“The Island of Bornholm”, Katrine Engberg

Revenge often strikes with a suddenness that is difficult to grasp. Here, it takes the form of the body of a man sawed in two and divided into two large suitcases left in a park in downtown Copenhagen. Yuck! But this particularly murky introduction leads to a fascinating story led by two investigators on the island of Bornholm, more than four hours from the capital. These are the famous suitcases, which we have tracked so far, which lead them to search the island for the identity of the victim of the sordid assassination. There they first meet a gallery of surprising characters — including a famous anthropologist, an “unclear” pastor, a pet rat breeder, etc. — located in a sort of paradise of wild beauty. It is by digging into the past that the truth will emerge despite the false leads and the changing moods of the main characters. In short, a good “police story”, well conducted and set in a setting that makes you want to take a vacation offshore…

The island of Bornholm

★★★ 1/2

Katrine Engberg, translated by Catherine Renaud, Fleuve noir, Paris, 2024, 377 pages

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