Psychopathic men engage in the most dangerous game—hunting and killing humans. Lene and Michael hunt them down after they torture Lene's daughter. Disturbing scenes that might trigger some. ( )

Steffen Jacobsen's "Trophy," translated from the Danish by Charlotte Barslund, is a work of fiction that keep us guessing until the final page. The premise is chilling: On March 25, 2011, a group of men hunt down a vacationing couple for sport in northern Norway. Unsurprisingly, the killers do not want their murderous activities to come to light. Elizabeth Caspersen-Behncke, a successful barrister who expects to inherit a fortune from her late father, has a personal reason for hiring security consultant Michael Sander. She wants him to track down the men responsible for organizing the aforementioned sadistic expedition. Sander accepts the job—it pays very well--but he may come to regret his decision.

Sander, who has a background in the military and law enforcement, is overconfident about his ability to handle this case. With a loving wife and two small children at home, he has a great deal to lose if his adversaries outwit him. As it turns out, there is another individual, Superintendent Lene Jensen of the Danish police, who is working on this investigation. Lene is tough, determined, and intelligent but, like Michael, is used to working alone. Ultimately, Michael and Lene team up to conduct a hunt of their own, but will they end up being the predators or the prey?

Jacobsen is a competent writer who nicely depicts the fjords, rivers, and wild terrain that serve a backdrop for some of the more horrifying action scenes. The violence is off the charts, since most of the villains are unencumbered by pity or morality. This is a briskly paced and gripping story, with a spirited hero and heroine, and a final surprise that demonstrates just how depraved human beings can be. It is too bad that the implausible plot requires such an enormous suspension of disbelief. For example, one would expect that people who are tortured by psychotic assailants would need some time to bounce back from their injuries. Still, this imaginative study of good vs. evil should appeal to fans of edgy, suspenseful, and intense thrillers. ( )

This is the first volume of the 'Michael Sander and Lene Jensen' series and I have already borrowed the next two volumes from my library so that I can continue reading with this team. I love Danish crime novels and this series is great.
Michael Sander is a very special investigator who only takes over cases through word of mouth. Lena Jensen is a criminal detective with a bite who gets to the bottom of things and doesn't let up.
A wealthy heiress asks Michael to review her late father's actions because she found a video that showed her father was 'hunting people'.
What is the whole story?
Michael soon realizes that there is a group that actually, people selected by them, are free to hunt. He also notices that various people from this secret society are killed. Lena examines these homicides and comes across Michael. Who belongs to the innermost circle of the secret society and what does Michael’s client actually know?
The plot is written very fast and captivating. I'm already looking forward to the other books. ( )