Malin Persson Giolito

If ever there was a book that shows that the Best Swedish Crime Novel award needs to be closely followed, QUICKSAND is it. Scandinoir remains one of the big things in worldwide crime fiction, but, as you'd expect, there can sometimes be a little sameness to the sub genre. Which is not intended as criticism, there's only so many subject matters, styles and approaches available when you're writing psychological thrillers or crime fiction. QUICKSAND, on the other hand, has taken an unusual and show more different approach to a very difficult subject, handling that undertaking with considerable aplomb.

The novel is narrated by teenager Maja Norberg, who is standing trial for a high school shooting in which her best friend, several other students, a teacher and her boyfriend and fellow shooter, Sebastian, were killed. She's been in jail for nine months and seems surprisingly calm and sanguine about the possible outcome. Maja is a most unlikely killer, not because she comes from a privileged and wealthy background, but as she seems to be searching for answers herself.

The storyline switches between past and present seamlessly, always within Maja's viewpoint, going back to when she first met Sebastian, their growing romantic and sexual connection, and simultaneous relationships with her family, his father and her friends. Author Malin Persson Giolito hasn't flinched from making this character a difficult girl to connect with. She's a teenager with attitude and adolescent angst aplenty, contemptuous, judgemental, more often than not frustratingly annoying. Which makes this a discomfortingly realistic portrayal. A young girl beset with doubts and complex emotions, looking down on her parents, her teachers, her surroundings and society in general, reserving any real emotion and affection - not for the boyfriend she can't break away from - but for her baby sister and grandparents.

As the story progresses much about Sebastian and his own background becomes clearer, as does Maja's own involvement. Both of these teenagers have had unexpected difficulties to cope with - subtle and perhaps more "first world" than any problems associated normally with poverty and disadvantage, but nonetheless, there's something bubbling away under the surface of these seemingly perfect lives that isn't right and not good. There's much being said here about that idea of wealth and privilege compensating for bad parenting, unreasonable expectation and disaffection. As you'd expect, as more is revealed, the mental state of, and relationship between, Sebastian and Maja becomes more erratic, controlling and toxic.

But was it toxic enough for her to join him in his murderous plan? Did she know what Sebastian did on that final morning, was she an active participant? Did she incite or did she somehow get caught up in the madness herself? There's plenty of proof to say who shot who in that final scene in the classroom, but not necessarily why or even how. Even Maja is struggling for understanding, whilst in solitary confinement, in consultations with her lawyers and in a courtroom.

QUICKSAND is very clever in the way that it pulls readers in and repulses at the same time. It gives you licence to really dislike the central character, and the freedom to empathise, sympathise and change your mind all at the same time. Everyone is incredibly real - from parents right to the teenagers themselves. And because of that everyone is flawed, and the things that people do allowed to stun, confront, bemuse and annoy. It's finally a lesson in what you see is not always what you get, and right up until the judgement is read in court you'll be unsure how the rest of Maja's life is going to pan out.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-quicksand-malin-persson-giolito show less

Ein Schulmassaker, der schlimmste Albtraum, Stockholm unter Schock. Doch es gibt eine Person, auf die sich der ganze Hass fokussieren kann: Maria Norberg, genannt Maja, 18 Jahre alt, Haupttäterin gemeinsam mit ihrem Freund Sebastian Fagerman, Sohn eines der reichsten Schweden. Zusammen haben sie erst Claes Fagerman getötet, bevor sie in die Schule gefahren sind, um dort Lehrer und Mitschüler umzubringen. Der Fall schein glasklar und einfach. Aber war es wirklich so? Maja sitzt in show more Isolationshaft im Gefängnis und lässt ihre Gedanken zurückschweifen, sie geht gedanklich nochmal alles durch, von dem Moment an, als sie Sebastian kennenlernte und die ein Paar wurden, bis zu den unheilvollen Monaten vor der Tat und den Abend bevor ihr Leben eine schreckliche Wendung nahm. Sie hat den Tod von mindestens einem Menschen verschuldet, aber hätte sie alles verhindern können? Der Prozess muss Klarheit bringen.

