2024
Seven-year-old Mari is playing on the beach outside the house where she lives. It’s a rainy October day, and her mom has a visitor—her new boyfriend, Petter. Mari doesn’t like him. She dreams of her real dad—whom she only remembers from a black-and-white photo on her nightstand—coming to visit one day.
There are many real-life examples of young girls being held captive by despicable men. Some for years. Often in dark basements, in ordinary neighborhoods, where no one suspects what’s happening behind their neighbor’s walls. Could the same thing happen in Kodal, the peaceful little village just outside Sandefjord?
It is a solid crime novel delivered by Myriam H. Bjerkli. The language is polished, and the book is characterized by insight and a joy of storytelling. In that sense, one might think it was written by an experienced crime author rather than someone who is, in fact, a debutant in the genre.
An easy-to-read, thrilling crime novel you can't put down, as the book keeps driving you forward."
Bjerkli's writing is polished, with flow and variation... She convincingly portrays the harrowing relationship that develops between the abuser and the victim ... The plot turns out to be more complex than anticipated, and the ending is as shocking as it is unsettling.
Bjerkli masterfully captivates me. This is a result of the richness in the text and its unsentimental nature, which allows the reader to experience it without guidance from the narrator, keeping the reader’s attention until the very last page... This crime stirs thoughts, emotions, and perceptions
.. an incredibly gripping story with a subtle twist at the end... At times, we were almost glued to the pages, captivated by the plot. For a debut in this genre, this is extraordinarily well done!
A book that can definitely be recommended, and the author deserves much praise…"
Lille Linerle is, without comparison, the most powerful crime story I’ve ever read.
Bjerkli has written a chilling, painful, and well-crafted crime novel. I’m not usually a fan of this cliché, but the book was completely impossible to put down. I give this book my highest recommendation.
Truly excellent craftsmanship! Thrilling and dramatic. You have a strong command of the craft and the writing – the dramaturgy, the tension arcs, and everything. An exciting new debut author!
"I believe this must be one of the strongest crime debuts I’ve ever read. . The book is spine-tinglingly exciting. At times, it physically hurts. It still lingers, more than a day after I closed it. Gently. Because the ending really gave me something to think about."
Lille Linerle is an incredibly thrilling and disturbingly realistic crime novel, the most realistic crime novel I’ve ever read, and it can send chills all the way down your spine. It keeps the tension high from the first to the last page.
Myriam H. Bjerkli
