The Lost Woman

by Sara Blaedel

Overview

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Louise Rick--head of the police department's elite Special Search Agency charged with missing persons cases--returns in Sara Blaedel's twist-filled suspense novel...

A housewife is the target of a shocking, methodical killing. Shot with a hunting rifle through her kitchen window, the woman is dead before she hits the ground.

Though murdered in England, it turns out that the woman, Sofie Parker, is actually a Danish citizen who's been on the Missing Persons list for almost two decades--so Louise Rick is called on to the case. Then, in an unexpected twist, the police discover that Sofie had been reported missing eighteen years ago by none other than Eik, Louise Rick's police colleague and lover.

Impulsive as ever, Eik rushes to England, and ends up in jail on suspicion of Sofie's murder. Completely blindsided by Eik's connection to the case, Louise is thoroughly unsettled and sick with worry, yet she must set aside her own emotional turmoil if she hopes to find the killer in what will become her most controversial case yet...

PRAISE FOR SARA BLAEDEL
"Crime-writer superstar Sara Blaedel's great skill is in weaving a heartbreaking social history into an edge-of-your-chair thriller while at the same time creating a detective who's as emotionally rich and real as a close friend."
--Oprah.com

"One of the best I've come across."
--Michael Connelly

"Sara Blaedel is a force to be reckoned with. She's a remarkable crime writer who time and again delivers a solid, engaging story that any reader in the world can enjoy."
--Karin Slaughter

"Leads to...that gray territory where compassion can become a crime and kindness can lead to coldblooded murder."
--New York Times Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455541058
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	02/07/2017
Series:	Louise Rick Series , #9
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	185,853
File size:	476 KB

About the Author

Sara Blaedel is the author of the #1 international bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Her books are published in thirty-eight countries. In 2014 Sara was voted Denmark's most popular novelist for the fourth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark's most prestigious literary award. She lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

12/05/2016
At the start of Danish author Blaedel’s disappointing sixth Louise Ricks novel to be published in the U.S. (after 2016’s The Killing Forest), a gunman outside a house in England takes aim through a window at a woman as she’s preparing dinner and shoots her dead. Back in Denmark, Eik Nordstrøm, Rick’s police partner (who’s also her lover), goes out with his dog to a store to buy cigarettes and vanishes—no phone call or text—leaving his dog tied outside the store. The murdered woman turns out to be a Dane, Sofie Parker, who went missing 18 years earlier. That Eik was involved in Sofie’s case may explain his disappearance. Flashbacks to 1996 chart Sofie’s efforts to persuade her mother, who suffers from an incurable illness, not to commit suicide. Blaedel explores the ethical implications of assisted suicide, making it clear where she stands on the issue, but she fails to inject enough urgency and drama into a tale whose plot contrivances demand a large suspension of disbelief from the reader. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Crime-writer superstar Sara Blaedel's great skill is in weaving a heartbreaking social history into an edge-of-your-chair thriller while at the same time creating a detective who's as emotionally rich and real as a close friend."—Oprah.com

"One of the best I've come across."—Michael Connelly

"Sara Blaedel is a force to be reckoned with. She's a remarkable crime writer who time and again delivers a solid, engaging story that any reader in the world can enjoy."—Karin Slaughter

"Blaedel solidifies once more why her novels are as much finely drawn character studies as tightly plotted procedurals, always landing with a punch to the gut and the heart."—Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

"Sara Blaedel is a literary force of nature....Blaedel strikes a fine and delicate balance between the personal and the professional in THE LOST WOMAN, as she has done with the other books in this wonderful series. ...Those who can't get enough of finely tuned mysteries...will find this book and this author particularly riveting."—BookReporter.com

"Long-held secrets and surprising connections rock Inspector Louise Rick's world in Blaedel's latest crime thriller. Confused and hurt, Louise persists in investigating a complex murder despite the mounting personal ramifications. The limits of loyalty and trust, and the complexities of grief, are central to this taut thriller's resolution. A rich cast of supporting characters balances the bleakness of the crimes."—RT Book Reviews (4 STARS)

"Leads to...that gray territory where compassion can become a crime and kindness can lead to coldblooded murder."—New York Times Book Review

