Happy New Year
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Happy New Year
Narrated by:
Kristin Atherton, Anna Wilson-Jones, Leighton Pugh
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Kristin Atherton
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Anna Wilson-Jones
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Leighton Pugh
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By:
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Malin Stehn
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
It should have been the best night of the year...
But she never came home.
It's New Year's Eve. The best night of the year.
As old friends the Wiksells and the Anderssons raise their glasses, their teenage children host their own party across town, finally free to let loose.
But the next morning, seventeen-year-old Jennifer Wiksell is missing.
The hours tick by. The police get involved. And no one knows who to trust.
These two families have a lot to hide.
Could the answer to Jennifer's disappearance lie close to home?
©2022 Malin Stehn (P)2022 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Tremendously immersive...pure reading bliss." (M-magasin)
"I was close to taking the day off last minute - that's how hooked I was." (Blekinge Läns Tidning)
This book does cover a lot of ground in a very short time. However I found the general pacing of the book to be very irregular and frustrating for the majority of the time. That being said, if like me you enjoy the work of Paula Hawkins and Lisa Jewell; this book is for you.
Another Really Enjoyable Impulse Purchase
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Happy New year
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Couldn’t stop listening
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Atmospheric and emotional Swedish crime
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Narrator:
The audiobook is brought to life by a talented ensemble cast of narrators: Kristin Atherton, Anna Wilson-Jones, and Leighton Pugh. Each performer brings their unique voice to the story, creating a truly immersive listening experience.
Production Quality: The audiobook production of ‘Happy New Year’ is well-executed, with a clear and engaging narration that brings the characters and their emotions to life. The sound design, while subtle, effectively enhances the suspense and creates a truly immersive listening experience.
Overall:
Happy New Year by Malin Stehn caught my eye with its bright cover, and I hoped it would be a lighthearted way to start February. However, I soon discovered this Swedish psychological thriller is anything but light. From the very first chapter, a palpable sense of unease builds as we witness the preparations for a seemingly ordinary New Year’s Eve gathering. The author masterfully crafts a web of suspense, slowly unraveling the secrets and tensions simmering beneath the surface.
Two parties converge in a small town on New Year’s Eve, setting the stage for a night of unexpected and tragic consequences. Simmering tensions between family and friends, fueled by long-held secrets and unspoken resentments, erupt in a devastating chain of events. This gripping thriller explores the dark side of human relationships, where the pursuit of happiness can lead to unimaginable destruction.
The novel delves into the emotional toll of a missing person case, exploring the grief, frustration, and fear experienced by Jennifer’s family and friends. Stehn’s writing is particularly poignant in its depiction of the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters. The reader can truly feel the weight of their grief and the frustration that accompanies the lack of answers.
The story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters connected to Jennifer, each with their own secrets and motivations. This multi-layered approach keeps the reader guessing, and I found myself constantly revising my theories about who might be responsible for the disappearance.
Stehn’s writing is both atmospheric and emotionally resonant. The twists and turns are expertly executed, leaving me completely engrossed until the very end. Happy New Year is a compelling read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. The initial suspicion points towards someone close to the families, but Happy New Year explores the complexities of guilt and secrecy within the community. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone harbors secrets, and the line between innocence and complicity blurs with each passing revelation.
While the story gradually builds suspense, some readers who prefer a fast-paced thrill ride might find the initial pacing a bit deliberate. However, Stehn’s patient approach allows for a deeper exploration of the characters’ emotional states and the psychological impact of the events that unfold. The deliberate pacing also allows the reader to fully absorb the atmosphere of dread and anticipation that permeates the narrative.
The emotional turmoil depicted resonated deeply with me, particularly the characters’ struggles with family dynamics and personal anxieties. The raw portrayal of grief and uncertainty reminded me of the intense emotional landscape explored in Disha Bose’s ‘Dirty Laundry” (https://hopelesspluto.wordpress.com/2024/04/05/the-messiness-of-life-is-what-makes-us-human-reviewing-dirty-laundry-disha-bose/), where family secrets and hidden resentments come to light with devastating consequences.
While the story explores important themes, the pacing felt deliberate for me. The heavy subject matter requires a certain level of emotional investment, which may not suit readers seeking a faster-paced thriller. The pace of the novel steadily accelerates as the story progresses, with the chapters becoming increasingly shorter. This clever technique builds suspense and keeps the reader hooked, urging them to turn the page to discover what secrets lie hidden beneath the surface.
The novel challenges the reader to question the nature of good and evil, demonstrating how the line between right and wrong can become blurred in the face of temptation and societal pressures. The exploration of the impact of drugs and alcohol on human behavior adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story. Further to this, Happy New Year explores the destructive power of deception and its impact on families and relationships. The revelation of a long-held secret shatters the illusion of a perfect family, leaving the characters grappling with the consequences of past actions and the uncertainty of the future.
Favourite characters:
Nina: the ever-vigilant mother, grapples with anxieties as she allows her children to host a New Year’s Eve party while she’s away. Despite her maternal instincts, she faces a difficult decision that challenges her trust in her children and their judgment.
Fredrik: plagued by self-doubt and a gnawing attraction to his friend’s daughter, grapples with his masculinity and the compromises he’s made for family life. Yearning for the past, struggles to reconcile his domesticated life with a simmering attraction that threatens to disrupt his carefully constructed image.
Lolo: a poignant exploration of the human experience in the face of unimaginable experience. Torn between guilt, anger, and the desperate hope of finding her daughter, she grapples with societal expectations and her own internal struggles, offering a raw and honest portrayal of grief.
Max: the antithesis of Fredrik, is a driven and ambitious man whose career has always taken precedence over family life. Persuaded by Lolo’s tearful pleas, he reluctantly agrees to have a child, a decision that he secretly regrets. His unwavering focus on his career and dismissive attitude towards family life fuel Lolo’s growing resentment, creating a rift in their relationship. Max remains largely unmoved by the emotional turmoil surrounding his daughter’s disappearance, further highlighting his detachment and prioritizing his own success.
Favourite quotes:
“Whatever you tell us it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s the truth. The truth will always come out in the end.”
“I know I should do something, but all I can think about is a black and white silent film.”
How it ends:
The ending takes a surprising turn, revealing secrets that extend far beyond the initial mystery. These unexpected revelations leave the reader questioning their assumptions about the characters and the nature of reality, creating a lingering sense of unease and a desire to ponder the deeper implications of the story.
Favourite part:
One of the most poignant moments occurs when Lolo retreats into a series of cherished memories of her daughter’s childhood. These heartfelt recollections, filled with warmth and nostalgia, offer a bittersweet glimpse into their past happiness. As Lolo savors these precious moments, the reader is reminded of the enduring strength of love and the importance of cherishing memories in the face of unimaginable loss. These poignant reflections provide a temporary escape from the overwhelming grief, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Rating out of 5 – performance:
I give the performance 4 out of 5 stars for its clarity and the immersive listening experience.
Story:
The story itself earns 4 out of 5 stars for its suspenseful plot and exploration of complex themes.
Overall:
Overall, I give Happy New Year 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a compelling listen, but the deliberate pacing might not appeal to everyone.
Re-listenability:
The surprising twists and revelations in ‘Happy New Year’ enhance the re-listening experience. I am eager to revisit the story to see if I can identify subtle hints and foreshadowing that I might have missed on the first listen, adding a new layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative.
Family Secrets and Hidden Agendas
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