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Magnus
One professor, five students, a week-long field trip on an isolated island in the Norwegian Sea. Four of the undergraduates are typical in their aims and ambitions. And then there is Magnus. Who will heed their call?
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2019
8 people want to read
About the author
Mark Carew
3 books16 followersMark is the author of the novels Magnus (Salt), The Book of Alexander, both from Salt (www.saltpublishing.com).
His podcast (Joy of Writing) interviewed authors about the art of writing books: episodes available at joyofwriting.buzzsprout.com and the usual podcast feeds. The most popular episode was How to Write a Book, with Sally O'Reilly, a creative writing tutor.
Mark is Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Exeter.
His podcast (Joy of Writing) interviewed authors about the art of writing books: episodes available at joyofwriting.buzzsprout.com and the usual podcast feeds. The most popular episode was How to Write a Book, with Sally O'Reilly, a creative writing tutor.
Mark is Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Exeter.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 16, 2020
Magnus, by Mark Carew, is mostly set on a remote island in northern Norway. Five students are spending a week studying the mosses that grow there for a project that will enable them to complete their studies. The professor overseeing their work owns the island and is nearing retirement. It is he who agreed to accept the outsider, Magnus, despite the man’s infamy putting others off attending. The group is small for what is usually a popular placement.
Magnus is older than the other students as he has struggled to graduate. His many health and behavioural issues have led to the university extending the time he is allowed to continue at the institution. This week, however, is his final chance to attain a degree. Magnus’s contempt for other people verges on the dangerous but the professor considers himself capable of managing whatever situations develop.
The island has no phone or internet connection. Power comes from a generator. Food and drinking water must be brought in. The residents are all but cut off from the world for the week they stay.
Parallel to the story of the island group is a tale of a young, English tourist, Alexander Clearly, who is travelling through Norway is search of adventure. He buys a wolf skin that he wears as a cloak and carries few other possessions. There are hints as to his relevance to the main plot and this is eventually revealed.
The arrogance of these two characters puts their lives in danger as they are determined to survive alone, on their wits, by whatever means. Along the way they encounter kindnesses that are rarely appreciated as most would expect. They are loners who only seem to regard their mothers with any sort of fondness. They wish to mate with women but lack social skills.
The dormitory accommodation on the island leads to issues when Magnus goes out of his way to be unpleasant. The group rejects him and he plots his revenge.
The writing is raw in places, which suits the animalistic behaviour of the protagonists. There is much dialogue but once the pace picks up the tale becomes compelling. I was reminded of Scandinavian Noir in translation despite this being an English work. The sense of place is strong throughout. The rituals described are evocative with the undercurrent of unease building well.
The denouement is tightly woven if disturbing. Magnus is really quite a terrifying creation when considered clearly. The reader, like the professor, will be challenged by the desire to give even dysfunctional people a chance, and the dangers this can lead to. A thought-provoking story that is well worth reading.
Magnus is older than the other students as he has struggled to graduate. His many health and behavioural issues have led to the university extending the time he is allowed to continue at the institution. This week, however, is his final chance to attain a degree. Magnus’s contempt for other people verges on the dangerous but the professor considers himself capable of managing whatever situations develop.
The island has no phone or internet connection. Power comes from a generator. Food and drinking water must be brought in. The residents are all but cut off from the world for the week they stay.
Parallel to the story of the island group is a tale of a young, English tourist, Alexander Clearly, who is travelling through Norway is search of adventure. He buys a wolf skin that he wears as a cloak and carries few other possessions. There are hints as to his relevance to the main plot and this is eventually revealed.
The arrogance of these two characters puts their lives in danger as they are determined to survive alone, on their wits, by whatever means. Along the way they encounter kindnesses that are rarely appreciated as most would expect. They are loners who only seem to regard their mothers with any sort of fondness. They wish to mate with women but lack social skills.
The dormitory accommodation on the island leads to issues when Magnus goes out of his way to be unpleasant. The group rejects him and he plots his revenge.
The writing is raw in places, which suits the animalistic behaviour of the protagonists. There is much dialogue but once the pace picks up the tale becomes compelling. I was reminded of Scandinavian Noir in translation despite this being an English work. The sense of place is strong throughout. The rituals described are evocative with the undercurrent of unease building well.
The denouement is tightly woven if disturbing. Magnus is really quite a terrifying creation when considered clearly. The reader, like the professor, will be challenged by the desire to give even dysfunctional people a chance, and the dangers this can lead to. A thought-provoking story that is well worth reading.
October 5, 2025
I'd not come across this author previously, but when I found it while trawling Salt Publishing's website, it sounded really intriguing, so I bought a copy and I was hooked from the off. A small group of final-year university students - including title character Magnus, are gathered on a remote island just off the west coast of Norway to undertake a botancial survey, under the supervision of their professor Erik.
There is a creeping menace and tension which weaves its way throughout the book, as the two main characters - Alexander, the first-person narrator who is making his way across Norway (towards Magnus?) grow closer in geographical distance. With each chapter, the sense of unease and something climactic builds, and I was speculating all the way through, are these two characters connected - and how? Do they meet? And who are they really? Carew cleverly reveals tiny suggestions around these two people, without giving anything away, so the reader cannot help but track their journey. The description of place, too, was evocative without being overly descriptive and the stark, frozen landscape, with its nods to old, Nordic folklore, only adds to the growing aura of discomfort, isolation and uncertainty.
If you're someone who likes their thrillers to be wrapped up neatly and the what, who and why fully explained, this novel may be somewhat frustrating - but its ambiguity leaves you wondering - and wanting more. I will now look to read Carew's other novels The Book of Alexander and Beyond the North Wind!
There is a creeping menace and tension which weaves its way throughout the book, as the two main characters - Alexander, the first-person narrator who is making his way across Norway (towards Magnus?) grow closer in geographical distance. With each chapter, the sense of unease and something climactic builds, and I was speculating all the way through, are these two characters connected - and how? Do they meet? And who are they really? Carew cleverly reveals tiny suggestions around these two people, without giving anything away, so the reader cannot help but track their journey. The description of place, too, was evocative without being overly descriptive and the stark, frozen landscape, with its nods to old, Nordic folklore, only adds to the growing aura of discomfort, isolation and uncertainty.
If you're someone who likes their thrillers to be wrapped up neatly and the what, who and why fully explained, this novel may be somewhat frustrating - but its ambiguity leaves you wondering - and wanting more. I will now look to read Carew's other novels The Book of Alexander and Beyond the North Wind!
August 12, 2020
This novel weaves together the story of two young men. The first is Magnus who is attending a field trip to finish off his degree with a small group of other students. They are based on a remote Norwegian island owned by the professor leading the trip who also agreed to Magnus attending for the week. The island has no phone or internet connection. Magnus is a disturbing character, his behaviour has caused such issues other students have shunned the trip. This is Magnus’s final chance to finish his degree, the university has extended his time to finish his studies but his behaviour soon leads to the rest of the group expelling him from the cabin they all share. Only Mette has some empathy for Magnus and we soon learn he has a soft spot for her.
The second young man is Alexander Clearly who is travelling around Norway. The reader follows his adventures as he meets fellow travellers and natives and gradually makes his way to the same island where the university student’s field-trip is based. Alexander buys a wolf skin early on in the story and wears this on his travels.
The Norwegian setting is vivid and adds to the atmosphere of isolation and unease that threads through the story. Short chapters keep up the pace and the pages turning ramping up the tension to the plots enjoyable and satisfying climax. An enjoyable read.
April 11, 2020
The opening line of this stimulating novel is a hint to its inspiration. At the heart of the novel is the story of a university field-trip on a remote Norwegian Island, which a plagued by the malevolent and ostracised Magnus. On the surface he is without any redeeming features but the empathy shown by Mette one of the female students makes you think again. Nonetheless the trip ends rather badly like most novels on deserted islands! The Norwegian isolation described evokes the work of Fosse, Petterson and Knausgaard, but this novel has a gripping narrative that is helped greatly by the parallel story of Alexander, a free spirit bumming around Norway and inevitably headed towards the same island. The climax is cleverly plotted with an inspired cultural reference to “Psycho”. Carew has a gift for intrigue and ingenious twists that helps make this novel a very enjoyable and satisfying read. Highly recommended
September 14, 2020
A very unusual read, the writer is English but the book is set in Norway and the dialogue reads as if they are speaking English to one another with Norwegian accents. There are two stories running simultaneously, I am still at a loss as to what one has to do with the other. Magnus is a grotesque character and described brilliantly. It does get quite suspenseful towards the end which was the best bit for me.
October 13, 2020
Mark Carew's 'Magnus' is a fascinating novel set on a remote Norwegian island, which features a memorable protagonist in its anti-hero title character. His narrative is intertwined with that of a journeying English young man, with both stories playfully riffing on the Old English story of Beowolf. This is an original and unusual novel that I can heartily recommend.
April 17, 2020
I read this book during the COVID-19 lockdown, and it offered a welcomed escape to a remote Norwegian island. The story and momentum of the events gradually build into a climax where you’ll find it hard to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews