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Berit Gardner #3
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly: A Novel
When DCI Ian Ahmed agrees—reluctantly—to convalesce on a remote island in the Stockholm archipelago, he expects nothing more than bitter winds, silence, and boredom. But just across the bay, a sleek, modern house stirs to life. Staff arrive in dark clothing, cleaning and prepping with military precision. And then Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén appears—legend of the art world, notorious matriarch, and, as Ian soon learns, a woman used to bending the world to her will. She's come to the island to celebrate her eightieth birthday, dragging her fractious, resentful family with her—and inviting Ian and his enigmatic hostess, Berit Gardner, along for the ride.
But before the candles are blown out, Margrethe is dead—fallen from the cliff into the frigid sea during a stormy night. Accident? Suicide? Ian is certain it was murder. Trapped in a landscape of muted colors and long, creeping shadows, he and Berit begin to unravel the toxic family secrets festering behind Margrethe's imposing legacy. As winter deepens and the ice seals the island in silence, the question echoes who stood to gain the most from the matriarch's fall? And how long will the killer wait before striking again?
But before the candles are blown out, Margrethe is dead—fallen from the cliff into the frigid sea during a stormy night. Accident? Suicide? Ian is certain it was murder. Trapped in a landscape of muted colors and long, creeping shadows, he and Berit begin to unravel the toxic family secrets festering behind Margrethe's imposing legacy. As winter deepens and the ice seals the island in silence, the question echoes who stood to gain the most from the matriarch's fall? And how long will the killer wait before striking again?
368 pages, Hardcover
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
Katarina Bivald
9 books935 followersKatarina Bivald is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and The Murders in Great Diddling.
She grew up working part-time in a bookshop and lives in Sweden outside Stockholm with her books and her dog.
She grew up working part-time in a bookshop and lives in Sweden outside Stockholm with her books and her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 31, 2026
EXCERPT: 'We're not exactly a warm and loving bunch. In all honesty, we can't stand one another. When I realized we had a famous author living just across the water, I decided to come over right away. We could do with some new faces if we're going to get through the evening without killing one another.'
'Without killing one another?' Ian repeated.
'I'm sure several of them are fantasizing about doing me in as we speak.'
He must have looked concerned, because she laughed and added, 'Don't worry. I'm afraid I won't be able to offer you any murders to solve. I know how it must seem: an old woman whom everyone hates, bringing the family together on a remote island in the archipelago. Practically setting the scene for someone to kill the old crone, aren't I?'
'I'm sure they don't hate -'
She waved her hand impatiently. 'None of them would shed a tear if I died, I assure you. But don't worry, I have no intention of letting anyone do me in.'
ABOUT 'THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY': One matriarch. One powerful family. And one very suspicious fall.
If you've spent your entire life running your family as ruthlessly as you've run the family business, it is perhaps not the best idea to gather them all on a cold and dark remote island to celebrate your eightieth birthday. At the very least, it makes for a tense dinner party. And at worst...
When Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén falls to her death during the celebration of her eightieth birthday, Ian Ahmed is convinced it's murder. Trapped in a wintery landscape of muted colors and creeping shadows, he and novelist Berit Gardner struggle to unravel the toxic family secrets behind Margrethe's imposing legacy. As winter deepens and the ice seals the islands in silence, the question echoes louder: who stood to gain the most from the matriarch's fall? And how long before the killer strikes again?
MY THOUGHTS: Atmospheric and intriguing!
I'm enjoying this series, especially because the author has not fallen into the trap of many series writers and simply regurgitated a tired old plot in a new setting. With each book we learn more about Ian Ahmed and Berit Gardner and this time we are on Berit's home turf of Sweden, on a small island with winter rapidly approaching.
The Cullenberg-Franzén family are appalling. Appalling AND entertaining. The mystery is not an easy one to solve because it seems EVERYONE had a motive to kill Margrethe. My killer detector was swinging wildly from suspect to suspect throughout.
But the venom of the Cullenberg-Franzén family is balanced by the warmth and largesse of the Bosse family who insert themselves into Berit's life. Berit has come to the island to resolve her own personal crisis but finds herself diverted as events overtake her.
I found this hard to put down and can't wait for the next book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheWomanWhoWouldntDieQuietly #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: KATARINA BIVALD grew up working part-time in a bookshop and lives in Sweden outside Stockholm with her books and her dog.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing a DRC of The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly by Katarina Bivald for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my own personal opinions.
'Without killing one another?' Ian repeated.
'I'm sure several of them are fantasizing about doing me in as we speak.'
He must have looked concerned, because she laughed and added, 'Don't worry. I'm afraid I won't be able to offer you any murders to solve. I know how it must seem: an old woman whom everyone hates, bringing the family together on a remote island in the archipelago. Practically setting the scene for someone to kill the old crone, aren't I?'
'I'm sure they don't hate -'
She waved her hand impatiently. 'None of them would shed a tear if I died, I assure you. But don't worry, I have no intention of letting anyone do me in.'
ABOUT 'THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY': One matriarch. One powerful family. And one very suspicious fall.
If you've spent your entire life running your family as ruthlessly as you've run the family business, it is perhaps not the best idea to gather them all on a cold and dark remote island to celebrate your eightieth birthday. At the very least, it makes for a tense dinner party. And at worst...
When Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén falls to her death during the celebration of her eightieth birthday, Ian Ahmed is convinced it's murder. Trapped in a wintery landscape of muted colors and creeping shadows, he and novelist Berit Gardner struggle to unravel the toxic family secrets behind Margrethe's imposing legacy. As winter deepens and the ice seals the islands in silence, the question echoes louder: who stood to gain the most from the matriarch's fall? And how long before the killer strikes again?
MY THOUGHTS: Atmospheric and intriguing!
I'm enjoying this series, especially because the author has not fallen into the trap of many series writers and simply regurgitated a tired old plot in a new setting. With each book we learn more about Ian Ahmed and Berit Gardner and this time we are on Berit's home turf of Sweden, on a small island with winter rapidly approaching.
The Cullenberg-Franzén family are appalling. Appalling AND entertaining. The mystery is not an easy one to solve because it seems EVERYONE had a motive to kill Margrethe. My killer detector was swinging wildly from suspect to suspect throughout.
But the venom of the Cullenberg-Franzén family is balanced by the warmth and largesse of the Bosse family who insert themselves into Berit's life. Berit has come to the island to resolve her own personal crisis but finds herself diverted as events overtake her.
I found this hard to put down and can't wait for the next book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheWomanWhoWouldntDieQuietly #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: KATARINA BIVALD grew up working part-time in a bookshop and lives in Sweden outside Stockholm with her books and her dog.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for providing a DRC of The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly by Katarina Bivald for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my own personal opinions.
August 11, 2026
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly a Berit Gardner cozy mystery
This one starts mainly with DCI Ian Ahmed's POV, which is interesting, because we read about Berit from his perspective. While he is frustrated at being off-duty while his injury heals, he spends his time observing Berit, as well as observing the folks across the bay with binoculars. Berit and Ian are invited by Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén to her birthday party. At the party, the family is in constant arguments, and don't seem to particularly like each other. Margrethe even tells Ian she fears for her life. Margrethe does not get the chance to explain further, as she falls from the cliff to her death that very night. While the local police, and her family, want to call it an accident, Berit and Ian are sure it was murder. But everyone in the family seems to have a motive, so how will they determine the true killer?
This installment we gained a deeper understanding of Berit, and her very somber life outlook. As she approaches a "milestone" birthday that she is not sure she will get through, she is simultaneously working on clues to Margrethe's death, as well as organizing her own life. I think it was brave of Berit to decide to "winter" in the Stockholm archipelago, considering how isolated it is with few people remaining. As Berit is working through clues to the murder, another mystery occurs, adding even more possibilities to the case. I think a unique part of this story is that Berit is able to do a lot of sleuthing, sort of away from the eyes of the authorities, since she is on such a remote location. Of course, that doesn't stop DCI Ahmed from calling her constantly to warn her from doing anything dangerous!
This one had me stumped for quite a while, but by the time Berit got to the big reveal, I felt I might have a good guess as to the murderer, but I was in no way sure how it had been accomplished. I loved the way Berit questioned each family member, and even put herself on their side to gain their trust. In the end Berit solved the case, that almost caused more deaths! But it was yet another great case for Berit Gardner, and I look forward to what she finds herself solving next! I also loved the neighbors, Bosse and Marie, who also stayed through winter, and brought a warmth and community for Berit throughout the story.
I think while this one started a little slow, with more detail about Berit and DCI Ahmed than the mystery itself, it did pick up, and that back story offered a closeness to the character for the reader. So I did appreciate that too.
Some fav quotes:
"Maybe it looked more inviting during the summer, he thought. But right now, on a cold, quiet day in October, it was dark and ominous, like the calm before a storm."
"It was over a dessert of kale ice cream that things really went downhill."
"There was no such thing as privacy when it came to murder."
"“And you’ve never considered just sitting down at your desk to do some actual work?” “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s impossible to think at a desk.”"
"“I don’t like this part of murder inquiries.” “Which part?” “The one where even seemingly decent people turn out to be killers.”"
"usually to vent about her (Marsch) favorite subject: Berit’s complete and utter inability to capitalize on the sheer number of dead bodies that seemed to crop up in her life. How could a writer be involved in so many murder cases and refuse to write about it?"
