I've had some pretty lousy luck in the past with picking up a book that is in the middle or nearing the end of a series run. More often than not these books really do rely on knowledge of what has transpired in the previous book(s). And so it is with great pleasure that I announce that I managed to pick up a book that is the FIRST book in a new series. (Hooray for me!)
Like many who read and enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books (by Stieg Larsson), I found that I really liked what has been called 'Nordic Noir' - a dark mystery in which the climate and the Scandinavian landscape set a cold tone and add a dark character to the stories. With a book titled A Death in Denmark, set within memory of the events of World War II, I fully expected this to be a strong Nordic Noir styled thriller.
It's not.
Our protagonist is Gabriel Præst - a former police officer in Copenhagen and now a very modern private investigator. He loves jazz music and is a part-time Blues musician. He has a very complicated relationship with his ex-wife, Leila. He regrets not having done better by her, resulting in her leaving him and she, in turn, seems to miss intimacy with him (so why did she leave?) and is generally very pleasant with him.
When the ex-wife asks Gabriel to investigate a case - a case which has already gone to court and resulted in a guilty verdict - he can't say no to her and so begins his investigation.
The case revolves around a Muslim refugee from Iraq,Yousef Ahmed, who brutally murdered a politician, Sanne Melgaard. Leila doesn't believe he's guilty, despite the evidence against him in court.
Digging in, Gabriel follows a trail that leads back to World War II and a connection between some modern politicians and a horrific event when Danes who were helping Jews flee Germany were actually pointing the Germans to those fleeing. Those people in power would stop at nothing to keep this quiet and Præst will even face off against the Russian mob as he gets close to the truth.
This story could be quite an exciting thriller but I feel we get a little too much of Præst's personal life and his relationship with his ex. We should just be reaching the climax of the investigation when Gabriel and Leila have a romantic interlude, ending with:
Maybe it was okay, I told myself as I filled the bathtub and watched her watch me. She was naked and I loved watching her lean against the bathroom door, waiting for the bathtub to fill. She stepped into the water, and I joined her.
It was sex. It was adrenaline. It was fun. It was also comfort. It was just the thing I needed to get out of my slump and get back to work.
"Get back to work"? We didn't need this interruption at all and what it did was bring the inciting action to a screeching halt so that author Amulya Malladi had to try to work harder to get it revving again.
I understand that the first book in a series generally spends a lot of time establishing the characters, setting, and their situations, but it still needs to tell a solid story and that story here is semi-solid and too often interrupted.
Maybe it's more that Gabriel Præst just didn't interest me. I didn't find him funny, charming, tough, or determined - traits I find interesting in the detectives I read. He was quite bland and too insecure about his ex-wife to appeal to my tastes.
While I'm disappointed this wasn't Nordic Noir, it was the lackluster hero and interrupted story that brings my rating down.
Looking for a good book? A Death in Denmark by Amulya Malladi is a modern detective story that reaches back to WWII. The central figure, detective Gabriel Præst doesn't shine enough to escape his own shadow.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It serves as the first book in the Praest series, introducing Gabriel as a seasoned private investigator. His ex-partner approaches him with a plea for assistance in reexamining a convicted murderer’s case, convinced of the individual’s innocence. Initially doubtful, Gabriel begins to lean toward her perspective as he delves deeper into the investigation, especially when inexplicable deaths and attacks start piling up. Even when those close to him face threats, it only fuels his determination to uncover the truth, revealing potential ties to World War II along the way.

The narrative masterfully combines elements of a contemporary political thriller set in Denmark with riveting historical flashbacks to the atrocities of the Nazi era.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (who dresses with panache), jazz aficionado, and relentless pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in a page-turning Nordic murder mystery with a cosmopolitan vibe
Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full-time private detective Gabriel Præst agrees to investigate the matter because his ex—the one who got away—asked him to, he knew it was a no-win case.
But as Gabriel starts to ask questions, his face meets with the fists of Russian gangsters; the Danish prime minister asks him for a favor; and he starts to realize that something may be rotten in the state of Denmark.
Wondering if Yousef was framed to heighten the local anti-Muslim sentiment, Gabriel follows a trail back in time to World War II when anti-Semitism was raging in Europe during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing a nationalistic mindset has resurfaced, Gabriel rolls up the sleeves of his well-cut suit and gets to work. From the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen to the historic Strassen of Berlin where the sounds of the steel-toed boots of marching Nazis still linger, Gabriel finds that some very powerful Danes don’t want him digging into the case—as the secrets he unearths could shake the foundations of Danish identity.
This was an amazing thriller that read like a movie and if it hasn't been optioned yet, it should be. I have already cast it in my mind! But even this never becomes a movie, I am really hoping for more adventures with Gabriel and his friends. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

When an old flame of former cop Gabriel Praest asks him to look into a controversial murder case, Gabriel wants to refuse -but he is unable to say no to her. So he reluctantly begins to look into the case of someone he believes to be guilty. However, soon Gabriel meets with resistance.

I really enjoyed this well-written mystery with its quirky detective and intricate (fascinating) storyline! Told from the first person perspective of Gabriel, a well-dressed, flawed, and likable main character. I am looking forward to the next installment!

Read this if you enjoy:
*detective stories
*quirky characters
*intricate plots
*lots of twists

This opens a new mystery series starring ex-Copenhagen cop Gabriel Præst. Now a PI, he's also a jazz musician. It starts by showing a truckful of Jewish refugees betrayed in 1943.

Fast forward to the present when Gabriel's ex, Leila, ask for his help to clear her Iraqi refugee client, in prison for the brutal murder of a right-wing politician.

There are more murders and the Russian mafia is involved. Someone very powerful doesn't want the man cleared.

A Death in Denmark is an excellent and intricate mystery, enriched by a broad set of very credible and engaging characters. Highly recommended!

This was a nice read, but not a great read. Not a lot happens as the story inches along. There’s a lot more showing rather than telling happening. Smidgens of information are dropped between lots of socializing, lot of ordering food in restaurants, cafes, bars, and serving drinks at home. It’s also a running commentary on what Gabriel is wearing. He’s a clothes horse, and even when he’s beaten up, he’s more concerned about his destroyed blazer or suit or whatever than his physical condition. He’s also fussy about his furniture. Like Stephanie Plum with her cars, Gabriel has a problem with his house and whatever bicycle he’s riding. These are running jokes, but they fell flat.

The book is littered with crude language, for those who are concerned by such things. For me, the problem was the phrase “hormonal teenagers”. If one more reference to that term occurred in the book, I likely would have quit on the spot, especially when the term wasn’t referring to teenagers. There’s also a lot of sleeping around in the book; maybe that’s meant to be a Scandinavian thing, but it didn’t add anything to the book. Gabriel didn’t strike me as a big ladies’ man, but he seemed to have women dropping at his feet.

There’s a lot of philosophical quotes throughout the book, especially from Kierkegaard, also from Sartre and Proust. Interesting, but they had little to do with the mystery in the book.

What this book excels at is acting as a stark reminder that racism and white supremacy are not only in the USA, but are spread around the world, and that’s something everyone should be concerned about. The book highlights how racism is a bad thing. In this book, the problem is primarily focused on Muslims in Denmark, and how many don’t welcome them relocating there. It also shows how good friends are wonderful and helpful. Gabriel’s friends will drop everything to lend him a hand, and they’ll go out of their way to help Gabriel network to help him solve his case.

A decent if slow paced book, but worth the read. This appears to be the first book in a new series.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

A DEATH IN DENMARK is a unique crime novel centering around an ex-cop as he investigates a murder that is supposedly solved. Malladi brings into this carefully crafted mystery politics, gangsters, race issues, and Nazi history.

Here is the thing. We are dealing with the first book in the Gabriel Præst series, so there is a good deal of setup within the narrative. Characters are being introduced, the landscape is being set, and the backstories are beginning to be told. However, with all this happening, the author still manages to propel Gabriel forward and throw him into one complex and addictive investigation. There is enough action and intrigue to keep the noir crime lover hooked while still threading through a bit of emotion and interpersonal relationships.

Even though Gabriel’s fashion sense can overtake some scenes, I loved diving into a new world set in Denmark filled with grit, hidden secrets, duplicity, and ulterior motives. A DEATH IN DENMARK set the stage, and now I want the second act.

Top Pick - 4.5 Stars

Gabriel Praest is a Danish private investigator who used to be a cop. His ex-girlfriend, Leila, is a lawyer handling the appeal for Yousef Ahmed, a Muslim refugee accused of murdering a government official. The motive is supposed to be revenge for asylum being denied to his son, who was then killed when he returned to Iraq. Many people are comparing this to the way Denmark refused to let non-Danish Jews stay in the country during World War II, which led to them being sent to German concentration camps, where most were then killed. The case against Yousef seems airtight, but he maintains his innocence, and Leila asks Gabriel to investigate the murder.

