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Kari Voss #1
SON
Psychologist and expert on body language and memory, Kari Voss investigates the murder of two teenaged girls in the small Norwegian town of Son, as suspicion is cast on multiple suspects. A mesmerisingly dark, twisty start to a nerve-shattering new series by two of the world's finest crime writers...
_________________
Everyone here is lying...
Expert on body language and memory, and consultant to the Oslo Police, psychologist Kari Voss sleepwalks through her days, and, by night, continues the devastating search for her young son, who disappeared on his birthday, seven years earlier.
Still grieving for her dead husband, and trying to pull together the pieces of her life, she is thrust into a shocking local investigation, when two teenage girls are violently murdered in a family summer home in the nearby village of Son.
When a friend of the victims is charged with the barbaric killings, it seems the case is closed, but Kari is not convinced. Using her skills and working on instinct, she conducts her own enquiries, leading her to multiple suspects, including people who knew the dead girls well...
With the help of Chief Constable Ramona Norum, she discovers that no one – including the victims – are what they seem. And that there is a dark secret at the heart of Son village that could have implications not just for her own son's disappearance, but Kari's own life, too...
_________________
_________________
Everyone here is lying...
Expert on body language and memory, and consultant to the Oslo Police, psychologist Kari Voss sleepwalks through her days, and, by night, continues the devastating search for her young son, who disappeared on his birthday, seven years earlier.
Still grieving for her dead husband, and trying to pull together the pieces of her life, she is thrust into a shocking local investigation, when two teenage girls are violently murdered in a family summer home in the nearby village of Son.
When a friend of the victims is charged with the barbaric killings, it seems the case is closed, but Kari is not convinced. Using her skills and working on instinct, she conducts her own enquiries, leading her to multiple suspects, including people who knew the dead girls well...
With the help of Chief Constable Ramona Norum, she discovers that no one – including the victims – are what they seem. And that there is a dark secret at the heart of Son village that could have implications not just for her own son's disappearance, but Kari's own life, too...
_________________
337 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2025
98 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Enger
44 books276 followersThomas Enger was born in Oslo in 1973, but grew up in Jessheim. He has an education in journalism, and has also studied sports and history. He worked at the Norwegian online newspaper Nettavisen for nine years.
He has composed music and written books since the age of 18. He is also working on a musical.
Enger's first book, Skinndød, was published in 2010. It is the first book in a series of at least six featuring crime journalist Henning Juul. The second installment, Fantomsmerte, was released in the fall of 2011; Blodtåke, the third book, is scheduled for a 2012 release.
He has composed music and written books since the age of 18. He is also working on a musical.
Enger's first book, Skinndød, was published in 2010. It is the first book in a series of at least six featuring crime journalist Henning Juul. The second installment, Fantomsmerte, was released in the fall of 2011; Blodtåke, the third book, is scheduled for a 2012 release.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
August 31, 2025
This is only my second “stab” at reading a Nordic murder mystery. For some reason prior to this I have kept away from novels set in a cold or frozen setting. But not any more! I think I could fall in love with this sub genre.
First off these two authors wrote the settings in Oslo and particularly in the small town of Son, Norway so well I felt them to be characters in the novel. The cold was in my bones and I heard the crunch of the snow under my boots as I followed the characters around the town of Son.
Our protagonist Kari Voss’ character was so well developed. She is a psychologist and “human lie detector” who reads people's body movements. Kari's character is compelling yet not perfect. She is a widow and on top of that the mother of a son who “disappeared” 7 years prior to the setting of this book. I also very much enjoyed her compatriots from the police detective division in particular her best friend Chief Constable Romona Norum.
The subcharacters are extremely well written as well. The many twists and turns then turns and twists revealed so many possible murder suspects. These people are not just morally grey but some are black hearted.
The murder that this novel is based on is brutal. Two privileged teenage girls found with their throats slit.
This book is so fascinating in that it was written by two authors. Not only that but two authors famous for writing series in their own countries…Thomas Enger writes Nordic noir and Johanna Gustawsson French noir! The pairing is seemless and the translation to English blemish free.
In this book I fell in love with Kari Voss and plan to follow her as this team continues her series.
Thank you to both Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger for allowing me to read their extremely intriguing first duo novel. Another thanks goes to their publishing house Orenda Books. As always I appreciate NetGalley for facilitating the reading of books on behalf of authors/publishers and readers.
First off these two authors wrote the settings in Oslo and particularly in the small town of Son, Norway so well I felt them to be characters in the novel. The cold was in my bones and I heard the crunch of the snow under my boots as I followed the characters around the town of Son.
Our protagonist Kari Voss’ character was so well developed. She is a psychologist and “human lie detector” who reads people's body movements. Kari's character is compelling yet not perfect. She is a widow and on top of that the mother of a son who “disappeared” 7 years prior to the setting of this book. I also very much enjoyed her compatriots from the police detective division in particular her best friend Chief Constable Romona Norum.
The subcharacters are extremely well written as well. The many twists and turns then turns and twists revealed so many possible murder suspects. These people are not just morally grey but some are black hearted.
The murder that this novel is based on is brutal. Two privileged teenage girls found with their throats slit.
This book is so fascinating in that it was written by two authors. Not only that but two authors famous for writing series in their own countries…Thomas Enger writes Nordic noir and Johanna Gustawsson French noir! The pairing is seemless and the translation to English blemish free.
In this book I fell in love with Kari Voss and plan to follow her as this team continues her series.
Thank you to both Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger for allowing me to read their extremely intriguing first duo novel. Another thanks goes to their publishing house Orenda Books. As always I appreciate NetGalley for facilitating the reading of books on behalf of authors/publishers and readers.
July 21, 2025
I must be the only person who disliked SON. I started reading it soon after I downloaded it from NetGalley, but after reading about 7%, couldn't understand what was happening, and put it aside to read more interesting books. Then nearing the end of July, I realized that I must post my review because it would soon be published. So I started again at the beginning. I still found the first few chapters confusing, a jumbled mess. Part of the problem was that everything was written in the present tense, and I hate stories written in the present tense. That's a me problem. But part of the difficulty was that it jumped from the POV of one central character to the POV of another, confusing me. It didn't focus on one central character, or one central theme, until several chapters into the story.
After several chapters, we are finally introduced properly to Dr. Kari Voss, nicknamed "The Human Lie Detector" because of her expertise in psychology. It was she, who in the first few chapters described the kidnapping of her son, seven years earlier. But the story about the kidnapping didn't continue; instead SON eventually focused on the murder of two girls, Eva and Hedda, both 16 years old. They were at a cottage house in the village of Son, planning a Saturday evening Halloween Party, and they were murdered the night before the party was take place. (Notice the double entendre—Kari's kidnapped "son" and the village of Son. This simply added, initially, to my confusion regarding what the story intended to focus on.)
The police identified a suspected culprit, Jesper, almost immediately. He was present when the girls were murdered, although he said that he was passed out in the bathroom, and couldn't remember anything that took place. After several hours of questioning by the police, he confessed.
But Kari Voss doesn't believe his confession. She believes he has developed a false memory. And so much of the story describes her investigations into other possible explanations for the murders. But like the beginning, these investigations are not described in a logical manner. The story jumps from one central character to another, from one timeline to another, and from one theme to another in a haphazard way, making it very difficult to follow any one logical progression. In addition, it seemed that everyone was lying, and no one was very likeable.
Furthermore, interspersed with the scenes, were short exerts that appeared taken directly from psychology textbooks. I am not an expert on body language, but I am on memory, and I recognized exerts from lectures I gave more than 40 years ago. These were sections on the fallacy of memory that every psychology student in North America learned ages ago, and I can't believe that people in Norway are just learning this now.
There were a few well-written scenes among this jumbled mess, and I was going to give SON a two-star rating, until the last chapter. It introduced information that had not been foreshadowed, information that was not relevant to the main theme of the story, but seemed designed strictly for shock value. And so, I decided to give it a one-star rating, which I hardly ever do when I read a book to the end.
I requested SON from NetGalley because I generally like Nordic Noir novels, and this one sounded interesting. I definitely won't be reading any follow-up Kari Voss instalments.
Thanks to Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
After several chapters, we are finally introduced properly to Dr. Kari Voss, nicknamed "The Human Lie Detector" because of her expertise in psychology. It was she, who in the first few chapters described the kidnapping of her son, seven years earlier. But the story about the kidnapping didn't continue; instead SON eventually focused on the murder of two girls, Eva and Hedda, both 16 years old. They were at a cottage house in the village of Son, planning a Saturday evening Halloween Party, and they were murdered the night before the party was take place. (Notice the double entendre—Kari's kidnapped "son" and the village of Son. This simply added, initially, to my confusion regarding what the story intended to focus on.)
The police identified a suspected culprit, Jesper, almost immediately. He was present when the girls were murdered, although he said that he was passed out in the bathroom, and couldn't remember anything that took place. After several hours of questioning by the police, he confessed.
But Kari Voss doesn't believe his confession. She believes he has developed a false memory. And so much of the story describes her investigations into other possible explanations for the murders. But like the beginning, these investigations are not described in a logical manner. The story jumps from one central character to another, from one timeline to another, and from one theme to another in a haphazard way, making it very difficult to follow any one logical progression. In addition, it seemed that everyone was lying, and no one was very likeable.
Furthermore, interspersed with the scenes, were short exerts that appeared taken directly from psychology textbooks. I am not an expert on body language, but I am on memory, and I recognized exerts from lectures I gave more than 40 years ago. These were sections on the fallacy of memory that every psychology student in North America learned ages ago, and I can't believe that people in Norway are just learning this now.
There were a few well-written scenes among this jumbled mess, and I was going to give SON a two-star rating, until the last chapter. It introduced information that had not been foreshadowed, information that was not relevant to the main theme of the story, but seemed designed strictly for shock value. And so, I decided to give it a one-star rating, which I hardly ever do when I read a book to the end.
I requested SON from NetGalley because I generally like Nordic Noir novels, and this one sounded interesting. I definitely won't be reading any follow-up Kari Voss instalments.
Thanks to Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
May 12, 2025
This is a good slow burn mystery set in Norway that I enjoyed for its insights into the human psyche that the protagonist employs to solve a crime.
Kari Voss is a psychologist and a leading expert on memory and body language. She works with the Oslo police in figuring out whether witnesses are telling the truth when questioned and what their reactions indicate. The book begins with Kari's son going missing and despite a hastily put together ransom and the efforts of the police, he seems to have completely vanished. Seven years later, Kari is still struggling with the loss and lack of closure and desperate hope when two teenage girls are murdered in the most horrific way in the town of Son, close to Oslo, Roped in as a consultant by the police, Kari isn't convinced that the boy they have arrested, also a teenager and a childhood friend of her son, is actually guilty.
The way Kari employs her knowledge of body language and the various tics and giveaways into getting information out of those she questions is very interesting. There are a lot of possibilities in this case and though we see the investigation mostly from Kari's perspective, we also get to see the pov of some of the other characters, including the suspect under arrest and the parents and friends of the victims as well as the police themselves.
Kari's knowledge of the way memories are created and stored and the way this was incorporated into the police procedural was fascinating. While the case itself is solved, the book ends on a cliffhanger and I hope the next book in the series is out soon!
Kari Voss is a psychologist and a leading expert on memory and body language. She works with the Oslo police in figuring out whether witnesses are telling the truth when questioned and what their reactions indicate. The book begins with Kari's son going missing and despite a hastily put together ransom and the efforts of the police, he seems to have completely vanished. Seven years later, Kari is still struggling with the loss and lack of closure and desperate hope when two teenage girls are murdered in the most horrific way in the town of Son, close to Oslo, Roped in as a consultant by the police, Kari isn't convinced that the boy they have arrested, also a teenager and a childhood friend of her son, is actually guilty.
The way Kari employs her knowledge of body language and the various tics and giveaways into getting information out of those she questions is very interesting. There are a lot of possibilities in this case and though we see the investigation mostly from Kari's perspective, we also get to see the pov of some of the other characters, including the suspect under arrest and the parents and friends of the victims as well as the police themselves.
Kari's knowledge of the way memories are created and stored and the way this was incorporated into the police procedural was fascinating. While the case itself is solved, the book ends on a cliffhanger and I hope the next book in the series is out soon!
July 13, 2025
Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are sterling authors in their own right, so when I saw that they had teamed up to write Son, I knew that I was in for a treat. I wasn't wrong.
Son is the first book in a new series featuring Kari Voss. Kari is a psychologist, and is nicknamed the Human Lie Detector because she can read people's body language and call out their lies. She is rarely wrong.
Without giving too much of the plot away, all I will say is that Kari inevitably becomes involved in the investigation into the murder of two teenagers. Another teenager is arrested on suspicion of the murder, and subsequently confesses, but Kari is not convinced. 🗡
While a lot of the story is told from Kari's POV, we see events unfold through the eyes of other characters. 🗡
As for the other characters, all is not as it seems with those connected to the victims. Secrets and lies abound. 🗡
Son is a gripping, sinister read which I thoroughly enjoyed. And that ending! What a cliffhanger! 🗡
Thanks to Trafalgar Square Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
Son is the first book in a new series featuring Kari Voss. Kari is a psychologist, and is nicknamed the Human Lie Detector because she can read people's body language and call out their lies. She is rarely wrong.
Without giving too much of the plot away, all I will say is that Kari inevitably becomes involved in the investigation into the murder of two teenagers. Another teenager is arrested on suspicion of the murder, and subsequently confesses, but Kari is not convinced. 🗡
While a lot of the story is told from Kari's POV, we see events unfold through the eyes of other characters. 🗡
As for the other characters, all is not as it seems with those connected to the victims. Secrets and lies abound. 🗡
Son is a gripping, sinister read which I thoroughly enjoyed. And that ending! What a cliffhanger! 🗡
Thanks to Trafalgar Square Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
March 26, 2025
The first in an exciting new series, Son is a nerve-shredding thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. It introduces us to Kari Voss, a psychologist and expert in language and memory who is often referred to as a ‘human lie detector’. By day, Kari consults with the Oslo Police on cases, and by night, she searches for her son who disappeared on his 9th birthday seven years ago. When two teenage girls are brutally murdered and one of their friends is charged with the crime, Kari is pulled into the investigation. And while the police believe the case is closed, Kari believes the boy could be innocent. So, she starts her own investigation, leading her down a dangerous path that ultimately sees her past and present collide in unexpected ways.
Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are the writing duo I didn’t know I needed. A sinister storytelling dream team, together they have crafted a masterfully written thriller that is psychologically rich, unbearably tense, intricately interwoven and densely plotted. The story explores a number of topics: grief, trauma, secrets, lies, truth, suspicion, memory and true crime. It is meticulously researched and I enjoyed learning more about how our bodies tell the truth even when we don’t, how our memory isn’t as reliable as we’d like to think and the double edged sword that our true crime fascination can be. It’s thought-provoking, action-packed and left me breathless.
Nothing and no-one is what they seem in this book. Everyone has multiple layers and different sides to them and they choose which parts they show to whom. Gustawsson and Enger use this expertly, creating a layered narrative and characters by carefully showing the reader what they want them to see before slowly unveiling the truth piece by piece. It created heart-pounding tension that had me second guessing myself at every step. Even the book’s title has hidden meaning as it relates to both the disappearance of Kari’s son, and is also the name of the town where the teenagers are murdered.
Kari Voss is a compelling new protagonist who I loved reading. She’s intelligent, determined and strong, but also vulnerable, broken and flawed. My heart broke for her losing her husband, and I can’t imagine the pain of not knowing what happened to your child. I had so much admiration for how she got through each day and appreciated that the authors showed us her flaws too, allowing me to connect with her on a human level. The other characters were equally as well-written and I liked that we could never be completely sure who the bad guy was and there were many suspects for the crime. It kept the tension high while also keeping you guessing right up until the big reveal, which I was NOT ready for.
Dark, suspenseful, hard-hitting and totally addictive, this is a sensational start to a series that every thriller lover should have on their shelves. And that ending! I’m going to need book two ASAP.
Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are the writing duo I didn’t know I needed. A sinister storytelling dream team, together they have crafted a masterfully written thriller that is psychologically rich, unbearably tense, intricately interwoven and densely plotted. The story explores a number of topics: grief, trauma, secrets, lies, truth, suspicion, memory and true crime. It is meticulously researched and I enjoyed learning more about how our bodies tell the truth even when we don’t, how our memory isn’t as reliable as we’d like to think and the double edged sword that our true crime fascination can be. It’s thought-provoking, action-packed and left me breathless.
Nothing and no-one is what they seem in this book. Everyone has multiple layers and different sides to them and they choose which parts they show to whom. Gustawsson and Enger use this expertly, creating a layered narrative and characters by carefully showing the reader what they want them to see before slowly unveiling the truth piece by piece. It created heart-pounding tension that had me second guessing myself at every step. Even the book’s title has hidden meaning as it relates to both the disappearance of Kari’s son, and is also the name of the town where the teenagers are murdered.
Kari Voss is a compelling new protagonist who I loved reading. She’s intelligent, determined and strong, but also vulnerable, broken and flawed. My heart broke for her losing her husband, and I can’t imagine the pain of not knowing what happened to your child. I had so much admiration for how she got through each day and appreciated that the authors showed us her flaws too, allowing me to connect with her on a human level. The other characters were equally as well-written and I liked that we could never be completely sure who the bad guy was and there were many suspects for the crime. It kept the tension high while also keeping you guessing right up until the big reveal, which I was NOT ready for.
Dark, suspenseful, hard-hitting and totally addictive, this is a sensational start to a series that every thriller lover should have on their shelves. And that ending! I’m going to need book two ASAP.
March 19, 2025
When I heard that Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger were teaming up to write a crime novel, I was very excited. Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are two of my favourite crime writers and so I was more than intrigued. Son is the start of a brand new series featuring psychologist, Kari Voss. We learn that eight years earlier, Kari’s son went missing and he hasn’t been seen or heard of since. She and her family have tried their best to carry on with their lives, and Kari focuses on her work. In the present day she becomes particularly attached to a shocking case when the bodies of two young girls are discovered, particularly as the main suspect, Jesper, was once her son’s best friend.
I was immediately intrigued by Kari’s story, and I connected to her character from the first page, when we find out her son has been taken. Her pain at losing him comes through in the writing and this makes her feel real and I was rooting for her to find him. But we soon fast forward to the present and Kari still has no idea what’s happened to her son. I could really understand her feelings towards the case she is currently investigating. She’s only ever known the main suspect in the murders as her son’s best friend, he’s one of the last links she has to him. This did make me wonder if this was slightly clouding her judgement, but it kept me hooked right the way through, and I wanted to see if Kari’s theory would be proved correct.
