Is an Unfinished Novel the Blueprint for Murder?

Julie Stender, a young woman newly arrived in Copenhagen, is found dead in her apartment with an unusual design carved in her face. Esther di Laurenti, the owner of the building, is shocked by the murder particularly because it mimics the plot of a novel she’s writing. She has only shared the novel with her on-line writer’s group; could one of them be the culprit? Esther, a retired professor, also loves wine, perhaps to excess, and dinner parties. These sometimes get out of control. Could one of these somehow have precipitated Julie’s death?

Jeffe Korner and his partner, Annette Werner are given the case. They’re an odd couple, but they appear to interact well to solve crimes. Jeffe is a rather sad, sensitive character. He’s recovering from a divorce and is still hurting. Annette, in Jeffe’s estimation, is a bulldozer. She’s much bolder and more straightforward than he is.

This is a dark Nordic mystery. The plot is complex with multiple murders and potential suspects entering the narrative. I found the pace a little slow, but other Nordic mysteries have the same tempo. However, the appearance of more bodies and the slowly building solution to the mystery kept me reading.

The translation was well done. It never felt stilted. The setting was perfect for the characters. It created the dark atmosphere appropriate for this twisted story.

If you enjoy a dark police procedural with an interesting background, you may enjoy this book.

I received this book from Scout Press for this review.