The Solace of a Good Murder Mystery series – Inspector Irene Huss Investigations
Each summer we say, “you never know when your last swim is”. This year for me it was the night I stepped on a dog who bit my foot, resulting in stitches, a tetanus shot and a couple of rounds of powerful antibiotics. Thanks to the excellent nurses and doctors in the West Parry Sound Hospital emergency department, I am now recovered. For the last couple of weeks, trying to stay off my foot, I disappeared into the novels in the Inspector Irene Huss Investigation series by the Swedish writer Helene Tursten.
I read The Fire Dance, The Beige Man, The Treacherous Net, Who Watcheth and Protected by the Shadows one after the other – a complete escape for several days and nights! Instead of feeling sorry for myself I could commiserate with Irene Huss as she deals with the sexism from some of her male colleagues at work, and the disdain of a new female boss. I felt compassion when her mother died, and her husband was having difficulty at work, and her daughters finding their place in the adult world. And, at the same time I was completely distracted by the investigations that were taking place.
The Fire Dance involves the disappearance of a dancer – and then the discovery of her remains in a burned out building. When it is discovered that she may have played a part in a fire many years earlier the investigation takes a turn to the past, and the other members of the victim’s family.
The Beige Man was a more troubling novel. A young girl is found abused and murdered on the same night as a retired police officer is killed in a hit and run. When it becomes apparent that the dead girl is very young, and very likely a victim of trafficking for sex, the case takes on a much darker and disturbing turn.
It felt that these earlier novels were leading up to the one that follows, The Treacherous Net. This time there is once again the discovery of the body of young girl. Then a second. Irene and her colleagues are certain that there is a connection – and that it may very well be that these girls were both “groomed” by a man on a website who pretended to be a teenager while establishing an online friendship, a romance, before suggesting a meeting. Like Irene, I am very glad my children are no longer teenagers – though the grandchildren will be there soon.
Who Watcheth and Protected by the Shadows quickly followed and did not disappoint. Irene Huss is a smart and sensible woman, an excellent cop and one tough cookie. I admire her resilience and her sensible but always compassionate care for her family and friends. Helene Tursten has moved on the write about a younger female detective, Embla Nystrom, which I have also enjoyed reading but I will miss Irene Huss.