She's Never Coming Back by Hans koppel

When Ylva, a loving mother and wife, fails to come home from work, her husband is not initially suspicious. But as time passes he becomes frantic with worry. And by the time he finally contacts the police, he is almost hysterical. Given the mysterious circumstances of her disappearance, he becomes the number one suspect.

But what no one knows is that she's being held hostage in the cellar of the house opposite her own. 

 

A camera is rigged against her house and Ylva can only watch her family on the screen. They cannot see her - and they most certainly cannot here her scream...

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This book is a crime novel with a twist. Not only do we get to see the story unfold from the point of view of the detectives but also the victim, her family, friends and past acquaintances. The story transitions between the narratives of each of these unique characters with ease, and each person allows the reader to see a new side to the victim. This enables both negative and positive qualities to be discussed and really gives the character of Ylva some depth. 

 

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fast read as the font was large but it still made a thrilling and exciting book. It is a translation of a book from Sweden and so I did have trouble remembering who each character was because the names were unusual to my ear. I did however grasp who the main characters were as the story progressed and I became accustomed to the names. 

 

I was gripped until the final page. The author was able to keep the story tense and dangerous until the very last chapters. It could honestly have ended in many ways and I had no idea what the final outcome would be until I read it.  At times I sat in disbelief at how uncaring the detectives were, I really wanted to shake them but sadly as they are fictional characters that was impossible.  The victims husband was written wonderfully, his confusion, fear and isolation simply jumped from the page. I believe it was his character that really made the book stand out for me. 

I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of crime fiction.  It was a quick, exciting, nail biting read and it's great for anyone who wants a book that can be devoured with ease after a long day at work.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

It was a very entertaining story which kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well written and the plot interesting. Its a nice easy read and great for a few hours escape as it quickly draws you in.