Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this riveting eARC.
In the Dark by Lina Areklew is a tense, atmospheric Scandi noir that blends the urgency of a missing child case with the raw vulnerabilities of its lead detective, creating a story that is both gripping and emotionally layered.
Lina Areklew’s In the Dark situates readers in the snow-covered town of Örnsköldsvik, where a four-year-old girl vanishes from her home, followed by another family member. This escalating crisis sets the stage for a race against time, and the novel thrives on the tension between the ticking clock and the psychological strain of those searching.
At the center is Detective Sofia Hjortén, a protagonist who embodies the contradictions of strength and fragility. She is heavily pregnant, balancing the demands of her profession with the turbulence of her personal life. This duality makes her compelling: she is not a detached investigator but a woman whose own vulnerabilities sharpen the stakes of the case. Her exhaustion, doubts, and determination bring a human dimension to the procedural framework, reminding us that resilience often emerges under pressure.
The novel’s setting is integral to its mood. The snowbound landscape is not just a backdrop but a force that shapes the investigation—cold, isolating, and relentless. Areklew uses the environment to heighten suspense, evoking the claustrophobic chill of Scandi noir while grounding the narrative in a community where secrets and silence can be as dangerous as the crime itself.
Structurally, the book balances procedural detail with psychological depth. The investigation unfolds with methodical precision, yet the narrative never loses sight of the emotional toll on its characters. Sofia’s strained relationship with her current and her ex boyfriend, her looming motherhood, and her professional responsibilities intersect in ways that make the story less about solving a mystery and more about confronting the limits of endurance.
What distinguishes In the Dark is its emotional resonance. The missing child storyline is harrowing, but Areklew avoids sensationalism. Instead, she focuses on the ripple effects—how disappearance destabilizes families, communities, and even the investigators themselves. The novel asks whether light can be found in the darkest circumstances, and whether personal survival is possible when professional duty demands everything.
For readers drawn to Nordic noir with strong female leads and minimal romantic distraction, this book delivers. It is not just a thriller but a meditation on responsibility, vulnerability, and the fragile balance between personal and professional identity.
This reader, a fan of Nordic Noir and police procedurals, found this book to be a perfect 5 star read.