The book begins with a heartbreaking story taking place outside Copenhagen in 1943. The importance to the book’s plot becomes more apparent as the story goes on, but it also makes long ago atrocities more real. This book is an interesting combination of murder mystery, politics, and history. I wasn’t familiar with Danish politics either now or in the past, so I learned a lot from the book. I was also entertained since Praest is a character I could root for. The more serious political aspects of the book are balanced with details of Gabriel’s personal life, giving readers a chance to get to know him. I like his sense of humor and his loyalty and protection of those close to him. I didn’t care about all the various designers of his clothes, but it shows how important these things are to the character.

This book has a complex plot and is very intense and sometimes dark. There are people who don’t want Gabriel investigating this murder and the motive, so trying to get justice for Yousef puts him in grave danger. The story is very engaging, and once you start, it’s hard to put down. Things wrap up in some dramatic and unexpected ways, which creates a satisfying ending. I liked getting to know Gabriel, his daughter, and his circle of friends, and I definitely read any subsequent books in the series.

~ Christine

Gabriel Praest is a former cop, current PI, who gets asked by his ex Leila to re-investigate a case. A politician had been murdered and the main suspect was Yousef, a refugee from Iraq, which increased the anti-immigration sentiment already brewing. Leila is Yousef's layer and she is determined to look into the case and see if they had the right person since some evidence didn't match up with the police findings. This leads Gabriel into a dangerous situation as it quickly becomes clear the politician's murder was more likely due to her research into Danish Nazi conspirators and the family members who wished to keep their past quiet. A lot of parallels between the antisemitism of the Nazi regime and the current anti=immigration movement occurring worldwide. Gabriel is an interesting character with a lot of quirks, but he makes for a likeable protagonist and this is a strong introduction into the series. Overall, an intricate fast-paced mystery plot that fans of Scandinavian mysteries will gravitate to.

Right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard was murdered five years ago. Yousef Ahmed, an Iraqi Muslim, was tried and convicted for the murder. Now Gabriel Praest’s ex-lover Leila is representing Ahmed and has asked for his help in proving Ahmed’s innocence. Gabriel, a former policeman, is now a well-dressed private investigator who plays jazz part time and quotes Kierkegaard. He promises to look into it but the evidence against Ahmed was substantial. When he speaks to the detective involved with the case, however, he finds a different story. The detective regrets how the case was handled, believes that there was more to it and that Ahmed was a convenient scapegoat. Melgaard’s sister has little to offer but she knows that she was writing a book and looking for a publisher. A professor in Germany had called her to let her know that he had information that Melgaard had requested regarding Nazi collaborators in Denmark. One in particular was a member of the resistance but secretly working with the Germans to expose citizens aiding the Jews. His code name was Arkitekt. There is a connection between this man and a current prominent politician whose family worked for the Germans, building fortifications during the war. The book has potential to destroy the family name. Gabriel and Leila travel to Berlin to meet the professor but he is murdered before they can reach him.

Gabriel is threatened, beaten and shot by someone who wants his investigation stopped. His daughter and Leila are also threatened but he is determined to find the truth. He has the support of his daughter and friends who offer protection for his family. Eymen, his best friend, is a Muslim who immigrated to Denmark and has experienced the anti-Muslim sentiment from Danish nationalists. He understands how Ahmed became a victim of this prejudice and fears how the nationalistic sentiment will affect his own family.

Amulya Malladi takes you through the nightclubs and restaurants of Copenhagen as Gabriel travels the cobblestone streets. Her descriptions brought back memories of my own time there and gives the reader a true glimpse of the Danish capital. As Gabriel investigates, the threats increase and you can feel the danger around every corner. This is a story that reflects on nationalism and its’ effects on society from WWII to the present day. It is a story that will stay with you long after the book is finished. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow publishing or providing this book for my review.

A non-noir Danish mystery with a terrific (and unusual) protagonist in Gabriel Praest. He was once in love with Layla, an attorney who persuades him to assist her in proving that her client, a refugee, did not kill a politician- but the investigation leads him down a dark path into Denmark's past and collaboration with the Nazis. Things were more complicated that even he knew and the secrets the victim uncovered have implications for present day politics, which means that someone is out to silence whoever has the info. As the bodies build up and Praest is attacked, he calls on his friends Enver, Clara, and most of all T0mmy. the chief of Police. Praest is a wisecracking dandy (there are many descriptions of his clothes) who plays in a jazz band, dotes on his daughter, and maintains excellent relations with her mother (not his ex-wife because they were never married) and her husband. Yes there are murders and it's a bit dark in spot but the whole thing is leavened by Praest's humor- unusual in the genre. I found myself looking up the restaurants where they ate and noodling around for more info on how Denmark has reconciled its past. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a good read and I'm curious to see where Malladi takes this next.

