The Murder of Halland By Pia Juul translated Martin Aitken
Bess, a writer, lives in a small Danish town with her second husband Halland, who is found shot dead in the market square on page three. Nobody knows who shot him; Bess herself is the initial prime suspect.
But this is not your average Nordic crime thriller. There's a lack of urgency, and clues. Both Bess and the investigating police seem to show a curious lack of curiosity about the killer's identity. The themes are bereavement, and guilt, and making a mess of relationships; Bess's failed first marriage and estrangement from her daughter come under the microscope. It's a short book – 167 pages – written in a spare, cool style. Despite the lack of obvious suspense, you certainly don't want to stop reading, and the novel leaves you with a lingering sense of strangeness.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies