Finished this early this morning:
Samuel Bjork is seemingly the new kid on the Scandi-crime block. A Norwegian writer whose characterisation owes quite a bit to Stieg Larsson, it has to be said. Nonetheless, he spins a decent tale in this, the first of a projected series. The book starts quietly if intriguing, making it clear that both protagonists have a significant and disastrous past leaving one of them demoted and the other contemplating suicide. Yet their collected talents are needed back in Oslo when a series of ritualistic child murders are uncovered. Could this have something to do with a sinister Christian cult based outside the city, or are more basic themes of revenge at play? The translation is clear and crisp, while the tension ramps up nicely towards the end. This series is worth watching out for.
Now, casting my net wider when it comes to translated crime fiction, here's a notable German hit novel that I've just started:
Nele Neuhaus' originally self-published novel became a literary phenomenon in Europe, and reads well so far. Her novel focuses on a young man recently released from prison for the murder of a young woman which he is seemingly innocent of, only to discover the extent to which his parents have suffered as a result of this incident. It's clear at this early that one of her persuasive themes is the suffocating nature of a small-minded village community. This is uncomfortable but compelling reading so far.