This one took a while to read but I was gradually drawn in to Tuva's silent forest world.

Tuva is a journalist, she had been working away but the declining health of her mother has brought her back to her native Sweden. She is working for a regional paper and living close to the forest- a place that terrifies her. Twenty years ago two hunters were murdered in the forest- their eyes removed. In the first week of the elk hunt there is a similar killing. Why has the killer struck again after so long & why does the killer take the eyes? Tuva realises this story could be the break that gets her back to city life but she will have to face her demons to get it.

This book captures the atmosphere of the place brilliantly. I found it a bit slow in places but overall I enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 nearly 4 Stars!

This was an enjoyable and well written book.

I found it took time to get going but this was due to the author setting the scene and building characters and plot lines.

The story was a slow burner but the setting and narrative was really atmospheric and have a true sense of the setting but also the depth of the characters.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys scandic settings and stories.

Dark Pines is an atmospheric whodunnit set in wintry Sweden.

This book was certainly a page-turner, with a plot that moved along at a steady pace, slower at first and then faster as the tension built up towards the end. The writing is stunning, with the depth of detail enhancing the story without detracting from it. Not only does the small cast of characters give the book a claustrophobic vibe, but vivid descriptions of the dark pine forests, and also the climate, create a chilling setting.

Bodies have been discovered with gunshot wounds and their eyes removed - the same as Medusa murders in the area in the 1990s. Is it the same killer or a copycat? Not all of the locals are happy about local journalist Tuva Moodyson investigating, dredging up the past and also potentially portraying the small close-knit town in a bad light. But Tuva is an independent and determined character.

Tuva's deafness gives her vulnerability, creating a sense of danger throughout the book. She has to rely on her sight when her hearing aid batteries are failing or when she removes them in the rain. Not ideal when you're stumbling in the darkness in wintry conditions, and also fear nature and the forest environment. I admit that I did get a little frustrated when the batteries kept failing, and more than a little frustrated that she didn't automatically have spares with her at all times - I would have expected this to be second nature to her. However, the details of her maintaining her hearing aids, and how she deals her deafness, were well-integrated into the story. And her deafness has certainly not held her back in any way.

The book features some very distinct quirky characters and also some very sinister ones - they are well described and well placed, bringing the whole book to life. All quite possibly could be the Medusa killer that Tuva (and the local police) are seeking. Like Tuva, I found myself stumbling around in the dark as I tried to put together the clues.

Dark Pines kept me guessing, with some great twists, turns and red herrings. I was gripped all the way through, and suspense seeped through the pages. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

It's midnight now but I had to finish. Now I'm sleeping, so I'll review in the morning.
----morning----
Well! I loved this book thoroughly. I dont read many thrillers, and I've not really read any scandi-thrillers, but after this I'll feel a lot more inclined to do so. I loved the story and the slow, tense pacing, but most of all I love the characters. There were two main characters, one was the journalist - female, deaf, guilt over her ill mother - and the other was the forest itself. Dark, brooding, full of hidden depths and genuinely disliked by the main character! I could visualise every moment of description despite never having been further north than belgium - I think a mixture of the Black Forest in Germany and perhaps the New Forest in the UK, which both have a similar air of mystery to them, if not quite as bleak.

All the characters were well written and described, and the villages strange inhabitants were probably the most interesting, leaving you truly uncertain about 'whodunnit' as it were. I didn't see the ending coming, although I'd pretty much suspected everyone we were introduced to in the whole book, as they were all a bit...shifty. It was overall a fun, exciting and evocative read, and I'll definitely look for more books from this author in the future.

I had a few issues with this one, despite it being very positively reviewed by many of my fellow bloggers. I didn't quite buy into the deaf central protagonist as it wasn't as authentically portrayed as say, Emma Viskic's Resurrection Bay. I also felt it was too self-consciously trying to be Scandinavian, and so some of the tropes and references were a little overcooked.

This is an a mystery set in atmospheric Sweden. The setting and the writing style add to the suspense and build up of the story. I feel that this story is setting the scene for the next books in the series. I would have liked some more action in this book. I would like to read the next book in the series to see how the characters progress.

After moving to a rural Swedish town to be closer to her terminally ill mother, Tuva Moodyson finds herself working on a once in a lifetime story for the local newspaper. Tuva starts investigating the murder in connection with a series of similar cold case murders that took place in the same forest. Unfortunately for Tuva, she is forced to keep facing her fear of nature by constantly having to return to the forest during her investigation, which puts her on edge during this already dangerous story.

