Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Department of Lost Souls is back in The Glass Man which shines like a polished diamond.

Anders de la Motte follows up the stellar series debut of The Mountain King is followed up with an equally brilliant 2nd book.

This sequel blends two captivating storylines tales as the book races to its satisfying conclusion.

The Glass Man is populated with characters we know well from the first installment of the series. Additional insights into Leo's backstory add another layer to this story.

The Glass Man by Anders de la Motte is the second installment in the Asker series and a gripping Nordic Noir crime novel. After finishing The Mountain King, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one and it definitely didn’t disappoint. This narrative weaves together two compelling storylines, and de la Motte does a impressive job of tying them together as the book races toward a satisfying conclusion. There’s a lot going on, but everything clicks into place, like a giant puzzle coming together. The atmosphere is eerie and dark, with a heavy sense of melancholy, perfectly matched by the haunting rural Swedish forest setting.

Main character Leo Asker is just starting to settle into her new role as head of The Department of Lost Souls when she gets an unexpected call from her estranged father asking for help when he thinks he's going to be arrested for murder. At the same time, her childhood friend, Martin Hill, a well-known author and professor, is hired to write a book about local business leader Gunner Irving, locally known as Space-Case Gunner. What follows is an intricate, addictive story told from multiple perspectives. De la Motte’s writing is incredibly immersive and I was hooked right away, completely drawn into the web of suspense. The level of detail was so vivid it felt like I was right there in the middle of it all.

De la Motte does a fantastic job crafting his characters. Asker is strong, independent, and determined, but her past is riddled with emotional scars that shape her actions and decisions. Her character development feels organic and I'm pleased that she avoids the overused trope of the troubled, alcoholic investigator that pops up so often in Nordic Noir. Hill is a charming and likable character, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. A well-known author and professor with a keen intellect, he is also an expert in urban exploration, which adds a unique edge to his character. But what really stood out to me was The Department of Lost Souls. Despite their rough edges and unconventional backgrounds, this ragtag team is beginning to reveal the depth of their talents and potential. I can't wait to see how the characters evolve in the series.

The chapters flow effortlessly between multiple perspectives, with de la Motte skillfully weaving in Asker’s past through her reclusive, doomsday-prepper father, while also following Hill’s deep dive into the Astroholm property. At times, it felt like the narrative was drifting off in unrelated directions and I wondered how certain story arcs connected to the main plot. But trust me, de la Motte has a real gift for pulling all the threads together. Every detail has a purpose, and by the end, it all clicks into place. His books go beyond just solving a crime. They dig into the emotional and psychological wounds of his characters, making the story all the more fascinating.

The Glass Man was a thoroughly entertaining crime fiction puzzle. With its straight forward prose, melancholic tone, and slow-burning, intricate plot, this is a shining example of Nordic Noir crime fiction!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Anders de la Motte for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is exactly the kind of thriller I adore! I love, love, love our detective. She isn't your typical alcoholic/unhinged detective that is overused in Nordic noirs. She is awesome and is easy to fall in love with. The story itself has me gasping for breath several times. This was a solid experience. 5 out of 5 stars. Full review to come soon.

All I can start with is...WOW! The description I read for this upcoming novel stated "hooked from the very first page!" and it couldn't have been more on point. I had not read The Mountain King so this was my first foray into the lives of Leonore Asker and Martin Hill. I didn't feel any sort of disconnect from the previous story and thought reading this as a stand alone novel was adequate. What a story! Set in the forests and hills of rural Sweden I thought this was the perfect environment for a mysterious property surrounded by darkness and possible extraterrestrial lore. I enjoyed how each chapter was from the point of view of different characters and how it jumped around to build the suspense which led to it's page-turner status. Martin, having previously written about the myths surrounding the Astroholm property, is thrown into the fire and commissioned to write a story of the Irving family and it's future endeavors. But what happens when his fan-boy conscious is tempting him to dig even deeper into the past legends surrounding the Irving family? You'll be intrigued to find out!
Throughout most of the book it seemed like there were two story lines. Leo's past coming to light through her hermit/doomsday father and also Martin's foray into the Astroholm property. I had a hard time figuring out how they would intertwine but was pleasantly surprised at how the author blended everything together.
This is a must read for any horror/mystery/thriller reader as you will inevitably be "hooked from the very first page!"

The Department of Lost Souls is back in The Glass Man which shines from start to finish. Anders de la Motte proves the series debut was no fluke as Le0 Asker cements her place among the most memorable genre creations of this century. This sequel is really two enthralling tales which de la Motte deftly ties together as the book races to a satisfying conclusion. Thankfully, The Glass Man is populated with characters we know well from the first installment of the series. The additional glimpses into Leo's backstory make her even more interesting. I hope it proves to be a long running series because these books have been so much fun. I especially enjoyed The X Files vibe one of the storylines had. Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Please don’t let the language throw you off. I assure you that I did read this book in English.

The second in a Scandinavian series I have liked from the very first one is just as intriguing and spooky as the first. Both protagonists are pulled into their shared paths although through different dynamics. Even though there seems to be no comparison between the two investigations the author skillfully joins the two to a dramatic and, shall I say, hair raising conclusion.

Bring on a third!