Seven Doors by Agnes Ravatn translated by Rosie Hedger #Review #Giveaway#Worldwide

 

It is my turn on another wonderful Orenda Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of Agnes Ravatn's suspense, Seven Doors. I can also offer you the chance to win a digital copy of this great psychological thriller. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.

One of Norway’s most distinguished voices, Agnes Ravatn’s first novel to be published in the UK was The Bird Tribunal. It won an English PEN Translation Award, was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award and the Petrona Award, and was adapted for a BBC Book at Bedtime. She returns now with a dark, powerful and deeply disturbing psychological thriller about family, secrets and dangerous curiosity... 

University professor Nina is at a turning point. Her work seems increasingly irrelevant, her doctor husband is never home, relations with her adult daughter Ingeborg are strained, and their beautiful house is scheduled for demolition.

When Ingeborg decides to move into another house they own, things take a very dark turn. The young woman who rents it disappears, leaving behind her son, the day after Nina and Ingeborg pay her a visit.

With few clues, the police enquiry soon grinds to a halt, but Nina has an inexplicable sense of guilt. Unable to rest, she begins her own investigation, but as she pulls on the threads of the case, it seems her discoveries may have very grave consequences for her and her family.

‘Chilling, atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful ... I was transfixed’ Amanda Jennings

‘With shades of Du Maurier’s Rebecca and Flynn’s Sharp Objects, this is a story that is almost fevered and dream-like and that’s unrelentingly visual’ Lucy Hay

My Thoughts

 The suspense in The Seven Doors builds slowly from the everyday tone at the beginning to the end which is dripping with menace and emotion. It follows Nina's quest to find out the truth about her tenant who has disappeared suddenly. From the beginning, Nina's life seems uncertain with her house under threat and her family a little distanced. She seems compelled to try to unravel the mystery but all the time she does so, there is a great feeling of unease. 

    There is an element of fairy tale to the story. As anyone knows who has read fairy tales to their children, they are not always nice, cosy little stories. They can be cruel and violent. The tale of Bluebeard's Castle is signposted and there is a general unease around unevenly balanced relationships and the power dynamic. As it turns out, none of the characters we meet are superfluous and you have the feeling that every cultural allusion has a relevance. This is clever writing which is superbly translated by Rosie Hedger.

In short: Tense nordic noir with a surprise ending.

 

About the Author

 

Agnes Ravatn (b. 1983) is a Norwegian author and columnist. She made her literary  début  with  the  novel  Week  53  (Veke  53)  in  2007.  Since  then  she  has written three critically acclaimed and award-winning essay collections: Standing  still  (Stillstand),  2011,  Popular  Reading  (Folkelesnad),  2011,  and  Operation  self-discipline  (Operasjon  sjøldisiplin),  2014.  In  these  works,  Ravatn  revealed  a  unique,  witty  voice  and  sharp  eye  for  human  fallibility.  Her second novel, The Bird Tribunal (Fugletribuanlet), was an international bestseller translated into fifteen languages, winning an English PEN Award, shortlisting for the Dublin Literary Award, a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick and a BBC Book at Bedtime. It was also made into a successful play, which premiered in Oslo in 2015. Agnes lives with her family in the Norwegian countryside.

Book link: Amazon UK

 

Thanks to Agnes Ravatn, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater of Orenda Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Giveaway (Worldwide)

To win a digital copy of The Seven Doors just Follow and Retweet the tweet at @bookslifethings . Closing Date is 23rd October 2020 and there is one winner.  Good luck! 

*Terms and Conditions – Worldwide.  The winner will be selected at random via Tweetdraw from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.