Tuva is such a well-written protagonist who is relatable from the very beginning. She's continuing the struggle with the death of her father, which leads her to strive to report the facts delicately so that she doesn't cause any additional suffering to the victim's families. Tuva also has a rocky relationship with her mother, which makes her feel guilty even though her feelings are justified. Plus, she's smart, strong, and driven, which makes her an extremely interesting character to follow. She's also deaf and bisexual, and neither of these characteristics are the sole reasons for her presence in the book. It's nice to see some positive representation!

In addition to Tuva, there's a cast of characters that range from fascinating to bizarre and suspicious. There's an eccentric ghost-writer, a man who is believed to have hoarding disorder, sisters who create trolls with a variety of items including some of their own hair, and a seemingly perfect couple hiding failing marriage. There's also Tuva's close friend Tammy, who is being submitted to racism at the hands of the people living in their rural town, and a cast of supportive to silently grumpy co-workers and acquaintances. Each of these characters and their circumstances are brought to life in a way that is easy to see them living their lives somewhere in reality.

The murder mystery is well planned and had me glued to the pages. I found a handful of characters highly suspicious and zeroed in on a character that was not the murderer on the loose in the forest. The way that Dean develops the murder plot is gripping and had me wanting to continue reading even when I couldn't. The case is eerie and jarring but, unfortunately, the killer's motives lack depth. The big reveal is also a bit rushed and the story has an open ending that I wish had been tied up. I think the story could benefit from an additional chapter or two to wrap things up. Regardless, I enjoyed following Tuva through the twists and turns the story takes her through and find myself looking forward to reading more from Dean.

Dark PInes has a setting that takes on a life of its own. The sense of remoteness, isolation, and a small community that hides a disproportionate amount of secrets makes for a compelling backdrop to the plot itself. Tuva Moodyson is a conflicted character that holds the strands together brilliantly. She wants to be away, working in London or New York, but can't leave her mother alone on the slippery slope of Alzheimers. She's like a dog with a bone, pursuing her leads, linking present day murders to a spree of brutal killings decades ago, but there are plenty in town who would rather the past stayed buried. Great debut!

Absolutely incredible! It took me a couple of chapters to get in to the story but once I did I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I loved how sensitively Tuva’s deafness was portrayed and that the author sought advice from a member of the deaf community. The crime at the centre of the story was grisly and kept me guessing right up until the big reveal. Can’t wait for the next instalment!

Lots of people will say that this is an excellent thriller, suspenseful with a colourful small town vibe.

What I loved about this book is completely unrelated to that. My mother is deaf in one ear. She is continuously struggling with her hearing aid and the batteries make a piercing buzzing when they are low on a power. She takes her hearing aid off in restaurants and turns her deaf ear to the bed when she sleeps in order to drown out background noise.

Dean's central character is deaf. This is just a fact of her existence and an appropriate amount of page is dedication to how this affects her life; how she needs to keep it dry, how the batteries are a pain, how she turns it off in the office in order to concentrate.

But, more crucially, it was just a part of her character. It didn't result in something terrible happening to her, her disability didn't drive the plot, she just happened to be deaf.

I have never read that in a book before? It made the read familiar and comforting and I am so pleased that it was included.

A great debut that is crying out to made into a movie.
I really enjoyed this atmospheric Scandi noir. The writing is very accomplished and the plot kept me guessing throughout.

I'm really glad I took a chance on this one; I liked it way more than I thought I would!

The reason Dark Pines appealed to me so much was the fact that it takes place in Sweden, and the main character is deaf as well as bisexual - all of which I have not previously encountered in a book, so it was nice to broaden my reading experiences a little more. :)

As far as the plot goes, I felt it was pretty strong; it held my interest, and the murders were certainly creepy enough to keep me guessing at who the killer really was.

The characters were likeable (but not quite lovable), even if they were all a little suspicious at times - which makes for a good mystery, of course! I liked Tuva enough, but she seemed more than a little reckless at times, especially when it came to her safety and her hearing. Being deaf and all, I seriously doubt that I would allow the batteries in my hearing aids to run low/die/get damaged, especially out in the dense and dangerous wilderness.

The writing style was a bit jarring at first and a little difficult to get used to, but once I did it was actually pretty enjoyable.

The setting was my favorite aspect of the book by far! It was dark and rich and wild. It was captivating to read about the denseness of the forest and all the wildlife that filled it. The birds and insects and rodents and elk and all of their habitats were described perfectly. That, coupled with the force of the storms and the unpredictable weather conditions, really made me feel like I was in Utgard forest myself. I loved it.

