Free A Darker Shade of Sweden by John-Henri Holmberg

Wahlöö novels, as well as several based on novels by Henning Mankell and Arne Dahl, and several original crime TV serials. Their first cowritten crime novel, Springfloden (Spring Tide), was published in 2012 and was one of that year’s most impressive debuts. Their second, Den tredje rösten (The Third Voice), published in late 2013, is a novel perfectly utilizing and parodying the conventions of the Swedish crime genre.
    The Börjlinds live in Storängen, a neighborhood of single-family homes built at the beginning of the twentieth century and part of suburban Nacka, which is just north of Stockholm.

NEVER IN REAL LIFE
    Ã… KE E DWARDSON
    Most of Åke Edwardson’s books are novels in his popular and critically acclaimed series featuring Gothenburg Chief Inspector Erik Winter, very consciously conceived as a policeman different from those featured in other Swedish police novels. At the time when Åke Edwardson wrote his first Winter story, the typical Swedish fictional policeman was a combination of Martin Beck ( in the novels by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö ) and KurtWallander ( in the novels by Henning Mankel l ) : middle-aged, shabbily dressed, a bit overweight, depressed, with a difficult if any family life, and haunted by sleeplessness and a conviction that both life and society are going down the drain. In contrast, Erik Winter—in the early novels—is young, vital, optimistic, elegant, socially and romantically active, and optimistic.
    Edwardson has also written several books outside of his Winter series. Apart from juvenile novels, his other work comprises a stand-alone crime novel, a psychological thriller, character studies set in the bleak landscapes of a depopulated Swedish countryside, and, not least, short stories.
    Throughout his career, Åke Edwardson has been praised for his stylistic perfection as well as for his psychological insights and his strong sense of drama. This story is an excellent example of his low-key, powerful storytelling, where the reader is only gradually led into full understanding.
    SHE LISTENED TO THE WEATHER FORECAST AND HE CONCENTRATED on driving. He was chasing the tracks of the sun. A brief flash was enough, or a shadow. He was prepared to turn any number of degrees. U-turns had become his specialty.
    She read the map. She was actually good at it. They drove farther and farther away from civilization, but she never missed a turn.
    â€œIt’s as if you grew up around here,” he said.
    She didn’t reply, just kept her eyes on the map covering her knees.
    â€œThere’s a tree-road junction in about half a mile,” she said, raising her eyes.
    â€œUh-n.”
    â€œGo left there.”
    â€œWill that get us to the sun?” he said.
    â€œIt’s supposed to be better in the western part of the county,” she said. “The local station just said so.”
    â€œSo a better chance to find the sun,” he said.
    He could see a crack opening in the slate-gray sky far to the northwest, as if someone had stuck an iron lever into the clouds. Maybe it’s God, he thought. Maybe we’ll finally get some use out of him.
    â€œThere’s the junction,” she said.
    When they drove through the town, the sky was incomprehensibly blue.
    â€œSo that’s what it looks like when the sun is out,” he said, pulling out his sunglasses. “Maybe there is a God after all.”
    â€œDo you believe he’s thinking about us?” she said.
    â€œMaybe he even believes in us,” he said.
    â€œThat’s verging on blasphemy,” she said.
    â€œI don’t think he cares. He’s got his hands full building up air pressure.”
    â€œHow do you know it’s a he?” she said quietly, but he heard.
    â€œAnd don’t talk too much about God to people around here,” she added. “This is a religious community.”
    â€œIsn’t that where you’re supposed to talk