Myth in Malmö

by Torquil MacLeod

On the peaceful summer residential allotments in Simrishamn, a dog is killed. A few weeks later, so is one of the plot holders. She is a woman who had access to many secrets that certain locals wouldn’t want to come to light. As Anita Sundström’s team is brought in to investigate, the chief inspector also has to deal with the disappearance of a British archaeology student who has gone missing in Sweden while searching for an ex-colleague, who has also vanished. The case, brought to her by her long-time, long-distance partner, Detective Kevin Ash, who has run into a dead end in the UK, seems to be linked to two separate archaeological digs – one in Skåne and the other in the famous Viking centre of Birka. So, what has this all to do with a Scanian Viking who once fought in the Varangian Guard for a Byzantine emperor? Anita Sundström needs to find out before another life is lost in the tenth Malmö Mystery.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Sweden

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Torquil MacLeod was born in Edinburgh and brought up in the north east of England. After a brief spell as a teacher in Worcestershire, he worked in advertising agencies in Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle; since 2000 he has been a freelance writer.

See also: Torquil R. MacLeod

Reviews

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anita Sunstrom Has to allocate a murder case to her team and soon hears from her boyfriend in Cumbria, Inspector Kevin Ash who is coming to Sweden to look for a young woman archaeologist who has disappeared. Soon he is helping Anita and her team as the investigation finds a body at a dig site.

The story seemed slow to develop with some laborious descriptions. The story is interspersed with the 11th-century account of Vikings returning from the Bazantyn empire with looted goods. Giving the archaeology angle some depth. All round a good book but the action was slow to develop. 3 stars.

[Jan Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different but very good.

I think the author may have copied a format from another well known author,s playbook, but it was great! I have read all the previous books in this series and have enjoyed the evolution and progression of the characters and plot lines. Same characters but in a different light, love the historical back story. Great read.

[Edward Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was little complicated to follow. There were a lot of characters.

[margaret chalmers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burner.

Maybe it's me but I found this story hard to get into. Pedestrian prose, slow action, then suddenly it picks up any interest was engaged right to the end. Plot? Young female English archaeologist goes missing in Sweden. She had been on dig there. She is looking for colleague who messaged her he had made great discovery.English cop with Swedish cop girlfriend gets involved. There is another strand of plot: bickering on an allotment, spiteful troublemaker woman found dead. Is there a connection? As I say, I found it slow to begin with. Trouble is we get excerpts from the life of a Viking. His adventures were written with pace and excitement. I wanted to know about him, not some crusty allotment holders. My bad. I was wrong, I admit it. Perhaps I should have started with first in series but it was the book illustration with the fearsome Viking helmet which attracted me initially. Anyway, this is a good read I recommend. I will try the first in the series. Get back to you on that.

[R.E. E. Derouin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myth in Malmo by Torquil Macleod 2/28/2025 Kindle

I’ve read a number of installments in this series. I always find myself coming back for more. While the setting in Sweden visits locations I’m not familiar, and the names are difficult to remember, the writing and story line. We begin in summer allotments with a domestic dispute and a pet dog being brutally killed. B

Enter Anita Sunderstrom whose main job is dealing with a missing English archaeology student. This brings Anita’s lover, Detective Kevin ash for a trip to her country. The two cases come together when evidence links them, and they discover the secret life of the cottage victim. Each of her blackmail victims is another suspect.

We jump back to interesting Viking lore as there are ancient mysteries as well as current ones. The story moves along well, the history is enlightening, and the writing is excellent. I highly recommend the series to any mystery lover.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book especially since we could only follow along as we became aware of things as they progressed. Anita Sundström was the Chief Inspector in Sweden and Kevin Ash was from the British police force working with the Swedish police. He was in charged in finding two British subjects. Anita gave Klara Wallen, who is another inspector, the Simrishamn case which was a dead dog, and then a murder, and then a coma victim. It was a very good reading as Torquil describes all scenarios which come to mind in the reading. Tempers flare and the killers are caught red handed. it all comes out in the end.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An English woman is on her way to Malmö to reconnect with a friend she met in Sweden on an archaeological dig. She is not seen or heard from again and eventually Chief Inspector Anita Sundström and her team are called in on the case. The author brilliantly constructs a fantastically complicated plot. The archaeology is focused on the late Viking period and is quite fascinating. In a murder mystery, one of the key plot elements always involves the motive. When an author gratuitously injures or kills a character, I always wonder what the motive can be for such destruction.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed touching base with Anita & co , very cleverly written, the plot well thought out and the historical facts interesting! However, once again the ending was frustrating, I wanted to know more about Kevin going back to the UK with Linda and her thoughts about what had happened t, also the reunion with her grandparents!! However, a satisfying read and looking forward to the next book which hopefully won’t be too far behind

