Wow, this one was a lot to unpack! After reading The Mountain King, I had high expectations for The Glass Man, and I was not disappointed. Like many Scandinoir authors, Anders de la Motte has an uncanny ability to create a narrative that is a slow burn while simultaneously feeling like a full throttle ride. I can’t explain it any better than that. What’s even more intriguing as a writer is how seamlessly he transitions between both paces. I normally like a fast-paced book, but with de la Motte’s stories, I welcome the transitions. And maybe it’s because of the dual perspectives. Leo Asker and Martin Hill are fantastic characters on their own, but when they are together, they are a powerhouse of a team. Their relationship is so intriguing and I think it’s what really ties this series together. So much so that when both novels took a wild left turn, it seemed like it made total sense. (Unreasonably rich guy, alien invasion, and multiple murders would not normally go together, yet in this book, it absolutely worked!) I already miss these characters, and I’m interested to see where things go with Leo and Martin, and with certain other thorny characters! I can’t wait for when the US version of the next book in the series will be released!

Huge thanks to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

“The Glass Man” (out Aug. 26 from Atria/Emily Bestler Books, $32), the second installment in Anders de la Motte’s “The Asker” series, dives deeper into the shadows; both literal and emotional.

This time, Detective Asker is drawn into a murder investigation that hits uncomfortably close to home: a body has turned up on her estranged father’s property, and he’s the prime suspect. Meanwhile, academic Martin Hill is researching a tech tycoon on a nearby island, only to uncover signs of something far more disturbing.

De la Motte braids these two threads into a tightly plotted narrative that blurs the line between the rational and the uncanny. The novel excels at atmosphere — underground labs, crumbling observatories, secretive families — and at exploring the emotional wreckage Leo carries from childhood. Tense, strange and elegantly eerie, “The Glass Man” leaves readers questioning what lies just outside the reach of understanding.

Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers @simon.audio @librofm #partner for the gifted copies of this book.

Hi. My name is Bethany and I’m currently addicted to any and all crime thrillers. Make them Nordic Noir and it’s basically a sundae with a cherry on top. 🍒 I recently read and loved The Mountain King (book one in the Leo Asker series) and was chomping at the bit to dive into The Glass Man.

While The Mountain King still has a slight edge for me, this one was fan-freakin-tastic. Anders de la Motte nails that creepy, cinematic atmosphere that is dark, unsettling, and the kind of story that plays out in your head like the best (or worst?) nightmare.

Leo Asker and Martin Hill are back, investigating an eyeless murder victim found near Leo’s father’s home. No spoilers, but let’s just say Leo’s relationship with her dad is… complicated. There’s a whole lot of trauma there, and yet, he’s still inserting himself into her work, carefully maneuvering his “pawn” exactly where he wants her. He’s unhinged, manipulative, and somehow… I kind of like the guy?

The tension is relentless, the twists are sharp, and Leo is once again an absolute badass. I love the sharpness of her and Martin’s partnership, the way they piece together the chaos, and how the story keeps you in that heart-pounding space right up until the end.

Please, Anders, keep writing these books! I’m hooked, I’m addicted, and I need more Leo Asker in my life.

The Glass Man by Anders de la Motte is an incredibly atmospheric Swedish mystery.

Detective Inspector Leonore “Leo” Asker becomes involved with a historical murder when a dead man is found near her father Per’s compound. Their relationship is complicated due to the circumstances under which she left years ago. But Leo knows Per well enough to know that he did not kill the deceased. Although major crimes is working the case, Leo hunts for the killer and brings her co-workers at the Department of Lost Souls into her investigation.

Leo’s friend Associate Professor Martin Hill is working on a book for the Irving family. This is a dream come true for Martin as he has been fascinated by the Astrofield Mine and Gunnar Irving’s isolated family estate since he was a teenager. Martin is hoping to learn more about Gunnar’s experience with a UFO and aliens. But the longer he remains at the complex, the more uneasy Leo becomes. Will he find out the truth about the Irving’s before it is too late?

The Glass Man is an engrossing second installment in the Asker series. Leo is a multifaceted character with a complex family history. Martin is a compelling character whose interest in the Irving family takes a shocking turn. Anders de la Motte skillfully weaves the two story arcs into a danger-filled conclusion.

Absolutely phenomenal mystery with a twist. Detective Leonore Asker, who works in a department specifically for “odd” cases, is a dynamic FMC. There is nothing predictable about the story and it really kept me glued to the pages. The short chapters and mini cliffhanger endings make it almost impossible to stop reading! This is book two in the series and I do recommend reading the first one to get a full understanding and enjoyment of this installment! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

🫣 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y mini review 🫣 featuring “The Glass Man” by Anders de la Motte!

Oooh a new to me Scandinavian crime author that I am here for! Dark, gritty, twisted and full of intricate little puzzle pieces that come together in the end with a BANG!

I really enjoyed the MOODY setting in the dark forests of rural Sweden where mystery seems to lurk around every corner. There is a menacing sense of dread which constantly had me questioning everything going on as two chilling storylines become intertwined with one another. I never read book 1 in the series THE MOUNTAIN KING and did not feel lost at all while reading this one!

