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"He licks them, from the toes, along the shoe, and to its heel."


Tree and sea. Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires, Tasmania. July 2021.

Pen 33 by Anders Roslund

Phew. This book does not scrimp on graphic details regarding the nastier side of child rape, murder and the brutal realities of senseless vengeance. Let me say that if you are a little squeamish about the inner workings of a deranged rapist and murderer, or indeed the intricacies of killing or autopsies, I would recommend skipping this one.

If not, then this is an effective exploration of concepts like redemption, punishment and justice in modern Sweden. While gratuitous at times and improbable at others, it effectively explores the real complexities of some of these key themes.

The novel is something of an endurance test, with very few upbeat scraps thrown to the reader along the way. All up, I think that it has merit as part of the long line of social realism via crime fiction that emerged from the work of Sjöwall and Wahlöö.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

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