I loved how the authors really delved into the human psyche in this book and especially how they explored the subject of memory which makes this a fascinating read as well. This thread of the story made for particularly intense reading when Kari was interviewing Jesper.
As Kari comes closer to finding out the truth, I was completely surprised by the final revelations when they came and I was hooked on every word as the truth was revealed. Son is a brilliant start to a new crime series that I can’t wait to read more of, particularly after that final page. Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are a real power house in the crime fiction world and I can’t wait to see where they take this series next.
I was immediately intrigued by Kari’s story, and I connected to her character from the first page, when we find out her son has been taken. Her pain at losing him comes through in the writing and this makes her feel real and I was rooting for her to find him. But we soon fast forward to the present and Kari still has no idea what’s happened to her son. I could really understand her feelings towards the case she is currently investigating. She’s only ever known the main suspect in the murders as her son’s best friend, he’s one of the last links she has to him. This did make me wonder if this was slightly clouding her judgement, but it kept me hooked right the way through, and I wanted to see if Kari’s theory would be proved correct.
I loved how the authors really delved into the human psyche in this book and especially how they explored the subject of memory which makes this a fascinating read as well. This thread of the story made for particularly intense reading when Kari was interviewing Jesper.
As Kari comes closer to finding out the truth, I was completely surprised by the final revelations when they came and I was hooked on every word as the truth was revealed. Son is a brilliant start to a new crime series that I can’t wait to read more of, particularly after that final page. Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger are a real power house in the crime fiction world and I can’t wait to see where they take this series next.
March 21, 2025
Kari Voss is the world’s leading expert in lie detection by studying people’s body language.
She’s suffered personal tragedy in her life: seven years ago, her son, Vetle, disappeared on the day of his 9th birthday. He hasn’t been seen since.
Kari’s been a consultant with the police for years and this time she’s faced with a challenging case.
Two 16-year old young women, Eva and Hedda, are found brutally murdered in a summer cabin in Son, Norway.
The police quickly apprehend the killer, a 16-year old, Jesper, who was with the young women on the night of their murder.
Jesper denies killing Eva and Hedda, but the forensic evidence against him is overwhelming.
However, Kari believes him. As she begins to dig deeper into the case, her own life may be in danger…
This is the first book in the Kari Voss series and what a fabulous start it was!
I am a big fan of psychology, having studied it at university, so Kari Voss’s work was right up my street. I am a great believer in how our bodies and facial expressions can reveal more than our words, and this book portrays that accurately and effectively.
I loved how the title “Son” had a dual meaning: Kari lost her son, and the book was set in Son, Norway. There are two other connections, but I don’t want to spoil the plot. Let me tell you that the ending was fabulous! What a twist!
I cannot wait for the second book in the series.
She’s suffered personal tragedy in her life: seven years ago, her son, Vetle, disappeared on the day of his 9th birthday. He hasn’t been seen since.
Kari’s been a consultant with the police for years and this time she’s faced with a challenging case.
Two 16-year old young women, Eva and Hedda, are found brutally murdered in a summer cabin in Son, Norway.
The police quickly apprehend the killer, a 16-year old, Jesper, who was with the young women on the night of their murder.
Jesper denies killing Eva and Hedda, but the forensic evidence against him is overwhelming.
However, Kari believes him. As she begins to dig deeper into the case, her own life may be in danger…
This is the first book in the Kari Voss series and what a fabulous start it was!
I am a big fan of psychology, having studied it at university, so Kari Voss’s work was right up my street. I am a great believer in how our bodies and facial expressions can reveal more than our words, and this book portrays that accurately and effectively.
I loved how the title “Son” had a dual meaning: Kari lost her son, and the book was set in Son, Norway. There are two other connections, but I don’t want to spoil the plot. Let me tell you that the ending was fabulous! What a twist!
I cannot wait for the second book in the series.
March 28, 2025
My God this is one explosive novel!
I heard a lot about this novel last year and when I knew which writers had written it, I knew it would be very good. It surpassed every expectation that I could have had. The writing is seamless as you cannot tell what is written by whom, making it flow smoothly and considering it’s not only written by two outstanding authors, but they are both writing in different languages and it works beautifully. Pacing is incredibly fast, with twists and turns and double twists that throw you off the scent, but never out of the story. Nobody is telling the truth in Son, but what truths are they telling and what is to be told?
The ending is a jaw dropper of the best kind. This is a marvel in the study of people and their actions and reactions, those hidden and revealed without knowledge. If it doesn’t make you a little self conscious about what you’re ‘saying’ without words, I’d be surprised. This is a welcome breath of fresh air in the crime genre and I can’t wait for the next part.
An astounding novel from two of the best crime writers I can think of. Do not miss this one whatever you do. It is bound to be a masterpiece of a new series.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the authors for the advanced reading copy of this book.
I heard a lot about this novel last year and when I knew which writers had written it, I knew it would be very good. It surpassed every expectation that I could have had. The writing is seamless as you cannot tell what is written by whom, making it flow smoothly and considering it’s not only written by two outstanding authors, but they are both writing in different languages and it works beautifully. Pacing is incredibly fast, with twists and turns and double twists that throw you off the scent, but never out of the story. Nobody is telling the truth in Son, but what truths are they telling and what is to be told?
The ending is a jaw dropper of the best kind. This is a marvel in the study of people and their actions and reactions, those hidden and revealed without knowledge. If it doesn’t make you a little self conscious about what you’re ‘saying’ without words, I’d be surprised. This is a welcome breath of fresh air in the crime genre and I can’t wait for the next part.
An astounding novel from two of the best crime writers I can think of. Do not miss this one whatever you do. It is bound to be a masterpiece of a new series.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the authors for the advanced reading copy of this book.
May 31, 2025
This book was an excellent read and was a division between Johana Gustawsson and Tomas Enger. I think that they should due several books together because they are quiet the team. They actually made this book noir with the return of the father finding Vetle and Kari didn't know! But seven years later after her son could be dead she doesn't want to believe it. What we're trying to find out is who killed the girls, Eva Eek-Svendsen and Hedda Bülow, who are sixteen years old. Vetle, Jesper, Eva, and Hedda were best friends growing up. Jesper was found guilty and Kari was the person who tried to prove he wasn't guilty. Kari was almost killed by a driver and was in the hospital because of it. different people had several scenarios which to consider but Kari found the killer. It turns and twists with characters and you'll have to wait to find out the whole story as you read it.
March 12, 2025
Amazing book from start to finish. Kari Voss is one of those world renowned psychologists whose own life is far from perfect. She’s had many obstacles to overcome and personal family tragedies to deal with including the death of her husband in a fire. Yet she is laser focused when it comes to reading the body language of others and correctly identify who is lying or telling the truth, both speaking at worldwide conferences on the subject or in her capacity of assisting the police of Oslo.
This case is a little too close to home. It’s in Kari’s hometown of Son, in Oslo, also the place her young son went missing from 7 years ago on his birthday. He’s still never been found. Kari finds herself deeply involved in the case of two young females who are found murdered at one of their families’ summer houses. Kari is adamant the police have got the wrong suspect and feels they have tunnel vision as to who they feel has committed this crime. Will what Kari discovers bring her any closer not only to unveiling the murderer of these two young girls, but will she be any closer to finding out what happened to her son all those years ago?
This case is a little too close to home. It’s in Kari’s hometown of Son, in Oslo, also the place her young son went missing from 7 years ago on his birthday. He’s still never been found. Kari finds herself deeply involved in the case of two young females who are found murdered at one of their families’ summer houses. Kari is adamant the police have got the wrong suspect and feels they have tunnel vision as to who they feel has committed this crime. Will what Kari discovers bring her any closer not only to unveiling the murderer of these two young girls, but will she be any closer to finding out what happened to her son all those years ago?
March 13, 2025
When I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of what was described to me as a dark and twisty thriller in return for an honest review I couldn’t resist the opportunity and it did not disappoint !
“Son” is an absolute page-turner from beginning to end and I honestly can’t recommend it enough. If Goodreads allowed us to give 10 stars in the review I would happily do so !
From the very first chapter, this book grabbed me and didn’t let go. The pace is relentless and totally unputdownable, with twists that kept me on my toes the whole time. I loved following Kari Voss—a brilliant psychologist who’s also dealing with her own painful past, including the disappearance of her son. Watching her dive into the mystery of two murdered teens in the small Norwegian town of Son was both captivating and heart-wrenching.
The setting and all the different the characters were so interesting, and the story is packed with surprises. It really kept me guessing right to the end which made it unputdownable for me which I love in a book.
The ending literally left me with my mouth open and I was left desperate to read more so hopefully there will be a second book 🙏
Overall, if you’re into fast-paced crime thrillers with plenty of twists and a main character you can really root for, “Son” is a must-read.
So grateful to have been given a chance to read and review. Thank you
“Son” is an absolute page-turner from beginning to end and I honestly can’t recommend it enough. If Goodreads allowed us to give 10 stars in the review I would happily do so !
