Love Nordic stories and this mystery is fantastic. The suspect list is long and changes frequently so you have no idea who is committing the crimes. Love the lead characters and their back stories that really show where they come from.

This new police procedural series set in Sweden, stars Detective Leo Asker. She heads an investigation into the disappearance of a young couple, that is, until a former officer, her nemeses, returns from Stockholm to take over the case. Leo is sent to the basement to take charge of a department of has-beens. She learns that the previous director of the department was looking into another case and Leo decides to follow his leads. This is a terrific entry into the Nordic Noir genre.

I love finding a new to me Scandi author!! A bit less gritty than most I’ve read, however completely unputdownable. Great character development and setting that just pulls you in. I appreciate how the author slowly introduced each character and allowed the reader to get to know them, as you would likely do in the real world. I'm a huge fan of strong female characters and Leo Asker does not disappoint. She very much reminds me of Lisbeth Salander. I also very much love how she was suspicious of every detail of this case without being written off as paranoid by the author, as I feel some main female characters are described. She is very kicka$$.
I would have liked to have more background detail/telling about the "Mountain King"/Bergsrå.
-X-Files meets Silence of the Lambs with Nordic Noir grit.

When 19-year-old Smilla Holst, a member of a wealthy local family, and her ex-boyfriend Malik Mansour disappear without a trace, Detective Inspector Leonore Asker expects to lead the investigation as section head at Malmö’s Serious Crime Command. But she is unexpectedly replaced by Jonas Hellman, a rival detective from Stockholm with a personal score to settle, and relegated to the police headquarters’s basement as temporary chief of the Resources Unit. In this obscure department, nicknamed the Department of Lost Souls, odd, cold cases and odd employees linger in obscurity. But as Asker quickly discovers, her new colleagues display unusual talents that come in handy when she probes a strange case involving a model-railway club and the ominous placement of miniature figurines that represent missing people, including the latest two victims. While Hellman pursues a kidnapping angle, Asker becomes convinced that her Resources Unit predecessor, now hospitalized in a coma, was on the trail of a serial killer who preys on urban explorers who wander into abandoned structures like factories and underground military facilities. The best-selling author of “The Game” trilogy launches an exciting, atmospheric crime series that introduces an appealingly smart and tough female protagonist with a troubled backstory in the vein of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander, although not quite as edgy. The twisty, spine-tingling mystery that unfolds is creepy and sinister, laced with a touch of dark Scandinavian folklore.

This is an incredible book. It held my attention like no other book in the last couple years. The characters were real and believable. Just the right amount of action. This is Part 1 of the Asker Series and I can't wait to read the next one. Leo Asker is my new hero.
Thanks to Emily Bestler Books and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕+1/2

THE MOUNTAIN KING is a dark and haunting crime novel. The author sets the stage for what this reader can only hope is many more Detective Leonore Asker novels.

This story has it all. First, there is Detective Leonore Asker. She is a determined, savvy, and complex woman who is not going to let anyone get in her way of finding the truth. There is a candidness to this character that drew me in. Her background has just the right amount of gray areas to make further stories even better than this one. Secondly, you have an investigation into a missing girl and the presence of The Mountain King. It pulls you down the rabbit hole with all those looking into it. And finally, there is the writing. Anders de la Motte crafted a tale with heart, action, and the evil that can permeate humanity. The pace was perfect and the way it shifted between narrators just added to the richness of the storytelling.

THE MOUNTAIN KING is addictive, keep you up all night reading a thriller. It has the twists, turns, and reveals to have even the most savvy mystery lover enthralled. Simply stated. I loved this book and cannot wait for book two.

Audiobook Note: The narration of the book by Cassandra Campbell brings to life all of the characters within this novel. The tone of each character’s voice is different, but as a whole, everything works really well together. The tone, inflection, and pace were exactly what you would want for a thriller like this.

The Mountain King definitely checks all the boxes for a Nordic Noir thriller: damaged goods detective? Check. Detective with a secret past? Check. Serial killer? Check. Tie in the setting for ominous vibes? Check.

While I did really like this book, I didn't love it and I really can't pinpoint why. I am honestly wondering if my busy week distracted me just enough that I couldn't fully immerse myself in this story, so it might be a case of it's not you its me. Maybe. I don't think the characters were fleshed out as much as they could have been, they were quirky, but only just. The plot was also a little slow for my taste.

