The Preacher (novel)
 Camilla Läckberg with her French translator | |
| Author | Camilla Läckberg |
|---|---|
| Translator | Steven T. Murray (English) |
| Series | Pegasus Crime |
| Subject | Popular Fiction-Contemporary Thrillers |
| Genre | Crime |
Publication date | 2004 |
Published in English | 2011 |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | 978-1-60598-173-4 |
| Preceded by | The Ice Princess |
| Followed by | The Stone Cutter |
The Preacher (Swedish: Predikanten) is a 2004 Swedish psychological thriller novel by Camilla Läckberg. It was translated into English by Steven T. Murray and published by Pegasus Crime in 2011.
Plot
[edit]Like Läckberg's other novels, this one take place in the tiny fishing village of Fjällbacka on Sweden's west coast. Detective Patrik Hedström and his wife Erica Falck investigate after a young boy discovers a woman's dead body, and two skeletons are found below that body. It is discovered that the skeletons belong to young women who disappeared when camping in the area in 1979.[1] A young girl goes missing.[2] Falck's sister Anna and her marriage problems, are another story thread.[3][4][5] Hedström's task is hampered by a heatwave, Falck being pregnant with their first child, and sycophantic relatives. There is also a self-serving police chief who likes getting the credit for all cases under his watch and a resentful veteran but inept officer. Hedström is smart and caring, but not always good and sometimes has trouble staying focused.[6]
Almost every subplot focuses on a parent-child relationship.[7] Falck, who was the central character of Läckberg's first novel, The Ice Princess, is restricted by her pregnancy and finds dealing with guests or unravelling crime daunting, so Hedström and his sidekick, Martin, do most of the investigating.[8] As Patrick pursues ancient leads, his sixth sense tells him the Hult family have something to do with a series of. Their grandfather, known as The Preacher, moved into the community after one of his acolytes died, leaving both land and property for him to disperse.[6] Dark secrets emerge about the Hults.[9]
Publication
[edit]Predikanten, a psychological thriller novel by Camilla Läckberg, was published in Sweden in 2003. It was translated into English by Steven T. Murray and published by Pegasus Crime on 27 April 2011.[1][10]
Reception
[edit]In a review of the novel by The Washington Post, the reviewer noted that the "clever plot and in-depth characterization aren’t the only qualities that elevate “The Preacher” above most other thrillers. There's also an admirable feel for detail."[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Grigsby, Susan (22 June 2015). "Monday Murder Mystery: Camilla Läckberg". Daily Kos. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ "The Preacher: Camilla Lackberg: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "Reviews of The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg - Timeless Books & Ravens Parlour". Timelessbooks.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "IT'S A CRIME! (OR A MYSTERY...): The Preacher - Camilla Läckberg". Itsacrime.typepad.com. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ Tursten, Helene (15 May 2011). "THE PREACHER by Camilla Läckberg | Kirkus". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ a b Drabelle, Dennis (12 June 2011). "Book review: 'The Preacher' by Camilla Lackberg". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ Peters, Lisa (7 February 2012). "Book Him Danno!: Book Review - The Preacher - Camilla Lackberg". Bookhimdanno.blogspot.com. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "The Preacher (Camilla Läckberg)". markwollacott.com. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "Blackwater, Kerstin Ekman, The Preacher, Camilla Lackberg, The Shadow in the Water, Inger Frimansson, Asa Larsson, Sun Storm, The Savage Altar, Erik Winter | Swedish Crime writer, book reviews, mysteries". Scandinavianbooks.com. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ T, Lelia (3 June 2012). "Book Reviews: The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg, The Burning Lake by Brent Ghelfi, Buried Prey by John Sandford, and A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block". Buried Under Books. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ Drabelle, Dennis (12 June 2011). "Book review: 'The Preacher' by Camilla Lackberg". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 30 October 2020.