I’m Traveling Alone

Author: Samuel Bjørk
Genre: Crime Thriller
388 pages
Publisher: Viking, originally published in Swedish; English version published 2016
Translator: Charlotte Barslund

Synopsis
A six-year-old girl is found in the Norwegian countryside, hanging lifeless from a tree with a jump rope around her neck. She is dressed in strange doll’s clothes. Around her neck is an airline tag that says “I’m traveling alone.” 

A special homicide unit in Oslo re-opens with veteran police investigator Holger Munch at the helm. Holger’s first step is to persuade the brilliant but haunted investigator Mia Krüger to come back to the squad–she’s been living on an isolated island, overcome by memories of her past. When Mia views a photograph of the crime scene and spots the number “1” carved into the dead girl’s fingernail, she knows this is only the beginning. She’ll soon discover that six years earlier, an infant girl was abducted from a nearby maternity ward. The baby was never found. Could this new killer have something to do with the missing child, or with the reclusive Christian sect hidden in the nearby woods?

Mia returns to duty to track down a revenge-driven and ruthlessly intelligent killer. But when Munch’s own six-year-old granddaughter goes missing, Mia realizes that the killer’s sinister game is personal, and I’m Traveling Alone races to an explosive–and shocking–conclusion.

My review
I’m Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjørk has been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages, and I’m glad I finally picked it up over the weekend. This dark, atmospheric Nordic Noir police procedural hooked me right from the start. Set in Norway, the story follows members of a special police unit that was disbanded after a disastrous case. When a new string of kidnappings begins – young girls, all six years old – the authorities realize their best chance lies in reuniting this elite but fractured team.

There’s a lot happening here: murder, kidnapping, cryptic clues, personal drama, and even a mysterious religious community. It’s everything I love about Nordic Noir. The slow build, layered characters, eerie atmosphere, and strong writing.

The investigative team is a mix of misfits. A pair of seasoned detectives, a lawyer, a thug, and a hacker. While that setup isn’t entirely original, Bjørk makes it work through vivid characterization and emotional depth. Each member feels real and distinct, and Bjørk clearly invested as much effort in developing his characters as he did in crafting the intricate mystery. The two leads, Mia Kruger and Holger Munch, are particularly compelling. Kruger is a brilliant but suicidal detective haunted by her sister’s death, while Munch is a weary but determined investigator – gruff, likable, and deeply human. Together, they make a believable and exciting duo.

That said, the book isn’t without flaws. Some of the terminology and references feel dated and may come across as offensive to modern readers. I also found the repeated mentions of Mia’s suicidal thoughts a bit excessive. It’s a key part of her character, but the constant reminders began to feel repetitive.

Even with these flaws, I’m Traveling Alone is a smart, immersive police procedural that delivers both character depth and a tightly woven, suspenseful plot. It’s not as graphic or brutal as some other Nordic Noir novels, which makes it a great choice for readers who enjoy the genre’s complexity and mood without the extreme violence. Bjørk balances atmosphere, mystery, and emotion beautifully. I’ll definitely pick up the next in the series.

My recommendation: worth the read!