Where Evil Lies

There must be a reason (or many) the Nordic thriller sub-genre is not only popular but considered among the best examples in Mystery literature by the critics. The complicated characters, the minimalistic, yet layered, writing, the plots that often span decades, even centuries, merging History into Mystery, and the eerie atmosphere of the long wintery darkness are elements that make the Nordic thrillers so engaging. And all these are features of Where Evil Lies by Jørgen Brekke.

I'd classify this book amongst the best I've read in this category. It has an interesting plot, a mystery with hints that can be traced back to the 1500's Trondheim, a bookish flair, realistic characters and vivid descriptions of the Norwegian landscape. Our two main characters, Odd and Felicia are pleasant, sympathetic and with their own battles to fight, but they do not fall into the cliché description of the troubled, brooding, can't-smile-because- I-might-fall-dead inspector. The interractions between these two are well-written, even funny at certain instances, emphasizing the cultural differences. And no, I don't think that they fell in love too easily. On the other hand, I just couldn't stand the character of Siri. Her behaviour was cringe-worthy. The solution of the mystery wasn't that unexpected, not because it was predictable, but because Brekke kept his cast of characters at a low level, something that helped the story move much faster. I loved the historical parts that took us all the way back to 16th century Norway. They gave a special substance to the plot.

Although I've read and, hopefully, will read many Nordic thrillers in the future,Where Evil Lies was engaging, atmospheric, and for once, I couldn't notice whether certain things were lost in translation. Plus, I need to visit Trondheim some day...