"Death was one experience she wouldn’t be able to write about. That was a shame, really, because what a book that would be. The final moment, the very last thoughts, a consciousness that ceased to exist right as the book came to an end…"
This one starts mainly with DCI Ian Ahmed's POV, which is interesting, because we read about Berit from his perspective. While he is frustrated at being off-duty while his injury heals, he spends his time observing Berit, as well as observing the folks across the bay with binoculars. Berit and Ian are invited by Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén to her birthday party. At the party, the family is in constant arguments, and don't seem to particularly like each other. Margrethe even tells Ian she fears for her life. Margrethe does not get the chance to explain further, as she falls from the cliff to her death that very night. While the local police, and her family, want to call it an accident, Berit and Ian are sure it was murder. But everyone in the family seems to have a motive, so how will they determine the true killer?
This installment we gained a deeper understanding of Berit, and her very somber life outlook. As she approaches a "milestone" birthday that she is not sure she will get through, she is simultaneously working on clues to Margrethe's death, as well as organizing her own life. I think it was brave of Berit to decide to "winter" in the Stockholm archipelago, considering how isolated it is with few people remaining. As Berit is working through clues to the murder, another mystery occurs, adding even more possibilities to the case. I think a unique part of this story is that Berit is able to do a lot of sleuthing, sort of away from the eyes of the authorities, since she is on such a remote location. Of course, that doesn't stop DCI Ahmed from calling her constantly to warn her from doing anything dangerous!
This one had me stumped for quite a while, but by the time Berit got to the big reveal, I felt I might have a good guess as to the murderer, but I was in no way sure how it had been accomplished. I loved the way Berit questioned each family member, and even put herself on their side to gain their trust. In the end Berit solved the case, that almost caused more deaths! But it was yet another great case for Berit Gardner, and I look forward to what she finds herself solving next! I also loved the neighbors, Bosse and Marie, who also stayed through winter, and brought a warmth and community for Berit throughout the story.
I think while this one started a little slow, with more detail about Berit and DCI Ahmed than the mystery itself, it did pick up, and that back story offered a closeness to the character for the reader. So I did appreciate that too.
Some fav quotes:
"Maybe it looked more inviting during the summer, he thought. But right now, on a cold, quiet day in October, it was dark and ominous, like the calm before a storm."
"It was over a dessert of kale ice cream that things really went downhill."
"There was no such thing as privacy when it came to murder."
"“And you’ve never considered just sitting down at your desk to do some actual work?” “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s impossible to think at a desk.”"
"“I don’t like this part of murder inquiries.” “Which part?” “The one where even seemingly decent people turn out to be killers.”"
"usually to vent about her (Marsch) favorite subject: Berit’s complete and utter inability to capitalize on the sheer number of dead bodies that seemed to crop up in her life. How could a writer be involved in so many murder cases and refuse to write about it?"
"Death was one experience she wouldn’t be able to write about. That was a shame, really, because what a book that would be. The final moment, the very last thoughts, a consciousness that ceased to exist right as the book came to an end…"
August 20, 2026
My favorite Swedish crime solving author is back!
This book in the series is a little different from the other two in its mood. This time she’s in her home country of Sweden and the book takes a more melancholy tone as we focus on Berit dealing with her past and the concept of mortality. This was great to see as character development, but it didn’t make me excited to keep reading as the previous books in the series did.
The mystery itself was darker but still super enjoyable! The reveal was crazy and I just love how Berit (along with Ian of course) figured it out and brought the case to a close.
I’m so excited for the next book in the series - especially since we’re going back to Diddling!!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
This book in the series is a little different from the other two in its mood. This time she’s in her home country of Sweden and the book takes a more melancholy tone as we focus on Berit dealing with her past and the concept of mortality. This was great to see as character development, but it didn’t make me excited to keep reading as the previous books in the series did.
The mystery itself was darker but still super enjoyable! The reveal was crazy and I just love how Berit (along with Ian of course) figured it out and brought the case to a close.
I’m so excited for the next book in the series - especially since we’re going back to Diddling!!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The mystery writer Berit Gardner is away from her home in Cornwall and her sojourn in Lyon. She’s back in her native Sweden, on an island in the Stockholm archipelago, in the tiny cottage built and expanded by her grandparents and parents. She has a long to-do list to repair and maintain the cottage, but her plans didn’t include hosting her old friend DS Ian Ahmed, whom she met back in her first case of meddling in a police investigation back in Great Diddling. In scenes a little reminiscent of the movie Rear Window, Ahmed is recuperating from a broken leg, sleeping on a daybed in the living room and entertaining himself watching nature—and other island neighbors—through binoculars.
It’s a glorious fall, and Berit announces that she plans to stay in the cottage through the winter. One of the small mysteries of the book is why she has made this decision. It certainly worries Ahmed, who will need to return to England in just a couple of weeks, and all the neighbors harp on how lonely she will be—though Berit has never shown any signs of needing much company.
Both Berit and Ian are intrigued by the nearby island estate of Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen, the well-known art patron and owner of three galleries. There is a large, modern, vertiginous mansion on the island, as well as some smaller buildings, and the mansion is suddenly a hive of activity, with work crews and delivery people back and forth in boats. One boat seems to be heading their way, and it contains Margrethe, coming to introduce herself and invite them to her 80th birthday dinner with her son Wilhelm and his wife Elisabeth, her daughter Louise, her stepson Simon, grandchildren Carl-Wilhelm and Ebba, and family lawyer.
The dinner is a horror, with family conflict raging around the table, seemingly instigated by the imperious and hyper-critical Margrethe. At the end of the dinner, before Berit and Ian have had a chance to row themselves out of the war zone, there is a terrible death—as so often seems to happen around Berit. Accident or murder is the key question, with the family insisting on accident and the local cop shop keeping an open mind but leaning that way, too. This is the opening of Berit’s latest amateur investigation, which is greeted by local police detective, Sven, with as much mixed exasperation and admiration as Ian felt back in Great Diddling, two books ago, when it was his investigation Berit stuck her nose in. There is more horror to come before Berit solves the case—and I’m not talking about just the horror of the times Berit is forced to socialize with neighbors over the holidays.
This is my favorite of the three Berit Gardner books. The setting is so well drawn that nature and the elements form another character—a mercurial one. Berit’s solitude and introspection reveal her character to the reader much more. And the mystery is an intriguing one. With so few physical clues, it’s Berit’s delving into the family’s relationships that will be the only way to figure out what happened on that nearby island.
It’s a glorious fall, and Berit announces that she plans to stay in the cottage through the winter. One of the small mysteries of the book is why she has made this decision. It certainly worries Ahmed, who will need to return to England in just a couple of weeks, and all the neighbors harp on how lonely she will be—though Berit has never shown any signs of needing much company.
Both Berit and Ian are intrigued by the nearby island estate of Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen, the well-known art patron and owner of three galleries. There is a large, modern, vertiginous mansion on the island, as well as some smaller buildings, and the mansion is suddenly a hive of activity, with work crews and delivery people back and forth in boats. One boat seems to be heading their way, and it contains Margrethe, coming to introduce herself and invite them to her 80th birthday dinner with her son Wilhelm and his wife Elisabeth, her daughter Louise, her stepson Simon, grandchildren Carl-Wilhelm and Ebba, and family lawyer.
The dinner is a horror, with family conflict raging around the table, seemingly instigated by the imperious and hyper-critical Margrethe. At the end of the dinner, before Berit and Ian have had a chance to row themselves out of the war zone, there is a terrible death—as so often seems to happen around Berit. Accident or murder is the key question, with the family insisting on accident and the local cop shop keeping an open mind but leaning that way, too. This is the opening of Berit’s latest amateur investigation, which is greeted by local police detective, Sven, with as much mixed exasperation and admiration as Ian felt back in Great Diddling, two books ago, when it was his investigation Berit stuck her nose in. There is more horror to come before Berit solves the case—and I’m not talking about just the horror of the times Berit is forced to socialize with neighbors over the holidays.
This is my favorite of the three Berit Gardner books. The setting is so well drawn that nature and the elements form another character—a mercurial one. Berit’s solitude and introspection reveal her character to the reader much more. And the mystery is an intriguing one. With so few physical clues, it’s Berit’s delving into the family’s relationships that will be the only way to figure out what happened on that nearby island.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Katarina Bivald is one of the more interesting new writers I can think of. Three books in, she’s changing up her own village cozy formula, and taking her main character, writer Berit Gardner, to the wilds of Sweden. While the first two books are set in the British and the French countrysides, respectively, in this one Bivald takes her character to her native Sweden. Berit is staying at her grandparent’s cottage on a remote island that is only accessible by boat, and when the water freezes, not at all. As the book opens, she has a houseguest – DCI Ian Ahmed, encountered in the first novel, The Murders in Great Diddling.
Ahmed is recovering from a leg injury on Berit’s living room day bed, and keeping a close watch on the neighbors, who live in a towering modern monstrosity across the bay. As he’s putting away his binoculars one morning, the owner of the monstrosity appears and invites him and Berit (who is off on a walk) to her birthday party that evening. Reluctantly, the two agree to attend. Berit “dresses up” for the occasion in a new Nordic sweater, but she finds a formal family group assembled at the house for the matriarch’s birthday. They also find an incredibly uncomfortable and tense atmosphere, with simmering hatred and resentment on full display, much of it directed at the matriarch herself, Margarethe.