This being said, I did have a few problems with the book that prevented me from giving it a full 5 stars...
1. Pace
It draaaaaagged so much because Dean incorporated such detail into the story - and I'm not talking about the kinds of details that pick you up and sweep you away and keep you mesmerized until the very last page. No. I'm talking about writing that is bogged down with bland, minute details that really were unnecessary to the story line. I mean, how many times can the main character shower/get dressed/apply facial moisturizer/microwave shitty and unhealthy breakfasts/drive into town/check emails/walk into the police station before you want to scream and launch the book across the room and never pick it up again??? *shudders*
2. Animal-related stuff
Once again, I found myself struggling through a book that described butchering, meat eating, and hunting in such graphic and upsetting ways that I was left convulsing with disgust. And before I am accused of being ignorant because this book was, after all, ABOUT hunting, let me just say this: I get it. I really do. I definitely do not agree with it or understand it, but I do get that that was a major aspect of the book. I just wish Dean had spent less time describing a giant pile of rotting mice and rats against a garden wall or someone eating calf heads whole, or stepping in and slipping on the slippery and bloody entrails of an elk or deer or whatever the fuck. Was any of this REALLY necessary to the story? I highly doubt it.
3. The killer's motive
I was able to get on board with who the killer actually turned out to be. But I could NOT get on board with the killer's motive for murdering. Can we say trite?? (view spoiler)

Despite these issues, I honestly did enjoy the book. It was interesting, and it was entertaining. I'm glad I took a chance on it.




*Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

And now for some international reading...with a twist. Twist being that this prototypical Scandinavian mystery is in fact written by British transplant author, who moved to middle of nowhere Sweden not even that long ago according to his bio. Looks like he certainly got to know the lay of the land pretty well. This is nothing like the progressive liberal Scandinavian country with some challenging climate that generously gave the world Abba...this is near impenetrable hugely expansive sylvan nightmare, early dark, brutal weather and brutish locals that prize their guns and isolationist thinking enough to make any American proud. Is that just a small town mentality across the globe? Get far enough from civilization and the insularity strikes? Either way, this setting worked nicely for a murder mystery, several murders actually, that an intrepid young reporter sets off to solve. For a fiction debut this was very auspicious and Dean gets a lot of things right, there are enough suspicious characters around to make it challenging, the protagonist's deafness is used to maximum effect to highlight the isolation of her surroundings...on the flip side, I sort of had my suspicious about the killer's identity earlier than I would have liked and the novel might have done with some trimming, after all how many times can Tuva prowl the terrifying woods spying on the same few neighbors. What this is in the way is essentially a locked forest mystery, you have a narrow pool of suspects to pick from, although the author did a good job of muddying the waters just enough. Also, I thought the main character might have done with some more development, outside of her bisexuality and appalling diet, there isn't all that much. She's very driven, she gets her stories, but now I see this is billed as a book #1 (because of course no author can resists the serious series money), so maybe in the next installments, the future moody (pun intended) thrillers. Seems like the ever popular Scandinavian fiction really gets elevated by its Nordic exoticism, because an American equivalent of this one wouldn't have been as compelling somehow. Interesting. So anyway...nothing extraordinary, but well done for what it is, good for a winter day. Thanks Netgalley.

Dark Pines is as atmospheric as Lullaby Road, but instead of the bleak expansiveness of the desert, the setting is the looming menace of the forest of Utgard near the small town of Gavrik, Sweden. Both novels have a full contingent of odd characters.

Tuva Moodyson, a deaf reporter, has returned to Sweden, leaving a more promising arena in London to be closer to her terminally ill mother.

This must be the year of deaf protagonists for me, and Tuva has some similarities to Caleb Zelic (Resurrection Bay, And Fire Came Down by Emma Viskic). Both lost their hearing very young as a result of meningitis, both are determined to pursue the career each has chosen, and both are irritated when people comment that they "sound so normal."

Tuva, however, is unapologetic about drawing attention to the fact that she doesn't hear well even with her hearing aids and needs to record statements to be certain she hasn't missed anything. She also takes pleasure in the silence when she removes her hearing aids. Tuva exhibits none of Caleb's desire to hide his deafness; she accepts her lack of hearing and is comfortable with it.