But I did appreciate a lot of other elements. I think the mystery plotting was good: just enough information is given to the reader to guide them in the right direction, but not too much. I was guessing until the end, and the finale was definitely heart-pounding. I was very surprised by who the killer was, so that was fun!

Overall, a very solid new thriller and new series. I will be reading book two whenever it is released.

This book was over 400 pages, but I'm going to say something I haven't said much lately in reviews. Every single word was necessary and beautifully placed to drive this banger of a mystery forward to an outstanding conclusion! If you like Scandinavian Noir, meet your new favorite author, Anders de la Motte!

Criminal Inspector Leonore Asker, mostly referred to as Asker, is a great detective, maybe in part because hardships in her early life made her good at assessing and examining the situation around her. But due to HR hijinx and a personal conflict, Asker is "promoted" from the Special Crimes unit to The Department of Lost Souls, way down in the basement, out of sight and out of mind. Asker is angry and conflicted, because there has been a high-profile kidnapping, and she was just getting started on her investigation.

When she is convinced that the detective who replaced her in the investigation is going the wrong direction, she secretly decides to continue her own look into the crime. She utilizes the talents of the rag-tag group of employees she now oversees and finds a couple of them are real hidden gems.

This book has excellent characterization, and we really see and understand the main character, Leo Asker. We begin to know more about her murky past through little reveals scattered throughout the book. The plot is creative, and there are plenty of clues and red herrings. But through it all, this excellently written story grabs our attention on page one, and never lets up on the pressure to tear through this book and have the final solution!

A big five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just Wow!
I loved everything about this story. The way it unfolds, the way Leo's backstory is revealed and how clever the plotting is. There are so many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat hopelessly trying to figure out just who the Mountain King is. This book is rich with creepy atmosphere and unsettling locations. Try as I might, I was totally surprised by the reveal and the conclusion has me begging for more. This is the start of a series and a new author for me to follow. I put him right up there with my other favorites Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler. Bravo!

Woohoo! I have found a new-to-me-author who dazzled me with this gripping, riveting, addictive, suspenseful and perfectly plotted book. The Mountain King is a Scandinavian thriller which delivered and left me wanting more! My advice is to go in knowing as little as possible.

Leonore Asker is a Criminal inspector who has been sent to the Department of Lost Soul, the cold case division at the police station. She is a very interesting character who has an even more interesting backstory which is told to readers throughout the book. She will rely on what she learned growing up to help her solve this case. Solving this case will not be easy. There is the "Mountain King" to contend with. Questions swirled through my mind as to who this person may be, but I was not able to solve the case in this book. I didn't even come close. It is there that a case grabs her attention - a young man and women are missing. Her investigation takes her to empty buildings and beyond. There are plenty of twists, turns, and reveals along the way. Plus, the ending has me wanting to read the next book in the series NOW.

Whew! This book was a crime mystery gem. I enjoyed the undercurrents of tension, danger, and suspense in this book. If Anders de la Motte is an author, you have not read or heard of, I recommend giving this book a go.

Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

While this book was 100 pages too long for me, it had me struggling through the first 1/3 of the book. I understand the backstory and buildup of the characters, but it was such a slow burn in the first 1/2, that I almost DNF’d it.

However, this storyline was absolutely fantastic and so well written and thought out. I was so sucked in during the last 1/3 of it and had to find out what happened. All the twists just made this story that much better and now I’m still questioning the cliffhanger in the last sentence of this book.

I’m not sure if it’s a translation issue, a cultural issue, or a style issue but I seem to have a really hard time with these Nordic thrillers. They always sound perfect and then I just feel really apathetic.

The Mountain King is your next favorite up and coming mystery/thriller. Leo Asker is a brilliant detective but her past personal relationships come back to bite her as she is demoted to the Department of Orphaned Cases. While there, she stumbles upon some information that sheds light on the current, big newsworthy missing person's case that is being investigated in her old department.

This book is absolutely fabulous. I have never read anything by this author previously but I am dying to get my hands on more. At first, I was worried this book would be too creepy for my taste as it goes back in time to share vignettes from the perpetrator's past. But I stuck with it and I am glad that I did, but this book did not keep me up at night despite some very intense scenes.

The story slowly unfolds in present day, shown from different perspectives of various characters and the story and gives you pieces of both the perpetrator and Leo's past, showing how they became the people they are in the present day.

This book had some gruesomeness, but nothing too graphic for me, who has a light trigger.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries. I envision myself re-reading this book and cannot wait to see where the author takes Leo next.

