Last Will is a fantastic, intelligent crime thriller, containing all the elements I love about the genre. Annika Bengtzon is a crime reporter for the Evening Post, a tabloid newspaper. She's attending the annual Nobel banquet for the paper, a formal ceremony in which the new laureates dine with the Swedish royal family and assorted dignitaries. Annika is dancing with another reporter when shots are fired - the laureate for medicine and the head of the Nobel committee are hit. Because Annika is a witness, the senior police investigator "Q" slaps a non-disclosure order on her under terrorist legislation.
Annika's boss is only too keen to find an excuse to keep her away from the office for a while, so she agrees to a period of paid leave. She and Q go back a long way, however, so she keeps up with the investigation, soon realising that the official solution as reported in the papers is a long way from the real truth of the events of that night. Annika also gets to know some of the biological scientists who work at the Karolinska Institute, finding out about their work and how the Nobel prizes are decided upon each year.
During this time, Annika moves house into a rural suburb just outside Stockholm. She is married to the selfish, smug Thomas, who not only exploits her on the domestic front, but has moved from his original job in local government to a new position in the Ministry of Justice, helping to prepare stringent new anti-terrorist legislation that Annika finds appalling.
Last Will is a clever, muscular thriller, combining exciting action with analyses of many contemporary issues: the dangers of security and terrorist legislation, in particular in the tragic case of a man accused of the Nobel atrocity; the plight of modern journalism and what proprietors do to survive in the internet era; the politics of the science profession and the scope for corruption by the financial interests of drug companies; some great descriptions of biological research; the ethics of scientific publication; and, underlying it all, a cracking, puzzling crime - why was the Nobel victim chosen, who was behind the events of that night, and what is the relationship between the first and subsequent crimes? None of these themes is treated as a cliché or in any predictable way; each is attacked with a fresh perspective by the author, abetted by Annika's characteristic refusal to compromise.
One of the strengths of this novel is the author's ability to convey vividly the stresses of modern parenthood and family life, from apparently trivial incidents with difficult neighbours to dangerous events between school "friends". Without overdoing it, many of the elements in the story turn out to be either related or to have a direct impact on the climactic events towards the end.
I can't recommend this novel too highly. This series has always been one of my very favourites, but here the author has surpassed herself with a great story, some intriguing historical elements, and convincing human interest - Annika's dilemmas as a mother, wife and dedicated professional journalist are conveyed in a completely convincing manner that had me rooting for her at the end when she is forced to make a critical decision. And the crime plot is as solid and multi-layered as any I've read, as Annika's tenacity and courageous nature force her to try to uncover what's really going on. Neil Smith's translation is remarkably natural, matching the author's message with perfection. This novel is going to be hard to beat as my crime novel of the year.
Note: this is the sixth Annika novel but can be read independently. The series, in chronological order (ie not the written order) is: #1, Studio 69 (aka Studio Sex/Exposed); #2, Paradise (aka Vanished), #3, Prime Time, #4, The Bomber and #5, Red Wolf.
