This is Nordic Noir at its finest, and also its darkest and most disturbing. It is a complex and thrilling story with social, political and historical implications. The author is a Danish man who has lived in Greenland. This is his first crime novel which will be published n English, and the first of a future series. The translation is impeccable.

The writing is intense, atmospheric, and visual which immerses the reader in the setting which is the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, and surroundings. The sense of place is awesome. You can feel the chill, the darkness, the frigid icy waters, icy pellets hitting the skin when it rains and people shivering in the cold. The capital and landscape are well described in visual prose.

The intricate plot focuses on some gruesome murders in the early 1970’s which have been all but forgotten and some similar murders close to present time.

Matthew is a Danish reporter assigned to cover a story of scientific and historical importance. The mummified body of a probable Viking man who died centuries ago has been discovered in an ice crevice. His story reporting the find would be of worldwide interest. During the night the body is stolen. The policeman guarding the site was dead and his body eviscerated. The photographer’s equipment and film had been stolen. Matthew’s story is thereby killed by the newspaper on orders of higher ups. This does not stop him from investigating similar killings which took place in early 1970s. He suspects prominent politicians may have been involved in their coverup.

Matthew meets a young Inuit woman, Tupaarnaq, who has just been released from 12 years in prison. She was charged with killing her parents and two younger sisters when she was 15. Her father had been gutted and the others shot. She was found covered with blood. Their uneasy alliance is a pleasure to read. Tupaarnaq is covered with tattoos, her head is shaven and is a lethal hunter with her rifle. Matthew suspects she has information that she is not revealing.

Events in 1973 were investigated by a young policeman, Jacob. He believed crimes were related to child abuse and covered up by authorities. Young girls, aged about eleven, were suspected of being raped by their fathers. 3 of the girls vanished. Four of the suspected fathers were murdered, flayed, and their internal organs removed. Jacob managed to rescue and hide the 4th young girl putting both their lives and career in danger. Jacob is brutally attacked in his home and disappears. The girl he was hiding has been abducted and probably murdered before she can reveal what she knows.

Recommended to those who enjoy well written, Nordic Noir with a thrilling and complicated plot. Readers missing Lisbeth Salander may have a new girl to take her place. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

One of the best slow burning thrillers I've read since the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. This book reminds me of the Millennium Trilogy but brings its own unique pleasures.

The writing is superb, the setting is divinely creepy and the characters are all incredibly well written. Each character acts true to his or her nature and no character does something for the sake of advancing the plot. It is well crafted, beautifully written and achingly sad.

My favourite book of 2018 for sure!

Full comprehensive review on www.notesandanovel.com in the next 2 weeks.