Well written and atmospheric. The mystery was good and I was drawn in by the boy Isak.
Many thanks to RandomHouse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book! The book was great but I do wish it was a little shorter. I can’t wait for the next book!

In another genius piece of nordic noir, Christoffer Carlsson delivers another stunning thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats even after the book is done. Carlsson, after the rousing success of last years novel, kept me so entranced the entire novel

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson is a wonderful slow-burn Swedish mystery. Family drama, lingering doubts about the criminal, romance gone wrong - all come together in a decades long saga. I enjoyed reading this book as the plots unfurled.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The murder of a young woman in rural Sweden affects the lives of many in her town for years to come.

On a November night in 1994 in the village of Marbäck, Ulrika Antonsson calls the authorities to report that a neighboring farmhouse is on fire. The fire department, police department and ambulance services arrive but it is too late….the old wooden house is fully engulfed. As the police talk to neighbors at the scene they find that the couple who owns the farm. The Markströms, are out at a party but that their adult daughter Lovisa was seen returning home earlier that night. Once the building is safe to enter Lovisa’s body is found, and it is determined that she died due to blunt force trauma. In short, it is murder. Suspicion immediately falls upon Edvard Christensson; not only was he Lovisa’s boyfriend, he was found that night in the woods near the farm smelling of smoke and with blood on him. He is known to have a temper and to have not always treated Lovisa well, and as his father before him was abusive to his wife, it surprises no one that Edvard might have killed Lovisa. He denies doing it, once he is coherent and able to talk of what happened that night, but his claims of seeing an unknown car are not backed up by any other witnesses. In a small town, everyone notices strangers and everyone knows one another’s business; surely someone would have seen someone else near the scene of the fire. The Chief Inspector is convinced that they have sufficient evidence to convict Edvard of killing Lovisa, and the town agrees with his decision to arrest him. Left behind are Lovisa’s grieving parents, the local rookie police officer who both discovered Edvard in the woods and one of his gloves in an adjacent field, and Edvard’s family, his sister Eva and her husband and their young son Isak who adores his uncle. The effects on the lives of these and others in the community first during the investigation and prosecution of the crime, again nine years later when a cataclysmic hurricane decimates the Marbäck area and Edvard dies, and finally twelve years after the fire, when the full truth finally comes out are told with compassion and an adept portrayal of human nature.
Under the Storm is one of those novels that is both a fantastic police procedural mystery and a brilliantly crafted novel, using the nuance of language, local folklore and an empathetic grasp on how people think, feel and relate. This is not a fast paced, chase-scene infused, cynical sort of mystery, so don’t pick up a copy if that’s what you’re after. I was immediately drawn to the characters, the town, and the tragedies of the different lives in Marbäck. We have Vidar Jörgensson, a young police officer who is from the area and knows all of the victims and suspects, who became a police officer mostly because that was what his father did, and who is not certain that justice has been done; young Isak Nyqvist, whose love and admiration for the uncle is shattered when Edvard is arrested and convicted for his girlfriend’s murder, and the taint of the crime is extended to Isak and his parents; and the many friends, co-workers and others who feel the ripple effect of a terrible crime in their quiet town. To quote from the end of the book, “One night a house burned to the ground. There was someone inside on the floor, someone who couldn’t move. Something began; something ended. It took a long time to clean up.” That is the framework of the story, but the telling of it makes it so much more. As a reader, I felt the same lack of certainty about Edvard’s guilt as does Vidar; were the police too quick to jump to a conclusion, and in doing so miss other evidence? For Vidar, this case affects his career and his personal life; for Isak, his life will never be the same, and he lives in fear that the same violence that apparently affected his grandfather and uncle lives in him as well. The future of these two remains linked in ways with which neither is comfortable. Translator Rachel Willson-Broyles is to be commended for weaving in words from the Swedish, like “kymig” (something or someone mean or unpleasant, just not feeling quite right) and the phrase that in English would be expressed as not knowing what to do with oneself in a situation instead is translated as “not knowing where to put oneself” to strong effect. I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this part of the Swedish countryside, evoked so well by author Christoffer Carlsson, and stayed glued to the story as I turned each page. Readers of the novels of Henning Markell, Stieg Larson, and Jo Nesbø should definitely add this and Mr. Carlsson’s other works to their TBR pile (at the top, I would add) at their earliest opportunity, as should people who enjoy the prose of authors like Kent Haruf and Joyce Carol Oates. This is an amazing book, told by a gifted user of language, and I am very grateful both to NetGalley and to the Random House Publishing Group/Random House Hogarth for granting me access to an advanced reader’s copy in return for my honest review.

