Under the Storm - Christoffer Carlsson

 Under the Storm - Christoffer Carlsson

Pub. Date:  Feb. 27, 2024

She read

In rural Sweden, a young woman is found dead in a house that has been set on fire to cover the crime.  Her boyfriend is charged with and convicted of the crime. As his beloved nephew, Isak, grows up, he fears that he may take after his uncle.  The disposition of the case nags at Vidar, one of the investigating officers. Did they charge the right perpetrator? There are some indications that someone else might have committed the crime.  His tortured obsession with it over more than a decade leads to some consequential decisions in his life.

Carlsson writes Nordic noir at its best.  This is the second of his books that I have read.  The first one, Blaze Me a Sun, which I loved, featured Vidar’s father. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the book and Carlsson captures well the vicissitudes, allure and danger of the Swedish climate.  

If you are a fan of Nordic noir or would like an introduction to it, I recommend this read. If you are new to this genre, do not expect a fast paced, action packed novel, but rather a slow unfolding of the plot along with developing, well crafted characterizations.  

Thanks to #netgalley and #randomhouse #hogarthbooks for the ARC.

*****