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American by Day
- Narrated by: Sean Mangan
- Series: A Sheldon Horowitz Novel, Book 2
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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Publisher's Summary
A gripping and timely novel that follows Sigrid - the dry-witted detective from Derek B. Miller's best-selling debut Norwegian by Night - from Oslo to the United States on a quest to find her missing brother.
She knew it was a weird place.
She'd heard the stories, seen the movies, read the books. But now police Chief Inspector Sigrid Ødegård has to leave her native Norway and actually go there - to that land across the Atlantic where her missing brother is implicated in the mysterious death of a prominent African-American academic. America. Sigrid is plunged into a United States where race and identity, politics and promise, reverberate in every aspect of daily life. Working with - or, if necessary, against - the police, she must negotiate the local political minefields and navigate the backwoods of the Adirondacks to uncover the truth before events escalate further.
Refreshingly funny, slyly perceptive, American by Day secures Derek B. Miller's place as one of our most imaginative and entertaining novelists.
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What listeners say about American by Day
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Bookloverextraordinaire
- 2020-02-24
Political diatribe........terrible book
Let me first start off by saying that I try very hard to find the positives with books from all various genes, and I try not to tear down the author's work. This book just had me boiling over the pompous and insulting way that the author (who is also American and married to a Norwegian) portrayed Americans and the country as a whole. Apparently we are all ignoramuses that are overweight and we could certainly look to Norway as a guiding light for all things positive and right in the world. I have never felt such insult and anger when reading a work of fiction as I did with this book.
I was looking forward to reading this book because I really enjoyed book 1, Norwegian by Night. I gave the author more respect than he did his readership by actually finishing the book so that I could give an honest review. Inspector Sigrid Odegard comes to the US to locate her missing brother per her father's request. What kind of father lets his daughter go on a manhunt for her own brother in a foreign country and just waits for word back? Ok, moving on. Her brother, Markus, was dating a African American woman named Lydia who was also an academic. Sigrid and Sheriff Irv set off to unravel the mystery of where Markus is, who killed his fiancee (Lydia), or did she die by committing suicide? Sigrid is a flat character pretty much throughout the entire book. For someone who has a missing brother that is wanted in connection to the death of his fiancee, she showed very little emotion. She was just basically the mouthpiece of the author's pessimistic views and disdain for America and it's citizens.
It makes more sense now that I am aware that the author has a UK agent. I couldn't figure out how in the world an American agent would (in the best interests of sales and etc,) allow an author to completely insult his readership. That made absolutely zero sense to me. Even if you take this out of the book (which is most of the book), the story line is still horrible. So basically it's a pissing contest between Sigrid and Sheriff Irv to see whose country is better. All of the terrible race relations that we have here would be so much better if we were like Norway. Oh, and let's not forget that there is the unsolved death of Sigrid's brother buried in the background of the story. This book just goes so far off the rails and it's a terrible sequel to Norwegian by Night. The author has lost his readership in me after this terrible book. I'll never read another word he writes again. Enjoy Norway, Mr. Miller, but don't expect to line your pockets with any of my USD.
11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anita
- 2020-03-03
It should only hurt your feelings, if it's true...
...or so said my mother. I read other reviews of this book, that range from calling it preachy and portraying Americans as not so smart to very funny. The result was I approached the book with trepidation. Then, I listened to it. Well, the very funny review got it right.
Derek B. Miller captured the essence of Scandinavians in Sigrid Ødegård - somewhat terse, seemingly humorless, rather literal (having lived in Denmark I feel qualified to say so). And, he also captured the essence of being an American correctly - we do tend to talk a lot! But, this book is a completely different spin on a police procedural/mystery book. A story told with lots of humor and one that makes the point that, just because something looks one way, it does not necessarily mean it is so.
And I agree with the reviewer who said, "I will be really interested in seeing where Miller takes the story in future books and to see more of Sigrid and Irv..."
9 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- BallaghMan
- 2018-06-01
Not quite as good as...
....Norwegian by night which has a high “quirk value”. This follows on but is a little too preachy about us culture and bad behaviors versus Norway. Still it’s worth it. Good ending.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- William G. Crovatt
- 2020-06-23
Expatriate views
I love character driven novels. I enjoyed Norwegian by Night. I could relate with Sheldon because I am an old man too who used to be in the military. The books give insights into being an American in Norway and being a Norwegian in America. Both Sheldon and Sigrid are clever, experienced in life, and highly educated. Both are opinionated and stubborn. Their ideas are interesting and they are often funny. It is my opinion that all of the characters in both books are super interesting.
