The Chestnut Man

Yes! Finally, we got a five star read! I have been meaning to read this book for so long but it was so long and that intimidates me, mostly because I am not a fast reader by any means. I really don't know what I was worried about, the writing was so easy to follow and the chapters were super short, just how I prefer them. If anyone is intimidated by this fat book, don't be, it is very reader-friendly. I am really happy to close out 2021 with a five-star book.

To begin with, The Chestnut Man is a story about a serial killer, who leaves chestnut men wherever he commits a gruesome crime. The two detectives on this case quickly realize that they're not dealing with just your average psychopath. I loved this whole storyline and even though sometimes I don't enjoy detective procedurals, in this instance I was hooked from the start and pulled into their world. The chapters were the perfect short length and almost all of them ended in a cliffhanger, which made it almost impossible to put the book down. If I didn't have responsibilities, I would have binged the book in one day, without question. This is one of the most exhilarating serial killer stories I have probably ever read in my life.

Further on, the characterization in this book is superb. The characters are very complex and imperfect, which makes them jump off the page. As I was reading this book, I was able to perfectly picture these intricate and complicated characters and I grew very attached to them. I was actually really sad when the book ended and hope that there will be more adventures to come for the two main detectives who were in charge of the case in this story. I just love how all the characters have in-depth backgrounds, helping us to understand why they are the way that they are. And I also love how they stay true to themselves, even whilst changing and growing as individuals, it makes them that much more believable.

Finally, the writing style was my favorite kind. I know this story is translated from another language but it seemed that nothing was lost in the translation because it's an absolutely amazing read through and through. The sentences were short and to the point without being choppy or confusing. I was able to picture things in my head as they were happening, even though I am not a very visual person whatsoever. I am really excited to watch the show now because I can compare what I was actually picturing and how they brought the story to life in the show.

In conclusion, this book helped me finish out 2021 with a bang and I am obsessed with the story, the characters and this talented writer. I hope they translate more of his work into English and that he keeps writing a continuation to this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a unique serial killer stories full of twists and turns and doesn't dislike detective procedural type of stories either, because that's what this story is at the root of it. I say it's a must read for thriller lovers alike!