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Varg Veum #8
Bitre Blomster
Na een verblijf van enkele maanden in een ontwenningskliniek stapt privé-detective Varg Veum de maatschappij weer in. In de hoop zijn werk langzaamaan weer te kunnen oppakken, neemt hij een simpel baantje aan, als bewaker van een huis waarvan de bewoners enige tijd in Spanje verblijven. Wanneer de vrouw die hem het baantje heeft bezorgd hem het huis laat zien, blijkt dat er een lijk in het zwembad ligt. Terwijl Veum het lijk uit het water haalt, verdwijnt zijn opdrachtgeefster spoorloos.
Het bloed kruipt waar het niet gaan kan. Ondanks waarschuwingen van de politie gaat Veum op zoek naar de verdwenen vrouw. Hij komt een milieuschandaal bij een chemische fabriek op het spoor. Zakenbelangen blijken het weer eens gewonnen te hebben van milieubelangen. Met de ontdekking van dit schandaal stuit Veum ook op een gebeurtenis die acht jaar eerder heeft plaatsgevonden. De vraag die hem blijft achtervolgen wat gebeurde er precies op de avond van 26 april 1979? Op Agatha Christie-achtige wijze probeert Veum het raadsel te ontwarren.
Het bloed kruipt waar het niet gaan kan. Ondanks waarschuwingen van de politie gaat Veum op zoek naar de verdwenen vrouw. Hij komt een milieuschandaal bij een chemische fabriek op het spoor. Zakenbelangen blijken het weer eens gewonnen te hebben van milieubelangen. Met de ontdekking van dit schandaal stuit Veum ook op een gebeurtenis die acht jaar eerder heeft plaatsgevonden. De vraag die hem blijft achtervolgen wat gebeurde er precies op de avond van 26 april 1979? Op Agatha Christie-achtige wijze probeert Veum het raadsel te ontwarren.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
140 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Gunnar Staalesen
135 books281 followersGunnar Staalesen is a Norwegian writer. Staalesen has a cand.philol degree from Universitetet i Bergen and he has worked at Den Nationale Scene, the main theater in Bergen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 19, 2021
Norwegian Private Investigator Varg Veum is caught in the middle of a murder. He is just returning to duty after a short stay in rehab. His therapist had asked him to take on house-sitting duty for the owners of their home while they are gone for several months. Varg agrees ... thinking this will ease him into going back to work.
While she gives Varg a tour of the house, they stumble across the body of a man at the bottom of the swimming pool. His therapist rushes upstairs to call the police ... and she disappears.
Although the police don't want Varg to hinder their investigation, he finds it hard to stay away when they discover the victim's identity. The victim, it seems, is involved in an environmental crime ... the disposing of drugs into the ecosystem.
Further, it seems he was involved peripherally in the cold case of an 8-year-old child who was taken from her home and never seen again. Its been 7 years since her disappearance and there has never been anyone charged.
Following the connecting links of these seemingly unconnected crimes, and bodies start dropping, Varg finds himself intrigued ... but also a target.
This is a new author to me, and although this is the 24th in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone. Gunnar Staalesen´s crime fiction novels are set in the city of Bergen and there is a strong sense of place in this book. Don Bartlett, has done a terrific job in translating.
The mystery, the suspense, starts at the very first page. The intensity increases with each chapter. The characters are varied, suspects are many. It's action-packed from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / translator for the digital copy of this Nordic Noir. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own,
While she gives Varg a tour of the house, they stumble across the body of a man at the bottom of the swimming pool. His therapist rushes upstairs to call the police ... and she disappears.
Although the police don't want Varg to hinder their investigation, he finds it hard to stay away when they discover the victim's identity. The victim, it seems, is involved in an environmental crime ... the disposing of drugs into the ecosystem.
Further, it seems he was involved peripherally in the cold case of an 8-year-old child who was taken from her home and never seen again. Its been 7 years since her disappearance and there has never been anyone charged.
Following the connecting links of these seemingly unconnected crimes, and bodies start dropping, Varg finds himself intrigued ... but also a target.
This is a new author to me, and although this is the 24th in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone. Gunnar Staalesen´s crime fiction novels are set in the city of Bergen and there is a strong sense of place in this book. Don Bartlett, has done a terrific job in translating.
The mystery, the suspense, starts at the very first page. The intensity increases with each chapter. The characters are varied, suspects are many. It's action-packed from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / translator for the digital copy of this Nordic Noir. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own,
August 16, 2023
The irascible, world weary private investigator Varg Veum returns, post rehab, although not necessarily completely rejuvenated, and is drawn into a trio of tricky cases, that may or may not be connected by nefarious threads. This is classic Gunnar Staalesen, and to my mind one of the best of the series to date…
If ever Staalesen’s wholly deserved comparison with the great Raymond Chandler needed to be justified further, Bitter Flowers is the book to turn to. For some reason, I was channelling The Big Sleep right the way through the book, with the rich, secret ridden and not entirely likeable Schroeder-Olsen family at its centre, making their fortune not on the oilfields of California past, but harvesting and dispersing toxic waste on the beautiful Norwegian landscape. The wheelchair bound patriarch, reminiscent of old man Sternwood in Chandler’s classic, and the strong floral motif encapsulated in the character of the damaged young daughter Siv Schroeder-Olsen, also reminding me of the opening to The Big Sleep. The family are complex in terms of their relationships with each other, with a degree of avarice, envy and murderous intent at its very core, and the differing representations of themselves that they present to both the outside world, and to Veum himself as he digs deeper into the heart of their familial loyalty and treacherous disloyalty.
Once again, Staalesen demonstrates his superior, and always authoritative plotting carefully intertwining the three cases that Veum becomes embroiled in, leading to a clever interlinking of the three and the part that this family plays in all of them. Along the way, we see Veum’s growing affinity with the daughter Siv, a true innocent, and how this impacts on his determination to bring some justice and resolution. As the level of dishonesty and destructive sense of self-preservation that this family imbue becomes more apparent, Veum’s steely determination to expose their sins drives him on relentlessly. As usual, Staalesen brings the reader along effortlessly, as through Veum we uncover the clues and form our own theories as to the guilty parties and what has driven them to behave in certain ways. It’s always enjoyable to play along with the investigation in this way, and that’s what makes these books so singularly enjoyable every time.
