A Death in Denmark

Gabriel Præst #1

by Amulya Malladi

For fans of the Netflix series Borgen and WWII history buffs, A Death in Denmark is a page-turning Nordic thriller with a cosmopolitan vibe, introducing Gabriel Pr�st, an ex-Copenhagen cop (with impeccable fashion sense), Blues musician, and pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark's Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in this intelligent and stimulating murder mystery.


Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a Muslim refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time Blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full-time private investigator Gabriel Pr�st agrees to investigate the matter because his ex--the one who got away--asked him, he knew it was a no-win case.

But as Gabriel starts to ask questions, his face meets with the fists of Russian gangsters, the Danish Prime Minister asks him for a favor, and he starts to realize that something may be rotten in the State of Denmark.

Wondering if Yousef was framed to heighten the local anti-Muslim sentiment, Gabriel follows a trail back in time to World War II when anti-Semitism was raging during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing such a mindset has resurfaced, Gabriel rolls up the sleeves of his well-cut suit and gets to work. From the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen to the historic strassen of Berlin where the sounds of the steel-toed boots of marching Nazis still linger, Gabriel finds that some very powerful Danes don't want him digging into the case--as the secrets he unearths could shake the foundations of Danish identity.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

Amulya Malladi is the bestselling author of eight novels, including The Copenhagen Affair, A House for Happy Mothers, and The Mango Season. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Romanian, Serbian, and Tamil. She won a screenwriting award for her work on Ø (Island), a Danish series that aired on Amazon Prime Global and Studio Canal+. Currently living in California, she is a Danish citizen who was born and raised in India.

amulyamalladi.com
facebook.com/authoramulya

Reviews

[Susan Atherly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not only bitterly disappointed that a book that seemed like a slam dunk 4 - 5 star read ended up 2 stars, I am also confused and disorientated by the journey that lead there.

First off, the Good. The writing was great and moved well. The pacing was impeccable and there really weren't any slow parts. The author also clearly plotted everything out and never lost track of where the story was going.

So, what went wrong? If I choose a book that takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark where the main characters are Danish, I have a reasonable expectation that they, well, act Danish. Not like snarky wisecracking Californians. I've known a lot of Danes in my life and not one of them talked like that, not even the goofy drunk ones. They also have a very different sensibility around their relationships with others. The lead acted like an American in all of his relationships. It was jarring. It felt weird and off. I could not get past it.

If you do not care about such things, I would bet you will enjoy this book. Just don't expect a Scandinavian detective story. This is not that.

Trigger Warning: Søren Kierkegaard is quoted a lot...and I mean a lot. (This is a joke, Kierkegaard fans.)

[Jaksen]

A dnf as I read only up to about page 100.

Which is what I give almost every book, 100 pages; maybe 150 if it's a really thick, chunky one. The problem is this, as good as the story might be I had trouble understanding it because of the way it was written. (That was a long, rather problematical sentence itself!)

But when I continually am re-reading passages, or there are sentences which don't make sense, I usually give up. I am NOT a proper grammarian who needs noun-verb and every period and comma in its 'proper place.' But some things just didn't make sense. Was it simply the way this writer writes? Nope, don't think so. Or was there a translator who...

Never mind. Not fair to rate this one, but for those who don't find the same issues I did - read on!

DNF

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good Scandinavian murder mystery. They tend to be dark with flawed, quirky characters and their settings are always interesting. A Death in Denmark doesn't disappoint.

During World War II, a group of Danish Jews was being smuggled out of Denmark--only to have Nazi troops show up, kill their smugglers and deport the Jews to a concentration camp. Did someone tip off the Germans about the escape plan? Flash forward to the present: Copenhagen ex-cop and now private investigator, Gabriel Praest, is hired by a former lover to clear the name of a Muslim refugee convicted of murdering a right-wing politician. How the two seemingly unconnected events are related, is the essence of this twisty, Nordic mystery that finds Gabriel battling not only the Russian mafia but Danish politicians who don't want their past or present secrets exposed.

This is the first in a new series featuring Praest and if this book is any indication, it promises to be one I will be reading. The writing is excellent, the plot complex, and the pacing spot-on. Praest is an enjoyable character with just enough quirks to make him interesting. The story itself draws parallels between the rampant antisemitism spread by the Nazis and today's anti-immigrant stance occurring worldwide. It is a thought-provoking read that tests one's moral compass. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book for review. The publication date is March 28, 2023.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DEATH IN DENMARK
Amulya Malladi


LOOK at me, I finally got the first book in a series! THIS IS IT, the first book in Praest's series and I really enjoyed it. I loved the quirky character, the ex-police angle gives me the idea that he is honest to the extent of being reckless? I get that he is dapper and quite intriguing... I really liked him. I also liked the complexities of the plot, the pace of the story, and the setting. This plot included historical aspects of antisemitism and how those attitudes about religion are still present in our world. In this book, the attitudes include a Muslim man who was accused of murder and was convicted without much evidence. The plot was very twisty and complex.

It was one to be enjoyed and I recommend it.

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Jenny Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stars for the story, two for the writing. I really wanted to like this book, and I liked the plot, but the writing drove me nuts. So many weird unnecessary details- the brand of every item of clothing, the furniture, every alcoholic drink. Weird additions like that the Kleenex is made from recycled paper. The main character sees pretty much every woman as a sex object, or otherwise very shallowly, which I don’t think is purposeful in order to make him unlikeable, or something like that. baffling in a book written by a female author. And the main character quotes Kierkegaard constantly, which - please, give me a break. Do all Danish people memorize Kierkegaard? And she crams an awful lot onto the PI main character: he’s a clotheshorse and clothes snob, he’s a wine snob, he plays guitar in a blues band a couple nights a week, he quotes Kierkegaard, he’s painstakingly renovating his grandmother’s house. It’s just a lot. And it distracts from a genuinely good and interesting plot, which is so disappointing.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book! It is the first in a series, setting the stage with Gabriel as a private investigator and his ex has asked him to help look into a convicted murderer she believes is innocent. He is skeptical, but the more he looks into the case, the more he believes her, especially as people start dying and he gets attacked. When that doesn’t stop him, people close to him are threatened, which only drives him more to find out what is going on, and how there may be WWII ties to all of this.

I listened to the audio and was hooked from the beginning. I enjoyed the setting, the case, and Gabriel equally, and all built to quite a suspenseful ending. I absolutely recommend this one and am looking forward to the next one in this series!

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Bibliolifestyle for the free copy to review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book has a complex plot and is very intense and sometimes dark. There is violence, but the story is very engaging and once you start, it’s hard to put down. Things wrap up in some dramatic and unexpected ways which creates a satisfying ending. (Full review can be found on The Smitten By Books website.)

[Elizabeth O'Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think there was such a thing as too many details, but this book proved that theory wrong. I was super excited about this book, but honestly, it was meh. Too many details about mundane things, like beer, clothing, sex, the way someone is standing, etc. Took away from the whole premise of the book, and honestly, took up like 40% of the book.

[Ioana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Moarte în Danemarca" de Amulya Malladi (trad. Ioana Bena) este prima carte din seria Gabriel Præst 🕵️ Cu iz de Hollywood, romanul deapănă un mister atipic scrierilor nordice obișnuite 👀
Atunci când o politiciană de dreapta este ucisă, singurul găsit vinovat este un refugiat din Irak. Însă Gabriel are dubii, trezite de fosta lui iubită. Acum investighează cazul, însă gangsterii ruși îi pun bețe în roate. Firul investigației îl conduce în perioada celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial.
Mai multe despre carte am scris într-un articol publicat pe blog ✍️

https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2025/...

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book that incorporated a mystery with social commentary concerning prejudices in Denmark and that many wealthy people in that country made a fortune working for the Nazis during World War II. The title character was an ex-cop who moonlighted as a jazz musician and who liked good clothes (as the author endlessly described). The twists and turns to finally exonerate the unjustly convicted man led to revelations of connections with the Nazis of a prominent family. And as a final comment, it seems as if every time people in Denmark get together for coffee or a drink they have some kind of cake (dare I say a Danish?)