"Blaedel, Denmark's most popular author, is known for her dark mysteries, and she examines the controversial social issue at the heart of this novel, but ends on a surprisingly light note. Another winner from Blaedel."—Booklist

"Engrossing."—Toronto Star

"Deliciously dark...[A] great tale!"—Suspense Magazine

"Worth the wait."—Winnipeg Free Press

PRAISE FOR THE LOUISE RICK SERIES:

"Another suspenseful, skillfully wrought entry."—Booklist on The Killing Forest

"Engrossing...Blaedel nicely balances the twisted relationships of the cult members with the true friendships of Louise, Camilla, and their circle."—Publishers Weekly on The Killing Forest

"Blaedel delivers another thrilling novel...Twists and turns will have readers on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next."—RT Book Reviews on The Killing Forest

"For readers who gorge on captivating characters and chilling suspense, THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is a tantalizing treat. Enjoy yourself, America."—Sandra Brown on The Forgotten Girls

"Sara Blædel is at the top of her game. Louise Rick is a character who will have readers coming back for more."—Camilla Läckberg

"Crackling with suspense, atmosphere, and drama, THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is simply stellar crime fiction. I loved spending time with the tough, smart, and all-too-human heroine Louise Rick—and I can't wait to see her again."—Lisa Unger

"Will push you to the edge of your seat [then] knock you right off....A smashing success."—BookReporter on The Killing Forest

"This is a standout book that will only solidify the author's well-respected standing in crime fiction. Blaedel drops clues that will leave readers guessing right up to the reveal. Each new lead opens an array of possibilities, and putting the book down became a feat this reviewer was unable to achieve. Based on the history of treating the disabled, the story is both horrifying and all-to-real. Even the villains have nuanced and sympathetic motives."—RT Times on The Forgotten Girls - Top Pick **Winner of the Reviewer's Choice Award**

"Gripping."—Washington Post on The Forgotten Girls

"Tautly suspenseful and sociologically fascinating."—BookPage on The Forgotten Girls

"Tightly knit."—Kirkus Reviews on The Forgotten Girls

"Chilling...[a] swiftly moving plot and engaging core characters."—Publishers Weekly on The Forgotten Girls

"Sara Blaedel's THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is an emotionally complex police-procedural thriller ...With a gripping premise, fast-paced narrative and well-developed characters, THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS is an incredible read."—FreshFiction.com

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2017
The Danish "Queen of Crime" returns with an intensely personal, character-driven sixth installment to her "DI Louise Rick" series (after The Killing Forest). Rick heads Copenhagen's Special Search Agency—the Danish equivalent of a missing persons unit—yet most of the action here takes place in England. A housewife shot to death through her kitchen window is identified as Sofie Parker, a Danish citizen who's been missing for almost 20 years. And the man who reported her gone two decades ago? It turns out to be Eik NordstrØm, Rick's police colleague and now lover (most days, at least), who's as impetuous as Rick is methodical and measured. Off to England to investigate Sofie's death, Eik becomes the prime suspect and is soon jailed on suspicion of murder. Rick is determined to get to the bottom of what is turning into an increasingly bizarre case. Sofie's reasons for disappearing not only lend emotional resonance to an already deeply fraught book but also weave the controversial subject of assisted suicide into a complex plot. VERDICT As one of the preeminent voices in contemporary Scandinavian crime fiction, Blaedel solidifies once more why her novels are as much finely drawn character studies as tightly plotted procedurals, always landing with a punch to the gut and the heart. [See Prepub Alert, 8/26/16.]

Library Journal

Narrator Christine Lakin takes us across Europe and across time in this story of multiple murders, overlaid with a serious debate about assisted suicide. While Lakin successfully distinguishes male and female characters both old and young, she is challenged by differentiating characters from different countries. But, overall, her pacing and ability to convey tension will keep listeners engaged with the story. This is author Sara Blaedel’s latest audiobook featuring Louise Rick, Danish detective in charge of the Special Search Agency. Lakin voices the emotionally complex Rick with credible intensity. It’s not necessary to be familiar with the earlier books to pick up on the characters and their past entanglements. Once you finish this one, you’ll be tempted to listen to the full series. E.Q. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2017 - AudioFile