Later, when Margarethe is dispatched (perhaps the only obvious element in this otherwise unpredictable novel), Berit and Ian are sure it’s no accident though that’s the theory the police embrace full on. When there’s another death a few months later, Berit is more than convinced that not only are the two deaths linked, but both of them are murders. The investigative path she takes to arrive at a solution is a slightly belabored and slow one.
While the first two books were quintessentially classic village cozies, this book could not be more Swedish, with Berit choosing to spend the winter alone in her isolated cottage, ruminating on her mortality. She’s moved by the memories of her grandparents as she ruminates but also top of mind are the two deaths, which she continues to investigate despite the protests of both Ian and the local Detective in charge of the case, who is named, of course, Sven.
The tone is quite different from the first two books and feels like it’s a book by a writer trying to find solid footing in the crime fiction universe she’s chosen to inhabit. Bivald is an original thinker and a wonderful writer. Her prose is lovely and she’s great at delineating memorable characters. Margarethe’s daughter, Louise, is an especially memorable heartbreaker. However, this book is a bit leaden, while the first two frothed and sparkled. It may be the setting, so I was delighted to see that the next book finds Berit back in Great Diddling, investigating a death at a wedding. I will continue to embrace books by Bivald as she is both unpredictable and original, a unique and rare combination in any writer.
Ahmed is recovering from a leg injury on Berit’s living room day bed, and keeping a close watch on the neighbors, who live in a towering modern monstrosity across the bay. As he’s putting away his binoculars one morning, the owner of the monstrosity appears and invites him and Berit (who is off on a walk) to her birthday party that evening. Reluctantly, the two agree to attend. Berit “dresses up” for the occasion in a new Nordic sweater, but she finds a formal family group assembled at the house for the matriarch’s birthday. They also find an incredibly uncomfortable and tense atmosphere, with simmering hatred and resentment on full display, much of it directed at the matriarch herself, Margarethe.
Later, when Margarethe is dispatched (perhaps the only obvious element in this otherwise unpredictable novel), Berit and Ian are sure it’s no accident though that’s the theory the police embrace full on. When there’s another death a few months later, Berit is more than convinced that not only are the two deaths linked, but both of them are murders. The investigative path she takes to arrive at a solution is a slightly belabored and slow one.
While the first two books were quintessentially classic village cozies, this book could not be more Swedish, with Berit choosing to spend the winter alone in her isolated cottage, ruminating on her mortality. She’s moved by the memories of her grandparents as she ruminates but also top of mind are the two deaths, which she continues to investigate despite the protests of both Ian and the local Detective in charge of the case, who is named, of course, Sven.
The tone is quite different from the first two books and feels like it’s a book by a writer trying to find solid footing in the crime fiction universe she’s chosen to inhabit. Bivald is an original thinker and a wonderful writer. Her prose is lovely and she’s great at delineating memorable characters. Margarethe’s daughter, Louise, is an especially memorable heartbreaker. However, this book is a bit leaden, while the first two frothed and sparkled. It may be the setting, so I was delighted to see that the next book finds Berit back in Great Diddling, investigating a death at a wedding. I will continue to embrace books by Bivald as she is both unpredictable and original, a unique and rare combination in any writer.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Katarina Bivald’s The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly proves that nothing says “happy birthday” quite like a rich, resentful family, a raging storm, and a body at the bottom of a cliff. Poisoned Pen Press, thank you so much for the gifted book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Who stood to gain the most from the matriarch’s fall?”
DCI Ian Ahmed is supposed to be resting his broken leg at Berit Gardner’s remote cottage in the Stockholm archipelago. Instead, he spends his recovery watching the neighbors through binoculars, which honestly feels like a perfectly reasonable hobby when you’re trapped on an island with very little to do.
Across the water sits an enormous modern house belonging to Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén, a powerful art-world matriarch who has gathered her family together for her eightieth birthday. Berit and Ian reluctantly attend the dinner, and it doesn’t take long to realize this family has enough anger, secrets, and old grudges to fill several islands.
Margrethe is demanding, cruel, and clearly not winning any Mother of the Year awards. When she falls from a cliff before the evening is over, her family seems awfully eager to call it an accident. Ian and Berit aren’t buying it.
I really liked Berit and Ian together. Ian may be the actual detective, but Berit follows her instincts wherever they lead, occasionally ignoring common sense and everyone telling her to stop. She’s observant, stubborn, deeply private, and far more complicated than I expected. Her decision to remain alone at the cottage through the Swedish winter also adds another mystery quietly simmering underneath the murder investigation.
The isolated setting was one of my favorite parts. The freezing water, darkening days, and approaching ice made the whole story feel closed in, as though the islands were slowly trapping everyone with their secrets. This is more of a thoughtful, character-driven mystery than a race-through-it thriller, but I enjoyed watching each family relationship crack open.
The ending managed to surprise me, which earns major points because I suspected nearly everyone—including people who probably weren’t even near the cliff.
I’d hand this to readers who love atmospheric whodunits, prickly amateur sleuths, wealthy families behaving terribly, and mysteries that take their time revealing what everyone is hiding.
Would you attend a birthday dinner with a family that clearly hates one another—or would you suddenly remember you left the oven on?
#TheWomanWhoWouldntDieQuietly #KatarinaBivald #BeritGardner #MysteryBooks #MysteryThriller #ScandinavianMystery #PoisonedPenPress
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Who stood to gain the most from the matriarch’s fall?”
DCI Ian Ahmed is supposed to be resting his broken leg at Berit Gardner’s remote cottage in the Stockholm archipelago. Instead, he spends his recovery watching the neighbors through binoculars, which honestly feels like a perfectly reasonable hobby when you’re trapped on an island with very little to do.
Across the water sits an enormous modern house belonging to Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén, a powerful art-world matriarch who has gathered her family together for her eightieth birthday. Berit and Ian reluctantly attend the dinner, and it doesn’t take long to realize this family has enough anger, secrets, and old grudges to fill several islands.
Margrethe is demanding, cruel, and clearly not winning any Mother of the Year awards. When she falls from a cliff before the evening is over, her family seems awfully eager to call it an accident. Ian and Berit aren’t buying it.
I really liked Berit and Ian together. Ian may be the actual detective, but Berit follows her instincts wherever they lead, occasionally ignoring common sense and everyone telling her to stop. She’s observant, stubborn, deeply private, and far more complicated than I expected. Her decision to remain alone at the cottage through the Swedish winter also adds another mystery quietly simmering underneath the murder investigation.
The isolated setting was one of my favorite parts. The freezing water, darkening days, and approaching ice made the whole story feel closed in, as though the islands were slowly trapping everyone with their secrets. This is more of a thoughtful, character-driven mystery than a race-through-it thriller, but I enjoyed watching each family relationship crack open.
The ending managed to surprise me, which earns major points because I suspected nearly everyone—including people who probably weren’t even near the cliff.
I’d hand this to readers who love atmospheric whodunits, prickly amateur sleuths, wealthy families behaving terribly, and mysteries that take their time revealing what everyone is hiding.
Would you attend a birthday dinner with a family that clearly hates one another—or would you suddenly remember you left the oven on?
#TheWomanWhoWouldntDieQuietly #KatarinaBivald #BeritGardner #MysteryBooks #MysteryThriller #ScandinavianMystery #PoisonedPenPress
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Berit Gardner and her friend, Detective Ian Ahmed, are spending some time at her family's small cottage on an island outside of Stockholm. Ian is recovering from a broken leg and Berit is happy to spend some time at the cottage her grandparents owned. With not a lot to do, Ian uses binoculars to watch people on another island not far away. They soon discover that the woman who owns the largest house, Margrethe Cullberg-Franzen, is a gallery owner. She is celebrating a birthday and invites Ian and Berit to attend. The other guests are her children, a step-son, her lawyer, and two grandchildren. Berit and Ian are increasingly uncomfortable as the evening wears on when Margarethe shows her cruel side. She belittles her son and ignores her daughter. Her step-son, Simon, on the other hand, can do no wrong. With tensions building, Margarethe asks her daughter to meet her outside. Soon afterwards, everyone hears a scream. Margarethe has fallen to her death from a the cliff. As the police try to determine whether her death was an accident or murder, Berit can't resist getting involved in the case. Even after Ian returns home to England, Berit stays behind and attempts to work out which of the many people in her life might be capable of killing Margarethe.
The chapters that take place on the island begin with listings of air and water temperatures. I'm not sure what that is supposed to add to the story, since I think most people are aware it is cold in Sweden in February. The pace of the story is quite slow, and the first half is inexplicably filled with Berit's counting down the days until her birthday. On that birthday, she will have outlived her mother, so she's convinced that she will die before reaching it. So, she sets about doing all the things she needs to finish before she "dies" -- cleaning the windows, repairing the roof, sorting through boxes. Why??? All the pointless housework, described in detail, didn't add anything to the already slow pace of the action. At the end, of course Berit gathers the suspects, Ian, and the local police chief to the island to lay out who was responsible for the tragic events on the island. This was the third book in the series featuring Berit and Ian, and some of their previous adventures are mentioned throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.
The chapters that take place on the island begin with listings of air and water temperatures. I'm not sure what that is supposed to add to the story, since I think most people are aware it is cold in Sweden in February. The pace of the story is quite slow, and the first half is inexplicably filled with Berit's counting down the days until her birthday. On that birthday, she will have outlived her mother, so she's convinced that she will die before reaching it. So, she sets about doing all the things she needs to finish before she "dies" -- cleaning the windows, repairing the roof, sorting through boxes. Why??? All the pointless housework, described in detail, didn't add anything to the already slow pace of the action. At the end, of course Berit gathers the suspects, Ian, and the local police chief to the island to lay out who was responsible for the tragic events on the island. This was the third book in the series featuring Berit and Ian, and some of their previous adventures are mentioned throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
One matriarch. One powerful family. And one very suspicious fall.
