From Powells.com
Staff Pick
This remarkable Danish crime fiction writer is back at it again with a new book in her addictive series, and with another story that will keep you up at night. Blædel’s plotlines are creepy and complex, this one involving the disappearance of a teenage boy and a religion based on ancient Nordic mythology. Wholly gripping, dark, and deadly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better crime writer out there. Recommended By Moses M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Sara Blaedel, author of the #1 international bestseller The Forgotten Girls — which was roundly praised as "gripping" with "uncompromising realism" (Washington Post) and "tautly suspenseful" (BookPage) — returns with the thrilling next book in her series featuring police investigator Louise Rick.
Following an extended leave, Louise Rick returns to work at the Special Search Agency, an elite unit of the National Police Department. She's assigned a case involving a fifteen-year-old who vanished a week earlier. When Louise realizes that the missing teenager is the son of a butcher from Hvalsoe, she seizes the opportunity to combine the search for the teen with her personal investigation of her boyfriend's long-ago death...Louise's investigation takes her on a journey back through time. She reconnects with figures from her past, including Kim, the principal investigator at the Holbaek Police Department, her former in-laws, fanatic ancient religion believers, and her longtime close friend, journalist Camilla Lind. As she moves through the small town's cramped network of deadly connections, Louise unearths toxic truths left unspoken and dangerous secrets.
Review
"This is a standout book that will only solidify the author's well-respected standing in crime fiction. Blaedel drops clues that will leave readers guessing right up to the reveal. Each new lead opens an array of possibilities, and putting the book down became a feat this reviewer was unable to achieve. Based on the history of treating the disabled, the story is both horrifying and all-to-real. Even the villains have nuanced and sympathetic motives." Times (UK), Top Pick
Review
"A sharp protagonist who wrestles with her own failings and fears, in a skillfully told story that is typically dark in the manner of Nordic crime fiction."
Booklist
Review
"[The Forgotten Girls] is gripping when it depicts some horrific crimes...[An] uncompromising realism...distinguishes this novel at its best."
Washington Post
Review
"For readers who gorge on captivating characters and chilling suspense, The Forgotten Girls is a tantalizing treat. Enjoy yourself, America."
Sandra Brown
About the Author
Sara Blaedel is the author of the #1 international bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Her books are published in thirty-three countries. She lives in Copenhagen, and was voted Denmark's most popular novelist for the fourth time in 2014. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark's most prestigious literary award.