Thank you kindly to @andersdelamotte @atriabooks @simonschusterca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on August 26, 2025!

This book is a sequel to The Mountain King, and had some entertaining moments, especially the action-packed ending, but overall it didn’t quite work for me. It felt about 200 pages too long, and I found myself skimming through sections out of boredom. There were so many characters, with confusingly similar names, that I often struggled to keep track of who was who. While I do love a good mystery (which kept me reading), I preferred the first book and I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series. It was fine, just not a favorite.

The Glass Man had me hooked from the beginning with its terrifying prologue. As with the first book in the Asker series, the settings are dripping with eerie Nordic noir atmosphere: a remote estate on a fog-prone lake (in a crater known for UFO sightings), an abandoned mine on a forbidden island in the same lake, etc. Also in keeping with themes from the first book, urban exploration plays a part in this story.

Leo Asker continues to be complex and compelling, especially when it comes to her complicated relationship with her father and her past. Her pal Martin’s story arc was really interesting, and the misfits at the Department of Lost Souls got to flex more of their talents as well. And the gothic-futuristic Astroholm estate is like a character in its own right, full of secrecy and menace. There were a few overly coincidental aspects to the plot, but I found them easy enough to overlook because of how much I enjoyed the settings and characters.

Overall, this was a highly entertaining mystery/thriller, and I will be eagerly looking forward to the next book’s English translation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Opening shortly after the traumatic events of The Mountain King, the second entry in de la Motte’s Asker series finds Leo Asker settling back into her job as head of the Malmö police’s obscure Resources Department (aka The Department of Lost Souls) when the estranged survivalist father she calls “Prepper Per” contacts her after 15 years of silence. A body has been found near his farm, and he will be arrested shortly as the primary suspect. Claiming a frame-up, Per threatens violence if Leo refuses to help him. Having survived her father’s attempt to kill her years ago, she knows Per means business. Meanwhile, childhood friend Martin Hill, recovering from injuries sustained from helping Leo on her last case, has moved to the remote and eerie lakeside estate of the Irving family to write the history of the medical technology company founded by paterfamilias Gunnar Irving. Long obsessed with the rumors (UFOs, red-eyed aliens) behind the Irvings’ success, Martin is thrilled at the chance to investigate further. But he soon discovers dark secrets that might be connected to Leo’s probe. Once again, the author has penned an atmospheric, fast-paced thriller that features a creepy serial killer and provides plenty of chills for the dog days of summer. Leo and Martin make a great sleuthing team, and Scandinavian noir readers will eagerly await their next adventure.

From that enigmatic prologue, "The Glass Man" sinks its hooks deep and refuses to let me go. Anders de la Motte crafts a thriller that keeps me questioning everything until the final page.

Detective Leonore Asker emerges as the standout character—whip-smart, tenacious, and delightfully capable of outmaneuvering her antagonistic colleague at every turn. The strained relationship with her father forms the emotional backbone of the narrative, propelling Leo into an investigation that becomes increasingly personal as layers of family secrets unravel.

Meanwhile, Martin's obsession with extraterrestrial phenomena adds another fascinating dimension. His childhood connection to Leo creates a compelling dynamic that evolves alongside the central mystery. I particularly enjoy watching Leo's relationship with her misfit team transform from initial distrust to genuine collaboration as the stakes escalate.

The multiple viewpoints are masterfully handled, keeping me guessing about the true identity of the Glass Man. Is this entity human, supernatural, or something truly not of this world? The ambiguity is deliciously unsettling.

The atmospheric setting—an isolated island harboring underground laboratories, a secretive family with generations of skeletons in their closets, and an abandoned observatory that practically hums with ominous potential—combines to create a palpable sense of dread that intensifies with each chapter.

This translated work reads flawlessly, preserving the author's gift for building suspense. The prose flows naturally without any of the awkwardness sometimes found in translations.

For thriller fans who appreciate intelligent plotting, complex characters, and that delightful uncertainty about whether you're reading crime fiction or something more supernatural, "The Glass Man" delivers a genuinely pulse-racing experience.

Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

I'm soft DNFing this book for now to go back and read book 1 (didn't realize it was a sequel). The premise is very interesting tho!

I really love Anders de la Motte's storytelling style! It's dark and twisty and elaborate, with great complex characters and marvelous pacing that keeps you in the action from the first pages through to the bitter end. This second Leo Asker book was every bit as entertaining as the first, and built on the relationships established in that earlier story. I love watching Leo's familial relationships play out - they are so complicated and dysfunctional, and her maneuvering around the manipulations of both parents is fascinating to watch. I love the way the stories have a supernatural feel but ultimately turn out to be based in the insane mania of reality. I hope this series continues for a long time!

A fantastic sequel with a harrowing story and atmospheric writing that keeps you engaged and thrilled from start to finish,

Having read the first in this series I was so happy to receive the opportunity to read this second installment of what I hope is an ongoing series. Dark, suspenseful, great characters and The Mountain King in all his glory. 5 star read and I would recommend reading the first book The Mountain King so you have the backstory in its entirety. Thanks to the publisher for a great read!!

I loved the first one in this series. I love the character of Leo and look forward to more in the series. That being said this one did not grab me. It was the storyline with Martin that I found boring and Martins stupidity sometimes seemed over the top. the dangling of a relationship betweeen Martin and Leo also seemed written in a rather juvenile manner. Is he going to tkiss me? I have feelings after seeing her?

All that being said it was enjoyable enough just not what I hoped for.

Thank you for this book I stayed up all night trying to figure out if I could crack the code like a detective this was so good omg not my last from this author

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Glass Man.

I liked the first book in the series though it took me some time to warm up to Leo.

The sequel starts just a few weeks after the events of the first book. Leo is back at her desk as head of the Department of Lost Souls when her father, Prepper Per, calls her for help.

A man has been found dead on his property and the deceased and Per used to know each other.

As Leo colleagues and former ex and rival, Hellman, zero in on Leo's dead as the only suspect, Leo's BFF, Martin Hill, has been tasked with his dream job: writing about the illustrious Irving family, focusing on the patriarch Gunnar.

Eventually, Leo discovers her case involving her dad and Martin's new job are inextricably linked. The friends once again lean on each other for help and support.

The writing is good, as always; the author builds upon the Irving family's sheltered and privileged life where secrets abound and the entitled believe the laws don't apply to them.

I liked the supernatural element behind Gunnar's story which is what drew me to the premise.

Leo is drawn back into her father's web, not surprising considering her eccentric childhood and upbringing.

As she seeks to break Prepper Per's psychological hold and use her skills and talents as a detective to prove his innocence, it may cost her and Martin their lives if they're not careful.

I'm sort of warming up to Leo, but I like Martin more because he's relatable, warm, and a good friend. I like how he reminds Leo not to fall under her father's spell but to trust herself and her instincts, not the survivalist methods she had been taught and raised with..

There's decent character development especially when it comes to Leo's smart staff. I'm glad to see they're back in action.

I hope to see more of them as their characters evolve and the team builds rapport amongst each other.

There's decent suspense and drama toward the end but the narrative is slow paced.

It's chockfull of characters and exposition so it takes time to get to the twists, which I figured out.

It took a while, but we finally got a second book to follow Leo Asker and Martin Hill. Leo’s new case is too close for comfort, since her own father is a suspect. Meanwhile, Martin is hired by a legendary businessman move to his isolated estate to write a book about his company. An empire based on cutting-edge technology that could have been provided by aliens. I got into this part very quickly, because it’s creepy and with a few possibly supernatural elements. The millionaire’s family is quirky and hiding secrets. The house where Martin is staying, along with the library and the rest of the buildings are the perfect setting for this story. Then, there is Leo’s part. It took me a little longer to get into this, not because it wasn’t engrossing but because Leo keeps making dumbfounding decisions. If she had only stayed out of it… well, then we wouldn’t have this novel so I guess it’s OK. Anyway, once the plot gets going, I was in! My one complaint about the first book was that we hardly got to spend time with Leo’s team. This changes in this new novel and I loved it. They are not as lost as their nickname would suggest. The final part combines short chapters that follow Leo and Martin as everything unravels, and it was very suspenseful and very entertaining. I see that there are two more novels in Swedish, someone please ask the translator to hurry up.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Atria/Emily Bestler Books.

The Glass Man picks up shortly after The Mountain King left off. Leo Asker is getting used to leading the Lost Souls department. a place for the police to deposit their oddball cases and personnel, when estranged father, whom she knows as "Prepper Per," contacts her after years of silence. He demands her help because a body has been found near his compound and he knows he'll be blamed. Meanwhile, her friend Martin Hill is recovering from wounds received helping Asker on her last case when he's offered the job of a lifetime - to write a book about medical tech magnate Gunnar Irving. Hill is thrilled with the opportunity, due to his interest in UFOs and the mythology of aliens connected with Irving, his technology and his secluded property. But as Hill begins his research, he finds the Irvings to have a strange family and hidden secrets. Mysteries that might tie back to Asker's case.
Because it's been awhile since I read the previous novel, it took a little bit to get back up to speed on the characters and situations. But once acclimated, the story became fascinating, full of complex characters and intricately layered dual plot lines. The story was more of a thriller than a mystery, as the main culprit becomes known fairly early, much like the way it plays out in the first two Hannibal Lecter novels, but the full motives and deeper complexities of the plot don't come out until towards the end of the book. There are numerous twists, though I did figure several of them out, including one of the deeper, more subtle ones, early on due to hints in the narrative, but there were still several surprises before the end of the novel.

This book was hard for me to get into, but once I did it was good. I started the book 3 times before I made it more than 90 pages. I’m glad that I stuck with the book and really enjoyed both the plot and character driven mystery. Thanks to #NetGalley for #TheGlassMan.