Book Review: Sun Storm

Reviewed By: Lynn Harnett

Sun Storm     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Asa Larsson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Thriller   Psychological Suspense   Woman Main Character
Delacorte, April 2006, 320 pp

Reluctantly, even angrily, Rebecka Martinsson drops everything and returns to her small, isolated hometown when a charismatic religious leader and childhood friend is murdered in his church.

Rebecka had wrenched herself from the same cultish church and fled Kiruna in disgrace some years earlier. Now she’s an overworked junior tax lawyer in Stockholm, with no desire to reencounter her past. But Sanna Strandgard, the murdered man’s waifish, helpless, manipulative sister, begs her to help.

Sanna discovered the body and the police suspect her. Rebecka quickly finds herself entangled in the old resentments, obligations, and memories. She can’t leave Sanna to the clutches of her overbearing father or the clueless police, particularly when Sanna has two young children relying on her.

Her efforts to help Sanna threaten to expose old secrets and new while the police, particularly very pregnant Anna-Maria Mela, probe some of the same tender spots from a further remove.

From the first page, “The Aurora Borealis twists and turns like a dragon in the night sky,” forming a wild, remote backdrop for a winter small-town tale of secrets, greed, jealousy and power.

Larsson’s debut (which won Sweden’s First Crime Novel Award) introduces two strong characters in Rebecka and Anna -Maria Mela. Rebecka, at least, will be back. The novel is compelling and atmospheric, but uneven, with occasionally flat characterizations of some of the secondary characters and an exciting but over-the-top ending. But prickly, willful Rebecka is a thoroughly enjoyable character, likely to develop a strong following.

Lynn Harnett

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Lynn Harnett