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Gabriel Præst #2
Backlash Blues: A Nordic Noir, Private Detective Mystery
When Banks Go Bad...And Not Just at Math!
Copenhagen's usually cool, but not when Private Detective, Gabriel Præst is on the scene. Hired to dig into the apparent suicide of Noor Mallik, a young worker bee from Denmark's biggest bank, he expects nothing more than corporate politics and bad office coffee. But instead, he finds himself knee-deep in a plot thicker than Danish brown gravy.
Silas Haagen, the bank's hotshot executive, might be hiding more than just a ridiculously fancy office. As Gabriel dives into a potential #MeToo scandal, he uncovers layers that make an onion look bare. From dark money from even darker places to the ever-elusive hitman known as "The Ghost" (who probably just needs a hug), Gabriel realizes he will need more than his trusty blues guitar and dry wit to solve this one.
Journeying from the cozy cafés of Copenhagen to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, our bluesy detective navigates banking conspiracies, spicy romantic entanglements, and the daunting challenge of a dry month; thirty days without wine or cigarettes. (The last one's the real kicker.)
BACKLASH BLUES hits all the right notes in a tale of money, mischief, and some very shady shenanigans.
Note: Backlash Blues will be available in paperback and audio when released.
PRAISE FOR THE GABRIEL PRÆST SERIES
“[A] superb series launch…. Præst’s pursuit of the truth takes some unexpected directions on the way to the satisfying conclusion. A killer plot matches an unusual lead sleuth, and secrets from Denmark’s WWII past enhance the story line.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Philip Marlowe meets Nordic Noir."
— Iben Albinus, award-winning Danish bestselling author of Damascus
"Recommended for both gumshoe and political-thriller fans."
— Booklist
"Not your usual ex-cop turn PI mystery!"
— Charles Todd, New York Times Best-Selling authors of the "Inspector Ian Rutledge" and "Bess Crawford" series
"A hard boiled private detective with a cosmopolitan flair."
— Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of "The Tracy Crosswhite" series and "The Charles Jenkins" series
Copenhagen's usually cool, but not when Private Detective, Gabriel Præst is on the scene. Hired to dig into the apparent suicide of Noor Mallik, a young worker bee from Denmark's biggest bank, he expects nothing more than corporate politics and bad office coffee. But instead, he finds himself knee-deep in a plot thicker than Danish brown gravy.
Silas Haagen, the bank's hotshot executive, might be hiding more than just a ridiculously fancy office. As Gabriel dives into a potential #MeToo scandal, he uncovers layers that make an onion look bare. From dark money from even darker places to the ever-elusive hitman known as "The Ghost" (who probably just needs a hug), Gabriel realizes he will need more than his trusty blues guitar and dry wit to solve this one.
Journeying from the cozy cafés of Copenhagen to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, our bluesy detective navigates banking conspiracies, spicy romantic entanglements, and the daunting challenge of a dry month; thirty days without wine or cigarettes. (The last one's the real kicker.)
BACKLASH BLUES hits all the right notes in a tale of money, mischief, and some very shady shenanigans.
Note: Backlash Blues will be available in paperback and audio when released.
PRAISE FOR THE GABRIEL PRÆST SERIES
“[A] superb series launch…. Præst’s pursuit of the truth takes some unexpected directions on the way to the satisfying conclusion. A killer plot matches an unusual lead sleuth, and secrets from Denmark’s WWII past enhance the story line.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Philip Marlowe meets Nordic Noir."
— Iben Albinus, award-winning Danish bestselling author of Damascus
"Recommended for both gumshoe and political-thriller fans."
— Booklist
"Not your usual ex-cop turn PI mystery!"
— Charles Todd, New York Times Best-Selling authors of the "Inspector Ian Rutledge" and "Bess Crawford" series
"A hard boiled private detective with a cosmopolitan flair."
— Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of "The Tracy Crosswhite" series and "The Charles Jenkins" series
Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2024
29 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Amulya Malladi
12 books595 followersAmulya Malladi is the bestselling author of eight novels, including The Copenhagen Affair, A House for Happy Mothers, and The Mango Season. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Romanian, Serbian, and Tamil. She won a screenwriting award for her work on Ø (Island), a Danish series that aired on Amazon Prime Global and Studio Canal+. Currently living in California, she is a Danish citizen who was born and raised in India.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2024
Just as much fun as the first book in the series. Although the translation was a bit clunky at times and it seemed as though the editing was done in a hurry, this didn't detract from the over all enjoyment and sheer page turning entertainment PI Gabriel Praest brings.
