Varg Veum
1 primary work • 8 total works
Book 18
The 25-year-old case of a missing girl sees Varg Veum dig deep into the past to find her kidnapper, as the secrets and lies of a tiny community threaten everything … Gunnar Staalesen’s award-winning, international bestselling Varg Veum series continues in this chilling Nordic Noir thriller.
***WINNER of the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year***
'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland
‘One of the finest Nordic novelists – in the tradition of Henning Mankell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
_________________
September 1977. Mette Misvær, a three-year-old girl disappears without trace from the sandpit outside her home. Her tiny, close middle-class community in the tranquil suburb of Nordas is devastated, but their enquiries and the police produce nothing. Curtains twitch, suspicions are raised, but Mette is never found.
Almost 25 years later, as the expiry date for the statute of limitations draws near, Mette’s mother approaches PI Varg Veum, in a last, desperate attempt to find out what happened to her daughter. As Veum starts to dig, he uncovers an intricate web of secrets, lies and shocking events that have been methodically concealed. When another brutal incident takes place, a pattern begins to emerge…
Shocking, unsettling and full of extraordinary twists and turns, Where Roses Never Die reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers.
_________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates
***WINNER of the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year***
'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland
‘One of the finest Nordic novelists – in the tradition of Henning Mankell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
_________________
September 1977. Mette Misvær, a three-year-old girl disappears without trace from the sandpit outside her home. Her tiny, close middle-class community in the tranquil suburb of Nordas is devastated, but their enquiries and the police produce nothing. Curtains twitch, suspicions are raised, but Mette is never found.
Almost 25 years later, as the expiry date for the statute of limitations draws near, Mette’s mother approaches PI Varg Veum, in a last, desperate attempt to find out what happened to her daughter. As Veum starts to dig, he uncovers an intricate web of secrets, lies and shocking events that have been methodically concealed. When another brutal incident takes place, a pattern begins to emerge…
Shocking, unsettling and full of extraordinary twists and turns, Where Roses Never Die reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers.
_________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates
Varg Veum takes on the perplexing case of a missing wind-farm inspector and gets more than he bargained for, as religious zealots, environmental terrorism and then murder take centre stage … The gripping next instalment in the award-winning Varg Veum series, by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir.
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘Mature and captivating’ Rosemary Goring, Herald Scotland
‘Moving, uncompromising’ Publishers Weekly
––––––––––––––––––––––––
1998. Varg Veum sits by the hospital bedside of his long-term girlfriend Karin, whose life-threatening injuries provide a deeply painful reminder of the mistakes he’s made.
Investigating the seemingly innocent disappearance of a wind-farm inspector, Varg Veum is thrust into one of the most challenging cases of his career, riddled with conflicts, environmental terrorism, religious fanaticism, unsolved mysteries and dubious business ethics. Then, in one of the most heart-stopping scenes in crime fiction, the first body appears…
A chilling, timeless story of love, revenge and desire, We Shall Inherit the Wind deftly weaves contemporary issues with a stunning plot that will leave you gripped to the final page. This is Staalesen at his most thrilling, thought-provoking best.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘Mature and captivating’ Rosemary Goring, Herald Scotland
‘Moving, uncompromising’ Publishers Weekly
––––––––––––––––––––––––
1998. Varg Veum sits by the hospital bedside of his long-term girlfriend Karin, whose life-threatening injuries provide a deeply painful reminder of the mistakes he’s made.
Investigating the seemingly innocent disappearance of a wind-farm inspector, Varg Veum is thrust into one of the most challenging cases of his career, riddled with conflicts, environmental terrorism, religious fanaticism, unsolved mysteries and dubious business ethics. Then, in one of the most heart-stopping scenes in crime fiction, the first body appears…
A chilling, timeless story of love, revenge and desire, We Shall Inherit the Wind deftly weaves contemporary issues with a stunning plot that will leave you gripped to the final page. This is Staalesen at his most thrilling, thought-provoking best.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates
Ever-dogged Bergen PI Varg Veum is forced to dig deep into his own past as he investigates the murder of a former classmate. Vintage, classic Nordic Noir from international bestselling author Gunnar Staalesen.
‘A vibrant look at the life, loves and betrayals of the past and the ways in which their tentacles cling, never letting you go’ John Harvey
‘One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors’ Ian Rankin
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
***Now a major TV series starring Trond Espen Seim***
________________
Exploring his own dark memories may be the only way to find a killer…
When Bergen PI Varg Veum finds himself at the funeral of a former classmate on a sleet-grey December afternoon, he’s unexpectedly reunited with his old friend Jakob – guitarist of the once-famous 1960s rock band The Harpers – and his estranged wife, Rebecca, Veum’s first love.
