This was such a good children's murder mystery!
I know this would have been one of my favourite books as a kid, because it reminds me so much of Eva Ibbotson's books, like that classic vibes and darker themes. As an adult some of the things that happened seemed a bit violent (murder and morgues), but I know at like 11/12 I would have thoroughly enjoyed it, kids do like violence sometimes.
The translation was very good too, the only issues I had with it were sometimes I think it made the dialogue seem a little too modern for 1880.
I really liked Mika, and I know 11yr old me would have considered her a favourite character. Also the reluctant father figure vibes from Valdemar? So so good.
The plot was was interesting and fast paced, though maybe a bit too fast paced. Some things happened a little too conveniently, but I can overlook it as it's a children's book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

** “Sometimes things do add up, even if they don’t seem to at first.” **

Originally written in Swedish, Johan Rundberg’s “The Night Raven” is a delightful mystery with a plucky heroine.

Twelve-year-old Mika lives at the Public Children’s Home, helping to oversee the orphaned children also residing there. Filled with extremely strong powers of observation, she can easily read a situation.

When a newborn child is mysteriously abandoned one night — along with a curious message “The Dark Angel knows I’m the one who took her” — Mika becomes intrigued about the baby’s background.

And when Valdemar Hoff, a police detective, learns of her ability to closely observe and decipher situations, he draws her into investigating a dead body, wondering if it could be related to the city’s past Night Raven case.

Rundberg does an incredible job of creating a plot filled with lots of suspense, as well as developing intriguing characters, including the spunky and daring Mika. He reveals the importance of paying attention (“I have to pay attention to detail all the time because my life depends on it”); finding confidence and believing in one’s self; determining and accepting one’s identity; and finding the ability of becoming the hunter and not the prey.

Fans of characters like Nancy Drew and Young Sherlock Holmes will love “The Night Raven,” which is due out Nov. 1. One word: the book is supposed to be for children ages 10 to 14, but I really would not recommend it for those on the younger end of the scale … perhaps starting at 12 or 13, as there are a couple of mild curse words and some dark, disturbing themes.

Five stars out of five.

Amazon Crossing Kids provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Wow! The Night Raven had me sucked in right from the start, making it impossible to put down until I was finished. It is a fantastic YA mystery, taking place in Sweden in the 1800s. Mika, the main character, is a 12 year old who grows up in an orphanage and, to protect herself, is very observant. Her skills come in handy when she teams up with Detective Huff to find the criminal murdering people in her town.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.

Less than 200 pages, this book can be finished in one sitting and you will find yourself wanting to find out more at every chapter. I would suggest this book to upper middle grade as it has several mentions of gory stuffs. Love how straight-forward it is and easy to read.

Mika Moonkind, 12 year old girl who is an observer, growing up in orphanage and earning money at a bar, helps a detective to solve a mystery.

But one thing does bother me, is there any explanation what is the relation of the newborn baby and 'dark angel?'

In this tween book, a girl from an orphanage notices details that others can’t see. Soon, she’s called in to help a police officer solve a murder. Could the night raven serial killer still be on the loose?

This was a great historical mystery for fans of Sherlock Holmes. While the mystery was solved in this story, it looks like it will be the first in a new series. I can’t wait to revisit Mika and her friends.

I had so much fun reading this book. It makes me want to read more middle grade mysteries and I can't wait for what Rundberg has next. I feel like the translation was done well as I didn't ever feel confused by wording, it felt like it was written first in my language.
From the first chapter I could feel the thrill of the mystery at hand. The orphan girl, Mika is immediately likable with her inquisitive nature and determination. I loved putting the pieces of her life together as we also went with her to investigate the mystery of The Dark Angel. The detective, Valdemar, who she interacts with during her investigating, is the perfect combination of gruff and firm in the destitute town they live in and yet he has some surprising characteristics as well.
The book certainly left me with questions unanswered so I look forward to the next book in the series.

The Night Raven is an enthralling fast-moving period crime mystery. Rundberg’s writing is well rounded, the characters are well defined, and the plot is multi-faceted and easy to follow. The descriptions of 1880’s Stockholm are detailed and allow the reader to formulate the scenes in their mind easily.

I really like this book. Even though I find a 12-year-old orphan a stretch working with the police on a gruesome murder investigation, Rundberg creates a believable justification for her involvement. She is pretty much a young Sherlock Holmes, or Holly Gibney (Stephen King).

Overall, I think this book is great for all audiences, even though it is marketed for 10-14-year olds.

There will be 4 books in The Moonwind & Hoff series: The Night Raven (November 1, 2023) , The Queen of Thieves (March 5, 2024), The Angel of Death, and The Blood Pact. I can’t wait for the other 3 books to be released in english.

One final note; SF studios has acquired the film rights to the Moonwind and Hoff series. They are expected to start filming the first movie based on “The Night Raven” in 2024 with a projected film release in 2025.

