A young couple goes missing., and it will take an unusual detective to solve this far from ordinary disappearance.

Meet Leonore (Leo) Asker, a top investigator in the Malmö’ (Sweden) Serious Crime Command, is highly competent, a less-than-ideal team player, and the product of a very unusual upbringing. She is on track, she thinks, to be the person who replaces current Department Chief Vesna Rodic when Rodic retires in the next few years. Her lack of patience with co-workers who are not as proficient as she is has made her some departmental enemies, which becomes evident when she is sidelined from the current case under investigation. A young couple, the daughter of an extremely wealthy and socially prominent family named Smilla Holst and her former boyfriend Malik Mansur, were out exploring somewhere and have disappeared. No clues, no ransom requests, just gone, leaving behind only a smiling selfie taken on the last day they were seen. Many have jumped to the conclusion that Malik, who despite the recent renewal of their friendship had not taken the break-up well and whose financial situation is rocky, must clearly be to blame for Smilla’s disappearance, but Asker is not so sure. Pressure is brought to bear on the commissioner by Smilla’s family (and their lawyer, Asker’s mother….awkward) to bring in reinforcements from the National Operations Department in the form of Jonas Hellman, formerly of the SCC in Malmö and with whom Asker had had a relationship that ended (at her instigation) badly indeed. Hellman is convinced that Malik is guilty and that he has kidnapped Smilla, and soon Asker is removed from the investigation, “temporarily reassigned” to lead the Resources Unit, whose current head Bengt Sandgren has been hospitalized. She’s told its a promotion, as it will provide her with managerial experience to better prepare her for future promotions, but she’s not that naive. No one quite knows what the Resources Unit does, but Asker quickly finds out that it is located in the basement, is shabbily outfitted (to put it kindly) and its staff is a collection of HR problem children; its nickname is The Department of Lost Souls and Orphaned Cases. The most recent case that she can figure out her predecessor was working on concerns painted figures that were being placed without permission on a displayed set belonging to a model railway club, Soon Asker comes to believe that there is a connection between this odd not-quite-a-crime situation and the Holst disappearance. There also appears to be a link between Malik and Martin Hill, now a professor and the published author of the “bible” of urban explorers….and someone who was important in Asker’s life when she was in her teens. With limited help from the collection of oddballs and outcasts in her department and a strong sense that Hellman is pursuing the wrong line of inquiry and in so doing is risking Smilla Holst”s life, Asker begins her own parallel investigation, reaching out to Hill for help. But Smilla may not be the first person taken, and Asker must risk everything and draw upon skills ingrained in her during her youth if she is going to live long enough to stop the person behind the disappearances.
If you enjoy a strong female protagonist, you should give Leo Asker a try. Raised by a father she calls Prepper Per, a survivalist who may have been less than completely sane and who subjected her to continual extreme training exercises to prepare her for….just about anything, really, she is not an average person. She doesn’t have close bonds with other people, and the tattoo that covers up the scars on her arm is (no, not a dragon) the word “resilience”. What her relationship was with Martin Hill is slowly revealed through flashback chapters, as is the history of the person who calls themself the Mountain King, someone else who is a product of a different sort of childhood. Well developed secondary characters, including the kidnapped Smilla (who puts to use what she learned in the long weekend of “hostage school” with which her grandfather had gifted her…no passive victim here) add dimension to the story, and their backgrounds could provide fodder for upcoming installments in this series. Readers of Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen will find a bit of Department Q in this tale, and comparisons to Steig Larson and his Lisbeth Salander series are perhaps inevitable. But while Asker is definitely not entirely normal, she is also not in the same quasi- feral category of Salander.. Author Anders de la Motte’s background as a police officer adds a realistic tone to the story, and the concept of urban exploration and the “architecture of decay” is a fascinating element as well. I found The Mountain King an engrossing read, with plenty of plot twists and possible villains woven into the structure. I am a fan of many Scandinavian mystery/thriller authors, including not just those I’ve mentioned above but also Jo Nesbø and Christoffer Carlsson, and am pleased to add a new name to my list of must-reads in the genre. Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of this, the first but hopefully not the last in the Leo Asker series.

I couldn’t get enough of this once I started (mostly) because of the vibes! It reminded me a bit of The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup, so if you liked that one you’ll definitely like this one too. The story is told through multiple points of view in short chapters so the pace feels really quick. Instead of parts, the book is broken up into which day it is.

This would be a great book to read during the fall months and is perfect for those that want an atmospherically spooky book but don’t want anything witchy or paranormal.

Ooh…I loved this.

This is a great Nordic Thriller. It does have touches of humor for those who don’t want things too dark, but it still hits that need for some Nordic Noir.

