hände abrupt ihr Ende findet, stürzt sie sich in eine völlig neue Welt voller Herausforderungen. Privatdetektivin. Wer hätte das gedacht? Doch ihre Neugier, ihr scharfer, analytischer Geist und ihr Mut passen dazu wie die Faust aufs Auge.
Als sie einen neuen Fall bekommt, stellt sich dieser zuerst sehr einfach dar. Ein Mann wird verdächtigt eine Affäre zu haben. Als dieser jedoch brutal zusammengeschlagen wird und seine Frau hastig den Auftrag zurückzieht, steht alles plötzlich Kopf. Gunvor will sich nicht so einfach geschlagen geben. Zwar hat das Detektivbüro den Auftrag verloren, doch was Gunvor in ihrer Freizeit tut, ist schließlich ihre Sache. Ihr zur Seite stehen zwei kürzlich gewonnene Mitstreiter. Die neunzehnjährige Elin hat einen allzu großen Teil ihres Lebens damit verbracht den Streitigkeiten ihrer Eltern auszuweichen. David ist ein junger Unruhestifter der seine Zeit damit verbringt in der Stockholmer Vorstadt herumzuhängen und nichts zu tun.
Zusammen begeben sie sich in das Nachtleben Stockholms, um das Rätsel zu lösen und ihrem Leben vielleicht für kurze Zeit zu entkommen. So tun zwei junge Menschen und eine alternde Dame was sie können, um sich unter die Stockholmer In-Szene zu mischen.
Doch sie werden beobachtet. Unsichtbar, aus dem Hintergrund heraus, beobachtet jemand jeden ihrer Schritte.
Es ist eine Erzählung über Gewalt, Wahnsinn, Leidenschaft und Mut. Ein Katz- und Maus-Spiel um Leben und Tod. Als die Schlinge sich zuzieht, ist es schon lange zu spät.
Denn wer sich auf das Spiel einlässt, muss das Spiel auch mitspielen.
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Testimonials
In Gunvor Ström, Miller, the author of the thriller Three Days in September (2016), has crafted an entertaining heroine - a modern Miss Marple with a social conscience and some impressive aikido skills.
...strong dialogue, intelligent plotting, and convincing character development throughout.
...highly enjoyable read.
...punchy Nordic Noir thriller.
... well written and excellently translated...
Gunvor Ström is the character that Luna Miller uses as her mentor in her book Looking for Alice: A Gunvor Ström Novel. Gunvor was a surgeon until she almost killed a patient at the hospital. She left the hospital and started working as a detective for an agency. While waiting for the train she saw a bully picking on a young girl, Elin. The bully, David would do this every day so Gunvor decided to help Elin get past this lad every day possible. What she then does is recruit both Elin and David to solve a case that she can't seem to be in because of her age. What happened was that she found out her client's husband would frequent bars that she would stand out in. Her recruits would not have this problem but many things happened to them and it all revolved around to this woman Alice, her brother and several men that were money hungry. I've basically given you the plot now you will want to read the story.
4.5 stars
"'You nicked his phone? But you’re just a sweet little old lady. Sorry that’s a bit rude— but it’s true!’ Looking like a boring old woman may well be an advantage in her line of work, but it hurt to have it confirmed so emphatically. Especially when she so actively loathed the whole idea of growing old."
Looking For Alice is the first book in the Gunvor Ström series by Swedish author, Luna Miller. It is translated from Swedish by Aidan Isherwood. Banker Mikael Franzén has been acting completely out of character: staying out late, coming home drunk. His wife Nadja suspects he is cheating on her, so she engages The Private Eyes. Gunvor Ström is recalled from an island vacation to take the case.
After following Mikael once, it is clear she will need to work with someone who can enter the cool bars Mikael is frequenting without drawing undue attention to themselves. Coming to private investigation work in her mid-sixties after a successful career as a surgeon, Gunvor’s little old lady persona is fine for some jobs, but not this one.
In Gunvor Ström, Miller gives the reader a rather different PI: she’s fit, intelligent, trained in Aikido, with a dose of street smart to back that up, and manages to quickly garner the loyalty of her helpers, the makeshift team who decide to call themselves The Fruängen Bureau.
This is a promising dose of Swedish noir and more of Gunvor Ström and her Fruängen Bureau will definitely be welcome.
4 1/2 stars
After noticing bullies tormenting a shy young girl in her late teens on an almost daily basis, Gunvor Strom takes action and delivers payback in a deliciously novel way. In her mid-sixties, Gunvor is a retired surgeon who gave up her medical profession when she almost killed a patient because her hands tremored during a delicate operation.
After witnessing a gruesome murder, Gunvor and her two assistants become entangled in a life-and-death race against the clock, where she finds herself having to bring to life her marshall arts skills to save her life and those she had grown to love.
Overall, I say, "Bravo, Luna Miller. When is your Gunvor Strom's book #2 coming out?"
Probably the Most Innovative Novel I’ve Read in a Long Time.
Probably the only phrase I could think of to describe this book is "jaw-dropping." Everything seems to move along so fast that there is much to run through, leaving the question of what may come in the end as something hanging in the balance. This is probably one of the most thrilling novels that I've read without it being focused much around the genre of being a thriller.
A well-written mystery crime novel.
Swedish author Luna Miller weaves a first-class mystery and crime novel with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a modern and compelling Miss Marple type character with some impressive aikido skills to boot!
Nordic Mystery
Looking for Alice: A Gunvor Ström Novel by Luna Miller is a captivating story right from the start. Featuring an aging private investigator the story pulls you in and doesn't let go. However, overall this is a solid mystery with an engaging lead character and is perfect for a quick read.
I liked that the main detective character was an older lady, I really enjoyed the mystery and going through the story. I'd like more from the author.
The plotline surprised me to a whole new level. What made me particularly loved this book was the main heroine, private investigator Gunvor Strom. She was so cunning and intelligent -- I could say "girl power!" and I loved how her character played a remarkable part in this book.
I also loved the storyline in particular. It was one of a kind and it held my attention from start to finish.