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Devil's Fjord
New District Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen uncovers a series of dark secrets when he investigates the disappearance of two boys in the remote Faroe Islands.
Newly-appointed District Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsebeth are looking forward to a peaceful semi-retirement in the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the stunningly beautiful island of Vagar. But when two boys go missing during the first whale hunt of the season, the repercussions strike at the heart of the isolated coastal community.
As he pursues his investigations, Tristan discovers that the Mikkelsen brothers aren't the first young men to have vanished on Vagar. Determined to solve the mystery of Djevulsfjord, yet encountering suspicion wherever he turns, Haraldsen comes to realize he and his wife are not living in the rural paradise they had imagined, and that the wild beauty of the region hides a far darker reality.
Newly-appointed District Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsebeth are looking forward to a peaceful semi-retirement in the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the stunningly beautiful island of Vagar. But when two boys go missing during the first whale hunt of the season, the repercussions strike at the heart of the isolated coastal community.
As he pursues his investigations, Tristan discovers that the Mikkelsen brothers aren't the first young men to have vanished on Vagar. Determined to solve the mystery of Djevulsfjord, yet encountering suspicion wherever he turns, Haraldsen comes to realize he and his wife are not living in the rural paradise they had imagined, and that the wild beauty of the region hides a far darker reality.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2019
27 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
David Hewson
108 books522 followersDAVID HEWSON was born in Yorkshire in 1953. His books range from the Nic Costa series set in Italy to adaptations of The Killing in Copenhagen and the Pieter Vos series in Amsterdam.
He's adapted Shakespeare for Audible and in 2018 won the Audie for best original work for Romeo and Juliet: A Novel, narrated by Richard Armitage.
2019 sees the release of a new, full-cast Audible drama set in New York, Last Seen Wearing, and a standalone novel set in the Faroe Islands, Devil's Fjord.
Series:
Nic Costa
Pieter Vos
The Killing
He's adapted Shakespeare for Audible and in 2018 won the Audie for best original work for Romeo and Juliet: A Novel, narrated by Richard Armitage.
2019 sees the release of a new, full-cast Audible drama set in New York, Last Seen Wearing, and a standalone novel set in the Faroe Islands, Devil's Fjord.
Series:
Nic Costa
Pieter Vos
The Killing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 3, 2023
Nordic noir!
A truly bleak story as tortured as the isolated area it describes. Hewson himself describes the book as, "gentle Scandi noir with a tough edge to it."
There is nothing "gentle" about this novel. It's pure, gritty Nordic noir and I loved it!
Bodies piles up, just as surely as the whale bodies do during the killing season, the "Grind" as its referred to. If you are repulsed by the garnishing of whales in what is portrayed as a traditional fisher folk activity, now rigorously governed by official regulations, then this is not the story for you. If you can move past that to seeing this as a descriptor that brings to light the harshness of this remote village life where these folk are living out the cycle of their cultural traditions, where the poverty of many of their lives becomes a background for the events that ensue, then this is a mystery for you. The folk from this community are legally entitled to hunt and trap 'blackfish' and this is a central tenet to the mystery.
Into this closed community comes a retired policeman and his wife, innocently looking for the country life. Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsebeth have moved to the remote Island of Vágar, part of the Faroe archipelago of Denmark. It's the Sheriff's job to ensure that during the "grind" all goes according to the regulations. However his part does not go quite to plan. As Tristan becomes more immersed in the life, he comes to understand his naivety about his job, this village and how as an outsider he doesn't fit in. What he and Elsebeth get is more akin to gothic horror movie.
Two boys go missing. That is on top of another missing person, and the previous death of a boat captain's son. Put down to the harsh surroundings. But was it?
Then there's the policewoman with her own agenda.
Some matters are solved, if not in the normal way.
Is there redemption in this tale? I'm still left wondering. But I do know that the more I think about this story, the more I find to examine and wonder about. The various characters, how they interrelate to their community, how some take advantage of others weaknesses, destroying the supportive nature that the village has been for each other for generations over against outsiders.
There are depths here to be further explored!
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
A truly bleak story as tortured as the isolated area it describes. Hewson himself describes the book as, "gentle Scandi noir with a tough edge to it."
There is nothing "gentle" about this novel. It's pure, gritty Nordic noir and I loved it!
Bodies piles up, just as surely as the whale bodies do during the killing season, the "Grind" as its referred to. If you are repulsed by the garnishing of whales in what is portrayed as a traditional fisher folk activity, now rigorously governed by official regulations, then this is not the story for you. If you can move past that to seeing this as a descriptor that brings to light the harshness of this remote village life where these folk are living out the cycle of their cultural traditions, where the poverty of many of their lives becomes a background for the events that ensue, then this is a mystery for you. The folk from this community are legally entitled to hunt and trap 'blackfish' and this is a central tenet to the mystery.
Into this closed community comes a retired policeman and his wife, innocently looking for the country life. Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsebeth have moved to the remote Island of Vágar, part of the Faroe archipelago of Denmark. It's the Sheriff's job to ensure that during the "grind" all goes according to the regulations. However his part does not go quite to plan. As Tristan becomes more immersed in the life, he comes to understand his naivety about his job, this village and how as an outsider he doesn't fit in. What he and Elsebeth get is more akin to gothic horror movie.
Two boys go missing. That is on top of another missing person, and the previous death of a boat captain's son. Put down to the harsh surroundings. But was it?
Then there's the policewoman with her own agenda.
Some matters are solved, if not in the normal way.
Is there redemption in this tale? I'm still left wondering. But I do know that the more I think about this story, the more I find to examine and wonder about. The various characters, how they interrelate to their community, how some take advantage of others weaknesses, destroying the supportive nature that the village has been for each other for generations over against outsiders.
There are depths here to be further explored!
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
May 12, 2019
A hauntingly atmospheric suspense story in the style of Broadchurch, this is set in an isolated village in the Faroe Islands, not a place I can ever imagine wanting to visit. Situated equidistant from Norway, Scotland and Iceland, they actually belong to Denmark, but have their own administrative system. I almost gave up on this because of the gratuitous violence of the whale slaughter in the early chapters, but it was an ARC so put it aside for a spell until my stomach could take it. The rest of the book is still bleak and rather horrifying but it’s an excellent Scandi-thriller.
Retired on medical grounds from the Torshavn police force, administrator Tristan Haraldsen believes his new role as District Sheriff in the tiny settlement of Djevulsfjord on Vagar Island will be a peaceful idyll with his wife, Elsebeth. His only duty is to supervise the Grind - the killing of pilot whales driven into the harbour by fishing boats, that the local people rely on for meat and income. When two young boys run away into the hills following an incident on the beach, Tristan blames himself, but then he discovers that other young men have gone missing from the town, with little investigation, and the locals would rather hold on to their secrets than trust an outsider.
I’ll free admit that I’m a soft city girl, who is perhaps hypocritical for eating meat, but I find the concept of whaling as abhorrent as eating dogs or people. When you live in a country where humans will spend days standing in cold water to refloat whales when they strand, the idea of massacring whole pods just because you are allowed to, in the name of culture, is anathema to me. English culture was to send children up chimneys and beat them with canes in school for talking back, but fortunately we’ve evolved. If you can’t survive on an island from fishing (whales are NOT fish) and farming, maybe you don’t deserve to. I can see what the author was trying to achieve with the prolonged descriptions of the Grind, but would’ve appreciated a warning before requesting the book.
Once past those chapters, I was gripped by the evolving mystery of what would happen to the two little monsters and exactly what went on the previous year. Tristan and Elsebeth - seen as foreigners because they come from the Capital, but who have never left the Faroes, made a likeable contrast to the brutal villagers - men who only come alive when killing and for whom pride is more important than honour, and women beaten into submission both physically and psychologically.
The writing was superb and I’ll be on the lookout for more from this author, who has an extensive back catalogue, I’ll just be careful to check reviews for mention of animal cruelty or killing first. My thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Devil’s Fjord is available now.
Retired on medical grounds from the Torshavn police force, administrator Tristan Haraldsen believes his new role as District Sheriff in the tiny settlement of Djevulsfjord on Vagar Island will be a peaceful idyll with his wife, Elsebeth. His only duty is to supervise the Grind - the killing of pilot whales driven into the harbour by fishing boats, that the local people rely on for meat and income. When two young boys run away into the hills following an incident on the beach, Tristan blames himself, but then he discovers that other young men have gone missing from the town, with little investigation, and the locals would rather hold on to their secrets than trust an outsider.
I’ll free admit that I’m a soft city girl, who is perhaps hypocritical for eating meat, but I find the concept of whaling as abhorrent as eating dogs or people. When you live in a country where humans will spend days standing in cold water to refloat whales when they strand, the idea of massacring whole pods just because you are allowed to, in the name of culture, is anathema to me. English culture was to send children up chimneys and beat them with canes in school for talking back, but fortunately we’ve evolved. If you can’t survive on an island from fishing (whales are NOT fish) and farming, maybe you don’t deserve to. I can see what the author was trying to achieve with the prolonged descriptions of the Grind, but would’ve appreciated a warning before requesting the book.
Once past those chapters, I was gripped by the evolving mystery of what would happen to the two little monsters and exactly what went on the previous year. Tristan and Elsebeth - seen as foreigners because they come from the Capital, but who have never left the Faroes, made a likeable contrast to the brutal villagers - men who only come alive when killing and for whom pride is more important than honour, and women beaten into submission both physically and psychologically.
The writing was superb and I’ll be on the lookout for more from this author, who has an extensive back catalogue, I’ll just be careful to check reviews for mention of animal cruelty or killing first. My thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Devil’s Fjord is available now.
August 19, 2021
Dark and hypnotising. Devil’s Fjord is a Nordic based mystery that tantalises with its mystery and its intrigue.
Devil’s Fjord really excels at displaying its tragic atmosphere. In its beauty is a life that is behind the times and traditional to the Faroe Islands. Its inhabitants are ruled by the waters and fishing is all they know. The young have vanished to find a life that will enrich them beyond anything they could find in Djevulsfjord on the isle of Vagar. Those that are left, find themselves in astronomical amounts of debt to the Thomsens. What they give with one hand they take with the other. Landowners and with owning the only local shop, they have them all in their back pocket.
Devil’s Fjord however, has a darkness seeping out of its very core. The ex-sheriff was killed on the island by means of a hit and run. A man called Kaspar Gunting was found dead, the disappearance of Police Officer Hanna Olsen’s brother, Soren, and now the mysterious disappearance of two young boys, who happen to be Kasper’s nephews, throws up a lot of red flags to newly appointed Sherriff, Tristan Haraldsen. His medical retirement from his role as Police Administrator in Torshavn has led him and his wife, Elsabeth to Djevulsfjord, their dream of living in somewhere remote becoming a reality with his new position of Sheriff.
The setting of this story was my favourite part. I’ve always wanted to visit Scandinavia and the depictions of the Northern Lights had me sighing in wonderment. There is just something so magical about those lights and the landscape made it all the more special. What I didn’t enjoy, was the descriptions of Whale slaughter. Yes, I know it’s their way of life, and it’s a brutal landscape and it takes brutal means to survive but Christ, it really was vivid, and I nearly gave up with the book on that alone.
The writing in Devil’s Fjord was tantalisingly delicious. David Hewson knows how to string a storyline, and I really felt like I was transported into the pages of the book. The mystery lurking in the background felt like a presence, the island holding its own court, it has its own secrets, its own life. Devil’s Fjord is essentially a story about abuse and control. Two young boys and their place within a patriarch focussed family. The women are at the liberty of the men, you can feel their pain and you sense a great sense of guilt from all inhabitants of Djevulsfjord.
Will Tristen Haraldsen get to the root cause of the mystery, but will it be too late to alter the course of events? I look forward to checking out this author’s back catalogue it was the descriptions of animal cruelty that turned my stomach.
Devil’s Fjord really excels at displaying its tragic atmosphere. In its beauty is a life that is behind the times and traditional to the Faroe Islands. Its inhabitants are ruled by the waters and fishing is all they know. The young have vanished to find a life that will enrich them beyond anything they could find in Djevulsfjord on the isle of Vagar. Those that are left, find themselves in astronomical amounts of debt to the Thomsens. What they give with one hand they take with the other. Landowners and with owning the only local shop, they have them all in their back pocket.
