REVIEW: ‘Rebecka Martinsson’ continues strong run of Swedish mysteries

Photo: Ida Engvoll stars as the title character in Rebecka Martinsson, a murder mystery series set in Sweden. Photo courtesy of Acorn TV / Provided with permission from press site.

There is something about Scandinavia and its murder mysteries that seem to entrance viewers. This wondrous region of northern Europe has pumped out some of the best films and TV shows about dastardly crimes and dedicated detectives, and Rebecka Martinsson continues that impressive track record.

Ida Engvoll stars as the title character, a lawyer based in Stockholm, Sweden, who returns to her small hometown above the Arctic Circle to mourn the death of a personal friend. When she arrives at the funeral, Rebecka almost instantly realizes that something strange permeates the local area and her friend’s death may not have been accidental.

The story of Rebecka’s hunt for the killer make up The Blood Split, the first two-part case of Rebecka Martinsson. The new DVD from Acorn TV features eight episodes, totaling four cases, from series 1.

Engvoll is expertly cast in the main role. She’s a strong woman who has an unconventional flair at her law firm in Stockholm. For example, an opening scene has her admitting to making mistakes and expecting to be fired, only to find her bosses offering her a promotion.

When she leaves the city and heads back home, in the cold expanses of the Arctic Circle, it’s almost as if she assumes a different identity. She’s quiet and reserved, enjoying solemn time with family and friends. Her dedication to finding the killer in the first case is because she has a moral compass and refuses to believe the original police story that her friend fell to her death in a church.

The visuals of this Scandinavian drama are stark and beautiful, often with that characteristic blue twilight seeping into the scenes. The wild landscape offers both a postcard-perfect backdrop and foreboding atmosphere of events to come.

Taken together, Engvoll’s performance and the unique environs make Rebecka Martinsson one of the strongest entries in a crowded field of TV dramas from Sweden and its neighboring countries.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Rebecka Martinsson: Series 1 is now available on DVD from Acorn TV. Click here for more information.