Death Deserved (Blix & Ramm, #1)

by Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst

Anne Bruce (Translator)

Police officer Alexander Blix and celebrity blogger Emma Ramm join forces to track down a serial killer with a thirst for attention and high-profile murders, in the first episode of a gripping new Nordic Noir series…

‘Grim, gory and filled with plenty of dark twists … There’s definitely a Scandinavian chill in the air with this fascinating read that loses none of its terror and fun in translation’ Scottish Sun

‘A stunningly excellent collaboration … a brutal tale of fame, murder, and reality TV that gets the pulse racing’ Russel McLean

‘An exercise in literary tag-teaming from two of Norway’s biggest crime writers with a bold new take on the serial-killer-as-twisted-artist … the start of a series with potential’ Sunday Times
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Oslo, 2018. Former long-distance runner Sonja Nordstrøm never shows at the launch of her controversial autobiography, Always Number One. When celebrity blogger Emma Ramm visits Nordstrøm’s home later that day, she finds the door unlocked and signs of a struggle inside. A bib with the number ‘one’ has been pinned to the TV.

Police officer Alexander Blix is appointed to head up the missing-persons investigation, but he still bears the emotional scars of a hostage situation nineteen years earlier, when he killed the father of a five-year-old girl. Traces of Nordstrøm soon show up at different locations, but the appearance of the clues appear to be carefully calculated … evidence of a bigger picture that he’s just not seeing…

Blix and Ramm soon join forces, determined to find and stop a merciless killer with a flare for the dramatic, and thirst for attention.

Trouble is, he’s just got his first taste of it…
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‘Everything about this crime novel sings, the relationship between Blix and Emma, which is complex, but also the relationship between Blix and Fosse and Kovic. The past bleeds into the present and the clever melding of the strands of the story and the slow reveal of details that propel the story is masterly. This tale often surprises or shifts in subtle ways that are pleasing and avoid cliché. As the opener for a new series this is a cracker, long live the marriage of Horst and Enger’ New Books Magazine

‘Death Deserved is a fast-moving, punchy, serial killer investigative novel with a whammy of an ending. If this is the first in the Blix and Ramm series, then here’s to many more!’ LoveReading

‘A clever, gripping crime novel with personality, flair, and heart’ Crime by the Book

• ISBN10: 1913193004
• ISBN13: 9781913193003
• Publish Date: 20 February 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 June 2024
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orenda Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 276
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

This is my first venture into Nordic Noir. Living in Norway, I was already familiar with the names of the authors but I've not read anything by either of them...until now. It's why I chose to read Death Deserved and I'm so glad I did. 

Divorced Oslo Police officer Alexander Blix has a grown-up daughter who is appearing on a reality television programme. Simultaneously, former athlete, Sonja Nordstrøm disappears. He's given the responsibility for the missing person investigation not knowing if it's a kidnapping, suicide or murder. Meanwhile, celebrity blogger, Emma Ramm is curious as to why Sonja Nordstrøm didn't turn up for her television interview to promote her book, Always Number One. It isn't long before Alex and Emma run into each other as they search for clues. Only for Alex, meeting the blogger triggers a memory of an incident in 1999, one which still haunts him to this day.

The narrative is seamless and I'm awed by how these authors have worked together to produce this intriguing novel. The tight plot and pacing keep readers engaged as Alex Blix and Emma Ramm work to find the serial killer. It's an unlikely pairing of a police officer and a celebrity blogger but their crossed paths add to the curiosity of why the dynamic works so well. In addition, we're introduced to many supporting characters including, Sofia Kovic, Alex's police partner. Like Emma, she's someone who you wouldn't expect to see working with someone like Alex Blix, but they somehow complement each other in a positive way.

Thrilling and suspenseful, I enjoyed putting together the pieces of the puzzle as the protagonists try to get ahead of the perpetrator with their investigation. With enticing details, I was gripped as the story came to a conclusion with an epilogue setting the scene for the next instalment.

On a personal note, what I appreciated the most is the Norwegian backdrop. I don't live in Oslo, but the familiarity of names definitely added to the overall appeal of Death Deserved. It's left me with a feeling of 'What took you so long to search out novels based in your country of residence'?

Conclusion? My introduction to Nordic Noir has whetted my appetite for more and will definitely be reading more from Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger. It's also inspired me to buy and read Nullpunkt, the original Norwegian version of the novel. As it'll be a slow read, I'm hoping in the meantime Orenda will publish a translated version of Røykteppe, book 2 in the Alex Blix and Emma Ramm series before I get around to tackling it in its original form.

***arc generously received courtesy of Orenda Books via Random Things Tours***