Devil’s Fjord however, has a darkness seeping out of its very core. The ex-sheriff was killed on the island by means of a hit and run. A man called Kaspar Gunting was found dead, the disappearance of Police Officer Hanna Olsen’s brother, Soren, and now the mysterious disappearance of two young boys, who happen to be Kasper’s nephews, throws up a lot of red flags to newly appointed Sherriff, Tristan Haraldsen. His medical retirement from his role as Police Administrator in Torshavn has led him and his wife, Elsabeth to Djevulsfjord, their dream of living in somewhere remote becoming a reality with his new position of Sheriff.
The setting of this story was my favourite part. I’ve always wanted to visit Scandinavia and the depictions of the Northern Lights had me sighing in wonderment. There is just something so magical about those lights and the landscape made it all the more special. What I didn’t enjoy, was the descriptions of Whale slaughter. Yes, I know it’s their way of life, and it’s a brutal landscape and it takes brutal means to survive but Christ, it really was vivid, and I nearly gave up with the book on that alone.
The writing in Devil’s Fjord was tantalisingly delicious. David Hewson knows how to string a storyline, and I really felt like I was transported into the pages of the book. The mystery lurking in the background felt like a presence, the island holding its own court, it has its own secrets, its own life. Devil’s Fjord is essentially a story about abuse and control. Two young boys and their place within a patriarch focussed family. The women are at the liberty of the men, you can feel their pain and you sense a great sense of guilt from all inhabitants of Djevulsfjord.
Will Tristen Haraldsen get to the root cause of the mystery, but will it be too late to alter the course of events? I look forward to checking out this author’s back catalogue it was the descriptions of animal cruelty that turned my stomach.
February 15, 2020
Wow. This was my first David Hewson, and I was not disappointed. Even though I've been a big fan of Scandinavian crime fiction for a while, I learned of the Faroe Islands only recently. Alone in the temperamental seas between Denmark and Iceland, they're the beautifully stark setting for this utterly arresting and exceedingly dark crime novel. And indeed, the proceedings are quite dark. That said, the strong marriage between the two central characters who've retired to the Faroese countryside believing they'll find a quieter life - we all know how that goes! -gives a weighty moral center to the proceedings and also offers brief respites from this unflinching exploration of rural poverty and the criminal enterprises it spawns with ease. I'm a sucker for any novel in which setting is a character, and the stark green mountainsides and meandering trials atop perilously high cliff faces play a central role here. The prose is crisp and energetic and the dialogue feels utterly authentic. The novel also packs a wallop of a final page which I'm sure I'll be thinking about for a long time to come.
*I am an author who only posts reviews of books I like. If you'd like to hear about the books I don't, get me alone and buy me a doughnut.*
*I am an author who only posts reviews of books I like. If you'd like to hear about the books I don't, get me alone and buy me a doughnut.*
June 13, 2020
Devil’s Fjord is set in the remote, rugged Faroe Islands, tucked away in the North Atlantic Ocean, and is just about as remote as it goes. David Hewson uses the landscape almost as a character, the bleak, beautiful, ominous features of the islands in a way that adds mystique and wonder to the story as it unfolds. If the Faroes is remote then the island of Vágar, on the western edge of the islands is like the last frontier, home of the majestic mountain Árnafjall. The story is set in a tiny village that sits in the shadow of the mountain and shadowy and dark it is by location and the lives that inhabit it.
Enter Tristan and Elsebeth Haraldsen, the newly appointed district sheriff who authorizes the gruesome grind whale slaughter that is the opening event to the whole story and precipitates a sequence of events that uncover the secrets that lie beneath the breath taking landscape. It’s a story that highlights an insular community, family hierarchy, power and control by the dominant land and business owners and a police force that rules by manipulation and coercion.
All in all this was a four star read for me. The characterisation was a bit weak for my liking and I can’t say I liked the way I felt positioned to think of this part of the Faroes as some sort of lesser community. I’m sure the town Djevulsfjord where the book is set is fictitious although it’s location isn’t. Overall very enjoyable and interesting to read Scandi Noir from a different and non native author perspective.
Enter Tristan and Elsebeth Haraldsen, the newly appointed district sheriff who authorizes the gruesome grind whale slaughter that is the opening event to the whole story and precipitates a sequence of events that uncover the secrets that lie beneath the breath taking landscape. It’s a story that highlights an insular community, family hierarchy, power and control by the dominant land and business owners and a police force that rules by manipulation and coercion.
All in all this was a four star read for me. The characterisation was a bit weak for my liking and I can’t say I liked the way I felt positioned to think of this part of the Faroes as some sort of lesser community. I’m sure the town Djevulsfjord where the book is set is fictitious although it’s location isn’t. Overall very enjoyable and interesting to read Scandi Noir from a different and non native author perspective.
May 19, 2021
3.5 stars
May 2, 2019
The remote Faroe Islands form an isolated community with its own, unique culture -- the perfect setting for a new thriller. Devil's Fjord seems to be targeted more at crime enthusiasts who enjoy Shetland mysteries rather than readers who typically enjoy translated books from Scandinavian authors.
The story settles immediately into a reassuringly familiar format. We meet the key characters in a village environment – the unwelcome newcomer from the big city, the alpha male who dominates local politics, the dubious priest, the shrewish fishwife, the trollop, the troubled youth – and, of course, a tight-knit, secretive community which has no truck with folk from the big city.
Inevitably there’s a sequence of dark secrets which simultaneously bind these people together and yet threaten to tear apart their centuries-old way of life… and there’s a dead body and a missing child at the middle of the mystery.
All of this is delivered in Hewson’s typically workmanlike fashion; no particular frills but easily readable and well-presented prose. He’s certainly done his research into modern life on the Faroe Islands and delivers a convincingly credible depiction of the tough life endured still by many who depend upon the sea and a few sheep to fend off starvation each winter.
Hewson also gets top marks for tackling head-on the difficult subject of ‘the grind’, the islanders’ harvest of what they call ‘blackfish’. Isolated rural communities still depend on whale meat for their survival, and Hewson doesn’t flinch from voicing both sides of the argument. But be warned; if you don’t like explicit scenes of violence then you won’t want to read the opening chapters which are probably more disturbing than most murders you’ll read in a serial killer thriller.
