Sven G. Simonsen
A Good Death

They say that some people are simply incapable of killing, no matter how much they might want to. And then there are others—for them, it comes easier. You are one of them.
THIS IS THE STORY OF MARKUS, a history student who works at the Bunnpris grocery store, Emilie, who becomes his girlfriend, and Inge Stark—Emilie’s father, a controversial public speaker and motivator for young men. Emilie is proud of her father and uncompromisingly loyal to the values he preaches. Markus himself has spent countless hours watching Stark’s YouTube videos, crediting him with turning his life around.
One evening, in a moment of confidence, Emilie asks: "What is the most extreme thing you’ve ever done for someone else?" Markus’s answer is shocking. But Emilie’s reaction is not at all what he expects, either.
Just a few days later, they are both shaken when Inge Stark is accused of sexually assaulting several women. Stark maintains his innocence. But what if he is guilty? If so, and if he were to die—would that not be a good death?

Sven G. Simonsen

Iris Kivisalu

Sven G. Simonsen is an author, journalist, researcher, and aid worker.
He holds a Dr. Philos degree (Political Science, University of Oslo) and an MA in International Journalism (City University, London).
Simonsen has worked as a journalist for several publications, including VG and Dagens Næringsliv. He spent 14 years as a researcher at PRIO (Peace Research Institute Oslo) and has been involved in multiple expert missions for the United Nations in Africa and Asia. He has also served as an international election observer, and published Over sperregrensen [Above the Threshold] (2019), an introduction to electoral systems.
His debut thriller, Risiko [Risk] (2020), was nominated for the Best Crime Fiction Debut of the Year award – the Nytt Blod Prize. In 2022, the sequel Crux was released, followed by Mørkefall [Darkfall] in 2024. In all three books, psychologist Liv Eriksson is the main character.
A Good Death (2026) is Simonsen’s first stand-alone psychological thriller.