Malin Persson Giolitos Roman wurde in ihrem Heimatland Schweden zum besten Kriminalroman des Jahres 2016 gewählt. Eigentlich ist es kein wirklicher Krimi, schon zu Beginn weiß man, wer die Toten sind und letztlich auch, wer für ihren Tod verantwortlich ist. Für mein Empfinden ist der Roman viel mehr eine psychologische Studie über Familienbeziehungen und Abhängigkeiten. Auf jeden Fall eine emotional schwerwiegende Geschichte, die einem nicht kalt lässt.

Auch wenn der Amoklauf in der Schule das zentrale Element ist, spielt dies für den Roman nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Es ist das Ergebnis all dessen, was sich zuvor zugetragen hat. Da wir nur Majas Perspektive haben und sie sehr lange nicht zu dem Leser spricht über die unmittelbaren Ereignisse, weiß man auch lange Zeit nicht, ob man ihr trauen kann und wohin ihre Gedanken einem führen werden. Interessant fand ihre fast emotionslose Reaktion auf all das, was geschehen ist. Sie wirkt geradezu ausgelaugt und leer, als wenn sie keine Gefühle mehr haben könnte und teilnahmslos auf ihr Leben und die Vorgänge blicken würde. Erst spät erklärt sich, weshalb sie wirklich in diesem Zustand ist und dass sie durch die Erlebnisse vorher weit über ihre Grenzen hinausgegangen war.

Immer wieder lenkt uns die Autorin auch auf falsche Fährten, plötzlich wird der soziale Hintergrund der Clique relevant; konnte alles nur passieren, weil den Oberschichtenkindern langweilig war und sie schon lange den Bezug zur Realität verloren hatten? Oder will sie auf das Thema Drogen und deren zerstörerische Wirkung hinaus? Womöglich sind es aber doch sogar politisch Motive; weshalb war der syrische Mitschüler nicht akzeptiert und wurde vorgeführt, nur geduldet, weil er intelligent war, aber niemals als Gleicher behandelt? Auf komplexe Vorgänge gibt es keine einfachen Antworten oder simple Erklärungen, das macht die Autorin klar. Das Leben, die Menschen sind vielschichtig und die von außen so naheliegende Deutung greift oftmals zu kurz.

Eine schwierige Thematik, die hinter der Geschichte steckt, die jedoch clever aufgebaut und geschickt entfaltet wird. Ein bemerkenswerter Roman, der unerwartete Tiefe bietet und eine detaillierte Charakterstudie darstellt. show less

Hm, tricky one to review. I was asked to review the English translation of this book, so I'll try to separate the translation from the content.

If I'm reviewing the content alone (whether in Swedish or in English): 2 stars, didn't like it. The premise of the book held so much promise. Was she in on the plan or not? Unfortunately, 80% of the book is the narrator/protagonist blabbing on and on. "They're going to say that I did X. They're going to say that I did Y," and so on, but studiously show more avoiding actually telling you what she did. When the author finally gets around to the protagonist's own account of the events, it's not even a whole chapter's worth of writing. It felt like I was wading around in an ocean of teenage wishy-washy-ness in the author's attempt to build suspense. It didn't build suspense, though. It just annoyed me. Get to the point! It's possible to draw out suspense and yet not add lots of pointless filler to your book.

If I'm reviewing the English translation: 5 stars, excellent. Very true to the Swedish, very natural-sounding in English. This would not have been an easy text to translate, with lots of teenage slang, references to Swedish pop culture, etc., but the translator has succeeded admirably. show less

A terrible tragedy in a school in affluent Djursholm leaves several students and their teacher shot dead. The sole survivor is Maja Norberg but is she a killer or a victim? Nine months in jail awaiting trial and her name internationally famous the time has come unto reveal the events leading to the deaths. There are two choices, Maja is a cold-blooded killer or Maja is the innocent victim of circumstance and some poor choices.

This book is written in first person, Maja narrates her own story show more and slowly gives the background to the fatal day on which the plot hinges. The narrative is gripping, a simple story of a school tragedy is fleshed out by the lives of the young Swedes: Sebastian is a troubled boy with money but no love in his family, Maja's family are upwardly mobile and think it is great that Maja's boyfriend is the son of a billionaire, Dennis is an immigrant drug-dealer about to be deported, Samir also an immigrant but clever and Amanda a vacant airhead. Although these seem like cliche characters Giolito develops their roles and portrays a side of youth that is probably accurate but not very pleasant. An exciting and satisfying novel that never lets up. show less