Get past that part and you’re treated to a satisfying detective story with a slew of sympathetic characters, plenty of clues layered throughout the story to help you figure out the mystery on your own, and some satisfying comeuppance at the end.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
The story settles immediately into a reassuringly familiar format. We meet the key characters in a village environment – the unwelcome newcomer from the big city, the alpha male who dominates local politics, the dubious priest, the shrewish fishwife, the trollop, the troubled youth – and, of course, a tight-knit, secretive community which has no truck with folk from the big city.
Inevitably there’s a sequence of dark secrets which simultaneously bind these people together and yet threaten to tear apart their centuries-old way of life… and there’s a dead body and a missing child at the middle of the mystery.
All of this is delivered in Hewson’s typically workmanlike fashion; no particular frills but easily readable and well-presented prose. He’s certainly done his research into modern life on the Faroe Islands and delivers a convincingly credible depiction of the tough life endured still by many who depend upon the sea and a few sheep to fend off starvation each winter.
Hewson also gets top marks for tackling head-on the difficult subject of ‘the grind’, the islanders’ harvest of what they call ‘blackfish’. Isolated rural communities still depend on whale meat for their survival, and Hewson doesn’t flinch from voicing both sides of the argument. But be warned; if you don’t like explicit scenes of violence then you won’t want to read the opening chapters which are probably more disturbing than most murders you’ll read in a serial killer thriller.
Get past that part and you’re treated to a satisfying detective story with a slew of sympathetic characters, plenty of clues layered throughout the story to help you figure out the mystery on your own, and some satisfying comeuppance at the end.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
January 23, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for a review copy of Devil’s Fjord, a stand alone set in the Faroe Isles.
When Benji and Jónas Mikkelsen disappear during a grind (whale killing) the newly appointed District Sheriff for the fishing, Tristan Haraldsen, feels responsible and tries to discover what has happened to the boys. In the course of his investigation he uncovers some unsavoury secrets in the village of Djevelsfjord.
I enjoyed Devil’s Fjord which is an interesting mix of the investigative and cultural set in a small, dying village. It is a novel of two halves with the first setting the scene at a leisurely pace and the second containing all the action and twists a reader could wish for. At first I wondered what kind of novel I had wandered into as there is little action in a crime sense, preferring to concentrate on Tristan and his wife Elsebeth’s adjustment to a life very different to the town living they’ve been used to in a small, insular village which will never accept them. And then there’s the description of the grind which is visceral and, to my urban eyes, brutal but a matter of survival to the villagers. It is extremely well done and worth reading as Mr Hewson sets out both sides of the argument convincingly. It’s more literary than my usual fare. The claustrophobic sense of the villagers keeping secrets pervades the novel but in the second half of the novel Tristan starts to unravel them bit by bit in a couple of tense showdowns. I definitely disagree with Mr Hewson’s solution to what Tristan discovers as it is rather bleak and presents a depressing view of human nature on the whole, especially when the good are not rewarded but I loved the final twist which ironically sums up the novel. I wish I could say more but no spoilers.
Tristan and Elsebeth Haraldsen are an interesting counterpoint to the villagers. This rather naïve, urban couple choose to spend their retirement on a remote, picturesque island where life is hard and grounded in such practicalities as finding enough food and money to live on. It is a harsh, brutal life and the villagers’ personalities reflect it. Well meaning anything doesn’t cut it and the two views struggle to find common ground.
This is not an easy read with its strong descriptions of a harsh way of life, made more vivid by different points of view. I found the shifting narrative a bit disruptive to my concentration at times but given the nature of the novel I think it is the only way to truly convey all sides of the story and the insertion of certain scenes leaves the reader puzzled and wanting an answer.
Devil’s Fjord is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Benji and Jónas Mikkelsen disappear during a grind (whale killing) the newly appointed District Sheriff for the fishing, Tristan Haraldsen, feels responsible and tries to discover what has happened to the boys. In the course of his investigation he uncovers some unsavoury secrets in the village of Djevelsfjord.
I enjoyed Devil’s Fjord which is an interesting mix of the investigative and cultural set in a small, dying village. It is a novel of two halves with the first setting the scene at a leisurely pace and the second containing all the action and twists a reader could wish for. At first I wondered what kind of novel I had wandered into as there is little action in a crime sense, preferring to concentrate on Tristan and his wife Elsebeth’s adjustment to a life very different to the town living they’ve been used to in a small, insular village which will never accept them. And then there’s the description of the grind which is visceral and, to my urban eyes, brutal but a matter of survival to the villagers. It is extremely well done and worth reading as Mr Hewson sets out both sides of the argument convincingly. It’s more literary than my usual fare. The claustrophobic sense of the villagers keeping secrets pervades the novel but in the second half of the novel Tristan starts to unravel them bit by bit in a couple of tense showdowns. I definitely disagree with Mr Hewson’s solution to what Tristan discovers as it is rather bleak and presents a depressing view of human nature on the whole, especially when the good are not rewarded but I loved the final twist which ironically sums up the novel. I wish I could say more but no spoilers.
Tristan and Elsebeth Haraldsen are an interesting counterpoint to the villagers. This rather naïve, urban couple choose to spend their retirement on a remote, picturesque island where life is hard and grounded in such practicalities as finding enough food and money to live on. It is a harsh, brutal life and the villagers’ personalities reflect it. Well meaning anything doesn’t cut it and the two views struggle to find common ground.
This is not an easy read with its strong descriptions of a harsh way of life, made more vivid by different points of view. I found the shifting narrative a bit disruptive to my concentration at times but given the nature of the novel I think it is the only way to truly convey all sides of the story and the insertion of certain scenes leaves the reader puzzled and wanting an answer.
Devil’s Fjord is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 26, 2021
Set in an obscure, remote fishing village in the Faroe Islands, this is a crime novel with a difference. The setting, the insular community, and the barbaric and gruesome traditions of the people will stick in my mind forever.
This is bleak and often disturbing Nordic Noir which has been rendered expertly by the author. The slow revelation of the crimes committed in this remote community was done with a skill that chills the reader.
The brutal and violent way of life was one that leaves an indelible imprint on the mind of the reader. The horrific grind with the slaughter of hundreds of pilot whales, the killing of the charming little puffin birds for food, the insular lifestyle, ridden with hardships, the almost feudal society with a 'company store' type general store, and a corrupt police superintendent was unforgettable.
