The Cabin (William Wisting #13, Cold Cases #2)

Author: Jørn Lier Horst
Genre: Nordic Noir Police Procedural
395 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2019
Translator: Anne Bruce

Synopsis
Politician Bernhard Clausen has been found dead in his cabin on the Norwegian coast.

The police discover a piece of explosive information which could put the whole nation’s future at risk. In a frantic search for answers they discover a web of lies which conceal the secrets to a series of cold cases. The police soon realise that to uncover the truth these cases need to be solved. And quickly.

Chief Inspector William Wisting, together with Kripos investigator Adrian Stiller, delve into Clausen’s past and soon find that his interests lay less in Norway’s political world, and more in its dark, and deadly, criminal underbelly.

My review
The Cabin by Jørn Lier Horst is an excellent Nordic Noir crime fiction novel – a measured, character-driven police procedural rather than a twisted, action-heavy thriller. It’s the thirteenth installment in the much-loved Wisting series, and the second in the Cold Case Quartet, a four-book subseries focused entirely on long-unsolved cases. Horst himself served as a senior investigator in Larvik, Norway, and that real-world experience lends an unmistakable authenticity to his writing. His protagonist, Chief Inspector William Wisting, feels as credible and grounded as they come.

The story begins with the sudden death of politician Bernard Clausen at his summer cabin. While the death itself raises no red flags, the discovery of an enormous hidden fortune, 80 million kroner, does. The case soon ties back to Simon, a man who disappeared years earlier, and Wisting must untangle how Clausen and Simon were connected. With the help of a trusted investigative team, as well as his investigative journalist daughter Line, Wisting sets out to uncover the truth. The path forward is anything but simple.

I’d read several Wisting novels years ago, and the Cold Case Quartet has reignited my appreciation for Horst’s work. This book offers a complex and intricate investigation filled with many characters, layers of detail, and a steady build of suspense. Every page feels purposeful with no wasted words or filler. The tension sharpens at just the right moments, with more than a few heart-stopping turns, especially for Line. The characters are well-rounded, the plot intelligently crafted, and the sense of realism never wavers.

Wisting remains one of my favorite detectives. He’s thorough, methodical, and unflinchingly fair. A principled police officer who never uses his position to pass judgment. That humanity is part of what makes him so compelling.

The Cabin is immersive, smartly constructed, and absolutely absorbing from start to finish. While I’d describe it as more of a thinking-person’s mystery than a breakneck thriller, it still delivers moments of genuine intensity. Wisting’s quiet determination and razor-sharp mind keep the narrative moving forward, making this a must-read for fans of well-executed police procedurals. Highly recommended.

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!