Orenda Books Book Tour: Scars of Silence by Johana Gustawsson translated by David Warriner

It´s already past mid-November, and the outdoors does not give me any chance of spending the best of the time other than by reading books taking me out to far away places where the gripping thrillers are. As usual, Orenda Books has the answer to all my season-related book cravings, and the newest by Johana Gustawsson, translated by David Warriner. 

The murder of two teenagers in the Swedish archipelago´s Lindingö with circumstances and vestimentary details leading to references to a ritual associated with St. Lucia is leading to an arduous search for the culprits, that may take the reader to a quarter century ago. The collaboration between the Aleksander Storm and Maïa Rehn, two souls with their own share of grief, may lead to the clarification of the case, with a terrific secret hiding in plain sight. 

The atmosphere and the game of emotions meets a seamless plot.  As the other books by Gustawsson I had the chance to read and review, there is an unique ambiance created through genuine feelings like grief and revenge, that permeate the local community and may lead to terrible consequences, like the crimes against the boys. In the subtext, the book challenges the reader to relevant thoughts about consent. The ways in which the community, as a whole and invidually, is affected by the crimes, is an important element helping to understand both the circumstances and the need of a retribution. 

There are many surprising moments that the reader may experience, unexpected elements that change completely the perspective on the state of things, All those details are so important in making a closure to the past, with a similar crime committed 25 years ago, whose alledged perpetrator died by suicide. Thus, who is the culprit now?

As usual, Gustawsson´s book are a challenging intelligent thriller riddle, I enjoyed the plot, and I cannot wait to read her next one. Good thriller writers are always addictive.

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own