The Perfect Place to Die

by Inger Wolf, Mark Kline (Translator)

A dead man in a haunted forest. A tape that shouldn’t exist. A guesthouse with secrets.

When Danish biologist Casper Vitanen is found dead in Japan’s most notorious forest, Lieutenant Detective Daniel Trokic is dispatched to investigate. The local police have already ruled it a suicide—but an anonymous letter to the victim’s father claims that an audio recording from a bird station in the forest tells a different story.

Casper had been working on a pharmaceutical research project deep in the forest, staying with four colleagues at the secluded guesthouse Green Planet. This is where Trokic begins his investigation. But navigating Japanese culture proves difficult. No one wants to speak openly—not even the police. And the deeper he digs, the more he senses that the people at Green Planet are hiding something.

Dark, atmospheric, and razor-sharp, this Nordic noir with a Japanese twist will keep you awake all night.

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2025

About the author

Inspired by the Darkness

Inger Wolf is an International Bestselling Danish mystery and thriller writer.

Her first mystery novel, Dark September, for which she was awarded the Danish Crime Academy's debut prize, was published in 2006. Since then, her bestselling books have been translated into several languages.

She loves to travel and get inspiration to her books from all over the world, but lives in the outskirts of the town of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, close to the forest and the sea. In this beautiful place, she got a degree in English and worked as a translator for many years.

Today, Inger Wolf works as a full-time author. The household also includes a dog called Harry Hole, named after one of her favorite detectives, and a cat called Mis (Kitty).

Books to date:

On the Side (Danish)
Dark September (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, French, Spanish)
Frost and Ashes (Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, Spanish)
The Song Bird (Danish, Dutch)
The Wasp Nest (Danish, French)
Evil Water (Danish, French)
Under a Black Sky (Danish, English)
The Perfect Place to Die (Danish)
Burned Souls (Danish)
The Crow Man (Danish)

Reviews

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Wolf has written an eerie, unsettling, and very atmospheric story in The Perfect Place to Die. She has woven a setting that will resonate with fans of psychological thrillers. And the m.o. of the killer in this story is one I haven't heard of before. Well, at least part of it. The deepest recesses of the human psyche are once again revealed in all their depravity. I wanted to tell myself that the things Ms. Wolf was writing about were just fiction; unfortunately, all one has to do is search online to discover that there are things much worse out there. But it was still very unsettling, which one would think would deter me from reading further. But no, it only spurred me on. I highly recommend this series and can't wait to see what comes next. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. Danish noir set in Japan, more specifically the Aokigahara Forest on the flanks of Mount Fuji. The forest has an infamous reputation as the Suicide Forest and the home of yurei, Japanese ghosts. A Danish scientist, Casper is found hanging in the forest, the Japanese authorities sign it off quickly as a suicide, but the victim’s father isn’t so sure and a Danish-Croatian detective, Daniel Trokic is sent from Denmark to investigate. This is the seventh book featuring this detective but you don’t need to have read the previous ones to enjoy this. There is a clash of cultures, the Japanese authorities do not want to open a murder investigation and to investigate Trokic pretends he is a Croatian journalist. The forest is very eerie, there are few animals in the forest and it is easy to get lost as GPS and mobile phone coverage is patchy. Casper was working with a small team of scientists looking into the pharmaceutical properties of the wild mushrooms growing in the forest. The team seem to have something to hide and most of Trokic’s help comes from a colleague back in Denmark. The pacing is good, building to a thrilling climax as the pieces of the mystery finally come together. Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for a free copy of the book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this seventh book, Daniel is once again venturing outside Denmark. This time he is sent to Japan to look into the death of a Danish biologist which is deemed a suicide but his father receives an audio file and a claim that it wasn't. As he has no authority there, his task is made more difficult.

I loved once again the different setting and the whole forest location felt very realistically spooky. Finding out more about Japanese culture and beliefs was great and I felt Daniel's frustration as he tried to work in a very limited capacity. I was very wrong with my guessing of the killer. Without giving anything away, I liked the little continuation from the previous book and am eager to see how this pans out in the next one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have absolutely loved Asian cultures for as long as I can remember so this really excited me. I really love that things were correctly done as far as the mannerisms, customs, culture, etc. I loved the legends too. So so many legends and stories from old in Japan. This one intrigued me because of Kiyoshi. I was hoping In reading that passage, that it wouldn't have ended that way. And then to find out the details. That was rough. This was honestly a very hard read all things considering, BUT I absolutely loved it. The characters, the mystery, everything. Look forward to the next one

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

#7 in the series, 7 stars if possible

If I could give this more than 5 stars I certainly would. The scope of this story, and mystery, is huge and pulls you in to every nook and cranny available. There's our Danish hero, there's Japanese history and mythology, there's ecological ethics, and there's so much depth to the mystery. Wow. Just don't miss this one.

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect place to die

Give stars definitely I have read every book in this series and they have just got better in hoping there is more to follow I can only hope

[Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what, I cannot get enough of Inger Wolf's novels! The darkness is exciting; the multilayered characters are fascinating, and every single story is gripping!

The Perfect Place to Die is a perfect blend of Scandinavian crime/police procedural and Japanese folklore/traditions. And I loved that despite all the mysticism, it was still anchored in reality. I am really looking forward to see what Wolf will offer us next!

*Novel from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review!

[Nisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this atmospheric and chilling thriller. The author does an incredible job capturing the unsettling dread of the Aokigahara forest — every scene feels wrapped in mist and uncertainty. The isolation of the setting added a constant sense of fear that kept me turning pages. I loved how the story builds slowly, creating tension that lingers long after you stop reading. The eerie vibe is strong throughout, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. If you enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with a genuinely scary edge, this one is definitely worth picking up.