Harbor

By: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt

From the author of the international and New York Times best seller Let the Right One In (Let Me In) comes this stunning and terrifying book which begins when a man's six-year-old daughter vanishes.

One ordinary winter afternoon on a snowy island, Anders and Cecilia take their six-year-old daughter, Maja, across the ice to visit the lighthouse in the middle of the frozen channel. While the couple explore the lighthouse, Maja disappears - either into thin air or under thin ice - leaving not even a footprint in the snow. Two years later, alone and more or less permanently drunk, Anders returns to the island to regroup. He slowly realizes that people are not telling him all they know; even his own mother, it seems, is keeping secrets. What is happening in Domaro, and what power does the sea have over the town's inhabitants?

As he did with Let the Right One In and Handling the Undead, John Ajvide Lindqvist serves up a blockbuster cocktail of suspense in a narrative that barely pauses for breath.

©2008 John Ajvide Lindqvist and ©2010 Marlaine Delargy (Translation) (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“John Ajvide Lindqvist is rightly seen as one of the most exciting writers working in the horror genre at the moment - a rival, indeed, to Stephen King.” ( TheScotsman.com )

An uninspired tale well told?

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Ultimately, the pacing of this book was too slow for me, and the core premise isn't interesting enough to merit my investment. Other people might enjoy this book, but to me it's just another Creepy Isolated Locals with Occult Secret tale stretched out very thin with a dash of pretentiousness.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I think I'll go into more science fiction. I've had several runs with disapointing horror recently.

What about Julian Rhind-Tutt’s performance did you like?

He is good at bringing regional flavor and low-minded malice to characters.

Was Harbor worth the listening time?

On the whole it didn't satisfy me. It's not necessarily a bad book, but it took too long for me to reach an unsurprising turn of events.

Probably Good Book - Not A Good Audiobook

I've listened to every Lindqvist novel translated into English. I saw this one and thought "Whoa, how did I miss this one?!" Then after listening to the first few chapters about 5x each I remembered why I hadn't already bought it. I had read a review saying that this isn't good for listening. Unfortunately, it's true.

The story skips back and forth through time which is probably even a bit difficult reading the book. Lindvquist, speaking as the narrator in the story, even apologizes for this but says it's necessary. In an audiobook, though, it's just too hard to follow. I had to pay strict attention every second or I found myself lost.

Anyway, knowing Lindqvist, I'd say this is probably a great book! I'll have to read it physically to confirm, however.

Really loved this book!

Lindqvist's prose is wonderful and his storytelling is meticulous -- it unfolds so gradually that one may not notice a turn in the story until it's well underway. What a crafty writer! Great book!

One of my favorite finds

I really loved this book. I was dubious after reading some of the reviews but I'm so glad I got it. Great story.

Excellent Listen

Would you consider the audio edition of Harbor to be better than the print version?

I rarely if ever write reviews since most of what I read or listen to is not worth the time. This story was however, a wonderful surprise. In addition to having quite a unique and intriguing concept, the execution was excellent as well as the narration.

What did you like best about this story?

An old idea was given a new perspective and that concept was developed very well. Additionally, it provided me with a very interesting view of life in Sweden.

What does Julian Rhind-Tutt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This narrator is by far the best I've heard out of the dozens of audiobooks I've listened to over the years. He had the ability to very naturally transition from character-to-character without "overdoing" any of them. He was also one of the most accurate readers I've heard. I could not identify even one word mis-spoken or mis-read.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I listen to audiobooks during my sometimes long commutes to and from work everyday. There were many days I found myself losing track of how I made it into work or home going on "autopilot" for the drive while paying in-depth attention to the book. There were also many-a-evening where I sat in my garage for a time listening until my wife popped-in to let me know dinner was ready.

Any additional comments?

All-in-all, an excellent listen. I'm certain that in the not too distant future I will be listening to this story again which I've never done with any other audiobook.

not as good as Let The Right One In

I was bored before the end of the story. at least it had a happy ending.

Great Writing Lame Story

Where does Harbor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Low middle

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Make the lines between magical realism and the real clearer. Don't apply rational ideas to magical realism and don't lend magic to the moments of reality.

Which scene was your favorite?

Finding Maia

If you could take any character from Harbor out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Andres

Long Book, Slow in many places

I liked the book enough to listen to the end. I probably would not actually recommend it to the first time reader.

Didn't meet Expectations. Bummer:=(

After listening to the incredible book "Let the Right One in" I had high hopes for "Harbor." Unfortunately the book was very slow and brooding; like a book on benzodiazepines under water (maybe that was the idea). Even the suspenseful moments were flat. The idea behind the story is a good one, but this one of the few times I felt a book could have used some pruning (usually I feel just the opposite). Toward the end of the story I found myself waiting for it to be over. Never the less I will still read or listen to more books written by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

Delightfully Creepy

This is a delightfully creepy Scandanavian tale. But unlike many of the other Scandanavian writers who write thrillers or mysteries, John Ajvide Lindqvist writes supernatural stories.

Harbour starts out with a family going for a little mid-winter picnic to the lighthouse, and the 8 year old daughter disappears into thin air. Several years later, her parents have divorced, and her father (who has hit rock bottom and spends his time drinking and despairing) returns to the island where they formerly lived and were happy.

But the island has its secrets, and the residents want to keep things that way. The book is suffused with magic and bits of creepiness. The ending is a little overblown, but the journey along the way is perfectly delicious.

The narration is well done, and the writing is very solid. This is a great escapist read. It's a little less bleak than Let Me In, but is equally well done. This is definitely credit-worthy.