And what of the indomitable Veum himself, following his period of rehabilitation? Well, he’s lost none of his intuitive and dogged nature, and despite the demons that haunt him, and at times rise to the surface again in the course of this investigation, he is still a man you would want on your side in times of trouble. He has a ferocity of spirit, cleverly masked by the laconic and cynical front he presents to the world, that leads to a stubborn intent to see his cases solved, and justice attained, that is wholly admirable. His methods may be questionable at times, but it definitely all adds to his charm.
Bitter Flowers is, as always a masterclass in plotting , pace and characterisation, carefully weaving in themes and tropes that strike home with the contemporary reader, although the books are set some distance in the past. However, the themes of betrayal and criminality are timeless, and nothing beats a good, slightly old-fashioned private investigator whittling away at a seemingly unsolvable case or three, and Varg Veum is a classic example of this. The translation by Don Bartlett is as accomplished as ever, sharing the tenor of Staalesen’s voice and humour so beautifully. Much as I hate to repeat myself, this one can only be classed as highly recommended. Bring on the next…
If ever Staalesen’s wholly deserved comparison with the great Raymond Chandler needed to be justified further, Bitter Flowers is the book to turn to. For some reason, I was channelling The Big Sleep right the way through the book, with the rich, secret ridden and not entirely likeable Schroeder-Olsen family at its centre, making their fortune not on the oilfields of California past, but harvesting and dispersing toxic waste on the beautiful Norwegian landscape. The wheelchair bound patriarch, reminiscent of old man Sternwood in Chandler’s classic, and the strong floral motif encapsulated in the character of the damaged young daughter Siv Schroeder-Olsen, also reminding me of the opening to The Big Sleep. The family are complex in terms of their relationships with each other, with a degree of avarice, envy and murderous intent at its very core, and the differing representations of themselves that they present to both the outside world, and to Veum himself as he digs deeper into the heart of their familial loyalty and treacherous disloyalty.
Once again, Staalesen demonstrates his superior, and always authoritative plotting carefully intertwining the three cases that Veum becomes embroiled in, leading to a clever interlinking of the three and the part that this family plays in all of them. Along the way, we see Veum’s growing affinity with the daughter Siv, a true innocent, and how this impacts on his determination to bring some justice and resolution. As the level of dishonesty and destructive sense of self-preservation that this family imbue becomes more apparent, Veum’s steely determination to expose their sins drives him on relentlessly. As usual, Staalesen brings the reader along effortlessly, as through Veum we uncover the clues and form our own theories as to the guilty parties and what has driven them to behave in certain ways. It’s always enjoyable to play along with the investigation in this way, and that’s what makes these books so singularly enjoyable every time.
And what of the indomitable Veum himself, following his period of rehabilitation? Well, he’s lost none of his intuitive and dogged nature, and despite the demons that haunt him, and at times rise to the surface again in the course of this investigation, he is still a man you would want on your side in times of trouble. He has a ferocity of spirit, cleverly masked by the laconic and cynical front he presents to the world, that leads to a stubborn intent to see his cases solved, and justice attained, that is wholly admirable. His methods may be questionable at times, but it definitely all adds to his charm.
Bitter Flowers is, as always a masterclass in plotting , pace and characterisation, carefully weaving in themes and tropes that strike home with the contemporary reader, although the books are set some distance in the past. However, the themes of betrayal and criminality are timeless, and nothing beats a good, slightly old-fashioned private investigator whittling away at a seemingly unsolvable case or three, and Varg Veum is a classic example of this. The translation by Don Bartlett is as accomplished as ever, sharing the tenor of Staalesen’s voice and humour so beautifully. Much as I hate to repeat myself, this one can only be classed as highly recommended. Bring on the next…
October 24, 2022
Environmentalism in the spotlight; dogged investigation conducted by Veum after a stint in a drying out place and full of renewed energy. The plot is complex, the writing superb. So many descriptions along the way could have been poems if it weren't for the underlying noir plot.
Every aspiring writer should be required to read this book. I was tempted to highlight half of it, but instead I will just read it again to enjoy its perfection.
I rejoined MHz so I can watch this episode. I can't remember watching it but the book is fresh in my mind right now. I want more.
NOTE: I just sped through the video of this book. The book is 100 times better! The writing is magnificent, descriptions of landscape and other experiences missing from video version. Also, Varg was just out of sobriety retreat and had given up all alcoholic beverages and that amongst many other salient features is missing from the violence-focused video rendition. Read the book and skip the video.
99 cents right now on Amazon!
Every aspiring writer should be required to read this book. I was tempted to highlight half of it, but instead I will just read it again to enjoy its perfection.
I rejoined MHz so I can watch this episode. I can't remember watching it but the book is fresh in my mind right now. I want more.
NOTE: I just sped through the video of this book. The book is 100 times better! The writing is magnificent, descriptions of landscape and other experiences missing from video version. Also, Varg was just out of sobriety retreat and had given up all alcoholic beverages and that amongst many other salient features is missing from the violence-focused video rendition. Read the book and skip the video.
99 cents right now on Amazon!
December 18, 2021
Having read several recent entries in Gunnar Staalesen’s superior series of Nordic noir I had reservations about reading this earlier entry, only just available in translation, fearing that it might not be as well honed as the the author’s later output. I needn’t have worried however, as Staalesen is on superlative form with his world-weary protagonist and private investigator, Varg Veum, just out of a spell in rehab. As dogged as ever, he soon finds himself caught up in a murder investigation and stumbling upon an eight year old cold case with an uncanny connection to current events. Events begin when after a few months of drying out in a clinic, Veum accepts what should be the simple job of keeping an eye on the luxuries property of two architects away overseas, as arranged by Lisbeth Finslo, the physio who treated him whilst in rehab. Minutes after entering the house, Lisbeth discovers the body of a dead man in the swimming pool and runs out into the night, leaving Veum to pull out the body of a man soon identified as Tor Aslaksen and facing some awkward questions from Inspector Hamre.
