Under the Storm

4.25⭐

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson (translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles) is an exceptionally well-written, immersive novel that I could not put down.

“There’s this word, used by old men and women around here. It comes across their lips like sinister smoke when someone is a little mean or nasty, when a place or thing has this unpleasant, uncanny feel to it: kymig.”

The novel begins in Marbäck, Halland, Sweden with the discovery of the body of a young woman after a house fire in November 1994. The ensuing investigation implicates her boyfriend twenty- five-year-old Edvard Christensson whose troubled background and family history make it easy for the community and law enforcement to vilify him. Edvard was subsequently show more convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 1995. The narrative follows Officer Vidar Jörgensson who was part of the investigation and Isak Nyqvist Edvard’s nephew, seven years old at the time, both of whom are haunted by the case for their own reasons.

The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Vidar and Isak and structured in three parts spanning over two decades. This is a slow-paced, lengthy, character-driven novel with a murder mystery at its core. The vividly described setting, the small-town dynamics and deep character studies are deftly woven into the procedural aspect of the story. Vidar spends the next few decades conflicted about the thoroughness of the investigation, unsure of whether he put an innocent man in prison. Isak’s life and worldview changed when his uncle, whom he loved and trusted, was imprisoned. He fears that he might go down the same road as that of his uncle and grandfather before him. Compelled to delve deeper into what truly happened all those years, both Vidar and Isak are unable to let go of the past and this impacts their present relationships. The author brilliantly captures both the psychological trauma Isak carries into his adulthood and the guilt and self-doubt experienced by Vidar. Despite the slow pace, at no point did I lose interest in the story. There were enough red herrings along the way to add an element of surprise to the finale, which I did feel was a tad overwhelming. However, the journey to end more than makes up for the same. Outstanding character development, intense emotional depth and powerful writing render this novel an absorbing read. However, if you prefer plot-driven, fast-paced thrillers, this book might not be the right choice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series (the translated version of which was released before this one!).

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less

In 1995 Edvard Christensson was convicted by a jury of fatally bludgeoning his girlfriend, Lovisa Markstrom, and setting fire to her home to erase any evidence. However, the evidence remaining was overwhelming for a conviction. Patrolman Vidar Jorgensson saw someone moving in the forest near the house and apprehended Christensson who was covered in blood. His glove was found near the scene and his fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Finally, there were threatening letters purportedly from Christensson to Lovisa. As you can imagine, Christensson’s family was devastated, including his sister and her seven year old son, Isak, who adored his uncle.
It is now years later and a memorial service is being held, marking the 10th show more anniversary of Lovisa’s death. At this time, Jorgensson, a detective in the stolen goods unit, is investigating a burglary suspected to have been perpetrated by one of the Miljanovic brothers, both brothers being career criminals. He notices, going through the records, that in one instance the brothers set fire to a house after its occupants returned home unexpectedly. Anomalies in their route of burglaries interests Jorgensson and he begins to wonder whether they were in the area at the time of Lovisa’s murder and could Christensson, who has repeatedly vowed his innocence, been wrongly convicted.
In 2017, Karin, Isak’s pregnant partner comes to Jorgensson to report Isak missing. The police are doing nothing and Jorgensson, now a former policeman, is her last resort. Throughout the 20+ years since Lovisa’s death, Jorgensson still has doubts about Christensson’s conviction.
One reviewer states, “Thus slow-burning, masterfully constructed literary thriller…lays bare the haunting effects of violent crime.” Under the Storm is one-third police procedural and two-thirds psychological study of the effects of Lovisa’s murder and Christensson’s conviction. First there is Vidar Jorgensson who is haunted by doubts. Instrumental in providing evidence of Christensson’s guilt, his doubts consume him as he tries to validate that he did the right thing and the right man was convicted. His obsession with the crime forces him to resign from the police force and strains his marriage.
Next you have Isak’s parents (Christensson was Isak’s mother’s brother) who are ostracized from the small community of Marback, to the point they contemplate relocating.
Finally, there is Isak. His classmates bullied him and his friends deserted him to some extent. Isak and Christensson used to spend every Sunday together and Isak adored him. Yet there was always a stigma about Christensson whose father was abusive. Young Christensson was a little wild so when he was charged and convicted the towns people weren’t surprised…the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Isak always wondered whether that violent gene was passed down to him since at times he felt violent urges. So, not only did he lose his idol, he doubted his own persona.
I said about Blaze Me a Sun that the bleak countryside, the bleak weather and the bleak future for … residents all combine to make Blaze Me a Sun a solid entry into the Scandinavian noir genre. It is true as well with Under the Storm. The dark forest, the extreme climate, hurricanes, the struggle for farmers in the area to survive, the close Marback community where everyone knows everyone and everything combine to make Under the Storm compelling, complex and haunting. I highly recommend it. show less

Under the Storm by Christoffer Carlsson is a highly recommended Nordic noir procedural with excellent character development. It is translated from the original Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles.