Their rekindled friendship is thrown into jeopardy by the discovery of a horrific murder, and Veum is forced to dig deep into his own adolescence and his darkest memories, to find a motive … and a killer.
Tense, vivid and deeply unsettling, Fallen Angels is the spellbinding, award-winning thriller that secured Gunnar Staalesen’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost crime writers.
________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø' Independent
‘Well worth reading, with the rest of Staalesen’s award-winning series’ New York Journal of Books
‘Staalesen continually reminds us why he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
‘Gunnar Staalesen is a master of the PI genre, and with Fallen Angels he is at the top of his game’ Live Many Lives
‘It is a story full of mystery, of uncertainty and threat … a truly thought-provoking read’ Jen Med’s Book Review
‘A vibrant look at the life, loves and betrayals of the past and the ways in which their tentacles cling, never letting you go’ John Harvey
‘One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors’ Ian Rankin
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
***Now a major TV series starring Trond Espen Seim***
________________
Exploring his own dark memories may be the only way to find a killer…
When Bergen PI Varg Veum finds himself at the funeral of a former classmate on a sleet-grey December afternoon, he’s unexpectedly reunited with his old friend Jakob – guitarist of the once-famous 1960s rock band The Harpers – and his estranged wife, Rebecca, Veum’s first love.
Their rekindled friendship is thrown into jeopardy by the discovery of a horrific murder, and Veum is forced to dig deep into his own adolescence and his darkest memories, to find a motive … and a killer.
Tense, vivid and deeply unsettling, Fallen Angels is the spellbinding, award-winning thriller that secured Gunnar Staalesen’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost crime writers.
________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø' Independent
‘Well worth reading, with the rest of Staalesen’s award-winning series’ New York Journal of Books
‘Staalesen continually reminds us why he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
‘Gunnar Staalesen is a master of the PI genre, and with Fallen Angels he is at the top of his game’ Live Many Lives
‘It is a story full of mystery, of uncertainty and threat … a truly thought-provoking read’ Jen Med’s Book Review
Varg Veum is persuaded to take on the case of a missing teenager, by a half-sister he didn’t know he had, in a case that quickly becomes personal … A dark, chilling and startling relevant new instalment in the award-winning Varg Veum series, by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir.
***Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year***
‘Staalesen continually reminds us why he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous’ Sunday Times
‘Employs Chandleresque similes with a Nordic Noir twist’ Wall Street Journal
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Varg Veum receives a surprise visit in his office. A woman introduces herself as his half-sister, and she has a job for him. Her god-daughter, a 19-year-old trainee nurse from Haugesund, moved from her bedsit in Bergen two weeks ago. Since then no one has heard anything from her. She didn't leave an address. She doesn't answer her phone. And the police refuse to take her case seriously.
Veum’s investigation uncovers a series of carefully covered-up crimes and pent-up hatreds, and the trail leads to a gang of extreme bikers on the hunt for a group of people whose dark deeds are hidden by the anonymity of the Internet. And then things get personal…
Chilling, shocking and exceptionally gripping, Big Sister reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
***Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year***
‘Staalesen continually reminds us why he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Barry Forshaw, Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous’ Sunday Times
‘Employs Chandleresque similes with a Nordic Noir twist’ Wall Street Journal
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Varg Veum receives a surprise visit in his office. A woman introduces herself as his half-sister, and she has a job for him. Her god-daughter, a 19-year-old trainee nurse from Haugesund, moved from her bedsit in Bergen two weeks ago. Since then no one has heard anything from her. She didn't leave an address. She doesn't answer her phone. And the police refuse to take her case seriously.
Veum’s investigation uncovers a series of carefully covered-up crimes and pent-up hatreds, and the trail leads to a gang of extreme bikers on the hunt for a group of people whose dark deeds are hidden by the anonymity of the Internet. And then things get personal…
Chilling, shocking and exceptionally gripping, Big Sister reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
On the path to self-destruction after the death of his girlfriend, things take a turn for the worse, when child pornography is found on Varg Veum's computer and he must battle to prove his innocence ... the chilling new instalment in the award-winning Varg Veum series, by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir.
'Mature and captivating' Rosemary Goring, Herald Scotland
'Moving, uncompromising' Publishers Weekly
_________________
Reeling from the death of his great love, Karin, Varg Veum's life has descended into a self-destructive spiral of alcohol, lust, grief and blackouts.
When traces of child pornography are found on his computer, he's accused of being part of a paedophile ring and thrown into a prison cell. There, he struggles to sift through his past to work out who is responsible for planting the material ... and who is seeking the ultimate revenge.
When a chance to escape presents itself, Varg finds himself on the run in his hometown of Bergen. With the clock ticking and the police on his tail, Varg takes on his hardest - and most personal - case yet.
Dark, emotive and compulsive, Wolves in the Dark is the absorbing, shocking next instalment in the addictive Varg Veum series, by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir.
_________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple ... deep emotion bubbling under the surface - the real turmoil of the characters' lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them' Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
'Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means "wolf " in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth' Ian Rankin
'Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists' Financial Times
'Chilling and perilous results - all told in a pleasingly dry style' Sunday Times
'Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry' Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it's in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies' Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
'Not many books hook you in the first chapter - this one did, and never let go!' Mari Hannah
'With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages ... If you're a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you're new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You're encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow' Crime Fiction Lover
'With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read' LoveReading
'Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read' New Books Magazine
'An upmarket Philip Marlowe' Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
'Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest' Quentin Bates
'Mature and captivating' Rosemary Goring, Herald Scotland
'Moving, uncompromising' Publishers Weekly
_________________
Reeling from the death of his great love, Karin, Varg Veum's life has descended into a self-destructive spiral of alcohol, lust, grief and blackouts.
When traces of child pornography are found on his computer, he's accused of being part of a paedophile ring and thrown into a prison cell. There, he struggles to sift through his past to work out who is responsible for planting the material ... and who is seeking the ultimate revenge.
When a chance to escape presents itself, Varg finds himself on the run in his hometown of Bergen. With the clock ticking and the police on his tail, Varg takes on his hardest - and most personal - case yet.
Dark, emotive and compulsive, Wolves in the Dark is the absorbing, shocking next instalment in the addictive Varg Veum series, by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir.
_________________
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple ... deep emotion bubbling under the surface - the real turmoil of the characters' lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them' Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue
'Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means "wolf " in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth' Ian Rankin
'Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists' Financial Times
'Chilling and perilous results - all told in a pleasingly dry style' Sunday Times
'Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry' Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it's in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies' Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
'Not many books hook you in the first chapter - this one did, and never let go!' Mari Hannah
'With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages ... If you're a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you're new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You're encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow' Crime Fiction Lover
'With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read' LoveReading
'Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read' New Books Magazine
'An upmarket Philip Marlowe' Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
'Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest' Quentin Bates
The wolves are no longer in the dark … they are at his door. And they want vengeance … The next instalment in the international, bestselling Varg Veum series by one of the fathers of Nordic Noir …
‘One of the finest Nordic novelists - in the tradition of Henning Menkell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
––––––––––––––––––––––––
One dark January night a car drives at high speed towards PI Varg Veum, and comes very close to killing him. Veum is certain this is no accident, following so soon after the deaths of two jailed men who were convicted for their participation in a case of child pornography and sexual assault … crimes that Veum himself once stood wrongly accused of committing.
While the guilty men were apparently killed accidentally, Varg suspects that there is something more sinister at play … and that he’s on the death list of someone still at large.
Fearing for his life, Veum begins to investigate the old case, interviewing the victims of abuse and delving deeper into the brutal crimes, with shocking results. The wolves are no longer in the dark … they are at his door.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
‘One of the finest Nordic novelists - in the tradition of Henning Menkell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
––––––––––––––––––––––––
One dark January night a car drives at high speed towards PI Varg Veum, and comes very close to killing him. Veum is certain this is no accident, following so soon after the deaths of two jailed men who were convicted for their participation in a case of child pornography and sexual assault … crimes that Veum himself once stood wrongly accused of committing.
While the guilty men were apparently killed accidentally, Varg suspects that there is something more sinister at play … and that he’s on the death list of someone still at large.
Fearing for his life, Veum begins to investigate the old case, interviewing the victims of abuse and delving deeper into the brutal crimes, with shocking results. The wolves are no longer in the dark … they are at his door.
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Gunnar Staalesen
‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘Chilling and perilous results — all told in a pleasingly dry style’ Sunday Times
‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent
‘Not many books hook you in the first chapter – this one did, and never let go!’ Mari Hannah
‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover
‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading
‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine
Fresh from rehab, Norwegian PI Varg Veum faces his most complex investigation yet, when a man is found drowned, a young woman disappears, and the case of a missing child is revived. The classic Nordic Noir series continues…
‘As searing and gripping as they come’ New York Times
‘One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors’ Ian Rankin
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
***Now a major TV series starring Trond Espen Seim***
________________________
PI Varg Veum has returned to duty following a stint in rehab, but his new composure and resolution are soon threatened when a challenging assignment arrives on his desk.