February 8, 2024
Backlash Blues is much more than Private Investigator Gabriel Præst trying to determine what really happened to a young woman who turned up dead. Yes, we do see the PI at work, but this is also about Danish culture. It is about high end fashion. It is about jazz. It is about culinary artistry. It’s about pairing drinks with foods to maximize the dining experience. It’s about parenting. It’s about relationships. It’s about Copenhagen. Malladi takes all these pieces and turns them into an engaging and compelling 400+ page book which is much greater than the sum of its parts.
Malladi liberally sprinkles in Danish idioms and phrases. She was quite masterful in how she did this; she did not resort to cluttering up the flow of the storyline with clunky translations. She made sure the reader could understand them contextually. Or, even more straightforwardly, if the Danish phrase was used in a conversation, she would have another character respond to it in English which left no confusion about what the idiom meant.
If there was a downside to the book, it was the alphabet soup of Danish government agencies. I found it extremely difficult to remember what any particular group of initials stood for. Perhaps a quick reference guide at the end of the book for those of us who have trouble navigating this area?
I enjoyed reading this book and I think Gabriel Præst just moved into my group of friends who I will follow over time. Of course, there is that bit that he is actually a fictitious character and I will never actually share a meal with him nor will he ever invite me to one of his jazz performances, but I will look forward to reading about his exploits as this series of books continues.
Malladi liberally sprinkles in Danish idioms and phrases. She was quite masterful in how she did this; she did not resort to cluttering up the flow of the storyline with clunky translations. She made sure the reader could understand them contextually. Or, even more straightforwardly, if the Danish phrase was used in a conversation, she would have another character respond to it in English which left no confusion about what the idiom meant.
If there was a downside to the book, it was the alphabet soup of Danish government agencies. I found it extremely difficult to remember what any particular group of initials stood for. Perhaps a quick reference guide at the end of the book for those of us who have trouble navigating this area?
I enjoyed reading this book and I think Gabriel Præst just moved into my group of friends who I will follow over time. Of course, there is that bit that he is actually a fictitious character and I will never actually share a meal with him nor will he ever invite me to one of his jazz performances, but I will look forward to reading about his exploits as this series of books continues.
July 26, 2024
Gabriel Præst is back, cycling around Copenhagen and dining at one fabulous restaurant after another (but it’s his dry month, so he has to skip the wine pairings). Backlash Blues is a strong follow-up to A Death in Denmark, as Præst once again takes on a case that appears straightforward but then finds himself in a web of international financial—and personal—intrigue.
Malladi has made the right call in her development of Præst’s character. Though a former cop turned private eye, Præst doesn’t conform to many of the standard tropes in such stories: he isn’t washed up or bitter, doesn’t have a string of ex-wives in his past, and makes a decent living through his business. With his taste for designer clothing, fine food, quality interior design, and jazz and blues music, and his disdain for long or involved relationships, Præst calls to mind a (bald) Danish Harvey Specter from Suits.
Backlash Blues is, like A Death in Denmark, a twisting and turning mystery involving a large cast of characters, which sometimes gets a bit tricky to follow. At the center of it all is the figure of Noor Mallik, a young banker who apparently died by suicide. Hired to find out what led Mallik to this act, Præst finds that she had become involved in an investigation of financial crimes that might have turned deadly.
Backlash Blues doesn’t end in any neat or tidy conclusions; Malladi keeps the Copenhagen banking world appropriately murky and only semi-reformed. Præst will have more business in the future.
Malladi has made the right call in her development of Præst’s character. Though a former cop turned private eye, Præst doesn’t conform to many of the standard tropes in such stories: he isn’t washed up or bitter, doesn’t have a string of ex-wives in his past, and makes a decent living through his business. With his taste for designer clothing, fine food, quality interior design, and jazz and blues music, and his disdain for long or involved relationships, Præst calls to mind a (bald) Danish Harvey Specter from Suits.