Set across the Stockholm Archipelago islands, we are introduced to crime writer Berit, who is staying in her family cottage on one of the islands, and her friend Ian, an English detective chief inspector visiting her from England.
When Berit and Ian accept an invitation to the home of Art world matriarch Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén for her 80th birthday, they quickly accept. As they cross to her island, they experience more than just dinner! Her children, grandchildren and family friends are also present and it seems that no one likes anyone …
After plenty of awkward moments during each course, Margrethe takes a stroll on finishing her meal, only to fall to her death from a cliff. Was this an awful accident or something more sinister? If she was murdered, are they safe or will the killer strike again?
Berit and Ian, alongside Swedish Detective Sven, try to figure out what happened on the evening of the death. Toxic family secrets come undone and every member of the family becomes a suspect, with each individual benefiting from the matriarchs death.
There are lots of interesting themes within this story. There is the police and private investigation, family drama and Berit questioning her own mortality which greatly influences her decision making. There is also the influence of the adverse weather and harsh environment which gives a claustrophobic element to the story and interestingly, each chapter starts with the days temperature to show the change in season which I loved! 🌡️
Another strong theme is that of family inheritance. On one hand, we have Berit in her dilapidated but much loved cottage left by her grandparents compared with the Cullberg-Franzen’s and their multimillion pound island, fancy architectural home and art galleries. But as this book shows, money does not bring happiness or independence and I know which world I would rather be in! *cottage life please!*
Complex characters, environment and a ‘whodunnit’ style story, with an unexpected ending, this is the first book of Katarina Bivald I have read and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgallery, Poisoned Pen Press and Katarina Bivald for the ARC copy of this book!
One matriarch. One powerful family. And one very suspicious fall.
Set across the Stockholm Archipelago islands, we are introduced to crime writer Berit, who is staying in her family cottage on one of the islands, and her friend Ian, an English detective chief inspector visiting her from England.
When Berit and Ian accept an invitation to the home of Art world matriarch Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén for her 80th birthday, they quickly accept. As they cross to her island, they experience more than just dinner! Her children, grandchildren and family friends are also present and it seems that no one likes anyone …
After plenty of awkward moments during each course, Margrethe takes a stroll on finishing her meal, only to fall to her death from a cliff. Was this an awful accident or something more sinister? If she was murdered, are they safe or will the killer strike again?
Berit and Ian, alongside Swedish Detective Sven, try to figure out what happened on the evening of the death. Toxic family secrets come undone and every member of the family becomes a suspect, with each individual benefiting from the matriarchs death.
There are lots of interesting themes within this story. There is the police and private investigation, family drama and Berit questioning her own mortality which greatly influences her decision making. There is also the influence of the adverse weather and harsh environment which gives a claustrophobic element to the story and interestingly, each chapter starts with the days temperature to show the change in season which I loved! 🌡️
Another strong theme is that of family inheritance. On one hand, we have Berit in her dilapidated but much loved cottage left by her grandparents compared with the Cullberg-Franzen’s and their multimillion pound island, fancy architectural home and art galleries. But as this book shows, money does not bring happiness or independence and I know which world I would rather be in! *cottage life please!*
Complex characters, environment and a ‘whodunnit’ style story, with an unexpected ending, this is the first book of Katarina Bivald I have read and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgallery, Poisoned Pen Press and Katarina Bivald for the ARC copy of this book!
August 26, 2026
A rich and powerful woman about to turn 80 bring her family and others who work with her together to celebrate her birthday. And along the way, she invite Berit and Berit's guest, Ian Amhed who is there recovering from a broken leg. The party turns out to be anything but joyful as emotions are ripped bare and Margrethe falls to her death on the rocks below her house. Ian thinks it murder but the local police aren't so sure. So begins a long drawn-out investigation as Berit pursues the truth through the long winter on the isolated island archipelago.
This begins from the point of view of Ian which means it goes kind of slowly. He is bored with limited mobility and not being able to work a case (he's a D.I. back in Britain). However, it does give insight into both characters and the ability to see how they grow through the book (not all growth is huge but can still be significant). Even when the death occurs, it doesn't speed up much because the Swedish police are calling it an accident. When the book turns to Berit's pov, Ian has gone back to Britain and she is alone through the winter--well, mostly alone. She is dealing with a lot of emotional baggage which slows the paces of the story as well. But as the winter progresses she pursues the possibility of Margrethe's death being a murder. There are plenty of suspects, but nothing quite fits. It picks up pace as Margrethe, with some help from Ian, finally figures it out.
This is a Scandinavian noir in a series that seems to usually have a cozy feeling (though I can't be sure because this is the first in the series I've read). While, it isn't maybe quite Scandinavian noir, it is a little melancholy as Berit, the main character, confronts mortality as she comes up on a birthday she never expected to see. It also brings up thoughts of her mother who died at the age she is coming up on. And, a Scaninavian winter isn't always the most uplifting. But I do love that the writer shows there is beauty in the winter. It isn't all gloom and doom.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This begins from the point of view of Ian which means it goes kind of slowly. He is bored with limited mobility and not being able to work a case (he's a D.I. back in Britain). However, it does give insight into both characters and the ability to see how they grow through the book (not all growth is huge but can still be significant). Even when the death occurs, it doesn't speed up much because the Swedish police are calling it an accident. When the book turns to Berit's pov, Ian has gone back to Britain and she is alone through the winter--well, mostly alone. She is dealing with a lot of emotional baggage which slows the paces of the story as well. But as the winter progresses she pursues the possibility of Margrethe's death being a murder. There are plenty of suspects, but nothing quite fits. It picks up pace as Margrethe, with some help from Ian, finally figures it out.
This is a Scandinavian noir in a series that seems to usually have a cozy feeling (though I can't be sure because this is the first in the series I've read). While, it isn't maybe quite Scandinavian noir, it is a little melancholy as Berit, the main character, confronts mortality as she comes up on a birthday she never expected to see. It also brings up thoughts of her mother who died at the age she is coming up on. And, a Scaninavian winter isn't always the most uplifting. But I do love that the writer shows there is beauty in the winter. It isn't all gloom and doom.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
This was my first Katarina Bivald mystery, and it definitely won't be my last. While this is the third book in the series, I had no trouble jumping in, and now I want to go back and read the first two. The story follows mystery writer Berit Gardner as she spends the winter at her grandparents' isolated cottage on a small Swedish island. When she and her friend, DCI Ian Ahmed, attend the birthday celebration of a wealthy family matriarch, the evening ends in tragedy after the guest of honor falls to her death. Although the police believe it was an accident, Berit and Ian aren't convinced, especially after another death occurs months later.
The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. The frozen islands, harsh winter weather, and isolated cottages created a quiet, atmospheric backdrop that made the mystery feel even more immersive. I could easily picture the landscape, and it added a unique feel compared to the typical village mystery. I also enjoyed the complicated family dynamics. Every family member seemed to have their own secrets, grudges, and motives, making it difficult to know who could be trusted. The mystery unfolded at a steady pace, and I liked that the focus was just as much on the characters as it was on solving the crime.
This is definitely a slower-paced mystery than many thrillers I read. Berit's reflections on life and family take up a fair amount of the story, so if you're looking for nonstop action, this may not be the right fit. Personally, I found some of those quieter moments slowed the pacing, but they also gave Berit more depth as a character. The ending surprised me, and I appreciated that the solution felt well-earned rather than relying on shock value.
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly is an atmospheric, character-driven mystery with an intriguing setting, dysfunctional family drama, and a classic whodunit feel. If you enjoy slower mysteries with memorable characters and beautiful settings, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.
This was my first Katarina Bivald mystery, and it definitely won't be my last. While this is the third book in the series, I had no trouble jumping in, and now I want to go back and read the first two. The story follows mystery writer Berit Gardner as she spends the winter at her grandparents' isolated cottage on a small Swedish island. When she and her friend, DCI Ian Ahmed, attend the birthday celebration of a wealthy family matriarch, the evening ends in tragedy after the guest of honor falls to her death. Although the police believe it was an accident, Berit and Ian aren't convinced, especially after another death occurs months later.
The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. The frozen islands, harsh winter weather, and isolated cottages created a quiet, atmospheric backdrop that made the mystery feel even more immersive. I could easily picture the landscape, and it added a unique feel compared to the typical village mystery. I also enjoyed the complicated family dynamics. Every family member seemed to have their own secrets, grudges, and motives, making it difficult to know who could be trusted. The mystery unfolded at a steady pace, and I liked that the focus was just as much on the characters as it was on solving the crime.
This is definitely a slower-paced mystery than many thrillers I read. Berit's reflections on life and family take up a fair amount of the story, so if you're looking for nonstop action, this may not be the right fit. Personally, I found some of those quieter moments slowed the pacing, but they also gave Berit more depth as a character. The ending surprised me, and I appreciated that the solution felt well-earned rather than relying on shock value.