Death in Denmark is the first in a planned series of novels featuring former detective and now private investigator Gabriel Proust. Set in Copenhagen, the novel centers on Proust's decision to accept a case from a lawyer seeking to prove the innocence of her client, a Muslim man convicted of the murder of a far right politician.
The lawyer is Proust's former lover and their complicated history may be the reason he has taken on what others believe is a foolish case. But -- and I'm not giving anything away - the case turns out to be far more complicated than expected, taking the reader back into the sordid history of some of Denmark's wealthiest and most powerful families' collaboration with their Nazi occupiers during WWII.
I found the story engrossing, but found one aspect of the book overdone. We know, early on, that Proust is fastidious and fashion conscious. But the author seems compelled to make that point at every turn. These distractions aside, though, I found the book to be a fun read.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Set in Denmark, Gabriel is asked to look into a murder. He h as no idea where this may take him as the case seems simple to start. But then as things go on it is not as simple as he thought, So, he follows the leads back in time to discover the truth,

The story seemed a little slow in the beginning, but I held on and finished the book. It got better as I got into the story more and I enjoyed it.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. When Gabriel is asked to look into a murder, he has no idea what he is walking into it. He follows a trail that takes him back decades to find out who the murder was. This book was good.

A cultured PI? There's a first time for everything. Gabriel Praest, , former cop and full-time metrosexual, foodie, and connoisseur of all things refined and tasteful, is reluctantly drawn into a case that seems open-and-shut at first, but as layers are peeled away, unsettling truths begin to emerge that chip away at the original conclusions. With writing as clever as any Alan Sorkin screenplay, delightful repartee, and a pace that literally kept me rapt, I can't wait to see what else Amulya Malladi has to offer. I would gladly follow Gabriel on another food-filled, vintage-clothed, Copenhagen adventure.

Well-written with interesting characters and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to future titles in this series.

I love a good Scandinavian murder mystery. They tend to be dark with flawed, quirky characters and their settings are always interesting. A Death in Denmark doesn't disappoint.

During World War II, a group of Danish Jews was being smuggled out of Denmark--only to have Nazi troops show up, kill their smugglers and deport the Jews to a concentration camp. Did someone tip off the Germans about the escape plan? Flash forward to the present: Copenhagen ex-cop and now private investigator, Gabriel Praest, is hired by a former lover to clear the name of a Muslim refugee convicted of murdering a right-wing politician. How the two seemingly unconnected events are related, is the essence of this twisty, Nordic mystery that finds Gabriel battling not only the Russian mafia but Danish politicians who don't want their past or present secrets exposed.

This is the first in a new series featuring Praest and if this book is any indication, it promises to be one I will be reading. The writing is excellent, the plot complex, and the pacing spot-on. Praest is an enjoyable character with just enough quirks to make him interesting. The story itself draws parallels between the rampant antisemitism spread by the Nazis and today's anti-immigrant stance occurring worldwide. It is a thought-provoking read that tests one's moral compass. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book for review. The publication date is March 28, 2023.

I was excited to read this book, largely because of the Denmark setting. It's a personal thing, but I am enchanted with all things Denmark, and was delighted by the sprinkling of Danish words and phrases in the story (don't worry if you don't speak Danish, as the words are explained when they occur). As for the story itself, it's what I like in my mystery/thrillers. Gabriel Præst is a likeable character, trying to do the right thing despite all the trouble it causes for himself and those around him. He has quirks, he has humor, and he's a savvy investigator. Can't wait to read his further adventures.

Gabriel Praest, former police detective in Copenhagen, now a private investigator, who meets up with his former lover, Leila, who asks for his help. She wants to exonerate a Muslim man who was convicted of murdering a politician. As Praest investigates, not really thinking that the man was innocent, he starts to find that there was more to the murder and it might be related to what occurred during WWII. A possible coverup by the now rich and powerful that will do whatever is needed to keep the past in the past.
An intriguing thriller with a classy jazz and blues playing P.I., the Russian Mafia, home remodeling and a sightseeing tour of Copenhagen's bars and restaurants.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this e-galley of "Death in Denmark".

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. Well written, humorous and a likable main character.