What secret would you kill to protect?
When Hedda Hellberg fails to return from a retreat in Italy, where she has been grieving for her recently dead father, her husband discovers that his wife’s life is tangled in mystery. Hedda never left Oslo, the retreat has no record of her and, what’s more, she appears to be connected to the death of an old man, gunned down on the first day of the hunting season in the depths of the Swedish forests. Henning Juul becomes involved in the case when his ex-wife joins in the search for the missing woman, and the estranged pair find themselves enmeshed both in the murky secrets of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, and in the painful truths surrounding the death of their own son. With the loss of his son to deal with, as well as threats to his own life and to that of his ex-wife, Juul is prepared to risk everything to uncover a sinister maze of secrets that ultimately leads to the dark heart of European history.
About the Author
Thomas Enger is a former journalist and the author of the Henning Juul series, which delves into the depths of Oslo’s underbelly, skewering the corridors of dirty politics and nailing the fast-moving world of 24-hour news. Rights to the series have been sold to 26 countries to date and a TV series is in production. Previous books in the series are Burned, Pierced, and Scarred.
Industry Reviews
'A gripping narrative that begs comparison to Stieg Larsson' Bookpage * 'One of the most unusual and intense writers in the field' Barry Forshaw, Independent * 'An intriguing new voice in crime' NJ Cooper * 'Spine-chilling and utterly unputdownable. Thomas Enger has created a masterpiece of intrigue, fast-paced action and suspense that is destined to become Nordic Noir classic' Yrsa Sigurdardottir * 'Thomas Enger is one of the finest writers in the Nordic Noir genre, and this is his very best book yet. Outstanding' Ragnar Jonasson * 'Cursed is visceral and heartfelt - a gripping deep-dive into the secrets that hold families together and tear them apart' Crime by the Book * 'Slick, compelling and taut, Thomas Enger combines a sophisticated layers of mysteries with an intensely scarred hero embarked on a tragic quest. A dark and suspenseful blast of Nordic exposure' Chris Ewan * 'The Killing took us by surprise, The Bridge was a good follow-up, but the political drama Borgen knocked spots of both. For readers who enjoy these Scandinavian imports, this novel is a treat ... the dialogue is sharp and snappy, and the characters seem to come alive in this sophisticated and suspenseful tale' Jessica Mann, Literary Review * 'It has real strengths: the careful language, preserved in the fine translation, and its haunted journalist hero ... An intriguing series' Guardian * 'A powerful new voice and a writer I will follow with great interest' Raven Crime Reads
