Today's featured novel is a great piece of nordic noir by Thomas Enger. Inborn revisits the story which Thomas wrote as a YA novel, Killer Instinct.
When a murder takes place in a village high school a
teenager finds himself subject to trial by social media … and in the dock. A
taut, moving and chilling thriller by one of Nordic Noir’s most exceptional
writers.
When the high school in the small Norwegian village of
Fredheim becomes a murder scene, the finger is soon pointed at
seventeen-year-old Even. As the investigation closes in, social media is ablaze
with accusations, rumours and even threats, and Even finds himself the subject
of an online trial as well as being in the dock … for murder? Even pores over
his memories of the months leading up to the crime, and it becomes clear that
more than one villager was acting suspiciously … and secrets are simmering
beneath the calm surface of this close-knit community. As events from the past
play tag with the present, he’s forced to question everything he thought he
knew.
Was the death of his father in a car crash a decade earlier really
accidental? Has his relationship stirred up something that someone is prepared
to kill to protect? It seems that there may be no one that Even can trust. But
can we trust him?
A taut, moving and chilling thriller, Inborn examines the
very nature of evil, and asks the questions: How well do we really know our
families? How well do we know ourselves?
My Thoughts
Thomas Engers' writing is always so satisfying. This crossover from the Young Adult genre is so well balanced. You follow the narrative both through events in the past and the present day courtroom trial where you gradually unravel the mystery, through the eyes of the teenager, Even, and the detective, Yngve, who is nearing the end of his career. Yngve is coming to terms with the loss of his wife. The contrast between these two gives the story added depth.
There are many examples of how social media can influence the course of the investigation. Gossip and rumour can spread like wildfire through the pages of Facebook and this element will seem plausible to any young readers. Families within the story are riven with secrets which makes for an intriguing finale. I changed my mind several times as to who the murderer was and found the final pages to be quite compelling. You are on the edge of your seats as to which way some of the characters will go as they have real choices to make between the truth and more lies. I particularly loved how enticing the path of cover up was made to seem and how the characters were forced to make real choices.
In short: Another nordic noir classic from Orenda.
About the Author
Thomas
Enger is a former journalist. He made his debut with the crime novel Burned in
2010, which became an international sensation before publication, and marked
the first in the bestselling Henning Juul series. Rights to the series have
been sold to 28 countries to date. In 2013 Enger published his first book for
young adults, a dark fantasy thriller called The Evil Legacy, for which he won
the U-prize (best book Young Adult). Killer Instinct, upon which Inborn is
based, and another Young Adult suspense novel, was published in Norway in 2017
and won the same prestigious prize. Most recently, Thomas has cowritten a
thriller with Jørn Lier Horst. Enger also composes music, and he lives in Oslo.
Thanks to Thomas Enger, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater of Orenda Books for a copy of the book and a place on the blog tour.
Check out these brilliant bloggers!
As always, huge thanks for your continuing Blog Tour support Pam x
ReplyDelete