From the very first chapter, this book grabbed me and didn’t let go. The pace is relentless and totally unputdownable, with twists that kept me on my toes the whole time. I loved following Kari Voss—a brilliant psychologist who’s also dealing with her own painful past, including the disappearance of her son. Watching her dive into the mystery of two murdered teens in the small Norwegian town of Son was both captivating and heart-wrenching.
The setting and all the different the characters were so interesting, and the story is packed with surprises. It really kept me guessing right to the end which made it unputdownable for me which I love in a book.
The ending literally left me with my mouth open and I was left desperate to read more so hopefully there will be a second book 🙏
Overall, if you’re into fast-paced crime thrillers with plenty of twists and a main character you can really root for, “Son” is a must-read.
So grateful to have been given a chance to read and review. Thank you
December 16, 2024
When two of your favourite authors decide to join forces and write a book together, you don’t walk, you run, and that is exactly what I did. Of course, my expectations ran too, and we all know that can backfire spectacularly. I’m happy to report I didn’t shoot myself in the foot by expecting too much, SON was everything I’d hoped it would be and I enjoyed it tremendously.
SON marks the start of a new series featuring Kari Voss, who is a sort of mentalist, but in a non-magician kind of way. She is an expert on body language and is known in certain circles as a human lie detector. Kari provides a rather novel and highly fascinating point of view, and a fun police procedural angle, and I loved reading about her. She’s been through hell and back, she dares to question not only others but also herself, and she does so from the heart.
SON is an apt title, as part of the story is set in the town of Son and sons in all shapes and sizes, as well as various parent-son relationships, play a huge role in the narrative. That’s a whole bunch of sons and other characters to keep track of, and plenty of red herrings, but it never got confusing and yes, I did have the right person in my crosshairs all along, thank you very much. That didn’t spoil my fun at all, I was too invested in the investigations, and I was quite wary of some of the other characters as well, hardly anyone was who and what they seemed to be at first.
I noticed the Enger influence, I noticed the Gustawsson influence, but SON is a seamless story and you can’t tell where one author ends and the other begins. I wanted to say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but since they’re both brilliant on their own, let’s just go with: the whole is equally fantastic as its parts.
SON is a thrilling, intricately woven slice of Nordic Noir and it has a delicious sting in the tail that leaves me wanting more, much more. I had a brilliant time with SON and I would happily recommend it to lovers of crime thrillers and police procedurals, and Nordic Noir of course.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
SON marks the start of a new series featuring Kari Voss, who is a sort of mentalist, but in a non-magician kind of way. She is an expert on body language and is known in certain circles as a human lie detector. Kari provides a rather novel and highly fascinating point of view, and a fun police procedural angle, and I loved reading about her. She’s been through hell and back, she dares to question not only others but also herself, and she does so from the heart.
SON is an apt title, as part of the story is set in the town of Son and sons in all shapes and sizes, as well as various parent-son relationships, play a huge role in the narrative. That’s a whole bunch of sons and other characters to keep track of, and plenty of red herrings, but it never got confusing and yes, I did have the right person in my crosshairs all along, thank you very much. That didn’t spoil my fun at all, I was too invested in the investigations, and I was quite wary of some of the other characters as well, hardly anyone was who and what they seemed to be at first.
I noticed the Enger influence, I noticed the Gustawsson influence, but SON is a seamless story and you can’t tell where one author ends and the other begins. I wanted to say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but since they’re both brilliant on their own, let’s just go with: the whole is equally fantastic as its parts.
SON is a thrilling, intricately woven slice of Nordic Noir and it has a delicious sting in the tail that leaves me wanting more, much more. I had a brilliant time with SON and I would happily recommend it to lovers of crime thrillers and police procedurals, and Nordic Noir of course.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
December 14, 2025
https://lottensbokblogg.wordpress.com...
Eftersom jag läst och gillat tidigare böcker av Thomas Enger blev jag genast nyfiken på Son när jag såg den i flödet. I november var det dags att läsa den.
Son är en välskriven och mycket spännande deckare. En riktig bladvändare. Den har allt som jag vill ha i en spänningsroman – bra tempo, en intrig som fungerar, intressanta och trovärdiga karaktärer och bra språk. Den kommer i toppskiktet av de spänningsromaner jag läst i år.
Huvudpersonen i Son är Kari Voss som är en psykolog som är specialist på att avgöra om folk pratar sanning eller inte, och på hur minnen fungerar. Sju år innan Son utspelar sig försvann hennes då nioåriga son Vetle spårlöst. Nu hittar man två av hans då närmaste vänner mördade och Kari engagerar sig. Jag tycker Kari är trovärdigt tecknad, och jag tror på henne som person. Hennes upplevelser präglar henne naturligtvis och gör att hon lägger sig i saker hon inte borde, men det känns naturligt och stör mig inte. Karis pappa Hans Christian en karaktär som intresserar mig, det känns som om det finns outforskade lager där. Likaså vill jag veta mer om polisen Ramona och hennes sambo Linnea.
Mysteriet är väl uppbyggt, med bra tempo utan att vara hetsigt men med detaljer som betyder något. Även här är karaktärerna intressanta, inte minst Vetles barndomsvänner som nu är tonåringar och deras föräldrar. Det är snyggt gjort där saker avslöjas efterhand, och bilden av händelseförloppet ändras liksom synen på karaktärerna. Karis minnesforskning har stor betydelse, och den känns väl researchad. En sak som stannar kvar är Yerkes–Dodsons lag om hur falska minnen kan skapas. Tempot ökar berättelsen igenom, och inte helt oväntat så slutar den med en twist.
Det är alltid fascinerande hur två författare kan få till en berättelse som flyter så väl, både språkligt och intrigmässigt. Båda är etablerade deckarförfattare, och gemensamt blir de oerhört bra. Jag har läst många böcker av Thomas Enger tidigare som jag gillat men Johana Gustawsson kände jag inte till. Som jag har förstått det kom Son ut på engelska först, vilket jag antar förklaras av Thomas Enger är norsk och Johana Gustawsson är fransk (men bor numera i Sverige). Son är namnet på orten där det hela utspelar sig, så varför heter den Sår på norska?
Lyckligtvis är det här den första i en serie om Kari Voss. När kommer nästa del undrar jag?
Betyg: 5-
Eftersom jag läst och gillat tidigare böcker av Thomas Enger blev jag genast nyfiken på Son när jag såg den i flödet. I november var det dags att läsa den.
Son är en välskriven och mycket spännande deckare. En riktig bladvändare. Den har allt som jag vill ha i en spänningsroman – bra tempo, en intrig som fungerar, intressanta och trovärdiga karaktärer och bra språk. Den kommer i toppskiktet av de spänningsromaner jag läst i år.
Huvudpersonen i Son är Kari Voss som är en psykolog som är specialist på att avgöra om folk pratar sanning eller inte, och på hur minnen fungerar. Sju år innan Son utspelar sig försvann hennes då nioåriga son Vetle spårlöst. Nu hittar man två av hans då närmaste vänner mördade och Kari engagerar sig. Jag tycker Kari är trovärdigt tecknad, och jag tror på henne som person. Hennes upplevelser präglar henne naturligtvis och gör att hon lägger sig i saker hon inte borde, men det känns naturligt och stör mig inte. Karis pappa Hans Christian en karaktär som intresserar mig, det känns som om det finns outforskade lager där. Likaså vill jag veta mer om polisen Ramona och hennes sambo Linnea.
Mysteriet är väl uppbyggt, med bra tempo utan att vara hetsigt men med detaljer som betyder något. Även här är karaktärerna intressanta, inte minst Vetles barndomsvänner som nu är tonåringar och deras föräldrar. Det är snyggt gjort där saker avslöjas efterhand, och bilden av händelseförloppet ändras liksom synen på karaktärerna. Karis minnesforskning har stor betydelse, och den känns väl researchad. En sak som stannar kvar är Yerkes–Dodsons lag om hur falska minnen kan skapas. Tempot ökar berättelsen igenom, och inte helt oväntat så slutar den med en twist.
Det är alltid fascinerande hur två författare kan få till en berättelse som flyter så väl, både språkligt och intrigmässigt. Båda är etablerade deckarförfattare, och gemensamt blir de oerhört bra. Jag har läst många böcker av Thomas Enger tidigare som jag gillat men Johana Gustawsson kände jag inte till. Som jag har förstått det kom Son ut på engelska först, vilket jag antar förklaras av Thomas Enger är norsk och Johana Gustawsson är fransk (men bor numera i Sverige). Son är namnet på orten där det hela utspelar sig, så varför heter den Sår på norska?
Lyckligtvis är det här den första i en serie om Kari Voss. När kommer nästa del undrar jag?
Betyg: 5-
July 18, 2025
I've finished reading Son by @author_thomas_enger & @johanagustawsson, and I rate it 5 stars 🌟 🤩
She is still grieving the death of her husband and the disappearance of her son but body language and memory, and consultant to Oslo police Kari Voss heads straight into the deep end when two teenage girls are brutally murdered but when a friend of the girls is arrested Kari voss is positive his innocent and will do all the can to prove it even if going against her colleagues but not everyone wants the truth to be told and will do anything to keep it that way.
This is the very first book I've read from authors Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger, and it happens to be the first in a brilliant new series. i honestly love it from start to finish. The story is 100% believable because false confessions happen all the time, especially under the extreme manipulation of the police officers. It's been happening decades even longer, so this story had me gripped because I already know these things happen, but when you read a story with the same situation, it makes that story much more real and vivid.
