translated by Marlaine Delargy
RIP V Challenge; Suspense and Thriller Challenge: Winner of CWA International Dagger (Kerrie has a nice round up of the nominated books here)
This has to be one of the spookiest, scariest books I've ever read. Let me explain:
the setting: small island off the coast of Sweden, during the winter, and during several blizzards; deserted lighthouses and an old abandoned manor house
the characters: the thieves who are meth addicts and would do anything, the dead drug addict still in the heart of Joakim (the father in the family that buys the house), the ghosts who populate the island and legend has will return at Christmas, the daughter who has very strange dreams, the old man who knows all the legends and history of Oland
the back stories: alternating with the plot are stories of all the people who have died terrible deaths at Eel Point Manor since the house was built. Perhaps building it with the wood that washed ashore from a shipwreck was a bad omen?
the plot: A family leaves Stockholm and buys an old abandoned home on the shore of Oland island, planning to renovate and move on. But the house has been home to many tragedies.And they have some secrets in their past.
You want a haunted house story for Halloween? You like crazy chase scenes through a blizzard? Some modern mystery with your historical mystery? A little international flavor? Here you go.
also reviewed: kerri at mysteries in paradise
