A bloodcurdling thriller rife with grit, gore and the complexities of the human condition, The Hypnotist is sure to keep readers spellbound in its clutches.
In the cold climate of Tumba, Sweden, a family is found murdered in their home in a brutal triple homicide. The only survivor and witness is a teenage boy, Josef Ek, who is badly wounded from being stabbed over one hundered times and has gone into shock. The other intended victim, the boy's elder sister, was able to escape the carnage, but it may only be a matter of time before the killer hunts her down. Against the wishes of the National Police, DI Joona Linna decides to investigate the case, but with scarce leads, he seeks the help of an unorthodox source--disgraced psychiatrist and hypnotist Erik Maria Bark--in the hopes of getting more information from Josef. Having sworn never to indulge in such practices again, Bark at first refuses the request on grounds of ethics and the risk of deep psychological damage. But when Erik relents and begins his sessions with Josef, what he discovers makes him want to stay silent.
Filled with a visceral darkness that distinguishes Kepler's writing from his crime fiction peers, The Hypnotist offers a skillful, if highly disturbing, meditation on the nature of evil. LARS KEPLER is the pseudonym of the critically acclaimed husband and wife team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. Their internationally best-selling Joona Linna series has sold more than ten million copies in forty languages. The Ahndorils were both established writers before they adopted the pen name Lars Kepler, and have each published several acclaimed novels. They live in Stockholm, Sweden. Erik Maria Bark is yanked reluctantly from his dream when the telephone rings. Before he is fully awake, he hears himself say with a smile, "Balloons and streamers."
His heart is pounding from the sudden awakening. Erik has no idea what he meant by these words. The dream is completely gone, as if he had never had it.
He fumbles to find the ringing phone, creeping out of the bedroom with it and closing the door behind him to avoid waking Simone. A detective named Joona Linna asks if he is sufficiently awake to absorb important information. His thoughts are still tumbling down into the dark empty space after his dream as he listens.
"I've heard you're very skilled in the treatment of acute trauma," says Linna.
"Yes," says Erik.
He swallows a painkiller as he listens. The detective explains that he needs to question a fifteen- year- old boy who has witnessed a double murder and been seriously injured himself. During the night he was moved from the neurological unit in Huddinge to the neurosurgical unit at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna.
"What's his condition?" Erik asks.
The detective rapidly summarizes the patient's status, concluding,
"He hasn't been stabilized. He's in circulatory shock and unconscious."
"Who's the doctor in charge?" asks Erik.
"Daniella Richards."
"She's extremely capable. I'm sure she can-"
"She was the one who asked me to call you. She needs your help. It's urgent."
When Erik returns to the bedroom to get his clothes, Simone is lying on her back, looking at him with a strange, empty expression. A strip of light from the streetlamp is shining in between the blinds.
"I didn't mean to wake you," he says softly.
"Who was that?" she asks.
"Police... a detective ... I didn't catch his name."
"What's it about?"
"I have to go to the hospital," he replies. "They need some help with a boy."
"What time is it, anyway?" She looks at the alarm clock and closes her eyes. He notices the stripes on her freckled shoulders from the creased sheets.
"Sleep now, Sixan," he whispers, calling her by her nickname.
