The Hunt for a Killer

In Sweden, the horrific muder of a young girl in the 1980s took almost 20 years to solve. Other murders (just one of which proved to be linked) and departmental politics obstructred progress; but one thing that 'The Hunt of a Killer', a dramatisation of the police investigation, shows is just how difficult it can be to find the evidence needed to close a case. It's an unmelodramatic reconstruction, and in many ways a depressing one: the killer was a lone actor and societal misfit, whose behaviour was alarming in many respects but which went unchecked while his darkest deeds remained hidden. As at a least a semi-normal person, it's horrifying to see what human beings are capable of if allowed to go far enough wrong.

This six part series tells the real life story of the hunt to catch the murderer of ten year old Helen Nilsson. The officer place in charge of the investigation has no experience of murder cases and makes little progress as his team is flooded with information from members of the public reporting every slightly odd person in the area. Experienced investigator Per-Åke Åkesson is keen to be given the case but those in charge refuse his request. As he notices similarities with other crimes he starts running a parallel unofficial investigation alongside Monica Olhed and another officer. Years pass and still the police are no closer to the killer; to make things worse Per-Åke's bosses seem more interested in form filling than crime solving.

I found this to be a gripping series; it shows how different things are in reality to fictional crime drama... a serious case runs for years and years without serious suspects emerging and the petty bureaucracy which expects police to plan a year in advance despite the nature of crime making that ludicrous. Unlike fiction every new murder is a very real tragedy. The cast do a really good job giving realistic understated performances. Overall an impressive series; definitely worth watching even if it is quite depressing at times.

These comments are based on watching the series in Swedish with English subtitles.

Best Swedish crime serie I have ever seen. So real and intense in slow Scandinavian way. I hope the last episode is going to be good as the whole serie have been. Just excellent.

Excellent drama doc with great cast and script based on true story. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend.

This is far by the best Swedish Police series, about true crimes. Please make season 2, season 3...it's very good to evertbody to remember these victims and cases. The reality must be seen. People have to learn to take more precaution now days. Thanks for this series. RIP to all the victims. 🌹