In the rural community of Marbäck, Sweden on November, 1994, a farmhouse burns down with a young woman, Lovisa, inside. The autopsy reveals she was murdered before the fire was purposefully set. The investigation focuses on her boyfriend, Edvard Christensson, after officer Vidar Jörgensson finds evidence and Edvard passed out nearby. The overwhelming opinion is that Edvard is a Christensson and violent just like his father. Edvard's nephew, seven-year-old Isak Nyqvist, who loves his uncle, cannot believe he did it, but Edvard is found guilty show more and sent to prison, so it must be true. This fact leaves Isak feeling like he is cursed by the same bloodlines and doomed to be violent.

Police officer Vidar is initially proud of his role in the case, but later begins to have doubts over Edvard's guilt and secretly begins to investigate the crime again. Meanwhile, Isak feels his life is preordained and that Vidar is always watching him, looking for Isak's guilt in one thing or another.

The novel is broken into three parts. The first part opens in November 1994 into 1995, and follows the original investigation and the beginning of Isak's doubts about himself. The second is 9 years later, in 2004 and follows Vidar's questioning the original investigating as he quietly reexamines the case. This time period leads up to when Hurricane Gudrun slams into Sweden. Isak is just turning eighteen and still believe genetics have doomed him to be violent, like his uncle, like his grandfather. The third is set in 2017, twelve years later, when the truth is finally revealed.

The novel shines in the character development and psychological insight into the characters of Isak and Vidar. Both characters are fully realized. They struggle with relationships and doubts. The case impacts and has consequences in both of their lives. Isak's story is especially heartbreaking.

Under the Storm does take a very measured pace in both the plot and the action. This makes it a slow-moving novel, however this deliberate pace leaves room for the atmospheric descriptions, psychological insights, and the development of the characters to take the forefront as the whole story progresses thoughtfully to a satisfying conclusion. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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As some other readers have noted, I quite enjoyed Blaze Me a Sun. I like a knowledgeable police procedural, and Scandi-noir is a genre I’m fond of (NOT Stieg Larsson, though). Unfortunately, the weaknesses I did find in Blaze Me had swollen to overwhelm this one. Too long, rather plodding pace (which I can forgive when it represents the actual drag of a lot of police work), sometimes overwritten (and yes, the sex scenes were truly awful); the state of Vidar’s marriage was tedious and pointless. The character of Isak was sympathetic and thoughtful, but it’s a little tough to sustain interest in a story that extends over 20+ years. Resolution way too long in coming, and not really credible. Carlsson works hard to weave in show more sociological/criminological elements of family, heredity, society, etc., which does add some depth, but overall this was a bit of a slog. show less

For anyone who enjoys a deep psychological study and a very, very slow burn this book is for you. It all starts with a fire in a house in a small town in Sweden but it is the young woman’s body that they find in the ruins that moves this story, very very slowly. Did the police look closely enough, did they rush to judgment or did they just run out of clues to investigate. Ultimately several families are going to be destroyed as they try to come to terms with what happened and who did it.

This is a murder mystery that when solved never truly satisfies, not the story’s characters nor the reader. So let’s delve really, really deeply into the characters and their personalities and then let’s look at the murder again and as the show more character age let’s reexamine their attitudes and then back again to the murder. A very, very slow process.

I am rounding up for the quality of writing and psychological profiles which were profound. Thanks to Hogarth/Random House and NetGalley for a copy. show less

What if everyone was wrong? How can you know the truth? In the end, how much does it matter? Lot of secrets and assumptions led to terrible sadness. A bleak page-turner.

DNF. I tried this book a few times but it didn't interest me at all. The link between the center of action in the story somehow seemed far distant from the characters' lives and it took the author too long to connect them. Maybe the original had more tension.

I received a review copy of this book through NetGalley.com.