This was a perfectly crafted book with a brilliant story and fantastic characters, especially Kari Voss. im looking forward to getting to know her, and hopefully Jesper to
As you can see, my colourful Wtf moment booktaps I use these to mark the moments that gobsmacked me and had me wanting more, and the ending has 3 taps because the ending completely blown my mind 😳 I didn't expect it i didn't even think it was possible but it was brilliant and I cant wait for the next one.
I strongly recommend this one because it's got everything a crime lover could want and much much more. Im also looking forward to reading other books by these authors they are now on my autobuy authors, meaning I'll buy their books without knowing the story. I'll just get it and then read it.
She is still grieving the death of her husband and the disappearance of her son but body language and memory, and consultant to Oslo police Kari Voss heads straight into the deep end when two teenage girls are brutally murdered but when a friend of the girls is arrested Kari voss is positive his innocent and will do all the can to prove it even if going against her colleagues but not everyone wants the truth to be told and will do anything to keep it that way.
This is the very first book I've read from authors Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger, and it happens to be the first in a brilliant new series. i honestly love it from start to finish. The story is 100% believable because false confessions happen all the time, especially under the extreme manipulation of the police officers. It's been happening decades even longer, so this story had me gripped because I already know these things happen, but when you read a story with the same situation, it makes that story much more real and vivid.
This was a perfectly crafted book with a brilliant story and fantastic characters, especially Kari Voss. im looking forward to getting to know her, and hopefully Jesper to
As you can see, my colourful Wtf moment booktaps I use these to mark the moments that gobsmacked me and had me wanting more, and the ending has 3 taps because the ending completely blown my mind 😳 I didn't expect it i didn't even think it was possible but it was brilliant and I cant wait for the next one.
I strongly recommend this one because it's got everything a crime lover could want and much much more. Im also looking forward to reading other books by these authors they are now on my autobuy authors, meaning I'll buy their books without knowing the story. I'll just get it and then read it.
April 13, 2025
Son, Thomas Enger & Johana Gustawsson,(The Kari Voss Mysteries #1 ) pre ordered iBook 3/2025, 7,99. First in a series and written in English! 13/4/2025. 5/5.
Two successful writers, from different countries, writing in different languages write a first in a series book together and publish in English…and it is a 5/5 with a great ending leading to the next book, which I seriously hope is not going to be a long wait for this reader.
Kari Voss is a very interesting character and well formed to hold interest in a series in my opinion. She has her history and her speciality and also her father the retired police chief to rely on and that combined with a fierce determination to fine answers and read people correctly, make for interesting reading.
There is Kari’s missing son that shapes her as she tries to come to the truth of the two gruesome murders…. Some really well formed characters in the community including the police, victims families and friends. Actually, it was a page turner…..Highly recommended and looking forward to the next book very much.
Two successful writers, from different countries, writing in different languages write a first in a series book together and publish in English…and it is a 5/5 with a great ending leading to the next book, which I seriously hope is not going to be a long wait for this reader.
Kari Voss is a very interesting character and well formed to hold interest in a series in my opinion. She has her history and her speciality and also her father the retired police chief to rely on and that combined with a fierce determination to fine answers and read people correctly, make for interesting reading.
There is Kari’s missing son that shapes her as she tries to come to the truth of the two gruesome murders…. Some really well formed characters in the community including the police, victims families and friends. Actually, it was a page turner…..Highly recommended and looking forward to the next book very much.
March 15, 2025
The Police Procedural is a staple of so many Nordic Noir crime novels, and I've always loved these types of stories. However, in Son we follow psychologist Kari Voss, a consultant for the police who specialises in body language and memory. This was such an interesting angle because it showed the huge contrast in styles and techniques - the Police focus on hard evidence, facts, DNA and physical results whereas Kari was using her intuition and training to get answers based on emotion and unintentional tells from body language, facial expressions and reactions. It was fascinating and made me think about the way police investigations (especially regarding confessions) are conducted.
The characters in this novel are some of the most vividly portrayed characters I've ever read. I was there with them on every page and I could picture the location and surroundings in such detail - from a countertop in a kitchen, to the trees surrounding the summer cabin and the sharp blade of a knife. It's hard to know with two authors where the different elements have come from, but I know that both authors are particularly good at putting emotion into the back-stories and creating harrowing storylines. The double murder at the beginning of the book is violent and shocking but it's the fallout of the murders and the impact it had on the two families that really resonated with me. In addition, we also find out about Kari's own trauma - the loss of her husband and disappearance of her young son several years earlier. The fact that the murders are linked to her son's friendship group takes a huge toll on her mentally and you can feel the weight of the grief gradually bringing her down throughout the case.
There is honestly nothing I would change about this book. It's crime writing perfection - gripping, dark, atmospheric, clever, twisty and that title is just everything! Nordic Noir doesn't get any better than this.
The characters in this novel are some of the most vividly portrayed characters I've ever read. I was there with them on every page and I could picture the location and surroundings in such detail - from a countertop in a kitchen, to the trees surrounding the summer cabin and the sharp blade of a knife. It's hard to know with two authors where the different elements have come from, but I know that both authors are particularly good at putting emotion into the back-stories and creating harrowing storylines. The double murder at the beginning of the book is violent and shocking but it's the fallout of the murders and the impact it had on the two families that really resonated with me. In addition, we also find out about Kari's own trauma - the loss of her husband and disappearance of her young son several years earlier. The fact that the murders are linked to her son's friendship group takes a huge toll on her mentally and you can feel the weight of the grief gradually bringing her down throughout the case.
There is honestly nothing I would change about this book. It's crime writing perfection - gripping, dark, atmospheric, clever, twisty and that title is just everything! Nordic Noir doesn't get any better than this.
June 11, 2025
Arc Read: NetGallery & Trafalgar Square Publishing | Orenda Books
The story starts off slowly as it introduces each character and their connection to the events of the murder that night, along with the secrets they’ve kept. I liked Kari Voss she refuses to take no for an answer and is determined to uncover the truth.
The pace picks up towards the end with cliffhangers in the chapters that keep you on edge as everyone's secrets come to light. That ending left me completely flabbergasted they better add another book after that reveal!
The story starts off slowly as it introduces each character and their connection to the events of the murder that night, along with the secrets they’ve kept. I liked Kari Voss she refuses to take no for an answer and is determined to uncover the truth.
The pace picks up towards the end with cliffhangers in the chapters that keep you on edge as everyone's secrets come to light. That ending left me completely flabbergasted they better add another book after that reveal!
March 5, 2025
Right from the blurb, Son promises a dark, twisty thriller packed with secrets, deception, and deeply buried trauma. And it delivers. This Scandinavian crime novel weaves together psychological depth and atmospheric suspense, creating an unsettling yet utterly compelling reading experience.
At the heart of the story is Kari Voss, a psychologist specializing in body language and memory, whose personal tragedy—her son’s disappearance seven years ago—continues to haunt her. Kari is a fascinating protagonist, navigating her grief while using her expertise to untangle a brutal double murder case. The interplay between her personal demons and professional instincts adds an extra layer of tension, making her one of the most intriguing crime fiction characters I’ve encountered in a while.
The murder of two teenage girls in Son, a seemingly quiet Norwegian village, opens up a Pandora’s box of secrets. When a suspect is quickly arrested, Kari isn’t convinced. As she digs deeper, the story twists and turns, revealing that no one—not even the victims—are who they appear to be. The novel masterfully plays with the theme of deception, constantly making the reader question who to trust.
What I loved most was the eerie, almost claustrophobic atmosphere Gustawsson and Enger created. The setting of Son, with its dark undercurrents and hidden histories, feels like a character in itself. The writing is taut and evocative, with just the right balance of psychological introspection and pulse-pounding action.
The pacing is sharp, though the multiple layers of the story demand attention. Just when you think you have a grasp on what’s happening, the book throws another curveball. The connection between the current murders and Kari’s missing son adds a deep personal stake, keeping the emotional weight high throughout.
If I had one minor critique, it would be that at times, the sheer number of secrets and suspects can feel overwhelming. But for fans of intricate, character-driven crime fiction, this is exactly what makes Son such a rewarding read.
Son is an engrossing, chilling thriller that kept me on edge until the very last page. If you enjoy atmospheric Nordic noir with psychological complexity, this book is a must-read.
https://featzreviews.com/son-book-rev...
At the heart of the story is Kari Voss, a psychologist specializing in body language and memory, whose personal tragedy—her son’s disappearance seven years ago—continues to haunt her. Kari is a fascinating protagonist, navigating her grief while using her expertise to untangle a brutal double murder case. The interplay between her personal demons and professional instincts adds an extra layer of tension, making her one of the most intriguing crime fiction characters I’ve encountered in a while.
The murder of two teenage girls in Son, a seemingly quiet Norwegian village, opens up a Pandora’s box of secrets. When a suspect is quickly arrested, Kari isn’t convinced. As she digs deeper, the story twists and turns, revealing that no one—not even the victims—are who they appear to be. The novel masterfully plays with the theme of deception, constantly making the reader question who to trust.
What I loved most was the eerie, almost claustrophobic atmosphere Gustawsson and Enger created. The setting of Son, with its dark undercurrents and hidden histories, feels like a character in itself. The writing is taut and evocative, with just the right balance of psychological introspection and pulse-pounding action.
