Linda, As in the Linda Murder: A Backstrom Novel by Leif GW Persson, Neil Smith (Translated by)

This story begins with a young woman police cadet's murder.  Someone has raped her, cut her, and strangled her.  It appears to have been consensual at first and then morphed into rougher treatment and murder.  She has no boyfriend.  She went home alone.  Who is the murderer?

Vintage Crime/Black Lizard and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published February 23rd.

Mr. Persson's story almost is overwhelmed by the police involved.  This is more the tale of how this police department works than a murder mystery.  Backstrom is is a good example of what not to do as a cop.  He drinks anytime he can, eats too much, naps here and there and offers input that may or may not be useful.  He's also fond of his own sexiness even though most woman don't think that much of him.

What amusing about Backstrom is that he sets his police force to doing the grunt work, compliments them when they come up with a good idea (and then steals it) and he makes judgements about their own sexuality as he observes them.  He misjudges a reporter and comes on to her naked and can't understand why she runs out of the room.  He gets all his personal laundry done at the hotel.  Yet, somehow he manages to get out of trouble and back to work.  There is a new boss, so I'm not sure how long his grace period is going to last.  If he continues on in such a wayward manner, I think he's going to lose his job.  However, the case was solved so, for now, he's in favor with a few caveats. 

I would have preferred a more condensed version of this mystery.  There are a lot of words and some aren't necessary.  I also didn't need to know about everyone's sex life.  But somehow it all fits together and makes the story flow.  I'm glad I don't have to work for Backstrom...