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DEATH IN DENMARK by Amulya Malladi

In this captivating series debut by Amulya Malladi, PI Gabriel Præst is faced with the daunting task of clearing the name of Yousef Ahmed, who stands accused of brutally murdering Denmark's anti-immigrant attorney general. Præst's relentless search for the truth takes unexpected twists and turns, ultimately culminating in a satisfying conclusion. The intricately woven plot, coupled with the distinctive protagonist and the incorporation of secrets from Denmark's WWII history, adds depth and richness to the narrative. I eagerly await the next installment in this series!

[Northwestreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when an author tries something new. While Malladi has a good number of books to her credit, this is her first detective novel. Gabriel Præst is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill detective. Gabriel Præst is an accomplished jazz musician, foodie, fashionplate, and Kierkegaard-quoting detective. Malladi's male voice in this novel is actually quite convincing. The dialog flows well and she infuses a sense of humor in much of the dialog without detracting from the storyline. She also manages to tackle some social issues although this is not a new concept in her writing. (The Sound of Language focused on immigrants.)

I look forward to encountering Gabriel Præst as he proceeds with his career.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, A Death in Denmark, by Amulya Malladi, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Gabriel is an ex cop in Copenhagen,who is a private investigator, when his ex asks him to look into a murder. This book was kind of dark, and political, not the easiest read, I could not get into this book at all.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good plot, great location, interesting historical angle……. Alas - endlessly pedantic. Irrelevant details such as the thread count of a victim’s sheets, the protagonist forgoing socks (or wearing socks?), the make of a vintage fedora, debating a 2000 or 2001 Riesling …… What a waste of words.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing enough story, but I can't say I cared all that much for the writing style or the protagonist.

[Ahtims · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amulya Malladi was a favorite author of 2010s..
I started with Mango Season and read and loved a few more of her works.
But this one didnt click with me.
It sounded pseudo..
Somewhat masculine though written by a female author.
I didnt like any of the characters and their pretenses.
I dont like politics or religion motivated books. I am fed up with war crime related books.
The crime in this book or the reason behind it didnt have a human touch.
Am going to donate this paperback to the local library. Perhaps someone else will like it better.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @17%. I was bored with the relationships and other meaningless descriptions.

[Leane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malladi’s superb Danish private detective, Gabriel Præst, works for a friend’s law firm doing the usual divorce and financial cases when he is contacted by a former lover, Leila, who is a lawyer, on behalf of the Muslim man convicted of a notorious Danish political assassination. He reluctantly gets involved but he finds it hard to say no to the one woman who he still thinks about. Now Gabriel is a fashion-conscious, bike-riding, blues and jazz guitar-playing, White Knight ladies’ man type of detective who also has impeccable taste, is very picky about décor, clothing, his choice of hat, wine, beer, and food so the reader gets an entertaining and illuminating detailed background that colors this compelling CH, the supporting cast of family and friends, the ensuing investigation, as well as an eco-conscious commentary, and musings on Kierkegaard, Sartre, expensive scotch, and music. I could not help but think of both Robert Parker’s Spencer and Robert Crais’s Elvis Cole while reading this novel because of the humorous banter, excellent procedural detail, and sidekick relationships as well as the food, drink, clothing, music, literary, and fitness commentary. Gabriel’s friendships with Eyeman, Boz, Clara, and his daughter Sophie as well as the journalist friend with benefits Nico and his old boss, police chief Tommy, are reason enough to read this book as it echoes in a good way the experiences I have had with Crais and Parker. The Plot is also another reason—it is very well-conceived and relies both on the historic Danish WWII experience, the aftermath of the Nazi occupation, and modern-day political realities. The parallel of the treatment of the Jews and the current views on foreigners especially Muslims will not be lost on the reader. As the plot escalates so does the Pace and the Tone, which is aided by the weather and sights and sounds of Denmark and Germany. The ending is satisfactory but not necessarily totally legal. If you are ready for a Scandi Noir that is somewhat Cozy adjacent, read this book and wait for the next installment avidly as I am. Red Flags: Hateful Nazi & Xenophobic violence; animal mutilation; child deaths. Other authors I think are good readalikes are Steig Larsson, Jo Nesbo, and Jussi Adler-Olsen.

