Enjoyed this one very much, another great suspense thriller from author Anders de la Motte. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

The Mountain King follows a female inspector who is investigating the dark side of humanity in this twisty thriller that had me turning pages until the end. The author wrote this well and I look forward to reading more books by the author. The book had interesting characters and so much tension as well. Overall, I highly enjoyed this chilling read and would recommend it to any reader who likes mystery or thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this book in exchange of my honest review of The Mountain King by Anders de la Motte.

4.5 stars

It has been entirely too long since I last read a Nordic thriller. This book reminded me exactly why I love this type of book so much! It was dark, suspenseful, and had me turning the pages as fast as I could by the end. Leonore Asker is an interesting main character to follow - there was something enigmatic about her that made me feel like she has secrets left for us as the reader to discover. I was also really intrigued by the "Department of Lost Souls" where she was moved to at work and the individuals that worked in that department. They were all very curious and unique individuals who seemed to have hidden motivations. This book felt dark and claustrophobic at times. It had me lost in the pages even though it is a longer read at over 400 pages. I just was so caught up in the mystery of it all that I couldn't stop reading. I'm so excited to see that this is the first book in a series - I need more books like this in my reading life!

If you enjoy darker, suspenseful reads or are a fan of Nordic Noir then pick this book up. Also, it you enjoyed The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup then pick this one up. Both books have similar dark vibes or atmospheres that make me feel like if you liked one then you might like the other. 4.5 stars and rounding up.

A really solid start to a detective series that I’m excited to continue! I’m always looking for books with female detectives/investigators, so I was so stoked to receive an arc of this!

Leo is a Criminal Investigator who is “promoted” to the so-called “Department of Lost Souls” where she continues covertly investigating a kidnapping case and a cold case that just might be related. I really enjoyed her character.

I thought her survivalist backstory was interesting and I liked the portrayal of how deeply entrenched aspects of that upbringing are in her even as an adult.

The mystery was solid. It kept me guessing for the majority of the book which is pretty hard to do these days given the sheer amount of mysteries I’ve read.

My only critique, one I could make for a lot if not most thriller books, is that at certain points characters would make decisions that were very illogical or just straight up dumb. Like, let’s not follow a stranger down into a creepy bunker. I found it hard to believe that anyone would take these certain actions, but again, such is the nature of most fiction.

As I said, all around a fantastic Nordic mystery that I hope is continued and translated so I can keep following Leonore!

Aaah the first book in a new series by an author I have never experienced before! I wasn't sure what to expect with this but the blurb sounded so good.

So I don't want to rehash the story and while I enjoyed it, the writing was just a little off to me but that might have been the translation of it.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

The story started out really interesting, but then I lost interest and just could not continue reading.

Great bit of Nordic noir! Would suggest to fans of stieg larsson! I was hooked all the way to the end. Buying for all my friends who love this genre.

This was a fast paced and gripping novel!! I would highly recommend! Immediately the book starts with someone getting lost in a cave. Than the web just gets more gripping

Love Nordic stories and this mystery is fantastic. The suspect list is long and changes frequently so you have no idea who is committing the crimes. Love the lead characters and their back stories that really show where they come from.

This new police procedural series set in Sweden, stars Detective Leo Asker. She heads an investigation into the disappearance of a young couple, that is, until a former officer, her nemeses, returns from Stockholm to take over the case. Leo is sent to the basement to take charge of a department of has-beens. She learns that the previous director of the department was looking into another case and Leo decides to follow his leads. This is a terrific entry into the Nordic Noir genre.

I love finding a new to me Scandi author!! A bit less gritty than most I’ve read, however completely unputdownable. Great character development and setting that just pulls you in. I appreciate how the author slowly introduced each character and allowed the reader to get to know them, as you would likely do in the real world. I'm a huge fan of strong female characters and Leo Asker does not disappoint. She very much reminds me of Lisbeth Salander. I also very much love how she was suspicious of every detail of this case without being written off as paranoid by the author, as I feel some main female characters are described. She is very kicka$$.
I would have liked to have more background detail/telling about the "Mountain King"/Bergsrå.
-X-Files meets Silence of the Lambs with Nordic Noir grit.

When 19-year-old Smilla Holst, a member of a wealthy local family, and her ex-boyfriend Malik Mansour disappear without a trace, Detective Inspector Leonore Asker expects to lead the investigation as section head at Malmö’s Serious Crime Command. But she is unexpectedly replaced by Jonas Hellman, a rival detective from Stockholm with a personal score to settle, and relegated to the police headquarters’s basement as temporary chief of the Resources Unit. In this obscure department, nicknamed the Department of Lost Souls, odd, cold cases and odd employees linger in obscurity. But as Asker quickly discovers, her new colleagues display unusual talents that come in handy when she probes a strange case involving a model-railway club and the ominous placement of miniature figurines that represent missing people, including the latest two victims. While Hellman pursues a kidnapping angle, Asker becomes convinced that her Resources Unit predecessor, now hospitalized in a coma, was on the trail of a serial killer who preys on urban explorers who wander into abandoned structures like factories and underground military facilities. The best-selling author of “The Game” trilogy launches an exciting, atmospheric crime series that introduces an appealingly smart and tough female protagonist with a troubled backstory in the vein of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander, although not quite as edgy. The twisty, spine-tingling mystery that unfolds is creepy and sinister, laced with a touch of dark Scandinavian folklore.

This is an incredible book. It held my attention like no other book in the last couple years. The characters were real and believable. Just the right amount of action. This is Part 1 of the Asker Series and I can't wait to read the next one. Leo Asker is my new hero.
Thanks to Emily Bestler Books and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕+1/2

THE MOUNTAIN KING is a dark and haunting crime novel. The author sets the stage for what this reader can only hope is many more Detective Leonore Asker novels.

This story has it all. First, there is Detective Leonore Asker. She is a determined, savvy, and complex woman who is not going to let anyone get in her way of finding the truth. There is a candidness to this character that drew me in. Her background has just the right amount of gray areas to make further stories even better than this one. Secondly, you have an investigation into a missing girl and the presence of The Mountain King. It pulls you down the rabbit hole with all those looking into it. And finally, there is the writing. Anders de la Motte crafted a tale with heart, action, and the evil that can permeate humanity. The pace was perfect and the way it shifted between narrators just added to the richness of the storytelling.

THE MOUNTAIN KING is addictive, keep you up all night reading a thriller. It has the twists, turns, and reveals to have even the most savvy mystery lover enthralled. Simply stated. I loved this book and cannot wait for book two.

Audiobook Note: The narration of the book by Cassandra Campbell brings to life all of the characters within this novel. The tone of each character’s voice is different, but as a whole, everything works really well together. The tone, inflection, and pace were exactly what you would want for a thriller like this.

The Mountain King definitely checks all the boxes for a Nordic Noir thriller: damaged goods detective? Check. Detective with a secret past? Check. Serial killer? Check. Tie in the setting for ominous vibes? Check.

While I did really like this book, I didn't love it and I really can't pinpoint why. I am honestly wondering if my busy week distracted me just enough that I couldn't fully immerse myself in this story, so it might be a case of it's not you its me. Maybe. I don't think the characters were fleshed out as much as they could have been, they were quirky, but only just. The plot was also a little slow for my taste.

But I did appreciate a lot of other elements. I think the mystery plotting was good: just enough information is given to the reader to guide them in the right direction, but not too much. I was guessing until the end, and the finale was definitely heart-pounding. I was very surprised by who the killer was, so that was fun!

Overall, a very solid new thriller and new series. I will be reading book two whenever it is released.

This book was over 400 pages, but I'm going to say something I haven't said much lately in reviews. Every single word was necessary and beautifully placed to drive this banger of a mystery forward to an outstanding conclusion! If you like Scandinavian Noir, meet your new favorite author, Anders de la Motte!

Criminal Inspector Leonore Asker, mostly referred to as Asker, is a great detective, maybe in part because hardships in her early life made her good at assessing and examining the situation around her. But due to HR hijinx and a personal conflict, Asker is "promoted" from the Special Crimes unit to The Department of Lost Souls, way down in the basement, out of sight and out of mind. Asker is angry and conflicted, because there has been a high-profile kidnapping, and she was just getting started on her investigation.

When she is convinced that the detective who replaced her in the investigation is going the wrong direction, she secretly decides to continue her own look into the crime. She utilizes the talents of the rag-tag group of employees she now oversees and finds a couple of them are real hidden gems.

This book has excellent characterization, and we really see and understand the main character, Leo Asker. We begin to know more about her murky past through little reveals scattered throughout the book. The plot is creative, and there are plenty of clues and red herrings. But through it all, this excellently written story grabs our attention on page one, and never lets up on the pressure to tear through this book and have the final solution!

A big five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just Wow!
I loved everything about this story. The way it unfolds, the way Leo's backstory is revealed and how clever the plotting is. There are so many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat hopelessly trying to figure out just who the Mountain King is. This book is rich with creepy atmosphere and unsettling locations. Try as I might, I was totally surprised by the reveal and the conclusion has me begging for more. This is the start of a series and a new author for me to follow. I put him right up there with my other favorites Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler. Bravo!

Woohoo! I have found a new-to-me-author who dazzled me with this gripping, riveting, addictive, suspenseful and perfectly plotted book. The Mountain King is a Scandinavian thriller which delivered and left me wanting more! My advice is to go in knowing as little as possible.

Leonore Asker is a Criminal inspector who has been sent to the Department of Lost Soul, the cold case division at the police station. She is a very interesting character who has an even more interesting backstory which is told to readers throughout the book. She will rely on what she learned growing up to help her solve this case. Solving this case will not be easy. There is the "Mountain King" to contend with. Questions swirled through my mind as to who this person may be, but I was not able to solve the case in this book. I didn't even come close. It is there that a case grabs her attention - a young man and women are missing. Her investigation takes her to empty buildings and beyond. There are plenty of twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Plus, the ending has me wanting to read the next book in the series NOW.

Whew! This book was a crime mystery gem. I enjoyed the undercurrents of tension, danger, and suspense in this book. If Anders de la Motte is an author, you have not read or heard of, I recommend giving this book a go.

Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

While this book was 100 pages too long for me, it had me struggling through the first 1/3 of the book. I understand the backstory and buildup of the characters, but it was such a slow burn in the first 1/2, that I almost DNF’d it.

However, this storyline was absolutely fantastic and so well written and thought out. I was so sucked in during the last 1/3 of it and had to find out what happened. All the twists just made this story that much better and now I’m still questioning the cliffhanger in the last sentence of this book.

I’m not sure if it’s a translation issue, a cultural issue, or a style issue but I seem to have a really hard time with these Nordic thrillers. They always sound perfect and then I just feel really apathetic.