Oslo, New Year’s Eve. The annual firework celebration is rocked by an explosion, and the city is put on terrorist alert.
Police officer Alexander Blix and blogger Emma Ramm are on the scene, and when a severely injured survivor is pulled from the icy harbour, she is identified as the mother of two-year-old Patricia Smeplass, who was kidnapped on her way home from kindergarten ten years earlier … and never found.
Blix and Ramm join forces to investigate the unsolved case, as public interest heightens, the terror threat is raised, and it becomes clear that Patricia’s disappearance is not all that it seems…
Another day, another book review! I know, it has been a while and I’vereally missed reviewing but I’m here now with my next 2021 book recommendation and it’s a five star one. Smoke Screen is the second book in the Blix & Ramm series, written by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst, translated from Norwegian by Megan Turney. This crime fiction instalment can be read independently, but best served after Death Deserved. Both are available in eBook now, with Death Deserved already out in paperback. Smoke Screen is due to be published by Orenda Books in paperback next month!I’d like to thank Orenda Books for generously sending me a proof copy of Smoke Screen, they’re generosity is so much appreciated!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the Blix and Ramm series, Death Deserved, so you could imagine how excited I was about Smoke Screen landing on my welcome mat. A little spoiler, it did not disappoint.
As soon as we turn the first page, we begin immediately with an explosive entrance into Blix his new case, as suspected form of terrorism while he amongst others brings in the new year. The writing is shared between both Enger and Horst, It flows seamlessly, where the reader can to gorge upon the chapters in a few sittings. With Blix investigating the catastrophic event, blogger Emma Ramm is affected personally and once again Unite with Alexander Blix to uncover the true motives behind the attack. The balance of each of our characters point of views complement one another perfectly, Especially as once again they find themselves court in a fight for justice. You’ll be on tether hooks as they pieced together the mask of the elusive assailant.
Underneath the initial explosion ripples, leaves another layer of storyline, one that orbits around a 10 year old kidnapping that brings the past into the present. This brings an added thread of intrigue and suspense, both threads of the storyline beginning to entwine and unravel, Keeping you transfixed and whetting your appetite for what comes next. Smoke Screen is a thrilling slice of Nordic fiction, when the subtly drops crumbs of the storyline that you can feast upon – one of my favourite series.
Both Enger and Horst’s writing is captivating and the addictive. It is at this point but I also want to give the talented translator Megan Turney a shout out. A very loud shout out. Without Megan we wouldn’t have been able to experience this portion of translated crime fiction. She has managed to capture everything vividly in the settings two even the small bits of the characters personality that shine through. This is truly a literary superpower. With a dream team such as this one two writers in the translator along with the people behind the scenes, Smoke Screen is a true five star read. Thank you again for keeping me entertained.
The Reading Closet 