Under The Storm – Hallandssviten #1

Author: Christoffer Carlsson
Genre: Crime Fiction, Nordic Noir
416 pages
Publisher: Hogarth, 2024
Translator: Rachel Willson-Broyles

Synopsis
On a cold November night in rural Sweden, a farmhouse burns to the ground. Inside, a young woman is found dead—murdered. To the people of Marbäck, the fire becomes a before and after. For ten-year-old Isak, it sets in motion something he cannot control, igniting his future into an inferno.

The police immediately focus their attention on Edvard, the boyfriend of the murdered woman and Isak’s beloved uncle. After a quick investigation, Edvard is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, and Marbäck believes it can return to its innocence. Vidar, the rookie officer who first responded to the fire, prides himself on having helped solve the murder. Little does he know this will become the defining case of his career and that it will drive him to the brink of professional and personal disaster—and link his fate to young Isak’s.

A celebrated professor of criminology, Christoffer Carlsson digs deep into the psyches of ordinary people and shows how one crime can haunt a community for decades. A #1 international bestseller, Under the Storm is already a modern classic of Scandinavian crime fiction and shows why many regard Carlsson as one of the great crime writers of his generation.

My review
Under The Storm by Christoffer Carlsson is the first installment in this Nordic Noir, crime fiction series. It’s the first novel I’ve read by Carlsson and definitely won’t be my last. This story is exceptionally well-written and complex, and I was quickly drawn into its brooding, melancholic atmosphere. It captures everything I love about Nordic Noir, with its haunting undertones and a remote Swedish town that feels like a character in its own right.

This story is a blend of crime fiction and coming-of-age story, unfolding over more than two decades. Instead of a fast-paced, high-adrenaline thriller, this novel takes a more nuanced, character-driven approach, exploring how a single tragic murder ripples through the lives of those connected to it. While it’s a police procedural at its core, the story is just as much about loss and the lasting impact of one fateful night.

The novel begins when a young woman’s body is discovered after a house fire in November 1994. The investigation quickly zeroes in on her boyfriend, 25-year-old Edvard Christensson. His troubled past makes him an easy target, and both the community and law enforcement are quick to condemn him. By May 1995, he’s convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Unlike most police procedurals that center on tracking down a perpetrator, Under the Storm takes a different approach, exploring the lives of those connected to the murder and how the crime has shaped them over the years. The result is a beautifully crafted and deeply immersive novel that is both unsettling and emotional. I had the luxury of dedicating long reading sessions to this book, and I was completely pulled into the world of Marbäck, Sweden.

My only criticism is that the middle section of the novel felt a bit slow at times, getting a little too caught up in the details of Isak and Vidar’s personal relationships. That said, the first and last thirds were exceptional, so I didn’t mind the slightly uneven pacing.

Under The Storm is a fantastic example of Nordic Noir – atmospheric and brooding, with flawed and vividly drawn characters. The police procedural elements felt authentic and well-researched, which added to the novel’s immersive feel. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this talented author!

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!