The Mountain King is an atmospheric Swedish noir. It feature Leo Asker a gritty, determined and smart as hell detective. Her journey throughout this story is told in several voices, from being raised by a crazy prepper father, to a star detective in the Serious Crime division and then a demotion,prompted by her nasty rich controlling mother, who is devoid of empathy and controlled by power, to the Department of Orphaned Cases and Lost Souls.
I loved the dark and dreary atmosphere of the small towns in Sweden. It adds so much texture to the story along with characters that fit into doomsday prepper.
Leo Askers demotion in prompted by a missing rich girl who her mother deems is not fit to find her. She has another detective, one that Leo had previously filed charges against for harassment to fill her position. Unbeknownst to Leo, the previous detective who was on floor minus 1 (the level where all the misfits had been placed) had left clues to a possible serial killer. Of course Leo must follow these leads and what happens is the finale of the book. The last 20% of the book is fast paced in an otherwise slow burn that builds to the crescendo in its finale. The ending leaves us wondering what happens next and gives way to possible a sequel to Leo Askers journey and her team of misfits, who have proven they are still the best at their own specialities.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #simonandschuster for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

The Mountain King is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that takes the reader on a journey through the dark and hidden corners of Malmö, Sweden. The protagonist, Leonore Asker, is a brilliant and ambitious criminal inspector who is demoted to the Department of Lost Souls, a unit for cold and odd cases, after a high-profile kidnapping case goes wrong. There, she becomes intrigued by a mysterious case involving small figures that are placed around the city, one of which resembles the kidnapped woman. With the help of Martin Hill, a local architecture expert and urban explorer, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies, and violence that connects the past and the present.

The author, Anders de la Motte, is a former police officer and security consultant, and his expertise and experience shine through in the realistic and detailed descriptions of the police work, the cityscape, and the criminal underworld. He also creates a complex and compelling character in Asker, who struggles with her personal and professional life, her ambition and guilt, and her sense of justice and loyalty. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping the reader hooked until the end. The Mountain King is the first book in a new series featuring Asker, and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

The Mountain King is a must-read for fans of Nordic noir, especially those who enjoy the works of Jo Nesbo (one of my personal favorites).

Leonore is a detective with a high success rate, but she has crossed one of her very ambitious colleagues, and when a high profile kidnapping occurs, the case is given to him, and Leonore is banished to the cold case department. She is certain upper management and when she discovers that her predecessor was pursuing a case similar to the current she is determined to solve it. I liked her, and the unique "lost souls" she is forced to work with. I am looking forward to a sequel. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and am under no pressure for a positive review.

I really wanted to like it as the beginning and altering POVs caught my attention. However, no matter how many times I try to chip at it, I always end up turning to a different book. I think ultimately this is a DNF that I might end up finishing in the future, but I might not.

Thank you to NG and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

Every once in a while, a new series comes along where I really connect with the main characters, where every new installment becomes like catching up with an old friend, and I have a feeling that The Mountain King begins a new series like that for me. Leo Asker is gritty, complex, and damaged, but also so relatable and likable. I want to know more, to see her solve more cases in her Department of Lost Souls, to see what happens between her and Martin Hill. Even though it's only book one, I already love this series, and I can't wait for the next installment.

Finely wrought…stellar. Leo’s investigation was riveting.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Mountain King
This Scandinavian noir book begins with two young people who loved to explore abandoned buildings and sites in their area. Malik and Smilla ventured into a mountain with an abandoned trail. A few days later they had not returned home and were reported missing.
The police department office of Serious Crimes in Skala, headed by Inspector Leonore Asker, took the case and started investigating. However Smilla’s family was an influential one in the area and Jonas Hellman, a top detective from Stockholm, was brought in to head the team hunting for the two people. Hellman and Asker had a bad history and she was removed from the case. She then found herself heading a unit for misfits in the police department.
While going through the open cases of the man she replaced, Asker found that a local model railroad display had been vandalized. She began investigating and soon found a connection between the train display and the missing couple. So she started investigating the disappearances on her own. She discovered that the two missing people were the latest in a series of unexplained disappearances over the last few years.
This story is fast paced and scary. It will come as a surprise when the identity of the monster known as the Mountain King is revealed at the end of the book.
I enjoy Scandinavian noir books and this is a good example of that genre. The author does a great job of making the reader feel that they are participating in the story rather than simply reading about the events.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.