This was a good book, but as always, the names hang me up, lol. I'm a white woman from New Jersey, USA, so names that aren't white bread English always trip me up! Because of that, this one may have been better on audio for me - but. Other than that, this was a good book. You can tell the author really knows his stuff, and I LOVE reading authors who factually know exactly what they're talking about - unless it's fantasy and SOME sci-fi, I prefer my realistic books to be just that - realistic - and this one was. 4 stars!

I enjoyed this! It's written well and is unique. I really like the writing style and I will definitely read the other books in the series! I wasn't sure how it was going to end which is always a good thing. I would recommend this! Special Thank you to Random House Publishing, Christoffer Carlsson and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

"One single night: A house burned down in Tolarp. There was someone inside on the kitchen floor. One instant, a before and after: the stillness before the spark appeared, and the inferno that followed. One single event. That was all it took to redirect the path of a life. Like the filament of a root moving through time."

This is a Swedish crime story involving the investigation into the murder of Edvard's girlfriend, Lovisa, by Vidar, an officer who resides locally in the small town and within walking distance of the murder scene. Discovered by Vidar at the scene of the crime, Edvard becomes the prime suspect but continuously declares his innocence. Edvard's nephew, Isak, who grew up regarding him as a father figure, is torn between belief and disbelief that Edvard is the murderer, which impacts his own self-worth. As more evidence comes to light throughout the story, both Vidar and Isak question the validity of Edvard being the true murderer.

This is a whodunit that will keep you guessing throughout the story. You get to delve into the detective mind of Vidar and how he processes clues to come to his conclusions. The character development of Isak also shows how conflicted he is growing up, thinking he comes from bad genetics because of his uncle and grandfather's past actions, and dreading the same inevitable fate will come to pass with himself.

I really enjoyed Carlsson's style of writing and would definitely read another story by him. He keeps you intrigued and entertained until the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ebook.

Similar to his first book, although this one was a little harder to follow when the mystery was finally revealed. The pace is on the slower side which really helps highlight the psychology behind the characters motivations and trajectories. Readers who like Scandinavian crime fiction will enjoy this one.

4.25⭐

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson (translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles is an exceptionally well-written, immersive novel that I could not put down.

The novel begins in Marbäck, Halland, Sweden with the discovery of the body of a young woman after a house fire in November 1994. The ensuing investigation implicates her boyfriend twenty- five-year-old Edvard Christensson whose troubled background and family history make it easy for the community and law enforcement to vilify him. Edvard was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 1995. The narrative follows Officer Vidar Jörgensson who was part of the investigation and Isak Nyqvist Edvard’s nephew, seven years old at the time, both of whom are haunted by the case for their own reasons.

The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Vidar and Isak and structured in three parts spanning over two decades. This is a slow-paced, lengthy, character-driven novel with a murder mystery at its core. The vividly described setting, the small-town dynamics and deep character studies are deftly woven into the procedural aspect of the story. Vidar spends the next few decades conflicted about the thoroughness of the investigation, unsure of whether he put an innocent man in prison. Isak’s life and worldview changed when his uncle, whom he loved and trusted, was imprisoned. He fears that he might go down the same road as that of his uncle and grandfather before him. Compelled to delve deeper into what truly happened all those years, both Vidar and Isak are unable to let go of the past and this impacts their present relationships. The author brilliantly captures both the psychological trauma Isak carries into his adulthood and the guilt and self-doubt experienced by Vidar. Despite the slow pace, at no point did I lose interest in the story. There were enough red herrings along the way to add an element of surprise to the finale, which I did feel was a tad overwhelming. However, the journey to end more than makes up for the same. Outstanding character development, intense emotional depth and powerful writing render this novel an absorbing read. However, if you prefer plot-driven, fast-paced thrillers, this book might not be the right choice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series (the translated version of which was released before this one!).

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This story line moved a little slow for me but it may be because I am unfamiliar with the locale and some of the procedures and motivations of the police and surrounding characters. They were somewhat confusing until I researched to figure out what was happening. The base story is pretty straight forward.

A young woman is murdered and a fire set to cover up the crime. The investigation identifies her boyfriend as the likely murderer and he is tried and convicted quickly. He will spend more than 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

A young boy, the nephew of the convicted boyfriend, is repeatedly told that his family has "bad blood" and he will follow his uncle into prison at some point. A self fulfilling prophecy.

The police officer on his first official case who arrests and handles the conviction of the boyfriend. He's considered a hero and will launch a successful career on the results.

Ten years after the crime, questions have come up on the case. Are they sure the right man was convicted? With little interest in declaring an error, rush to judgement. The conviction stands.

Another 12 years have gone by, the policeman has retired but there are questions still. The boy has grown into the criminal he was predicted to be. Now there is new evidence and a new suspect. The public will not rest until the questions are answered. When the answers come clear.....well the investigation profits from advanced methods and a new set of detectives.