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly is an atmospheric, character-driven mystery with an intriguing setting, dysfunctional family drama, and a classic whodunit feel. If you enjoy slower mysteries with memorable characters and beautiful settings, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Berit Gardner is a Swedish novelist. She’s decided to visit her family’s cabin on an island in the Stockholm Archipelago for the winter. It’s extremely rustic – there’s not even an indoor toilet. When her sort of friend Detective Ian Ahmed suffers a broken leg, she invites him to stay with her to recover. There’s not a lot to do; Berit goes on a walk around the island daily while Ian uses his binoculars to watch birds and the goings-on at the house across the strait. It’s a monstrous place, obviously the home of an extremely wealthy woman. After a few days of watching her, Ian sees activity – people cleaning the house for a party, it appears – soon followed by the owner herself, Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen, taking the speedboat across the water to invite him and Breit to her birthday party the following day.
It’s a very private party with just Margrethe’s two children, their families, and her step-grandson (the grandson of her favorite husband, not the one who was the father of her children). It’s clear she despises them, and they’re not very fond of her. She mentions wanting to talk to Ian later about being threatened before walking out to talk to her daughter. Moments later there’s a scream as she falls to her death. It’s initially ruled an accident, but Ian and Berit are suspicious. Everyone had reason to want Margrethe dead – except the person who has an iron-clad alibi in the form of Ian and Berit. So who dunnit?
This is the third book featuring Berit, and I’ve loved each of them. There’s something about Berit and her attitude that I adore. Her confidence, the way she views things - it’s hard for me to describe. I wouldn’t describe this as a cozy, but it’s like a cozy in that the lives of the main characters are as important as the main ‘who dunnit’ plot.
Highly recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
It’s a very private party with just Margrethe’s two children, their families, and her step-grandson (the grandson of her favorite husband, not the one who was the father of her children). It’s clear she despises them, and they’re not very fond of her. She mentions wanting to talk to Ian later about being threatened before walking out to talk to her daughter. Moments later there’s a scream as she falls to her death. It’s initially ruled an accident, but Ian and Berit are suspicious. Everyone had reason to want Margrethe dead – except the person who has an iron-clad alibi in the form of Ian and Berit. So who dunnit?
This is the third book featuring Berit, and I’ve loved each of them. There’s something about Berit and her attitude that I adore. Her confidence, the way she views things - it’s hard for me to describe. I wouldn’t describe this as a cozy, but it’s like a cozy in that the lives of the main characters are as important as the main ‘who dunnit’ plot.
Highly recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
English-Swedish author Berit Gardner has lived in England for decades, but, for reasons of her own, returns to her grandmother’s cottage on the beautiful but daunting Ängsö in the Stockholm Archipelago for the fall and winter. Joining her is Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ahmed of the Devon and Cornwall Police, whom we met in the first book in this series, The Murders in Great Diddling. Something is seriously bothering Berit, but she won’t say what.
What isn’t a secret is what happens at the tiny island next to Ängsö. The owner of island, Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén, insists that Berit and Ian attend her 80th birthday party the following night. Margrethe is the cruel, controlling head of an art-gallery empire that she built from scratch, and she’s just as cruel and controlling to her family. To say that this party involving family members who hate one other is tense would be an understatement. On the very night of Margrethe’s party, she tumbles to her death. Swedish police declare it an unfortunate accident. Berit and Ian know better. And readers will love following their investigation in this humorous, extremely clever cozy mystery. Highly recommended.
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly’s author Katarina Bivald is herself a Swedish author. After portraying Berit’s life in Cornwall and then at a workshop in Lyon, how much fun must it have been to have brought Berit back to Sweden! (Unlike Berit, Bivald lives just outside of Stockholm all of the time.)
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.
What isn’t a secret is what happens at the tiny island next to Ängsö. The owner of island, Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén, insists that Berit and Ian attend her 80th birthday party the following night. Margrethe is the cruel, controlling head of an art-gallery empire that she built from scratch, and she’s just as cruel and controlling to her family. To say that this party involving family members who hate one other is tense would be an understatement. On the very night of Margrethe’s party, she tumbles to her death. Swedish police declare it an unfortunate accident. Berit and Ian know better. And readers will love following their investigation in this humorous, extremely clever cozy mystery. Highly recommended.
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly’s author Katarina Bivald is herself a Swedish author. After portraying Berit’s life in Cornwall and then at a workshop in Lyon, how much fun must it have been to have brought Berit back to Sweden! (Unlike Berit, Bivald lives just outside of Stockholm all of the time.)
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the third entry in Katarina Bivald’s Berit Gardner series. Berit is a Swedish writer who lives in England, but in this book she decides to spend the winter at her cottage in Sweden. She and her friend, DCI Ian Ahmed, are invited to dinner by local celebrity Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén, where they are witnesses to a tense family dinner and then a shocking murder.
Bivald’s books are a slow burn but are well worth the read. Berit is a clever character to read, and Bivald weaves a mystery that will keep you guessing. Not only did Berit have to untangle a murder, but she was also dealing with personal issues and pondering her own mortality.
This book felt like a Nordic mystery with a twist. It had a wintry, dark setting and explored a family under the thumb of a domineering matriarch. Berit was investigating a family who had lost their mother and their complicated relationships with her, while Berit was examining her own relationship with her mother.
The story was a bit darker than Just Another Dead Author, the second book in the series, but I love the genre, and Bivald didn’t disappoint when it comes to smart plotting, character development, and a mystery that will keep you guessing.
Berit is similar to a real person with relatable feelings, rather than a character who knows everything. Berit is super clever and observant, but she is also more realistic with her emotions, or the emotions she tries to hide.
Ever since I read Just Another Dead Author, Bivald has become one of my favorite authors, and her books are a must-read. Her descriptions of the archipelago were vivid and atmospheric, and I hope there will be another book in the series!
Rating 4.5
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Bivald’s books are a slow burn but are well worth the read. Berit is a clever character to read, and Bivald weaves a mystery that will keep you guessing. Not only did Berit have to untangle a murder, but she was also dealing with personal issues and pondering her own mortality.
This book felt like a Nordic mystery with a twist. It had a wintry, dark setting and explored a family under the thumb of a domineering matriarch. Berit was investigating a family who had lost their mother and their complicated relationships with her, while Berit was examining her own relationship with her mother.
The story was a bit darker than Just Another Dead Author, the second book in the series, but I love the genre, and Bivald didn’t disappoint when it comes to smart plotting, character development, and a mystery that will keep you guessing.
Berit is similar to a real person with relatable feelings, rather than a character who knows everything. Berit is super clever and observant, but she is also more realistic with her emotions, or the emotions she tries to hide.
Ever since I read Just Another Dead Author, Bivald has become one of my favorite authors, and her books are a must-read. Her descriptions of the archipelago were vivid and atmospheric, and I hope there will be another book in the series!
Rating 4.5
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Katarina Bivald has, once again, written about her Swedish author, Berit Gardner; and the detective who has worked with her on previous cases, Ian Ahmed. This time, The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly is set in Berit’s (and the author’s) native country, Sweden. To be more precise, it’s set on a tiny island in the Stockholm archipelago, where the author’s great-grandparents bought a cottage, now home to Bivald’s parents.
The action takes place from October to March, with Ian initially visiting Berit while he recovers from a broken leg. A neighbour, Margrethe, on a nearby island invites them both to her eightieth birthday party, but doesn’t survive to the end of the evening. Did Margrethe fall or was she pushed? If the latter, who did it? Her family – all present at the party – are highly dysfunctional and the animosities are obvious at the party.
The pace is slower than in Bivald’s previous Berit Gardner books, echoing the long dark Swedish winter. I was going to write “bleak” there, by force of habit, but that wouldn’t be correct. Bivald’s winter isn’t bleak. It’s dark, certainly; and it’s snow-, ice- and frost-filled; but the winter seems more like a thickness that envelopes the world, reducing both sound and visibility and making people think more, rather than relying upon external stimuli. We are privy to Berit’s thoughts as she turns fifty-three, the age at which her mother died. Berit has always been convinced that she, too, would die at the same age. All this makes the book quite introspective. The absence of Berit’s former PA, Sally, also reduces the humour and action.
The book is undoubtedly well-written and, presumably, invokes the mood that the author intended, but, although I enjoyed the plot, I missed the joy and fun that was in the previous books in the series.
The action takes place from October to March, with Ian initially visiting Berit while he recovers from a broken leg. A neighbour, Margrethe, on a nearby island invites them both to her eightieth birthday party, but doesn’t survive to the end of the evening. Did Margrethe fall or was she pushed? If the latter, who did it? Her family – all present at the party – are highly dysfunctional and the animosities are obvious at the party.
The pace is slower than in Bivald’s previous Berit Gardner books, echoing the long dark Swedish winter. I was going to write “bleak” there, by force of habit, but that wouldn’t be correct. Bivald’s winter isn’t bleak. It’s dark, certainly; and it’s snow-, ice- and frost-filled; but the winter seems more like a thickness that envelopes the world, reducing both sound and visibility and making people think more, rather than relying upon external stimuli. We are privy to Berit’s thoughts as she turns fifty-three, the age at which her mother died. Berit has always been convinced that she, too, would die at the same age. All this makes the book quite introspective. The absence of Berit’s former PA, Sally, also reduces the humour and action.
The book is undoubtedly well-written and, presumably, invokes the mood that the author intended, but, although I enjoyed the plot, I missed the joy and fun that was in the previous books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A family's island, Tallholmen, and the forceful personality of Margrethe dominate this cozy mystery - #3 of the Berit Gardner series written by Katarina Bivald. I have read #2 which is mentioned in this one but it seems more emphasis was on book 1, The Murders in Great Diddling. Other than the references made, it is possible to enjoy this as a standalone.
