Mandie's Reviews > Little Drummer

I have loved the books involving Detectives Frølich and Gunnarstranda and this time they are involved in an investigation into the death of a young woman found in a car in a parking lot. What initially looks like an overdose soon becomes a murder investigation. When her boyfriend disappears, it looks like he is somehow involved. As they dig deeper the investigations see them working the case in both Oslo and Kenya.
This case is certainly puzzling for Frølich and Gunnarstranda with everyone claiming they have no idea why the victim may have been killed or if they knew the missing boyfriend. Frølich is continually on the back foot with the reporter following the case, somehow she always seems to be one step ahead of him using the fact that she found the victim as a way into the investigations. Their interactions in Kenya seem to be when things change slightly as she realises that she may be slightly out of her depth. Gunnarstranda still seems to have a way of rubbing people up the wrong way, but he is also slightly distracted by personal issues as he contemplates his health choices.
The relationship between Frølich and Gunnarstranda is one that just works and will often bring a smile to your face. Frølich is always trying to get Gunnarstranda to make better life choices albeit not very successfully, but they always have each other’s backs when it’s really needed. We also get to see their lives outside the investigation making them a little bit more human and relatable.
Little Drummer is not fast paced, but the dual locations will keep the reader turning the pages to work out exactly how what seem like two separate investigations/stories are intertwined and if the detectives will find the true motives and solve the case. This book highlights so much that is wrong with big business and how those in most need are often the ones who suffer the most from decisions that are made but unfortunately it is unlikely to ever truly change. I did take a little longer hitting my stride with this book but once I did I was as involved with outcome almost as much as Frølich and Gunnarstranda