4 ⭐️

An action thriller that follows a series of terrorist attacks in Sweden that are closely linked to environmental activism. A very topical and thought provoking novel.

We follow the Nova team, as they investigate each attack and fight against the clock to stop the next one.

It begins as a slowburn thriller, that builds up and keeps you at the edge of your seat until the very end.

A really big thank you to Arne Dale, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book prior to its release, in return of an honest review.

Within the Circle by Arne Dahl is a crime novel that uses modern day themes in its plot. The story is about the use of technology and going back to a day when no one had any, when no one had a car or airplane or especially a cell phone. Perhaps the book would be interesting for someone who longs for the days before modern conveniences.

First there is a bomb that goes off killing a corporate executive, but could possibly be explained away. Then there is another almost identical type of bomb that goes off killing another corporate executive, but is more spectacular. Then a police woman named Eva Nyman receives a letter stating that the killings will escalate and saying that those who are climate offenders will be targeted. She seems to recognize the phrasing in the letter as a former police detective she once worked with. That starts a search for him, but he is off the grid, living in nature with few or no conveniences in the Swedish woods.

The story is engaging and timely, with many people wanting to go back to nature, to protect our earth. The story shows how radicalism can be a very bad thing, even though protecting the planet should be a good thing. Arne Dahl has written a thought provoking novel that may keep you up at night, partly because it is hard to put down!

Within the Circle reads like a good thriller with the twist of a foreign setting. It reminds me (in a good way) of an Alison Brennan novel.
Detective Eva Nyman receives anonymous letters warning of upcoming bombings in Stockholm. Personally directed to her, they point to environmental activism - and to her mentor, who has left police work behind and disappeared from the grid. Together with her team, she works to find Lukas Frisell and to stop each bombing before it occurs.
The story immersed me in Sweden. It takes its most amusing turn when the team visits a settlement named Baton Rouge that is styled after the residents’ idea of the American south.
Often translated books don’t seem to flow well. This prose had its moments of getting oddly flowery for a thriller. But all in all, it had an easy flow.

Within the Circle Arne Dahl

Within the Circle opens with an aggressive BMW driver, looking for an opportunity to express some road rage. What is his issue - slower drivers? EV’s? Poised to “flip the bird” at the driver of the next EV he passes, his car explodes and he is killed. Is this an accident? Or something more?

When additional bombings and fatalities occur and the lead investigator, Eva Nyman receives letters about those bombings – details of past and future bombings – this is no longer considered an accident. Eco-terrorism? Who is behind this? The clues - letters to Eva, lead her to the possibility that someone she knows, worked for, mentored her may be responsible. Aside from the letters (the writing style is familiar) and the symbol (circle within a circle) found at/near each bombing site, they don’t have much more to go on. The NOVA group is formed to solve this mystery.

The story is a slow burn for the first two parts – providing both background of each group member as well as details about how the bombings occurred and the steps to solve them. The third section is where the action really picks up and I couldn’t put the book down - NOVA’s intense search for the perpetrator and the motivation, along with the hideout; while at the same time trying to prevent another bombing. And the clock is ticking...

Thank you to NetGalley, Arne Dahl and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of Within the Circle.
Review posted on Goodreads (link below) and on Amazon (once they open it for reviews on pub day).

The NOVA group bursts upon the genre scene like a supernova in this enthralling thriller from Arne Dahl. It's a fantastic start to a new series. Dahl is masterful with the plot and pacing in this one. Within the Circle is populated by characters the reader can relate to. They're not perfect. They're all too human. But, they're a fascinating team. An entertaining read from start to finish. I can't wait to see what awaits this group next. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

OMG! I did not want to put this book down and it’s just the first in a new series. I also have found another Scandinavian writer to add to my list.

But back to this one. What a thrill ride as a new police unit is formed and their first case is a doozy. A serial environmental-inspired bomber is terrorizing Stockholm and must be stopped. Could it possibly be a former police officer with ties to the head of this newly formed unit, or is something else going on here?

Character development is slow, but I expect more in later books. Oh, the ending on this one! I’ll say no more but please place this one on your to read list. I am thinking of learning Swedish so I won’t have to wait on an English translation. In the meantime I’m going to take a look at his other books.

I like Arne Dahl's take on the story because it could turn into four more stories if he plays it right. Maybe only one but it has the makings of four. He has a love triangle, he has an officer killed, and he has a female officer wanting a promotion, and finally they had an officer reinstated. This next book should be pretty good if he keeps Eva Nyman on board. They finally solved who was involved with the bombings, trying to implicate Lucas Frisell in the process. You'll be kept on your toes in this story and should like it. I recommend it.

This book was brilliant. The storyline is original and makes me want to seek out anything even remotely similar and read those as well. The pacing of this book is fantastic and the characters are likeable and well rounded.

Within the Circle is a clever Swedish mystery with many moving parts. The climate debate seems to be the cause of several horrific bombings. Eva Nyman is the leader of a newly created investigative team called NOVA tasked to find out who is behind this escalating crisis. The strange symbol of a circle within a circle keeps appearing near the destruction. Eva has received a cryptic letter that sounds very much like her former boss, Lukas Frisell, who is no longer in law enforcement and lives off the grid. The team members are very well created characters with distinct personalities and skills. After a slow burn beginning, this book takes off and doesn’t let go until the shocking conclusion. With thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. My opinions are my own.