The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg , translated by A. A. Prime
My Review

If you know me you might ask why read this book? Based on the title alone it sounds dark and like it would cross my line of standard. I chose to read it for several reasons. First, I read the description and was intrigued. Second, I was curious as to how this book would fit into the Middle Grade genre. Third, it was the 2022 winner of the Swedish August Prize and the Crimetime Award (children's division). It was originally published in Sweden and the English translation will be published on November 1, 2023. All these reasons led me to request an ARC of this book.

What I Expected: The Night Raven. By the title I expected a semi-scary, dark, ghost-like story. After reading the description I thought it would be an uncomplicated story with very little character change. Don't judge my opinion. I loved Nancy Drew books and expected a similar take on those classic books.

What I Got: The Night Raven is an unexpected good book with surprising twists and lovely character development. Mika was a joy to read. Her genuine care for others made her great example for middle graders

Final thoughts: As an adult I enjoyed this book, but would not recommend it for younger middle graders. There were no extreme descriptions, but some scenes had details that could frighten a sensitive child. I was glad it didn't have supernatural elements or foul language. What it did have was good detective work, plot twists, tension and an interesting story line. Mika, an orphan, is a good example of a kind heart and a curious mind. You'll want to read what she gets herself into in the next Moonwind series book. This book was extremely clean for an adult but could be too heavy for a young mind.

As an adult I enjoyed this book, but I would not recommend it for younger middlegraders. I was glad it didn't have supernatural elements or foul language. What it did have was good detective work, plot twists, tension and an interesting story line. Mika, an orphan, is a good example of a a kind heart and a curious mind. You'll want to read what she gets herself into in the next Moonwind series book.

The Night Raven is the first in a series. This book has been translated from Swedish and there may be some language differences that cause the reading fluency to fluctuate. After the first section, I found the book a fairly quick read. I was invested in knowing the outcome. The plot moved along and didn’t hang up on too much or too little detail. I would like to read the second book in the series.

I’m having a difficult time trying to decide my rating for this book. The book is listed as middle grade, grades 5-8, but I would be hard pressed to recommend for a young age. Despite the fact the main character is in that age group, this book has some extremely difficult situations and graphic descriptions. Would my 13 year old grandson like this book? Yes. Would my 11 year old granddaughter? Definitely no. I think this book would be more appropriate listed as YA.

Mika’s story is unusual and so very scary. But her gusty attitude and determination makes her a very likable character. Overall, The Night Raven is a solid 3+/4. I would recommend for mature and upper middle grade students.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are mine alone.

I feel that the characters in this book are fully flushed out. All of the characters stayed true to themselves and nothing out of character was done. I really like the main character, Mika, she's very observant and is able to put things together quite well. I think the story pulls you in and makes you feel like you're there with Mika. I believe the translator, Prime, did a great job in keeping the translated versions of some phrases (I hope that makes sense), even though those short phrases sound odd, the reader is able to decipher the meaning.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I believe my middle schoolers will like this book as well. I will be recommending this book to them and will be purchasing a copy to keep in the classroom for my students,

Book 1: The Moonwind Mysteries.
A fiction for children in middle grade set in 1880 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mika is twelve years old and lives in an orphanage, she is required to work outside the orphanage and also to help look after the younger children.
Mika is drawn into a mystery and cryptic messages when a new born baby is left at the orphanage.
Looking forward to reading book 2.
This was about orphanages, identity, serial killers and police investigations.

Written in third person present tense, it took me several chapters to get into the story. Then I was totally immersed in the bitter cold of a Swedish winter, in the grimness of a frozen Stockholm, engrossed by the shadowy threat hanging over the characters. It’s moody and atmospheric and bleak, and I really enjoyed it.
I like Mika, she is kind and caring to the other kids, she uses humour to distract them from their miserable lot (and it is miserable!), and she is smart and loyal. . Her attention to detail is remarkable and I enjoyed her going all-Hercule-Poirot and revealing the steps only after demonstrating some part of the mystery.
I’m not sure how accurate a picture of 1880 Stockholm, but it’s certainly an atmospheric and moving story. The book has a Scandi-noir vibe, with its bleak, cold landscape, edgy darkness, and serial killer. Mika is almost thirteen, and readers will enjoy Mika telling Detective Hoff what to do. Unlike most middle grade stories, however, Mika does not share her observations with friends, Detective Hoff or the reader. Although the story is clever, the puzzle pieces aren’t really there for readers to guess. Rather it is a look at a place of hardship in an unforgiving (and uncaring) society, and how one girl strives to better her lifestyle. Its themes of are corruption and injustice, against a background of grinding poverty and bitter cold, with tragedy at its heart.
I found the story compelling, but it is bleak so probably best for teens onward. A look inside the book will give a good feel for it. It’s the first in a series so I would be interested in seeing where the story goes.