It took me a while to find the sweet spot in this Nordic mystery, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. The character development starts off a bit shaky but really comes together as hey interact. A fire and a girl bludgeoned to death is the mystery. The who did it comes early On but one cop can't let it go. the side stories are well done including a coming of age of the murderer's nephew over the years. Really well done.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

Christoffer Carlsson's second book is Swedish noir fiction at its best. I really enjoyed this book. A police procedural at it's heart, this book was very well written and allows the reader to understand criminology. I am a Jo Nesbo fan and if you like him you will enjoy this book. I am looking forward to what Christoffer writes next!

On a cold night in Sweden a house burns to the ground and a woman is found murdered inside the house. This book takes us inside the case from the very beginning, then a decade later and then to thirteen years after that. I like that the book took me to Sweden and I enjoyed the police procedural aspect of the case. However the book was a slow burn and it took time to really get into the book. Thank you #NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a good book, though at times I found it very slow, more of a literary thriller than a traditional who dun it. Vidar is a young policeman when he notices a farmhouse not far from his that appears to be on fire. He goes over to investigate and finds that not only is it on fire, someone is inside. Other emergency people arrive and Vidar is asked to visit neighboring farms to ask if they saw anything, then once done he's told to go home, on the way he comes across a man laying in the woods, blood on him and smelling of smoke. That man was Edvard, he is the boyfriend of Lovisa, the woman who had been in the house and turns out, was murdered. Edvard is quickly accused, put on trial, convicted and sent to jail. His nephew Isak, can't believe his uncle would do that, Isak spends a lot of time with him and feels very close to him, close enough to know him. The story is told from the perspective of Vidar, who is haunted by the case, believing the police, and himself by extension, got it wrong, he spends a considerable amount of time reinvestigating, questioning suspects and always searching for the truth. Isak was young when the incident happened and is traumatized by it, affecting the course of his life, he wonders if he is capable of doing such a grave act, thinking there is something wrong with his family lineage, that some bad thing passes down. Both Isak and Vidar eventually marry, though they both carry the scars of that night through their lives which affects both of their marriages. This story moves along at a leisurely pace, at times I found it too slow, but then something would happen and I would want to continue reading, I would recommend but would advise to be patient with story and you will be rewarded with a very good read. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Hogarth for the ARC.

This one was an interesting toss up for me. Ultimately I gave it 3.5/5. It couldn't quite reach a 4 for me, despite the fact that I binge read this, solely because the ending had me disappointed. The writing itself is engaging and leads one on a reflective journey to think about what the world is when people truly care about others and what it is as a result of selfish choices and generationally unhealthy home lives.

There were points where you feel for the main characters who are on an honorable quest to seek the truth, no matter how long it takes them, but I still felt a sense of hopelessness in the end with the big reveal. 

I recommend this book for those who love a good mystery, but I'm not sure I would encourage all to read based on the disappointingly predictable ending and the horribly negative impact it has on the main characters as a result. In the end, no one truly wins despite the truth coming out. But I guess that's unfortunately how the system goes sometimes, isn't it?

When a young woman's body is found in a farmhouse that has been burned down the locals are shocked especially when it's revealed she didn't die from the fire. The police are looking at the young woman's boyfriend who is eventually found guilty. Vidar the police officer who solved the case doesn't even begin to understand how this one case will define his life. Follow along and see just how solving this case changes Vidar's life and what direction it leads him to.

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson is a Swedish police procedural, of sorts. Every detective has one case he can’t let goof. In the case of Vidar Jorgensson, who lives in the small town of Marback, Halland, Sweden in 1994 it is the heinous murder of Louvisa. She was Edvard’s girlfriend.. Not only was she murdered but her house was burned to the ground with her in it. Vidar was close, having just left is paramour’s bed, and so joined the search. The next day he was given a list of alibis to confirm, and so the investigation moved forward. Isak is Edvard’s seven-year-old nephew who adores him. They spent every Sunday together doing things that are fun, that Isak’s parents don’t have time for. Soon Edvard is arrested. Everyone agrees he did it. Vidar wonders. While he is investigating he meets Patricia when she hands over some threatening letters Louvisa had hidden at work. She had called police about them, but they had failed to respond. He later married her. Thirty years later she is ready to leave him because of his obsession with Edvard’s guilt (or innocence).

This is a compelling book, sharing just enough of peoples’ personal lives to give the reader insight, but focusing mainly on the murder and those directly involved. Vidar was right. Edvard had been innocent, but he was dead now, having overdosed in prison. Isak was preparing to usher a child into his life, but it had been a rough row to hoe to get where he was now. Isak’s mother was a drunk. This murder had impacted so many beyond Louvisa’s family. Vidar’s marriage might be on the rocks. It had skewed the perspectives of all involved and the story was told so well. The characters mostly reacted the way people would, regular people with regular lives. The plotting was tight, making this a gripping story of laziness, betrayal, deceit, and so much more. What a wonderful book for crime readers! Thanks Mr. Carlsson!

I was invited to read Under the Storm by Random House Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #ChristofferCarlsson #UnderTheStorm

I DNF’d at 30%. It was in fact not giving crime or thriller. Too slow paced for me to stay interested and engaged.