[Ida Anak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a good read

I love Anita Sounds from mysteries. I like the plot, the twist and turns and the characters. But this book gave me a bit more. History about the Vikings and Byzantine eras. Fascinating.
The ending in this book was unexpected and made me sad but that's life (even in fiction).
Thank you Mr MacLeod for wonderful books. Looking forward the 11th book 😊

[Anthony Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent Malmo mystery

I guess the 5 stars is for the salmon series more than the individual book. As a scandophile? I really like the atmosphere of the books. As a whodunnit addict I also enjoy the challenge and not feeling cheated when the denoument? Is original but not fanciful.

[Mr John Eastwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

A great follow up in the Inspector Sundstrom series
Combining Viking history with complex murder scenarios and ongoing relationship between an English and Swedish detective

[Mrs S L TRAFFORD · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s ok

After reading all the previous Malmo books I was eagerly awaiting this book. I’m afraid I didn’t really enjoy the story as much. I felt it lost its way and then the ending was sudden.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of the "Anita" books but I just didn't find this one as interesting or engaging as the others. It was as though the characters were just plodding along and the ending, while tidy, was just forced. I was sad that on of the characters got killed and one that I really liked.

[Pamela Allsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torquil MacLeod has done an excellent job with this novel -- lots of twists and turns throughout, great energy with character developments as well as a two-tiered plot within a plot. Good investigative, believable storyline. EZ & enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Another great book in the Anita Sundstrom series . The interwoven stories were really interesting and I liked the Viking story included, the pac elf the book was nice and flowing and the characters as likeable as always.

[Laurel Patric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita Sundstrom’s newest case involves missing people, local allotments, an archeological dig and at least one murder.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. Very complicated. But stop whinging about Brexit. Get over it and move on.

[Rhona Keay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long Awaited

A thoroughly enjoyable read with lots of interesting characters, plots and sub plots. Not so sure of the chapter surrounding the shooting of Bea.

[Edward Kornbluh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful coda to a splendid series. Even, as too many crime novels do not, has a clean, believable ending. As a bonus for me, the references to the Vikings sparked my interest and I'm now happily reading the famous historical novel, "the Long Ships."

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the series. Love the relationships between the characters. Well worth the read.

[AWDavies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

[Bud Mallar · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, I thought I had finished the series, but a year later a 'new' one shows up.

Made it difficult to jump back into the story line of all the characters. And I sense there will be another one coming.

The story line was a bit over the top, as our heroine tries to solve to separate murders. I guess what bothered me was the overlap of the format used by Kate Ellis in her Wesley Peterson series.

And to be honest, the resolution just didn't make sense to me.

Looking at the reviews, I think I'm in the minority however.

And, as mentioned before, keeping up with characters is always an issue, and with two investigations and maybe whodunit folks, the use of John in one place and Smith in another and John Smith in a third made it harder.

I've enjoyed the series however, and will get #11 should it show up....

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myth in Malmo is the 10th Inspector Anita Sundstrom Mystery by Torquil MacLeod.
I like this series very much. It features Anita Sundstrom - her character is hard-working,
down-to-earth and highly intelligent, with lots of personality.
I like the Swedish location, full of cultural and historical information.
The author has a very interesting, personal story.
I have read every title and can highly recommend each and every one.
The past and present intercepting in both cases that Anita Sundstrom and the team are
investigating. That much take so much research and plotting. I admire that.
The book includes:
a prologue - Kiev 1016
A Glossary of Viking names and terms
a map of Viggo Flatnose’s world 1016
a map of Southern Skane
An Epilogue
Notes, Acknowledgements and an About the Author section.
Great Title. Great Series. *****

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like it was written by a different author. Very boring.