Backlash Blues is, like A Death in Denmark, a twisting and turning mystery involving a large cast of characters, which sometimes gets a bit tricky to follow. At the center of it all is the figure of Noor Mallik, a young banker who apparently died by suicide. Hired to find out what led Mallik to this act, Præst finds that she had become involved in an investigation of financial crimes that might have turned deadly.
Backlash Blues doesn’t end in any neat or tidy conclusions; Malladi keeps the Copenhagen banking world appropriately murky and only semi-reformed. Præst will have more business in the future.
February 7, 2024
Even better than the first in the series! A fast-paced detective novel, as Gabriel Praest, a suave, elegant, ex-cop, turned private detective investigates the mysterious suicide of Noor Mallik, an employee of the Copenhagen Bank, reporting to the well-known banker Silas Haagen. The mystery unravels the complex world of corporate banking hierarchies, and who is calling the shots, and who is sexually harrassing the staff, under the watchful eye of Haarald Wiberg, the corporate attorney, who is more of a puppeteer, pulling the strings, but appearing removed from the activities of the staff. The book takes the reader through Copenhagen, to New York, from Russian oligarchs laundering money through Estonia, to an aspiring chef, creating a name for herself in Copenhagen, and San Francisco, the self-searching of the protagonist, to the bravery of Chief Human Resources Officer, prepared to sacrifice her job for her principles. There are some enigmatic characters, including an assasin, known as "The Ghost", who may be evil, but perhaps not entirely without conscience, and some redeeming value. The book gathers pace, and becomes a gripping page-turner, that you can't put down, as you seek to reach the conclusion, and find whether good wins out over evil.
January 21, 2024
What a fantastic book!
I had read Death in Denmark and so loved that book, I emailed Mrs. Malladi on a job well done. Even though I am a voracious reader, I have never done this before. To my surprise, Mrs. Malladi responded and sent me an advanced copy of Backlash Blues!
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait until the next book in the series; Crossroad Blues comes out.
These characters and the detail on Gabriel Praest’s make up is excellent. And getting to know Denmark and Copenhagen has been such a refreshing change of pace for me.
These books have been so entertaining and timely in passing this cold Canadian winter where I live.
If you are pondering reading the Gabriel Præst series, you will be pleased. Start with Death in Denmark.
Thank you, Amulya and keep up the great work!
I had read Death in Denmark and so loved that book, I emailed Mrs. Malladi on a job well done. Even though I am a voracious reader, I have never done this before. To my surprise, Mrs. Malladi responded and sent me an advanced copy of Backlash Blues!
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait until the next book in the series; Crossroad Blues comes out.
These characters and the detail on Gabriel Praest’s make up is excellent. And getting to know Denmark and Copenhagen has been such a refreshing change of pace for me.
These books have been so entertaining and timely in passing this cold Canadian winter where I live.
If you are pondering reading the Gabriel Præst series, you will be pleased. Start with Death in Denmark.
Thank you, Amulya and keep up the great work!
July 7, 2025
As a fan of “Death in Denmark,” I looked forward to this followup. In “Backlash Blues,” Gabriel Præst is still an interesting character (though I can’t help but wonder how he affords all those restaurant meals).
I have two minor gripes. The frequent references to Praest’s dry month become tedious by the middle of the book. And the print version has many bad line breaks, missing words, and other indications of a sloppy publication process. Both editing and copyediting would have been a big help. I know self-publishing through Amazon can be a useful alternative to the vagaries of the traditional publishing industry, but I hope Malladi can return to a more professional publishing situation in the future.
That said, I hope to read more Gabriel Præst books and enjoy more virtual visits to Copenhagen.
I have two minor gripes. The frequent references to Praest’s dry month become tedious by the middle of the book. And the print version has many bad line breaks, missing words, and other indications of a sloppy publication process. Both editing and copyediting would have been a big help. I know self-publishing through Amazon can be a useful alternative to the vagaries of the traditional publishing industry, but I hope Malladi can return to a more professional publishing situation in the future.
That said, I hope to read more Gabriel Præst books and enjoy more virtual visits to Copenhagen.
February 8, 2024
This is the second book in Amulya Malladi’s “Gabriel Praest” series, and it is a must-read for anyone who loves a solid detective novel.
In short, Gabriel is a larger than life private detective investigating the mysterious suicide of Noor Mallik, an employee of Copenhagen Bank. The story takes off from there and takes readers on an international journey— from Copenhagen to New York. It explores everything from money laundering schemes, hired assassins, and the #MeToo movement.