Concerned for the whereabouts of missing Lisbeth, why the victim was in the house and the motivation for his murder, Veum wastes no time in delving into both the victim and Lisbeth’s lives as well as their connection. That the victim’s employer is currently engaged in a hostile stand-off over the company’s disposal of toxic waste with protestors demonstrating on site and two brothers, both childhood friends of the victim, standing on either side of the divide is enough to heighten Veum’s interest. Nobody’s fool and uncompromisingly persistent, Veum is intrigued enough to take a closer look, thereby uncovering a connection to the unsolved disappearance of a seven-year-old girl nearly a decade earlier in the dead of night. Casting his net wider and following the threads back to their fruition, Veum tries to make sense of the past and it’s significance on current events, specifically the murder of Tor Aslaksen and all that follows. Whilst Veum might be cynical and have seen enough of life through his earlier career in child welfare to be thoroughly jaded, he is both relatable and humane with a natural affinity for life’s underdogs. His relatively undemonstrative demeanour and cool-headedness when placed into a tight spot also belies his passion for justice.
Bitter Flowers is perfectly paced with a steady drip feed of information and Staalesen gives his readers a chance to gain an understanding of the characters involved as Veum makes a nuisance of himself and badgers the key players time and again. As he chips away, hits raw nerves and refuses to shy away from trouble, despite threats and police pressure, Veum’s dry wit never falters. Whilst this is not a thriller, it is a throughly compelling piece of storytelling with the satisfying reward of seeing an unshowy and unarmed PI come up trumps and right a few wrongs. The book flows terrifically well, no doubt in part thanks to translator Don Bartlett’s innate ‘feel’ for Varg Veum, a character whom he has translated on numerous occasions and although set in the 80s, nothing about the story struck me as dated.
Concerned for the whereabouts of missing Lisbeth, why the victim was in the house and the motivation for his murder, Veum wastes no time in delving into both the victim and Lisbeth’s lives as well as their connection. That the victim’s employer is currently engaged in a hostile stand-off over the company’s disposal of toxic waste with protestors demonstrating on site and two brothers, both childhood friends of the victim, standing on either side of the divide is enough to heighten Veum’s interest. Nobody’s fool and uncompromisingly persistent, Veum is intrigued enough to take a closer look, thereby uncovering a connection to the unsolved disappearance of a seven-year-old girl nearly a decade earlier in the dead of night. Casting his net wider and following the threads back to their fruition, Veum tries to make sense of the past and it’s significance on current events, specifically the murder of Tor Aslaksen and all that follows. Whilst Veum might be cynical and have seen enough of life through his earlier career in child welfare to be thoroughly jaded, he is both relatable and humane with a natural affinity for life’s underdogs. His relatively undemonstrative demeanour and cool-headedness when placed into a tight spot also belies his passion for justice.
Bitter Flowers is perfectly paced with a steady drip feed of information and Staalesen gives his readers a chance to gain an understanding of the characters involved as Veum makes a nuisance of himself and badgers the key players time and again. As he chips away, hits raw nerves and refuses to shy away from trouble, despite threats and police pressure, Veum’s dry wit never falters. Whilst this is not a thriller, it is a throughly compelling piece of storytelling with the satisfying reward of seeing an unshowy and unarmed PI come up trumps and right a few wrongs. The book flows terrifically well, no doubt in part thanks to translator Don Bartlett’s innate ‘feel’ for Varg Veum, a character whom he has translated on numerous occasions and although set in the 80s, nothing about the story struck me as dated.
September 5, 2024
“..and perhaps that’s how it was: the most attractive flowers were the ones with the bitterest scent…” p321
One of the things I love about so many of the Scandi Noir writers is the depth they often go to describe the topography, geography and atmosphere of their settings. Gunnar Staalesen’s Varg Veum series is a standout as far as this goes, with incredible detail regarding Bergen, Norway and surrounds, where the series is set. I feel a sense of familiarity with this city that sits on my to be visited list and my appetite is whetted even more.
Bitter Flowers is book 8 in the series, first published in Norwegian in 1991 and translated to English in 2022. I’ve been finding it a bit difficult to get my hands on a couple of earlier books that have been translated. The order of English translations definitely doesn’t follow the series order from the original, and while that is mildly irritating for me, doesn’t seem to affect the overall read.
Staalesen is a Nordic Noir master, and Bitter Flowers is a classic exemplar of the genre. Three deaths/disappearances, unrelated or so it seems and somehow through a range of interwoven threads they come together in the most remarkable of ways. At the centre of the story is the Schrøder-Olsen family, Bergensian stalwarts, business owners yet with dark secrets especially when it comes to environmental sabotage and lust for money. Veum finds himself at the centre of it all and in usual VV style is able to weave it all together, this time in an almost Hercule Poirot conclusion.
4 solid VV stars for this one.
One of the things I love about so many of the Scandi Noir writers is the depth they often go to describe the topography, geography and atmosphere of their settings. Gunnar Staalesen’s Varg Veum series is a standout as far as this goes, with incredible detail regarding Bergen, Norway and surrounds, where the series is set. I feel a sense of familiarity with this city that sits on my to be visited list and my appetite is whetted even more.
Bitter Flowers is book 8 in the series, first published in Norwegian in 1991 and translated to English in 2022. I’ve been finding it a bit difficult to get my hands on a couple of earlier books that have been translated. The order of English translations definitely doesn’t follow the series order from the original, and while that is mildly irritating for me, doesn’t seem to affect the overall read.
Staalesen is a Nordic Noir master, and Bitter Flowers is a classic exemplar of the genre. Three deaths/disappearances, unrelated or so it seems and somehow through a range of interwoven threads they come together in the most remarkable of ways. At the centre of the story is the Schrøder-Olsen family, Bergensian stalwarts, business owners yet with dark secrets especially when it comes to environmental sabotage and lust for money. Veum finds himself at the centre of it all and in usual VV style is able to weave it all together, this time in an almost Hercule Poirot conclusion.
4 solid VV stars for this one.
December 14, 2021
Norwegian writer Gunnar Staalesen, is the very popular and worldwide bestselling author of the ‘Varg Veum’ private investigator series and is nicknamed the King of Nordic Noir. “Bitter Flowers” is the ninth in the series (of which there are over 20) and has been republished in 2021 by Orenda books. However, each one can easily be read as a standalone, though as with any developed series, it is nice to follow a main character’s journey through their life’s events.
- Fresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears and the case of a missing child is revived.
