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1222 Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,392 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From Norway’s #1 bestselling crime writer comes a suspenseful locked-room mystery, the US debut of a new series, set in an isolated hotel where guests stranded during a monumental snowstorm begin turning up dead.
A train on its way to the northern reaches of Norway careens off the track during a massive blizzard, 1,222 meters above sea level. The passengers abandon the train for a nearby, century-old hotel that is practically empty except for the staff. With plenty of food and shelter from the storm, the passengers think they are safe—until one of them turns up dead. With no sign of rescue and the storm continuing to rage, retired police inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is asked to investigate. Paralyzed by a bullet lodged in her spine, Hanne has no wish to return to police work. Bitter and antisocial, she is slowly coaxed back to her old habits as curiosity and a natural talent for observation compel her to take an interest in the passengers and their secrets. When another body turns up, Hanne realizes that time is running out and she must act fast before panic takes over. Trapped in her wheelchair, trapped by the storm, and now trapped with a killer, Hanne has to fit the pieces of the puzzle together before they strike again.
Anne Holt’s books have sold more than five million copies in Europe, and her books are #1 bestsellers in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. Now she is poised to gain a huge American following with this captivating new mystery that pays homage to Agatha Christie and her classic book, And Then There Were None.
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"Hanne Wilhelmsen is a terrific character and this book is a great read. Hanne is a police veteran, crippled by a bullet in her spine, on her way to consult a specialist surgeon. Her train is derailed in a Norwegian mountaintop village by a blizzard with hurricane force winds. The engineer is killed, and the passengers take refuge in a nearby resort hotel. As the storm intensifies, tempers grow short, people die and/or are killed, and Hanne is forced to bring her police experience to bear on her surroundings. The descriptions of the storm are terrifying and the passengers and hotel staff include some memorable characters. The first of Holt's previous Hanne Wilhelmsen books is due out in English later this year. I hope the rest will follow in good order."
— Monica (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Anne Holt is a thriller writer of the highest order. With the claustrophobic and breathless suspense in 1222 she, again, proves her extraordinary abilities.”
— Liza Marklund, New York Times bestselling author -
“Anne Holt is the godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction.”
— Jo Nesbø, New York Times bestselling author -
“It’s easy to see why Anne Holt, former minister of justice in Norway, and currently its bestselling female crime writer, is rapturously received in the rest of Europe…The buildup of tension is slow but superbly effective. Holt’s vivid depiction of claustrophobia, petty squabbles, and mob hysteria is just as convincing as her evocation of the storm outside.”
— Guardian (London) -
“Retired police detective Hanne Wilhelmsen makes her US debut in Holt’s intriguing reimagining of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None…The prickly Hanne is worth getting to know.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Kate Reading is an apt voice for one-time police inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen...This is a good audiobook for wintertime listening when the snow is swirling outside.”
— AudioFile -
“Bestselling Norwegian author Holt channels her inner Agatha Christie to deliver a frigidly good whodunit as she introduces the first of a new mystery series.”
— Library Journal -
“A fascinating, extremely modern homage to the classic detective novel.”
— Der Spiegel (Germany) -
“Step aside, Stieg Larsson. Holt is the queen of Scandinavian crime thrillers…Captures the Agatha Christie spirit of the good, old-fashioned murder mystery.”
— Red Magazine (UK) -
“A pleasure from start to finish…A dazzling and classic crime story and a brilliant thriller.”
— Bokavisen (Norway) -
“Holt updates the classic locked-room mystery with such bravado that on the last page the reader can only give a deep sigh of contentment.”
— Aamulehti (Finland) -
“A masterpiece of the genre, a real non-stop read.”
— Skanska Dagbladet (Sweden)
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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An Shamus Award Nominee for Best Hardcover PI Novel
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A Kirkus Reviews “New and Notable Title” of the Month
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A 2012 Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel
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Finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel
1222 Listener Reviews
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Mike Porter, 1/6/2017
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" I am not sure why this was nominated for an Edgar. "
— Gg, 2/5/2014 -
" I've not read this author before but I quite enjoyed this book "
— Joe, 1/31/2014 -
" Gave up on this after 70-odd pages - slow moving and turgid, this book moves along like pea soup. Seriously, don't bother "
— Natasha, 1/26/2014 -
" Locked room mystery with a twist..walls of snow lock the grateful survivors of a rail accident into an inn. Two people die and an interesting ex-detective named Hanne tries to work out what happened and why. I will definitely be looking for more in this series. "
— Tamara, 1/15/2014 -
" I saw this called wonderful, gripping, etc, but I certainly didn't find that to be the case. "
— Carol, 1/15/2014 -
" Absolutely outstanding! Characters, detail, dialogue. A must-read for any mystery lover. "
— Mark, 1/4/2014 -
" I'm just starting this book and am truly excited about the story and the snow and chilly weather, of course! "
— Sue, 1/3/2014 -
" Great premise but didn't keep my interest throughout as I'd hoped it would. "
— Cathy, 12/28/2013 -
" Very much enjoyed Hanne, as crotchety as she was, and some of the other characters, too. Would have liked to have seen more mystery & action, however -- the setting & characters definitely had the potential! "
— Jan, 11/15/2013 -
" Molte citazioni e atmosfere sempre un po' claustrofobiche. Piacevole e godibile. "
— Mirrordance, 11/14/2013 -
" I loved this book. Not quite the Swedish Miss Marple or Murder Orient Express as was advertised but a great detective yarn in its own right. I will definately be buying more of this series. "
— Bunny, 10/23/2013 -
" This started out to be a very promising mystery. However, I was just not that interested in the characters. Do look forward to the first book in the series being translated. Maybe I will be able to understand the ending a little better once I've read it. "
— Connie, 2/13/2013 -
" Captivating, but not demanding. Holt deftly weaves clear and colorful imagery. An enjoyable weekend read. "
— Anita, 2/26/2012 -
" Solid Nordic mystery. Good crusty, curmudgeony female detective. "
— Joe, 1/23/2012
About Anne Holt
Anne Holt has worked as a journalist and news anchor and spent two years working for the Oslo Police Department before founding her own law firm and serving as Norway’s minister for justice for part of 1996 and 1997. Her first book was published in 1993, and her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. She lives in Oslo with her family.
About Kate Reading
Kate Reading, named an AudioFile Golden Voice, has recorded hundreds of audiobooks across many genres, over a thirty–year plus career and won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. Among other awards, she has been recognized as an AudioFile Magazine Voice of the Century, Narrator of the Year, Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy, and winner of an Publisher’s Weekly’s Listen-Up Award. She records at her home studio, Madison Productions, Inc., in Maryland.