Borkmann's Point
by Hakan Nesser
Published by Vintage Books
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Reviewed by Dara O' Sullivan
An axe murderer is on the loose in the quiet seaside town of Kaalbringen. After the gruesome deaths of two victims, the unorthodox but gifted Inspector van Veeteren, who is holidaying nearby, is asked to step in to assist the local police force. Hours of information gathering and interviews appear to achieve nothing, and soon the axe murderer strikes again.
With the entire community in a paroxysm of fear, and the retirement date of the Kaalbringen police chief looming, van Veeteren and the investigation team desperately seek to establish some link between the three victims. Is there a rationale behind the murders or are they dealing with the random killings of a lunatic? Will he strike again?
The situation threatens to escalate beyond control when one of the police team disappears. Van Veeteren concludes that 'Borkmann's Point' (named after a mentor of his) has been reached--the point where sufficient information is available to provide the solution, and where any more information may obscure it. He must now apply all of his experience and instinct to secure the all-important breakthrough.
Borkmann's Point is an edgy, intelligent thriller that slowly builds in tension and finally accelerates rapidly towards the shattering and startling climax. The narration switches between the different members of the investigation team: the languid pair of van Veeteren and police chief Bausen; the pedantic Kropke, the dynamic Beate Moerke; and occasionally into the mind of the axe murderer.
The hard work and frustration of a difficult police investigation is communicated in a very realistic manner. The interplay between the different characters and personalities in the investigation team provides the story with a very human, and occasionally very humorous, backdrop. This is a top-notch thriller, with an intricately woven plot that is immensely satisfying, and strangely touching, in its resolution.
Armchair Interviews says: An elegant and ingenious whodunit any thriller fan would love.