Having already read the latest four Varg books and thoroughly enjoying them, I had high hopes for this one, a much earlier story In the series. Sadly, “Bitter Flowers” didn’t hit the spot for me like the more recent reads featuring the troubled investigator and his unique cases and took a very long time for me to ‘get’ into the plot. The denouement did have a Poirot style feel to it as Varg finally connected the pieces of the mysteries, which did redeem it slightly for me.
Staalesen has a definitive style of writing that is exceedingly descriptive and features a constant array of similes and metaphors, which for me on this occasion broke up the story too much. That said, I do enjoy this talented style of writing, immersive and expressive but in this book I found it a bit too much.
Don’t let this put you off, the author has a huge, huge following and twelve of these crime books have been made into Norwegian film adaptions, there’s even a life sized statue of the Varg Veum in the centre of Bergen, just proving the success of the series. I will continue to follow Varg should any new books be written and haven’t ruled out reading any of the previous books, I just didn’t find any entertainment in this particular one.
#BitterFlowers - 3 stars
- Fresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears and the case of a missing child is revived.
Having already read the latest four Varg books and thoroughly enjoying them, I had high hopes for this one, a much earlier story In the series. Sadly, “Bitter Flowers” didn’t hit the spot for me like the more recent reads featuring the troubled investigator and his unique cases and took a very long time for me to ‘get’ into the plot. The denouement did have a Poirot style feel to it as Varg finally connected the pieces of the mysteries, which did redeem it slightly for me.
Staalesen has a definitive style of writing that is exceedingly descriptive and features a constant array of similes and metaphors, which for me on this occasion broke up the story too much. That said, I do enjoy this talented style of writing, immersive and expressive but in this book I found it a bit too much.
Don’t let this put you off, the author has a huge, huge following and twelve of these crime books have been made into Norwegian film adaptions, there’s even a life sized statue of the Varg Veum in the centre of Bergen, just proving the success of the series. I will continue to follow Varg should any new books be written and haven’t ruled out reading any of the previous books, I just didn’t find any entertainment in this particular one.
#BitterFlowers - 3 stars
March 6, 2014
Bitter Flower: IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844948/
A successful female politician hires private-detective Varg Veum. She wants him to find her disappeared daughter without attracting too much attention. During his investigation Veum becomes aware of an international company and its dealings with corruption, black-business, and murder. Written by HardHouseClubber
Pushes all the right buttons!
January 27, 2022
Bitter Flowers by Gunnar Staalesen is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. This is a new author to me but I really enjoyed his writing style. I was immediately drawn into the book and had trouble setting it down. I loved the mix of humor to lighten the atmosphere at times.
This story involves many characters and mysteries. It is quite complex, but the story is skillfully written so it isn’t complicated. The puzzles flow together perfectly, and I really enjoyed the pacing as well. It made for a very compelling read.
I’d like to check out more of this author’s work. I really liked Bitter Flowers. If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, this is a great read. Don’t miss out!
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
This story involves many characters and mysteries. It is quite complex, but the story is skillfully written so it isn’t complicated. The puzzles flow together perfectly, and I really enjoyed the pacing as well. It made for a very compelling read.
I’d like to check out more of this author’s work. I really liked Bitter Flowers. If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, this is a great read. Don’t miss out!
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
December 5, 2021
Amazing first time reading a book by this author, took a while to get into it but once the story dove deeper I was hooked! Varg is amazing and the storyline didn't go as expected, was a shock but it was amazing well worth the read!
November 10, 2024
unimpressed. didn’t like the writer’s style.
Read
July 3, 2022Spannend en goed geschreven. Ik ga deze serie lezen.
May 30, 2025
Varg, Varg, Varg, waar steek je je neus nu weer in…?
Mooi plot. Helaas niet bijzonder onder de indruk vd achtervolgings scene. Beetje té. Onvoldoende geloofwaardig. Ach ja…
Op naar het volgende avontuur.
Mooi plot. Helaas niet bijzonder onder de indruk vd achtervolgings scene. Beetje té. Onvoldoende geloofwaardig. Ach ja…
Op naar het volgende avontuur.
January 25, 2022
It’s 1987 and social worker turned private investigator Varg Veum has just finished his stint in a clinic, drying out and receiving physio from therapist Lisbeth Finslo. In fact she has even found him his first new job, checking in on a house in Kleiva whilst the architect owners are working away. It is at that house that we first see Varg and Lisbeth, as they discover a man’s body at the bottom of the swimming pool. Varg drags the man out and finds him dead. He hears sirens, and then finds both Lisbeth and a nearby parked car missing as Inspector Jakob Hamre and Police Officer Peder Isachsen arrive, summoned by an emergency call made, not by Lisbeth but by a man instead. Quickly Varg and Hamre arrive at Lisbeth’s home to find no sign of her. The police discover that the dead man, Tor Aslaksen, was an engineer at a company being targeted by environmentalists. Could he have been the insider passing on secrets and died as a result? Hamre tells Varg not to get involved in police business but when Lisbeth’s sister asks him to investigate her disappearance he has the perfect excuse to poke about. However Hamre does talk to Varg about a famous cold case involving the disappearance of a seven-year-old girl from her bed one night in 1979, seen asleep by her mother and then found missing later that same night. He learns that the mother had been with a lover – someone connected to the other two cases. Every clue and new piece of evidence Varg unearths leads him around in circles as the three cases become ever more connected and all sorts of buried family secrets rise to the surface but little does he realize how much danger is also being exposed.
There are some nice little touches of humour in Varg’s thoughts to himself which have translated well. This story hits the ground running and the pace is kept up throughout as Varg finds himself embroiled in three interconnecting mysteries. As always the author also paints a captivating portrait of the towns and its inhabitants with very realistic characters. The story is both shocking and poignant in places and with a thrilling conclusion, the best I have read in this series so far. 5*
There are some nice little touches of humour in Varg’s thoughts to himself which have translated well. This story hits the ground running and the pace is kept up throughout as Varg finds himself embroiled in three interconnecting mysteries. As always the author also paints a captivating portrait of the towns and its inhabitants with very realistic characters. The story is both shocking and poignant in places and with a thrilling conclusion, the best I have read in this series so far. 5*
December 29, 2021
This was a intriguing well written book. I enjoyed reading it and the Norwegian intake to it. It made for an interesting read. I haven’t read many books by the author, but my interest is piqued now.