[Philip Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for mysteries set in other cultures, from Scotland to Iceland to Vietnam to Russia. Amulya Malladi has set this one in Copenhagen, featuring former policeman Gabriel Praest (in Danish the A and E form a single letter). The weather, the lingering effects of German occupation during World War Two, and political interference, are essential in creating a strong sense of one being in Copenhagen. The detective has a number of quirks that give a definite style to the writing. An extra star for the vividness of the setting. Malladi has 8 novels in print, though not with this new detective.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gee, we are still able to generate current detective fiction that plays off evil Nazis from WWII. This story, set mostly in Copenhagen, starts with a roundup of Jews during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, and then vaults to current times as people are being murdered to hide a nearly 80-year-old secret. The hero is an intelligent and likeable character, and a bit refreshing in that he actually has a working relationship with some of the local police - something that Private Investigators 101 writing classes seem to discourage. I could have done without the detailed description of suits and outfits throughout the book. That might even have been what cost the book a 4-star review by me.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5? I enjoyed this book - it was a well-written mystery. - and best, it had a solid noir vibe going on. I found the characters to be interesting but also SUPER helpful - dropping everything (pretty often) at a moment's notice to go to extraordinary limits to help Gabriel; I did sometimes find this to be unrealistic. The other thing I found annoying was the disruptive use of brand names for every description from clothes, shoes, and fedoras to scotch and vodka… it made the writing to feel a bit stilted and choppy. Overall, however, I did enjoy the book and probably would read another in this series.

[Annette Chidzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended by my son - he had purchased it on one of our book trips last year. He had enjoyed reading the first in this series and having spent time in Copenhagen he could visualise many of the locational settings where events unfolded.

Whilst I have not visited that area myself, I found the writing engaging and the format of succinct fast-paced chapters a combination that guaranteed a compelling read.

I look forward to more novels featuring Gabriel Praest, full-time private detective and former police law enforcer.

[Laura A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. When Gabriel is asked to look into a murder, he has no idea what he is walking into it. He follows a trail that takes him back decades to find out who the murder was. This book was good.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read! I loved the main story and the bittersweet love story too. I would recommend this book!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part murder mystery and part political thriller, this is a really exciting page turner. Gabriel Praest, PI and main protagonist is fantastic! He wears designer clothing, drinks exceptional wine, and appears to be very attractive to the opposite sex. And, apart from all that, he’s a great detective with an overriding honesty which refuses to allow him to draw back from an investigation when it gets dangerous. His friends are a fun, character-filled bunch too, and all very likeable.
I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series when it’s published!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing? Questionable. Mystery? Convoluted. Mafia? Russian. Gabriel Præst? Fedora-wearing fashionista!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very atmospheric mystery, set in Copenhagen. The detective has a quirky sense of humor that made the story entertaining. The actual mystery was pretty obvious, he just had to prove it to others. Lots of violence and hinted at sex, but thankfully no descriptions.

[Brandon England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and very well written. My only complaint….actually that’s the wrong phrase…my challenge was keeping up with the different characters and the complex plot. I struggle with books that introduce too many characters especially foreign names for this ignorant American. The end was difficult at times to keep up with the characters and the flow of the plot. But no big deal, I just re-read a few chapters. I really look forward to more books in the Gabriel series as it’s my understanding there will be more. I highly recommend this book to all my friends and family.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining holiday read with an interesting range of characters and historical background. I did find the constant descriptions of the investigator's clothes a bit tedious ditto his assessment of the women he meets in his investigations

[Danelle The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be able to read this entertaining mystery novel as an ARC via Netgalley. I am a sucker for crime novels or mystery novels from Ireland or Northern European countries and this one did not let me down. Perhaps the extended hours of darkness lend themselves well to this type of genre for the writers?
This novel was the first one I have read from Amulya Malladi. I will certainly look for more from this author. I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on- the setting is modern day, but it harkens back to a tragedy during WW2. Gabriel Præst is a flawed protagonist which made him interesting to me. I enjoyed how Malladi wove in the nationalism and suspicion of "outsiders" that is plaguing so many countries right now. This was an intelligent thriller. I recommend this novel!