Leo Asker is a great character. I definitely want more of her and the Department of Lost Souls.

As for our crime, not only was I completely swept up in it, I was very surprised by much of what happened.

This was a wonderful escape and I want more!

• ARC via Publisher

Anders de la Motte introduces Inspector Leonore ”Leo” Asker in this intense thriller. Leo is working on a high-profile kidnapping case when she’s unexpectedly reassigned to The Department of Lost Souls, a place in the basement where long unsolved cold cases sit in perpetuity. When Leo sourly joins her new unit in investigating a case of vandalism, she finds surprising connections to the kidnapping. Superb Scandinavian noir will keep these pages turning late into the night.

The Mountain King is a Nordic noir thriller with no supernatural elements. The story follows Leo Asker, a detective, as she is ousted from her coveted position in the Serious Crimes unit by a rival and is sent down into a department full of police rejects. Despite this, Asker starts her own investigation into a missing heiress.

This book was well written and the story was interesting and fast paced. It switches between multiple POVs which I always find interesting. I found the ending to be satisfying and enjoyed the twist.

However, no matter how much I tried I could not get myself to like our protagonist, Asker. I feel like there’s so many female book detectives with a chip on their shoulder and a dark past who are out trying to prove something. I couldn’t really find many redeeming qualities in her to endear her to me. I did, however, enjoy some of the more minor characters such as Martin and the mysterious colleague with a sketchy past whose name eludes me right now.

SOOO good. I saw #themountainking at @offtheshelfofficial list of books to watch out for in 2024. Took a chance and so glad I did. It's a terrific read. I enjoyed the variety of perspectives - we see the story through more than one characte's eyes. The setting of the "mountain" is excellent, too. Kept me guessing 'til the very end, with lots of surprises. I can only hope we will see more of Leo Asker with her heterochromia iridum!!

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

Anders de la Motte has written a book which reminds me of the best genre books I have read. That's a good thing. The Mountain King is a worthy addition to the best of the best. Leonore Asker is the star of the show but de la Motte has populated his novel with a compelling cast of characters. The Mountain King is enthralling entertainment. The plot is well conceived and the execution is pitch-perfect. Asker is an instant treasure and her motley crew at the The Department of Lost Souls leave us with the promise of more thrilling adventures ahead. I can't wait. Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheMountainKing

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Mountain King.

I'm always looking for an intriguing mystery series featuring a female protagonist and Leo Asker fits the bill.

She is no ordinary detective; she's a loner, tough, independent, estranged from most of her family, and resourceful with an unusual childhood that has her prepared for almost any scenario than your average person.

When she's bumped from a high profile case to work in the forgotten department of cold cases, she discovers a case a sick colleague was working on may have ties to the case she was removed from.

There are typical cliches popular in the detective genre; Asker is a detective who doesn't play by the rules, she's not dainty or sweet, but tall and strong; ostracized for being a woman and for filing a complaint against a charming and popular superior for harassment.

Naturally, Asker solves the case with a former BFF while the incompetent police force falls far behind, making silly, poor assumptions and judgements.

The writing is good, and I really liked Asker.

I was able to guess a few of the twists, and the final reveal was satisfying.

I'm not a fan of multiple POVs but Asker and Hill's perspectives worked well though maybe there was too much of Hill's. Adding Helleman at the end sort of disrupted the flow of the narrative, in my opinion.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

This is a tricky one to review, I LOVE Scandavian thrillers or procedurals - the setting is always so stark and grim which instantly makes for an exciting read. But although fairly good, the book had a few missteps and felt a bit tropey.

Leo Asker is a hardened police detective that is extremely good at everything but socially combative. A strong female lead, being discriminated against for no particular reason. It's hard to say why but rather than feeling natural and part of character development it stood out as being a trope and over done.

It starts incredibly strong with a very cool mystery but then diverts and spends a bit too long setting the stage before picking up and solving. There are many red herrings and gotchas along the way.

Overall it was interesting in spite of the pacing but spent a bit too long in Act 2 and rushing a bit during the climax (that's what she said).

Very big thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐💫

I normally really like Nordic thrillers, but I do have to admit this one took awhile for me to get into the groove of. i don't think it was a translation issue, but just a different style, maybe? Asker is a odd character and that might have had a bit to do with it. But as the book progresses and finds it groove, that's when the twists start coming and the pace picks up and you keep turning the pages. As Asker fights her own boss, she has to look back into her childhood and the training given to her, to not only solve the mystery, but to survive when the case explodes into something no one saw coming. if you like mystery that is more thriller, this is the Nordic book for you.

Loved it!
Well crafted plot that allows us to get to know the main character while also following the investigation of the disappearance and possible kidnapping of a high profile young girl.

