Proof that book reviewers do not always read the books they pass judgment upon.

Kristian Lundberg, author and sometime book critic for the Swedish newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad, recently reviewed several newly published thrillers, including The Power of Fear by Britt-Marie Mattsson.  Mr Lundberg was merciless in his criticism, calling the plot “predictable” and the characters one-dimensional.

Mr Lundberg had seen The Power of Fear listed in the publisher’s autumn catalogue; regrettably, however, Ms Mattsson had never actually gotten around to writing it.  But why did Lundberg savage the book anyway?

He told Svensk Bokhandel magazine that he had "got worked up in advance about Britt-Marie Mattsson because I detest her so very greatly. But let's hope the book is published so I get the chance to say it for real."

Even if he gets the chance to say it, who will publish his review now?  Helsingborgs Dagblad has fired him as a book critic, although it may still contract “creative pieces” from him.  More creative than that review, I hope.

h/t: The Sheepcat