I read a lot of middle grade but do not often find middle grade books in translation so I was really happy to find The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg, translated by A. A. Prime.

This is a murder mystery set in a freezing winter in 1880s Stockholm, where orphan Mika ends up working with police detective Valdemar Hoff to solve a mysterious murder which suggests that the serial killer the Night Raven is not in fact dead as everyone believed.

There are many twists and turns in the plot that I don’t want to spoil here but what I particularly liked about this book is the setting. The description of life in Stockholm in a particularly harsh winter, especially for the poor of the city and the children who live in the orphanage with Mika is really evocative. Life is cruel and hard, this isn’t sugar-coated at all and the addition of gruesome murders, prison visits and danger means the tone is darker than many middle grade books I read. However, I think this will appeal to a lot of young readers. I found the writing really evocative and the setting is one that felt really well-realised and memorable for me.

For mystery fans, there is some great nineteenth-century sleuthing, but no rich gentleman like Sherlock Holmes here, just Mika, with her unerring eye for detail and the gruff Detective Hoff who just wants to get to the truth. There is a real sense of menace as they race around the city to solve the murder. I found Mika a really likeable main character, resourceful and curious and kind under such difficult living conditions. At the end of the book, the main plot is all resolved (though it is not really what I would call a “happy” ending) and there are still enough tantalising unanswered questions to make the reader keen to read the rest of this series (apparently 4 books have already been published in Swedish). I’d definitely recommend to older middle grade readers (10 or 11 plus) who would enjoy a gritty, historical mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this in return for an honest review.

A fantastic mystery novel about a girl orphan girl who joins forces with a police officer in the 1800s to solve a crime. It has all the elements to become a classic, the perfect size, and the perfect storytelling rhythm. Before I knew it, I had finished reading it. I love how the main character grows in many aspects. Great cover.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

I think It's not for me. It was good however i couldn't graps the story.

Many thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was nice to read a title that I stock in my library in Swedish, in English. Swedish mysteries are always darker and more gritty than their English produced counterparts. This was a cold, mysterious, twisty tale of a girl who starts with nothing and ends up feeling like her life is less meaningless. I really liked Mika as a character and enjoyed watching her grow from a lonely orphan into a more confident girl. Hopefully, the translation of the series continues to the next books in the series.

This was a spine-chilling middle grade murder mystery originally written in Swedish. I would definitely say this one is upper middle grade with the content... it's about a serial killer set in 1800s Sweden, so I think that's already a naturally darker topic for middle grade! There are also some darker images, like blood and gore, but overall I think this is a well-written mystery that older middle grade readers will love.

Along with the murder mystery plot, we have Mika, a spunky and detail-oriented orphan child. She assists the detective with solving the case and their dynamic was super sweet!

I feel like the ending came together rather fast and was a bit less climactic than I was expecting, but the build up to everything was so enjoyable. I think this was a solid first book that establishes Mika's world but leaves room for so much more!!

If you have a middle grade student/early teen, this book is an absolute must! I could not put this story down. If your student or child has a passion for reading and enjoys mystery, encourage them to pick up this story. One that will teach them to not only appreciate what they have and those around them but will also encourage them to pay attention to their surroundings.

Rundberg does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged by having chapters that are the perfect length. The story moves at a very steady pace but I did find that the ending wrapped up very quickly. I found myself wishing that the story wrapped up in more than 10 or so pages, it was too fast for all the build up that was provided. It would have been nice to see the aftermath of the outcome a few months following the events that took place.

All in all, if I read this as a young tween, I would have rated this book 4 stars out of 5. Since I read as an adult, I think there is room for improvement in wrapping up this storyline with the suspect. Therefore I rate this 3.5 stars out of 5.

The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg is an interesting story, entertaining, has a good plot. Easy to read, too.

I knew very little about the Night Raven when I started reading, but I decided to check it out because it was about orphans in Sweden in the late 1800s, written by a Swedish author. Having an ancestor who we think was an orphan in Sweden approximately 20 years before this book's setting, I was intrigued see a peek of his life (even if it was wrapped up in a mystery). I am happy to say, I don't regret the decision, as I ended up not only seeing a bit of what life in Sweden was like at the time, I enjoyed the book and the mystery.

Mika was an endearing character, and she seemed relatable to any middle-grade reader who feels stuck between wanting the responsibility that comes with being an adult and still sometimes needing to be taken care of. I enjoyed her skill for detail, and the fact that she has a good reason to notice details - her survival. Post-Sherlock Holmes, I appreciate authors who justify their detectives' skills.

Generally, the book seemed appropriate for teens and tweens, though some readers might find some of the gore to be a little much for them. Parents should also be ready for some conversations with their kids about the hard lives children had in the past, but might use it as a good opportunity to discuss the hardships children, especially in the foster care system, still face and how we can help.