This was a dark and startlingly engaging tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hadn't read de la Motte before, but found his writing style to be very enjoyable - even when the material was pretty disturbing. I loved the twists and turns and found his characterizations to be quite well done. It reminded me (in a positive, non-derivative, way) of the Department Q series. I loved the interplay of office and interpersonal dynamics, as well as the underlying mystery as to the identity of the Mountain King himself. I hope this is the start of prolific series!

DNF. The premise is strong, as is the writing. The narrative jumps between multiple POVs, taking the reader from the detective's perspective to the perspectives of the serial killer and victim. While creative, this choice made it difficult to get into the story. I found the detective's chapters to be the strongest, and just when they got interesting, we would be taken to a different character's perspective which quickly became frustrating. I might go back to finish eventually, but after a couple of tries to push through, I haven't yet been able to become particularly invested in the plot.

Leonore Asker is head inspector of Malmö's Serious Crimes unit and is beginning the investigation of a high profile missing persons, possible kidnapping case, when her superiors bring in her former boss, against whom she previous filed complaints. Asker is quickly relegated to a new assignment in headquarter's basement, as head of the Department of Orphaned Cases and Lost Souls, as it's known. Now, she' stuck with a bunch of misfits and embarrassments who the department has hidden away, where they are allowed to work on whatever they want, so long as they stay out of the way and out of trouble. Soon, Asker discovers that her predecessor, disgraced as he may have been, was on to a pattern of missing people in region going back years, and a connection to the most recent disappearance, as they all have in common a plastic figure left at the crime scene. Asker finds herself drawn into a world of urban explorers, model train enthusiasts and local malcontents as she tries to solve the mystery before Serious Crimes does.
I am a big fan of "Nordic Noir," especially the Harry Hole and Carl Mørck series. I have been unsuccessfully searching for the next great series to match the works of Jo Nesbø and Jussi Adler-Olsen; until now. Anders de la Motte's writing is as stellar and captivating as those authors, and The Mountain King is exhilarating right from the start, and full of twists to keep you peeled to the page right to the very end. The book feels a lot like Department Q series with some of the Hole series mixed in as well as bits of The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup. I absolutely look forward to reading more of this series in the future.

What a dark and tense atmospheric narrative filled with nonstop thrillers and chilling discoveries led by formidable protagonists who are worthy of the emotional attachment you’ll immediately form with them. The raw nature of this crime thriller gives rise to one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read.

Full review to be out on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain

This was a really good book, at first I thought it was going to be very similar to Jussi Adler-Olsen Department Q series (another very good series), but I was very happily surprised that although there were some similarities, the story was unique. Leonore (Leo) Asker is a detective with the Malmo police force, she's also the leading candidate to replace the current Chief when they leave. A woman and her male friend go missing and Leo is tasked with finding them. Things start alright, but they higher ups decide that another person should take over the case, this other person is a guy that Leo had previously been intimately involved with and was partly responsible for his leaving, this move appears to be revenge on his part. Leo is assigned to lead a department responsible for investigating cold case files, the guy that was leading it is currently in the hospital. Of course she's devastated but soon become curious when she finds the the previous guy was investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of another young female. He also had discovered that small plastic figurines were being placed in a large model train. Leo begins to uncover additional figures that appear to be representing other individuals that have gone missing. Leo is a very resourceful person and is able to put aside her displeasure at the unit she's in and works very hard on the case. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.

Glad I got to read this early. An interesting story and main character. Can't wait until the next book. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This would probably be good for other people, but it wasn't working for me. I think it will be a decent story, and maybe in the future I would pick this up. I love the cover and the title is intriguing.

An atmospheric story, The Mountain King was very enjoyable and was a solid read. I enjoy detective fiction and it had the creep factor!

Insanely addictive, dark and twisted, Leo Asker could give Harry Hole or Carl Mørck a run for their money. The beginning of a new series, this thriller brings the elements of the most enjoyable Nordic Noir novels in a well-written plot with a suspenseful ending that people with artificial hearts should not read. Leo was raised by a prepper and has turned into a successful copper. When a resentful former boss sidelines her from an investigation, she is banished to the Department of Lost Souls, where she inherits a case that may have a lot to do with the missing person everyone is looking for. If only someone listened to her! I’m a little sad that we didn’t get to know more of Leo’s Lost Souls team, who sound crazy and amazing, but I loved her interactions with Martin Hill, a childhood friend whose qualifications as an urban explorer are exactly what she needs. I also loved Leo, her background, her quirks and hangups, but also her passion and intelligence. I may have discovered my new favorite Nordic series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Atria/Emily Bestler Books.