“Beatrice” is a swedish thriller signed Lina Bengtsdotter and which keeps you in suspense from beginning to end. I specify that it is the 3rd story of the heroine, the investigator Charlie Lager, but one can very well read that one without having read the first ones.
It’s called “Béatrice” because the investigation begins with the disappearance of little Béatrice, 9 months old, in his cradle. She slept on the terrace while her mother, exhausted by her life as a mother, sought a few minutes of rest inside the house. Clarification, this family is very rich. So, heinous kidnapping? For money ? Except that no ransom will be demanded. Detective Charlie Lager is in charge of the investigation.
Parallel to the search for the baby, and alternately, we discover the story of Sara and Lo, lost teenagers in a center for vulnerable people. Gradually, of course, paths will cross, and the pieces of the puzzle will diabolically fall into place. I specify that Charlie, the investigator is a little special.
As often in good thrillers, the investigators have a dark past, some psychological worries, which gives them increased fragility. For example, Charlie tends to drink a little too much and wake up with strangers she brought home after a party she forgot most of…
The novel highlights the fragilities of each, and what we have to do to live with this baggage from childhood, from the family, from the sometimes cumbersome past. “Béatrice” is one of those novels whose characters follow us once you’ve finished reading. A must-read if you like thrillers from the cold. This one will tend to freeze you!