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The Considerate Killer: A Nina Borg Novel    by Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis Amazon.com order for
Considerate Killer
by Lene Kaaberbol
Order:  USA  Can
Soho, 2016 (2016)
Hardcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

Billed as the final installment of the popular Nina Borg series, I found The Considerate Killer to be a bit of a letdown. When Nina is attacked in a parking garage by a person who, oddly enough, asks for her forgiveness, one wonders what is happening here.

As the story develops, it appears the nurse is being targeted for something she was involved in half a world away while on a visit to the Philippines. Therein lies the problem because the situation, although quite horrific, doesn't seem to merit the extreme response that is now unfolding on the pages of this book. Is Nina really such a serious threat to a bungling developer (who cut one too many corners on a construction project) that he must order her death? It seems a bit of a stretch when he isn't really sure what she knows or doesn't know about an event she was drawn into for a very short period of time.

I'll let the authors provide the details in this novel, that unfolds in two locations, and let the reader decide if this isn't a rather contrived, one might almost say, forced scenario that doesn't really justify the magnitude of what is now happening to Nina.

Muddying the situation even more is the fact the person who is sent to silence Nina is not a very convincing villain. In fact, not only is his heart not in this task, but one wonders why he even allows this situation to go as far as it does.

Admittedly the central characters, especially Nina, Soren Kirkegard (her significant other) and the apologetic killer, are drawn with deft strokes which means they have interesting personalities but one still wonders if this was the best the authors could do plot wise if this is indeed Nina's swan song.

All in all, if you have not read any of the previous novels in this series I would recommend NOT beginning now with The Considerate Killer. Try some of the earlier ones such as The Boy in the Suitcase or Invisible Murder to see what both Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis are capable of when it comes to creating a riveting suspense yarn.

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