August 3, 2011
Mye bedre enn filmen.
February 11, 2022
Bitter Flowers by Gunnar Staalesen was published on January 21st in paperback original with Orenda Books (ebook November 20th). Don Bartlett is the wonderful translator of Bitter Flowers, a book that has never been available in English before. It has also been adapted for film, starring Norwegian actor Trond Espen Seim and is currently available for streaming.
Described as a ‘Nordic Noir Thriller’, Bitter Flowers sees the return of Private Investigator, Varg Veum. A hard-boiled P.I. with a few knocks behind him, Veum is just after leaving a rehab facility for drink-related issues. He has accepted he has a problem but wants to move on and get back to working again. His physio, Lisbeth Finslo, from the rehab centre organises a security job for him, one of a house-sitting nature. One evening she brings Veum to the home in question to oversee what his role will be. As he absorbs the stunning evening views in this architecturally designed luxurious home, Lisbeth suddenly re-enters the room in a state of shock. There is a dead body floating in the pool. Veum rushes to the scene, dives in and does his best to resuscitate the individual but it is too late. He goes outside the house, hears the police sirens but sees no trace of Lisbeth Finslo. Where did she disappear to? And so begins a tale that takes the reader into the sinister world of industrial crime and murder.
Varg Veum is a Nordic creation, similar to something you would expect from Raymond Chandler. He has an allure that draws in the reader. He is a lone-wolf who operates outside of the police. They tolerate his presence but are also sceptical of his methods. When Veum is asked to remove himself from this current case, he finds himself immersed in a cold-investigation of a little girl who went missing eight years ago. The ‘Camila Case’ as it was called, shocked a community but, with insufficient evidence to resolve it, it eventually became a file in a drawer… until now.
As Veum begins to analyse the little information available to him, he slowly starts to make loose connections but the whys and wherefores just keep slipping through his hands. His concern for Finslo is ever prevalent in his mind and when her sister asks for his private services outside the scope of the police investigation, Veum starts to link threads that to this point had been invisible to most. Veum is great at applying subtle pressures and pressing the appropriate buttons to uncover buried snippets and when he finally registers the crime and the methodology behind it, he makes his move, but is he too late? How many lives have been lost and damaged and what for?
Bitter Flowers feels a very contemporary read, although set in the 1980s, which is a testament to the writing of Gunnar Staalesen. Based primarily in and around Bergen, the city and its surroundings are very much brought to life with very vivid and precise descriptions of locations, adding a real sense of authenticity to the story. The environmental issues that arise bring the book right into the modern day, with the whole world currently working to fight the damage done to the climate over the decades.
An intricate mystery Bitter Flowers delves deep into murky waters with our hero Veum searching for the truth amidst corporate wrangling and hidden secrets. Greed is central to this tale of families destroyed and many lives lost over years of shrouded dishonesty and treacherous behaviour.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bitter Flowers as a classic murder mystery, while also offering the reader a snapshot of Norway through the eyes of the resilient and stalwart Varg Veum. Don Bartlett’s translation is excellent, seamlessly bringing the words of Gunnar Staalesen to an English speaking audience.
Engaging. Atmospheric. Current.
Described as a ‘Nordic Noir Thriller’, Bitter Flowers sees the return of Private Investigator, Varg Veum. A hard-boiled P.I. with a few knocks behind him, Veum is just after leaving a rehab facility for drink-related issues. He has accepted he has a problem but wants to move on and get back to working again. His physio, Lisbeth Finslo, from the rehab centre organises a security job for him, one of a house-sitting nature. One evening she brings Veum to the home in question to oversee what his role will be. As he absorbs the stunning evening views in this architecturally designed luxurious home, Lisbeth suddenly re-enters the room in a state of shock. There is a dead body floating in the pool. Veum rushes to the scene, dives in and does his best to resuscitate the individual but it is too late. He goes outside the house, hears the police sirens but sees no trace of Lisbeth Finslo. Where did she disappear to? And so begins a tale that takes the reader into the sinister world of industrial crime and murder.
Varg Veum is a Nordic creation, similar to something you would expect from Raymond Chandler. He has an allure that draws in the reader. He is a lone-wolf who operates outside of the police. They tolerate his presence but are also sceptical of his methods. When Veum is asked to remove himself from this current case, he finds himself immersed in a cold-investigation of a little girl who went missing eight years ago. The ‘Camila Case’ as it was called, shocked a community but, with insufficient evidence to resolve it, it eventually became a file in a drawer… until now.
As Veum begins to analyse the little information available to him, he slowly starts to make loose connections but the whys and wherefores just keep slipping through his hands. His concern for Finslo is ever prevalent in his mind and when her sister asks for his private services outside the scope of the police investigation, Veum starts to link threads that to this point had been invisible to most. Veum is great at applying subtle pressures and pressing the appropriate buttons to uncover buried snippets and when he finally registers the crime and the methodology behind it, he makes his move, but is he too late? How many lives have been lost and damaged and what for?
Bitter Flowers feels a very contemporary read, although set in the 1980s, which is a testament to the writing of Gunnar Staalesen. Based primarily in and around Bergen, the city and its surroundings are very much brought to life with very vivid and precise descriptions of locations, adding a real sense of authenticity to the story. The environmental issues that arise bring the book right into the modern day, with the whole world currently working to fight the damage done to the climate over the decades.
An intricate mystery Bitter Flowers delves deep into murky waters with our hero Veum searching for the truth amidst corporate wrangling and hidden secrets. Greed is central to this tale of families destroyed and many lives lost over years of shrouded dishonesty and treacherous behaviour.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bitter Flowers as a classic murder mystery, while also offering the reader a snapshot of Norway through the eyes of the resilient and stalwart Varg Veum. Don Bartlett’s translation is excellent, seamlessly bringing the words of Gunnar Staalesen to an English speaking audience.
Engaging. Atmospheric. Current.
February 3, 2025
Bitter Flowers is another Staalesen-Varg Veum novel that made it to the small screen. This time around the season is summer which is when, as P.I. Varg Veum describes it, Norway and Bergen must be wonderful to see - despite the traffic snarls, air pollution, and influx of tourists.