The story begins with the perspective of Cornwall's DCI Ian Ahmed who is visiting Berit (a prolific author) in her Swedish home because he broke his leg and is unable to work. He is obsessed with watching Tallholmen and the impressive Margrethe, legend of the art world. Surprisingly, he and Berit are invited to her birthday party at Tallholmen. A death on a stormy night raises the question if it was an accident or murder. Ian is convinced it's murder and enlists Berit's help because she is observant, intelligent and has an uncanny to see things differently than others.
I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.
Eventually, Ian returns home and the perspective changes to Berit. She finds another body and now feels compelled to solve the mystery. As a result, family secrets are revealed and the true nature of Margrethe is made known.
The changes in the weather becomes another character. It conveys to the reader the isolation of where Berit lives, especially in the winter, and how she must rely on boats to get her places. Should a murderer find her, she doesn't have much defense.
I enjoyed how the resolution took time with both Berit and Ian asking numerous questions and pondering how to put the puzzle pieces together. Berit finally does figure it out and then must determine how to approach it. I like that she isn't very friendly, likes to be by herself, yet still has friends to rely on when needed.
The story begins with the perspective of Cornwall's DCI Ian Ahmed who is visiting Berit (a prolific author) in her Swedish home because he broke his leg and is unable to work. He is obsessed with watching Tallholmen and the impressive Margrethe, legend of the art world. Surprisingly, he and Berit are invited to her birthday party at Tallholmen. A death on a stormy night raises the question if it was an accident or murder. Ian is convinced it's murder and enlists Berit's help because she is observant, intelligent and has an uncanny to see things differently than others.
I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.
Eventually, Ian returns home and the perspective changes to Berit. She finds another body and now feels compelled to solve the mystery. As a result, family secrets are revealed and the true nature of Margrethe is made known.
The changes in the weather becomes another character. It conveys to the reader the isolation of where Berit lives, especially in the winter, and how she must rely on boats to get her places. Should a murderer find her, she doesn't have much defense.
I enjoyed how the resolution took time with both Berit and Ian asking numerous questions and pondering how to put the puzzle pieces together. Berit finally does figure it out and then must determine how to approach it. I like that she isn't very friendly, likes to be by herself, yet still has friends to rely on when needed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I'd say this is more of a character study in which a murder mystery happens to occur, as I found the characters the most compelling (with Louise being my favorite and most interesting) , and the protagonists (surprisingly!) and the mystery itself not the focus in my opinion.
I'll also say that I didn't get what I expected from the title of the book but I can also say I think I see where it's coming from? But it definitely wasn't the type of "haunting the narrative" that I was expecting.
Like I said, I found the protagonists and the "detectives" of the story the least compelling and interesting of the cast of characters. I'd like to disclaim that I wasn't aware this was part of a series so I also understand that these two characters are more settled and established by this book, but they still didn't stand out that much to me, Ian more so than Berit. Despite a big focus on Berit's character and personal journey, I thought it was unfortunately on the weaker side as the way it had concluded left me disappointed and was hoping for more development or growth.
I liked the slow pacing of the mystery as it allowed a lot of space to explore the characters, but I will admit I did not really have any anticipation left for the reveal and simply just wanted to find out who had done it.
All in all, it was a very interesting read that was more character study than mystery and explores themes of obsession, hate, and complicated family relationships.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I'd say this is more of a character study in which a murder mystery happens to occur, as I found the characters the most compelling (with Louise being my favorite and most interesting) , and the protagonists (surprisingly!) and the mystery itself not the focus in my opinion.
I'll also say that I didn't get what I expected from the title of the book but I can also say I think I see where it's coming from? But it definitely wasn't the type of "haunting the narrative" that I was expecting.
Like I said, I found the protagonists and the "detectives" of the story the least compelling and interesting of the cast of characters. I'd like to disclaim that I wasn't aware this was part of a series so I also understand that these two characters are more settled and established by this book, but they still didn't stand out that much to me, Ian more so than Berit. Despite a big focus on Berit's character and personal journey, I thought it was unfortunately on the weaker side as the way it had concluded left me disappointed and was hoping for more development or growth.
I liked the slow pacing of the mystery as it allowed a lot of space to explore the characters, but I will admit I did not really have any anticipation left for the reveal and simply just wanted to find out who had done it.
All in all, it was a very interesting read that was more character study than mystery and explores themes of obsession, hate, and complicated family relationships.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a cozy mystery written by a Swedish author, Katarina Bivald, and set primarily in the Stockholm archipelago. That is all that I knew when I snapped this book up! This also happens to be book #3 in the series but it works as a standalone. I'm sure that knowing more about DCI Ian Ahmed and Berit Gardner would only enhance the reading experience.
The book opens in October with DCI Ahmed convalescing on the day bed in Berit's family summer house in the archipelago. He has a cast on his leg and nothing much for his observant mind to do. He begins watching the next island and noticing the woman who seems to live there alone. Berit and Ian find themselves invited to a party at that very island and that's when the action starts.
I would describe this as a cozy mystery with a strong sense of place. If you enjoy mysteries with dysfunctional families, unlikable characters, rich people behaving badly all in a gorgeous, wild setting -- I recommend this one to you! I can't tell you what a joy it was to immerse my mind in the air and water temperatures recorded at the island each day (converted to Fahrenheit, thank you!) and picture the water/ice and wildlife while my body is sweltering in Texas. The book takes place from October to March. My husband got to work in Stockholm for about 4.5 months (August-December) and we enjoyed several trips out into the archipelago with all the islands and summer cottages painted yellowy-gold or brownish red with white trim. Beautiful!
I received a complimentary digital ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, the publisher and Katarina Bivald for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The book opens in October with DCI Ahmed convalescing on the day bed in Berit's family summer house in the archipelago. He has a cast on his leg and nothing much for his observant mind to do. He begins watching the next island and noticing the woman who seems to live there alone. Berit and Ian find themselves invited to a party at that very island and that's when the action starts.
I would describe this as a cozy mystery with a strong sense of place. If you enjoy mysteries with dysfunctional families, unlikable characters, rich people behaving badly all in a gorgeous, wild setting -- I recommend this one to you! I can't tell you what a joy it was to immerse my mind in the air and water temperatures recorded at the island each day (converted to Fahrenheit, thank you!) and picture the water/ice and wildlife while my body is sweltering in Texas. The book takes place from October to March. My husband got to work in Stockholm for about 4.5 months (August-December) and we enjoyed several trips out into the archipelago with all the islands and summer cottages painted yellowy-gold or brownish red with white trim. Beautiful!
I received a complimentary digital ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, the publisher and Katarina Bivald for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to thank Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly to my TBR as soon as I learned about it. Why? Because I adored the previous book by Bivald, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, that I read.
I didn’t know when I added this to my TBR that it was part of a series. Once I learned that, I was worried about my enjoyment and understanding of the book. Although the book referenced previous books, I didn’t feel my lack of context affected my understanding or enjoyment.
My biggest issue with the book was the explanation of what happened to the victims- yes, plural, as two people die. I’m still not sold on the resolution being satisfying in any way. I’m not sure how to explain this more without spoiling the ending. Just know that things aren’t always as they seem.
The overall cast of characters was small and relatively easy to keep sorted. This story is told through dual third-person POV, with the first third or so being from Ian’s observations and the rest from Berit’s. The rest of the cast is the Cullenberg-Franzén family and a couple of Berit’s friends. Each character has their own personality and, as such, is easy to keep straight and follow in conversations and observations.
Overall, I think anyone looking for a “thinking” mystery will enjoy reading The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly. What do I mean by a “thinking” mystery? I mean one that will have you questioning everyone and everything the entire time you’re reading.
I added The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly to my TBR as soon as I learned about it. Why? Because I adored the previous book by Bivald, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, that I read.
I didn’t know when I added this to my TBR that it was part of a series. Once I learned that, I was worried about my enjoyment and understanding of the book. Although the book referenced previous books, I didn’t feel my lack of context affected my understanding or enjoyment.
My biggest issue with the book was the explanation of what happened to the victims- yes, plural, as two people die. I’m still not sold on the resolution being satisfying in any way. I’m not sure how to explain this more without spoiling the ending. Just know that things aren’t always as they seem.
The overall cast of characters was small and relatively easy to keep sorted. This story is told through dual third-person POV, with the first third or so being from Ian’s observations and the rest from Berit’s. The rest of the cast is the Cullenberg-Franzén family and a couple of Berit’s friends. Each character has their own personality and, as such, is easy to keep straight and follow in conversations and observations.
Overall, I think anyone looking for a “thinking” mystery will enjoy reading The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly. What do I mean by a “thinking” mystery? I mean one that will have you questioning everyone and everything the entire time you’re reading.
August 30, 2026
DCI Ian Ahmed has a broken leg and is staying in the Stockholm archipelago in Berit Gardner’s cabin. Berit is a novelist. The two became friends in a previous book when Berit got involved in a murder investigation in a small village in England.
(If you’re wondering what archipelago is – it’s a group, chain, or cluster of islands scattered in the ocean, sea, lake, or river. There I saved you from looking that one up.)