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson had me from the first page to the last. It is a very well written novel with such believable characters that I could actually picture them in my mind. Under the Storm began with Kymig in the air in a small Swedish village. Kymig is a Swedish word used when there is an unpleasant feel to a certain person or place. A fire burned the home of Hans and Erika Marksrom in the village of Tolarp; Sadly the home was known to have bad wiring and an old gas stove so the first to arrive assumed it was an accident. The situation intensified with the discovery of the body of the Markstorm's daughter Lovisa,and the determination that she died not as a result not of the fire, but from blunt force trauma to the head. I could tell the entire story in my review, however the book is so compelling and intriguing that I recommend that you read it for yourself. The author is also a well respected Swedish criminology professor so police procedures and hierarchy portrayalsare accurate. Under the Storm is an intense,novel that is perfect for readers of thrillers and suspense..Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Christffer Carlsson for the opportunity to read and reviewan ARC Under the Storm; my review reflects my honest assessment of the book. 4.5 stars.

3.5 ⭐️’s
One night, a house burned to the ground. There was someone inside, on the floor, someone who couldn’t move. Something began, something ended. It took a long time to clear up.”
In 1994 there’s a devastating fire in Marback, Sweden. A fire that was used to destroy evidence of a murder. Officer Vidar Jorgensson is soon on the scene. In the days to come all signs point to the boyfriend, Edvard and though he professes his innocence, he is convicted of the crime. His eight year old nephew, Isak, has only ever seen the good in Edvard and has a hard time coming to grips with the outcome. From that point forward he questions if he, too, might be violent. Nine years later, in 2004, Vidar starts to delve deeper into the evidence that convicted Edvard. Is there a chance that he really could be innocent. Meanwhile Isak is in high school and starting to get himself into trouble, trouble that Vidar tries to nip in the bud. Fast forward twelve more years. Years that leave Vidar still questioning. Years that Isak gets himself in and out of trouble, but is finally turning the corner, but when he goes missing, once again, Vidar is in the midst of the investigation, even after leaving the force years before. Is Isak still alive and is there a connection to that fateful night in 1994. Vidar is like a dog with a bone and he’s a hairs breath away from losing it all, but will he get the answers he so desperately seeks before it’s too late. This book was a slow go on the onset, but grew on me as the pages turned. A bit depressing at times, but a well written, intriguing story. Thank you to Hogarth and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: February 27, 2024

LOVED Carlsson’s last crime novel (Blaze Me a Sun) and was excited for the opportunity to read Under the Storm. This has us back on the force in Sweden with a gruesome crime. Everyone seems like a suspect and this is fantastically drawn out with small reveals along the way.

I really appreciate Carlsson giving the reader some work to do in putting things together. There’s nothing worse than a novel just putting everything on the page—I’m a sucker for books that make you think, analyze, and guess along the way.

A great read if you’re a sucker for dark, Scandinavian crime novels like me!

When a young woman is found dead inside a burned farmhouse, officer Vidar Jörgensson witnesses the aftermath and helps to put the suspect, Edvard Christensson, behind bars.

Edvard’s ten year old nephew, Isak, is in disbelief that his uncle could be capable of such a thing. No one was closer to Isak than his beloved uncle and with him in prison, Isak is left to cope alone. The murder has left a stain on the family and they are ostracized by the small community.

The story follows Isak’s as he navigates his path to adulthood. At the same time Vidar, whose life has also been changed by the murder, keeps a watchful eye on Isak.

I enjoyed this book. The personalities of the characters were described well. I liked learning how the police investigation went from Vidar’s point of view. Especially how much he had to go through to make sure he sent the right person to prison.

I was shocked at all that happened. I can’t say because of spoilers but the story is thrilling! Lots of suspense and hair raising moments.

This is not an over the top, unbelievable, crime thriller. This is an intense police investigation. I would say it’s closer to Ann Cleeves that a Riley Sager.

The author, Christopher Carlsson, is a professor of criminology as well as a highly admired Scandinavian crime writer. I look forward to reading all his books!

Many thanks to Christopher Carlsson and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC via NetGalley!!

I think this is a great book for anyone who likes to slowly read a book. Personally, I want a book that sucks me in and demands I read it immediately. This was just a bit too slow and “messy” for me.

When a young woman is found dead after the fire of a farmhouse, her death is quickly ruled a murder. Residents of Marbäck are shaken, but no one more so than ten-year-old Isak. Isak is devastated as his beloved uncle Edvard is arrested, tried and convicted of the woman's murder. At the time there was a rookie cop named Vidar who was one of the first on the scene of the fire. For years, Vidar had strong doubts of Edvard's innocence and this led Vidar to many difficulties over the years. This included Vidar eventually leaving the police force.

Isak's parents were having difficulties while he was young, and Edvard had been a wonderful influence on him. With Edvard's imprisonment, Isak's years as a child and then young adult become wrought with difficulties. Meanwhile, Vidar never once stops looking for answers.

Under the Storm was set in Sweden and written by a brilliant author who truly understands criminology, especially when it came to Vidar's continued investigation of the murder, even up to two decades later. As this is the first book in a series, one translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles. I do look forward to following this series, and hope to see more of Vidar.

Many thanks to Hogarth and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.