Varg, having spent 6 months in rehab from a depression-induced alcohol dependence and physical collapse, is about to re-enter his life as a P.I. by starting out as a housesitter/watchman for a couple spending several months abroad. His physical therapist recommended him and together they visit the home for the first time. She leaves Varg to look at the indoor pool and soon returns frightened and upset, saying she'd found a dead man. Varg tries to calm her then goes to see for himself.
Indeed, there is a man lying on the bottom of the pool. By the time Varg returns, the woman has disappeared. Varg is immediately caught up in a convoluted tale involving the mysterious drowning, the missing woman, toxic waste, and the unsolved case of a seven-year-old child 8 years before.
Ecological and climate concerns are frequent themes in Staalesen's novels, as are pollution, energy, and unchecked construction. Stylistically, Staalesen relies heavily on similes and metaphors in describing his characters' behavior and appearances; settings - geographic, atmospheric, climatic; and economic, societal, and historical issues and events. The technique is effective but overdone. While Varg is off alcohol, his mind rambles a lot with cynical observations, perhaps a side effect of his anti-alcohol implant - or it may just be his nature. Staalesen also indulges in numerous local references and asides that are probably wasted on those of us who aren't Norwegian or residents of Bergen.
Far better than the previous installment, the novel borders on being over-long, windy at times, even though it is a fast read.
Varg, having spent 6 months in rehab from a depression-induced alcohol dependence and physical collapse, is about to re-enter his life as a P.I. by starting out as a housesitter/watchman for a couple spending several months abroad. His physical therapist recommended him and together they visit the home for the first time. She leaves Varg to look at the indoor pool and soon returns frightened and upset, saying she'd found a dead man. Varg tries to calm her then goes to see for himself.
Indeed, there is a man lying on the bottom of the pool. By the time Varg returns, the woman has disappeared. Varg is immediately caught up in a convoluted tale involving the mysterious drowning, the missing woman, toxic waste, and the unsolved case of a seven-year-old child 8 years before.
Ecological and climate concerns are frequent themes in Staalesen's novels, as are pollution, energy, and unchecked construction. Stylistically, Staalesen relies heavily on similes and metaphors in describing his characters' behavior and appearances; settings - geographic, atmospheric, climatic; and economic, societal, and historical issues and events. The technique is effective but overdone. While Varg is off alcohol, his mind rambles a lot with cynical observations, perhaps a side effect of his anti-alcohol implant - or it may just be his nature. Staalesen also indulges in numerous local references and asides that are probably wasted on those of us who aren't Norwegian or residents of Bergen.
Far better than the previous installment, the novel borders on being over-long, windy at times, even though it is a fast read.
March 11, 2022
This is the ninth book in a series of which I have read only this one, but the individual books do not depend on the others. It seemed that there were a couple of things that were out of place or irrelevant, but although the books do not depend on each other, it is conceivable that those particular things are more relevant to the series as a whole.
Overall, it seemed enjoyable and consistent, facts that are indicated by the fact that I listened to it last week while my son was home from college on spring break!
The characters were consistent but only barely likable. The fact that they were consistent does not imply that there were no surprises, particularly in the end. The whole way through, the reader was confused as to why these things were important while knowing that they were.
The author, and language are Norwegian – things that contribute to the difficulty of keeping names and places straight. This I attribute to the fact that I am a spoiled American who has never seen fit to become familiar with other language and speech forms than American English :-(. I suppose that I am better than some, but that's not saying much. But overall, I do think that I will have to find a way of putting more books in this series into my reading list.
Overall, it seemed enjoyable and consistent, facts that are indicated by the fact that I listened to it last week while my son was home from college on spring break!
The characters were consistent but only barely likable. The fact that they were consistent does not imply that there were no surprises, particularly in the end. The whole way through, the reader was confused as to why these things were important while knowing that they were.
The author, and language are Norwegian – things that contribute to the difficulty of keeping names and places straight. This I attribute to the fact that I am a spoiled American who has never seen fit to become familiar with other language and speech forms than American English :-(. I suppose that I am better than some, but that's not saying much. But overall, I do think that I will have to find a way of putting more books in this series into my reading list.
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March 11, 2022AThis is the ninth book in a series of which I have read only this one, but the individual books do not depend on the others. It seemed that there were a couple of things that were out of place or irrelevant, but although the books do not depend on each other, it is conceivable that those particular things are more relevant to the series as a whole.
Overall, it seemed enjoyable and consistent, facts that are indicated by the fact that I listened to it last week while my son was home from college on spring break!
The characters were consistent but only barely likable. The fact that they were consistent does not imply that there were no surprises, particularly in the end. The whole way through, the reader was confused as to why these things were important while knowing that they were.
The author, and language are Norwegian – things that contribute to the difficulty of keeping names and places straight. This I attribute to the fact that I am a spoiled American who has never seen fit to become familiar with other language and speech forms than American English :-(. I suppose that I am better than some, but that's not saying much. But overall, I do think that I will have to find a way of putting more books in this series into my reading list.
Overall, it seemed enjoyable and consistent, facts that are indicated by the fact that I listened to it last week while my son was home from college on spring break!
The characters were consistent but only barely likable. The fact that they were consistent does not imply that there were no surprises, particularly in the end. The whole way through, the reader was confused as to why these things were important while knowing that they were.
The author, and language are Norwegian – things that contribute to the difficulty of keeping names and places straight. This I attribute to the fact that I am a spoiled American who has never seen fit to become familiar with other language and speech forms than American English :-(. I suppose that I am better than some, but that's not saying much. But overall, I do think that I will have to find a way of putting more books in this series into my reading list.
January 27, 2022
Private investigator Varg Veum is asked to take on a house sitting job, but when he arrives there is a dead man in the swimming pool. As he tries to resuscitate the man, the young woman who accompanied him disappears from the house. Varg begins to investigate, but before long he is asked to concentrate on the Camilla case, the cold case of a 7 year old who vanished 8 years before. As he uncovers links between the two cases, and a volatile environmental protest, Varg finds himself in the middle of a traumatic and dangerous situation.
This is Nordic Noir of the highest quality. Staalesen’s writing is deceptively straightforward, yet not a word is wasted in his precise and compelling prose. His descriptions make Bergen and its environs come to life, while the complex and subtle plot advances at pace. Varg Veum is a great protagonist - a world weary recovering alcoholic who approaches his work with a dark humour and compassion that gives depth and interest to his character.
I’m delighted to discover another excellent crime writer (and must also give credit to the smooth translation of Don Bartlett) and will be hunting out more from the Varg Veum series.
This is Nordic Noir of the highest quality. Staalesen’s writing is deceptively straightforward, yet not a word is wasted in his precise and compelling prose. His descriptions make Bergen and its environs come to life, while the complex and subtle plot advances at pace. Varg Veum is a great protagonist - a world weary recovering alcoholic who approaches his work with a dark humour and compassion that gives depth and interest to his character.
I’m delighted to discover another excellent crime writer (and must also give credit to the smooth translation of Don Bartlett) and will be hunting out more from the Varg Veum series.
January 31, 2022
The reader is drawn into Varg Veum's world from the first page in the emotionally poignant Nordic noir. It's the second book I've read in this series. Believably flawed, Varg Veum is a likeable protagonist. His struggle with his addictions contrasts with his desire to achieve justice and truth for victims.
It's an atmospheric and claustrophobic story where even the simplest things hide a web of complexity.
The multiple plot strands draw together by the astute investigator. It's a murder mystery within a disturbing environmental and political arena.
It's easy to get absorbed into this distinctive, dark world.
I received a copy of this book from Orenda Books in return for an honest review.
It's an atmospheric and claustrophobic story where even the simplest things hide a web of complexity.
The multiple plot strands draw together by the astute investigator. It's a murder mystery within a disturbing environmental and political arena.
It's easy to get absorbed into this distinctive, dark world.
I received a copy of this book from Orenda Books in return for an honest review.
April 8, 2024
Bitter Flowers, Varg Veum #8, Gunnar Staalesen, Don Bartlett translator. 1991/2021. 5.49 iBook 8/4/24. 3/5.
“”Fresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears, and the case of a missing child is revived. The classic Nordic Noir series continues...””
Watched a few of the tv films and really enjoyed them. This was a good read with many surprising twists. Only difficulty I had was that it was dated. Strange reading a book before the digital convenience of today but of course, once in the flow it is very well written and the writer has a marvelous descriptive ability…
“”Fresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears, and the case of a missing child is revived. The classic Nordic Noir series continues...””
Watched a few of the tv films and really enjoyed them. This was a good read with many surprising twists. Only difficulty I had was that it was dated. Strange reading a book before the digital convenience of today but of course, once in the flow it is very well written and the writer has a marvelous descriptive ability…
June 21, 2024
Well plotted, wonderful writing (and a masterful translation), a strong sense of place, and finally a resolution that made sense in terms of all the small cues and background story. I’ve not read anything by this author before, but I look forward to reading more in this series featuring a private detective, Varg Veum. His name can be translated as “Wolf in a sacred space” with the connotation of a smart, tenacious, dangerous person located in an apparently predictable and purportedly peaceful environment where other people’s hidden darknesses are no match for the man. It might be translated as “Wolfman.” I’d recommend this book to all who like detective mysteries. It is a very good book!
October 30, 2023
Bitter Flowers is the usual high standard of Nordic noir typical of the Varg Veum series. Here, Varg gets caught up in a disappearance that proves to be murder, and seems to be somehow linked to a long-ago disappearance of a young girl. Varg, always passionate about children, puts all he has into unravelling the mystery.
One of the great strengths of this series is the way that Staalesen places the reader in Norway, and this one is no exception. The plot is complex and has some satisfying twists. Another absorbing and enjoyable Varg Veum case..
One of the great strengths of this series is the way that Staalesen places the reader in Norway, and this one is no exception. The plot is complex and has some satisfying twists. Another absorbing and enjoyable Varg Veum case..
December 13, 2021
This book took me quite a while to read. It was easy to follow and a pleasant enough read however it wasn't a gripping page turner so I found myself picking it up and putting it down. Thats not to say I didn't enjoy the book as I absolutely did I just didn't feel the need to devour it in one sitting.
I have never read anything by this author before but I will definitely check out what else they have published.
I have never read anything by this author before but I will definitely check out what else they have published.
January 20, 2024
pretty much the same outline as previous books.
In this case, set against the back ground of environmental protection.
Our hero continues to 'bumble around' bothering folks and asking endless questions and dealing with his own demons.
Good story, a couple too many names to keep up with, but, in a very general way, repetitive of prior books in terms of the methodology of solving the whodunit, and no, I hadn't guessed, but some clues where there.
A couple more to go
In this case, set against the back ground of environmental protection.
Our hero continues to 'bumble around' bothering folks and asking endless questions and dealing with his own demons.
Good story, a couple too many names to keep up with, but, in a very general way, repetitive of prior books in terms of the methodology of solving the whodunit, and no, I hadn't guessed, but some clues where there.
A couple more to go
October 26, 2021
Dette er klassisk krim på høyt nivå. Lokalkoloritten er som alltid på plass, men det er det menneskelige dramaet som løfter dette. Krimgåten holder også, selv om noen av linkene blir litt vel søkte. En bok som jeg likte mye bedre i dag som 45-åring og opplevde helt annerledes enn da jeg leste den da jeg fikk førsteutgaven som julegave for 30 år sida. En sterk firer.
January 20, 2022
Set in the Norwegian coastal city of Bergen, Gunnar Staalesen's Varg Veum series has long been one of the country's finest literary exports – there is even a statue to the character in the city. Originally starting the series back in 1979, Staalesen has published 24 titles so far with a character who has often been compared to Philip Marlowe. The principle similarities with Raymond Chandler's key protagonist are that Veum is also private investigator and an outsider while the novels have a strong sense of setting to their location and both have an engaging and sometimes cynical first person narrative. Yet Veum has very much his own character often presenting a cocky exterior who attempts to conceal his demons and his sensitive side from all but those who he is very close too with mixed results.