When a hunter is killed, the entire town of Gavrik develops an inexorable fear that there will be a recurrence of the Medusa murders that took place in the 90's. For Tuva, the story may mean a huge step in her career as an investigative journalist. When a second hunter is murdered, the connection to the Medusa murders is affirmed by the trophies taken.

A determined and resolute protagonist, Tuva needs to overcome her fear of the malevolent atmosphere of Utgard Forest and the increasing animosity of Gavrik's citizens to pursue her story.

A fine debut by Will Dean and a new and intriguing character in Tuva Moodyson.

NetGalley/Oneworld Publications

Mystery/Suspense. Jan. 4, 2018. Print length: 400 pages.

There are so many things I want to say about this book, some of them will have to wait and be said further down the line, once I have processed everything I have just read.

If you like crime thrillers then this is a great book for you. We experience the story and the world through the eyes of Tuva, and deaf journalist working in Gavrik, who's trying to write the story of her career, but just what kind of trouble will that get her in to?

Will Dean does an incredible job of describing the landscape, the town, everything that Tuva experiences. At first, it seems like a lot, but it puts you firmly in the seat of understanding Tuva, what she is going through, how the place makes her feel and what kind of town this takes place in.

The story will lead you down different paths, you'll feel like you've got it all figured out only for it to flip you around and change the pace. If you're looking for a dark, slow burning book, this is for you.

I found Will Dean's book Dark Pines very refreshing to read. Because he would use every day material exceptionally well. For example, Tuva;s hearing aids were an integral part of the story and were there for the action, or not, whenever it took place. The run in with the elk or moose at the beginning of the story was exciting, since her father was killed by an elk. It was exciting whenever Tuva had to go to the woods even time she had to get a story as a reporter. Frida, Hannes, Cornelia & Alice, and David Holmqvist were some of the characters that were under Tuva's radar for the killer. But what happened, you'll have to read this book to find out. You won't be disappointed. I gave it 5 stars and highly recommend it. What a find.

Yet another new novelist and a cracking read. This serial killer thriller is set in Sweden and the atmosphere is s Yet another new novelist and a cracking read. This serial killer thriller is set in Sweden and the atmosphere is spot-on! A journalist on a local newspaper in rural Sweden is investigating the deaths of prominent local men and she links the current killings to a series of historic crimes. Although the book sometimes lacks the nerve-jangling tension of the very best thrillers, it is nevertheless a very good novel.pot-on! A journalist on a local newspaper in rural Sweden is investigating the deaths of prominent local men and she links the current killings to a series of historic crimes. Although the book sometimes lacks the nerve-jangling tension of the very best thrillers, it is nevertheless a very good novel.

A fantastic debut novel by Will Dean . Set in a small Swedish town the book is atmospheric and at times very creepy . Tuva is a deaf reporter who works for the local rag so to be near her ill mother . She is a fantastic character and I really look forward to reading more of her in the next book of the series . My thanks to the publishers and netgalley for my chance to read 4.5 stars

Do you watch Scandi thrillers? Well this is one for you. A gripping read set in the dark cold Swedish winter. The characters are so well drawn that they live in your head long after you have finished the novel. It did meander slightly in parts but soon came back on track leading the reader to a glorious twisted end. Look forward to seeing Dark Pines on BBC4 or Channel4 in the near future. It is that good.

Gavrik is a remote Swedish village where news is mundane until the body of a hunter is discovered in the forest. The local paper sends Tuva Moodyson to cover the story. She is a deaf reporter who has returned home to work while her mother is in a nursing home dying of cancer.
Years ago several bodies were discovered with their eyes removed were dubbed the Medusa killings and police never found the killer. Tuva learns of similarities between the murders and suspects the killer has struck again or it is the work of a copycat killer. Handmade trolls left on her doorstep and an incident with the creepy taxi driver are a few of the events leaving her with the impression she may be closer to discovering the murderer than she realizes.
Since the death of her father, Tuva has had an intense fear of the forest. Before the end, she will have to confront her fears before she faces the killer.
What a story rich with characters and in an almost bleak environment. Set in a strange village with unusual residents where the weather is cold and the forest dark and intimidating.
It took me a while before I realized the main character was female but that knowledge did not make a scrap of difference to my enjoyment.
I also didn’t realize trolls could be so gross or learn of the wealth of folktales surrounding them until reading this book. They certainly compliment the atmosphere created by the author and a stunning one it is! This is the sort of book, which draws you in and keeps you there until the nail biting end. Perfect for fans of Nordic fiction/mystery/thrillers.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book via Netgalley. This was a definite five star read and thanks for the opportunity to provide a review.