The pacing is sharp, though the multiple layers of the story demand attention. Just when you think you have a grasp on what’s happening, the book throws another curveball. The connection between the current murders and Kari’s missing son adds a deep personal stake, keeping the emotional weight high throughout.
If I had one minor critique, it would be that at times, the sheer number of secrets and suspects can feel overwhelming. But for fans of intricate, character-driven crime fiction, this is exactly what makes Son such a rewarding read.
Son is an engrossing, chilling thriller that kept me on edge until the very last page. If you enjoy atmospheric Nordic noir with psychological complexity, this book is a must-read.
https://featzreviews.com/son-book-rev...
June 7, 2025
ARC Review! “Son” by @author_thomas_enger & @johanagustawsson 3.75/5⭐️
This mystery novel is set in Norway and focuses on Kari Voss AKA The Human Lie Detector. Known for her expertise in body language and memory, Kari assists local police with crimes throughout the area. Dealing with the disappearance of her own son, she is determined to find the killer of her son’s former best friends.
The book started a little slow for me and jumped around quite a bit. But it found its footing as the investigation progressed and I was hooked! The plot shines when focusing on Kari Voss and her investigatory skills.
While the ending felt a tiny bit rushed, I cannot wait for the next book as it’s listed “Kari Voss #1” on @goodreads !! Give me the family drama and mystery!! What is going to happen?!?!
Thank you to @netgalley , Trafalgar Square Publishing and the authors for this advanced copy! The book releases on August 25, 2025 and you won’t want to miss out on this series!!
This mystery novel is set in Norway and focuses on Kari Voss AKA The Human Lie Detector. Known for her expertise in body language and memory, Kari assists local police with crimes throughout the area. Dealing with the disappearance of her own son, she is determined to find the killer of her son’s former best friends.
The book started a little slow for me and jumped around quite a bit. But it found its footing as the investigation progressed and I was hooked! The plot shines when focusing on Kari Voss and her investigatory skills.
While the ending felt a tiny bit rushed, I cannot wait for the next book as it’s listed “Kari Voss #1” on @goodreads !! Give me the family drama and mystery!! What is going to happen?!?!
Thank you to @netgalley , Trafalgar Square Publishing and the authors for this advanced copy! The book releases on August 25, 2025 and you won’t want to miss out on this series!!
April 9, 2025
I have read books by both these authors before and was intrigued by this, the start of a new series. Collaboration novels always make me approach them a little differently, I always wonder how it was written, whether each author concentrated on one character or chapter and it sometimes takes me longer to get into the storyline. But with this novel I never had this issue. I was hooked right from the start.
When two young women are found murdered after a private house party the whole community of Søn are shocked. It isn’t the first time that tragedy has occurred in the area but this time the police have their suspect immediately. But not everyone is convinced and this is where this novel differs to so many.
Whilst it is a crime novel most of it isn’t seen through the eyes of a detective. Instead the lead character is Kari, a ‘human lie detector’ who analyses body language to decide whether a suspect is telling the truth. Kari has issues of her own, widowed and her son disappeared 7 years earlier. Whilst much of her personal life is in the background it is evident in her demeanour and the way in which she approaches others who are connected to the murders, whether they be parents, siblings or suspects. What was also interesting was her own connection to the murders. The victims and the suspect were childhood friends of her son.
I think this was a novel where I suspected just about everybody. The way that Kari questioned the people she had known for years, some of them friends, which led to their own flashbacks to what happened on the night of the murders contributed to my thoughts.It was evident that despite being such a close knit community that nobody really knew each other.
When the truth was finally revealed I thought there would be a gentle ending, with friendships mended and a gradual acceptance of events. What I got was a huge shock that left me desperate for the follow up. No pressure, but please don’t me wait long.
When two young women are found murdered after a private house party the whole community of Søn are shocked. It isn’t the first time that tragedy has occurred in the area but this time the police have their suspect immediately. But not everyone is convinced and this is where this novel differs to so many.
Whilst it is a crime novel most of it isn’t seen through the eyes of a detective. Instead the lead character is Kari, a ‘human lie detector’ who analyses body language to decide whether a suspect is telling the truth. Kari has issues of her own, widowed and her son disappeared 7 years earlier. Whilst much of her personal life is in the background it is evident in her demeanour and the way in which she approaches others who are connected to the murders, whether they be parents, siblings or suspects. What was also interesting was her own connection to the murders. The victims and the suspect were childhood friends of her son.
I think this was a novel where I suspected just about everybody. The way that Kari questioned the people she had known for years, some of them friends, which led to their own flashbacks to what happened on the night of the murders contributed to my thoughts.It was evident that despite being such a close knit community that nobody really knew each other.
When the truth was finally revealed I thought there would be a gentle ending, with friendships mended and a gradual acceptance of events. What I got was a huge shock that left me desperate for the follow up. No pressure, but please don’t me wait long.
December 22, 2025
. good idea but the development is the best. first it dosnt solve the first case, the child of Kari who disappears. second, all this body and face reading is a bit forced. and mainly is a bit boring....
August 31, 2025
So I'm gonna give it a three... for now. I unfortunately was just so not in the mood to read a thriller, but that's not to say I wouldn't pick it up again later and delve a little deeper into it.
eeks
- I love a double meaning in a title
- The first chapter or so really hooks you in so easily
- The last 20% of the book was an absolute whirlwind, maybe I just wan't paying attention that much but I had to idea who actually did it and BIG cliffhanger that I didn't see coming that sets up the next book very nicely.
icks
- I would personally like to box ramona
- very much a slow burn, I was hooked and then started to lose interest fairly quickly
- Lots of jumping around due to the multi-POV that made it just a little confusing, I almost wish we had stayed in Kari's POV just becuase the back and forth between the active crime scene and the flashbacks from losing her son were a little to much and what primarily made to book confusing.
I hope that one day I'll pick this back up and give it the attention to detail it deserves, but that's all for now. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
eeks
- I love a double meaning in a title
- The first chapter or so really hooks you in so easily
- The last 20% of the book was an absolute whirlwind, maybe I just wan't paying attention that much but I had to idea who actually did it and BIG cliffhanger that I didn't see coming that sets up the next book very nicely.
icks
- I would personally like to box ramona
- very much a slow burn, I was hooked and then started to lose interest fairly quickly
- Lots of jumping around due to the multi-POV that made it just a little confusing, I almost wish we had stayed in Kari's POV just becuase the back and forth between the active crime scene and the flashbacks from losing her son were a little to much and what primarily made to book confusing.
I hope that one day I'll pick this back up and give it the attention to detail it deserves, but that's all for now. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 14, 2025Hard to put down once you get started, and quite harrowing for a parent to read!
July 1, 2025
This kept me up late at night/early into the morning, turning pages. Suspenseful, clever interweaving of viewpoints and such great backstories of all characters. The murder of two teenage girls results in a quick arrest of a teenage boy, supposedly their friend.
Kari Voss, a psychologist and body language reader, doubts the confession's authenticity and she sets out to get at the truth, even though it puts her in danger.
Bring on Book 2!
Kari Voss, a psychologist and body language reader, doubts the confession's authenticity and she sets out to get at the truth, even though it puts her in danger.
Bring on Book 2!
August 30, 2025
Page turner. Really enjoyed - lots of characters. Did fall off the cliff a bit in the middle and lost a bit of interest, but it picked up towards the end. But a bit annoyed that I found out half way through that this is apparently the first of a series. And so, it ends on an annoying cliff-hanger :-( Not sure I'll want to read a series, with same old characters....
March 18, 2025
Ooft!! What a brilliant book! Son is a gripping crime thriller co-authored by French writer Johana Gustawsson, the Queen of French Noir, and Norwegian author Thomas Enger whose Nordic Noir novels are loved for their depth of characterisation and thrilling plots. Son introduces us to psychologist Kari Voss, an expert in body language and memory, who becomes embroiled in a harrowing investigation following the brutal murders of two teenage girls in the Norwegian village of Son. As Voss delves deeper into the case, she uncovers unsettling connections to her own traumatic past, including the unsolved disappearance of her son seven years prior.
The partnership between Gustawsson and Enger is a noteworthy fusion of distinct literary traditions—French noir and Scandinavian crime fiction. Gustawsson, acclaimed for her Roy & Castells series, brings a nuanced understanding of psychological intricacies, while Enger, known for the Henning Juul series, contributes a mastery of atmospheric tension and procedural detail. Their collaboration is seamless, with the narrative exhibiting a cohesive voice that belies the dual authorship. The integration of their respective strengths results in a richly layered story that maintains suspense and emotional depth throughout.
Kari Voss, our central figure, emerges as a compelling and multifaceted protagonist. Her expertise in body language and memory not only adds a unique dimension to the investigative process but also serves as a metaphor for her personal quest for truth amidst layers of deception. Voss’s personal history—marked by the disappearance of her son and the death of her husband—infuses her character with a profound sense of loss but also of determination. This depth really resonated with me, and made Kari both relatable and admirable. Voss’s interactions with Chief Constable Ramona Norum further enrich the narrative, offering a dynamic partnership that balances professional rigour with personal empathy.
