In this winner of both the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy Award for Best Debut Crime Novel and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, an undocumented Iranian refugee risks deportation and danger when he becomes an amateur detective in Stockholm to make ends meet.
The suspenseful tale slowly unfolds ... Each character reveals pieces of the truth, bit by bit, until the stunning final sentence turns readers’ beliefs upside down ... Swedish author Lövestam’s...pitch-perfect book is a character study of two needy people who find unusual strength in each other, despite their secrets. Readers who appreciate complex Nordic mysteries that unfold carefully will appreciate the twists in this story.
This mystery has a moral center, with a growing bond between two beautifully realized characters, and a gut-clenching depiction of what it’s like to live in constant fear.
...a delightfully quirky mystery ... In Lövestam’s remarkable hands, this enigmatic pair lures readers in, slowly, one detail at a time. Hopefully, Pernilla and Kouplan will be back soon for another adventure
