Starting the new bookish year with a passionate Nordic Norwegian thriller published by Orenda Books says tons about what the bookish 2026 is about to offer to passionate crime and thriller readers. Into the Dark by Ørjan N. Karlsson translated from Norwegian by Ian Giles is my first from hopefully many Orenda books tours I will take part to in the next 12 months.
Developed through different separate, sharply built episodes, the story starts in a very atmospheric heavy note that sets the key for the further story development. Constantly, the geography and natural ambiance is carefully reconstructed, in small details that may resonate alongside the story lines. Darkness surrounds insidously every step of the plot.
It is a diverse geography, covering remote Northern Norway places, matching at certain regards the diverse characters and their intricate personal and terrifying encounters: a mutilated body found in the waters, a woman found dead in an apparent suicide, a horrible encounter between a hiker and some faceless creature. Hence, the emergency task that Jakob Weber and Noora Yun Sande need to solve. Before the killer strikes again.
This sense of emergency is progressively taking over the story, as the pace intensifies. For the reader, it means more involvement and guesses about the possible solutions, which for me is always an interesting way of reading psychological thrillers with a dark, very dark take.
The author himself grew up in those parts of the country, hence the authentic and detailed ambiance.
Into the Dark is a tensed and challenging dark read, suspenseful happening in a deeply atmospheric surrounding. Recommended if you are really looking for a challenging reading year.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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