The village of Son is depicted with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the quintessential elements of Nordic settings—serene landscapes veiled by an undercurrent of unease. The authors effectively utilise the contrasting tranquility of the village against the backdrop of violent crimes to heighten suspense. This juxtaposition creates a palpable tension, immersing us in an environment where the idyllic facade conceals dark secrets. The atmospheric descriptions not only serve to ground the narrative in a specific locale, but also enhance the psychological intensity of the story.
The plot of “Son” is intricately woven, with multiple threads converging to reveal a tapestry of mystery and emotion. The narrative structure allows for a gradual unveiling of clues, encouraging all of us sleuths to engage actively in the deductive process, which I love doing. The authors employ a writing style that is both evocative and precise, balancing descriptive passages with sharp dialogue. This approach ensures a steady pacing that maintains suspense while allowing for character development. The inclusion of misdirection and unexpected twists kept me on edge, and culminated in a mind-blowing conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.
The authoritative tone of the narrative is reinforced by the authors’ meticulous research and authentic portrayal of investigative procedures. Gustawsson and Enger draw upon their journalistic backgrounds to infuse the story with realism, particularly in the depiction of psychological profiling and police work. This authenticity lends credibility to the narrative, allowing readers to trust the unfolding events and the protagonist’s insights. The seamless blending of factual accuracy with creative storytelling exemplifies the authors’ command over the genre.
“Son” will appeal to lovers of Nordic noir and psychological thrillers; readers who appreciate complex characters and atmospheric settings. If you are interested in narratives that explore the psychological ramifications of trauma and loss you will be drawn to Kari Voss’s journey. The novel’s ability to intertwine personal struggles with broader societal issues offers a rich experience for those seeking more than a conventional crime story.
Verdict: Son stands as a testament to the incredibly successful collaboration between Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger. Through the creation of a compelling protagonist, a vividly rendered setting, and a meticulously crafted plot, they have delivered a novel that not only adheres to the conventions of the crime thriller genre but also expands its possibilities. The authoritative narrative and psychological depth ensure that readers are both entertained and intellectually engaged, marking “Son” as a stand out, remarkable addition to contemporary crime fiction. I really hope this is going to be a long series. I can’t wait for more!
The partnership between Gustawsson and Enger is a noteworthy fusion of distinct literary traditions—French noir and Scandinavian crime fiction. Gustawsson, acclaimed for her Roy & Castells series, brings a nuanced understanding of psychological intricacies, while Enger, known for the Henning Juul series, contributes a mastery of atmospheric tension and procedural detail. Their collaboration is seamless, with the narrative exhibiting a cohesive voice that belies the dual authorship. The integration of their respective strengths results in a richly layered story that maintains suspense and emotional depth throughout.
Kari Voss, our central figure, emerges as a compelling and multifaceted protagonist. Her expertise in body language and memory not only adds a unique dimension to the investigative process but also serves as a metaphor for her personal quest for truth amidst layers of deception. Voss’s personal history—marked by the disappearance of her son and the death of her husband—infuses her character with a profound sense of loss but also of determination. This depth really resonated with me, and made Kari both relatable and admirable. Voss’s interactions with Chief Constable Ramona Norum further enrich the narrative, offering a dynamic partnership that balances professional rigour with personal empathy.
The village of Son is depicted with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the quintessential elements of Nordic settings—serene landscapes veiled by an undercurrent of unease. The authors effectively utilise the contrasting tranquility of the village against the backdrop of violent crimes to heighten suspense. This juxtaposition creates a palpable tension, immersing us in an environment where the idyllic facade conceals dark secrets. The atmospheric descriptions not only serve to ground the narrative in a specific locale, but also enhance the psychological intensity of the story.
The plot of “Son” is intricately woven, with multiple threads converging to reveal a tapestry of mystery and emotion. The narrative structure allows for a gradual unveiling of clues, encouraging all of us sleuths to engage actively in the deductive process, which I love doing. The authors employ a writing style that is both evocative and precise, balancing descriptive passages with sharp dialogue. This approach ensures a steady pacing that maintains suspense while allowing for character development. The inclusion of misdirection and unexpected twists kept me on edge, and culminated in a mind-blowing conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.
The authoritative tone of the narrative is reinforced by the authors’ meticulous research and authentic portrayal of investigative procedures. Gustawsson and Enger draw upon their journalistic backgrounds to infuse the story with realism, particularly in the depiction of psychological profiling and police work. This authenticity lends credibility to the narrative, allowing readers to trust the unfolding events and the protagonist’s insights. The seamless blending of factual accuracy with creative storytelling exemplifies the authors’ command over the genre.
“Son” will appeal to lovers of Nordic noir and psychological thrillers; readers who appreciate complex characters and atmospheric settings. If you are interested in narratives that explore the psychological ramifications of trauma and loss you will be drawn to Kari Voss’s journey. The novel’s ability to intertwine personal struggles with broader societal issues offers a rich experience for those seeking more than a conventional crime story.
Verdict: Son stands as a testament to the incredibly successful collaboration between Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger. Through the creation of a compelling protagonist, a vividly rendered setting, and a meticulously crafted plot, they have delivered a novel that not only adheres to the conventions of the crime thriller genre but also expands its possibilities. The authoritative narrative and psychological depth ensure that readers are both entertained and intellectually engaged, marking “Son” as a stand out, remarkable addition to contemporary crime fiction. I really hope this is going to be a long series. I can’t wait for more!
June 12, 2025
Finished reading: June 10th 2025
"Memory works like a Wikipedia page: You can go in there and change it. But so can other people."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Orenda Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
March 14, 2025
4.5 Stars
I’ve not read any books by Thomas Enger, but I really loved two of Johana Gustawsson’s novels, The Bleeding and Yule Island, so I was anxious to read Son, the first Kari Voss Mystery.
Kari, a psychologist and expert on body language and memory, is also a consultant for the Oslo Police. She is asked by her friend, Chief Constable Ramona Norum, to assist in the investigation of the brutal murder of two teenage girls, Eva and Hedda, in the small Norwegian town of Son. Jesper, a friend of the girls, is arrested and charged after he confesses, but Kari is not convinced of his guilt and continues to investigate on her own. She uncovers several secrets and multiple suspects.
As expected with the first of a series, there is considerable character development. Kari emerges as an interesting character with a traumatic background. She lost her husband in an accident and then her nine-year-old son Vetle went missing. It’s been seven years since Vetle’s disappearance, but Kari has not accepted that he could be dead and when stressed, she experiences episodes of transient global amnesia. The killings of Eva and Hedda and the arrest of Jesper hit close to home because the three were Vetle’s best friends. Besides her intelligence and intuitiveness, what I especially appreciated about Kari is that, though she does not back down easily, she keeps an open mind and questions her assertions.
I’ve always been interested in body language, the process of communicating non-verbally through conscious or unconscious gestures. As a consequence, I enjoyed Kari’s explanations of character’s movements and what they reveal. Of course there’s always the element of nervousness in people talking to a woman known as a human lie detector.
I found the book a compelling read from beginning to end. It opens very strongly and continues at a relentless pace with several twists and turns. As secrets are uncovered, more suspects emerge. The reader feels like Kari does when she’s “left with a whirlwind of new information. The complexity of it all bears down on me, covering everything in a cloak of suspicion and uncertainty.”
I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on the title. It’s perfect because it works on so many levels. There’s Vetle, a missing son; the town of Son where the murders occur; and various sons like Jesper, Samuel, Erik, and Petter whose relationships with their parents receive considerable attention.
The final sentence in the novel had me screaming, “When will the next book in the series be released?” I will definitely be looking for it. I also intend to read Gustawsson’s three books in her Roy & Castells series and Thomas Enger’s five books in his Henning Juul series. In the meantime, I will definitely be recommending this totally immersive collaboration.
Here are links to my reviews of the two Johana Gustawsson novels I have read:
The Bleeding - https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Yule Island - https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,100 of my book reviews.
I’ve not read any books by Thomas Enger, but I really loved two of Johana Gustawsson’s novels, The Bleeding and Yule Island, so I was anxious to read Son, the first Kari Voss Mystery.
Kari, a psychologist and expert on body language and memory, is also a consultant for the Oslo Police. She is asked by her friend, Chief Constable Ramona Norum, to assist in the investigation of the brutal murder of two teenage girls, Eva and Hedda, in the small Norwegian town of Son. Jesper, a friend of the girls, is arrested and charged after he confesses, but Kari is not convinced of his guilt and continues to investigate on her own. She uncovers several secrets and multiple suspects.
As expected with the first of a series, there is considerable character development. Kari emerges as an interesting character with a traumatic background. She lost her husband in an accident and then her nine-year-old son Vetle went missing. It’s been seven years since Vetle’s disappearance, but Kari has not accepted that he could be dead and when stressed, she experiences episodes of transient global amnesia. The killings of Eva and Hedda and the arrest of Jesper hit close to home because the three were Vetle’s best friends. Besides her intelligence and intuitiveness, what I especially appreciated about Kari is that, though she does not back down easily, she keeps an open mind and questions her assertions.
I’ve always been interested in body language, the process of communicating non-verbally through conscious or unconscious gestures. As a consequence, I enjoyed Kari’s explanations of character’s movements and what they reveal. Of course there’s always the element of nervousness in people talking to a woman known as a human lie detector.
I found the book a compelling read from beginning to end. It opens very strongly and continues at a relentless pace with several twists and turns. As secrets are uncovered, more suspects emerge. The reader feels like Kari does when she’s “left with a whirlwind of new information. The complexity of it all bears down on me, covering everything in a cloak of suspicion and uncertainty.”