A man is found dead in an elite swimming pool and a young woman has gone missing. Most chillingly, Varg Veum is asked to investigate the ‘Camilla Case’: an eight-year-old cold case involving the disappearance of a little girl, who was never found.
As the threads of these apparently unrelated crimes come together, against the backdrop of a series of shocking environmental crimes, Varg Veum faces the most challenging, traumatic investigation of his career.
________________________
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø' Independent
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘There are only two other writers that I know of have achieved the depth of insight in detective writing that Staalesen has: Chandler, and Ross MacDonald …’ Mystery Tribune
‘Employs Chandleresque similes with a Nordic Noir twist … simply superb’ Wall Street Journal
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
‘Unsettling, moving, sad, hopeful and hopeless … it’s rich and it’s sharp and it’s cynical and sentimental all at once’ NB Magazine
‘A complex, layered plot in which human tragedy and mystery combine to play out beautifully in a classic Nordic noir with a touch of Christie’ Live & Deadly
For fans of Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Jorn Lier Horst, Harlan Coben and Jussi Adler-Olse
‘As searing and gripping as they come’ New York Times
‘One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors’ Ian Rankin
‘The Norwegian Chandler’ Jo Nesbø
***Now a major TV series starring Trond Espen Seim***
________________________
PI Varg Veum has returned to duty following a stint in rehab, but his new composure and resolution are soon threatened when a challenging assignment arrives on his desk.
A man is found dead in an elite swimming pool and a young woman has gone missing. Most chillingly, Varg Veum is asked to investigate the ‘Camilla Case’: an eight-year-old cold case involving the disappearance of a little girl, who was never found.
As the threads of these apparently unrelated crimes come together, against the backdrop of a series of shocking environmental crimes, Varg Veum faces the most challenging, traumatic investigation of his career.
________________________
'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø' Independent
‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times
‘There are only two other writers that I know of have achieved the depth of insight in detective writing that Staalesen has: Chandler, and Ross MacDonald …’ Mystery Tribune
‘Employs Chandleresque similes with a Nordic Noir twist … simply superb’ Wall Street Journal
‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly
'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland
‘Unsettling, moving, sad, hopeful and hopeless … it’s rich and it’s sharp and it’s cynical and sentimental all at once’ NB Magazine
‘A complex, layered plot in which human tragedy and mystery combine to play out beautifully in a classic Nordic noir with a touch of Christie’ Live & Deadly
For fans of Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Jorn Lier Horst, Harlan Coben and Jussi Adler-Olse
When Bergen PI Varg Veum becomes involved in the disappearance of a young activist, he comes up against one village’s particular brand of justice … The international bestselling, critically acclaimed Varg Veum series returns…
`As searing and gripping as they come´ New York Times
`One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors´ Ian Rankin
`The Norwegian Chandler´ Jo Nesbø
When Varg Veum reads the newspaper headline ’Young Man Missing’, he realises he’s seen the youth just a few days earlier – at a crossroads in the countryside, with his two friends. It turns out that the three were on their way to a demonstration against a commercial fish-farming facility in the tiny village of Solvik, north of Bergen.
Varg heads to Solvik, initially out of curiosity, but when he chances upon a dead body in the sea, he’s pulled into a dark and complex web of secrets, feuds and jealousies.
Is the body he’s found connected to the death of a journalist who was digging into the fish farm's operations two years earlier? And does either incident have something to do with the competition between the two powerful families that dominate Solvik’s salmon-farming industry?
Or are the deaths the actions of the ‘Village Beast’ – the brutal small-town justice meted out by rural communities in this part of the world.
Shocking, timely and full of breathtaking twists and turns, Pursued by Death reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world's greatest crime writers.
`As searing and gripping as they come´ New York Times
`One of my very favourite Scandinavian authors´ Ian Rankin
`The Norwegian Chandler´ Jo Nesbø
When Varg Veum reads the newspaper headline ’Young Man Missing’, he realises he’s seen the youth just a few days earlier – at a crossroads in the countryside, with his two friends. It turns out that the three were on their way to a demonstration against a commercial fish-farming facility in the tiny village of Solvik, north of Bergen.
Varg heads to Solvik, initially out of curiosity, but when he chances upon a dead body in the sea, he’s pulled into a dark and complex web of secrets, feuds and jealousies.
Is the body he’s found connected to the death of a journalist who was digging into the fish farm's operations two years earlier? And does either incident have something to do with the competition between the two powerful families that dominate Solvik’s salmon-farming industry?
Or are the deaths the actions of the ‘Village Beast’ – the brutal small-town justice meted out by rural communities in this part of the world.
Shocking, timely and full of breathtaking twists and turns, Pursued by Death reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world's greatest crime writers.