Into the Dark
The Arctic Mysteries Series
Set in the hinterlands of Norway just above the Arctic Circle, Ørjan Karlsson’s novel Into the Dark is both a literal and figurative chiller about a hunt for a deranged serial killer.
In this series-continuing title, Jakob, a police detective, feels haunted, though he has little time for healing. The mutilated body of a photographer washes up in the harbor of Kjerringøy peninsula; he and his crew are also investigating a wellness retreat for the rich and powerful that may be concealing appalling abuse. A suspicious suicide may be connected to these goings-on, too.
The storytelling is propulsive as Jakob and his colleagues draw closer to the truth. Multi-layered characterizations further contribute to the suspense, as all among the cast are dealing with emotional and physical pains. Jakob, a widower, juggles his personal life with his sense of duty; he gets involved with a crime reporter, and his partner Noora, who is recovering from wounds suffered in the line of duty, struggles to overcome her PTSD, taking pills to ward off her pain. Two junior detectives, Armann and Fine, contribute their points of view, too, revealing their complicated home lives and adding to the narrative’s breadth and depth.
The setting is developed in terms of its isolated cabins, misty seashores, and dense forests, and the eerie autumnal atmosphere accentuates the book’s more shocking moments well. Psychological terror and body horror are hinted at and handled with understated sensitivity.
Concluding with a surprising revelation and some unresolved threads that will no doubt be addressed in future installments, Into the Dark is a gripping thriller that is narrated with intellectual skill and visceral details.
Reviewed by
Ho Lin
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