"People don't realise that, for you, the pain is just as fucking excruciating as it was that first day - all day, every single day."
Alexander Blix is the Detective Inspector for Oslo Police District, and he's good at what he does. He doesn't make mistakes. But when he misses a call from Officer Sofia Kovac, who thinks she might have made a disturbing connection between several open murder cases, it might be one the biggest mistakes he ever makes. Because before he can call her back, she's dead. Shot in the back of the head. And upstairs, her housemate, Blix's own daughter, Iselin, barely made it out alive.
But as Iselin fights to shake the terror, Alexander is being interrogated for the murder of the person who hurt his daughter along with crime journalist Emma Ramm who saw the whole thing unfold. It's only been four days since that bloody night, but he's already starting to wonder if he killed the right person. And if he didn't, they could still be out there. Trusting anyone could prove fatal now.
The third instalment in the best-selling Blix and Ramm series might be my first introduction to the powerhouse duo that is Horst and Enger, but it definitely won't be my last. Much like I did, this can definitely be read as a standalone on it's own merit but of course I'd recommend reading the others just for the world-building before you get started.
This Nordic Noir is an explosive, mind-bending mystery that jumps right into the fire and doesn't stop. Alexander and Emma, much like the reader, have no idea just how dark their lives are about to get - each page seems to pack a new punch and red herrings seem to be jumping about everywhere. Even with all the violence and chaos, there's a subtle disquiet, an uncomfortable chill that seems to linger in the background, making the reader unsure who to trust, and blurs the lines between right and wrong that makes it impossible to guess what's coming next.
Each character has a distinct and strong voice, but the overall writing is so cohesive and seamless that it's almost impossible to tell which author wrote any part. The translation, by Megan Turney is flawless, the subtle nuance of the writing still comes across so well.
Unhinged is a triumphant, visceral novel about anger, grief and pain and the darkness that could be anywhere. Emotive and engrossing, it's easy to see why so many people are following the terrifying tales of Blix and Ramm.
About the Authors
Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are the internationally bestselling Norwegian authors of the William Wisting and Henning Juul series respectively.
A former investigator in the Norwegian police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense. Thomas Enger is a journalist-turned-author whose trademark has become a darkly gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting.
Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer. Death Deserved was Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller, closely followed by Smoke Screen, and the series has sold more than two million copies worldwide, outselling Jo Nesbo in their native Norway, Sweden and Germany. Follow them on twitter at @LierHorst @EngerThomas.
Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours and Karen at Orenda Books for inviting me to take part in this tour. I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.
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