Einhorn, who is also a filmmaker, has an exquisite sense of tension and dramaturgy. It is hard to put the book down. Just like with Maria Gripe, there is a mystery here that constantly drives the reading forward. Who really is this Agnes Cecilia, this Madeleine F? It is well written and extremely thrilling.
John Sjögren, Svenska Dagbladet
Lena Einhorn masters the art of capturing the reader by placing that first piece of the puzzle so skillfully that you just have to read on to see how it goes… Madeleine F’s fate leaves Hanna no rest, and neither does it the reader: Who is she, or was she? Is she happy? Is she alive or dead? … Madeleine F is both an exciting and deeply serious story about a singular life and destiny.
Mia Gerdin, Kulturnytt, Swedish Public Radio
In some uncannily distinct key scenes, Lena Einhorn lays out the clues in this unusual mystery, which is a concrete story with secrets that can be discerned. But the story gets bigger than the individual and goes from being diffuse to becoming deeply interesting: it is about human frailty and about the sadness at all the possibilities in life that run between your fingers like water, that cannot be contained. That child who was once so bubbly, what happens to it when it grows up? How easily can a talent be crushed?
Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter
”Madeleine F” is exciting as a psychological thriller… Einhorn skillfully and with great finesse exposes the dark mystery that rests over the main character’s life. Family relationships and psychologically complex games are Einhorn’s specialty.
Oline Stig, Sydsvenskan
With a strong sense of rhythm and gaps, Einhorn alternates Hanna’s everyday life with the existence of a Russian-Hungarian girl in the same city, decades earlier. … Madeleine F. is an atmospheric and well-written story about the search for inspiration and identity. The parts communicate seamlessly, deepen each other and make the book hard to put down.
Jonna Fries, Tidningen Vi
For those who want to read the book, not too much should be revealed, it is really very captivating.
Björn Gunnarsson, Hallands nyheter, Hallandsposten
”Madeleine F” is built like a puzzle, where the pieces are added one by one until the whole picture becomes visible. I am gripped by Hanna’s search, perhaps not so much by the search for the woman herself, because pretty soon it is clear who it is, but rather by the search for her expression.
Filippa Pierrou, Arbetarbladet
”Madeleine F” is a serious book. It’s a beautiful – somewhat subdued – novel. And it is written with a stylistic flair that manages to convey the most elusive of emotions. Crister Enander, Dalarnas Tidningar, VLT, Nynäshamnsposten, Sala Allehanda, Norrtelje Tidning, Sundsvalls Tidning, Allehanda, Gefle Dagblad, Östersundsposten
Einhorn is a skilled stylist, who builds her story with a keen ear for suspenseful dramaturgy. The story’s threads are many but they are woven together into a beautiful whole.
Malin Lindroth, Göteborgsposten
It’s hard to put ”Madeleine F” down. This is a book that is written as a page-turner… It is far from light and, unlike most puzzle novels, ”Madeleine F” stays in one’s memory for a long time. Like a question that can never really be answered. Like a human life – bigger and more complex than we can ever imagine.
Johan Fingal, Jönköpingsposten, Värnamo Nyheter
Lena Einhorn’s masterful story touches deeply… This is a very well-written tale that can be read in more ways than one. As a discussion about identity and self-esteem. Or as a debate post on the integration issue. Or as a sharp criticism of the betrayal of the adult world. Or all of the above. In any case – a good book it is, mysterious and exciting and thought-provoking.
Birger Thuresson, Dagen
Lena is an amazing writer… This is such a warm story, it is not just any fiction story, but one that endures. And it has a lot of depth too.
Mona Masri, SVT – Swedish Public Television, Go’kväll