Isak idolizes his uncle. When Isak is young, his uncle is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend during a house fire. Vidar is the officer who found Edvard at the scene of the crime. His uncle Edvard ends up being convicted and going to prison. Isak is scared that he’ll end up just like his uncle.

This book was interesting. It was told in parts. I think the first part took long to establish the relationships and such. However, by the time you get about halfway through the next part, the book started flying. It was a page turner to the end in that regard. There were a lot of characters so that was sometimes hard to keep straight, and there were a couple red herrings. I never thought the uncle was guilty. The ending was satisfying though.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Under The Storm is the story of a murder, the investigation, and the conviction that follows. But mostly, it is a story about the people whose lives were affected. It takes place in Sweden in the 1990s.
When Isak"s uncle is arrested for the crime, Isak's life unravels. The story follows Isak's path as he enters adolescense, then adulthood. I liked the immersive feel to the writers' excellent description of the geography and culture of Sweden and its people. It is bleak and sad, so much that it was often hard to read. The characters were beautifully created but heartbreaking. My problem with the book was the dark and. Hopeless feel. Thank you Netgalley for the digital copy of Under The Storm in exchange for my honest review.

A farmhouse in flames and a community that can't recover. The police obtain a conviction, but the future is uncertain. Good influence by the author who is a professor of criminology,

As someone who has read plenty of translated novels, I'm used to skipping over words and places. It happened A LOT in this book. I think some of the feel of the book was also lost in translation as well. With all of that being said, I appreciated the overall vibe of the book.

"Under the Storm" by Christoffer Carlsson is a masterfully woven narrative that thrusts readers into the heart of a chilling murder mystery set against the backdrop of a tight-knit rural community. This novel presents a compelling exploration of the consequences of a single fateful night, forever altering the lives of those involved.

The story unfolds on a cold November night when a farmhouse is consumed by flames, leading to the discovery of a young woman, not a victim of the fire but a tragic murder. Carlsson crafts a setting where this event becomes a point of reference for the community of Marbäck, marking a before and after in their lives. Ten-year-old Isak Nyqvist, in particular, is profoundly affected, setting in motion a chain of events he cannot control, propelling his future into an unpredictable inferno.

The narrative keeps the reader's interest piqued as the police focus their attention on Edvard Christensson, the boyfriend of the victim and Isak's beloved uncle. His quick conviction and life sentence lead the community to believe they can regain their innocence. Enter Vidar Jörgensson, the rookie officer who first responded to the farmhouse fire. His determination to solve the murder soon becomes the defining case of his career, driving him to the brink of both professional and personal disaster.
Carlsson's writing style is immersive and evocative, transporting readers to the heart of Marbäck and its enigmatic residents. The suspense is skillfully maintained throughout, with each revelation adding depth to the intricate plot. The character development, especially Isak's transformation, is a standout feature of the story.

However, the complexity of the narrative may require close attention, and at times, the multitude of characters and subplots can be a bit overwhelming. Some readers may find the pacing a tad slow in certain parts.
In summary, "Under the Storm" is a captivating tale of justice, fate, and the enduring impact of a single tragic event on a close-knit community. Carlsson delivers a rich and intricate narrative that keeps readers engrossed in the lives of the characters. This thought-provoking and well-crafted story is a must-read for those who appreciate a multifaceted mystery novel that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the profound effects of pivotal moments. A solid 4-star recommendation that will keep you eagerly turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Hogarth for the advanced copy.

