The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl, trans by Agnete Friis - 4 stars

[Barbara M]

Nina Borg, a social services nurse in Denmark, is asked by her friend Karin to pick up something in a locker in a train station. She is hesitant, but agrees after some coercion. Nina is a wife and mother of two but compulsive about helping out the disadvantaged, possibly to the detriment of her family.

When Nina goes to the locker, she finds a very heavy suitcase and upon opening it in a private area (at the recommendation of Karin) she finds a naked boy of approximately 3 years old. She must find out about this boy but he doesn't speak or seem to understand her. The excitement starts here, in the first of what will be a series of Nina Borg novels.

We know that the boy is the son of young single Mom in Lithuania. It is hard to understand how they will come together - it seems almost impossible.

The book is well-written and exciting. Nina has a penchant for checking her watch, we don't really know why though most of the book. It is hard to understand how this boy was chosen to be abducted but it all comes out in a surprising way - I didn't figure it out until the author wanted me to! The next story seems to start just as this one ends. I'd be happy to read more of this series.