Title:	Lazarus
	Author:	Lars Kepler
	Published:	December 1, 2020, Knopf
	No. of Pages:	528
	Cover Price:	$28.95 Hardcover, $14.99 Kindle

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Several murders of criminals has gotten the attention of the Swedish authorities, and Joona Linna is in charge of the investigation, in the seventh installment of the Joona Linna series by Lars Kepler, a husband/wife duo, Lazarus. The murders are reminiscent to Joona of mass murderer Walter Jurek, who was shot three times by Saga Bauer in the previous novel, and while there is plenty of evidence that Jurek is dead, including DNA, and the fact that Saga saw the dead body float down a river. Joona, who has strange ideas and theories sometimes, is convinced that Jurek is somehow still alive, and while Saga and others don’t believe it, they work together as a team to investigate.

Lazarus is not as well-written as the previous novels, and fans of the series will notice that they have become more and more violent as the series goes ahead. The translation is also a bit sloppy in this installment. Joona and Saga (both protagonists in the series, and in this one, Saga seems to be the main one) have been well-developed as characters in previous novels, and those who have read them will understand and relate to what is happening. However, if reading this novel without the background of the previous novels, Joona’s unique attributes and skills may not be fully understood.

The series has gradually gone from mainstream thriller novels to this (along with the previous novel, The Rabbit Hunter) novel, being full of unnecessary graphic sex scenarios which have nothing to do with the storyline, and horribly graphic violence and murder that is not necessary. Although Joona is a very distinctive and much-loved character, the books are getting so that they aren’t worth reading anymore because they are over the top.

The end of this novel was a disappointment, and there are so many things in the book that are implausible, many readers will surely want to find another series to read. This book is recommended only for those who love unnecessary sex and violence over good writing and a good storyline.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.