There are basically two types of law abiding expatriates. One lives in a foreign country for whatever the reason (wife husband children etc.) and call it home. The other goes a step further and renounces their allegiance to their home country. The author is living in another country but retains his allegiance to America.
I am an American expatriate.. I, myself, am in the later category. I love both the country I live in and America. I love both cultures and people. It is impossible to live in another country and not compare it with your home country. It would be natural for someone to begin life in another country by using their home country as a standard of measurement that the foreign country needs to meet or imitate. As years go by you might begin to see the cracks as well as the beauty in your home country as compared to the foreign country you chose to live in.
Miller published this book in 2018. It was written before the racial eruption that is happening in America today.. I found his ideas on police brutality, the gun mentality and racial injustices to be very interesting.
I loved the book and I really enjoyed the narrator.. I look forward to the author's future books. I would very much recommend this book to others.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charlie's Mom
- 2019-01-11
A thoroughly entertaining philosophical part 2
I do a lot of driving in LA and this pair of novels was a breath of fresh air and a thorough delight. I listened to both with my very bright 13 year old who adored both as much as I did. He did comment- “Miller definitely likes to give his characters lengthy monologues.” This is true. But these long philosophical rants and musings are the heart of the novel and the plot is secondary.
I commend Miller, an excellent reader himself, for his perspicacity in recognizing that the man for the job is the flawless and utterly perfect Sean Mangan. Flawless.
Sad the series is over. Glad I found it on audible. I feel like it made me think and kept me truly content for hours.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- zoolady
- 2020-01-14
Of yes, I HAVE enjoyed this program!
It's such a joy to find a new favorite author - both this book and 'Norwegian by Night' were wonderful reads. Observant, astute, philosophical, insightful - and with fantastic characters and a liberal dose of laugh-out-loud humor! I could easily spend HUNDREDS of hours with both Sheldon and Sigrid. I sincerely hope more books are in the works!
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M Swisher
- 2021-03-04
The writer is a funny man.
This was not as good as Norwegian By Nigh, but still a good book. I buy his books by his name now. He's a good writer and I can't imagine returning one of his titles.
People were offended that he was so critical of our culture and he should write for his audience. He is an American who now lives in Norway. The gun stuff did get way too preachy. He needed to lay off that, but it did ease up a bit and got back to humor. We do talk a lot compared to other cultures and there were very accurate observations and light poking at our quirks.
The author is very smart and this is not a book to attempt when tired or you miss the humor. He would be a great dinner guest, but boy do I feel for his wife. It's a lot of observation and pontificating. If you listen to books to tune out and relax from life, this is not your author.
As for the intense criticism from the main character, he wrote it accurately. Europeans do love to pick up apart and criticize our culture. We are the number one topic for 'I could do it better'.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S. M. Farrell
- 2021-06-01
Found a new favorite authors.
One day, Norwegian by Night was on sale on audible and I gave it a chance. Really enjoyed every minute of it. I later found this one and enjoyed it even more. I have to admit, I am a reader vs. listener, but with these 2 books, I am 100% convinced it was even better listening to it. The reader was perfect and the story was well done. Now. I’m going to see if he wrote anything else.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jan
- 2018-04-14
Fun, Murder, and Twists!
punfest, snark-fest, mystery, murder-investigation, twisty
*She is foreign, he can't place the accent though. The three most common foreign accents up here in upstate New York are French Canadian, Mexican, and Brooklyn, and she doesn't sound like any of the three. *
That should give a clue about the humor! The mystery itself is quite well done, the suspense is fueled by red herrings, and plot twists, and each of the characters certainly are. The publisher's blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers, but the humor and godawful puns will keep you chortling long after the read is finished!
I received a free copy in a Goodreads Giveaway.
PS. We are Norsk.
I bought the audio on sale, and was disappointed in the narrator's cadence, boredom, and pronunciations.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- shannon
- 2021-11-22
Sanctimonious
This is my first ever review after having listened to hundreds of books.
In short, the plot was ridiculous and the writing repetitive and preachy. I will never again read anything written by this author.
2 people found this helpful