This book will be released on February 26th and it will even be available on Kindle Unlimited. You won’t want to miss this series!
In short, Gabriel is a larger than life private detective investigating the mysterious suicide of Noor Mallik, an employee of Copenhagen Bank. The story takes off from there and takes readers on an international journey— from Copenhagen to New York. It explores everything from money laundering schemes, hired assassins, and the #MeToo movement.
This book will be released on February 26th and it will even be available on Kindle Unlimited. You won’t want to miss this series!
January 16, 2024
I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting over a long evening. Fast paced, action oriented and mixing in idiosyncrasies of Danish culture made it fun. The lead character is Praest is unique, loves good food and wine a jazz musician and brings a strong Scandinavian approach to his love life. This might seem a bit unreal for some. The story weaves through lots of details on streets and cafes making me reach out to Google to see these for myself. The plot is simple and the end is good. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
January 14, 2024
Wow! I just finished this whirlwind of a book, and I have chills. I am excited to see there will be a 3rd book! Detective novel taken to another level. A main character who sticks to his rules and has friends in high places. I love the combination of above board detective work and underground connections, and of course (no spoilers) the ending is PERFECT!
March 2, 2024
First off, Amulya Malladi is one of my favorite writers. Secondly, this is the second Gabriel Praest book., Backlash Blues. This book picks up right where all of the twists and turns that the first book brought. This is crime and mystery in Denmark that keeps you turning the pages - and waiting for the next book!
March 22, 2024
Any man who wore a t shirt under his suit jacket was a moron…
@authoramulya 2nd Gabriel Praest PI novel, as the renowned “clothes horse”, tripping his way across Denmark and the States as he investigates a suicide and much more.
Really engaging read, light and fun but with a good story and great central character.
@authoramulya 2nd Gabriel Praest PI novel, as the renowned “clothes horse”, tripping his way across Denmark and the States as he investigates a suicide and much more.
Really engaging read, light and fun but with a good story and great central character.
April 28, 2025
Not in the mood right now. DNF
February 27, 2024
4.0 stars
DEFINITE recommend
This is the second book in the Gabriel Præst series by Amulya Malladi. I enjoyed this mystery-thriller series, but most especially the main character who is quite a CHARACTER. Learning about Danish culture, the country, and the people has made me want to visit. Also, I have found out that I have before-unknown Danish ancestors!
The storyline is interesting and very topical. It is about the investigation into a young woman's death who works for Copenhagen Bank. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Once Gabriel Præst, a PI and former Copenhagen detective, starts investigating, the ugliness and roller-coaster ride begins. It is a very wild ride.
My only issue is the Danish and English interplay didn't work well - it was a bit clunky at times. It is hard to follow the Alphabet soup of American police agencies, but adding in the Danish ones is very confusing.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Normally, I am not into mystery-thrillers, but I have enjoyed every book by this author that I have read. The first book was so fun (read THIS book first). The characters, writing, plot, and setting drew me in. I truly hope that Gabriel gets a LONG series - he deserves it!
For a more detailed review, check out:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/...
DEFINITE recommend
This is the second book in the Gabriel Præst series by Amulya Malladi. I enjoyed this mystery-thriller series, but most especially the main character who is quite a CHARACTER. Learning about Danish culture, the country, and the people has made me want to visit. Also, I have found out that I have before-unknown Danish ancestors!
The storyline is interesting and very topical. It is about the investigation into a young woman's death who works for Copenhagen Bank. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Once Gabriel Præst, a PI and former Copenhagen detective, starts investigating, the ugliness and roller-coaster ride begins. It is a very wild ride.
My only issue is the Danish and English interplay didn't work well - it was a bit clunky at times. It is hard to follow the Alphabet soup of American police agencies, but adding in the Danish ones is very confusing.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Normally, I am not into mystery-thrillers, but I have enjoyed every book by this author that I have read. The first book was so fun (read THIS book first). The characters, writing, plot, and setting drew me in. I truly hope that Gabriel gets a LONG series - he deserves it!
For a more detailed review, check out:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/...
April 23, 2024
Another epic mystery with Gabriel. There’s something about Gabriel that makes you love him and want the best for him. This second book has even more suspense, danger, and risk than the first one and I enjoyed every moment.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews