Wagner, Jan Costin 1972–

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Wagner, Jan Costin 1972–

PERSONAL:

Born 1972, in Germany; married. Education: Attended Frankfurt University.

CAREER:

Journalist and freelance author.

WRITINGS:

Nachtfahrt (novel), Eichborn (Berlin, Germany), 2001.

Ice Moon (mystery novel; originally published in Germany as Eismond), translated by John Brown-john, Harvill Secker (London, England), 2006.

Das Schweigen (novel), Eichborn Berlin (Frankfurt on Main, Germany), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

A journalist and freelance writer in his native Germany, Jan Costin Wagner is also an author of murder mysteries. His first to be translated into English, Ice Moon, is about a young police detective working on a disturbing case after the recent death of his wife from cancer. The serial killer, who likes to murder his victims in the least violent and quietest way possible, also narrates much of the book. Detective Kimmo Joentaa feels himself drawn into the case, sensing a kind of connection between himself and the killer. Reviewers of this psychological crime novel noted occasional flaws in it, but overall found it intriguing and gripping. A Publishers Weekly writer, for example, felt the author "sometimes shifts awkwardly" to the point of view of the murderer, but added that the "characters are well drawn" in this "absorbing" novel. Writing in Booklist, Thomas Gaughan was disappointed that the setting in Finland does not come through in the book, yet he described the thriller as a "superior crime novel." And while Curled Up with a Good Book contributor Luan Gaines complained that "the lack of passion that permeates the book alienated me to some degree, and I failed to make a connection with the protagonist," Maxine Clarke asserted in Euro Crime that "the main strength of this excellent book is the character study of Kimmo Joentaa."