by Maj Sjöwall
Part of Martin Beck
First published 1977
Detective Martin Beck stares at the crime scene where Victor Palmgren lies dead. The Swedish industrialist has been murdered, and Beck knows this case will demand everything from him and his team. They begin tracking leads through Stockholm's business circles and criminal underworld. Each clue reveals new layers of complexity in Palmgren's life and death. Beck's colleagues work alongside him as they piece together the victim's final days. The investigation pulls them deeper into a web of motives and suspects. Time pressures mount as they pursue the killer through Sweden's urban landscape. Beck must navigate corporate secrets and personal vendettas to solve the case. The hunt tests his skills and determination as the truth proves more elusive than expected.
Genres: 20th-century, mystery, crime, adult-fiction, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, gritty, methodical, suspenseful
Tropes: detective-procedural, ensemble-investigation, layered-mystery
Setting: Stockholm, Sweden
Period: 20th-century
204 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: murder, violence