While there they are invited to dinner with a neighbor on another island. Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen is a legend in the art world and matriarch of her family who fears her. She has invited her family to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Before the night is over, Margrethe has fallen to her death, and no one is sure if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
Berit had always wanted to spend a winter in her cabin that had once been owned by her grandparents, and she had visited during the summer as a child. She wanted to avoid the murder, but Ian pulled her into the investigation.
Ian feels guilty for involving Berit in the investigation and when his time on the island is up, he hates to leave her there alone through the winter. He isn’t sure that she will be safe because of a possible murderer in the area.
Berit assures him she will be fine.
The two continue to investigate and they do follow the clues to a satisfying ending to this mystery.
I love the sense of location. Berit spent her winter there and I could feel the cold and the snow. Her description reminded me of winter in Iowa, and I suspect Sweden is similar. The author gives a good sense of setting.
I also have grown fond of the characters. I like them and want to spend more time with them.
Her mysteries keep me guessing and I look forward to going back to the book each day to read more.
This is the third book in this series that I’ve read. I enjoyed all of the books, but I do believe the tone of this book felt darker than the first two. The first book felt more lighthearted and had more humor and quirky characters.
I am interested in finding out what happens to these characters so will be waiting for the next release.
I will leave the links for you to read my reviews for the other books in this series.
Published August 26, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
(If you’re wondering what archipelago is – it’s a group, chain, or cluster of islands scattered in the ocean, sea, lake, or river. There I saved you from looking that one up.)
While there they are invited to dinner with a neighbor on another island. Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen is a legend in the art world and matriarch of her family who fears her. She has invited her family to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Before the night is over, Margrethe has fallen to her death, and no one is sure if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
Berit had always wanted to spend a winter in her cabin that had once been owned by her grandparents, and she had visited during the summer as a child. She wanted to avoid the murder, but Ian pulled her into the investigation.
Ian feels guilty for involving Berit in the investigation and when his time on the island is up, he hates to leave her there alone through the winter. He isn’t sure that she will be safe because of a possible murderer in the area.
Berit assures him she will be fine.
The two continue to investigate and they do follow the clues to a satisfying ending to this mystery.
I love the sense of location. Berit spent her winter there and I could feel the cold and the snow. Her description reminded me of winter in Iowa, and I suspect Sweden is similar. The author gives a good sense of setting.
I also have grown fond of the characters. I like them and want to spend more time with them.
Her mysteries keep me guessing and I look forward to going back to the book each day to read more.
This is the third book in this series that I’ve read. I enjoyed all of the books, but I do believe the tone of this book felt darker than the first two. The first book felt more lighthearted and had more humor and quirky characters.
I am interested in finding out what happens to these characters so will be waiting for the next release.
I will leave the links for you to read my reviews for the other books in this series.
Published August 26, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is set during winter on the peaceful (or is it?) Stockholm archipelago, based on the author’s family’s cottage with the same geography and weather. Just what I long for at the moment during a severe heatwave and drought. As a weather tracker and outdoors person, I adored the air and water temperatures given at the beginning of the chapters and nature and wildlife descriptions. Insight into human nature, brilliantly-drawn characters, snippets of wit, and clever murder plot add plausibility and interest to this wonderful, wonderful novel. The isolation in winter trope may be popular but this has so much more. It isn’t dark yet it is not fluffy, either. It’s smart as a tack and characters have real thoughts and emotions.
Detective Ian Ahmed is convalescing from an injury when he encounters Berit Gardner, an author who is not a stranger to murder. The two know each other from earlier and use their particular skillsets to discover who killed despised matriarch Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén on the day of her eightieth birthday celebration. Margrethe had made her dislike and disregard for those around her crystal clear so when she died, no one was exactly inconsolable, including her children.
So many things to love about this novel! In addition to the above, the list of characters is easily manageable, the prose is hauntingly descriptive and unique, and the ending is worth waiting for. There are excellent twists but the characters and setting are what clutched at my heart and mind the most.
Detective Ian Ahmed is convalescing from an injury when he encounters Berit Gardner, an author who is not a stranger to murder. The two know each other from earlier and use their particular skillsets to discover who killed despised matriarch Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén on the day of her eightieth birthday celebration. Margrethe had made her dislike and disregard for those around her crystal clear so when she died, no one was exactly inconsolable, including her children.
So many things to love about this novel! In addition to the above, the list of characters is easily manageable, the prose is hauntingly descriptive and unique, and the ending is worth waiting for. There are excellent twists but the characters and setting are what clutched at my heart and mind the most.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly is a novel filled with coldness, a demanding mean woman and a awful family that makes for a complicated murder mystery!
DCI Ian Ahmed is recuperating from an accident at Berit Gardner's home. She welcomes this visitor while she herself is working through some personal issues. He spends his very slow and boring days watching the neighbors and keeping a close eye on Berit. A neighbor from across the lake, Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen, invites them both to her birthday dinner party. Berit and Ian attend reluctantly and when a body is found at the bottom of the cliff, both eagerly jump at the idea of solving a murder even if the family swears it is was an accident.
The isolation and the cold climate made for a perfect murder mystery. The terrible characters, including Margrethe herself, were perfect for this enclosed whodunnit. I enjoyed reading about the family members and couldn't really pick one as the murderer, they all seemed guilty and benefitted from the victim's death. Berit brought her cunning and discerning ability to dissect what is in front of her and get to the bottom of the issues. She is confident, put together and very relatable, I enjoyed her so much. This novel felt a bit different from the other previous books, a bit darker and bitter since it dealt with inheritances, family dynamics and mortality, but I liked it just as much!
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
DCI Ian Ahmed is recuperating from an accident at Berit Gardner's home. She welcomes this visitor while she herself is working through some personal issues. He spends his very slow and boring days watching the neighbors and keeping a close eye on Berit. A neighbor from across the lake, Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzen, invites them both to her birthday dinner party. Berit and Ian attend reluctantly and when a body is found at the bottom of the cliff, both eagerly jump at the idea of solving a murder even if the family swears it is was an accident.
The isolation and the cold climate made for a perfect murder mystery. The terrible characters, including Margrethe herself, were perfect for this enclosed whodunnit. I enjoyed reading about the family members and couldn't really pick one as the murderer, they all seemed guilty and benefitted from the victim's death. Berit brought her cunning and discerning ability to dissect what is in front of her and get to the bottom of the issues. She is confident, put together and very relatable, I enjoyed her so much. This novel felt a bit different from the other previous books, a bit darker and bitter since it dealt with inheritances, family dynamics and mortality, but I liked it just as much!
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book starts with a woman, known internationally as an art icon, plunging to her death late at night on her 80th birthday party celebration. Her entire family is in attendance at the party. The family has very strained relationships, which makes her death suspicious as you continue to read, the secrets unfold.
A neighbor and her detective houseguest also happened to be in attendance at the party. These two, Berit and Ian, take it upon themselves since they were present at the time of the incident, to investigate on their own to uncover the mystery of what happened to their dinner hostess. In collaboration with the local law enforcement, Berit and Ian have special access to interviews, evidence etc to help them formulate a suspect.
I like the descriptive detail of the location, in the Stockholm archipelago and all of the elements the characters must endure. I also enjoyed the underlying relationships evolving throughout the book.
But, overall it was a good (not great) book for me. I was hoping for a bit shorter book based on the content, or the addition of more suspense in the story. The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is an entertaining book, just not my go to recommendation for a mystery. Try it for yourself as not every book is for every person and you may like it more than me. Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book.
A neighbor and her detective houseguest also happened to be in attendance at the party. These two, Berit and Ian, take it upon themselves since they were present at the time of the incident, to investigate on their own to uncover the mystery of what happened to their dinner hostess. In collaboration with the local law enforcement, Berit and Ian have special access to interviews, evidence etc to help them formulate a suspect.
I like the descriptive detail of the location, in the Stockholm archipelago and all of the elements the characters must endure. I also enjoyed the underlying relationships evolving throughout the book.
But, overall it was a good (not great) book for me. I was hoping for a bit shorter book based on the content, or the addition of more suspense in the story. The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is an entertaining book, just not my go to recommendation for a mystery. Try it for yourself as not every book is for every person and you may like it more than me. Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, author Katarina Bivald and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
This is the third book in the series, but can be read as a standalone as well. It is a slow read, focusing more on Berit's personality and what drives her to live and solve the mystery of the deaths occuring on a neighboring island belonging to a rich family.
The elements of nature are a big part of the story, their description pulling you in and making you feel like you are there, on that island with Berit in her isolation. The book is more character driven than a fast paced thriller, Berit being more of a Sherlock Holmes personality in her stubborness on finding answers to her questions.
The plot takes months to reach a conclusion, starting in late autumn, festering with mysteries and deaths during winter. Nature and mystery seem to become one as we live on Berit's island and get to know more of her inner-personality and past.
Even so, at times it felt too slow or Berit too headstrong in investigating her own way, even while knowing she might be in danger. If you are looking for more of a character-driven story in your murder mystery, this is the book for you, especially if you start it during a cold winter day, with a cup of tea in a warm room.
This is the third book in the series, but can be read as a standalone as well. It is a slow read, focusing more on Berit's personality and what drives her to live and solve the mystery of the deaths occuring on a neighboring island belonging to a rich family.
The elements of nature are a big part of the story, their description pulling you in and making you feel like you are there, on that island with Berit in her isolation. The book is more character driven than a fast paced thriller, Berit being more of a Sherlock Holmes personality in her stubborness on finding answers to her questions.
The plot takes months to reach a conclusion, starting in late autumn, festering with mysteries and deaths during winter. Nature and mystery seem to become one as we live on Berit's island and get to know more of her inner-personality and past.
