Synopses & Reviews
Crime writer Erica Falck is shocked to discover a Nazi medal among her late mother's possessions. Haunted by a childhood of neglect, she resolves to dig deep into her family's past and finally uncover the reasons why. Her enquiries lead her to the home of a retired history teacher. He was among her mother's circle of friends during the Second World War but her questions are met with bizarre and evasive answers. Two days later he meets a violent death. Detective Patrik Hedström, Erica's husband, is on paternity leave but soon becomes embroiled in the murder investigation. Who would kill so ruthlessly to bury secrets so old? Reluctantly Erica must read her mother's wartime diaries. But within the pages is a painful revelation about Erica's past. Could what little knowledge she has be enough to endanger her husband and newborn baby? The dark past is coming to light, and no one will escape the truth of how they came to be . . .
Review
"Excellent. Horrific secrets come to light as the author skillfully shows how the past has influenced recent events." Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
"Of all the mini-Larssons who have arrived on these shores since , Sweden's Camilla Läckberg may be the best - more engaging than Henning Mankell, never as shrill or melodramatic as Jo Nesbo, as tight a plotter as Jussi Adler-Olsen. This is another terrific read." USA Today
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"What could be darker than Nordic crime fiction? Nordic noir with Nazi war criminals! ... You might want to think twice about reading this at home alone at night." New York Post
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"If Camilla keeps producing mysteries as richly textured and downright breathtaking as her latest, who knows? Maybe, one day, we might be identifying Agatha Christie as 'the British Camilla Läckberg.'" Maureen Corrigan
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"A hard-to-put-down tale of hidden motives and old secrets." AARP
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"The first sentence of is a winner, an introduction that tugs the reader inexorably into what lies beyond." Book Reporter
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"The latest thriller from Sweden's Lackberg brings back quirky couple Patrik Hedstrom and Erica Falck." New York Post
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"Läckberg deftly layers the dark details of the crime upon the disturbing seeds of its origin. Fans of Nordic noir will appreciate this taut, twisty mystery enriched with historical detail." Kirkus Reviews
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"Fire and ice! Masterful suspense as compelling as secrets lying far beneath the dark sea. Läckberg is the perfect crime novelist who combines her gift for intriguingly complicated plots and a keen understanding of the 'grotesques' who live among us. Erotic and terrifying." Ann Rule, author of In The Still of the Night
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"Part thriller, part family drama with a devastating love story at its core, is an engrossing and multi-layered novel that reinforces why Camilla Läckberg is one of the best writers of crime fiction today." The Pittsburgh Examiner
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"Erica Falck, a crime writer with an infant child, discovers a piece of Nazi memorabilia hidden among her late mother's belongings--and it takes her down a dark path as she recalls her own unhappy childhood in Camilla Läckberg's disquieting new mystery." Barnes & Noble Book Blog
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"Amid the recent wave of successful Scandinavian mystery writers, such as Henning Mankell and Arnaldur Indri?ason, Swedish author Camilla Läckberg stands apart from her peers. New readers are bound to be hooked by Läckberg's unusual blend of personal drama, social commentary and mystery. is an excellent entry in this appealing series." Barnes & Noble Book Blog
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"This one kept me reading." Shelf Awareness
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" will keep fans of Swedish crime guessing until the final pages." Booklist
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"One of those mysteries that ruin a vacation. Take it to the beach and your eyes will be so locked on its pages, you'll never even know there's an ocean in front of you." The Washington Post
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"Läckberg folds historical mysteries into her modern-day thrillers, and eventually the old and new merge into one story. Once again, she has created a hard-to-put-down tale of hidden motives and old secrets." Minneapolis Star-Tribune
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"Eerie. Läckberg will keep you guessing." Minneapolis Star-Tribune
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"This one kept me reading." The Charlotte Observer
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"Eerie. Läckberg will keep you guessing." People Magazine
Synopsis
Now in paperback, the brilliant new psychological thriller from worldwide bestseller Camilla Läckberg--the chilling struggle of a young woman facing the darkest chapter of Europe's past.
About the Author
Camilla Läckberg worked as an economist in Stockholm until a course in creative writing triggered a drastic career change. Her novels have all been #1 bestsellers in Sweden, and she is the most successful native author in Swedish history. She was recently the #1 bestselling female author in Europe, and her novels have been sold in thirty-five countries. Her previous novels include The Stonecutter and The Hidden Child, which are available from Pegasus Books. Camilla lives in a suburb of Stockholm with her family.