****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
In this Swedish mystery novel, a woman has returned to her hometown, taking a job as a police detective. She is ambivalent about coming home. On the one hand, it’s familiar, far from the isolation she endured in Stockholm. On the other, she has a past in her hometown that has left her permanently scarred. She was just a young girl when her father was accused of killing a woman and burning her to death. He had turned to alcohol after the death of Hanna’s mother, so after the woman’s murder, Hanna lost both of her parents. Her father was sent to jail for ten years, and when he was released, he lived as a recluse and drank himself to death.Hanna’s older brother escaped by moving away and rebuilding his life. But to Hanna, the only way forward is to understand what happened in the past. As fate would have it, Hanna works for the policeman who arrested her father. Because she hasn’t changed her name, or appearance, she is recognized by many in the town. She feels isolated and alone except for the casual friendship offered by an elderly neighbor. Hanna is assigned to work with a man, Erik, who is her complete opposite. Chatty, open, and curious, he attempts to find a way to work with his new partner with minimal success.The first case Hanna and Erik are given requires learning the circumstances of a teenage boy’s death who was found outside a rest area in the open countryside. He had been battered and stabbed. It’s not long before Hanna realizes the victim is the son of Hanna’s childhood best friend, Rebecka. Returning forces Hanna to confront many old missteps, including her abrupt withdrawal from Rebecka’s friendship. Although she wants to help Rebecka understand what led to Joel’s death, she is limited while investigating as to what she can tell her friend.Fifteen-year-old Joel had a small but loyal circle of friends. A small amount of marijuana was uncovered in his room during a search. He was protecting his younger sister from the threats of a bully. Most concerning to Hanna was evidence that Joel had been grappling with another issue that was wrecking his peace of mind and that Rebecka had no knowledge of.Further increasing tension in the plot, the author, Johanna Mo, has placed chapters revealing Joel’s actions and conversations on the last day of his life. I appreciated the psychological insight Mo reveals in her main characters. This is an enjoyable read that doesn’t answer all the questions that it poses. There is a second book continuing the story which I’ve ordered. I recommend this novel to mystery and crime novel fans.
