THE BEST SWEDISH DETECTIVE NOVEL OF 2020. SHORTLIST OF THE “BEST SWEDISH BOOK OF THE YEAR” AWARD. WINNER OF THE “GLASS KEY” PRIZE. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF FALL 2020, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE. A mysterious murder in a sleepy Swedish town... But there is one “but” - the body has never been found... Walaf Hagström was only fourteen when he confessed to the murder and rape of teenage girl Lina Stavred . The victim's body was never found, and the perpetrator was too young to receive a real prison sentence. Therefore, he was sent to a boarding school for difficult teenagers. Since then, the boy and his family have become outcasts for the entire town. However, twenty-three years later, Walaf finally decided to return to his home. Only there was a grisly discovery waiting for him: his father's body decomposing in the bathtub. For police officer Eira Sjödin, the investigation into this suspicious death resurrects forgotten horrors of the past. She was nine when Walaf was charged. She still remembers the fear that shrouded her entire childhood. And now the boy from the nightmares has returned, bringing with him new troubles. “Strong local flavor, credible characters and a twisting plot make this a standout book. This is Swedish noir at its darkest." – Publishers Weekly “Insanely exciting.” – Chris Whitaker, international bestselling author of We Begin at the End “A stunningly twisted roller coaster in this thriller.” – Peter James, New York Times bestselling author “Beautifully elegiac and intricately plotted, this is Scandi noir at its best.” – People “Convincingly and masterfully written.” – Booklist “Alsterdahl comes up with enough plot twists to keep the police investigation interesting, and creates a great female protagonist; fans of foreign detective stories will be glad to meet her.” – Library Journal “A game of cat and mouse that promises to be full of surprises, as well as thoughtful reflections on grief, guilt and memory.” – LitHub's Crimereads “Fascinating... This haunting thriller is brilliantly plotted and executed, and the development of its cast of interesting characters is impressive. It's as deep a psychological study as it is a sophisticated police investigation. An excellent detective story and an extremely revealing read." – Bookreporter “A beautiful, atmospheric novel with a captivating plot and a very engaging detective story that I’m really looking forward to meeting again.” – Nordic Noir