Even so, at times it felt too slow or Berit too headstrong in investigating her own way, even while knowing she might be in danger. If you are looking for more of a character-driven story in your murder mystery, this is the book for you, especially if you start it during a cold winter day, with a cup of tea in a warm room.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I definitely need to go back and read the first two books because if this one is any indication, I’m missing out.
This was such a fun ride from beginning to end. The isolated Swedish island setting was everything. It was atmospheric, quiet, a little eerie, and the perfect backdrop for a mystery. I could almost feel the cold coming off the pages.
I loved that this wasn’t just a whodunit. The family dynamics were so messy, everyone had secrets, and every time I thought I had someone figured out, I’d change my mind. The investigation kept me guessing without feeling overcomplicated, and I was completely invested in finding out what really happened.
Berit and Ian made such a great team. Their friendship felt natural, and I really enjoyed following them as they slowly unraveled the truth. I also loved how the story took its time to let the setting and characters breathe instead of rushing from clue to clue.
By the end, I was already looking up the first two books because I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. If you love cozy mysteries with gorgeous settings, complicated families, and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Such a fantastic read, and now I have two more books to binge. That sounds like a win to me.
This was such a fun ride from beginning to end. The isolated Swedish island setting was everything. It was atmospheric, quiet, a little eerie, and the perfect backdrop for a mystery. I could almost feel the cold coming off the pages.
I loved that this wasn’t just a whodunit. The family dynamics were so messy, everyone had secrets, and every time I thought I had someone figured out, I’d change my mind. The investigation kept me guessing without feeling overcomplicated, and I was completely invested in finding out what really happened.
Berit and Ian made such a great team. Their friendship felt natural, and I really enjoyed following them as they slowly unraveled the truth. I also loved how the story took its time to let the setting and characters breathe instead of rushing from clue to clue.
By the end, I was already looking up the first two books because I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. If you love cozy mysteries with gorgeous settings, complicated families, and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Such a fantastic read, and now I have two more books to binge. That sounds like a win to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly by Katarina Bivald
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is a character-driven mystery set on an intriguing remote island with plenty of family drama and a classic whodunit storyline. A unique and engrossing mystery that combines mystery, wit, and complex characters to form a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén has spent her entire life running her family as ruthlessly as she’s run the family business. For her eightieth birthday, she invites her entire family to a remote island to celebrate. During the celebration, she falls to her death. Ian Ahmed is certain it was murder. Stuck in a wintery setting, he and novelist Berit Gardner aim to untangle the family secrets behind Margrethe's legacy.
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is clever and entertaining mystery with an interesting plot, well-written characters, and lots of twists and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end. The mysterious moments combined with more lighthearted ones work to make the story both suspenseful and humorous. Overall, an entertaining story that’s perfect for cozy mystery fans!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is a character-driven mystery set on an intriguing remote island with plenty of family drama and a classic whodunit storyline. A unique and engrossing mystery that combines mystery, wit, and complex characters to form a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Margrethe Cullenberg-Franzén has spent her entire life running her family as ruthlessly as she’s run the family business. For her eightieth birthday, she invites her entire family to a remote island to celebrate. During the celebration, she falls to her death. Ian Ahmed is certain it was murder. Stuck in a wintery setting, he and novelist Berit Gardner aim to untangle the family secrets behind Margrethe's legacy.
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly is clever and entertaining mystery with an interesting plot, well-written characters, and lots of twists and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end. The mysterious moments combined with more lighthearted ones work to make the story both suspenseful and humorous. Overall, an entertaining story that’s perfect for cozy mystery fans!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die Quietly by Katarina Bivald is the third book in the Berit Gardner mystery series, and this installment takes Berit to her family’s island in Stockholm. She’s hosting DCI Ian Ahmen as he recovers from a broken leg, and the quiet winter isolation sets the perfect stage for a new mystery. Things take a turn when Ian and Berit are invited to a neighboring island to celebrate the 80th birthday of the family matriarch. It doesn’t take long to sense the family tension and resentment in the room.
Before the night ends, the matriarch, Margrethe, is dead. Ian initially leads the investigation, but Berit soon steps in, navigating a complicated and emotionally fraught family to uncover what really happened. The mystery is complex, and I loved the wintry island setting and the sense of isolation it created. I had no idea how the case would unravel or who was responsible, but the ending came together in a very satisfying way. This continues to be a series I enjoy following, and this book is another strong entry.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Before the night ends, the matriarch, Margrethe, is dead. Ian initially leads the investigation, but Berit soon steps in, navigating a complicated and emotionally fraught family to uncover what really happened. The mystery is complex, and I loved the wintry island setting and the sense of isolation it created. I had no idea how the case would unravel or who was responsible, but the ending came together in a very satisfying way. This continues to be a series I enjoy following, and this book is another strong entry.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
July 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Some books pull you in with relentless twists, while others win you over with their characters. This one managed to do both.
The mystery kept me guessing without feeling overcomplicated, and I loved how the story slowly unravelled instead of rushing to the big reveals. There were plenty of moments where I thought I’d worked everything out, only to realise I was completely off track.
What really stood out, though, was the cast of characters. They felt layered and believable, adding warmth and humour to a story that also explored some darker themes. That balance made it an easy book to settle into, even when the stakes were high.
The pacing dipped slightly in a few places, which is the only reason this wasn’t quite a five-star read for me, but I was invested from beginning to end and genuinely looked forward to picking it up each night.
If you’re after a mystery that’s equal parts intriguing, witty and character-driven, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.
Some books pull you in with relentless twists, while others win you over with their characters. This one managed to do both.
The mystery kept me guessing without feeling overcomplicated, and I loved how the story slowly unravelled instead of rushing to the big reveals. There were plenty of moments where I thought I’d worked everything out, only to realise I was completely off track.
What really stood out, though, was the cast of characters. They felt layered and believable, adding warmth and humour to a story that also explored some darker themes. That balance made it an easy book to settle into, even when the stakes were high.
The pacing dipped slightly in a few places, which is the only reason this wasn’t quite a five-star read for me, but I was invested from beginning to end and genuinely looked forward to picking it up each night.
If you’re after a mystery that’s equal parts intriguing, witty and character-driven, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.
July 31, 2026
This is the second book in the Berit Gardner series by Katarina Bivald that I’ve read and I really enjoyed them both. Berit is an author, who happens to be pretty good at solving murders as well. She befriends Ian, a DCI in Cornwall, and in this installment Berit is helping him out while he’s mending his broken leg. They have retreated to a summer cabin on the Stockholm Archipelago and have nothing much to do but spy on their neighbors. When one of the neighbors invites them for dinner, they accept, and then proceed to be subjected to some of the worst behavior you could imagine. This family dinner is so full of hate, that it’s no surprise when Margrethe, the matriarch, confides to Ian that she’s afraid someone wants her dead. And then, before the evening is over, she lies dead below the overlook, lying on the rocks. This was a real thinker, and both Berit and Ian took us through the intricate workings of their process. I enjoyed the bleak setting, the side stories, and the absolute miserable behavior of the family members. 4 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC!
I’ve been craving classic whodunnits lately and this delivered on everything I wanted in a mystery! Isolated house on an island, dysfunctional rich family with a controlling matriarch, and a whole lot of suspicion when the bodies start dropping. I didn’t realize this was the third in a series but the author does a great job of bringing in the context from prior books while also making this a great standalone, so I never felt like I was missing anything critical to the story. But now I’m definitely planning to check out the earlier books because I loved Ian and Berit as a duo and as their own characters! If you want a classic, Christie-esque mystery in the modern day in an immersive setting, I would highly recommend picking this up!
I’ve been craving classic whodunnits lately and this delivered on everything I wanted in a mystery! Isolated house on an island, dysfunctional rich family with a controlling matriarch, and a whole lot of suspicion when the bodies start dropping. I didn’t realize this was the third in a series but the author does a great job of bringing in the context from prior books while also making this a great standalone, so I never felt like I was missing anything critical to the story. But now I’m definitely planning to check out the earlier books because I loved Ian and Berit as a duo and as their own characters! If you want a classic, Christie-esque mystery in the modern day in an immersive setting, I would highly recommend picking this up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
For fans of Scandinavian mysteries -- this one isn't dark so much as monochromatic. Author Bergit is holed up in an old family cabin on an isolated island in Sweden. Her friend Ian, a British detective inspector, is staying with her while he recuperates from a broken leg.
They are at a dinner at a neighbor's home when a mysterious death occurs. The family matriarch, strong and overbearing and at odds with her entire family, winds up dead after a fall off a cliff. The two can't help but investigate, along with the local detective Sven.
The Scandinavian mysteries I have read are a little bloodless for me, scant emotion, not much character development, very understated. But this was interesting and well-plotted and quirky.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For fans of Scandinavian mysteries -- this one isn't dark so much as monochromatic. Author Bergit is holed up in an old family cabin on an isolated island in Sweden. Her friend Ian, a British detective inspector, is staying with her while he recuperates from a broken leg.
They are at a dinner at a neighbor's home when a mysterious death occurs. The family matriarch, strong and overbearing and at odds with her entire family, winds up dead after a fall off a cliff. The two can't help but investigate, along with the local detective Sven.
The Scandinavian mysteries I have read are a little bloodless for me, scant emotion, not much character development, very understated. But this was interesting and well-plotted and quirky.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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