Invisible Murder (A Nina Borg Novel)

Nina Borg, the Red Cross nurse protagonist from The Boy in the Suitcase is back in this latest thriller from the Danish author duo Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis. After the series of events endangering her life in The Boy in the Suitcase, Nina has promised her husband Morten not to get involved in any more projects to do with the "Network" (an organisation providing medical aid for illegal immigrants who are in trouble) whilst he is away working on an oil rig in the North Sea for two weeks. In the past her marriage has suffered because Nina has put the needs of others before those of her own family, even abandoning her two young children in her quest to help the underprivileged. But her resolve is soon tested when Nina is asked for help by one of her colleagues from the "Network".A group of Roma (gypsies) hiding out in an abandoned mechanics' workshop have become mysteriously ill with what appears to be a serious stomach virus, and Nina's colleague Peter has also succumbed to the disease. Knowing that there are young children involved, Nina consents to visit the group, despite her better judgment and promise to her husband. After administering some fluids and medications to one of the seriously ill Roma children, Nina is being approached by an injured young man and finds herself fleeing the scene from a group of angry Roma men, with the fugitive in tow. This encounter unleashes a series of events which see Nina critically ill in hospital and being pursued by dangerous men who will even threaten the safety of her own family to get what they want.After reading both the Boy in the Suitcase and Invisible Murder within the space of a few days, I am finding myself seriously addicted to the Nina Borg series. True to the genre, the Scandinavian authors provide an atmospheric thriller that not only explores the darker sides of Danish society and current political events, but also knits these into a cleverly crafted storyline which captivated me from start to finish. I really enjoy the authors' style of providing the reader with several parallel storylines in the beginning of the novel, which later converge to solve the mystery. Partially set in Denmark and Hungary, the novel again explores the implications of open borders to the Eastern block countries and the fates of refugees streaming into the country in an atmosphere of growing racial division and hatred. The character of Sandor embodies the fate of a hard-working, clever young person caught up in events out of his control purely due to his ethnicity and family circumstances. It is impossible not to feel empathy for Sandor as he slides further and further down the path to destruction through his efforts to save his brother's life.With Nina Borg the authors have created a believable, empathetic character who advocates for the oppressed and underprivileged, which will ultimately cost her dearly. Nina is constantly being torn between the loyalties to her husband and children, and her need to help those more unfortunate than herself. In this book the high price she has to pay for her efforts is even more evident than in The Boy in the Suitcase, and I wondered how people like Nina keep up the energy to keep fighting, when so much is at stake for them personally.With events unfolding mercilessly, the ending was sudden and somewhat unsatisfactory - especially since the next book in the series has not been translated yet! I will now have to wait to read more about Nina's fate in the next book as soon as it comes out.Again, I highly recommend this thriller to any fans of Scandinavian fiction, or to anyone who is looking for a believable woman protagonist. To anyone who is tempted to read Invisible Murder, I would advise to first pick up The Boy in the Suitcase. Whilst the book can be read as a stand-alone novel, knowing some of Nina's background added to the enjoyment of reading Invisible murder. 4.5 stars.

THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE created high expectations for Danish nurse Nina Borg's next adventure; the talented co-authors, Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis, have ably met this challenge in INVISIBLE MURDER (translated by Tara Chace). This plot is even more complex than the first, so it would be helpful to read these two novels in order. In this case, Nina's story is joined by the story lines for three other characters. Each of them faces a significant personal conflict or problem.Nina's conflict between her commitment to helping powerless immigrants and her responsibilities as wife and mother reach a critical point in this novel. Her inability to say no to requests for her help or even to consider these snares from another, more cautious perspective is balanced by the empty personal life and overly controlled personality of Soren Kirkegard, inspector with the terrorism unit. The international victim/protagonist present in the first novel is represented here by Sandor Horvarth, a half-Roma Hungarian law student. Initially an unwilling participant in this drama, Sandor's guilt about hiding his background and suppressing his objections to injustice gradually translates into action. Finally, the story of Jorgen Skou-Larsen, an elderly man who fears losing control even more than death, becomes increasingly important as the stories converge. The reader's investment in these characters and others related to them is a major strength of the writing.Ironically, I found the villains less well developed and, consequently, the motivation for their participation less understandable. However, the rewards for the crimes, which tie all the stories together, are clearly understandable. And, in addition to theft, deception, abuse of women, extortion, and violence, there are major threats of loved ones' deaths and widespread disaster that propel the forward motion of the novel. I found the novel hard to put down but sometimes felt guilty that I was reading descriptive and police procedural passages in a rush to see what "happened" next.This novel definitely qualifies as Nordic noir. Nina is constantly aware of mistreatment and lack of opportunity for poor immigrants, especially women and children. Prejudice against the Roma, both in Hungary and Denmark, and against Muslims is a prominent theme. Soren shares concerns about these shortcomings of current Denmark and Europe. Although the major crime of this novel is solved, another similar threat remains a future possibility. The characters are troubled rather than happy people, and their personal situations remain pretty much unresolved at the end. But perhaps there is hope, and this reader looks forward to learning whether at least Nina's situation is happier at the time of her next adventure.

Nina Borg, a Red Cross nurse in Denmark, is so dedicated to her calling that her family feels that they are neglected, put second behind her helping others and puts herself in dangerous situations. Her 14-year-old daughter, Ida, is especially angry and resentful of Nina's habit of dropping everything to help those in need. Nina can't seem to help herself when it comes to news of a group of Roma who are living in an abandoned building long ago left behind when the Soviets left. Two teens had earlier found the place and discovered what the Soviet military left behind and intended for it never to be found.When Nina hears that a boy is sick, she goes to the site. She finds a group of Roma people living in squalor with a sick boy who is not getting better. The situation escalates because the Roma are not particularly welcome in the country. They do not want ambulances or police for fear of being discovered. Nina becomes caught up in a situation that is very dangerous even when she becomes deathly ill herself.I really like this series and after reading The Boy in the Suitcase, I went right to the author's second book. Granted, it's a bit slower than the first book in the series, but it is worth reading. The author's research was very good and I learned a lot by reading this novel. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

This is the second book by Kaaberbol and Friis, and they have created a really strong place for a whole series featuringNina Borg as the lynch pin. The ground they cover, with illegal immigration, terrorism, racism, and illegal weapons sales makes the story very up-to-date, and horribly plausible.I can't wait for their next book to be translated into English.

Better than the first one, which I also liked. An involving novel with kidnap, radiation, terrorism and creeps who get their comeuppance! Very enjoyable.

Another superb Nina Borg story - what is it that we like so much about these flawed individuals who have so much honour and are so truth seeking, but are nightmares to live with? Am already reading the 3rd book and enjoying it.

Excellent product and service

A taut, contemporary read. At times, a hard read, as it deals with the plight of refugees.