An interesting read for sure, that was incredibly well written but I think with the translation the names and places were hard to follow. Now that didn’t distract too much from the story but it did force me to go back and reread a few times. The story definitely felt more character driven than plot and overall it was a good read, but I didn’t fall in love.

Wow. This was a masterfully written novel. Everything comes together in such a satisfying way. Emotional, powerful, engaging! Sometimes when you don’t know where to put yourself, you end up in the wrong place. This is a story about tragedy, innocence of youth, the interconnectedness of small communities, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and trying to make sense of the randomness of life. Whether the meaning is accurate or not makes little difference. Great read, powerful characters, brilliant story. Wow.

Under the Storm
Isak, an 8 year old Swedish boy, idolized his uncle Edvard. They spent time together every week. The family lived in a small village where everyone knew each other. Then one day Edvard’s girlfriend, Lovisa’s family farmhouse was burned with her inside. Edvard was known to have a temper as did his father before him. So when the early evidence pointed to Edvard, Vidar, a young police officer, arrested him. Edvard was tried and imprisoned.

Isak was devastated. Not only did he miss his uncle greatly but the neighbors shunned his family. Isak was also taunted for years by other kids. The result was that Isak grew up to be a troubled young man who also had a quick temper like his uncle and his grandfather before him.
Years later Vidar had doubts about Edvard’s guilt and tried to reopen the case. This angered his superiors and Vidar eventually quit the police force.
The rest of the book deals with how Edvard’s imprisonment severely impacted the lives of Isak, his parents and even Vidar.
This book is an international best seller. It is a good example of Scandinavian mystery as well as a coming of age story. The author is a top criminologist in Sweden.
I enjoyed this book very much as it reminded me of other Scandinavian mysteries I have read.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Under the Storm.

Under the Storm is marketed as a mystery, but it's more of a character driven novel focusing on two main characters, the nephew of a convicted murderer and the police officer who helped put the murderer behind bars.

Over the course of twenty years, the nephew and the police officer wrestles with the conviction; the former not entirely sure of his beloved uncle's guilt and the latter unsure if the right person is in jail.

Years after the murderer dies in prison, the case returns to haunt the police officer when possible new information comes to light and he resolves to find out the truth, once and for all.

The writing is great; atmospheric and moody, the ideal setting for a tragic story.

The author sets the tone for how the murder affects the town, the community, the family and relatives, and the police officer.

There's plenty of exposition, too much, on how the lives of the nephew and police officer are shaped by this tragedy.

The narrative goes on far too long, coupled with the unfortunate aspect of any novel translated from its original language into English means foreign names and places are hard to keep track of.

I didn't connect with any of the characters, and some threads were left dangling, such as what was the secret the nephew wanted to tell his uncle? How could he forget something like that?

The police procedural aspects of the story pop up here and there, and there's no urgency or suspense.

The mystery is a subplot to the real story; how tragedy and fear shapes a person, how we internalize that shame and fear, and that life is what we make of it.

A melancholy yet compelling read about a murder that tore apart a small community and the small things that can lead investigations and people down the wrong path. Are some people just born with something wrong inside of them? Can we choose who we become or are we destined to end up like our grandfathers or uncles?

This book tells the story of Isak, a young man who watches his uncle go to prison for a murder he's insistent he did not commit, and Vidar, a young policeman who also questions the guilt of Isak's uncle. They live their lives completely separately yet the fate of this man causes the shape of both of their lives to change dramatically. Small town police procedurals sometimes follow a similar pattern but this is a vast, literary mystery that explores our human relationship with ourselves, with the truth, and with our families and community. How do the perceptions of others affect our perceptions of ourselves, and how do those perceptions in turn shape us? Read this if you enjoy complex stories and strong character development.

Under The Storm by Christoffer Carlsson
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this eArc!
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I wasn't able to predict the killer. I reread the book but wasn't able to find any clues that would have pointed to the killer. The details and storyline are wonderful and easy to follow. I was constantly on edge trying to solve the mystery!
This is a story of an unsolved murder of Lovisa Markström that all started with a fire that burned her entire house down. Solving the murder mystery became all consuming for Officer Vidar Jörgensson. The story then takes a twist as Isak Nyqvist, the nephew to the alleged murder Edvard Christensson, shares his point of view. How could the uncle he spent so much time with as a child be a murder? How could Isak not see that his uncle was capable of this? Does it run in their family to have such evil intentions? Isak and Vidar become an unlikely team to solve the murder of and try to clear the name of Uncle Edvard. Could they ever clear Uncle Edvards name? Would they be able to convince the town that Uncle Edvard was innocent?

Under the Storm continues the story from Blaze Me A Sun with Vidar Jörgensson now a policeman in his own right. He has followed his father into police work and like his father has become obsessed with a death in Marbäck in the 1990s. A farmhouse is set ablaze with a young woman inside. However, further investigation finds that she was murdered prior to the fire. The village is traumatized and through the years marks time by "before the fire" and "after the fire." Vidar arrests a likely suspect who is then convicted and sent to prison. However, Edvard Christensson is silent in his own defense. Edvard's young nephew Isak is devastated with his uncle's conviction and begins to believe the males in his family are destined to be violent which horribly impacts his coming of age.

Meanwhile, Vidar feels there is more to the crime and his obsession nearly wrecks his professional and personal life. In the end, his concerns are interwoven with Isak and his self-destructive adulthood. This is a psychological mystery of the highest level written by Christoffer Carlsson whose reputation in Scandinavia is well regarded. We are fortunate to finally have one of his books (Blaze Me A Sun) available and the second to be published soon. Highly recommended for those who enjoy psychological mysteries and excellent character development.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Hogarth for a chance to read this book prior to publication.

There is absolutely nothing better, in my opinion, than a moodily atmospheric, sparsely (yet poignantly) worded Swedish crime mystery! "Under the Storm" by Christoffer Carlsson deliver that and much more! The ARC edition of this novel was my first experience with Carlsson's work, but I am already searching out the availability of his previous literary efforts and highly recommend this novel to future readers.

At the center of this novel is the horrific, unsolved murder of a young woman deep in the countryside of Marbäck, Sweden. At the novel's steadily beating heart, however, is the careful examination of how acts so horrible and mystifying reach out and insinuate themselves into the very lives of the family, friends, neighbors, town folk, and investigators. I can not think of a more aptly chosen title to foreshadow what is to come within the book's pages!

Carlsson puts forth early on in the novel a Swedish concept (yet to this very non-Swedish reader it rang universally true within the human experience) of "not knowing where to put oneself." As best as I can summarize this idea without revealing how this concept played out in the novel, the idea that no matter what stage of life one is in, no matter what level of experience or education one possesses, no matter one's age or gender, there is a pervasive (and often elusive) quality of being ill-equipped to stand with understanding within one's own life. More likely, it would seem, that we frail humans find ourselves flailing about separate and apart, as it were, from fully understanding our place in not only our own life but also our true place within the world around us. I do so hope I've articulated that well enough, dear potential reader. Ahhhhh...the Swedes do introspection wonderfully, yes?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am deeply grateful to the author for his craft and to the publisher for bringing the book to its U.S. readers. (This ARC was a translation from its original Swedish.) I offer this honest review in advance of its publication date of February 27, 2024.

#underthestorm
#christoffercarlson
#netgalley
#swedishcrimenovels
#wheretoputoneself

This was a fast-paced, interesting read, that I found I did not want to put down! Great, multi-faceted characters. Suspenseful and thrilling. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Under the Storm is a different kind of police procedural. It focuses on the ripple effect of a murder in a small town. The story follows the young nephew of the accused and one of the police officers who arrested him. Both characters are overwhelmingly affected of the repercussions of the crime.
Both characters were well developed. Each continue to search for the truth through out the story.
It moves slowly but I was fine with this pace.
Thanks net galley for allowing to read and review this book.