I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on the title. It’s perfect because it works on so many levels. There’s Vetle, a missing son; the town of Son where the murders occur; and various sons like Jesper, Samuel, Erik, and Petter whose relationships with their parents receive considerable attention.
The final sentence in the novel had me screaming, “When will the next book in the series be released?” I will definitely be looking for it. I also intend to read Gustawsson’s three books in her Roy & Castells series and Thomas Enger’s five books in his Henning Juul series. In the meantime, I will definitely be recommending this totally immersive collaboration.
Here are links to my reviews of the two Johana Gustawsson novels I have read:
The Bleeding - https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Yule Island - https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,100 of my book reviews.
August 17, 2025
Several things have happened to the adults involved in a now seven-year old case where a child was snatched in the evening of the day of his ninth birthday party – his grandad has quit being chief of police, but his mother is now their chief expert in 'tells' and body language, memories and lie detecting. The investigator is now a higher-up investigator. The children at the party are now roughly sixteen. But now, in a case dripping with links to celebrity and famous Norwegians, two of them – both very fanciable girls, plucked from their school's 'in'-crowd, and one the next-door neighbour of the missing boy – have been found dead, their throats cut. Surely there is some connection between the old case and this new?
Well, actually, no – you get the impression exceedingly early on that the son's vanishing is what will have to be an issue for Kari Voss, our lead, throughout the series this is intended to launch, and so this case will be a separate matter. And as much as you'd like the prologue and the chapters that concern the lad apparently being snatched to get some closure here, you see how they won't.
It's not the only major point of order here that raises eyebrows, and for less than positive reasons. No, one major problem with this is the early arrest – the police decide someone has done the double murder, and it's just far too early in proceedings for us to have any thought it's the culprit. We know, because we know we're reading a thriller, that they're innocent, but the book should know it's a book (without telling us it knows) and play by the rules a lot better. The early arrest does eventually cause some worthwhile antagonism between Kari and the police, but it's not enough to justify the dogged concentration on the innocent lad.
There are still other issues – very early on someone complains about being drawn away from the "ten Premier League games" that day – an amount which you never ever get on a random day in October. And I never once believed Kari was an ace at both things – the minutiae of our body language that tells what our thinking really is, and the problems with false memory that factor in this case. One or the other, yes, but not both.
The final clear red flag about the veracity of any of this is people thinking Londoners have "politeness and grace". Yeah, and I have six tentacles coming out my cheeks, that I can wiggle into the pattern of the Estonian tricolour.
Ultimately what we have is an ungainly drama, one that does let us work out what is going on, alongside Kari, but that still plods on about the not-guilty lad's story far too much. It's a piece where many things, serious and trivial alike, lack conviction, and the style, jumping from Kari's first person narrative to a godlike third person (and even taking that approach when Kari was available to be first person…) similarly lacks some valuable coherence. I don't want to point fingers, but the puff quotes from respectable authors must have come courtesy a different language's edition, for this was not deserving of any high praise at all – it barely exceeds two stars.
Well, actually, no – you get the impression exceedingly early on that the son's vanishing is what will have to be an issue for Kari Voss, our lead, throughout the series this is intended to launch, and so this case will be a separate matter. And as much as you'd like the prologue and the chapters that concern the lad apparently being snatched to get some closure here, you see how they won't.
It's not the only major point of order here that raises eyebrows, and for less than positive reasons. No, one major problem with this is the early arrest – the police decide someone has done the double murder, and it's just far too early in proceedings for us to have any thought it's the culprit. We know, because we know we're reading a thriller, that they're innocent, but the book should know it's a book (without telling us it knows) and play by the rules a lot better. The early arrest does eventually cause some worthwhile antagonism between Kari and the police, but it's not enough to justify the dogged concentration on the innocent lad.
There are still other issues – very early on someone complains about being drawn away from the "ten Premier League games" that day – an amount which you never ever get on a random day in October. And I never once believed Kari was an ace at both things – the minutiae of our body language that tells what our thinking really is, and the problems with false memory that factor in this case. One or the other, yes, but not both.
The final clear red flag about the veracity of any of this is people thinking Londoners have "politeness and grace". Yeah, and I have six tentacles coming out my cheeks, that I can wiggle into the pattern of the Estonian tricolour.
Ultimately what we have is an ungainly drama, one that does let us work out what is going on, alongside Kari, but that still plods on about the not-guilty lad's story far too much. It's a piece where many things, serious and trivial alike, lack conviction, and the style, jumping from Kari's first person narrative to a godlike third person (and even taking that approach when Kari was available to be first person…) similarly lacks some valuable coherence. I don't want to point fingers, but the puff quotes from respectable authors must have come courtesy a different language's edition, for this was not deserving of any high praise at all – it barely exceeds two stars.
March 17, 2025
Seven years ago Kari Voss' son, Vetle, went missing from the village of Son, on his ninth birthday. It was an unbearable blow for a woman still grieving the loss of her husband, but the hope that he is still alive keeps her going through the sleepless nights.
Kari's job as a consultant for the Oslo police, specialising in body language and memory, drags her right back into past when two sixteen-year-old girls are brutally murdered at a summer cottage in Son. These girls were Vetle's childhood friends, and the police think they have the person responsible in custody - Vetle's former best friend, Jesper.
Kari is convinced Jesper is innocent of the crime, but she can see he is not telling the truth about everything he knows. Using her skills she decides to track down clues for herself, with the help of Chief Constable Ramona Norum, and begins to realise that everyone here is lying about what happened the night the girls were killed. But does that make them capable of murder?
There is a dark secret at the heart of Son, and Kari is about to find out that it may also have something to do with Vetle's disappearance...
When two brillaint authors like Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger decide to team up, you know that magic is going to happen, and you would be right. The first part of their brand new joint venture, the Kari Voss Mysteries, is everything that I wanted it to be and more, thrumming with suspense and the luscious noir vibes that have made their names.
Kari Voss makes a fresh and exciting protagonist for a crime story of this kind, as she is neither a police officer, nor a private detective. Instead, she is an acknowledged expert in her own field, whose impressive skills have dubbed her the 'human lie detector'.
Hand in glove with the police procedural elements (sometimes from Norum, and sometimes from Kari herself), Gustawsson and Enger weave so much about the truly fascinating worlds of body language and the unpredictable nature of memory into the plot, hinging the twists and turns on exceptionally clever psychological reveals that go far beyond those uncovered by more conventional means. As expected, everyone is lying in this small town, but Kari has weapons at her disposal that betray their wicked ways. Gradually, she strips the layers of this mystery away, casting the red herrings aside in a highly enjoyable Agatha Christie-esque way. And all this is backed up with informative explanations about the hows, whys, and wherefores that fit naturally into her inner musings and the conversations she carefully manipulates with the small cast of characters, rather than constantly bombarding you with jargon.
I thoroughly enjoyed how all this adds up to a very addictive blend of fact, fiction, atmosphere, and visceral chills that has you turning pages on a non-stop, Nordic noir, thrill-ride of a journey through all manner of small town secrets and lies - and leaves you with a parting kiss that will have your counting the days until book two arrives. I cannot wait!
Kari's job as a consultant for the Oslo police, specialising in body language and memory, drags her right back into past when two sixteen-year-old girls are brutally murdered at a summer cottage in Son. These girls were Vetle's childhood friends, and the police think they have the person responsible in custody - Vetle's former best friend, Jesper.
Kari is convinced Jesper is innocent of the crime, but she can see he is not telling the truth about everything he knows. Using her skills she decides to track down clues for herself, with the help of Chief Constable Ramona Norum, and begins to realise that everyone here is lying about what happened the night the girls were killed. But does that make them capable of murder?
There is a dark secret at the heart of Son, and Kari is about to find out that it may also have something to do with Vetle's disappearance...
When two brillaint authors like Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger decide to team up, you know that magic is going to happen, and you would be right. The first part of their brand new joint venture, the Kari Voss Mysteries, is everything that I wanted it to be and more, thrumming with suspense and the luscious noir vibes that have made their names.
Kari Voss makes a fresh and exciting protagonist for a crime story of this kind, as she is neither a police officer, nor a private detective. Instead, she is an acknowledged expert in her own field, whose impressive skills have dubbed her the 'human lie detector'.
Hand in glove with the police procedural elements (sometimes from Norum, and sometimes from Kari herself), Gustawsson and Enger weave so much about the truly fascinating worlds of body language and the unpredictable nature of memory into the plot, hinging the twists and turns on exceptionally clever psychological reveals that go far beyond those uncovered by more conventional means. As expected, everyone is lying in this small town, but Kari has weapons at her disposal that betray their wicked ways. Gradually, she strips the layers of this mystery away, casting the red herrings aside in a highly enjoyable Agatha Christie-esque way. And all this is backed up with informative explanations about the hows, whys, and wherefores that fit naturally into her inner musings and the conversations she carefully manipulates with the small cast of characters, rather than constantly bombarding you with jargon.
I thoroughly enjoyed how all this adds up to a very addictive blend of fact, fiction, atmosphere, and visceral chills that has you turning pages on a non-stop, Nordic noir, thrill-ride of a journey through all manner of small town secrets and lies - and leaves you with a parting kiss that will have your counting the days until book two arrives. I cannot wait!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews