Under the Storm

A Novel

By: Christoffer Carlsson, Rachel Willson-Broyles - translator

Narrated by: Peter Noble

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR (SO FAR) • A farmhouse mysteriously goes up in flames with someone trapped inside and a community is never the same in the aftermath—both a thrilling whodunit and a deeply touching coming-of-age story by one of Sweden’s top criminologists

“When the body of a young woman is discovered in an incinerated farmhouse, resolution was swift: It was murder, her boyfriend did it, case closed. But for the boyfriend’s nephew, Isak; the arresting officer, Vidar Jörgensson; and the entire community of Marbäck, closure is a myth about to be shattered—spectacularly.”—The New York Times

On a cold November night, a farmhouse burns to the ground. Inside a young woman is found dead—not from the fire but murdered. To the people in the rural community of Marbäck, this becomes a reference point: a before and after. For ten-year-old Isak Nyqvist, it sets in motion something he cannot control, igniting his future into an unpredictable inferno.

The police focus their attention on Edvard Christensson, the boyfriend of the murdered woman and Isak’s beloved uncle. After a quick investigation, Edvard is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison and Marbäck believes it can return to its innocence. Vidar Jörgensson, the rookie officer who first responded to the fire, prides himself on helping solved the murder. Little does he know this will become the defining case of his career and that it will drive him to the brink of professional and personal disaster—and link his fate to young Isak's.

A celebrated author and professor of criminology, Christoffer Carlsson digs deep into the psyches of ordinary people and shows how one crime can haunt a community for decades. A modern classic of Scandinavian crime fiction, Under the Storm demonstrates why many regard Carlsson as one of the great crime writers of his generation.

©2024 Christoffer Carlsson (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"“When the body of a young woman was discovered in an incinerated farmhouse in 1994, resolution was swift—it was murder, her boyfriend did it, case closed. But for the boyfriend’s nephew, Isak; the arresting officer, Vidar Jörgensson; and the entire community of Marbäck, closure is a myth about to be shattered. The character trajectories (and tragedies) of Isak and Vidar have real narrative heft, but Carlsson also makes room to explore bigotry, misogyny and nativism . . . wonderfully translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles.”—Sarah Weinman, The New York Times

“A tense police procedural.”—Wall Street Journal

“A brilliantly woven, unsettling crime novel . . . Boasting the psychological intensity of a Hitchcock film . . . this is a gripping, utterly distinctive mystery by a newly established Swedish master. As in Blaze Me a Sun, Carlsson explores the nature of grief and generational trauma, all while keeping readers unsure of what’s going to happen next.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

I think I have whiplash!

Although the narration is superb, this might be one of those books better read than listened to. That's because of the frequent back and forths in time. There were also times that I wasn't certain which characters were carrying out the action or speaking. That said, it is still a most enjoyable book.

Thoughtful, Philosophical and Highly Intelligent

Under the Storm continues the story in Blaze Me a Sun, the first book. However, this book can stand easily on its own. I love the thoughtful, philosophical and highly intelligent writing in both of these books. I read a lot of Swedish noir and I would say this is the best of the best. It actually blends noir with good literature. I learned about Swedish rural life and police culture. I got a feel of what it is like to grow up in Sweden as the stories deal with all aspects of life, childhood through old age and even the afterlife. The characters are all so real and sympathetic. The writing is mature. I hope there will be more of these books to come. They are among my favorite reads of all time.

Very real characters well developed

No character is perfect and predictable in this book. They all have flaws but that is what makes the story work. Well written as well. The narrator sets a good pace and is pleasant to listen to.