Eva's Eye: An Inspector Sejer Mystery (Inspector Sejer Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

My book club, Mocha Girls Read, chose this book for our theme of the month, Norwegian authors. This is my first Inspector Sejer novel. This book was translated to English so the verbiage was a bit challenging. The story starts a little slow but with the introduction of Inspector Sejer, who is quite kind and charming, the story moves in the direction of thriller / mystery. I did enjoy the fact that the author was very detailed oriented, I could literally picture the scenes in my head. I would recommend this book, it was enjoyable.

At last, the first of the Inspector Sejer series has appeared in English, and what a terrific beginning it is. I have read anything of Karin Fossum's that I have been able to find in translation, and this is one of her very best. Like the other novels in this series, "Eva's Eye" is more a psychological thriller than a standard police procedural, though Inspector Sejer is a very convincing detective. Ms. Fossum combines the best of the thriller genre -- a driving plot that keeps those pages turning -- with a skils of character development, emotional involvement, and pure good writing that one would normally associate with "literary" fiction. A real delight.

Just now in America we're able to read Karin Fossum's first tale of Konrad Sejer. Still full of tension and detail, this novel suffers a bit perhaps due to simple inexperience. The plot and progress aren't as expertly crafted as Fossum's later novels. Dialogue is excellent - she has a wonderful ear for true speech. Having read in order up to the latest, it was still interesting to read how Fossum began this series.

I have often bemoaned the fact that American publishers have the annoying tendency to release European mystery series books out of order. This was done in the case of Karin Fossum's excellent Inspector Sejer series. Eight books were published before Eva's Eye, which is actually the first. For once I'm glad that they weren't published in the proper sequence. Konrad Sejer is one of my favorite police officers, but if I had been introduced to him with this book, I doubt if I would have continued with the series.The reason for this is because Eva's Eye has everything to do with the character of Eva Magnus and little to do with Konrad Sejer. Everything revolves around Eva's eye: her art (in which Sejer seems to be the only person who sees something meaningful), her young daughter Emma, how Eva views her life... everything. Eva Magnus is a fascinating character who grabs the focus of the book and runs away with it. As is also seen in The Murder of Harriet Krohn, Fossum seems to like to focus on a different character from time to time.In comparison Konrad Sejer is merely interesting. If I'd read this book first, I would have admired Fossum's characterization of the title character and given a passing nod to Sejer's determination to solve these two puzzling cases-- but there just didn't seem to be enough about this oftentimes brilliant man to warrant my coming back for more.All this makes it sound as though I did not enjoy the book. On the contrary-- I enjoyed it a lot. As the story gradually unfolds and I learned how deeply involved Eva is in every facet, I had to know more about this self-absorbed woman. At book's end I could only shake my head in disbelief (and admiration) at how well Fossum put this intricate plot together. And-- having already become familiar with Sejer, his personality and his deductive methods-- I could only admire him, too. I'm just glad I didn't read this book first.

To date I have read every book by Karin Fossum that has been translated into English and I absolutely love her Inspector Sejer novels. The one entitled "In the Darkness" (paperback) is also titled "Eva's Eye: An Inspector Sejer Mystery" and will be published on 8/6/13 in hardcover by Houghton Miffin Harcourt publishers. Since I did not recognize that the two books were really the same but under different titles, I nearly pre-ordered "Eva's Eye" recently. In fact, the one titled "In the Darkness" is the first in the Inspector Sejer series. Even though I read this one last in the series, I still found it a wonderful read. I'm awaiting more in The Inspector Sejer series by this great author -Karin Fossum.

I know I am late to start reading Karin Fossum;s books. Her name was one I got from other Amazon readers when I asked for recommendations after I finished all of Jo Nesbo's books. I like to read series in order, so I was glad to find that this, the first in her Inspector Sejer series had just been published in the U.S. The Inspector is an interesting character (he sky dives!) and goes about solving this particular case calmly, but he is tenacious as a pitbull. The story is modern and edgy without being too harsh, it wouldn't put off those who prefer "cozies". The story is good, enough twists and turns to make you think. I am anxious to read the next in the series because I enjoyed this one so much.

Eva's Eye starts a little slowly, as the Inspector Sejer character is introduced for the first time, but as soon as it becomes Eva's story the book takes off.Needing money, Eva considers doing something she regards as morally abhorrent, and sets off a chain of events that spin horribly out of control. The book includes a cabin-in-the-woods scene that is Fossum's scariest.I've found Karin Fossum's books to be just as enjoyable on re-reads because, apart from knowing who done it, the characters are intriguing in their own right, even those who are a little twisted. There is always a point where I decide to abandon my work for the day and just sit and read the book to the end. I think Eva's Eye and The Indian Bride are her best.

This book left me with too many questions. What happened with the intruder into Eva's house and the intruder in the cabin. We are left with no follow up to the outcome for Maja's husband, if he really was her husband. Who ended up with the 2 million dollars. Why was Eva's husband able to leave her without providing any support.

Thoughtful writing

Well-written.

This is my first Fossum book and it probably won't be my last! I had mixed feelings as I read the book, it's an absolute page turner and I couldn't wait to find the next twist in the story line, but I just couldn't get too invested in the characters. I know that sounds strange, it's an odd tension. If you like police procedurals, this one isn't for you - the confession really falls in the lap of Sejer, all he really has to do is be there. A great novel for your holidays or while waiting for public transport.

What ?What?What?What? What?What?What?What?What?What wjahahsns. Nsnsnss somewhat wants nawnansjwhay msmwmwms want. What. What

Well !!! This is how you present a book ! No mistakes and well written and by a foreign writer. Yet English authors can't manage to accomplish this feat so well done to Ms Fossum and her translator Mr Anderson. You've put others to shame while proving it CAN be done !! Actually, many of these Nordic writers do a really good job. Perhaps they just take more pride in their work than British and American writers. It certainly makes it way more of a pleasure to read them.I'd wondered why there were three differing covers then realised I'm very late coming to this writer and this one, her first of the series, was written around 2002. I paid £4.99 for the Kindle version which is rare for a new author to me so took a chance. I like her Inspector Sejer a great deal although he can be a little politically incorrect (although he probably wasn't back in the 2000s-this is a new fad)....he was at heart very kindhearted, though.My only criticism would be the over-use of the word lightning. I think we saw too much of that. Other than this I can't fault it at all and can't wait to read the others.Eva was an intriguing character and there were also some funny remarks in it I got a kick out of. Yet the mystery was a very good one indeed and the ending a satisfing and unexpected one.Very well done indeed.