2024
Police Chief Håkon Haakonsen desperately tries to piece his life back together after the brutal loss of his girlfriend Sigrid.
He is a single father to two young children, on sick leave, and his days are filled with grief and longing. The new house they moved into, which was supposed to be a safe home for all of them, is now just an empty shell, a reminder of everything that has been lost.
When his boss, Sylvi Noor, pays an unannounced visit to inform him about a new case, something awakens in Håkon. In the City Park in Sandefjord, the police have uncovered the remains of a child beneath one of the rose bushes. The arrested person has confessed to burying the little girl, while hinting at more potential victims. And he refuses to speak to anyone other than Håkon Haakonsen.
As Håkon digs deeper into the case, he uncovers a dark past that forces him to confront more than just a ruthless murderer. Because this case is not only about justice – it threatens to rip away everything Håkon has left to fight for.
Rating 6! From the very first page, we are drawn into the exciting plot, and the tension steadily rises, all the way until I’m left with an increased pulse and my heart in my throat at the gripping ending... Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates an exciting and well-written crime novel.
Rating 5 +! A fantastic dark book with a great language and a plot that nearly took my breath away. The author is so skilled at portraying people that I was completely fascinated. A book with surprising twists. I’m fascinated by the writing style, the character portrayals, and the vulnerable themes.
Rating 6! Bite-your-nails and nerve-wracking. I am impressed by how Bjerkli manages to reinvent herself time after time. She leaves me feeling exhausted, and the expectations are met. The language flows smoothly, you'll have a hard time putting down this crime story before the last page is turned.
Rating 6 - Bjerkli has once again delivers from the absolute highest shelf. The tension is kept at a consistently high level, you never truly relax—the story digs deep into the human mind and its darkest sides. She is one of our very best at what we like to call the 'psychological thriller.'
Rating 6 - A shocking and thought-provoking book written with beautiful flow and fine language. The psychological aspect is masterfully executed. A crime novel that makes me sit with a lump in my throat, feeling the horrible and terrifying is just around the corner, approaching with giant steps.
Bjerkli still flies a bit under the radar; she doesn't receive the same national attention as many colleagues with less to offer. She writes well and engagingly, and in her last books, her stories are more ambitious, more in line with Norway's (alongside Jo Nesbø) leading crime writer Karin Fossum.
Myriam H. Bjerkli
Linda Cartridge
