Customer Reviews

The Body in the Fjord

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Let's face it--Faith Fairchild is a much more interesting heroine than her friend Pix Miller. In this installment of "The Body....." books, Pix accompanies her mother on a trip to Norway. She has been summoned by her childhood friend, Marit Hansen whose daughter has disappeared after the death of her fiance. The theory is that since the two young people were tour guides, the group of women can join the tour and discover the culprits to the apparent murder/kidnapping. The best part of the book is the background of Norway with frequent references to the geography, climate, customs, and food of the country. Somehow this book doesn't come across as well as others of the series and it's hard to care about characters who are never fully developed.

The book held no suspense and the story was lacking. Its only redeeming quality is the setting, especially if you've been to the fjords.

Warning -- this could be an expensive book -- you may find yourself longing to tour Norway yourself! All the standard elements of the genre are present, leavened with Norwegian humor (What does Sweden have that Norway doesn't? Good neighbors.), recipes (lutefisk is fish steeped in lye, so I'll aim for the ginger cookies), and such original similes as "Her voice was as bitter as an unripe lingonberry". Highly recommended.

Having recently returned from Norway, I thought this was fun to read. The author captured much of the culture of the country and the comments about the food were hysterical and true! Travelling is always about food. The settings for the story were places most tourists to Norway tend to go. And the characters that were Norwegian were very believable. I think the author did a great job.

I agree with the reader from Canada. I found this book tedious and boring. There were simply too many people, too much chit chat, and too much tourist information. And if I want to buy a cookbook, I will do so. Now having said all of this, I have enjoyed other books in the series very much and so will continue reading. It is because I have liked the other books that I took the time to share my disappointment with this particular book.

This book centers on Pix Miller character in Norway with her mother. The reason I enjoy this author is because of the Faith Fairchild character and to find this book with so little of that character is disappointing. I usually re-read many of my mystery novels and this is one I don't think I will. Faith is the most interesting character and to make her a minor character is to disappoint her many fans.

I thought this book was ideal for either a thriller fan or just someone with a strong interest in Norway. Having visited this beautiful land many times, I was very pleased to know that the Kvikne's Hotel was featured in the story. This book has many facts that are good to know and finally I know how to make smørbrød!

As a mystery lover who prefers books with humor, for me this was a delightful reading experience. The characters seemed like people I know and the plot was fresh and intricate enough to keep me guessing.

Best of all, this book has the local color and flavor that beautifully refreshes my memories of my visit of 25 years ago to the Norwegian setting of this book.

Even as a devoted user of the public library, I felt inspired and bought copies for my mom and a traveling literary cousin!

Having spent an academic year in Norway, I was intrigued when a friend gave me this book to read. Beginning with the Flam railway in the prologue through the rest of the sites, the author has an excellent command of the setting and the people. I'm afraid I felt she tried to pack in too much, though. The Lebensborn subplot was interesting, but I'm not sure it really added that much to the overall story. Yes, it provided a body. But was the book about smuggling precious antiques or about the body in the fjord? Perhaps I'm quibbling. A reader can gain a lot of information about Norway, its history and its attraction as a tourist destination. I'd recommend it to friends with an interest in the country and willingness to read something light. Finally I know how lutefisk is made, and I now have a recipe for the sauce to serve with fiskpudding. I'll eat the latter, not the former.

I was browing in the bookstore for a mystery novel. This book caught my eye with its bright yellow cover, interesting plot, and the fact it took place in Norway - that really whetted my appetite. My great-grandparents emigrated from Norway and settled in Newburyport, MA. I was amazed at all the history and cultural aspects of the Norwegians incorporated into this story. What a superb job! I had never read this author before but now all her books are on my "must get" list (along with my "must get to Norway list."