The inequality of the society was chilling. The hard-working poor fisher-folk, and the unfeeling and tyrannical general store owners, the Thomsens, was disturbing indeed.
The crimes, the devious cover-ups, were all alien to the small village who rarely experienced crime of any type.
Crime fiction lovers will relish the criminal aspects of this book. I recommend this novel with some reservations. The graphic descriptions of the violence against animals will prohibit some readers from fully enjoying the book.
Would I read another novel by this author? Definitely.
This is bleak and often disturbing Nordic Noir which has been rendered expertly by the author. The slow revelation of the crimes committed in this remote community was done with a skill that chills the reader.
The brutal and violent way of life was one that leaves an indelible imprint on the mind of the reader. The horrific grind with the slaughter of hundreds of pilot whales, the killing of the charming little puffin birds for food, the insular lifestyle, ridden with hardships, the almost feudal society with a 'company store' type general store, and a corrupt police superintendent was unforgettable.
The inequality of the society was chilling. The hard-working poor fisher-folk, and the unfeeling and tyrannical general store owners, the Thomsens, was disturbing indeed.
The crimes, the devious cover-ups, were all alien to the small village who rarely experienced crime of any type.
Crime fiction lovers will relish the criminal aspects of this book. I recommend this novel with some reservations. The graphic descriptions of the violence against animals will prohibit some readers from fully enjoying the book.
Would I read another novel by this author? Definitely.
July 3, 2019
It had the makings of something but it delivered a fairly bland tale. The stoicism of the characters was only matched to their willingness to cover up crimes. There was a shallowness to the characters and after a bit about a whale grind, puffin catching and being remote the atmospheric Faroe Islands really did not get a chance to star.
All a bit boring.
All a bit boring.
August 10, 2021
've read and loved a few novels by David Hewson but up until now have only read those set in Italy. Devil's Fjord, however, is set on the remote Faroese island of Vagar where Tristan Haraldsen has recently accepted the role of District Sheriff there.
Having taken early retirement from his office job with the police due to a minor heart complaint, Haraldsen and his wife, Elsebeth were moved to Vagar after becoming enamoured by its stark beauty, but as so often happens with those who fall in love with places they've just visited, their expectations are not matched by reality. His new job means he must supervise the grind - or whale hunt - particularly now the outside world disapproves of the bloody slaughter. David Hewson's description of the blackfish hunt is intense and unsentimental, addressing the sheer, brutal scale of the slaughter while still acknowledging the hypocrisy of those who buy their meat neatly packaged from supermarkets. It's a dramatic start to the book but after Haraldsen attempts to intervene when he witnesses a young boy, Jónas carrying out a frenzied attack on a young whale, it quickly becomes apparent that the dying village of Djevulsfjord has other reasons to shun the outside gaze of the world.
Although most of the novel follows Haraldsen, parts of the narrative give readers a clearer insight into the activities and motivations of other characters, including the aforementioned Jónas and his older brother, Benjamin. Jónas is an intelligent, sly boy with a cruel streak that sees him taunting Benji, who is barely verbal and labelled by the villagers as 'thick' - although as Tristan realises, it's likely that he is an undiagnosed autistic child. It means that we are more aware of where the boys are than the villagers who scour the cliffs and hillsides looking for the boys after they disappear.
Tristan and Elsebeth soon learn that attitudes are different here and at first there is little concern for the boys, with most people expecting them to reappear unharmed and due a beating after a night outside. This sense that Djevulsfjord is a place with its own set of rules and traditions ensures there's an otherworldly feel to the village, even down to the legends behind its name and of the black-sand Selkie beach nearby. With its imposing cliffs, skies illuminated by the Northern Lights and always, the powerful sea as both a giver and taker of lives, there's something rather folkloric about Devil's Fjord, although it's of the older, more sinister type than the sanitised fairy-tales of today.
After tragedy hits the village, it gradually becomes obvious that this place is tainted by more than the blood of whales and even Tristan and Elsebeth don't remain untouched by the pressure to keep secrets. This is a melancholy, anxiety-inducing read which gradually reveals the true darkness that lies behind closed doors. With inhabitants who mistrust any sort of outsider, even those who come from more populous parts of the Faroe Islands, discovering what is being kept hidden here and why, puts those who search for answers at risk of ostracisation and perhaps worse.
Throughout the novel, readers are given chilling glimpses into the unsettling, oppressive complicity of this strange, isolated place but even so, the latter chapters become almost too tense and increasingly disturbing, culminating in a shattering conclusion. Bleak, suspenseful and utterly compelling, this atmospheric, mournful thriller is breathtaking Nordic Noir at its blackest. Highly recommended.
Having taken early retirement from his office job with the police due to a minor heart complaint, Haraldsen and his wife, Elsebeth were moved to Vagar after becoming enamoured by its stark beauty, but as so often happens with those who fall in love with places they've just visited, their expectations are not matched by reality. His new job means he must supervise the grind - or whale hunt - particularly now the outside world disapproves of the bloody slaughter. David Hewson's description of the blackfish hunt is intense and unsentimental, addressing the sheer, brutal scale of the slaughter while still acknowledging the hypocrisy of those who buy their meat neatly packaged from supermarkets. It's a dramatic start to the book but after Haraldsen attempts to intervene when he witnesses a young boy, Jónas carrying out a frenzied attack on a young whale, it quickly becomes apparent that the dying village of Djevulsfjord has other reasons to shun the outside gaze of the world.
Although most of the novel follows Haraldsen, parts of the narrative give readers a clearer insight into the activities and motivations of other characters, including the aforementioned Jónas and his older brother, Benjamin. Jónas is an intelligent, sly boy with a cruel streak that sees him taunting Benji, who is barely verbal and labelled by the villagers as 'thick' - although as Tristan realises, it's likely that he is an undiagnosed autistic child. It means that we are more aware of where the boys are than the villagers who scour the cliffs and hillsides looking for the boys after they disappear.
Tristan and Elsebeth soon learn that attitudes are different here and at first there is little concern for the boys, with most people expecting them to reappear unharmed and due a beating after a night outside. This sense that Djevulsfjord is a place with its own set of rules and traditions ensures there's an otherworldly feel to the village, even down to the legends behind its name and of the black-sand Selkie beach nearby. With its imposing cliffs, skies illuminated by the Northern Lights and always, the powerful sea as both a giver and taker of lives, there's something rather folkloric about Devil's Fjord, although it's of the older, more sinister type than the sanitised fairy-tales of today.
After tragedy hits the village, it gradually becomes obvious that this place is tainted by more than the blood of whales and even Tristan and Elsebeth don't remain untouched by the pressure to keep secrets. This is a melancholy, anxiety-inducing read which gradually reveals the true darkness that lies behind closed doors. With inhabitants who mistrust any sort of outsider, even those who come from more populous parts of the Faroe Islands, discovering what is being kept hidden here and why, puts those who search for answers at risk of ostracisation and perhaps worse.
Throughout the novel, readers are given chilling glimpses into the unsettling, oppressive complicity of this strange, isolated place but even so, the latter chapters become almost too tense and increasingly disturbing, culminating in a shattering conclusion. Bleak, suspenseful and utterly compelling, this atmospheric, mournful thriller is breathtaking Nordic Noir at its blackest. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2021
Review to follow
October 21, 2021
Thrilling
August 15, 2021
A book full of subtle suspense on a slow burn.
This was not a page turner. The murder happened 30% of the way into the narrative. However the unusual circumstances and the plotting of the action kept me glued to the text.
I have heard of the 'grind' but only in passing. So, it was fascinating to read of this brutal cultural phenomenon. The description of nature too was wonderful and the natural landscape itself seemed to be a character in the story.
A wonderful (fictional) look into a country and people far from my own. I'm glad that the author warns us of the fictionality of the setting since I would have taken this as cultural fact otherwise!
This was not a page turner. The murder happened 30% of the way into the narrative. However the unusual circumstances and the plotting of the action kept me glued to the text.
I have heard of the 'grind' but only in passing. So, it was fascinating to read of this brutal cultural phenomenon. The description of nature too was wonderful and the natural landscape itself seemed to be a character in the story.
A wonderful (fictional) look into a country and people far from my own. I'm glad that the author warns us of the fictionality of the setting since I would have taken this as cultural fact otherwise!
February 27, 2019
When Tristan Haraldsen’s physical reveals a minor heart problem he is relieved of his job with the police and sent to Vagar, a small village in the Faroes, as the district sheriff. His sole responsibility is to oversee the grind, the forced beaching and slaughter of whales. The grind is a tradition that provides food and income for the winter, but for outsider Tristan and his wife Elsebeth it is a brutal experience.
Jonas and Benjamin Mikkelsen are young brothers who hope to help with the grind. Jonas has a reputation as a troublemaker and when he is involved in a violent incident with Tristan, the boys run away to the surrounding hills. While Tristan organizes a search, the villagers are less concerned about the boys. They are familiar with the trails and caves in the area and have disappeared before. That changes when one of the boys is murdered. Police Inspector Hojgaard considers the brother as the on,y suspect, ignoring signs that someone else has been living in the hills.
Tristan continues investigating with policewoman Hanna Olsen. Transferred from Jutland, Hanna is also searching for signs of her brother who disappeared a year ago while visiting Vagar. There have also been other deaths in the past year that have been conveniently explained by Hojgaard. In his search of police records, Tristan finds very little information on these incidents.
The village of Vagar provides a look at a dying way of life. With a small population, life is hard and the young people ar leaving to find new opportunities. It is a closed village that is not welcoming to outsiders. Hewson’s opening scenes of the grind set a dark tone that carries through the story. The residents of Vagar take care of their own and everyone seems to be hiding something. This is an atmospheric mystery that ends with a surprising twist that you will not see coming.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Jonas and Benjamin Mikkelsen are young brothers who hope to help with the grind. Jonas has a reputation as a troublemaker and when he is involved in a violent incident with Tristan, the boys run away to the surrounding hills. While Tristan organizes a search, the villagers are less concerned about the boys. They are familiar with the trails and caves in the area and have disappeared before. That changes when one of the boys is murdered. Police Inspector Hojgaard considers the brother as the on,y suspect, ignoring signs that someone else has been living in the hills.
Tristan continues investigating with policewoman Hanna Olsen. Transferred from Jutland, Hanna is also searching for signs of her brother who disappeared a year ago while visiting Vagar. There have also been other deaths in the past year that have been conveniently explained by Hojgaard. In his search of police records, Tristan finds very little information on these incidents.
The village of Vagar provides a look at a dying way of life. With a small population, life is hard and the young people ar leaving to find new opportunities. It is a closed village that is not welcoming to outsiders. Hewson’s opening scenes of the grind set a dark tone that carries through the story. The residents of Vagar take care of their own and everyone seems to be hiding something. This is an atmospheric mystery that ends with a surprising twist that you will not see coming.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 25, 2019
David Hewson starts off with Tristan mowing his roof in his black pyjamas when a grind (whale hunt) are sighted just outside the village he was appointed to as a sheriff, who's only duty is the grind to keep it legal. His wife, Elsebeth, tries to get him dressed and down into the town, but Baldur Ganting who captain of the Alberta, the largest fishing boat in the fleet, beats her to the job, shame is found in this, in a teasing manor. Hewson describes how the grind is usually dealt with in the Faroe Islands and Tristan is knifed by a boy that later escapes onto the Island with his brother. They then send search parties out on moors and mountains to find them to no avail. Many more plots are uncovered and Elsebeth is almost run over by her husband in a tunnel by mistake. What's uncovered are the murders of several people where the mystery of the killer is later found out. I know it's a tease to tell you this but it ends up pretty good for our sheriff but ends up sad for the mother of the boys. Read it and find out what happens.
March 12, 2019
Another exceptional work...
I’d read several books by David Henson before but the setting of this one (a remote village in the Faroes) is completely different. On the (slight) down-side, are the many place and people names that left me bewildered for pronunciation. That aside - and it didn’t trouble me greatly - the setting is carefully described and the characters well drawn. Which leaves the plot: to avoid spoilers I shall say no more except that it is original and attention grabbing. All in all, I found this one more exceptional book by this talented writer.
I’d read several books by David Henson before but the setting of this one (a remote village in the Faroes) is completely different. On the (slight) down-side, are the many place and people names that left me bewildered for pronunciation. That aside - and it didn’t trouble me greatly - the setting is carefully described and the characters well drawn. Which leaves the plot: to avoid spoilers I shall say no more except that it is original and attention grabbing. All in all, I found this one more exceptional book by this talented writer.
March 24, 2019
Oups, je n'ai plus du tout la moindre envie de visiter les iles Féroé, maintenant !
May 21, 2019
My heart skipped in delight at the promise of both a wild, remote location and a new mark on my armchair travel map with this new mystery by David Hewson. When I heard the author describe it as a “kind of gentle Scandi noir with a tough edge to it”, I was sold!
However, be forewarned – the book may start gentle enough, as ex-policeman Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsbeth arrive in the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the Faroe Islands looking for a peaceful semi-retirement, but any illusion of that is soon shattered when two young children from the village go missing. The rest is a rather bleak and eerie tale, and very typical of the genre. Which is a long-winded way to say that I loved it! Not only do we have the perfect remote setting, but also a wild, mystical landscape and the intricate dynamics of small village life where some villagers harbour a deep dark secret. Hewson certainly knows how to write, and creates a fictional place that unfurled in my mind like a real world location.
If you are looking for, in the author’s own words (from his website), “a riveting and unusual story set in a wonderful location that hovers between the real and the mythical”, then this is definitely the right book for you. Hewson has achieved that and much more, with a mystery that seeped into my subconscious with stealth and tenacity and kept me firmly anchored in this armchair location long after the final page had been turned. The eeriness of the bleak landscape made for the perfect backdrop to a dark mystery involving the mysterious deaths that have befallen the village, even if no one wants anyone to take a closer look – especially not an outsider.
Even though Hewson freely admits that he has never set foot on Faroe soil and Djevulsfjord is strictly his fictional creation, his background research and skilful writing manage to perfectly evoke the lives of poor and simple fishing folk who depend on their annual whale hunt to bring in some extra money to survive the brutal winters. And for whom, if their circumstances may not be so lucky, there is no escape from the daily grind of poverty. Readers who are sensitive to certain triggers, such as scenes of whale hunting and killing livestock, or the death of a child early in the book, should be forewarned that Hewson is not afraid to tackle the harsher realities of island life. I admit that some of it was disturbing, but as a privileged reader living a comfortable life in a safe country and a meat eater, I would a hypocrite to hide away from facing up to such issues, so I took them in the context they are provided.
All in all, DEVIL’S FORD was an atmospheric and thoroughly engrossing story by a master of the genre, and armchair travel of the best kind! If you like wild and remote locations, then you cannot pass this one by. I look forward to treading more from this author in future and will make sure to look up his earlier books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Creme de La Crime for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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However, be forewarned – the book may start gentle enough, as ex-policeman Tristan Haraldsen and his wife Elsbeth arrive in the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the Faroe Islands looking for a peaceful semi-retirement, but any illusion of that is soon shattered when two young children from the village go missing. The rest is a rather bleak and eerie tale, and very typical of the genre. Which is a long-winded way to say that I loved it! Not only do we have the perfect remote setting, but also a wild, mystical landscape and the intricate dynamics of small village life where some villagers harbour a deep dark secret. Hewson certainly knows how to write, and creates a fictional place that unfurled in my mind like a real world location.
If you are looking for, in the author’s own words (from his website), “a riveting and unusual story set in a wonderful location that hovers between the real and the mythical”, then this is definitely the right book for you. Hewson has achieved that and much more, with a mystery that seeped into my subconscious with stealth and tenacity and kept me firmly anchored in this armchair location long after the final page had been turned. The eeriness of the bleak landscape made for the perfect backdrop to a dark mystery involving the mysterious deaths that have befallen the village, even if no one wants anyone to take a closer look – especially not an outsider.
Even though Hewson freely admits that he has never set foot on Faroe soil and Djevulsfjord is strictly his fictional creation, his background research and skilful writing manage to perfectly evoke the lives of poor and simple fishing folk who depend on their annual whale hunt to bring in some extra money to survive the brutal winters. And for whom, if their circumstances may not be so lucky, there is no escape from the daily grind of poverty. Readers who are sensitive to certain triggers, such as scenes of whale hunting and killing livestock, or the death of a child early in the book, should be forewarned that Hewson is not afraid to tackle the harsher realities of island life. I admit that some of it was disturbing, but as a privileged reader living a comfortable life in a safe country and a meat eater, I would a hypocrite to hide away from facing up to such issues, so I took them in the context they are provided.
All in all, DEVIL’S FORD was an atmospheric and thoroughly engrossing story by a master of the genre, and armchair travel of the best kind! If you like wild and remote locations, then you cannot pass this one by. I look forward to treading more from this author in future and will make sure to look up his earlier books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Creme de La Crime for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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May 20, 2019
My thanks to Severn House Crème de la Crime for an eARC via NetGalley of David Hewson’s stand-alone crime thriller set in the Faroe Islands, ‘Devil’s Fjord’, in exchange for an honest review.
Newly appointed District Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife, Elsebeth, have moved to the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the island of Vagar. His main task is to ensure that the traditional pilot whale hunt, called the Grind by the locals, is conducted according to the rules.
During the first hunt of the season two boys go missing. As Haraldsen investigates he discovers that the Mikkelsen brothers are not the first to disappear on Vagar. At every turn he comes up against the suspicion of the locals towards outsiders and discovers that the island community is rife with dark secrets.
I have read many of Hewson’s titles and have great confidence in his storytelling and ability to create a satisfying and very readable crime thriller. This was no exception and I felt that the bleak beauty of the Faroe Islands and unpredictability of the seas added to the ambiance.
I did find the account of the Grind very hard to read though did not skim it as I felt it was necessary to understand the life of the villagers as well as the reasons for the objections to it on the part of some characters.
Another well written work of Nordic Noir from Hewson with a very engaging couple as its lead characters.
Newly appointed District Sheriff Tristan Haraldsen and his wife, Elsebeth, have moved to the remote fishing village of Djevulsfjord on the island of Vagar. His main task is to ensure that the traditional pilot whale hunt, called the Grind by the locals, is conducted according to the rules.
During the first hunt of the season two boys go missing. As Haraldsen investigates he discovers that the Mikkelsen brothers are not the first to disappear on Vagar. At every turn he comes up against the suspicion of the locals towards outsiders and discovers that the island community is rife with dark secrets.
I have read many of Hewson’s titles and have great confidence in his storytelling and ability to create a satisfying and very readable crime thriller. This was no exception and I felt that the bleak beauty of the Faroe Islands and unpredictability of the seas added to the ambiance.
I did find the account of the Grind very hard to read though did not skim it as I felt it was necessary to understand the life of the villagers as well as the reasons for the objections to it on the part of some characters.
Another well written work of Nordic Noir from Hewson with a very engaging couple as its lead characters.
January 25, 2024
This is set in the Faroe Islands, which is unbeknownst to me administered by the Danes. This book does have that dark Nordic feel to it, even though the author is British, and looking at his oeuvre, the bulk of it is a detective in Rome (which is something I will have to check out)--but in any case if you love the Scandinavian mysteries, this shares a lot of those qualities. Takes place in a small, seemingly picturesque fishing village, where all is not well, and hasn't been for quite some time.
July 18, 2025
I do enjoy the way David Hewson writes.
And although this is only the second book I have read by this author it will not be the last.
The Faroe Islands. A great location for a dark story to take place.
Two outsiders retire to what they believe to be their idea of paradise.
😅 oh dear not so.
Plenty of murders, missing locals, and those taken advantage of by scrupulous others.
Good pace with plenty to leave the reader to think about and dubious unlikeable characters aplenty.
Enjoy 😉
And although this is only the second book I have read by this author it will not be the last.
The Faroe Islands. A great location for a dark story to take place.
Two outsiders retire to what they believe to be their idea of paradise.
😅 oh dear not so.
Plenty of murders, missing locals, and those taken advantage of by scrupulous others.
Good pace with plenty to leave the reader to think about and dubious unlikeable characters aplenty.
Enjoy 😉
January 30, 2020
3.5 stars --Took me a while with this as I was reading several others as well. But also like many of its genre it is slooow in parts. The thing I liked best about this book was it's setting in the Faroe Islands--of all places. It provides some interesting insight to the people and customs of this remote and desolate place. A hard place to live--especially in the fishing-dependent village. I would not be attracted to another of the same, but this is a well done work with a small tight-knit caste of characters and it demonstrates that even among the small villages evil and crime exist. If you like Euro-Nordic-Icelandic Noir, you should like this one.
June 2, 2023
Story about an island stuck in the past. But a lot can happen in one place. Especially when outsiders interfere.
January 9, 2020
Highly original
Very interesting story. Not fun, not pleasant, but a deep and fascinating tale of a very different world. I had to skim some violent parts but that's just me. I definitely recommend it.
Very interesting story. Not fun, not pleasant, but a deep and fascinating tale of a very different world. I had to skim some violent parts but that's just me. I definitely recommend it.
Read
September 23, 2025Did not finish.
May 11, 2019
Set on the Faroe islands in a small village which seems to be the a's end of the island.2 boys go missing just after the 'grind'(don't want to expand) one of them is a little monster stealing a knife and bullying his slower,elder brother.After searching for them by boat he is seen falling down a cliff ,but discovered with the knife he had stolen embedded in him,it was assumed his brother had killed him.The local police officer and a retired officer begin to dig and discover the dark underbelly of the village
Lots of red herrings along the way so no spoilers here.
I found it OK,not great.
Lots of red herrings along the way so no spoilers here.
I found it OK,not great.
April 25, 2019
Understand going in that this features whale hunting. It's a well done noir novel set in the Faroe Islands, where Tristan Haraldson has been sent in semi-retirement after a physical revealed a heart problem. He, and his wife Elsebeth thought this would be an easy time but, of course, there's a murder, then another, and Tristan himself is a target. I liked this as much for the portrait of life on Vagar as for the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Hewson writes well and has created a ver interesting pair of characters in Tristan and Elsebeth. A good read.
March 20, 2019
I really wanted to read this book. I love the author's Nic Costa series and I was not disappointed in this Faroe Islands Mystery!
In a small, dying village Tristan Haraldsen and wife Elsebeth are looking forward to living in the small fishing village of Djevulsfjord, a rather remote place
Tristan has taken the job of District Sheriff which doesn't demand a lot. First up on the job list is overseeing the rules of the Grind. A whale hunt. For generations the villagers have depended on the meat from the whales to see them through the winter.
This time two boys go missing and the small, isolated village is shook. As Tristan investigates the disappearance of the brothers he finds out they are not the first young men who have just disappeared on Vagar.
Tristan is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. But this charming little fishing village has some ugly secrets and aren't anxious to make Tristan's job any easier.
This tale hit me in a few spots. I'm Norwegian and I've heard the stories of the grind. I am not in favor of it. The characters were developed well , the description of the area was easily pictured in my mind. This one had it all. The good, the bad and the very ugly.
But that ending....
Well Done!
NetGalley/ May 01, 2019 SevernHouse
In a small, dying village Tristan Haraldsen and wife Elsebeth are looking forward to living in the small fishing village of Djevulsfjord, a rather remote place
Tristan has taken the job of District Sheriff which doesn't demand a lot. First up on the job list is overseeing the rules of the Grind. A whale hunt. For generations the villagers have depended on the meat from the whales to see them through the winter.
This time two boys go missing and the small, isolated village is shook. As Tristan investigates the disappearance of the brothers he finds out they are not the first young men who have just disappeared on Vagar.
Tristan is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. But this charming little fishing village has some ugly secrets and aren't anxious to make Tristan's job any easier.
This tale hit me in a few spots. I'm Norwegian and I've heard the stories of the grind. I am not in favor of it. The characters were developed well , the description of the area was easily pictured in my mind. This one had it all. The good, the bad and the very ugly.
But that ending....
Well Done!
NetGalley/ May 01, 2019 SevernHouse
February 8, 2019
David Hewson always seems to research the settings for his novels so well, and in this case the sad, harrowing mystery set in the Faroe Islands he has done it to perfection. This novel is more about the where then the characters, and if you are willing to read through the desperate need to survive you will be well rewarded.
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