Around a decade ago I was approached by a friend who has spent several years living in Norway who told me I should spend far less time reading Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series and instead look to discover Staalesen's Varg Veum instead! Shortly afterwards he presented me with a DVD of one of his televised novels from Norwegian television which I did enjoy. Yet it wasn't until 2015's publication of We Shall Inherit The Wind that I read one of Staalesen’s novels. This was followed by Where Roses Never Die the next year when the author had a memorable appearance at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
I was looking forward to picking up Veum’s story with Bitter Flowers. However, I was slightly surprised to encounter a much younger main character with a story set in the very late 1980s. A quick check indicated to me that this book was the ninth instalment in Staalesen's series and sequentially follows Fallen Angels which was released in the UK in 2020. Despite having not reading the earlier novel, I nonetheless I found very quickly that there was no need to have read any earlier novels and that Bitter Flowers was a very accessible read. As per the majority of Staalesen's novels the translation has been done by Don Bartlett. You can always be certain that there will be no ambiguities with one of Bartlett's translations. As one of the most distinguished translators from Norwegian, he has also translated Nesbo, Karl Ove Knausgard and Kjell Ola Dahl.
The story starts as Varg Veum has come out of rehab and takes on what he feels will be a fairly simple task of house sitting while the owners are on holiday. Yet very soon the discovery of a body of a man in a swimming pool immediately followed by the disappearance of a physiotherapist throw any relaxation plans he had into disarray. The novel quite quickly introduces a range of characters and a third complexity is added to Venu’s workload when he discovers links to the infamous Camilla Case of 7-year-old girl who had disappeared 8 years earlier. With the resentful attention of the overworked police inspector Jacob Hamre, can Veum solve both the mysteries of the past and present?
In a reflection of a time when environment politics first became a green tide across the continent in the 1989 European elections; there is great public unease about the environmental behaviours of a local industry which has not only split the propriety family but also the Bergen community. Veum's attempts to run his investigations risk getting embroiled in these rivalling factions in a location which is both beautiful and rich in resources.
I was fully engaged with the hard boiled examinations of Veum as on the exterior he was brash with the local police chief, a man he actually admires, and also resolved in his determination to see though the dubious responses to his questioning of some powerful industrialists.
Yet as the story develops Bitter Flowers engroses on so many more levels as it reveals the softer sides of his character. He has deeply troubling thoughts of the woman he had begun to know who vanished so suddenly and also touched by the vulnerability of a person who caught up in a life changing accident. Veum also empathises both with the bereaved mother who plants the bitter flowers and also the parents of a long missing child, resolving to find the truth even if this brings them similar heartbreak. Aside from this he also has time to reacquaint with an old flame who will play an active and enduring role in his life far beyond this book.
This is a meticulously crafted story which intelligently unfolds with some sections of high suspense where the themes of family, betrayal, revenge and environmental militancy feature prominently. If like myself, you have never read any of the earlier Varg Veum novels, Bitter Flowers is certainly a great place to start. It’s left me keen to fill in the gaps in my collection of Staalesen's novels and one day read them in the original order just as how the series captivated those readers in his home country.
Around a decade ago I was approached by a friend who has spent several years living in Norway who told me I should spend far less time reading Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series and instead look to discover Staalesen's Varg Veum instead! Shortly afterwards he presented me with a DVD of one of his televised novels from Norwegian television which I did enjoy. Yet it wasn't until 2015's publication of We Shall Inherit The Wind that I read one of Staalesen’s novels. This was followed by Where Roses Never Die the next year when the author had a memorable appearance at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
I was looking forward to picking up Veum’s story with Bitter Flowers. However, I was slightly surprised to encounter a much younger main character with a story set in the very late 1980s. A quick check indicated to me that this book was the ninth instalment in Staalesen's series and sequentially follows Fallen Angels which was released in the UK in 2020. Despite having not reading the earlier novel, I nonetheless I found very quickly that there was no need to have read any earlier novels and that Bitter Flowers was a very accessible read. As per the majority of Staalesen's novels the translation has been done by Don Bartlett. You can always be certain that there will be no ambiguities with one of Bartlett's translations. As one of the most distinguished translators from Norwegian, he has also translated Nesbo, Karl Ove Knausgard and Kjell Ola Dahl.
The story starts as Varg Veum has come out of rehab and takes on what he feels will be a fairly simple task of house sitting while the owners are on holiday. Yet very soon the discovery of a body of a man in a swimming pool immediately followed by the disappearance of a physiotherapist throw any relaxation plans he had into disarray. The novel quite quickly introduces a range of characters and a third complexity is added to Venu’s workload when he discovers links to the infamous Camilla Case of 7-year-old girl who had disappeared 8 years earlier. With the resentful attention of the overworked police inspector Jacob Hamre, can Veum solve both the mysteries of the past and present?
In a reflection of a time when environment politics first became a green tide across the continent in the 1989 European elections; there is great public unease about the environmental behaviours of a local industry which has not only split the propriety family but also the Bergen community. Veum's attempts to run his investigations risk getting embroiled in these rivalling factions in a location which is both beautiful and rich in resources.
I was fully engaged with the hard boiled examinations of Veum as on the exterior he was brash with the local police chief, a man he actually admires, and also resolved in his determination to see though the dubious responses to his questioning of some powerful industrialists.
Yet as the story develops Bitter Flowers engroses on so many more levels as it reveals the softer sides of his character. He has deeply troubling thoughts of the woman he had begun to know who vanished so suddenly and also touched by the vulnerability of a person who caught up in a life changing accident. Veum also empathises both with the bereaved mother who plants the bitter flowers and also the parents of a long missing child, resolving to find the truth even if this brings them similar heartbreak. Aside from this he also has time to reacquaint with an old flame who will play an active and enduring role in his life far beyond this book.
This is a meticulously crafted story which intelligently unfolds with some sections of high suspense where the themes of family, betrayal, revenge and environmental militancy feature prominently. If like myself, you have never read any of the earlier Varg Veum novels, Bitter Flowers is certainly a great place to start. It’s left me keen to fill in the gaps in my collection of Staalesen's novels and one day read them in the original order just as how the series captivated those readers in his home country.
March 24, 2022
I call this a nice, easy to read mystery. The plot went on for a bit with numerous links between people and events being uncovered by the PI Varg Veum. The intersections were starting to get unbelievable until Veum has a Poirot scene and has all the possible guilty parties in the room and dissects the mystery and uncovers the culprit.
April 28, 2022
This was an excellent episode in the Varg Veum series, involving a missing child from 8 years before, and a manufacturer with toxic waste to dispose of and environmental activists who want to protect the land. And several unrelated murders—or are they? It was a lot to integrate but I enjoy his perceptions of the world and could have read more.
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